Eli Overload, with a capital O.

 I'd like to apologize for the picture overload that's about to occur. Some of these photos date back to October but I've so neglected this blog that it's needed. Now, in my defense, most of these pictures are on Instagram, so if you haven't added me, you really should.

Anyways, poor third child syndrome. I sometimes remember to take pictures of him, especially if he's doing something ridiculously outlandish or cute, which is pretty much all the time. He's so stinkin' adorable. It saves him, really. I mean, c'mon...

He is such a stinker. Here, he grabbed the proper tiny screwdriver from the drawer and was attempting to change the batteries in this car.

 And here, he climbed into the chest of extra bedding and just was looking adorable.

 Ooh or this? This is typical bath time.

 Here, he is working hard writing a story. Gavin was writing out all the words he knows, because well, my kids are crazy like that, and Eli did not want to be left out.

 And FINALLY, I have one child who likes cleaning and tidying and doing chores like emptying the dishwasher. Don't tell your siblings dear, but if you keep this up, you will be my favourite.

And just when I think he might be in the running for Favorite Hildebrand, he is constantly doing weird, random stuff like this. Allow me to explain that here, he has assembled all of the pieces of the blender and then filled it with potatoes from the pantry. "Why?" you ask. "Why not?" is Eli's attitude! 

 This melts me to the core. I don't often get to read nap time stories any more. Gavin has taken over and Eli loves it. I still get bedtime ones though so I'm doing just fine.

He loves recycling day. Most days, I stop before I set him on the curb. 

 Most days. ;)

 Wrestling, body-slamming, and general physical contact are things he enjoys in his spare time, especially if it involves the older two.

 Although he does manage to relax in his time off.

 He is passionate and does all things to the best of his ability.

 And he loves to cuddle.

 Play dough is a favourite pastime. Here he is pretending to drink the milkshake I made.

 Remember how I said he does all things to the best of his ability? C'mon! Look at that slurp!

And that catches us up to December... I think anyways. Love this guy so much it hurts some days. He is a ray of sunshine, a ball of trouble, and a perfect fit into our crazy family.

Perspective

 Lately, I've been pretty swamped with life in general. I could go on and list things like my kids, my job, my husband, etc, but we all have our own lists and they are all equally important and  pressing and overwhelming.

And here's what we do... we post pictures of our day. We all do it. Here. I could post this one right now.

I'd call it, "Mmm... coffee in bed." It'd probably get a few likes as we all love coffee, right? Such a good start to our busy days.

Let's zoom out a little, shall we?

Little less coffee in that cup, and a slight hint of chaos in the background. Sure. Seems reasonable. Most people would still focus on that glorious cup of java, and not give it another thought. Like!

But let's zoom out even farther, shall we?

Oooh, there it is. There's the real world. Take a long look. Take it in...

Yup, there's a cup of coffee, warmed twice with too much cream just to act as my "treat" to get me through the day. 

There's the obvious pile of Mount Laundry, always waiting to be folded. We all have that, right? Staring at you, waiting, waiting, and waiting... I'm really good at washing and drying. Folding, nah? 

The unmade bed with the uncoordinated bedding, well nothing really changes there. We don't make our bed, ever. And I'm just simply too in love with my blankets, the perfect weight and warmth, to try to have coordinating bedsheets, duvets, etc. Plus, I'm cheap. I would need to win a bunch of money to spend money on a matching bed. 

Oh and the favourite jeans on the bed. Sometimes, they are my favourite because they are the only ones that do up. Sometimes they are my favourite because I only own one pair. Sometimes they are my favourite because I don't like pants, so they sit nicely on my bed, while I dance around the house in shorts.

But you don't see any of that in my picture. Nope. You see a nice, creamy cup of coffee and you think to yourself, "Oh Amanda. She's so together. She's got a job, a husband, three kids, a house, a dog... and yet she still takes time to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee in bed." Why do we do it? Why do we pretend that life is all roses, when sometimes it's more just a big bushel of thorns with the odd flower peeking through?

This resonates with me. 

 Cheers to doing it every day. Finding the moments of sanity that keep us going.

YOU are enough, coffee in hand, chaos around.