It's Fun to be ONE: Part 1-Decorations

No big deal...just a sign I made with a picture from their BIRTH day to their Birthday! What a difference! Many of you asked where my "year later" picture is....um, it must've fallen off...bummer!

Okay, so you're wondering what has taken me so long to get pictures of the babies' first birthday party up here? Well I'll tell you! I had to choose amongst some 325 photos that were taken (and that was just on ONE camera!!) So as I went through them, I was having a very hard time eliminating any of them! So I've decided to post the pictures by "topic" a few each day until I complete them all!

And here's the thing, I almost hesitate to post these pictures, because I've already thought of people I "should've" invited but somehow did not. The thing is...there are SO MANY people I would've wanted to invite, but just for the sake of sheer maximum capacity at my house, could not. So if your feelings were hurt, please know that I genuinely wish I could've invited every person who has supported us in this pregnancy and this first year. I love you all and will continue to be grateful for all of you.

That said, let's begin....I suppose the most logical place to begin would be with the decorations...

Their birthday shirts!

Jen is my best friend from college! We met in our sorority and it all went downhill from there! Just kidding! (Babies, someday I'll tell you stories about your crazy Auntie Jen and your mommy!) Anyhoo, what a trooper! 30 weeks pregnant and blowing up 50 balloons for the party! Perhaps I'll blow up balloons for baby girl Ava's first birthday party! The View from the Top...yes, there is a jumping castle at my children's first birthday party! It was not for them specifically, it was for the 38 other kids! (Although, as you'll see in a later group of pictures, the Bunchkins quite liked it too! And no, don't go adjusting your monitors...the grass really is that brown. We're working on it!

Cakes...aaahh fun cakes! Remember the ladybug cupcake picture from a few weeks ago? That my friend Nicole made? Ok, well she was gracious enough to make the babies their very own smash cakes as well as cakes for the big people to eat! Can you say adorable?

These are the big cakes! So, so, so cute!! She has become quite the cake artist in a fairly short amount of time! If you need a cake for some occasion, you should go to her blog and send her an email. I'm not sure exactly what she charges, but certainly for large parties I would estimate about a dollar per person. She has pictures of other cakes she's done on her blog! Totally worth it! And yummy too!

And these...okay. My friend and former coworker Renae Cannady, scrapbooker extraordinaire, made these pages for the babies scrapbooks. I gave her a picture of each baby from each month and she did the rest! I think I'm starting to bore holes in them, i've looked at them so many times!

Furthermore...and I must say this, because NOBODY offers this. When I hesitantly told Renae, that I hadn't esactly started scrapbooks for them yet, I think I heard a thump on the other end of the line, which I presume was Renae falling off her chair. Sooo...she has offered the unthinkable...I am to give her 4-5 pictures of EACH baby from EACH month of their lives and she is going to make each of them a One month page, a two month page, etc...Are you trying to do that math? Yeah, I had to...that's 39 pages...Unbelievable! Thank you Renae for your kindness...and if i can help you in any way, I totally will!

So, apparently Colton was partying a little hard...the point I was making with this picture being in the "decorations" section was the high chair signs...laminated. I might have OCLD....obsessive compulsive laminating disorder. I don't know if there's a picture of my laminated "BEER", "WATER" and "CAPRI SUN" cooler signs, but yes, they exist. :)

Birthday signs!

I am putting this picture here predominately because I want to say thank you to my sister and my mom for ALL their help in planning and setting up and shopping for this party! I think we all had fun, but still, it was a ton of work and I appreciate you more than you know! So yes, we're "cheers"ing to a successful party!

Okay, that's all for part 1- DECOR...Next up? I think probably pictures of the guests...

Some birthday thanks...

I have no fancy pictures tonight, (I have almost 400 I could post, but tonight, none. I'll get to them, I promise. ) I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on this day. My babies turned one year old today. "My babies turned one year old"....those words in the same sentence, coming from MY mouth. How did that happen?

Wasn't I just lying motionless on the couch after my fifth and final attempt at IVF pleading with any and all powers that be to please, please, please make this time work? Wasn't I just staring at an ultrasound monitor with 3 glimmering heartbeats no bigger than a flea for the very first time? Wasn't I just falling in love with the grainy black and white babies rolling around in my stomach at my weekly ultrasounds? Wasn't I just sending out mass text messages that the babies 'A, B and C' were still growing well and were 1 pound each now? Was I not just going in for my C-Section? Weren't dozens of you just waiting anxiously for word that the babies had been born? Wasn't I just making my nightly treks to the NICU, stopping for chai tea in the cafeteria and then heading up to love on my 3 and 4 pound infants? Where did that time go?

That time....I suppose that time turned into memories. And I think I have made at least one memory for every second that ticked by this past year. Probably more. I don't think I am any better a mother than anyone else. I have made mistakes this past year. But I will say this-I am in love with my children. More than I ever thought possible. My friend Nicole paid me the nicest compliment on her blog yesterday. She said, "I look at Ami and she lives in every moment of her babies." How nice to hear.... I'm certainly not trying to win any awards or be any better than anyone else. I just came to motherhood from a different place than many. It was anything BUT easy. There were days I didn't think I was ever going to be a mom and that was a hard pill to swallow especially when everyone around me was consumed with their own children.

So, like anything else, when you finally get something you thought you'd never have, you have a different appreciation for it. Not a better one, just different. That's all... So I made it my mission that every single day of their lives, those babies would see my smile, feel my hug, and hear my voice tell them how much I love them and how proud I am of them. And I did it.

And my babies turned a year old today. And you all were kind enough to cheer me on this year. I don't know if I'll ever be able to really explain to the babies just how many people love them and cared enough about them to read our blog well before they were even born and send cards, gifts, prayers and more. I am just amazed at how much you all care. Thank you for making their first year so perfect...Who knows what the 2nd year will bring. :)

Happy Birthday Colton.

Birth: 4 lbs. 6 oz., 17 1/4 inches

One Year: 20 lbs. 14 oz., 30 inches

Happy Birthday Hunter.

Birth: 3 lbs. 2 oz., 15 inches

One Year: 17 lbs. 6 oz., 29 1/4 inches

Happy Birthday Ethan.

Birth: 3 lbs. 15 oz., 17 inches

One Year: 20 lbs. 10 oz., 29 1/2 inches

Mommy Loves You.

On your mark, get set, GO!

If you read my post yesterday, then you recall how I said Hunter "crawls" to whatever trouble Colton is crawling for. So just like a normal day, the two Bunchkins in particular were exploring the house which reminded us...A couple weeks ago, we decided to test which type of crawl is faster.

Choice 1: Colton's crawl. Standard 4 point crawl: 2 hands, two knees or

Choice 2: Hunter's crawl. Low belly crawl, 2 elbows and palms, dragging legs behind

Our first test run was a complete failure. Babies distracted, apparently not a good enough prize at the finish line (which sadly, I think, was me!) Oh well...another day.

So today, we thought the racing conditions were optimal. So we set out the prize (a FLASHING pink toy ring) then we lined the crawlers up at the starting line, and said the magic words..."On your mark, get set, GO!" So make your guess...who wins?? Colton or Hunter? Now watch the video and let me know if you were right! :)

Video from Costco

Three children. Three different-very different personalities...

Colton is the leader of the pack. Does everything first, learns things by diving right in. Is absolutely ecstatic when he finds something new and exciting. Giant eyeballs and pointy eyebrows work together to show his excitement with things!

Hunter is fiesty. She's a girl. Likes to be where the action is. Follows Colton anywhere he goes, looking for the same trouble he's looking for. Very sensitive at the same time though. Does not like to be laughed at and I swear she knows when she's being mocked...becoming Mama's Girl, {which for now, is Okay with me!}

Ethan is our quiet, content, independent little man. Does things last, at his own pace. Doesn't seem to mind. Still loves his pacifier though no one else does. Hasn't caught on to the "crawling" thing yet so he kinda gets left out of the crawling adventures. Is a cuddler and has a smile that makes YOU smile!

So I thought today I'd share this video of our adventures to Costco the other day. I particularly like it because Ethan is quite vocal. I wanted to give him his moment in the spotlight. And I'd like a translator as well because I'm pretty sure he thinks he's saying something important! Never mind that his brother and sister are equally themselves in this video! My God I love these babies! How did I get so lucky? And how are they going to be a year old in 6 days???

Clap for Colton

So clapping is just one of those things we (and by 'we' I mostly mean my mom) have been trying to teach the babies, for oh, I don't know, several months now! Hunter finally got it a few weeks ago, Ethan still sees no reason to clap, and Colton finally did it today!

He was playing ball with Aunt Mary. Sitting on the floor, across from each other, he would throw the ball to her and then start clapping! She'd toss it back to him. He'd catch it, throw it, and then clap! SO FUNNY! Well unfortunately, I didn't get that moment on camera because I was not expecting such excitement to happen right there before my eyes!

However, the rest of the day, I more or less stalked him...with my camera, and I finally caught him clapping again! All by himself! Why is it that we find these things so endearing? (For the record, Brian's obnoxious laugh was not in response to Colton's clapping. Ethan was biting and licking his ear!)

It's because of Handy Manny!

I know you're not supposed to let your children see TV before the age of 2 or something, but well, frankly, that just doesn't happen in this house! No siree! We watch (well maybe not watch, but it's on, at least) the entire Disney Channel lineup every morning...Mickey Mouse Playhouse, Special Agent Oso, Tigger and Pooh, Imagination Movers, and my personal favorite?? Handy Manny! (Maybe I secretly like it because I know it's Wilmer Valderrama and he's kinda cute!)

Anyway, we watch Handy Manny's School for Tools and by golly, I think Colton HAS been paying attention! Just last night, I decided to bring Ethan and Hunter up to the play area in the loft with me while I finished cleaning, and Colton stayed in the kitchen with his daddy while he installed cupboard locks on all (except the Tupperware) cupboards! Coming down the stairs for a quick minute, this is what i see....

Handy Colton is helping his dad!

HOW CUTE ARE THOSE TIPPY TOES??

"Hey dad, whatcha doing? Hey! Is that Turner in your hand?..."

"Hey mom, I'm just helping dad do stuff..."

"just one more turn, dad and I think you got it..."

Aaww...hugs for the big helper!

Now on to Babyproofing Part 2

Poor kids...they never saw it coming...

(I know you're thinking that's a pretty big gap at the bottom and I know..I was trying to see just how low it could go, but still allow the cats to get by.)

Allow me to dictate what is going on here.

Ethan: Don't worry Hunter, I'll get it down

Hunter: Maybe if I head butt it...

Ethan: Hmm, well that didn't work...let me think about this..

Hunter: {please note her hands and mouth} What the @#$%??

Ethan: We see you mommy. And we don't like this new thing.

Hunter: I can't even look at you right now Mommy.

Piper:{the black shadow on the right} I just want to go have my dinner down the hall.

Ethan: WHAT? You mean this thing is here to stay? FOREVER?

Piper: Again, I just want to go eat...

Hunter { to Piper:} Don't worry doggy, I'll let you eat my carrots tonight.

Let the babyproofing continue....

{On a side note, I'd like to thank my friend Charlotte for having the knowledge to make this gate work for me! Yep, even after reading the directions, I still couldn't figure it out! Thank you Charlotte! I love you. The babies now hate you. I told them you were the one who made it work. }

Insanity

My life is insane! No, not the way you think...To this day, I awake every morning and remind myself that I am the mother of triplets. That there are three babies sleeping in the room next door who, in their own baby language, call ME 'mom.' You'd think I'd be used that by now, but I'm not. And in a way, I hope I never am. The novelty of my life is that out of the greatest pain I've known, came the greatest blessings. I don't ever want to forget what that journey felt like...

I constantly think about the years that passed me by, leaving me completely devastated and without any hope of ever having children. I remember the familiar lump in my throat I got each time that pregnancy test was negative and how I would force myself to smile anyway, even though inside I was crying uncontrollably asking that all too familiar question, "Why me?" I think about the pain I endured from the hundreds of shots I had to take, and how I reminded myself that someday, it would all be worth it. I remember the devastation of losing a tiny baby just weeks after my prayers had finally been answered. These are the moments I hope I never forget. They are the moments when all I had was hope.

And now, my babies are days away from their first birthday. My babies. That's what's insane. The rest of it...the thousands of diapers, the toys everywhere, the crying, the kids crawling in 2 directions....that's the fun part. There are alphabet magnets on my refrigerator, the tupperware cupboard is now a lesson in exploration and noise. The hooks on my coat rack are occupied by at least 9 tiny sweatshirts and jackets. My tub is full of water toys and baby shampoo. There are three highchairs in my kitchen. The silverware drawer has as many pink, blue, and green spoons as it does silver. There are Gerber puffs in the cracks of my couches and spit up stains on ALL my clothes. But the best part is that there are three babies who I get to love for the rest of my days....This is my new life.

I looked back through my own blog last night at old entries (you know, since there weren't any new ones!) and what memories it brought back of a practically flawless pregnancy that led up to the babies' birthday. Recounting the moments waiting for the babies to be born and the relief and complete overwhelm I felt each time they announced that another baby was born. And then, I got to the part where I had been in recovery for at least 4 hours, at this point the ONLY person who had not gotten to meet my own babies, and my eyes started to well up... And I kept reading until I got to the part where my nurse decided to take me up to the NICU to meet my tiny, tiny bundles all alone, and I cried. I cried last night like I did almost a year ago the moment I got to finally hold each one of them in my arms. It was breathtaking then and it still is now.

I have three unique little persons who are charming, adventurous, silly, brave, peaceful, obnoxious, loving and absolutely the lights of my life. I struggle every day as I think all parents must. I love each new day more than the one before it because they learn something new, get a little more independent, and gain a lot more personality. And yet, each new day is a reminder that my babies are growing up...{sigh}

So anyway, this was not at all the direction I had planned for this hodge-podge of a blog, but it's past midnight, so it will have to do...more to come. In the meantime, enjoy these pictures of all the things that have been going on in our world!

1. WE MASTERED THE ART OF STEALING

Typical scenario. Let me just say that the blue maraca Colton is holding was in Ethan's hands only moments before I took this picture. Look how pleased Colton is with himself.

Okay brother, I'm sorry. I will hug you now.

2. WE LIKE JAMBA JUICE. JUST LIKE OUR MOMMY.

3. ETHAN LEARNED TO HELP GRAMMA DO LAUNDRY.

Well, sort of.

4. COLTON DISCOVERED A LOVE OF PLAYING UNDER TABLES.

5. DAD LEARNED HOW CONVENIENT OVERALLS ARE FOR CATCHING FAST CRAWLING BABIES.

6. I WITNESSED MY FRIEND NICOLE'S NEW CAKE MAKING SKILLS!

7. WE TOOK OUR 3 LITTLE CLOWNS TO THEIR FIRST CARNIVAL! (At school)

There we saw some of our friends! Mrs. Lofgren and Andy!

8. GRAMMA BOUGHT A HAMSTER CAGE TO PUT US IN!

Uncle Emilio even got in with us!

9. WE GOT A NEW TABLE TO SIT AND PLAY AT...Or under...

10. We DISCOVERED HOW MUCH FUN IT IS TO PLAY ON "FISHER PRICE MOMMY!"

I'm not gonna lie. I kinda like these pictures because my tummy looks almost pre-triplets here!

And that's all for now....there are more entries on deck. I will not slack. I will not slack. I will not slack. Thank you for sticking with me and continuing to read about our adventures! Knowing how many of you enjoy it is what makes it so worth writing!

Tell me how you REALLY feel, Ethan!

Ethan is pretty disappointed in me.... Pretty upset about how long it's been since I've done a blog entry...When I asked him how he felt about me not blogging, this is what he said. I think you get the idea. Not happy. :)