Happy Birthday x 3!

Alexander making birthday muffins

We made it!! The babies turned 1 last week and boy did we celebrate. On their birthday morning, Alexander, daddy, and I woke them up with blueberry muffins singing "happy birthday to you!" Alexander helped each one of them blow their candle out. He was such a proud big brother.

We let them eat their muffins in their cribs and it was hilarious how each of them approached it. Benjamin stood up to receive his muffin and ate it immediately, he didn't even sit down to enjoy it! I barely had anything to clean up. He is my sweet little piglet. Winston was kind of perplexed about the whole thing, took a few bites then kind of rolled around in it. Theodore sat down with the muffin between his legs and quaintly picked at and ate his muffin. He is the epitome of cute.

Winston with muffin crumbs wondering what's going on

Theodore with his muffin in bed

Benjamin standing and eating on birthday morning

 

Alexander was so funny about eating the muffins upstairs. We have a rule that you can't eat upstairs (because it is carpeted) and he was very concerned about the babies eating in their cribs. I told him it was a special occasion but he still wouldn't eat his muffin until I sat him down, put a blanket over his lap and assured him multiples times that it was OK. He gobbled it up very fast in case I changed my mind. :)

At one year, we have a great routine and things are so much easier than they were in the beginning. Alexander is more forgiving (although he still wants to rip their heads off sometimes) and seems to find more humor in the everyday chaos. We find special time with him and he really appreciates it. He is potty trained but has an occasional poo-poo accident and sometimes it is a struggle to get him to go when we need to leave the house, etc. All in all, he is thriving and Nate and I comment everyday what a great boy he is.

Benjamin is our chunky, cuddly teddy bear. He is tough and sometimes a bully, but he definitely has a soft side and loves cuddles. My dad nick-named him "rodeo" because of his fearless and fun nature. His deep chesty laughs crack us up and his eyes are so expressive. He weighed in at 28 lbs and 31" at his 1 yr doc appt. Benjamin is cruising well but not standing or walking alone yet. He is the biggest guy by far so I don't expect him to walk first.

Happy Benjamin

Benjamin AKA "Rodeo" riding the pony at their birthday party

Theodore is pure sunshine and mellow as can be. He is a little on the sensitive side but he is definitely getting better. When I said he is the epitome of cute, he seriously is. I don't often look at the other boys and say, "awe, how cute!" But we are constantly looking at Theo and saying, "now that is freaking cute." He has this megawatt smile and is content with just playing by himself in a corner for a long period of time. He does this thing when you're holding him on your side and looking away from him (in our case, watching other kids), he will peek his head around to stare right into your face, as if to say, "Hi there, how are you?" I have never seen another kid do that. He loves eye contact. Theo weighed the least at 24 lbs (still in 73rd percentile) and also at 31". He doesn't seem too interested in walking although he cruises just as much as the other guys.

Winston Winston Winston. This guy is a handful and I would say the biggest "momma's boy." When Winston is happy his whole body shows it. His face is so expressive and he has these fierce eyes that show you he is either up to no good (and very happy) or very upset. He is probably the most advanced and really close to walking any day now. He just needs a little more confidence but physically I think he could do it. I wonder if when he takes off walking one day the others will follow soon after. All of the boys adore Alexander but Winston is probably the most in awe of his big brother. In fact, I could see him aligning with Alexander when they get older and the other two boys pairing up (with Benjamin being the protector of Theodore). Winston weighed in at 25 lbs and 30".

 

 

They are all saying "mama", "dada", and "uh oh", but they clearly understand much more. They are all on whole milk (good riddance formula!!) and we are down to one bottle at night. They are eating everything which is such a relief. Each of them have their favorites but it is nice to just make one meal for everyone now.

They had an amazing birthday party. Lots of friends and family came to celebrate three amazing boys and the journey we have all had this year. Here are some pictures from that fabulous day.


My mom outdid herself as usual and made the cutest (and extremely yummy) circus cakes for the boys.

Great-grandma got the boys their very own trains (shown here with Grandpa D) and they love them.

All the boys chowing down on cake (including the big guy who is addicted to icing like his mother.) It took them a little while to realize they had a big block of deliciousness in front of them but they finally got it.

Alexander posing on the pony.

 

 Theodore was not so crazy about the pony ride so he stuck with Papi.

 

Winston with GMA and the goats who did a great job of trimming our weeds (yes we had ponies AND goats.)

 

Now on to year #2 of life at the ranch...