Getting used to being a family of 6 has been quite the transition. Luckily, Kjetil, and all the other fathers of Norway, get 10 days off from work after a baby is born. He helped me manage the kids and was always willing to take them outside. Most days I would stay inside with Emily because it is still relatively cold out but we all ventured down one particular day to pick up Nathan from barnehagen when the sun was shining. And when the sun is shining - we ALWAYS stop and play!
Especially if the sun is shining and pappa is with us! ;)
There were a lot of days that little Joseph stayed behind with me and Emily so that the older two could play longer or do activities that he isn't quite capable of (like swimming). But - while the cats are away, the cute little mice will play!
Although, Emily prefers not to be referred to as a mouse.
A sweet girl, a cutie, baby girl, beauty queen, Emi-M - all of these names are acceptable but never mouse. Never.
We tend to stick just call her cutie since that is what she is!
Lydia has had the "hardest" time with the transition. All of the children have handled it well but all of them have had their individual struggles. Kjetil made sure to take her out on a few daddy-daughter dates where she was in focus. It helped a little and even though things have been hard for her, she LOVES baby Emily (never just Emily but baby Emily). She is constantly asking if Emily is sleeping, she tells me that Emily is crying, she helps me find diapers and wipes and she loves to hold Emily. All in all, she is handling it well but it is never easy to adjust to a new phase in life.
Joseph is my "nursing buddy". If I sit down to nurse, he comes running. Typically, he is trying to crawl into my lap, dive off the back of the couch or roll all over Emily but occasionally he finds a book and examines his toes.
Then he tries to read the book to himself.
Which leads to laughter and lots of babbling. He can be a lighthearted boy with a constant smile on his face. He can entertain himself (if he feels like it) and he can be a sweet little sidekick.
But most of the time...
He is a mischievous little guy who LOVES to climb! If I sit down to nurse and he gets tired of rolling all over Emily and I, he starts pushing chairs around and climbing as high as he can go. I tried putting the chairs on the table but when he managed to literally shatter one of the chairs by pulling it off, I stopped that practice and now I just clear off all dangerous objects!
Ahhhh, everyday life is just so exciting around these parts ;)
