Robert will be three... then what?

I have a dilemma... Alex and Ava will be 1 in less than a month (just typing that made me all nervous inside - I'm not sure why!) And shortly after that, Robert will be 3. I can no longer call myself a mom of 3 under 3 and more importantly, our blog needs a new name. Any suggestions?

Milk Allergy?

Alex has been struggling with excema on his cheeks and chin since the fall - about when he started to eat table foods. He has always had a weak tummy - even when breastfed, he'd throwup after feedings and this continued when we switched to formula. I asked the pediatrician about it at his 6 month visit but he didn't seem too concerned - he thought it could be related to volume - in other words, he was just eating too much. He suggested trying soy formula for a few days to see if it makes a difference, I never did. Bad Mommy!
We started transitioning to whole milk about 2 weeks ago. Alex continues to spit up after nearly every bottle - and it stinks even worse than the formula - sour milk - yuck!
Last night I purchased some soy milk. He had his first full bottle this morning - and guess what? No spit up! AND no rosy cheeks and chin! Later this morning, I gave him some Quaker oatmeal - peaches and cream. Soon after, his face got red. I pulled out the box and checked out the ingredients: 'Contains milk and soy'. Okay. I think I am going to have to record everything he eats and see how he reacts. What fun!
So much for being the laid back and calm one... Alex has decided to become difficult in ways much different from his sister!
Meanwhile, neither Bobby nor I have an allergy of any kind. Nor does Robert... I wonder where this comes from - and I hope it is soon outgrown!

Tooth Brushing Buddies

Hot Momma!

The following scenario happened here today:
Robert: I hot Mommy.
Me: You're hot?
Robert: Yes, Mommy, I hot.
Me: Why are you hot?
Robert: You hot Mommy.
Me: I'm hot? I'm a hot momma?
Robert: Yeah. You a hot Momma. Mom Mom hot too.
me: hahahaha

Doctor's appt update

Alex and Ava had their 9 month check up last week. (They are 10 1/2 months, but the appt needed to be pushed back when we faced that episode of illnesses a few months back)
Alex weighed in at 20lbs 2oz and 28 1/4 inches - 25th percentile all around. Still a peanut (a chubby peanut) but growing steadily!
Ava weighed in at 18lbs 12oz and 29 1/2 inches - 75th percentile for height and 40th for weight. She is long and lean, which is just fine with me! Let's hope it stays that way - this girl LOVES to eat!

Everything else checked out just fine. Dr. Novak gave me some medications for Alex's rosy cheeks, which he says is Excema. Poor guy. The prescription is 290.00 - good thing he loaded me up with samples!

We've started the switch to whole milk. Ava has reacted with some constipation, while Alez seems to have the opposite problem, and a terrible diaper rash. These kids are as different as night and day!

Alex is cutting another tooth on the bottom, for a grand total of 7! We have got to get in the habit of brushing them regularly as I have noticed he's got osme wicked breath! (also a side effect of the milk)
Ava has recently gotten two new teeth on the top, as well. She is walking all over the place - it's so strange to see such a little person walking! We'll be taking her to get some shoes this weekend!

The end of the day comes quickly - especially on the days we're out and about. A&A go to bed around 7 on most nights. I am starting to think we should push it later since they have been waking up between 5 and 6 most mornings. as much as I complain, I adore these kids and wouldn't want to miss a second of their day!

Some big shoes to fill...

Robert has taken an interest in his Daddy's shoes lately. Bobby is obviously Robert's favorite person in the world!

Robert

Just a few Robert-isms of late:

Yesterday, he pulled out a collapsable "Thomas" 'toybox' and popped it open. (it kind of resembles a hamper - if you can imagine that) Next thing I know, he has taken his clothes off and tells me he is "swimming in the pool" Interesting for a kid who suddenly doesn't like to take a bath anymore.

Today he made me an "ice cream cone" from a round ball and the yellow ice block from the boo boo bunny.

There has been a perpetual cake baking in Noah's Ark. This Fisher Price Ark has a door on the front which apparently resembles an oven to Robert. He fills it with blocks and repeatedly says "I make a cake for Mommy's birthday"

This afternoon, before his nap, he read to me from his collection of Thomas books. He told me a story from each picture "James is cross" he'd say or Gordon says "hah hah hah." Each book ended emphatically with "DE END. You like dat tory mommy?"

The kid suddenly has a gigantic imagination. He amazes me.

He is always saying "I would like a lollipop?" as if it's a question. If he could live on lollipops, he would. I have tamed him a bit by telling him "Dr. Novak says no more lollipops." which he tells me repeatedly thoughout the day as if I didn't know.
Of course, it wuld be much easier to just not bring lollipops into the house. period.

I hate that he is growing up. I'm going to miss these years.

Hot (well, warm) coffee

I recently came across a list entitled "You know your a mom of twins when..." One of the most commented items on the list was "You have forgotten that coffee is supposed to be consumed hot." (and a bunch of other variations of the same idea)

It had become a common occurance that I'd open the microwave mid morning or early afternoon to warm a bottle to find my morning coffee sitting lonely - knowing it's daily destiny... to be poured down the drain - only after being heated and re-heated several times.

Today, I finished my coffee while it was still warm! I made sure to get that last gulp in just before it turned cold!

...and I thought hot coffee was only a memory! Life is good - and coffee is much better warm!

...and finally a nephew!

Big congrats to Rob and Germaine on their new son, Levi Xavier, born this morning! 7lbs 6oz and 22inches long. We are overjoyed with all of the blessings God has sent to us! Babies, babies everywhere! We'll be heading to Pittsburgh in 2 weeks to meet the newest Gladu.

(the fever is catchy, and it's coming my way....) gasp!

Alex all giggles!

Ava Walks

Ava has started to walk! Look out world! (sorry you have to tilt your head to view - my tech guy (Bobby) will fix it tonight!)

Our Niece

We have a niece! Hannah Genevieve was born early this am to Christopher and Keely! She was 6 weeks early and 4lbs 11oz! We are all surprised, mostly because it is Germaine who was supposed to have her baby first! (She's due next Friday) Hopefully my next post will be about our new nephew!
Ava is not the only grand daughter anymore - and I am especially grateful that I have someone to unload all of my girly stuff.

A New Year's Resolution

I tried to post this last night... but blogger wouldn't let me.

Each year I try to make 3 New Year's Resolutions. I have been successful in most past years at sticking to them. So, without further ado, here they are: My first resolution is to post updates to this blog once/week. I've set up weekly reminders on my email and I'll try to 'blog' once/week.
I know someone who writes a monthly blog to her children (individually) and she includes the best pictures and anecdotes to her kids. I so much enjoy her blog and it makes me wish I had done something similar. I feel like I am forgetting to 'remember' so many of the little milestones. I always try to jot it on the calendar when something new happens so I can later fill it in in the baby books... which brings me to my next New Year's Resolution - To fill out A&A's baby books! I have actually started this task, so that's good news!
The last of the resolutions is to make photo books for each month from 2007 and continuing into this year. Instead of ordering prints and buying albums, I will be making the actual albums on kodakgallery.

We had a great Holiday season. Christmas Eve was quiet at home. Gram and Pape came and spent the night. Christmas Day was a whirlwind... A&A woke up at 6:30am and we waited patiently for Robert to get up, which wasn't until almost 9. By that time, A&A were ready to go down for a nap. Robert opened one gift before their nap and then we ate breakfast. Bobby's mom and sister arrived early in the afternoon, and the gift opening extravaganza continued. Robert was most excited about teh lollipops that Santa left. He couldn't be bothered with anything else. It was a fun and long day. And then it was over - just as fast as it came, it was gone!

Bobby was off until this past Monday (January 7th) It was so nice to have him around. The kids were spoiled with his attention. We (and by we I mean Bobby) spent a few days helping my brother lay hardwood floors and do some work in his new house. That meant lots of Gram and Pape time for the kids.
We've decided that we are going to need to finish the basement and we'll likely try to get to done this year. The kids have too much stuff, and we are learning that the bigger they get, the bigger their stuff gets! It seems we are outgrowing this house sooner than I ever imagined, and a new playspace in the basement will be a nice addition to the house.
Now that Bobby is back to work, Robert has taken Bobby's absence pretty rough. He wakes up in the morning crying for him, and wants to be with him all night long.
Ava is still the 'queen bee.' She will keep one hand on Alex's hight chair tray (as if she owns it) while feeding herself franticly with the other hand. She'll stand in high chair and peer over the table to be sure she's not missing anything on her tray. She pulls Alex's hair and uses him for balance and support when she tries to stand up. She is soooo close to walking, and we're sure it will be any day now.
Alex is still laid back. His chubby grin is all I need to get through the day. He can pull himself up and has even started to let go when he is leaning on something for support. His hair is getting long and he'll be due for a haircut very soon. I swear, he is starting to look more like his big brother, Robert. And yesterday, someone stopped to tell me that A&A look more alike than ever... interesting. Both A&A are excellent eaters and have made the trasition to table food quite well. In a few weeks, we'll cut back on formula and begin the transition to whole milk. My checkbook will thank me!

As I end this "weekly entry" (by the way, A&A are 45 weeks old this week) I must note that I began this entry at 8pm. It is now 10:40! It's not that I'm a slow typer, But that this night has been full of excitment (and phone calls) for us. My 'little' brother is about to become a dad! We are anxiously waiting to hear if we have a new niece or nephew. Hopefully we'll know something in the morning!

Still sick

We have been back to the prediatrician twice since Thanksgiving. Alex had still not kicked his previous illness, and 2 visits later he had another ear infection. Ava has just started showing symptoms, but Bobby has me convinced that it's just a cold, and not to worry. Robert started with a runny nose and caugh last night. I'm afriad it's going to be a long winter.

Somewhere in between the kids being sick and Bobby being away we managed to get the kids portraits done for our Christmas cards. Once again, I spent an obscene amount of money at the portrait studio. How do I manage to do that? So much for 'getting the 9.95 package and running!'

Alex and Ava turned 9 months old two weeks ago. Alex has started to pull himself up (and more importantly learned to get back down) in the past few weeks. Ava has just started to let go of whatever it is she's gripping for support when standing. Won't be long until she's walking, for sure. They are both eating a healthy diet of table food - pretty much eating anything that you put in front of them.

Robert is talking up a storm. He is enjoying school very much. He's become obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine and just 'choo choo trains' in general. We're still working on the 'be nice to your sister and brother' thing. Overall, he is a very sweet little boy and a great big brother.

That's all for today... I have yet to send out my cards, decorate the (ginormous) tree or wrap a single gift -but at least the shopping is complete. The next 2 weeks will be very busy. Bobby will be away and I will be playing single mom again - fun! The good news is, Christmas is at our house this year so we don't have to worry about packing up and going anywhere!

A Holiday Treat

The Trif kids have prepared a special Holiday treat for their loved ones. Check it out:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9619229231

Thankful for good eaters...

We've finally returned from a long weekend at Gram and Pape's house in Horsham. A&A celebrated their first Thanksgiving and boy did they chow down! I'm happy to report that they are great eaters! I mashed up almost everything we ate for our meal and fed it to A&A. Ava will pretty much eat anything - she proved that when we gave her a piece of Asiago cheese on Saturday! She loved it! And then there is Robert, who feasted on Cheez-its this Thanksgiving. He and Oliver were so happy to be together, they pretty much forgot to eat! The entire visit went quickly, but it was so nice to have the family together.
The kids had finally recovered from their illnesses, and now we are all getting sick again (Me and Bobby included!) Blah! I hope that this time it's just a cold.

Enjoy the updated slide show...The pictures are from September and October. I'll update with November pics too - as soon as I upload them!

The next few weeks will be busy, no doubt, but we'll keep you up to date as best as we can!


Hi Aunt Joan! :) We love you!

Sick kids...

Alex and Ava have been fighting (what I thought was) a cold since late Monday night. I decided to take them to the pediatrician today, just as a precaution since we were planning to leave tomorrow morning for Pittsburgh to visit Rob and Germaine. At first I felt silly - they have runny noses and a cough. Alex has been grabbing at his ears, and that prompted me to call Dr. Novak.
I'm so glad I did! They both are 'croupy' and have RSV. Thankfully, its not to the point that they need to be hospitalized, but Alex's breathing is very labored and Dr. Novak said he has a feeling that Ava ia headed down that same path. Both of Alex's ears are infected, and he's been put on a steroid for his breathing. Oh, and they both have pink eye.
Dr. Novak says this is a 7-10 day virus. I hope we kick it quick - I'd like to make the trip to Pittsburgh next weekend if it works for Rob and G. Fingers crossed.

A very literal 'pain in the butt'

This post is going to be all about me. I know you'd rather be reading about the kids and seeing their most recent pictures, but I just need to update everyone on my condition:

A fall down the stairs about 2 months ago has left me, well, pretty much a mess. I was seeing a new chiropractor for about a month, with very little relief. I finally decided to go back to my old chiropractor - from before we moved to Nazareth. He knows my back, and I have always responded well to his technique. After 3 visits, and just a tiny bit of relief, he sent me for an MRI with suspicion of a disc injury.
Fast forward to this week: the MRI results are in and my chiro, Dr. Ryan, wanted to see me right away. He said "it doesn't look good." I have a disc protrosion sandwiched between 2 herniated discs in my lower back. The lower herniation is so severe that it is 'hanging' into my spinal canal and pressing on a nerve, hence the pain. After a complete explanation and visual demonstration, Dr. Ryan warned me that I may need surgery. He said he'd do everything possible to help me avoid that, but I should know that its a definite possibility.
Today was my second day on the Traction Table... a device that 'pulls' and elongates the spine to help the discs shift back into place - or to at least free up some space between the herniation and the nerve. (it doesn't look like the lower herniation is going to go anywhere at this point.) I need to continue treatment on the table as often as possible for as long as it takes for me to start feeling better.
In the mean time, I've been told to handle the kids with care and be mindful of my lifting and bending - which I really shouldn't be doing at all. Unfortunatly, not doing it is not an option for me.
Dr. Ryan told me that another pregnancy will pretty much destroy my back. This information alone is enough to send me for a second opinion. But that's a bridge I'll have to cross down the road. Alot can happen between now and 'then' - whenever that may be.
Enough about me for now. I promise the next post will be all about the kids!

quick update

Finally, some down time... life as a Trif has been very hectic this fall. We've been busy with playdates, and swimming lessons, doctor's appointments, weddings, showers, christenings and birthdays.
We traveled to Boston two weeks ago for Baby Linus' christening. Robert and Oliver had a wonderful time together. They miss eachother terribly when they are apart and they're anxiously awaiting Thanksgiving so they can play again.
We'll be heading to Pittsburg in a few weeks to celebrate with Rob and Germaine for their baby shower. In the meantime, we have Halloween parades and parties to attend. We've still got some costumes to get together - and we're running out of time! We also have to get to the pumpkin patch for a photo shoot- hopefully this week.

Alex is bigger than Ava by about a pound. He is shorter than he, but rounder. He has started to get up on his knees, and can move himself backwards. He has 4 teeth, and is not much a napper. However, he continues to sleep through the night, and we have no complaints there. He is a true momma's boy.

Ava has been crawling for about a month now. She is pulling herself up wherever she can, and her crib mattress has been lowered as low as it goes. I'm betting she'll be walking by christmas. She is very nosy (hmm, wonder where she gets that from) and a true leader. It's already very apparent that she's the boss of her brothers. She has 3 teeth and loves to sleep.


Robert loves school! He goes Tuedays and Fridays from 9-12. His vocabulary is enormous these days, and he is always surprising us with new words. He is very affectionate and empathetic. He is doing great on the potty, but still needs to be reminded to go. He has been taking swimming lessons for the past 6 weeks, and he is doing fantastic. He loves his brother and sister, Alcy and Wava and they enjoy playing together - tho he needs to work on sharing - it's an age thing I guess.


Bobby has been traveling and working like crazy. This weekend is his birthday, so he'll be watching football and relaxing. My work is endless. I'm still waiting on the results of my thyroid test and I need to have my hips evaluated, as I am having awful pain that is not getting better after a month of chiropractic care. I'm positive it's related to my fall down the stairs a few months ago. It's always something.

Hopefully we won't let too much time go by before our next update... sorry for the delay!

Robert the Ring Bearer

Robert was the Ring Bearer in Kelly and Justin's wedding last night. We are so proud of him - he did a great job! He couldn't get enough of the flowergirl, Elizabeth, and we found them hugging and kissing during the cocktail hour.
He was very cooperative, and walked right up the aisle without any delay! He tried to steal the show, but Kelly looked so incredible, it was no contest!