Ugh, time is flying like never before in my life. I love it but I hate it. There was a time early in 2013 that at least once a week I would think about blogging and get bummed out that I just couldn't find the time, or mostly the energy to post updates. As the year progressed I would realized months were passing and I had not even thought about blogging or how much I missed it.
I miss so many things about sharing details about our family. I am so in love with what I feel so fortunate to have in my life. I enjoy documenting what we do with the children Chris and I have been blessed with. So many gracious individuals express how they miss hearing what is going on in our life and how the kiddos are growing up. I also want Chris and I to be able to look back and remember the details of the kids growing up, the things that make the days completely crazy and mostly totally amazing. At this point it all seems quite blurry!
Since I feel so much anxiety when I think about posting things we have done throughout 2013 I am going to skip that and start with the present! Here it goes...
We have been doing so many fun things in the past year, the ages of all the kids have made outings much more enjoyable and manageable, even solo. I think I am going to fill y'all in on each kiddo and go from there. I'll go in reverse birth order.
Vaughn 2.5yrs old, 33lbs, 37" tall
My forever best buddy is one hilarious kid. In the matter of a few days recently he grew right up. Suddenly his legs look like they grew inches, he got his baby curls cut off and only runs, rarely walks. He is no longer our little baby boy. He also upgraded to a big boy bed which he loves, but he looks so darn tiny in it and it is only a twin. Also, he has the need every night, at least once, sometimes multiple times to check in with Mom and Dad to see what we are up to. I don't think we have had one uninterrupted night since the bed arrived, zzzzzz. He is now officially our little "man".
His ability to communicate and verbalize what he needs or is thinking blows everyone away. The constant chatter of his big sisters has been significant in his learning. When I think about where the girls were at his age, there is simply no comparison.
His favorite thing in the world is MILK, sometimes if we really need his attention and he is ignoring us we say milk and no matter what he is doing he will stop and give full attention. Vaughn pretty much imitates anything and everything his sisters do. He is tough as nails and only cries if he gets a bad head bonk or if I tell him he has to eat all his veggies to get his surprise after dinner. When he gets hurt and I try to console him he lets me give him a hug and immediately stops crying and says, "I fine Mom, I fine." He doesn't get really upset too often. The bigger issue is that he generally just doesn't listen to anything we say. He definitely hears us but typically continues doing what ever he is doing and ignores us. I have to literally track him down get eye to eye and explain what I need from him and then only about half of the time I get my desired results:), not unusual for an almost 3 year old boy it seems. He is the HAM of the family, he loves being the center of attention and getting a giggle out of his sisters. He is 100% the "kid brother" every big sister never wanted but always loved. The girls really do get annoyed by but always look out for, care for and above all LOVE their little brother. I mean really, how can you not completely adore that smile!
Sydney 4.5yrs old, 39lbs, 43" tall
We officially have a left handed little girl. I would say that she is the most chatty of the girls, especially when she is one on one with us. She is a very polite little girl and just seems to get how the world works and grasps big concepts quickly, she has A LOT of questions and you can almost see the wheels turning in her brain trying to figure this world out.
She remains constant with her affinity for Ariel and the color red. Her giggle is contagious and when she laughs she crunches up her nose, I wonder if she will continue to do that as she gets older, I hope so because I love it. Her favorite foods are pretty much anything with a lot of carbs and sweets, although she does a great job with her fruits and veggies. When it comes to pancakes and pasta she can put it away like no other. Carrots are her favorite veggie and strawberries her favorite fruit. Syd loves her brother and helps him with many things, she also likes to help with his discipline, I hear her repeating things that I say to him often(it's pretty cute).
Lately Syd finds frustration in small tasks that require repetition and practice but it will come, I feel like we are on the edge of a big breakthrough in that department (writing) and her confidence will grow tremendously. She is a very bright little girl and I think has a certain kind of wiring like her Dad which pretty much assures a bright future.
I often catch her and her Daddy having silly face making contests which is hilarious. Syd tells us she wants to be a doctor or a firefighter when she grows up. There is not much she is afraid of, big water slides, bugs, whatever she is cool with it and gets very excited about being so brave! She wakes up happy, resists naps and is ready for bed when the time comes. She sleeps with a huge elephant, also her favorite animal, and hides her face under its big floppy ear.
Taylor 4.5 yrs old, 39lbs, 43" tall
She is a big personality with a free spirit and is full of life! Taylor spends most of her time singing, dancing, accessorizing and pretending she is a princess. I think she is the most independent of the three girls, she does her own thing usually to have one of her sisters see her great idea and try to join in which often irritates her to no end. She loves to color and draw and is very thoughtful to make special cards for special occasions, family and people who are sick or sad. She is very proud to write her name on each and every one. She is very creative and tells us she wants to be on TV and for people to watch her. Wathing her in music class at school shows me it is in her blood. Out of the other 17 students in her class only a handful find the joy in the movements and words and give the attention that Tay does.
She rarely asks for help with things, she always tries to figure it out herself and if she can't generally she will find something else to do. This I appreciate so much considering there are many needs to tend to in this casa!
Taylor is all about pink, she dresses herself everyday in various shades of pink and it almost always looks great. She is quite talented in putting pieces of clothing together in a way I would not have considered. She wears a skirt (tutu) or dress if it is up to her and decided recently it was occasionally acceptable to wear jeans because some of the older girls do and I do. She is very social and isn't afraid to make friends. In the past few months, her life loving personality comes with a hefty dose of sass. When it comes it is serious and not easy to overcome. She is a strong-minded and passionate about what she feels at any given moment.
She has the attitude of a girl much older than four. She is very emotional, sensitive, smart and extremely thoughtful. I have difficulty getting her out of bed in the morning. I have visions of her as a teen running late for school because she just can't get out of bed! Taylor will eat a whole tomato at a meal, she LOVES salad and pretty much all fruits, except recently bananas. Her favorite animal is a monkey because they are funny and she can barely sleep without her life sized monkey at night.
Brooke 4.5 yrs old, 39lbs, 43" tall
Ah, what can I say about our first born (by one minute)...she is as consistent as they come. This little one is extremely thoughtful, emotional and kind in the most pure way. She is the first to provide an option or explanation for her siblings when things don't seem to be going their way. She often offers her things to make others happy. I am blown away by her unselfish ways for her young age. She is the goofiest in that she has crazy, wild, out of control, silly moments and loooooves to make people laugh.
Lately all she really wants is to be big like me, she tells me daily she wants to grow up to my age to wear fancy shoes, be tall and especially to stay up late. Brooke rarely disputes what is going on and almost always is the first to listen to my words and follow directions. She is a pleaser through and through, with the exception of when she is overtired. She falls apart ONLY when this is the case. It makes it quite easy to figure her out because if she starts misbehaving I automatically think, ok, she has not had a nap or she didn't sleep well, or she is growing. If I had to describe her in one word it would be determined, she, from day one (she broke my water and started all of their entries into this world), tries like the dickens to figure things out. She is very patient with herself and puts the time in to learn the things she knows she can do. Example: last summer she wanted to learn how to do a cartwheel and after weeks of practice with very little help she got it and was so thrilled to show everyone who had any interest in watching her. She is a born athlete, she is pure muscle and strong as an ox. She has taken it upon herself to practice her letters and numbers and as a result writes them all very well.
She spent much time tracing letters and numbers in books to get it right and is happy to offer her help to her sisters when they need it. Brooke is smart as a whip, I see her as the street smart girl with brains who has the natural ability to get by. Lately I can not fill this little girl's tummy, she likes almost everything except pasta. If I would let her eat nothing but fruit she would be thrilled. There is not one she doesn't like and red peppers are her veggie of choice. Hippos are her favorite animal because they are big and she sleeps with one to protect her. She flies out of bed in the morning and gets the routine done without pause because she know that is what needs to be done. I have to mention that Brooke is completely obsessed with how the human body works. She is always pondering pee and poop and where and how various living things accomplish these tasks. She is the only one in our family with an outie belly button, and often asks why. She had a hernia when she was teeny tiny. She was happy to find our a good friend of ours who also happens to be a triplet has the same belly button. I think that made her day! It is quite entertaining and sometimes inappropriate her level of interest in this particular topic. At the end of the day and many times throughout the day I find myself thanking her for being such a rock and making my days easier.
Wow, it feels good to be back! I know there are many people out there, because you have told me, that like to see how our crazy life plays out with triplets plus one. We have a great life surrounded by great family and friends and we are so very grateful for. Our days are sometimes overwhelming but always filled with love. Thank you for all of your support!
