whew.

thought I'd pop in here and give you a run-down on the latest happenings since Finley's arrival, if I can remember even.  I mean, it has been five whole days, you know. crazy though, how something so tiny can create such a stir.  all I can say is, whew.

hmmm, let's see.

we arrived home from the hospital early Friday afternoon, just in time to meet the elementary school kids as they were getting off the bus.  thus commenced the arguing slash fighting between Ella and Phoebe over who got to hold Finley first.  or "Finlin" as Phoebe keeps wanting to call him.  yeah.  apparently, Phoebe told her teacher she has a new baby brother named Finlin.  WHAT.  I'm sure the teacher scratched her head over that one.  although with all the strange names floating around these days, maybe she didn't even bat an eye?

after being fought over loved on the entire evening, Finley slept a five and a half hour stretch that night.  WELCOME HOME, BABY.  hehehe.

what else?  

ranking among one of the top five most chaotic days of my life, Saturday was mostly a blur.  the little kids (Sawyer on down) were awake at the crack of dawn NO LIE, and fighting and screaming over who knows what shortly thereafter.

in an attempt to drown out the noise and ambush the headache I suddenly felt coming on, I promptly whipped the pillow over my head and considered checking myself and Finley into a hotel for the weekend.  knowing full well that wasn't a realistic option (like who would drive me there?), I resorted to Arm Chair Parenting instead, barking out orders from my perch in the living room.  unfortunately, my demands to bring me coffee! and rub my feet! fell upon deaf ears.  that's when I began brainstorming creative ways to list "slightly used children" on craigslist.  kidding.  well, maybe only a little.

I somehow managed... no.  scratch that.  only after locking myself in my bedroom, did I somehow manage to survive the afternoon.  after a gourmet dinner of ham buns, followed by the fastest packing job in the history of mankind (because I was all but shoving him out the door), Gary (plus seven kids) headed down to Phoenix for the night. with just me, Hannah, Myra and Finley left at home, suddenly I could breathe again.  that evening, the girls whipped up a lemon cake which we devoured while playing Phase 10.  I NEED the extra calories now, right?

Sunday was blissful.  while Hannah and Myra worked on their homework, I kicked up my feet and snuggled with Finley.  the troops didn't get home until nine o'clock Sunday night.  good-bye quiet, hello bedlam.

Gary was home yesterday, using up the last day of his paternity leave.  he spent the day browning hamburger and shredding cooked chicken to put in the freezer, while I joked about practicing for our retirement years.  although hopefully by the time we retire, there won't be a river of wash flowing out of the laundry room threatening to drown us.  unless at age 65, I suddenly decide that I need to change outfits twice a day or something.  you never know.  

that leads us to today.  thanks to friends/family members, bless their hearts, Rowan and Scarlett are in Phoenix for the week.  *enter chorus of hallelujahs*  which means that while the rest of the kids are at school, Finley and I get to fill our days with well, absolutely nothing.  I mean, how relaxing is that?  in fact, the house is so quiet, it's almost... erie.  but you know what?  suddenly, erie is my best friend.

a few snapshots from the hospital.

that's 4:18 A.M.  Gary got about an hour and a half of sleep that night before he had to get up and get the kids off to school. 

The Motley Crew.  Scarlett's already glaring at me for kicking her out of the baby slot.

heading home: will he ever fill this thing up?

and now I'm off to cuddle with little Finley!  such a treat!

good day!

-jessica