Stomach Bugs

Last Thursday Griffin woke up covered in vomit. That began what has now been 9 days straight of:

• non-stop poopy diapers 
• a washing machine that is constantly running
• going through 10 bottles of pedialyte
• many many meals of oyster crackers
• 2 gallons of milk that have been sitting in the fridge longer than a week (that NEVER happens)
• super whiny, fussy, clingy kids
• a bathtub that has gotten more action in the past week than it typically gets in a month's time

I do feel bad for the boys. It has been a really rough week for them. Thankfully Griffin is finally starting to feel better, but the other 2 are still very much in the thick of this bug. If we're being honest, I don't think it really bothers them that much. They are definitely hangry and clingier than usual. But it's like they know- as long as this stomach bug keeps up, they will get to take at least one bath every day...and some days more than that. And as you can tell from this Instagram video I posted this afternoon- that is pretty OK with them.

Easter 2017

We spent Easter up in Bowling Green with Sue, Pete, and their kids. The boys enjoyed their first Easter Egg hunt thanks to Aunt Sue, who cleverly put Puffs and Yogurt Melts in their eggs instead of candy. Will and I debated whether or not to do our own hunt for the boys, and decided that they were probably one year too young to have one. Apparently, we were wrong- they LOVED hunting for the eggs! Griffin was especially into it and his basket was definitely the most full. Cooper was more interested in hanging out with Gus than he was in finding Easter eggs.

Trying to get a posed picture of them in their Easter outfits was basically impossible (trying to get ANY posed pictures with all 3 of them in it is basically impossible these days) but they did look very cute. Cari and Curtis gave us the outfits last year, but we were never quite sure what size they were since they aren't marked. We're glad we tried them when we did as they just barely fit into them for Easter!

The Easter bunny brought them their favorite- muffins!

AKA- muhmuhs

So happy

They looked like they worked at an old-timey soda fountain shop

Or maybe like the old-timey nerd costumes. Their hats were just missing the propeller on top!

Egg hunting

With his Aa-Eee

Freeeeedommmmmm!

Shooting hoops with Luuu

Silly boy

Brother bonding over Baby Signing Time

21 Months Old

The boys, 21 months

 Some quick notes about the boys at 21 months old, days before they turn 22 months old:

• Personalities are continuing to shine through. We have entered the stage where they actually have a preference and opinion about seemingly-trivial things. Like what color cup they want to drink out of during meals. Will is a master negotiator and can often convince one of his brothers to switch with him if he doesn't have the cup that he wants.
• Trucks continue to be popular toys for all, especially Griffin. We have one pair of pajamas with a fire truck on the front that Will and Cooper constantly request to wear.
• We're noticing more and more that Cooper and Will are developing quite a bond. Will has noted, especially this past week, that those two will pair up a lot during the day and play together while Griffin does his own thing. Admittedly, that somewhat hurts this mama's heart to think that Griffin is being left out. But in truth, he doesn't seem to mind his solo play time.
• Will taught them how to do the "robot" yesterday. It is hilariously adorable to see them imitate their dad.
• They love to be outside and will ask and sign to go "outside" over and over and over again. Taking them into the backyard is getting easier as they don't make a beeline for the edge of the patio. They love to explore the landscaping, search for golf balls in the yard (and usually we find at least one!), and say "hi" to the golfers that pass by. And in typical boy fashion, we search for bugs, play in dirt, and pick up and carry sticks around.
• They recognize familiar faces and will often play roll call, pointing everyone out. Will is especially good at this. He knows Mama and Dada of course. He calls himself "Vill", Griffin is "Der" and Cooper is "Per". He also knows Papa, Nana, Sue, Cari, Avery ("A-eee"), Olivia ("LoooLooo"), Luke ("LUUUUU"), and he even surprised us on Easter by pulling out a "Pete!" Griffin and Cooper certainly know everyone too, but they spend most of their time asking for Mama, Dada, Sue, and A-Eeee. 
• In addition to being good at naming people and negotiating the ideal cup to drink out of, Will is starting to step out of his shy-guy personality. He is still the most reserved of the trio when it comes to new places or meeting new people, but he's quicker to warm up these days. He is still a daddy's boy, though mama is starting to get some love here and there. Usually when we are walking somewhere, he'll prefer to hold my hand. He makes the best facial expressions lately. I'll have to try to get a video of it because it's hard to describe. Basically he looks at you a little sideways while pursing his lips together, almost like he's ready to reprimand you...then explodes into a fit of giggles. It's hilariously adorable.



Will, 21 months



Will, 21 months

• Cooper is our little lover of the group. He is quite the mama's boy, though Dada gets his fair share of love from him, too. He is the first one to run and greet me when I get home from work, and his immediate request is "Bup, pwease". He will whine to be held the whole time we're downstairs prepping dinner, and once we go upstairs to play for a bit before bed, he will settle in as close as possible to either Will or me. It's not enough to be beside us- he has to be physically touching us when he sits. He has started playing the "bye/hi" game with us. He'll walk away saying "bye bye!" then immediately turn around and run back to us and say, "oh, hi! Back!" Repeat over and over and over again.

  

  Cooper, 21 months



Cooper, 21 months

• As I mentioned above, Griffin is extremely into trucks and will spend quite a bit of time independently playing with them. He's still a lover of soft things and sleeps with at least 2 stuffed animals and his blanket, often more items. He'd love to sleep with a truck if we let him! In the past couple weeks we've been lining his stuffed animals up on the edge of his crib during bedtime routine. He then goes down the line, brushing each of their teeth. It's pretty cute.



Griffin, 21 months



Griffin, 21 months

•  They love books and will happily sit with you and read 5 or 6 books in a row. Generally all 3 will clamor to sit in your lap on the floor. They can't sit next to you while you read- they must be sitting in your lap. It's becoming somewhat challenging to do that since they're growing so quickly, but we make it happen most days. Fortunately we have most of their books memorized so I don't need to actually see the pages!



Book time with Lou Lou

Hilton Head Spring Break

We recently returned from another fun-filled week in Hilton Head. The condo is completely rented out this summer (yay!) so we took advantage of a Spring Break trip and got to stay in the condo for the first time as guests, not fixer-uppers. While there is still work to eventually be done (renovated bathrooms, a new ceiling, and an updated kitchen are in the distant future) the wallpaper peeling, painting, and general fixing up that we have completed is holding up well and the place looks really good! Will and I did lots of reflecting as we proudly looked over our handiwork last week.  How in the heck did we get ANYTHING accomplished with 3 infants in tow, let alone some pretty serious condo renovations? I look back on those days and feel a dual sense of exhaustion and awe. People often wonder how we do it...the answer truly is that we just do it. You don't think about how hard something is when you're in the thick of it. Sometimes it takes some reminiscing for us to realize just how often we were doing impossibly hard things without even realizing it. But I digress...

We took the "scenic" route down to Hilton Head this trip, opting to drive through Knoxville and Columbia, SC to avoid what we figured would be awful Atlanta traffic (due to a combination of Friday rush hour, a collapsed interstate from a fire the night before, and Spring Breakers hitting the road). The good- we got to have lunch with Maria just outside of Knoxville, and the drive was pretty. The bad- we certainly didn't feel like we saved much time at all thanks to road construction and heavy traffic. In the end, our chosen route was probably a wash. We stayed in Columbia for the night, and 2/5 of us got a good night's sleep. Cooper kept Will and me up the majority of the night- he was stuffy and not feeling well and the only way we could keep him quiet was to let him sleep with me (Will and I took advantage of the double queen beds and each had our own). Needless to say, very little sleep took place.

Quick lunch with Grandma in Knoxville

Our trusty helper loves to push the luggage cart!

As usual, we are always glad to get to the island in time for lunch before checking in to the place for the week. We lunched at our usual spot, Skull Creek Boathouse and discovered that the boys are really, really big fans of frozen drinks (we ordered them a virgin strawberry-pineapple smoothie). Like, they went crazy for it, so much so that we had to get them a second one. Will and I were treated to a round of drinks from our neighboring table, 2 older couples from New York. That was quite generous of them as I would not have been as entertained by the 3 toddler boys who were chucking food toward them and screaming for frozen drinks the whole lunch. 

We were spoiled by having Sue and her kids join us for part of our break as they were on Spring Break, too. The boys adore having them around, and we appreciate the extra hands! The boys are enjoying more and more freedom as we get from point A to point B, whether it's from the house to the car, or going outside. They would much prefer to walk over being carried, and thankfully they will happily hold your hands so we can safely get everyone to a destination.

Lots of walking thanks to extra hands (though they all wanted to hold "A-EEE"'s hand

They are never happier than when they have someone else around to entertain them

We also lucked out when we learned that Will's college friends, Jake and Erin, and their 2 girls Saffran and Coley were also vacationing on Hilton Head last week. Thanks to Sue and kids being in town, Will and I were able to enjoy some kid-free time with Jake and Erin- spending one evening at their condo and enjoying happy hour with them at the Marriott property they were staying at down the road. We also got the kiddos together for a beach day and did dinner the night before we left. Coley and Cooper bonded over their shared love of dogs and managed to find every dog that they could at the outdoor bar where we had dinner! 

Saffran and Avery hit it off right away, too!

Stevens and Masons, party of 9

Attacking the dogs at the bar

We loved all the helpers!

With the boys getting older, our ability to get out and explore the island is also growing. We spent lots and lots of time outside last week. The weather was a bit cool and windy while we were there- a little chilly for swimming, though we did enjoy a few days at the pool and one morning at the beach. Thankfully there is no shortage of things to do outside when the pool or beach is not an option.

The view from the condo never gets old...

This kid and his L-O-V-E of trucks!

Masons and Overmohles, party of 9 (I was the unlucky one who had to stand next to my super ripped nephew, Luke)

Annual family beach pic

We rented bikes with trailers so that we could ride around the island. The boys enjoyed the trailers so much so that we ended up buying a used one from our neighbor when we returned home this week. One more trailer to purchase and riding will be our summer mode of transportation to the pool and park for us! We also enjoyed a few walks in the stroller most mornings.

Strollin'

No trip to Hilton Head is complete without a stop for ice cream at the Coligny Ice Cream shop. Superman ice cream= yummy!

We also explored several parks on the island in search of the perfect playground. We found one at Shelter Cove that we really enjoyed. It's been so fun watching the boys become braver and braver as they explore the playgrounds. The loved going down the slides and even mastered an inclined climbing wall! 

One morning threatened to be rainy and yucky outside so we took the boys to the Sandbox, a small children's museum on the island. There was a toddler room perfectly set up for the boys- it was filled with age-appropriate toys and gated so they couldn't escape. We eventually ventured into the main museum, which they also enjoyed. Mom and Dad- not so much. The museum looks like it was converted from an old home, so the rooms are small and and crowded. Add to that hundreds of other youngsters and their parents, and it made for a rather hectic morning. We were glad we arrived right when they opened so we had at least some time with little crowds. And we were also glad we left when we did. There was a waiting list outside when we left. Note to self for future visits- arrive early, leave early!

There was plenty of solo party of five time over the week, too:

Sweet brothers holding hands

Watching Baby Signing Time (Griffin's black eye courtesy of a collision with his brother earlier in the week)

Al fresco dining

Date night for Mom and Dad!

First time trying Duck Donuts!

Definitely not the last!

They were big fans all around!

First time playing with Play-Doh

We always love our trips to Hilton Head, which is really starting to feel like another home to us. I love that the boys will grow up going there and hope that they love it as much as Will did when he was a kid. I'll end this post with our annual Harbourtown tree pic. I truly can not get over how quickly they change in such a short period of time!

April, 2017

April. 2016

October, 2015