The kids are working on learning their body parts. All four of them know where their eyes and nose are, and Jude and Lucy can also point to their tummy, mouth, ears, and hair. Lucy is the only one who can show you her feet, which she loves to adorn with links.
This evening I caught the girls investigating yet another part of their anatomy—and a very cute part it is!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Wasteland no more
Until recently, our backyard was a veritable toddler wasteland, barren of toys or anything else remotely fun. Thanks to a new-to-us picnic table and climb-and-slide, though, we are now well on the way to creating a great place for the Fab Four to get some fresh air and—most importantly—burn. off. some. ENERGY!
We introduced the kids to their new toys over the long weekend. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as Ted unceremoniously initiated Isaac on the slide, Jude refused to walk in the grass, Dahlia tried to escape, and Lucy made sure that she was a part of the action. Never a dull moment!
We introduced the kids to their new toys over the long weekend. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as Ted unceremoniously initiated Isaac on the slide, Jude refused to walk in the grass, Dahlia tried to escape, and Lucy made sure that she was a part of the action. Never a dull moment!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Our guitar hero
What could possibly be better than jamming with your great-uncle on your toy guitar?
How about having a great-uncle who will give you a real guitar of your very own!
You read that right: My Tío Ner hand-carried a little guitar all the way from Peru just for the Fab Four! Lucky for us, he's a classical guitarist who believes that it's important for young children to be able to explore an instrument—to climb on it, hit it, feel it, and pluck its strings—in order to hear the effects of their actions. The kids seem to discover something new every time they play with their guitarrita!
Ted and I are so grateful for my uncle's investment in our children's musical education. We also love it when he gives us a private concert. Here's a clip of the first time he performed for the Fab Four, just about a year ago:
My dad's side is blessed with several gifted guitarists (including my brother), so hopefully all of this early exposure will pay off. I certainly wouldn't mind having another guitar player (or four) in the family!
How about having a great-uncle who will give you a real guitar of your very own!
You read that right: My Tío Ner hand-carried a little guitar all the way from Peru just for the Fab Four! Lucky for us, he's a classical guitarist who believes that it's important for young children to be able to explore an instrument—to climb on it, hit it, feel it, and pluck its strings—in order to hear the effects of their actions. The kids seem to discover something new every time they play with their guitarrita!
Ted and I are so grateful for my uncle's investment in our children's musical education. We also love it when he gives us a private concert. Here's a clip of the first time he performed for the Fab Four, just about a year ago:
My dad's side is blessed with several gifted guitarists (including my brother), so hopefully all of this early exposure will pay off. I certainly wouldn't mind having another guitar player (or four) in the family!
Monday, May 24, 2010
17 months old ... stayin' alive
Our living room has undergone a makeover during the past month. Actually, several makeovers. Not because we're redecorating, but because we're rapidly discovering that "baby-proofed" does not equal "toddler-proofed"!
Scaling fences, climbing on tables, tipping toy boxes, running on the couch—we've seen it all and more in the last few weeks. Ted has spent a lot of time moving furniture around (and around) to make the living room as safe as possible, but as soon as we think we have a foolproof plan, the kids (*cough* Jude *cough*) immediately find a way to subvert it. Just yesterday morning I about died when I turned to see Jude clinging to the top corner of the couch like a little, sideways koala!
The next (admittedly extreme) measure would be to completely remove the furniture from the living room (as we know other families of multiples have done). However, our house is tiny, and there's simply nowhere else to put our stuff. Oh, for a basement ...
Scaling fences, climbing on tables, tipping toy boxes, running on the couch—we've seen it all and more in the last few weeks. Ted has spent a lot of time moving furniture around (and around) to make the living room as safe as possible, but as soon as we think we have a foolproof plan, the kids (*cough* Jude *cough*) immediately find a way to subvert it. Just yesterday morning I about died when I turned to see Jude clinging to the top corner of the couch like a little, sideways koala!
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| Being naughty!! |
I know, I know—everyone tells me that kids are resilient and that it's normal for them to fall (after all, that's how they learn, right?). Nevertheless, visions of horrible accidents flash before my eyes when I see my four little monkeys behaving so dangerously. I'm not a worrier by nature, but I do find myself praying that the Fab Four will make it to the 18-month mark in one piece!
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| An increasingly rare moment of sofa zen |
The next (admittedly extreme) measure would be to completely remove the furniture from the living room (as we know other families of multiples have done). However, our house is tiny, and there's simply nowhere else to put our stuff. Oh, for a basement ...
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Jammies can wait
"Onesie time" in the evening (formerly known as "naked time") is my favorite part of the day. The kids are happy because their bellies are full of dinner—and also because they love being free of those pesky clothes! I feel more relaxed, too, knowing that any remaining chores can wait until they are in bed. Our nightly pre-pajama party is a great time for chases and giggles and general silliness, which everyone knows is not as much fun when you have jammies on! Here's a small glimpse into a typical evening at our house:
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Light terrors
Do you see anything scary in this picture? (And no, I'm not talking about the feeding table!)
According to Lucy, the light fixture above the table is what is absolutely terrifying. It hangs directly over her designated seat, and it's never posed a problem. Until this week.
Before I go any further, let me confess that, earlier this week, I did bump Lucy's head on the light fixture as I was putting her in her seat for breakfast. But since she didn't cry and barely seemed to even notice the collision, I just kissed her head and we proceeded with our meal. Later that day, everyone got back in the table for lunch and for a snack, and both times Lucy acted normally.
Then came dinner. As soon as I put Lucy in her seat, she FREAKED. OUT. I've never seen anything like it. She was screaming so hard that she was beet red, her teeth were gritted, her fists were clenched, and her eyes were tearing. She would not eat or drink, and nothing I did to try to soothe her had any effect.
Eventually I took her out of the table and back into the living room. She calmed down almost instantly, so after a few minutes, I put her back in the table. Immediately, she reverted to full-on panic mode. I noticed that she kept looking up at the light like she was spooked, so I turned it off, thinking that perhaps the glare or heat were bothering her. No dice.
At this point, I decided that she was just having an irrational tantrum, so I took her out of the table for good, and little Lucy did not eat dinner that night.
The next morning, I put Lucy in the table for breakfast. Immediate SCREAMING. Again, I noticed that she kept looking up at the light. In a moment of inspiration, I asked Ted to help me switch her place with Jude, who usually sits the farthest from the light fixture. Right away, Lucy stopped screaming, and we were able to eat our breakfast without further incident. I haven't put her back in her old seat since then, and she's been completely fine—at the table.
I stress "at the table" because, just before naptime today, Lucy began pointing at the living room chandelier. She does this all the time, and I always tell her what it's called—no big deal. This time, however, I thought it would be fun to lift her up so that she could get a closer look at it. BAD MOVE. Lucy instantly dissolved into terrified tears! Nothing consoled her except for taking her out of the living room (which happens to be the only baby-proofed room in the house!).
It appears that dealing with this new fear of light fixtures won't be as easy as switching places at the table, after all. Anyone have any advice on how to cure this sudden chandelier phobia? I'm stumped!
According to Lucy, the light fixture above the table is what is absolutely terrifying. It hangs directly over her designated seat, and it's never posed a problem. Until this week.
Before I go any further, let me confess that, earlier this week, I did bump Lucy's head on the light fixture as I was putting her in her seat for breakfast. But since she didn't cry and barely seemed to even notice the collision, I just kissed her head and we proceeded with our meal. Later that day, everyone got back in the table for lunch and for a snack, and both times Lucy acted normally.
Then came dinner. As soon as I put Lucy in her seat, she FREAKED. OUT. I've never seen anything like it. She was screaming so hard that she was beet red, her teeth were gritted, her fists were clenched, and her eyes were tearing. She would not eat or drink, and nothing I did to try to soothe her had any effect.
Eventually I took her out of the table and back into the living room. She calmed down almost instantly, so after a few minutes, I put her back in the table. Immediately, she reverted to full-on panic mode. I noticed that she kept looking up at the light like she was spooked, so I turned it off, thinking that perhaps the glare or heat were bothering her. No dice.
At this point, I decided that she was just having an irrational tantrum, so I took her out of the table for good, and little Lucy did not eat dinner that night.
The next morning, I put Lucy in the table for breakfast. Immediate SCREAMING. Again, I noticed that she kept looking up at the light. In a moment of inspiration, I asked Ted to help me switch her place with Jude, who usually sits the farthest from the light fixture. Right away, Lucy stopped screaming, and we were able to eat our breakfast without further incident. I haven't put her back in her old seat since then, and she's been completely fine—at the table.
I stress "at the table" because, just before naptime today, Lucy began pointing at the living room chandelier. She does this all the time, and I always tell her what it's called—no big deal. This time, however, I thought it would be fun to lift her up so that she could get a closer look at it. BAD MOVE. Lucy instantly dissolved into terrified tears! Nothing consoled her except for taking her out of the living room (which happens to be the only baby-proofed room in the house!).
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| "Here I come, baby—comin' to getcha!" |
It appears that dealing with this new fear of light fixtures won't be as easy as switching places at the table, after all. Anyone have any advice on how to cure this sudden chandelier phobia? I'm stumped!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Free to a good home
Anybody need four dozen bottles?
How about close to a hundred nipples?
A ton of rings?
A whole bunch of caps?
We don't need this pile of paraphernalia anymore because the Fab Four are DONE with bedtime bottles! Which means that they are done with bottles, period! And they don't even seem to care—hallelujah! Can you tell that I never want to see another bottle again?
How about close to a hundred nipples?
A ton of rings?
A whole bunch of caps?
We don't need this pile of paraphernalia anymore because the Fab Four are DONE with bedtime bottles! Which means that they are done with bottles, period! And they don't even seem to care—hallelujah! Can you tell that I never want to see another bottle again?
Monday, May 10, 2010
Our first playdate!
This morning the Fab Four finally got to play at a friends' house like normal kids do. These particular friends, however, are far from normal—Kenny, Emma, and Grace are 16-month-old triplets!
Their mother Megan and I met when we were both new residents of the high-risk L&D unit at St. V's, but our real friendship began when we reconnected at a Moms of Multiples get-together. Since that night, Megan and I have exchanged countless e-mails about schedules, sleep problems, feeding ideas, and discipline. Having a friend like her—someone who has multiples the same age as mine and knows exactly what I'm going through—has helped keep me sane, and I know that she feels the same way about me.
Unfortunately for me, the Megans (as Ted calls her family) are moving away later this week. In light of our shared experiences, Megan and I felt that it was only right for her trio and my foursome to meet each other before the big move, so she rearranged her schedule just to make it possible for us to come over for a last-minute playdate.
I was a little apprehensive as to how the Fab Four would react to the new surroundings and the other children, but it turns out that I had no reason to worry. They got along great with the triplets—although the boys were pretty much loners and Lucy was a little shy, Dahlia got in a quite few hugs and kisses with Emma and Grace! There were lots of toys to keep everyone busy, and my kids loved running around and exploring the big basement that serves as the triplets' playroom.
Due to our schedule, we could spend only a little more than an hour with the Megans. We were all having such a good time that the minutes flew by, and everyone (including the mommies) was sad when it was time to go. I really wish that we could do it again soon—keep in touch, Megan!
Their mother Megan and I met when we were both new residents of the high-risk L&D unit at St. V's, but our real friendship began when we reconnected at a Moms of Multiples get-together. Since that night, Megan and I have exchanged countless e-mails about schedules, sleep problems, feeding ideas, and discipline. Having a friend like her—someone who has multiples the same age as mine and knows exactly what I'm going through—has helped keep me sane, and I know that she feels the same way about me.
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| Me and Megan at the last MoMs get-together |
I was a little apprehensive as to how the Fab Four would react to the new surroundings and the other children, but it turns out that I had no reason to worry. They got along great with the triplets—although the boys were pretty much loners and Lucy was a little shy, Dahlia got in a quite few hugs and kisses with Emma and Grace! There were lots of toys to keep everyone busy, and my kids loved running around and exploring the big basement that serves as the triplets' playroom.
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| Seven sets of busy hands |
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| Triplet and quad buddies, together at last! (left to right: Kenny, Grace, Emma, Lucy, Dahlia, Isaac, and Jude) |
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Chop, chop!
On Monday morning, we had a very special visitor: my wonderful hair designer Dawn. Because it's hard for me to get away long enough to go to the salon, Dawn's been coming to me periodically ever since the babies came home.
The last time she was here, I mentioned that I was wanting to cut the kids' hair soon. She told me that she'd be happy to perform the honors here at the house, and I jumped at the chance. After all, not only do the kids already know her, but they also have seen her actually cutting my hair! I figured that this familiarity (as well as the familiar surroundings) might lessen the chances of any first-haircut hysteria.
Thankfully, I was right: The kids acted like getting a haircut was no big deal, and the only (brief) tears came when Dawn tried to use the hairdryer on Dahlia. Whew!
Jude had adorable curls in the back at one point, but as his hair grew longer, the curls had morphed into an unfortunate mullet. Dawn trimmed up the back and made Jude look like a little man:
Dahlia was also a victim of the baby mullet. Dawn cut a couple of inches off the back to give her a super-cute swing bob:
Isaac's transformation was the most dramatic. His mass of gorgeous blond curls had gotten out of control. I asked Dawn to tame them without obliterating them. He looks like such a big boy now:
Later that day, the kiddos debuted their new dos in the backyard:
The last time she was here, I mentioned that I was wanting to cut the kids' hair soon. She told me that she'd be happy to perform the honors here at the house, and I jumped at the chance. After all, not only do the kids already know her, but they also have seen her actually cutting my hair! I figured that this familiarity (as well as the familiar surroundings) might lessen the chances of any first-haircut hysteria.
Thankfully, I was right: The kids acted like getting a haircut was no big deal, and the only (brief) tears came when Dawn tried to use the hairdryer on Dahlia. Whew!
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| Having a ball with spray bottle, clips, and hair clippings(clockwise from top left: Lucy, Jude, Isaac, and Dahlia) |
Lucy's haircut was the simplest. Her curls already looked so cute that all Dawn had to do was snip off some fine ends, and voila:
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| Lucy, before and after |
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| Jude, before and after |
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| Dahlia, before and after |
Isaac's transformation was the most dramatic. His mass of gorgeous blond curls had gotten out of control. I asked Dawn to tame them without obliterating them. He looks like such a big boy now:
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| Isaac, before and after |
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| Strutting their stuff in their Beatles duds (clockwise from top left: Lucy, Jude, Isaac, and Dahlia) |
So my Fab Four are moptops no more—and we love it! Thanks, Dawn!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
16 months old ... a day in the life
Now that we don't have daytime bottles or a morning nap to deal with, the Fab Four and I have been getting out a lot more. Which means that we're running into a lot of strangers with a lot of questions for us. The most frequent comment is, "You sure have your hands full!" (Yes, I do.) Many people want to know whether it's hard, whether I'm worn out, and whether the kids sleep all night. (Yes, yes, and yes.)
Another common question is, "How do you do it?" Well, besides a lot of prayer and a great husband, I have to say that the key is a consistent schedule. The babies came home from the NICU on a 3-hour schedule, and we've just adapted that routine as they've grown. Here is what a day with 16-month-old quadruplets looks like for me:
7am: Wake up! Anyone who wakes up before this is out of luck. Sometimes one or more kids will sleep later than 7, but we never let them sleep past 8. Everybody gets a diaper change and then plays with Ted while I unload the dishwasher, assemble and fill sippy cups, and make breakfast.
8am: Breakfast. I feed and clean up the kids while Ted gets ready for work.
8:30 to 10am: Playtime. While the kids entertain themselves, I clean up from breakfast (wipe off table and floor, rinse bibs, refill cups, load dirty dishes), prep lunch, make myself as presentable as possible, and usually change a couple of dirty diapers. Around 9, I pop in a DVD (usually Baby Einstein) to keep the masses under control.
10 to 11am: WALK! By this time of the morning, all of us need a change of scenery. Doesn't matter if it's hot, cold, or raining—our mammoth stroller can handle it all! Once in a while (usually on the weekend, when Ted can come with us), we all pile in the van for a change of pace.
11:30am: Lunch. I feed and clean up the kids, and then I strip them down to their onesies. Each kid gets a diaper and wardrobe change while the others run around and have a good ole time. My back is usually killing me by this point.
12:30pm to 3pm: NAPTIME! While the kids sleep, I clean up from lunch (see breakfast cleanup routine), get lunch ready for me and Ted, eat in front of the computer, fold laundry, pick up toys, etc. People always assume that I nap while the kids sleep. This is rarely an option!
3:30pm: Snack. After the kids eat, I wipe the table and bibs, prep dinner, and then it's time to change diapers. A few times a week, friends come over during this time to entertain the kids and help me out for a few hours. This is a LIFESAVER.
4:30 to 5pm: Walk. The kids really enjoy leaving the house, so I try to fit in two walks a day. Sometimes this doesn't happen, in which case there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth (by both me and the kids).
5pm: Dinner. I feed and clean up the kids, and then I strip them down to their diapers. They run around like I just freed them from prison while I clean up from dinner and fill their bedtime bottles. When I'm done, it's time to put on their jammies (and usually change a couple more dirty diapers). "Naked time" is coming to end, however, as a couple of the kids have become a little too interested in messing with their diapers (!!).
6pm: Musical education hour. Ted is done working, so he breaks out the CDs and teaches the kids what good music is all about. During this time, I hang out with them, finish my chores, get a shower, chill in front of the computer, or do whatever else I need to do. If it's bath night, we skip musical education and stick the kids in the tub (we started bathing two at a time this month, but I'm still not brave enough to try all four at once).
7pm: Bedtime bottles. Everyone drinks their bottle while watching "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy." Everyone, that is, but Lucy, who weaned herself from the bottle this week and now drinks a bedtime sippy (big girl!). After bottles, we brush teeth and do a last round of diaper changes.
8pm: BEDTIME!! The kids are in bed, but the day isn't over yet: Gotta pick up the toys, finish any cleanup that didn't get done, fold laundry, watch "Lost" or "Survivor" (the only two shows we can't miss), pay bills, go to the grocery, etc. Oh, and figure out what to eat for dinner. Around 10, we hit the sack and pray that no one wakes up during the night ... gotta rest up to do this all over again tomorrow!
Another common question is, "How do you do it?" Well, besides a lot of prayer and a great husband, I have to say that the key is a consistent schedule. The babies came home from the NICU on a 3-hour schedule, and we've just adapted that routine as they've grown. Here is what a day with 16-month-old quadruplets looks like for me:
7am: Wake up! Anyone who wakes up before this is out of luck. Sometimes one or more kids will sleep later than 7, but we never let them sleep past 8. Everybody gets a diaper change and then plays with Ted while I unload the dishwasher, assemble and fill sippy cups, and make breakfast.
8am: Breakfast. I feed and clean up the kids while Ted gets ready for work.
8:30 to 10am: Playtime. While the kids entertain themselves, I clean up from breakfast (wipe off table and floor, rinse bibs, refill cups, load dirty dishes), prep lunch, make myself as presentable as possible, and usually change a couple of dirty diapers. Around 9, I pop in a DVD (usually Baby Einstein) to keep the masses under control.
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| Learning sign language in the morning |
11:30am: Lunch. I feed and clean up the kids, and then I strip them down to their onesies. Each kid gets a diaper and wardrobe change while the others run around and have a good ole time. My back is usually killing me by this point.
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| Engaging in a staring contest with the neighbor's dog |
12:30pm to 3pm: NAPTIME! While the kids sleep, I clean up from lunch (see breakfast cleanup routine), get lunch ready for me and Ted, eat in front of the computer, fold laundry, pick up toys, etc. People always assume that I nap while the kids sleep. This is rarely an option!
3:30pm: Snack. After the kids eat, I wipe the table and bibs, prep dinner, and then it's time to change diapers. A few times a week, friends come over during this time to entertain the kids and help me out for a few hours. This is a LIFESAVER.
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| Trying their first Peeps (thanks, Abuelita!) |
5pm: Dinner. I feed and clean up the kids, and then I strip them down to their diapers. They run around like I just freed them from prison while I clean up from dinner and fill their bedtime bottles. When I'm done, it's time to put on their jammies (and usually change a couple more dirty diapers). "Naked time" is coming to end, however, as a couple of the kids have become a little too interested in messing with their diapers (!!).
6pm: Musical education hour. Ted is done working, so he breaks out the CDs and teaches the kids what good music is all about. During this time, I hang out with them, finish my chores, get a shower, chill in front of the computer, or do whatever else I need to do. If it's bath night, we skip musical education and stick the kids in the tub (we started bathing two at a time this month, but I'm still not brave enough to try all four at once).
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| Lucy and Dahlia's first bath together |
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| Jude and Isaac's first bath together |
8pm: BEDTIME!! The kids are in bed, but the day isn't over yet: Gotta pick up the toys, finish any cleanup that didn't get done, fold laundry, watch "Lost" or "Survivor" (the only two shows we can't miss), pay bills, go to the grocery, etc. Oh, and figure out what to eat for dinner. Around 10, we hit the sack and pray that no one wakes up during the night ... gotta rest up to do this all over again tomorrow!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
15 months old ... catching up!
A lot has happened since I wrote the 13-month update nearly 2 months ago. Here are some highlights:
As I'd hoped, we abandoned formula and made the switch to sippy cups and milk (keeping only a bedtime bottle) upon the first anniversary of the babies' due date. Unfortunately, the kids seemed to hate the taste of milk; on top of that, it took me a week to figure out that the sippy cups I had were not working for them. After getting a lot of advice from my wonderful friends, I purchased a can of strawberry Quik and some Nuby straw cups. Like magic, the kids suddenly started drinking their milk! They are now drinking straight milk from their cups like pros, but we have some work to do where etiquette is concerned: The kids are still learning that stealing, banging, or throwing cups is a no-no!
The Fab Four's interests are changing, too. They have discovered books and are almost obsessed with being read to. Sometimes they will make me read a book seven or eight times in a row! I love it, though—when they were smaller, I could never find the time to sit down and read to them (gee, I wonder why!), and I worried that I had ruined their chances of being book lovers. I'm so glad I was wrong!
I suspect that some language switch must have flipped recently because, in addition to being crazy about books, the kids are also starting to talk a lot more:
Lucy was the first baby to say a word, and she continues to lead the pack. She can say, "Pepper," "dada," "mama," "night-night," "nana" (banana), "yummy," and "bye-bye." She also knows the sign for "more." Her new game is to point at objects all around the room and say, "Dat!" I assume that she wants to know what those things are called, so I tell her. Over and over.
Jude (who, incidentally, has turned into quite the clown—I need to take video of some of his antics so that you can see what I mean) is quickly catching up to Lucy. He can say, "night-night" (his word for his blankie), "nana" (banana), "dada," and "mama," and he knows the signs for "more" and "all done."
Dahlia can say, "Pepper," "dada," "mama," "night-night," and "nana" (banana). Yesterday she learned the sign for "more!"
Isaac can say, "Pepper," "dada," and "mama." He's babbling a lot more than he used to, so I know more words are on the way soon. I am still working on getting him to use signs, but I think "more" is around the corner.
The last piece of news is that we eliminated the morning nap yesterday! It had gotten to the point where, after taking a good morning nap, the boys would sleep 0 to 30 minutes in the afternoon (no fun for Mommy!). To help get us through the morning yesterday and today, we employed an hour of Baby Einstein, topped off by a 30-minute stroll just before lunch. So far, so good. Ted and I are hopeful that this change in routine will bring back some predictability for all of us. And we're excited because the schedule shift means that we might be able to start going to church again soon!
As I'd hoped, we abandoned formula and made the switch to sippy cups and milk (keeping only a bedtime bottle) upon the first anniversary of the babies' due date. Unfortunately, the kids seemed to hate the taste of milk; on top of that, it took me a week to figure out that the sippy cups I had were not working for them. After getting a lot of advice from my wonderful friends, I purchased a can of strawberry Quik and some Nuby straw cups. Like magic, the kids suddenly started drinking their milk! They are now drinking straight milk from their cups like pros, but we have some work to do where etiquette is concerned: The kids are still learning that stealing, banging, or throwing cups is a no-no!
The Fab Four's interests are changing, too. They have discovered books and are almost obsessed with being read to. Sometimes they will make me read a book seven or eight times in a row! I love it, though—when they were smaller, I could never find the time to sit down and read to them (gee, I wonder why!), and I worried that I had ruined their chances of being book lovers. I'm so glad I was wrong!
I suspect that some language switch must have flipped recently because, in addition to being crazy about books, the kids are also starting to talk a lot more:
Lucy was the first baby to say a word, and she continues to lead the pack. She can say, "Pepper," "dada," "mama," "night-night," "nana" (banana), "yummy," and "bye-bye." She also knows the sign for "more." Her new game is to point at objects all around the room and say, "Dat!" I assume that she wants to know what those things are called, so I tell her. Over and over.
Jude (who, incidentally, has turned into quite the clown—I need to take video of some of his antics so that you can see what I mean) is quickly catching up to Lucy. He can say, "night-night" (his word for his blankie), "nana" (banana), "dada," and "mama," and he knows the signs for "more" and "all done."
Dahlia can say, "Pepper," "dada," "mama," "night-night," and "nana" (banana). Yesterday she learned the sign for "more!"
Isaac can say, "Pepper," "dada," and "mama." He's babbling a lot more than he used to, so I know more words are on the way soon. I am still working on getting him to use signs, but I think "more" is around the corner.
The last piece of news is that we eliminated the morning nap yesterday! It had gotten to the point where, after taking a good morning nap, the boys would sleep 0 to 30 minutes in the afternoon (no fun for Mommy!). To help get us through the morning yesterday and today, we employed an hour of Baby Einstein, topped off by a 30-minute stroll just before lunch. So far, so good. Ted and I are hopeful that this change in routine will bring back some predictability for all of us. And we're excited because the schedule shift means that we might be able to start going to church again soon!
Monday, March 8, 2010
He's got the beat
A long time ago, when the Fab Four were still in the womb and nameless, I assigned to Isaac (then known as Baby B) the temporary name of Paul (as in John, Paul, George, and Ringo). If I'd known then how much Isaac would love to bang on his alphabet drums, I probably would have nicknamed him Ringo instead. When he's not pounding the drums, he's standing in front of them and bouncing to their music. So cute!
(Better to slap the drums than my face, I say. Anyone know of a good way to curb the gratuitous hitting that's starting to rear its ugly head?)
(Better to slap the drums than my face, I say. Anyone know of a good way to curb the gratuitous hitting that's starting to rear its ugly head?)
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Goodbye, crawling!
Even after many months of watching the Fab Four learn and grow, it still amazes me how four children born within seconds of each other can reach developmental milestones at such widely varying intervals. Take, for example, the babies' road from first steps to walking:
Isaac took his first steps at the end of October and began walking full-time in the first part of December ...
Jude took his first steps at the end of December, just before their babies' first birthday, and started walking at the end of January ...
Lucy took her first steps at the beginning of December but didn't start full-on walking until the beginning of February ...
and, last but certainly not least ...
Dahlia took her first steps in mid-January and started walking across the room ... TODAY!
I think it's safe to say that we have four toddlers on our hands! I guess I'd better hurry up and learn how to run in four directions at once—that is one of the Quad Mom superpowers, right?
Isaac took his first steps at the end of October and began walking full-time in the first part of December ...
Jude took his first steps at the end of December, just before their babies' first birthday, and started walking at the end of January ...
Lucy took her first steps at the beginning of December but didn't start full-on walking until the beginning of February ...
and, last but certainly not least ...
Dahlia took her first steps in mid-January and started walking across the room ... TODAY!
I think it's safe to say that we have four toddlers on our hands! I guess I'd better hurry up and learn how to run in four directions at once—that is one of the Quad Mom superpowers, right?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Just a little bit longer
Today I caught Jude messing with Dahlia's hair:
And it reminded me of one morning last summer, when I took this video of Jude discovering Dahlia's hair for the first time:
And it reminded me of one morning last summer, when I took this video of Jude discovering Dahlia's hair for the first time:
Something tells me he's just waiting for her hair to get long enough for him to give it a really good YANK!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
1 year old ... again!
Today is the first anniversary of my due date. Of course, the only time my due date really meant anything to me was during the 2 weeks between the day I found out I was pregnant and the day I found out I was pregnant with quadruplets! Nevertheless, February 9 is a date to remember, as it marks the day my babies reach the adjusted age (as opposed to chronological age) of 12 months. To me, it's an important milestone because, even though the kids have already caught up to their chronological age in size and development, I now feel like I can safely do some of the things you do with 1-year-olds, such as weaning them off their bottles or feeding them eggs and cow's milk.
February 9 is also special because it's the day I am proud to announce that Lucy has joined Isaac and Jude in the walker club! I decide someone is officially walking when he or she can walk across the living room unaided, and Lucy's got it down. Check her out:
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| "So ... does this mean we get another birthday party?" |
February 9 is also special because it's the day I am proud to announce that Lucy has joined Isaac and Jude in the walker club! I decide someone is officially walking when he or she can walk across the living room unaided, and Lucy's got it down. Check her out:
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