Tips I Don't Want To Forget

Our bottle station. We buy formula from Sams Club, it doesn't froth up like Costco and Similac do. Less bubbles and gas. On a different note, I can tell you how many baby wipes it will take me to clean a messy bottom based on the brand. Pampers, 3 wipes they are a little thin and soggy, Huggies are too thick and sometime dry so they are less aerodynamic but it would take me 2 wipes and more time. Costco has the best wipes, easiest to pull out, quickest to wipe with, not too soapy, not too dry, good smell, it will take me 2 wipes -one to clean the big mess and one for fine tuning.

We froze all of our food flat for better storage space, in this case grated zucchini for soups and breads, chili and cut up cooked chicken.

We made extra meals while I was pregnant and listed them on the side of the freezer with a dry erase marker

We always bathe babies in a blanket or towel so they stay warm and we wash their hair last so they don't lose heat through their head

I read once that if you paint the ceiling of your porch blue, you will have less bugs. For nine bucks and a little labor it was worth the effort. It totally works, no spiderwebs or tiny fly build up out there.

Drs Visit

Hazel, Quinn, James and Wilson had Drs visits today. We took the limo, it turns out you can park diagonal/lengthwise into 3 spaces, I could only do it in 5 but that is N8 for you. As CC would offer, "Dad is a good parker."
Here are the stats that Grandmas love:
Hazel 36 lbs- it puts her in the 50% for kids her age, height 40.5 in (55%)
Quinn 19.1 lbs (80%) height 28.25 (95%)  CC was off the charts as a baby too.
James 18.1 lbs (50%) height 28.5 (95%)
Wilson 17.5 lbs (25%) height 28 (75%)

I am so excited I have kept these babies alive and well fed. The triplets check up was a 7 month. Since they were premmies the Dr counts their skills and abilities as 4.5 month old babies. They are on track as far as development, Quinny leads the pack, she rolls the length of the floor, plays with toys and holds her own bottle, James enjoys push ups, he really isn't into toys but loves to do push ups on the floor during tummy time. I think he will crawl first.  Wilson is on track but way behind in rolling and playing with toys. N8 and I often wish we could give him a serum that would keep him a baby forever, he is so pleasant. His claim to fame is he is my best solid food eater. He is pure bliss to feed, especially after trying to feed Quinn who won't open her mouth for nothin'.

These Are My Aims

I had several years before we had children to think of what kind of mother I would be. And years to think of how I didn't want to be. I thought, for all my waiting, I would be most patient and forbearing of women but I am not. I am just a good mother that does her best everyday and apologies when she does wrong.  Children can be very difficult and exhausting. So to not lose my way, I work toward these aims.

My desire is to raise confident, well rounded, Christ centered children. If my children can handle this being foisted upon them, I feel like they can weather anything life throws at them.

I think we've got the confidence in part

They will have confidence to stand up for the right, treat all people kindly, ask questions (something I was really afraid of!) and develop new skills.
Well rounded enough to be diverse, educated and slightly cultured with a splash of athleticism, (that is a tall order but at least they have to try).
A Christ centered person can overcome and forgive the bitter struggles that happen as part of life. They can look to greater things and live knowing there is more than this life, they can live with God again.

To this end I try to manage our family so that my children can develop these values, abilities, characteristics, whatever you call them. I ask myself, have I given the girls chores that make them feel proud and accomplished? Have I shown them confidence and encouraged them in our activities? Do they feel comfortable asking questions? Do they know that what they do matters to me? Do I value them as creative, playful and helpful little people? Did I squish their initiative at all today or guide it?
Well rounded: Did they learn anything new today? Did we talk about the world and explore anything? What have they learned of music, painting, writing, history, body movement and sports?
Christ centered: How did I show my belief in Christ through my actions today? Did we pray? Did we talk about sharing, forgiving and gratitude? Did we read the scriptures? I know these children come from God. He imprinted in them such kindnesses and acts of generosity, I know they didn't learn it from myself or N8. They can be super rascals too, but sometimes I am simply in awe of these fine people around me.

Sometimes I really believe there is a rainbow smiling over our house. Not a moon or the sun, a rainbow. (Maybe it is just the new paint job.) In Bible times, the rainbow was Gods sign that He wouldn't flood the earth again, to me is represents forgiving. I wonder if I can apply that symbolism here. The rainbow is over our house because as a family we are learning how to get along and forgiving each other. The rainbow teaches me that even when we make mistakes our home can be a clean place of love and safety.

Gotta go, laundry is calling. Give me this mountain. (Joshua 14:12) Maybe I should do a post about how much I admire Caleb for his words and how often they have inspired me.

To Name a Child

N8 and I agonized over our children's names like crazy. Try naming three at the same time. Sometimes, it's not our very favorite name, but it is one we can both agree on. I have grown to love my children's names. They grow into them.

Hazel Dawn- I served in a church calling with a girl named Hazel. She was Hispanic and she had the ability to make friends with everyone. She moved easily among the Caucasian kids and the Hispanic kids, uplifting and unifying. Dawn, Hazel shares her birth mothers middle name.

Claire Christine- I wanted Lauren, N8 wanted Claire. I did know a Claire and was willing to settle for it as long as we could use the french spelling. Clare, Clair, Klaire, Klare, Klair, Clarre, Klarre, Chlarre, Chlaire, Claire. Claire Averett was the HR VP for Nu Skin when I worked there. It was during the time of tough layoffs. She was respected and admired. She had something special about her and she was someone who took care of people. Christine is my middle name.

Quinn Rebecca- Gwen? Too guttural. Brynn? Too breezy. I loved the double N sounding names but I didn't like my options. So I took a boy name. Rebecca, I have had many friends uplift and inspire me, two of them are named Rebecca.

James Gordon- Not being huge into Batman, we didn't realize we named him after the Commissioner. James was a family name we were throwing around while Jimmer Fredette was a BYU Basketball star. One night, as N8 was leaving for a game I said, "hey, if Jimmer scores more than 50pts, let's name a son after him. I never expected him to score like 53 that game. Gordon is my maiden name.

Wilson August- I loved the name Wilson. It is Nathan's middle name and a last name that runs in his family. August, N8 has wanted to name a son August forever. He also wants to name our next child Alvin. Good thing we are done having kids.

You Can Totally Do This!

My friend Sylvia tests out life as a triplets mom! You can do it!

 P.S. If you have a friend having multiples, please have them read this blog, I wish I could have found something like this before we had babies. I found blogs for multiples, but they didn't show how they did it.