« December 2008 | Main | April 2009 »

January 2009 Archives

January 31, 2009

Finally… An Update! And Tons of New, Never Before Seen Pictures, Of Course!

Oh God, where do I start?  It’s been 2 months since my last post because these kids have been keeping me BUSY!  I know everyone's dying for some new pictures, and yes, there are more than enough.  :)  However, let’s go the usual route and start with stories… if I can remember any, LOL!

Okay, milestones…

Tess is: clapping, pointing, saying mamma and dadda, saying other incoherent babblings including consonant sounds, reaching her arms up to be picked up, giving kisses, stacking objects, putting things inside a box or similar item then taking the things out of the box or similar item and repeating if necessary, eating finger foods, dancing, waving bye-bye,  bringing me things she wants to initiate play with (like a blankie for peek-a-boo, or a stuffed animal so that I can make the appropriate animal noises and make the animal kiss/tickle her, or feeding me pretend plastic food and then taking a “bite” herself and then feeding me again, or she’ll come over to me and straddle my ankle and then bounce a couple times so that I know she wants me to bounce her up and down – that one blew my mind the first couple of times she did it), oh, and she’s walking.  She has 6 teeth, 4 on top and 2 on bottom.

The High Five...

More Tess Walking

 

Nora is: pointing, saying mamma and dadda, reaching her arms up to be picked up, giving kisses, stacking objects, putting things inside a box or similar item then taking the things out of the box or similar item and repeating if necessary, eating finger foods, waving bye-bye,  bringing me things she wants to initiate play with (all the same stuff as Tess; Nora actually “fed” me with one of the plastic spoons from the kitchen once – so cute!) , and she’s walking too.  In fact, she was the first one to walk (Tess was the last) and is practically running now.  She does pacing laps back and forth in the living room, sometimes waving her arms in the air gorilla-attack-style.  It’s hilarious to see.  She has 6 teeth right now too, the same 4 on top and 2 on bottom as Tess.  Also, she said “nite nite” (well, it was more like “nye nye”, to be honest) once, while waving to me as Tony was bringing her up to bed.

Nora's First Steps!

This next one's a little longer, just over 2 minutes, because the video started out as Holden doing something cute that he didn't end up doing, so you don't see Nora walking until about 30 seconds in. She does a great job though, taking 20-30 steps to get from Tony's recliner all the way over to the chair I was sitting in! The other two are trying to catch on and are taking risky launches to walk; it's like a competition! :)

More Nora Walking!

 

Holden is: saying early variations of mamma and dadda, reaching his arms up to be picked up, giving kisses, stacking objects, eating finger foods like a pro, bringing me things he wants to initiate play with (all the same stuff as Tess and Nora; he likes for me to put things on the top of his head to wear like a hat, like a play kitchen pot or a FP Little People Bed or even a block – he sits perfectly still and thinks it’s hilarious), walking (but not as well as the girls; it’s taking him longer to get good at it, I think because of his stature – bowed legs and pigeon toes), and climbing everything he comes into contact with (I’ve found him on the gates, on the toys, on his sisters, on the furniture, and about five times at the top of the stairs).  This little shit is going to be the death of me.  Or at least keep my hairdresser in business with dye jobs.  He just got his 2 top front teeth in the last week, so he has 4 in total now, but there is another bottom tooth making it’s way in.  And lastly, the other day he said “light.”  Again, it was poorly pronunciated, something like, “ite,” but it was adorable none the less.  We’ll see if it was a mimicking fluke, or if he starts saying it more and I can count it as his first word!!!

I apologize that this video is so long; I think it's about 5 minutes in total... I don't know how to edit videos.  BUT, 2:20 seconds in, Holden walks!!

Holden's First Steps!

More Holden Walking

 

Gwen is doing great staying at home, though a few times she has gone to Jackie’s house for the day, which she loves (so do I!).  It gives her a change of pace and she gets to see Jackie and her family, plus spend time playing with Emily.  She’s talking up a storm now, asking lots of questions.  The other day while it was snowing and we were having breakfast, she asked about the snow and icicles.  I told her that the snow sticks to the top of our house and when it gets warmer outside the snow starts to melt; when that happens the snow drips off our house and when it gets cold again at night the dripping turns into an icicle.  Her response was, “Yeah, snow melts and makes water.”  She’s so smart!!  She’s started fibbing, which is an important milestone, and does so by blaming naughty things she did on the babies, or by saying that she wasn’t standing on the toy box when I was right there and saw her standing on it.  She is starting to push my buttons more and more as she matures into pre-schooler-hood.  Not just with the fibbing and the “Me help you, Momma?” and the “What you doing, Mamma?”  She whines and cries a lot to try and get her own way, and after I started ignoring it she’s started re-strategizing.  Now she says she’s “sick",  LOL.  “Me feel sick, Mommy.  Me no take nap.”  Or, “Me feel sick.  Me don’t want to eat my sandwich.”  Of course, if asked if she wants chips or chocolate what do you think her answer is?  “Yeah”, of course!  LOL  She’s hilarious.  And Queen of the Castle… or so she thinks.  :)

Okay, enough, enough, of the boring talk, let’s see the pictures, right?  LOL  We’ll be going to the pediatrician’s office for a well-visit after the triplets’ 1st birthday (I can’t believe they will be 1 in 3 weeks!!!) so I will post more stories and all their updated stats then.  Here you go, the last 2 months in pictures:

 

December

Holden's first black eye We're not even sure how it happened. I noticed what I thought was just a scratch on his eyelid and Tony said he fell on something (per his usual), but that he didn't make a big deal out of it. Of course, the next day the bruise showed up. Lovely... L-R: Tess, Holden, Nora Our goofy little boy, who fell into the doll pack 'n play whhile trying to climb up on it. He clearly amused himself. Gwenny and her BFF Emily (After I saw this picture, I realized Gwen needed a trim more than I initially thought.. I got on that the very next day!  LOL) Holden & Tony Pig pile on Tess! Tess, ready for her catalog modeling photo shoot Holden, being a boy, likes to get into trouble and tight spaces and often gets himself stuck.  Here he is, wedged under a chair. I wonder if he'll ever learn?  Either he'll be spelunking or will develop severe clostrophobia as an adult... Gwen, who loves to play hopscotch, set up her own "hopsca" with the toy bins. "1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12!" (Yes, she ALWAYS forgets 5,6 & 7, LOL! After she got bored with plain hopscotch she starrted climbing "big hills" and jumping off those. Tess and Daddy Holden, smiling so big for the most obvious of reasons (well, for boys, anyway - hehehe!) Here he is, mezmerised by the hanging candles, looking so cute in profile! Tess, who was so completely passed out after her bottle, didn't wake up during transition for dipaer changing, and even got comfy like she was going to sleep in bed! Awwww... she's so beautiful! L-R: Holden, Nora, Tess at the party at Holden't crib!! L-R: Holden, Nora, Tess ,Gwen was playing hairstylist for the afternoon.  L-R: Tess, Nora, Gwenny and Holden In the highchair, L-R: Nora, Holden and Tess Holden, thinking he's James Bond or something... I almost didn't post this pic but it's one of my favorites from that day.  Holden got the biggest kick out of me waving around that washcloth.  When I tossed it on is head, all the kids got excited and I just love the resulting moment in time captured. Tess, passed out on the pillow, right where we left her after her bottle Tess, passed out again... Me holding Gwen and Nora Holden, actually HOLDING HIS OWN BOTTLE!!! (Sorry about the boob; the bottle holding was too exciting not to share just because of a breast!) My Mr. Handsome Man Holden and Tess Holden, passed out right where I put him down, after a bottle and a snuggle Gwen came down after her bath and immediately took over - she stole his Paci, laid her baby down next to him on one side, her "Flouder" fish on the other side, and tucked him in with her blankie.  CUTE!! There is no doubt in my mind that she is the perfect blend of Tony and I...  LOL! Gwen is playing Dragon Tales with Daddy, "flying on Ord" and loving it! Yes, what happend is exactly what it looks like happened.  That little shit pushed the walker over to the coffee table and used it as a step-stool to climb up. How could I wring his neck as intended when he's just so damn proud of himself??? "Me eat my choc." L-R while attacking me (again): Nora, Tess and Holden Gwenny This picture reminds me of another picture I've seen, but I can't place it... He looks like he just did something that he is going to be grounded for a month for. I never made the time to get the kids' stockings embroidered like Gwen's, so I wrote in red Sharpie on medical tape, LOL!!  I guess the custom embroidery will have to wait until next year. It looks okay but feels so ghetto to me somehow... well, you gotta do what you gotta do, right? Tess (top) and Nora playing with the soft and fuzzy plush Santa Claus. HAAAAAAAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Everyone's first visit with Santa - It's a classic!  L-R: Nora and Tess (adorable in awe and wonderment), Santa, Gwen (on the verge of a breakdown), and Holden (who couldn't really care less).  LOL Nora was captured by the paparazzi right after an all nighter... just kidding.  It was after her nap and she's just not a morning person, just like Mommy. After Santa visited, but before the kids got to it all Full stockings?!  Where were we when these kids were being so good???  ;-) Gwen, Holden, Nora (standing) and Tess, all playing together in the kitchen all considerate and friendly like, right after they found it.  How cute?! Gwenny and Holden, hard at work making breakfast. More of the kids olaying and being adorable in the kitchen. Tess, opening her stocking with Daddy. Daddy showing off Tess' new toys, that Nora seems to have her eyes on already. Gwenny, feeding Baby in her new highchair. Tess (left) and Nora, playing with the FP Little Superstar Sing Along Stage.  This big-hit gift was brought to us by Uncle Russ and Jodi! Fighting over it already. Nora tries to take center stage, mic at the ready. Tess took over the toy.  She LOVES the hell out of those little pop-up pals in the mirror, which pop up when you press the keyboard or drum.  I love this pic b/c of the relection; you can see she's having a ball. Holden, using his new Tonka Scoot 'n Scoop ride-on/walker, courtesy of Uncle Russ and Jodi. Once again, Unlce Russ and Jodi were a big hit with their toy selection.  Here's Gwen playing with her FP Little People Dance 'n Twirl Palace.  What cracks me up is she has everyone all lined up to watch the two princesses dance, LOL! Gwen, using the microwave. Solemn little man.  He looks so cute though! Paging Dr. Nora! Tony with (L-R) Nora, Tess and Holden L-R before a bath: Nora, Holden, Tess.  I just love little nudie babies!! Holden, hanging in Gwen's highchair and LOVIN' it! Tony, protecting himself and his now useless testicles from Nora. Gwenny, ready to go out in play in the snow with Daddy on New Years' Eve. Here she is on the sled Santa brought.  She's having fun!! You can't see it but this is Gwen's snowman.  She didn't care what it looked like she was just having a cow over building one.  Since the snow was so fluffy, this mound was all Tony could pull off, but she was happy. 

 

January

Holden decided he wanted to try Gwen's water so he hid in the play kitchen with it. I was surprised that he actually figured it out! Thinking about how it works... He noticed he'd been caught.  Here he comes for ass kissing! L-R: Tess, Nora & olden, as they started eating finger foods; here they are with bananas. Nora really loves that nanner! It was all quite the mess. Here are the girls, happy for the moment while climbing up my pants. Holden, being naughty, but who could scold him for helping with the filing? The full picture: He used the walker to make this "off limits" space attainable.  He pushed the walker (you can see the orange handle of it) over to the tote to climb up onto that and over into Daddy's forbidden computer zone.  Bad boy!! L-R: Nora, Holden & Tess at lunch time (their finger-foods experimentation/practice session). Nora, unamused and just plain ready for her nap. Tessie, always smiling - notice the pre-haircut bangs.  Yikes! Grungy little man Holden. Gwen sitting with Nora Gwen and Nora - How cute; they're both playing with cars! Holden, climbing over the FP Sing Along Stage barricade to get to mommy and the changing table. L-R: Tess, Nora & Holden - Notice Tess' Jim Carey-esq new hairdo.  Yikes! Tess and Nora, playing, and actually dressed.  Must have been an appointment day. Little shorty, using the toy bin as a step-stool to get to Gwen's castle. Gwen was quite proud of herself for climbing into the changing table. Nora sitting in the bouncy seat.  She climbed in all by herslef and loved hanging out there. Holden loved the bouncy seat more apparently, as he kicked Nora out and found his own way in. Holden just lying down, enjoying the hammock-ness of the bouncy seat. L-R: Nora, Holden & Tess Gwen found that picking the dried leaves off the lampshades is waaayyyy fun.  She soon found out it was also waaaayyyy naughty. Holden climbed up into the doll stroller and turned around, so that he could just stand there surveying the land. He was there for a while, maybe 15 minutes. He loved it! Holden, from inside the kitchen window.  CUTE! Gwen insisted that she wanted to sleep downstairs so I pulled out her Elmo sleeping bag and here she is, telling me all about how you try to go to sleep by closing your eyes and snoring. Her instructions were great but she never actually slept in it. Here's Gwenny, passed out in Daddy's chair, a couple of hours after the Elmo sleeping bad non-napping incident. Here's Nora, sitting on the rung of the highchair, taking a little break. Playing is such hard work! Nora, super excited to see mommy. Nora is such a happy little kid!  Look at those cheeks!! Little man Holden, peeking in on momma. Nora, passed out after a bottle.  I loved how she had her hands folded together. Just another angle, and without the flash, which helps to capture the true picture in the light that was there. Holden had climbed the Superstar Sing Along Stage and was straddling it like a horse.  Nce.  That kid is going to be the death of me. Who's who???  Aren't they cute though?  :) That little shit did it.  I turned my back for one minute to change a diaper and when I turned back around he had climbed into my chair (and over my make-shift barrier so I can change diapers in peace) to get the coveted remote. Nora was actually trying to hit the baseball WITH THE BAT!  So cute!! Gwen actually pulled the play kitchen away from the wall to use it as a jungle gym and everyone had a blast tearing up the rest of the living room. Gwen climbed up onto the breakfast bar in the play kitchen to ride it like a horsie. Nora and Holden in the chair (I put them there, they didn't climb in or anyting cute, lol) - Notice Nora's matching Tess with her new 'do! They were having so much fun! Holden, actually drinking his milk from a sippy cup.  Of course, he stoppeed half-way through. Ah, toddlerhood... It is what it is, all around the world.  aka Elmo, sippy cups and nose picking. Here's Holden, playing with the girls in the kitchen, sitting in the oven door and "eating" the chips. Is that soil in her mouth???  No, it's half of a cupcake.  LOL 

As Holden got more daring and acrobatic with his climbing attempts, I began researching safer ways to satiate him (so he didn’t kill himself, and I didn’t feel like killing him).  Enter the Step 2 Kangaroo Climber.  Some of the other triplet mommies recommended it, having used it for their own monkeys.  I found one on Craig’s List for $50, which is $80 cheaper than if we had purchased it brand new.  It was used outdoors, so I had to suck it up and clean off a LOT of spider egg sacks and lots of dirt, but it was worth the effort.  It came out great, and the kids totally love it!  I only pull it out a couple times a day for an hour or two, first so it seems more interesting (you know how kids are – leave something out for 2 weeks and they are totally bored with it), and second so the living room is still livable the majority of the time.  It takes up a good chunk of space but just look at how much fun they have with it ~

Holden, and Nora peeking out of the window. Nora playing on the platform (I had to put her up there; their legs are still too short to climb up on their own, even with the protective couch pillows in there. After nap time when they all went ape-shit.  L-R: Holden, Nora, Gwen, Tess and Tony. Gwen going down the slide + Holden climbing up the slide = Disaster You can't really see him, but the kids are fixated on Tony, who was inside the cube, poking his head out the bottom tunnel. Okay, here's Tony's head, and Gwen sliding down the slide.  You'll notice the trio is no longer that enthralled by Daddy.

See ya next time!!!  :)

About January 2009

This page contains all entries posted to MoreThanWeExpected.com in January 2009. They are listed from oldest to newest.

December 2008 is the previous archive.

April 2009 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

Powered by
Movable Type 3.31