Photo Shoot

We had a wonderful photo shoot with our friend Don and a professional photographer, Joanna Polling, this weekend. The boys were so good - over an hour of taking their photos and they were such troopers - I really can't even believe it! Anyway, there are a few pictures on her blog that I thought you all might like to check out. I'll probably post some on here once we get them, but I'm just so excited to share! Here is her website: http://www.joannapolling.com/blog/. They're under "Triplets". Enjoy!

Eight Months - Lots of Changes!

Zach, Luke and Eli - just playing around!

Well, now I know why I should blog more often... there's so much to tell you all about! First, let me start with what each of the boys have been up to lately (literally and figuratively).

Zach

Zachy is up to 21 lbs. 6.5 oz. now. I know it feels like he weighs that much every morning when I first pick him up, but I just can't believe he's more than tripled his weight! It really makes you think about how far they've come. Zach can sit up really well on his own now, and he's such a good eater that we've been able to reuse his bib a couple of times. This might not seem like a big deal, but when you go through 9 bibs a day, every little bit helps! He's totally sweet and always content, and he just loves to be around his brothers. He has two teeth and says dada (all day, every day!). I took him all by himself to Wal-Mart yesterday, and although we love the attention we get with all boys, it was fun to just walk around all by ourselves with no one stopping to chat. I hope that doesn't sound resentful - we really love talking to everyone when we go out. But it was nice for us to have some alone time!

Eli

Eli is now weighing in at 20 lbs. 12.5 oz. Some of this can be accounted for by his abundance of teeth! You can see plainly above his two little bottom ones, but what you can't see yet are the two coming in on top - not the middle teeth, but the ones to the outside of those. I can't wait to get a picture of the little vampire baby! He is still the wildest child that we have, but he is so sweet and smiley - usually. He sits up great on his own; he can even sit up from a reclining position. He's working on crawling, and he's getting close. He also can almost hold his own bottle - so cool! He needs a little help here and there, and sometimes he just doesn't feel like it, but it will be a great help when they can hold their own bottles! Eli and Luke had a tiny little cold last week, but they were great and really didn't need anything as far as medicine - just a little extra lovin'. Eli loooves to hug!

Luke

Luke is now 18 lbs. 6 oz. He's still smaller than the other boys, but still by about the same margin, so he's growing great! He can say dada and (drum roll please...) mama!! He said it on Saturday, June 26 and I was soo proud! I love to hear him say it, even if it is just a random syllable to him. He sits up great on his own and still has only the two teeth. The coolest thing about him, and I've noticed this for a while, is he gets so happy when anyone else is happy. For example, Eli will love to be tickled, but when you move on to someone else, he gets quiet. Luke just giggles and laughs when anyone is having fun, and I think that says a lot about him. He's such a little sweetie. Also, his head shape is improving dramatically. The last time we went to the doctor he was at 9 mm out of symmetry (started at 19 mm) and 5 mm is considered normal. If you really start to look around, you realize not too many people have "normal" shaped heads! Anyway, he doesn't have another appointment for 2 more weeks, and I'm hoping the helmet will come off soon after that. He's so good with it - it really has been no trouble at all, except you can't kiss his little head as much as you (or I) might like.

Well, this blog has grown to novel-length (as usual) so I'll sign off more and try to write again soon. I'll leave off with an action shot of boys playing with their "piano" - a super cool toy that makes lots of different musical sounds. What fun stuff they have to play with!

Our First Volunteer Event!

Amigos representin' Penn State - Future Linebackers!

The boys have had their first volunteering experience! I'm so excited! I really hope they grow up wanting to help people and to be civic-minded in general. (I know - I have too much time on my hands if I'm thinking of these things when they're only 7 months old!) BUT we had a golden opportunity. Our church, Christ's Church of the Valley, is partnering with a bunch of local churches and businesses on a food drive to try and collect 5 million pounds of food for the hungry in Phoenix.

OK, this is too funny! I was letting Eli sit on my lap while I blogged, and he starts hitting buttons on the keyboard. I think (as I have before) "No big deal, I'll just erase whatever he types then go on." Well, the first thing he accomplishes is posting the blog! Luckily I was able to pull it down right away, because there were no pictures yet, and I know we all want pictures. So the next thing he does is paste the whole text of the little paper I typed up to give to people about the food drive! Don't ask he how his chubby fingers miraculously made these things happen. He should be sleeping now anyway!

So, back to our volunteering... We went door-to-door in the neighborhood with a little paper describing what we're doing, etc. Believe me when I tell you, people are more receptive to you knocking at their door when you have three adorable munchkins with you! So even though they didn't do the pitch, they definitely closed the deal! We have our first donation already. We're going to go out again today and tomorrow to finish up the neighborhood, and take whatever we collect to church this weekend. I'll let you know how it turns out! Also, if you live in the area and want to participate, let me know - I can either come pick up or you can stop by and see me and the boys - I know, everyone really wants to see the boys! :)

Other than that, we've been up to some super secret stuff for Father's Day, which I won't post now in case any "inquiring minds" are reading the blog. Also we started going to the infant reading program at the library. It's so much fun! Luckily my neighbors come along to help, because it's very interactive. I think the kids will really love it when they get a little older. For now, it's something fun to do to get out of the house AND stay cool at the same time.

Here are some new pictures - enjoy!

Zach straight chillin'

Luke lookin' cute

Eli is seriously playing!

Eli, Zach and Luke taking a break from bouncing

on the trampoline

So Many New Things!

Eli, Zach and Luke - one by one they ended up in Mommy's bed!

Hi everyone! This has been a great time in the lives of the Amigos, and we've been so busy enjoying it, I haven't blogged in a while! We have had some very exciting things happening lately, such as:

Zach got his first tooth - Eli has two, and Luke is still toothless. All of the boys have been a little fussy lately, and I really think it's the teeth. Poor little dudes! I wouldn't want to go through that again.

Zach rolling around in the grass

Eli can sit up on his own - I waited for this one because I didn't want to give him credit until he could really do it, but he's a pretty balanced little guy. He has these chubby legs that give him more support! Luke and Zach are still working on it, but they all love to be sitting up - this often leads to strange contortions of my body, trying to keep them all upright at the same time. I count it as working out, what the heck?

Eli being just too cute

And last but not least, Luke says "Da da", or some other variant. I'm not sure that he means daddy by it, but we're giving him credit because he says it really clearly, over and over again, and especially around John. Of course, he loves this (John, I mean). I am secretly drilling them for an hour a day on saying ma ma, but it hasn't worked yet. Just kidding! I only say it to them a couple (hundred) times a day.

Luke motors around in his exersaucer

Other fun things going on in our lives have been some great friends from PA came to visit, and the boys went swimming and on the trampoline for the first time. Both were really well-received by the boys. I wasn't sure how they'd like the pool, but they all seemed to really love it. I'm looking for baby floaties, but so far haven't found anything I think is right for them. We don't take them in the pool much though - I would always want to have at least 3 adults. We'll get some friends to come over and help!

Luke

Eli

Zach

P.S. - It usually takes me about 3 days by the time I can get the blog written, pictures inserted and published. That was true this time also, and in the meantime, Luke has popped a tooth out and Zach is saying "Da da"! I have faith in Eli that he'll do the right thing and not speak until he can say Mama!