Trip to NC

Since I had a long weekend, Jennifer and I planned a trip to Kings Mountain, NC to visit with my Aunt and Uncle. This trip had been planned for a month our so and we were excited to get out of the house. Two night before we were to leave Ellie starts running a fever. It was mild and controlled with medicine and no other issues, so we were going to see how she felt on Friday to decided whether on not to cancel. She seemed to feel better, so off we went. We were planning on going to see our friends in Rock Hill but cancelled because we did not want to get their baby sick. We had a successful ride up with little to no fussiness.

Ready or not here we come!!!

This is when we first got there and they are ready to tear things up!!!

Friday night was a treat for Jennifer. Ellie was not happy to be away from home. She slept in the bed with Jennifer (all night long). To most that might seem like no big deal but we rarely have to bunk with a baby. Weird, I know, but we have been blessed with babies who love their sleep. Jennifer did not get much sleep because we still have not learned how to relax with a baby in the bed. I was in a different room sound asleep - how lucky right! Wrong! My luck ran out quickly on Saturday. Evan seemed to get what ever Ellie had just kicked - except worse! He had a high temp and was obviously discomforted by his incoming molars. He went to bed with little to no dinner and no night time milk. He did not stay down long - maybe an hour. I took the lead and got up with him and tried to get him to sleep with me. Not going to happen. He would just lay there and moan and groan. I tried everything but could not get him to sleep for more than about an hour at a time. Then he would be up 2-3 hours before giving in to a small amount of sleep. Jenn was in a room with the girls and I could not risk waking everyone up for a trade out. My Aunt stayed up to help as well. I even took him for a ride at 2am to see if he would go to sleep. It calmed him down, but no sleeping. 5:15 am and he finally gives in and goes to sleep. I finally get a couple minutes myself but it would not last long. Charlotte decides to get up at 7:30. I hear Jennifer get up, so we switch again. I let her got get in the bed with Evan while I entertain Charlotte and wait on Ellie to get up. I function better with no sleep than with just a couple hours. Evan got up and continued to be fussy. We hurried and ate lunch and headed home. We put him in the truck and of course he was out! He slept all the way home and then napped a little more when we got home. It took another day but we got our little man back. Charlotte was great all weekend. She let the other two do their thing while she was just a little sweet girl. She stole Stuart's (her 2nd cousin) Ipod and you would have thought it was hers to keep. That will teach Stu to give things to a toddler. Thanks Stuart!!!

We blocked off everything to keep them out of stuff

Our favorite toy - a diaper boxI think Uncle Terry is tired too!!!

Aunt Terri & cousin Stuart trying to make Evan happy in their camper

We did go to an apple orchard on Saturday before Evan got sick. I'll post those later.

High Five

It never ceases to amaze me on what children pick up or how they even learn things. This example of self-learning and is a good reminder that we are always being watched and that children do pay attention to the TV they are viewing, even at a very young age.

A couple weeks ago we took a day trip to Anderson, SC to do some "Tax Free Shopping". Sorry GA retailers - blame Sonny for taking away our tax free weekend. We hit the mall and stopped at the food court to eat. The babies like Chick-Fil-A (of course they do - we don't have one in Habersham!!!). About half way through lunch we saw Ellie offer a HIGH FIVE to Charlotte. She immediately laughed and responded with a hand in the air. Ellie then turns to Evan and without hesitation he slaps her hand and laughs. This set off about a 5 min high five session. We all were laughing and slapping hands. Others around us would just turn look and smile. It was fun but it left Jennifer and I with one strange question -Who taught them to High Five? Neither of us have made a big deal about it. Uncle Joe has tried to give Evan one but there was no response. It was puzzling, but we got over it pretty fast. Then a couple of days later the babies showed us where they got it from. Imagination Movers! It is a show on Disney and they love it. Several times in the show they do high fives. I was sitting on the couch watching them play while the Movers gave each other high fives - the babies on cue started giving each other fives as if they had been doing it all along. Here's some pictures from our lunch in Anderson.

18 month stats

Another 3 months behind us and another doctors visit for a checkup. Generally speaking everything is great with the babies health. It's hard to believe that three lives that started so weak and full of struggles is now filled with new adventures and a lot of laughter. They all were the same height = 32 1/2 inches which is the 75 percentile for an eighteen month old. This means they are tall for their age since they technically should be on a fifteen month old chart. Their weight followed the usual pattern. Evan was the biggest - 20lbs even. Charlotte was next - 19lb 9oz. And Ellie is still the smallest - 18lb 3oz. Their weight is the only concern. Ellie and Evan were not even on the chart and Charlotte barely made it to 3 percentile. So how do we get them fattened up? We tried some biscuit and gravy but they were not a fan. We are also giving them Boost to add some calories. Any suggestions?

Here they are enjoying some watermelon on their new picnic table.

What a Mess!

At 2:48pm yesterday I got this message emailed to me at work.
"Look at the mess you get to clean up when you get home and they keep pulling out more!!"
I did make it home and yes it was still there for me to pickup. I did some CSI work and found this to be the case.
#1. EVAN started the clinging and clanging. Diving into the only cabinets that I have not child proofed. Pulling out anything and everything he could get his hands on.
#2. CHARLOTTE peeks around the corner to see what Evan had gotten into.

She immediately joins into the destruction.

#3. ELLIE wanting to not feel left out comes from across the room, neglects her TV show, and helps the others destroy the kitchen. Case should be easy to solve - right? Three obvious culprits.

But who was charged with this crime?

According to the Judge and Jury that would be ME. Guilty of not completing the task of baby proofing the kitchen cabinets. I was released on good behavior and did not even have to clean up the mess - Jennifer did it for me. I did have to finish the cabinets late last night after the babies went to bed.

Here's more evidence that was thrown out of court for being too cute!!!

Babies Go to Work

I have been waiting for the day when Jennifer could bring the babies to my work. I don't work right around the corner from the house, so getting them to my office is a small trip. A couple weeks ago she brought them by. It was just what I expected. Three little sprinters headed in three different directions. They were good - I don't think they broke or stole anything. My co-workers got to see the little guys for the first time. They have seen pictures, read my blog stories, and have had to hear me brag endlessly about my wonderful family. Now they got to see the real deal. Mrs Sharon even got to help give Charlotte a bottle. Jennifer was able to capture only a small portion of the trip with pictures, I think she was scared they might get hurt playing with the construction supplies. She also did not find my office an acceptable place for the kids. She found paper clips and push pins on the floor - inviting themselves to be choking devices. I have since cleaned my office. It might not be baby proof but it is much better.

Our attempt to get a group picture in front of our sign