Brother's just know

Before I get to the triplet's birthday party details I want to share something I thought was so sweet and so telling about the bond of siblings. Before the trip's birthday, I took Colin to Target and told him that he could pick out gifts for Finn, Carter and Everett. I thought it would take forever for a five year old to pick out gifts. I thought maybe it would be hard for him to focus on others and not get ideas for himself. I thought he'd need help and guidance to find appropriate gifts for each of them.

However, Colin knew exactly what he wanted for each brother and they weren't things I'd have necessarily chosen. He was adamant about a jack hammer for Carter. "Are you sure he wants one of these?"

 "Mom, he really wants one of these!"

He chose a Disney puzzle assortment for Finn. "Are you sure?" I'd asked. 

"Yup! I'm sure."

Finally, he picked out a pretend birthday cake for Everett. "I saw him playing with this toy at Edie's house and he really liked it."

His presents were the first ones that his brothers got to open as soon as they woke up on their birthday morning. They LOVED what he'd chosen for each of them and Colin stood there with his arms crossed, proud as could be.

Snow Day

Today was a snow day. I woke up early with the boys and we marveled at all the now. Yes I'm using the word marveled. It was just beautiful!

All of the local schools were closed however, this doesn't affect us much as Colin is the only one in school and he only goes three days a week. At first we thought it was too cold to even go outside but by afternoon the boys were stir crazy, so out they went! It was very sunny and it took a lot of work to move through the snow so they warmed up quickly. Some lasted longer than others but I think they all had fun. There was so much snow! Just TONS!

The boys dug a tunnel through a huge pile of snow. They were so proud!

In other news, Owen is getting very close to crawling! Every day he gets a little closer.... 

The other night Colin happened to pick out the same pajamas that unbeknownst to him we'd already dressed Owen in too. They were new for Owen (size 12 mo!) and it was fun to watch how excited Colin got that they were dressed the same. 

I haven't been consistent about blogging lately.... and I hope to get better about that.... but I assure you, life is good.

Clan of brothers

Well... I wrote this post a few weeks ago and thought I posted it. Turns out I didn't! So here it is.... and it still makes me smile thinking back on that sweet afternoon watching the boys play. :)

Today, when were all playing on the floor in the playroom I decided to lay Owen on his tummy with the support of his Boppy pillow (you know, to get in that tummy time and also so that he could watch his brothers from a new vantage point). It was the first time he'd used the Boppy pillow in that way.

As soon as I put him down he was surrounded by his brothers!

Brothers wanting nothing more than to be a part of his experience.

They smiled at him, brought him toys, stared into his eyes,

and even dangled their stinky feet in his face in case he wanted a sniff. {BOYS!!}

Actually, I think Carter wanted to show him how dirty his feet were. 

Owen seemed to love it all though. He was thoroughly entertained!

I love how they *love* Owen and how they embraced him into their little clan from the start. I realized watching them, that Owen will always have this. He'll always have big brothers looking out for him and that makes me happy. It makes me happy for all of them, that they have each other.

Although it can be exhausting day to day, moments like these remind me of the positive aspects to having triplets and children close in age. It's like having built in best friends for life!

"Want this toy? How about this toy? Or this toy?" and on and on....

Brothers

Dear Colin and Owen,

One of my favorite parts of today was watching the two of you watch Bob the Builder together while the other boys napped. Colin, somehow you know just how to hold him and talk to him to keep him settled and content. Owen, you don't know Bob the Builder yet, but trust me, in our house, you will! 

Someday they'll grow big

I had such a heart warming conversation with Colin yesterday, while the two of us were driving to a Christmas party.

Me: "So at the party, there's going to be a baby named Quinn. He's just little, like our babies. Except there's only one baby, not three."

Colin: "Only one baby?"

Me: "Yup. Only one."  

This is curious to Colin because of course, he doesn't know any different than his mommy bringing home three babies at once.

He seems to be thinking about this in his car seat, as he looks out the window at the cars going past. I steal glances at him in the rear view mirror.

Me: I hesitate, but end up asking, "Colin, do you like having three baby brothers?"

After the week we've had, I hold my breath.

Colin: "Uh huh, yes" he says softly but with such certainty that I know it is his truth ("Uh huh" is the way Colin says "yes").

Me: "Why?"  I don't expect him to answer but I can't seem to help myself from asking the question.

Colin: "Someday grow big..... and play with me!" He is excited.

Wow. He gets it.

For a second I can't say anything because I'm so darn happy. He gets it. Despite and amongst all the momentary chaos, as we figure out how to safely contain everybody while they play, he gets that someday they're going to grow big and play with him. And he looks forward to playing with his brothers. I can't even remember us talking much about this fact, but maybe we have??? After a week of hearing him yell, "NO!" "Move back!" "THIS GUY's getting my stuff!" and giving a few time outs after the occasional push when a brother has grabbed a toy, it was nice to hear this conversation.

I'm not naive. I know they will fight. They will fight, love each other and always be, brothers. 


There was a long enough pause in the conversation as I thought about his sweet comment, that Colin finally says,

"Mommy, you did not KNOW that?!"

We laughed and drove on to our party.

Brothers

Dear Boys,

You are keeping me VERY busy! So busy that lately a week will go by and I realize that I haven't written anything here. I can accept other things falling by the wayside.... cooking any meal that takes longer than 15 minutes, doing dishes, returning calls and e-mails in a timely manner, exercising...

But writing about this journey with you?

I can't not do that. I must make time.

These days there are SO many things I'd love to write about. Lately it seems there are a thousand experiences jam packed in a day that at different points are insanely frustrating, amazing, puzzling, and all causing me to grow, change and learn. Some days my head feels like it's swimming with thoughts that I'm dying to somehow get down on paper. But instead I collapse in bed at the end of the day, desperate for some sleep.

I must make time.

Because motherhood should be written about, pondered and celebrated... 

and because writing is therapy for me.

Sometimes I don't write because I feel like I don't have proper time to edit my thoughts, check my spelling and grammar and edit the pictures that I most want to post.

 Then I check myself. 

It shouldn't doesn't matter if what I write isn't perfect, if every other word is misspelled, or if my grammar is terrible. 

Writing down your thoughts and ideas is often perfectly imperfect, just like motherhood feels sometimes.  

And I love those rare moments when you're writing without thinking and somehow, someway, what comes out on paper (or computer!) captures exactly what you meant to say. And it's beautiful.

So I'll continue to write my experience and take pictures as often as I can....

 if for no other reason than to stay sane around here, to document (aka remember!) these years, and because I've learned that having a creative outlet is a very good thing.