Merry Christmas!

Luke, Zach and Eli say "Merry Christmas dudes!"

I hope you all had a Christmas full of joy and peace! I felt that way this year, and know that I'm blessed to have had that experience. Many more times it has a been a stressful, anxious time, but this year - totally fun! We had John's Mom, Stepdad and Gram come up for Christmas Eve, and we all went to church together. This was the boys' first time in the main, "big" church, and of course they did great! They weren't as impressed with all of the singing and lights as I thought they would be, but they kept themselves (and us!) occupied during the service.

After church, we came home and had a prime rib feast, and then went for a walk in our neighborhood. This is something so special, and I have never seen anything like it in all of the different places I've lived. Everyone puts out luminaries (which are put together and sold as kits by the neighborhood) on Christmas Eve. That alone is beautiful, and most of the homes around us are decorated with really great Christmas lights. So you take a nice walk, see the lights, one neighbor even has a high-powered telescope you can look through. Then there is a street that is blocked off and people bring cookies, they have hot chocolate and coffee, and Santa is there in one of the driveways! All of the boys had their turn on Santa's lap. This was the first time for Luke and Eli, second for Zach. Their expressions speak for themselves!

Zach: This is my second time, and I still don't like

this dude!

Eli: What are you doing with that hand, mister?

Luke: Seriously, get me out of here!

The boys were pretty tired by this point, so we read them the Christmas story, put them to sleep and helped Santa work his magic! The boys (and everyone else) were so excited Christmas morning to see all of their new toys, books and clothes. They didn't tear into wrapping paper yet - I think that will be next year. But they did explore every inch of new addition to "kidland"! It was super-cool, and I highly recommend spending Christmas with any triplet toddlers you might be acquainted with! Here are some pictures of the amigos enjoying their second Christmas!

Luke, Eli and Zach in their new bouncy

Luke, did you grow a tail?

Zach was born ready to play the xylophone

And Eli may never put the guitar down again

Eli sitting on the racetrack - great idea!

Luke loving life

Doesn't this remind you of A Christmas Story??

Farewell Summer

The Last Hurrah! We went to visit John's family in Tucson earlier in November, and we got to swim one last time. Eli is on left with Erica, John's cousin, then Jay has Zach and I've got Luke

A stroller ride and half an hour later, this is the result of all that swimming! Zach is on the left and Eli on the right.

Again, as usual, I'm apologizing for not getting on here enough, but you'll forgive me when you hear why I'm so late (one of the reasons, as least). Last week we all had a wicked stomach virus - ewwww! So gross! It's really bad enough to have a stomach bug on your own, but also three little guys - it was almost over my gross-out threshold. Once again, Luke was the harbinger and started getting sick one day, then we all fell like dominoes within the next couple of days. We are all better now though, and the sunny side is it made me appreciate my kids' sweet dispositions, as opposed to what happened last week!

Other big things that have been happening around here... Zach took his first steps! It was on Thanksgiving, and really cool. We were all hanging out after a nice dinner, and he was just lounging up against the couch. He looked at me sitting a few feet away, and just walked over to me! He has been walking a lot holding a hand, but never on his own yet. Luke and Eli are jetting around - the head-knocks on the floor are way down as they've passed the "drunken sailor" stage, as Uncle Rob would say!

Thanksgiving was also special because it was the first time we sat down to eat as a family. We always feed the boys by themselves, because it's so much easier. That night, we pulled them up to the big table in their booster seats and we feasted together! Eli wasn't that into it, so he and I were up and down, but it was really nice and very special to me. I felt a new kinship with my Grandma, who would so much rather serve her family than eat. I never understood that until now. The boys keep teaching me!

Speaking of learning new things, Eli can now open all of the doors in the house, and is always on the lookout for a possible escape route. Since I stopped reading "how to" baby books, I'm not sure, but I think this is a little early for this. I mean, a couple of months ago they were barely able to push up on their knees, and now Eli's plotting a break out? So now we need to do a second round of babyproofing. It's all worth it! I just hope we can stay ahead of these boys!

That's about it around here! I'm sure I'll write more around Christmas, so for now, wishing everyone a very happy Christmas!

Luke: Is this dude really sitting on me?

Eli: Oh, just laugh it off!


Zach: Time to move on fellas

Happy Birthday Amigos!

Luke, Zach and Eli getting their first taste of the sweet life!

The baby boys had their very first birthday on Saturday, October 30. They are so awesome! It's amazing to see how they've changed over the last year, and to imagine what changes the rest of their lives will bring.

Talking about changes, where did those tiny babies go? I used to be able to pick up two at a time no problemo, but now a couple of boys (who shall remain nameless) are breaking their Mama's back! Here are the stats from their 1 year appointment, which was Monday:

Luke: Weight - 21 lbs, 6 oz; Length - 31 in

Eli: Weight - 25 lbs, 6 oz; Length - 32 in

Zach: Weight - 25 lbs, 10 oz; Length - 32 in

They're all doing really well - no major health concerns. The biggest thing to come out of the appointment is that we're done with formula!! AND we're supposed to give milk in a sippy cup, so we should technically be done with bottles as well. For anyone who's visited, they know the burden of bottles and formula (To all my bottle washers, I am forever indebted!) This made me think - "wonder how much...?" So here are some approximate stats for the boys first year:

Bottles drunk: 5475

Bottle parts washed (5 parts per bottle): 27,375 (Thank goodness we had some help!)

Meals fed: 1638

Diapers changed: 5475 (Funny how that's the same as the # of bottles!)

Wipes Purchased: 0

Can you believe it? I wrote in an early blog about how our church neighborhood group had done a diaper drive when the boys were born. They brought over a truck full of diapers and wipes. Well, we didn't buy a diaper until the boys were six months old, and we haven't bought a wipe yet! Isn't that amazing? My theory is that when the wipes run out, the boys have to be potty trained! (I think we better start conserving!)

So it has been a busy year, but the result is three awesome, beautiful, healthy, sweet boys who have changed my life completely. I'm just going to write a little about each one, so you can know how special each guy is.

Zach

This boy is so sweet and lovable! He loves to curl up on your lap and watch anything from Baby Einstein to football, and he gives hugs that make you not want to ever let him go. He's very laid back and isn't walking yet, but he doesn't mind at all. From very early he has been an imitator, and he imitates facial expressions and sounds. One day while driving, we were listening to music and "Men in Black" was playing. John looked in the rear view and started laughing. Zach was bobbing his head to the music right on beat! Too cute! So we were all car dancing - Luke and Eli sway from side to side!

Eli

Eli is his own little man. He is so assertive and definitely will not be lost as the "middle child". He is just an outgoing, boisterous, adventurous little guy. He was the first to walk and is now practically running. He still wears a helmet to help the shape of his head, and the bad side effect of this is, it has made an already wild child less inhibited, because he can run into things with his head and not feel it! He will run into something almost on purpose because that's easier than sitting down on his own. Hopefully he has a really hard head by the time the helmet comes off. Just this morning (Friday now!) he went and got his own cup of milk (not from the fridge - it was sitting out already) and got himself settled down to drink, because I had both Zach and Luke on my lap. What a little rock star!

Luke

Luke has never stopped being the inquisitive, observant guy that he was when he was born. He really is so alert to everything that's going on, and picks things up really quickly. The boys got a Scout dog for their birthday, and you have to press its paws to make it do things. I noticed last night that he already knows to push the paws and to let go, so that a whole song plays, etc. The other guys play with Scout, but that involves mostly chewing on his ears! Luke is so sweet too - he pats your back when you're holding him, and he gives very solemn kisses. He is a joy.

OK, and to fit one more thing into this tremendously long blog, the boys had their first real Halloween! Last year they were in the hospital so that doesn't count, in our book. We went around in the stroller (just the boys - I pushed) and saw all of the neighbors in our area. It was really fun, and the boys were so good. They didn't get to eat their candy, though. Daddy and I took care of that for them :) Happy Fall to everyone!

Superboys!

Almost 1 Year!

Luke, Eli and Zach sporting their "Pappy" look!

Well, we're coming up on the boys' first birthday and it has been quite busy around here lately! My mom Robin has been visiting for three weeks, spending lots of quality time with the boys and helping me to prepare for everything that has been going on. I'll get right to it and bring you up to speed!

October 16 the boys went to their very first Halloween picnic, with the Mothers of Multiples club that I belong to. It was a really nice day, and the boys got to check out lots of other little tiny humans. As you can imagine, it was pretty chaotic, but we did get a few good pictures of the super boys!

Eli in back, Luke in the middle and Zach is Super Baby in the front!

(This is also a good shot of our new stroller!)

"Is that a bat signal I see?" Eli looooves his costume!

Luke found a fairy friend! He is the Hulk in case you couldn't tell!

I'll post some good Halloween pics after the big night!

The next day, Sunday, October 17, the boys were dedicated at our church. This is a small ceremony where John and I show our intention to raise the boys to know Christ. It was a wonderful day (just a little hot!) and we had lots of friends and family there to also give their support to raising the boys in a Christian way. We had a nice ceremony, some cake, hung out with the boys and just enjoyed the day!

Eli, Luke and Zach are ready!

John and Luke

Eli is such a smiley boy!

Nana and Zach

Other than that, we have been enjoying the cooler weather finally! The boys love playing in the yard and at the parks around the area. They've also started a new fashion trend around the house - shoes! You can see Eli showing off his new Crocs!

Luke is too cool in his new shades

Zachy won't be outdone!

We also had the boys' birthday party this past weekend, so I have tons of great photos to share! I'll post more about that later, when I write about their birthday. More soon!

What a Week!

Well, we have been having some crazy times around the Z-Ranch lately! It all started with "Typhoid Luke", as I now refer to him sometimes (not usually out loud!) Last week he started showing cold symptoms and quickly developed pink eye. John soon followed, and they both caught a pretty big cold. I was maintaining quite well, along with Eli and Zach, until bam! It hit me over the weekend, and really hasn't let up since. Zach and Eli are still fighting the good fight, so hopefully they won't succumb too. It's almost amazing that they aren't sick, with all of the transfer of germs that has to take place around here!

But in the midst of all this, which truly hasn't been easy, we have had some really awesome things happening with the boys. First, and most exciting, Eli has taken his very first steps! On Wednesday, we caught him moving between two bog toys that he holds on to walk around, and so I put him about a foot away and said, "Come see Mama!" and he took two little steps! It was so exciting! We were all there to see it too - how cool!

The other guys haven't taken any steps yet, but they're moving around pretty well when they have something to hold onto. The cool thing that Zach and Luke have been up to is they started chasing each other! Crawling, of course, one will go about 10 feet, look back, see the other guy coming, then they both laugh and laugh! They take turns as chaser and chasee - laughing the whole time. This is the first interaction between the boys that seems meaningful. They have always liked to touch each other, and for the last couple of months they take toys from each other, but this is really playing together. It's cool because this is the benefit of being a multiple, and we're starting to see it.

Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I really don't have the energy to do much more today, and I really wanted to tell everyone about Eli's steps! More to come soon!

So Much Fun!

Eli, Luke and Zach with Great-Grandma Jean

Eli, Luke and Zach cracking up!

It's football season! Zach, Eli and Luke

The Amigos have been having some fun lately! We have been so busy - still I'm sorry that I haven't blogged in a while! I'll be better once everything settles down (I know - that will be in about 25 years, right?) I have tried to make up for it by putting in lots of pictures!

We had an awesome visit from my sister, Nadine, her daughter Katie, and my Gram, Jean. They stayed for a whole week and it was just so cool to get to share the boys with them. This is something that has been a little tough since the boys have been here - being so far from so many special people. But we always have lots of visitors, which is fun! John's Mom and Step dad also came to visit. We're so lucky!

Nadine swimming with Zach and Eli

Katie with Luke and Zach before bath time

They boys were just laughing!

Our friend Staci also came to visit - we know her Mom will love this shot!

The boys also had their first political experience. They went to the Primary election for Arizona on August 22. I didn't influence them at all - they are free-minded little citizens! But since they didn't earn the vote yet, I just voted for all of us!

John and I finally got the front room baby proofed, now that the boys are motoring around like crazy! We have that room in such good shape, the boys only almost kill themselves about once a day. No, they're getting very steady on their feet, but we have at least one bonked head a day usually - thank goodness for helmets!

The boys are helping Daddy baby proof

Eli is quality-checking Daddy's work

Luke wakes up smiling every time- I wish!

Eli and Zach just hangin' at the cribs

(If you look closely, you can see Eli's first act of vandalism -

he started to pull the border down from the wall!)

I have about 100 stories to share so I will be blogging more soon! Have a great day!

What are "Things that are already gone?"

The Jeopardy answer to the following list of things that I was just thinking about. As I watch the three amigos crawling around (they're all crawling like crazy - so cute!) I started to think about the things they're already done with.

The real reason this came up is because Sunday the boys had their first real graduation! They graduated from the Infants room at church to the Crawlers room. (I used to count graduating to a new size diapers, but that doesn't take much skill). So because they can all motor around - and possibly hurt other not-so-mobile babies - they move up to the Crawler room. They're going to be the little fishes in the bigger pond!

So here are a few things that they are forever done with (hopefully!):

1. Binkies - these were gone way earlier than I thought they would be. Probably around 4-5 months, the boys started losing interest one by one, pretty closely together though. There was a brief period of intense thumb sucking, but that seems to be slowing down as well. Tough little cookies!

Luke, Eli and Zach - four weeks old

2. Swaddling - This too was done around month 4, but we were sad to see it go. Swaddling was so comforting for the babies, and John was really good at it so that was his thing. We had to stop because the boys - first Zach - were busting out on their own at night. We could have got bigger blankets but then thought - where do you stop? Do you buy quilts to swaddle your 7 year old? So we let it go. Weren't they cute though?

Luke, Eli and Zach - 1 week old

3. Late night feedings - Done for months now - probably at 6 months the boys were sleeping through most of the night - we might have been doing 5:30 am feedings then. Now the boys sleep from 7:30 pm to 7 am with relatively few issues. I say relatively, because with three of them, it can seem like a lot. Probably 2-3 nights a week we have issues in the evening, but rarely late at night. It's not bad though - one-on-one cuddle time!

Luke, Zach and Eli holding their own bottles

4. Me saying "Help! They don't do anything" - I'm sure I drove a few people over the edge with my incessant worry about the kids when they were first born. Looking back, I realize how crazy that was, and I've been trying to make up for it by being fairly normal on the worry scale. Especially now when I can see them moving around and doing all kinds of cool things, I can sit back a little and say, "See? They're each so awesome in entirely different ways! Where did all that worry get me?" I need to have faith in God that although the way this life leads may not always be smooth, He will get us over any terrain. We're so blessed!



Eli and Luke romping around


Zach and Eli in their "Thing" shirts

So, I have to get my emotions under control because the boys are only 9 months old, and if I can't handle their first graduation with poise, how will we all survive the next 25 years?! I'm proud to say I didn't even sniffle at church when the lady said they were graduating - until she gave me the little card to put in their baby books. That almost brought on the flood! Hope you enjoy the new (and old) pictures!