Steven – 3lbs 9oz at birth
Weight: 19lbs 5oz (17th percentile, up from 12th percentile at 9 months)
Height: 29.5″ long (32nd percentile, up from 21st percentile at 9 months)
Sammy – 3lbs 14oz at birth
Weight: 20lbs 7oz (34th percentile, up from 23rd percentile at 9 months)
Height: 31″ (87th percentile, same as 9 months and 6 months)
Amaya – 3lbs 14oz at birth
Weight: 21lbs 12oz (77th percentile, up from 58th percentile at 9 months)
Height: 30″ (77th percentile, down from 78th percentile at 9 months, so we’ll call it a wash)
It was a big day on a few other fronts. First, we got our MMR vaccines today (plus chicken pox and Hep A). I’ve been waiting and waiting for this day. And, we had our first taste of peanut butter! I was very nervous about allergies so I gave them each a taste before we went into the doctor’s office. So far, so good!
We’re now in the process of ending their suckie use. (Pacifiers.) We went cold turkey with Amaya today and will do the same with Steven tomorrow. Sad, sad, sad. They’re so cute with their suckies and I feel like a mean, mean mom. But the time has come so we’re giving it a shot. After this transition, it’s bye bye bottles!
Yesterday, they all had early intervention evaluations. They’re doing great. Mostly meeting full term milestones with just a few exceptions. Amaya and Steven will get weekly services for verbal communication and Steven will get physical therapy, likely weekly, for gross motor. Sammy just gets a once/month visit for receptive communication but I think that’s mostly about his willfulness than any delays.
Way to go Steven, Sammy and Amaya! Next appointment is at 15 months.
Some new moms have breast feeding goals (1 month, 6 months, a year). I had a blog goal. I wanted to blog every week for Steven, Sammy and Amaya’s first year. And I did it! It’s actually hard to believe but I did it!
Throughout the year, I wasn’t sure how I would approach year two but here I am again. Another Sunday, another blog. For now, my goal is to continue week by week and see where it takes me.
We’re going a bit out of order here. Ages ago, Jason got all the fixings for a Sunday omelet station. This was the first week he set up shop. When I say that it was the best thing ever, I mean EVER. Steven, Sammy and Amaya were captivated. And the mushroom, broccoli, onion, feta omelets were great, too! (Plus BACON for mommy & daddy.)
Also, today, a video from lunch. Steven was grooving to the Glee version of Like a Prayer and you can see Sammy showing off his newest skill – waving.
Steven, Sammy and Amaya’s first birthday feels like ages ago now but we really left off the night of their party so there’s a whole week of adventures to catch up on.
Last Monday, I had a work vacation day so I had a bonus day home last week. Sara and Charlie got in some final time with everyone before they headed to the airport with Gene.
Amaya was very lucky! Big cousin Charlie made her this cool picture frame for her birthday.
She also had the perfect hand me downs for the day before a birthday girl. Seriously, this shirt is so cute and we happened to also have these warm up pants from Charlie that worked perfectly.
Amaya walked around the house, showing off her cool outfit and even cooler skills.
Megan gave Steven, Sammy and Amaya this awesome activity garden for their birthday. We love it!
It’s also perfect for a Savta puppet show!
We all had some lazy time & play time together…
And then we got down to the hard work of arts & crafts. I haven’t finished the project, and I think it was better in theory than reality, but it started with their footprints on canvas. Even if the project doesn’t turn out, the crafting was fun!
Tuesday was BIRTHDAY!! I still can’t believe I have three one year olds – both that they’re one and that there are three of them. It feels like yesterday that we saw those three embryos at my 8 week ultrasound.
Nana & Jason and I all got in some birthday morning cuddles before we had to head to the airport and the office.
The highlight of their birthday, though, was a visit to Detroit for a birthday lunch at Hard Rock. Thanks to Megan, everyone even wore shoes for the first time!
The pictures are dark because of the restaurant lighting but we had a great time. Steven, Sammy and Amaya ate macaroni & cheese with grilled chicken and tried their first french fries. (Well, Steven just examined the fry. Sammy and Amaya dug in.) My colleagues Ginny & Molly joined us and the whole thing was very, very special. I’m so grateful that Megan is up for any challenge.
Here are some photos from the week.
Steven is pulling up to his knees in his crib so we finally lowered his, too. And his first tooth is really poking through. I’ll miss that gummy smile!
Steven had a rough day during the week when he didn’t want to eat and, seemingly, wasn’t feeling well. Here’s sad Bobo. 🙁 Pitiful, isn’t it?
Fortunately, it didn’t last long!
Birthday night, Steven and Daddy had some fun time and some cuddle time.
Spinach face!
He’s getting very adventurous! Look where he climbed, all by himself!
Here’s Steven climbing on a chair that my dad made for me when I was a little girl. It’s in their nursery closet and is a perfect step stool to reach their books.
Finally, it looks like Amaya has been teaching Steven to go suckie hunting!
Daddy & his boys
I don’t have as many random photos of Sammy this week so his incredible, infectious smile is going to have to fill you up this week. Love, love, love his toothy grin.
Amaya started the week wearing a new shirt, compliments of cousin Charlie. She loves it.
On Thursday night, Anna babysat so Jason and I could go out for an anniversary dinner. Here are Amaya and Anna, reading together.
She loves to read!
And wants all the books!
Finally, for Amaya, the newest outfit from Charlie. I’m kind of obsessed with these pants.
I’ll wrap it up for the week with some group photos. Seriously, how did the blog post get so long this week? Every week I say it will be a short one and then, here we are!
Steven, Sammy and Amaya playing in their activity garden.
Ready to start their day
Having an important chat with daddy.
Finally… playing with the exact same stuff at the exact same time, in one corner of their playroom, as if there isn’t a complete room full of toys for them. 🙂
Our one year checkup is on Tuesday. Can’t wait to get their stats and percentiles!
As part of our birthday celebration, we did family photos at our house with a local photographer, Daphne Doerr, who also did our amazing cake smash photos.
Here are our favorites!
Family photos wouldn’t be complete without Big Sister Cat Sally.
As always, thanks for the love and support –
Joanna, Jason, Steven, Sammy, Amaya and Sally
The day is here. Steven, Sammy and Amaya are ONE year old today. ONE!
All at once, it feels like we’ve known them forever and also like they were born yesterday. Steven, Sammy & Amaya are amazing individuals and have added more joy, laughter and love to our lives than we ever knew possible.
It’s been both a whirlwind and a marathon and we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Here are some photos celebrating the big O-N-E!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year what it was, especially our parents and Megan. Now get ready for the adventures of Steven, Sammy and Amaya’s second year!
Steven, Sammy and Amaya turn ONE tomorrow. It’s almost impossible to believe how far they have come this year, from tiny preemies to happy, healthy one year olds.
Here they are, shortly after they were born, and now. These amazing, amazing kids.
Steven, Sammy and Amaya turn one (ONE!) on Tuesday and we had their birthday party today with a small group of family and close friends. Honestly, I don’t even know what to say. It was wonderful, I don’t know where the last year went, and I feel like the luckiest mom in the world.
We made these birthday boards for each baby and had them on display for the party. They’re a great snapshot of who Steven, Sammy and Amaya are today. (You can click on the photos to make them larger and read all about these wonder babies.)
We had special birthday shirts with our names on them!
Daddy and Steven
Daddy and Sammy
Sammy and Nana Ellen
Steven and Aunt Annette
Steven with Anna, who’s been with us overnight on weekends since April and helped us survive this past year. She was also my intrepid flying partner form Detroit to NY for our Thanksgiving trip.
Steven and Aunt Ouize
Sammy and Aunt Ouize
Grandma Sunshine and Amaya
Grandma Sunshine with both of her granddaughters.
Savta, Amaya and Mommy
Savta, Amaya, Mommy and Nana
Papa Gene and Amaya Jean
Steven and Charlie with Nana and Aunt Sara
Amaya and Charlie singing with Nana and Aunt Sara
Anna, Amaya and Gene chatting it up
Megan and Sammy
Amaya is excited to turn one!
High fives for Grandma Sunshine!
Playtime in the baby jail…
Opening gifts!
Sammy is going to be a drummer like his big cousin Abe
Jason is hoping to be a drummer like cousin Abe, too.
Family
Time for cake!
With Nana & Papa
Grandma Sunshine
GREAT grandmother, Savta Kerry
Aunt Sara and cousin Charlie
Aunt Ouize and cousins Nancy and Abe
Megan
Singing Happy Birthday!
Ready to dig in!
Nancy is also a January 20th birthday girl so she got in on the fun, too! Happy 17th birthday, Nancy!
It was a wonderful day surrounded by people we love. Grandpa Ron, Grandma Betsy, Uncle Todd, Uncle David, cousin Chase, Uncle Austin, Aunt Dena and cousin Lavinia weren’t physically with us but were certainly there in spirit and in our hearts. Plus Poppy Steven, always.
Here are some more photos from the weekend visits and our week. It was wonderful to have so much family here to spend time with Steven, Sammy and Amaya. Visiting were Nana, Papa, Savta, Aunt Sara, cousin Charlie, Aunt Ouize, and cousins Nance and Abe.
This weekend, we transitioned from zip up onesies to two piece BIG KID pajamas.
Bedtime
During the week, Steven, Sammy and Amaya had lots of fun.
I can’t get over how similar the boys look in the 2nd picture here.
Amaya found a standing perch
One big playroom and everyone finds the same corner to play.
Steven!
This week, Steven pulled himself to stand. Go Bobo!!
He’s not doing it all the time but he’s definitely catching on.
We helped Steven stand here but, no doubt, they’re planning their escape.
Sammy!
Like father, like son.
Amaya!
To wrap it up for the week, Amaya has started caring for her brothers. Earlier in the week, she found all four suckies outside of the cribs. These have animals attached and 2 are Stevens, 2 are Amaya’s. Amaya picked them all up and brought Steven his two. In the photos below, Sammy was sleeping late and Amaya went over to check on him. She reached through the bars and started patting his shoulder. It was precious. <3
In the early part of the week Megan took some sick time so both Jason and I had a chance to stay home with Steven, Sammy and Amaya. First Jason on Monday and then it was my turn on Tuesday.
The timing was perfect because Jason had a chance to give Steven, Sammy and Amaya gifts from Aunt Ouize, Uncle Todd and cousins Nancy & Abe. They love opening presents.
Onesies for our National League team! (And isn’t it nice that Jason and I can actually root for the same team. 🙂 )
Steven was excited when he learned I was staying home with him on Tuesday. He loves Megan but Mommy time is fun, too!
Climbing Mt. Mommy!
Don’t dare step away from the playroom or you’ll come back to this!
Megan returned midday on Tuesday and Sammy was very happy to get Megan snuggles. (Unless she wore her glasses. For reasons we haven’t determined, Megan’s glasses make Sammy cry.)
I noticed that Amaya was spending a lot of time climbing our boppies so Mgan suggested that we get Steven, Sammy and Amaya these soft form play shapes to climb instead. They’re awesome! Everyone dove right in and Steven seems the boldest of all. They’re great for him. He’s pulling himself up on his knees and up to his feet. a bit, which he wasn’t really doing previously. I think they’re going to be amazing for his gross motor skills.
I want them in grown up size!
In my cooking adventures, I’m testing out Blue Apron (blueapron.com). Every week they send you all of the ingredients you need to cook 2 meals. This week was fresh pappardelle bolognese & chicken under a brick with roasted fingerling potatoes. The food is delicious but the prep time might be a long term game stopper.
The food
Jason got me in action
Here’s a sample plate of Chicken Under a Brick for Steven, Sammy and Amaya. They ate all of this, then an extra chicken thigh and 3 pieces of cheese. I have hungry growing babies!!
Though it’s really after they eat that the fun starts.
A few other, random photos from the week…
Bath time is stull fun time!
The closet bookshelf is a favorite gathering spot. See that chair? Made for me by their Poppy Steven when I was a little girl. <3
I am on an endless search for the perfect sippy cup. I have bought and returned many. MANY. The ones we’ve been using (munchkin weighted straw cups) worked well but they’re training cups and we needed to graduate to new cups with better flow to get us ready for the transition away from bottles. (Sad! Sad! Sad! Where did my babies go?!?)
So this weekend we tested our our new Lollacups. So far, so good! They’re getting used to the increased flow and the cups don’t spill too badly when they toss them around. Ten days, and the transition off bottles begins! (Sad! Sad! Sad! Where did my babies go?!?)
Here’s Steven this week
He’s so detail oriented that he spent a good 5 minutes just exploring my eyelashes. This kid.
Sammy
He knows he’s got it!
Still loooooooves his donuts
And Amaya
Some bonus pictures! Today, I was out at a first birthday part for another set of local triplets and Jason mixed things up daddy style for 3:30pm bottles.
This was story time tonight.
And here I am getting hugs one morning before work.
This weekend was Sammy’s turn for a special weekend in NY with mommy. Hooray! Everyone’s been sick all week (Steven, Sammy and Amaya, that is) and I was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to make the trip but we did it!
I woke Sammy up at 5:30am and we headed to the airport for an 8am flight to NY. Sleepy eyes!
From now one, we’re not doing lap babies so this was my first flight with a car seat baby in a convertible seat instead of a carrier. New logistics! I was very nervous about how I’d get Sammy and the diaper bag and his car seat on the plane and then install it, when I can’t just ask Sammy to stand in the aisle. But we got ‘er done!
So, instead of a stroller, I have a nifty gadget that attaches to the car seat so I can use it as a stroller in the airport. Genius invention. Also, as you can see, I tied Sammy’s donuts to the car seat so they were always accessible. Best move of the trip!
Settled on the plane
Drinking his bottle
Taking in the sights
Eating breakfast. Eggs! Mmmm, mmmm, good.
And, finally, asleeeeeeep.
Together!
And we’re here! Waiting for Papa to pull up curbside and take us to Nana & Papa’s house!
The fun begins! Sammy is sooooooo excited to see Aunt Sara!
And cousin Charlie!
He loves visiting with Chase!
Meanwhile, back in the Land of Cheltenham…
Friday night was extra special because I had a sleepover with Chase. He’s my best big guy forever.
We did art projects, too!
Saturday morning started with happy Sammy
Chase hung with Sammy during breakfast.
We had a fun day together. Lots and lots of cuddles.
Auntie Anita never misses a chance to come by when we’re in town.
And, of course, Savta doesn’t either.
We had a lot of fun FaceTiming with Daddy, Steven and Amaya!!
And, in the afternoon, took a trip to Barnes & Noble.
That evening, Sammy had another opportunity to FaceTime with Daddy back in MI.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Cheltenham…
Grandma Sunshine and Amaya had lots and lots of laughs. We’re so glad that Grandma Sunshine can stay the weekend when Mommy is away!
And, next thing we knew, it was Sunday and time to go back home. After a hearty breakfast.
Sammy had his first visit to the Delta Sky Club
And of we went!
He cried a bit, early on, but I think it was just exhaustion. He slept most of the way home to MI, calm as could be.
And here we are! Ready to go home after a quick lunch of pasta and banana that we brought with us from NY. Nothing like sitting on the ground in the airport sharing lunch with your 11 month old after a mommy/son weekend.
Meanwhile, back in the Land of Cheltenham…
Grandma Sunshine provides endless entertainment!
Backing up a bit, Michigan State won their bowl game thanks to these cool MSU outfits from Aunt Annette. All it takes is a little school spirit from Sammy, Steven and Amaya and the team is golden.
Also this past week, Amaya continued to work on standing unsupported!!
Solo shots!
Steven was determined to get the book he wanted.
And he was able to pull himself to standing from Megan’s lap.
He loves the newest addition to the playroom, courtesy of Chase & Charlie.
And he looooooooves this water bottle.
Smiles!
Sammy and his donuts.
Even during a tantrum.
And sound asleep.
DONUTS.
This was Sammy’s last bottle with rice in it. Along with Zantac, we used it to help his reflux. The Zantac tackled pain. The rice helped thicken his feeds to reduce spit ups. We stopped the Zantac around Thanksgiving and weaned him off the rice over the past few weeks.
Finally, Sammy faces!
Amaya, in cat ears from Daddy. The cutest.
Very into her book.
Cuddly
Happy, happy girl
And, finally, I won’t show their bare butts in the blog but stick a finger up your nose and it’s going to be out there for the world to see. I love this picture so much!
