First, Second, Third

With our first baby, Ryan's car seat handle was ALWAYS DOWN in the car, even if we weren't moving. I would almost hyperventilate if it was left up for a millisecond after the car seat was latched into the car.

With our second baby, Brooklyn's car seat handle was down most of the time--after all, the books say it's safer, so unless she was really playing with the handle, the handle was down and out of the way of a car crash.

Libby's car seat handle usually stays up. Hey, she likes to grab onto it, it has some jingly toys on it, and really, it's just easier!

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With our first baby, Ryan would sniffle in the night and I'd run into his room to see what was wrong.

With our second baby, Brooklyn would have to have a pretty noticeable cough for me to wake up and stay by her side for a few minutes.

Libby will kick her crib, rattle some toys, babble herself awake and asleep, and I'll send Ryan in to make sure she's okay.

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We were so anxious to try baby food with Ryan. Cereal the day he turned 4 months old, baby food before 6 months old (I called his pediatrician to see if I could!! Yes, I was that mother. He lived). We would cautiously explore all the food options available to him with gusto.

Brooklyn started foods later than Ryan, by a few weeks at least. I wasn't in a big hurry to get her used to "big people" food, but she did enjoy it. I made sure MOST of it was healthy.

Libby, poor baby, gets mostly breasfted still, because at mealtime, even though she's in her high chair, she will get some Puffs or Cheerios while I am stopping food fights between the older two, slicing a roast beef, dishing up potatoes for the family, pouring drinks, and wiping up spills. (Actually, not really). Her doctor encouraged me to let her start feeding herself table food if I am just too busy to spoon feed her baby food, as she should be having three meals a day. Whoops!!

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Ryan's naps were sacred times. If the UPS man came between 10-12, or 1-3, I would get angry! There was no way I would schedule a doctor's appointment during NAPTIME, and I would turn my cell phone to vibrate so it wouldn't wake him.

With our second baby, I trained her to sleep at the same time as Ryan so that I could have a peaceful couple of hours to myself. Anytime else she slept was a bonus (and rare).

Our third child takes her first morning nap either in the car, or the grocery cart covered by a blanket. Her second nap I make her fight and wait to take with the older two (I still need that peace and quiet!) and her third nap may or may not happen in a carseat in the vehicle as well. She takes it how she can get it.

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With our first child, I very carefully documented the milestones. First tooth, first ear infection, first time sleeping through the night, first sentence, first trip, etc.

With our second child, I tried to get things recorded within a week or two of them happening.

Libby's baby calendar is blank for her second, third, and fourth months of life. Just sayin'.

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Life certainly changes with your first child, to your second child, to the third child!! Good thing I haven't forgotten one of them at the grocery store or left one of them at home (anyone seen Home Alone recently?!). I do know of a friend who was forgotten at church for an entire afternoon...and he lived to tell the story, so even if I do leave one of them behind, it won't scar them for life. Right? RIGHT?!?