Triplets - Three Months Old

The boys are three months old! THREE MONTHS! (We've survived!!!)

 

One of my most recent favorite pictures of the boys.

(Tucker, Carter, & Cooper)

 

 

This past month has been pretty exciting as they all started smiling, cooing, making great eye contact and interacting with us when they are awake. Their little personalities are really starting to develop.

 

Cooper has become more of the 'whiner' of the group - but the best sleeper. I still call him our "little guy" but he's about the same size as his brothers now. Tucker remains the 'angel' baby - he cries the least and is most content most of the time - therefore he is probably held the least :-( I always feel kind of bad for him because of that. Carter is our emotional guy - either really happy or really sad/angry. It seems like the twins cry together sometimes, or feed off of each other...their crying doesn't seem to affect Tucker.

 

They were all looking at the same thing...just not the camera.

 

I tried to move to get them to look at me, and they all turned their eyes to something else. Already avoiding the Mama-razzi.

Carter was the first to roll belly to back.

Tucker was the first to laugh. We think he is a bit ticklish under this chin and around his neck. His laugh is the BEST.

 

Carter will stick his tongue out at you if you do it first.

 

Cooper will almost always laugh at and attempt to blow raspberries if you do it.

Tucker smiles during his feedings. Sometimes I have to divert eye contact and not give him any attention so he will stay on task and just eat. He's been a lazy eater lately...and we have really had to work to make sure he eats. Maybe he just enjoys the attention during the feedings...who knows.

Cooper sucks on his hand/fingers the loudest. Both Cooper and Carter like sucking on their hands. This picture of Cooper and Carter both sucking on their hand cracks me up. I always think, they look like twins - oh yeah, they are! lol!

Carter and Cooper both rolled over (belly to back) on 4/9/2014. Tucker still seems to have no interest in rolling, although he can lift his head and chest fairly well.

 

Tucker has discovered his hand. He stares at it a lot now.

 

They are all still in 3 month clothing, although, they will soon be in the next size. Same with diapers...still in size 1, but I think we'll be in 2s soon!

 

Just this week I decided to go cold turkey and get rid of the Rock N Plays for Carter and Tucker. They were doing almost all their sleeping in those, and I knew I should be transitioning them soon. So far night sleeping in the cribs in going well...naps on the other hand...ugh.

 

Their weights are a rough estimate - they are all around 14-15 lbs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are still eating every 4 hours (5-6 oz.) during the day. They have their last bottle around 8:45pm, and then can make it until 3:30/4am or so. Usually one wakes around 2 am and needs to be consoled. They have even made it to 5am a few times!

 

I am still pumping...I have a love/hate relationship with pumping right now. I love supplying them with breast milk and saving money. I hate the time it takes and my constant worry about the supply. My supply has dipped a bit with their longer nighttime sleeping...I'm trying to build it back up, but we shall see how things go.

 

We had our first trip to the mall. Lotsa looks and a few questions...it was during the day on a week day so the mall wasn't overly crowded. I don't think I could handle a weekend crowd. They do not like their car seats UNLESS they are moving. They fuss until the car or stroller is moving...but are pretty good once they are on the move!

 

Madison continues to be the most patient and loving big sister. She loves to hold them and will still fetch diapers for me or take their empty bottles to the sink. She still requests for them to go everywhere with her (I have to tell her no a lot!) Her brothers love her and enjoy watching her and talking to her. If they are fussing she can almost always go and talk to one and he will quite for a few moments for her.

 

We are still having (and appreciating) help from about 5-9 in the evenings. I can handle them on my own still during the day. I'm slowly moving their last feeding up earlier as they sleep longer since they are pretty fussy in the evenings. Their 'witching hour' is crazy sometimes...but we are surviving, and I always tell myself - this too shall pass. :)

 

Happy Three Months to the Smyser Trio!

(This picture cracks me up!)

 

 

We've Survived The First Two Weeks!

(A mish-mash of information. I've been working on this post here and there for the last few days. I'll post more about their birth story later. Just wanted to get this recorded while I can!)

We brought home Tucker and Carter on Sunday the 26th. It was bitter sweet leaving our peanut, Cooper, behind.

Our family was truly complete once Cooper joined us at home on Wednesday the 29th.
Cooper failed his car seat test the second time, so he's in a special car seat that allows him to lay flat. I'll post more about Cooper in my birth story post.

The most challenging part of our days in the beginning was/is feeding time. We are keeping them all on the same schedule. So feeding, burping, and diapering the three babies every 3 hours is what drives the rest of our schedule for the day.

Josh was able to take the week off from work after they were born, but he had to return to work on Monday the third. I got brave on Sunday, and made myself be home with the triplets and M during a feeding time to figure out and learn how to feed all three on my own. It really wasn't as bad as I expected. There is usually one that is still sleeping, so it made it somewhat smoother to be able to feed and burp two of them. Then, wake the third and feed him before changing diapers on all of them.

I am also breastfeeding and pumping as regularly as I can. We are supplementing with formula for now. I feel I am producing enough milk for two newborns...but I need to work on building my supply. In my dream world, I'd love to be able to provide breast milk for all three. So...we shall see. Pumping takes time...and time is limited now that I'm caring for 4 children! :)

I am exhausted most of the day...but it's a GOOD exhaustion. My exhaustion is something that is quickly forgotten whenever I'm caring for or loving on my sweet boys.


Yesterday was their two week appointment. They are all gaining weight and doing well!

Cooper weighed in at 6lbs. / 19.5 in. (birth weight was 5 lbs. 6 oz.)
Tucker weighed in at 6lbs. 14 oz. / 20 in. (birth weight was 6 lbs. 3 oz.)
Carter weighed in at 6lbs. 12 oz. / 19.25 in. (birth weight was 5 lbs. 13 oz.)
Their lengths are really rough estimates. They are pretty squirmy and it's kind of challenging to get their lengths.

So...the last few days I've worked really hard on getting them on a schedule that seems to work for all of us.
Feedings during the day work best at:
6am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm - Give or take a half hour or so.

It works well because M tends to get up around 7am, then after their 1pm feeding everyone can nap around 2pm, and then after their 7pm feeding we can have time for M's bedtime routine around 8pm.


During the night I play it by ear. They are doing fairly well all sleeping together and staying on the same schedule. It's always the toughest if ALL three wake. Usually just two wake and that's manageable. I am actually getting sleep at night, and try and lay down for a nap once during the day.

Cooper sleeps in his crib, and the other two are sleeping in their Rock-n-Plays for now. Occasionally I put all of them to nap in the crib with Cooper, or one in bed with me depending on how badly I need sleep during the night. Overall though, they are doing great! The boys do tend to sleep through each other's crying which is amazing to me...but I'm so glad!


I am sleeping in the nursery with the boys for now and caring for them through the night since Josh has long work days. I actually don't mind. And, I tend to do better with less sleep than Josh does. I need Josh to be happy so I can be happy, too!

I am healing ok from my c-section. The area around my incision is still quite tender, and my belly area is still working on shrinking down. Without my ab binder, I still look a little pregnant...oh well. I'm doing ok physically I guess...just ready to feel 100% again. I still have some pain from a UTI that's common after surgery. I'm tired of having restrictions and not being able to do everything on my own. Oh well...I know it will come with time. Overall, I was not happy with having to have a c-section, and although recovery is different than a vaginal delivery...it's been much harder on me than I expected.

I can easily tell my boys apart. (Sometimes in pictures it's more difficult.) Tucker has darker hair and a different shaped face than the twins. His skin is more olive-toned. He resembles Madison the most. The twins have lighter hair (it sometimes looks blonde!) and smaller ears. Their skin is lighter. Their features look more delicate to me. Between the twins they are sometimes harder to tell apart...but right now, Carter weighs a pound more. Carter and Tucker are good eaters, and Coopers is the slowest eater. Tucker knows how to nurse...but is lazy and chooses not too! Carter is the best at nursing, and Cooper and I are still working on getting him to nurse.

Their personalities are also different. Cooper is the most relaxed and easy going. He is usually the most alert, too, and the most patient. Carter is the best sleeper (so far). He is also fairly easy going. We call Tucker the 'golden child.' He tends to be the first to cry and the most 'needy.'

Madison is doing WONDERFUL with her brothers and our new family. She is SO sweet to them and tells them she loves them and misses them. She loves snuggling them and helping me with them. If they cry, she says, "Mama! Tucker needs you!" She also says, "Mama, I think Carter wants his big sister to hold him." She knows all their names, but she can't tell who is who yet. If they cry she'll also go them and snuggle them and say, "It's ok, brother, Big Sister is here." It melts my heart!


During the first two weeks we've just enjoyed being home and being together. :) We had their newborn photos taken and went to the doctor a couple times. We've had visitors and it's fun to introduce family and friends slowly to the boys. It's been nice. I do not plan on taking them out and about until after Feb. 17th (their official due date).

Life with the new additions is quite different, as expected, but I do think we are all adjusting quite well.

Our transition home and to our life as a family of 6 would not be as easy as it has been thus far without all of the love, support, help around the house and running errands for me, food, gifts, diapers, etc. that we have received and are still receiving from our wonderful family and generous friends.

THANK YOU all from the bottom of my hearts. Josh, Madison, the boys and I are so lucky to have all of you in our lives.

I hope to post their birth story soon. Kelli captured some amazing photos that day and I will post those, too.

16 Months

"WHOA! I'm HOW old?"

I feel the same way, little girl!

The months keep sneaking up on me now. I almost didn't realize that she was 16 months on Tuesday until someone asked me how old she was on Monday. Whoa...I had to say, "She'll be 16 months tomorrow."

She was in a great mood yesterday for her photos. It probably had to do with the fact that I let her run around outside and play. The girl loves running and playing outside.

Our very first photo. Proof she can follow directions. I let her explore for a few minutes while I set up Winnie and her sign. Then I simply asked her, "Madison, will you go and sit by Winnie so Mommy can take your picture, please." And by golly...she did exactly that. She does look a bit irritated that I interrupted her play, but oh well.

This was her reaction when I said, "Thanks, baby! Now you can get up and play!"

"Hey, what's this sign say?"

I was chasing her here. She LOVES being chased and chasing people.

The blurry stick down in the lower left was what she was smiling about since I was shaking it.

Ok...now on to some updates.

Our biggest news is probably that M is NOT nursing anymore! She had a bad cold the week after Thanksgiving...and wasn't interested in nursing before bed as much since she was congested, so one night I just skipped it and put her to bed and that was that! She never even seemed bothered by it. I don't even give her milk or water right before bed (didn't want to create another habit to break if I could avoid it). So, her bedtime routine now is just lotion, books, jammies, hugs & kisses, and bed!

She still doesn't like meat...so her diet hasn't changed too much. Her favorite food group is definitely fruit. She loves raspberries and blueberries. She's not as obsessed with Goldfish anymore. She also loves Nilla Wafers.

She can successfully use a fork and spoon. Although she's still pretty messy.

She is still napping twice a day. But, I've been thinking about considering dropping her one a day. I'm hoping I can hold off for a few more months yet. However, she just boycotted her morning nap today...so...who knows?!

No new teeth...STILL only her front 8.

She's around 26 lbs. and 32.5 inches tall. She's in 18 mo. and getting into 24 mo./2T clothes. She is in the 98th percentile for height and 95th percentile for weight.

She is great at following directions, such as putting things where I ask her or retrieving things. She knows many objects and enjoys pointing out things to me in her picture books and with her flashcards.

She loves her two kitties we have out in the shop now.

I'm fairly certain her favorite part of the day (besides meal times!) is the start of her bedtime routine which includes some fun play/"rough-housing" with her Daddy on our bed. She's one wild girl at night!

She has figured out how to go down stairs and get off the couches safely (rolling to her belly to go down feet first).

New words this month are, "Daisy," and "Daaaave." My Dad told her to call him Dave (kind of as a joke since she is no where near saying grandpa). Although she now gets "Daisy" and "Daaave" mixed up sometimes. I told Dad that he's gonna have to accept being called "Daisy!" :) She learned Daisy from watching The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She loves that show.

She also says, "no," a lot, although I'm not sure if she means it all the time she says it. I'll ask her if she wants something and she'll say no and then take it anyways. Josh says that's just part of being a girl and being confusing! Oh, Josh!

Other words she says (documenting this for my sake):

Ba -for Banana

Ba - for Mama - she calls me Ba a lot...not sure why!
Daddy

Kitty

Dog

Hi

Cheese

Ha Ha

Ow

Mom

Mou - for Mouse and Mouth

Ni-Ni - Night

Baa - when asked what a sheep says

Neigh - when asked what a horse says

Shhhh - while putting her finger to her lips

Num

Ball

Not sure what else to update on...so, I'll end with another picture.

Our beautiful girl!

Yes...I'm Still Nursing M

So, I'm assuming this is a post geared towards Mamas or Soon-To-Be Mamas...OR people who are just curious about weaning. Or maybe no one is interested in this post, and that's ok, too. :)

Really, I'm writing this for me to reflect on my experiences since the plan is to stop nursing M completely in the next month...or so.

Consider yourself warned if the words, "breast" or "weaning" or "nipple" or "plugged duct," make you uncomfortable. Yeah, you should have probably stopped reading like 2 sentences ago...

My Breast Feeding History - "Will/Do you breast feed your baby?"

Before Getting Pregnant:
"Heck, no! No thank you. Ew. Nope. Never."

While Pregnant:

"Ok, I'm going to try, but if it doesn't work out, I won't worry about it."

Madions' 1st Month:
"OMGOSH! This is horrible! I can't do this! Is it time for her nurse again ALREADY! I can't do this! They never tell you this will happen! I can't do this!"

Madison's 2nd Month:
"Ok, we got the hang of this. I can do this for another month. I wanna save money!"

Madison's 3rd Month:
"Well, now my goal is to keep going until she's 6 months. Free food for baby = :)"

Madison's 6th Month:

"Nursing Madison is a breeze now. I will probably nurse her until about 12 months...then that's it! I will NOT nurse her past a year! Maybe I'll introduce formula around 9 months, we'll see..."

Madison's 10th Month:
"Ok, better start thinking about weaning and how to introduce whole milk. I can't wait for her to start giving up some of her nursing sessions! I'm SOOOO OVER being her sole source of nutrition!"

Madison's 12th Month:

"So, nursing her until 15 months isn't that crazy right?! I kinda can't imagine NOT nursing her...."

Madison's 13th Month - RIGHT NOW:

"Ok, I seriously gotta get my plan in action...I'm dropping her morning session...like next week...for sure...."

Ahhh...the evolution of my experience with breastfeeding has been quite remarkable, and has been an experience that I could have never imagined or predicted.

I do feel very grateful that M and I were able to figure everything out, that my body cooperated, and after the first month, nursing really became pretty natural for us.

During the first month, I experienced lotsa pain, bleeding, cracked nipples, and a couple plugged ducts. I cried. A lot. It was uncomfortable, frustrating, scary, and stressful. (I'm sure it was horrible for Josh, too, for different reasons.) BUT, we survived, thanks to nipple shields. (Google it if you don't know what I'm talking about.) They sell them at Target. My Aunt was a lactation consultant and helped me over the phone SO much.

As a new Mama, I quickly realized I wasn't really prepared for breastfeeding at all...even though I took one info. class and did a fair amount of research on-line on my own, so I thought I was prepared before I had M. HA...no, I was not REALLY prepared...(although reflecting back...not sure what else I really could have done...except to talk to a real woman that breastfed...and that's well...awkward...plus, I wouldn't have even know what to ask really...).

My experience with pumping was fine. I thought I would pump more than I ever did...but, I could never figure out how to pump to have extra but to still feel I had enough for her...and truthfully, what it came down to was that I had the luxury of being with her ALL the time that I didn't really have to worry about it.

I never nursed in public...and don't think I ever could. Josh and I sacrificed a lot with our schedules and planning around Madison's nursing sessions the first few months, but I feel it was worth it.

I was very scared to start weaning Madison. Mostly because I didn't want to experience a lot of pain, fullness, tenderness...leaking, plugged ducts...you know...all that fun stuff that they don't talk to you at all about when they are luring you into committing to breastfeeding. :p

But, anyways, here's what worked for us:

At 11 months, M was nursing 4 times a day...like clockwork - morning, before lunch, before dinner, and before bed. I wanted to cut her dinner session first...so I began by just limiting her time nursing to 10 min. per side for one week, then 5 min. per side the following week (followed by a sippy with milk), then I just stopped the third week. It didn't seem to phase her really, and my body had time to adjust. Success! Ok. I can do this! I really felt a huge sense of relief once that first session was cut out. I didn't experience any discomfort.

We went on just nursing 3 times a day for about 2 weeks...then, I followed the same pattern to cut out her lunch session. Again, no pain...some mild feelings of fullness, but nothing too uncomfortable as my body adjusted.

She gets whole milk in her sippy after her morning and afternoon naps in lieu of nursing. She took to whole milk easily. No big deal. Again...VERY thankful for that transition, too!

I've been nursing her just twice a day now for the last 3 weeks or so. My plan is to cut her morning session starting tomorrow!!! I'm not sure why I'm holding on to it...she's already fairly disinterested in the mornings...and only nurses about 5 min. per side and then wants to get down and play and get on with her day. I'm being selfish. I know this. So, I'm promising myself that by tomorrow, no matter what, I'll give up her morning session.

Not sure what the exact plan is for weaning her from her before bed session just yet...there's a lot of variables there. Plus, I'm not sure why I feel like I HAVE to quit nursing her completely....it's confusing me.

**My memories of nursing her every single night before she goes to sleep for the last 13 months of her life is....indescribable, really. No matter what kind of day we've had...we've ALWAYS ended it together. That is something I truly treasure.**

But, all things, even good things, must end so that we can appreciate those things and continue on to the next chapter of our lives together.

Will I nurse Madison's siblings in the future? (No, I'm not pregnant!)
Undecided. Not sure how I would handle it...since I feel it is a huge time commitment...but if I didn't, I feel like I would be cheating them of what M had...so...yeah...undecided. (P.S. Yes, I know it's still to feel like that....)

Disclaimer: This post is in no way to put down or make formula feeding Mamas feel bad! This is solely a post based on my personal thoughts and experiences. I am certainly not in judgement of anyone else's parenting decisions.

Weaning Is a Funny Word

Weaning. I'll say it. I think it's a funny word. It makes me feel very...animal-like...however, it's been on my mind, so here I am blogging about it. Again, this may be a TMI post, and I may regret this later, but whatev...

Our goal when Madison was born was to breastfeed for the first 6 months. Well, that's come and gone...and now Josh and I have to figure out where we go from here. I find it weird to be thinking of transitioning her to formula "just because." I've been feeling some odd pressure (some from myself, and some from Josh) to stop nursing her because she's getting older. Josh keeps asking me what I'm going to do when she gets teeth. He's more worried about that than me, which I find funny. He is also more frustrated on how nursing her affects our schedule and availability (during the day) since I do not nurse in public. It doesn't bother me as much...

The first month nursing Madison was hell for me...and I almost gave up every day. However, I am so glad I stuck with it. My favorite time of the day is nursing Madison before she goes to bed. It is quite possibly the most wonderful 20 minutes of my day...no matter how the day went, during that time with Madison, all that matters is my sweet baby girl, that connection we have, and her complete comfort and happiness with me as she drifts off to sleep is indescribable. It's selfish, I admit it.

So of course...just as I stressed about sleep training for forever, my current obsession is googling, thinking about, stressing about, and worrying about weaning and introducing solid foods...

Anyways, I think for now, I am going to continue nursing. I do think it's ridiculous to switch her to formula "just because." And, I want to continue to save $$. I hope by her first birthday she'll only nursing maybe twice a day (morning and night). As we continue to feed and increase her solids, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she'll naturally drop her daytime feedings.

Randomness: Madison now reaches out when I go to pick her up. It's adorable. She also does a little hug/snuggly move into your shoulder.

Oh, and I realized I am a bad blogging Mommy, and I didn't even document Madison's first Christmas! Geesh...so, I'll be doing that soon...only 2+ months late! :(