Paternity leave

Can I just say that it has been SO NICE having Tommy home on paternity leave? He has been home for four weeks (he went back to work for the week while my mom was here) and his paternity leave is ending in a few days. It will be really sad to have him go back to work, because we have all loved having him home. I am so grateful that Capital One increased their paternity leave this year (from 2 weeks to 8 weeks--Tommy will be taking the other four weeks later in the year at some point). I obviously could have done it without him, if I had to--but it has been really nice not having to. We have all been happier and better adjusted having him home. I have had a much easier time of it, the boys have been taken care of, Lucy has had plenty of time to nurse and be held. Our family has benefited so much from having him here at this crazy time! Of course, next week will be a rude awakening having him go back to work--but we have managed to figure out a few things at least and made it over the first hump of having a newborn. It has been so wonderful having him here to help out.

While he's been home, Tommy's done a lot of yardwork and projects around the house, and he's made a point of doing fun things with the boys and bonding with them. He took Dane to play tennis (with his new kid's tennis racket), built little cars with them from a Lowe's building kit, we've gone on walks, and taken them to the park numerous times. He's also been able to hold Lucy a lot and even relax a little bit. I feel like Tommy never, ever gets to take time to relax in our normal life, so this has truly been a vacation for him too (I hope!). The kids have especially loved having him here. I think I will have a hard time for the next few months, especially with being patient at meal times (always my downfall) and with nursing--but we will survive. It's time to get back to real life and to have to figure out how to do this on my own.

Someone is very suspicious...

Look at that curly hair!

Her hair naturally does a mohawk. It stands straight up.

She is an 80s punkrocker with a mullet. 

Both boys were enthralled with Lucy's playmat we got out.

After a long night...

We were driving around and found a field of Texas bluebonnets and stopped to take some pictures. This is a VERY Texas thing--everyone gets pictures with the bluebonnets! These are not the best pictures ever or the best field of bluebonnets, but we didn't want to stress out or try very hard, so this was what we got. They were cute anyways.

LOVE her post-bath curly hair.

Family Pizza Movie Night snuggles.

Graham is a SUPER cute big brother... too much love sometimes.

Aunt Camille sent these cute crocheted bunnies for the boys and a jellyfish for Lucy. So cute! They love them.