Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone had a great Christmas this year. Ours was amazing, of course, since we had the three amigos to share it with. We got to do almost everything we wanted to accomplish, except go to church. We're still not taking the boys around large crowds and anyone who's been to our church knows that "large crowd" is an understatement. So on Christmas Eve, we got the boys dressed up in their Santa hats and took them on a stroll though the neighborhood. Every Christmas Eve, one street is blocked off, they have Santa, cookies and hot chocolate, and "sleigh rides" Arizona-style, which means decorated golf carts and flat bed trucks take people on rides though the neighborhood to see the lights and the luminaries. Here's a picture of us outside our house, starting our walk.

We didn't take the boys to the mall for Santa pictures, because of the crowd thing, but they did get to see him in the neighborhood.

We had a great night - everyone loved to see the boys and we met a family that has 6 year old triplets. It's always great to meet people with good advice, and reassurances!

On Christmas day, we opened presents and got such cute things for the boys! They got picture frames for their first Christmases, clothes, toys and ornaments. We took lots of pictures as usual - these are of their Christmas outfits from Nana...

Luke

Eli

Zach

John's family came up from Tucson and we had a nice afternoon, ham dinner and watching A Christmas Story. It was chaotic but nice to spend time with family.

Well, that pretty much sums up Christmas. We are so blessed, I can't even really believe it! Hope you all had a nice Christmas, and that the year to come is a happy, healthy one for all!

Almost Christmas

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't blogged in a while - you all know how busy it is around Christmas! We have done our best to buy gifts, decorate the house, make cookies, etc. - all the normal Christmasy stuff with 3 babies in tow! We're pretty much ready - I just have to get stuff for Christmas dinner still. John's family is coming up from Tucson, and we'll just have a nice, simple dinner and time with the boys - the best entertainment I can think of!

Speaking of the boys, they're doing a lot of growing lately! Next time I'll post weights - it's been a couple of weeks since we weighed them last, and Zach was 9 lb 9 oz. at that time, so you can only imagine now! Eli is keeping up with him and Luke is gaining a little more slowly, but still at a good pace. They're staying up and being more alert lately, which is fun. They're also starting to smile on purpose a little - I can't claim that we can make them smile yet, but they do it on their own once in a while. It just melts my heart - I can't wait til they're all laughing and smiling more often!

I've attached some pictures (I know, that's the fun part of the blog!) of smiles and Christmas hats. Enjoy! Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, that is blessed with the Holy Spirit and not stressed with things not nearly so important. Just think, a Savior is born - how exciting!! Love to all!!

Eli in the favorite place - the bouncy seat next to the Christmas tree

Luke is a good smiler, and pictures don't do him justice - he's a little angel!

Zach is showing his excitement - getting ready to take a walk

My three little elves - Zach, Luke and Eli

First Bath!

Well, another milestone reached - we gave the boys their first bath last Saturday, December 4. John and I were very prepared - we had two bath tubs and enough gear to wash a baby army! We went through everything, weighed the pros and cons of each tub, organized supplies, then finally worked up the nerve to "stop guessin' and start messin'" as they say! The first to go was Zach, and he loved it! I was somewhat surprised at this, since I am definitely a baby washing novice. I realized just at that first moment that I had never given a baby or a little child a bath in a tub before! Luckily the tub we use is very baby friendly and mama-forgiving. He was so good - after the initial "what the heck is this?" moment, he was really fine. Here's a not-too-embarrassing picture of Zach's first bath:

Next was Luke, and first let me say that we had to wake him up, and I think that was the problem. He did not like the bath at all; we have since bathed him again while he was already awake, and he seemed to like it a lot better. I think it was a shock! We didn't take as many pictures of him because it was hard to remember the camera when he was screaming like we had just cut off his little toe, but here's one when he was a little more relaxed:

Last was Eli. Now, as I wrote before, Eli is sensitive - he doesn't seem to take to new things right away, to put it mildly. He needs to try things a couple of times to get used to them, though if that's true, he still isn't "used to" getting his diaper changed. That boy can scream! So after the Luke experience, I was hesitant to bathe Eli - just didn't want to go there. But, I realized that the child would need to be bathed eventually, so better to just bite the bullet. We got a lesson in prejudging our kids, because he did just fine! He really was OK with it! Now, the second time around, not so good, but he did enjoy his first bath. Here are a couple of pictures of him:

This is Eli's happy face!

Nice and warm with his hooded towel!

Well, I hope the boys aren't too mad at me for posting these, but they are so cute! Man, and there is nothing like a clean, good-smelling baby - or three!

Happy Birthday (?!)

Today would have been the amigos birthday if they had been full-term, so it's kind of a birthday for them! It's amazing that they've been with us for five weeks already - the days are flying by. This morning the news said it was Thursday and I thought they misspoke - it couldn't be past Tuesday! But John assured me that the newscasters are more aware of the date than I am!

I meant to post a blog last week for their 1 month pictures, but see my earlier comment. Sorry about that! So on Monday they were 1 month old, and we just can't believe it. They are getting huge - definitely more of a load to carry around two at a time than when they were so tiny. Of course, it's awesome that they're gaining weight and growing so well. We weighed them here at home last week, so here are the new stats:

Luke - 7 lb. 6.5 oz. (up 2 lb. from birth)

Eli - 8 lb. 2 oz. (up 2 lb. 7 oz from birth)

Zach - 8 lb. 12 oz. (up 2 lb. 8 oz from birth)

The only new health news is that we got the results of their newborn screening blood work and they are all normal. We don't know what all they tested for, but whatever it was, they don't have it! We go back to the pediatrician for a 2 month check up on January 4.

The guys are still pretty much eating and sleeping, but they're staying up a little longer and interacting with us a little more (a VERY little, in spite of my efforts). We have a fun play mat on the floor with lights and music and all other sorts of extraneous toys that they really don't get yet, but they like the lights and get a little tummy time. For those without kids or who haven't had them in a while, babies are supposed to spend some time on their stomachs to help build neck muscles, since they're not supposed to sleep on their stomachs any more. Well, our guys don't like it very much, so it's good they have something fun to look at while being tortured.

We're starting to really notice their personalities. John and I discussed it last night, and we're pretty much in agreement, with some twists. For instance, John thinks Eli is needy but I call him sensitive! That child can scream! He doesn't like getting his diaper changed AT ALL! He really likes to cuddle - he's so sweet. Zach is really laid back. You can barely wake him up to eat, and then when he does he hardly opes his eyes. He doesn't cry a lot, but when he does, you know it! He has a deep, LOUD bellow - it cracks us up (most of the time!) He's just pretty chilled out. Luke is like a little student. He's awake the most and is always looking around. He makes sweet little faces and is generally in a good mood. They're all awesome and I think it's fun that they're so different, at least now. It's important not to compare multiples against each other too much, because it can lead to unhealthy competition. They're all super cool in their own ways - and super cute too if I do say so myself!

John and I are well - tired, but that's to be expected. John is working from home, which is a huge deal. We had his Mom here last week helping, which was also awesome. We had Thanksgiving dinner here; very nice and laid back. John smoked the turkey - turned out really good. Now we're in the midst of decorating for Christmas, and I'm hoping against hope that I can get shopping done in time for everyone not to get too mad at us! The days are slipping by...

Anyway, hope everyone is well. Here are some new pictures, from one month old.

Left to right - Luke, Eli and Zach - Notice their Mommy outfits!

Eli - his hairline is receding already! Eli again - too sweet to pass up!

Luke looking around

Zach getting some belly time with a smile Zach and Daddy