Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Nature vs Nurture

First of all, can I just say that I am really glad not to be pregnant anymore?  Now that I am back to normal I really appreciate all the things I took for granted before - like breathing, bending down to pick something up, going more than 15 minutes without going to the bathroom, sleeping, getting out of bed without the "roll and heave".... I could go on, but I won't.  I was cleaning up my room and found a purse that I quit using back in May because I found it to be too heavy.  The contents....
Ginger candy, sea bands, maalox, snacks, ginger tea...clearly I felt great
Today we had our first outing with all three babies.  It was only to the pediatrician and Jack went with us, so it actually was not bad at all.  I really was not prepared for all the stares and questions.  The babies were great and we had no diaper/spit up/screaming incidents, so I consider it a success.  Also, they are gaining weight really well.  Brooks is 7 lbs, Irene is 6 lbs 13 oz, and Anna is 5 lbs 3 oz. 
Getting ready to go - Irene on left (always yawning), Anna in the middle (sleeping soundly), Brooks on the right (wide awake). 
I am completely fascinated by the personalities we are starting to see with each baby.  A true nature vs. nurture study because we do the exact same thing for each baby but they are so different.

Brooks is the wild child.  She does not want to miss anything.  Very alert and active.  You can see it in her pictures - eyes almost always open.  When she is ready to eat she shakes her head back and forth rapidly trying to get the bottle in her mouth (which I find hilarious and I may or may not tease her with the bottle  just to make her do it).  And VERY expressive with her face and hands.  For example...
This is how she looks one second
And the next second.....

Brooks at the doctor today
Irene is the exact opposite.  Very laid back and she falls asleep doing everything.  One minute she is eating and the next she has gone completely limp and her head and arms just fall back.  Occasionally she gets worked up, but not very often and doesn't put too much effort into the cry.
This is pretty much Irene's pose 90% of the time.
Irene at the doctor today.
Anna is a mix between the two.  She is laid back and generally pretty calm, but occasionally she gets worked up fast and lets you know with her high pitched cat cry. 
Right before this picture Anna was asleep, then suddenly crying out
Anna at the doctor today.  She did not have to get a shot like her sisters, so she was hiding out in her car seat (no, the blanket was not suffocating her although it looks that way).
It will be interesting to see how their personalities continue to develop. 

Brooks left (wide awake), Anna middle, Irene right (Anna and Irene making their identical "sleep face")
I'm getting good at holding all three....as long as I am sitting down.


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

December so far

I'm all about Christmas these days.  Below are some pics of December so far.

I like to make the girls where their matching gingerbread PJs all the time.  Here they are all set out during bath time.
Our tree.  Jack thought he was getting out of the tree thing this year.  I may have said that one day in October when I was in the hospital and was mad at the world, but surely he knew me better than that.
Jack and Anna.  About 2 seconds after this sweet picture there was a major diaper situation.
Anna (left) and Irene (right) napping in their PJs.
Still napping and still in the PJs.  Brooks (left), Anna (middle), Irene (right)
The scene when I woke up this morning.  So pretty and already gone.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Gang is Back Together

Finally Anna is home!  We are so excited.  The girls are one month old today.  Anna is about 4 lbs 3 oz and Brooks and Irene are around 5 1/2+ pounds each.  They are starting to show their different personalities.  It is funny how you can do the same thing for all three babies but they all respond in their own little ways.  I still can't believe they were all in my stomach just one month ago.  Crazy.  No wonder I could not breath.