11 Months on Tuesday

Can they really be this old? I look at them every day and sometimes think they are growing before my eyes. Other times, I think they are so little - after all they are my babies!

It has been a hard couple of weeks. After much anticipation, we left to go to Florida for Will's business trip. As we left the neighborhood Nathan vomited all over himself and the car seat - leading us to begin an exciting adventure with the stomach virus. Nathan's lasted over a week and Daniel's lasted 3 days. I won't go into the gross details, but at least we were able to see my grandmother twice, hang out with Will's family and my family. Will's sister, Jen, was even able to introduce the children to her colleagues.

We returned with my parents who stayed with us another week when Will went away on his business trip. Emily came down with the stomach virus then. It was another rough week. The boys were still irritable and sleep was very minimal - actually still is. We are excited Will came home last night but sad that my parents are leaving today. I like having one or more adults per child at night. We're wishing for more sleep soon.

The children are continuing to grow through all this and were able to smile even when feeling awful. It's fun to watch them cruise around. They are all getting more sturdy on their feet. Daniel has had a few fun conversations with the dog. She barks and he talks back. This can go on for minutes or until I get my camera. Then it ends. It is such fun to watch. He also is cruising Nathan used a push toy for the first time yesterday at play group. He went a few feet forwards twice. He doesn't want to get in the correct position behind it as he wants to play with the gadgets on the front, too. Emily is cruising everywhere, likes to shake her head and can stand not holding on for up to 30 seconds. She and Nathan have had a couple of great laughing conversations. I am including a video of one at the bottom, albeit a little fuzzy. How can you not laugh at babies laughing together? I was thinking that maybe they haven't changed as much this month. Then I read last month's blog again. The children love to stand up and look out the window (or eat the window). They are standing more than anything else (which leads to a few bumps and bruises now and then). Their favorite toy now is the toy that someone else is playing with. They love their race car and steering wheel. They're in the process of learning how to roll a car. It is cute!

Someone asked me what I do with the comments. Each blog and comment gets saved on a Microsoft Word document. When the children are older, they'll be able to read their blog and the comments people make. Thanks, Rachel - you have been a comment queen!

Ten Months on Sunday

Hi all,

I feel repetitive when I say that so much has happened again, but it's true. Life is incredibly busy at the Share Household.

First of all, the children are mobile, and we are very busy childproofing as we go. I didn't know you could move so fast by scooting around in a military crawl. We spend a lot of time playing with them on the floor. Having the playroom is wonderful, but I know they'll outgrow it in no time.

We were lucky enough to have my sister, her two amazing children, and my parents here to visit. I think my sister is wonderful being able to work with two different age children 24 hours a day without a break. And I thought my job was hard. Luckily her husband should be home (hopefully for good) in October. I pray for his safe return all the time. We started the trip off strong with visits to the park, the zoo, and ImagineIt! Museum. Unfortunately, my guys wound up with strep throats, ear infections, and colds. It put a little damper on the trip, but I am so happy they came. It was great to have my parents help, and between 5 kids, I think we wore them out!

This week we hosted playgroup for the first time. Including our trio, we ended up with 11 children ages 9 months through 14 months and 8 were boys. It is really neat to see so many children in the same room getting along or doing their own thing without many tears. It was also a great experience for the adults to relate and talk. I've included a picture.

Let's see what's new in our traits and skills.

Daniel is becoming very verbal. He loves to make sound effects and have you respond. He then giggles and does more. He always waits for the response. He even will do it to Dicey when she barks. He can climb up on his knees and loves to military crawl using one leg more than the other. He can go pretty fast. Today, we saw him do a real crawl and he stood up for the first time! He loves the tunnel I bought and playing with the clear plastic cubes. He doesn't always like when his brother and sister get in the way of his playing or when Nathan uses him to pull up or chew on.

Nathan is a very fast military crawler. I'm not sure I can keep up with him sometimes. As of yesterday, he can stand up on his own holding on. His laugh is contagious, as usual, and he loves to climb all over me or his siblings. His favorite toy is the one his siblings are playing with. I saw him race Emily to a toy yesterday. It was kind of funny. He has eaten 1-2 of the dissolving snacks, but he doesn't know how to gnaw or suck on it yet. He also loves to make a fish face.

Emily is a standing machine. She wants to stand everywhere (even her crib sometimes). She can cruise slowly - she has gone all the way around the ottoman. She can do a real crawl and military crawl. She has been a little grumpy because she is getting the first tooth of the family. Boy is it sharp. Her favorite toy is the stand up piano, and she also loves the cube.

All three love books and will race across the room to get to whatever book I am reading. I have to hold it high up or it becomes a climbing toy or a chew toy. They do love when I read and giggle at the animal sounds. They also like peek-a-boo. They love their baby food now. Mixed vegetables are a favorite, but they like lots of fruits, vegetables, and oatmeal. We are down to four feedings a day. We are also beginning to work on sleeping through the night. Our doctor said that they are beginning to have more of a memory and they now know Mommy and Daddy are next door and will come when called for. Therefore, we are trying to let them cry it out a little. It's getting better in just a few days. I look forward to sleeping through the night again soon. It is so sweet when they play together intentionally and talk/laugh together. We saw the boys playing a version of peek-a-boo one day and it made us smile. The hard part of all this is that with the climbing and moving come more falls, bumps and bruises. I hate to see it, but I know it is a part of growing up. So is my new role - that of a JUNGLE GYM. It is fun to have them crawl and climb all over me, but it is exhausting! I am tired at the end of every day.

As a final part, our contract came to renew or set Veroniuq free to find another family. I look forward to having her here a second year and will take her out to the South African restaurant as soon as we all sign the contract. She knows she will be working with the children more on her own next year, and she is looking forward to the challenge. In the past couple of weeks, she has spent more time with the children on her own and has fed all of them at once and gotten them down to nap. She knows it will get easier and harder when they feed themselves.

The pictures are a quick sampling of our month. The first is a snapshot of all of my parents' grandchildren together for the first time! We started our family trip at the swings and zoo. The next picture is of the men in charge of feeding and a snapshot of me reading to the kids. I've included one snapshot of playgroup. We discussed it as a group and think it looks a lot more intimidating than it really is. They get a long wonderfully! Finally, we have the outfits we wore on the first day of football season. Daniel wore the Georgia colors, while Emily is a Gator fan. Nathan sported Will's team, FSU. Enjoy, and I'm sure I'll have a million new changes next month. Please wish us no more ear infections!

Almost 9 months - what a difference a month makes!

Hi all,

Wow - it has been a busy month. Sorry I didn't write sooner, but time disappears! The children have grown a bunch. Daniel is 18 lbs 14 oz, Nathan is 19 lbs 9 1/2 oz, and Emily is 16 lbs 12 oz. They have gotten so big. Their lengths are now about 27 inches, so we have had to change the car seats this week. That is a huge transition. A big thanks to Lt Sims from the Alpharetta Fire Department for installing the seats on a 1 hour notice! Going from the snap and go (easy but heavy) to having to carry them to and from the car is a huge transition. I'm still working on the easiest way to do that, but the new car seats seem so comfy! It also means I have had to change strollers. I'm still working on the positioning for that as I don't want them to lean forward and hit their head on the seats in front - or more commonly pull the back of the seat in front to make a lovely teething toy. We are also working on ear infections. Through the last two months, I have had 40+ days of giving antibiotics: Nathan had, then Nathan and Daniel, then Nathan, now Daniel. Emily escaped them the first three checks, and I didn't have her checked this time.

We have had a lot of firsts this month, and I think it is going to make for a very busy August.

Daniel has started giving high fives - at least bringing his hand to you. It is very cute. He is still rolling all over the room and can pretty much get to most things. He still goes backwards but can get on all fours and rock first. He has gone forwards like a frog once or twice, but I'm not sure it was intentional.

Emily sat up on her own for the first time last week. She has only done it successfully once but has gotten close many times. She goes from her belly to a crawling position, then into a sitting position. Her leg still says close to her body so her balance is a little off, but it was very exciting to see. She also rocks in a crawling position and goes backwards well. She ended up in the kitchen the other day.

Nathan is officially going forwards. He gets an intense look in his eyes, puts his hands in front of him and then on his belly pulls his body forward (almost a military crawl). He may be like his Uncle Dean and go that route! He also might be entered in the Nathans hot dog eating contest. He tries to eat everything, from toys to his siblings, to us! Things get to his mouth in record time (or his mouth gets to things). He has earned the front seat of the stroller because there is nothing to chew on! I think he is getting a tooth, but I have thought that for a while.

They all like to babble and talk - and I hear lots of Dadadas and bababas and squeals. I think they are thinking about trying to stand. I see effort, but on things they can't get a good grip on. I think this is a busy month.

On that note, it is time to baby proof the house. I think we may have enough gates, but it is time to start protecting everything. I think we'll be gating them into rooms (living room, bedroom, and playroom) instead of using play pens.

Will's mom and Joel came to visit and had a great time with the children. I wish they could see their grandparents more often. They are so good with them. We tried going to swing on the swings at the park (too hot at 9 am) and took them out to dinner as a family. I was a little under the weather, but it was nice to be able to know things were covered while I slept! They did a great job!

Pictures - I am attaching one of each and also the first video of Nathan creeping. It was his first day - so he only went a few inches, but it was a very exciting day for us! At top is a picture of Joan reading to the children, then Emily, Daniel, and Nathan.

July 1st

It's been a while since I have written. Life is just busy with three children! We haven't done anything spectacular - no trips, no visitors. But we have had fun doing a lot of the same things - and some new ones.

The newest thing is that Emily is beginning to make "ya ya ya" sounds, especially when she wants to tell you something. It could be no more food or I don't want to sleep yet or even give me attention. It is soooo cute!

All three of them have a cold right now. Nathan has an ear infection, and I worry the others will get one, too. It is so hard to listen to them cough and sniffle, especially at night. It is so sad to listen to them trying to sleep but struggling with breathing. I hope they're better this week. Will's sister and family are coming in town, and we want the children to be healthy for them!

The children are growing, and we estimate the boys to be about 26 or 26 1/2 inches and Emily at 25. The boys are both 18 lbs. 2 oz, and Emily is 15 lbs. 10 oz. We are getting close to our next car seats. It's amazing. We bought our car seats and stroller for the next stage from a very nice triplet mom. We are just postponing using them, because the snap and go is soooo easy!

We went to a play group on Friday. It was wonderful. There were 4 parents of twins and us. That made 11 children between 6 months and a year. What a great experience for the children to learn from each other! I can't wait to go again! We also went to the North Fulton Mothers of Multiples picnic and met up with another family I go walking with.

I have to say Veroniuq is WONDERFUL. Today, Nathan spit up on her when she was feeding him. When she went to change his clothes, he had a poopy diaper and looked sick. So she went to take his temperature and he peed on her - twice. Her response to him once he was dressed, "I'll still hold you, Nathan." It was really sweet. She really cares about the children.

I am posting a few pictures - but more because they make me smile, not because they are photo album worthy. Emily really enjoyed her prunes. This was one of Daniel's first times standing without me after I put him there (middle of June), and Nathan learning he loves to be tickled. I am also including a picture of all three of them, though they roll over so fast that it is hard to get them in the same picture now!

Swimming,Play Dates and Fun!

It has been an exciting couple of weeks since I last wrote. Our children are growing up so quickly. Emily sat up for a good 4 minutes. They can all roll both ways. It is amazing to hear them talk to each other and laugh with each other. Daniel likes adult approval, Nathan likes peer approval, and Emily often does her own thing. She is most talkative on the changing table and lately at nap time. Daniel screams with happiness (or not happiness) and loves to hear himself make noises. Nathan will stare at a sibling and wait for them to look and burst into laughter. Daniel scoots backwards often. Nathan has gone an inch or two forward, but not quite in the conventional crawling position yet. They LOVE the jumpy that Alicia lent us and look forward to the Martin's jumpy as well. They also love their exersaucers and jumparoo.

Last week we took them to the doctor for the last shot until they turn one. Daniel passed his brother again in weight and was 17 pounds 2 oz. Nathan was 17 pounds 1/2 oz, and Emily was 14 lbs 12 oz. The doctor was very pleased with their progress. We are getting closer to changing the car seats.

My parents were here to celebrate my birthday and stayed a week. They were a huge help when Will was out of town for work. We had a lot of fun with them, shopping, playing, etc. I think we wore them out. We also had play dates with the Martins, the Boyds, and dinner with the Kassingers. We also walked with our new friends - parents of twins who live really close to us. We had met them in the park and now try to walk in the park every other week. We had a barbecue at the pool, and the children were held by all of our wonderful neighbors. Joan and Joel are here helping right now, as our au pair is off in Florida on vacation. I'm so glad they were here for the first pool day, and I am definitely using both of their services. Thanks so much!!! It is a lucky time when we get to see both sets of grandparents in one month!

Today, we took them to the pool for the very first time! Thanks, Rachel and Joan for all of your help. It was fun. We used the first of our 3 rafts - as you see in the pictures. This was a huge first for us. The boys loved the water, and I think Emily will like it more next time. I don't think she was a huge fan of the cold water - though she loved the kiddie pool when we had our neighborhood barbecue at the pool. Maybe the water was warmer.

That's it for now. I'll write more later. I hope you like the pictures/videos. The pictures feature in order, two of Emily, two of Nathan, and two of Daniel.

Photographer

Yesterday was my birthday, and my parents are in town visiting. They are also being a tremendous help since Will is out of town for work. He gets back Friday, and we are so excited!

I have attached a few of the pictures from the photographer. They weren't the best - I still can't get all of them smiling at the same time - but the boys gave a great smile during the individual pictures. This was really work to go to a photographer. Luckily, I have six months to forget the work and forever to enjoy the pictures.

Although they have noticed and talked to each other before, it is incredible now. They get hysterical. Nathan can laugh for a good 15 minutes! Their laughs are infectious!!! We have videos we have taken of their laughter.

They have also started to talk more. Daniel and Nathan talked to themselves in their cribs for 1/2 hour this morning and Emily was talking to herself this afternoon during the beginning of nap time. I do wonder what they are really saying. They usually giggle while talking.

That is all for now - I'll write more when Will gets back in town!

We're Wireless

Hi all,

We had our six month doctor appointments today. How does time go so fast? I can't believe they are six months old already! The doctor was pleased with their growth! Daniel has caught back up with Nathan in weight. Daniel is 15 lbs 12 oz and Nathan is 15 lbs 14 oz. Emily is also growing and increasing her percentile on the weight chart at 13 lbs 14 oz. Daniel is the longest at 25 1/2 inches, Nathan is an inch behind, and Emily is close at 24 1/4 inches. They are all on the percentile chart for their actual age. Yea! And what do I mean when I say, "We're Wireless!" No more monitors!!! I am going to call and have them picked up! Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are starting to feed them orange fruits and veggies. We can also mix different cereals (rice/oat, etc) with fruit and feed them with a spoon. They already get rice cereal in every bottle. If you come over, we hope you either wear an orange shirt or like the color orange!!! We started yesterday and the boys LOVED their food. Emily was already experimenting with the foods and she loves sweet potatoes and carrots, but not squash.

We have been taking them out more now. We went to Target, the Forum, and to watch a tennis match this week. We also had a play date with Tara, Marc, and their two children. It was great to see them, as they haven't seen the children since they were in the hospital. It's hard to commute from Athens with children.

You'll see a few pictures at the top of this posting. Veroniuq and I worked hard to get smiles, but we could only get two at a time. They were a little tired from shopping, but with more practice, I am sure Emily will be ready for her own credit card in no time! For some reason, the pictures turned sideways when uploaded. I am unsure how to fix that, but I think you can enlarge them.

People often ask if we can tell their personalities already. The answer is yes! We see differences all the time! Their strengths are different, their personalities are different, and they all do different things first. I feel like we are getting firsts all the time. This morning, I watched Nathan roll all over the crib - good thing he is on his own. The problem was, he couldn't get to the corner he wanted, but it was really neat to watch him try. Maybe next time it won't be 4 in the morning. Daniel woke up at 3, rolled over and cooed until I came in. He gave me a huge grin, then fell back to sleep when I rolled him back over. Emily - she is like me - she loooovvvveeesss her sleep! I am jealous that she actually gets all of her sleep in!!!

Next week, Will is going to Chicago. My parents will be in town helping with the children. I think it will only get more and more fun for visitors as the children now like to do things! I'm amazed by them every day!