Congratulations! You’re a parent. Now what?

Babies are popping out everywhere lately. Many of the couples Tiffany & I know have recently had or are preparing to have their first children. This, combined with the fact that the boys are celebrating their first birthday next month, has caused me to reflect on my experiences over the last year. Specifically, I’m still stunned by how jarring and dramatic and significant becoming a parent really is.

Most people spend nine months preparing for their new arrival. Like many, I read a variety of books, articles, and web sites on tutorials. Tiffany & I also prepared a physical area for the boys. And then, literally in the space of a single moment, you go from just being “you” to also being Dad (or Mom).

I remember this moment distinctly in the operating as I heard Alex’s first cries followed by Logan and Nick. It was triggered by the thought “So… now what?”

All of the reading and physical preparation doesn’t really prepare you for the emotional and psychological magnitude of event. It’s more than just adjusting to a new schedule, learning new skills, and engaging in new activities. There is a change in who you are, your fundamental being, that is more sudden and has more gravity than most other experiences that have changed your life.

One minute you’re not a parent and the next minute you are. And your life is opened to a new world filled with wonder and terror... Good Luck!!!

Tried the grass again...

Yep... still didn't like it.

Alex - I am not going back out there in the grass!

Logan - I don't like this!

Nick - I found a cricket!

Alex Walking Video

Alex is getting better at walking. He's still only taking a few steps if you coax him. But when I pull out the camera, he'll walk half way across the living room to get to it! Hence the video...

I don't think he llikes it...

Having three babies can be stressful at times and it is a heck of a lot of work. All very worth while and we are happy/lucky/blessed to have such wonderful, healthy, happy babies. What stresses me out the most is feedings. At first it was just the coordination of holding 3 bottles at one time. Then they held their own bottles and it was heaven. Next it was time for baby food - both exciting (new experiences) and scary (new experiences). The coordination and timing alone can be tricky. Throw in a temperamental baby and it's just crazy.

In general, the boys will eat almost any of the baby food jars we've given them. There are a few exceptions - mac and cheese dinners mean instant regurgitation by all 3; barley cereal is also not a favorite - they spit it back out as fast as you can put it in. Moving on to self-serve foods, they do well with Cheerios or puffs and sometimes the biter biscuits. No one is interested in trying real foods though... I've tried bananas, peaches, apples - all soft and diced into small pieces - but all I get is a sour face and the food coming right back out. I know we just need to keep trying new foods and give them multiple chances at it, but I'm starting to worry that they're only going eat Cheerios for ever.

And Nick is still Nick... He doesn't adapt quickly to new foods. He's still not a fan of Cheerios (unless you put it in his mouth - and he's in the mood for it). Add on to that... recently he's found a fondness of blowing raspberries/zerberts with food in his mouth, covering himself, his tray, the floor - US - in whatever he's eating. He has been known to get a sink bath after dinner instead of the normal washcloth cleanup. Let's just say, this picture doesn't do it justice!

More Randomness

Some things I forgot in the last blog...
Nick is such a lover! He will give you kisses now - wet, open mouthed, sloppy kisses. Granted, he has to be in the right mood, but with Nick, he always has to be in the right mood. He will still give eskimo kisses every once in a while too (or witch kisses). But the cutest thing... Some times he will go over to one of his brothers and give him a kiss! Adorable!
Logan is our escape artist. A gate is just a new challenge to him. Some he will try to climb over while others he tries to squeeze through the gaps. Yesterday we were playing in the kitchen, but they're not allowed in the family room, so I had the gate propped up to block the door way. It isn't attached to anything, just sitting there. Logan found out that he can squeeze between the bottom of the gate and the couch... a space just big enough for him!
Alex's hair is getting so long that it's starting to get curls behind his ears. They all need hair cuts! Alex has also been a bit clingy to mom lately - I think it's the teeth. He's got two on the bottom and one coming in on the top (with a second on the top that isn't far under the skin). He's been chewing on his pacifier a lot more - even busted the teething ring this weekend chewing on it. Did I mention it drives me crazy when he grates his teeth?!
We have some cute videos from the past weekend, but having some technical troubles playing them... stay tuned... more to come :-)

Teeth Galore and 1st Steps!

Logan has his first tooth! And Nick is starting to get his second! And Alex has his third! Through it all, they're all typically in good moods. A little more chewing on things, sucking on lips, needy for pacifiers or thumbs - whatever is available. Alex has even been found grinding his teeth - drives me crazy!

Alex has taken his first steps! He has been standing on his own for a little while and just over the weekend, he's been taking some steps on his own. He still prefers to walk with assistance, but he doesn't need much help. Without your hand helping him, he'll only take a step or two, usually towards the next thing to grab onto. If he has a hold on something, he'll walk the length of it (at a quick pace) until he runs out of whatever he's holding.

Baby bumper cars: As the boys have been exploring the house and getting in rooms that are not filled with toys, they take the opportunity to race each other even more. They will follow each other across the room (kinda like racing). They will also crawl towards each other - like playing chicken - and run into each other. Usually it's just hilarious and they laugh like crazy, unless they happen to bonk heads. That tends to cause some tears or at least screams.

Stay tuned for some more cute pictures and videos of the boys...

More Pictures

Here are some recent pictures of the boys playing and exploring the house. Aren't they so cute?!