Pictorial Update from Babyland

Emma found a brush and decided she'd like to play Beauty Shop. Her victims, I mean customers, were very patient with her.

This is what an average walk starts out looking like. Rather calm, biggest problem is telling Taze to wait for us, which he will. But it all goes south very soon because...these 3 can't stay together!! One of them will randomly decide to turn around and walk in the opposite direction and split the group. Livvy likes to venture up onto the porches of strangers. Taze wants carried if he hears a dog barking. Emma just plain ol stops walking when the urge hits.

Here is something they can all agree on. This is a corner lot down the street. I have no idea who lives here but I hope they work during the day because the babies love this yard and I figure any time they all like the same thing I must capitalize on it. So I let them stay as long as they want. They like to run to the fence to peek through the slats and they love to take turns dancing or jumping on the sewer cover. I love Livvy's hair in this picture.

Now that is isn't so easy to make the trek to the park I really should get some backyard toys. But the babies aren't that hard to entertain. Usually I just yell "RUN!"

...and Emma knows if she sits here long enough I will bring her a snack. I can't help it, it works everytime.

And finally, a little video treat for you to sample. This is a little game Nic once taught Taze and Taze has passed this bit of "fun" to the girls. I call it Bouncing Babies. It's loud, sometimes dangerous, and it wears them out before nap so I rarely put a stop to it...unless heads collide.

Tuesday

My own kids are back to school and although I could always use the extra hands, the babies are well behaved and it's not difficult at all to keep my eyes on three. The exception is potty time. Taze is accident free almost every day, but there are times he doesn't appreciate an audience. Today he started shouting, "No, girls!!" as he ran down the hall towards the bathroom. But Emma and Livvy are smart. They know that when Taze pees in the potty, they all get an M&M. Just one, much to Emma's chagrin. She has stopped stomping her feet at the single piece of candy and started accepting it for what it is. Anyway, when one kid thunders down the hallway it sparks a stampede whether you yell "no, girls" or not. Here are some cute pics from the past couple of days. The first ones are today's breakfast: chocolate toast. (Nutella on whole wheat)

Livvy lovin it.

Emma lovin it.

Taze Leave The Wash Cloth Thank You lovin it.

Later at lunch, Taze decided he is the funny man when Nic isn't around, and Emma and Livvy are happy to encourage him!

Here is one of Carly pretending poor Livvy is her life size Barbie. Livvy is always really patient when her hair is being done. It always makes me want to go faster just because she's so good about it!

Taze making lemonade:

Are They Triplets?

I'm afraid you will find today's update rather dull. So far (As I write this at naptime..3 cheers for naptime!) it has been just a routine day of playing, eating and having diapers changed. This morning I noticed we were very low on milk, kicked myself for not noticing that last evening, and wondered if Nic would help me walk all three to Kroger. It's a mile, round trip, which isn't a very long walk, but pulling a full wagon adds a tiring element, trust me. We set out by about 10am and along the way we said hello to an older man and woman doing yard work in front of their house. "Are they triplets?" Everyone asks that! Last year, with Taze and Emma, it was always, "Are they twins?" This week when I was asked that question (twice so far) I became keenly aware of the fact that I am 39 years old...with triplets?? People must assume I had in-vitro because no 39 year old woman has triplets naturally, do they? So if they assume I had in-vitro then they must think I have lots of money so automatically I think I should start dressing better when the babies and I go out. These are the things I think about. Anyway, I told the nice lady that they are not triplets, not even sibs, and we were on our way. By the time we got to Kroger, Nic and I were a little warm. We cruised over to the toy aisle and let the babies loose. They took toys of the shelves and sat on the floor and played while Nic and I enjoyed the air conditioning. Nic informed me that we have to check pockets before we leave the store because those babies were stashing toys everywhere! After a while, and probably a few dirty looks from employees (but I'm not sure because I didn't make eye contact) I cleaned up the toy aisle, good as new, and we were on our way to get the milk. I bought chocolate milk because these babies are spoiled (keeps them wanting to come back) and the entire way home (pocket check completed) Taze chanted "Chai milk ah hoooome" So yes, we arrived home rather parched and there was cold cups of chocolate milk all around. Emma guzzled hers and asked for more, which is out of the ordinary because she isn't a heavy drinker. She downed her second cup and I had to get out a baby wipe for her sticky face, neck and chest! She was into the chocolate milk experience! Nic was starving so he heated up some frozen Skyline Chili meal that smelled gross. He ate less than half and Livvy was hovering around watching him so he got a clean fork and fed her a bite. I expected to have to clean chili and spaghetti off her shirt but no, she didn't spit it out...she asked for more! It was almost lunchtime so I put her in her chair and gave her the rest of the meal which she devoured. I did have to pick spaghetti out of her hair, but I was more concerned what her diaper was going to look like after this! Chili and spaghetti, cheese chunks and chocolate milk, ugh. Taze and Emma munched on turkey breast, cheese chunks and tomato slices (just Taze ate tomatoes). Well, this is a rather long paragraph for such an ordinary day. Emma has joined me downstairs, after a 90 minute nap and I hear Taze playing in his bed. Oh yep, he woke Livvy up. I hear him telling her "I funny. I funny" but he's the only one laughing. Guess I'm off to get the little comedian, and his captive audience.

Indoor Amusement Park/Outdoor Water Park

This first video illustrates the lesson we've been working on this week: sharing and taking turns. I am pleasantly surprised at how easy the kids are picking it up! We're half way through the week and the worst I've seen is a dramatic sigh (Taze), a scrunched up nose and brow (Livvy) and a resigned look of defeat (Emma Bee). That's it! No tears, tantrums or injuries.

Yes, Livvy did get her turn. I have no doubt she will learn to speak up loud and clear when she wants what's coming to her. She's a feisty little thing.

Eventually we headed outside for some fun. We rolled out the hose even though a few months ago neither Taze nor Emma loved getting sprayed. What a difference the summer made! All three kids jumped right in and had a great time.

After a while of fun in the sun, and since I neglected to sunscreen any of them, I decided it was time for snacks in the shade.

The kids had a great morning and everyone was in a great mood...as demonstrated by Taze.

My Part-Time Kids

I have three of them now. I've had my part-time son, Taze, for two years. He was only a few weeks old when his mom had to go back to work, and of course my own kids were in school all day, so he had my undivided attention. I probably never told his mom this, but that first year, I held him every day during his nap. I kicked back and caught up with my DVR, read a book, or even dozed off myself. We bonded, for sure, and we are still tight. I attribute that to all that snuggle time.

The next school year started and I gained Emma. Her mama is also a teacher (I only babysit for teachers and that rule is firm). Emma was about 6 months old when she started coming to play every day. She fit right in and we all settled into a new routine...most days. Emma is a year and a half now, and she came back to me today after being at home all summer, and it was like she never left. It seems like she was here yesterday, no exaggeration.

This year we have a new addition, Olivia, who will be two next month. I could not have hand-picked a child to fit in better with my first two. Whereas Taze and Emma grew to love all things Toy Story and dinosaurs last year, Livvy has no interest in either. So as long as she isn't reaching for the T-Rex, she is okay in their book!

If you're keeping track, next month I will have 2 two-year olds and an almost two year old. Luckily, I've never bought the whole "terrible twos" folklore. Ever since my daughter was young, I've always said that whoever coined that phrase hadn't yet survived a three year old! Nonetheless, my days are exhausting but I have some stories to tell.