Tennessee Aquarium

We went to Chattanooga to visit family and friends and while we were there we took the opportunity to take Ben to the Aquarium.  Derek and I have been wanting to take him for a long time.  We decided to take the babies with us and try out our new double stroller.  Derek's parents came with us to help.

Ben loved the entire aquarium.  He was very excited to see the butterflies, jelly fish, sea turtles and penguins.  He was most excited about seeing the sharks.  He kept asking, "Where are the sharks?"  When we finally got to the tank with the sharks he was stuck like glue.  He would stand at the glass completely captivated by the fish until we prompted him to keep going.  At one point, he found a spot where no one else was and just laid down and watched the fish.  It was more fun to watch him than the fish.

He could have stayed there all day

Totally captivated

  

Ben is waiting to touch a fish using two fingers...

10 Months

Tyler, Ryan, and Chase

10 Months old!  This year is flying by!  I remember thinking, if we can make it though the first year things will get easier.  Well, the end of the first year is approaching quickly.  And yes, things are getting easier as they get older, but we still face new challenges as we learn to adapt while they grow and change.

I'm pretty sure I will have three mobile babies in the very near future.  Ryan and Tyler are working hard to join Chase as he crawls all around the room.  They both recently figured out how to get to a sitting position from laying down and they have begun to rock on their hands and knees.  I'm interested to see what it will be like when they are all crawling.  Chase is also working on pulling up on any object he can grab on to.  He might be walking soon!

Tyler seems to be my talker this month.  He has expanded his sounds to include bu-bu for Ben, bi-bi, and the occasional ma-ma when he cries.  Ryan also occasionally says bu-bu and ma-ma when he cries.  Ryan's main focus seems to be on crawling and has been very quiet lately.  Chase is still very quiet most of the time.  The doctor hopes this is because he has been so focused on becoming mobile.  He says "gu" and the seldom da-da.  He also seems to like to occasionally squeal, especially when we are out in public.

They have all started to display some separation anxiety when I walk out of view.  So if I walk into the kitchen while they are playing in the living room, it's likely that all three will begin to cry.  Chase will then follow me into the kitchen as he pouts.  Also, any time I sit down on the floor in the living room with the boys Chase is quick to crawl to me and pull up, especially if I am giving one of his brothers attention.  They seem to do great when they stay in the nursery at church and hopefully that will continue.  I hope this phase passes quickly.

They are all still teething.  Chase now has 8 teeth, Ryan now has 4, and Tyler has 2.  I think that it is interesting that Ryan had no teeth last month and quickly went to having four.  They are practicing the use of these new teeth with finger foods at snack time.  I have been reluctant to do a lot of finger foods with these guys because they all seemed to get choked easily at first, not to mention the huge mess it makes.  Several people have made comment to me that once they can eat finger foods it will be easier, but in fact it's much harder than feeding them pureed foods.  When they are finished eating finger foods, not only do I have to clean their faces and hands.  I also have to clean high chair trays, seats, bibs, and the floor.  They are getting the hang of it now and the mess has diminished a little (not as much on the floor).  I have to make myself give them finger foods because I know it is an important step towards their independence, but some days it's just easier to feed them from a spoon. :)

The interaction between the three can be very entertaining.  They love to take each other's pacifiers even when they already have one in their mouth.  It is usually followed by taking their pacifier or just taking theirs back.  They love to touch each other, pull each other's clothes or bibs, stick their fingers in each other's face and mouth, put the fingers or toes of their brothers in their mouths, but they do not like it when their brother does it to them.  They let each other know if they have made them unhappy.  Sometimes there is a lot of unhappy squealing and flailing of arms to deter their brother from touching them or taking a toy or pacifier away from them.  I try to only intervene when I need to.  I think they need to learn how to work things out on their own for the most part.  I won't be able to intercede in every problem nor do I want to.  I'm sure this is only the beginning.

The boys got these cute little wagons for Christmas from Derek's parents.  I thought they would be fun for pictures this month.

Chase
20 lbs 14 oz

Look at that toothy grin!

Ryan
19 lbs 8 oz

Love this little cutie!

Tyler
19 lbs 12 oz

Tyler loves to stick out his bottom lip and give those sad puppy eyes.

Love Tyler's face in this one

Brotherly love...

Chase loves to wave

Mother's Day

My beautiful boys: Ryan, Tyler, Chase & Ben

 My first Mother's day with all four children was absolutely wonderful.  Derek got up the the kids Saturday and Sunday morning and let me sleep in.  He also made blueberry pancakes for breakfast.  Ben came in to wake me up and told me, "You is special and we celebrate you today, Mommy."  So sweet!  He also let me in on the secret that they got me flowers and a cookie cake to celebrate.   For lunch we went to Five Guys, simply because there are not a lot of options to take a 3 year old and 3 babies out to eat.  After lunch, we went to a nearby park.  Ben rode his bike and we pushed the babies in the strollers.  I was also blessed to have my little sister here in town with us for the week.  Derek was able to take some pictures while we were at the park.  I love the picture he captured of the boys and me.  It was impossible to get everyone to look at the camera at the same time, but I love this one more because it captures a glimpse of my every day life. It may be crazy and hectic at times trying to care for four children all with their own needs and wants, but I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world.  I am so blessed.  Everyone had a great time at the park so much that we all went home and took a nap.  It was a relaxing, enjoyable, perfect day with my family!

Ben riding his blue bike

Snack Time!

I can relate!

Fun with the Jeffery Grandparents

Derek's mom and grandparents came to visit for the day.  All the boys had a wonderful time playing outside.  Ben especially had fun pretending to be Buzz Light year and convinced G-mama to be Woody for the day.

Tyler

Ryan

Chase

Nanny Jeffery and Ryan

Pop Jeffery and Tyler

Ben and G-mama

9 Month Check Up

Chase, Ryan, and Tyler

Nine month check up went wonderfully.  It was a little harder to keep everyone on the table. Chase wanted to crawl and the other two kept lunging for things.  They love their Wubanub pacifiers as you can see.  Everyone is very healthy except for Ryan's double ear infection.  Once again he is so tough we didn't even suspect it.  It makes me feel terrible!  The doctor bragged on Derek and I for doing such a great job!  That made me feel a little better.  No shots this time, only a little stick to draw blood and they barely fussed about it.  The babies don 't have to go back for another 3 months, but I get to head back to the doctor with Ben's for his three year check up on Thursday.

Stats:    Weight                        Length
Chase: 19 lbs 7 oz (30%)       29.8 inches (90%)
Ryan:   18 lbs 8 oz (20%)       28 inches (50%)
Tyler:  18 lbs 8 oz (20%)       28.3 inches (50%)

The percentiles are based on full term babies.  The doctor said they are growing great!  I can't imagine what percentile Chase's length would be if he had been full term.  He might be tall!

Big Brother Love

This video shows a little glimpse into what we get to see everyday.  Ben loves his brothers so much and loves to play with them and as you can see the smile on Ryan's face in this video shows how much he loves it too.  My favorite part however, is the emotion in Derek's voice at the end of the video as he gets caught up in the moment.  This entire video makes me smile, while melting my heart at the same time. So blessed!

9 Months

The months just keep flying by and here we are at 9 months.  The boys are really revealing their personalities more and more every day.  Ryan and Tyler continue to look more and more different, too.We have had some big milestones this month like holding our own bottles, which sounds like a huge help, but most of the time it just creates more of a mess because they like to hold them upside down and watch them drip out.  They have also learned to wave hi and bye.   The boys are still working hard to get teeth.  Chase has 7, Ryan has 0, and Tyler has 1.  Our biggest accomplishes happened right before turning 9 months old. Chase can now crawl and Ryan and Tyler said their first word, "da-da".  Things are changing fast especially with one now mobile.  The baby gates are now up to keep Chase in the baby safe zone of our living room and kitchen.  Ben has adjusted well to the gates, although he is not a fan, he has put himself in charge of making sure the gates are closed when Chase is awake.  He is already a protective big brother!

Chase
19 lbs 13 oz

Ryan
18 lbs 11 oz

Tyler
18 lbs 12 oz