The Readers

As teachers, it is very important to Dave and me that our kids develop a healthy love of reading. We figured we would start them really young. Here are Ben and Jack catching up on world events by reading the newspaper this evening.

Today, I took Mairead for her first visit to the library. This trip was very special to me because when I was young, my grandfather used to take me to the Pollard Memorial Library in Lowell all the time. I loved reading and I loved our special trips together. He always took me to lunch after at a place called Tatsios' that is no longer around. The owner, John Tatsios, used to give me a roll of Lifesavers if I ate all of my lunch (and even if I didn't). Those are some of my favorite memories and I wanted to share a little bit of that with my daughter.

There are some really big, really fun steps to climb on the way in to the library.

She LOVED the children's section. There were puzzles and blocks, and a million books that you could just take off the shelves and look at as much as you want. She picked out one at a time, looked at each page, and then tried to put it back in place before moving on to a new one. She did sit on my lap and 'read' one with me, which was a big deal because sitting still is not her favorite activity. We had a really nice trip together and I hope we can go back again soon. Thanks to Mairead's Nana for staying with the boys so we could have some Mother-Daughter time. The library is stroller friendly, so maybe the boys can come with us some time.

The other night, our neighbor, Connor, came to visit with his mom. Rick and Cheryl live next door and Connor is only 19 days older than the boys- though you would never know it by looking at them! The boys are growing so well, but they are still on the small side for their age. At birth, though, Connor weighed almost as much as Jack and Ben did put together! It will be great to have another little boy next door to play with!

Editor's note- there is a doll in the foreground- not a baby that wasn't getting any attention. :)

How Lucky to Have a Brother and a Big Sister

For example, when you don't feel like chewing on your own hand anymore, your brother will gladly offer you his to try.

True, sometimes you get poked in the eye, but no harm done.

That's Ben doing the chewing and Jack offering his hand.

Twins really are so much fun!

They are even better when they have such a helpful big sister! Yesterday, she fed them all by herself. You can see the end result on Jack's shirt.

She even opened her mouth wide to show them how to do it.

Jack was a little concerned when she stuck the spoon in his eye.

But she got the hang of it!

She was SO stinkin' cute. My mom was feeding them in the living room and the bowl was on the coffee table. While my mom got bibs or something, Mairead decided to start without her. She scooped up the cereal and carried it on the spoon over to each baby. She actually did a really good job! They were just happy to have food- they are like baby birds- they open their mouths five minutes before the food even gets there.

When she came down this morning the babies were in the den and she didn't immediately see them. So, she walked around yelling, "Babies? Are you?" So cute. That is my new favorite phrase of hers. When she can't find someone or something, she wanders around calling for it/them. The word 'where' gets left out, but that seems to make it cuter. When she is in her crib and wants me to come get her, I hear, "Mom? Are you?" over the monitor.

We are so lucky to have these amazing kids in our lives!

Happy Half Birthday!

Believe it or not, the twins are six months old today! I can't believe how time is flying- I want them to slow down a little bit! They are growing so well- already wearing 9 or 12 month clothes. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since Mairead has always been so tall. You would never believe that these kids were tiny little preemies who wouldn't eat!

We took some 'six month' pictures today on the bench that Uncle Brian made for Mairead. It was her birthday gift and it was the perfect seat for pictures today! Mairead did let the boys sit there, but there was definitely some jealousy there.

Isn't the bench gorgeous? I can't believe he made it by hand!

This picture just shows big sister doing one of her favorite things- coloring!

Thanks to Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Ry, Uncle Dave, and Rachael for coming to visit us this weekend- we had a great time!

On the Move

Lately, we have been finding new ways to get around. Since Dave is now back to work, I am at home alone with the kids during the day, and the weather has been so beautiful that we just have to get outside! This is easier said than done with a toddler and two infants. So, we purchased this triple jogging stroller from Craigslist and I love it! We are quite the sight tooling around the neighborhood. The other day I was walking and heard a man say from inside his house, "Hey honey! Come see all these babies she's got!" Then his wife, an elderly woman, comes out onto her front steps and says, "I've never seen someone like that before!" We do get a lot of attention. People driving by slow down to look at us and point us out to their kids, etc. Some people actual stop their cars to tell me I "certainly have my hands full!", which, of course, I already know. But people are very nice and sincere in their congratulations to us. It's just a little strange to get so much attention just for taking my kids for a walk.


The boys have found their own ways of moving around, too. Jack is very deliberate. He seems to decide where he wants to go, and then he makes purposeful movements to scoot somewhere. Ben, on the other hand, just rolls and slides himself all over the place. He is never in the same place or position I left him. Sometimes he ends up under the couch, under a curtain, or twisted over a toy.



Mairead is taking much more of an interest in them lately- probably because they respond to her more by smiling and laughing. They think she is fascinating. She also thinks she is fascinating, so it works out well. She is a great big sister- she brings them toys, talks to them, and when they cry she says, "It's all right." So cute!


Yup, that's my son. Eating a curtain.


When I left the room, Ben was on his back under this toy with his body parallel to it and his head to the right of the picture. When I came back, you can see where I found him. No idea how he does it!

This morning I took all three to the playground down the street. We drove there because it's too far for Mairead to walk, and the triple stroller doesn't fit through the gate to the playground. She had a blast on the slides and swings, and the boys patiently hung out in their stroller and people watched. Several of the little kids there said, "Hey Mommy- they have TWO babies!" Very cute. Thanks for checking in with us!

Boyz in Hoods and a New Game

Mairead's Grandma and Grandpa sent some souveniers from their trip to Michigan and some nice warm pjs for Mairead (just in time!) and while Mairead liked all of those things, the best part of the gift was the box, of course! She played in and around it for a long time, and then we discovered a new game. An adult has to pick up a handful of packing peanuts and Mairead yells, "READY! SET! GOOOO!" Then, the adult drops the peanuts on Mairead while she hides her eyes and squeals with excitement. This game goes on for quite some time.... Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa, for the great gifts!

The boys have become much more interested in each other lately- they even hold hands! It is just about the cutest thing ever. I love being a MoM (Mom of Multiples) when they are being so sweet!

Cuddling and watching TV.

I think shoes are even cuter when there are two little pairs!

All three kids had on blue hoodies last week- the picture of all 3 did not come out so well. One of my children, we won't say which one, is always running off somewhere!

Could you tell who is who? I actually think they look like me (when I was little) in these pictures.

Today is Daddy's first day at school, so we are missing him today and wishing him the best of luck at his new job. Luckily, I found a triple stroller on Craigslist and I am excited to take all three for a walk today! I found it just in time since everyone is at work today and we would be stuck in the house without it.

I didn't take pictures, but we had a great time on Saturday at the Lynch's cook-in (thanks to Danny). It was fun to see everyone and to see all of the kids, too. And Brutus and Chloe, of course!

Hope everything is great with all of you! Thanks for checking in!

Just a few random pictures

The weather has finally cooled off here and drastically so! So much that I had to go out yesterday to buy warmer clothes for the boys. They don't fit into any of their pants or long sleeved shirts anymore, so they need all new clothes! That's a good thing- they are growing like weeds! Grandma sent some warm clothes for Mairead that arrived just yesterday, which was perfect timing. She'll be in her comfy new pjs tonight!

These are just a few pictures of the kids from last night and today. First is Ben. He LOVES fabric. He always wants to have it in his hands, roll around on something soft, and chew on blankets, shirts, or whatever he can get. Today, I went to get him after a nap and this is what I found.

He had pulled the crib bumper over his head and was chewing on it and laughing at me.

Mairead is feeling much better. She is still run down and tired, and she still has most of the spots, but they are fading, so that is good news. She does seem to have her voracious appetite back, though about half of her peanut butter is on her face.

She looks SO grown up-- I'm not ready for that!

This is Jack last night. He was happily watching the Red Sox game on the couch and he fell asleep sitting straight up. When I tried to take a picture, the flash went off and Jack showed us his grumpy face. I think it's a pretty cute face, though!


Little by little, things are coming together here in Lowell. We are hoping for a sense of normalcy soon!

Chicken Pox

As my Facebook friends already know, Mairead has somehow contracted chicken pox, and is not feeling her best this week. The poor thing came down with them on Thursday, so we are hoping that we are heading into the home stretch with them now. She is handling it really well, actually. I don't think she realizes what is happening, but she definitely knows she does not feel good. She has pretty much been attached to me for the past few days, which is great when it is 97 degrees and humid. I don't mind so much, though, since when she is healthy, she doesn't want to sit on my lap or snuggle at all, so I'll take what I can get.

So far, the boys do not have any symptoms. It is very rare for babies to get chicken pox before their first birthday, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. It may seem like a good idea to have all three kids have them at the same time and be done with it, but since Jack and Ben were preemies, their immune systems are still not 100%, Jack in particular because he had RSV. They seem very happy and healthy, though, so let's hope they stay that way!

Our NY family was scheduled for a visit this past Saturday, and we were sad to have to cancel. It was the right decision, though, since Rachael has not had chicken pox, and Mairead was not very much fun this past weekend.

We have spent the past few days coloring, playing with blocks, and watching WAY more Blue's Clues than I ever thought possible. I hope we are able to get outside again soon.

We have to trick her into taking Benadryl or Pepto Bismal (she had some serious stomach issues the other day), but I am able to put Calamine lotion on her by calling it 'pretty pink lotion.' She repeats that and seems to fall for the idea. I guess she likes polka-dots.


Still smiling!


The chicken pox have certainly not helped us to get things done any more quickly around here, but progress is definitely being made. Just the windows and a second wall coat of paint need to be done in Mairead's room and then we can start organizing the kids' rooms. I never realized how much stuff they had until I saw it all in a giant pile of Rubbermaid bins. My dad and Dave have been working like maniacs to get work done while my mom has been helping me with the kids and with keeping the rest of the house as organized as possible.

We are starting to organize things in our new surroundings- Dave has been to orientation at his new job, I am finding time for my online classes, and I went to our new pediatrician's office yesterday to set up appointments for the kids and to drop off the kids' medical records. You know we are frequent fliers at doctor's offices, so that was something that needed to be done! Luckily, a doctor my mom works with in the ER is married to a pediatrician, so we know we are in good hands.

Thanks for checking in on us- things are hectic as usual, but we are lucky to have a lot of help. And, our kids make it all worth while!