September 2016: The End of Maternity Leave...the Start of "Real" Life

I've never, ever, ever been so sad to see September go.  It's that time.  Time to put on my (literally bigger) big girl pants and head back to work.  Monday, October 3rd will mark my first day of the 16-17 school year at work.

I hate transitions...I'm a worrier so naturally I'm filled with worries of what it will be like as a working mom of three.  I think I'm just mostly scared of keeping all the day to day responsibilities afloat while feeling like I get good time with three kids in the evenings.  Will there be enough time to go around?

While I am fearful of the transition time, I am beyond thankful for the time I have gotten to be home.  I'm thankful I got to walk Cade to and from school and have time to play with Reese in the mornings.  Thankful for my time snuggling my Squishy baby and watching The Price is Right and endless reruns of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making The Team  (I freaking love that show).  I suppose I'm even thankful I got to have my hernia repair surgery while on maternity leave and before my insurance deductible started over.  And, of course, I'm definitely thankful for my mom and Matt's help when I've been down during the recovery.

This September has been unlike any other, filled with:        

Baby smiles and snuggles!

A closer look at Reese's imagination! She was playing school and I think she would be a great teacher if she chooses that profession one day, if I do say so myself. ;)

Saturdays filled with baseball and t-ball!

Even a rock-painting party while G-Mom was here.  My mom has helped us out so much this summer.  I can't thank her enough for always being there for me when I need her and stepping in to take such good care of my family and I!  She's amazing!

I had never been to Chick-fila for breakfast so I put it on my "maternity leave bucket list" to go there one morning.  The last Friday of my leave I was able to mark it off the list.

September consisted of a lot of down time in my room and a lot of relying on other people as I had a surgery on the 8th.  Non-medical explanation, they tacked a large piece of mesh into my abdomen to repair two hernia places that resulted from my pregnancies.  It hasn't been a painful recovery, after the first week anyway, mostly just uncomfortable and inconvenient with the lifting restrictions (nothing over 10 pounds for four weeks except Cam--but definitely no lifting of the carrier or pushing a stroller or grocery cart).  That really limits a Mom!

In a way, it was nice to have the limitation of just snuggling on my bed with Squishy.  

I'm filled with mixed and conflicting emotions about spending 45+ hours a week away from my family and home.  But I have so, so much to be thankful for.  So many blessings!  And my job is definitely among those blessings.  It will be difficult to pick up the pieces of my classroom (they have had FOUR long-term substitutes while I was away...I don't even want to know the details of that) and get into a routine again.  It's time.  I'm as ready as I'm going to be.  Lord, give me strength!   

Cammy Jam is 3 Months!!

A lot has happened with our "Cammy Jam" (as I call him--he actually has a lot of nicknames) during the past month.

As you can see, he's started to give us big smiles.  We still have to work for the smiles at times, but he's becoming much more smiley and even laughing some!




I had to pick up a few new outfits that are long sleeves and pants in the 3-6 months size since Cade wore summer clothes through 6 months. Cam is happy to have some new clothes and to actually get to wear pants!

Cam's neck has gotten stronger and he can push his whole upper body up during tummy time!  He can roll from front to back (as of yesterday pretty much) and he's getting more in control each time he attempts.

Cam was excited to meet Grandmama and Big Papa and our extended family from Tulsa over Labor Day.

He got to dress up in this fancy bowtie outfit for our family pictures.

Cam took up residence with me on my bed while I recovered from my surgery on September 8th.  We spent about a week on the bed as I am not supposed to lift more than 10lbs for four weeks after the surgery.  (Cam weighs 14 pounds now!)  So I tried not to lift him much for that first week anyway.  He was a real trooper just hanging out with me on the boppy and the bed.

Cam still loves to sleep!  Not to "sleep brag" but he has been sleeping through the night consistently for the past month.  He takes about 3 naps a day and then sleeps from about 10:30pm-6am and then back to sleep for 2-3 hours after the early morning feeding.  He definitely sleeps 15 hours a day, if not more.

There are a lot of newborn items that I just can't seem to locate from when Cade was little.  It's like I slowly remember outfits, toys, etc. and think, where the heck are those?!  Socks are one of those items...I cannot find all the cute newborn socks that I know we have somewhere.  I located one pair and Cam wore them for the first time to Reese's t-ball game on a crisp morning.  I will keep looking...

Here we are enjoying Reese's game...I think I took this pic to check if he was sleeping or not.

More and more smiles as the month went on.  He's really a very easy-going baby.  He doesn't mind being carted around to everyone else's events, he sleeps a ton, and rarely ever cries.  The ultimate good-natured third child!

I just love this pic of the three of them.  The Squishy baby looks so presidential sitting up so straight and serious with his proud big brother and sister.

Couldn't just walk by the media back-drop at MNU...

Cam remains a good eater--we will have a big transition next week as I go back to work and he starts consistently taking bottles of pumped milk.  We got some extra snuggles in as my maternity leave comes to an end...

A look back at Cam's growth.  Still a big boy and no blonde hair yet.  It's so fun watching this sweet boy grow!

Click here to compare!

Cam's One Month

Cam's Two Months

Reese Three Months

Cade Three Months

Legoland and SeaLife Trip

This summer we didn't venture too far from home...with the birth of Cam and Matt's summer camps a trip seemed quite daunting.  Heck, a day at SeaLife and Legoland seemed a little daunting!  We had never been to either of these attractions so we made it our summer outing.

SeaLife took less than an hour maybe...just not much to see as you weave through the dark hallways.  The kids enjoyed the little scavenger hunt where you get stamps for your booklet.  It was neat to see the fish but it all just seemed so...small...and overpriced.

We would give Legoland a "just okay" rating as well.  Again, it's small and when you enter it's a little confusing as to what you're waiting in line for, where to go, what to do, etc.  There are fun aspects of it, but definitely not for the price.  Our kids had fun, but I think they would have just as much fun at a park or free exhibits elsewhere.

Matt worked in the morning so we chose the 12:15 time spot to enter (if you buy tickets ahead of time you choose a time slot to ensure entry) and we were headed home by about 3:30 or 4pm.  I would say it's worth going to once--but try to find a coupon!  I still haven't told Matt what we paid for the double-entry to both places...he would die!

Anything is fun when we get to do it together, and hey, we got to mark it off of our summer bucket list!  

Roberts Reunion: KC Style

We had the best time over Labor Day weekend entertaining our guests for a mini-Roberts Reunion!  Our extended family from my mom's side came to meet Cam and see our place and we were so happy to have them.

Of course you have to take everyone to the Farm because we love that place so much!

I feel like this is like a Face Swap between Gentry and I...spoiler alert...mine is the one that won't fit through the opening...

Farmer Cade

Cam is not impressed with the farm...yet.

Selfies with my beautiful Grandmama

Gentry and Scott...petting a goat...

Baby Olivia, my uncle David, and my mom

Cade, Reese, Gentry and Baby P!

Meal times when I'm hosting make me the most nervous...but we found room for everyone and had plenty of wonderful food!

Celebrating the September birthdays!  Any excuse for an ice cream cake!

Our evening entertainment consisted of a Bunco tourney.

And our final outing was a photo scavenger hunt at Scheels sporting goods store.

I was on Reese's team.

Uncle David, Aunt Pam, and Olivia were an awesome team (here they are taking a pic of each team member holding up a stuffed animal per the scavenger hunt).

Brooke and Nathan were excellent sports as well (sporting their camo here!)

And Nathan pictured on a green bike...Brooke and Nathan were the winners!

My parents pictured in their Royals gear.

Isn't this such a cute pic of my grandparents and the great-grandkids?!  So sweet!

It was a full weekend of family fun!  I'm so thankful everyone made the trip up to see us!!  Everything went so smoothly, maybe I'll THINK about hosting Thanksgiving...someday.