The Séamus Weekly - week 48

Sweet little Séamus has just 4 weeks to go before he is a full blown ONE year old! like how is this actually happening?  We are heading on a plane today to go to Ireland and this trip has been highly anticipated for practically a whole year.  We cannot wait for Ellie to get to go back to Ireland and to experience it all over again with ALL of our children.  We booked ourselves a straight flight from SEA to Dublin and I'm anticipating that to be the best because layovers are absolutely zero fun.

Séamus turned a solid 11 months old yesterday and my heart could burst with excitement for all he is going to get to experience on our trip.  These past 11 months have just flown by and I am so excited to see all that he is going to learn in his last month of babyhood.

Sweet Séamus Murphy you light up our lives and we are so so very grateful that you are here.

Eats: pretty much anything that you put in front of him.  He still absolutely loves the boob (which is just fine by me) and is loving all of the fruits.  Whenever he see's chips and hummus he comes a crawling to eat it all. I don't think there is a meat he hasn't liked and he loves to just shove it all in his face.  Most of the food ends up on the floor or his lap but he loves to feed himself and at this stage in my life with three children...I just need to let him do it 😉

 





 Sleeps:  sweet Séamus has been such an awesome sleeper this week.  He sleeps in his crib practically all night long and I am kind of nervous to see what happens when we have to start bed sharing again on our trip tonight/tomorrow.  He has been napping in the car at school drop off and pick up (as usual) and a couple of times I've been able to get him to nap in his crib.

Goes: We've been to Ellie's school twice for different functions.  Family picnic day for lunch, with McDonald's in tow.  Finnley wasn't feeling very well so she was very clingy, while Séamus crawled all around and Ellie had a blast showing him off to all of her friends.  Then again for Ellie's last day of school.  We arrived to watch her little graduation and then she convinced us to stay the rest of the day to attend the assembly, go to recess, and see her off to summer break.  We also went to a park near our house where lots of fun was had crawling up the slides and trying to navigate the stairs.  Séamus is going to be quite the little daredevil trying out all the things!

Does: Séamus is all about the standing and pulling up.  He's tried to take a few steps here and there but I wouldn't classify him as walking just yet...he is still quite wobbly.  I grabbed out a pair of his shoes that I got before he was born and much to my surprise they fit him!  His very first pair of his own moccasins, he is also wearing Ellie's first pair of Moccasins that Finnley also wore.  I love having these items to pass down from child to child.  He also got to ride my horse, Ragtime, this week before I sold her and she moved to her new home.  It was my dream and vision that my children would grow up with her and ride her...while that was not something that Finnley was ever interested in, I have fully enjoyed this spring watching Ellie ride her and now Séamus taking his turn.  He absolutely loved it and I'm hoping he continues to love horses and animals so that he'll partake in riding her when we visit her.

Mama: this was an incredibly huge week for me.  Ellie graduated Kindergarten and I am so incredibly proud of her.  I had so much fun at her graduation celebration, loved that she wanted us to stay the whole day, and to witness her in her school element.  I also sold my horse, Ragtime, to a friend of mine.  I have so much peace about it knowing that she is going to a loving home and to live her best life but it was also so very hard to say goodbye to her.  I have had her since she was a baby, for 16 years, I held her lead rope for her first hoof trimming (and the last one before she moved), I was there for her first vet appointment, I have her baby wolf teeth that were pulled when she was 18 months old, I was the first person to ever sit on her back, and I watched her in amusement as she figured out how to get herself out of pickles with her calm, smart, and intuitive nature.  Having her move just before we left for vacation was a huge relief and I think that it is going to help me transition to not having her at home anymore.  Now I can put more focus on my kids, my business, and other home projects.  I am ready for this new stage of life, sans riding horses, and am looking forward to where this leads me.  Ragtime will forever be in my heart and I am so grateful for all of the lessons she taught me over the past 16 years.

(photo by Finnley)

Sisters:  my mind is blown away at how much all three of my children love each other.  I remember how excited Ellie was for Finnley to be born and join our family, how I hoped that I could raise them to not just be sisters but to be friends, and then when we decided to go for it and do IVF and it was successful with Séamus how I hoped to nurture a friendship between all three of them.  Ellie still loves her siblings something fierce,  Finnley loves to follow along and do as Ellie says.  She even got to participate in lots of Ellie's last day of school activities, she got to sit with Ellie during the assembly, sit at Ellie's table during all the celebrations, and just loves to be involved in it all.  I love seeing how they all interact with each other and the love they have.  Finnley is such a wonderful big sister to Séamus always being sure to include him and to help out when asked.  Séamus is just along for the ride and trying to keep up with them.  He laughs and smiles and is just so happy when his sisters are around.  It all makes my heart swell so large.  So grateful.








Previous Weeks

Séamus week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, 13 weeks, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19, 20 weeks, week 21, week 22, week 23, week 24, week 25, week 26, week 27, week 28, week 29, week 30, week 31, week 32, week 33, week 34, week 35, week 36, week 37, week 38, week 39, week 40, week 41, week 42, week 43, week 44, week 45, week 46, week 47

Finnley at 48 weeks
Ellie at 48 weeks


♥ Ashley

The Séamus Weekly - week 47

Oh sweet Séamus how on earth are we another week closer to you being ONE?

Eats: boobs and fries and strawberries.  This little mad is all about eating all of the things.  Breastfeeding is still going strong and I am soaking up every single minute of it!  I am loving seeing what foods Séamus is into and my heart is so happy that he is eating real fruits (not from a pouch) he makes the biggest mess that I am learning to embrace and is so insistent on feeding himself that I just have to let him do it.

Sleeps: good thing he can sleep in the car because he's had to do a lot of that!  Still sleeping in his crib at night, we did have one night where he was very unsettled so I brought him into our bed and he just could not calm down.  I have a feeling that second top tooth is making its way and giving him all sorts of grief.

Does: crawls around wanting to be attached to me...must be the teeth.  Then he is getting into the kids drawer in our kitchen and pulling out all the cups and plates.  I'm still working on eliminating all the plastics, it is a process for sure and am on the lookout for some non plastic plates for the kids...I keep thinking I want some sort of stainless steel so I just need to figure out where I can get those from.  He is standing and pulling himself up on all the things.

Photo by Finnley

Goes:  Finnley has been begging and begging to go to the park (one with swings) so after her Sensory Processing/OT evaluation we made our way to a park.  Both of them had so much fun and Séamus tried taking a step!! Like for reals!! I sure hope that he starts walking soon.  We also hung out at Finnley's school for her last day of Pre-School this year and got to watch her perform her songs.  Waited outside at Ellie's school to pick her up (instead of the car rider line).  And then of course all of the usual places: school, store, and out to eat.

Of Note: we celebrated Thomas's birthday and Father's Day on Sunday!  Ellie insisted that he wear a crown and the necklace she made 😂 He is such a good sport! My heart swells with joy to see Thomas loving on all of our kids and getting to experience life with daughters and a son, adopted and biological.  Our family was made the best way and Thomas is the best husband and dad I could imagine.  We are all four so thankful for him.

Mama: I had vendor event all day on Saturday that was so much fun to participate it.  I was joined by one of my business partner's and we had the best day just chatting and getting to hang out.  Thomas brought the kids by around lunch time and I got to nurse Séamus.  I also had a migraine that I was applying oils to all day.  The week seriously just flew by with all the things we had going on: end of school for Finnley, vendor event, Thomas's birthday/father's day, end of school for Ellie, and vacation preparation for Ireland/England next week.

Sisters: they love each other so incredibly much.  Ellie still tells me almost daily that she always wanted a baby brother.  Finnley is still smothering Séamus with all her grabby hands and body.  Séamus is just the life of the party and loves all of it.  So forever grateful for these babies of mine.



Previous Weeks

Séamus week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, 13 weeks, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19, 20 weeks, week 21, week 22, week 23, week 24, week 25, week 26, week 27, week 28, week 29, week 30, week 31, week 32, week 33, week 34, week 35, week 36, week 37, week 38, week 39, week 40, week 41, week 42, week 43, week 44, week 45, week 46

Finnley at 47 weeks
Ellie at 47 weeks

♥ Ashley

The Séamus Weekly - week 46

Oh my gosh...the weeks are just flying by and here we are at 46 weeks.  I can hardly believe how close we are to sweet Séamus being a 1 year old!! I am STILL holding out hope that he is going to walk before he turns ONE and trying my darnedest to get him to do it!

Sleeps: sweet little Séamus is still sleeping in his crib through the night until about 4-5am when he comes in for a much needed morning nursing session.  He has been falling asleep again afterwards and seeing his sweet sleeping face right there next to me is theee best!  We've been home a bit more this week and managed to get a few naps in his crib as well which is always nice.

Eats: the boobiest boy there ever was!! I just adore breastfeeding, so much more than I thought I would and love that he loves it too.  It's become such a natural thing for us that I don't ever want it to stop.  He is being a bit more adventurous with his eating and tried lemons this week! Despite the faces he makes I think he actually likes them because he keeps putting the darn things back in his mouth! Which is such a different experience with Finnley - she just could NOT!! He is digging all the finger foods and it a meat eater!

 Does: Séamus boy loves to get into baskets.  He pulled out our shoe basket in our entryway and threw all the shoes out and then climbed inside, he does the same thing with the warming drawer of our oven 😳! He would climb into the dishwasher too if we let him, but that is a big NO-NO!! I remember growing up and my parents let our dogs lick the dirty plates in the dishwasher, one time one of them climbed their feet onto the door and pulled the whole dishwasher out from under the counter due to their weight - so I have a fear of that happening...no babies on the dishwasher ever.  He is still cruising all around, his tooth finally cut through on Tuesday! It's such a relief because I was getting worried about his gum being infected, it looked like it had a yellowish tint to it instead of the white I've been accustomed to with the girls.  Our dentist suggested I clean his mouth with a wet washcloth or try a toothbrush, so I did both and there was a little bleeding and then his tooth cut through and I hope we're in the clear!  And he LOVES the bath, sometimes when he is a bit crabby I am able to just put him in the bath!

Goes: little Séamus went out to dinner with me on Thursday for happy hour with Marit and we gave him his first lemon which he oddly enjoyed.  He was the perfect little gentleman despite being very uncomfortable with his swollen gums.  Then we went over the mountains on Saturday to celebrate my MILs 60th birthday and got to ride in their RV to the dealership so that they could make some repairs.  The girls really enjoyed the ride, once Séamus finally calmed down I had a chance to read some of my book (here) and then all four of us took a nap on the drive!  Thomas and his mom drove separately and we went to this amazing park on the river with a zipline, climbing wall, swings, and climbing structures, a wading pool, and so much green space and big trees.  After that we went to dinner and had the BEST food ever, including lemons for the little man 😂.  Finnley stayed at Nanny and Papa's while the rest of us went home for school and work.  It was so strange to have just one kid at home during the day and I was actually able to get a lot accomplished (not this post though 😏), I even made it to the post office with just one child and it was so relaxing.

Mama: I have been doing my best to live in the moment and soak up everything.  I am still working hard at my business and trying to come up with new ways to grow and be successful.  Having your own business isn't easy and it requires a lot of work.  Thankfully Thomas is super supportive and sees the potential with this business and is just as excited to get there as I am, we had the chance to really discuss it and other great adult conversations on our drive over the mountains and back and to really just get to know each other more.  I am loving these drives more and more and am looking forward to our trip to Ireland where we'll have even more chances at these conversations and grow together.  There is definitely something to be said about marrying your best friend and having a true partner in life.  Where I drop the ball, he picks it up.  Where he needs encouragement, I'm here to give it. It goes both ways and it's so beautiful.

Sisters: Ellie is still going around telling everyone that she is 6.  She is such a gentle heart, is so kind, observant, and remembers everything.  She is reading now and it's the most spectacular thing.  She loves to be on technology which isn't the best but here we are.  She loves to play with her sister and be in charge of how and what they're playing.  In true big sister form, she knows what gets her sister bothered and intentionally gets her going.  Finnley is as fierce as ever.  We have an evaluation appointment coming up next week to see if she might have some sort of sensory processing thing going on.  She is the sweetest girl there ever was, her voice is so kind and genuine, she loves to help out and is so particular about things.  Both girls are still obsessed with Séamus, though I think that Finnley is more attached since they get to spend more time together while Ellie is at school.  I have a feeling that Finnley is going to be the glue for the three of them and once little man starts walking (and stops destroying) they are all going to get along so so well.  They all make my heart so full and make the journey to them so very very worth it!

Previous Weeks

Séamus week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, 13 weeks, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19, 20 weeks, week 21, week 22, week 23, week 24, week 25, week 26, week 27, week 28, week 29, week 30, week 31, week 32, week 33, week 34, week 35, week 36, week 37, week 38, week 39, week 40, week 41, week 42, week 43, week 44, week 45

Finnley at 46 weeks

Ellie at 46 weeks

♥ Ashley