Big Boy Bed

Today was one of those days.... Mommy got minimal sleep because of James, he was having one of those nights you forget about when you decide to have more children.... Thank God you forget about them because David would be an only child had I remembered just how bad they can be. So I am on absolute fumes, bouncing like a ping pong ball down the hallway because I can't see straight and I am alone with all 3 today, which is completely my choice as we had a play date planned. So we get through the morning thanks to our play date occupying our time and burning of some of David's energy and also thanks to a large D&D coffee. So it's time for nap, and of course today is the day that there is going to be a battle to get David down for his nap. After 25 minutes of him screaming at the top of his lungs, I can't take it anymore. I lay down on the "big boy bed" with him, trying to get him to unwind and then transfer to his crib.... no such luck. I decided that it was time for the bed rail to come out and he could try his nap in the bed. Daddy happened to stop home for a late lunch break and to bring Mommy her second large coffee (it was very much needed!) and he helped to get David to lay down without getting up. David managed to take his first nap in the "big boy bed"!!! It couldn't have gone any better had I been trying for months on end.

Walk America

This past Sunday we did the March of Dimes, Walk America. We love doing this walk and this is our 3rd year running. This year was special as we were with the nurses and docs from Newton/Wellesley, where all 3 of our babies spent time. It was so great to see them outside of the hospital without the monitors and wires and the like. Seeing their faces light up when they saw our babies doing so well and getting big, really makes you feel like something is going right. One of our favorite nurses, Janet couldn't wait to get her hands on James and even fed him for us before the walk!

It is such an emotional day for us as we re-live the long road we took to bring all 3 babies home. We are the lucky ones though, our babies came home. We walked this year for someone who didn't make it home. I was recently connected with someone having twins, who was having a difficult pregnancy, much like mine. She delivered at 25 weeks, twin boys. Unfortunately one did not make it and the other has a long road ahead of him, much like the one our David had. So we dedicated our walk this year to them.

Getting Big

Cate and James are almost at the 3 month mark and they are getting big! People still ask how old they are and think I am lying when I tell them. You wouldn't believe how rude some people can be.... anyways, they are thriving! They are getting bigger, they started smiling and having been cooing for a few weeks now. They are focusing and following our every move. Cate especially likes to follow Daddy with her eyes, she has him so wrapped!! They still love being close to each other, it definitely helps to settle them down... Their looks are changing so much, you almost forget some of these baby milestones and how quickly these things happen. It is really fun to re-live them again. It makes up for the getting up in the night for feeds and the fussy time around dinner!

The Zoo

Yesterday's adventure was a trip to the zoo.... It was very appropriate that we chose this as our outing! We packed up and headed down to Attleboro in our cousin caravan. Ali led the way with Coco, Morgan, Kristin and Jackson. I followed with Gabby, David, Cate and James.... It was quite a site to see us unloading the cars and piling children and bag upon bag into the stollers. We had 3 adults, a teenager and 6 children. I think the scariest part of that whole statement is that 3 of the children were mine.... how did that happen? So we had a great morning, minimal tantrums, everyone behaved and we got to see a lot of animals. Here is a cute picture of David, Morgan and Kristin, the other 3 were far too busy sleeping to join in!

Story time

Despite the tons of books that are in our house, there is one book that gets read every night before bed, "Good Night Boston". The other night David wanted to share his favorite story with his little brother and he read the story to James. I must say I was impressed he knew what to say on every page! Too cute... I cherish this now because I know they will not be this cute and cooperative for long.

Injury Report

We had our first big boy injury on Monday, David got a bloody nose. He was in the play room and came running out toward the kitchen, when splat!! He smacked is face on the hardwood floors and instantly started screaming. I very quickly put the baby I was feeding down and ran to get David, as I knew this was a real scream. I picked him up without looking at him and tried to calm him down. When I brought him to the kitchen I put him on the counter so that I could assess any damage. When he lifted his head off my shoulder and I saw the blood pouring (I am not exaggerating) from his nose, I freaked! Thank God Eric was home!! My shoulder was drenched and it was still coming out. Needless to say it wasn't as bad as I thought. We got it to stop pretty quickly and there were no other injuries..... I am just so happy this happened before I had my hair highlighted this week. I would have hated to add more grey hairs after I had it done!!! This is the first of many I am sure......

It must be a twin thing...

So after many nights of incredible fussing from either Cate, James or both, we are at our wits end. We tried a lot of different things and it usually boiled down to us holding both to keep them quiet, not particularly easy while trying to get other nightly chores done. One night after being utterly frustrated, my dear husband put them in the same bouncy seat instead of their usual separate ones.... you think he had just invented electricity!!! Cate and James instantly stopped. It was ten times better than the miracle blanket. We then realized they need to be near each other. When we would hold them, that would satisfy their need for contact but they definitely prefer to be with each other. This being our first (and last) set of multiples, it was very strange to us. They had been apart in the hospital and James even came home before Cate. But I swear, the minute they start fussing and it's not a food or diaper issue, we put them together and all is calm!

Playdate

This was our big adventure last week. I went out for the first time alone with Cate and James and not for a doctor's appointment. We went to visit our new cousin Jackson. He lives in the next town to us and you would think we were packing to take a cross country trip!! Our goal was to leave the house between 9 and 9:30.... we finally left at 10, which I didn't think was too bad. Well we made it and evern stopped for coffee on the way! It was nice to stop for coffee and not hear "Donuts Mommy, donuts mommy, please!!!" being screamed from the back seat as I am trying to order. We had a nice visit and the kids exhausted each other as you can see! It was just like that Tostitos commercial where the moms sit around eating chips and salsa while the babies are in their car seats, except we drank coffee. Well I accomplished getting out by myself with two, next time all three.... maybe when they are five!