and now, we NAP! :)

It seems like forever since I've posted anything.  It has been pretty crazy here ...

The trio is healthy, growing and keeping me on my toes but one thing has been seriously lacking - SLEEP!  A few weeks ago I read an article stating a 9m old should sleep, on average, 14 hours per day - WHAT?!  I'm not sure how it happened or when but at some point the trio stopped napping.  They average 7-9 hours of sleep/day.  I've started to fall behind on laundry, cleaning, bottles, cooking and that is with constant help at our house.  Everyday I have help for at least 2 hours, if not more, so why am I always playing catch up?  To add to my exhaustion we have recently announced we are expecting another munchkin in early 2014.  This means we have less than 6 months to establish a better daily routine.

We've avoided CIO for many reasons but I really reached the point where we considered it.  After the trio's first mini vacay we realized the situation was more serious than we thought - awake at 4am, no naps, in bed at 8, awake at 2am to eat and very crabby ... it was rough!  Then we realized that is how it always is.  Were they not eating enough?  Not active enough?  Or was it me?  

This week I've started giving them their mid-morning bottle in their cribs and BAM they're asleep from 9:15-12:30/1!!!!  The nap with more finger foods - macaroni, pasta, fruit pieces - and they are different people!  :)  YAY for sleep and a HUGE thank you to those who encouraged me!!!! <3

xo, Bridget

9 Month Check In

I just realized I haven't posted in a few weeks ~ we've been growing so quickly I've lost track of time!

October 18, 2012 - 18 days old!

Today we are 9m!  It is crazy to think how fast this time has gone!!!  

Although we're still on the smaller size (14-18lbs) the trio continues to amaze us!  Brief update from a proud momma: 

Here are the 8m-11m  developmental milestones & who is meeting them:
*Lunges forward - Owen, Lucas, Mackenzie
*Jabbers or combines syllables - Owen, Lucas, Mackenzie
*Drags objects towards self - Owen, Lucas, Mackenzie
*Sit without support - Owen, Lucas, Mackenzie
*Starts to experience stranger anxiety - Owen
*Crawls - Lucas, Mackenzie
*Bangs objects together - Owen, Lucas, Mackenzie  
*Says "mama" & "dada"
*Stands while holding onto something - Owen, Lucas, Mackenzie
*Pulls self up - Lucas, Mackenzie
*Cruises - Mackenzie
*Climbs - Mackenzie 
*Uses pincer grasp - Lucas, Mackenzie 
*Plays peek-a-boo - Owen, Lucas, Mackenzie
*Stoops from standing position - Mackenzie
*Puts objects into a container
*Waves hello/goodbye
*Claps

Little Mack continues to surpass her brothers and keep me on my toes!  I can't wait for a 12m update at the end of summer!

We're 9m!!

xo, Bridget

$1 Savings

Early on my parents taught me the value of a dollar.  Andy & I hope to pass on this value to our little munchkins so we're starting super early!

How do you save for your kids and still stay on a budget?  

Our parents both paid for our college education - a gift that allowed us to start our adult lives debt free - a gift we hope we can pass to our munchkins, too.  While saving for a house, saving for vacations & paying regular bills all on one income this will take some serious creativity!  

Although the kids do not yet understand the concept of money we are beginning this now - it's only a matter of time before they catch on! :)  

Every time we go somewhere the munchkins can earn $1 - it's within our budget, easy & will eventually teach them responsibility!  Can they make it through a 20 minute Target run without screaming/biting/having to be carried?  If so they get $1 in their piggy banks!  Can they walk to Starbucks nicely?  Do we survive the 1 hour car ride to Sheboygan?  From just these past few weeks it is clear the boys will have WAY more money than Mackenzie!!!!

The long term plan?
Half stays in their piggy banks for them, half goes into their savings accounts.  Once they have a certain amount we will transfer the money to CDs and then transfer to their 529 accounts.  It's not a lot but a start!

8 Month Check In

This time last year I was just 13 weeks pregnant - it is crazy how quickly the time goes!

Mackenzie at 13 weeks

It is hard to believe these little peanuts are already 8 months old!  Just a few weeks ago Birth-3 came to re-evaluate the group and see how everyone is progressing.  This visit was much different than their initial eval (which was at 3m corrected age).  This time we blew their socks off!!!

I think we've earned some bragging rights!
Since they were preemies the doctors and specialists all follow their corrected age (which is 2m behind) when checking for size, development, etc.  I have never been a fan of the corrected age - I know they'll be small but I want them to be as close as possible to their real age for everything else.  

Birth-3 was evaluating at the 6m age & looking for rolling in both directions, turning towards sounds, putting objects to mouth, transferring toys from hand to hand, recognizes name and plays with feet.  The kids far surpassed these goals!  Everyone is successful in their own areas - Owen is best at sitting without support, Lucas can roll anywhere & Mackenzie is crawling and across the board they are closer to their real than adjusted age!  WHEW, sigh of relief!  
Here are the 7-8m developmental milestones & who is meeting them:
*Lunges forward - Owen, Lucas, Mackenzie
*Jabbers or combines syllables - Lucas
*Drags objects towards self - Owen, Lucas, Mackenzie
*Sit without support - Owen, Mackenzie
*Starts to experience stranger anxiety - Owen
*Crawls - Mackenzie
*Bangs objects together - Mackenzie 

Coming Soon:
*Says "mama" & "dada"
*Stands while holding onto something
*Waves hello/goodbye
*Claps

I am SO happy with their continued progress!  I will admit, though, it is sad how quickly they are changing!!!  I was not prepared for crawling or teeth (everyone has 2 bottom teeth) this soon!!!  I miss my teeny tiny snugglers (hello baby fever!) 

BIG kids! :) 

Always Ready

Are you prepared for a disaster?!

Winter Bins - Lucas & Owen

Let's be honest, the answer is no.  No matter how much you plan, organize or pack you can never be prepared enough.  What you can do is eliminate some of the stressors.  During my pregnancy I spent A LOT of time (6 months to be exact) laying on the couch watching TV.  Mixed in with crazy dance moms, emotionally unstable wedding dress hunters, teen moms and the ex-amish I found "doomsday preppers."  I don't believe in their extremes but I did learn a few things about what we NEED if disaster strikes!  

2 weeks after the trio came home WI started the winter worry about a "blizzard."  If memory serves me this so called blizzard ended up a dusting but regardless I packed up 2 bins of things we would need.  A week ago I packed up the same bins for summer in case of a power outage or tornado.  

Our plan: If I am home alone with the kids I will pack the bins and kids and drive 8 blocks to my parents, assuming the weather allows travel.  If Andy and I are both home we would have to make the decision to either stay or go.  If we stay our basement has rock n plays and play mats.  Our survival bins have: WATER, baby formula, bottles, baby food, baby tylenol and gas drops, diapers, wipes, baby clothes (extra clothes, socks, things to keep warm), blankets, hats/mittens, snow plants, lighters, candles, baby toys, books, an extra phone charger, extra batteries and a flashlight.  I would say this is a very basic list - we have never accounted for long periods of time or food for Andy and I and after reading this list realize we have no medical supplies but like I said, it's a start.  

Does luck favor the prepared?  Maybe but luck isn't something we control.  Our readiness is.  I hope we never have to use these bins.  It saddens me the continued disasters across the globe, the loss of lives and homes, the fear within us and the unknown.  Being prepared is my way to keeping the fear at bay.  

xo, Bridget

Sign Language

A B C

We've been doing sign language with the trio since they were 2m, once they were home from the NICU.  We started by ordering a DVD/book set from SigningTime - the kids LOVED it.  It captured their attention, was easy for Andy and I to learn and taught us fun songs.  

Why Sign Language?

*Increased Language Skills

*Earlier Verbal Skills - your baby will sign back between 8-12 months.  They'll understand the signs much sooner, though.  

*Higher IQ

I decided to start sign language long before the trio was born.  During college and for 2 years after I worked with non-verbal Autistic children.  Many of them used communication devices rather than sign language - both, in my opinion, have their own benefits but signing is something that can come even before you know if your child will have language delays.  It's an excellent tool to eliminate frustration, involve your child in their daily routine and teach basic vocabulary (vocabulary size is an effective predictor of reading comprehension).  

It's very simple to learn and teach basic signs.  You can order the DVDs, books, etc. to help become more confident (watch them on youtube, see below). Pick a few signs that you want to learn/teach - words that you use regularly. Once you've made a list take every opportunity to sign with your kiddos - at mealtime, diaper changes, transitions, bath time, all the time!  Here are some easy signs to start with:

*mom

*dad

*diaper

*more

*all done

*milk

Here are some signing links that might be helpful if you choose to start using sign language. 

"Diaper Dance" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtU1_1U6VDA&list=PL51530060F52922C1

Singing Time - http://www.signingtime.com/

WeeHands - http://www.weehands.com/

Great Book for Parents - http://www.amazon.com/The-Baby-Signing-Book-Includes/dp/0778804518/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368663588&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=the+baby+singing+book+sara+bingham

xo, Bridget  (I'm currently taking classes to become a Singing Teacher and couldn't be more excited!!)

Budget Success

Owen grocery shopping! 

Budget Update ... SUCCESS!  
At the beginning of May I made a meal calendar for the entire month and grocery shopped accordingly. So far I've found 2 things I missed (and needed) as well as 5ish things I wanted but didn't include - not bad!  I also have started recalculating recipes to be 1/2 or 1/4 the size so we have MUCH less waste!  When I looked at our financial waste 2 things stood out: groceries and Target.  Target is more about self control whereas the grocery waste is about not eating leftovers, not using food fast enough and buying things that we don't need.    

Math is absolutely not my strong point so altering recipes has been a lot about second guessing and hoping for the best but so far everything has turned out just as wonderful as previously.  There are a few websites, see below, that help with scaling or altering a recipe to make it a little less stressful.  Another thing I've done is plan our recipes to maximize the use of meat - for instance one day we had spaghetti with meatballs and a few days later had meatball subs.  I made all of the meatballs one afternoon but waited to cook the second half until the day of - same fresh taste!  It's the little things that make a difference.  

Now, I said we were on a budget but that doesn't mean I've stopped spoiling my peanuts!!!  SO with the money we're saving on less waste I used to buy the kids a tent.  Now they can be outside with me and I don't have to worry about sunburn!  Ok, ok ... I also bought them chairs! ;)  

http://allrecipes.com/help/recipeinfo/scaling.aspx

http://food.unl.edu/web/fnh/reduce-recipe-size