Cracking us up!

Adam, Avery, and Aaron in their Camo!

Aaron

Adam

They look so identical in this picture!

Aaron and Adam

The kids are so dang funny!

Last week we were putting them to bed. Here was the conversation between Taylor and Avery:

TT: I love you.

Avery: I LOVE you

TT: I love you more

Avery: I lOVE YOU!

TT: I love you most!

Avery: Merry Christmas!!

I thought John, TT, and I were going to fall over from laughing so hard! Avery couldn't think of anything that was bigger!

Adam has officially reached the "No!" stage. And I mean, NO, about everything! He is very stubborn about what he wants to do, and always has been. Even when he was too small to feed himself well, he would get mad if you tried to feed him. Sometimes he would just sit in his high chair and cry out of frustration. It was so funny the other night when John and I were talking about what to do. John said, "Jill, he's alot like me. What would you to do control my behavior?" Are you kidding me? I've been married to John for 15 years and he still won't mind me! Ha!!

Aaron has been so helpful lately! He can (unfortunately) unlock and open the front door for me when I need to take out diry diapers. When I get home from work I always go change clothes first. (Trying to help avoid passing along 5th grade germs.) Aaron says "Let me get the door, Mommy," and he opens our bedroom door for me. He is great at helping up clean up at night too!

The kids are really doing well. They are just changing so quickly...it's starting to freak me out a little. Sometimes I put on a TV show or movie just so they will sit still in my lap. They are climbing all over things at the park, playing for up to an hour with each other only (and ignoring us!), helping put up the dishes out of the dishwasher, working on potty training, saying their "ABCs" and all counting to 20. They love books! Their current favorites are "Brown Bear, Brown Bear," it's cousin "Polar Bear, Polar Bear," "The Very Quiet Cricket," and "How do Dinosaurs say Goodnight?" Of course they say all the words with me! They will even sit and "read" Polar Bear, Polar Bear to each other. (It's a board book).

My favorite recent quotes:

Aaron: "Mommy, you are so silly!"

Avery: "Shoo-wee! Avery poopy stinky!"

Adam: "Mommy, no!" --while pointing his finger at me...just like I do him!

Me: Aaron, did you know your name is Aaron Edward?

Aaron: No, mommy.

Me: Yes it is! You are Aaron Edward.

---Now to understand this story you have to know that the kids love Thomas the Train. One of the train's name is Edward. Others are James, Gordon, Percy...---

Aaron: Aaron Edward

Me: That's right son! What do you think Mommy's middle name is?

Aaron: Mommy Gordon!

And he has stuck to that ever since....

They dance and sing to Fresh Beat Band, still love country music videos, and will watch "The Chipmunk Movie" as many times as you will play it.

We are so lucky, and so blessed. On Feb. 6th it will be 3 years ago that we learned we were having triplets! God is Amazing!

Christmas, New Year's, and Our First Movie....

It has been an exciting week!

Our families were all here for Christmas Eve, and the kids enjoyed getting to open their presents. Although we just knew the kids would tear into their presents Christmas morning, we found that they were still overwhelmed by the process! They played with their "Santa" presents, but were reluctant to open other gifts. Leave it up to Aaron--he gladly opened everyone's presents, and the other two were more than willing to let him do so!

The absolute best part of the day was when John and I took them outside to play in what was left of the snow. The kids were not really sure what to do with the snow, when John made a snowball and pelted me with it! They all started laughing and saying "Hit Mommy with snow!" All four of them were running over the yard trying to find enough snow to make a snowball to throw at Mommy. We went over to our neighbors yard to find more snow. They have a pretty steep little slope in their front yard, so Aaron and I barrel rolled down it! We both laughed and laughed! (Of course Adam didn't want to do this...neither did Avery!) It was just so fun being a family and playing outside together....it will forever be one of my sweetest memories.

Brandy and I took the kids to the movie theater today for their first official movie! We watched the Chimpmunks, and the kids loved it! There was about 15 mintues during the middle of the movie where it was just human actors, and the kids got bored with that. But as soon as the chipmunks (and chipettes) came back on, they began clapping and dancing in their seats! They also ate a TON of popcorn!

Tonight John is gone on an annual hunting trip with some friends, so the kids and I celebrated New Year's. Actually, Julie brought over some fake champagne glasses, and the kids said "Cheers!" and toasted! It was so funny! It was bed time as usual for them. As for me...it is quiet in the house and I may just turn in early myself.

Happy New Year's!!

Pictures with Santa!

Look how our little ones have changed!

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009

Adam


Aaron

Laughing, Playing, and Learning Every Day!

Seems like it should be our new motto!

I must be honest, I'm having a hard time posting! (Duh, huh?) Well, it's because Blogspot is SO slow in uploading pictures! I love to post pictures, and it just takes an act of Congress! I've ended up just posting all of their pictures on Facebook--which I like--but then I don't write about what's been going on with the kids. On more than one occasion, I've considered stopping the blog. But, then I go back and re-read it, and realize I need to keep it going. I may just eventually transfer everything to a journal to keep for us, but until then, here is another post!

The kids are changing, changing, changing. Every day there are new vocabulary words, new sayings, new games to play. It is exciting, but sad at the same time. They officially AREN'T babies anymore!

They are very fired up about Christmas, and they don't even get the concept of presents yet! They love the tree (which has been pulled over twice), Santa Claus, and Reindeer. We've been watching lots of Christmas specials, looking at Christmas lights, and listening to Christmas music when we are in the car. They LOVE Trans Siberian Orchestra. "Again! Again!" They yell when the song is over! Here are some pictures of them in their Christmas PJs.

Taylor and I love "The Polar Express" book and movie. The kids have watched the movie a couple of times, and seeing how much they love trains, are completely fascinated! Sunday, John, Taylor and I are taking the kids to Grapevine to ride the Polar Express! Of course they are wearing PJs, and will drink hot chocolate! I can't wait to see their faces!

Aaron:

N-A-U-G-H-T-Y! Ha! Aaron is actually very funny and very sweet. But, if there is something to get into, Aaron is going to do it! He is the first one to pull the Christmas tree down. (Now, to appreciate this story, you must understand that Aaron refers to himself in the third person. "Aaron cold", "Aaron hungry..") The kids were around the tree when it came down with a crash! Oranaments broke....I was in the kitchen and he came running to the gate. "Mommy, tree broke!" he said! Upon a small interrogation later Aaron admitted.."Aaron broke tree." Really--I never would have guessed!

Aaron does NOT like the Abominable Snowman on Rudolph! We've had to tell him over and over that that snowman is a silly monster that just likes to play. He says "Aaron pank pank monster." (Translation: spank, spank--or in other words, I'm going to kick that monster's butt if I ever see him!)

Aaron dances like there is no tomorrow, runs around the room chasing his brother and sister, and can actually hit a ball with a bat when you toss it to him--not every time, but he can do it! He and Adam love to set up bowling pins and take turns bowling in the entry way. He is especially fond of his stuffed monkey, and has blamed the monkey for his own shortcomings.

Aaron still likes to snuggle the most and is the most sensitive. His appetite is huge and he LOVES my gravy! Good boy!! He is very social, but every so often, he will sneak off to a quiet part of their play area just to look at a book. Aaron cracks me up when you ask him where something is. For example: "Aaron, where is your milk cup." He will turn and point "Right there." (like I'm an idiot for asking!) He says "Right there" all the time!

Adam:

Adam can easily count to 15 and then will skip to "20!" The child loves numbers! He spots them in the checkout lines at Walmart, on TV, and anywhere else he can. He can identify all numbers 0-9, and two digit numbers he will just say "2-3" for 23. He too dances like crazy and has taken a serious interest, along with his brother, in drums and the guitar. In fact, TT already gave them their Christmas presents---a drum set and real guitar (along with microphones). The boys play with them all the time.

Adam is very headstrong. While he is the most obedient of the three, if he doesn't want to do something, he will tell you....emphatically. He has really been expressing his independence and tells us "No" very often. Of course it usually lands him in time-out, but he still wants us to know his opinion. He has the most shrill scream when he is mad. We are really working with all of them to use their words! Speaking of words, Adam definitely has the most. That kid never stops talking! Of course we love it---he will even talk to himself in bed right up to the moment he falls asleep.

About a week ago Avery and Aaron had already fallen asleep at night. I was in the living room enjoying some quiet time (John was hunting) when Adam starts calling "Mom! Momma! Momma! Mom!" So, I walk back to their room and take out his pacifier. "What do you need, Son?" I asked. He replied, "Mom, what are you doing?" It was so funny and so cute...I just hugged him and laughed. I told him that I was reading a book and that he needed to go to sleep. "OK" he said...and that was it.

He is a great fan of football, bowling, tennis, golf--real life and on Wii. He always tries to ride Cletus--which is not appreciated by Cletus!

Avery:

Oh goodness...Avery cracks me up. One minute she is all girl and the next she is tackling her brothers. Avery's favorite thing right now is dinosaurs. All three love dinosaurs, and can name 5 of them in pictures. But Avery has a special love for them. Her dinosaur books are her favorite! Friday I had to take her to the dr for a little infection. She was sitting in a chair by me in the waiting room. I had given her a pen and some paper to draw on--which, we truly believe she is going to be left-handed. Anyway, she drew a line down the middle of the paper and some squiggles/circles about 2/3 of the way down the page. The dr came in and said, "Hi Avery. What are you drawing." Avery replies, "Brachiosaurus." You should have seen the look on the dr's face!

She is a daddy's girl, but wants to snuggle with mom. She likes to stand behind me when I'm sitting on the couch and fix my hair. She has recently really started taking care of her baby doll. TT got her a play pen for Christmas, and most days Avery will put her baby in, cover her up, give her kisses, and put her pacifier in her mouth. She likes to mother the boys as well. Let's be honest...she likes to tell them what to do.

I am truly amazed at how different girls are from boys. Drama already....She is so much like me, though! All she can think about is "Breakfast" and "Night night." She is usually asleep within 5 minutes of laying down at night. Just like me--if I'm horizontal, then I'm out! She loves to draw on their Magna Doodle, she likes to clean, and she can do back flips off the couch (While laying on her back).

I know that I'm going on and on...but there is just so much they can do! So many things have gotten easier. I can actually let them in the kitchen with me for a while. They will help me unload the dishwasher, and they like helping me with laundry. They go easily to the car to load-up and can even climb in their carseats. They help pick up toys each night and will take their drink cups back to the kitchen.

They love sidewalk chalk, looking at the moon, making arts/crafts with TT, playing with each other, and going for rides in the car. Taylor is absolutely amazing with them, and we have been so blessed to have her. She is loving and patient--to them and to John and I!

Our lives have changed so much in the last 2 1/2 years....and I wouldn't change a thing!

Life in the Home of Three Toddlers...

I know, the post sounds terrifying, but really it isn't! Did you know that the average toddler has a melt-down about every 20 minutes? Thank God our kids aren't "average!"


The kids are talking so much...we are constantly amazed at how many new words they are using each week. All three are talking, but Adam is still the most verbal. He just likes to talk! You will hear him in bed at night talking to his stuffed animals about helicopters, airplanes, and Elmo. And singing...man, do these kids like to sing! Their current favorite is "Joey" by Sugarland. We finally just bought the whole concert on DVD so that the kids could watch it over and over again. It almost brings tears to my eyes every time to hear their sweet little voices as they sing that song. They can also sing the theme songs to Blues Clues and Elmo. They love Twinkle, Twinkle, 5 Little Monkeys, Itsy Bitsy Spider...any kind of song. They also love musical instruments. Adam is very fascinated by guitars.


In the past few weeks, we have noticed that the boys are starting to act like boys. By that I mean they prefer to play with balls, wrestle, throw things, etc. Avery will be cooking in her kitchen and the boys will have their bowling set up and will be taking turns bowling....to which they will yell "Strike!" or "Spare!" Yesterday afternoon we were playing outside. Avery was sitting on the driveway coloring with chalk and Aaron and Adam were seeing how far they could throw berries down the driveway. Also, Avery has become very "girlie." She has this little girl giggle that cracks me up! She throws like a girl (poor thing), and she prefers to clean, cook, draw, or climb. We have never encouraged the kids to play with "girl" or "boy" things (in fact, we didn't even laugh when Aaron put on my shoes, grabbed a purse and bracelet, and went to the front door "Bye!", he said)---all toys are equal. So, it's been interesting to see how this has developed naturally.

The transition to toddler beds has been interesting. Aaron still has a hard time going to sleep at night. Avery is asleep within 10 minutes, Adam about 20, and sometimes Aaron is awake an hour after they go to bed! Last night he kept getting out of bed. He would go into the kitchen, come into the living room, anything to keep from going to sleep. John and I were taking turns checking on them, when John came back into the living room and said, "Come here--you have to see this. Aaron is sitting in the bathroom reading a magazine." So, we turned the corner, and sure enough, he was sitting on a small stool reading a magazine. "What are you doing, Aaron?" John asked. "Monkey potty," he replied. Sure enough, Aaron had sat his stuffed monkey on the little potty and Aaron was sitting by him on the stool. John and I tried not to, but we just busted out laughing! It was hilarious!

Enjoy some new pics!

There is a picture just like this taken in October of last year--go back and check it out!




Adam at Fossil Rim Wildlife Park:

Aaron looking at himself in the mirror at Fossil Rim:

Finally....a post!

I don't know why...but I can't get the pictures to move down in the post like I did before!

Sorry to all our blog readers....It has been really interesting around here! I would normally do my posting in the mornings, but the kids were regularly getting up at 5:30, so I wasn't getting it done. And frankly, I'm too beat at night!

The kids are doing absolutely amazing! They have all changed so much, that I'm really not even sure where to begin. So...let's do it alphabetically! Ha!

Aaron:

Like I've said before, Aaron is so dang funny! He is extremely mischievous, in to everything, and most of the time the ring leader. He is very curious, likes to climb, and likes to make his siblings laugh. Aaron is also VERY sweet, caring, and helpful. At night we always change the kids into their pajamas in the living room. Before you can even blink, Aaron has gathered up all the clothes and thrown them over the gate in the hallway. He likes to pass out milk cups, gather juice cups, and it is his job to take Bella outside on a leash.

Aaron is talking so much....I absolutely love it when he says "What Happened?" It is in the sweetest little voice! I usually ask them that when they are crying or upset. Two weeks ago the kids were in the kitchen with me. Aaron opened the pantry, put his hand on his hip, looked at the cabinets, and said "HHMMM..." I looked at him and said, "Where did you learn that?" Taylor and John said I do the same thing all the time! I didn't even realize it!

At their two year visit, Aaron weighed 27 lbs and was 33 1/2 inches tall. He is very stocky in build. He shuffles his feet like an old man, covers his face with his hands when he cries, and loves to stand on your chest. Aaron loves to sing and dance as well. His favorite songs are "Twinkle, Twinkle," "Pat-a-Cake", "Chicken Fried (Zac Brown band), and "All I wanna do" by Sugarland. He pretty much sings/mumbles all the words! Aaron has also caught a ball on many occassions, and he has also hit a pitched ball with a bat many times!

Adam:

Adam is definitely the most verbal! From the minute he wakes up, to the minute he goes to sleep, he is talking. One day he was in John's basket when we did our WalMart shopping. John said that he talked during the entire shopping trip! He likes to name everything he sees, and his speech is so clear! He can count to 10 by himself, attempts most of his ABC song, and can name several letters---T, L, O, S, A....Adam can hit a ball of a tee, and a plastic golf ball with a club like you wouldn't believe!

Adam is very attached to his brother and sister. Since he is usually the first one up, I have to make sure he doesn't walk down the hallway to their bedroom. He will stand at the gate and yell "Aaron P! Sister! Aaron P!" Yes, he calls Aaron, Aaron P. We have always called Aaron that, and Adam does now too. The funniest thing is when they are in the living room playing. Adam may be on one side of the living room, and Aaron on the other. If Adam wants to show Aaron something, he will start yelling "Aaron P!! Aaron P!!" But, he yells everyone else's name too. He is so funny when he does that! We call my mom Mamaw, but Adam calls her "Memaw! Memaw!"

He gets so excited about everything! We love that! In fact, if you show him something new or cool, he will say "Oh, WOW!!" He loves to sneak up on you and scare you....he will bend his knees, take baby steps, and whisper "Sneak, Sneak..." until he scares you! He loves doing it to Avery and Aaron too! He runs very quickly, and still gets that left arm flailing around. He is such a sweet and smart boy...he even pee-d in the potty today!

Adam weighed 27 1/2 pounds and was 34 in tall.

Avery:

Daddy's little princess....she is ALL girl. She loves wearing dresses, insists that you put a bow in her hair every day, and has recently started really caring for her baby doll. She will give her doll baths with a dry washcloth, feed her a bottle, pretend like she's crying and ask "OK?", and she has put the baby in time-out several times! I was at an inservice two weeks ago and Taylor sent me a picture of Avery's baby sitting in the time-out area in the hallway. Avery says "No..No...trouble..time-out, time-out." Of course she tries to put her brothers in time out too, but they don't listen! Avery loves to clean, sweep, and sit by you on the couch.

Avery can have a sweet, little girl voice or a very deep, Demi Moore voice. She growls like a possessed animal, loves her dinosaur books and puzzle, and insists on hand-feeding Alex catfood. She has the deepest laugh that makes your whole body smile when hearing it. Avery has adapted the best to toddler beds, and will fall asleep within minutes of getting into bed. (Just like me!)

Avery weighed 24 1/2 pounds and was 31 in tall. She is a very tiny thing....only in the 25% on the growth chart! She is definitely fiesty and independent! She is pretty quiet when we are out in public, and often looks at people like "What are you looking at?" She has the prettiest hair and big brown eyes. She knows how to work the pout too! Avery loves to play kitchen, and likes to bring you bites after whipping up something special. She does a great impersonation of Cookie Monster eating cookies too! Abby is her favorite Sesame Street character.

Together: They all love Sesame Street, Blues Clues, and Thomas the Train. They sing all the theme songs and dance every time they hear the music. It is nothing for Adam to wake up in the middle of the night and ask "Elmo? Elmo?" No, son....Elmo is sleeping.

They are great eaters and eat two meals a day at the table. Breakfast is pretty much finger-foods in the living room. Every Sunday John makes them french toast with either bacon/sausage. That is a big treat as he even puts syrup on their french toast! Their favorite foods are corn on the cob, cornbread, bananas, apples, tortellini, cheese, mashed potatoes, and of course, my gravy.

The kids absolutely love playing with John. He will play Wii for them, lift them over and over to shoot baskets in the house, lay on the floor and let them crawl all over him...pretty much whatever they want to do. He will discipline them, but mostly, he's the fun guy. When he's in charge--like if I'm napping or gone to a movie with a friend--they get to eat junk food snacks and less healthy dinners. Of course they love it!

Taylor is absolutely amazing with them. She is firm with discipline, yet so loving and caring. We are so extremely blessed to have her in our lives. She has been such a great help to John and I....not just the kids. She helps give us time to have some sanity! She is starting back to college this semester, and we are very proud of her.

We really can't believe they are 2! It has gone by so quickly....Friday will be the 2 year anniversary of the day we brought the boys home. My, how they all have changed!

Thanks for your patience with me, and I hope you have enjoyed reading this update! Much love!

Update Coming!

Please be patient! I am sorry I haven't been able to post. Taylor was on vacation much of July, then John and I went on vacation, and now I'm getting ready for school to start! The kids aren't sleeping as late, or going to bed as early, so I have less time to sit!

I promise good pics soon!