Climbing Furniture

1/30: "Today we all learned how to climb furniture!" Actually, it started yesterday! Emily started climbing into the glider...a few hours later...Matthew followed and it didn't take long before Austin was in on the action. I was jumping out of the chair, or jumping from kitchen to living room as fast as I could. I just thought for sure we were going to end up in hospital! The next day, they started to climb on the couch. Once again, I was freaking out! My Mom advised me to leave them alone and teach them to climb down backwards. It only took a few tries and soon everyone knew how to climb on and off the couch. It is amazing how quickly they learn new things!! We did have blood this Saturday! It was the very first time we have had a nose bleed! Austin was climbing out of the toy box and landed nose first! Dad quickly came to the rescue and all was well!
Austin loves "chillaxin" (as my niece Ale would say) in his Elmo Chair!

"Shhhhhhhhhhh...Elmo is talking!"

Cause of grief for Mom--climbing on the glider! Yes, all three are fighting for it!

Single Parenting and Oreos

1/17 - 1-22: Rob left on the 17th to go TDY to TN. This time his trip didn't cause as much anxiety as previous trips! Our nap schedules are pretty solid. Usually--90% of the time--the babies nap in the morning and in the afternoon. That usually gives me about 45 min to an hour so that I can shower, clean, do laundry, etc. In addition, the babies are sleeping through the night. It as hard not having someone here to share my time with---and to talk to though! It does get lonely for adult conversation...I do talk to the babies alot--they probably think I am nuts! Kathryn, our Special Instruction Therapist, has become a really good friend and she did stop by to help with night time routines one night! Thanks Kathryn! I appreciated the adult conversation and also appreciated the many phone calls to see if I was still sane!
This was the morning that Rob left. This is our usual lunch. We all love veggies! We love green beans, carrots, peas, broccoli & sweet potatoes. We also love chicken and cheese!!

So one day for afternoon snack--after we had yogurt and fruit--I gave them one Oreo cookie! This is the first OREO cookie they had ever eaten! They loved it of course and had so much fun eating it!! Just look at their happy faces!

"I pull it apart and eat the center first"--Matthew

"cookie, yes, I will have another!" Austin

"These are soooo yummy! -- Emily

"Delicious!"

Milestones

1/10: I have been trying to post these pictures for a while. These were taken a few days before Austin, Matthew and Emily's FIRST birthday! It is still hard to believe that my little babies are ONE!!!
HUGE MILESTONES:
Today, the babies are gestational 1 year old! That means that if I had had only one baby, my due date would have been January 10, 2009. So, officially---Austin, Matthew and Emily ARE ONE!! YAY!!! IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY THUS FAR! We expect many more challenges but many more days filled with love!!

1. Austin, Matthew and Emily are sleeping through the night!!! It has been such a hard year for us! The last 2 weeks have been amazing! We feel so rested and finally can say that all three babies are sleeping through the night! Thank you LORD!!!
2. Our nap schedules are going very well. I now put babies down for nap at 10am and 3pm. Sometimes they go to sleep right away, sometimes they cry for a while but I try to be strong and let them fall asleep on their own! Emily is my Sleeping Beauty. She is normally the first one to go to sleep and sleeps for over an hour each time! The boys like to play, cry, talk to each other, bite/chew on the crib and finally will fall asleep!
3. With the octagon gone---Emily and Matthew are walking so much better! Emily is walking soooo much now. Matthew is quickly following. Austin is using the baby walker but is quickly gaining confidence and is trying to let go!
Austin, Emily and Matthew
Emily with Dad

Austin and Matthew with Dad

Austin and Matthew! Handsome Boys!!!

Emily

AustinMom with Matthew

Dad with MatthewMom with Emily

Matthew

Austin and Matthew communicating!

Latest Triplet News

1/7: I can NOT believe it has been over 2 months since I last blogged!! Where does time go? No, seriously, where does time go? It seems that we are busier than ever these days! The peas are more and more energetic and active each and every day that passes! It is unbelievable! I am going to back track and post pictures and news from the last 2 months! Today, here in Alabama, is very cold. I haven't had a cold winter in 3 years! I forgot how cold it gets even here in the South!
Pea News: Today is the second day of putting babies down for nap without rocking! I think the problem they were not was ME! I have found it hard to let go of old habits! When my older sister, Norma, was here for Christmas she kept urging me to put them in cribs for naps on their own. I honestly didn't think it would work but it DID! They did cry for about 20 minutes yesterday but were soon sleeping. I tried it again for afternoon nap with the same result! I was very impressed! Thanks Norma for encouraging me and helping me be strong while they were screaming...yes, the 3 oreos helped too! (they were the low-fat ones and really are not that great!)

New Play Area

New Living Room set up!Baby Gates are essential!

Emily standing!

Austin exploring new toy!

Matthew exploring Toy Bin! He got in all by himself.

Hi MOM!

1/3: After many weeks of talking about it, we finally took the "octagon" or big baby area down! Well, Rob has been ready for this move for weeks. He thought we were hindering their growth however, I found it difficult to picture life without this security! All the babies really wanted to be out and exploring the living room and it truly was sad to see them climb the baby gates! They looked like little prisoners! So, after hesitating, I finally said YES! Rob jumped as soon as I said it and started moving the plants out of the living room into the dining room. He didn't want to give me the chance to change my mind. I started having anxiety as soon as he took the octagon apart! He looked at me and kept reassuring me that this was the next step in the development of Austin, Matthew and Emily. I did get teary! We changed the furniture around and made some changes and it actually is working out great! The Peas LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their new found freedom! They loved exploring the living room and seem to be adjusting to life without the octagon quite well! Emily is walking so much more now!!
Pea News
Emily: After not having teeth for a long time...we discovered her front teeth this morning! She now has 6 teeth! 6 TEETH! She now has left the boys behind! She is also walking more and more each day! She is very attached to MOMMY and doesn't like to share me with her brothers!
Austin: Has 4 teeth. Is now trying to stand on his own. Austin is very independent and is quite content to play by himself. He has the sweetest smile. He is our early riser and is usually awake a good 30-40 minutes before the others!
Matthew: Has 4 teeth. He is our giggle monster. He loves to laugh and play and laugh some more. He is always ready with a big toothy smile for everybody! He has very special hugs for Mommy! He is also walking! Not quite as much as Emily but will walk 4-5 steps before sitting down! He also loves to cuddle!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Matthew, Austin and Emily!!!

1/1: Happy New Year! Hope this new year is filled with blessings for ALL! We have had a quiet day! Dad has been watching football all day. I actually had a chance to read a book! I read, Sarah's Key. Couldn't put it down for a minute! Actually, I had to feed babies but read whenever I had a free moment! We didn't make any resolutions but know that we want to have a year filled with laughter, family times and growth as parents! All my best to all our family and friends! A big hug and a big thank you for all who have encouraged us throughout 2009! May 2010 be even happier and full of love for everybody!