12/26/2013 - 1 YEAR OLD!!!!

We celebrated the Hogglet's 1st birthday today.  It was a day of high emotions for me as we got ready to celebrate with friends and family, and while trying not to focus on the intensity of the memories of what was just a short 365 days ago.  Perhaps the scariest day of my life, has brought an immense amount of joy and laughter to my every day existence.  These three tiny people have gone through so much, and what a pleasure it was to celebrate how far they have come, and the first of many, many birthdays.

I'm going to to work for the next week on a 3-part series for each of them, but in the meantime, a few general updates.

We happily have shared the last week with Grandma and Grandpa McGuire as they came to visit for their 1st (and were luckily here for Christmas too!).  Grandma goes back and forth between Mac and Catherine as who has changed the most and Grandpa has been taking turns playing on the floor and helping with the day to day shuffle.

The babies have been doing more and more self feeding, and have quite the variety of diet.  We are still keeping them on a very low amount of dairy due to Paisley and Catherine's sensitivities. so are trying to be creative about adding in proteins.  So far we've got:  Scrambled Egg Yolks, Black Beans, Quinoa pasta with Meat Sauce, Peas, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Bananas, and the list continues to expand.  They've also really loved Coconut milk yogurt, although they are tolerating being fed less and less.

And they're all moving along. With Paisley cruising, Catherine pulling up, and Mac figuring out how to transition from sitting to his belly and beginning to scoot around.

Just a few pics, and I'll try to get on those individuals soon :)

Mac tolerating his Santa suit. 

And tolerating it a lil less...

 

And very proud of taking off his beard..

Picture taking has gotten more and more difficult as they turn more into their own lil people and not so able to be posed....  But we are still able to capture a few where they are all looking.  Including this one, for the Santa photographer.  Although, next year, we may need a Santa with a couch, this went remarkably well.

With the small exception that all 3 of them seem to think that the girls shoes are actually chew toys.  Therefore, they didn't make it into the photo.

So, enough for tonight... It's been a big day, and this momma is tired.

As a friend and I were discussing today, it seems like it was just a minute ago and yet so long at the same time.   Happy Birthday lil Hogglets, your momma loves you.

Mac, 1 year old

Paisley, 1 year old

Catherine, 1 year old

12/2/2013 - 11 months old (and seriously late due to the holidays!)

Can you believe it???  11 months!  We certainly can't.  Life chugs along as we get closer to their 1 year birthday... 

At a recent doc appt for their Synagis (to support immune system during winter and cold season) they weighed in:

11/22/13
Mac - 17 lbs, 8 oz
Paisley - 14 lbs, .5 pz
Catherine - 14 lbs

We'll be back at the Doc in early January for their 1 year check up!  We've also slowly started on immunizations.  They've handled them easily (as opposed to the Synagis, which they report "stings")  We've had one dose of the Hib and one dose of Pneumococcal thus far.  I'm grateful that we've found a pediatrician that counsels me and helps me select and prioritize while understanding that we're going to take it slow and do just one at a time...  He's been great :)  And the babies smile every time we see Dr. B.

We had 2 overnights with grandpa as he drove to a conference and dropped grandma off for a 10 day visit.  She worked her magic and put wiggly to sleep one afternoon for her nap!

It's been another milestone month, as we took our first road trip, crossed our first state line, and slept away from home for the first time (with the exception of the hospital).  My dad, mom and I drove up to Nashville - dad in his car, mom and I in ours, for Thanksgiving.  Our loving hosts, Uncle Jim and Aunt Paula, helped us set up play areas and carry the "baby train" up and down stairs and all around the house.  We survived the drive by stopping in Chattanooga at the Discovery Museum and having our lunch and playtime between naps.  They have an infant play area that is probably 10x20 feet long and most of the time we had it to ourselves!   The trip made me VERY aware of how I've set up our lives at home to have routine and expectations, and it was tough to get used to a new environment for all of us!  Luckily, we had Super Grandpa on hand who spent countless hours helping me play, feed, and even woke up at 5:30 so I could go back to sleep - Oh?  Did I mention we also crossed into the central time zone?  I did the drive home solo, and without a hiccup... (but with a coke or two!) 

Catherine pulling up for the first time!

Mac is a super sitter these days!  I barely have to put anything behind him as he sits so upright and plays.  He's just a happy lil boy and is quick to clap his hands if you say "YAAAYYY MAC!"  It's adorable, if I do say so myself.   He continues to roll, sit and pivot in a circle.  And during therapy, can sustain being up on all 4s...  But, no movement yet!  He is following a very typical developmental pattern, so I'm not worried, he'll do it in his own time.   He is adorably vocal with coos and grunts.
Thanksgiving morning brought him his 3rd tooth, upper right.

Paisley is making waves on gross motor skills.  She is not only pulling to stand, but starting on the 1st started letting go to try it out.  We're in trouble!  She LOVES to be held and carried around, and if she had her choice, I think she'd be on a hip most of the time.  She chirps, squeaks, and hoots.  Her whole face scrunches up when she's happy and she's starting to get some curls over her ears to match her impish personality.  

Catherine is catching up with Paisley, she pulled to stand for the first time at the Adventure museum on the way home, and at Jim and Paula's discovered the magic of starting to climb up.  A whole new world.  She crawls all over the floor, and gets up and rocks on all four often.  She also got a new tooth on Thanksgiving, the lower left, her 2nd.

Because the bouncers have gotten a little dangerous (2 climbing girls), we've started using their car seats for mid day bottles.  This works well except for paisley getting a little nosy and wanting to sit up while eating so she doesn't miss anything,

The girls have the funniest interaction, sometimes they are stealing a toy back and forth, and sometimes they are scooting across the floor together. If placed face to face on their bellies, they both smile a greeting.  

All three of them love touching each other's heads, and hair and sometimes eating their feet.  Catherine has a special love for messing with Mac's ears... which he continues to hate.  Their toy play develops more and more intention, as they are trying to put balls into their toys, and rings on towers.  They all love Peek-a-boo under the sheet, and Mac enjoys rolling a ball back and forth. Tonight at dinner, paisley kept reaching for Catherine and then Catherine nibbled on her fingers, which paisley found hilarious!

It's a little difficult to get the dishes done these days, since the girls want to climb in the dishwasher... So we've had an exersaucer wall "the circles of neglect" to try and keep them semi-contained.

They are still spending 3 afternoons with Cristiana, and Catherine continues to have weekly PT, with Mac occasionally.  Wednesday will be our last play date with our Babies Can't Wait therapist, Karen, and we say a bittersweet goodbye.  They are doing so well they no longer "need" her, but we will miss having another playful face!


Next month- Christmas and birthday photos!!! 

10/29/2013 - 10 months old (and 3 days late)

The Hogglets turned 10 months old on the 26th, and life continues to be enjoyable and BUSY every day.

As of Oct 10th, the stats are the following:
Mac 16.25 lbs, 29.13"
Paisley 13.56 lbs, 26.18"
Catherine 13.2lbs, 27.28"

Mac continues to be the big chill guy.  He is working on perfecting his roll and is the best sitter when positioned.  He lights up with a smile whenever you engage with him, even when he is in the midst of whimpering or a teething :)   And he's been teething!  He broke his first tooth last Sunday the 20th, and the second popped through a few days later.  He continues to enjoy eating his solids and his bottle, but is the most sensitive to any textures of solids.  He is not interested in eating the puffs, but shows a healthy interest in mouthing toys.  In the midst of teething, he is the happiest to take a little medicine, and gets all excited when he sees the bottle and syringe (very unlike his sisters!).
Chewing, chewing, chewing...

Look closely, you can see my tooth!

I'm sure he'll hate me for this one day... but at least he's all covered up :)










Paisley is our quickest mover.  She has a commando crawl down and occasionally gets up on all 4's.  She can pull to stand, and really enjoys climbing into the bouncer and over pillows, myself, and Darren.  She grabs a hold of whatever is closest to help her pull....  this includes Darren's leg hairs, Mac, and Catherine.  Not sure when the art of going around happens, but Mac will certainly appreciate it when she stops going over him (he has been seen to take both hands and shove her off).  She can get herself into a propped sitting position, but hasn't let go yet. She can pull to stand, but hasn't quite figured out how to get back down, making her needing to be watched at all times. She LOVES to eat puffs, and is getting better every day at getting them into her mouth.  She tries to EAT everything... especially leaves, grass, shoelaces, and cell phones.  Tonight she spent about 10 minutes, "shouting" to get my attention, and then Darren's, and then mine and then Darren's... and wouldn't stop until the appropriate parent said hello... She's game for anything, and will go to anyone.  She loves to be held and carried.  And with her new mobility, will crawl across the room, and grab at your legs until you pick her up.

She's been moved into our room for a little while as we work on her sleep.  She is the only one not sleeping through the night, and doesn't seem to be using the bottle for hunger anymore, but more of a habit.  We're giving it a week to try and get her sleeping longer.  So Darren and I are alternating being zombies during the day....  She's quick with a smile, and loves to cuddle in.  In the midst of exhaustion, we've both contemplated letting her sleep on our chest all night if we thought she's sleep through :)  Her hair is growing in whirls... and most of the time, features a fluffy mohawk right down the middle.

Smiling my tooth grin!

Look at me standing!

 

And Climbing!!!

Catherine is our little sweetie.  She gets so excited to see us, and talk to everyone on the iPad.  But remains the quietest most of the time.  She's our best sleeper, and bottle eater!   She continues to suffer from reflux at times, and so is a bit stiffer, but also has learned how to fuss a little to get picked up.  She has beautiful long fingers and is the most successful at her fine motor play.   She's recently started banging objects together (see pics).  Her long fingers reach out for a puff in a quick second.  She still has a harder time than Paisley with textured foods, but easier than Macs.  After a taste of mommy's pickle today, she practically shoved Paisley aside, to grab a hold of it and get some more.

She started commando crawling last Monday, and has gotten faster and faster as the week has gone by.  The fastest is to get to the iPad to Facetime with the family.  She's quick with a smile, and deep laugh with her most ticklish spots being around her clavicle and the top of her rib cage.  She is long and lanky, and is barely fitting into the PJs that are dangling off of Paisley's legs...  She is fair and pale, with the most inquisitive eyes.  She currently has the most hair, but due to it's blondness it is hard to see!

Banging two objects together!

 

All propped up!

The three of them stay very busy!  Home with mommy on Monday, Tues and Wednesday mornings (which includes their PT appt and their play therapist).  Then our babysitter Cristiana takes over in the afternoon as I go to work.  Thursday is music class and Friday we generally have a play date or just enjoy our mommy day!  Darren is traveling most weeks, but we have enjoyed having him home with us this week!  We LOVED having Aunt Ellen and Baby Gabe visit us for a few days and take advantage of the last days of both of our maternity leaves (or at least what was supposed to be).

We will end this with a sneak peak of their Halloween costume....   not too creative, but funny none the less.   I will spare you the photo of me in the Big Bad Wolf hat...

Take care! Off to bed... it's my turn for the zombie land....

9 months old! (and 6 days late...)

9 months!  Seems like a huge milestone!  And, that's what we've been doing around here... knocking out milestones.

We head back to the pediatrician for their checkup on Oct 10th, and will have an update on weights and heights - this I know... Mac is big :)

September 11th, a day with so many memories, including our first tooth.  Paisley, of course, our littlest, is keeping us on our toes...  She's up to two teeth, while we are still waiting for Mac and Catherine's to make their way.

Mobility is on it's way here, and slowly the child proofing as well.  Paisley hasn't quite gotten an "up on all fours" crawl down, but she's scooting like an inch worm all over the place.   Found her under the dining room table this morning.   Catherine has nailed down the roll.  Between that and pivoting she's getting around, although sometimes reverses herself under beds or couches....  Mac is generally content where he is, he's got the ability to do a little scooting, and a little rolling, but he is definitely the most chill of the three.

We're knocking back some baby food these days, and so far everything has gone pretty well...  fan favorite is peaches.   We line em up, go down the row, and enjoy a tasty sippee cup of water after.  Okay, so I might be holding the sippy cups up most of the time, but they're trying!  Just when I had gotten the amount of time feeding down to a manageable level, we added 3 more feedings a day!!!

Catherine had a harder time acclimating to solids...  She just wasn't quite ready while the others were open mouthed and chowing down.  After 2 weeks of just putting it on the tray and letting her finger paint and suck her fingers, she was raring to go.... and now is a better eater than Paisley most of the time!





Other firsts:  our first illness....   We had a lovely round of hand, foot, and mouth, which started with a trip the Children's Hospital ER because Mac's soft spot kind of poofed up- they used the word "bulging".   Several rounds of tests later, we got to bring him home, and found out the next day that it was coming....  The Doc's response to "should I quarantine him?"  A slow smile and "they already have it"... and boy, did they....  Mac got it, then Paisley, then Catherine.  Luckily with about a 24 hour window between them, so when Mac was feeling better and not being held all day....  Paisley was ready, and Catherine never got quite as needy as the other two... true to her personality.

They timed it quite well, as Darren's mom - Nana Hogg - was set to fly out the day we went to the hospital.  So, with the help of good friends, she got rerouted and stayed for an extra week.  The help was amazing.  We tag teamed as we walked babies, fed babies, and put babies in headlocks for tylenol.  And most mornings, I got to turn them over, and head back to bed.  Luckily Darren was home for the night that included sleeping breaks of no longer that 45 minutes between some infant crying.  By the time, she was headed home, everyone was on the mend!

We also got their eyes checked and all were claimed "developing normally"....  the girls are on the cusp of being at a low risk for some cross eyed weakness (which would remediate through glasses).  We have to keep an eye on it and go back in a year.

While Nana was here, I got out an ran with two of them!  Thanks to Tracey for the great stroller....  It's been more than a year since I had some serious running, and it felt great...  Now, to get that into our ritual when there is no one around to help out.

Paisley's favorite toys:  Labels, Strings, Mommy's water bottle, anything electronic
Catherine's:  Things that crinkle, and make sounds when she uses that little pointer finger
Mac's:  Anything he can chew- such as this teether from Kristen

The girls have really started to check each other out... gently reaching for and touching each other's faces, and heads.   Sometimes, this ends up with one of them chewing on the other... but you know, it's the little things...

September brought Jazz nights to the neighborhood, and the babies survived til around bedtime... enjoying some picnic weather on the lawn.  We also belatedly celebrated my 35th birthday - my what a different year this has been!  And October 1, brought our 3rd wedding anniversary, needless to say, a lot has changed! We've set up an outdoor play area on the deck, with a pack n play, which is affectionately termed "baby jail"... this one is Paisley trying to eat her way out...

The other big news, is that I've hired a sitter and started back to work.  I won't be returning full time, instead aiming for 3 afternoons a week.  It's been a looong week - adjusting to keeping both lives balanced.  I've also decided to work towards completing my certification for the DIR./Floortime training so I am in an on-line class 2 nights a week.  There seems to be a constant stream of babysitters, therapists, and friends coming in and out....   "It takes a village....."

Okay, off to sleep before they start to wake.   We did some home pics at 9 months, considering I can't get my act together to get us to the photographer, I think they turned out okay!

 

8/27/13- 8 months old! (And only one day late writing)

Another busy month as summer comes to a close.  I've been very grateful to all our family this month as they came and covered while I got to go away!  Thanks to Darren for always covering the nights (and days too!) and Grandma and Grandpa McGuire for staying while I ventured to California for a bachelorette/girls weekend and Nana Hogg for letting me head to Texas to be there for the newest nephew!

Back home again now, and slowly readjusting to not sleeping through the night again.  It was a great few days away and especially needed as I got to feel like myself again.  It's a strange change from no kids to 3, and the amount of independence lost is something I didn't really consider in advance.  I'm happy to give it away, but it's nice to be reminded sometimes that I'm not just the Hogglets mom, but my old self too :)

The Hogglets, meanwhile, have been busy as well!

They went to the doctor on August 23rd (my 35th birthday) with their daddy and nana Hogg.  

Mac: 

Made it onto the growth chart for all of his measurements!  (This means he is compared to peers of his age, not his adjusted age)

Weight: 15.32 pounds (started at 2.5 and came home at 5.9) 2.69 %

Length: 27.64 inches; (44.58%)

Head circum: 17.32, (34.7%)

Paisley:

Weight: 12.48 (birth 1, 13oz & home at 5.95) .24%

Length: 25 inches (1.46%)

Head: 16.73 (26.64%)

Catherine:

Weight:  12.08 (.1%) born at 2, 1.5 oz home at 6.24

Length: 26.18 (18.14%)

Head: 16.73 (26.64%)

The biggest news from the doctor is that we have started on solids!  The babies have been enjoying green beans for the last 2 days.  Paisley is voracious, Mac is hesitant, and Catherine is confused... 

First bites:

Paisley

Mac

Catherine 

The aftermath:

Mac playing on the floor 

Always smiling 

Catherine  getting herself into trouble 

And sitting in new high hair

Paisleys new found skill of eating her toes 

Hanging with her big brother Zachary 

And pretending to walk with dad 

Everyone these days is rolling over, and around...  And the girls are pretty good about finding a way to wiggle to their toys.

They are certainly more independent as they roll and grab and aren't totally reliant upon the adults to entertain them. No one has started sitting just yet, but they are doing better with being propped up.  They all LOVE it when we sing itsy bitsy spider...

 A few photos of the 3 in the last month

Play time on the floor:

Our new stroller (given to us by our neighbors with 6 year old triplets)

Sitting in the bumbos 

Catherine

Mac 

Have a great month!