time flies

Chloe just a few hours old.

 

Chloe home from the hospital.

flashback

Slumber Party

For Chloe's birthday she asked to have a few friends come over to stay over night.  They had pizza and grapes.  For the birthday treat it was cookies and ice cream.  After that we did a little dancing.  Chloe picked our nail polish for each friend and her little sisters, so we gathered in a circle and did up some mani/pedis.  They loved it.  Everyone sat so still.  Auntie Molly even commented on how still the triplets were.  Still ONLY because they LOVE the polished nails.
At about 9:30 (two hours after normal) the triplets said nite-nite and went to bed.  Chloe and friends settled in to watch a princess flick.  All struggled on the floor they giggled and talked.  It was really cute.  They were up until very close to midnight.  When they were all snoring away, I went downstairs and crawled into bed.  Chloe came down to our room about 2:30.  (I couldn't believe she lasted so long.)  At about 4:30 I sat straight up in bed to hear a loud obnoxious pounding coming from upstairs...I took off running upstairs and found little girls beating on the bedroom and bathroom doors...yes the triplets room being one of those doors.  "Girls!  What on earth are you doing?  PLEASE do NOT wake up the triplets, PLEASE.  They were "not tired anymore" although I thought they looked pretty tired.  There was no more sleeping after that.  Triplets up by 5:15.  It is 10:30 now...all the kiddos that do not belong to me have been returned to their Mommies.  Whom I feel bad for right now, because if their kids are as crabby as the beauties are, well, I just feel bad.

All in all it was a fun night!  They all got along great (which I was more worried about than the sleeping) they were good at sharing and taking turns and there were no major disasters.  Which is good.  Not sure when the next over-nighter will be hosted here....but maybe someday.  Maybe.

It's my party and I'll smile if I want to

Happy Birthday Chloe

Happy Birthday to YOU

Happy Birthday to YOU 

Happy Birthday dear Chloe

Happy Birthday to YOU!

My baby Chloe is SIX!  When did that happen?  It really seems like yesterday that she was a tiny little pea.  I know that is sort of cliche but, so very true.  Six.  Going on sixteen.  Six.  So Grown up.

 When she was a baby she was almost always found with Mommy.  Being held.  Carried in a baby sling.  Always.  Honestly, I don't think she spent enough time rolling around on the floor.  She hated being on her tummy anyway.  She was never in a walker.  She sat in the bouncer while I showered.  She slept beside me every night.  Tucked securely at my breast.  Just a breath away.  She was my sidekick.  I took her everywhere.  I loved that and so did she.  It was her and I at home alone for almost three years.  I wouldn't have had it any other way.

This year was a really big one for her (and Mommy too.)  She began Kindergarten.  Gone all day, five days every week.  I think it was a little easier for both of us having the triplets, they kept my mind occupied and Chloe was happy to get out of the house and be independent of her sisters.  Not to mention, she adores school, her teacher, her friends, everything about it.

I am so glad.

But every once in a while, I look at her and catch a glimpse of that tiny precious little baby I carried so close to my heart.  I trail off into a memory and then return my gaze to her and see the most beautiful little girl.  She is kind, and caring.  She is sensitive and smart.  She is beautiful inside and out.  She is my baby girl, no matter how many inches taller she goes, or years she adds.  My baby.  I am so proud of the person she is becoming.  I treasure every moment watching her as she grows into herself.  What a miracle.  

My beautiful miracle.

Happy Birthday Sweetpea. 

Time is Flying

The Beauties are changing every single day. If you haven't seen them in a while you should check out our daily photo blog Beautiful Beauties, I try to update a picture a day, sometimes is four or five to catch up for the week. Taking pictures everyday is easy, uploading them, another story. But, I am trying. Chloe is starting to read pretty well. She is picking out words everywhere! It is such a wonderful thing to watch. She continues to love school. We are in full birthday prep mode. T-minus six days until Chloe is the BIG 6. Where does the time go?

Snow Days are kinda fun Mommy

Remember how great snow days when you were a kid?
We made some winter memories today.
We were ALL home together today. Which is a VERY RARE occasion.
We "bribed" the Beauties and told them "If you do not take a nap, we are not going outside to play in the snow." After a great nap (for all of us) we bundled from our heads to our toes, found the sleds, and headed to the Winter Wonderland. The girls enjoyed being outside, eating snow, making angels and sledding. After thirty minutes the triplets were finished. Amazing how the mood can change so quickly. I will also say that it took longer to put all the snow gear on than we actually spent outside. Still worth it. Every minute.
We went in, un-bundled and watched Daddy shovel and blow snow, Chloe "helped" too. Snow blowers...they never get boring to toddlers.
We all agree...Snow Days ARE Fun.

Good Night

Are you sitting down? If not...please take a seat.

My sweet little Chloe...slept IN HER OWN BED ALL NIGHT.
Can we get a HOORAY!
I am so proud of her.

For the last several nights we have been doing our bedtime routine and having story time in HER room. She had been spending more time in there by herself, so we figured it was time to give it another try.
For four nights she and I laid down in her room together, she fell asleep, I went out. Between the hours of one midnight and one she would come downstairs and crawl into bed with me.
Last night, same routine, she asked if I would stay with her until she fell asleep. "Of course." I replied. She fell asleep. I went to bed. Next thing I knew, she was standing next to me. "Mommy, will you come upstairs and lay with me until I fall back asleep?" No kidding, exact words. "Of Course!" I replied. As we walked upstairs, I glanced at the clock...6:52...
SHE SLEPT ALL NIGHT IN HER ROOM!
Hooray! I am so proud of my Chloe Girl!

Night caps

The beauties have started waking in the night several times each night again. Why? Just when you think they are all sleeping though the night, they start waking up again. It would be so much easier to bring all four of the beauties to bed with me. But Matt says NO WAY! I know, he is right.
We are back at the cry it out, self soothing thing. Which I hate. But they say it has to be done. I admit it has worked every other time with them. They just get in a routine. They wake, they want Mommy, they cry. Mommy picks up, soothes, hugs and they go back to sleep, only to wake in an hour or so and do the entire routine over.
I can let them cry if Matt is here. But when he is working I go crazy. I send him text messages about how this cry thing doesn't work. He says be strong, so I tell him I can't, and ask how he can stand to let them cry. He hates it too. But, it does seem to work. How come they always know to do it on nights Daddy is at work? They sleep all night when he is here. He goes to work and they are up five different times? Hmmmm, they must have Mommy pegged to be the softy. I won't tell them they are right just yet.
So, while I am up, listening to my beauties "soothe" themselves back to sleep...I realize...I'm tired.

Twinklers

Beautiful Beauties

Something new for all you Beauty watchers...
I have created a new blog beautifulbeauties365. I will post one photo each day.
I hope to grow in my photography skills and knowledge.
Happy Beauty watching.

Accidents happen

Yesterday when Chloe got home from school, I could tell that something wasn't quite right with her. She was very quiet. She followed me downstairs to the laundry room.
"Mommy, I have something I need to tell you in private."
I knelt down to her and she began to cry. She handed me an envelope and began crying harder.
At this point I was very concerned and she was just sobbing.
Her glasses got broke during recess. she was kicked in the face by a classmate coming down the slide. Ouch. I was much more upset about her being kicked in the face.
I hugged her and told her it was okay. Not to worry, that accidents happen. I even told her that I had broken several pairs of glasses. Once I even fell asleep with them on and squished them. She giggled a little as that.
When I picked her up today, her first words were did you get my glasses fixed. I gently explained that the way her specks were broken, that they would not be able to fix them. She began to tear up again. "But I love my glasses, I don't want a different pair."
Bless her sweet little heart.
I sure hope we can find a pair at least similar.

Sweet Little Beauties

Showers at our house can get kind of tricky. The trickiness began when the triplets were babies. I tried as much as possible to rest when they were napping during the day. Usually Chloe and I would curl up together and catch a movie. I was so tired. Nights were always too short, especially when you are up most of them, feeding, changing, rocking or pumping. So, as you can imagine, and as Matt will confirm, showers were not a priority. Usually it was later in the evening, if I was lucky. Then as they became mobile, there was NO WAY I was taking a shower when I was home alone with them. Forget it. Then they began walking, still no way I was showering while at home alone with them. Then Chloe kind of became my little helper. I would gate the toy room and leave the bathroom door open so I could hear everything. Chloe was my watch girl. I swear during a 2 minute and 14 second shower, I probably asked her 74 times if they were all okay, if they were climbing, if they were putting things in their mouths. There was a wet streak in the hall from the bathroom to the toy room daily, because every time the cry was a little distressed I would bolt from the shower to be sure they were okay. Usually they were, a few times they climbed on top of the chest or one had taken a "nibble" on another one.
When Chloe began school this fall, things became really tricky again. The option of going without a shower until late evening...not an option...I didn't want to admit to myself that I may have a little of "that Mom" in me. Showering during nap time...a no no at our house. The bathroom shares a wall with their room. (Mommy needs the regrouping, down time during the nap.) So I decided to get brave and just go for it. The first few times seemed to go smooth. They would all stand at the gate and watch, or cry for me. (So relaxing.) Soon they began just playing. Most of the time getting along well. Then the discovered Elmo and Happy Feet. This was my savior as I began to shave my legs again. Ahhh.
Then one day I decided to let them play in the living room while I showered. I gated everything off of course. They were very quiet the entire time. Which caused severe concern on my behalf. I kept calling for them, no answer. I quickly ran from my soapy bliss, to the living room...not there...kitchen gate open...all three of them sitting on TOP of the kitchen counter, putting on chap-stick, band-aids and drinking diet coke...well except Farrah, "she likes coffee." (Just ask her.) In case you are wondering...no I did not forget to close the gate leading to the kitchen. Farrah can open it. (Just ask her.) She will do it gladly for you, me and any of her sisters. If you are wondering...nope, they didn't use a chair. They climbed like little monkeys. Using cabinets and drawers to make their way "safely" to the top.
Needless to say...showers have once again become more complicated. WOW, my legs are hairy.

So...what does this long story have to do with the photo above, you are wondering?

When I finished with my shower yesterday, this is how I found them when I tippy-toed from the bathroom to spy what they were up to.
My three sweet little triplet Beauties sitting in the chair together, cuddled up in a blanket, reading a book. Melted my heart.

And yes...they were back to their usual antics today...

Little Feet

One of Mommy's most favorite things...Little Tootsies...

Sweet Silly Sissies

We were having a lot of fun with the camera. Usually it is pulling teeth to get all of them to look at me when I am armed with the camera. This day, however, they needed to get the sillies out. Smiling, hugging and just being...well...silly.

Happy Birthday Grammy Pammy

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday GRAMMY PAMMY
Happy Birthday to YOU!

We love you so much Grammy!
We hope you have a wonderful day!

Resolution

A brand new year.
I remember this time six years ago, I was "patiently" awaiting for my first baby to be born, my Chloe. I remember this time three years ago, I was in the hospital on bed rest with the triplets, praying they would stay put just a while longer.
I remember having the same old resolutions...you know, the ones that never seem to happen.
So much is different this time of year now. But I always stop and take a stroll down memory lane to visit such miracles in my life. I wonder what life was like before, as I cannot remember life without my girls. The last six years have been a whirlwind. So many changes, so much love, so many wonderful memories...and of course a lot of stress.
It has come to my attention (okay, actually thrown at me) how quickly they are growing. Changing. They are little girls, not babies anymore. You never imagine just how quickly life goes until you blink. My Mom says it all the time. My Grandmother says it all the time.
My resolution for 2010 is to take more time to just live. To simply enjoy life. To make more memories. To catch every single moment of my daughters' lives. To trap those memories in my heart and mind. I will use less of myself and my energy worrying about the little things. Things I cannot help or change. I will not fret about laundry baskets full of unfolded clothing. Because I will be happier not caring if they are there, rather than stressed because they are. I will get to them when I can. I will worry less about the dishes in the sink, and the fuzz on the toilet, they will still be there when I have an extra five. I will focus my attention on my marriage, my daughters, my family and myself. The things that matter the most. In short...I will stop worrying about things that do not truly matter.
I am richly blessed with those in my life. I want to enjoy every single moment.
Happy New Year.

Happy New Year 2010

The Holidays are officially over. A brand new year has begun.
The Beauties and I hope that everyone had a fulfilling and wonderful Holiday.
We have lots to share with you. Stay tuned for Holiday photos galore.
Here's to a happy, healthy and memory filled 2010.