On Anniversaries

It's official! I have been working for the Cs for two years now. I started when the triplets turned one and they are now thriving three year olds. It has been an amazing and exhausting ride. We have all learned and grown. 

Sometimes things are crazy.

(As shown below)

 But in general we get along great and have lots of fun. 

And sometimes we get good pictures of it. 

Thank you C family for a wonderful two years. I look forward to many more!

*These pictures (aside from the snowman one) were graciously provided by my sister-in-law.  Her work with children is absolutely AMAZING. She is testing the waters at starting her own photography business. Leave her some comment love so she'll know just how successful she actually already is!*

On Birthdays (APC Edition)

There was a little girl, 

                     Who had a little curl,

Right in the middle of her forehead.

            When she was good,

            She was very good indeed,

But when she was bad she was horrid.

~ HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

What can I say about APC? The baby of four, she is the most easy going of the triplets. Her mother often jokes how easy it would be were she an only child. A is willing and able to follow most directions without complaint, however she is smart and stubborn. She was the last to walk and perform most of the major milestones, but I honestly believe it is her choice to do it this way. I think she's smart enough to know that if she doesn't learn we'll still do it for her. She wanted to get walking "right" before she finally let go. She didn't want to fall. While getting dressed, she still begs for help because it's easier than doing it herself. She's no dummy! If you saw my post about her writing her name, you'd have to agree. She is sweet and lovable, but has a shrill shriek that could raise the dead. She loves to sing and I dare say she has great talent for it. A is slightly addicted to the television set and would sit there all day if she could, I think. She adores Dora the explorer as well as Ni Hao Kai-lan, but really any show she will veg out to. Her favorite color is pink...and purple. (She will tell you just that if asked.) :-) She is terribly attached to her stuffed cat, "meow," and can't even fathom sleeping without it. She is currently obsessed with all things princess, though Minnie-Mouse was the winner for a while. Lately she has been the most shy when we go out, attaching herself to my side, always cautious and wanting to hold my hand. In general, the boys push her around, but I think that's mostly because she's so blasé about the world. She'd rather find something else to do rather than fight. (However, like I said, she shrieks, so watch out if you try to take something she really wants.) She is mostly easy to please and rarely throws long lasting tantrums. She is well behaved and generally good natured. I dare say she is the most well mannered of the kids, though R is catching on fairly well. I look forward to see how she develops in this family of boys. Her gorgeous curls and winning smile can melt anyone's heart. However, the Longfellow poem above that her mother often recites to her is sometimes true. ;-) 

She is so easy to direct we were able to capture this photo. 

Looks like the picture in the frame when you buy it no? 

So finally we come to the end of our "On Birthdays" celebration. I look forward to comparing the children again next year. Until then, Happy Birthday C-Family Children! You are well loved... 

*These pictures were graciously provided by my sister-in-law. Her work with children is absolutely AMAZING. She is testing the waters at starting her own photography business. Leave her some comment love so she'll know just how successful she actually already is!*

On Birthdays (DLC Edition)

DLC is the middle child of the triplets. (The one on the right in the picture above.) His family given nickname is "Glue." He's attached to Momma C constantly. D is a total parrot and loves to tell everyone the rules (even if he won't follow them himself). He undoubtedly wants whatever toy someone else has until he gets it, then moves onto the new toy the others are playing with. He's never satisfied and seeks to be in the middle of things. D is incredibly persistent. He will follow his brother or sister around endlessly until they give up the toy in question. His favorite color is green and he has a penchant for talking in the third person. 'D's gonna have yogurt for lunch, Norie.' His favorite superhero is Batman and he likes to wear his coat by the hood on his head as a cape to be 'silly Batman.' He is obsessed with all things firefighter and his favorite tv show is 'Fireman Sam.'

His smile is infectious, 

but he can also be serious and pensive. 

 He is the most attached to sucking his thumb and still has to be reminded during the day that, 'We don't suck.' (Like I said, he's persistent.) He often likes to play the 'sleeping game' just so he can sneak a suck in during the long hours before nap time. He's such a trickster! He'll always be my D-illy dally.

*These pictures were graciously provided by my sister-in-law. Her work with children is absolutely AMAZING. She is testing the waters at starting her own photography business. Leave her some comment love so she'll know just how successful she actually already is!*

On Birthdays (HKC Edition)

We interrupt this edition of 'Birthdays - Triplet Style' to mention the birth of another important member of the C family. Today is H's eight birthday. Poor guy, five years old and he was no longer the only child, but a big brother to triplets!

 HKC is a sweetheart. A good helper, when he chooses to be, and generally sweet to his siblings. He is uber ticklish and also likes to have his back, legs, arms, and chin scratched. It's about the only thing that gets him to sit still. This ball of energy is in the science club at school, participates in boy scouts, and played flag football as well as baseball. He's a really fast runner and tremendously good at the frisbee game we made up together last summer. (Explained Here.) His reading abilities have really exploded this year and he adores the 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' books. He's a master at wii, particularly the star wars game and madden football. He somehow has the ability to get pretty much whatever he wants from me, within reason (and if he's good). His favorite color is green and when he's concentrating he does this cute little sucking his tongue/rubbing his nose maneuver that makes me smile. He loves to cuddle, but avoids giving hugs/kisses at the bus stop. He's the only kid I know who could eat cheeseburgers for every meal but rarely touches the French fries. H is kind, athletic, tricky, and turning out to be a real entrepreneur.

Obviously this week is a busy one at the C household. Friday was H's party. Today is the family celebration and on Sunday they will have friends over for a little get together. I suppose it's nice to get all the birthdays out of the way at once. ;-)


Sadly, H was at school when the babies had their photo shoot with Miss Nicole. I am hoping in the summer I will be able to get some with him too. 

On Birthdays (RBC Edition)

Today is the triplets' third birthday. I can't believe how much they've changed since I started two years ago. They walk, they talk, they help me (mostly), and they certainly have developed their own personalities. In honor of my little munchkins, I wanted to write a little bit about each one of them

RBC

R Is the oldest, by mere minutes, but it seems to make a difference. He's completely potty trained with nary an accident throughout the whole process. He can dress himself completely, and has the weird quirk of insisting he does so the moment he wakes up. He dislikes wearing anything but real clothes during the day and is speedy at putting his shoes and coat on. He is quite headstrong and really fights for what he wants. He has been known to favor a time out rather than doing something he doesn't like. He gives the best two armed hugs and loves to have me scratch his back while we watch TV. I have heard him spell his name, but I don't think he recognizes the letters on paper yet. His favorite color is blue and he has the cutest little shy/coy face that melts my heart. (seen here:)

R and I butt heads a lot, but he's always been my buddy, since day 1. He has the habit of loving me one day and the next playing shy and hard to get. I haven't figured out why he does this yet, but it's pretty consistent that if he's all lovey and in my lap one day, he's gonna cry when he sees me walk in the room the next day. He loves to play with trucks and cars, but shows his softer side when he puts the baby dolls to sleep. He loves cherry tomatoes and eating fruits like pears 'big.' He's sweet and energetic. He's my little Roscoe P. Coltrane.

*These pictures were graciously provided by my sister-in-law. Her work with children is absolutely AMAZING. She is testing the waters at starting her own photography business. Leave her some comment love so she'll know just how successful she actually already is!*

On Cloth Diapers

I've had the opportunity to use both cloth and regular diapers. To be honest, the changing of a cloth diaper isn't all that different from a regular one. I mean, a gross diaper is a pain no matter what you catch it in. ;-) That said, my main complaint about the cloth variety are the clips used to secure them.  The family of 1 boy and a girl used t-shaped clips like this. (Though not as fancy and colorful)

What is not shown is the ace-bandage-esque clip used to claw the flaps of the diaper and hold it in place. These were my trouble. First of all, they were sharp (Duh! Kind of have to be to serve the purpose) and if they accidentally slipped out of your grasp, on account of say...a squirming baby, they most likely ended up snagging on your finger. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure I don't like the thought of accidentally catching a sweet little cherub faced angel with one of those, cause it sure smarts! So I was always very careful to put my digits at risk, and of course, all my nerves and care caused me to have this accident even more than had I just relaxed and did it. (I'm a worrier, what can I say?)

So that's my beef with cloth diapers. I've never had to launder them, so I don't know about that aspect, but this painful one soured me a bit on the idea. I often imagine the impact it might have on the environment and the money I could save by using them, but then my sister-in-law reminds me of the cost of detergent as well as water and then I'm unsure if cloth really does trump Huggies or Pampers.

I've had a bit of practice with them now, but knowing myself as well as I do, I'm guessing I'll go the easy route.