We Have a Winner!

We have a winner in the walking contest - well, right now just the stepping contest. Rachel took two steps in a row yesterday on her own. Surprisingly she seems to be the most stable on her feet while Alyssa, who also took a step of her own, is our fastest cruiser.

I think we all were banking on Julianna being first but she is too busy being crazy (and falling) that she doesn't have the desire to try. She's been the more mechanical one lately. Everytime I unbuckle her from her carseat or highchair she begins to play with the buckles and tries to put them back together. So funny. She has also begun playing peek-a-boo. Hopefully I'll get some video of that soon.

Haven't gotten the pictures on the computer yet but they are great and I bought too many. Christmas for family is covered :) Sorry to spoil the surprise!

And Julianna is doing fine - the doctor cleared her from everything - wound is fine, no concussion. I could've told them that and saved myself $15 but better safe then sorry I guess.

A Disastrous Day!

Also known as Family Picture Day. Also known as Attack-of-the-Shoes Day. Also known as Julianna's-First-Trip-to-the-ER Day.

Thank God this occurred after the pictures:



So, our day was a little more crazy then originally planned and if the Nelson's don't make enough of a scene wherever we go we made even more of one tonight.

The day started out simple enough. I actually got to get my hair done and so did Kaitlyn so we'd look good for our family Christmas pictures/triplet's 1st birthday pictures/Caleb's 4th birthday pictures.

After searching desperately for the 6th baby shoe for like an hour we got there on time. The biggest problem with triplet clothing is that if you are missing just one piece the whole thing goes out the window. No one can wear shoes if we can only find 5 out of 6 shoes!!

So, then we find all 6 shoes but let me tell you - the babies know how to get those things off in a hurry! Kirk and I and the two picture people (ha - literally - we went to the Picture People) chased the babies around and most of the time it was to put their shoes on. Eventually we dumped the whole shoe idea and after I changed them into their birthday outfits was barred by Kirk to even try their birthday shoes. So, I am ecstatic at the picture results but very bummed that they do not have adorable little shoes on in most of the pictures. Please forgive me for that.

When we went back to check out our pictures we found out that they were great and we were all set to buy a bunch when Julianna fell over and hit the bottom of the stool we were sitting on. When I picked her up her head had a huge gash. The nice people from the Picture People called 9-1-1 and after careful examination we all determined that she would be okay. However, to be on the safe side and to see whether or not she needed stitches she was taken, very slowly, by ambulance to Prince William Hospital. Kirk rode with her (on the stretcher too - that was cute) and I dragged all 4 kids behind them.

Thankfully by friend JoRonda was able to step in and help with the four so I could hang out with Julianna and help hold her down while they put "super glue" - you know that hospital glue stuff - on her forehead. She didn't need stitches and as you can see, she is fine:



This is Kirk trying to corral her while the "numbing medicine" took effect - that's what on her forehead.



Completely back to normal. Obviously no concussion. Just wanted to prove to those of us who didn't know that Julianna is certainly the rough and tumble one in the pack! And now, officially, all three girls have been treated by Prince William Hospital this year.



On a side note, if you ever want pictures done the Manassas Picture People are awesome. They called 9-1-1, held babies while we talked to like 12 paramedics (do they have nothing better to do?), one of them helped me to the car while Kirk was off on the stretcher, oh, and they took really good pictures which I was hoping to post here but don't have yet but do plan to go back and buy very soon :)

Once Again, It's November

I cannot believe it! November has come around again! Of course, this happens every year. Mentally I understand this but truly to be here again is amazing. Last year today I was very depressed. You probably figured that out through my blogging but truly, sitting in that room, trapped and realizing that I would now have 4 children in the same month was depressing and overwhelming.

At least this year I have the knowledge already that the triplets would not be born on Caleb's birthday and at the least they would be a few days apart. I am grateful for this but as I look ahead to the next 16 days I am once again a bit overwhelmed! I have to plan 2 birthday parties and somehow prepare for Thanksgiving and keep up with school.

I don't think we are ever truly prepared for all of our parental duties but seriously, did this month have to be so overwhelming??

Anyway, a few things for fun:

On the way to school I was asked by Kaitlyn: "What does p-l-a-n-k-t-o-n spell?" You have the ability to see it all together, I had to hear it from the back row, over the talking babies and then I'm wondering why in the world I'm even being asked this question!

As we pull into the driveway Caleb tells me that he's praying that bugs do not take over the world. What?! "Mom, I've very thankful for spiders and I pray that they don't die because they eat bugs!" Okay. "Bats eat mosquitos so they're good. We don't want the bugs to take over the world." Of course we don't, I concede as I close the garage door and unload 4 kids from the van.

And the babies: they are as cranky as ever. They can say "dada" and "mama" but they don't yet know who is who but at their level as they crawl around any leg is good for pulling up and yelling to be held. Julianna is still amazingly loud - it's a gift!

Teeth count:

Julianna - getting #7 - another bottom tooth has broken through!
Rachel - getting #4 - I can't believe she is finally catching up.
Alyssa - still just 4 but she shows them off every chance she gets.
Kaitlyn - she is on the losing end :) Down another one last night at Chuck E. Cheese
Caleb - all his baby teeth - nothing to report.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today is Grandma Hildebrandt's birthday and I wanted to wish her a very, very happy birthday. A year ago today I was sitting in the hospital hoping and wishing the girls would have been born today to share a birthday with her. Unfortunately that didn't happen and the girls (or I) held on another 19 days. Oh yea, the countdown to their birthday is in full swing. The countdown to Grandma and Grandpa's visit is also on and will coincide with the babies. Yea, a week of back up - I'm so excited. Oh, and there's Thanksgiving. At least this one I won't be in massive pain recovering from a C-section.

And a little bit late - pictures from the kid's spirit week. They had a great time last week and also had a great Friday night at Family Fun Night. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera and I am hugely disappointed. Anyway, here's the rest of the week except for Monday which was crazy hair day. Unfortunately, Kaitlyn's hair didn't look much different that it usually does (she has her mom's hair) and Caleb refused to let me do anything to his hair so there really wasn't much of a picture opportunity.

And again a big Happy Birthday to my Mom!! I love her so much and am thankful for her every day. I also miss her a lot since she's so far away...

Adding Pictures

Here's my pictures from the weekend now that the photo upload is working...

The girls at Toy Box Farm:



First time on a moon bounce...



Julianna (Aunt Christina has dubbed her the "Cute Brute")



Rachel with her famous model pout.



And here's Alyssa on the moonbounce because she refused to sit still on the ground - I'm pretty sure the "princess" hated the grass :)



Kaitlyn and Caleb (the sun was in his eyes so he wouldn't cooperate)



Kirk with Alyssa and Julianna at Mrs. G's fall party.



Rachel having fun - at least there's a smile this time!



Trying to get a picture of Kirk's pumpkin - it's the Superman one on the left.

I Love Fall

Most of you know that we don't celebrate Halloween but that doesn't mean that I don't thoroughly enjoy all the festivities associated with this time of year. I love pumpkin patches and hay rides and fall parks.

Today we got to enjoy a few more things about fall at another fall park and a friend's house for pumpkin carving/chili eating contests. Kirk didn't win, I mean the kid's pumpkin didn't win but it looked great :)

I am making an attempt to upload pictures but Blogspot is having trouble getting them to upload so I will try again later this week.

Please check back - this week is Crazy Week at Kaitlyn and Caleb's school where they have lots of fun dress-up days to celebrate fall and I will be taking pictures of them as well. I missed this week last year because I was in the hospital so I am excited to be home for it this year. Hopefully we'll get this thing up and working!

26 more days to go till 1 year (still looking for a location for their big party...)

The Countdown Begins...

It's official. The girls are 11 months old which means in just 31 (long) days they will be 1 years old and it officially means that I will have survived one entire year of having triplets. This I can't believe.

A year ago I knew my 36 week mark and was counting down to that praying every day that they will come earlier. This year I know better. These girls are stubborn and determined. That certainly hasn't changed!

Official accomplishments at 11 months:

Julianna: 6 teeth, able to giggle and laugh at anything, can also shake toys, is willing to fall out of anything, has tipped over chairs and swimming floatation devices just by leaning over, cannot walk but is trying very, very hard.

Rachel: 2 teeth, has the hugest smile I've ever seen as well as the largest blue eyes, these are scary big still, still the smallest but is also into everything, would prefer to be thrown in the air and worn on my head as a hat - gets a giggle every time, loves to climb especially on me, cannot walk but is also trying very, very hard.

Alyssa: 4 teeth, the quietest and clingiest by far, has an amazing ability to crawl after me in tears, head down, wailing but she knows where I am and will find me, if she cannot find me she can sit in the middle of any floor and wail, very loudly. Loves her big sister and laughs when she is funny, still looks a lot like Caleb, very much the baby of the family. Cannot walk but does not care, she can stand very well though and sits on her princess butt with care.

Those are my girls. They are so different and so alike. The countdown to the birthday and the party have begun. As well as the walking. We'll see who does it first and what they accomplish in the next month. Maybe Rachel will get some more teeth...

Teddy Bear Picnic and A Walk Around the Block

For some reason my life goes from uneventful with nothing to post about to lots of stuff in one day. I guess that's how life works.

So, today Caleb's class had a Teddy Bear Picnic which was very cute. His teacher had all the kids bring their favorite teddy bear and then they made PB&J sandwiches after turning the bread into teddy bears. It was very cute. Of course, Caleb had to bring the biggest bear but he looked adorable!

Caleb with his HUGE teddy bear!



Caleb eating his fun lunch...



And tonight we got to do something we've done before but not quite like this. Last night we picked up from another mom something I've been wanting for a long time - a triplet wagon! The girls had a great time though since it's an older model it doesn't have seatbelts to hold them - a fact the girls greatly exploited - except Alyssa who hunkered down and made sure she was no where near the edge. Julianna, of course, managed to find a way to fall out head first while we were at a stop.

Check out how cute they are!

The girls on their way out for a walk:






I had to get a shot of Alyssa hunkered down in the seat - it was very cute - she enjoyed her view from there...



I tried to get a shot of the other two being crazy - no, it wasn't that dark the flash just made it look like the middle of the night. Hate that...

Pumpkinville 2007

Today the girls had their first trip to a pumpkin patch. I had their outfits all set but of course, they were orange sweater jumpers with long sleeved shirts with matching tights and boots. A little too warm for this weather! Oh well, red is a fall color too :)

Next time they will be decked out in their fall clothes and just maybe we'll let them out of their stroller long enough to take pictures of them with bigger pumpkins. Maybe not...

First Game

So, today is an excellent example of me not being able to be in three places at once. Try as I may I have not been able to clone myself into more than one person. Or grow a third arm... Well, you get the idea.

Anyway, today was Kaitlyn's very first game that she was set to cheerlead at. That was at 4 and I had to be somewhere else at 3. I finished as quick as I could but the 45 minute drive to her game meant I was to arrive just as they were leaving. Yep, missed everything.

Got back to the school in time to pick her up. She was fine with it but I was very sad to miss her first cheerleading experience. Instead of first-hand pictures I took some shots by the front door. Of course she looked adorable and posed very well for me. I had to say she was a great sport about the whole thing.

Caleb rode with me and was very sad to miss his sister doing her cheers. He also did very well and fell asleep for the whole ride home. Made it very quiet for me as I'm pretty sure I'd already heard "Mommy" or "Mom" about a thousand times today :)





Next pictures of her cheering will be at the actual game, I promise!!

Last Year

On this day last year I began having contractions and Kirk rushed me to the hospital to have them stopped. At the time I thought the girls birth was close. Maybe not that day but surely very soon after.

Last year today I was admitted to the hospital and spent the night in a labor and delivery room. I got no sleep and was on monitors and IV's. By the next day they decided I wasn't in labor would would be staying till I gave birth.

Last year today was very hard. I had to leave my family behind to try and save three little babies I didn't even know.

As I approach the baby's first birthday next month my mind is constantly realizing where I was a year ago and just how far I've come.

A year ago...



Today...



I am soooo grateful to be on this side of things! The girls are getting more fun and more active. Instead of sitting in a bed waiting and worrying and wondering what things will be like with three babies, I almost never sit down to wait or worry but I do still wonder what it will be like next year :)

As for the picture I got these cool blocks that are A, B and C but the girls were not very cooperative so you can't see the A. Sorry!

The Truth About Triplets

So many people stop me in the store these days and they want to ask me about the babies and how they are, etc. An interesting comment I usually get is "just wait till they're moving in all different directions." It got me thinking that there are a few triplets myths out there so here's a little bit of the truth:

1. Triplets do not go in three different directions - they go in one - mine.

2. I do not need 3 of every toy except for the good ones - like my car keys, my remote controls and my home phone.

3. Large toys are a must because all three want the same thing at the same time. The only problem is that no toy is truly big enough because they all want the same spot no matter what.

4. Crying rarely means that a child is injured. It usually means:

a. "One of these other babies has climbed on top of me - get her off!"

b. "I can't find you and I must, absolutely have you and see you right now, mommy."

5. The only one feeling guilty about not spending quality time with each baby is me. They are perfectly content to fight each other over my lap and don't even notice they have sisters except:

a. at 7 AM when they are all supposed to be asleep

b. when one sister is on top of another (see #3)

6. Be very careful when distracting one baby with a toy it will most likely backfire and attract both of the other babies resulting in another fight leading to the crying you were trying to avoid in the first place!

7. Every once in a while they do notice each other in a cute way and giggle and grin at each other and attempt to play together. These are the fun times that make me sit back and smile at them. So cute.

And those are a few thoughts about caring for triplets. The past two weeks have been a bit rough since the girls have been extra cranky. Thankfully they are all feeling better but the crying hasn't stopped.

On the one hand this age is much easier for me because they will sit and play with toys and they can move around to get to other toys that they like. On the other hand I am usually the thing that they like the most and would much rather sit on my lap or have me hold them and when one wants me, they all do.

Here's to surviving yet another another month and another stage of triplet girls!

I Just Have To Brag

No, not on the kids (who have been sick all week) on my husband! He has been working super hard for months. Going in early but thankfully not staying late to get overtime at work. He comes home, helps me with dinner and the kids in the evening. Last night he even let me go out to see some other triplet moms and put all 5 kids to bed by himself. He's great!!

But, I'm not the only who thinks so :) Okay, yes, the kids too (they love him) but someone else. Around June Kirk began writing articles/tutorials for a few magazines. At first it was one, Advanced Photoshop and now it is two with Photoshop Creative being added in August. This month he turned in two, next month it is three. They keep asking him back. I told you he was good!

Anyway, I wanted to share his latest work with everyone. Be sure to check this out - I'm sure they change the front page of their website from time to time but check out that cover! Isn't it awesome? I think I've got some bragging rights?!! Don't miss the editor's blog on the bottom.

www.pshopcreative.co.uk

Good job, babe - I love you!

The Evolution of Trouble...

This week has been particularly hard. The girls have not been feeling well - Julianna has been the worst throwing up a number of times and waking up a mess for the past three days. Rachel and Alyssa have not been left out, not throwing up but making very big messes of their own. It makes for cranky babies and a very frustrated mama!

So, when I walked in on this I just let it be. I figure, she's happy and not crawling after me crying, right?? Well, her sisters weren't far behind...

A Glimpse Into My Day

I haven't put up any picutres or video of the girls in a while so I thought I'd share how crazy things usually are around here. My lap isn't big enough and I don't have enough arms to hold them all. Today Julianna wasn't feeling well so she was cranky and her crying caused her sister to cry and their crying alarmed the third and so she cried too. Then they all crawled over to me and tried for me to hold them all at once. They have to figure out that there are more of them than me!! Unfortunately, I realize this every day.

I did want to add a picture of the girls real favorite toy - none of that plastic stuff for them - no stuffed animals either - they enjoy the real live version: Lollipop!





And I do have a confession - I sometimes use the cat to make the girls happy. They get so excited to see or chase him that they forget why they were crying. Before you feel sorry for Lollipop he always has the means of escape but he almost never uses it nor has he ever scratched or bit any of the babies. He's been very good with them. In fact, he slept through most of the girl's "petting" - look at that lazy guy!

And here's some video of the girls moving all over the living room. Often I was the focus of the excitement so that made filming hard.

I LOVE IT!!

Today I got my birthday present and I couldn't be happier. On my birthday the carpet guy came out to give us a quote and measure for new carpet on the main level and today the guys came out to put it down and it looks awesome! It looks so good it makes everything else look bad :) I think we'll have someone come back and do the stairs so at least everything you see when you walk in the front door looks clean and new. The upstairs isn't so bad and the downstairs was new when we bought the house so we can leave those things alone but something's gotta be done about the stairs...

Anyway, I tried to take some pictures of the carpet before the kids toys once again fill the dining room and living room (at least they'll now be crawling on clean floors!!)

The living room - isn't it pretty? New curtains too - Kirk hung those on my birthday. I made the house nicer for my birthday - I'm so excited!! I've been celebrating for a month...



The dining room - had to make a minor change as to where the changing table was - the girls were standing up and trying to pull everything off the shelf that is now above the buffet.



Trying to get a close-up of the carpet - this isn't about the toy (although they do love this toy)...



The family room - now the couch looks bad but no, I'm not getting a new couch - I'll just have to find some ultra strength upholstery cleaner - any suggestions?



The office - Kirk is finally getting a new computer so we've moved things a bit to accomodate the new and the old. The kids are very excited - Kirk is too - I think their excitement level is a tie. Kaitlyn and Caleb will be using Kirk's old computer when the new one arrives - Kirk wanted me to explain why they were excited :)

Welcome to the World, Baby Shepherd!!

While I was at the Virginia Arboretum with Kaitlyn and her school on a field trip my good friend Kristy Shepherd was giving birth to her second boy in under 16 months. At press time the baby had no name. Yea, I don't get it either - they've always known it was a boy (I suspected before they really knew) and yet the child has no name! I'm giving her a hard time about that as soon as I see her :)

At 8.6 pounds he's almost a full pounds less than his brother! Here's a picture of the new arrival...



Can't wait to meet him in person. As soon as I figure out to get pictures off of my phone (I know it's not that hard but I don't have time tonight...) I'll get some pictures of Kaitlyn on her field trip today. What a blessing to get to spend the day with her. It is funny though, when they're finally old enough to do stuff with all they want to do is hang out with their friends! As long as she knows I love her.

My Crazy "Lazy" Day

So, Monday's are one of the days that Kaitlyn and Caleb are both in school and I'm home with just the girls. Usually these days are a bit more relaxing. Sort of.

7:30 AM - jump out of bed, still exhausted to get Kaitlyn and Caleb ready for school - today was picture day so no uniforms just "cute" clothes. Had a problem with Kaitlyn's shoes but hopefully she'll make do - she looks adorable!

8:30 AM - get the triplets up who have been awake for some time but would truly slow me down if they were allowed to be up and about. Usually I get them all up, dump them in their carseats with their bottles and head out the door (God only knows what we're going to do when they're off bottles in a few months - can't think about it). This morning, of course, Julianna is stinky and in need of a diaper change but not just a diaper change - a clothes change - everything. She's gross.

8:45 AM - we're ten minutes late but we're out the door! Kids make it to school on the dot - hopefully they weren't a minute late by the time they walked in their classes. That would be bad.

9:15 AM - back home. Today is laundry day. It must be done - it's been more than a week because I was too busy last week working on the club yard sale and didn't have time - everyone's out of clothes. I'm only saved because Kaitlyn did not need to wear a uniform today - Caleb's PE uniform isn't clean but I guess he'll deal. I apologize to him now when he remembers this in therapy years to come.

10:00 AM - girls are falling apart - not even close to naptime. One load of laundry going. I don't think I've mentioned the torch. Here's the thing, I'm 100% convinced that the girls have a torch that reads "I will torture mommy today" At first Alyssa held this torch and screamed A LOT till my ear drums almost burst. But then she handed it off to Rachel who would scream all the time (I know I've shared this). Well, Rachel has handed this torch off to Julianna because my sweet, easy baby has turned into a mommy hog. If anyone is on my lap she will climb me till I put her in it instead. She's usually whining and climbing me - mostly in a good mood but it's hard to attend to anyone else when she's constantly grabbing me.

Just before 11:00 AM - girls are going down for a nap!! Break time for me. I guess. At noon I decide I'm exhausted and want to nap too - it was a crazy weekend and I didn't get much sleep so I lay there and fall into a fitful sleep dreaming of more babies then I have and for some reason they are named in alphabetical order from A to Z - they are not all mine - I think I am protecting them so the world can be saved. Thank God that's a dream!

1:30 PM - we're all up and feeding the girls "lunch" - also trying to figure out why my washing machine has a distress code and the load that should have been long finished is still not clean. It says "F" - I don't know what that means so I search for the manual. Guess what "F" means? It means restart the machine and if you see this message again call a professional. What??!! This machine is brand new and doesn't it know I have four more loads behind this one?!! Thankfully this is actually the 2nd load of laundry today and the first load is still drying - the load that contains my daughter's uniforms. At least I plan ahead a little bit :)

2:15 PM - I'm cleaning the girls who are gross from their lunch. They haven't quite figured out how to eat banana. I'm thinking this will be a good blog entry and trying to remember everything I should write down...

3:00 PM - leave to get the kids from school. They are so happy to see me and that just makes my day. The cutest thing is the two of them holding hands and running to give me a hug. I love it. I just have to remind myself that someday the triplets will give me hugs as well...

4:00 PM - a real rest! The older two are playing outside in this gorgeous weather and the triplets are napping. Actually napping, not screaming while in their beds as is often the case.

5:30 PM - mad dash for dinner - just leftover tonight from all the good cooking I did last week. Working on planning meals monthly and freezing them so I bought 2 new cookbooks: Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer and Once Monthly Cooking. I'm very excited about this. Also using my crockpot and shopping with the Grocery Game which tells me where and when to purchase foods on sale and what coupons to use. The problem, of course, is the time to write all these grocery lists down and to take the time to cook. So far I haven't made it past one day's worth of groceries and dinner...

6:00 PM - shove food down our throats - this isn't a normal thing but we had a PTF meeting tonight at school and we had to be there by 6:30 - at least the kids ate their mac and cheese :) Oh, I also ordered another cookbook called Beyond Macaroni and Cheese - obviously that one hasn't come in the mail yet!

6:30 PM - PTF meeting - love it because someone else is playing with the babies and I can sit still for a little bit - sort of anyway. The girls were in 3 different directions except when dad brought out the keys - then they were fighting...

7:45 PM - back home from the meeting and time for bath for all 5 kids. Kaitlyn decides she is too old for a bath and gets a shower instead. Mom runs around gathering bedtime clothes as well as clothes for tomorrow to make my life easier in the morning. Some of the clothes retrieved from the 6 baskets of laundry waiting to be folded tomorrow. Thank God Aunt Karen will be here to help :)

8:45 PM - all kids in bed - time for mom to finish the laundry, make the lunches and finish the blog entry I started many hours ago.

Maybe I'll be in bed by midnight. And that's a day in my new life. Wondering what else I do on my downtime? Besides checking the clock every few minutes when the babies are up :) I spend my time counting teeth!

The new total:
Julianna - 6 still but I swear I can see the buds of 4 more - just waiting for them to break through.

Alyssa - still has her 4

Rachel - the big news!! She has 2!! That second tooth popped right in after the 1st one - so cute in her massive smile.

Six Flags

Yesterday, after getting up early to participate in my moms of multiples club yard sale our family set off for Kirk's company picnic at Six Flags. It is by far the best picnic ever in the world. Okay, maybe not but I love it. We pay little for a whole day of fun including lunch and drinks around the park. And the best part is the lines are short and I can ride my all time favorite roller coaster: Superman. I just love that one.

In between the "adult" rides we spent our time in the kid area making Kaitlyn and Caleb happy.

The four of us in front of my favorite ride...



Kirk with Chris and Joanna who came with us on our day out.



Right before Kirk left to pick up the triplets...



Eating lunch. It was a beautiful and perfect day but it did get a little bit cold from time to time like when the wind blew thus the reason Caleb is shivering a bit in this picture. Didn't stop them from eating the ice cream though!



Kaitlyn and Caleb on the very mild train ride. They also enjoyed a number of other fun kids rides. Mom liked some of them :)



And once again I know I like Six Flags better than Disney and was so glad to ride real costers again and I can't wait till next year. Thanks to JoRonda who watched the girls while we were gone. And the triplets are 10 months old today! Can't believe it's been that long! The countdown is now on for thier first birthday.

No More Gummy Smiles

It's official! Rachel has her first tooth. It's hard to see and barely there but I can feel it and see the tip breaking through the surface. Just shy of ten months she finally gets her first tooth. It's funny how teething and motor skills have nothing in common - that child is a monkey and certainly acting her age where mobility is concerned! I might also add that she's turning into a more pleasant child and is the only one of the three who doesn't follow me around everywhere I go.

Okay, I tried taking pictures of this a few days ago but I have to share my frustration about feeding the girls. They are eating better and really love Gerber puffs. This isn't the problem. The problem is that baby food is way too runny and their feet taste way too good while I'm trying to feed them. Recently they have stopped chewing on their feet except when I try to put food in their mouth.

I tried to capture how things get - I'm not sure if you can tell how messy Julianna is. I swear today she was wearing a sleeper and managed to get food all down her bib, behind her neck, in her hair, on the toes of the sleeper (because she puts them in her mouth) and all down her leg. In this picture I was trying to get her leg because it was so covered.



Rachel can go either way depending on whether or not she likes the food but is rare that she covers herself in food.



By drastic contrast Alyssa is very, very clean. She opens her mouth for every bite and doesn't spew it out like Julianna. A princess all around - even in her eating.



I just had to share because it was driving me crazy this morning. We use wipes to clean them off - Alyssa takes me half a wipe, Rachel usually just one but Julianna takes 3 or 4 - I kid you not. I don't even know how she does it so quick except that she likes to help the food into her mouth with her hand and then takes that covered hand and rubs in on her clothes if she's covered or leg if she's not.