On Wednesday we had our developmental evaluation to check their progress and see if they qualified for the Birth to Three program which is the state early intervention development program. Luckily they came to us but 4 hours of testing was pretty grueling on everyone.
The problem with testing all 3 in the same environment is that they all want to be involved at the same time but want no part of the testing when in is in fact their turn. For example, one of the tests was to have three washcloths in front of the child and then they would show the child a little car or animal and then put it under the washcloth, take it back out, put it under another one, under a cup, back under the washcloth and then the child has to figure out where it is. Well Beckett was watching Addy get tested so he wanted to help. He brought his cars over and was picking up the washcloths trying to hide his cars under. Or he would show Addy where it was. Eloise wanted to use the washcloths for scrubbing the floor. They used a flashlight for something and they all wanted the flashlight to play with. Then they all wanted the ball that was being used. At one point Addy had crawled into the big bag of test props and was bent over throwing stuff out of the bag like she was looking for something.
When it was Eloise's turn, she refused to participate in any way and would only do anything when she was sitting on top of the end table next to the couch and of course with a lovie in her mouth. The evaluators made a comment like, "Kind of looks like she is sitting on a throne and will only cooperate if we come to her." They nailed it. That's Eloise.
Although it was a nice distraction for the kids to be "playing" with new people all morning, it was a difficult morning. They arrived as the kids were finishing breakfast and left a little after they finished lunch. They made a comment as they were leaving something along the lines of that it seems like I have to spend a lot of time preparing and cleaning up after meals. Again, they nailed it. And this was one of the few days that yogurt and applesauce were NOT dripping off the cupboards.
Now before I get to the results I have to say that before I had triplets and envisioned myself with a singleton I always thought I would be one of those crazy parents pushing their kids to be over-achievers and would be devastated if they didn't read by the age of two or play some musical instruments or whatever. When I had triples and the reality of the potential delays, health problems and just lack of time hit home I decided that in the first two years my focus should be on their health. I needed to keep them healthy and myself sane. Their health would be the #1 priority until that magical age of 2 when their lungs have had a chance to catch up and a cold/RSV would not have the same potentially long-term consequences. If they were more delayed at age 2 then we would work harder to catch up but we couldn't "work harder" to make up for lung damage or asthma. So health has been the priority.
When they were really little and I was always told to do tummy time. Yeah right. Like I needed to purposefully make them scream and cry when I didn't have enough hands to comfort them all after. So if they were a few months behind in holding their heads up- fine. At least it would be a few happier months for all. I told our pediatrician and developmental specialist that too.
We knew that all three were speech delayed. Beckett does not say one word, he will not sign, even after over a year of me signing "more" and "milk. They girls say a few words and sign a few words. Their actual age is 19 months but their adjusted age is 17 months (remember 2 months premature.)
Both Beckett and Eloise tested at 12.67 months for expressive language and Addy tested at 14 months. No real surprise there. Beckett also showed to be at 15 months for fine motor skills. Again no surprise if you watch his hand movements.
But here is the big surprise...
For the rest of the categories- cognition, receptive language, social-emotional, self-care and gross motor they ALL (with one small exception) tested between 19 months (their actual age) and 26 months old. That's right, 26 months old. The one exception is Beckett tested at 18 months which is still above where they expected.
I was blown away. I was getting choked up while they were giving me the results. Our little tiny preemie babies are developmentally months ahead? I have to remember that many of these tests are subject to interpretation but still I have to say it just for fun and in case this is a big joke and I don't get to say it again- they kicked butt and took names.
Just a little side note- Beckett and Addy tested at 26 months for social-emotional which is getting along with peers and adults and Eloise tested at 22 months. In the 4hours I think they witnessed a few episodes of how Eloise does not appreciate others touching HER toys or mom. I think the behavior was categorized as "aggressive." Kind of funny but not really when she tries to swap at, poke, and knock down anyone who touches one of the four baby dolls.
So now the question is what to do going forward with the speech therapy. Eloise and Beckett qualified for speech therapy but we are still trying to determine the best route to get these services. Our pediatrician has said that she would be entirely comfortable if we waited until the summer to see how their speech progresses and re-evaluate. I would be comfortable waiting a few more months until the the flu/RSV season is subsiding because we most likely will have to take the kids to the Children's Hospital. Again, the health thing. So we will see, I mean, listen.
And speaking of listening, listen carefully to the end of this video. In the last 24 hours, Beckett has said his first word- Mama. Now he says it over and over and over and over. I just happen to catch it while I was taping Addy doing her after dinner exercises.
Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Merry Christmas 2010- Long Version
I thought I was sufficiently recovered from the holidays. I'm still searching for leftover scraps of chocolate, most of the boxes are gone, all the decorations are packing away for next year, I starting thinking about Valentines Day candy and then I realized I forgot to do a blog post about the holidays. It was a pretty amazing holiday and what a difference from last year. It is different from our everyday routine, there are different people around, different things to do and there has been something special in the air for days. Like I said before, the kids don't really know WHAT is going on but I think they "get it."
I already posted some pics from Christmas Eve at my dad's house but I don't think they really captured the true beauty of Crazycakes. Ladies, have you ever put on a skirt or dress and it is shorter in the back than in the front and you know wearing that skirt is telling everyone your butt is bigger now than when you bought the skirt. This is Addy in all her glory. Crazy hair, missing a shoe and back of the skirt way shorter than the front. I love it. She should always wear ruffled skirts.
I think Eloise should always wear tennis shoes with her skirts. It totally cracks me up the little bruiser.
We put the kids in their pj's at my Dad's and Cousin Oliver was laying next to Addy talking to her while she was getting her diaper changed and dressed. Is was so sweet especially since when we first got to WI Oliver was wondering, "When are those babies going back to Texas?" I think he realized they idolize him so it is worth keeping them around.
This was Christmas morning before the chaos. Our present to the kids was the chairs and the bike which they got the day before and everything else was from Rich's family in TX.
The kids climbed OVER the wrapped presents to sit in their chairs and believe it or not, they each sat in the chair with the correct name with no prompting from us. It's a Christmas Miracle- they learned to read!
Addy thought she was so smart sitting her chair. She just sat and smiled to herself like, "If they think they can get me to stop climbing on the furniture by buying this chair, they have another thing coming."
Beckett immediately focused in on the reptiles on the new kitchen set.
The girls ignored the reptiles and headed to the kitchen set. They all love this thing. Actually right now I think they are cooking the reptiles in the oven overnight.
Note to self for next year- release all toys from packing prior to opening. It causes huge trauma for the kids to wait for something to be removed using multiple sized screwdrivers and dulls all my scissors when in desperation they are brought out to saw away at the metal.
I used to sing to the kids when they were little about different kids of camps they could go to when they got big- dinosaur camp, robot camp, Lego camp with Uncle Isaac, tennis camp, soccer camp, math camp, and my favorite, space camp. Now Beckett has something to wear.
I never sang about dance camp but what Addy wants, Addy gets.
I was kind of thinking that getting baby dolls would be good this Christmas but it was one of those things that seemed too complicated. Ridiculous I know. Whenever I was at Target the aisles would be crowded, lots of choices and screaming kids. When I am not with my screaming kids, I don't want to hear one peep out of other kids so I do a 180 at any store when I hear crying.
So they didn't get baby dolls ON Christmas but a couple days after when my Uncle Rich and Aunt Joni from Oregon were doing the WI Logghe family tour. They brought baby dolls AND a stroller and all kinds of other presents. It was the day the kids figured out about opening presents. Days like this remind me how fortunate we are to have a whole community of people loving these kids and seamlessly picking up when I get overwhelmed and sometimes flake out.
These twin dolls talk to one another (in Spanish) and this is the scene several times a day. There is lots of fighting over the bottles, juice box and feeding spoon. It doesn't matter that there are two dolls. Everyone wants both.
"These babies don't drink orange juice and formula. They drink breast milk!"
I don't know where she comes up with these things, I swear. I stopped pumping like 17 months ago.
Unfortunately my mom was really sick on Christmas day so we weren't able to see her or any of the other people at the house that may have been carrying the stomach virus germs. I never used to think about germs so much and before the triplets we probably would have all been hanging out in the living room while she had a nest on the couch but not this year. The thought of having 3 sick kids or that I would get sick and unable to take care of the kids just wasn't worth the risk. It was a total bummer for everyone and I always feel bad like my anxiety about the kids getting sick puts a damper on things but Rich and I always discuss the "risk versus benefit" and hope that we make the right decision.
The day of it was disappointing but I think we made the right decision because we made up for it this past weekend. Next up- Christmas in January.
I already posted some pics from Christmas Eve at my dad's house but I don't think they really captured the true beauty of Crazycakes. Ladies, have you ever put on a skirt or dress and it is shorter in the back than in the front and you know wearing that skirt is telling everyone your butt is bigger now than when you bought the skirt. This is Addy in all her glory. Crazy hair, missing a shoe and back of the skirt way shorter than the front. I love it. She should always wear ruffled skirts.
I think Eloise should always wear tennis shoes with her skirts. It totally cracks me up the little bruiser.
We put the kids in their pj's at my Dad's and Cousin Oliver was laying next to Addy talking to her while she was getting her diaper changed and dressed. Is was so sweet especially since when we first got to WI Oliver was wondering, "When are those babies going back to Texas?" I think he realized they idolize him so it is worth keeping them around.
This was Christmas morning before the chaos. Our present to the kids was the chairs and the bike which they got the day before and everything else was from Rich's family in TX.
The kids climbed OVER the wrapped presents to sit in their chairs and believe it or not, they each sat in the chair with the correct name with no prompting from us. It's a Christmas Miracle- they learned to read!
Addy thought she was so smart sitting her chair. She just sat and smiled to herself like, "If they think they can get me to stop climbing on the furniture by buying this chair, they have another thing coming."
Beckett immediately focused in on the reptiles on the new kitchen set.
The girls ignored the reptiles and headed to the kitchen set. They all love this thing. Actually right now I think they are cooking the reptiles in the oven overnight.
Note to self for next year- release all toys from packing prior to opening. It causes huge trauma for the kids to wait for something to be removed using multiple sized screwdrivers and dulls all my scissors when in desperation they are brought out to saw away at the metal.
I used to sing to the kids when they were little about different kids of camps they could go to when they got big- dinosaur camp, robot camp, Lego camp with Uncle Isaac, tennis camp, soccer camp, math camp, and my favorite, space camp. Now Beckett has something to wear.
I never sang about dance camp but what Addy wants, Addy gets.
I was kind of thinking that getting baby dolls would be good this Christmas but it was one of those things that seemed too complicated. Ridiculous I know. Whenever I was at Target the aisles would be crowded, lots of choices and screaming kids. When I am not with my screaming kids, I don't want to hear one peep out of other kids so I do a 180 at any store when I hear crying.
So they didn't get baby dolls ON Christmas but a couple days after when my Uncle Rich and Aunt Joni from Oregon were doing the WI Logghe family tour. They brought baby dolls AND a stroller and all kinds of other presents. It was the day the kids figured out about opening presents. Days like this remind me how fortunate we are to have a whole community of people loving these kids and seamlessly picking up when I get overwhelmed and sometimes flake out.
These twin dolls talk to one another (in Spanish) and this is the scene several times a day. There is lots of fighting over the bottles, juice box and feeding spoon. It doesn't matter that there are two dolls. Everyone wants both.
"These babies don't drink orange juice and formula. They drink breast milk!"
I don't know where she comes up with these things, I swear. I stopped pumping like 17 months ago.Unfortunately my mom was really sick on Christmas day so we weren't able to see her or any of the other people at the house that may have been carrying the stomach virus germs. I never used to think about germs so much and before the triplets we probably would have all been hanging out in the living room while she had a nest on the couch but not this year. The thought of having 3 sick kids or that I would get sick and unable to take care of the kids just wasn't worth the risk. It was a total bummer for everyone and I always feel bad like my anxiety about the kids getting sick puts a damper on things but Rich and I always discuss the "risk versus benefit" and hope that we make the right decision.
The day of it was disappointing but I think we made the right decision because we made up for it this past weekend. Next up- Christmas in January.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Comments from Strangers
There has not been 1 time when I've been out with the kids that I don't get some sort of comment from a stranger. I guess we will get comments until we don't have all the gear, IE triple stroller and choo-choo wagon that draw so much attention. Most of the time I don't mind, you just get used to it and it comes with the territory. In general, the comments are pretty benign, sometimes funny and many times encouraging. But sometime the comments are rude, unkind or just downright strange. I've never once been rude or unkind back no matter what the comment. I just blog about it.
We had rough morning with Eloise hanging on me, a few good tumbles and lots of poop. I had been in the house with the kids for almost 48 hours so I had to get out and we getting a little low on milk. I've mentioned that I frequent Whole Foods because of the heated parking garage. Even if milk is cheaper at the Pick n'Save down the street, I figure that my sanity and keeping the kids warm is worth the extra $4.00. Plus, they give a 10% case discount (4 gallons) which ALMOST makes up for it.
I shop with the Choo-Choo Wagon so I can push the cart and pull the wagon. The garage is below the store so I have to take an elevator up which is no problem getting in but a little tricky to get out because the wagon is three cars which doesn't back up straight. With the cart and wagon back down the car requires the driving skills and reflexes of Mario Andretti. The doors close very quickly after opening so I have to back the wagon up quickly, get it in the way of the door, grab the cart and back everything up while the door opens and closes on me. I've lost the cart before but it came back down untouched.
It's not terrible pushing the cart and I can maneuver around the store pretty well but I know the tricky corners or aisles with big displays or poles and which wine displays to stay away from. It does get a little heavy and cumbersome when I have 4 gallons of milk, 96 oz of yogurt, and 3 pounds of tofu which is what is frequently in my cart along with everything else.
I keep an extra close eye on Addy because she is a grabber. In addition, her motto is- No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem. I don't even bother putting shoes or socks on her until we get someplace. She takes them off in the car if they even make it that far. So I have to watch and make sure she is not throwing everything overboard as she takes it off. I dread the day she figures out how to get totally undressed.
Even with all of that, I really enjoy taking the kids shopping. We need to get out, we are getting something accomplished while enjoying ourselves and they rarely if ever have had a meltdown in the store. But we still have to deal with the comments. Today I had two comments on totally opposite ends of the spectrum.
I was getting out of the elevator with the groceries and the wagon at the same they were collecting the carts from the garage so when the door opened there were carts lined up on either side of the door with about a 3 foot aisle 20 feet long for me to maneuver- pushing the wagon backwards and pulling the cart. That was a tough one. As I was struggling and sweating this woman came running over and said, "Please, please let me help. I've been watching you shop. I can't believe how well behaved your kids are. I will never ever complain about shopping again." She was really sweet but I think she was circling in the parking lot watching me get the kids in the car. That comment made up for a one a few minutes earlier while I was shopping.
A mature woman came up to me and said, "I'm a triplet too but 77 years ago babies weren't born in a test tube like they are now."
I can guarantee you my children were not BORN in a test tube. I have the body to prove it.
We had rough morning with Eloise hanging on me, a few good tumbles and lots of poop. I had been in the house with the kids for almost 48 hours so I had to get out and we getting a little low on milk. I've mentioned that I frequent Whole Foods because of the heated parking garage. Even if milk is cheaper at the Pick n'Save down the street, I figure that my sanity and keeping the kids warm is worth the extra $4.00. Plus, they give a 10% case discount (4 gallons) which ALMOST makes up for it.
I shop with the Choo-Choo Wagon so I can push the cart and pull the wagon. The garage is below the store so I have to take an elevator up which is no problem getting in but a little tricky to get out because the wagon is three cars which doesn't back up straight. With the cart and wagon back down the car requires the driving skills and reflexes of Mario Andretti. The doors close very quickly after opening so I have to back the wagon up quickly, get it in the way of the door, grab the cart and back everything up while the door opens and closes on me. I've lost the cart before but it came back down untouched.
It's not terrible pushing the cart and I can maneuver around the store pretty well but I know the tricky corners or aisles with big displays or poles and which wine displays to stay away from. It does get a little heavy and cumbersome when I have 4 gallons of milk, 96 oz of yogurt, and 3 pounds of tofu which is what is frequently in my cart along with everything else.
I keep an extra close eye on Addy because she is a grabber. In addition, her motto is- No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem. I don't even bother putting shoes or socks on her until we get someplace. She takes them off in the car if they even make it that far. So I have to watch and make sure she is not throwing everything overboard as she takes it off. I dread the day she figures out how to get totally undressed.
Even with all of that, I really enjoy taking the kids shopping. We need to get out, we are getting something accomplished while enjoying ourselves and they rarely if ever have had a meltdown in the store. But we still have to deal with the comments. Today I had two comments on totally opposite ends of the spectrum.
I was getting out of the elevator with the groceries and the wagon at the same they were collecting the carts from the garage so when the door opened there were carts lined up on either side of the door with about a 3 foot aisle 20 feet long for me to maneuver- pushing the wagon backwards and pulling the cart. That was a tough one. As I was struggling and sweating this woman came running over and said, "Please, please let me help. I've been watching you shop. I can't believe how well behaved your kids are. I will never ever complain about shopping again." She was really sweet but I think she was circling in the parking lot watching me get the kids in the car. That comment made up for a one a few minutes earlier while I was shopping.
A mature woman came up to me and said, "I'm a triplet too but 77 years ago babies weren't born in a test tube like they are now."
I can guarantee you my children were not BORN in a test tube. I have the body to prove it.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
And so it begins...
Beckett is a sweet and sensitive little boy.
He hugs and kisses.
He dances and spins circles and sings.
He adores his sisters.
He likes to share.
He likes frogs.
And so the teasing begins...
Yes, that is a big knot on Addy's head. More later on the sound that every mother can recognize a mile away, never fails to make your heart drop and makes you run faster than you ever thought possible. The sound of your child hitting the floor-THUNK!
He hugs and kisses.
He dances and spins circles and sings.
He adores his sisters.
He likes to share.
He likes frogs.
And so the teasing begins...
Yes, that is a big knot on Addy's head. More later on the sound that every mother can recognize a mile away, never fails to make your heart drop and makes you run faster than you ever thought possible. The sound of your child hitting the floor-THUNK!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
A lesson on how to behave at a party
We have been talking a lot about parties lately. We went to my dad's birthday party on Sunday which I prepared the kids for by talking about singing and dancing and of course eating cake. When it was time to go I said, "Who wants to go to Papa's house?" and they all sprinted to the gate to head down the stairs. I didn't bring my camera and I wish I would have because Addy soaked through her clothes and like a good mom I didn't have any extra with me. So she ended up running around with just shirt and shoes and when they brought the cake out Addy was sitting on my dad's lap with no shirt and just striped tights. Beckett was on his lap too and started to cry during "Happy Birthday" and Eloise was right next to him in a booster seat anxiously waiting cake. So that was the singing part and they must have remembered dancing on the coffee table on Christmas Eve because they kept trying to climb on the coffee table.
Last night I started talking to the kids again about what to do at a party and that singing and dancing is always fun and appropriate (hmm, maybe I should modify that lesson). I was preparing them to go to my sister's to hang out with her this morning on her birthday. I started to talk about cake and then realized I forgot to buy one. Bummer, I love cake. So I really hyped up the dancing.
Beckett apparently wants to dance to "You spin me round (like a record)"
Disclaimer- He didn't get hurt. Popped right up and back at it.
Addy had other ideas about singing and dancing. You can't hear it but she IS singing- just humming to herself which is what she does when I sing to her.
And then today when we started the singing and dancing at Sarah's this is what happened with 3-18 month olds and 1-3.5 year old.
You can tell we thought it was pretty funny. Poor Beckett was a little freaked out. He sat on that stool holding his truck for about 20 minutes.
We are super excited to sing and dance and celebrate with Oliver again when he turns 4 in a few weeks.
Last night I started talking to the kids again about what to do at a party and that singing and dancing is always fun and appropriate (hmm, maybe I should modify that lesson). I was preparing them to go to my sister's to hang out with her this morning on her birthday. I started to talk about cake and then realized I forgot to buy one. Bummer, I love cake. So I really hyped up the dancing.
Beckett apparently wants to dance to "You spin me round (like a record)"
Disclaimer- He didn't get hurt. Popped right up and back at it.
Addy had other ideas about singing and dancing. You can't hear it but she IS singing- just humming to herself which is what she does when I sing to her.
And then today when we started the singing and dancing at Sarah's this is what happened with 3-18 month olds and 1-3.5 year old.
You can tell we thought it was pretty funny. Poor Beckett was a little freaked out. He sat on that stool holding his truck for about 20 minutes.
We are super excited to sing and dance and celebrate with Oliver again when he turns 4 in a few weeks.
Angels, Idols and Triplets
Back in December we were part of a photo shoot for an installation at the Milwaukee Art Museum. We didn't end up in the final copy but we did end up with these beautiful pictures my mom took while we were hanging out. In case the setting looks familiar, it is the same setting as the holiday Victoria's Secret ads and the Milwaukee American Idol tryouts. It is just beautiful, has a heated parking garage (only one of two that I've found so far), and lots of kid/family centered activities.
This museum is truly one of the crown jewels of Milwaukee and we are just chomping at the bit for the kids area to re-open next month. In the meantime with this cold I'm forced to go to the other heated parking garage to entertain the kids which turns into a very expensive habit. Rich is always asking, "Weren't you just at Whole Foods?"
This museum is truly one of the crown jewels of Milwaukee and we are just chomping at the bit for the kids area to re-open next month. In the meantime with this cold I'm forced to go to the other heated parking garage to entertain the kids which turns into a very expensive habit. Rich is always asking, "Weren't you just at Whole Foods?"
Monday, January 3, 2011
The real reason to move to WI
When we decided to move to WI, one of the first things I thought was "Finally, I have a legitimate reason to wear Sorels." I have a love affair with boots and in my mind these are the George Clooney/David Beckham/Jonny Depp/Sean Connery/Rupert Everett (take your pick) of cold weather wear. They arrived today.
These babies are waterproof and good to -25 degrees Fahrenheit. The 50 degree weather and rain the other day melted all the snow but guess what? It just started to flurry. I've never been so excited to take the pugs out.
These babies are waterproof and good to -25 degrees Fahrenheit. The 50 degree weather and rain the other day melted all the snow but guess what? It just started to flurry. I've never been so excited to take the pugs out.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
It takes 3 to make a thing go right...
Their true personalities come out when they want something they can't have or have a treasure taken away because they should not be playing with it. For example, Addy is no longer allowed to play with real phones. One of the few time she had my iPhone she dropped it and the screen shattered. I had a BUY a new one. When I have to take something away is when I am reminded that these are three little individuals that happened to be born at the same time.
They each employ different methods to display their displeasure towards me and I've named them- The Brute, The Terror, and The Heartbreaker. You can probably guess which is which.
The Brute- Addycakes
Addy wants what she wants. If she wants you to hold her, she'll stand by you yelling and putting her arms in the air. If you are holding her and she doesn't want to be put down, she'll cling like a monkey wrapping those long legs around you and hanging on for dear life. If you take something away from her she will do what I call fake crying. She puts her bottom lip out, squints her eyes and starts to sound like she is crying but if you really look, it turns out she is looking at you to see your reaction. The fake crying usually lasts about 5 seconds before the real Addy kicks in.
If she wants something, she tries to get through brute force. She really loves electronics, especially phones. She has a number of things she thinks are phones and makes frequent calls with such as an iPhone case, a calculator, and there are several ipods floating around. But, she knows the real thing and whenever Rich sits down she starts to dig in his pocket for his Blackberry. And she doesn't stop the little pickpocket. I've watched the routine before and Rich tries to discourage her and then gets distracted with another child and she nabs it.
Addy is very fair when I remind her to be. If she has two of something, such as an ipod, and I ask her to give one to a sibling, she usually will. But if she wants one and doesn't have one, she has no qualms about taking it through brute force. She has 2 lbs on Eloise so the tug of wars usually don't last too long.
She is not really a crier when I take something away from her probably because she is so smart she knows that she is not supposed to have it in the first place and it hatching a plan to get it back. Her latest thing after baths is to try to suck on the lotion pump. She knows she is not supposed to and doesn't cry when I take it away it. In her mind she thinks, "GAME ON!"
Her force is frequently paired with persistence. I try to put the lotion out of her reach but still in mine because I need it for the other kids or even her if she isn't dressed. If I put it up on a chair or a shelf, she will climb something to get at it. Or tonight, she went across the room, picked up a wipes box and put it down next to a chair so she could reach the chair to get the lotion that was on a shelf above the chair. Oh, and I was sitting on the floor leaning against the chair so she tried to push me out of the way to get her wipes box next to the chair. When that didn't work she waited until I moved forward slightly to nab one of the passing kids to get them dressed and she moved in with the wipes box. Hmm, maybe I should change her name from The Brute to The Brain.
The Terror- Eloise
Just to be clear- I'm the one being terrorized here. It is the element of surprise and her lack of concern over injuring herself or someone else to get her way which is so terrifying. She personifies the definition the little smartypants.
If I take something away from her she screams, stomps those tiny feet and starts swinging and swatting at anything in her way. I'm sure she is angry at me but it does not matter if there is a dog or sibling in her way, she'll hit at anything. I've even seen her pull Beckett down backwards by his overalls just because he happened to be walking by. If she still doesn't get her way, she will throw herself backwards usually headfirst (because of her large head size in proportion to her body) with no forethought as to what she might hit on the way down. Yesterday it was the corner of the crib. If she didn't hit anything on the way down she will lay on the floor arching her back kicking and screaming. At that point, nothing can bring her back, not even the offering of the original removed item. I just have to let it play out. She'll usually give it a go for about 5 minutes and then calm down, find herself a lovie, find a lap and sit and pout for a few then go on with her day.
Sometimes though an incident like this could put her over the edge for hours which means that the only thing that will make her happy is to be held. Like the other morning when we were having coffee and and snack the new Alterra in Shorewood- a must go for Milwaukee folks. I took away a container of salsa from Eloise and she pretty much cried and kicked for 1.5 hours after that. We eventually had to leave and getting her in the car in almost single digit temperatures was one heck of a fight. I've had days where she just lives on my hip. It is the only way to keep the calm.
There is a reason we call her "dolly." Hugging and snuggling and carrying her around is like having a magical real live doll. She rests her head on your shoulder, sucks on lovies, smells like lovies, and weighs next to nothing probably because she spends so much time on my hip she has figured out how to sit in the most efficient way as to not get put down.
I think that this tactic has also put the fear into her siblings so they don't touch anything that she THINKS is hers. For example, the baby doll stroller from my Uncle Rich and Aunt Joni who were visiting from Oregon. From the minute that gift was opened, Eloise was convinced it was hers. She pushed it around for a while, then tried to haul it up the stairs at nap time and it has pretty much followed her from room to room since then. It sits next to her crib at night. Now she does play with other toys but keeps an eye on the stroller and the minute someone else touches it she goes running over screaming and stamping her feet and the other person, usually Beckett, backs away.
Pound for pound she is the toughest thing in the house and that even includes my Ironman husband. She's charming, smart, tough and always keeps me on my toes and that usually means sprinting to her rescue she has bumped her head in a full blown tantrum.
The Heartbreaker- Beckett
Oh my sweet, sweet baby boy. Since Beckett has found trucks and the intrigue of his sisters, he is just about the sweetest and funniest thing around. Most of the time you can find him pushing trucks making truck noises, playing with little animals (still making truck noises) or making trouble with Addy. He really loves to do the same things his sisters are doing. If Addy climbs from a table to the couch, he is right there behind her. If Addy wears a pair of my shoes around the house, Beckett finds a pair and does it too. If Addy is crawling around on the floor pretending to be a dog, Beckett will be a dog too with a louder bark. He is very interested in riding in the baby doll stroller and flipping it over to check out what is going on underneath but Eloise won't let him get a good look. Generally he is the one who will run up to me and hug my legs laughing and run away. Probably once a meal he leans over to give Addy a hug. He used to get upset if Rich and I would hug or kiss and now he laughs and hides his head and gives really wet kisses on command. Beckett not Rich.
So we have this happy funny boy who adores his sisters and loves his dogs and thinks that life revolves around pushing trucks and holding dinosaurs and then his world is shattered like one his sister gets first dibs on one of the trucks. Oh my. The ear shattering wailing, utter distress and unbelievable sadness is just heartbreaking. That's his thing. Just lay on the floor and sob.
The good news is that he gets over it pretty quick and it right back to his happy goofy self bring me fake food and hiding behind the laundry doors. That is until it is time to get dressed or get his diaper changed. Poor kid has the worst diapers and all he does is kick, flip, squirm and scream while getting changed or getting dressed. it is miserable. The best I can figure out is that diaper or clothing changes are just interfering with his playing. Recently he has a favorite brontosaurus that can distract him long enough to get his diaper changed if I'm as quick as lightening.
As far as getting him dressed in the morning I have a confession to make. I've turned to the dark side. I let him watch TV. I tried really hard to wait until they are 2 to watch TV but I just couldn't do it. Sometimes we have the TV on in the living room, for example the Packer game, but they haven't paid too much attention. Now TV is starting to pique their interest. I would say 50% of the time, I turn on the TV show Dinosaur Train for everyone to watch while I get Beckett dressed. It's all about picking your battles. And my heartstrings can't take it every morning. If I can keep this little boy happy by watching 30 minutes of TV, I'm going to do it.
So no, they are not twins (Addy and Beckett and Eloise is what- 9 months younger?), no they are not identical, yes I can tell them apart, and yes they are totally different. I wouldn't want 3 Brutes or 3 Terror(ists), or 3 Heartbreakers because I have 3 amazing little individuals who complement, teach, terrorize and cry with one another who happened to all be born at the same time.
As long as I'm at it, I might as well answer a few more questions. Yes, we were surprised and still are every day, yes I guess they are natural because they are not alien-life forms and yes multiples do run the family. They do now.
They each employ different methods to display their displeasure towards me and I've named them- The Brute, The Terror, and The Heartbreaker. You can probably guess which is which.
The Brute- Addycakes
Addy wants what she wants. If she wants you to hold her, she'll stand by you yelling and putting her arms in the air. If you are holding her and she doesn't want to be put down, she'll cling like a monkey wrapping those long legs around you and hanging on for dear life. If you take something away from her she will do what I call fake crying. She puts her bottom lip out, squints her eyes and starts to sound like she is crying but if you really look, it turns out she is looking at you to see your reaction. The fake crying usually lasts about 5 seconds before the real Addy kicks in.
If she wants something, she tries to get through brute force. She really loves electronics, especially phones. She has a number of things she thinks are phones and makes frequent calls with such as an iPhone case, a calculator, and there are several ipods floating around. But, she knows the real thing and whenever Rich sits down she starts to dig in his pocket for his Blackberry. And she doesn't stop the little pickpocket. I've watched the routine before and Rich tries to discourage her and then gets distracted with another child and she nabs it.
Addy is very fair when I remind her to be. If she has two of something, such as an ipod, and I ask her to give one to a sibling, she usually will. But if she wants one and doesn't have one, she has no qualms about taking it through brute force. She has 2 lbs on Eloise so the tug of wars usually don't last too long.
She is not really a crier when I take something away from her probably because she is so smart she knows that she is not supposed to have it in the first place and it hatching a plan to get it back. Her latest thing after baths is to try to suck on the lotion pump. She knows she is not supposed to and doesn't cry when I take it away it. In her mind she thinks, "GAME ON!"
Her force is frequently paired with persistence. I try to put the lotion out of her reach but still in mine because I need it for the other kids or even her if she isn't dressed. If I put it up on a chair or a shelf, she will climb something to get at it. Or tonight, she went across the room, picked up a wipes box and put it down next to a chair so she could reach the chair to get the lotion that was on a shelf above the chair. Oh, and I was sitting on the floor leaning against the chair so she tried to push me out of the way to get her wipes box next to the chair. When that didn't work she waited until I moved forward slightly to nab one of the passing kids to get them dressed and she moved in with the wipes box. Hmm, maybe I should change her name from The Brute to The Brain.
The Terror- Eloise
Just to be clear- I'm the one being terrorized here. It is the element of surprise and her lack of concern over injuring herself or someone else to get her way which is so terrifying. She personifies the definition the little smartypants.
If I take something away from her she screams, stomps those tiny feet and starts swinging and swatting at anything in her way. I'm sure she is angry at me but it does not matter if there is a dog or sibling in her way, she'll hit at anything. I've even seen her pull Beckett down backwards by his overalls just because he happened to be walking by. If she still doesn't get her way, she will throw herself backwards usually headfirst (because of her large head size in proportion to her body) with no forethought as to what she might hit on the way down. Yesterday it was the corner of the crib. If she didn't hit anything on the way down she will lay on the floor arching her back kicking and screaming. At that point, nothing can bring her back, not even the offering of the original removed item. I just have to let it play out. She'll usually give it a go for about 5 minutes and then calm down, find herself a lovie, find a lap and sit and pout for a few then go on with her day.
Sometimes though an incident like this could put her over the edge for hours which means that the only thing that will make her happy is to be held. Like the other morning when we were having coffee and and snack the new Alterra in Shorewood- a must go for Milwaukee folks. I took away a container of salsa from Eloise and she pretty much cried and kicked for 1.5 hours after that. We eventually had to leave and getting her in the car in almost single digit temperatures was one heck of a fight. I've had days where she just lives on my hip. It is the only way to keep the calm.
There is a reason we call her "dolly." Hugging and snuggling and carrying her around is like having a magical real live doll. She rests her head on your shoulder, sucks on lovies, smells like lovies, and weighs next to nothing probably because she spends so much time on my hip she has figured out how to sit in the most efficient way as to not get put down.
I think that this tactic has also put the fear into her siblings so they don't touch anything that she THINKS is hers. For example, the baby doll stroller from my Uncle Rich and Aunt Joni who were visiting from Oregon. From the minute that gift was opened, Eloise was convinced it was hers. She pushed it around for a while, then tried to haul it up the stairs at nap time and it has pretty much followed her from room to room since then. It sits next to her crib at night. Now she does play with other toys but keeps an eye on the stroller and the minute someone else touches it she goes running over screaming and stamping her feet and the other person, usually Beckett, backs away.
Pound for pound she is the toughest thing in the house and that even includes my Ironman husband. She's charming, smart, tough and always keeps me on my toes and that usually means sprinting to her rescue she has bumped her head in a full blown tantrum.
The Heartbreaker- Beckett
Oh my sweet, sweet baby boy. Since Beckett has found trucks and the intrigue of his sisters, he is just about the sweetest and funniest thing around. Most of the time you can find him pushing trucks making truck noises, playing with little animals (still making truck noises) or making trouble with Addy. He really loves to do the same things his sisters are doing. If Addy climbs from a table to the couch, he is right there behind her. If Addy wears a pair of my shoes around the house, Beckett finds a pair and does it too. If Addy is crawling around on the floor pretending to be a dog, Beckett will be a dog too with a louder bark. He is very interested in riding in the baby doll stroller and flipping it over to check out what is going on underneath but Eloise won't let him get a good look. Generally he is the one who will run up to me and hug my legs laughing and run away. Probably once a meal he leans over to give Addy a hug. He used to get upset if Rich and I would hug or kiss and now he laughs and hides his head and gives really wet kisses on command. Beckett not Rich.
So we have this happy funny boy who adores his sisters and loves his dogs and thinks that life revolves around pushing trucks and holding dinosaurs and then his world is shattered like one his sister gets first dibs on one of the trucks. Oh my. The ear shattering wailing, utter distress and unbelievable sadness is just heartbreaking. That's his thing. Just lay on the floor and sob.
The good news is that he gets over it pretty quick and it right back to his happy goofy self bring me fake food and hiding behind the laundry doors. That is until it is time to get dressed or get his diaper changed. Poor kid has the worst diapers and all he does is kick, flip, squirm and scream while getting changed or getting dressed. it is miserable. The best I can figure out is that diaper or clothing changes are just interfering with his playing. Recently he has a favorite brontosaurus that can distract him long enough to get his diaper changed if I'm as quick as lightening.
As far as getting him dressed in the morning I have a confession to make. I've turned to the dark side. I let him watch TV. I tried really hard to wait until they are 2 to watch TV but I just couldn't do it. Sometimes we have the TV on in the living room, for example the Packer game, but they haven't paid too much attention. Now TV is starting to pique their interest. I would say 50% of the time, I turn on the TV show Dinosaur Train for everyone to watch while I get Beckett dressed. It's all about picking your battles. And my heartstrings can't take it every morning. If I can keep this little boy happy by watching 30 minutes of TV, I'm going to do it.
So no, they are not twins (Addy and Beckett and Eloise is what- 9 months younger?), no they are not identical, yes I can tell them apart, and yes they are totally different. I wouldn't want 3 Brutes or 3 Terror(ists), or 3 Heartbreakers because I have 3 amazing little individuals who complement, teach, terrorize and cry with one another who happened to all be born at the same time.
As long as I'm at it, I might as well answer a few more questions. Yes, we were surprised and still are every day, yes I guess they are natural because they are not alien-life forms and yes multiples do run the family. They do now.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year & Happy Birthday Papa!
Last Year
THIS YEAR
Last Year
THIS YEAR
Last Year
THIS YEAR
-Can you see Addy eating lotion in the background?
Last Year
THIS YEAR
Last Year
THIS YEAR
Last Year
THIS YEAR
Last Year
THIS YEAR
(If you're happy and you know it clap your hands)THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Merry Christmas
Just a few highlights until I can recover from the last few days...
I was nervous about what the kids would do with the tree and ornaments without having to put up a gate. So I came up with an idea to make all the ornaments out of paper with pictures of their favorite things- mostly dogs and bikes hung on the tree with ribbon. That way if they took off ornaments it would be safe and if something got destroyed no big whoop. Then there were paper chain elephants made out of brown paper Whole Foods bags.
The tree topper was their Cate & Levi Puppets and their finger puppets from Monica at Hanukkah.
They did pretty good with only 1 total loss but days other than Christmas day the ornaments were moved above the reach of little fingers. Because this is what happens...
And then crying from getting poked in the face.
What is Christmas without a bike (at least in our house.) Rich brought it up the stairs and you have never seen a little boy light up as much as Beckett did. He went running for it screaming.
After falling over, he is now scared of it. Not Eloise.
Of course, their all time favorite present...
Favorite stocking stuffer...
We started a new tradition of performing dance and song numbers on the coffee table on Christmas Eve. The triplets danced and cousin Oliver sang amazingly creative songs about "Star Whores" (Star Wars) and Darth Mader (Darth Vader). It was a true performance by all. At one point Addy tapped danced her way out of her shoe.
They don't really understand Christmas at this point but they knew something special was going on. Besides the new toys they were allowed to skip breakfast and eat the snacks in their stockings right out of the package.
I'm guessing the Rice Krispie treat for breakfast and my encouragement caused Addy to go crazy in my favorite video (besides the Star Whores singing) of the holiday.
And a little doll in love with her tutu. Pure joy all around.
I was nervous about what the kids would do with the tree and ornaments without having to put up a gate. So I came up with an idea to make all the ornaments out of paper with pictures of their favorite things- mostly dogs and bikes hung on the tree with ribbon. That way if they took off ornaments it would be safe and if something got destroyed no big whoop. Then there were paper chain elephants made out of brown paper Whole Foods bags.
The tree topper was their Cate & Levi Puppets and their finger puppets from Monica at Hanukkah.
They did pretty good with only 1 total loss but days other than Christmas day the ornaments were moved above the reach of little fingers. Because this is what happens...
And then crying from getting poked in the face.
What is Christmas without a bike (at least in our house.) Rich brought it up the stairs and you have never seen a little boy light up as much as Beckett did. He went running for it screaming.
After falling over, he is now scared of it. Not Eloise.
Of course, their all time favorite present...
Favorite stocking stuffer...
We started a new tradition of performing dance and song numbers on the coffee table on Christmas Eve. The triplets danced and cousin Oliver sang amazingly creative songs about "Star Whores" (Star Wars) and Darth Mader (Darth Vader). It was a true performance by all. At one point Addy tapped danced her way out of her shoe.
They don't really understand Christmas at this point but they knew something special was going on. Besides the new toys they were allowed to skip breakfast and eat the snacks in their stockings right out of the package.
I'm guessing the Rice Krispie treat for breakfast and my encouragement caused Addy to go crazy in my favorite video (besides the Star Whores singing) of the holiday.
And a little doll in love with her tutu. Pure joy all around.
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