How Do I Not Forget?

I photograph my children daily. I blog about them. I videotape them doing silly everyday activities. Yet, in my heart I know that I will not remember most of the things that are such dear parts of our daily life.

Like how they say things like "Boobetties, Mem-mon-may, pucs & Hole juu" and I know instantly (most of the time, anyway) that they want blueberries, lemonade, cups or to be held.

Or how it feels to hold their little hands while walking together.

The sound of their giggles as they chase each other around the house.

Or how there is no peace like holding a sleepy child close & feeling their sweet breath against my neck.

I think that is what this blogging, obsessive photography thing is about for me--as a matter of fact, I KNOW it is. Time passes. Things change. Don't get me wrong, I know there will be many, many things about the ages to come that I will MUCH prefer to this age. Honestly, there are plenty of afternoons that I wish away.

But today there is a lump in my throat & a pain in my heart at the thought of these 3 growing up.

Uh-oh! No yet!

One of K's new favorite phrases when I ask/tell her to do something is "No yet, Mommy!" Well, this is exactly how I am feeling at the thought of potty training--my single greatest intimidation with having triplets.

I am disgusted by public bathrooms. One of the ways my husband displays his love for me is his patience in searching for miles for the cleanest bathroom stop on a road trip. The thought of trying to take 3 toddlers to a public restroom makes me crazy! Needless to say, I am not excited about 2 little boys learning how to aim and what that is going to do to the cleanliness of my home.

So while I am, by nature, an overachiever, I have filed potty training under the category of "Nothing to prove." I'll wait until they are REALLY ready. There have not been any signs to indicate readiness...until today.

I was making my bed when K walked in wearing different pants than I had put her in. She had pulled her pants off and on by herself. Not perfectly, but impressive. As I ran for the camera to document the moment I was greeted by R who was bare bottomed shouting "Poopy, Mommy!" He then handed me his dirty diaper (which he had removed himself.) Don't worry, I did not photograph that.

I am thinking they are displaying signs of readiness. I am terrified.

No yet!!!

The Thing About Being Two

...is the uncanny (and bewildering to rational adults) ability to go from this...
To this...
To this... in a matter of seconds and for no particularly obvious reason.

Power Outage

Last night we had a power outage for a couple of hours and the kiddos and I had a blast playing together in the dark. These images are cloudy, but sort of artsy. I turned the flash off to capture the true mood of playing in the dark.

I was reminded of my own childhood memories of the fun we had during power outages. It is really hitting home that they are getting old enough they might actually remember some of this!

Lots of giggles, a bit of wrestling, silly dancing around the lantern, fun memories!

Multiple Mamas

A strange thing happens when you discover you are expecting multiples-- you have immediate friendships with DOZENS of people you never knew, who also have multiples. These friendships are so dear because of the bond we share of unconventional pregnancies and parenting issues. We can swap stories about the hilarious, bizarre & personal questions complete strangers ask us in public. We share ideas for the challenges that are unique to our situations (bottle feeding 3 babies simultaneously, how to design and adhere to a STRICT daily schedule, getting 3 toddlers safely across a parking lot, is a $900 triple stroller really necessary. etc...)

These are also the women you can be real with about the stress and challenges of raising multiple same age children without having to explain to them how truly thankful you are for your children...and that you really are not being ungrateful or complaining.

These new friendships are a bonus, but it is great when some of your old friends are in the same boat, too. Last weekend we were able to meet up with some of our "old" friends, the Taylors, whose twins are 4 months younger than the trio for a little fun in the sun. I love these multiple playdates, because we don't overwhelm each other...it just feels normal!

It is also fun to think about our children growing up with contemporaries who are also multiples.

The kids are doing much better in the pool. We may have swimmers by the end of the Summer!

Overheard

During morning rest time today (over & over again)
R: "Weddy. Weddy. Weddy. Go. (thump) Yay, Twacktor Milk! "

**Translation: Ready, Ready, Ready, Go is the cue the swim instructor uses before he throws the kiddos into the water. The thump was the sound of the sippy cup of milk being hurled across the crib. Tractor Milk= the name R gives to his green sippy cup with tractors on it.

This weekend as I was sweeping the mess off our kitchen floor after a meal. K was the only one still sitting at the table.
K: Messy, Mommy. Mess!
Me: Yes, it is messy. Who made this mess?
K: (without missing a beat) Da boy-ees.
Just then R walked in.
R: Mess, Mommy!
Me: Yes, I am cleaning it up. Do you know who made this mess?
R: K!

Immediately as I utter the words "Time Out" to P...
P: Big Boy, Mommy. Sorry. Big boy!

Daddy

He is my best friend, a gifted surgeon, a loving son and an incredible father.

He is intelligent, handsome, compassionate, godly, hardworking, kind, generous, responsible, honest, articulate, wise and funny.

He is an amazing helper, listener, leader, researcher, encourager, teacher, playmate, businessman and doctor. He is truly the most unselfish person I have ever met.

He works 80 hour weeks, then comes home to help with the children. He bathes them, feeds them, rolls around on the floor playing with them, prays with them and makes sure they know how much he loves their mother.

I am blessed beyond measure to call him my husband.

My children have the amazing priviledge of calling him Daddy.

Happy Father' s Day, honey!

More Swimming

We're working hard to become swimmers, but getting into that cold water is still a challenge.

Grandaddy (AKA Gandaddeee) & Grandmother (AKA MaMaMa) joined us for swim class yesterday, so we had a photographer on hand.

P & R are improving (not crying!). R can even be seen here "blowing out the candle" after coming up from underwater.

K is a little less enthusiastic. She chants, "Hold you, Mommy" about 5000 times while we are there (even though she is in my lap.)

Learning to Sink or Swim

We are in the middle of INTENSE, daily swimming lessons. Our instructor uses the Australian Method, which is code for throw them in over and over again.
I am not kidding.
Needless to say, I do not have any pictures of our lessons, but this is K practicing swimming at home before we started lessons...

and this is how she looked as I tried to get her to walk from the car to the pool area for our lesson...

It reminds me of an old Allen Levi song about a baby bird: "I am learning to fly on a windy day, certain there must be a better way. I know it's been said no pain no gain, but I feel like I am stuck in a hurricane, just learning to fly on a windy day."

I don't really intend for this post to become a debate about swimming methods, but instead about the tough parenting decisions of making/allowing your children to be afraid (even terrified) in the short-term if it is for their long-term good. As I hand them over to their wonderful, patient instructor they are screaming, protesting, pleading with me to not make them do it...but I do, because I love them. My fear of them drowning for lack of survival skills trumps their fear of the water.

I can imagine it is similar with our Father in heaven as we are in the midst of frightening circumstances, begging Him to save us. He sees the big picture, while we just see the circumstances. Sometimes, even though we don't understand it, "handing us over" is for our ultimate safety.

Just a Memory

Our morning routine consists of breakfast followed by a little TV time for the kiddos while I clean-up the kitchen and get things ready for the day. This morning, the trio looked so sweet wallowing on the floor that I decided to join them. As I laid in the middle of all those sweet arms and legs, someone was playing with my hair, someone was holding my hand, someone else was rubbing their feet on my legs-- it was heavenly. I knew that this was one of those times Max Lucado would call an "eternal instant," where time stops and you are just IN the sweet moment.
It was only a matter of time before a toddler grew restless or a sibling touched another and made them cry. At some point, I would have to get up and clean up...but for those stolen moments my heart was so full. I broke the silence by saying "I love you guys." K responded, "Love you." R repeated, "Love you guys." and P said "Hold you, Mommy."

Being a Mom is clearly the most challenging thing I have ever done. At times I feel like I have lost myself, but this morning I am reminded of how much I have gained. God, you are soooo good.

Go, P!

Look how far he's come!

This morning, as the kids were chasing each other up and down the hall, I was reminded of a picture from several months ago...when the same game involved P using a walker to keep up. Look how far he's come! Praise be to God!

I have friends going through some very uncertain times with their small children--unsure of the future and how things will turn out. Haven't we all been there, time and time again in our life? Fearful & uncertain. Once we overcome a hurdle, life gets busy and we move on to the next thing. It is so easy to forget just how many times God has really come through for us in our lives. May we all regularly visit our memories that remind us of God's faithfulness!