An Abundance of Loved Ones

There was another action-filled weekend at the DeBauche house.  We had friends and family welcomely invade our home.  I meant to post these last week, but each and every day got away from me.

Last Saturday, the girls' great grandma, Jane, their great aunt, Patti, and their cousin, Becky, all drove down from Green Bay to spend the day with our little ladies.  The very next day, our good friends, Laurie and Errick, as well as their son, Hudson (I've posted pics of him before), drove over from Grand Rapids, MI to meet our girls for the first time.

There's never enough time to spend with your loved ones, but I love being able to look back and remember all of the smiles and laughter.


Laurie, with Sophie and Hudson


Sophie, exploring the patio (note that she's walking everywhere now!)


Laurie, reading everyone a book


What do you do with a pool when the weather gets cool?  You fill it with balls!



Maddy, with her great aunt Patti


Sophie, trying to convince aunt Patti to let her eat her camera


Laurie, reading with Hudson, Sophie, and Maddy




Laurie and Sophie


So, Izzy was just cracking up at Becky reading this story.  Check out Izzy's face over the next three-photo sequence.  I love that girl.







Izzy, recovering from her laughing fit




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Patti and Maddy




The last time their Great Grandmother Jane was in town, all of the girls were in the NICU.  It was so great that she could come down and visit and allow me to make some memories with her and each of the girls.

Great Grandma Jane and Sophie










Great Aunt Patti and Maddy


Maddy, not necessarily sure about the grass on her bare feet


The thinking man lady


Meg and Izzy


Great Grandma Jane and Izzy












Izzy and Great Aunt Patti




Izzy was feeling incredibly photogenic that day.





Great Grandma Jane and Maddy












Before my grandma left, I really wanted to make sure that I got a photo of her with all three of the girls.  Of course, the photographer in me wanted to bring out a little light, but it proved to be much more difficult than I imagined.  Not surprisingly, it wasn't the light that was difficult.



We tried to do this outside, but I couldn't get the girls to stand in the grass.  Even with three helpers, we just couldn't get the shot.



So, we moved inside on to one of the couches.  Aside from Maddy almost flying off of the couch face-first, the girls survived and I got some really fun shots!

Well Cultured Fun With Yogurt

As the girls continue to grow, we're doing our best to make sure they get the opportunity to experience all sorts of new sensations.  While I'm not a huge fan of the aftermath of giving the girls a tray-full of yogurt, it sure does make for some great photo opportunities.  Plus, the girls seriously had a blast.  The yogurt on the other hand, well, not so much.  Of course, we're always hoping that one day, Izzy will get a taste in her mouth that she just can't resist.  So far, yogurt isn't it.

For the most part, it was a great way to waste 20 minutes of time and introduce them to finger-painting at the same time!



"Really dad?  Now is the time you choose to take today's picture?"





Sophie, thinking that the spoon was part of the meal




Maddy, lifting her head up just long enough to show dad her big brown eyes


"Just wait until clean-up time when you discover all of the yogurt in my seat."


Izzy, flashing me a smile even though she was still trying to figure out whether she can deal with the yogurt

It REALLY Does Take A Village

Almost two weeks ago, the girls, Meg, and I went down to Springfield, IL for Uncle Buddy's 75th birthday.  It's about a three-hour drive for us.  However, while preparing our traveling circus for another road trip, I began dreading what I envisioned would be a 10-hour marathon with three kids on my back.

I'm not sure why I was feeling this way.  The girls have actually been really good in the car on longer trips.

More fear began to pile up when I started thinking about the fact that we'd have to put all three girls together in the same room for naps and bedtime, something that they're definitely not used to.  At home, several months ago, we decided to split everyone up.  Because of Maddy's reflux at the time, and Izzy's all-night feeding fests, they would wake one another up with the smallest amount of noise.  Meg actually pushed for this move for a while and I was adamantly against it.  I felt so strongly about them needing to be near each other, like they would miss out on some major bonding time.  After many nights of interrupted sleep, I finally gave in, separated the cribs, and we haven't looked back since.  Each girl now sleeps in her own room and, for the most part, sleeps almost 12 hours straight each night thanks to Meg's sleep training.

The downside to this approach is that if you're ever in the situation where they need to sleep together, you're probably going to be in for a long night.  They're just not used to each other's subtle noises.

I should probably tell you that I follow this pre-travel ritual with some predictability.  It usually goes something like this.  As the trip gets closer, I start thinking of reasons why it's going to be difficult to go.  I start thinking about how busy we've been and how it would be nice to enjoy a weekend home.  I get a little cranky.  Meg had to push me around a little (figuratively, not literally) to get on the ball.  But, without fail, I always have a great time and am so glad we took our adventure!

Well, this trip would be no different.  Even though it was brief, we had such a great time with everyone and were so happy that we could be with Buddy for his 75th.  What's really impressive is how it all comes together and what makes it so enjoyable on these trips.  So far, all of our trips over two hours long have been to see family.  While you're probably putting two and two together in your head right now, I'll make it simple for you.  The family makes all of the difference.

As soon as we arrived at the party, we had people grabbing babies and doting over them incessantly.  What a treat that is!  I love my babies, but you're looking at (reading about) two exhausted parents.  You wouldn't have known though.  With so much help and so much interest in the girls, Meg and I actually got a chance to have a drink and hold a few conversations.  It didn't hurt that the girls were on their best behavior, too.  I also think we're quickly getting over our preemie-driven fear of dirt and germs and found a corner of the room where we staked our claim and let our girls run crawl wild.  In reality, the girls love being around us and didn't wander to far from home base, unless a loving relative swooped them up and took them on a tour of the club.  It was one of the most fun nights we've had in a long time!

The lesson I've learned is that, with the right perspective, life almost always works out the way you want it to.  This village, this family, really helps make these times easier.  I won't kid anyone and make it sound simple to travel with one-year old triplets.  It's not.  But, if you can get the car loaded, not forget any kids, and get the car started down the road, you've already won half the battle.

I've already thought about my next blog topic, as some of these feelings deserve a bit more attention.  Until then, here are a few pics of the family and the girls.  Surprisingly, even to myself, I tried to not pick up the camera so much and really focused on spending time with the girls.  Good choice Mr. Jeremy, good choice.




Kiel, attempting to entertain the insatiable Sophie


Izzy, being a party animal!




Buddy, in the green shirt, calling all of his family up front with him


At times, we definitely felt like we were at the zoo, except we were the main attraction!


Maddy, in her party dress