Date night

Thomas and I got to go on a date night last night. I was looking forward to it for several weeks! This date was also kind of a belated birthday/Father's Day celebration for Thomas. We've been out a couple of times but usually have had family and friends watch the boys for us. This time we had a babysitter. We had her come over at 8 so the boys were already asleep for the night. We liked being able to put them to bed and not worrying about anything. Then we took off. Destination: Downtown.

We had dinner here...

We LOVE Chicora Alley. They have the best food! As the sign says, it's "Caribbean Southern Fusion". YUM. And the atmosphere is really laid back, casual and fun. We started out at the bar while we waited for a table.

Don't you love those SC cocktail napkins? When we got seated, we feasted on....

Fried mac and cheese

Spicy Nachos...BTW, this is the HALF order. I can't imagine the full order!



The BEST entrée - Mom's Cream Cheese Chicken Enchilada (we spit this after sharing TWO appetizers!) 

A (not very good) picture of us at dinner

Dinner was great. Afterwards, we weren't quite ready to head home, but didn't want another drink and were too full to get any ice cream, so we just walked down to Falls Park and the Liberty Bridge. Oh, how I love Greenville. Our little city's tagline is "Yeah, that Greenville". Cute, huh? :)

Thomas on the bridge

View of Reedy River Falls from the bridge

Liberty Bridge

 Other pictures from around downtown

We got home safe and sound. The boys stayed asleep and were snoozing like peaceful little angels when we got back. We loved our babysitter and had such an enjoyable night!

Back at home, post-date

Three little World Cuppers

Today the USA is playing Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The boys are dressed in red, white and blue to support our awesome team! They're already big soccer/futbol fans. And future soccer players. And patriotic little guys. USA! USA!

To be perfectly honest, I've never paid much attention to the World Cup in the past. For whatever reason, I'm kind of into it this year. Maybe it's because I'm at home during the day and have ESPN on in the background throughout the day and can kind of keep up with what's going on and hear the sports analysts talking so much about it.

The boys were enjoying watching the game before they had to go down for their afternoon nap.

Right now the US is losing 0-1, but it's not over yet! And even if we lose, we still have a chance to advance to the knockout round of 16 next. I'm holding out hope that we can at least get an equalizer goal. Aren't you impressed that I'm using terms like "equalizer"?!?!? I'm learning so much about FUTBOL this year. ;)

Watching the game

 

 

 

Stokes playing with Dada's cleats

William wearing Dada's cleats

Ryan "wearing" Dada's cleats

You may be wondering why we have Thomas's old soccer cleats....from HIGH SCHOOL...here. Well, friends, I'm wondering the same thing. Oh well. USA! USA! USA!

10 Months Old

Wow...we are seriously getting close to the big 1 year birthday. I cannot even believe it. I was thinking the other day that I've been at home with these guys for more than 7 months now. It sure doesn't seem like it's been that long!

Anyway, today is the day that the boys turn 10 months old, which means that they are 7 months adjusted. 

Here's what's going on with each of them! In case you're wondering, I always do these updates in birth order (I'm slightly obsessed with birth order)...no playing favorites! ;)

Stokes

Stokes is charming, personable, funny and....moody. He knows how to play up his emotions and can go from crying to laughing in 1 second flat! He knows how to get his point across! I love going into the nursery and getting him up first thing in the morning. He sleeps on his belly now and as soon as I walk in the room, he pushes those arms and head up and gives me the biggest grin. He is mostly an easy baby and is typically in a good mood. He's so fun to play with and has a gorgeous smile. He's into picking anything and everything up and most of it goes in his mouth (with the exception of food I'm trying to feed him). He loves grabbing stuff, including but not limited to Mama's hair, Dada's chest hair, his brothers' hair, arms, fingers, shirts, his feet, toys, his pajamas and his blanket. Stokes has started to take an interest in the dogs and likes it when they come up to smell him. He loves to stand up and in fact, it's hard to sit him down because he doesn't want to bend at the hips - he just wants to keep standing up! He can balance pretty well. He doesn't grab onto furniture to pull himself up just yet, but anytime someone is holding him, he wants to stand. He will even take a few steps with assistance. Independent sitting is a breeze for him now. Stokes isn't crawling yet and gets frustrated when we put him in the crawling position. He doesn't quite know how to make himself move forward yet and he gets mad. He can crawl backwards a little though. Stokes is getting better about sleep and I haven't had to get up in the middle of the night for the last few weeks, except maybe once or twice. He still has just 2 bottom teeth, but they are getting big and noticeable. I think his top teeth are not far away now though, based on how he wants to chew my finger and his teether toy. Stokes' favorite game is "BOO"! He loves being scared. It sends him into fits of laughter. He is still getting Zantac for reflux, but I think we will be able to transition him off very soon. He is in size 3 diapers and mostly 6 month clothes.

Ryan

Ryan has made huge strides in development this month. We diligently have our EI, PT and OT appointments weekly and all of his therapists have noticed his improvements. His head control is getting better, he's opening his hands more, he's focusing/watching/tracking people and objects, he smiles and laughs a lot, and we're working on sitting skills. Ryan's smile is shy and he'll crinkle his nose. He doesn't laugh very loud, but it is such a sweet sound. He loves to kick his feet, especially on something that will make noise, like the foam play mat in the playroom or the pack n play mattress. If I cheer him on, he'll kick more and faster. It's adorable. Ryan enjoys just chillin in his boppy or nap nanny and looking around at everything. He's not all that interested in toys but will watch them if they're making noises or lighting up. We are working on getting him to hold onto toys and reaching out for them. He tends to keep his elbows bent and doesn't like to straighten his arms much. He loves bouncing (well, being bounced) and being thrown into the air. When I need a good smile from him, one of those two things almost always works. Ryan's currently on 2 reflux medications, Zantac and Prilosec, and is getting his anti-seizure medicine, Topamax, twice a day. He still struggles with reflux and typically has at least one pretty big spit up each day, but is gaining weight appropriately so his doctors are not worried. He will eat solids pretty well for me...at times and sometimes he doesn't want to eat any at all. I just have to be careful not to push him and make him spit it all up. He was struggling with drooling a lot for several weeks but that has gotten much better lately. Ryan does not cry much but lets me know when he's unhappy by whining a little, and even that is pretty rare. He's such a tough baby and I admire him so much! Still no teeth yet, but we're on the lookout! He's wearing size 3 diapers and mostly 9 month clothes.

William

William has such a happy-go-lucky attitude. He is in a good mood almost all day, everyday. Everyone just falls in love with his sweet personality. He loves to smile and laugh. His laugh is so contagious and hysterical, especially when he really gets going. I can't wait to video it! His new thing is testing out volume. He likes to see just how loud he can get when he's talking and laughing. Let me just say, he's pretty loud. He's very relaxed and easy going. We have been working on his sitting and he's doing great! Just this week he's figured out his balance and can sit by himself for several minutes! When he falls over from sitting, he doesn't cry at all, which fits with his no-fuss, easy going attitude. I only know he's fallen over if I hear the soft "thud" and see him on his back or side. He loves rolling over and will roll himself all over the place. William enjoys toys but still has fun just playing with his hands and putting them in his mouth. He also loves grabbing his feet. He cracks me up because I'll put him in an exersaucer and he'll be happy enough, but he's not playing with anything on the exersaucer. He'll just sit in there and play with his hands! Like Stokes, his two bottom teeth are also getting big and you can really see them when he is laughing. William eats his solids really well and is definitely my best eater....you can't tell, can you?!?!? He is several pounds heavier than his brothers and has the yummiest rolls everywhere. He looks more and more like his Dada the older he gets and that is usually the first comment we get when someone sees him. William is off all his medicine and is doing great. He wears size 3 diapers and mostly 12 month clothes.

It's all about the EYES

I have created a very fun game for you. It's called Guess Whose Eyes These Are! Here are pictures of an eye of each of the babies. They're in random order. Do you know which eyes belong to which baby? :)

If you think you know, leave a comment referencing 1, 2 and 3. I'll post the correct answer in a few days.

1)

 

 

 

2)

 

 

3)

 

*Update on 6/26/14: My "game" was not very challenging ha! All 6 of the comments are correct. :) 1 is William, 2 is Stokes and 3 is Ryan. Good job, ladies!

 

All 3 of the boys have such different looking eyes but they're all so beautiful. I'm in love.... <3

Daddy's Birthday!

The boys asked me to take this picture for their Daddy to show him how much they love him.

Their faces light up when he comes in the room. They love to laugh and smile for their "Da-da". Thomas is such a hands-on Dad and doesn't shy away from any task or challenge. He is truly a remarkable Dad, husband and man. He deserves the very best and the 4 of us wish him a very, very happy birthday!

Thomas got breakfast in bed on his birthday morning and didn't have to get up to feed the dogs or make bottles. Hey, it's the little things, right?!?!?! He did have to go to work though.

But to make it a special day for him, I brought the boys up to his office! We got there a little later than I hoped, so it was right at the end of the day but it was great. I gave the boys a pep talk in the car on the way there. I told them they weren't allowed to spit up, cough or cry; they could burp or toot if they had to, but mainly they should smile and giggle. It's never too early to start the pep talks about good behavior, right?!?!? :) The boys were surrounded by Thomas's coworkers but didn't freak out. They were so sweet and willing to be passed around and snuggled. They earned a lot of compliments about how good and cute they were.

Stokes has a much bigger personality one-on-one than he does in a busy environment with lots of people (we witnessed this at his baptism luncheon), so he mainly looked around. He didn't want to smile or laugh much, which is the opposite of the way he is at home. Ryan got held by Brenda most of the time he was there and was happy as can be in her arms. He was pretty calm and did break out a few smiles for us. William was a big hit. He knows how to play it up for the people. He laughed and talked (babbled) on cue and was willing to cuddle as well. All three were precious. We started out in Thomas's department but made our way over to the area where I used to work. By the time we got there, it was past the end of the workday so we only caught a few of my former co-workers that were still there working late. It was fun for me to get out of the house and get a change of scenery and to see my old buddies, too! I think the boys loved all the attention and Thomas was so proud he was beaming! He loved being able to show off his boys. I definitely plan to bring them back on a Friday sometime so we can see more people. Of course I had my camera there with me, but did not take a single picture. Oops. Next time!!!

After we left work, we got home and had a mad dash to get boys in pjs, prepare bottles, feed them and put them to bed. Then Thomas got to enjoy his birthday dinner, which consisted of steak, baked potato and asparagus (his request).

We did a little dessert and he got to blow out a candle.

Yes, this was a leftover cupcake from some girlfriends that came over on Tuesday night. I would not ordinarily get him a pink cupcake...but you know the expression - waste not, want not! I couldn't let that delicious cupcake made by the incomparable Jill Bass go to waste!

Then he opened presents and cards. All in all I think he had a good day. We have a babysitter coming soon so we'll use that night for our official night on the town in honor of Father's Day and Thomas's birthday.

Outtakes from the boys' photo sesh... William is still working on his independent sitting. I was trying to semi-prop him on the Nap Nanny in which Ryan is sitting. It kind of worked...but kind of not. LOL

9 Month Well Check

On Monday we had a visit with the pediatrician for their 9 month well check. They're actually nine and a half months old now, but we can't always get appointments right on time since they have to find a block of time to schedule all 3 appointments together!

The overall takeaway from the appointment is that the boys are doing great. Our pediatrician kept saying how good they looked and how well they seem to be doing.

I wish I could accurately describe these appointments to you to give you mental image of the craziness. We get lots of curious looks, the "triplet recognition" faces/smiles/looks of wonder, questions and so on while we're in the lobby waiting. When the nurse calls us back, we typically have to squeeze into the room with 3 adults - myself, Thomas (in this case) and the nurse; the double stroller with 2 of the boys; another baby on my hip and the diaper bag. Tight quarters in there. Then we start the 3-ringed circus known as undressing the babies and getting weights, lengths, and head circumferences. Our nurse called in another nurse to help for that part to speed up the process and keep it all straight. It's probably pretty confusing to get it all written down or put into the computer and to make sure they're putting the right information in for the correct baby! During all this chaos I'm also letting the nurse know of any medicines the boys are on and any of my concerns for the doctor to address. Whew. It's a whirlwind.

When the pediatrician came in, she was so sweet and patient with me. She answered all of my questions and discussed anything and everything with me while she checked the boys one by one.

They had to get 2 shots. Ryan could only get 1, per his neurologist - by the way, I'm giving myself props for thinking to call her to make sure he could get any shots he was supposed to get at this appointment. I remember reading with the ACTH not to get any vaccines while on the med. Since he's off I wasn't sure if he was in the clear so I called. I'm pretty proud of myself that I thought of that, since I'm scatterbrained 99% of the time. Boys did GREAT with their shots. They are such tough little guys. Barely any crying at all. It's really not traumatic for them or us!

On to the good info!!! I thought for sure all 3 boys would be well into the 9 month growth chart, but we still have a little work to do to get bigger. Except William. He's doing just fine in the size category. HA! ;)

Stokes - 17 lbs (2.47 percentile on growth chart), 26.25 inches
Ryan - 17.31 lbs (3.61 percentile), 26.5 inches
William - 21.25 lbs (52.64 percentile - WOOT WOOT!!!), 27.5 inches

TODAY is Thomas's birthday...new birthday post coming soon!!!!!

Happy Father's Day

The boys want to wish a very happy father's day to their Da-da, Thomas. Thomas deserves so much credit for the exceptional father that he is. He's been totally on-board and hands-on since day 1. He takes everything in stride and can watch the triplets by himself like it's no big deal.  And guess what! It IS a big deal. In fact, he kept the boys solo this weekend from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon so I could have a fun girls night out in Charlotte (more on that in a minute). What a sweet, selfless, incredible Dad and husband! The babies and I are so lucky to have him!

When I made plans to go out of town for the night months ago, I didn't realize it was Father's Day weekend. I was feeling pretty bad about leaving Thomas with the boys on his own and for not being here on Father's Day morning. I wanted to do something fun (but inexpensive) for Thomas to let him know that we love, admire and appreciate him. I had 3 small gifts for him - a gift from each baby - and then a picture from me. I decided to do a small in-home scavenger hunt. Before I left on Saturday, I hid the gifts around the house and hid Thomas' Father's Day card in the drawer where we keep the K-cups, since I figured he would get coffee first thing in the morning. Inside the Father's Day card, I wrote a message to him from the boys and a little poem announcing the scavenger hunt. I included an index card with the first clue, in poem form, of course, to tell him where to go to find his first gift! When he found the gift, it had a little note from the baby it was from and was wrapped in tissue paper. When he opened the tissue paper, he saw another index card with clue #2, and so on. The hunt ended with a picture of the boys I created and had printed for him. He said he really enjoyed the hunt and all my little poems. Although the gifts weren't much, I hope I was able to show him how wonderful and loved he is! He sure is a special man.



The picture I made for him



His card with the notecards - scavenger hunt clues and gift notes from the boys

Once I got home Sunday afternoon, we spent the day hanging out with the boys and got to do a little outdoor time with them in the evening. We put them to bed and had Thomas's request for dinner - tuna steaks, Vidalia onions cooked on the grill, and broccoli layered salad - yum!



Thomas with his boys on Father's Day 2014

As I mentioned, I got to do a night out in Charlotte this weekend. My second mom & sister, Carole and Corey, invited me to Charlotte to see Elton John in concert. That's right, the Rocket Man himself! We made a whole day out of it. Carole and I drove up and met Corey at the club, where we had lunch, piña coladas and a new drink called a "transfusion" at the adults only pool. Two words describe this - relaxing and wonderful! After our afternoon at the pool, we went to Corey's to shower and get ready and had a delicious dinner at a new restaurant in Charlotte. Then we went to see Sir Elton. He was awesome! In true Elton John fashion, he was wearing a sparkly, multicolored jacket! We had so much fun and knew (and sang along with) so many of his songs! I got a chance to meet Seantel, one of Corey's friends. I feel like I know her already because I read her fabulous blog, www.ourlondryroom.blogspot.com - check it out! She is a twin mom and she is pretty much perfect. I am glad to have met a new friend!

Pictures from the concert!



Corey, me and Carole

Corey and me with ginormous Lime-A-Ritas

Seantel, Corey and me

I need to give a shout out to my own wonderful father, Stokes! We invited him to come over and have dinner with us tonight but he is spontaneously vacationing in Florida right now. He is going to come over for dinner with us soon, once he is back in town. :)

Father/Daughter dance at my wedding

Wedding - 2009

Grandpa Stokes with his 3 grandsons

He looks much younger without the beard, no? Hint hint, Dad. ;)

And Happy Father's Day to my fantastic FIL, Abby. We're looking forward to seeing him again soon, too!



Thomas and Abby



Abby and William



Both of the Grandfathers

This week we have our 9 month well check with the pediatrician and another special day for Thomas. Of course, I'll keep you updated about both things!