Snow, Christmas, and Happy New Year

Chirstmas Day at Mimi and Pop's House

Our Christmas Tree 2008

Aidan and Sean looking at all the snow on the deck

Ruairi and Kelly in front of tree at Macy's in Chicago on State Street.

Aidan, Tara, and Sean in the snow December 2008

This Christmas was way different then last year. This year we actually got to enjoy the holiday. The year before the focus was feeding, and changing babies. Aidan, Tara, and Sean all like to open presents, at least for a little bit this year. I think that Tara was the most into opening gifts. She really liked the paper. The babies were spoiled with gifts, not so much by Santa, but by family. The best gift came from Auntie Moira. She gave the babies her old cell phone. Tara thinks this is the best thing ever, and loves to talk on the phone. She is so cute when she gets on the phone she always says hi dada.
As shown above we did not have a real tree this year. It is a step up from last year since we did not even have a tree. The babies enjoyed their paper tree and the best part about the tree there was nothing that they could break on it. Aidan managed to break an ornament at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
The great snow of 2008. The snow was crazy here right before Christmas. I think it snowed over 2 feet. It would have been nice if we had a snow blower. Good thing we have nice neighbors that helped to remove the snow from the driveway. The roads were so awful it kept Ruairi and I an extra night in Chicago. Not that we minded having to stay an extra night, we spent our extra day at the museum.
This year has been a year of a bunch of firsts and I am sure that 2009 will bring on more firsts. We are still waiting for someone to walk. All 3 of them are getting close, but no one is standing on their own yet, but I am sure that it is coming soon. Hope everyone has a Happy and Healthy 2009.

card

Going to see Santa

We went to go and see Santa last week, it went better then I thought, but Aidan and Tara still cried. Sean was a champ, not afraid of Santa. Things this year are much more calm then they were a year ago. Last year we barley had time for Christmas, this year I actually put out some decorations, and have some time to shop. We still did not put up a tree and I think that if we do put one up it will go on the deck. I know the babies will not play with the tree, but we just do not have the room. Our living room is an explosion of baby toys and things.

What a difference a year makes.

Last year at this time Ruairi and I spent Thanksgiving in the NICU with our babies. This year they get to come with us and eat real people food for Thanksgiving dinner. Last year the day after Thanksgiving I was up at 4 am, but that was to pump. This year I will be up at 4 am, but I will be going shopping. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have lots to be thankful for this year.

Aidan, Tara, and Sean

Aidan


Aidan November 2007

Tara

Tara November 2007

Sean

Sean November 2007

Aidan, Sean, Tara

November 2007

Our Birthday

Well, the babies turned one almost 3 weeks ago November 9, but here are some clips from their birthday party.
Aidan, Tara, and Sean were all not feeling very well, and all had runny snotty noses for their party. They are cutting more teeth so, I blame most of the snot on that. They had a great family party at the house. The party did happen a little into nap time, but no one seemed to have any major melt downs. The only one that was on nap protest that day was Sean, but it was his birthday, so I guess it was okay.

Pumpkin Patch

Today we went to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins. Sean loved it, since he loves being outside. Aidan we think ate some clovers that were next to the pumpkins, since he puts everything in his mouth. Tara was not sure, she is not a big fan of sitting on grass. Over all it was a good day.

Updates

The babies have been very busy lately and it is time for me to update what is going on with us. It is hard to believe that they are going to be one years old in 11 days. Ruairi and I have almost survived a year with triplets.
Everyone is now crawling, Sean just started to really take off last week. I had to take him to physical therapy because he was not crawling nor would he pull himself to a sitting position. Sean must not like going to PT because the next couple of days he became a crawling champ. He is also starting to pull himself to a standing position.

Aidan and Tara have mastered the stairs. They love going up the stairs. We have to have a gate in front of the stairs at all time, because they will make a mad dash for the stairs if it is left open.

Tara and Aidan

Aidan is the clown. Here he is is covering his ears.

Aidan

Sean finally went for his first hair cut. His hair was starting to get out of control. Sean did really good getting his hair cut. He did move his head around, but did not cry.

Sean and Ruairi after hair cut

Sean before hair cut




This fall Grandpa tried to get the babies to cut wood with him, but the babies really are not good workers. I think Grandma and Grandpa will have enough wood for the winter.

Aidan, Tara, and Sean

Aidan, Tara, and Sean 11 months

Moving onto Milk

The babies are now done with formula and moving onto milk. Tonight they had their first bottle of milk and did great. I don't think that they even noticed that their bottles were missing formula. I am so excited that I no longer have to make formula, but it makes me sad that my babies are growing up. The babies will be 1 in 3 weeks. It is hard to believe that they are going to be 1, where has the time gone?? If anyone is thinking of a birthday present for the babies, an organic cow would be very handy. If they go through milk like they did formula I think it would be cheaper to have our own cow.

Biting

With new teeth comes biting. The babies love to eat cheerios, crackers, cheese, and the teething crackers, with their new teeth. But, Aidan has found something else he would like to chew on. His new chew toy is the crib. I went to put him down for a nap the other day, and noticed all of the little bite marks on the railing along with the paint chips in his mouth. Aidan has learned to stand up in his crib, but he does not know how to get him self down. So while he is waiting for me to come and rescue him he has taken bites out of the crib. I had to go out yesterday and get teething rails. So far the babies do not bite each other, but I am sure that day is going to come.

Updates

What is new? Aidan and Tara both have teeth. They both cut their first tooth sometime last week. Tara has learned to clap and she is so cute when she does it. Aidan has also learned to stand up in his crib and stand up next to chairs. Today while I was changing Tara, Aidan wondered into the kitchen and got stuck under the table holding onto the chair. That boy is part monkey. Sean is starting to become more mobile, but still not crawling. He is definatly starting to roll more, so it sort of gets him where he wants to go. Tara and Aidan are constantly on the move and they are fast.
Last week someone I am not sure who, since I was at work, but manage to pull on the curtain in the living room and pull the brackets out of the wall. I am sure this was a joint effort on all 3 of them since they love to play peek a boo in the curtains. I ruined their fun and pinned the curtains up out of their reach. I know that is probably the first of many things that they are going to destroy in my house.

Park Pictures

A couple of weeks ago Ruairi and I took the babies to the park to get some pictures taken. Here are some of the shots. I am so excited I think they turned out great. To see more of the pictures go to http://www.pbase.com/originart/duffy_triplets

Sleep

The babies are 10 months old, and you would be thinking that by now they would be sleeping through the night. Well, that is not the case in my house. I thought we had finally made this goal, but no we are still back to getting up in the middle of the night. Aidan my golden child has been sleeping through the night since he has been 4 months old. Sean has been sleeping through the night once he turned 8.5 months, but little Miss Tara does not believe in this concept. Tara my little princess does not like to sleep. She will not nap as long as the boys nor will she sleep through the night. She went an entire week, but last night she was up to her old tricks. She no longer wants a bottle at night which is good, but she likes to get in bed with Ruairi and I. We try to let her cry, but it is really hard, since she shares a room with the boys. Aidan will sleep through anything, but Sean will wake up, so it is just easier to move her into our bed. She is starting to get teeth so I am not sure if it is her teeth that is getting her up in the middle of the night, or she simple wants to play musical beds.

A year ago

It is hard to believe, but a year ago I was put on strict bed rest. I was 24 weeks at the time, and just stopped working on September 12. I had a regular scheduled doctor's appointment that day, and after the appointment Ruairi and I were suppose to go down to my parent's house for my baby shower. Well, none of that happened. At my appointment the doctor's noticed that my cervix was starting to shorten and I was having contractions. I was sent over to labor and delivery were I was given steroid shots to help develop the babies lungs and started on magnesium sulfate to stop on contractions. After a few days on magnesium sulfate, the doctors then switched me over to procardia to help stop contractions. This was the start of my long 8 weeks on bed rest. It is hard to believe that in 8 weeks my babies are going to be 1 year old. They are getting so big so fast.

Swimming

Over the summer the babies had their first swimming experience. The babies went swimming for the first time at Mimi and Pop's cottage, in the little pool. The babies would have loved to swim in a big pool, but both set of grandparents filled in their pools last summer :( Tara and Aidan loved the water. Sean was not sure of the pool and only liked it once I put him the little boat. Sean is more of a boater then a swimmer. As the summer progressed Sean started to enjoy the pool more and more. Sean and Tara love to splash one another and steal toys from each other in the water. Aidan likes the water, but not into splashing like the other two. He enjoys playing with the toys in the water.

TYPICAL DAY

What is a day like in the life of triplets?? Well this is a our daily routine.
Wake up 7-7:30 AM
Bottle 6 0z
Diaper change
Breakfast (1/3 cup of oatmeal and fruit)
Sink bath, diaper change and get dressed
Nap time 9ish 10-11ish AM
Diaper change
Bottle 6 oz
Playtime (went to the gym today)
Diaper change
Lunch time 1:00PM (1 yo baby yogurt)
Playtime
Nap time 2ish-4ish PM
Bottle 6 oz
Diaper change
Playtime (went for a walk today)
Dinner time 5:30 PM (2 jars vegetables and 1 jar fruit)
Bath time
Playtime/Bottle 4 oz
Bed Time 7:30 PM
So in a typical day I change around 21 diapers at least that was the diaper count for today. The babies eat all together 1 cup of cereal, 3 yogurts, 12 jars of baby food and 66 oz of formula a day.

10 months

Look how much the babies have grown in the past 10 months!! It is hard to believe that in two short months they are going to be 1 year old.

Kelly, Tara, Ruairi, Sean, and Aidan
November 2007

Sean, Tara, and Aidan
December 2007

Sean, Tara, and Aidan
January 2008

Aidan, Tara, and Sean
February 2008

Aidan, Tara, and Sean
March 2008

Aidan, Tara, and Sean
April 2008

Aidan, Tara, and Sean
May 2008

Aidan, Tara, and Sean
June 2008

Aidan Tara, and Sean
July 2008

Aidan, Tara, and Sean
August 2008

Aidan, Tara, and Sean
September 2008