Favorite Book

The boys have a new book to be obsessed with. Actually, it's not a new book... we've had it since they were only a few months old. We've even read it to them a few times since receiving it. Just in the last couple of weeks though they've truly become obsessed with it. They ask for it continually, they trample each other trying to get onto the readers lap and when the book is over they ask for more. The book?

Nick and I got a major kick out of this book when it arrived in the mail (it was a gift!). Being from New England (and myself from Maine) we totally "got" the Maine humor throughout the book. The book is full of Maine speak and you can't help but put on your thickest Maine accent (or what you think is a Maine accent) when you read it.

The pictures are hilarious and it's like a Where's Waldo for Maine humor! Toddie (the toddler the book is about) comes home from the hospital on the back of a lumber truck... the name on the truck? Grant's Lumbah. Bath time happens in the ocean where Toddie wreaks havoc on the lobstermen. The Thanksgiving page has to be my favorite in the whole book. Not only is Toddie shouting in his best Maine voice "Hihowaahya?!" but the picture includes most everyone wearing an orange vest or hat (hunting season you know), snow plows on every vehicle in the yard (even the bike), an orange vest on the cow that says "Don't shoot, I'm a cow" and so much more.

If you know a Mainer or a Native New Englander who recently had a baby or has their own little Toddie, this whole family (the boys especially!) can whole heartedly recommend buying them The Wicked Big Toddlah!

Book Review - Multiple Blessings

Yes, this mom of active, toddler triplets has time to read. I don't know why so many people find that so hard to believe! I feel like I am a better and saner mom when I make time to do the things I love, and I love to read (and scrapbook but that's generally reserved for crop nights/days at church).


This past week I read Multiple Blessings by Jon and Kate Gosselin (yep, of Jon & Kate Plus 8). I saw this book in Target months ago and immediately came home and put in a hold request for it at my library. I was something like #186 in line to get it. Ouch! Thankfully the library system in my county had dozens of copies of the book, so it only took a few months for my turn to come up.

The book is an easy read and I was able to polish it off in only two naps (that's how I measure time now, in naps). The book starts way back when Jon and Kate first met and then takes you through the first two years of the sextuplets lives.

I found myself nodding along with many of Kate's complaints about being uncomfortable in pregnancy (and I'm certain her pain was way worse than mine!), her strong desire to have "just one more" child, her struggle with letting others into her home to help and giving up that total control and the thrill of watching your miracle children grow and thrive.

I appreciate her candid way of talking about bed rest, both at home and in the hospital. That wasn't something I ever experienced myself! Also scattered throughout the book is the obvious gratitude Jon and Kate have to God and all the people who had a hand in helping to provide the many things they needed, especially with the terrible time Jon had finding a steady job (several companies either fired him or flat out wouldn't hire him because of the fear of what the size of his family would do to the company's insurance rates).

I think this is a must read for any mom of multiples or mom to be of multiples. Fans of the show will enjoy it too and dare I say, people who despise the show just may not despise it so much if they read this book.

Now, a post wouldn't be complete on here without a cute pic of the boys...

Chase likes to get himself into tight spots...



The other day I walked into the boys' room to find Tyler like this!

A Moment to Make You Say "Aww"

The other night the boys uncovered an electronic Pooh Bear book. I'm not sure where it had been hiding for the last month or two, but the boys were thrilled to find it (they've recently become obsessed with the chubby bear and his friends). We had to tear them all away from the book in order to get them ready for bed and as soon as they were dressed in their PJs, they bolted back to the living room.

I walked out to the living room to find this...

(The boys were nice enough to line up in "order" - Jackson, Tyler & Chase)

Oh how I love my life! How lucky am I to get to watch three little boys grow up and explore together? So very lucky!

1,2,3 Magic

You may remember one of my New Year resolutions was to read several parenting books this year. The first book I read was 1,2,3 Magic and it came highly recommended.

1,2,3 Magic is as basic as it sounds! Bad behavior gets "counted". There's no arguing, no pleading, no bargaining with the child. You simply count. For example....

The boys like opening the drawer on the bottom of the oven, which is not a habit I want them getting into. If Chase was the culprit this time I would calmly say "Chase, that's 1." and hold up one finger. I then wait 5 seconds to see if he stops. If he does not stop I say "Chase, that's 2." and hold up a 2nd finger. If he continues still I say "Chase, that's three. Let's go take a time out." I then march him to his room (all the while remaining quiet), put him in his crib, close the door and set the timer on the microwave for 2 minutes. When the 2 minutes is up, I get Chase out of his crib and he goes on his merry way.

More serious offenses, like biting is an automatic "3" and time out.

The no talking part of the program is incredibly important to the success, although Nick struggles with remembering that at times. I'm pleased with the program so far. We've been using it about a month and I've seen a reduction in the constant "testing" the boys were doing. The boys do still act up, but I'd say about 50% of the time now they stop what they were doing by the time I get to 2.

Counting is only to be used for bad behavior, as 1,2,3 Magic has a different approach (laid out in the second half of the book) for what they call "start behaviors" (making their bed, cleaning up, getting ready to leave the house, etc.). Right now we don't have enough "start behaviors" with the boys to need that system, but I'll be ready when we do!

If you're looking for a simple, to the point discipline system I highly recommend 1,2,3 Magic!

Happy Anniversary to my parents! They're celebrating 30 years today!

Extra Laps

The life of a stay at home triplet mom can be frustrating at times. Most of the time it's great but there are three distinct times that stand out in my mind: When the boys are all sick, when they all have dirty diapers and there's no one to say "it's your turn to change them" to and when all three insist on sitting on your lap for story time.

Story time is supposed to be a fun bonding experience, but usually there are whines, pushes and hair pulled. Once in a while we'll have a nice moment like this one Nick managed to snag..


Other times I rejoice in having extra laps in the house! Last Friday I had the privilege of picking my parents and grandparents up at the airport. They didn't return home until Wednesday. As you can see, the boys thoroughly enjoyed being read to by their great-grandparents!

Resolve

Resolve: to come to a definite or earnest decision about

Ahhh the start of a new year. The time to take stock in how things went the previous year and where you'd like to improve in the future.

I feel like 2008 was pretty successful for me! I lost 30 pounds, made my own baby food, started and finished each of the boys' 1st year scrapbooks, joined a mom's group at church and began attending dinners with the Triplets Plus of Kansas City group. I'm pretty pleased with how the year went, but there is also room for improvement...

In 2009 there are several things I'm resolving to accomplish.

• Continue to lose weight (I'm so very close to where I want to be) on Weight Watchers
• Work harder at daily Bible study
• Notice the people around me who need help and actually do something about it (more about that to come)
• Read 3-4 parenting books - Any recommendations moms?

Typically by March or April I've forgotten what I even resolved to do, but this year will be different. I recently set up a Google Calendar for me in order to keep track of various appointments and events. I am setting up a pop-up reminder to remind me every 8 weeks of my resolutions. Hopefully that will keep me on track throughout the year!