One Year Ago...

One year ago today, Sofia and Madeline were discharged from the hospital! This day was just as life-changing as their birth. We went to the hospital that morning expecting to bring just Sofia home, but the doctor let us know Madeline could go too if we were alright with it. It was a big surprise but we couldn't say no to that! We were so sad to leave Josie behind but she had to get stronger before she could join her sisters. I'll link-up the first couple posts of them being home.

All set to leave the hospital!

Josephine around the time of her sisters' discharge. So sad to leave her behind.

Tiny! Sofia on left, Madeline on right.

Madeline on left, Sofia on right. (Madeline still had jaundice.)

Madeline had a bath her first day home!

Comparison photo of Madeline today!

I'm so glad I don't have to re-live that first night with Sofia and Madeline home. My life was flashing before my eyes- I was picturing every age and how hard everything would be. The following night was much better and I finally believed we could do this! And here we are today- they are so happy, healthy, and manageable!

Sofia and Madeline have been walking across the room! Their main mode of transportation is still crawling, but they are definitely progressing.  Josie is taking a little break in the walking department. 

Sofia and Madeline

Josie is happy after her nap!

Josie!

All three of them are so funny lately. We already knew they think it's funny to burp, but now they are pretending to burp, then breaking out in hysterics! I hope we aren't creating bad manners monsters! (Hehe I'm not actually worried about that.)

 Have a great weekend!

February 16

   I'm back into the swing of things after being away for the weekend! It was my FIRST night(s) away from the babies since they came home from the hospital. I missed them terribly, but I got a chance to meet my good friend, Leah's, new baby, Elsa. I couldn't believe how little Elsa was (she's about 8 lbs) and that our babies were 3 lbs smaller when they first came home! Leah and Mike's other daughter, Anna, is going to be 2 in April, and she was so much fun. When ours are her age, watch out! When I came home Sunday night, I rushed back to see the girls before they went to sleep (thanks, Marie, for the ride!) I got huge smiles and I couldn't help not crying! Thanks again, to Dan's parents who helped out this past weekend- both with babysitting when Dan was at work, and for helping us redo our basement.

Sofia is really turning into a little toddler. It just seems that she is a lot more engaged with us. I've noticed this with the others, but when Sofia burps she laughs about it! We have also noticed that she seems to tease the others by handing over a toy to a sister, but then yanking it back and laughing. Stinker! :) She is still the most social and doesn't shy away from new people as much as the other two. I can't remember whether I wrote this already, but Sofia is also turning into more of a daddy's girl than before. (She used to be pretty clingy to me.) One more tidbit is that she "adopted" two little stuffed dogs to be her "loveys". The other two like the blankies we gave them a while back but Sofia waited around for the dogs!

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Sofia's favorite animal is the dog (and I love that she has one hand on her sippy!)

Sofia just standing there!

Madeline is getting braver with taking more steps. She seems really proud of herself when she is able to keep her balance and practice walking. Lately, I've been showing them how to color with a crayon and seeing if they will try too. Madeline was the first to make the color motion over the paper with a crayon in hand! The other two would try to taste the crayon the first couple of times I tried this activity. Maddie has the strongest stranger anxiety right now...sometimes she will start crying even if a stranger just looks at her or talks to her. She is still the biggest and is getting close to 20 lbs! We're going to switch to convertible seats really soon.

Madeline to Sofia "Move over, I'm coming in!"

Madeline!

Josephine is finally willing to try walking too! She is still hesitant and almost forgets how to step with her left foot, even though she does fine behind a walker. Lately, she is the momma's girl and clings to me when she gets tired or moody. Yesterday, the Roseville ECFE people came by again and Madeline and Josie kept their distance in the beginning. They just sat in the hallway and watched until they felt comfortable enough to join. It was really typical but so cute to see them just watch us! The ECFE people said the girls are still doing well, and they are going to come one more time before the plan ends.

Josie in the shelf- all the girls love to be in shelves, boxes, etc!

Josie standing with Sofia's dog

I did a "photo shoot" for a Valentine's picture... I learned that group shots are a thing of the past. I finally put them in this laundry basket to contain them instead of sitting them on the couch (L to R:  M,S,J).

Looking out the window (closest to farthest: J, S, M)

Edited: Dan found a great deal on tickets so we are now flying...a whole new scare- anyone out there with advice for flying with multiple 1 year olds? 
  Well, hope everyone is having a great week!

Happy Valentine's Day!



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We Have Proof!

The girls have been working on taking steps for a while now. I never realized how long of a process it is. They have been taking a couple steps here and there since late December/early January. I always thought Sofia would be the best because her balance is the best, and I'm right! The record steps is probably about 10 by Sofia, but of course it's impossible to catch that on tape. Here's the best evidence so far that we do have beginner walkers! It's pretty obvious, but this is during "Naked Baby Time". Go Sofia, Go!



I'm about to take the girls out to an endocrinologist appointment when they wake up from their nap all by myself! Talk about scary! It's not really the logistics of it all, it's more that they have stranger danger so they will all want me to hold them. Mama only has two arms. We'll see...maybe they'll warm up to the doctor. I plan to bring the huge Runabout stroller since I figured how to fit it in the car (without disassembling it!)

I've been thinking about all the changes that will be happening soon (goal is by their due date March 9).... only one nap a day, no more bottles/formula, no more pureed food... It seems like we're really transitioning into TODDLERHOOD. We've already cut out most of the spoon feeding except one meal of Greek yogurt/fruit/cereal mostly because Sofia and Josie were becoming more difficult with my concoctions. Now for dinner it is all finger food! They're definitely not perfect with finger foods though and it's a little disheartening- I'm always wondering if they're eating enough. They do NOT like meat (I think it's still too hard to gum up- I don't think they mind the flavor), Madeline won't touch cubed squash, and they all try to cram as much food in their mouth as possible. It's a little nerve wracking because of the possibility of choking, but I've learned to put food on the tray gradually, not all at once. Anyways, we are so close to having toddlers... once they start walking around more I guess we can finally call them toddlers. That is so crazy to me!

Hope everyone is coping with winter- sounds like crazy storms everywhere but here..and St. Augustine, Florida, where my LUCKY parents are! Say "hello and miss you" to the ocean for me :(  

OK, here are some of the latest pictures!

Beautiful girl, Sofia!

Madeline's typical smile!

Josephine :)

Sofia and Madeline- I didn't put either in the car- I just found them like this!

 

Just had to add this picture of Sofia to show off her BIG front tooth!