It was emotionally having these three turn 5. So many thoughts and memories of what it was like to find out we would have three babies at once. So much remembering doctors appointments and their births. We just got a copy of their birth records and to read them it’s awe-inspiring; Ellie’s APGAR at birth was 1.  Reading her reports you start to realize just how close she was to not making it in those first few minutes.

We’ve always known how incredibly blessed we were with their pregnancy, birth, and everything else, but sometimes it HITS you just how blessed we are. As crazy as it is having triplets, I wouldn’t change any of them or it for the world. I think about that doctor who wanted me to abort one or more of them and I think, “How could I? Who would we be without?” I can’t imagine being without any of them.

Henry

• Weighing 49lbs
• Standing 3′ 8.8″
• Absolute Lego FIEND….not kidding this kid is obsessed with Legos. He’s just started being able to put legos together on his own via the instructions, but builds crazy elaborate things from his imagination. He’s content to just play Legos quietly for such a long time.
• Way skinnier than he looks (he’s got that adorable chubby baby face)
• Acts like a crazy boy and can’t make a normal face in a picture
• LOVES his baby brother (and all babies)
• Loves playing rough, but only if it’s on his terms
• Is a total momma’s boy…he’s very content to stay home with me, rather than go to anyone’s house, especially overnight
• Struggles with when things don’t go his way or his lego creations break
• Loves getting snuggled on the couch with lots of blankies to watch movies
• He very much internalizes any sort of correction, he has a very gentle soul…it’s a struggle to correct him without his shutting down or becoming defensive

 

James

• Weighing 56 lbs
• Standing 4′
• He’s a BEAST! An absolute beast on every single level…he’s physically huge, emotionally huge, intelligence huge…just huge.
• He thinks he’s in charge…which gets him into quite a bit of trouble. He doesn’t think twice about telling me (or other adults) what we should be doing or not doing
• He likes Legos, but nowhere near the way Henry does
• Really enjoys books…he’ll sit down on his own and just look at the pictures and pretend he’s reading (there’s a video on instagram of him reading Where the Wild Things Are)
• Has a temper like you wouldn’t believe, and thinks nothing of hauling off and whacking me (fortunately he doesn’t do it with his siblings…for the most part).
• He loves playing with Avie
• He’s fantastic with Peter and such a big help with getting him from upstairs (only Avie is big enough to do that, besides James…he’s only an 1″ shorter than her)
• Despite all of his temper and aggression about things, he really is such a loving and compassionate boy. He’s very aware of taking care of me…refilling my glass of water is a big one.
• Has his first loose tooth (lost it on 1/21/17)

 

Elanor

• Weighing 41lbs
• Standing 3′ 7″
• She rules the roost!
• She’s still the peanut, even though she’s really not that tiny (she’s 63% for height!)
• LOVES Barbies….Avie likes them too, but Ellie takes it to the EXTREME
• She loves being snuggled and cozied in my or Matthew’s lap (having her Oma blanket is an absolute MUST)
• She’s becoming a fantastic artist…she loves painting and coloring (still on my walls!)
• Elanor has a very sneaky and deceptive streak…she will say she didn’t do something that you KNOW she did, then give the hugest sigh and says “I did it”…so much drama
• SO MUCH DRAMA!
• Being the littlest, before Peter, we weren’t sure how things would go down between the two of them, but she absolutely LOVES her little brother. She loves when I will hold both of them and say that I have my two babies.
• She loves hearing about how she’s always been in the middle between Henry and James…whether it was in my tummy (she was originally baby B) or in cribs (when she was released from the NICU she was still struggling with maintaining her body temperature, so she was always nestled between them to keep her warm).

In Their Own Words

Henry

1. What is your favorite color? Blue
2. What is your favorite toy? Legos
3. Favorite thing to play? Play on mommy’s iphone because it’s blue
4. What is your favorite fruit? Pasta
5. What is your favorite TV show? Ninjago
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for Breakfast? Eggie Sandwich (scrambled egg on toast, with avocado and pepper jack cheese) – He said Crepes.
7. What is your favorite thing to eat for Lunch? Mack-y-doodle (mac n cheese)
8. What is your favorite thing to eat for Dinner? Meatballs and Pizza
9. What is your favorite snack? Strawberries
10. What is your favorite outfit? Pajamas
11. What is your favorite computer game? Lego Ninjago
12. What is your favorite game? Shoot guns with Daddy (Nerf)
13. What is your favorite snack? Chips and dip
14. What is your favorite animal? Sheep
15. What is your favorite song? Can’t Stop the Feeling and Schlaf Kind
16. What is your favorite book? Lego Ninjago Stickers
17. Who is your best friend? Roran
18. What is your favorite cereal? Mommy’s cereal
19. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Going on the swings when you swing me
20. What is your favorite drink? Water and milk
21. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas and Birthday
22. What is your favorite vacation we’ve taken? Uncle Brian’s cuz they have cool legos
23. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My oma blankie and georgie
24. What do you want to be when you grow up? Luke Skywalker! Because he has a blue light saber
25. Favorite place to visit? Roran’s House
26.  Least favorite family rule? You don’t let me go on devices whenever I want
27. Favorite thing about our family? Because we get Legos

James

1. What is your favorite color? Orange
2. What is your favorite toy? Optimus Prime Transformer
3. Favorite thing to play? Spiderman on LeapTV
4. What is your favorite fruit? Mangos
5. What is your favorite TV show? Care Bears and Cousins
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for Breakfast? Dippin’ Egg
7. What is your favorite thing to eat for Lunch? Turkey and avocado with mayo on rye
8. What is your favorite thing to eat for Dinner? Breakfast Dinner
9. What is your favorite snack? Mango Smoothie
10. What is your favorite outfit? Sweatshirt and pants
11. What is your favorite computer game? Ninjago Legos and ABC Mouse
12. What is your favorite game? Shoot guns with Daddy (Nerf)
13. What is your favorite snack? Creamy cheese dip
14. What is your favorite animal? Giraffe and Penguins
15. What is your favorite song? Jesus Loves Me and Hush Little Baby
16. What is your favorite book? Where the Wild Things Are
17. Who is your best friend? Abby
18. What is your favorite cereal? I don’t like cereal
19. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play and watch superhero
20. What is your favorite drink? Apple Cider
21. What is your favorite holiday? Easter, cause I get candy.
22. What is your favorite vacation we’ve taken? Hershey Park
23. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Croc (his pillow Pet)
24. What do you want to be when you grow up? a pilot and (Not a doctor) be a ninja
25. Favorite place to visit? North Carolina
26. Least favorite family rule? Not getting him what he wants (a video game)
27. Favorite thing about our family? All of us snuggling together in mommy and daddy’s bed

Elanor

1. What is your favorite color? Pink
2. What is your favorite toy? Barbie
3. Favorite thing to play? Barbies
4. What is your favorite fruit? Apples
5. What is your favorite TV show? Night at the Museum
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for Breakfast? Pancakes
7. What is your favorite thing to eat for Lunch? Mack-y-doodle (mac n cheese)
8. What is your favorite thing to eat for Dinner? Mushrooms and Pasta
9. What is your favorite snack? Carrots
10. What is your favorite outfit? Pretty comfy clothes
11. What is your favorite computer game? The Wild Kratts
12. What is your favorite game? Duck Duck Goose
13. What is your favorite animal? Dragon
14. What is your favorite song? Ariel
15. What is your favorite book? Dragons Love Tacos
16. Who is your best friend? Clare Bear
17. What is your favorite cereal? Mommy’s Cereal (crispix)
18. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Swing with Mommy
19. What is your favorite drink? Pineapple Juice
20. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
21. What is your favorite vacation we’ve taken? North Carolina
22. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Oma blanket and stuffed animals
23. What do you want to be when you grow up? A mermaid fairy princess
24. Favorite place to visit? Esther’s house
25. Least favorite family rule? No jumping on the couch
26. Favorite thing about our family? My baby brother

(At some point I’ll upload their videos)