Swings

Robin and I took the girls to the park today, and I let them swing.  I can't believe I let them touch that nasty playground equipment.  I'm working on my issues.  The swings were really fun for Izzy-B; she had such a good time.  Maggie also seemed to enjoy it, and she smiled once.  For some reason, Katie loses all of her personality when we leave the house.  She is very straight faced, and she doesn't cry or laugh or anything.  She seemed a little scared on the swings, but it was only a small twinge in her face that led me to believe that she was afraid. 

There were maybe 5-7 other families at the park.  Out of those familes - one was another triplet family and another was Robin's coworker.  How weird is that?

I really wanted to let them go down the slide, but the "little kid" playground is poorly designed.  It's nearly impossible for a parent to get to the top of the slide - the main access is a tunnel.  Who designed that thing?

Lastly, Izzy-B kept sucking on her shoe in the stroller, so that's why her shoe is wet.

One of Those Days

Sometimes it's just one of those days:

First Solo Outing

It's sad really.  The girls have basically never been out of the house.  Last summer, Robin and I took them to Washington Park once, to the mall once and to my multiples group's summer picnic.  They were outside in our front yard a few times for photo shoots.  Other than that, they have only been out of the house to go to the doctor and when we moved. 

I'm really starting to get cabin fever.  I cannot wait for flu season to be over, and, according to the CDC, it has not yet peaked in CO.  Great. 

It is so beautiful out today, I just couldn't resist taking the girls for our first walk together.  I got out the triple umbrella stroller, left them in the PJs, put them in jackets with hoods and off we went.  I wasn't really sure where I was going.  I thought it would be nice to check out of the park/playground.  We walked down to the creek, then over to the park, then took the long way back up a big hill on a nice bike path.  I'm not exactly sure how much the stroller weighs, but the girls weigh about 54lbs (quite a change from the 8lbs they weighed at birth).  I was pushing at least 70lbs up that hill.  It was a good workout for me.  I think I'll try to do it everyday - assuming it's nice.  Come summertime, we'll be going to the zoo, the botanic gardens, the park, etc.  I can't wait! 

I only heard a few comments along the way.  Several of the children at the playground commented on "three babies!"  I got a few "ahhhhs" and the like.  I got one "you've got your hands full - oh my god."  And, the absolute weirdest comment ever, "are they perfect?"  I just smiled and nodded because I couldn't believe she said that, and then I wasn't sure I heard her correctly.  What?  Are you perfect?  When I was almost home, I ran into a nanny with 2.5yo twins.  We talked for a minute.  It was great.  I can't wait to do it again.  I really wanted to get the girls out and put them in the swings, but there are only 4 baby swings (I'm so glad there are 4 - most playgrounds only have 2), 2 were being used and you can't really get the stroller all that close to the swing area.  Maybe Robin and I can go down there sometime soon.

Don't laugh at their clothes!

At the park:

 By Clear Creek:

 

South Table Mountain in the back ground, some of the Colorado School of Mines buildings off to the right and the Golden Community Garden right behind the girls.

North Table Mountain:

A nice lady who was jogging stopped to take my picture with the girls:

Mt. Zion - the "M" is covered in snow:

Stair Masters

Since we moved to a new county, we had to get a new OT (occupational therapist). I liked our previous OT/PT (occupational/physical therapist) because she worked with the girls in the NICU and knew them well. I must admit though, it has been nice to have a new perspective. I think every professional has a somewhat jaded view or maybe just a certain area in which they focus.  Our new OT has looked at the girls from a different perspective and is helping them in different ways. 

She noted two main things.  First, the girls all crawl and then fall back directly into a W sitting position, which isn't good.  They should be falling to the side (a side sit) after they crawl.  I liked to sit in a W when I was little, and I think that's why I'm bow-legged.  It also isn't good for their hips according to our pediatrician.  I'm trying to get them to stop sitting like that, but, as you can imagine, it's not easy!  Second, they are not properly shifting their weight.  These two issues are actually connected.  The OT suggested that we let the girls crawl up the stairs to help them learn to shift their weight. 

Everyone has done marvelously with the stairs.  They can each make it all the way up -easily.  They rarely fall backwards (of course we're there to catch them!).  It's interesting that they sometimes switch legs with each stair, but most of the time they always climb with the same leg.  This isn't helping the weigh shifting issue.  Izzy-B even puts her flat foot up on the next stair (always the left) instead of her knee.  When she does use her right leg, it's her knee, not her foot.

It will be so nice when they've truly mastered the stairs (up AND down) so I don't have to carry them up and down, up and down all day long. 

Daddy's Wallet

We had a little incident last night.  Katie had been crying but suddenly was quiet.  It was just before dinner, and I was amazed at how quiet they were being.  I had no reason to believe anything was wrong (i.e. trouble) because they were in their play area, which is safe. 

We went up to get them for dinner.  That's when we discovered it.  Robin had somehow left his wallet in the play room - it fell out of his sweatshirt when he was playing with them.  They had taken everything out, and they were chewing on the receipts and playing with the credit cards.  I had to dig receipt remnents out of Katie and Izzy-B's mouths.  They also chewed up a photo of themselves.  I hope they didn't chew on the money.  YUCK!

One Year Stats

The girls had their one year check-up today.  Here are their "stats."

Katie:
Weight -     18lbs 14oz - 10%
Height -      28.5in - 25%
Head -        44.8cm - 45%
Teeth -        Two on the bottom; four on top
Clothes -     9mo, but long enough for 12mo sleepers

Maggie:
Weight -     18lbs 5oz - 10%
Height -      28.75in - 40%
Head -        44.2cm - 25%
Teeth -        Two on the bottom; four on top
Clothes -     9mo, but long enough for 12mo sleepers

Izzy-B:
Weight -     17lbs 3oz - 5% (she's finally on the chart!!)
Height -      27.75in - 10%
Head -        44.7cm - 45%
Teeth -        Two on the bottom
Clothes -     9mo

Here are their one year pictures.  This was by far the most difficult photo shoot because they won't sit still (in the photo below, Maggie is not falling over- she's leaving)!  I think we won't be doing these monthly anymore.  We'll probably take milestone photos every three months until they are two.  A special thank you to the Glovers for the birthday sleepers and the adorable jean diapers!

Playing in the new play room:

Look at that belly!

P.S. - I hate pacifiers.  I wish the girls had never been exposed to them.  Now, Maggie and Izzy-B LOVE them.  Katie sucks her thumb before she falls asleep, but she is not at all interested in a pacifier.