The Amazing Wonder Horse!

Grandpa Rick refurbished his 1950s Wonder Horse. As a child, he spent many hours on the horse, so many hours that the neighbors in the below apartment would ask him to take some breaks! Anyway, the kids really seemed to enjoy the Wonder Horse. Thanks, Grandpa Rick

The Holtlets Turn Two!

Instead of a "birthday," the Holtlets essentially got a "birthweek," celebrating with family two weekends in a row. I think the extended celebration was quite reasonable, since they have to share the actual birthday! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the events. And, click the Flickr link to see some of our summer photos. Thanks to Rachael Schirano, a photographer and fellow triplet mother, for taking these pictures (www.schiranotriplets.blogspot.com).

Pumpkin Patch

Where has the time gone?

I have nothing to say for myself. I have been a terrible blogger. No excuses. Well, maybe just a few... September just flew by. In 14 short days, I managed to drive to Atlanta to see my sister (with Lila, Grandma, and Grandpa), visit St. Louis with Derek and the kids, fly to New York City for work, and then drive to Kansas City with Derek to see the Raiders. What a whirlwind. I am still recovering. But, back to NYC for work next week.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much the kids have changed since my last post. I can no longer count the words that they know. They are not yet using complete sentences, but they certainly know how to get their points across. Last monday, Derek turned on Monday Night Football. Addie promptly reacted "no football, daddy." I love this girl! Will and Lila are also quite vocal. When frustrated, though, Will resorts to crying, and Lila emits an ear-piercing scream.

We took down "baby jail," so the kids now have access to the entire first floor, not just the family room. Oh, what little monkeys! They climb the stove, play in the dogs' bowls, crawl in the cabinets... We have stepped up our baby-proofing efforts, but it is hard to stay ahead of them!

P.S. I should have more time for posts now that football and post season baseball have started. :-)

All Star Fun

A couple of weeks ago, we attended some of the All Star festivities in St. Louis. We happened upon the line to meet Jack Clark. He was quite friendly (and a fan of Will's Pumas). Note that we are not sexist, despite just having Will's picture taken with Jack Clark. Will, surprisingly, was in the best mood.

The kids are doing well. They love to dance, and they have some great moves... especially Addie. Will is our singer. He has a smashing rendition of "Row, row, row your boat" that uses only two words, row and merrily. Oh, and Will has a new way of expressing his anger. He will roll from one side of the room to the other. It's a bit comical. Last but not least, Lila is such a sweetheart. She loves to cuddle and is the best at giving hugs and kisses. Oh, and she went to the petting zoo yesterday and did not scream at the animals. Such progress!

A fun night out

This past weekend, Derek and I attended a close friend's wedding. We certainly enjoyed a night out without a curfew!

Overall, the kids behaved for Grandma Linda and Grandpa Rick, although the girls are really beginning to fight...hitting, pushing, etc. Will is quite passive compared to the girls, but he will reach a point when he stands up to his sisters! So, we are utilizing "time out" more and more. Will and Lila are infuriated when put in time out. Addie, the little stinker, doesn't seem to mind. She spends her time flopping around in the pack n' play and giggling. Oh, is she going to be trouble!

Road Trip

Earlier this month, we drove to Wisconsin for a mini family vacation. Our fears of toddlers on a long road trip kept us close to home. But, it was far enough to leave our "everyday" behind. We were joined by my parents and sister, brother-in-law, and niece. It was unseasonably cool, so we did not get to play on the beach as anticipated. But, we had a blast just staying up late talking. At the end of the vacation, we tried to get a picture of the kids with cousin Audrey. This is the best that we could do!

You're a Grand Ol' Flag

Click on Flickr link for more pictures from our session today!

Trip to the doctor

Lila

On Monday, I had plans to take Addie to the pediatrician to make sure that the ear infections had cleared up. On that morning, we noticed a strange rash on Lila's back. Since I was already on my way to the doctor and I miss an enormous amount of work time for doctor appointments, I thought I would also take Lila to the doctor, hoping to be a bit more efficient. Well, Addie's ears look great. And,Lila's rash...well, it was a pinch mark, surely from the little fingers of Addie or Will. So, I was a little embarrassed. I brought my daughter to the doctor for a pinch! At least for the sake of my ego, the doctor used the word "trauma" in diagnosing Lila's rash!

Bugger..

This is Will after I took his bug away...

The Grand Unveiling

After about four painstaking hours of parts sorting and 20 man hours of construction, I would like to present the Holtlets new swingset. Thanks so much to the grandpas for their help. And, Derek, thanks for your dedication, especially on those cold, rainy days earlier this spring. I know that the kiddos appreciate it, even if their faces don't show it!


So, all in all, we are doing well. Poor Lila has a pretty rough cold, which her sister shared with her. Addie's cold, though, progressed into bronchitis and ear infections in both ears. She seems to be on the mend now. Poor Grandma Linda had to take care of some cranky girls last night, while Derek and I went to a wedding. But, I think she was able to give them the TLC they needed.

We are making surprising success with the potty chair. Now, I don't think that we are going to reach the "diaper-free" finish line much earlier, but I am nonetheless pleased, especially with Lila's desire to use it.

Happy 19 Months...Our Trip to the Zoo

The Holtlets had such a busy weekend. We loaded up the minivan and headed to the St. Louis Zoo. The weather was perfect. I am not sure who had more fun, Grandma and Grandpa or the kiddos! Well, maybe not Lila. She screamed every time we got close to an animal!

Beep, Beep

18-Month Exam

Today we went to the doctor for our 18-month exam. The kids each gained only about one pound since their 15-month appointments. The doctor would have liked each to have gained two to three pounds. So, we will now add Carnation Instant Breakfast to their dinner serving of milk and add more high fat items to their diet. The doctor suggested adding cheese and butter to vegetables and adding peanut butter to their diet. I am sure that the grandmas will use this opportunity to sneak in even more ice cream runs! The kiddos had the following stats:

Lila: 18lbs 13oz, 31.5"
Adilenne: 19lbs 12 oz, 32"
Will: 19lbs 9.5oz, 32"

We discussed potty training with the doctor. She suggested that we place the potty chair in the bathroom, just so the kids can familiarize themselves with it before we start training in earnest. For some odd reason, this made me a little sad...my babies are growing up! Clearly, I am nuts!

Happy 18 months to my babies...I mean, toddlers!

Our memories from the NICU are quickly fading. The worries of bradycardias and apnea spells in our tiny, premature infants have been replaced, replaced by worries of accidents and falls by our toddlers. But, toddlerhood is an amazing time of discovery. I love watching the kids explore and take command of their environment. However, the Holtlets' will and determination exceed their physical abilities, leading to lots of frustration and bumps on the head!

Diaper Derby

Oh, have the Holtlets been busy! Last weekend, we again hit the road (the 4th weekend in a row!), this time to celebrate Cousin P's first birthday. Given it was also Derby weekend, we had a little fun. We had a diaper derby. Addie was the big winner, followed by Will. Lila was my horse. As you can see from the picture below, she was a little slow leaving the gate. But, she beat Cousin P, who, by the way, was slightly disadvantaged because he was not walking yet.

Like Father, Like Son

A few weeks ago, we went to visit Derek at work. Will wanted to make sure that the department maintained productivity during our highly-disruptive visit, so he pitched in!

Sick

The Holtelts have had a rough few days fighting the stomach flu. Lila was sick on Thursday, Addie on Saturday, and Mommy and Will last night. So far, so good for Derek. Lila and Will looked so scared and confused after they got sick. I felt so bad for them. Addie was a tough gal, though. The stomach flu didn't even slow her down. But, I think we did slow down the Grandmas, who, unfortunately, caught the bug, too. Sorry!

Fortunately, we had window of health, and Derek and I took Will to his first Cardinals' game on Saturday. (We have decided to take the kiddos one at a time, weather permitting.) It was hot, and the loud cheers of the crowd scared Will. So, we ate and shopped our way through the ballpark. Will was especially fond of Dippin' Dots ice cream. But, he was not fond of his new Fredbird doll. He still screams when he sees it!

I'll post some pictures soon.

Our Easter Fun

Happy Easter!

Hello Spring

Well, we survived March, which inluded Will's minor surgery and Addie's high fever and ear infections. Will had his follow-up with the surgeon yesterday, and he said that Will looked great. After nearly 17 months, I think that we are finally done with specialists! Addie's ears cleared up nicely, too.

This weekend, we have a big project planned...to construct the new swingset we purchased. In preparation, I spent two hours last night sorting and labeling 1,000+ pieces of hardware and reading installation instructions. I am now scared to death of this swingset. The directions went through all of the dangers, including fall height from which a life threatening injury would not be expected. Geesh! I am starting to have second thoughts...

I am amazed on how quickly the kiddos are learning new things. Addie is the most vocal, imitating almost everything she hears. She now says bubbles, pa-pa (grandpa), Yi-ya (Lila), and Wheel (Will). Lila also has quite the vocabulary. The girls respond when asked "what does the cow say," or "what does the sheep say." Will, on the other hand, limits his words to night-night, ma-ma, da-da, and ball. I expect one day Will will just start using tons of words, just as he did with the signs. Oh, and Addie gives eskimo kisses, and Lila loves to blow kisses. Melts my heart...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Thank You to the Good Samaritans

While I was grocery shopping this afternoon, some strong storms arrived. Our area was under a tornado warning as I wheeled my full cart through the parking lot. Then, some very strong winds tore through. I knew that I could no longer handle the cart on my trip to the back of the parking lot, and I was questioning if I could keep myself on the ground. Very scared, I grabbed my purse, ditched the cart, and tried to run back into the grocery store. I could see the wind overturn my cart and my groceries scatter everywhere. The wind was so bad that I couldn't fight through it to make it back into the store. Just as I decided hunkering down by the side of the building was best, the winds died down. Whew! Several kind people in their vehicles saw my overturned cart and groceries. The kind folks barricaded the area with their cars and helped me get what was left of my groceries into my minivan. We then all took cover in our vehicles to hurry to our respective homes. Of course, I told my helpers thank you. But, I am overwhelmed my their generous spirits that led them to get out of their cars in such bad weather.

Ruff, Ruff

I have become quite delinquent with my posts, which is really unfortunate because blogging helps me track the kids' progress. So, let's see what I can reconstruct from the last few weeks.

We are trying lots of new foods: fish sticks, chicken nuggets, oranges, blueberries, turkey dogs, baked beans and more. Apparently, we have a very small window before the kids become picky eaters, so we are doing our best to expand their taste buds before that time. We have had some "misses," though, and the kids throw everything they don't like on the floor. We have two really lucky dogs! Unfortunately, the kiddos have decided that they don't like milk. At the last wellness appointment, the doctor wanted them to drink four more ounces of milk daily, not four less!

We completed our swimming lessons and have certificates designating them "shrimplets." Tuesday nights are now Kindermusik, a program that "emphasizes structured play, combining music and movement in activities designed specifically for the developmental capabilities of young children." The kids really enjoy the classes, and I love observing them interact with the other kids and adults. They are very outgoing, probably because indvidually they have never had the luxury of clinging to mommy too much. And, I am not always able to bring enough helpers to class, leaving an odd man out to go find someone else to play. It's funny to see Lila so comfortable in a stranger's lap.

Everyday, it seems the kids learn something new. We can ask them to go get the baby or the telephone. Will and Addie will even give their babies kisses. The girls are learning lots of new words: night-night, baby, ball, more,and block. And, the girls now respond "ruff, ruff" when you ask what the dog says. So cute! Will seems to prefer adding signs instead of words.

Happy Valentines Day

The Holtlets making valentines...

The Wee Little Holtlets

Yesterday we went to our 15 month wellness exam. Overall, all three are healthy but still small. Lila weighed in at 18 lbs. Addie 18 lbs 15 1/2 ounces. Will 18 lbs 14 ounces. So, the Chunky Monkey (Addie) retains her crown. Addie and Will are in the 3rd percentile for weight. Lila is not quite on the chart. We have been instructed to feed, feed, feed. We already feed them so much that their little bellies feel like they could pop!

The pediatrician gave us some helpful tips as we transition into the toddler phase. First, no more pacifiers. I am happy to report that Addie, Will, Mom, and Dad survived last night, the first night without the pacifiers. (Lila's lucky she sucks her thumb. She is a smart little one!) Second, it's time to try crayons. I have been notified that it is okay if they eat them, even an entire box. Good to know. Third, we should use spoons more consistently. I can see the food fly now!

Oh, probably time for a tooth update:

Lila: 7
Addie: 32 (Seriously, about 10, including a few molars. She won't let me look.)
Will: 1 fang (but bottom teeth cutting through)

And, finally, a funny series pf pictures of Will eating...

Happy 15 Months Kiddos!

It is so much fun to watch the kids discover their world. We have had some unseasonably warm weather, and the kids have gotten time to explore the great outdoors. Over the weekend, Grandma Sandy and I played with the kids outside. Will and Addie loved walking along the sidewalk like big kids. Although, it was not too long before Addie was on the ground trying to eat rocks. Today, the kids went to the zoo. They really loved the animals. After the zoo, they had time for a visit to the park. Miss Addie did not want to stop swinging. I wish that I could have been there.

Tonight, we went attended a Kindermusik class. The kids had a great time playing with drums and dancing. They didn't know a stranger (especially Will), which was great since it was only me and a helper for three kiddos. We appreciated the extra hands. But, I am the mother of the bullies (but not my sweet Lila). Yep, my very small kids picked on everyone, even the much bigger kids. They stole pacifiers, drums, scarfs, etc. The other kids were much more passive with one another. Well, I always hoped that they would learn to "socialize" with children other than their siblings.

So, after such a big day, the kids just crashed when we put them to bed. Now, I am ready to crash.

In Honor of Tuesday Fiona Whitt

"Wagie Ride"

Today, we plan to take a "Wagie Ride" in honor of Tuesday, a sweet little girl who was called home last week after a fight with cancer. Her family is holding a celebration of her life today, including a wagon ride parade. Like ourselves, many bloggers have been touched by this family's courage and want to show our support from afar through a virtual parade for Tuesday.

Our Big Get-A-Way

Derek suprised me with an overnight trip to Chicago for our sixth anniversary. He had every detail planned. We spent the afternoon in the suburbs shopping, and then we headed downtown for dinner and a play. We had a fantastic meal at a Brazilian churrascaria (steakhouse). Before heading to the theater, we stopped at the Goose Island Brewery. We really enjoyed the play, especially the atmosphere of a small theater.

My parents stayed with the kids. I am not sure that the kids even missed us! It appears that everyone got along quite well. Although, when we got home, I found the girls in the craziest outfits! Grandma must be color blind. Just teasing.

It was perfect weekend, one that we certainly needed. As you would imagine, Derek and I don't make it out of the house much (at least not together!).

Quick Story

Unbeknownst to me, Addie got the tv remote, turned on the tv and cable box, and managed to record "How to Get Rock Hard Abs in 90 Days." I hate to tell her that her prospects are not good. It was just funny. I was paying bills, and it did not seem odd to me at all that someone turned on the tv. Then, I thought, "hey, how did that happen?" Shoot, half of the time, I don't know how to turn the tv on!

Oh, Will is starting to sign. Yeah!

Cold Little Fish

Like everyone else, the Holts are just enduring this extremely cold, snowy January. We certainly have cabin fever. But, we are still making our swim lessons. The kids seem to enjoy the water more, splashing around. The water, however, has been cold the last two lessons. Poor Lila and Will spent most of the time shivering. Addie had a great time, although I could tell from her blue lips that the cold water was also getting to her. At one of the lessons, we let the instructor take them under water. Will and Addie emerged from the water with wide eyes. They were stunned. Lila, on the other hand, emerged from the water with her arms and legs flailing. She was determined to get herself above water.

Speaking of Miss Lila... She took her first steps tonight. It was very sweet. For the last few weeks, she has preferred "walking on her knees" to crawling, I think trying to emulate her walking siblings. So, I was so proud to see her take those steps. Now, she can play tag with Will and Addie!