It sneaks up on you

Babies becoming toddlers that is. Though I still refer to them as thus, truly the "babies" are no longer babies. This is evident in many ways.

#1 They are all wearing over 12 month clothes .
#2 They are saying new words.
#3 We've switched to less spill proof sippys...with ease.
#4 They run...walk very rarely.
#5 While filling out their 18 month wellness forms they were acing it.
#6 They have enough hair for their first haircut {the boys anyhow}
#7 We got rid of the highchairs...they now sit at the table like big kids.
#8 They climb chairs and stairs.

Some of these things have thrilled me and some have made me realize how quickly time is passing. For instance, Evie could see the top of the stove while I made eggs for lunch...when did that happen???? Time slow down just a bit...at least so I can capture it fully.

Quiz:

Q: When you have triplet toddlers, what is the state of the tree by the end of Christmas??

A: A VERY bare tree!

Needless to say our tree came down earlier then we wanted. Due to the "Christmas Flu of 2011" our Christmas celebrations with both our families was postponed and I had planned on leaving the tree up till my parents returned from Texas...no such luck. Somehow the babies manage to reach every height and the tree will soon be bent over from the extra weight the top is carrying. At last count the toddlers have destroyed 6 ornaments completely and have required me to repair at least 4, two of them twice. Would that we only had 1 toddler have made a difference...who knows. The year Evie was this age, Shawn refused to let us put up a tree. At Shawn's parents, however, she lovingly and gently looked at several ornaments and that was it. Triplets=TROUBLE! :)

What a year!

Here it is!!! Our year of monthly pictures has sadly come to an end! Can you believe how much they each have changed and grown since that first picture?? I can hardly believe it myself even though I witness it everyday.



Journaling: When you were 5 days old we had our first picture "together". It amazed me on that day that even as tiny as you were, you had all actually fit in my belly! Since then, I have dubbed myself your "bunny" a reference to a scrapbook page I saw, where the child's growth has been documented month by month with a stuffed bunny. To see how you've grown in the last year, we've done the same... only with me. It's been a joy to watch you all grow before our eyes, but we are saddened by how quickly the time has gone. One other thing to notice, darlings, is how much your mama has also changed. From my dramatic hair cuts, 5 day post-partum fatigue, and almost getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight, this year has been as much my journey as it has been yours. Thanks for the ride!! Happy 1st Year, my babies!

To see the pictures closer, just click on the image.

Look next for my individual posts about what they are doing at 1 year plus a post about their circus themed birthday party. Also to come soon...A Week in a Life FINISHED!!!

This was us

Dear Ella, Henry and Grant-

Mama can hardly believe that this was us one year ago today, hours before I got to caress each of your precious faces and hear your beautiful cries. It seems like that moment was only yesterday and yet here we are embracing toddlerhood. It has flown altogether to quickly and makes me afraid to blink and step into tomorrow where I know you will be in the midst of another year that will bring you closer to your preschool years and eventually your school years. No parent wants their child to stay a baby forever, but what we would like is to capture perfectly all these moments of childhood where our hearts nearly beat out of our chests with love for you. Your first cry, the way you smell, how soft your skin is, the feel of your soft baby hair against my cheek, that silly look in your eye, your sweetness, the way you hold toys and chew food without all of your teeth. These moments I can't get back and I can't accurately describe them here or take a picture to remember them forever. Slowly, your first year will become something I only recall in small moments, as a gift God gives me to when He knows my heart aches to kangaroo with you again, stroke your baby faces and get back a little of my heart that is stolen with each day I've called you mine. I love you to the moon and back, forever and ever, every second of every minute, every minute of every hour, every hour of every day, every day of every week, every week of every month, every month of every year...for the rest of my life.

Happy 1st Birthday, my darlings!
Mama

We were swinging!

We went to the park on Sunday and spent over 3 hours either walking, playing, eating treats or talking. It was a beautiful day to be at the park, a little hot for walking and a great way to spend the day as a family. We had a first since our pregnancy and the birth of the babies: a older lady came up to us and said "We (others at a graduation party) were all talking about...(pause) your puppy." Whoa...that wasn't what we thought you were going to say! Apparently she/they hadn't noticed us wrangling the 3 babies. Evie was adorable and the first thing SHE did was show the lady her latest "owie," a skinned knee. I am sure the lady was quite sympathetic. Here are some of the latest pictures including the first time swinging for the babies, something they enjoyed WAY more then Evie ever has.

Enjoys swinging but is a little cautious!

Thinks mama's a hoot with getting his feet.

So "over" the whole swinging thing! Look at those chubba arms!!!

Not so sure of this grass thing. It's kind of freaky stuff!

Henry DEFINITELY does not like grass!!!! After several attempts he "tolerates" it, but no for very long.

Ella LOVES being outside and with her favorite man: DADDY!

Swinging is ok, mama's silly noises make it super fun!!

What's this thing, mama??

Swinging is the funnest!!! MORE!!!

She is "liking" swinging but only in little bursts and not so high mommy!!

Cool dude!

What's up homie?

All together now

Here are some "random" pictures of the kids together or mama/daddy with the kids that just don't fit with the other posts. First off the 10 month picture of the babies with me:

They are getting so big that cropping is becoming difficult. What will 1 year look like?? Less then 2 months and we will soon find out!

Memorial Day trip to Minneopa Falls. We were planning to go to IA but Evie was randomly running a fever (no other symptoms) so we ended up canceling. Luckily the A family came down for the day. This picture is one of many, others had a front view of Henry but others not looking etc. It was the best I could get and I am sure it is a sign of times to come.

Rarely does daddy get a picture with all three. I had more smiles with the kids but daddy's blinking problem does interfere with us getting everyone to cooperate.

At the carnival Evelyn's preschool put on. Good time! I look a little melted because we took our first walk to the park and it was HOT out! Great day!

Same day as the carnival. Babies first time at the park.

One of my favorite pictures!!! Me and my girls. I can't wait for the mommy and girls days out where we get pedicures and do "girly" things.

Another favorite. Two of my handsome boys/men. Aren't they sweet? I adore this picture and this special moment between daddy and Grant.

Another sweet picture. Aren't they a cute "couple?" I LOVE MY FAMILY!

"Wordless Wednesday"

Ok, I know it's not Wednesday and that this post isn't wordless but here's a picture of the big sitters and the big sister!

More pictures

Per several requests (and my own desire to show off my gorgeous, adorable children.):

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Love, Evie, Ella, Henry and Grant

From the beginning til now

Initially, I had my picture taken with Grant, Henry and Ella for a couple of reasons. First because I wanted a picture with all three of them together. And second, on the day of that first picture they were 5 days old and had regained most of the weight they'd lost after birth and thus holding them you and I can/could be astonished that only a few short days before they had fit in my belly. Not only fit, but able to move an astonishing amount (Grant flipped from day to day. One day his head was on my left, the next day it was on my right-up to the c-section). In total they weighed 12lbs, 13ozs. I wanted this picture to commemorate this. In reality, Ella and Grant should switch places based on where they were in-utero but because of the I.V's and monitors we had to place the babies in this order.

Third, I once saw a scrapbook page where the child had had a picture taken with a stuffed bunny at birth and then every month thereafter. Thus, recording the child's growth in a unique, visual way. Since we didn't do that but had pictures taken with me, I decided I would have to be their "bunny". Here's how they've grown in the last six months. Amazing how much they've changed!!

First Food

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Henry, Grant and Ella enjoying their first taste of food of cereal and breast milk on the 15th. Despite a rocky start (ie silly faces which we interpreted as "what is THIS??") they all really enjoyed their first meal. Grant was the most adept at the skill of opening his mouth and using the tongue to push food to the back of his throat and swallowing. Ella was really good at opening her mouth, but had a little problem with the last part and Henry's tongue just wasn't cooperating. All followed the spoonfuls with their hands as if trying to get it all in. It makes for VERY messy feedings.

The feedings go like this: I line up the kiddos in a semi-circle, bibs on and ready. I am in a swivel chair and go from one to another offering a few spoonfuls each and also catching what comes back out. Usually they enjoy their cereal/pears/green beans combo. Mostly because the original introduction of green beans did not go over well. You'd have thought that I was giving them lemon juice for the VERY sour expressions. And it wasn't just the first spoonful, the faces and accompanying quiver continued even into the 4th or 5th spoonful, especially for Henry. Applesauce wasn't much better.

On the 26th Henry finally started getting the hang of it keeping more in then out. Ella, however, has become harder to feed because she wants to lick it instead. Though she does produce the best faces looking cross-eyed and talking. These are some of the funnest and funniest parts of my day. Up next: peas or bananas. Yummy!!!!