Visitors!!!!

It's been a busy week for us. Grammy is still in the hospital, mommy starts her new job AND school on Monday, Uncle Joey starts school on Monday (and doesn't work anymore...more fun days with Uncle Joey!!!) and just this morning we woke up and LOOK WHO WAS HERE!!!!!!!! That's right - it's COUSIN CHRISTINA!!!! Auntie Manda, Uncle Erick and Cousin Christina came for an unexpected visit and they're gonna be here a while!!!!! So - we might not post a whole bunch but we'll try to keep you updated as much as we can. We're gonna be busy trying to get used to all the changes. Oh yeah - we also went to see Elmo yesterday with Alex and Brianna...and that was amazing. We had a great time and took a ton of pics...we'll get those up eventually. Oh we can't wait to see what Cousin Christina has learned that she can teach us...she's so grown up and we bet she knows lots of new things!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not all Peaches & Cream

Little Brother and I were talking one day about how cool it's going to be for the girls to look back on this blog and read about their entire life in bits and pieces. And it got me thinking. I blog so much about all the good things in parenting. I don't want them to look at me when they're 17 and say 'Well it was easy for you...now I want to have kids!' Wow...imagine? So I'll refer them to this post and some videos that won't make it to youtube.

Here you go little one's...it's NOT all peaches & cream.

When all 3 of you were home from the hospital daddy and I were both home with you for 4 weeks. And we didn't sleep. You'll read about that in a previous post. When daddy went back to work - it was mommy that stayed home for 9 long months. I'd cry when daddy left for work and I'd count down the hours until he came home. Some days people came over and it helped. But I was the primary one there and let me tell you - you guys were demanding! It took me until you were 5 months old to get you on a schedule that worked for us. And once I got that schedule down - I would have a fit if someone tried to mess with it. And people did. Why? Because when you have kids everyone else around you will know what's better for you and your children than you do. Be prepared for this. As soon as you pop out a baby - everyone has an opinion about your life.

So you're 5 months old and you have a good schedule. We're finally able to get through a day with more laughter than tears. But it's constant battle to keep up. But we do it. Daddy comes home from work and takes over. Grammie gives you your bathes and people come by to visit. The house is a mess. There's no time to clean. All my time is spent keeping up, making bottles, changing diapers and let's not forget the trips to the doctors office. There were devlopemental specialist, your regular pediatrician, opthalmologist, orthopedist and in-home visits from a nurse and more developemental specialists. Sure this isn't the 'norm' for just one baby but do you think we planned on having 3 babies? Silly girls...of course we didn't. We wanted one at a time so we could spoil you rotten! But we soon realized that spoiling you with 'things' was going to be imposible. You have to expect the unexpected.

Budgeting is a major part of our household chores now. The cost of diapers, wipes, formula, baby food and now regular groceries is astronomical! Let's not forget how quickly you grow - mommy had to go buy you all new PJ's twice this summer. And winter is soon aproaching. That means winter coats and boots. Long sleeve shirts and pants. You all need new shoes already and the one's you have aren't that old. You see...babies grow. And as parents we have to keep up with our children's growing needs. Mommy & Daddy don't buy new clothes or shop like we used to. We would go to the mall and buy new outfits and spend spend spend! But now we spend $ on you. And we don't mind...it's fun to shop for you. But we spent many years shopping for ourselves and got it out of our system.

Movies, eating out, concerts - no more. Sure you might have a job and you might have some extra $ to spend but you have a baby. You can't be out all night...you still have to get up in the morning!!! You can't sleep until noon just because you got home late.

18 Months (yesterday)

Everyone does it. They post at milestone months. Here we are - 18 months already. What a ride it has been. I uploaded 70 videos from my video camera on Friday - there are already more new ones on there. I want to capture every moment I can. Most of the videos are just the girls doing everyday stuff while I sit back and record. I tell myself that one day I'm going to want to watch these videos over and over. I might remember the small things now - but in the future - I might need a video to look back and say 'Oh yeah! I remember that now!'

They're walking, almost running actually, communicating still via some primate language that only the 3 of them seem to be able to understand and they're getting bigger everyday. I swear sometimes I put something on them at night that fits and in the morning...it's too small. They have a lot of teeth (still working on some molars) and they eat a lot of things. Yesterday they had real birthday cake for the 1st time (thank you Kristin for having a birthday!). They absolutely love Mickey Mouse and Elmo. Emily has a love of animals - a fear of people. Hannah and Hailey aren't so big on animals but will pretty much go to anyone holding their arms out. They all love talking on the phone and on the computer to Auntie Manda, Uncle Erick and cousin Christina. They love hanin' out with Uncle Joey and Kristin. They love going to sleep over Titi Rosemary's with Gradma & Gradpa Lucco. And they get into everything. But - they are good girls. We can take them out to eat and we won't hear a peep out of them. Just today we took them to Friendly's for breakfast and they were perfect! And of course - they're Yankees fans. Says me...mommy.

They sleep from 6:30 - 6:00 and they take a 2 - 3 hour nap everyday. All at the same time - this gives us our sanity back. I don't dress them alike and the one time I did - they said 'uh oh' about 30 million times. They have their own little personalities and they let them shine. They love listening to music and dancing.

They can point to their nose, mouth, eyes, ears, hair/head, teeth, mouth feet and hands. And of course - they'll be more than happy to show you their belly!

They can probably recite their ABC's - but only in the aforementioned primate language so I can't be sure. But what I can be sure of is that they are very empathic towards others. When someone is hurt (especially when another child is crying) they will 'uh oh' like crazy and do their best to give you a kiss and hug (aka: 'soooo nice!'). They don't like when someone is unhappy and they'll do what they can to fix it. I love this about them.

I could go on and on. I'm so proud of my babies and I have no end to my stories. I love them. Pete loves them. And we know - they love us. When people say to me 'wow! you have your hands full!' I immediately reply 'As well as my heart'. It's true - when I look at these girls they make my heart swell in a way I never imagined possible. When people say 'God Bless you' - I say 'He did'.

Happy 18 months baby girls...you are our everything.

Videos

Finally I've taken the time to sit down and upload some videos to youtube. I had 70 videos on my camera!!! Of course they're not all on youtube but there are some new videos. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/user/lovblebrat

Pigpile!!!!!!

We just love pig piles on mommy!!!!

Don't Worry Daddy Has Your Back

Mommy and daddy said we are old enough to sit at the table now. We are big girls now. Look at us sitting at the table.

- post by Daddy

Promises

I shall learn how NOT to make promises I can't keep. I certainly did not put pics up on the blog last night as I had soooo promised to do. I'll gladly accept an offer from anyone...to babysit while I work on the blog. I would of course have to go to the library as to get some peace and quiet. And I won't be returning from working on the blog until the girls are fed, bathed, changed, in bed and sleeping 'like babies' (who the hell dubbed that term?). Don't forget to wash the laundry, dishes, floor and clean up the 50 million toys. Upon my return - I won't be paying you since I don't have any $ (and I'm about to have even less than none). So you'll have to accept my gratitude as payment and have a lovely evening. Any takers?

Sorry!

TSK, TSK, TSK!!!!!!
6 DAYS!!! I'm patient, VERY patient. But, 6 days and NO pics of the center of the UNIVERSE??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
BAD MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL
lyl


I know I know I know...but what can I say? I'm BUSY PEOPLE! This is the kind of email I come in to on a Monday morning! Give me a break here people...I'm trying to be supermom AND save the world!!!!!!! I'll put up pics tonight - I PROMISE!!!

ER visit...???

But not for the girls! It was for me (mom). What's wrong? Absolutely nothing. With the girls getting older and becoming a 'bit' more active, Pete and I thought it would be best for one of us to be home during the day with them. I had an interview for a part time, 2nd shift position in the ER last week and today I was offered the job. It's bitter sweet though. I love my job where I am. I love the people I work with and I love getting up and going to work in the morning. I laugh every day at work. Leaving is going to be hard to say the least.

But times change as do our priorities and right now the girls are our priority. So I guess it was meant to be that the position in the ER opened just as we were thinking about a change.

This means more play dates, dance classes at Kate's, trips to the Science Center and of course the mall...all a lot more often. We won't have to jam pack the weekends full of things since I'll be home during the day. But we'll also be taking a big pay cut since I'm going from full time to part time. No more coffee at D&D!!!! (oh...but I'll get my coffee - one pot at a time right at home) lol

It's exciting and scary at the same time. But we'll make it work as a family because that's what we do.

Michelle

Where have we been?!?!

This is the million $ question. It's more like where haven't we been this past week. We haven't been feeling 100%. Seems like this cold we've had has lasted forever. We're on the road to recovery though. But...since we've been out of the blogger loop this is what we've been up to:

We went to the beach for the very 1st time and we loved it. Uncle Joey was there with Kristin and they helped us get in and out of the water...they also helped wipe the sand off our feet. Sand in our toes is not fun...but the sand is fun to play with. Does that make sense? Ok so our 1st trip the beach was a blast. But...we don't have pics - cuz you see mommy was busy playing in the water and the sand with us so no one was able to snap pictures (it has nothing at all to do with the fact that mommy left the camera in the van...).

We also went to a few different parks. Mommy has been looking for a park that has lots of shade and we think she finally found one she likes. We don't really care - as long as we can get out and run around...don't you dare try to put us on the swings though - no way. Those things are scary. They're NOT the same as the ones we have on our own back porch...nope. They're totally different at the park. Right? Hmmm...mommy is shaking her head 'no' and saying that we're crazy but whatever. We're not going on the swings at that's the end of it.

We had a sleep over at Grandma & Grandpa Lucco's house. It's fun to be there cuz they have a yard we can run around in and we also get to run from room to room to room. Lots of places to play peek-a-boo over there.

We also celebrated Daddy's birthday! He's older now...but not too old to have fun with us. We made sure his day was special cuz he's special to us and we love him.

We went to the mall and you'll never ever in a million years guess who we saw?!?! MICKEY MOUSE! That's right...they have a Disney Store at the mall and MICKEY MOUSE is RIGHT OUTSIDE!!! Can you believe it?!?! OMG we were sooooo excited we started running and screaming like crazy! Wow. We still can't believe it. Amazing. MICKEY MOUSE....right there. Yeah...life is good.

We did all this while mommy walked behind us with a box of tissue and wiped our runny noses. She said what's the point in staying home...she can wipe a runny nose at the mall just as easily as she can wipe it at home. Don't bother saying anything to her - you know where that'll get you. All in all it was a good week. Wait...we almost forgot - has anyone been watching the Yankees/Red Sox games? Yeah...it's been a GREAT week.

Love,

Hannah, Hailey & Emily

Weekend fun and pics

We're going to finally post about last weekends events/fun/pics since we're sick this weekend and there won't be much to talk. We did manage to splash around in rain puddles outside this weekend with mommy, daddy and uncle Joey. And we went to feed the ducks yesterday with mommy. She said we were driving her crazy and needed to take us somewhere. We also all went to the doctor yesterday. Hailey & Emily have colds, Hannah has croup (again). Blah.

Moving on - last weekend we had a big summer bash up in MA with all our family from up there. It was a big birthday party for all the kids. It seems to be easier to get together for one big party instead of a bunch of little ones. And what a party it was! We had tons of fun...and the weather was beautiful! We played in the pool, in the ball pit, with our cousins, with the dogs, with Grampa, our Great Gradma - (and her identical twin sister...wow - they look so much alike we couldn't tell them apart!). It was just a whole bunch of fun. Uncle Joey and Kristin came with us too. Oh - and our cousin Kaleigh Rose has a trampoline! We didn't go on it though...mommy said 'no way'. We made plans with Uncle Joey to go back when mommy's not around. He'll let us jump on it.

Sunday daddy wasn't feeling well so mommy took us to the diner for breakfast. When we got there...Grammie and Poppie showed up! We just love going out to eat for breakfast. It's our favorite meal of the day. And boy do we know how to eat! We had French Toast, pancakes, eggs, rye toast, cream cheese, potatoes & milk. YUMMY!

We'll put more pics up throughout the week. We took lots and lots of pics at this party!!!

Adios for now!

Love,

Hannah, Hailey & Emily