Sippy cups aren't just for sipping. You can blow bubbles in them or turn the floor or high chair into a water park. Watch the triplets enjoy their drinking problem. (That's Bereket with the stripes, Sira opposite, and Tsega in the middle laughing at his bros.) Towards the end, about a minute in when the camera's on Bereket (stripes), listen for the loud parrot squawk (that's no parrot, that's Sira!)
Jul 19, 2007
Jul 11, 2007
Play Hard, Play Long, Play Fast
Play play play . . . you know you're a mom when brightly colored objects litter the floors and you nearly break your ankles on them or at least leave lasting indentations on bottom of feet (can't wait for the skateboards).
Playing 'Pass the Binky' . . .
Fighting over a fly-swatter (did I already mention sterility is a dirty word in our house?) . . .
Pushing brothers in wagon (pausing to pet Tsega's curls) . . .
Bereket cried every time he reached the end of the room (mama kept turning it around for another lap). . . here the rug stopped him . . .
Color coordinated play . . .
Camera cases excite us . . .
Drop-your-pants-fun with cabinets (not as many snaps are getting snapped these days) . . . Variation of this game: swing cabinet or french door to one brother who swings it back to him from the other side . . .
Climbing couches. . .
Or yoga on couches . . . (See the red lip? Maybe mama shouldn't let him do these things . . . )
One beautiful boy, two toys . . .
Taking a sleepy milk break, play later . . .
Jun 29, 2007
Tsega's Sagas
This post is for you Tsega, my quirky little baby.
Tsega is social, muscly, rough, and stimulated. He sleeps great but is usually the last asleep after bouncing all over the house. We often just take him to bed, turn off the lights, and hope he gets the hint. Everybody wants to play and talk with Tsega while his shyer brothers freeze in the company of strangers (literally freeze with wide-eyed stares).
Tsega hugs me so tight while grabbing my hair and "kissing" (or rather chomping) my chin that it hurts. I had to help a nine year old girl get untangled from his intense love. He plays nice with brothers these days when he doesn't bite (he doesn't mean any harm, he's a lover).
Naughty boy went from gumming to biting, teeth marking the transition. The slobber marks on top of brother's heads are tell-tell (yikes, a "biter", but he's getting better).
He also shook and rolled his head all crazy for awhile but seems to have stopped this in favor of twiddling his lips for sound effect. I don't know how to describe, but everyone has done this. You use your finger and flick your lips up and down while humming and it makes a cool sound (does anybody know what I'm talking about. . . we need a word for this activity). And he itches his ear with a cocked head (he's done this since homecoming), leading people to believe he has an ear infection (his ears are fine).
He is our quirkiest babe so far!
Tsega is a hotty in case you haven't noticed. As my nanny tells me all the time, the girls will be calling for you pretty soon, my dear.
Tsega loves screeching and hearing his voice. Watch as I intentionally get Tsega's screech out (his brothers sleeping in back of him never woke up).
Tsega is social, muscly, rough, and stimulated. He sleeps great but is usually the last asleep after bouncing all over the house. We often just take him to bed, turn off the lights, and hope he gets the hint. Everybody wants to play and talk with Tsega while his shyer brothers freeze in the company of strangers (literally freeze with wide-eyed stares).
Tsega hugs me so tight while grabbing my hair and "kissing" (or rather chomping) my chin that it hurts. I had to help a nine year old girl get untangled from his intense love. He plays nice with brothers these days when he doesn't bite (he doesn't mean any harm, he's a lover).
Naughty boy went from gumming to biting, teeth marking the transition. The slobber marks on top of brother's heads are tell-tell (yikes, a "biter", but he's getting better).
He also shook and rolled his head all crazy for awhile but seems to have stopped this in favor of twiddling his lips for sound effect. I don't know how to describe, but everyone has done this. You use your finger and flick your lips up and down while humming and it makes a cool sound (does anybody know what I'm talking about. . . we need a word for this activity). And he itches his ear with a cocked head (he's done this since homecoming), leading people to believe he has an ear infection (his ears are fine).
He is our quirkiest babe so far!
Tsega is a hotty in case you haven't noticed. As my nanny tells me all the time, the girls will be calling for you pretty soon, my dear.
Tsega loves screeching and hearing his voice. Watch as I intentionally get Tsega's screech out (his brothers sleeping in back of him never woke up).
10 Things About Me
Although this blog is devoted to my sweet triplets, I decided to devote this post to ME. I'm copy catting Jayme on this one (man her twins are cute!). Here are 10 things about me that you may not know and probably don't need to know.
1. I never met a cat I didn't like. . . except one (she was scary and attacked my feet).
2. I flunked 9th grade.
3. I have a PhD, I'm a biologist, and I work in plant breeding. (Did you see #2? He-he!)
The essence of what I do (do you know what these are?). . .
4. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Central African Republic.
5. When I was 13 I saw Johnny Rotten in concert when he was still with P.I.L. with my two buddies (Melissa, are you reading?) and no parents at the Olympic Auditorium in good ol' L.A. He sang two Sex Pistols songs and I thought I'd die from euphoria.
6. Don't shudder. . . I think the first baby I ever held was one of my triplets. Seriously, the mommy desire didn't hit until a few years ago.
7. I love to belly dance and I'm a pretty good tap dancer.
8. I'm not afraid of snakes (although I'm not particularly fond either). I saw cobras in the wild in Hong Kong. A green mamba fell out of a tree right in front of me and one almost flopped from my thatched ceiling onto my bed as I was looking up at it (this was in C.A.R. and they were everywhere and yes, they are deadly!). I once tried to pick up a harmless snake and fling it outside when everybody was screeching at it and it bit me. People still tell that story, lol!
9. I hug trees.
10. I suffer from terrible bed-head in the mornings!
Jun 27, 2007
The Big One
The trips turned THE BIG ONE last Saturday on June 23rd. This day also marks seven months since we first met the boys. Happy Birthday Tsega, Bereket, Sira!
The boys went wild with new toys and after a few we had to stop; even I was getting overstimulated. Don't ever ask Jerry to lead Happy Birthday, he's a grinch. Guess first birthdays are more for the parents (or for the mom in this case).
So big and walking; Tsega pushes his brothers in their "new" hand-me-down car. I hope Jerry likes the horn because it squeaks all day long. . .
Ahhhh, it was only yesterday that these three came home so tiny and helpless. They could do nothing more than lay in our arms and our faces were their whole world. Seven months have flown . . .
Look how little they were at 6 weeks old just after they were relinquished (Tsega is on the far left and that's Bereket bawling).
Now look how big (what's Bereket complaining about?). . .
Tsega looks more toddlerish in his old age than his bros. Watch him do his usual rough-housing in this short video (then watch him rise and sit back with a stare of satisfaction). Luckily Bereket has a good sense of humor that day.
We love you boys, happy big one and happy 7 month anniversary. Please stop growing up so fast (and stop bawling about everything lately, it only gets worse, lol!).
The boys went wild with new toys and after a few we had to stop; even I was getting overstimulated. Don't ever ask Jerry to lead Happy Birthday, he's a grinch. Guess first birthdays are more for the parents (or for the mom in this case).
So big and walking; Tsega pushes his brothers in their "new" hand-me-down car. I hope Jerry likes the horn because it squeaks all day long. . .
Ahhhh, it was only yesterday that these three came home so tiny and helpless. They could do nothing more than lay in our arms and our faces were their whole world. Seven months have flown . . .
Look how little they were at 6 weeks old just after they were relinquished (Tsega is on the far left and that's Bereket bawling).
Now look how big (what's Bereket complaining about?). . .
Tsega looks more toddlerish in his old age than his bros. Watch him do his usual rough-housing in this short video (then watch him rise and sit back with a stare of satisfaction). Luckily Bereket has a good sense of humor that day.
We love you boys, happy big one and happy 7 month anniversary. Please stop growing up so fast (and stop bawling about everything lately, it only gets worse, lol!).
Jun 26, 2007
Hiatus
I've been behind the prairie curtain for awhile (kids and all) and busy with family and work. I'm pooped. I lost my camera for awhile and just found it so will post new photos soooooon . . . Here's a quick update since I last saw you all.
The boys turned THE BIG ONE last Saturday, June 23. Grampa got them a video camera and gramma got them several retro pull toys, a xylophone, and a push popper and push melody chime. We got them a push red flyer wagon. I actually stopped after a few toys because the boys were getting wild (I'll save some for Christmas). Jerry was not cooperative when it came to singing happy birthday. Let's not put him in charge of future birthdays. We, my parents, and my brother (in town visiting) all went out to dinner and the boys ate about 3 bites of cake (despite my brother's and Jerry's protests--geesh what's up with everybody!?).
Tsega walks. . . sort of. It's more like two-stepping. Although I think I counted 6 steps last night. He raises into standing without pulling up. He looks like Frankenstein rising; lifts his torso from all fours while in a bear crawl position. That's right--the baby who lagged behind in motor skills walks first. Sira stands up like this occasionally and all three boys are letting go and free standing, but I think Bereket and Sira have a little while until walking.
Despite their official cross over to toddlerhood last Saturday, Bereket and Sira are still babies. They're small, buttery, bald, and pinchable. Tsega is looking more grown up and thrashes around the house in full force. All are on constant move. They crawl around the house together gathering around toys and legs. There's more crying and screeching these days. Seems like somebody is always getting into trouble being so mobile, or they're knocking each other down or stealing toys, or just trying to be the loudest. Bereket and Sira keep switching off being the neediest; one of these two is sure to cry if Jerry or me leaves the room. Tsega's got this biting thing going (I think he sees bulls eyes on top of his brother's bald heads) but he's getting better and responding to "no". Yes, we have introduced that word into our boys' lives, but we use is sparingly. They're just babies, they don't know what they're doing (I think!).
I am a tad worried about language. Not a single word has been said purposefully. Lots of babbling and mama dada, but no discriminate speech yet. I suspect they spend so much time babbling back and forth, they are picking up babbles and not real words. Time to up the reading now that the boys don't eat as much books as they used to.
Bereket and Sira each have 2 teeth on the bottom and two on top with more cutting through. Tsega has two bottom teeth and two uppers are on their way. Tsega's hair is getting fuller and his curls are getting tighter but remain soft. Bereket and Sira are still legally bald but a few areas are getting fuzzier. OK, here's a funny tidbit. . . our nanny who was born and raised in Uganda, insists Tsega is getting lighter. I don't think it's true, but imagine the dirty looks a white person would get if they said that (you know what I mean!). All boys are mastering the cup (sans spill proof lids) and bottle weaning has not begun.
The local paper did a story on us and the triplets. Several Kansas papers have picked up the story. Click here for a link to a shortened version.
It's been 7 months since we met our boys. I think I can finally say with real confidence that our boys are well attached to us. The process continues, but I am definitely seeing the signs. They love us :).
Maybe this wasn't a "quick" update afterall.
Peace out.
The boys turned THE BIG ONE last Saturday, June 23. Grampa got them a video camera and gramma got them several retro pull toys, a xylophone, and a push popper and push melody chime. We got them a push red flyer wagon. I actually stopped after a few toys because the boys were getting wild (I'll save some for Christmas). Jerry was not cooperative when it came to singing happy birthday. Let's not put him in charge of future birthdays. We, my parents, and my brother (in town visiting) all went out to dinner and the boys ate about 3 bites of cake (despite my brother's and Jerry's protests--geesh what's up with everybody!?).
Tsega walks. . . sort of. It's more like two-stepping. Although I think I counted 6 steps last night. He raises into standing without pulling up. He looks like Frankenstein rising; lifts his torso from all fours while in a bear crawl position. That's right--the baby who lagged behind in motor skills walks first. Sira stands up like this occasionally and all three boys are letting go and free standing, but I think Bereket and Sira have a little while until walking.
Despite their official cross over to toddlerhood last Saturday, Bereket and Sira are still babies. They're small, buttery, bald, and pinchable. Tsega is looking more grown up and thrashes around the house in full force. All are on constant move. They crawl around the house together gathering around toys and legs. There's more crying and screeching these days. Seems like somebody is always getting into trouble being so mobile, or they're knocking each other down or stealing toys, or just trying to be the loudest. Bereket and Sira keep switching off being the neediest; one of these two is sure to cry if Jerry or me leaves the room. Tsega's got this biting thing going (I think he sees bulls eyes on top of his brother's bald heads) but he's getting better and responding to "no". Yes, we have introduced that word into our boys' lives, but we use is sparingly. They're just babies, they don't know what they're doing (I think!).
I am a tad worried about language. Not a single word has been said purposefully. Lots of babbling and mama dada, but no discriminate speech yet. I suspect they spend so much time babbling back and forth, they are picking up babbles and not real words. Time to up the reading now that the boys don't eat as much books as they used to.
Bereket and Sira each have 2 teeth on the bottom and two on top with more cutting through. Tsega has two bottom teeth and two uppers are on their way. Tsega's hair is getting fuller and his curls are getting tighter but remain soft. Bereket and Sira are still legally bald but a few areas are getting fuzzier. OK, here's a funny tidbit. . . our nanny who was born and raised in Uganda, insists Tsega is getting lighter. I don't think it's true, but imagine the dirty looks a white person would get if they said that (you know what I mean!). All boys are mastering the cup (sans spill proof lids) and bottle weaning has not begun.
The local paper did a story on us and the triplets. Several Kansas papers have picked up the story. Click here for a link to a shortened version.
It's been 7 months since we met our boys. I think I can finally say with real confidence that our boys are well attached to us. The process continues, but I am definitely seeing the signs. They love us :).
Maybe this wasn't a "quick" update afterall.
Peace out.
May 23, 2007
First Vacation and City Strolling
We made it all the way from Ethiopia to Kansas with just us and three babies and little hitch and yet now a simple jaunt to the store seems like too much work. So last Saturday a group of international adopters met in Kansas City to share experience and Ethiopian food. Jerry and I took this opportunity to finally get brave (again) and spent the weekend in the city. Then came our first dinner out with three babies (three LOUD babies) in a crowded city . . . where’s that wine, hurry!? Phew . . . it went great, the babies had a blast and many restaurants and crowds later, I rate it as a great mini-vacation; our first family vacation. The trick is to eat at loud places where cries and screams are muffled, with roomy floors to maneuver a couple of strollers through, and populated by young people who don’t care much about babies, even triplets. And the babies were always good when we kept strolling or riding.
Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures. So all I have is the babes in car seats in our minivan (oh, I know, it’s embarrassing, really, I’m not a soccer mom . . . the van was cheap, used, and we rarely drive it and there was just no way we were going to fit three car seats in our little car . . . we tried . . . oh, BTW, we actually turned down one van we looked at for the very fact that it actually had a soccer decal on the side window!); and below is Jerry in his groovy shirt with the babes in strollers. Note, we do not always separate Tsega like this; we rotate who sits where.
About these strollers, love them! They are Instep Safari Swivel Strollers, a double and a single. We got jogging strollers because they are smooth, lightweight, and the best at maneuvering since the single front tire swivels all around so they turn on a dime. And where we live all-terrain is a must. The best part is, they are not something from Dr. Seuss like our older stroller (see previous post for picture) so we can more easily walk through crowds either without notice or they don't realize what happened until we're already past. We still got attention and it’s mostly all good, but I feel much more relaxed now out in public. It’s actually pretty cool when you’re waiting to cross the street and people shout “too much cuteness!” at you from their cars (referring to the babies, or maybe they were talking about Jerry and me . . . ?), or a street vendor yells out, “I love your babies!”. The only bad comment came from a nut bag who old Jerry he should shave his beard (never!).
Before we left Jerry gets out a bag and announces he is taking this particular bag. I thought it looked heavy like it was already occupied. So I take a look and totally scream when I see a baby inside. Wasn't expecting that! (Sira doesn't look happy being screamed at.)
Since I flaked on pictures, here's another poor quality video to see these high quality boys in action.
May 14, 2007
How do Parents of Singletons DO it?
Are we missing something here? Why is it that everybody widens their eyes or gasps at the thought of twins, let alone triplets (too bad we don't have quads or quints to really get people frazzled)? Parents who have had four and more children close in age will wave their hands at us to dismiss such a horrible thought. It's funny to here them say we have our hands full. Even parents of multiples will describe endless chaos and misery that have left them exhausted and teary (albeit happy and grateful. . . I guess?). Is there something we should know? Does life suddenly fall apart into 911 mode at a magic age or should it have hit by now? I guess we'll brace ourselves but so far I don't see the big deal. What did we do with our time before three babies? Americans love to brag how busy their lives are and on the verge. Triplets are the way to go although I'm not prejudiced against singletons.
Really, I don't know HOW parents deal with singletons, I mean, how DO they do it (what is it?)? How do they ever get anything done with just one baby? They must have their hands full. . .
We're no saints and the babies get their "night mads" among other things, but I'm not so sure our lives are more chaotic or hectic than families without multiples. I'm not even sure life is harder post-adoption. . . just different. Triplets are not like having thirty babies as one mom suggested and possibly not exactly like 3x one baby, if that makes sense. Although throw in a colicky baby or more and then I can see where it gets scary. Guess we lucked out with three super babies.
My only regret is that they're all leaving babyhood together. They turn one next month and soon will be toddlers. What will we do without triplet babies. . .how will we manage without moments like these. . .
May 7, 2007
Don't Touch Me!
Bereket is just coming out of his "don't touch me" phase. During this phase just about anytime a baby hand touched him he started crying. And he always knew when it was his brother's hands vs. a welcomed mama or papa hand. Of course he entered this phase right when Tsega started grabbing his brothers for squeezes and kisses. He seems to be coming out of it and is starting to enjoy his brother's company again. He and Sira crawled around together all weekend. Where one would go, the other would follow. At one point I think they were playing tag or peek-a-boo around the dining room table.
Tsega is now crawling, by the way (yay! and standing like a pro), and will soon follow his brothers around the house as he picks up the pace; that is, if he can stand parting with his favorite person (me!). It's like watching little puppy dogs wrestling around together on the floor. They're all so darn cute!
On a side note, Sira opened his first cabinet. We watched him crawl towards the bad cabinet (the one under the sink with all the cleaning supplies. . .yeah, I know, baby proofing!) reach up, grab the handle and pull it open like he knew excatly what he was doing.
Here's some more grainy action shorts. The first is of all three (notice I mix up Bereket and Sira in the beginning) and Tsega showing his brotherly love, sort of. The second is Bereket and Sira showing off their crawling skills as they chase mama around the room (until the bouncy chair becomes more appealing).
Triplets Out and In Public
This is one way we transport 3 babies out in public (old picture of me with Tsega in Ethiopia). I carry or wear one baby, Jerry somehow holds the other two with one typically in a car seat. It worked well while in Ethiopia.
And people thought we would never make it home from Ethiopia by ourselves with three babies. . . little faith. Airport luggage carts can make great car seat holders with the right men's belt, by the way.
Here's another. Looks like something out of Dr. Seuss. We've almost outgrown this triplet stroller and looking for alternatives (maybe something less conspicuous?).
I don't recommend holding babies this way and I told Jerry not to do this (no babies were harmed in the making of this picture).
So what's it like going out in public with triplet babies? We don't go out much I have to sadly admit (don't feel too sorry, our 5 country acres are more fun and enriching than town anyway). It's so much work with three babies in terms of getting everybody ready, transporting and juggling three, and then there's the public. Sweet adoring fans surround us everywhere we go but it's hard being a celebrity. Don't get me wrong, these babies can really get the good in people to shine through and I have to admit it's kind of fun being the center of attention (Jerry and I look at couples with a mere one or two babies with such pity, lol!). . . but just remember to never tell me that we got our hands full or that you are "glad it's you and not me" (to which Jerry will reply, "that makes six of us"). Watch this hilarious youtube video I ran across of another triplet family and you'll see what it's like.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
