Boys trip

Dave took Leo down to California last September for Hannah's Bat Mitzvah. It was their first plane trip together, just the two of them. It was a good experience for both. For Dave so he knows how much work it is to be a single parent for longer than a day. And for Leo so he could get in some quality time with his Dad. After they got back, I asked Dave how it went. He said he didn't get to talk to anyone because he was constantly watching Leo. Yup. Welcome to my world. Next time Dave can pack Leo's suitcase for him so he knows how much planning is involved with the packing! :) But really, I was very proud of them for taking that trip together.

Leo had a great time with all his older cousins and Nana, Bob, Great Uncle Bob and Great Aunt Elaine. I wish we all could've been there to help Hannah celebrate!

Asleep on the plane ride down to SEA

Leo loved this slide

With cousin Trent

Dave actually got him to wear a nice shirt. It is nearly impossible to get him to wear anything with buttons because he thinks they are scary for some reason.

They got to spend some time with Kevin and Katie

Obviously not listening to Kevin's directions

With cousins Emma, Tessa, Trent and Talya

with Emma, Tessa, and Talya

Thankful for the play area at SEA-TAC

Also thankful for the iPad

Happy Thanksgiving!

We tried something new this year. Turkey wrapped in bacon. It was delicious. The gravy was even tastier. Bacon makes everything better. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Leo said he was thankful for Dana (his day care provider). We are thankful for her, too. Especially that Leo likes it over there and she takes such good care of him. She had jury duty M-W before Thanksgiving so he was home with me and it hard. So very hard. Leo was frustrated because I couldn't spend all my time with him and we were both going stir crazy because he couldn't get outside. We managed to get out for 30 min while both babies were napping. It felt so good to out.

Boo!

Dave and I took turns doing something fun with Leo for Halloween this year. Too much of a pain to take the babies out, too. So Leo and I went to Trick or Treat Town at Pioneer Park and Dave took him to the UAF Museum the week after for their halloween event. No pictures from the UAF outing, I guess it was a little too busy for that. Leo was really into the candy this year and checking out everyone's costumes! Thanks for the sending the astronaut costume Ama! According to Kristina (the rocket scientist!), the costume is actually a Russian Sokol spacesuit!

Astronaut on his rocket ship!

In the pumpkin patch

Testing the costume out at home first

With Iver and Todd

Swinging into space

Pumpkin carving

Noah slept through the action

Finished product - monster truck pumpkin!

Turning 40

I turned the big 4-0 last week. It was a mellow celebration. I was thought I would be whooping it up somewhere with my best gal pals, but that was a vision made during my pre-kid days. We celebrated with a few of our close friends at Dan & Adrian's. Dave and Adrian slaved away making my favorite breakfast dish - eggs benedict. And everyone took turns holding babies so I could get a break. It was a lovely way to spend the day.

What does turning 40 mean? It means, hopefully, no more school. I've spent a little over half of my adult life in school. 4 years of undergrad. 7.5 years in grad school. It means I've lived half my life if I'm lucky. And I have been lucky. To have experienced what I have experienced. To have seen parts of the world that most people don't get to explore. I still miss that side of adventure. To pick up and go easily. I still long for places like Antarctica and Tern Island in Hawaii. I still have hope that I will get back to those places someday. I am looking forward to going on different kinds of adventures with our little (big) family.

Starting a family later in life also means I may not be around to see grandchildren if the boys also wait until their late 30s to reproduce, if they procreate at all. That is a sad thought. But one that I shouldn't linger on. It is what it is. And there are pros and cons to starting a family now. I'd like to think we are wiser because we have more life experience than we did in our 20s and 30s. But boy, we sure don't have the energy that we used to!

Leo and Gavin giggling over putting fingers in the icing (thanks for the pics Dan!)

Getting help blowing out the candles

Leo, Gavin, and Espen playing

Adrian made me gluten/dairy-free truffles! super yummy.

Survival

I survived my first day with all 3 boys at home. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Max and Noah were mostly on opposite schedules, which meant I was almost always dealing with one of them. Fortunately, they are really good about playing on the play mat and in the bouncy chair for a little bit so I could play with Leo and go to the bathroom, etc. The only bump was that Leo wouldn't take a nap for me. Super frustrating because he goes down for a nap like clockwork at Dana's. And has been on the weekends when Dave gets him ready. He doesn't even need us to lay down with him anymore. But yesterday he just wouldn't fall asleep. He wasn't even upset. He got out of bed 5 times. At one point he came out and told me that he didn't need a nap today. So frustrating because I was nursing both babies during this, luckily he would go back to the room when I told him to. Needless to say he was cranky by 630P and went to bed early. All that said, I am happily surprised at how independent he has become since his brothers came into our lives. I was pretty tired by the end of the day, though. But yesterday gave me confidence that I could take care of all 3 on my own.

Broke out the home made light box since it's getting dark out again

Leo even changed his own diaper!

The Fourth Trimester

We are near the end of Max and Noah's first 3 months, this period which is sometimes referred to as the fourth trimester. It's hard to believe that it's gone by so quickly in a lot of ways. Ama was here for 5 weeks to help and it was wonderful to have her here. I was really anxious about her departure, wondering how we were going to survive without here. It's been 4 weeks and we are managing better than I thought. The key is efficiency. Making the most out of nap times by making food, eating, getting ready for the next pumping session, dishes, laundry, etc. The only reason I'm able to function is because I'm actually getting some sleep. And Max and Noah are much better sleepers than Leo was at this age (knock on wood they continue to be good sleepers!). We have settled into a routine that works for us. I'm thankful that Dave can bottle feed them at night so I can get some rest.

Leo is in full time day care for now. It was hard for me to make that decision because I wanted to be able to spend time with him in Mondays and Fridays. But it's just not possible for me to take care of all 3 boys right now. It makes me sad but he gets to play with other kids all week and he loves Dana. She takes great care of him. On the weekends, I try to spend as much time with him as possible. On Saturday mornings we go grocery shopping. And to the pool on Sunday mornings. He's been learning how to be more independent which is great. 

I've been getting cabin fever. Trying to get out of the house with these guys is such a production. Especially if their schedules are off. It's not really worth it at this point. We have to time it right after a meal. Make sure they are well burped. Get them in their car seats. Then one of them always has to burp again. If not both. Get the gear into the car. Get the babies into the car. By the time we get out for a 20 min walk, it's time to head home for the next meal - don't want to get stuck in the car for that!! The logistics are so much harder with two infants. Now that winter is here and the snow looks like it's ready to stay for a while, it makes it easier to be stuck inside. Once they don't have to eat as often I'll start taking them to the gym so I can walk some laps with them in the stroller.

We did manage to go out on a day trip to Denali Park while Ama was here. It was quite the production. We didn't get out of the house until noon and didn't get back until after midnight. We had to stop about every 3 hours to feed Max and Noah, and let Leo out to stretch his legs. I also pumped in the car. Was it worth it? Yes, it was wonderful to get out and do something. And the fall colors were almost at their peak in the park. 

On a different note, Leo still talks about Emma. Sometimes when we bring her up in comversation he will look for her in the part of the house where she used to sleep. It breaks my heart every time. He tell us that his dog's name is Emma and he pets her. He tells us that he missed her. :( When we read books with dogs in them he'll name them Emma. He knows she's not coming home but is confused about where she is so we told her that she's in doggy heaven where old dogs go but can't come back. I've been avoiding using the word 'dead' because I don't want to scare him. I tell him that I miss Emma, too and he gives me a hug and tells me that he will take care of me and not to be sad. Some day we'll get another dog but probably not for a while!

Here's a photo dump from the past couple months. 

Gavin's birthday party was so much fun. All his clothes came off.

Ama and Noah

Ama feeding Max in the car at Denali

Ann came up from Anchorage for a visit

Nana and an onion from the garden

Leo training for Mt. Marathon 

Leo aka batman birding

Dave tandem feeding

At Denali

Fun in Denali

At the park with Espen

Always taking their clothes off

Happy Noah

Behold there mighty potato

Playing in the first dump of snow

Lots of hugs and kisses for Ama

Denali

Getting out for a walk

Getting more alert!

Max happy in his sleep 

Max and Nick

Max came with a natural faux hawk 

Noah and Leo in the double chariot

Noah Pumpkin

Noah 6 weeks

Max 6 weeks

Riding on the strider

Finally figured out how to tandem nurse