1 year already?!?!?!

On January 31st Tyler, Whitney and Hannah turned one year old. I cannot believe it has been a year. Of course, I have to continue my recent strolls down memory lane. I remember their birth so clearly - it was a Thursday, my weekly doctor appointment day with the babies. I had just hit an amazing 34 weeks milestone. I was still doing fairly well - still contracting quite a bit but nothing out of control that my procardia and a little turb couldn't fix and my cervix was still long as ever (I had the cervix of steal according to my nurses), but boy was I one uncomfortable Mama!

This was taken the morning of their birth before I found out we would be delivering that day otherwise I don't think I would have looked so calm.

We went to see Dr. Koster and have a sono done. Everybody was looking good as far as growth and development and everybody's placenta still looked great with the exception of Tyler. His placenta was deteriorating and wasn't getting the amount of nutrients he needed so my doctor ordered for delivery that day! I was so glad we were able to schedule the delivery which would give us time to pack up my room and head over to L&D. The day flew by - it seemed like no time had passed and I was in the operating room waiting for my babies' grand entrance.

See this is what I looked like after I found out I was delivering that day - the look of shear terror!


At 3:23 pm Tyler was born, at 3:24 Whitney was born and at 3:26 Hannah was born. And for those of you new to my blog, and who may have not gone back and read, Whitney was in position the entire pregnancy to be born last (baby C was how she was referred to), but during delivery, she decided she was not being born last and forced her way out second. Hannah was breached which is why it took my doctors a couple extra minutes to get her out. They assessed the babies, cleaned them up a bit and brought them to me for a quick moment before sending them to the NICU.

Meeting Hannah for the first time. Even though she was born last, I met her first.


Meeting Tyler next...

Meeting Whitney last...


The doctors finished up with me and sent me back to L&D to begin my recovery. Later that night, around midnight, I was wheeled down to the NICU (in my bed) to see my babies again before heading to my recovery room.

Seeing the babies again for the first time since birth.


I remember laying there literally almost all night, thinking about everything and soaking it all in. My mind would not stop racing so I couldn't sleep. I think I finally fell asleep around 6am. The next 4 or 5 days were spent recovering, building up a milk supply through the pump and visiting my babies in the NICU. The couple of months prior to their birth (in the hospital), their birth, my hospital departure after nine weeks (without my babies), my homecoming (Feb. 5th - almost a year ago to the day) and the first couple of months after they were brought home were SO incredibly difficult, but I would not change it for anything! I know it sounds so cliche' but I honestly couldn't imagine my life without them and I thank God for them.

Tyler Craig -
Then... Tyler was born weighing 4 pounds 6 ounces and was 18 inches long. He had always been my biggest baby in utero but because of his deteriorating placenta, he was born weighing less than his sisters. My little man was our lazy eater. He had what the NICU calls "wimpy white boy" syndrome. For some reason little white boys usually don't grasp the concepts they need to to come home as quickly as little girls. Mr. Tyler didn't want to eat from his bottle - he had a gavage (feeding tube) for that so he didn't see the need to try :) or maybe he just didn't have the strength. He also had a recessed chin which the doctors thought could pose a potential problem and may be part of the problem with his eating; today he has outgrown that and no longer has a recessed chin. Tyler was a sensitive boy and hated being messed with - temperature, diaper changes, clothing changes and he cried pretty easily. Tyler spent almost 4 weeks in the NICU coming home in late February (the 26th or 27th?).

Tyler in NICU


Tyler on the day we brought him home.


Now... My sweet BIG boy loves to eat! He is my best eater by far. He knows how to drink from a sippy cup and loves to eat more than drink. Tyler currently has 6 teeth. Tyler now weighs 22 pounds 5 ounces and is 29.5 inches long. Tyler loves to push his walker, dance to the music of his toys and is starting to attempt to climb.


Tyler is also obsessed with his tooth brush. Tyler is loving his new seating arrangement in the car - forward facing! Tyler got his first hair cut this month and looks so much more grown up now. He did pretty well in the beginning but after a while, he started getting fussy and cried until Al, Craig's barber gave Tyler a candy cane to suck on.


Tyler cruises around some on the furniture and is beginning to stand for a short time period without holding on to anything, which really surprises him that he can do it but makes him so proud of himself. However, his favorite mode of transportation is crawling because he is so good at it. He is also very very ticklish and will laugh and laugh until I am afraid he can't breathe. Tyler is all boy - he likes to hit or pat everything and even though he doesn't do it intentionally (yet) his hits/pats hurt. Tyler is our little explorer by far - he loves to get into everything imaginable. Today, Tyler is not so sensitive - he is a tough little boy and doesn't get so upset over things although he still is not a real big fan of diaper changes and clothing changes, but then again, what toddler is?

Not sure what was going on here - showing how BOY he is with the hat or trying to be an exhibitionist.


My little chunky boy!


Whitney Nicole -
Then... Whitney was born weighing the most of the three at 4 pounds 13 ounces and 17 1/2 inches long. Whitney was our most eager eater in NICU which ultimately is what brought her home first on February 15th after spending 2 weeks and 1 day in NICU. Whitney was labeled our "best" eater although the nurses didn't know how she was getting milk by the way she sucked the bottle. Whitney was always my little "problem child" in utero - giving the nurses a hard time when they tried to monitor her. She was a very active baby in utero. She was definitely our most feisty baby. Whitney was a very alert baby with very big, round eyes. She was taking it all in! Whitney loved to be next to her brother and sister in NICU and we even captured a series of pictures of her trying to hold their hands. It was so precious!

This is the picture of Whitney holding Tyler and Hannah's hands. Whitney is in the middle.


Whitney's homecoming!


Now... Whitney weighs 17 pounds 15 ounces and is 29.25 inches long. She likes her sippy cup and likes to eat real food and currently has 6 teeth. We are transitioning Whitney as well as the other two to whole milk and phasing out bottles - only taking 1 bottle before bed time.


Whitney crawls around every where but is usually not too far from my side - she is also my cuddler and loves to be held. She is my safe, cautious child which is why I believe she still doesn't like to pull up even though she can do it! She is very gentle and even pulls my hair gently. She likes to play and dance but usually likes to play alone probably to avoid the dreaded toy stealing of her siblings. Even still, her most favorite toys are socks, bibs, diapers or other small toys she can carry around easily.


She also likes to mimic everybody with noises and physical gestures. Whitney is by far my most sensitive child - a far cry from what she was at birth - and cries very easily. When her siblings steal a toy, she just cries and cries instead of stealing it back like the other two do. I rarely ever have to discipline Whitney because she doesn't usually get into anything she isn't supposed to.

Whitney was still not used to their cowboy/cowgirl hats I bought them for their birthday party - my sensitive girl. You may not be able to tell but she was crying here. :(


Whitney is still rear-facing because of her weight but is enjoying having Tyler facing her (since he is forward facing) so they can play and talk. Speaking of talking, Whitney as well as the other two are talking up a storm (baby language, that is) - it is never quiet in this house. No other words yet for any of them besides Mama and Dada oh and Nana for Tyler even though we don't call either grandmother Nana.



Hannah Michelle -
Then... Hannah was born weighing 4 pounds 9 ounces and was 17 1/2 inches long. Hannah was my most laid back baby in utero - cooperating with the nurses by letting them monitor her and being still. She was usually my most still baby in utero and proved to still be very laid back and easy going after she was born. Hannah quickly learned how to eat and surprised us all when she caught up to Whitney so fast and came home just one day after her on February 16th (two weeks and two days after birth). Hannah just went with the flow of most everything except reflux. She was also my best sleeper and was my biggest stretcher - I'll never forget how much she loved to stretch ALL the time.

Hannah in NICU starting up with her stretching obsession. This was just a mild stretch though. She was all swaddled up like a burrito and it was hard for her to get her arms out.


Hannah's homecoming!


Now... Hannah weighs 17 pounds 3 ounces and is 28.75 inches long. Hannah is still struggling with learning to drink from her sippy cup but we are working with her and she is improving. It took her a little while long to master eating finger foods, but now she has got it down and eats wonderfully and currently has 5 teeth.


Like Tyler, Hannah likes to try to stand holding onto nothing. She doesn't have quite the balance as Tyler, but she does stand for about half a second. She likes to chew on everything - furniture, toys, her bed, her siblings...everything. She plays a lot with Tyler and continues to be my prime toy stealer.


Much to my surprise, Hannah is my bully of the group - she is also going to be my biter. She will bite playfully sometimes and other times, I know she is biting maliciously. Hannah is quite the adventurer like Tyler but doesn't seem to get into quite as much mischief as he does. Hannah likes to push her walker and LOVES elmo! She is also really getting into patty cake.


Hannah is still a laid back baby but is definitely beginning to voice her likes and dislikes. She cries a lot when told "no" and isn't quite ready to mind when being disciplined. She loves to steal everybody's toothbrushes which seems to turn into a fit-throwing scene on a nightly basis. She is very ticklish and seems to loves to be tickled. She is a very happy baby most of the time.


I'll be doing a separate post soon on their birthday party and events so check back soon!