1.23.10: Layers

(Stella/back, Fiona/middle, Daphne/front)

Today was SO cold (which is relative of course) but it finally stopped raining so we were going for a walk no matter what. The girls each had on a onesie, pants, socks, shoes, sweater, two blankets, and a hat. Now just imagine how long that would take to put on one child and multiple it by three. Can you tell I was determined to go for a walk no matter what?

The girls were even patient enough to remain calm while getting everyone ready and let me take a picture. I think they knew it was finally time for a walk.

1.21.10: What is rain?

(Stella/sitting, Fiona/tan pants, Daphne/crawling)

Adding to my list of things I take for granted, the constant sunshine in southern California. Today was the fourth day of rain (in a row!). We aren't talking about the mild drizzle of Seattle but crazy downpour, streets flooding, national news sort of rain. Needless to say we haven't been able to go for a walk lately due to the rain. I realized how much the girls and I enjoy those daily walks now that we haven't been able to go on them. Often they take a nap while we are strolling, but with no walk - that means no nap.

I even resorted to putting the girls in their stroller and pushing them around our 8'x10' tile floor trying to convince them we were on a walk (terrible, I know). It worked, sort of. They stayed quiet but rarely napped. This made for some crankier evenings, which is understandable.

I did find it adorable how the girls would just stare at the rain instead of playing for the first day or two. They haven't really seen heavy rain much if at all. Although, even they found it uninteresting by the third day.

Also notable is the development of a jagged gum for Daphne in the bottom front (I would estimate a tooth actually showing in the next week). Fiona and Stella each have two bottom teeth showing that stick out more and more each day.

1.16.10: Entertainment

Today Brant and I had some fun videotaping the girls. Hope you enjoy the videos:

Stella was pretending to be a motorcycle


Fiona was first exhibiting her desire to crawl


Daphne was playing peek-a-boo

1.15.10: Push-ups

Stella (blue pants), Fiona (red pants), Daphne (pink pants)

You know the song "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth"? Well Fiona and Stella have gotten their wish (a couple weeks late) with their two bottom teeth fully visible. It is so adorable to see these toothy grins. Daphne is not even showing jagged gums just yet. Of course this means anything and everything they can put into their mouths to chew on gets devoured - beware fingers and toes.

Everyone now gets into the crawling (push-up) position and wiggles around. Fiona is the first to obtain forward motion. She is able to get her left leg forward and crawl one step but hasn't yet figured out what to do with her right leg. After pushing this left leg forward and 'getting stuck' she then just thrusts her whole body and does an energetic face plant. I try hard not to laugh when this happens.

Yesterday the girls had their first non-relative, LA playdate. This nice (very friendly) woman in our complex has a son about a month older than the girls. She and her son came over and played for about an hour. It was pretty funny to watch the girls reactions. After warming up to the visitors, Fiona just stared/examined the little boy, Stella wanted to be held and just ignored him while Daphne wanted to show off her jumping skills. I suppose only time will tell if this is a preview of their budding personalities.

1.12.10: Where did everyone go?

Today was the first day without company in almost a month. I think the girls and I are both in shock. The house is so quiet during the day, thankfully we have music going most of the time. The girls had gotten used to being held and I had gotten used to help feeding, changing and of course playing during the day. All the sudden I am back to my multiple trips up and down stairs due to my missing third arm (I really should have grown a third arm upon having triplets). Thankfully we have fully established nap times which helps me to keep up the familiar routine. The girls seem to be much happier now that they have nap times - which I never would have thought. I realize (now) that the lack of 'nap structure' from the first five months did generate some of the fussiness due to over exhaustion. Now, I just make sure that our awake time is very active play time (to wear them out).

Adding to my ongoing list of things I took for granted; poop - or lack of poop. That's right, when the girls first arrived we had poop a couple times a week from each girl at the most, usually just once a week. Around six months, we started getting this special delivery every two to three days - still manageable. Then, as though timed exactly with the disappearance of company, we have started receiving these special treats EVERYDAY. I guess this way I get more exercise hauling everyone up and down stairs several more times a day. I realize this means that the girls are growing well and digesting, but I did enjoy the occasional poop-free day. Again, just something I took for granted.

1.11.10: Seven months old

(left to right: fiona, daphne, stella)

Wow, seven months old already!?! The girls are doing great. We are fully embracing our nap schedule and sleeping well through the night - which means Brant and I are getting sleep (yay sleep!). The girls are rolling like crazy to get to toys, binkies, each other's toes or whatever they desire. The love to stand and jump. Daphne doesn't like to just stand, she insists on jumping whenever she is in the upright position. Stella will actually walk taking steps moving forward when held up - it is amazing. Fiona is definitely going to be the first crawler as she loves to get into the crawling position and wiggle in place. Stella and Fiona have started getting teeth while Daphne is still in the early stages with massive drooling.

We are working on eating solids still and haven't moved from rice cereal just yet. This is more my fault as I am still working on my own technique for feeding everyone at the same time and am especially enjoying this stain-free food. After getting seriously spoiled during the holidays, the girls are now holding their own bottles and pretty much feeding themselves. Of course there is the occasional distraction where someone will lose their bottle, but for the most part feeding has gotten a million times easier. Just thinking about the days of balancing two babies on a boppy and one in a bouncer while burping and holding three bottles - I can't believe how far we have come!


(left to right: fiona, daphne, stella)

Also, notice the wonderful (washable!) new blanket. We use this on the floor in the girls room as we have decided that the quantity of spit up is not good for the carpet or our security deposit. My sister made it for us when she found the same pattern in fleece fabric that we have for the girls curtains - such coordination! Once I finally get the dresser painted and a couple other finishing touches added I will post a picture of the nursery.

1.8.10: Just in time

(Stella/green, Fiona/red, Daphne/Blue)

With the girls being born in June then moving to LA in August - there was no need for stroller blankets during the summer months. Once the fall temps hit, we just used receiving blankets to keep the girls warm on our daily walks - especially since the temperature was in the 80's most days. In early December a box arrived with three Baby's First Christmas blankets - perfect timing as the temperature during the nightly walks was getting into the low 70's and high 60's. Then, as though she knew exactly when we needed them all along, Nicole completed these adorable stroller blankets. I retired the baby's first christmas blankets (probably until next xmas when I change the 1st into a 2nd) and now we get to use these awesome (and perfectly sized) blankets for our daily walks. I love my crafty friends!

1.4.10: Jagged gums

Okay, so I refuse to call them teeth because they are barely visible - so I will call them 'jagged gums' until there is something actually resembling a tooth appearing in their mouths. It seems as though all the drooling may in fact be due to the future development of teeth. Fiona and Stella both have these jagged gums on the bottom front. So far, Daphne doesn't seem to have any jagged gums, but she is likely close behind due to the quantity of drool. Regardless, the girls are chewing anything they can fit in their mouths - finger and toes beware!

1.2.10: Another first Christmas Eve

Gotta get in those family photos when you have someone to take the picture and someone else to get the girls attention (Daphne, Stella, Fiona) - thanks Kochmans!


(Rob, Stella, Fiona, Kelly, Daphne)

The girls woke up again in their Christmas pajamas and we took a picture of the Kochmans in front of our little tree. Stella took a special liking to Rob's shirt during his stay - so much so he washed it in order to wear it again for her. I'm hoping it was the contrast in the shirt and not that Stella has a desire to go to a brewery already :)

(Now you're thinking, well why would he need to wash it, I'm sure it isn't dirty. Then you are thinking to yourself - oh wait, they have triplets - this means everything and everybody within ten feet of the girls get 'marked'. When coming to our home, check the jewelry - because they like to pull on it - and dry clean only clothes at the door - we can not guarantee their safety)

Notice that Kelly and Rob are in summer clothes. I suppose when you are visiting a southern ca winter- it does feel similar to a Seattle summer - don't worry I needed to wear a sweater as the temps were in the 70's....brrrr

(Grandy, Fiona, Kelly boy, Rob, Kari, Stella, Kelly, Daphne, Brant)

Today my family all got together to celebrate Christmas - a little late. Since we celebrate Christmas Eve instead of Christmas the girls got a second Christmas Eve celebration and they are only six months old - how lucky! This time, I remembered to get a picture of the girls in their dresses :) My mom and Kelly boy drove over leaving Arizona in the wee hours of the morning. We were able to celebrate just before Kelly and Rob had to head back to Seattle in the evening. It was a very action packed afternoon. We are so lucky all of our family was able (and willing) to travel to our home for the holidays this year.

1.1.10: 2010

Wow, 2009 was a wonderful and crazy year. I can't wait to see what 2010 will bring. I would like to pretend that we stayed up late partying like the old days with Kelly and Rob, but the reality is that we were all in bed within the first thirty minutes of the new year. Hey, at least we stayed up until the new year - I'm proud of that. Gotta celebrate the accomplishments and staying up until midnight was a big one for us.


Kelly, Rob and I went to the Rose Bowl parade on New Year's Day - ahh the luxury of walking five minutes to a parade that people waited hours and travelled for days to view (brings back memories of Chicago and walking home from the Cubs games - total travel time 1 min 47 seconds). Brant watched the girls so we could go into the big crowd baby-less. The parade was great. The florist in me was going crazy. The abundance and creativity of the huge variety of flowers on the floats was amazing. What a great parade!