The Night Before Our Babies Turned ONE!

Before I get to all the Christmas Posts, I have to get through the girl's first birthday! Phew!

So, Thursday, December 22nd Aunt Christine came over to give the girls some of their birthday presents...because ya know they don't know the difference at this age anyway. I wanted to girls to be able to wear part of their gift on their actual birthday since we were going out for most of the day, so I convinced her to come over the night before!

The girls were truly less than thrilled. Whenever they are out of their "chick pen" they really just want to go for all the stuff they aren't allowed to have...and who cares what presents are in front of them!

My sister got them cute baby uggs which I LOVE and she also got all FOUR of our daughters matching Pottery Barn stockings, which I finally bought for Tim and I to match the girls.

Say no more...this describes these two!!!

Thank you Aunt Christine for our wonderful birthday presents!!

Grammy's CNA/GNA Graduation and The National Christmas Tree in DC!

Well I guess I need to start re-capping the past two weeks! Bare with me and I'll have everything up to date in no-time.....haha!!!

On Saturday, we went to my mom's CNA/GNA Graduation! She has been taking classes since September 2-3 days a week and has loved it. We are so proud of her! She takes her National Board of Nursing test on January 7th. We will be praying for her, but I think she will have no problem and will be passing with flying colors! 

And then she starts Nursing School in just a few weeks!

After cake, we all ventured down to see the Nation Christmas tree in DC, which we do every year. This year though, as some years, it was freezing. Our SUV is too big to fit in most car garages so finding two parking spots near each other (since my parents, Christine and Nathan we in another car) is almost impossible, but finally about 5 blocks from the tree we found two right next to each other. By this time it was 5:45 pm and the girls were already very unhappy. They are used to eating promptly at 5:00pm, or very soon after, but we bundled them up in everything we had. I happened to have their sleepy-sacks with us since earlier in the day we were at Nana's house and they napped, so after the jackets, shoes, hats and gloves, we then put their sleepy sacks over top which was great!

We tried to take photos in front of the White House, like we don't already have a hundred from previous times there, but this was the girl's first visit...but my camera was acting up...and theses were the best photos we got...!

Right after these photos were taken, we had another lovely experience of someone giving us a very, very rude comment because we are parent's of multiples. SO rude, their may have been some profanity back at them. I know, not the best idea, especially in front of the kids, but when you are so completely overwhelmed by a stranger's view of your family just walking by, profanity was better than attacking this couple and gouging out their eyes as the Mother-Bear in me wanted to do. Seriously, it was bad, and mean, and completely uncalled for! But we shrugged it off  because obviously it was not the truth and laughed at it the rest of the night.

And the National Christmas Tree and all the smaller "state" trees around with four million people!

Daddy and Natalee

My mom and Madelynn and Claire

I LOVE going to DC, but this was a little much for me! The girls were very fussy and so was Mommy! It was so cold, there were 4 million people and my babies were starving...and not to mention I have 3 BABIES screaming and whining and I AM PREGNANT and had to walk uphill 6 blocks to the car!

Let's just say it was NOT a good mixture! I got VERY stressed VERY fast! By the time we got to the car, meltdowns were in FULL-FORCE! I took forever to load everything up and literally my girls were foaming at the mouth. I got in the back seat and tried so hard to get them fed, while Tim drove through traffic, pot holes and people in DC. It was about 7:15pm at this time and I was having so many contractions and a melt-down myself. I had many moments were I was asking myself questions like "what the hell did I just do?" "what the hell did I just put my babies through and myself through?" I was so overwhelmed and had to focus just on breathing and trying to get food in my children's bellies. Food was being flown in every direction, Claire was spitting at me, snot was flying...and I was smashed between two car seats. I can't blame them though, all they know how to do is scream when they want something, and I was not going fast enough! Plus, when I would feed one, the others would scream, and we just go back and forth constantly. And their outfits, bows, and jackets...lets just say, EVERYTHING went through the wash, thanks to all the spitting of purred food and pot holes of DC!

There are just "those moments" where you can just can ONLY IMAGINE what it is like with THREE BABIES! ONE baby has NO comparison to THREE, during moments like these! I'm sorry if that may offend anyone but it is the truth. It's truly only for the strong. I swear by it, when I am literally in tears and cannot breath because of them, and trying everything I can do while that is not nearly enough to them...it is SO overwhelming and you would have to be there to believe just how bad some moments can be! This was completely ONE OF THE WORST 45 minutes in the past year! NO LIE!

By the time we arrived at the restaurant, I was so ready just to hit the drive-through at MCD's and be done with the day, but since it was for my mom, I sucked it up, put a smile on my face and no one would have known the complete hell I just experienced in the back of our SUV. Pure hell.

The girl's were complete angels and played with their toys and straws during the whole time we were at dinner. It was wonderful and no one would have known what happened. It was then that it became a little comical. We had a wonderful dinner and they slept the whole way home and went right to bed. Pure bliss, from such a horrible experience.

All and all we are very proud of Grammy and can't wait until she passes her test in a few weeks!

35 Weeks and Some Surprising Changes!

I wrote this post yesterday, Tuesday 12.27, and didn't get to take my photos and then figured I would wait until after my OB appointment and I am glad I did. SO much changed!


First of all, they changed my due date again, and the OB insisted that I am 35w4d today, which of course makes me happy! So, Saturday I will be 36 weeks! Phew!


E is still VERY low, head down and "moving so much" as the Dr. stated. She also said "her head is right there!" when she checked me!


I am 50% effaced and AT LEAST 2CM!!!!!!!!! Like WOW! I couldn't believe it! I could be more, she wasn't sure because my cervix is still back, but she said that will change of course in the next few weeks or so.


Also, instead of January 24th as the c-section date, which I already have hospital orders for, now I get another week added on to give ample time to go into labor on my own! SO happy about that! So, instead it will be January 30th now instead and I will be 40w3d!


I asked her to predict when E could come and she didn't want to say. It could be tomorrow, it could be 40w2d! We'll see if I am anymore progressed at my next OB appointment, next Thursday 01.05.12, which will be 36w5d! So exciting!




How Far Along: 35 weeks (&4d)! AH!


Big is Little Miss E: Average size is a honeydew..YUM! About 4.2 to 5.8 lbs...but I think E is measuring on the big side, imagine that after having such little peanuts the first time! Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs…time to start practicing your lullabies (or the wheels on the bus...since I sing that about fourteen billion times a day!)! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month (thebump.com).


Symptoms: Stopped the procardia and surprisingly I'm not having that many contractions without it. I hope my body slowly starts to do what it is suppose to do! (yes it is!)


Drinking a lot, peeing a lot, pains in my right leg still hurts, and definitely getting very swollen by the end of the day. It's getting worse every few days, but I think that is to be expected at this point and it is always gone by the morning. Hopefully it stays like that.


I can really tell my belly is getting bigger and bigger. It's always in the way these days!


Blood pressure is doing great! AMEN!


Weight Gain: Weighed today....157 lbs. Ouch!


Emotions: Doing great! I am slowly coming to the conclusion that this pregnancy is coming to an end. I cannot wait to meet Little E and hold a little peanut again that was created by God but if this is my last baby, it makes me a little sad that it could be the last time I ever experience being pregnant. I felt that way with the girls and little did I know how wrong I was, but please be assured that will not happen again after E is born! Being so blessed with our four beautiful daughters, we will be a family of six for a long time, if not forever. But of course there is a part of me that is already experience those emotions of this being "it". I haven't thought much of it because I don't want to. I just want to enjoy every moment of the next few weeks until E gets here.


Best Moment of the Week: Getting through Christmas without going to the hospital!!! Seeing my babies turn ONE, Christmas with family and friends, all the wonderful things Christmas brings!


Movement: All day, every day! She never stops and is constantly kicking, moving and having the hiccups!


Maternity Clothes: Of course! Although I did get a cute dress for Christmas and it was NOT maternity, so I totally didn't feel bad for spending 30 dollars on it when I can definitely wear it again!


Stretchmarks: Just the same ones from the girls! They are getting very sore though, I guess because they are stretching more...boo!


Sleep: WONDERFUL! Just peeing a lot due to the swelling and drinking a lot, but not getting up at all with the girls! AMEN!!!!!!!!!!


Food Cravings: Anything and everything! I don't turn down most food!


Aversions: Cream-based foods/drinks. Coffee.


Gender: A Little Miss!


What I Miss: WINE!


What I am Looking Forward to: Making it to 37 weeks and hopefully going into labor on my own before my scheduled c-section!!!!!


And here I am today at 35w4d, please excuse my jammies:

Decorating at Grammy and Grandpa's Hosue!

Monday, December 21st we went over to my parent's house, had a wonderful family dinner and helped decorate their tree! They are always so behind on decorating...but they have good excuses!

We had a wonderful family dinner of lamb that my mom made and then decorated the tree!

Here are the girl's helping Grandpa in anyway they can! I only took a few photos of them in the beginning and then we just played!

And the finished product!

All ready for Christmas!

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve was a quiet day in our house for the most part. Originally we were suppose to have a large family gathering and dinner at my parent's house but my sister received 4 tickets on the club level to the Redskin game and she wanted to go with Nathan (her boyfriend) and my parents, so they decided to change it to Christmas day which worked well for most of our family anyway.


My best friend and her hubby came over to exchange gifts which was a lot of fun ad the girls had fun playing with all their new stuff, including their new Elmo DVDs, which they are LOVING! (these were the only two photos I took..I was just busy catching up and running after three escaped little chicks!) Thank you Aunt Kim and Uncle Roger for all our great stuff!! We LOVE you!

I had decided since we really didn't have much to do, that we could go to the airport to surprise Megan and her fiancee, Julian who were getting in around 5:45pm. It's about an hour drive to the airport they were coming in at but it was well worth it to surprise her!! She never in a million years thought we would be able to come and I was so happy we were!


I met Tammy at a park-n-ride closer to her house and the highway, so it was super easy (Tim didn't want to go because the Eagle's game was on and he was not missing it). We got to the airport, parked and went in to the food court to feed the girls dinner before the plane was set to arrive. All was good. The place was empty and so nice and quiet. The girls ate and this really sweet man came up to us and gave us fifteen dollars to the girls. He couldn't believe I had triplets and asked how old they were and when I said their birthday was just yesterday, he gave them each five dollars. I so didn't want to take it but it was so sweet and he insisted! I tell ya, the kindness of others is so sweet. Never in a million years did I ever think a prefect stranger would be so kind. Bless that kind soul of his, Lord!


We were right on time and met Julian's mom and her grandson, Zach, who is just a few more months older than the girls..I think about 6 months older. He is such a sweetie. 

So we went downstairs to meet the arriving passengers and within in five minutes Megan and Julian were walking to us! Megan was super surprised and happy we came to welcome her home! 


We didn't have much time to visit but it was great to welcome them home for the holidays.


After searching around for our car, even after we remembered where it was...we drove home and after dropping Tammy off at her car, the girls pretty much took their turns screaming during the ride home and Mommy had to sing "the wheels on the bus..." four hundred times. Luckily for cell phones, Mommy called Daddy and he had their new Christmas jammies and bottles ready for three hungry and sleepy little girls!


My mom and my sister braved the cold to come over and we all listened while my mom read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, as she has since my sister and I were little. It was so sweet! A moment I won't forget, the girls were so patient and just layed in our arms and drank their bottles listening to the story. We then gave hugs and kisses and tucked in our little ones for dreams of sugar plums and awaited Santa's arrival!

Happy Birthday Madelynn, Claire and Natalee!

Friday, December 23rd, 2011 was such a fun day! It was our baby girl's FIRST BIRTHDAY!


I barely got any sleep and finally at 8am I woke Tim up and said I couldn't take it anymore! We had to go wake the girl's up! We went into their room and sang Happy Birthday to them, and they were all looking at us, like "okay, what are you doing Momma and Dadda?!" I didn't care, I was so excited! I gave them all kisses and hugs (like most mornings) and told them all it was their FIRST birthday!!


Tim and I talked about how we cannot believe it has already been a YEAR! We always laugh about random things, like "geeze remember when we wished for the girls to hold their own bottles, and how much easier it would be then!" or "gosh, when they learn how to sit up...." We cannot believe we made it through a year with 3 BABIES!!!!!!


We changed their diapers, got them dressed in their birthday outfits and brought them downstairs to their birthday stuff!

Daddy made them pink sprinkle birthday pancakes (which we will make for them on EVERY birthday). While waiting for pancakes, I took some photos!

Natalee ate ALL her pancake and then started grabbing Madelynn's from her tray and eating it! That girl eats ANYTHING!

Madelynn

Claire

They played for a little bit while we got everything ready for our errands (yes, we still had some Christmas shopping to do and food to buy!).

We loaded the girls up in the car and headed to Wal-Mart and then to Costco. We met Nana and Grammy and Grandpa and finished up our last shopping. The girls were so good, of course because they LOVE shopping...and I have NO IDEA where they may have picked up that trait from! :)


We then headed to one of our very favorite family pizza places...Ilfornio! We have taken the girls there a few times and since we had Grammy and Grandpa with us, it was even better!


The girls enjoyed throwing food, toys and eating pizza! I didn't take any photos because I must have left the camera in the car! Preggo brain...sorry girls!


We made it home and the girls took a short nap. After nap, we opened presents, fed the girl's dinner and made dinner for all the adults! 

And all they want is the cat!

And the TV!

They got some cute clothes and toys from Nana and hats and gloves from my parents! We got them Winnie-the-Poohs and My Little Ponies. (I got a Winnie-the-Pooh when I turned one and it has been my "lovie" ever since, (yes, I may be 26 in just a few days, but I still sleep with my Pooh and will to the day I die! Not ashamed here!!  HAHA!) So, it went with tradition!


We had homemade crab cakes, green beans and twice baked potatoes! It was delicious! Here's the whole crew, minus Mommy!

After dinner we had cake and even though we had "smash cakes" made, we chose to just give them a piece instead of having a huge mess times 3! Such a great decision and they all LOVED their cake!!!


Here's some before photos:

Madelynn being a chipmunk and not swallowing her green beans after like ten minutes!

We gave each of them their cakes and sang Happy Birthday!

And of course when we let them dig in, Madelynn and Natalee were ALL about it! Oh my goodness, they could not get enough of it! It was so fun and so sweet! Claire, ate some icing but that was about it. As you'll see Madelynn licked every morsel up!

And then it was time to strip down and take a warm bathy! Of course the girl's favorite part of the day!

After baths we played, snuggled, hugged and kissed ore BIG ONE YEAR OLD'S and read them The Night You Were Born.


It was a wonderful First Birthday for the girls and hopefully when they look back at this, they will also think so!


Happy Birthday Madelynn, Claire and Natalee! Mommy and Daddy LOVE you so much!


I do have their ONE YEAR post coming too so stay tuned for that!