CT for 24 hours

A few weeks ago (July 27 & 28), The Higby Gang loaded up the Odyssey & hit the road. Our destination? Grammy & Granddad’s house in CT. We haven't taken very many overnight trips as an entire family since the triplets were born. As a matter of fact, we’ve only gone to CT…back at Christmas! When the babies were just that...babies (i.e. not mobile). So this was going to be interesting. All 3 babies are crawling and Cole was trying to walk. But we were up for the challenge.

We headed north on Sunday evening. The kids did okay on the way up. They all fell asleep within a ½ hour of our departure. There were a few rough patches with crying babies waking up sleeping babies, but we battled through. Made one stop for food 1/2 way. Maybe that was our downfall - stopping. One of the boys woke up unhappy. I want to say it was Eli, but time's made my memory a bit fuzzy. Whoever it was really just wanted to roll over & go back to sleep, but car seats aren't really made to accommodate that desire. Thankfully, there was only an hour left in the ride and whoever it was fell asleep/calmed down at some point in that hour.

When we got to my parent's, I think 4/5 of the kids were awake...Ty was the only one sleeping. Grammy was so happy to be able to play with (most of) them for a bit before they were tucked in.

(My Mom's so smart...she put a gate right on the french doors to the sunroom.  PERFECT "Playroom"!)

(Somehow, Eli managed to trap himself under this chair...and was fine with it!)

Monday morning, we ventured out to Mystic Seaport. The weather was nice...hot..but nice. The breeze off the water saved the day! Of course, pushing 50+ pounds of kids in a gi-normous stroller didn't help cool me off any. Man, that thing is serious!

The “big kids” had a great time. Mystic has wonderful, kid-friendly hands on exhibits. Ty & Zoe loved the kid’s museum: Ty practiced fishing and Zoe learned to tie different knots. They didn't quite last through the planetarium presentation, but loved the play ground and art studio.

Next time, we’ll hit the aquarium. Just not enough time in the day.

After a quick stop at McDonald's (for much needed Ice Cream, Iced Tea & Iced Coffee snacks), we headed back to Grammy’s house for dinner, packed up, and headed back home. Not a very long trip, but fun and successful, none the less. With every trip, I feel more confident and ready for another.

Their 1st & Last

Guess who finally got to see their favorite baseball team LIVE at Yankee Stadium?

Guess who got their very own Yankee apparel at their very first Yankee game? (No...I'm not bitter...I've just wanted a Yankee sweatshirt just like this for 10+ years but have never gotten one)

Guess who got to see their VERY FAVORITE pitcher (Andy Pettite) in action?

Guess who ate their way through the game?

 

Guess who was very sticky from kids sitting on her lap the whole game?

Friday night, Shane & I took Zoe & Ty to their first Major League Baseball Game.  It was also their first trip to Yankee Stadium.  They were very excited and had been talking about the game all week.  The weather postponed the game, but didn't stop it!  It actually turned out to be a nice night for a game.  Just as predicted, Ty sat and watched the game intently, while Zoe lasted a half inning and then squirmed until we left after the 5th (Yanks down 3-0). What I hadn't considered when choosing the game was that Z & T would have just wrapped up 2 full weeks of camp and would therefore, be exhausted.  Neither of the kids lasted the whole way home (Ty didn't even make it to the George Washington Bridge.)

Best Ty quotes of the night (Zoe was too busy squirming and drawing to be quotable):

• When Shane asked Ty if he thought Yankee Stadium would be bigger or smaller than "this", Ty responded, "DEFINITELY smaller."
• Sometime after "last call", a not-so-sober man stood up a few rows ahead of us and screamed at the top of his lungs, "Let's go Andy!" To which Ty responded, "Now THAT...is a Yankee fan!"

...and my personal favorite...

• After the first few beer vendors came by, Ty said to Shane, "Dad, why's he saying, 'Growing a beard here'?" (That's Shane's favorite saying when Ty's taking a long time: I'm growing a beard over here!)

Especially for Lindsay

Just some randomness... (i.e. I've got a ton of posts "in the hopper" but none are quite ready...so hopefully, this delay tactic will provide you wil some entertaining triplet information.  Plus, I know Lindsay is hoping for some videos clips.  We miss you, Linds and are praying for you everyday.  Hope all's well in Nicaragua!)

All three babies have been "cleared" to transition to whole milk.  There haven't been any issues, so far!  Yeah!  Ava's getting 50/50 milk & Pediasure (for the extra calories).  We're still taking formula at bedtime until we're finished with our final canister. 

Both boys have reached the 4 tooth threshold!  They are looking so cute as the teeth come in.  Such big boys!  Ava's cut one more...so now she has two on the bottom. (The boys look a little strange in the pictures because the only way I can get them to show me their teeth is to lay them on their back and tickle until they're hysterical laughing!)

Eating has become quite an adventure.  We're working on more and more solids.  Although not all new foods have been enjoyed on the first try, the babies seem to always be willing to taste! 

Cole

Eli

Cole's walking has really taken off.  Everyday he's more confident.  The other day, he was walking around the family room with a ball in his hand. I called his name and he turned and giggled while continuing across the room.  He walked right into the automan...fell on his keester...and let out a belly laugh so contagious the whole family was cracking up! 

One last Cole update (he seems to be the only one with news, sorry): Aunt Shannon has been working on his "sniffing" face with him.  Despite my best efforts, it's impossible to get a good picture of.  I'm sure you'll get the gist with these shots...

Party Time

You're invited (virtually) to Cole, Eli and Ava's first birthday party! Surprisingly, I don't have a lot of party pictures. I guess I was too busy playing hostess. I did recruit Aunt Shannon to take pictures of "Cake Time", though.

The day was nice. It rained a little, but just a passing shower here and there. The temperature was PERFECT! We were so thankful that the heat wave had passed.

Shane made a GREAT "recap" video that really did a great job showing how far the babies have come and even had video clips from their birth, dedication, and random times through the year. Unfortunately, I can't post it here. Call me. We'll set up private viewings! =)

NOT surprisingly, not many people paid attention to my "no gifts" request. Some, followed the "one gift" rule. But many...well...many tiptoed across the line and just brought one HUGE gift, or ignored it all together and brought THREE gifts. Some thought they were slick and BROUGHT nothing...but had gifts shipped. Hmph! And these are people I'm hoping my children will respect, honor, obey, learn from, emulate, etc. What am I thinking? (Just kidding...we're so grateful and overwhelmed by all of your generousity!)

The Desserts:


(You can't really see the flag/sign with the names, but it's "Triple Strawberry Cake", "Triple Chocolate Marble Cake", and a bowl of Three Muskateers)



The Birthday Kids each had their own cupcake (served on the traditional "You Are Special Today" plate). There really wasn't anything spectacular about the cake eating event. We sang once and mumbled through the names. The babies sorta ate the cake. They definitely made messes, and I giggled at the "paparazzi" that was click click clicking away while the kids messed around with the cupcakes.





 

Their final "looks":

One Year Later

Cole

Then: 5 lbs 3 oz  (18 inches)

Now:  25 lbs 11 oz  (31 inches)

Cole's our only walker (so far).  He's also, our pickiest eater (go figure).  He smiles so easily and is always making silly faces.  Cole is by far the loudest talker of "The Gang" and his loud, gutteral growl and grunt has become Mommy's alarm clock at 6:45 each morning.  He only has 2 teeth (one bottom & one top) but manages to eat Gerber Puffs faster than Mommy can put them on his tray. As "The Oldest", he has definitely grasped the protective and empathetic role...he cries when Mommy or Daddy says "No" to others.

Potential Future Occupations: NFL Lineman, Professional Wrestler

Eli

Then: 4 lbs 4 oz (17 inches)

Now:  20 lbs 8 oz (29 inches)

Nicknamed "Goofball" in the NICU by his nurse, Cathy, Eli has remained the smiley, giggling, curious boy he began as.  The downside to Eli finding humor in everything is when that "thing" is him hitting his little sister on the head with a hard toy...REPEATEDLY...and she's crying...and yet he's still grinning ear-to-ear.  He is by far the best sleeper in the bunch...and therefore is a tempation for Mommy to claim as her favorite (he's not...no one is...)  He is a speedy little crawler and can easily stand independantly but refuses to take that small step (not that Mommy's anxious to have two walkers).  Eli is leading the "tooth race" with 4 (2 top & 2 bottom).

Potential Future Occupations: Ethan Allen Quality Assurance Director (he loves to "inspect" chairs), Podiatrist (he also loves feet)

Ava

Then:  4 lbs 5 oz (17 inches)

Now:  16 lbs 13 oz (27 3/4 inches)

Shane's little "Princess"...Momma's little "Bean".  Don't let the size of her fool you...she's just as tough as the boys.  Ava eats whatever Mommy puts in front of her...even though she has only one lone tooth (on the bottom).  She's the best cuddler in the group, but quite possibly the worst sleeper.  She loves to play with toys and is often seen with a toy dangling from her mouth as she crawls across the family room.

Potential Future Occupations: Model (assuming her parents don't have a say), Human Paper Shredder

By the Numbers

Days "Survived" = 366

Bottles Prepared = 5670

Diapers Changed = 7020

Pounds Gained = 48

Teeth Cut = 6

Pictures Taken = 2300 (approx.)

Haircuts Given = 0

Memories Made = Countless

It doesn't take much

One of the blessings of triplets is that they aren't (for the most part) very needy when it comes to attention.  Okay, that wasn't very clear.  Let's try again: Cole, Eli & Ava all play very nicely.  Together.  With toys.  Still not so clear, sorry.

Ava's the best.  She is a toy maker's dream.  She plays with toys...get this...THE WAY THEY ARE MEANT TO BE PLAYED WITH!  She'll sit with a toy and actually push the buttons.

Cole's so focused on perfecting his Frankenstein walk, that he doesn't really notice the toys in the playpen these days.  Sure, he eventually realizes they're there...after he FALLS on them.

Eli doesn't like to be PUT in the playpen...but once he warms up to the toys, he's good.  Of course, his preference is not so much the toys, but the toy baskets themselves...