Sunday, August 31, 2014

Go home baby... you're drunk!

I swear Jacob has gotten so reckless that he looks like he's been adding some liquor to his bottles... there are only a few possible explanations... he's either drunk, practicing for some upcoming baby parcour competition I know nothing about or he's hoping to make it into American Ninja Warrior later in life.  He's just all over the place, falling down, diving off chairs (little foamy ones but still), climbing our bodies as if we were a climbing wall and just letting himself free fall...what a boy...  He'll be walking soon I bet.  Samuel has been getting better and better at standing up but he's much more careful, or less fearless I should say, than Jacob.  Zachary is officially a crawler and he ever stood up on his own today!  We didn't see it, I was just walking by and he was on his feet!  Of course, he fell soon after and started crying so he probably won't do it again HA!  Poor little Zachary is our sooky baby... He could fall in a nest of clouds and he would probably still cry.  He used to cry out of frustration when he couldn't crawl, now he cries because he can't sit or stand up... I guess it doesn't help that he's got another tooth coming in.  He now has 5 teeth!  No wonder he seems to be in constant agony!   Samuel hasn't been napping well for the last three weeks and it's making him a little more sensitive as well due to his lack of sleep.  His inability to nap has now affected the naps of my other babies...URGH!!!  Jacob is my clingy jealous baby.  He really doesn't like to see another baby on me, especially by the end of day when he's getting more and more tired and therefore more and more clingy to his mommy.  It's neat to see how very different the three of them are and how their personalities are surfacing more and more every day.  They are growing up so quick, too quick!  We went over to visit our friends Alicia and Neil today and we let Jacob and Samuel out to play (Zachary is too liable to start a crying fest if he falls) and we were amazed at how quickly they started interacting with the things around them and the toys Alfie had out.  They completely took apart his train set and tried to eat all the pieces, but at least they initiated their own play!  Don't worry, we brought a train set piece to Zachary, he was happily eating at it.

I still haven't figured out my new routine and I think the boys might be feeling my frustration.  They're my guinea pigs and although I know it's not fair for them., I don't really have another baby to test my theories on!  I have enough of three, I don't need a spare experimental one...ha! It's annoying because I went through four book resources I have here and they all say something different! Even Google has let me down!  I think I know what I want to do but I don't think the boys want what I want... My vision is to eliminate the bottles at the same time as formula so I'm only giving them formula in their bottles and milk is reserved for their straw cup.  They're not the best at drinking milk out of their straw cups yet as much of what they suck from the straw ends up on them or on the floor.  I've tried sippy cups and they can't figure out how to hold it high enough for the milk to come out; I have to hold it for them and since I only have two hands, that plan didn't really work.  So I'm now giving them a small bottle of formula in the morning and another one at night.  I'm giving them milk after their three meals in the day.  If I find that they haven't had enough milk, I supplement with a little formula in their bottles so they get what they need in their day (which I'm still not sure what that's supposed to be at this point).  Hopefully, within a few weeks, they'll figure out how to swallow what they suck (I know that sounded dirty but I'm talking about my children so get your mind out of the gutter).  I still remember when they were little and we had special feeding onesies for Jacob because he would always spill half of what went in his mouth.  He eventually figured it out just like I know my boys will one day figure out the milk thing too, I just have to be patient.  I also give them some yogourt and cheese every day so that they get the calcium and dairy they need.  Baby steps... baby steps...

This week has definitely been a trying one... Gabe got sick this week and of course, spread it to the family so the boys were pretty snotty, coughy (I know it's not a word) and needy all week.  Gabe stayed home on Wednesday but I made him stay in bed most of the day, partly because he can't really take days off (he's just lucky to have a great boss) so one day is what he gets to get better, partly because I just needed him to get back to his full capacity because men are useless when they're sick (don't deny it...lol), partly because I care about him and I don't like seeing him down and out and partly because I didn't want the boys exposed more than they had to.  The boys were off and it threw off our whole days but we got through it thanks to a lot of wagon walks, singing, dancing, rocking, cuddling and soothing.  I was glad when the week was over...ouff!!  Samuel also got a rash from I don't know what nor where and it's still not gone so it may mean another trip to the clinic with him tomorrow.  There are no accompanying fever nor does the rash seem to be bothering him but you can never be too careful right?

Saturday my sister, my mother and my nieces came over to help me look after the boys as Gabe was helping my step-dad with some cabin in the woods project.  With their help, I was able to make good dent organizing my "to sell" clothes.  I'm going to be selling a lot of my baby stuff at the Moncton Multiple Consignment Sale (http://www.kijiji.ca/v-baby-lot/moncton/huge-consignment-sale/1013506272) and it requires a lot of planning and organizing.  It'll be nice to get rid of all of those boxes!  What's neat about that sale is that whatever I don't sell, they take care of donating it to other people in need.  Since a lot of the stuff I'm selling is stuff I was given, it'll be nice to see some of it being paid forward.  Don't worry, I've already given a lot to friends so I'm not being completely selfish by selling the stuff.  I am really appreciative of all that was given to me but I figure if I can get some money to help us with future triplet costs, I'm sure the people who gave me stuff won't mind my selling it.  By the way, they are still looking for volunteers for the sale so if you're in the mood or have some time to do something nice and give of your time to a wonderful organization please do so :)

Ok y'all... here are some pics of our week:

Fun times with the paper at the doctor's office

The boys went for their first wagon ride this week!  They loved it!! Jacob is even giving it the thumbs up! 


It was cold this week!  Hoodies came out! 

Samuel standing up all by himself

Jacob loving his Lightning McQueen chair

Big smiles from Samuel.  They were rare this week! 

First time in the big cart at Costco! 

You would think that it would get more attention but it actually got less!  Maybe because I blocked a baby or something but the trip went much smoother! 

Papa serenading the boys after breakfast this morning... he's a much better singer than me and my "Itsy Bitsy Spider"... although they don't seem to mind it...

My poor little Zachary got a bug bite right above his eye... 

Jacob having some fun times with Mémère


Hallway fun!  We tried to have a baby race but it wasn't fair to Zachary and Samuel as Jacob apparently has a Nitro button hidden somewhere in his butt. 

The boys' first taste of an orange

They seemed to like it... it got quite sticky

First night with their footie pyjamas... They didn't really like it because they kept slipping every time they tried to stand up.  It was quite funny for us though. 

I added some Cars decals to their play area to liven up the place

Brothers playing together

Zachary's eye got worse :( 

Finger food?  More like floor food... I told Gab that I knew there was a reason we should have kept Roxy!  I spent more time cleaning my kitchen floor this week than I have in the three years of living here!  The boys are liking all the new foods they're trying though.  Their favourites?  Oatmeal muffins and cheese.  

It was Uncle Joel's 30th birthday yesterday!  We needed a birthday shot with the boys... they didn't really want to cooperate.  

That's all folks!  I hope you have a good week and please send some positive vibes my way that this week goes better than the last!

As always... xox

Sunday, August 24, 2014

New routine? No!!!! What to do??

So we just got back from a family reunion on my father in law's side of the family.  It was a quick turn around to see some of those folks who haven't met the boys yet and back home so as not to mess up the routine because believe you me, that is not something I'm ready to start messing around with!  We left just after their afternoon nap (well I had to wake up Zachary poor little dude) and made a feeding pit-stop at Gabriel's aunt's house and then to the reunion we went.  We stayed for an hour where many older folks oohed and aahed over the boys.  We fed them supper, hoped in the van and came back home right in time for their night time bottle and straight to bed!  It was a tight fit but we made it happen.  We really wanted my father in law to be able to show off his grand offsprings to his family.  I think he was mighty proud as he practically ran into the building with one of the boys as soon as we got there :)  Samuel had another first while we were at the reunion.  There were these two kids playing with toy cars and Samuel was super interested and couldn't look away.  When the boy made the car jump from the stage to the floor, Samuel burst out laughing!  It was the first time we had seen any of the boys laughing at something other than us making them laugh.  From that point, he just kept laughing at whatever the little boy did with the car.  It was the cutest thing!  I've uploaded a small video so you can see if you want.  We missed the really good laughter but it's a taste!  Just click: Samuel laughing.

Stopping at Matante Charline's for a quick formula top up

Sitting in Mononcle Noël's chair
We had our 9 month visit with the pediatrician this week.  We weighed the boys and Jacob now weighs 14lbs 14oz, Samuel weighs 16lbs 10oz and Zachary weighed 16lbs even.   Although they are still on their corrected age curve (7 month), they are growing steadily so the doctor isn't worried.  I had to laugh when the woman I ran into on my way in to see the doctor told me her 4 month old son weighed 18lbs!  So crazy how tiny my babies still are!  Jacob would probably still fit into 0-3 months if I hadn't packed it all away!  He's floating into some of the 3-6 months clothes I put him in.  He's just a skinny little thing!  When I asked the doctor about making the transition to milk, he said I could start right away.  He even said that I could finish the formula I had and go fully on milk!  All I'd ever heard was 1 year because they still need all the goodness in the formula and etc. but he said that since they're healthy and growing well and that I'm feeding them good healhty food that there was no need to continue on formula.  He even said that I should give food first, then formula as the food is what is going to give them most of what they needed now.   That threw me off as I wasn't ready to switch my well established routine around!  So I'm back to being completely lost as to how to establish a new routine... It's mostly up to me to figure it out as I'm the one who's home with them most of the time but I honestly really don't know what to do so I'm trying different things and seeing what works.  What I've discovered is that my boys aren't as good at drinking milk in their straw cups as they are at drinking water.  The straw cups I have, although great as they have a weighted straw that catches the liquid no matter where, are very leaky.  I've also learned that the boys don't like milk in their regular formula bottle and that they won't drink their bottle even if there's even a little bit of milk in it.  I don't know if it's because it makes it colder and they like their formula warm or they just don't like the taste or they're just saying WTF MOM?!? WHY YOU MESSIN WITH MY BOTTLE?!?  Whatever it is, they won't drink it so me being paranoid that they won't get what they need, I dropped the whole idea of mixing milk and formula and just gave them formula in their bottle and milk in their straw cups.  So now I'm back at not knowing how to make the transition... It won't work as they doctor recommended as I'm not ready to take the chance that the boys won't drink at all and I'm not ready to start heating up milk.  If anyone out there have any ideas, please let me know because I really don't know what to do... Jacob and Samuel love milk in their straw cups but Zachary won't even drink it there.  I think he knows what I'm trying to do and he's protesting... so that sucks... I'll update next week.  I know I can normally figure it out and I'm sure I'll get there but right now, things aren't clicking...

Zachary, although a current milk protester, has started getting on all fours so he's on his way to being my third crawler.  Samuel is still crawling all over the place and I think that he'll be sitting and/or standing by the end of the week.  Jacob has increased my grey hair growth this week... he's a little kamikaze standing everywhere he thinks he can hold himself enough to do so.  He's fallen more times than I can count and nothing stops the little daredevil.  Because of this, we decided to limit their play area to the blue gym mat so that they can fall without my fearing that they'll crack their skull...  I mean, they can still fall and hurt themselves on the various toys in the play area or even on each other as I can't protect them from everything, but at least it's a little safer for the boys.

New play area

It's like a big play pen
My friend Alicia had her twin girls this week!  She made it to 38 freaking weeks and delivered them completely naturally!!  What a super woman!!  I'm so proud of her and I get to meet the girls tomorrow so I'm hoping to get a cuddle picture with them but here's a look at their beautiful faces:

Piper and Phoebe... welcome to the world little ones... 

How beautifully powerful is this picture?  She's such a trooper!! xx

Pics of the week:
Loving my mum-mum

Hanging out while mom finishes her workout :) 

Their favorite toy this week... a diaper box! 

Daddy making Jacob laugh

Release me from this jail

Oh, hi mommy


Jessie and Olivia came for a visit and they visited triplet jail

I don't think she liked it... what a cutie though eh??

Josée and beautiful Dia also came to visit!  We love visitors!! 

Seriously mom... 

Please? 

Samuel loving all the areas he can now explore

So Jacob also loves stealing his brothers' toys... this is him after a Samuel throwdown for the box

He can only push himself backwards so far, but he'll get there

This might be the best way to keep him out of harms way

Seriously the best toy ever...until I had to take it away as they were eating it... 

Papa and Pépère watching the boys as they eat.  Ready to help

DIY 9 month photo shoot

Hey look!  I can climb on this too! 

Sam

Zachary


Mel came over to help me on Thursday.  She loved this part! 

She's the best :)  Thanks Mel for the help!! xx

Humm... I don't think that this is how you soother Jacob... 

Leaky cups :( 


Samuel loves the mirror but he always rocks back and forth in front of it, hitting his head on it all the time!! 

Snack time! 


We also decided to return to where we got married to take some pics with the boys.  If you have me on Facebook, then you would have seen these already but I thought I'd add a few of my favorites:


The reason Zachary is looking at Gabe that way is because his foot is starting to get caught in the holes of the bench... 
And this is where he freaked out.... haha
He's fine

This is the exact spot we said I do

The boys weren't too good at sitting on a ledge... 

Yummy grass... 




Samuel didn't like the flowers...

Zachary just wanted to eat them

so did Jacob

My beautiful niece Alexie

I love this one because it looks as though he's holding up the picture

My other beautiful niece Gabrielle

With my wedding dress

The were quite smaller the last time they fit in there...




What a difference a year makes!! 
As always...