Crawlers!

And I thought I had a lot of updates last week! The last seven days have been remarkable around here. The day after my last post I was trying to show Pops and Nunie how Payson tries to crawl. I put something enticing in front of him but he didn't scoot and drag as expected, he up and crawled! Poor Hayden, the big news of the day was that her first tooth came in but it didn't take long for Payson to outdo her. A few days later, Hayden began to crawl and Madison has now mastered her hop-crawl. We're on the move and the babies will steamroll anything, or anyone, to get where they want to go.

Also this week Hayden and Payson started pulling up on things. As a result of their new mobility, we had quite a few injuries this week. Four for Payson to be exact, three of which drew a little blood. And three of the injuries involved infant toys. You can try to baby-proof all you want but even their toys pose a threat! And the girls have discovered each other through the wooden slats of their cribs. We often find them holding the bumper down to better see each other.

Madison has her own big news for the week. She no longer needs Simply Thick formula thickener that she started taking back in June for her severe reflux. She also stopped her special formula, Alimentum, which is for sensitive digestive systems. Now I can make one jug of formula for all three babies. We are also thrilled to have made progress with solid food. Madison has begun eating solids, though she only gives you a half-second window to get the food in her mouth. She highly prefers fruit and does better when she receives lots of praise and clapping after taking bites. That little booger knows just how to get extra special attention.

I have been making homemade baby food and it is going great! It is very easy and convenient. I make new purees about every other weekend, freeze it in ice cube trays and then have gallon size baggies of 1-oz. servings available. Organic, low cost and tasty; what could be better? The babies have also begun to eat Cheerios. I feel so bad for them as they try to pick them up and put them in their mouths. They learn so quickly though, and are doing really well. They are also learning how to drink through straw sippy cups which are supposed to work muscles related to speech development. Payson just started truly babbling this week though I think yelling is still his preferred method of communication.

The babies' 9-month doctor's appointment went great. The biggest development was that Hayden caught back up with her brother in weight:

Hayden: 17 lb, 7 oz.
Payson: 17 lb, 7 oz.
Madison: 15 lb, 12 oz.

The Nines - 9 Months Old!

Today is the nineteenth day of the ninth month of the year and the babies are now nine months old. Continuing with this play on numbers, here are nine updates on the babies.

1. Hayden and Payson are now holding their bottles on their own for every single feeding. It can still be a struggle to get Payson to drink his milk though, because after the first few ounces he constantly tries to roll over onto his stomach to play. Madison likes to snooze during feeding, so she isn't interested in helping out yet.

2. Payson is moving into a seated position from his hands to his knees and vice versa. As a result, we had to drop his crib down, which made me a bit sad. I feel like another chapter of the babies' first year is coming to an end. The first time we found him sitting up in his crib he had tears streaming down his face because he couldn't figure out how to lay back down - even though he knows how.

3. Hayden continues to love every bite of food we offer her. Thankfully, she quickly outgrew her initial feeding habit of chomping repeatedly before her food arrived. We had to sneak the spoon in quickly when her mouth would open briefly. Payson also enjoys solids, but Madison still wants nothing to do with it - not even applesauce!

4. The babies had their 9 month development appointment (typical for preemies) and they are doing fantastically well. At the time, their adjusted age was 6 months and their actual age was 8.5 months. They tested at 7 to 8.5 months on everything! Anything between the two dates is satisfactory, so they are doing just great.

5. Okay, one fib, Payson actually only tested at 6 months on verbal development. He is squealing, laughing, screaming and blowing raspberries often, but not yet truly babbling like the girls are. When I expressed concern, the doctor reassured me, saying "I hate to sound stereotypical, but that Y chromosome does something to boys" and as a result they don't progress as quickly as girls do verbally. Oh great, so they don't want to talk now and they don't want to talk later!

6. All three babies are scooting, hopping and/or dragging themselves across the floor. Payson frequently pivots on his stomach to get where he wants to go. They all push up on all fours, then thrust themselves forward. They'll do this repeatedly until they can reach the object they want. And Madison also drags herself with her arms, similar to an army crawl.

7. Hayden is so ready to crawl that she spends half her playtime hollering as she rocks on all fours. The other half is spent on her back, holding a toy, doing leg lifts with her ankles crossed. She can do hundreds in a row and seriously must have abs of steel.

8. Keith continues to be daddy of the year and is still enjoying his job. Life has finally eased up a little, allowing him to join some friends in a basketball league. The babies adore their daddy and can't get enough of him!

9. I still love staying at home with the babies. They are pure entertainment and the thrill of getting happy squealing babies out of bed every morning and after naps truly never gets old.

Madison Flies High

A few months ago, after fretting about how we won't be able to fly with all three babies for a long time, I had the idea to take each baby on a separate vacation. I talked to my good friend Towne about Madison's and my visiting her and her 15-month-old, Carter, and we planned a long girls' weekend while her husband John was away. Carter was an instant hit with Madison and she loved any attention from Carter, including when she was eating in the high chair and when Carter would tickle her feet.










We had an active weekend, eating out more in a two-day period than I do at home in two months. We also got to do some shopping at the mall and took the girls to swing at the park. We met Charlotte, Maria's newborn, in Harvard Square and later went out for lobster, of course. Madison missed the whole meal sleeping in the Snugli carrier on my chest. Thankfully, it was a "new" (soft) shell lobster so I could crack into it only using my hands. She did great on the plane both ways and it was really special for Madison and I to have so much one-on-one time together.

Back at home Hayden and Payson got to stay with their Pops and Nunie overnight for the first time which they loved and Keith cared for twins for the weekend.

Swinging Good Time

We had such a fun filled Labor Day weekend! We took the babies to the park for the first time and they absolutely loved the infant swings. The girls swung back-to-back and Payson got to be on his own. The babies squealed and giggled with delight as you can see in the video below.

Madison is still not taking to solids yet and makes a face at the spoon the second she sees it. Who needs spoons anyway? Keith tried feeding her with his finger outside of her high chair and she did a little better.

We filled up the baby "pool" again and the babies spent most of their time vying for the bath books - they are obsessed with them. We also caught Payson on camera trying to eat Madison's head. I always know what a baby has been up to when another baby's hair is soaking wet (outside of the pool!).

The babies got to hang out with their buddy Harrison when he and his parents, Joey and Cristin, visited this weekend. You would never know that he's 5 months younger as he is on Madison's tail with his weight!

The babies also had some fun playtime with their beautiful cousins, Addison and Avery. They loved them and watched their every move.

Hayden is extremely close to crawling and mastered the Downward Facing Dog in one day flat. Madison also did the move for the first time the same day as Hayden. In fact, Hayden hardly had a nap this morning because she was busy practicing her crawl in her crib. Seriously!

Payson's big news is that his first two teeth came in this last week! He is such a funny boy. He knows just how to make me crack up these days. Please forgive my partial fake-laugh as I was egging him on to continue with his intense shakey fake smile.