When Did They Get So Big?

I don't know when it happened, but lately when I look at the boys, they just seem so big and grown up.  It's like it just happened over night.  They're starting to look more and more like boys and not babies.  It's just so hard to believe how fast it's all gone.

3 years ago we were in the heart of our IVF cycle...pumping multiple shots of hormones into my belly daily...knowing that this year we would either experience a very happy Christmas or a very sorrowful Christmas.  Fortunately it was a happy one.

2 years ago we had tiny little (almost) 5 month old babies.  We spent every waking moment taking care of their basic needs...feeding them, changing them...then doing it all over again.

A year ago we had new walkers and we were learning how to survive life with three mobile toddlers. And the challenge of no sleep.  This age was far worse for us than the newborn stage.  Night terrors. Sleep-deprived kiddos, sleep-deprived parents.

And now...we have little boys.  They've grown up a lot and wow, they've learned so much!  They know all their ABCs and they can count and recognize numbers up to 10.  They all know a number of shapes including an octagon and Nolan knows all his colors.  It blows me away what they're able to store away in their little 2-year-old brains.  They're starting really love interacting with one another and even will cry for each other if they wake up before the "bruers" (brothers).  They've gained some independence and don't need Mommy to be by their side every second of the day, yet they still all three love to snuggle and give hugs and kisses.

This age most definitely has its share of challenges which I'm likely to mention in my next blog post, but today...I'm enjoying my BIG BOYS!

The Cutest Thing - Pt. 6

It's been a while since I've done one of these!

The cutest thing...

...about Ollie is he now likes to say "Bye bye ______."  It might be "Bye bye, Kahlua." or "Bye bye, Einsteins."  Though usually it's "Bye bye, Don."  Don is my friend Lisa's step dad.  He came by the house several weeks ago and Ollie stood at the door and said "Bye bye, Don" for about 30 minutes after he left. He woke up the next day saying "Bye bye, Don" and has continued to say it randomly.  It's pretty hilarious...and super cute.

The cutest thing...

...about Nolan is his bedtime routine.  Simply put, he's kind of become a hoarder when it comes to going to bed.  He has to take up his lovey, blankey, a couple trains, several books (and sometimes a catalog or DVD case).  He has to have all these things in the crib with him before he'll go to bed. Once he gets all situated with his collection of things, he'll say "Night night" and "Love you" and blow kisses.  It's the sweetest thing and it melts my heart every time.

The cutest thing...

...about Lucas is his (over) enthusiasm for music, particularly if it's a song he really likes.  He's started to sing along and do the actions to "If You're Happy and You Know It".  It's seriously the most adorable thing to watch him do the "Clap clap, stomp stomp, HURRAY!" part at the end.  And then of course, afterwards he shouts "Yay!!!" as loud as possible and claps his hands.  It's like it's the best moment of his life...every time.