Dear boys,

Oh boy.... tomorrow you each turn one year old. 

I should be asleep but instead I'm down here cleaning up, hanging decorations, looking through old pictures and reminiscing. 

Has it really been a year? 

I'm going to be honest with you, I'm not prepared for tomorrow on many levels. 

You'll learn as you grow that planning ahead and organization are not two of my strong suits. I mostly fly by the seat of my pants and try and adapt as I go along. So there are no firm plans for tomorrow although I did run out and get balloons and party hats. Your Dad took off work though and we're going to all be together.... having fun together and celebrating each of you... all day long! At some point Colin and I will sneak out to get cupcakes and I think I might make a pizza.

Carter, Finley, Everett... you are each so unique, so special, so loved. You each look so different and have very different personalities that really shine. You are also so connected to each other. I marvel at the fact of how often you seem to move as a group. For example, you'll all be gathered around the activity table and then as a sort of herd, you'll scurry over to the next thing, like playing in the mirror. It's really fascinating.... and cute.

This year has flown by and yet I almost can't remember life without each of you a part of our family.

Today as I was driving home from getting the balloons, I was thinking about that morning, when the ultrasound revealed a picture of three little sacs. I was so afraid, for your health, how your big brother would experience it all, and whether I could handle being a mom of triplets, with all that entails. I was afraid that I'd let you down.

But you have taught me to stay in the moment and not borrow trouble, to just take each day as it comes and that a deep breath, a willingness to be very silly, and faith, can go a long, long way... And phenomenal help from friends, family and Amelie. SO many people prayed for each of you, brought meals for your tired parents for months on end, helped feed you, hold you, care for you and just plain gave us support.... in lots of different ways.

From the moment we went into early labor the mantra, "One day at a time" seemed to stick in my head.... and that's what we did all year... we took one day at time and somehow here we are. You are healthy, happy, amazing little guys. And you're turning one tomorrow.

I'm getting the feeling I could ramble all night..... it's so hard to put any of this past year into words. Just know that we love you so so much. We are so proud of you, so thankful for each of you and so happy that we get to be your parents and watch you grow.

********

Also, I can't write a post to my babies without acknowledging Colin, the best big brother ever. Today, we were all sitting out on the front stoop waving goodbye to a friend. I was holding Finn, Amelie had Everett and Carter was sitting on the other side of me. "I want a baby too!!!" Colin yelled. "I hold Carter!" So I put Carter in his arms and realized that I actually trusted him to hold him tightly and not change his mind and let go. When it really counts, he looks out for his brothers.

*******

Off to bed boys.

I love you.

My weekend with Oprah

well, sort of.... okay, that may be a stretch... but I did come away from the weekend with THIS!!!

Let me backtrack,

This past Sunday, my friend Laurie and I took a road trip to St. Louis to attend a live taping of Oprah's life class. It aired live, Monday at 8 EST.

Okay, let me backtrack just a little more,

I grew up watching Oprah almost every single day. I loved her show and have such fond memories watching it with my mother and girlfriends through the years. I especially love when she interviews everyday people who have perhaps been through something extraordinary. Somehow Oprah always manages to get to the root of the lesson and highlights the shared experience for all. So it was a big deal to have the opportunity to attend a show taping.

Back to this past weekend....

It was hard to leave my boys but once I was on the road it honestly felt good to have a break from mommy duty. It was just me, Laurie, the open road and this guy came too:

Laurie's bulldog Taz

Our hotel room was incredible! I felt so pampered for the 48 hours we were there. I got to sleep in, got a massage and sat in the 'quiet room' at the spa for a good while. The quiet room was like a little slice of heaven.... picture me wearing a heavy white robe, reclined in a lounge chair, sipping cucumber infused water, reading a magazine, looking out over the river and sitting in complete quiet. Ummm, that NEVER happens in my real life. In real life, it's coffee, chaos, and "mommy, mommy, Mommy!"

The taping of the Oprah show was really fun to be a part of.....

Laurie and I wearing our bright colors and waiting for the show to start. 

but truthfully the real excitement came after the show. (I'm still grinning just sitting here writing about it!)

So after the show, Laurie and I got back to the hotel around 9:30 p.m. and headed down to the hotel bar to discuss the show and some of our take aways (oh yeah, we're big dorks like that!). Somewhere between, "So what did you think when Oprah said ______" and "Was Iyanla too hard on ______ guest?" Oprah herself walked into the bar.

OPRAH WALKED INTO THE BAR PEOPLE!

I mean seriously....  we about flipped our lids! Whether you are a fan of hers or not (and clearly WE ARE), seeing Oprah (and Sheri Salata!) casually stroll into the mostly empty hotel bar where you are sipping wine is quite something! She and her staff enjoyed drinks and food and even mingled a little, wanting to know what people thought of the show. It was exciting. Still, we hadn't actually said anything to Oprah, or had a chance to have a picture taken with her.  We really hoped for a chance encounter but of course didn't want to bother her. 

And then, just when we'd almost given up hope, in the most serendipitous occurrence ever, she walked right past us in the lobby. No one else was around. We were not missing our moment! 

"Oprah, would you take a picture with us?" To which she responded, "Let's do it ladies!!"

And we did! By the way, doesn't she look fabulous? She's more petite in person than you might expect.

In person Oprah came off as gracious, humble, generous and genuinely interested in people's thoughts about the show. If possible, watching how she acted at the bar and then briefly meeting her made me like her even more.

And okay... after we'd said our "Goodbyes" and she walked off, I may or may not have called out after her, It was a... "Trip of a lifetime Oprah!"

OMG, I was instantly mortified and felt like such a dork. "Laurie, did I really just say that???"

But you know what? 

It kind of was....

Let's do this every year Oprah, how about that?!?

For now though,

Making lunch for the boys in my p.j's about 10 min after arriving back home

happily back to reality

Chris's birthday was...

Fantabulous!

I *think* Chris would agree... but either way Colin and I couldn't have had more fun preparing for it!

Chris is an amazing husband, person and father and I wanted his birthday to really show him how much we appreciate him.

Seriously... this is the scene almost everyday when he comes home from work.... his boys excitedly crawling and jumping all over him. He is a great dad, and so tolerant! He deserves a great birthday!

My plan was to have a little family celebration after he got home from work and then Uncle "G" and Lauren agreed to baby sit so Chris and I could have dinner the two of us, something we rarely get to do these days.

So Colin and I spent the day preparing.

We picked out cupcakes from here. YUM!!!!! We really don't get these often enough....

We found a balloon that said "Happy Birthday" and was covered in tools, nails and screws. We picked out two cards, one from the boys and one from me. And even though I tried to steer him toward the sweet "Happy Birthday Daddy" cards, Colin INSISTED on this one:

I'm going to save this card for those moments when I need a little pick me up because it cracks me up every time I see the martini shaker dance.

He was so proud of his choice!

Earlier, just before Chris arrived home from work I glanced over at the presents on the window sill and noticed one that wasn't there before.

"Colin, what's this??"

"It's my present for Daddy."

"What is it?"

"A wipe. I wrap it all by myself."

I hadn't seen him wrap it or place it there but can picture his three year old fingers, carefully cutting the paper and holding it together to place the sticker on top. And then gently placing it on the shelf with the other gifts.

Chris treasured it, as only a parent can.

Hot days mean

naked babies! 

Or at least babies that only need a diaper. I love it! 

They do too.

Carter has basically called "dibs" on this bouncy seat that recently resurfaced. 

He especially loves to dance in it when the music comes on. Cracks me up every time.

Here's Everett scootin' along the couch. If his hair looks greasy, that's because, it is! He has eczema, and I'd just lathered him up with his special lotion. Still, I think he wears the greasy look well.

Finn has his, "What Mom??" look here. 

 Play on my little half naked men. 

Lately...

Lately, life has been extra busy and my blogging has lagged! It's been an unexpectedly busy week for our family and we made some big decisions which I can't wait to share details about soon as I can...

In the meantime, in other news.... this is what's been going on:

Everett is taking steps! 

He still prefers crawling (which is fine with us!) but slowly and steadily he's been walking more. 

And big brother Colin is there to catch him when he stumbles. Wait, is he catching him or tackling him??... hard to tell in this picture :)

*****

We also got new booster seats.

I LOVE them!

Previously we'd been using some ikea highchairs that were fine... but truthfully these are working WAY better for us. Anything that makes our everyday activities, such as mealtime, even the slightest bit easier, overall makes a huge difference in our day. 

Yup, I used to get all jazzed about things like a new restaurant opening... now it's getting new booster seats!

I got these from a fellow triplet mom who lives out in the suburbs. We've never met but through a series of coordinated exchanges (I contacted my friend who works in the burbs to see if she'd bring them back to the city for me, the triplet mom contacted her and after a series of texts, dropped off the seats one afternoon at my friends work who then delivered them to me). Operation new booster seats started because I'm part of an area online triplet group. This group exists for the sole purpose of supporting each other through this unique and sometimes challenging journey. I've been SO grateful to have a group of moms to turn to with questions and to respond to when someone says something like, "Hey, I've got two booster seats left at our house that my kids aren't using anymore. Anyone want them?"

We do!!

I like the two that we now have so much that I'm going to be on the hunt for a third... I hope I can find the same make and color. But even as I type that I'm thinking really, who's kidding who... nothing in my house really matches anymore.... it's all a big mishmash of toys, strollers, and baby gear!

If you somehow found this blog because you are expecting triplets (or any multiples for that matter), I hope you can seek out and find a local group, whether online or in person, to reach out to for support.... and second hand items! It has made such a difference to us.

 Don't you just love baby feet sticking out from under a highchair?

This is what our living room/dining room looks like around meal time. And because people have asked how I feed them, I take a big bowl of baby food, one spoon and go down the line, mouth to mouth. Early on I tried using three separate spoons until I realized that they pretty much share all germs anyway and it's was a lot more efficient to use one spoon and quickly go mouth to mouth. 

******

Colin and Chris have been busy doing yard work with all this warm weather we've been having. This is our cute little city front yard. Doesn't take long to mow! Colin tends to it well though. He's way into mowing it, pulling any weeds that he spots, and racking it. I can't wait to see if his love of "working" continues as he gets older!

********

Lastly, tomorrow is Chris's birthday! I have a little something special planned.... shhhhhh....

"How does she do that amazing trick with the sock?!?"

Dear babies,

Tonight as I go to bed, I can't stop thinking about the fun we had earlier today.

It was so simple. You all wanted the remote to which I said "no no no".

That did not go over well to say the least.

Then I picked up a sock to try and divert your attention but you weren't interested....

Until I put it on my head, did a dramatic, "ah ah AH.... CHOO!" and let the sock fall to the ground.

Oh my goodness, you all laughed and laughed and laughed. You each looked at me like I was the funniest and smartest person on the planet. "How does she do that amazing trick with the sock!?!"


We did it again and again and again. Each time, when the laughter would subside, one of you would pick up the sock off the ground and hand it to me. Then, the time I didn't put my hand out, Finn, you picked it up and actually reached up and put it on my head. All the while Carter was doing his sign for "more" and/ or clapping excitedly. Everett, you were almost always two inches from my face busy laughing wildly with your one arm slung around my shoulder (classic everett position!). It struck me how clever you are all getting... how your developing right before my eyes each and every day.

These are sweet moments that remind me how much I love being a mother.

I love being your mother and playing these silly games with you. You are each smart, funny, sweet and so fun to be around.

Spring has arrived in Chicago!

I'm not sure if this beautiful weather will last but we are soaking it up here in Chicago!

Yesterday we took the boys for a picnic at Colin's favorite park.

"The digging park" as he calls it. 

(because of the enormous sandbox he spends most of his time digging in)

It felt SO good to be outside!!!

The cutest thing ever was that when Colin saw me grab my camera before we left, he ran to get his. Then he yelled to us, "Wait! I need to get my camera bag!"

His camera bag :-)

Everett, double fisted with a few of the dreaded packets of baby food (you'll see why)

Not too long after I took the above pic, and almost in sync, two babies and Colin sat on three baby food squeeze packets, which then got spinach/ peas/ pear all over the place. It was on clothes, inside shoes (not sure how but it was!), hands, hair, and quickly smeared around the blanket..... 

Then I realized that I forgot wipes.

 Who leaves the house with three kids in diapers without wipes?!? Me apparently.

Amelie helped keep things in perspective as I was trying to clean up mounds of greenish goop with whatever I could find and looking probably like a woman close to loosing her marbles. As she was trying to prevent the babies from crawling through it, she said,

"It could be worse. This could be a poop disaster."

Yup, that would be worse. 

We laughed and moved on to the sandbox.

Since the babies seem hell-bent on putting any handful of dirt, sand, twigs, or rocks they could find in their mouths, we decided that we'd keep them in the choo choo wagon and take turns.... One of us would play with Colin in the sandbox while the other pulled the trips around the perimeter of the park. 

The babies seemed pretty happy with this plan actually. They seemed to enjoy watching all the kiddos doing their thing at the park while feeling the warm breeze in their hair.

We eventually all met up at the swings where everyone got a turn and Colin was a stellar pusher.

Then we went home.

 I still have a pile of clothes and one picnic blanket all covered with greenish brown baby food mixed with dirt and twigs, waiting to be washed.

 I'm just not dealing with it yet. :-)

Oh what a weekend!

My sister in law Katie got married this past weekend. It was so lovely! We were honored to be a part of their wedding and thrilled to spend time with extended family, who we don't often get to see.

This was the first big event we've travelled to and participated in as a family and let's just say.... 

Managing these monkeys away from our "normal" routine was not so easy! (When I say "these monkeys" I mean the kids, not Chris haha) 

 Luckily, my dear friend Laurie was brave enough to spend the weekend with us and watch the boys whenever we had other duties. My boys just love her and I'm so thankful to have a friend willing to help us out like that!

Carter, Colin

Chris and Finley

Chris, Colin and I were all in the wedding. Colin and his cousin Gabe were ring bearers and looked just handsome as can be. 

Grrrrr.... caught someone else's flash.... but still love this one :-)

Before the ceremony, Colin grabbed hold of the ring bearer's pillow and positioned it right under his arm, like a football! He took my hand and down the aisle to meet Chris we walked. I couldn't help but think back just over five years ago and how I took that same walk, down the same isle in the same church, to meet my groom.... and now we have four little boys. Five years, four boys. CRAZY! 

Crazy wonderful. 

...............

Everett, making rounds

I wish I had some pictures of the bride and groom to share. Katie looked just gorgeous and soooo happy. But at the reception, my arms were either filled with babies, or I was chasing crawling babies around the ballroom so the camera bag ended up staying in the stroller. But trust me, it was a beautiful day! 

From three hours old....

To three years old,

 in what feels like a blink. 

He's only been three for two whole days but I swear he's acting differently. His vocabulary has seemed to expanded ten fold over the last few days. He's using words and phrases that I didn't even know he knew! With this recent language leap, his personality is shining through even more which of course, we love see. 

Just this morning at breakfast he announced that he wouldn't be using his booster seat anymore. When I told him he had to, he was adamant, "No mom! I'm three now!!" How could I argue with that?

On Saturday our families gathered for a choo- choo train birthday party in our home. It was simple but really lovely. Our families made him feel so special. Colin was literally beaming the whole time. 

Colin, here are a few things that I'll remember most from your birthday this year:

Staying up well past midnight the night before, exhausted but wanting to get food ready, straighten up and hang decorations just right..... I wanted everything just perfect for you (and yes, I know I'm silly for wanting it perfect because really, you don't care, but I did this year).

Your face when I carried you downstairs in the morning, to see the living room all decorated. Your eyes lit up and you said, "Wow! This is where my party is?!" Staying up until past midnight? Instantly worth it at that moment.

That Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop could make it. As many of you know, my Dad has been in and out of the hospital lately and we weren't sure if he'd be able to come. When they said they weren't missing your party, they sure meant it!

The choo- choo train birthday cake that cost us a small fortune. Long story.... but we got the cake and I have to say, it was delicious (which it better have been!)!!

How Uncle "G", despite not being able to make your party (due to his being in Disneyland!) sent you video birthday messages personally said to you by Disney characters all day. It was so thoughtful and made you feel extra special!

How genuinely excited you were to be surrounded by your "friends". You kept saying, "My friends are here!" and then, "more friends are here!" every time the door bell would ring. I love that you see your grandparents aunts and uncles, brothers, cousins, nanny and two of our dear friends as your "friends". The truth is that as excited as you were about the gifts, you were just as excited, if not more, by the people in the room. You have the right idea little man and I pray that this perspective always stays with you. 

Life is about relationships, not stuff.

That said, you got some pretty cool "stuff"!

You loved this fireman hat so much that you insisted on wearing to blow out your candles... with the siren on. (Yup, there's a loud siren attached to this hat and activated by a simple touch of a button!) Who's the brianiac that got him this gift??? ME. I've been listening to it ever since :-)

You got a water gun that is almost as big as you, a memory game, a special leap frog reading system, a 5 foot rocket ship that you to build, color and play in. You got adorable clothes, money toward college and many other special gifts. 

............

Just this morning, you and I sat on the sofa and paged through your baby book. We talked about the day you were born which you were only half listening too but I couldn't help myself from telling the story (minus the scary parts!!). You like to point at the pictures and say, "Look, baby Colin!" 

The day you were born changed us forever. You made us parents, and you made me a mommy, something I'd always dreamt of becoming. Our lives became infinitely richer.

Happy birthday sweet boy.

..........

A few more pics.... because I can't help myself....

Daddy arriving with the balloons!

Waiting for "friends" to arrive. March 3rd also happens to be my brother Kyle's birthday! I'm sure a choo-choo train birthday party was just what he was hoping for that day!

Aunt Katie with Finley and Everett.

Aunt Madeline with all five kids! hahahaha. Not sure how she got stuck with ALL of them during this time period. 

Colin and "Mimi"

Cousins :-)

Chris and Colin. 

Reminds me of this picture:

 At your first birthday. Taken in the same spot, no chair.

And cutting this cake together:

Takes me back to when we ate your first birthday cake together: 

What a day, what a year! 

Stop growing so fast, would you??