Triplets

I was mistaken. I thought I was having twins, but as it turns out I had triplets. Perhaps a little explanation is in order.

When I was in high school it wasn't too unusual for me to cry: sappy movies, snarky comments, feeling overly happy, etc. My brother summed it up best when he said, "You'd cry over a pretty pancake."

Strike true, Peter Pan. Strike true.

Around the time my dad died I stopped crying as much. Maybe my tear reservoir dried up. I don't know. Then I married T and, let's be honest, it's pretty easy to not cry as much when you're married to the most amazing man in the world.

Until the girls were born I hadn't cried during a movie since high school. (Except for Million Dollar Baby, but if you didn't cry in that movie you don't have a soul.) Now, I cry at everything. Not kidding. Everything.

• Premiere of Biggest Loser - Used three tissues.
• Jamba Juice - Cried when T surprised me with it.
• E - Cried when I caught him lying on the floor reading a book to M & A this morning
• A & M - I've spontaneously started weeping while feeding them at least six times

E got to watch part of Lady & The Tramp yesterday morning and when it started the previews there was one for Dumbo with Allison Krauss singing "Baby Mine". I looked up from feeding the girls, watched the preview, and started bawling. It was so beautiful. The part with the little sign that says "Mad Elephant" broke my heart. I wanted to find the preview to post, but found this montage on youtube.com instead. It's Allison Krauss, Dumbo, and pictures of a family's preemie baby. I wept. It made me remember my little M in the NICU. Watch.

I just grabbed another tissue from the box that's been relocated to my side of the bed. Help. I've become such a baby.

The Best Medicine

M & Daddy

A & Daddy

Four Months

Four months. Wow. Where has the time gone? I think it's lost somewhere with my

non-spat-upon clothing. Here's a little update on the girls, jointly and individually.

A & M:

• Sleeping through the night for nearly 3 weeks now! (10pm-6am)
• Can sleep through each other's cries.
• Still nursing... though the majority of their milk comes from the supplemental bottle afterward.
• Still share a crib, though we'll split them up soon since A is almost rolling.
• Smiling
• Giggling
• Talking
• Singing
• Are startled by E's loud noises and calmed when E coos at them.
• Love going for walks in their Bjorns strapped on the front of Mommy & Daddy.
• Love baths.
• Enjoy having their fuzzy duck hair brushed.
• Have a pretty easy temperament. Huge blessing!

A

• 11 lbs. 15 oz. (17%)
• 2 feet tall
• Head circumference: 15 3/4"
• Rolls to her left side all the time and could make it to her tummy any day now.
• Has a flat/slanted area along the left side of her head. She liked to sleep on that one side and we had to use rice socks to prop up her head and help her not favor it as much. Her pediatrician says it'll fix itself with time.
• Is beginning to hold her head up really well.
• Will push up on her forearms during tummy time.
• Giggles when I wash her chin. I think she's ticklish.
• Is desperate for food. She stares at us whenever we eat and will grab at things. Unfortunately for her, I'm not starting them yet. I'm not ready.
• Has a connection with E. I think they may make mischief with each other down the road.

M

• 12 lbs. 6 oz. (25%)
• 2 feet tall
• Head circumference: 15 3/4"
• Mellow and generally content with whatever, whenever.
• Began spitting up after her bottles. We've had some doozies.
• Supports her head like a champ.
• Loves sitting in her Bumbo and looking all around.
• Not too interested in tummy time or rolling quite yet.
• Will "squawk sing" when she gets tired. She'll be playing contentedly and then start in with her gibbon noises until we lay her down. It cracks me up!
• Is the ultimate snuggler when I lay down beside her. It's heaven!

Weight Checks

Nearly three weeks ago we had our last weight check! Up until that point we had one every Friday and I really liked them because it's the only time I leave the house alone with all the kids.

Not kidding.

Since they've been a staple in the girls' lives, I thought I should photo document it and, lucky for me, this particular weight check ended with a glorious surprise!

A & M all gussied up and ready to leave the house.

I love their adorable pants. They remind me of my Rainbow Brite doll.

While I get the girls and myself ready to go, E stays entertained by this terrific site that I recommend to all my Mommy friends.

Everyone is ready. E is pretending that he needs a nap and I wonder why he doesn't every pretend that when it's nap time. Hmmm...

Our doctor's office.

The building is nearly new and I love it.

They're opening a "Fresh & Natural" cafe this Fall and I can hardly wait. I mean, if going to the doctor is going to be my outing, why not throw a nice salad in the mix too!

The girls have been transferred to their limo and E gets to decide if he'd like to hold my hand or the side of the limo.

The limo always wins.

E pushes the elevator call button.

Thrilling for him.

E pushes the number "2" and asks me why there isn't a "3" for us to get our mail from.

(We're mailbox number 3 and E is catching on to words and letters all over.)

We check-in and wait. E usually runs all around the waiting room introducing himself to the other children, rearranging the children chairs, showing other kids the books, etc. The only reason he sat still for this picture was because he was eyeing a little girl who's nanny was playing Memory with her on the doctor's office floor. E was desperate to be asked into their game and strategically placed himself in their line of sight. Sadly, they never invited him over, but he wasn't too crushed.

Nurse Michelle and Mel.

We adore Nurse Michelle. She's been with us for all but two appointments and one day E took such a liking to her that he showed her his muscles. This involves E squeezing his fists SOOOO hard that his face turns red and his entire torso shakes. It's quite a site. Nurse Michelle loves it when E flexes for her and she's had him show all the other nurses his skills. She also weighs E on the big scale and gives him stickers when we're done.

While I'm undressing A & M for the weigh-ins, E gets to eat a snack if he's been obedient. He chooses pineapple juice or popcorn before we leave the house and then he gets to chow down at the doctor's office.

Our beloved scale.

Today's results:

Allison: 9 lbs. 14.4 oz.

Melanie: 10 lbs. 6 oz.

Woo hoo! They're officially in the 4th and 5th percentile and we're told we don't have to come back for any more weight checks!

Nurse Michelle then asks E if he'll follow her because she has a surprise for him. We round the nurses' stations and over at the counter we find a sweet set-up of Thomas trains and tracks. E is so excited and giddily asks, "Wow! Can I play with them."

Nurse Michelle then tells E that her son, Jack, has gifted all his old Thomas trains to E!!!!

Train set-up with a card to E from Jack.

Nurse Michelle showing E the in's and out's of some of her favorite pieces. E didn't fully grasp that he got to bring them home with him. He kept asking over and over if she or I could pick him up so he could play with them on the counter.

E in the van with his bag of Thomas tracks, trains, and sheer goodness. At this point, it began to sink in and he was so excited.

We've had such a good time with these trains. T & I love to set-up the tracks with E and watch him play with them for several long stretches throughout the day. Endless thanks to Nurse Michelle! Trains and healthy, chubbier babies in one day.

It was a very good day!

Happenings

A rolls over to her side!

E is obsessed with taking pictures and takes a few good ones every now and then.

E made WW apple pancakes last Saturday. I measured things, but he did ALL the mixing and prepared the butter for me to grease the skillet. I was amazed by his proficiency in the kitchen. It was a proud Mommy moment.

We got together last Sunday with my brother, Paul, and his girlfriend, Alex, who drove up from LA. I love this picture because E is showing the Wheat Thins the same adoration and love that Alex is pouring out on Allison.

Paul and Mel.

And, yes, my brother does have the corner on photogenticity in our family.

E finally got the harmonica he worked so hard for.

Long story short: We made a chore chart for E, eventually he filled it with stickers, we made a big hoopla and ordered his harmonica off Amazon, we checked the mailbox every day for 3 weeks, T checked his email and found a cancellation from Amazon tucked away in his spam folder, we caved and spent $14.99 at Toys R' Us because it was the only place we could find one and the poor kid had been waiting for weeks.

Our beautiful girls.

M & A.

A & M

Close-up: A & M.

Big brother lovin'.

I adore my children.