That moment when you are minding your own business, leaning forward to re-adjust a baby’s bottle, and Craig is burping Harper…and she projectile vomits breast milk straight out, hits Craig, hits me, and looks mildly shocked that someone just got her wet…who could that have been.
Exorcism style.
Thank goodness neither of us were talking to her when she did that.
And then she was happy as can be.
Parenting…such fun!
The girls are getting big! We’ve been in the fourth developmental leap (called the “world of events”) a little over two weeks now, and while there is a decent amount of crankiness and snuggle demanding, they are advancing quite significantly mentally. We decided to test out the johnny jump ups and see what the girls think now that their necks are all stronger. All three thought it was super exciting, although a little too stimulating after a couple of minutes.
Harper and Reagan both touch the ground pretty easily. They don’t have the jumping down quite yet but they wiggle and are starting to bounce. Emerie thinks all the colors are super cool, but looks so tiny in it.
Emerie testing out the jumper while in adorable leg warmers.
Reagan checkin’ things out.
I took the girls to Double Cuddles this week and they were happy the whole ride over AND napped on the way home. Crazzzzy. Also had lots of playtime with their friends while us moms chatted.
As I’ve said a number of times, it is fun to see their advancements. The “world of events” development leap focuses on babies learning to perceive smooth transitions instead of separated, multiple transitions stacked on one another. For example, moving a baby toy would be seen as separate transitions each time your hand shifts; this leap teaches that a toy can move or shake and it is more fluid, they start to understand it’s the same toy moving and that they can reach out for it. They are also learning to successfully grab something and move it around without immediately dropping it. They especially like their banana teethers.
Starting to hold toys!
Reagan is really figuring out her hands. If I hold a toy up for her in front of her hands, she will grasp it and put it in her mouth. Such progress! Harper is starting to respond the same, and has figured out thumb chewing. Emerie won’t quite grab toys yet when I hold them out, but I did watch her reach over and forcibly pull a binky from Harper’s mouth and throw it across the pack and play…so there’s that…
Because why not wear leg warmers…
The next step should be feet awareness, and we’re trying to get them to start it! I’ve stretched their feet to their faces and clap them together to make noise, but to no avail. Hopefully by the end of this leap they will have figured them out.
We’ve been blessed to be able to borrow Craig’s dad’s truck for the summer while he is out in Western Alaska doing construction work.
All summer we’ve been reviewing what vehicles can handle three seats across (that aren’t a minivan), and ones that have four wheel drive or good winter traction. After a lot of research by Craig, we found a Ford Expedition that has three rows, can seat up to 8, has middle row captain chairs, AND fits the car seats 3 across in either back row, WITH the stroller!
Big stress off our shoulders now. Purchased it yesterday and might take it out joyriding today (how cool are we!?). Even have some new custom plates on the way, and I finally got around to updating my terrible drivers license photo while we did the rest of the car paperwork. Priorities right…
Since I’m sure everyone wants to know about the exciting part of our blog, let’s get back to the Douglets! Nothing too crazy the past week. Everyone is close to figuring out their hands exist and they are starting to play with toys more and be more observational.
Reagan playing with her favorite owl.
Play mat time is more fun and the girls are much more interested in reaching for things. They discovered rattles are fun to hold, shake, and bash into their faces.
Harper and her foxtail.
Emerie enjoying the play mat.
Reagan figured out today she could chew on Emerie’s toes.
Breakfast of champions…
We implemented the “diaper test” in our house this past week. The test consists of stripping the girls down to their diapers (which they love) and swapping them around, then seeing if the other person can figure out who is who. So far we’ve been doing pretty well and guessed correctly every time. I can’t really tell you how I know who is who, but I can.
Welp, I made it through week three of my return to work. I can say that sitting at a desk during the day is much more relaxing that I ever used to think it was, even with the wild chaos that is grant season and end of federal fiscal year.
While I haven’t caught up on work yet since being out, I’m quite enjoying being so busy. The day passes very quickly and before I know it, I’m back at home feeding and playing with babies.
We started nap training this past week and I seriously can’t figure out how I survived the entire summer being home alone during the day without it. In fact, I’m still waiting for that third arm to grow in. After about two hours being up, getting fed and playtime, we swaddle them and put them in their cribs with soft lullabies on the white noise machine. The first few times I said I’d give them 10 minutes to fuss before we got them back up, and so far they’ve never even made it to 5 before they fall asleep. So far so good! It definitely makes them happier in the evening and less super baby rage, and is now their new routine.
Chillin in the living room
It is also cute to see them figuring out their hands exist. Harper has it figured out and can grab things you dangle over her and put them in her mouth.
Reagan is starting to realize they are there and reaching for things, and Emerie has figured out she can hold things in her mouth when she wants to, although not quite that her hands are in her control.
The girls like music and enjoy listening to the old Disney songs we listened to as kids. They really like the Little Mermaid songs. When stalling until bedtime (without a walk during rainy/windy days), we turn on music in the background and entertain them with toys.
Check out that hand holding!
Something else funny to note. On our late afternoon walk last Friday, we had three separate occasions of someone stopping us to question about the triplets. Normally we don’t have any! One lady questioned “twins?!” with a big smile on her face, to which Craig answered “triplets!” She asked where the third one was (being carried), and I responded “oh we left that one at home, only two fit in the stroller”. The lady thought it was hilarious that I made a joke. People are funny.
We’ve also tried a little bit of baby food. The girls’ reactions are so funny. Emerie immediately picked up how to eat off a spoon and now licks it and loves it! 
Reagan and Harper more or less think we are poisoning them.
The baby food is fun to try, but of course not supplementing bottles for a couple more months. We’ve tried pears and sweet potatoes so far with a few others ready for next week!
Lastly, Craig and I tested one another tonight to see if we could tell everyone apart. With the girls in diapers and bows (to cover Emerie’s mole), we swapped them around to see if the other person could tell who is who. We both passed! And so did Grandpa Cliff on FaceTime!
Just for fun, we tried out baby food with the girls. Yes, it’s a little early for it and the girls can’t sit up yet without assistance, but we thought we’d give them a new experience. No, this does not replace their bottles, at least not yet.
First flavor to try was pears! The girls seem to think we are trying to poison them, and that their tongues are protecting them. You can judge their reactions for yourself!
We also attempted the first “nap training” this past weekend and it went pretty well! The girls took an hour long nap in the morning AT THE SAME TIME. That sounds promising doesn’t it!
The Douglets 