What's Better Than Slides and Grandpa?

Right before Christmas, my dad came to visit for a few days.  He still lives in Raleigh, NC, but I'm thinking there's a good chance he'll be living near us within the next few years (hint, hint dad if you're reading this). How could you stay away from these girls after all?

My dad unknowingly assumed the brave responsibility of helping me with the girls for the weekend before Christmas.  Meg had to leave town for a couple of days to begin packing up her mom's house since we found a buyer!  Of course, her leaving coincided with all three girls getting sick...again (it's amazing how the timing of that works out).  Now, I pride myself on being able to take care of these girls myself, sometimes.  However, this time around, I was no match for three sick toddlers.  Personally, I don't think it was all me.  Even with my dad here, we just couldn't keep these girls happy.  I knew exactly what they needed. 

I wish I could tell you that I found a way to get through it.  That I'm the type of dad who can handle anything.  Instead, I called my wife, frustrated and in somewhat of a panic and, basically, pleaded for her to come home a day early.  To my surprise, she had already left a couple of hours earlier and had planned on surprising me with her early arrival.  Needless to say, I was ecstatic when she walked through the door.  It wasn't just me though, the girls turned in to these completely different little ladies when they saw her.  There's just something about mom.

All in all, it wasn't a total failure.  It's always good for me to get a fresh reminder of what Meg goes through on a daily basis.  It reminds me that she's her own backup and reinforcements.  Obviously, I play my part when I'm home during some of the evenings and on the weekend, but in our girls' eyes, she's always numero uno.

After a few days, my dad got, what I'm sure was, a well-deserved break from the babies and some time with his own mom.  This time around, I remembered to break out the camera and I'm so glad I did.  I love looking back at pictures of me with my grandma and I'm so glad our girls will have a chance to do the same when they get older.

By the way, one of the girls' presents this year was a medium HUGE slide.  It was supposed to be the next step up from the one that's about 10 inches off of the ground.  Apparently, there is no such thing as a medium slide.  It's either they can touch the ground and the top of the slide with their feet at the same time or they appear to be climbing Mt. Everest, ready to jump from the top.  Fortunately, they're all having fun with it, except that time when two of them bonked heads at the bottom.  Besides that, it's great.

Sophie, ready for the morning's first slide trip


Sure looks like fun to me!


Maddy, questioning her decision to let us help her climb the steps to the top






You probably can't tell, but Izzy actually had a blast, especially when the ride was over


Maddy got more daring each time down


Not sure what he said, but it sure was funny




Even happy babies get tired




Izzy and Grandpa, sharing some cuddle time on Christmas Eve morning






If I recall, this crying had absolutely nothing to do with the slide, but started just because she wanted to

DeBauche Baby Christmas 2012

Just a year later, this Christmas was already worlds apart from Christmas 2011.  A year ago, Izzy had just come home from the NICU five days earlier and we were still getting up every four hours for feedings. 

This year, the girls gave us the best present they could possibly give--they let us sleep in until 7:00am.  Seriously, no one made a peep.  Something very un-baby-DeBauche-like.  They were even pleasant at breakfast!  It was a Christmas miracle!

Honestly, I think they're still a little too young to get it.  I mean, I don't think they really understand much about the excitement of presents and the anticipation that accompanies waiting for Christmas morning.  For those of you who are saying to yourself, "Isn't he forgetting about the TRUE meaning of Christmas?" I am not.  My guess is that they'll understand and look forward to opening presents long before they understand what Christmas is really about.  Don't worry, we'll get there.  However, until they're old enough to get it, we're going to make sure that every Christmas morning is as fun as can be because, before we know it, they'll be big kids and we'll be longing for them to be small again, with all the excitement that being a little kid brings.

Meg, Sophie, Izzy, Maddy, and I all hope you had a wonderful and very merry Christmas!

Pre-present breakfast time


A bunch of babies who can't wait for the gates to the presents to open.  Kind of reminds me of all the moms you see on videos, rushing to get in to the stores the mornings after Thanksgiving and Christmas.



My dad was with us for Christmas morning, so we had someone to take some photos of all of us






















Miss Maddy




Izzy, thoroughly enjoying her wrapping paper


Maddy and Grandpa Mike




Izzy, learning her numbers


Maddy, getting her feet rubbed by mom


Sophie, out of control in the family room.  Just look at how she tossed that ottoman on to the couch without even breaking a sweat!


My Christmas wish is that I hope this is the last Christmas where we have any pictures of needing to feed with the G tube


My beautiful wife


It looked like a clip from the "The Birds" in our back yard


Izzy and Shallee


The fam




Ania




A very excited Shallee!


Maddy, tasting her way through the presents


Setting up a gate with a stepping bar really defeats the purpose


Good 'ole Sophie One-Shoe




Meg, Izzy, Sophie, and Kelly


Maddy


Look at those long eyelashes!


The Smith family - Steve, Kaden, Keegan, and Kelly


I wanted to get at least one picture of all three girls in their Christmas dresses, though at this point in the day, they were being extremely uncooperative