First Day of School!

Last week the kids had their very first day of school! Technically speaking, it is a Mother's Day Out program, but it's school nonetheless. They were all excited, though unsure, about their big day ahead.

A few days prior we went to orientation. They were super excited about the new toys until it was time for a potty break. After that it was all about the child-sized toilets. I seriously think Hayden went no less than eight times in less than 20 minutes!

They also had their first school assignment to turn in on the first day: an "All about me" poster. I cut out the pictures for them and pasted their names on each, but they did the rest!

The night before, I loaded the car and couldn't believe how much space everything took up! Three nap mats, three backpacks, three folders and three projects. Three lunches were pending.

I gave us lots of cushion in our schedule that morning in hopes that we would arrive on time. I basically had one hour to get the kids up, pottied, dressed, pottied, fed, cleaned up, teeth brushed, pottied again and in the car. Somehow we made it a few minutes early! The kids happily wore their backpacks and carried their nap mats from the car.

Payson looks like such a big boy in his backpack and big grin!

One by one the kids' nap mats got too heavy for them so they handed them off for me to carry. Hayden was a determined little soul, and she succeeded in carrying her mat all of the way, though not without a struggle!

It was so nice to have arrived early enough to avoid the morning rush in the halls. I'm hoping I can achieve this goal every week! The girls did great at drop off but I unfortunately had to leave Payson as he cried and screamed for Mommy. But the report was that he settled in quickly and that everyone did great. Payson and Madison even took their naps! Hayden was great when I picked her up, but she had a huge meltdown on the way to the car. She was so tired, and she knew it, so when we got home she went down for a nap without a fight.

As for me, I spent my time working out and running errands and never even made it home. I think I'm going to get used to this one-day-a-week break really quickly!

Potty Training Triplets

A lot of things crossed my mind on that hot summer day three years ago when we found out we were having triplets, but potty training was not one of them. But, I wasn't a mom for long before I started hearing potty training horror stories especially from other moms of multiples!

We attempted to potty train Madison at 23 months by following Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day, but she wasn't ready physically. And she was too young to get and care about the sticker chart and to understand when she would and would not get a reward (she threw massive fits for rewards when she hadn't done anything to earn them). Here's a picture of Madison at her "Potty Party." Mission: FAILED!

Then at 25 months, Hayden saw her cousin, Addison- who is older by 8 months- use the potty. Hayden immediately took off her diaper and insisted on wearing panties. So, although hesitant, we went with it. She took the lead and is quite independent, so we tried to go at her pace rather than follow a specific method. Here's a photo of Payson reading to her as she used the potty. She was about 80% potty trained that first week. I did stick with it for four weeks, but each week she was 10-15% less successful, and by that last week she had fully regressed and she and I were both very unhappy with each other. She was over it and so was I. Mission: FAILED!

This time, we felt confident that the kids were ready. Not only were they insisting on taking off their diapers for changes, but they wanted to wipe and then velcro the diaper back on. They were also starting to wake up dry and keep their diaper dry for long periods of time. Then, there was the issue of Madison ripping her diaper off the second she pooped and the girls taking off their diapers during fits or while in timeout so they could intentionally pee all over the floor or crib. Niiiice! Hence the duct tape around Madison's diaper in the photo.

We had heard awesome things about the 3 Day Potty Training method so we decided that this would be our guide. We prepped the house by laying out a large tarp in the living room, pulling up the rug in the wood-floored playroom, stocking the bathroom with lots of flushable wipes, paper towels, Clorox wipes, panties, undies and soap. This picture shows the girls wearing their very last diapers.

So, that morning, after a hearty breakfast, we put them in new undies and told them what big kids they now were. We gave them each a trash bag, and we went around the house collecting and throwing away all of the diapers, wipes and even the diaper bag! (Yes, environmentally-friendly friends, we did just pretend to throw it all away!) We then had them help us carry the changing table out to the garage. They loved all of this! Then, we began to repeat the phrases that we would find ourselves saying constantly over the next few days and weeks, "You are such big kids! Be sure to tell us when you need to use the potty!" And, "Are you dry? YAY! I am SO proud of you! Remember to tell me when you need to go pee-pee or poo-poo!"

Now, I spend A LOT of time with my kids. But, I didn't realize how hard it is to keep them entertained and within arms reach of you ALL day long. Mine like to push their strollers all around the house, run from the kitchen to the playroom and back again to stock up on certain play food, hide in our bed and play chase in and out of our closets. But while training, you have to have them right there with you constantly. We had lots of activities and projects to keep them busy, engaged and by our sides, and we still ran out of ideas! Baking cookies was a sure-fire way to keep them close.

The first two hours were too good to be true, but then the accidents started flowin'. It was crucial that we spent our time on the tarp, wood floor or tile as much as possible! Hayden was accident-free until she realized that her siblings were getting to change undies when they got wet. So, she intentionally had three accidents in a row in a 20-minute period simply to get a new pair of panties. So, I took all of the panties, put them on the floor within her reach and told her that she can change as often as she wants and that she doesn't need to wet the ones she has on simply to change them. Thankfully, our little discussion ended that behavior.

Unless you've been through potty training before, you may not know that hand washing can be quite a pain. You've got one sink and six little hands that need to be washed (and sometimes 2-4 adult ones depending on the mess at hand)! You've got fighting over the step stool and sink, and then there's the issue of how much water and soap to use (ultimately there is no limit in the kids' minds - the more the better). And, of course, there's always a toilet paper usage issue along with where toys and dolls can and can't be sat or placed in the bathroom.

By the end of Day 1, Keith and I were exhausted. The kids were out-of-control regarding how much they used the bathroom simply to get a treat. Hayden would go potty...just a little...then go get a treat...then repeat, up to 20 times in a row to get M&Ms. We spent so much time running around and bending over that our bodies were aching all over. I was hoping to treat myself to a relaxing hour or two on the couch, but I instead spent my time shopping for small presents and more undies for the kids. That morning I intentionally chose to wear my Ninja Skills shirt because I knew my day would feel like I was up against three little Ninjas!

That next morning two of the three woke up dry! The kids were super excited to get their new character underwear, and we were all ready for what we hoped would be a successful day.

Our sweet Payson had the most accidents on Day 1, but he woke up dry on Day 2 and has rarely had an accident since. One child potty trained in one day... this is starting to sound really good, isn't it? Here we are playing games on PBS Kids.

We don't watch much TV around here but TV somehow works wonders for potty training. For some reason the kids never have an accident when watching TV. So, it's a good way to pass some time while having happy kids (and parents) and no accidents. We didn't use it too much, but we certainly used it strategically and when tension was high. For day 2 I appropriately sported my "YES! I Do Have My Hands Full" shirt.

The second day demanded even more creativity regarding ways to keep the kids entertained within our reach. Daddy brought in his most toddler-friendly tools for the kids to discover and play with. They loved it and really enjoyed measuring their arms, hands, feet, legs, etc.

We also kept busy with a variety of crafts such as gluing macaroni onto paper in shapes and letters, playing with Play-Doh, coloring and painting. The kids were loving the activities but were tiring of our constant reminders to "tell us when you need to use the potty." And, not surprisingly, we were tired of saying it!

The fort provided easy entertainment until Payson insisted on filling it with so many toys that there was no longer room for anyone, or anything, else.

I was hoping that Day 3 would seal the deal, but unfortunately it was actually the worst day for the girls. Hayden had an awful morning and Madison had an awful afternoon. It's hard to get a break with multiples. Keith spent the second half of the day hunched over with overwhelming back pain. I finally crashed on the couch close to 9:30 pm. I got a chuckle out of how the shirt that Grammy gave me was the perfect choice for Day 3: Super Mom - Super Wife - Super Tired.

I was SO thankful to have Keith's help for the first three days. He was really hands-on, as usual, and was so great with the kids that he was dearly missed starting with Day 4. This day was definitely the most difficult. At one point Madison threw such a huge fit, that she ended up stripping, peeing everywhere and then laying down to sleep in it. I felt awful but she wouldn't let me touch her, clean her or help soothe her so there was nothing I could do until she calmed down.

But the kids were thrilled to get their new nap mats for school and they were very excited to get to test them out while watching some TV. They are SO cute. Thanks Sarah!

We are now on Day 10 of the 3 Day Potty Training Method. So, clearly, other than with Payson, the method did not work as it "guaranteed" to do. But, we are certainly thrilled with the progress we have made:

- Payson fully potty trained in one day

- All three staying dry at night and for naps since Day 1

- Girls are pee-trained with 0-2 accidents a day each

- All three can go to potty by themselves, getting clothes down and back up followed by washing hands without help

But, no doubt, these 10 days have been some of the hardest of my life. It is physically and mentally exhausting. The most frustrating thing is the fact that the girls aren't getting the solid stuff where it needs to go. And, let me tell you, cleaning poop out of panties is NOT fun. Once or twice is to be expected but doing it for two girls for 10 days straight is not what I call potty training success. But, as mentioned above, they have made so much progress in other areas.

While I can't say the girls are potty trained yet, I also can't ignore everything they are getting right.

I hear from other moms that, for many kids, it just finally clicks. But, that it can take days, weeks or months for that to happen. So, I've bought myself a box of gloves as more proof that we are in this for the long haul. Misson: SUCCESS (x1), SUCCESS PENDING (x2)!

This and That

We have been working on a few small remodeling projects this month. The biggest change is that Payson now has is own room! And he is now sleeping in a toddler bed, which he loves and does so well with. It's amazing to be able to tell a child to do something (i.e. "stay in your crib") and have him do it! As for the girls, they are still in their crib tents but they do love all of the open space they now have in their room (almost as much as they love playing in Payson's new bed and room)!

Payson helping Daddy paint his new room.

We just loved the foam mats we used in the kids' playroom. They were perfect for cushioning falls, protecting the wood floor from dropped toys and for cleaning up spilled milk. But they began peeling and falling apart, so we flipped them over until it happened again on the other side leaving us with no choice but to say goodbye. (March 2010 photo)

We found a large rug that fits perfectly and really makes the room look more styled and grown-up. Although this is officially our "study" (and far from it!), somehow this new look makes me feel like Keith and I have gained a little bit of space back in a house in which toddlers reign!

We are quite the nesting ground for wildlife in this unnatural habitat we call home. You may remember the baby birds we had last year that our kids still talk about. Well this year we discovered a small rabbit hole in our backyard housing three teeny-tiny bunnies. The kids loved checking on their babies every few days and were thrilled when they finally came out to say "hello."

One bunny made its way to the patio allowing the kids to corner him to get a better view. The bunnies are gone now but Hayden holds her make-believe bunnies often and even takes them to bed with her.

With the help of Pops and Nunie, we took the kids to experience their very first circus! Thankfully they were old enough to watch and understand much of the show, outnumbered enough to have their individual needs met and hungry enough to be distracted by popcorn and other junk food during those times they lost interest.

Hayden danced to the live band as she stuffed her face with fistfuls of popcorn. She loved having her own space to move around in just as Payson and Madison loved having four laps to bounce back and forth between!

I make it a point to have one-on-one time with whichever child wakes up first from their nap. (Thankfully no one has caught on enough to start waking up early on purpose!) On this day Hayden and I made a batch of homemade granola bars. She loved it, and it was nice to have her help in the kitchen. The kids love to help me cook but it rarely happens due to the fact that six eager toddler hands usually equals an out-of-control,frustrating and fit-throwing cooking experience! (The kids throw the fits, not me. Well, not usually!)

Last week we went to a couple of special birthday parties including a four-year-old bash for the kids' adorably sweet second cousin, Brooklyn. Daddy stayed home with Hayden because she was sick with a cold but Madison and Payson had a blast playing with the water toys outside and decorating their own cupcakes.

And the temporary tattoos that Natasha helped put on the kids have been a lasting hit! At least this time they understood that the water washes away their tattoos. They were super upset last time when their Thomas tattoos began to disappear.

Last week we also celebrated the kids' great-grandmother Gam's birthday. They always love going to their house and playing in their huge yard, eating their fresh fruit and going on a golf cart ride!

Uncle Brandon reading to Payson at the party. This boy loves his books!

Ballerinas in Training

Every mother who once danced dreams of the day she will get to see her daughter(s) all dressed up as little ballerinas. I patiently waited until the time was right to introduce our girls to my former passion. A local highly-ranked dance studio, that is so close to home that it's nearly too good to be true, has been running week-long summer camps so last week my dream came true.

Madison was proud to show off both her new ballet attire and her baby doll.

Every once in a while Hayden stands still long enough for a picture. Not sure if she will choose to be a ballerina or to play sports but with all of her energy, it just might be all of the above!

The girls and two of their classmates, Abby and Riley, listening and following instructions (Yay!)

Sophia, Hayden and Madison patiently waiting their turn at practicing some new skills. The girls did really well in the class despite being, well, two-year-olds! Along with the excitement and following of directions came some disobedience and loss of interest, but overall I was very pleased with how well they did. No meltdowns, just lots of activity and fun!

Hayden LOVED the mirrors and seriously couldn't get enough of herself. Here she is checking out her hair...

...and practicing her releve.

Madison momentarily admired herself as well.

And since it was a Mom & Tot class, I attempted to get a picture alongside my very active and wiggly girls.

This is my favorite picture of the week. Here I have two adorable ballerinas, each laying on the floor as they marvel and squeal over a dead cricket.

Two-and-a-Half-Year-Olds

What does one do to survive a summer with three two-and-a-half-year-olds? Keep 'em busy!

Here's what we've been up to the second half of July...

Upon arriving home, after a long weekend with Pops and Nunie, Madison found a picture of them and stared at it for a good five minutes. This was followed by five more minutes of smiling and giggling as she admired the photo and likely cycled through her fond memories from the weekend.

Payson entertained himself by buckling the baby doll stroller around his waist.

We enjoyed storytime at the library with Aunt Negeen and cousins Avery and Addison.

The kids still love babies, especially Madison, so they were smitten with Cathy's baby, Kaitlyn, and Stacy's baby, Beau, at playgroup. Here's a photo of the moms and their real babies and the triplets mimicking with their baby dolls.

At bedtime one evening, I lifted a decorative pillow off the bed only to find a stack of Hot Wheels and a golf ball waiting for me. I had been wondering where his cars went!

Daddy and Payson went shopping at Home Depot, and Payson was thrilled to take his very own shopping cart with him. This is a new weekend activity that we now do to incorporate more fun one-on-one with the kids!

The kids attended their first 3rd birthday party and loved their juice boxes - always a birthday party treat!

We brought out the tricycles for the first time so the kids can start working on their cycling skills. Madison loved it and will be working on strengthening her little legs so she can push by herself.

With a little momentum, Hayden could pedal all by herself a few times.

Payson has taken up golf... with a rake. The poor boy needs some golf clubs!

Picnic at Grandma's!

Payson got a haircut. Although not his first cut, this was his first time in a barber shop and he did great!

We also did a craft that really outlined the kids' current personalities and interests. Each child looked through various toy and child magazines picking out things they liked and wanted me to cut out.

Next they glued and arranged their pictures onto their paper.

Madison was patient and meticulous as she worked independently, gluing each picture one at a time.

The kids each ended up with a general theme by default. Payson's revolved around cars, trucks and airplanes.

Madison's paper was full of babies, both real and for play. She just can't get enough of babies and the color purple!

Hayden's theme turned out to be animals. She struggled a bit with her project due to the sour mood she was in. After we cut out her pictures she spent some alone time in the other room trying to calm down. When she returned she happily proceeded to glue her pictures onto the paper. But something got her upset again when we took a photo of her final piece. By the looks of it, you would have thought that I ripped off her favorite photo or something!