Acker Country Living: Life With Three

We've officially found our stride in just two months' time thanks to the easiest newborn in the world and my two less-small babes being the most patient, loving big siblings known to man. I've not only managed to cook a few meals recently, but I've found time to both read and workout lately! Life is becoming normal, and it's wonderful (and wild).

Susannah's imagination is really fun these days, and she invites any willing parties into her dream world as long as you do everything she says and pretend the way she wants you to pretend. My favorite thing that we play now is "Pretend Sleep," where -- get this -- we pretend to go to sleep. I normally have a hard time pretending with her, but not with this scenario, no sir. I also feel that it's important to note that Susannah is still the best eater imaginable. It's a common thing for her to ask for more asparagus or other good-for-you vegetable after dessert. She's an anomaly.

John wants to do everything Susannah wants to do until she invites him to do it; then he says no and runs away with something of hers in hand. He's a little trickster with the cutest dimples ever, but one must not let said dimples fool one into thinking he's too sweet to be conniving (easier said than done). John's obsession with balls still reigns, and it is so fun. He wants to wear his "ba-ball" (basketball) shorts everyday to play basket/base/football with whomever is near. And he's got a pretty good arm!

Mary is, as mentioned above, a dream. She sleeps well at night (normally around 7 hours but has recently gone 9!) and is so chill during the day. She's happy with most circumstances and smiles almost as much as her big brother. She has a 6th sense that lets her know when Mommy leaves the house, and she immediately ups her maintenance requirements for dear ole Dad, but dear ole Dad is the BEST by never calling me home or complaining like some other dads would.

And lastly before we get to pictures, I have a poem to share with you! The other night while I sat in Mary's room rocking her to sleep for the night, Pete, Sus, and John were in the middle of their nighttime ritual of "Chase," where they run circles around the house taking turns chasing each other. It's adorable and full of giggles, and I could just barely see/hear them from Mary's room. My heart was SO FULL at that moment that I wrote a poem:

A Glimpse

I watch them through
The cracked door
While they run --
And run
And run --
Giggles barely audible
Over the whooshing of
The large fan meant to separate
Their sounds
From our youngest's slumber.
Rocking her to sleep
(Rather, while she sleeps),
I smile,
glimpsing the forms
As they dash --
And dash
And dash --
Blocking the light for
But a blink each.
Daddy leads the
Wild ritual,
But the two shadows beg --
And beg --
For more.
Their affection for him
And his for them
Cannot be contained
And seep into our darkened room
As I whisper in thanksgiving,
"They belong to us, my darling."

And now for the pictures (lots of pictures)!

SWEET GIRL!

John Boy came down with a mystery [extremely high] fever on Mother's Day, and it hit while we were at church.

Lane, one of John's best buds, was not feeling too hot on Mother's Day either, so the dads (also good buds) got some cute, identical snuggles.

Mary's Dedication

And I was worried about timing Mary's morning so that she'd stay awake while we were on stage for her dedication, but it was John who was passed out the whole time! (Figgy snagged this cute pic. :) )