Summer Bucket List

Since having triplets, I have tried to come up with some simple/fun activities that Harper and I can do during "Our special time" of the day...when I am not feeding the babes.  So far we have made play-doh, popsicles, cookies, banana pops, painted, played in the sprinklers/slip and slide.....I keep a list on my phone of fun dates and update it when I hear good ideas. Here is our current "Summer Bucket List"

Dinosaur dig in sandbox
Write/Mail a letter
Make words with beans and glue
Pick blueberries/Strawberries
Paint outside on Butcher Paper or Posters
Go to the local Children's Museum
Story time at the Library
Make homemade bubbles
Play "Missing Objects" on cookie sheet
Go to the new and improved Germ Tree....ha!

What is on your bucket list this summer? I am always looking for some fun things to do with my big boy!

Willy Wonka

 On Sunday I took Harper on a special date to see Willy Wonka at the Crighton Theater. Kids who are apart of CYT (Christian Youth Theater) were the performers. It was outstanding. The kids really did a phenomenal job. Willy Wonka (the original) was one of my favorite movies growing up. I wonder why?? Harper and Gentry enjoyed the show and seeing the "Wonka-vator." I think it's pretty neat that our town has a historic theater, and less than 3 miles from our home! We will definitely being going back!

Acting like thespians 

Going Bananas

Playing dress up 

Well I think the honeymoon is officially over. The triplets have been so laid back and easy going...and really still are, but they are definitely getting a little personality. They have become a little more vocal as they hit 6 weeks old. I know this is how babies communicate, and they definitely can communicate that they are hungry! Yesterday, Harper was covering up his ears as it approached lunch time! They really like to eat. At five and half weeks Hampton weighed 7 pounds 2.5 ounces, Hogan 6 pounds 15.5 ounces, and Hudson 8 pounds 2 ounces!! Hudson has taken the lead and is growing so fast. He has some chubby cheeks!!

We haven't dropped a feeding yet, but we are no longer setting our alarm for the night time feedings. Hallelujah!! Last night, we fed them at 11, 2:30, and 6:30. So it's getting better for mama. We also moved them into our bathroom while we slept. It was so nice to have some quiet sleep, three cooing babies is a choir at night!!

Yes, the honeymoon is over!

I thought I would be obsessed with making sure the triplet's clothes match. I mean isn't that one of the most fun parts of having twins/triplets? Well it is such a task, they start out matching on the mornings that we have night time help and then by the end of the day, some one has soaked, pooped, or spit up on their outfit, so no matches. Hampton is known as the "Mad-pee-er," lovingly named by our night nanny. He pees on you just about every time you change his diaper!! We are going to start buying clothes in sets of 4. One for Hogan, one for Hudson, and TWO for Hampton!! Hopefully I will start dressing them each morning, but to be honest after I nurse them in the morning. I just want my coffee.

Hampton, Hudson, and Hogan....in coordinating outfits!!

Harper is out of school this week so we made time to do some special things. He loves cooking so we went to the store and he picked out banana pops. I loved to make these with my mom when I was a little girl.  I call Harper "Snack attack" because he is always wanting a snack....an unhealthy snack. He has a sweet tooth just like me!!

Brotherly Love

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. Psalms 133:1

Date Night

Cam and I went out with friends on Friday night for a yummy dinner at Chuys. Why don't we do this more often?? It was so nice to have adult conversation and enjoy the company of our sweet friends. We are going to have to start planning a night out more often. It was therapeutic!! A huge thanks to Addy and Poppy who kept the boys pretty much all day so that I could go to the doctor, get my haircut, go shopping, and have a fun date night!!

Peppermint Play-doh and PJs

I wish I was as clever as OPI or Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. I had "Imagine Whirled Peace" for dessert today.  Oh well for now my titles will remain boring and uncreative. On to our day... Today was another day where my boys and I stayed in our pajamas. We even had visitors, but did not have time for a wardrobe change....only diapers get changed these days! Harper and I made peppermint flavored play-doh and played with it outside on this breezy spring day. He also opened every play-doh container we own, mashed every color together, and then but them all in the wrong containers....I am proud to report that I kept my mouth shut and let him do as he pleased. My OCD has to be contained if I am going to have 4 BOYS! He made a huge mess, but it was better than being in my kitchen, right??

Harper will be four in August and is quite the conversationalist. He keeps me laughing all day. Today some of my favorite quotes were Harper- "I wish I was a girl" Me- "Why?" Harper- "Because I wanna pump!"

I guess there are no secrets in our house!! He is obsessed with Land Before Time, we watch it once every other day on Netflix. So today at lunch he asked me if Jesus was bigger than Sharptooth!! Tonight at dinner Harper spilled my drink, but proceeded to tell me that "We sure need to get you a sippy cup!" It cracks me up when he uses the world sure, I guess I say that a lot!

One, One, One, is Fun, Fun, Fun

Thirty Toes

In January I started specifically praying for the triplets. I had been praying daily for healthy babies, but I decided to get specific. God cares about the little things, nothing is too big or too small for him!!  I knew  triplets were at risk for a lot of different health conditions since they typically are born preterm. I had looked on the internet and quite frankly I knew what the future could hold. I also knew that these precious babies growing inside me were knit together my the Master Creator. So instead of panicking, I started praying.
My list...
developed lungs
no colic
no reflux
delivery at 35 weeks
5 pound babies
short NICU stay- only 9 days!!
milk supply
nanny

God is a gracious and merciful God. Everything, YES, everything I prayed for was answered. I gave birth to healthy 5 pound babies. I was a legend at the hospital. No one could believe that I had delivered the boys at 35 weeks. All I could say was God is GOOD. I faithfully prayed for these babies and they are a true testament to answered prayer. Thanks to all my prayer warriors out there!!

Hampton, Hogan, Hudson

They are now ONE month old and such healthy, happy little babies. We said bye bye to preemie diapers and clothes. Hudson is the heaviest at 7 pounds, followed my Hampton and Hogan at 6 pounds. They nurse 8 times a day and sleep the rest of the time. Love my boys! Thank you God for these indescribable gifts!

Big Bro/Little Bro

Happy One Month Sweet Babies

A Stay at Home Mom

I have been a "Stay at home mom" for almost four years, but I recently fit the job title. I like to be on the go, play dates, Bible study, volunteering, shopping, exercising, girls night... I like to get out of the house. Well, my days of getting out are over, it's plain and simple....4 under 4 will keep you at home. So today was one of those days where we brought the fun to us. We stayed in our pajamas ALL day. We watched Curious George on Netflix while having a picnic in the playroom. Harper got out all of his cars/trucks/airplanes and we made a HUGE mess. We went on a "Dig" for plastic spiders in the sandbox.  You might be wondering what the trifecta did all day....well they are angel babies and did lots of this......

Hogan, Hampton, and Hudson...after this picture Harper went and gave each a kiss and talked in his mommy voice calling them all "Sweethearts!!" He cracks me up!

And when they weren't sleeping they were eating. I have figured out how to nurse 2 babies talk on the phone while pacifying the 3rd baby all with a remote in my hand changing the channel to please my 3 year old. Talent. If only I had my own Multiples TV show to video this.

No day is complete without some ipad

A is for Addy

We will be having a late Mother's Day celebration with Addy tomorrow so we made sugar cookies. Harper wanted to make them in the shape of the letter A and with colored sprinkles. Well this is what happens when a 3 year old decorates!!.........

 Oh well it's all about making memories! And while we were making cookies Harper says, " I hope Jesus bakes cookies!!" He's been asking about Heaven lately, guess he wanted to make sure he would get some sweets in Heaven.

Mother's Day

Heathcott Party of 6

All I wanted for Mother's Day was a picture of me and my FIVE boys! I still can't believe God has entrusted me with such a precious family. So here is our Mother's Day picture right before bed time. How is it that moms never get their picture taken??! I try to take pictures of my fam daily, but rarely do I come out from behind the camera.

3 weeks old

Huddy

Hampton

Hogan

It's been a happy three weeks in our house. We have all adjusted to a house full of children. Thanks to our family and friends it has been a really smooth transition thus far. It really helps that I haven't had to cook or clean! We have had meals brought in every other day and have had many helpful visitors. I could get use to this! The boys are sleeping and eating really well, even Harper. We have tweaked his routine just a little bit and he has adjusted really well. He naps a little later in the afternoon (2:30ish) and goes to bed after the 8pm feeding.

Big Bro, watching a movie during a feeding

Harper's new pose when the camera comes out

This week I discovered that the boys prefer sleeping together. I had been separating Hampton and he had been a little more fussy than the others. They really do not fuss, it is more of a coo....but still it's a little noisy when they all do it at the same time! I put them all together so I could snap a few pictures. When I laid them down 3 in a row, they got quiet, turned their heads the same way and passed out!! I guess they are use to being together.

Overachievers!!

My boys are such overachievers already. We went to Dr. Herrin for our 2nd check up and the boys had all gained a significant amount of weight. Cam had been worried that the boys weren't gaining weight. So while we were at the doctors office he called my phone, my mom's phone, and my dad's phone.  Finally when he called Dad's phone Dr. Herrin answered it! He wanted to give Cam a hard time. No worries on the weight gain.....

Hampton weighed 5 pounds 2.5 ounces
Hogan weighed 5 pounds 3.5 ounces
Hudson weighed 5 pounds 15 ounces

Hudson Barrett is living up to his name, Barrett means "Strong and Mighty!!" And since I am talking about meanings...
 Hampton means "Man of Character," Woodward "Guardian." Kind of funny since he was baby A and the "Gate keeper."

Hogan means "Youthful" and Allyn means "Handsome and Cheerful"....That sums it up!

Dr. Herrin gave the boys another A+..... Once again feeling very blessed.

Night Nanny

When we found out we were expecting triplets we immediately started looking for someone to come into our home a few nights a week to help with the late night shifts. I joined several forums and looked all around The Woodlands/Conroe area, but no luck. Then weeks prior to delivery I received a referral from a complete stranger. I met the nurse at the hospital and we clicked instantly. Michelle comes 3 nights a week and is a complete God-send. She arrives at 11pm and feeds the boys at 11pm, 2am, and 5 am. I pump at the  11pm and 5am feedings and omit the 2am feeding. It is so nice to a five hour stretch of sleep. I even had a dream last night! Here are a few pictures of the boys in their cribs...

Hampton

Hudson

Hogan

I love waking up in the mornings and going upstairs to check on the boys. They are always sleeping so peacefully. Michelle bathes them and gets them dressed for the day. They smell so good and she combs their hair...such little misters!! I love unswaddling them to see what outfits she puts on them. 

Picnic

Our family of 6 ventured out into the neighborhood today. I have been wanting some fresh air, so we loaded up the "Triplette" (our stroller) and headed for a picnic in the park. The trio has officially been introduced to the Texas heat. It was so HOT and HUMID today. I broke a sweat before we even left the driveway. I was on modified bed rest the last part of my pregnancy so it felt so good to go on a walk. Usually I am a very active person so it was nice to get sweaty after being cooped up the last couple of months!!

We had a cozy picnic at our neighborhood park and then let Harper play on the playground for a little while. He had been wanting me to buy him some flip flops, I finally did and now he wants to wear them everywhere like on our LONG walk. He kept tripping and almost fell a dozen times. I guess he is going to be clumsy like me! It was funny watching him try to walk, looked like he had on clown shoes.

Note the flip flops and his "I'm so cool" face

First Check Up

So thankful for handicap parking 

We had our first check up with Dr. Herrin since leaving the hospital. Addy and Poppy were visiting so they were able forced to go with me. It was my first outing with the boys and I needed all the help I could get. I was exhausted just getting the "gear" backed into the car. After a C-section you are not supposed to lift anything heavy, ha...that is pretty much impossible! Thank goodness for strong dads!!

Ready to be loaded, Hampton, Hogan, and Hudson

When we arrived at the doctor, there was a handicap parking spot waiting for us. We got everything out of the car and tried to nonchalantly go into the office. ha ha Three is a crowd, and attracts the multitudes. When we rolled in and were swarmed by everyone, I guess this is going to be the new norm.

The boys received all of their shots at the hospital so our first check up was a breeze. When Harper got his first shots, we made Addy hold him because we could not stand to watch him get pricked. This time around was much easier, we did not have to witness the tears!

Dr. Herrin, Daddy, and Hudson

This appointment was to get weights, measurements, and ask any questions we might have. The boys had all gained weight since leaving the hospital. I was a little nervous since they are preemies, but everyone is growing! Hampton weighed 4 lb 10.7 ounces, Hogan 4 lbs 11 ounces, and Hudson 5 lbs 3.5 ounces. Hudson was the only one who has passed his birth weight. I think he gained it all in his cheeks! Dr. Herrin and his staff were so impressed that the babies were not on any monitors and had left the hospital with an A+. Once again I am reminded of God's provision for my family, so thankful.