3.15.11: Spork

(left to right: fiona, daphne, stella)

So officially it is a kid fork, but realistically it is a spork. In an attempt to catch up with some of our 'avoided' milestones, we started the girls eating their morning eggs with a fork. Of course some egg ends up on the floor, but the girls are really excited to attempt a new utensil.

3.13.11: Santa Barbara

This weekend we went on a mini-family vacation to visit some of our Chicago friends conveniently located (temporarily) in Santa Barbara.

We started off our adventures with a trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo with the Marrones. Did I mention the girls LOVE zoos? Well this one is even better than our zoo at home, so imagine their delight. The girls were able to feed and even touch (accidentally of course) the fish . After the amount of fish food we personally supplied, I would estimate those fish won't go hungry anytime soon.


(left to right: stella, fiona, daphne)

Next the girls got a chance to feed a giraffe. I was worried they would be scared, but oddly they weren't. Betty Lou sure enjoyed all of her lettuce and the girls sure enjoyed her gigantic black tongue.


During our weekend extravaganza, we ate brunch on the beach with the some of the old Chicago crew. Somehow even though Andrey and Alyona have a two month old baby, they were both showered and seemingly well rested. I'm not sure how they do it. I remember a good day when the girls were that age as one where I brushed my teeth. Life seems pretty nice living in beautiful Santa Barbara.




(top: andrey, daphne, nicole, stella bottom: brant, fiona, alyona, sasha)

In lieu of proper sand toys, the girls and I played 'where is mama's shoe?' I buried my shoe over and over again in the sand and then they would try to find it...don't judge, it kept them happy for over ten minutes.


(left to right: daphne, fiona, stella)

3.11.11: Twenty-one months old

(left to right: fiona, daphne, stella)

The girls are already 1.75 years old, wow! I know I always say that, but it seems like these days especially - time is really flying by.

The girls are learning new words everyday and finding creative ways to communicate. For example, when I was offering the girls a snack they were verbally requesting bread, but I wanted them to eat a banana. Sure enough within seconds of getting a banana and opening it, I was handed a piece of pretend bread from their play food. I understood them verbally but didn't oblige so they wanted to make sure I knew what they really wanted.

We have also started the repeating stage. The stage where the last word in a sentence is often repeated. Already they immediately repeated (and continue to repeat) boobs and booger. Mama needs to make better word choices going forward. Oops.

3.6.11: Reunited

Yay, the Marrones came to visit us for the weekend. While we have seen each other in various family formations several times since we moved, we have not been all together (kids AND adults) since our days in Chicago...way too long. It was like the good old days.


(left to right: fiona, nicole, daphne, stella, peter)

Nicole and I took the kids to my favorite park with a river water feature. The girls and Peter had fun chasing their toys down the stream. They were so entertained that Nicole and I actually had a chance to talk a little bit and get a sunburn.


(above daphne, nicole, peter, fiona, stella - below dan)


While Nicole was entertaining a majority of the kids reading a new book, Dan took it upon himself to entertain Fiona - notice in the picture that she is waving to him. Fiona has been in a big 'I need mama' mode lately so imagine my elation when she found a new obsession albeit temporary.

3.4.11: Zoooooooooooo

(left to right: stella, daphne, fiona)

Today we met up with my friend Heather and her twin boys at the zoo (aka Zooooooooo by the girls). Of course, this is no normal zoo. This zoo is full of hills and rather spread out, but we did it. I carried Stella in the backpack for the first time while pushing Daphne and Fiona, usually Brant wears the backpack but I was solo this time. It actually went pretty well. Don't get me wrong, I was exhausted after two hours but we made it and the girls had a lot of fun seeing all the animals. We only had one person ask if our kids were quintuplets. Immediately, we both turned to each other and said, "Now THAT would be a lot of work".

Did I mention this zoo has hills? It does! I just kept reminding myself that when I was pregnant I weighed more than Fiona, Daphne, Stella and I do together now - so there were no excuses for me to wimp out. Of course when I was pregnant, I wasn't walking around a zoo but just rolling from bed to the couch and back again.


I had to add this picture because it looks like the ape is going to attack us with a gigantic stick, thankfully there was safety glass.

2.27.11: Floater

It was bound to happen. The girls are 20 months old (equivalent in months to one five year old). Brant is crazy stressed and I am sick. We are both in rough shape, desperate to get the kids to bed so we can relax. Tonight is bath night...that means another 15 minutes of awake time. We just needed an easy night.

Fiona had been removed from the group bath and was getting her pjs on. Stella was trying to stand up in the bathtub, not something that is allowed. Why is Stella still trying to stand up, usually she listens? Daphne was happily splashing. Then I hear coming from Brant "Oh No! Stella you didn't?!?!"

Then I see it....a floater. It happened. For the first time in ~200 baths, poop in the bathtub. I suppose we were overdue. We could do nothing but laugh.

2.22.11: Oatmeal vs. yogurt

Fiona, Daphne and Stella feeding themselves some yogurt (with blueberries). With Grandy's final day in town, it seemed like a great time to test out the mess (and cleanup) associated with self feeding yogurt rather than oatmeal. The girls did great! Stella is excellent at getting the food into her mouth with a serious intensity, Daphne likes to see how big of a spoonful she can fit into her mouth, all while Fiona prefers to create swirls in the yogurt with her spoon. The cleanup was a cinch compared to oatmeal, now there is no turning back...yogurt it is!

2.20.11: Nene

(left to right: stella, daphne, fiona, grandy)

Well the girls decided that 'Grandy' was too difficult to say right now, so they renamed her 'Nene'. It is pretty cute because they have Nana (brant's mom) and Nene (my mom). I'm sure eventually they will be able to pronounce Grandy, but until that time - Nene it is. Here is a picture of a group peek-a-boo. They all hid under the blanket and surprised me - countless giggles ensued.

2.19.11: Spontaneity

Spontaneity and triplets, not something that typically goes hand in hand. Somehow (and I'm still not exactly sure how) Nicole convinced me that we should come and visit them in Santa Barbara for a night (where they are temporarily located). The catch is that she did this Thursday afternoon and by the nap on Friday we were on our way.

Yes, I realize spontaneity typically implies immediate action, but with three kids and a 2.5 hour drive, less than twenty four hours IS spontaneous in my book. Besides I had to acquire two more playpens and strategically pack three booster seats, double stroller, single stroller, three playpens, day clothes, night clothes, feeding supplies, food and entertainment - oh and of course Grandy and I needed some overnight supplies too. It ALL fit (go civic go!).


Stella, Fiona, and Daphne showing Nicole how they eat in their new booster seats, such big kids!


(peter, nicole, fiona, dan, stella)

Peter was really great about sharing all his toys and books with the girls. When Nicole was reading, the girls made themselves comfortable and sat very still listening.


Peter and Daphne spent the most time playing together. Well, I suppose the reality is that Daphne liked taking his legos and trains apart while Peter (very patiently) rebuilt them over and over again.

2.15.11: Transition complete

(left to right: fiona, daphne, stella)

Well we did it, we have officially transitioned to one 3-hour nap each day. While Grandy was in town, it made sense to attempt the transition since I had full time help for over a week. We prepared for the worst; sleepless nights, cranky kids and screaming naps...but got nothing. Decreasing the morning nap by 15 minutes each day while increasing the afternoon nap just as much, there was minimal fussing. I have preserved 30 minutes of 'quiet time' in the morning where the girls just talk, play or relax in their cribs while I get ready for the day.

We made sure to stay very busy during the mornings to help with the transition and adventured to a new indoor playground. The girls loved going down the slide, getting off at the end...not so much.


(front to back: daphne, fiona, stella)