Where have all the bottles gone?

Wait. A. Minute.

I just realized tonight that there isn't a bottle in site. None in the fridge, none in the playroom, none in the baby's storage cabinets- none in my baby's mouths. When did this happen?

I'm usually not caught up with when baby's "normally" walk, talk or do other developmental milestones because mine are preemies. I usually think it's neat though to watch mine with kiddos born close to their due date. I like to see how close they are and what is next.

What I didn't see coming was the loss of the bottle all together. They weren't really all that interested in their sippy cups- then all of a sudden bottles are out and we've had to order jumbo cups to keep up with the demand of water.

Is that it? Babies gone toddlers have taken over? I'm not ready and I'm not going willingly. Just sayin.

Good rainy Saturday bad everyday hands

This morning we headed to breakfast then the farmers market. It was wet, rainy and very humid. Made me wish the fall was coming quicker! We headed to homestead heritage for breakfast and a visit with Mindy and her family who are in for a visit from England. Food was great. The babies were a little difficult- some days are easier. I think there were so many new faces that it was just a lot to take in on a Saturday morning.

On a sour note, I need hand surgery. This means three incisions on each hand with a full recovery time of 6 weeks. What? Not excited. I need it badly or I would put it off. The weight of all three babies did damage to nerves on both sides of my body creating damage in my hands and wrists. This makes it painful to sleep on either side, my stomach and just in general. So, now I just need to get up the nerve to schedule it. Prayers needed.

On a fun note, Riggs has decided to be our 1st walker. He looks like Frankenstein with his arms out or above his head! He is taking about 8 in a row now. GG is standing and walking from chair to toy bucket so it won't be long. Becker is standing and scooting his feet so he will be taking steps before long too.

We headed to lunch at newks after a long, really good nap. Whit headed to pick up our new furniture. I vleaned out the baby food drawer- its over. Typical Saturday- lots of cleaning, organizing and eating ;)

Happy weekend all.

Adios Amigos

Day 1
It's weird how being irresponsible feels so freeing when you're responsible for so much. Today we flew to cabo. Our usual vacation group all together again. We took a year off last year because we had just brought the babies home. I feel like my lungs are full of a much needed breath. Here, you don't connect much. Not to the Internet, not to texting, not to making phone calls. It's costs so much- that you kind of just- disconnect.

I love how no one needs me. I love how I'm my own schedule. I love how mornings don't revolve around a routine- but in the same breath I miss each one of those things just as bad as i enjoy the freedom. How can you leave things you need a break from and miss them all in the same day?

There are a lot of kids here. Oddly enough, all the same age as the triplets. This makes me miss them. Like a mom who is breastfeeding who hears a baby cry- I long for their tight holds and their new found freedoms. Riggs has been taking one or two steps but a call today announced five whole steps in one go. :( I've watched these couples love on their only children in awe of the freedoms of taking one baby on vacation. I even watched as a nanny came along with a young couple and their one baby. I'm excited about our plan in the coming months to take one baby at a time to Dallas/Austin for an overnight and some one on one time. No schedule?!

Lots of rain here- first time they have had this much since 2001. This is definitely God telling me to relax.

Day 2

The rain is gone and the sun is out. I received the best massage I've ever had. I actually fell asleep. No lists, no nagging things in my mind that I need to accomplish, no one expecting something of me. Just me and the ocean banging loudly wherever I am. Dinner out tonight at sunset di Mona Lisa- beautiful sunset. Makes me appreciate the beach and it's rare beauty. Had a few of those fruity drinks by the pool. Weird, but I was reminded of the last time we were in cabo. I had just had a failed cycle and was angry. I was still hopeful of the next cycle but remember not really wanting to drink, thinking that would effect the next cycle. Ha.

Day 3
Went on a yacht today. Perfection. This is how the other half live? Miss my babies a whole lot today. I miss putting them down. Reminds me of how hard the work week is with them in one place and me in another. I want more time with them. I want to watch Riggs take five steps in a row. I want to do it all. Work and be a good momma.
Amy ordered a vodka filled watermelon. Ha, are we 19? It was fun. Tasted terrible but so fun. After we got back to our villa I went upstairs. I was sunburned and needed a shower. When I got out guess what was on? DIRTY dancing! My favorite. I enjoyed two hours alone lying in bed listening to the ocean and dozing off to dd. the best. We had BBQ delivered to our room and whit cooked it all on the grill. Perfect night.

Day 4
I woke up thinking tomorrow I will be on my way home. How can I miss home in just 4 days? How can three littles rock my world so much ;)
We went zip lining and it was awful! It was like a 14 mile crazy hike with desert like temps and insane conditions. Amy and I couldn't believe it was only $98. Now we know why. They told us to be sure and tell our friends!! Hahahahahha .
The rest of the day we hung out by the pool. The boys were playing golf so we ordered food, drinks and dessert by the pool. Dinner at an American owned Italian eatery. Incredible.

Day 5
Home. One mission and the only thing on my to do list. We waited in customs for 2 hours. Torture. At one point I wasn't sure we would see the babies before bed. Whew. We made it. Riggs learned to kiss, Becker was talking up a storm and gg, she now raises her eyebrows. What?. These kids are perfect. As great as Capella is and as wonderful as the clarity vacation brings is-these three are a life long vacay that I will never be able to describe. Miss Alissa cared for them while we were away. We had some breaks scheduled with another sitter for her but for the most part she played mom and dad for 4 nights. #sheisaweaome.

Glad to be back to my little routine, my long lists of to do's, my big bed and my sweet 3.

One pot momma

Sometimes dinner is just another thing on the list of things to do. When the kids first came home I was exhausted but because they slept, there was time to whip up dinner.

Lately when I get home-I make their dinner, then it's a whirlwind-then we we either get take out or I make something we don't really care about and it's just nourishment. So today when I came home and had 15 minutes before nap time was over- I made a one pot meal.

I had forgotten how easy these were and how I can make these in the morning before work. Not your typical crock pot meal- no, something someone says,"what? This took 15 minutes to prepare!" So here goes, I am a one pot momma. A busy momma that works full time and then some and raises triplets.... And I'm making one pot meals you would love!! I plan on making one (or three) ha a week. I'll share the successes with you!

Tonight's was yummy!

I sliced one white onion thin and placed it in a 9x13 baking dish. I then peeled and sliced(thick) two large potatoes and placed them on top of the onions. Then I placed a third of a bag of spinach on top of the potatoes. Then small, boneless pork chops on top of that. I made a simple sauce out of two cups of chicken broth, a cup of Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of milk, a tablespoon of garlic salt and a dash of pepper. I poured this over the dish and covered with foil. I baked at 350 for about an hour and twenty minutes covered with foil.

It was perfect!!! You can make with chicken breasts too!

Move

I'm moving my office. Feels good to have my own fresh start. It's been a process but after Wednesday I should be wrapping it up and have everything into place :)

Yesterday we took the babies to ninfas where they ate a ton of Mexican food- yep, their my kids. Becker ate an entire cheese enchilada after he ate his own food and Riggs, he ate an entire serving of refried beans. GG, well, she ate everything from a pb&j to bites of avocado.

Then we went to spice, roots and lanes. They loved all of the stops. Becker helped mommy pick out some fall hunters.

Hope everyone is as excited about fall as we are!

Should be birthday

Today is August 8th and today was the triplets due date-one year ago today. Feels funny to think about adjusted age. Always feels strange when people ask us why they aren't walking!! 11 weeks early. That's why! Their adjusted age is 11 months.

We have come so far!!! I'm a proud momma. Crawling, climbing and a few steps from Riggs. Klaras children's center has gone above and beyond to make sure we are on target ;) so thankful and blessed beyond measure.

Happy due date birthday babies.

Beat your best

At work we've been discussing and planning 2013. A lot of discussion on goals and obstacles and the path to beating our best. Today we defined what that would look like.

Everyone described the perfect scenario. On the way home I couldn't help but to apply this to all of my thoughts. What does beating your best mean? What commitments would that entail?

If we beat our best at work, at home, with our children, in our marriages and in our relationships and friendships... What would that look like? Lol this feels like a Jerry Maguire moment... But it really made me think. It made me realize that doing a really good job requires planning.

Now, being triplet mom, I'm always in plan mode but I've often said its hard to enjoy the good times because of all the planning it took me to get there. But now I am seeing that if I break my plan down and see why something didn't work- I can plan better and enjoy the moments more. This means enjoying life more and living in that moment of good because hard work got you there.

I want to beat my best. They make me want to do my best. I want to be the best mommy, wife and friend and at work- I wanna save more babies. In a nutshell that's what it looks like. It's that simple.

Seasons of change

I remember when they were in the nicu how it felt like the world outside was spinning and ours was standing still. Fathers day came and went, the fourth of July came and went but we focused on our three so intently that seeing transitions and growth was our only sight.

I remember we took them to the zoo when they were four or five months old and how they slept the entire time. It's so funny to me now- they had no clue. I also remember the thousands of walks we took in the winter and spring. I remember bundling them up and making sure their ears were covered. I remember the way our house smelled and what music was playing. I don't want to forget the seasons that changed while they were settling into our lives and we were adjusting to their needs.

Now that everyone is mobile and steps are becoming apparent, I'm excited about what's next. I'm excited about walks that they enjoy, zoo trips that excite them and the smell of our house in the fall. Lately, the summer heat has zapped us of any outdoor activities and the air conditioning is our place of choice.

We have loved the summer but I feel like we are ready for the transition. The fall of leaves, the colors changing and something baking in the oven. I'm ready for more play time, less naps and them understanding me more.

They've started mimicking us. I love it. They think I'm the funniest person in the world-all the time. They want me all the time. I know this won't last forever and for right now- I'm soaking up every last minute.