Happy(iest) Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

*All the babies on grandma & grandpa Morris' floor* - (have I mentioned that Austin is crazy crawler these days - seriously! all over the place - we love it!) not the best lighted pic but it was the only one we got of all 3 of them

*Uncle Marc, Aunt Kisty & Uncle Funky (Andrew) with Jax*

*Cousin Gabe feeding Austin - seriously - how cute is that?*
*Cousins Luke, Anna with Rio and Ella at grandma & grandpa Anderson's*

*Family Photo - will they ever all be looking?* ha-ha

I absolutely love Thanksgiving - it is one of the favorite holidays of mine. I think because it is much less crazy and busy than Christmas feels like. Plus, it is a great day to verbally express how grateful I am for everything to everyone. I didn't get a chance to thank everyone yesterday so I will send a weak thank you here to all my friends, neighbors and family who have helped us this year with the babies and while I was pregnant. We seriously could not have survived without you - from the late(early) night feedings, to the spontaneous visits in the middle of the day to help feed the babies, the many meals (especially the ones for Spence while I was gone last Dec), the clothes for the babies, the diapers and formula, the prayers (most of all), the words of advice and love, the concern and phone calls, the constant and always help at church and everything else that I know you all did for us. I love you and am so, so grateful to have you in my life - there are no better people to have be in all of our lives. We are truly blessed and we know it! Thank you so much!

We have the best family ever! Spence's fam is so great! I don't think there has been one week pass by when at least half of his family has been over here helping with the babies at least once a week. And they are still willing and offering to come - how amazing is that? My family is fabulous as well - my parents are here at least once or twice a week as well and whenever we see my sister and her fam, her kids are so excited to help and play with the babies as you can see from above. They are THE sweetest kids! Lastly, I have to thank my sweet Spencer for being ThE bEsT dAd EvEr! He is so fun, loving and sweet with them. I love you!

*We hope you all had a great holiday*

LATE...but here is other October fun

Here are some other October fun things we did with the kids. We made it to Gardner Village quite a few times this year - I love that place, especially around the holidays... they always make it look so cute and fun! Plus, we had our wedding reception there so it holds a special place for me as well. Here are a few pics with some of our favorite and cutest friends.

*Crew, Jax, Rio, Austin Cash & Easton and Bronson*

*Our great buddy: toppling McKay (SO CUTE!) & the trips*

*This is so typical of them and I love it! - Jax so serious trying to figure out why I put him on a bale of hay, Rio with her tongue out trying to lick anything she can (notice the hay in her hand)and Austin just smiling away being as relaxed as possible*

*Mommy & the babes next to hula hoop witch*

We also had Halloween of course last month and I couldn't resist doing a "3" type of costume for them while I can and won't have any verbal objections. And so thanks to Melissa, I found these great and adorable costumes for my little 3.

My mom and I took them to trunk or treat one night and we had two family gatherings as well. One for Kristin's bday and the other with my fam on Halloween night. So here are a few more pics of them in their costumes. And yes, I have the greatest husband in the world who doesn't object to my ideas of a family theme. And as you'll see, my costume didn't go the way I had hoped...until about two days before Halloween I was going to be the grandma or little red riding hood. That is, until I realized those aren't the same nursery rhymes as what you'll see below. Silly mommy :)

*Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf?*

*Grandma & Grandpa with the 3 little pigs*

*Rio had to make sure she represented the "female pigs" so she has a little bow in her ear, then Jax and Austin* - some of us didn't want to keep our pig feet on very well :)

What a great holiday! This is probably the only year, I can get away with putting the boys in pink costumes without complaint. I can't wait for many more... my heads already turning with more 3-type ideas!

First 10K - for mommy that is!

At the beginning of October I did something I've never done before....Thanks to Melissa and her summer of 10K's example, I signed up to do my first 10K. I felt like I needed the motivation to get moving on exercise again and the best way for me is to have a set goal in mind. I do love to run and so I was so excited to get started but I totally lack motivation at times so thanks to my friend Chelle and her motivation, I did it! Chelle doesn't even look winded in the pic - thanks again Chelle! You're the best running partner!

It was so much fun and I am planning on doing many, many more this next spring, summer and fall. 10K's are great for me because like I said, I love to run but I don't love to run long distances - there won't be any marathon's in my future :) (at least I don't think so right now)

Anyway, thanks again you two!

Our first WF trip

The first of many...

*Me & Austin with the horses*

*Me & Jax - the pigs are HUGE*

*Spence & Rio with the goats - daddy's fav*

I love this place - especially in the fall when it is cooler and the leaves are falling. I have been there a number of times with my "other 3 kids-BNC" (as I like to call them) over the years and will continue to go there often I'm sure with these guys.

Anyway, we had such a beautiful October and the weather was SO nice most days that we took advantage of it one day and went with daddy too. What a great day! I know and understand that they are too young still to enjoy it really but I figure it is at least a change of scenery and fun things to look at even if they don't enjoy the full fun of it yet. This was just one fun outing we did this last month so I'll keep posting the pics and info.

They are all doing so great and are just getting so big! They LOVE to stand up and walk along the couch - I can't believe it! In a few months, they are going to be MOBILE!!! Yikes! (but I can't wait)

Spread too thin!!!

We have done some really fun things this October with the babies and can't believe they are coming up on 10 months! They are doing great and I'll share in the next post or two about their fun October but I just wanted to share a little today since I need to get it out and hopefully support other moms out there :)

Today was one of those days that I know every parent feels at some point and on multiple occasions but I feel spread so thin lately mostly because developmentally they are moving along and want to do more "gross motor stuff." The babies all want to stand up now and walk along the couch and so obviously they need a little help doing that although Austin can pull himself up as of this week. Anyway, Spence calls them little venus fly traps because the second we walk by they pull us in with their cute, eager faces and outstretched arms and they pull up on our legs trying to stand. During the day when I'm usually on my own, it is even harder since I know what they want to do and I can't help all 3 of them and I feel like they are getting neglected, especially Rio because she is SO patient! I know every parent feels this way, this isn't a triplet mom thing so I just had to share.

Don't worry parents - your kids are okay and they know they're loved by you :) (we hope right?)
*Summer

FINALLY - 6/9mo. check-up

Yes, we got behind on their WCC, we had insurance issues as well as scheduling issues with our doc since he is so fabulous! Needless to say, we finally got in to him though and got both their 6 and 9 month check-ups done.

They did so great considering they got a heel prick and four shots including the first flu shot of the season. That afternoon, they just crashed and were so tired and then came the worst night we've had so far: they all had fevers and Rio threw up (keep in mind that Austin is also having 5 new teeth come in too at once - poor kid). Someone was up from 12pm to 6am! They traded off every 20 min or so just crying and so sad. IT WAS HORRIBLE! I felt so sad for them - I ended up crying with them too! Only one was upset at a time until about 5am and then both boys were awake and so sad. So between Spence and I we tried to console and just keep them from waking up Rio until 7am - it almost worked :) O-well! It's over and done with - we don't' have to go back for 3 more months! Plus, if it is only one night every once in awhile, I'm good with that - they are the best sleepers every other night so I won't complain too much :)

They are officially 9 months old now and their adjusted age is 7 and a half months. Here is their info and percentiles (for their regular age, not adjusted - I have to add that because I'm quite impressed with their growth - woo-hoo!) too and I'll add a "happy eating" pic just for fun since they are so dang cute!

AUSTIN:

Height: 29.4" (90%)

Weight: 19.12 (40%)

JAX:

Height: 28.2" (50%)

Weight: 16.15 (5%)

RIO: (she's finally decided that she can hold her bottle- what a sweet little girl - she usually holds the bottle with one hand and a foot with the other)

Height: 28.1" (75%)

Weight: 17.5 (25%)

*They're all doing great! Austin is almost crawling - he wants to stand all day and walk around the furniture. Jax and Rio join him but aren't quite as sturdy as he is yet. They are so much fun and we can't wait for them to be mobile. That might sound crazy but they have so much energy (as anyone who holds them knows well) and are so bored sitting down and rolling so we are excited that they will be able to use some of that energy to move around more. What a great blessing to have them so strong and healthy! We just hope that lasts through the yucky winter season that is fast approaching. Wish us luck!

We've started....

Wow - I can't believe how quickly things change. The babies are already 8 and a half months old (adjusted age is 6 and a half) and in the last month or two things are quickly changes.

They've started....

EATING SOLIDS:

After we got back from our Tahoe trip, we started solids with the babies and they LOVE them! Jax especially. He is the best little eater and Austin and Rio are doing well too. It took Rio a little longer to get the hang of it though - she kept trying to either chew it or just couldn't keep it in her mouth. She's so cute! But now, we've finally got it and they are loving it. We feed them about 5 times/day still with a bottle first thing in the morning at 7am and then solid food "breakfast" around 10am, either solids or a bottle in the early afternoon around 1:30 or 2pm and then "dinner" around 5pm and then a bottle before bed at 8pm. They are getting ready for 3 solid meals and two bottles soon - probably in the next few weeks.

FEEDING THEMSELVES:

Well, some of them anyway. It's funny how different they all are. Rio and Jax mostly want nothing to do with holding their bottles and other times, they will attempt to - it's hit and miss with them. But Austin is a pro!

SITTING UP:

Rio and Austin both sat up on their own within a few days of eachother about a month ago and they love it. It is like a whole new world for them sitting up - they can see so many other things and it is great for them. They even stand up when placed against the couch - they actually prefer that but it freaks me out so I have to sit right by them. They'll straighten out their legs when I try to sit them down so they can stand. Jaxon sits up now too - started to more this last week but he totally prefers to lay down still - maybe his bum is too round :)

No one is crawling yet. They flip over onto their backs the second I lay them on their tummies - sillies! :) We'll get there - no rush!

And last but not least... they've all started

TEETHING:

If anyone has any good ideas of how to get a tooth picture in your moving child's mouth with a tongue that covers their tooth the minute you try and look, let me know because I seriously can't get one. Plus, on our camera - I don't think it knows what to focus on and so they all turn out completely blurry. Any ideas, let me know. But Austin was the first to get his tooth about 3 weeks ago and then Rio followed 3 days after that and a second one popped through for her 2 days after that and that same day, Jax's first tooth popped through. No one was really fussy at all - sometimes I can tell they are bothering them so a little baby Anbesol and it seems to go away. My friend Natalie was telling me that if adults had to teeth, we'd all be on pain pills! Poor little things - kids are so resilient aren't they? Amazing, sweet kids.