HaPpY BiRtHdAy BaBiEs!

Happy Birthday Jax, Austin & Rio!

We can't believe you are one!!! Seriously, I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone. I can completely understand why so many people have said to me, "don't blink because time goes on and before you know it, they will be all grown up." And that is definitely true. These 3 little babies have brought us more happiness, tears, joys, frustrations and love than we've ever known this year!

We went to see their doctor today as well and they are doing so great! Dr. C said that they are right up with "regular" one year olds - not even their adjusted age which is way good for triplets!

Here's a quick update on them:

*1 year-old weights -

Jax: 18.2

Austin: 22

Rio: 18.13
Austin has even started walking! I'll put a video up soon :) Hopefully the other two will be quick to follow.

*Now onto birthday fun!!! We celebrated with our families coming over that evening and watching the babies eat their yummy "cupcake" cake and enjoy their very generous gifts from their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Their cake was so super cute! The 3 little circles you can see below had all their cupcakes with their names on them. We sang to each of them and had them try to blow out their candles (not quite). We went from oldest to youngest and let them do what they wanted. Here is what followed :)

*Here's JAX with his cupcake - he put it up to his mouth and started sucking and then figured there was more to it and ended up eating the entire thing!*

*Next was AUSTIN and he started out pretty tentative... he just let his stay on the tray and he put his head down on it to start licking the frosting and once he got a yummy sugar taste.... well, let's just say he didn't stop eating until it was gone!!*

*And last but definitely not least was our little Miss RIO. She was so cute! She picked it up right away (being the best eater, we weren't surprised she picked it up) - she started sucking on it like it was a drink out of her sippy or bottle and then sucked on it until she reached the cake and she too...ate the whole thing! And yes, that is frosting in her eyelashes :)*

Here's a pic with all 3 of them after they had gotten started. What a mess they ended up being but what a joy to watch them eat every last speck of their little cupcake. We had to wash them off in the kitchen sink and hose them down but good thing the frosting was a butter cream and it came right off! Our nephews and nieces got such a kick out of them eating like they did - it was so fun! They LoVeD their birthday cake.

I can't believe they are one year already! I'm so excited for the coming year to see what they will be like then and to enjoy every moment of their lives. They have been so much fun this year. I treat this blog like a journal so I won't feel bad if you stop reading now but these next thoughts are mostly for them and me...so I never forget :)

Jax... our little Atlas - the night before you were born, I seriously thought you were in my leg little man. You were SO low and ready to come out. Even though the dr's never found where my leak was, I think wherever it was, you were plugging it up for everyone and holding everyone in until all of you could get bigger. You've overcome everything that scared us at the beginning of your life with your single cord and you are so healthy! Even though you were the smallest and still are, you are such a little fighter and so tough - you hardly cry when you're hurt. You love being read to so much - it's probably your favorite thing to do. My favorite thing you do is jump across the floor with your walkers and watching you push your "bigger" little brother and sister across the floor too! They love it and you do too! How sweet are you? You have the saddest cry ever though when you do cry, I think it's probably to make sure you are heard since usually it's your bro and sis that get the immediate attention (they're a little more demanding than you). I love that you love your blanket so much - you love to be covered up in it and wake up when you're not so we try and keep you nice and tight! I love your little smile and laugh - you are so sweet and loving and give the best tight squeezes around my neck. I love you so much Jax! I can't wait to see who you become this next year - you've already amazed me more than I can imagine. Happy birthday my little man!


Austin... what a big boy you are! I remember looking at you when you were about 2 days old and seeing your IV in your little, tiny head and thinking, "wow, what a strong little baby you are to be so patient with all these tubes you have in you." And watching you pull out your feeding tube over and over in the coming weeks. You weren't going to stay in the NICU any longer than you thought you needed to be. You set the bar sweetie and came home first but stayed there long enough with Jax and Rio until they were only 2 days behind you. I think you didn't want to leave them for very long. You are so strong and healthy and always have been. On my first "real" usound when I could see you as more than just a blob, you looked like a little gummy bear with your little arms and legs sprouting out from your body and I couldn't help but laugh and I haven't stopped laughing since. You are so funny and LOVE to LAUGH! When you were about 8 and 1/2 months old, you started saying, "HEY" to anyone who walked into the room (daddy taught you that) and you are so friendly to everyone. You always have a smile on your face unless you're very tired and even then, you are a pretty content little guy. You are so sweet to your brother & sister. When they cry, you put your hand on either their arm or face trying to console them which they don't love so much but you try :) However... you are a total bulldozer and when you want to go somewhere, there is nothing that can stop you - not even a sibling who you've just run over. We hope that spirit stays with you forever but we hope you'll start to notice people and go around them instead of running right through them :) You love to move and since you realized your body would take you other places, you haven't stopped. You'll go anywhere and never doubt that you can do it! What perseverance you have sweetie! You love your daddy so much and beam when he walks in the room. Your laugh is infectious and your smile is too - everyone loves to have you greet them! I love you Austin! You are such a sweet and loving boy and I know you're going to amaze us with what you can do! Happy Birthday Bigs!


Rio... oh Rio... my little, tiny girl! At the end of my pregnancy, you were so far up into my ribs that I seriously thought you would break through! You almost couldn't get any higher - you fought Austin for space for so long and never gave up the fight - trust me... I felt it :) You constantly had the hiccups and it always made it a little more challenging during our NST's. When you came out, you aspirated some fluid and almost drowned in the process - you scared us so much! Especially daddy...he was with you the whole time and made sure the nurses were taking good care of you in those first few hours of your life. You have made me laugh since day one of your life. I've never been able to explain why but you just do. You do so many fun and funny things! From your little "monster" sounds to you clearing your throat trying to copy mommy to you becoming so bothered when anyone touches/climbs/pushes you! You hate being climbed around or on the most and boy do you let us know when that happens. Your little cry is so, so sad and I hate it when you cry. What a little girl you are! You cross your little feet when you're eating in your chair and you love your little stuffed toys so much. You can be somewhat dramatic at times but I can't blame you - you've got to be different than the boys right? Plus... you're a girl! You are so friendly and love to smile and laugh but can be shy sometimes too. Sometimes, I'll hear you laugh and look what you're doing and you'll be looking at a book - what a silly girl you are. You can find happiness in anything! You love your brothers and constantly try to get them to play with you or look at you. You'll explore anywhere and everywhere - and you're quick! One minute I see you and the next, you're in a totally different room! That's good training for daddy and I to always know we'll have to keep our eyes tight on you! I love you so much Rio - I can't wait to do so many girly things with you and enjoy your lovely, sweet personality! Happy Birthday mimmy!

*Daddy and I love you all so much! Happy 1st Birthday!*