Toddler Tips #25: No More Slippin’

October 24, 2013January 13, 2014Amber 8 Comments

With each passing day, I find myself trying to solve some new challenge with raising four toddlers, aka “quaddlers”. They are a cunning lot who inspires a little ingenuity on my part (and George’s) just to manage day to day life. While my ideas are born from being surrounded by four toddlers, I think many of them could be helpful to any parents of little ones so I’m sharing.

Last week, I shared my tip for holding off the pee pee flood gates in the bath tub. Several of you noticed our huge bathtub mat in the picture I posted. Which brings me to another tip. When the babies transitioned from bath seats to sitting independently, it became apparent that the tub floor was too slippery for them. I picked up a bath mat at Target, but was dismayed when it would not stick to the texture on our bathtub floor. I tried putting a bath towel down, but it floated up and made a huge mess for me to contend with.

No matter how hard I tried, this mat would not stick to our bathtub and instead floated up, making an even bigger slip hazard.

That’s when the idea struck, I simply turned the mat we had so it stuck on the sides of the bath tub rather than the floor. It worked perfectly! However, it did not cover near enough real estate for multiple babies in the bath tub. I picked up a second mat and now they are flush against each other, creating a large area.

What appears to be an oversize bathmat, is actually two identical bathmats.

Anna, from All Bad Things Must End, shared her favorite toddler bath tip and I gave it a whirl. While the bath water was running, I attempted to sit the babies on the toilet (individually of course) without a diaper to encourage them to urinate on the toilet. It didn’t go so well. Rylin had a major meltdown complete with back arching and wailing. The other three sat a little more willingly, but no action. I’m not throwing in the towel on this one yet. I will revisit this idea in a few months because I think it’s a brilliant way to begin the concept of toilet training. I will also try it with a toddler seat, I think the seat would make a huge difference, but I just don’t have one yet. Thank you for sharing, Anna!

What is your favorite toddler tip?

hugs,

Amber

Picky Palates, Pleased! {Good Groceries review}

October 21, 2013Amber Leave a comment

Toddlerhood (or quaddlerhood in our house) is a time of many transitions from being a baby to a big kid. This is especially apparent with feeding. The days of bottles and thin purees are a thing of the past. I knew spoon feeds were over when Harper started letting whatever was on his spoon drop from his mouth, filling his bib. He quickly asserted his independence and insisted upon self feeding. That doesn’t mean that feeding is necessarily more simple. The quads are limited in what they can self feed since they have approximately eight teeth a piece and have finicky toddler palates to boot.

What the quads will eat varies from day-to-day. For example, steamed carrots are usually a fan favorite, but they’ve been refused with animosity as well. Plus, each of the quads has his or her own opinions about food. Mason would be content to survive on fruit and yogurt alone while Sydney prefers protein and carbohydrates.

There is one thing they all consistently agree upon: cookies and crackers. All four know how to sign, “more”, (“please” is emerging also) but they only sign for desired items. When we were given an opportunity to sample a line of organic and natural snack items under the Suzie’s brand from Good Groceries, I jumped at the chance. When feeding the quads, I prefer to avoid additives and preservatives as much as possible, and Good Groceries has the same philosophy.

I was puzzled when our UPS driver delivered a giant box to our doorstep a few weeks back. We order many things online, but I could not recall ordering anything of this size. I excitedly sliced the tape off the top and peeled back the box top to find our shipment of snacks from Good Groceries. They generously provided us with an assortment of their snack crackers and milk alternatives. I was expecting something, but did not anticipate getting to sample so many products from their Suzie’s brand.

Our shipment included: cilantro/ garlic/ green chili naan crackers, plain unsweetened quinoa milk, vanilla sweetened quinoa milk, vanilla unsweetened quinoa milk, sesame kamut flatbread, ancient grain flatbread, breadsticks, olive oil crackers, rosemary sesame crackers, tomato oregano crackers, sourdough puffed rice crackers, ancient multigrain crackers, baby biscuits, thin cakes with sesame, and salted thin cakes.

Shortly after our box arrived, it was coincidentally snack time. Thus, we began our taste test with the baby biscuits. Before giving the babies anything, I always sample first to make sure it’s okay. I was pleasantly surprised by the light shortbread flavor and soft texture of the baby biscuits. I hate to admit it, but I scarfed a few of these myself! They crumbled with ease so they would be safe for babies with few (or no) teeth. Apparently the babies agreed as they gobbled the biscuits up and eagerly signed “more, please” repeatedly. Needless to say, the baby biscuits did not last long in our house.

As I snapped this picture, Rylin became impatient and attempted to grab the entire box for herself (she didn’t realize the contents were in the white bag centered on the table).

Sydney tends to be the most challenging to please, but she signed “more” for these with gusto.

In our house, we go through 3-4 gallons of cow’s milk per week. Since it takes up too much space in our refrigerator, we have to make multiple trips to the grocery store to keep the milk flowing. Sometimes, we run out of milk in the day so I keep a variety of milk alternatives that do not require refrigeration (until opened) on hand. I had no idea quinoa milk existed prior to receiving some. It is definitely another option or us to keep on hand for the days when cow’s milk is gone.

Thankfully, we don’t have any dietary restrictions, but for those who do, quinoa milk is dairy and gluten free, and is also vegan.

I found the quinoa milk to have a rich, nutty flavor and wasn’t sure the quads would approve. They did! The boys gulped it just like they do with cow’s milk! They even enjoyed the unsweetened version.

I’m personally not a big milk drinker, but I enjoy the occasional bowl of cereal for breakfast. I thought the nutty flavor of quinoa milk was a nice balance for slightly sweet cereal.

All of the saltine crackers are packaged into portion sized four packs, which is perfect for making quick lunches or tossing in the diaper bag. Four packs are always a winner with quads! Plus, portion sized packages keep crackers from going stale.

Each of the saltines paired well with crudites and cheese (any variety). I especially enjoyed the herb flavored crackers- tomato & oregano and rosemary & sesame. They were flavorful alone, but nice compliments to spreads.

Sydney LOVED Suzie’s saltines and sourdough rice tops so much, she swiped one from Rylin. Notice, she has one in her fist and the other gripped between her teeth.

The babies screeched and begged for more thin cakes at each snack time. Unlike typical puffed crackers, Suzie’s are extremely thin and soft enough for babies to munch. As a decadent treat for myself, I spread chocolate hazelnut spread over them. They were also tasty with peanut butter, which is a protein source go-to for the quads.

The naan crackers were the perfect companion for my crock pot green chicken chili on a cool fall night. Rylin caught me snacking on them one day and plead for a taste. I was a little hesitant due to the heat in them, but she said, “Mmmm!” and signed “more please”. I guess she is a true Texan with a pepper belly.

George and I found the flatbread perfect with our Greek pasta salad and homemade hummus. Just like with the crackers, they were flavorful enough alone, but paired well with spreads.

So what about nutritional value? Suzie’s brand uses ancient grains: quinoa, kamut, spelt, buckwheat, and oats as well as flax, sesame, and poppy seeds. Therefore, I was pleased to find at least two to three grams of protein in each serving. Because these are snacks, they aren’t totally void of sodium, sugar, and carbohydrates, but these less desirable ingredients are minimal. Therefore, I felt confident feeding them to the quads. Best of all, our entire family enjoyed the products we sampled.

Suzie’s brand products can be found nationwide at supermarket, natural, specialty, and club stores, in addition to online at amazon.com and goodgroceries.com. Because many of our household items are purchased via Amazon, I was very happy to know we could buy refills of our favorite Suzie’s items there.

hugs!

Amber

P. S. I would like to thank Good Groceries for kindly providing the array of snacks for us to sample and review. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Shawver Shenanigans

October 20, 2013Amber 2 Comments

Shawver Shenanigans

When I review the snapshots taken in a week’s time, it’s apparent that our lives are full of shenanigans, but that is what enriches us and makes life full of JOY! It’s a clear reminder why God thought quadruplets were just right for our family. Here are some of my favorite outtakes from last week-

1. Sydney is a stealthy climber, she did this when I turned my back.

2. Harper is all boy, and an aspiring super hero. He turned his bib into a cape at lunch.

3. Mason learned how to strip his pants off during nap this week. At first, I thought it was a fluke, but he repeated the process two more times so I let him sleep sans pants. He hasn’t figured out how to open the tabs on his diaper, but it’s only a matter of time. Duct tape may soon become a fashion accessory for Mason.

4. This is pretty much the scene before all meals. As we load the babies into the quad table, those waiting bull rush the gate and wail. As a result, it is bolted into the wall.

5. The babies aren’t the only ones getting into mischief around our house…

When making dinner, the freezer exploded on George, spilling corn everywhere. Fortunately, Sasha came to the rescue and helped with clean up efforts. Who knew dogs like frozen corn???

Friday evening, George mixed up a good cocktail for Grandpa and himself. While Nisey and I sorted baby clothes, the pair nodded off in the den (before 10 pm).

When friends joined us for dinner, George and Alan, saw the quad table a fit place for enjoying dessert.

What’s shaking at your house?

hugs,

Amber

Toddler Tips #1: Tinkle Catcher

October 15, 2013January 13, 2014Amber 12 Comments

I’m ecstatic to launch our new series, Toddler Tips. With each passing day, I find myself trying to solve some new challenge with raising four toddlers, aka “quaddlers”. They are a cunning lot who inspires a little ingenuity on my part (and George’s) just to manage day to day life. While my ideas are born from being surrounded by four toddlers, I think many of them could be helpful to any parents of little ones.

Dating all the way back to the days of the NICU, I can recall that all four of our children have peed in their bathwater. As soon as their little piggy toes make contact with the water, the flood gates open. When they were tiny infants it didn’t bother me too much. Perhaps because I expected the volume was small, or maybe because they were in the infant tub and got their own fresh water. Once they could sit up, we began pairing them up or even dunking all four in the same water. The thought of bathing in urine, especially someone else’s disgusts me.

While the babies were in the NICU, we bathed them in tiny plastic tubs. It’s incredible that they fit into those things.

We used bath seats like this when they could sit up, but not with the buoyancy of water.

Alas, a four baby dunk.

Then the idea struck! Now, I dress them down to their diapers and stand them in the water for a few seconds before removing the diaper. Before I totally remove the diaper, I peel back the tabs just to make sure they’re done. Voila! No more pee pee in the water (they could tinkle a little more, but this prevents the flood gates at least). I always check for two minor details 1. check the diaper to make sure it’s not soiled 2. don’t let them sit prematurely.

Stay tuned for more toddler tips. There’s good stuff coming because necessity is the mother of invention! If you have any toddler tips of your own, I’d love to hear them. If I try a great one, I’ll feature it and give credit where it’s due. I’m always open to ingenious ideas.

hugs!

Amber

Shawver Shenanigans

October 13, 2013Amber 6 Comments

If a baby changes everything….four babies turn life upside down! Being Type A personalities, George and I attempt to run a tight ship, maintaining a predictable schedule and keeping everything in it’s place. I really like order. Yet, quadruplets have a way of forcing us to loosen the reigns and be far more flexible. We’re learning to roll with the punches more each day. We often just have sit back and enjoy the ride, taking it all in stride. If we took ourselves too seriously, we’d be in for a treacherous road.

1. Sydney is undoubtedly clever. She figured out the perfect way to stop a runny nose…

2. Saturday night we went to a friend’s surprise 30th birthday with the quads in tow. In honor of the occasion, they were dressed in their cutest Halloween outfits, accessorized with boots and all. I hoped we’d capture a an equally cute family snapshot. Instead, we got this:

3. This is the reason I rarely change the quad’s sheets….

What’s shaking at your house?

hugs,

Amber

Adventures in Legoland

October 8, 2013Amber 11 Comments

I feel very fortunate to have the Bell family nearby so that we can share the experience of parenting quadruplets and the babies can be raised with other quadruplets. It normalizes the experience so much. We’ve taken turns hosting play dates in our homes, and it’s always been great. Now that we have toddlers, Amber suggested taking the quads for a play date away from home. Naturally, any type of outing means a great deal of planning and W-O-R-K, but I thought it was brilliant. I sequestered the assistance of my friend, Kristin, on a day when Amber’s nanny was available. Thus, four of us set out to take eight babies to Legoland.

In case you ever wondered, this is what four twin strollers filled with eight babies looks like. I do not envy Nadia Soulman one bit, eight babies is A LOT of babies!

In case you ever wondered, this is what four twin strollers filled with eight babies looks like. Amber said it looked like a Combi convention since we have four of the same model stroller. Maybe the two of us can start hosting “Combi Cons”.

Since we were all Leogland rookies, no one knew quite what to expect. After purchasing our tickets, the 12 of us were greeted by electronic doors leading us into a Lego factory where a “Professor” greeted us and explained how Legos are made. While the babies probably had no idea what the Professor was saying, they seemed to enjoy watching Legos progress through the factory, except when the batch spilled into a bucket causing a commotion.

Following our tour, we were led to an area of low light surrounded by several long ramps cordoned off by ropes. There, a zealous pair enthusiastically greeted us and directed us to park our strollers in the “stroller park” as if this was the protocol for entry. I’m sure the four adults in our group stared at this pair gobsmacked trying to work out how we’d manage to park four twin strollers and lead eight babies (with various levels of mobility) up a series of ramps. Somehow we learned the ramps lead to a ride so I inquired whether it was appropriate for babies to which they replied, “everyone is welcome”. Still the four adults were hesitant to 1. park our strollers 2. heave all the baby gear 3. lead eight babies up ramps 4. take babies on a mysterious ride. About twenty questions in we knew it would be startling for the little ones so we opted out.

Apparently each Legoland boasts a miniature of the city where it is located. We were thoroughly impressed with the Lego version of Dallas-Fort Worth, which was complete with Cowboy Stadium, Southfork Ranch, and my favorite, Reunion Tower. While looking at Legos is interesting, it doesn’t help harness toddler energy.

Amber and I both snapped pictures of the babies next to Cowboy Stadium for the Quad Fathers.

Within the play area, we stumbled upon a giant pit of rubber Legos. In multiples fashion, we overtook this area by encircling the pit with our strollers and dumping eight babies inside. Our gaggle of babies undoubtedly confused the other patrons. Most people presumed we were a twin play group, which was probably far less novel than when they realized it was two sets of quads. Amber’s nanny dared me to claim all eight as octuplets, but there’s no way I could have done that with a straight face. It was a humorous thought.

I think eight babies in a Lego pit is about capacity.

Well, maybe one baby was upset for a bit. Thankfully this lasted only momentarily.

Someone was not keen on the Lego pit. Thankfully this lasted only momentarily.

I’m not sure that Kristin knew what she signed up for, but she was an amazing help during this excursion.

Everyone had an opportunity to go out with just one sibling to explore and practice mobility. I was especially proud of Sydney who began standing unassisted.

Everyone had an opportunity to go out with just one sibling to explore and practice mobility. I was especially proud of Sydney who finally began standing unassisted.

Each of the babies had a turn on the spiral slide with their mommy. I snapped a picture of Amber & Logan.

The babies did really well handling the small Leogs and attempted connecting them. They all tasted said small Legos, but we tried to ignore the thought of germ infestation.

I was extremely proud of all of the babies. They explored their surroundings and remained calm during our stay with only a few exceptions. After about an hour, the adults were totally drained so we gathered our troops and headed to the food court. By that time, the babies were so exhausted, a few of them nodded off during lunch. It was a successful adventure for all!

This is how you feed eight babies in a food court. No need for strollers- simply dish out finger foods and strap sippy cups onto the stroller. I love that these strollers have three snack catch/ drink holders per stroller. (Sydney is craning her neck to see the carousel behind the strollers).

Since the babies seemed more interested in Legos than ever before, we had a little Legoland experience at home today. I gated off our hallway, shut the doors and put only ~~Legos~~ Mega Blocks and their accessories out. This kept the babies occupied nearly 30 minutes.

Today, Harper worked very hard to attach blocks together.

After our DIY Legoland, we worked on putting everything back in the bag. The babies did pretty well with this, but once all pieces were in the bag they tried to take them back out.

Where is your favorite place to take toddlers?

hugs!

Amber

Fall Festival

October 6, 2013Amber 2 Comments

My parents have been loyal members of the same church for over thirty years. Consequently, Courtney and I grew up with a rather large extended church family, who has supported us even as we’ve grown up and moved away. Long before the babies ever arrived, they prayed for our family, sewed a prayer blanket, donated secondhand baby necessities, and hosted diaper drives. In fact, they donated so many diapers that we bought very few in the babies’ first year. However, due to lock down and challenges of traveling, the babies just recently made their first appearance at this church for a special occasion: The Fall Festival.

The Fall Festival is the church’s sole fundraiser, which occurs each September. Since it was once coordinated by my father, it’s nostalgic for both Courtney and I. I fondly recall the days when our dance class provided entertainment, we collected game prizes, and I served pizza in the rain with mom. I’d say it’s the church version of the state fair complete with fairway games, a petting zoo, informational booths, fried food, an auction, and crafts for sale.

We were able to get one whole group shot of our family.

Surprisingly, I look forward to the Fall Festival especially because I know it’s the single best place to get made-to-order egg rolls, and they cost a buck! I’ve always secretly loved the rummage sale too. It’s one of the largest garage sales in the state, filling an entire basketball gym with a menagerie of stuff. Granted, the majority of the rummage sale is usually junk, treasure always lies beneath, and the hunt is exhilarating. This year, my shopping time was minimal, but I scored pajamas for each of the girls for just $.50! This year, the best part of the Fall Festival was fellowship with people we’ve known for years, yet haven’t seen in quite a while. Without a doubt there were no grandparents prouder than Grandpa and Nisey. They beamed each time they met a friend meeting the quads for the first time.

Grandpa discovered a more efficient way to carry Harper through the rummage sale.

I thought the babies would be interested in the petting zoo since they’ve mastered animal sounds. Not quite.

Rylin did not take a nap on the way to church and was downright crabby. Nisey finally found a maraca in the rummage sale that appeased her.

Typical Mason flirted with everyone he met, flashing those two dimples happily.

hugs!

Amber

Every Wink Counts

October 1, 2013Amber 9 Comments

B. Q. (Before Quadruplets), I blissfully enjoyed a solid eight uninterrupted hours of sleep each night. Plus, I almost always snagged a quick power nap when I arrived home from work. On the weekends, George and I routinely enjoyed leisurely mornings, sleeping past our usual alarm clock wakings. Oh how I loved sleep!

While I was pregnant with the quadruplets, I adopted the sleeping habits of a house cat (i.e. I slept more hours in a 24 hour period than I was awake). After delivery, I was in for a rude awakening when my sleep habits were forced into a tailspin. Even while the babies were in the NICU, I woke around the clock to pump for them. For me, sleep occurred in two hour bursts at best. I was astonished that it was even possible to function on such little sleep. I was “functioning”, but that was about it. Some days it was surprising that I accomplished anything. With such poor quality sleep, I found myself doing goofy things such as wearing my sweater backwards to work, speaking incoherent rubbish, and forgetting to refrigerate the milk I pumped in the night. Having four babies in the NICU was exhausting and brutal for sleep, but once they arrived home matters did not improve. With four babies home, George and I woke together round the clock to feed and care for them. We found our Keurig coffee maker to be our most beloved appliance. I never drank coffee B. Q., but found myself dependent upon just one cup to manage early morning feedings and such (I still have a coffee habit that I may never shake).

Out of pure necessity, to restore one of our most precious commodities, George and I sleep trained the babies when they were about four months old. After many grueling sleepless nights, we once again slept in longer than three hour intervals. We even clocked a minimum of six hours per night without disruption! Soon they began sleeping well over eight hours per night without bothering us. Still, they are fantastic sleepers, generally snoozing 11-12 hours without so much as a peep. That does not imply that we are sleeping 12 hours, or even the eight we desire. Having toddlers in our home means that few chores, or anything leisurely occurs during their wake time hours. All day long, we are working to care for them and provide an enriching environment. Once they are safely tucked into their cribs each night, George and I have much to accomplish. Around 8:00 pm, we enjoy our dinner together then tick off a few chores before we can hopefully relax with a television show or novel. Most nights, our bedtime is around 11:00 pm, and occasionally we don’t even pad off to bed until close to midnight, only to wake in the morning to four bright eyed toddlers. I would love to sleep a luxurious eight or more hours per night, but at this point it’s unlikely. As a result, George and I fiercely try to preserve the sanctity of the precious winks we do get each night. I was ecstatic when Silksleep offered to let me try one of their 100% pure mulberry silk sleep masks.

I always think its a treat to get something from overseas, especially when it comes from “Royal Mail”. It makes me feel cultured or something.

I think the Ivory silk with chocolate trim has a sophisticated appearance, and I really like the black bag for storage. Goodness knows I don’t want little fingers tampering with my mask.

Back in the days when George and I traveled, I always packed a sleep mask and miniature fan in my suitcase for good measure. When you’re away from home you can never count on having an environment conducive to sleep, but white noise and darkness generally help. Whenever I know someone admitted to the hospital (especially for an extended stay), I bring them a sleep mask and ear plugs if they do not have one because hospitals are notoriously bright and loud. I certainly appreciated those two things during my brief stint in the hospital. However, I never once considered wearing a sleep mask in the comfort of my home. And, the sleep mask I previously owned was some cheap cloth with elastic from a discount retailer. I always thought our bedroom was perfectly arranged for good sleep, but Silksleep changed my opinion.

The night my Silksleep mask arrived was ideal for my first experience with it. Earlier in the day, I took the quads for a play date with the Bell Quad Squad, and needless to say I was completely drained of energy. Play dates are fantastic for the quads and me, but eight babies have a way of zapping even the most lively person of energy. To relax my mind, I read a chapter of my Sophie Kinsella novel then asked George to snap a picture of me before calling it a night.

For my first night test driving my Silksleep mask, I thought my “Got Quads” t-shirt was apropos.

I found it nearly impossible to take a picture with the numbers visible on my alarm clock. If you squint a bit, you may notice it says 11:31 pm. That’s typically about the time I turn in for the night. Late.

The first night wearing my Silksleep mask was divine! I was totally exhausted and drifted right off to sleep almost immediately. I woke the next morning still wearing it and feeling refreshed.

If there’s one thing that always makes us appreciate how well our babies sleep, it’s rough ones. Thanks to stuffy noses and teething, the past week hasn’t been conducive to sleep. The quads have literally taken turns ensuring George and I find our sleep interrupted at least two or three times per night. The challenge of waking from a deep slumber to tend to a baby is getting back to sleep. My sleep mask proved very helpful in returning to sleep. When I go to bed I’m usually unaware of all the lights illuminating our bedroom. The street lights spill through the curtains and all of our various electronic devices shed green hues about the room. In the wee hours of the morning, these lights are glaringly intrusive to returning to sleep, but my Silksleep mask blocked it all out, allowing me to return to a peaceful state faster. With so many nights of babies going bump in the night, I found myself needing a bit of a power nap while they take their afternoon nap. My Silksleep mask is fantastic for that too! No better way to block out the afternoon sunshine than with a mask! I’m hopeful that the babies’ stuffy noses will soon heal and their teeth will finally erupt so we all get back to our sleep utopia. However, I’ve been really pleased with my sleep mask especially for those pesky middle of the night wakings and much needed naps. Even the night I slept without disruptions, I believe my mask helped me maintain a peaceful sleep.

I haven’t had my mask long enough to attest to this yet, but Silksleep’s masks are designed to help skin retain moisture and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Given my state of sleep deprivation, I’m certainly hopeful! I dutifully slather on eye cream before heading off to bed.

What measures do you take to help ensure a good night’s rest?

P. S. If you’d like to try one of Silksleep’s luxurious sleep masks or any of their other silk bed linens (they have an array of bed linens and other sleep accessories), they are extending a special offer: 10% off orders from our readers. Simply enter ADORE10 as a promotional code at checkout.

I would like to extend a special thank you to Silksleep for providing me with one of their 100% silk sleep masks for review. I received no other compensation and all opinions expressed are 100% my own.

The Little Things Thursdays: Installment #34

September 26, 2013Amber 5 Comments

In honor of Thursday, it’s time to link up with A Beautiful Ruckus as we recall the little things that brightened our week.

1. Three times is a charm for scheduling quad play dates. Since our quad buddies, The Bell Quad Squad, settled into their new home, we’ve been trying to arrange a play date. Thanks to toddler hood and increased outings, both sets of quads have gotten a few colds, causing us to postpone. On Monday, it FINALLY happened! I brought the babies for their first play date in the Bell Romper room (e.g. amazing, over sized quad-proof living room). The babies and I always enjoy time outside of our home, exploring new places. There’s no place better to visit than the home of other multiples. The Bell home is equipped with everything we need from four pack ‘n’ plays to a quad table. Plus, other parents of multiples are tolerant of multiples. For example, Amber wasn’t ruffled when three of my four screamed bloody murder after being put down for nap. Amber and I really enjoyed each other’s company and have exciting plans for another play date in the near future. Stay tuned for that!

The Quad Squad has many familiar toys and some novel ones too. The babies enjoyed playing with this toy, which is identical to one we used to have (I got antsy and purged it a few months ago). They LOVED seeing it again.

Capturing four toddlers in a single picture proved impossible. This was my best attempt. I spy seven babies and it looks like total mayhem.

For lunch time, each set of quads took turns in the quad table. I thought it was cute how they peered at each other through the bars on the fence as if they were jailbirds.

2. With the promise of fall weather coming, I brought the babies’ fall clothing boxes down, washed and sorted everything. My friend, Jen, helped me work on the girls portion Tuesday and I was incredibly thankful for that! I started going batty trying to match twin sets, coordinated outfits, and sort by size and gender. With each seasonal change, I find the task of clothing transitions daunting. At the same time, I am overjoyed with the generosity of our friends and family who clothe our babies with gifts and hand-me-downs. We are abundantly blessed by others, and in turn we are able to share our things with many other families behind us.

As I sorted, babies had fun jumping onto the clothes pile and carrying items away. Harper was a willing model to try new sizes from our fall collection.

3. We order many things for our home online these days so we are no stranger to UPS boxes. This week, I was delighted to find an unexpected delivery all the way from Italy. My mom’s cousin, Debbie, sent us these stunning blown glass turtle figurines. She told us that she spotted them in a store front window and immediately recalled our sea turtle story. There’s nothing that warms my heart more than when seeing sea turtles remind others of our story.

I found the perfect place for our new turtles in the entry way below our family portraits.

4. Since Mason’s plagiocephaly was corrected by his DOC band, he was given a formal assessment by Early Childhood Intervention this morning. I was so proud of our little man. He worked very hard to follow directions and scored within his age range or above in all areas. Therefore, he’s graduated from Early Childhood Intervention services! Hooray!!!

What brought you joy this week?

hugs,

Amber

P.S. I’d like to extend a thank you to the Itz, Reese, Clements, McKenzie, Lawson, and Parr families for sharing their clothes with us! You should be seeing some of your clothes show up on our babies in the near future.

The Little Things Thursdays: Installment #33

September 19, 2013September 19, 2013Amber 7 Comments

Since today is Thursday, it’s time to link up with Rebecca at A Beautiful Ruckus for the Little Things Thursdays. Each week, we take time to reflect upon some of the small things that made the week special.

1. Today the babies and I took a field trip to visit my Grandma at her home. It was no easy feat getting the four of them and myself ready to leave the house, but it was totally worth it. We came to visit Grandma, but brightened the day of the other residents in the process. Mom and I strolled the babies through the dining room during lunch stopping just a minute to chat with each table. I don’t think the residents could have been more happy to see the babies. Mom told me they seemed much more spry and delighted than on a typical day. Hearing that made my day. I thought it was really cute how the residents asked appropriate questions such as the babies names, ages, and whether they could walk. Not one person asked if the babies were “natural”, that was refreshing.

The babies clearly enjoyed soaking up all the attention. Even the boys flashed toothy grins and waved Miss America fashion. One of the sweet ladies, honored us by giving a treasured Blessed Mary medallion to keep in the babies’ nurseries. She told me she kept it nearly 50 years and was waiting to find someone to bless with it, and she chose us. Very special indeed!

The parakeets were an entertaining amenity at Grandma’s place.

After our visit in the dining room, we let the babies loose in Grandmas room to burn off some energy. Oh how the babies LOVE seeing their reflection in a mirror. When they spotted Grandma’s mirror, they each darted to it.

Grandma kissed each baby on the forehead as we bid our farewells.

2. We’ve been working very hard on teaching the babies to make environmental and animal sounds. They don’t all have all the animal sounds, but they’ve each mastered a few. I compiled a short video of each baby demonstrating their favorite animal sound.

3. George and I took the babies to Costco last week and found our favorite Sherpa blanket on sale for $15. We bought one a few years ago that we LOVE, but it’s getting a bit tatty. We decided it was prudent to snag another. When I spread it out on the rug, the babies all snuggled up in it togehter. Even they knew it was far more plush than the old one.

4. What’s not to love about this picture???

George was sitting on the couch with Mason when Rylin signed, “please” to join them. Before we knew it all four wanted to be there with him.

5. My vintage Cabbage Patch dolls have been in the nurseries since my bed rest days. I thought they added a little charm to the nurseries. Recently, the babies learned to “feed” them bottles and play food. This week, Rylin started carrying this one around. Ironically it is a “preemie” Cabbage Patch Kid, and it’s dressed in the girls’ old clothes from the NICU. Since real men help take care of babies, Harper partook in Cabbage Patch feedings as well. There is video footage to prove it.