Month Eighteen - Saying Goodbye Part 7 and Life With Three Kids

Life with three kiddos has so far been pretty great. It's definitely lots of work and we are super tired but there is also so much joy with a full household. Bubba's reaction to his new little brother has been so positive! Whenever we are downstairs he waddles over to the swing with a huge grin on his face and makes his little squeaky noise which means baby. He hasn't shown any signs of jealousy when Jake and I are holding Maccoy, he just smiles and points. It's been a little over a week now since Bubba came back from respite care and we are getting into a nice little routine. Ivy went through a bit of a rough patch just before Bubba came home, I think she was missing having him around. Since he has been back and we have all spent a good amount of time together everyone is doing really well.

I literally have zero updates to give concerning Bubba's case and plan for reunification. He is still not having visits (it's been over two months now) and we still do not have a date for when he will be returning to his mom. I have come to the realization that it's just going to take way longer than we have been told. At this point my mind is set on his transition taking place in the spring. I am just preparing myself for the long haul of silence so I won't be surprised if/when that happens. So this post will just be an update about our family life.

So very thankful for this smiling face whenever Bubba is around the baby. I remember thinking before the baby was born and before we knew the gender that it would be really fun to have a boy because he would be so close in age to Bubba. Of course this was also before we knew that Bubba would be leaving us sooner than we had anticipated. I would think about them growing up together and being best buds. That part of the daydreaming won't be happening but I am thankful that at this moment they do get to be together and so far they do like each other:) I haven't taken many pictures of the boys together yet because Bubba has had a cold since coming home and we have kept a good distance between the two. Hopefully soon the Bub will start feeling better and can hold his brother for the first time.

Ivy has been a great helper and big sister. Having a brother was just what she hoped for and it has been so sweet to watch the two of them bond. This is pretty much what she does every day after school, asks for some cuddle time with the baby.

There has been a good amount of coffee drinking going on in our home lately! We have a picture almost exactly like this one from when Ivy was a newborn:) I don't know what I would do without Jake. He has taken on the role of getting Bubba ready in the morning so I can get Ivy ready for school and take care of Maccoy. He also does all the diaper changes at night. I love him and am one lucky wife!

We have also been super blessed from all the help we have received from family. From coming over just to spend time with us and get some baby cuddle time in as well as taking the two older kids from time to time to give us a little more peace and quite. I am truly grateful! 

We have SO much to be thankful for and are soaking up this season of our life!