Yes and No

The title of this post as double meaning.

Yes, my hands are full and no, we didn't plan to purposely have triplets. BUT, we wouldn't change it for the world! I don't mind the many questions we get when we're out and about, as I would be curious too if I were in their shoes.

But, I will say that the transition from infancy to toddlerhood is a challenging one. Biting, pushing and tantrums are all putting our new discipline techniques to the test. And although the babies aren't speaking the words "yes" and "no" much yet, they are certainly responding with "yes" and "no" on a very regular basis.

My sister-in-law and I were talking about how my neice, who is only 8 months older than the babies, sleeps in every once in a while. I was amazed, as our babies never sleep in. Keith and I did the math to find out how likely it is that our babies would all sleep in, therefore allowing us to sleep in as well. Assuming that each baby sleeps in about once every 10 days, we figured that our babies will all sleep in on the same day one in every 10,000 or so days. So one time in the next three years we should have the opportunity to sleep in as a family!

The babies are 15 months old today! Payson has been fully walking this last week and is so proud of himself, and so are we! Play the video to see him on the move.


Grammy and GP visited this weekend and GP and Madison enjoyed some quality reading time.

Sweet little Hayden only enters the ball pit from the lowest step through the attached mesh basket, and she somehow manages to get stuck with her feet and head downwards. This happens every few days though we have yet to see exactly how it happens.

The babies love playing outside, but it's quite difficult keeping bark, flowers and leaves out of the mouths of mobile babies.

Payson and Madison are all smiles playing on their wagon.

Hayden, with hair blowing in the breeze, kept picking and trying to eat flowers.

Too Much Fun

Okay, so there's no such thing as too much fun in this house but this week was an exciting one for us.

Exciting event #1: Madison is officially a walker - keep those hands up! Play video to see her in action.


Exciting event #2: Payson gets his first haircut!
Here is Payson's curly mullet, I mean hair. It still doesn't grow on the sides making a long do undoable for now.

Payson smiling for the camera unaware of the trauma he is about to endure.

With the first snip Payson started to cry. We soon moved onto clippers to complete the hairdo. And, yes, daddy cut his hair! Keith cuts his own hair so he knew exactly what to do. A man of many talents!
Check out that duck tail we cut off from the back! Payson's first and last time to wear a ponytail!
Here's the final result. Lookin' sharp buddy!
















Exciting event #3: Overnight stay at Pops & Nunie's!
The babies went to Pops & Nunie's for a night and had a blast. Hayden loves their dogs and walks around talking to one of them constantly. They learned to open the push doors to the kitchen so in lieu of a baby gate, the grandparents set up an ottoman to block the doorway. That didn't work so they added a chair behind it and eventually a second and third chair before finally having a load heavy enough that the babies couldn't push through! When we picked them up the next day we all enjoyed the babies' first pizza party and the babies started a lifelong love for pizza.
(As always, click on photo to enlarge.)










While we were baby-free, we enjoyed time at the bookstore, eating out for brunch, going to church, and eating, socializing and gambling the night away (no, we didn't win anything) at our local mothers of multiples clubs' silent auction. Once again, I have proof here with our friends Casey and Robbie who have quads that are just 4 weeks younger than the triplets.














Exciting event #4: Playtime with cousins
We went to my brother's for some playtime and dinner and discovered that Payson knows how to drive his cousin's Barbie 4-wheeler. With a press of a button he was off and Madison quickly jumped behind to go along for the ride, or walk, rather. She couldn't get enough. Next time we will teach him how to steer too! Here they are in action (note how seriously Payson takes his Barbie 4-wheeling):


After dinner was over Hayden secretly discovered her cousin's cupcake and began stuffing her face as fast as possible; trying to finish the cupcake before we discovered her.










Exciting event #5: Grandma visits!
Okay, so this is not a unique event (Grandma visits every week), but this picture was too sweet to pass up. The babies love when grandma's here and they always have lots of smiles for her, and they like to put on a show for extra attention from her too... as if they need to!

First Words

Back in early January the babies said their first words: "book" for Hayden and "ball" for Payson and Madison. Though they are all starting to repeat some words here and there, Hayden makes the most complex sounds and has even repeated words such as "football" (on Super Bowl Sunday) and "blueberry." Overachiever! This all makes sense to me as the development specialist we saw in January for our routine check-up said that babies typically start talking a few months after they start walking. This weekend Keith and I were so tickled when Hayden surprised us with saying "hi" when I walked into the room as if she'd been saying it all her life.

Old news now, but the development appointment went great, by the way (despite Hayden having to be stripped down to her diaper outside the car in cold weather with a wind chill of 15 degrees due to her random throw up in the car), and all babies are developing right on schedule. The other big development is that the babies are signing a lot more words these days such as milk, more, eat, book, bath, play, etc. and can point out various parts on their bodies, and ours, such as nose, ear, hair, belly, head, etc. They "help" put on clothes and socks, point at things, help clean up, stack toys, try to help buckle themselves into their high chairs and car seats and do a plethora of things simply to make us laugh, including naughty things that which we are "supposed" to respond with a serious expression and tone.

Payson is in this adorable sorting and grouping stage. If he finds more than two things that are alike he will move them, one by one, from one place to another. For example, small blocks go from on top of the big block to the window sill, down to the floor and back up to the window sill. Plastic rocks go from the dump truck to on top of the piano keys and back down to the piano bench. And, of course, (as pictured) socks go from the window seat to inside the high chair and back to the window seat, well why wouldn't they? All one by one, and the last one never actually gets set down, just tapped and then he redirects it to his new location to start the process all over again. So methodical and so adorably cute.

Payson is going to be really unhappy with me one day for this one but it's just too cute!

More proof that Keith and I do get out every once in a while, this time to our neighborhood Mardi Gras party at the golf club.

The Way We Roll

The babies outgrew their infant carriers, and therefore also our Triple Decker snap and go stroller, months ago so we were in need of another stroller. We love our massive red jogging stroller but it is too wide for single doors ruling it out as our primary stroller. Once again, being a part of the local multiples group proved to be helpful as I found a used Runabout in very good condition. When kept in good condition, these triplet strollers have good resale values, making it more reasonable to have multiple strollers at once. I scrubbed the new stroller down just in time for it to dry before our doctors appointment the following day.

Grandma also bought the babies a wonderful Choo Choo Wagon for their birthday! I will spare you the details but we finally received the wagon and assembled it in time for the babies to have their first stroll this morning. Not to our surprise, Hayden was a bit uncertain at first, Payson had the ride of his life and Madison chilled back and relaxed. As we continued around the block, Madison sunk lower and lower and lower and even dozed off a time or two.

Early this month I got sick with that awful stomach bug going around (which I call "nature's detox"), and 10 days later the babies were sick within 30 minutes of each other. The next 8 hours were long and tough but thankfully Keith got home early from work so we could tag team. Lots of consoling, sheet changing, sink baths and toasting bread would follow and keep us busy through the weekend. If you've never seen three one-year-olds dry heaving over and over, I can tell you that it is truly a sad sight.

The babies are always in each other's spaces and are constantly getting stuck, sat on, or crammed here and there (sounds like when they were in the womb!). Here you can see how two got trapped between the piano and changing table as a result.

We introduced a plate to Madison (I've decided to tackle the training one baby at a time) and she is doing great with it!

Payson proudly helping load the dishwasher.

Hayden with Kitty-cat showing off her six big teeth!

Hanging out on Valetine's Day

And last, but not least, here is Hayden picking up a sock with hands that are already full. And, no, this is not the first time we've seen her do this as she went though a period of about a month where she would hold a handful of snacks in both hands and pick up more off the table using only her mouth. Silly girl!

Payson Climbs ______

You fill in the blank because Payson is climbing just about everything these days. I feel like I should rename the blog "Payson's Climbing Adventures" but I am hoping that he starts to stay grounded a little more (yeah, right!).

Payson is now regularly climbing the activity table when we leave the room, even if only for only a minute. He also fearlessly tries to do it with us right there with him and apparently isn't yet scared of us firmly correcting him and taking the table out of the room for the rest of the day.





Madison is learning from Payson quickly. Although he is an inch+ taller than her, she is still managing to join him on the activity table for some team fun (hey, you only get scolded half as much if two are involved). He must be giving her a boost. She is also getting stuck on top of toys that she's now climbing and most recently fell, and got stuck, head first in the ball pit basket trying to climb on it.

Madison is also his partner in crime, whether she realizes it or not. She pushed their toy bike over toward the upstairs gate, and Payson happily climbed on top of it trying to figure out a way to get on the other side of the gate. We are watching this behavior very carefully because if it happens again then we need to remove these types of toys from the room if we are going to step away.

Speaking of pushing, this weekend Payson had a blast pushing Madison around on their toy bike. And I love it, not only because it's cute to watch them giggle together, but I know that it is a great way for him to burn some energy. Well, a few days later, Madison was kind enough to return the favor when Payson was sitting on his Tonka truck.

Hanging out in "Animal Alley" just before bathtime

Madison's new silly pose

Payson chillin' on the couch with daddy like a big boy

Hayden getting some love from daddy

Story Time

As requested by the grandparents, here is a video of Hayden walking, and not without Kitty-Cat in hand, of course.

Okay, so a few funny stories:

Payson the Puff-stealer

Let me set the stage: snack time, standing at the activity table, Payson wants more Puffs but they are on the other side of a grumpy Madison. He tries to get around her but she pushes him off and screams as loudly as possible. Payson laughs and smiles but Madison keeps screaming hysterically so Payson's expression turns to one of "What's up with her?" Tired of waiting to get more Puffs, he reaches into her mouth mid-scream, pulls out a Puff and eats it himself. That's my boy. Quite the problem solver like his daddy.

Ball Pit Clean-up

So Payson and Madison like to throw balls out of the ball pit repeatedly, and since they don't yet know the concept of cleaning up, mommy and daddy get to pick up all the balls and put them back in. Well, the other day Payson was inside the pit doing his usual duty of throwing all the balls out, but this time Madison was on the outside picking up all the balls and throwing them back in. And voila! Clean-up crew assembled.

Ball Pit Tumble

Payson is, as you know, climbing all over everything. This now includes the activity table though, thankfully, he only does it occasionally. He is the only one who will get in and out of the ball pit on his own. The top bar hits him just above his belly so to get in or out he simply raises his arms up and out, leans forward, and face-plants either into the balls our out on the carpet. No cry or fuss, just his way of getting from one side to the other. The funny thing is that he will do this 3 or 4 times in a row - in and out, in and out. Today he even pushed a toy next to the ball pit so he could use it to get a few inches higher to help him fall in.

Pop Goes the Ball

One day Keith let Payson stick a ball in his mouth and Keith spat it back out at him. Now it's a fun game that Payson likes to play whenever possible. He often tries to get me to do it but, not only do I not want to, but they won't fit in my small mouth anyway. But he sure gets a kick out of it with daddy. The video is shaky because Hayden was trying her very best to get a piece of the camera.

Payson's new game is to throw balls onto the stairs and, hopefully, watch them pick up speed as they roll down each step and onto the hardwood floor with a big thud. I like to tease him when a ball gets stuck on a stair and doesn't roll like he wants it to.

Madison climbed into the toy basket and made her cute fish face, a very frequent expression these days

Payson's new sleeping position includes cocking back his head as far as possible

Happy 2009!

Happy 2009! We have had a lot of exciting things going on and have a lot of updates.

I guess the biggest news is that Hayden is walking! She's been standing alone for almost 3 months and taking steps for a month but she is now officially a walker.

After Christmas we had a 100% success rate in switching the babies to whole milk and a 66.3% success rate with switching to straw sippies. Hayden and Payson made the transition surprisingly well, so much so that we did it in two days rather than the planned seven. But Madison refused to drink milk from her sippy, although she will drink water from it, so after half a week of trying we let her have a bottle again. At first it felt like we were regressing but we realized that she just needs a little longer and that her getting milk is more important that the avenue in which she gets it. After all, they are only 12.5 months old and 10.5 months past their due date so there is no rush. She is already drinking milk from the sippy some by her own choice, especially after seeing the other two do it, so I don't think it will be long before she is ready too.

Unfortunately the babies, and now me too, are sick again for the third time since mid-November. I guess they picked something up during all of the Christmas and birthday fun. We're hanging in there though and thankfully the babies are still sleeping well at night and are not as needy or miserable as they were the two illnesses prior. But they still have very snotty noses and look pitiful.

These days are full of adventure and there is never a dull moment. Here are just a few of the things that happened in the Melker household this week:

Payson climbed the rocking chair after I briefly left the "baby-proofed" gameroom to put away the babies' milk. He had not only made it onto the seat but he was scaling the back and playing with the window blinds just as I arrived with the girls standing, and seemingly cheering him on, below. Here is a picture taken later to show how high he got. We obviously removed the chair from the room and a few days later he learned how to climb on the futon. Thankfully they are beginning to understand gravity and that they can't get off high places by going head first. We're working on teaching them to back down from things and Payson is doing it by himself now.

Likewise, the ball pit continues to be full of fun but we had to temporarily remove the steps and slide because the babies would venture up to the top and only knew the hard way down.

The babies like to feed me and Keith from time to time and I caught Payson feeding Madison a Puff at snack time. Too cute.

Later at bathtime the girls were giggling and leaning towards each other for multiple kisses. The babies make each other laugh and giggle often and can't get enough of the game chase with each other or mom and dad. Payson especially loves to be chased while Madison likes to be the one chasing.

The girls have been shaking their heads "no" for a while but Madison now seems to really understand what it means, especially when she responds to our asking her to sit down in the bath. Her over-exaggerated head shake makes it hard to discipline because we're trying not to laugh at the same time.

Being RSV season, we can't go to the malls, but the babies did get to meet Santa at Christmas-time just a few days after he delivered presents. Daddy made an appearance as Santa and even suited up in front of them in case the big man scared them. I guess it worked because they were not frightened at all and wanted every piece of him, including his beard, of course.

Lastly, we were so lucky to have Pops and Nunie take the babies and their two cousins overnight for New Years. The babies had so much fun despite their oncoming illness and we got to enjoy a nice dinner out with Grant and Negeen followed by a movie by ourselves. Rather than going to a big party we just wanted to do something "normal" for a change. Nevermind that I nodded off the entire first hour!