A different kind of post

Ok so this post really has nothing to do with the babies..........Sorry! =) I have decided to take on a challenge for the year 2011! Reading 1 book a week for the entire year........Thats 52 books! Depending on how many pages the book has it's about 60-90 pages a day, so reading whenever you have time is crucial. I plan to read during naptime and at bedtime, hoping that I dont fall behind! I will keep the blog updated on my progress and which books I am reading. I will tell you now that I will be starting with the "Twilight Series," I have read the first book already but I will be re-reading it. I am excited for this challenge! Stay tuned for updates!

A few videos to share.......

Here are some videos we have collected over the past 2 weeks or so.... I cannot begin to tell you how much the kiddos have changed since they turned 1 and its only been a month!! We now have much more interaction with "words" (babbling), much more attitude and tantrums, and sweet things such as hugs and kisses that are blown from their sweet little faces. Back when they were small we thought we were busy..............YEAH RIGHT!!!! Our days never stop until our little munchkins are sleeping and even then we are busy cleaning, doing laundry, washing dishes, filling out baby books, blogging and trying to make time to be a couple! They are constantly "getting in to things" so we have baby proofed the house many times, everyday there is something new to put away that caught their attention or to block off. We now have our entire kitchen blocked off thanks to Mr. Blake literally climbing the oven door trying to get on top of the counters!! Of course Ben and Brooke follow Blake's every move, they already work so well as a team together against us!! lol! Enjoy the movies!!!

Blake trying to be Spiderman!

Brooklynn using some special skills.

Ben showing off some cool moves

We met SANTA!!!!

L to R: Ben, Brooke, Blake
Brooke

Blake

Ben

This past Saturday was our NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care unit) Graduate Christmas party! This is the 2ND annual party, we are so blessed that the tradition started while we were here and we hopefully be able to attend them for a few more years to come! We were able to see some of the nurses that worked with the babies while they were in the NICU, you really form a bond with the people who care for the most precious people in your lives. We were so happy to see the Coll triplets there! I met Sandi while I was in the hospital, I was so lucky to have her around to help out with many many things including baby stuff! Our day was super fun but it also was a long one! We were at the NICU party from 11am to about 2:15 and after that it was our neighbors daughters birthday party and we stayed there until about 4:30 or so. The babies were ready for a much needed nap!

SUPRISE, SUPRISE!!!

The video speaks for itself! They really are growing up before our eyes!

Photography

Ben with daddy! I wish I would have gotten more of Carl's face but I still love the photo I can "feel" how much Ben loves daddy!
Brooklynn our sweet girl!

Our sweet baby boy Blake!

I know all of my posts are about the babies and what is new, but for this post I am going to talk alittle bit about me!

I know most of you know that Carl bought me a very nice camera for my birthday (or maybe a just because gift ;) and I have slowly been learning several photography tips by reading online. I in no way want to be a professional photographer but I would love to be able to take awesome photos to capture the true beauty of our babies growing up. I take my first of 2 classes tomorrow at Hickam, it is a beginners class to just learn the basics of photography. I am very excited!! I wanted to post a few before my class photos here now and after the first class we will have "homework" taking some pictures and I will post those as well! Wish me luck!

Check us big kids out!

Well here we are alittle over 1 year old and doing some pretty cool stuff! Mommy and Daddy were talking about our highchairs and they said "If only we could all eat together"!!! So they found us these really cool chairs so we could sit with them at the table!!!! We love being close to them and using our big kid plates and bowls! Some of these pictures you can see us eating cereal with milk out of a bowl, mommy was brave but she said we did a great job not tipping our bowls over.....well for the first few mins anyway. =)

Blake eating his cereal like a big boy!
Brooklynn diving in double handed!

Ben seems to think... "Hmm, why does she always have that camera?"

Daddy and the kiddos eating dinner

Dinner time!

Benjamin, Blake and Brooklynn are 1!!!

We made it through the first year! I know this post is a little late but I am sure you all know how super busy we are. Instead of listing the likes, dislikes and changes each of our beautiful babies have made I thought I would do something a little different this time. I will talk about each one of them in their own paragraph, this way they will each be a STAR!!

Benjamin is a loving, sweet boy with a temper! =) He has changed SO much since he has been born, I know that they are supposed to change but until you are a parent I don't think you can understand how so much changes so fast. He used to be a mommy's boy but sadly not so much anymore, he is very independent. He plays alone very well and likes to interact with his brother and sister often. He is now 20lbs 1oz and 29 inches long, compared to birth he is HUGE!!!! Since birth he has gained about 16lbs and has grown 11 inches in length. He loves to laugh at Blake and Brooklynn all the time, it does not matter if they make a funny sound or if they throw something he thinks they are hilarious! Ben is a big fan of avocado, beets, chicken, peas, waffles, pasta's, yogurt and cheese. He loves to drink ICE cold water out of his straw sippy cup, and we are working on switching to whole milk. Ben has the most hair and it is super red and of course those dimples are still there! Benjamin is still working on sleeping through the night, sometimes he does but not very often. He is also starting to walk, he has taken steps on his own a few times, we know it wont be long!

Blake is a very sweet boy who is super BUSY with an occasional temper!!!! He is constantly moving, touching, exploring, climbing pretty much anything that involves moving, lol! If I ever am "missing" Blake I know exactly where to look.....................in the playroom surrounded by millions of toys! =) Blake has also grown alot he is now 19lbs 11oz and 29 inches long, he has gained around 16lbs and 12 inches in length. He still has the biggest smile you have ever seen, it can make you laugh and smile even on a really bad day. =) Blake likes any food that you can think of, he just loves to eat! He has just started learning to drink out of his straw sippy and it getting pretty good at it. I know most of you probably remember that Blake had really bad reflux and vomited ALL DAY EVERYDAY! That has finally subsided and he spits up maybe once a day if that, thank goodness! He has started to let go and stand alone for a short time, so we know it wont be long before he walks either!

Brooklynn is a sweet, loving girl who also has a temper! =) She is Blake's little shadow, she follows him anywhere and everywhere and does what ever he does. Sometimes I feel like they "team" up on me! =) Brooklynn is now 17lbs 1oz and 28 inches in length, she has grown 14lbs and 10 inches since birth! Brooklynn loves her brothers and being around them, she likes to annoy them also by taking their toys! =) Blake really does not care and usually just crawls away and finds something else but Benjamin fights her for them! lol! She loves ice water in her straw sippy, she is a pretty good eater but has her favorites like her big brother Ben. Her favorites include waffles, pretty much any kind of fruit and veggies, avocado's, beet's, pasta's, meats and even tofu. =) She has started to stand alone very well and it wont be long until she walks either!

The last year and a half seems to be a blur..................... Its hard to believe that we spent 3.5 months in the hospital over a year ago! I know it was hard back then but it seemed so easy now, I am sure I complained some days but I would do it all over again now. I have many friends from our hospital stay that we still keep in touch with and are close too. We have also made some good family friends here in Hawaii. If I could some up in a few words what this past year has been like they would be..........exhausting, exciting, draining, joyful, busy and wonderful. As hard as it has been, every single minute of work is worth those three big smiles every morning and the 3 times of cuddles and kisses that we get each night. Our life is busy and it will always be that way but we have 3 beautiful miracles to kiss each and everyday that's what life is all about. A good friend of mine shared a poem with me that I would like to share with all of you......

Mother, Oh Mother,

come shake out your cloth,

empty the dustpan,

poison the moth

hang out the washing....

butter the bread,

Sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

she's up in the Nursery,

blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peekaboo).

the shopping's not done

and there's nothing for stew

and out in the yard there's hullabaloo

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing

will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up,

as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs.

dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.....

~Author Unknown~

11 Months!!!!!!

What can we say it has been a BUSY 11 months!!! Our babies are almost 1 years old, where has the time gone?

I used to get so many compliments on how well the babies sat for pictures, well now I think that all will change!!! Lol! You will notice instead of nice sitting pictures, we have annoyed looks, standing and even some crying! Well they are definitely starting to push some buttons!! Hahaha!! I did however catch 1 out of 50 (not kidding) great group shot! I will post a separate entry for likes and dislikes for 11 months. Enjoy!!!

Blake, Brooke & Be
Brooke, Blake & Ben

Ben

Ben

Ben

Ben

Brooke

Brooke

Brooke

Brooke

Blake

Blake

Blake (LOL!!)

Blake

After 11 months of being in separate rooms we have finally decided to put the babies back in one room since they ae being more social with one another. Hopefully it works and does not make naptime or bedtime harder! lol! We like the fact that they talk to eachother while in the same room it's so cute!!!

All 3 cribs

Brooke's side

The boy's side

Brookes drawing by Auntie Abby

Blake the Brontasaurus

Ben the Stegasaurus

New push toys!

Our Tutu Patti bought us these cool push/ride on dino's! They make music and light up, the babies are learning to walk really well with them! Thanks Tutu for such a cool gift, we love them and will be able to use them for a LONG time!!

Brookie

Brookie

Ben

Ben

Blake

Ben

Brooke

Sunday Matinee!!!!!

Hey everyone!!! Sunday Matinee is a little lat because I could no upload videos yersterday. Enjoy!

Ben on our new dinosaur toy

Ben walking while holding on

Blake on dinosaur toy

Blake walking

Brooke on dinosaur toy

Brooke walking

Playdate with our favorite Twins!!!

Today was our normal get together day with the Burns family but instead of just hanging out at the house we went to a very cool park! We had such a fun time, the babies were able to explore in the sand and swing for the very first time, which they loved! We spent 2 full hours there and it really flew by! There are many photos below that will show what a great time we had! Enjoy!

Brooklynn after playing and a bottle. She was out!

All 3 boys: Left to right- Holden, Ben & Blake

Whoooo Hoooo the park is so much fun!

Blake watching the cars go by

Brooklynn and mommy

Brooklynn and Nora......Brooklynn kept taking her binky and Nora kept trying to get Brooklynn's headband.

This is Holden................He loves his auntie Kristi!!!

Happy girl Nora!

'Brooklynn and Nora "Hanging" out together

Benjamin

Brooklynn

Blake

Benjamin swinging

All 3 of our beautiful babies swinging

Blake Swinging

Me and the babies

Blake swinging with mommy

Nora and Benjamin hanging out together

My boys and I

The babies and I

Brooklynn swinging