Family Pictures Fall 09

We decided to go with a new photographer for our fall pictures (we still love the pictures that Chad Bosma takes, but thought we would see how a new perspective might look). Tammi from More Than Words Photography did a fabulous job! We are a daunting job (come on - four kids 2 1/2 and under?!?!?). She took on our challenge, and I couldn't be happier!!!

The weather was not our side - it was very cold and felt as though it may rain at any moment. The babies were cranky, with a capital C. She did manage to capture some really cute pictures. I would have loved some with just the four kids, but hey - I will take what I can get!
Check out Tammi's blog at: http://www.morethanwordsphotographybytammi.blogspot.com/
I know you will fall in love with her work!

Quin
Gianna

Ellery

I love this picture - my little man. I think it has super model written all over it :)

This is my favorite picture from the photo session! Check out Gianna's face - hilarious, right?!?! I can completely see this picture on the front of a Hallmark card.

I have a funny feeling that one of these three girls will always feel like Gianna looks - "But Mom, that isn't fair..."

Quin and I

Gianna and Jason

Take 2

The Sunday after our official family pictures it was mid 60's and sunny (in November!). It was a gorgeous day, and the kids seemed to be in good moods, so we all put our picture duds back on and went walkin' around our neighborhood. Tammi took such beautiful pictures, but I was hoping for a picture of all four kids together. Our luck was not much better than hers :( Here are the best - it is not saying much though.

Ellery, Easton, Gianna
These were the best of all four - how sad.
My handy assistant! (or baby lugger)

Quin

ElleryGianna

I knew that Tammi had taken some adorable pictures of Easton, so I didn't focus on individual pictures of him. I thought this one was cute - he and Quin are always making each other smile.

So Much Thanks!

I cannot put into words how thankful we are! We have so much to be thankful for - the list could go on and on. I am mostly thankful for my family!!! I look back at the hill that we have climbed over the past year and wonder how we got so lucky. The triplets are happy and healthy and progressing well. Quin has adjusted better than expected. Jason and I have managed to grow closer as a couple, and an even better team than we were before. And, we continue to be surrounded by amazing family and friends who help support us. We have to be some of the luckiest people around. Thank you to everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving from us and our four turkeys!
Gianna
Ellery

Easton

Quin (She is actually saying Happy Thanksgiving)

And... I had to add a picture of Quin from two years ago. She was the first to wear the turkey headband!

No Surgery... Yet

I know, it has been forever since I have posted (I feel like it anyways...).
One look at my dining room table and you would know that it is report card time. This means a major shortage of extra time because it is all spent working to get ready for conferences. It is well worth it come Monday and Tuesday when I meet with my wonderful student's families!

A few of you have asked about Easton's eye. Jason took him yesterday to have the bump (they are still thinking that it is a dermoid cyst) on his eye checked. The doctor doesn't believe that it is growing at a fast rate, and it is not blurring his vision (in fact, his farsightedness seems to be improving - yay!). We have to go back in January to have the size of the bump reassessed. It is always the doctor's hope to not operate on babies under one year old. No matter what, we will have an appointment with the surgeon in March, since it will eventually have to be removed. I pray that the bump remains the same and we can put off the surgery until it is essential!

I have a few more things I hope to post next week! The girls have teeth, and we had our family pictures taken a few weeks ago. Here is a sneak peak - I promise more pictures as soon as conferences are over!

Candy Monster

I do believe that Halloween created a candy monster at our house - Quinners!
We have always limited her experience with candy. She likes to eat healthy food and I want to encourage that (some of her favorites right now are kiwis, any type of pepper, broccoli, bananas...). She tends to love fruit, so I have always feared that she will have an uncontrollable love of candy. Yup - I guessed right. We have limited it to one piece of candy a day, and she has done well so far. I did find several pieces of candy stashed around the living room area though :)

She cracks me up! She loved trick or treating. She was in heaven people watching, talking with our visitors and feeling like a big girl while she passed out candy. She was very polite in helping pass out candy. She always checked out the kids costumes, and often complimented them. If they did not say thank you, she would say 'your welcome...' in an attempt to get them to say thank you. I find it somewhat disturbing when I see/hear her doing things I do! :)
Jason took Quin to several of the houses around us. She was so proud of her little bag when she was finished.

The babies hung out and people watched also! They were fascinated by the steady stream of kids (We gave away close to 500 pieces of candy). Notice the gate in the far left corner? Jinx and Miya were quite bummed that they weren't allowed to meet and greet the visitors! :)

People watching sure can take it out of you! Gianna was sleeping by 6:30.

Goldilocks & Her Three Bears

I love a good theme - and there were so many to choose from. I hope our foursome lets me go with a theme for many years to come!
We finally settled on.... Goldilocks and the Three Bears! I think I had more fun seeing them dressed up than all four (five including Jason) put together. The babies were really not into wearing the big and bulky costumes - especially the head pieces. And Quin, well, she was just Quin. Doing her own thing.
All in all, I took 161 pictures (oh, I just love my fast action camera!). Still didn't capture any great pictures :( Oh well!

Obviously, Quin was Goldilocks and Easton was Papa Bear. Gianna is in the middle as Mama Bear, and Ellery is on the right as Baby Bear. Don't the babies look excited?!?!

Love this picture. I ended up with many like this - Quin checking out the pumpkins, while I try to get the babies to smile.

Mama Bear (Gianna) decided to console Papa Bear. Can't you just hear her telling him 'it will be over in a minute, just look at the camera'.

I caught Quin sitting - it was only a few seconds.

Quin may have been praying that the photo shoot finish soon.

I finally decided to take a cue from the look on Gianna's face. I guess 161 pictures is enough.

9 Month Doctor Appointments

The babies turned 9 months yesterday - wow, time flies! We had an appointment with our pediatrician yesterday morning. They are definitely growing.

Ellery – 16 pounds 12 ounces, 26 inches
Gianna -17 pounds 1 ounces, 26 1/2 inches
Easton – 15 pounds 15 ounces, 26 inches

I so wish Easton was just one more ounce. The fact that he is 15 pounds and something, and Gianna is 17 and something, makes it seem so much more than a 1 pound and 2 ounce difference. Eventually he will catch up - for his sake though, I hope it is before they hit college age! Our doctor was happy with their gains, and has put Gianna and Ellery on regular formula. Because of Easton's low weight, he will stay on the NeoSure. This will help him get a few extra calories.

Gianna's weight was at 25% - yay! (She was first up, and the doctor converted her measurements to the gestational age chart and she would have been at 50%.) Ellery was about 10% on the nine month chart. And, then there is Easton - no such luck. Maybe next time he will make the weight chart.

They did do very well on their head circumference - all three were between 50 and 60%. At least they have big brains!