Summer in Florida

We hit a major milestone this week. We moved from eating on the floor to eating in high chairs. I did not think they were ready for high chairs until I realized I was losing my mind trying to keep them from wiggling around on the floor while they ate. They were getting too big for the boppies and mealtime was becoming very stressful for me. So I decided that they were never going to say "Mom, we are ready to start holding our bottles and to eat in our high chairs." So one morning, I just put them all in there and gave them their bottles. I still have to prop the bottles with a blanket but at least they cannot wiggle around and they are one step closer to sitting in a chair and eating at the table. And I get to sit in the middle and eat myself or get something else done with my hands free! Here's a picture of our first day in our new chairs - Alex, Ella, and Helen.

I'm no child safety expert, but I'm pretty sure that when Alex can reach the animals on his mobile in the swing (and thinks that grabbing them is the whole reason he is in there and why they are moving around), he is too big for it.

"Oh Ella, what pretty hair. Can I play with it?" - Helen


"And your eyes! I think you should let me put some makeup on you...."

"Now, just come here. I promise it won't hurt!"

Wednesday I had the kids to myself all day so I took them to work with me for a little bit. So they missed their late afternoon nap. Our last bottle of the day, it was a struggle for Alex to stay awake.

Helen is fading too

Tired? Who's tired?

And, he's out.

Happy Helen

Alex is getting closer to crawling

Ella is very excited to be on our newly reupholstered couch! Not only did we get rid of the dated flower pattern, but we now have stain-proof, water-proof, puke-proof fabric that is supposed to be able to withstand triplets!

This week I took Alex to see another doctor about his head. This doctor thinks Alex has a very mild case of a flat head and does not think he needs a helmet. I agree and am more than happy to forgo the helmet (I'm sure Alex is too and has no idea of the bullet he just dodged!). What flatness he does have should round out as he grows. So he should be OK when he eventually ends up bald :)

I think we are pretty well settled in our routine now - at least until Cecil comes home. I've started going back to work and so far that is going fine. I get the babies ready in the morning and put them to bed at night. Our wonderful nanny Krista takes care of them during the day. Then I have them to myself on the weekends but people have been volunteering to come over to help for a few hours or the day. It is always nice to have an extra set of hands!

Today I went grocery shopping and I officially spent more on the babies' food than I did on food for myself. I think the check out people thought I was stocking up on baby food and diapers for a month. Little did they know it was only a week's worth.... I will be glad when we can switch to regular milk instead of formula. That will be a big money saver, except of course then they will be eating more real foods by then. Oh well, the fun never stops. Only 8 weeks or so until Cecil comes home!!

Visiting Georgia

Ella rolled herself off of our comfy new foam floor (yes, our house now looks like a daycare but it sure is more comfortable!) and could not figure out how to get back on it

This weekend we went up to Georgia to see Cecil's mom's side of the family. It was a wonderful weekend in many respects. First, I managed to pack up and drive three hours by myself with the kids. They did great in the car - slept or looked out the window. No crying! And it was also wonderful to see all of our family. I think the whole town turned out at one or point or another to see "The Triplets" :) Here is Alex playing with Uncle Earl's beard.

Ella and Uncle Buddy quickly took to each other

Alex and Aunt Laurice had a great time

Helen still loves sucking those two fingers

Ella quickly had Uncle Buddy wrapped around her finger

For some fun, we went "swimming" in an old wash tub. The bugs got so bad we had to move the "pool" inside though

Ella and Alex were more fascinated with the cherries on Helen's swimsuit than with anything else

Where have you all been hiding this toy? This is awesome!! (Ella sucking on Helen's foot)

Other than Helen's cherries, the cup was the next most popular toy

April holding Alex while he waits in line for his Saturday night bath

Grandmother reading "Good Night Moon" to Helen

Alex is practicing holding his own bottle now (and mommy loves him for it!!!)

Grandmother with her three miracles - Ella, Alex, and Helen - before church on Sunday

The Georgia Crew

We had a great time in Georgia seeing everyone. I'm not sure who had more fun - the babies or the adults. I was a little nervous about how the babies would do on the trip and how they would do with so many new faces. But they did great. We left right after a feeding and got there in time for the next feeding. They slept or played in the car and did not get fussy at all. Helen was a little scared when we first got there but then quickly warmed up and smiled at everyone who came by. It was a nice break for me to have plenty of other people around to play with them and hold them. And we all know how much Ella loves to be held and be the center of attention. She was in seventh heaven. She never wanted for an audience. We are paying for it today though - she is in "detox" getting used to not being held all the time. She should be fine in a few days when she realizes that I cannot give her MY undivided attention. It's a rough lesson for her :)

Ella is getting her second tooth! Alex is still working on his first and Helen is still holding out. But more exciting than the teeth, at least for mommy, is that Alex can now hold his own bottle!! Oh my, how this changes everything. We might actually be able to start eating in our high chairs instead of on the floor if at least one of them can hold their own bottle. I dare to dream....

Cecil is doing OK - still safe but counting down the days until he comes home. We think he has about 45 more days in Afghanistan before he starts the trek home. If all goes well, he'll be home by the end of September. The time is going excrutiatingly slow for him so please pray for patience and for the time to go quickly!

Finding our Florida Groove

On the day we got to Florida, we quickly set up our play blanket (Helen and Ella still need to work on their skirt ettiquette)

Helen is enjoying the new jumpy

Ella on the floor with all her familiar old toys

Grandma and Ella in Florida

My first Saturday back in Florida and what else would I be doing but a triathlon??? Freddy, Kim, and I did a sprint as a relay team. I did the swim - a very quick 1/4 mile in the ocean. Here's Kim and I after the swim while Freddy is out on the bike.

Team "Three's Company" - we got second place!

Later that afternoon we had the Cauley Family Reunion. Here's Aunt Cathy (an honorary Cauley for the day) with Alex (even though Alex is a spitting image of my dad, the Cauleys still insisted that he looks just like a Cauley :)

Victoria and Helen (not the best picture of Helen)

Our new feeding stations - on the floor since everyone can now roll off the couch

We are definitely finding our groove now being back in Florida. There are some modifications to the schedule but for the most part everything is the same. The babies are all getting over their colds - Helen had it worst and that was not fun. I've been on my own for a week and it is going fine. Only two more months until daddy comes home!!!!

Goodbye Ohio, Hello Florida!

We made it home! It has been a long and busy week but I think we are finally settled down and back in the usual groove. The plane ride was thankfully uneventful. I did not get any pictures of the travelling event because (a) I had my hands pretty full and (b) it was one more thing to think about that I could not juggle. The kids did fine on the plane. Instead of the passengers looking horrified that they would be on a plane with 3 babies, several of them came up to us just to coo and talk to the babies. When we got on the plane, it was their feeding time. After a short delay of getting warm water to make bottles, we had food for them and they were happy. They were all very tired too and kept falling asleep while they were eating so I was hoping that they would just sleep through the flight. No such luck - once we finished the bottles, they were in exploration mode. Thankfully my mom and I each had an empty seat next to us (thanks to a very sympathetic flight attendant who has kids so she knows how it goes) so we could spread out a little. I put Helen on the seat next to me and let her roll around a little (and frantically tried to keep her from touching everything). I don't know if it is true, but I've heard that the tray tables on airplanes are the dirtiest places you can touch?? Who knows but I at least succeeded in preventing her from chewing on it. She finally started to doze off as we landed.

When we landed, my dear friends Freddy and Andi were waiting for us - we needed two cars to fit us, 3 car seats, and our luggage. We went home, fed the kids again, and put them to bed in their very own cribs. The next few days were a blur with unpacking, running errands, seeing friends, and getting settled. But, before we left Ohio, we took the kids to church for one last time in Ohio. Here's a picture of them in their Sunday best:

Ella, Alex, and Helen

(yes, Cecil, Alex is wearing plaid shorts AND a sweater vest :)

On Sunday before we left, we had a big Fourth of July/ Thank You party. Here's one of our dear Grandmother/Nannies that helped out so much - Kathy holding Helen, Ella, and Alex:

Terry, Ella, Helen, and Alex

Mommy, Grandma, Helen, Ella, and Alex

Aunt Alison and Helen (that bow is staying in Helen's hair through sheer willpower)

Grandma and Grandpa with all of their grandchildren

The party meant they missed one of their naps - even Ella could not stay awake while eating her last bottle
Alex was definitely out of it and ready for bed

Ella had a sleepover in her crib - Helen, Alex, and Ella

Just in case they did not know it, Alex and Helen reassure everyone that "My Mommy Rocks" and "My Daddy Rocks"

A new acquisition - an exersaucer that is a jumpy too (Alex is still figuring out that it will bounce if he jumps in it)

Leave Alex alone for a few minutes, and he rolls himself off the blanket and onto the cold hard tile - and all the way under the coffee table

"Hmmm....I don't think I've had this before. It is kind of like prunes but seasoned just a little differently...." - Helen

A huge thank you to my mom and my Aunt Cathy who spent the week with me and helped us all get settled. I cannot imagine trying to do this alone. I think we are all settled now. Just a little over two months until Cecil comes home. We cannot wait!!