my day time nanny started this week

After several weeks of interviewing for a day time nanny, I finally found one that I'm happy with and she started this week. Susana was wonderful this week. The kids warmed up to her immediately and was not crying since she was a "stranger" in the house. She's really good with them, very patient and gentle. On her first day, I had her feed each kid to see how she did and with my comments on how each kid likes to eat, she was able to feed them with no problems! She's also good at putting them down for naps. The first few days were rough during nap times since they all didn't want to nap. We think they were so used to me and with Susana in the house, there was a new face to look at and be curious. By Thursday, they got used to her and napped their usual time (thank goodness)!!! With her in the daytime this week, I've been able to pump without any interruptions and EAT. I also actually have more time to play and interact with my kids than before. By 5pm rolls around when Dan comes home, I'm not that much exhausted and feel really good.

She is a 25 year old mother with two small children of her own, Adrian, her 8 month old and Damian, her 3 years old. Her mother takes care of her kids while she goes to work for me. Her hubby works for a records management company kinda like Iron Mountain. She has an 11 year old Pommerian. Don't worry, I already explain to her that if her kids get her sick to not come to work.

The downside to having Susana is we've had to let Alejandra go, our night nanny. The kids are not completely sleeping through the night. They still wake up between 4-5 in the morning. Atleast they don't wake up at 1-2 anymore. So I'll be doing the 4-5 shift during the week and Dan will help on the weekends.

Today the cutest thing happen while Susana was here. I was holding Hudson and she was holding Tobin and we had them face each other. They both reached out to hug one another for a long time. It was sooo cute, I wished we had a third person to take a pic of it. Skyler was sitting on her pillow just watching them. She was of course cute too!

1st time eating rice cereal---a year ago today

I finally got over my fear of feeding them food, or rice cereal at least. I knew they've been ready for some time now, but I just couldn't bring myself to do until now. I was afraid how long it would take since I'm by myself during the day, the messiness, etc, and it's a step towards them getting bigger and I didn't want them to grow up so fast! Selfish me, I want them to stay small as long as possible, but it's time for the next step. Besides I'm too tired to tackle a new thing, but I guess that's how my life will be.

We tried this yesterday at the 1pm feeding. Skyler was the one who took the most, then Tobin, then Hudson. Look at Tobin with his missing sock.

This is Tobin at dinner time yesterday. He really enjoyed it, he got it all over his hands, legs and face. We actually have to wipe them clean now before bed.

Hudson during the day, he's not sure what this food stuff is.

Skyler at lunch. She was digging it at first and then got tired of waiting, so she cried for her bottle.

A year ago today, we were anticipating what news our doctor would give us when I went in the next morning. All day I was hoping that it would be BFP (infertility lingo for Big Fat Positive). We went to the Foo Fighters concert that evening and I didn't even drink. We just enjoyed the concert knowing it will be a loooong time before we hear live music again, and yes that's so true! The live music we hear now adays are their babbling and laughter they do! :-)

play area---kids update

The play area is finally gated off. Actually Dan got it done around Christmas and I've just been so busy to post about it. Now I can leave all the kids stuff out without worrying if Redford or Molly will "play" (tear it up) with them. The second pic shows how we left a small carpet area for

the furries so they can still see out the window. That ottoman is their favorite spot if they're not on our bed or their dog pads! :-) BTW, we did manage to get our Christmas tree down the first week of January. We had about 20 minutes one Sunday before they woke up from their nap and I couldn't believe we finished it.

Some pics this month of the kids. They'll be 5 months in three days! I can't believe how fast time has flown by and they are growing so quick! Look at Skyler in her styling pastel colored outfit!

Here she is grabbing onto the parrots!

All three under Mr. Sunshine (Hudson, Tobin, and Skyler).

Hudson and Tobin

Grandpa (Dan's dad) holding Hudson and Skyler. Tobin's in the bassinet to the right.

Dan at the last feeding with Hudson and Skyler.

date night for us!

Julie came by last Friday to help us feed and baby sat so we can do our 1st date night. We saw "Marley & Me". It was such a tear jerker, I told Dan as we were leaving that it's pretty much a story about our life. When we came home, she said they didn't even make a peep. What wonderful kids we have!

This 4 hour schedule is great!!!! (for mommy)

They've started to nap more during the day! Yay for me! Their schedule now is: 9am, 1pm, 5pm and 8pm with us. They've been doing the 4 hour schedule in the morning, but finally they switched to 5 now instead of 4. Well for most days, it's close to 5. And their schedule is flexible by 30 minutes, it just depends on how the day starts. They still wake up between 4-5 am with the night nanny. I can't wait til they sleep through the night. They are so alert now, looking at everything, kicking, grabbing things especially my hair, "talking" really loud. They're eating more too: Tobin had his first 8 oz. this morning, Hudson's been doing 7 oz, and Skyler 6 oz. The rest of the day, they've been doing 6 oz.

Dan finished gating off the front room for the kids play/feeding area. I've ordered a play mat and once it comes in, I'll take pics of it. It's furries proof, Redford and Molly can't play with the kids toys anymore even though they try to sneak in when the gate's open.

The bros love their sis: Hudson with Skyler

This is too funny, I'm not sure what Tobin is doing to Skyler, resting on her, smelling her??? Dan was able to capture these sequence.
This one looks like he's protecting her. From what???

Once again, I think he's resting on her. Another funny thing is Skyler's expression hadn't changed at all. They are all too funny!!!

Skyler rolled over!!!

Skyler rolled over yesterday and of course I had to miss it. Dan was home with them while I ran an errand during their 1pm feeding.

Christmas and Happy New Year!

I finally had the chance to download pics from my camera. This is our first Christmas morning with the trips. Here's Tobin crying, Skyler, and Hudson. Molly didn't want to be left out. We tried to get Redford in, but no luck.

Daddy with his kids.

Mommy with her kids.

We've been so busy I haven't had a chance to post about Christmas. Christmas was at Dan's parent's this year. It was a nice gathering for the kids, not that they knew what was going on. It was nice that Carol and Jake came to town. Charlotte and Mike came in after Christmas. Kids didn't sleep until 10 pm Christmas day, probably from all the excitement and being over stimulated.

Julie helping to open the kids gifts.

Bob (Dan's dad) copying the monkey gesture on his coffee cup gift.

Hudson taking a nap--too much for him!

Gail (Dan's mom) talking to Tobin.

Carol holding Skyler, Grandma, and Matt holding Tobin.

Jake holding Skyler.

The kids gifts from all the family.

Our family, not a lot of pic with the five of us. They were in their Christmas outfits earlier. I brought these to change into so it would be easier for sleeping later.

Dan's been off for the past two weeks and it's been great enjoying the time with him and the kids together. He gets to see how my day really is and knows how busy I am, not that he didn't before. Kids are growing so fast, they're all smiling, laughing, talking (making noises), moving their hands and kicking their legs so hard. They're doing this thing now where they get so excited they kick the mattresses, it's been the boys doing this. Skyler is constantly talking non-stop especially during feedings and right before bedtime. You can imagine the dribbles during feedings. We try to refrain from laughing but sometimes it's too hard to not join in her "conversation". We've been busy getting their play area set up with the gates and toys set up. I was feeding them in their room and setting their play mats or bumbo seats up and putting them away after each feeding but it was getting too much. With this new play area, I can leave everything out and not worry about the furries getting into the kids things. Hopefully we'll finish it this weekend. Maybe even put away the Christmas tree and decorations. HA! We'll see!

We did take the kids out twice during the holidays. Carol, Jake, Matt, and I took the kids to the Holocaust Museum on Monday, 12/29. It wasn't that crowded and people were really respectful for not touching them. Dan stayed home, tinkering with his Sunbeam Alpine.

On Tuesday night, we did something spur of the moment and kinda stupid now that I look back. All of Dan's family were over and Mike and Charlotte had came to town. We actually went out to dinner with the kids to celebrate Charlotte's retirement at Carrabba's. Julie, Carol and Gail helped held the kids and feed them. We did their 7 pm feeding at the restaurant. There were a few "oh triplets" comments, but overall not a bad experience, even though we were scared to take them out.