Trying some new things this month with food. Letting kids really work on feeding themselves ALL foods, even the really messy ones, like yogurt. Also been making the bites bigger and really working on chewing and taking their own normal size bites. As with anything, victory in some areas, disaster in others. We are definitely seeing a lot of indecisiveness at the food table. One day they adore a meal, the next day it's like feeding them live bugs the disgust is so great. Danny is funny at mealtimes, he will assess what is on his plate, carefully pick out any ingredient he doesn't like, and pass it to Sammy. He can't pass it to Elsie anymore as she has been banned from the triplet table until further notice. She used to sit in the middle until she decided winging plates across the kitchen was a fun game. As soon as she would finish, she would say 'all done' and frisbee her plate, then turn to her brothers, launch their plates off the table and rip off their bibs. Apparently when she is done, everyone is done. So now she sits by herself so the damage is minimal. The worst part is I think she likes it and thinks it's a special seat. You really can't win with toddlers.
Talking is coming along. I feel like they add new words each day. It's nice hearing clearer versions of some words that you weren't sure if they were saying. Still having tons of blubbering jargon that no one can understand, but definitely getting easier to get the message they are trying to communicate. And the comprehension is amazing at times. Elsie had been saying purple for a while, and I attributed it to the fact her toothbrush is purple so we say that word every night. But I was playing with her with these new pegs we have and asked her to grab the blue one, and she did. So I ran through every other color they came in, and each time she looked and grabbed the right color. So even though she can't say all her colors yet, she knows them. So exciting.
The kids have enjoyed playing with all the new toys they got for Christmas this month. They really like music stuff, and the harmonica they got has been a big hit. They also like the drum, the maracas, our piano, and a play guitar. One will play the harmonica and another will run over to the piano and start banging the keys. Hoping all of these jam sessions land them some gigs when they grow up! Sammy also loves kicking and throwing the ball. And he's good, very coordinated. His favorite toys right now are cars, and you can hear him 'vroom, vrooming' all over the living room. Elsie is into puzzles and books, her etch a sketch writing pad, and jumping on the trampoline. Danny is into any toy someone else is using. And any toy he has previously played with that someone is thinking of playing with now. He collects many of his favorite toys in the morning and will carry them around the living room wherever he goes so no one else can play with them. They boy will literally have 5 or 6 toys in his arms. Sometimes he puts them in a bucket to make it easier to carry around. My son the 2 year old hoarder.
Wrapping up the month we started potty training Elsie on Friday. Last week she started with the taking her clothes off. But that escalated quickly, and Thursday after breakfast I found her completely naked, diaper off, sitting in her own pee. OK. Time to potty train for her. We didn't do the 3 day naked per se, but kind of a hybrid from a book called 'oh crap! potty training' that is on a 3-7 day training cycle. They break it into blocks...clueless, I peed, I'm peeing, I have to go pee'. I liked the platform, simple and direct, like teaching a new skill. We are on day 3 and seeing progress. We have had 100% success rates for pooping on the potty (woo hoo!), but peeing has been a little tougher. We've had several pees on the potty but all with prompting to go and try. This evening was the first time she initiated going to the potty and sitting down on her own and actually made something happen. Hoping it sticks and she gets it before our vacation in a few weeks. I know it won't be perfect but hoping it will be very manageable by then.
Lastly, Sammy crawled out of the crib last week. Twice. Definitely not a mistake. Surprisingly though he has not done it since. We have taken the initiative to buy the toddler bed conversion kits. And now we wait. Praying we get through vacation in pack and plays before the jail break happens.
Enjoy all the pics and videos! More videos now because it is the easiest way to capture them!
oh ya know. just a typical day with a drawer emptied out and a half naked Elsie dancing in the kitchen
loves this new truck
visiting Tio Celso. Glad it was too mild to have the wood stove on yet!
She just LOVES her english muffin pizza
Play date with Ki!
These two.
practicing our writing and drawing skills
This boy loves me. Loves to snuggle his momma.
love me, momma
I left the room for a second....
explaining what happened
sassy girl
practicing her smile
wearing our Portuguese jackets!
swimming lessons
the beginning before it got too messy
fingers. spoon. what's the difference really.
she is not a fan of it on her fingers
love that smile
let me just push my hair out of my face with this yogurt filled hand...
all bundled up
she didn't mind it
he hates it
selfie Elsie. same face. every picture.
was making lunch and came back to a mess, and the chair moved in the center of the room and Sam and Elsie snuggling in it watching the minions.
this doesn't happen often. especially if I'm in the room.
loves breaking up the floor puzzle
It's go time!
This girl is going places
playing outside on Jan 31st. love his smile!
He's so full of expression. Love his faces.
getting a push from his brother
resting with Ki.
We got a new shelving system to clean up. This lasted 3 hours and now is just the bins on the floor because the boys decided to use it like parallel bars and swing from it.
One of our new favorite toys, stackable pegs!
The kids playing
Our lunch meltdown. It's not all rainbows and butterflies folks. The struggle is real.
Coloring! And not eating the crayons (too much) to boot! woo hoo
The boys playing nicely together. You don't see this everyday.
Everyone loves the new trampoline
yogurt covered triplets, it's the new snack!
Here is our '30 min to get ready, 8 minutes in the snow playing' video!
The kids even practice their swimming at home. In the toys. Ay yi yi.
Kids playing
Dancing Queen jamming out to Bubble Guppies
