3 Little Leprechauns

We've been celebrating St. Patrick's Day in our house for a few days so I could get some pictures. I found some fun things for the babies to wear at Dollarama, green bow ties, shamrock sunglasses and leprechaun wands.





Kiss me, I'm Irish!

The boys got into a scrap downstairs over who was going to play with the mailbox on their little house.

Mitchell was trying to hug Casey and makeup.


"What were we fighting about again"?

Maggie's bow tie turned into a hair bow. She looks like she's performing on stage.

I wanted to get a picture of the three of them with their glasses on but by the time I put them on #3, #1 and #2's were already off. So we got some individual shots instead.



Maybe we should see if Elton John needs some sidekicks, these look like glasses he would wear.

Kissie Kissie

I love seeing the babies interact with each other, especially when they're having fun. My favorite things to see them do are to laugh together and kiss and hug each other. The other night they were putting on a bit of a performance for Daniel and I. They like to twirl around, stomp their feet and hop. After they were done with that they started kissing each other, which we got on video. The video looks black as if there is nothing there, but it works if you click play.


Maggie and daddy lounging around on a Sunday afternoon.

Check out Casey's ringlets. He has gorgeous hair.



Mitchell likes to run and hide from us when we want him to come and do something. He's probably thinking, "If I can't see them, they must not be able to see me".

Then he turns around with a big grin on his face.

He got up onto his little perch today and sat there for quite a while.

We discovered this weekend that Mitchell does not like to wear shoes. I put Robeez shoes on them everyday to help keep their socks on and when we've been out somewhere this past fall or winter they've used the Robeez boots. They are so nice because they are really light, almost like slippers. However, this weekend we put actual little running shoes on them so we could go outside. Well Mitchell had a bird. He wanted them on but then when it came time to stand up he just stood there and cried and would not move his feet. So we ended up finding some other shoes we borrowed from a friend (thanks Karen!) that had a little thicker sole than the Robeez, but weren't as bulky as other shoes. Something we'll have to work on.

18 Months Old!

I can't believe our babies are a year and a half old already, almost 2! Wow! They seem so grown up and have changed so much.

Casey: There is always some kind of a noise coming from Casey's mouth, whether he's saying actual words, just babbling (in his many languages), screaming, squealing, whatever. He says hi and no so clearly, it sounds so cute. He always has to be first - first to bed, first to have a bath (when we used to bath them separately), etc. or else he has a meltdown. Casey is the quickest and easiest to smile but does sometimes make strange. He has the most dramatic sounding cry and huge alligator tears. I would say he is the goofiest one of the bunch as well as the biggest thief, Maggie's soothie and pink blanket are some of his favorite things to grab and run. This little stinker totally knows that he can get away with things when I am changing Maggie or Mitchell. I will be at the change table with one of them and he is way more mischievous because he knows I can't come after him right away. He walks with his big chest sticking out and will run anything or anyone over that's in his way. Casey loves books and could sit and look at them with or without you over and over. He also loves to cuddle and dance.


Mitchell: He has such a cute grin and giggle. He has such expressive eyes and eyebrows. He is definitely the most ticklish of the group. He does things and then claps for himself. Mitchell is probably the most likely to be in a sour mood and sometimes has one or two good meltdowns a day. Right now getting changed and getting into his highchair are not his favorite things to do. But once he's in his high chair he eats like a chipmunk, shoveling food in and either stores it in his cheeks or has some falling out of his mouth because it's too full. Mitchell gives great hugs, he wraps both of his arms around you and he usually will give a hug on each side (kind of like European kisses). One of the cutest things I have seen was when Maggie was upset, Mitchell came and wrapped his arms around her giving her a big hug. He really does remind us of a monkey - he loves to climb, he cannot sit still and I can just picture him swinging from tree to tree. He is a problem solver and likes to build things. When he does sit still he likes to play with shape sorters, blocks or the Fisher Price piggy bank, things that he can do over and over. He will sit and read books with you but doesn't stay long. He does also love to cuddle and is probably the most attached to his soothie and blankie. When he gets excited he walks (or runs) with his shoulders shrugged up to his ears). Mitchell is our little Mike Tyson, he's a biter and headbutter!


Maggie: Her personality has really come out the last 6 months or so and she has turned into quite a goofie girl. Maggie makes the funniest and most dramatic faces, one of her favorites is to glare at you while puckering up her lips. She loves to either be sitting on our lap or up with us seeing what's going on whereas she used to just kind of do her own thing. She really wants to be up when I am trying to get supper ready. If Casey or Mitchell are upset she'll always bring them a toy or their blankie or soothie. She has a kiss for anything or almost anyone - she loves to kiss us, her brothers, books or stuffed animals (especially Elmo). She stands up for herself now more than she used and has been known to give her brothers a backhand and straight arm or two. Maggie has such a cute walk - she bends her elbows, sticks her arms out and shakes her booty, she's got a real strut going on. Maggie likes to put bags over her arm and walk around with her "purse", picking toys up and putting them in the bag as she goes along. She's generally the most easy going of the bunch but does have the odd off day. She is real little helper and loves to walk around the house holding our hand.


All three love to "help" me fold laundry. If I say anything about laundry or they see me carrying the laundry basket they run over to the love seat where I fold it. They throw the clothes around the room and then usually bring them back when I ask them to. They can follow instructions really well and know about most things we talk about. I say can because of course they don't always follow the instructions of, don't hit, don't bite, don't steal, etc. They all do really well with forks and use them at all meals now. I haven't braved the mess yet to let them use spoons for things like applesauce, yogurt and cereal. They chew through books like they're little beavers. They are in a stage with napping where sometimes they still take 2 a day, other times they don't sleep in the morning. But regardless, they are always still in their cribs during nap time which gives me a nice break. The boys are the mischievous ones and will be the first ones into something they shouldn't be, but Maggie does join in after. They are generally pretty good about taking turns if we say, "It's Mitchell's turn" while we're doing something, and they anxiously wait for their turn. One of the first things they do in the morning is go to the pantry door (which I always leave slightly open for some reason) and close it and then look at all of the cabinet locks. If there is one open they'll stand there and let us know. Sometimes they are okay with sharing our lap and having two of them there at once, other times they get upset if someone else is in "their spot" and touching them, it's so funny!

My 18 month maternity leave is now done but I decided to take a 24 month leave of absence. Although there are some days that would be much easier if I were at work, I am absolutely loving being home with the babies and am grateful to have this opportunity. I am planning on returning part time before the 24 months is up but it is nice to know that I have the time if I need (or want) it and also have my position to go back to.

So there was a long winded update on everyone. I haven't been too good about keeping up with their baby books, so this blog will be a nice keepsake for them to look back on. When I find some extra free time I am going to have it made up into books for each of them.

Our life has changed so much for the better this past year and half and we just can't imagine not having the three special little people in our lives. We love them so much!!!

SUPER Maggie!

Yes, we have a super hero in our house, our little Maggie. I'll get to her superhero powers in a minute.

Yesterday afternoon was pretty crazy in our house. We went to visit Daniel at the Sport and Leisure Trade Show that Sask Golf had a booth at. We had lunch there with him, he had a burger, I had a smokie and the babies had some fries. The boys also had a bite or two of my smokie. Everyone was good and we went home for their nap. My stomach started to become quite sore so I laid down while they were napping (which I never do). Daniel got home around 4:00 and within minutes we heard Mitchell coughing and vomiting in his crib. This is when all hell broke loose! We got him cleaned up and not long after that I started getting sick. Soon after I was done Casey joined in as well. It was crazy..the 3 of us just kind of alternated vomiting one after another! One of the boys would start to get sick, we'd rush them up the sink, and then I would get sick from standing up so quickly.

Casey and I were laying on the kitchen floor, Mitchell was sitting with Daniel and Maggie was being such a good girl entertaining herself. A few times she wanted to come and lay down with us and ended up laying on our heads which didn't feel great at the time, but she meant well. From about 4:00 until 7:30 Casey, Mitchell and I got sick about 20 times! It was so crazy! We felt so bad for the boys. We put the babies to bed and thankfully that was it for them, no more vomiting. We called Daniel's mom and she came to help us. We got thinking that if both him and I were sick at the same time as the babies, that would not be good. Daniel went to bed not feeling good and sure enough he got sick throughout the night too.

Today the boys were feeling much better and goofing around again. Daniel and I are still not quite back to normal but much better than we were. At first I thought maybe it was food poisoning because it started with the 3 of us who had the smokie, but then Daniel got it too so it must have been the flu. I have to say this was the most violent, but thankfully short lived flu I've ever had.

And yes once again Maggie fought off this vicious flu no problem. She is such a strong girl! This is the second flu that the boys have had that she hasn't gotten. We were calling her Super Maggie today so here she is raising her arms up and then puckering up to give daddy a kiss.



Here are a couple of pictures from Saturday afternoon before everything started. The boys enjoying their french fries while Maggie takes a big swig of milk.

While we were visiting Daniel at his booth, Casey must have had a premonition as to what was to come later in the day.

Action Shots

A few nights ago while Daniel was giving Casey a bath, Maggie and Mitchell were having a blast running around in their diapers chasing and tickling each other. It was so funny to watch them.

This is how things started.


And then the chasing began.


Mitchell's facial expressions are priceless!




Maggie looks a little more business-like about it, but I think she had just as much fun.





Here are a few pictures of some brotherly love during snack time. These times, although usually short lived, do happen and I love when they do.

Busted!

Here are some pictures from the past few days where we have busted the babies doing either something funny or something they shouldn't be doing. So many things they do make us laugh or just as many times shake our heads in wonder.

Mitchell took some of the rails out of his crib yesterday morning. Yah, not a good thing at all. Daniel fixed it so hopefully he won't try to do it again.

The boys love to open the closet doors (and they know they're not supposed to). The only one that they have access to that doesn't have a lock on it is in the change room. It is quite funny because Casey will open the door and then they'll dive into the closet and try and hide from me.

Maggie flipping me the bird.

Everyone piled into the oven drawer. They love sitting in there for some reason. Usually it starts out well but then gets out of hand within a minute or two.

Mitchell and Maggie determined to get their diapers off.

Mitchell in his attack mode. This little stinker has been biting once in a while when he is really mad or frustrated (usually with Casey), but yesterday he was doing it and then giggling. I have heard that biting is more common in multiples. Does anyone have suggestions on what to do with a biter?

The babies also love to play in the curtains. Usually I have them wrapped around the rod by the time they get up, but they got to them first this morning. If you look close enough you can see the duct tape that is holding down the registers and the tv cord, although we've found out that duct tape doesn't fix absolutely everything like it claims...they can still pull it up.


Mitchell chewing on a rubber piece on the patio door. Maybe we need to get him a rawhide bone?

Mitchell was hoarding toys and stuffing them away in his secret stash. I'm not sure whether he just found a small spot where he could put the toys or if he actually was trying to hide them from Casey and Maggie.

Hmmm, there seems to be a common theme (or little boy) in almost all of the pictures. As my nephews would say, he's "Troublemaker #1".