my 2 cents....

I have had a few pregnant friends ask for my input & advice on things to get, what to register for, etc so I figured I'd make a blog entry out of it :) This is mainly directed at my friend Jaime who is pregnant with precious twin girls, but I'm sure a lot of it will pertain to singleton pregnancies as well! Hope it helps you Jaime (& others)!!! ;) The best advice I was given was from a MOM in one of my groups who told me to listen to every piece of advice then pick through it & decide what's best for my family. Everyone seems to have an opinion about what works BEST, but every baby is different & you'll soon find that what works with one baby won't necessarily work for the other so you'll end up doing a lot of trial & error :) Good luck!

The main things you need to consider when registering for items (or preparing for babies in general) are :
- whether or not you want more children (you might get more gender neutral items to pass down, or might splurge on certain items if you think you'll be using them longer, etc)

- what you plan to do with the items when your babies are finished with them (store/sell?)

- is it easily portable? (to bring to family/friends' houses .. most ppl don't have enough equipment for multiples so you end up bringing your WHOLE house for a play date, dinner, holiday, etc)

- cost (babies are expensive & when you have more than one at a time, the little things like diapers/wipes/formula/etc begin to add up)


With those in mind, here are some of the tips I was given (& some I discovered) that made the transition to being a MOM (mother of multiples) much smoother:

Registry tips:

- register at Babies R Us [their return policy is better than Target; with the BRU registry, you get tons of e-mail coupons/deals you wouldn't get otherwise; they have a "multiples discount" on large items - 10% off the 2nd, 3rd, etc items (although if you save up enough of their 20% off coupons you can save more by doing a few different transactions); if ppl buy something online from your registry, you get a 20% off coupon in the package]

- register/buy a variety of bottles [so many people swear by certain bottles & are adamant about which "works best", but your babies will decide which works best for them & they may switch bottle brands a few times or like different ones at the same time like mine did ..... same goes for pacifiers]

- bottle drying rack [so helpful when you're going through multiple bottles a day]

- bottle props [a NECESSITY! we used the leachco brand which is basically a donut-shaped bean bag that helps keep the bottle up & also helped if I was breastfeeding one or trying to feed multiple babies at once]

- sleep sacks/swaddles [so many different brands, but basically all you want is something will give a tight swaddle to comfort the babies until they can wiggle out of it]

- white noise machine/music [whether it's a heartbeat sound or ocean waves crashing .. the babies are comforted by the noise/music .. plus it's such a bonus if your baby can sleep through outside noise b/c you obviously will NOT be able to keep your house 100% silent]

- spit rags [you can NEVER have enough of these - for feeding, drooling, vomiting, teething, etc]

- boppy for each baby [some friends also recommend the double if you plan on breastfeeding both babies at once, but you will definitely use the boppy to prop/feed/etc baby]

- blankets [to swaddle, place over the babies in their car seats, put over the boppys, etc]

- vibrating chairs [we have the "lamb line" but anything that straps the baby in & vibrates/plays music is a LIFESAVER!] ;)

- breast pump if you plan on breastfeeding/pumping [invest in a GOOD one! i personally recommend the Philips Avent double electric pump - it worked much better than the hospital grade one they gave me & was much quicker at getting the milk - gotta save as much time as possible when you can!]

- baby bath tub [self-explanatory] :)

- play mat [i'd start with one big one instead of getting 2+ of the same one ... we have 4 mats (1 big & 3 small identical) & have only used 2 of them, often only 1 at a time. a lot of times you'll end up doing "tummy time" on you or will be putting the babies together on the same mat]

- mirrors [these are a MUST for babies in general but especially for multiples since they'll be used to looking at another baby & need to know what THEY look like!] :)

- baby carrier/sling [i've tried a few slings but didn't like the support they gave the infants as the Baby Bjorn carriers did .. i'll try them again once they can sit comfortably on my hip]

- baby monitor [since we have 3 separate cribs to monitor, we ended up getting the Summer baby monitor that is movable (with a joystick on the parent monitor) & can zoom in/out. it's got great reception & even if we're across the street we could still see/hear the babies very clearly & it had great nighttime vision]

- bumbo & tray [great for working on sitting .. my babies HATED them at first but now enjoy sitting in them with the tray & playing with toys on top]


MOM-to-MOM advice

- go with your gut & listen to your instinct when it comes to dressing your babies (same or different - everyone has an opinion & will often offer it without you asking), setting up your house, registering for items, etc [you'll be surprised at how naturally it comes to you]

- don't worry about stocking up on diapers .. you can buy them cheap online [I suggest using amazon.com/mom which ends up being cheaper than walmart/sams/etc with coupons! - DO the "subscribe & save" option to get 30% off (you can cancel the subscription without penalty, & they notify you before the next shipment ships in case you want more/less or to skip the shipment entirely) also look for $10/20% off coupons in parenting magazines for even MORE money off] & you never know if a baby will have an allergy or if you'll end up preferring a specific line [some fit babies differently]

- set up "diaper changing stations" around the house b/c sometimes it won't be possible to run back to the nursery to change a diaper :) [i have 4 different baskets/pack-n-plays around the house stocked & ready if i need it]

- consider buying "space saver" items for obvious reasons

- USE your MOMs group for advice, support, clothes, etc!!!! [wait on buying the bigger items like exersaucers/high chairs/etc b/c you can often find them through your groups for a STEAL or go to one of the bi-annual garage sales]

- consider buying at lease 1 single & 1 double stroller [often you might just run an errand with 1 baby or only 1 might have a dr appt so it helps to have other options .. esp when the car seats get heavy! we have a single, double & triple stroller]

- consider color coding the babies [alyssa is pink, brandon is blue & cassandra is purple ... i've color coded their car seats (matching germ-ex containers), blankets, pacifiers & sometimes outfits according to those colors - it makes it easier when you're sleep deprived in the beginning or if you're trying to prevent the spread of germs, plus i've heard that doing so also helps teach colors & sorting sooner - when they're older i've been told to paint the color on the bottom of a toy with fingernail polish to help them find their own toys, clean up more easily, etc. don't get obsessive about it, but i know that it helps esp with the car seats b/c i don't have to constantly adjust the straps each time i put the babies in & the blankets get sucked on so we're not spreading any more germs that we have to!] :) just a suggestion i was given!

- if you're looking to buy a nap nanny, i'd suggest looking to borrow one first - some babies love them & some don't [i've also seen them for sale MUCH MUCH cheaper in my groups]

- pediatrician - get recommendations from your MOM group or other friends & try to interview them before the babies come .. also ask if the've ever dealt with multiples & if so, what their procedure is [my pedi blocks out a whole hour when we come so we're not rushed & she came HIGHLY recommended from girls in my groups .. we're also the 3rd set of triplets she sees]

- FYI if you do decide to use formula, it's really just trial & error with what works best for your babies, but i was told by my pedi that Similac actually makes the HEB brand so once you go through all the free samples & are looking to save a little extra money, that's something to consider

- Enfamil & Similac both have "multiple births programs" where they will offer a few CASES of free formula to families with twins, triplets, etc - there is a special form you need to fill out & often you'll need copies of their birth certificates as proof, but i'd wait until you've figured out which formula (or type - sensitive, soy, regular, etc) you need

- get breathable bumpers [i know you already got some adorable patterned bumpers so don't freak ;) but i do know that a lot of pediatricians recommend getting the breathable kind or getting rid of them altogether once the babies are rolling around in the cribs - in the beginning when the babies were swaddled & in sleep positioners, it didn't matter b/c they obviously weren't moving, but once they started rolling around they would somehow end up in the crack with their mouths pressed against the edge EVERY time - even if i moved them, they'd roll back to the same position. i'd ask your pedi about this]

- don't buy many clothes (this is a hard one!) b/c you never know how fast/slow they're going to grow plus that's the favorite thing people like to buy/give you so save your money for the bigger items :)

- save some clothes/bottles that your babies used for them to use with their dolls when they're older [MOMs in my groups told me this & esp since my angels were so tiny, most of their preemie/newborn clothes will fit their dolls & it'll be fun for them to see how small they were .. the bottles are also just fun since they're "real"] :)


If anyone else has any more advice, suggestions, or input, please pass it on - I'm definitely not an expert & always welcome others' viewpoints! I'm sure I've forgotten a few things, but this is at least a great "starting point" :) I hope this helps you out a little Jaime (& everyone else) & that you can at least take away 1 helpful tip! ;) Best of luck & blessings to you, james & Miss E & A!!! XOXOXO nat

what a difference a year makes

Exactly one year ago today, we went through our first attempt at IVF. We were literally given one shot and prayed hard that it would work. After multiple specialists told me getting pregnant on my own would most likely end in miscarriage and that IVF was our best option, we made the controversial decision to go that route. After going through all the meds, 19 eggs were taken, 18 of them were fertilized & only 3 of them were "genetically sound" enough to implant. Because the likelihood of me getting pregnant was so slim, our RE suggested implanting 3 embryos (most people my age typically put in 1-2 embryos at the most .. RARELY three!) so when we only had 3 on the day of my transfer, I took it as a sign that God was in charge of our future & left everything in His hands! Little did I know that ALL THREE of these embryos would take....& so begins the wild ride I call my "new normal" :)

Here is my babies' first picture - aren't they beautiful????:

one year later ... they're smiling, laughing, cooing, rolling over & TEETHING!! God bless us all! :)

"sisterly love"

The sister-sister relationship is something I am very unfamiliar with, but I am excited to see this bond develop between my two little princesses. I grew up with a younger brother and most of our family friends had boys, so the thought of having another girl around 24/7 to play with sounded so appealing to me (although those of you with sisters would probably disagree!) :) I hope that my girls will be best friends, lift each other up in kindness, limit the competition (& not gang up on poor Brandon .. OR mommy & daddy)! Here are some pics of my little BFFs bonding already:

Today, I got a little taste of what my future might look like while we were doing some "occupational therapy" (practicing rolling over & lifting necks). Well, Alyssa rolled over & Cassie grabbed her nose, then a few minutes later Alyssa grabbed Cassie's bow & pulled it over her eyes TWICE (I only caught the second time b/c I couldn't believe she had done it & was laughing at how she pulled it back & let it go, slapping Cassie on the eyes!) .. tisk tisk so sad girls! :(

cassie .... no no little girl!

lyssa .. just b/c your sister "started it" doesn't make it ok

"nap club"

The first rule of mommyhood, is to not brag about something your babies have (or have not) done b/c as soon as you do, they'll prove you wrong & do the opposite. HOWEVER, with that being said, I think I'll risk it b/c I am SOOOOO proud of my babies. The past 2 months ALL three of the babies have been sleeping through the night in their own cribs & getting at least 10 hrs of sleep ... it's so wonderful!!! They typically take a few naps during the day (Alyssa & Brandon will sleep more often, while Cassandra prefers to stay awake & play with Mommy) and recently I have started to be more strict about their schedule (sleep, eat, play/therapy, etc ... I know, I know ... strict Mommy!). Today I was feeling brave and wanted to tackle the inevitable transition from swing to crib for their naps (or at least for the big afternoon nap). Obviously they can't nap in their swings forever & I'd rather tackle it now when they're still "small" or can't scream as long/loudly as they will when they're older - I also don't want them to become too dependent on the swings for naps (for obvious reasons). The past few weeks, I've been "encouraging" them to fall asleep on their own & develop their own self-soothing techniques instead of putting them to sleep by rocking, holding, chairs/swings, etc (at nap & nighttime) .. this is VERY important when you have more babies than arms & can't rock everyone to sleep, not to mention how beneficial developing self-soothing techniques are to babies!

ANYWAY.... today when the babies were starting to get fussy & doing their "tired" cries after the noon feed, I put them in their cribs to see what would happen & how long they'd tolerate it. I was prepared for the worst & honestly thought they wouldn't fall asleep or would just cry for an hour. Well after crying about 5-10 minutes, they all fell asleep (even with the sunlight coming in - I never found curtails I liked but will hopefully be putting some up soon to help block out some of the bright sunlight & get even more sleep time). The girls ended up lasting a WHOLE hour (whoo hoo!!!) before starting to cry (which was about how long I thought they'd nap after lunch), and because I didn't want them to wake Brandon, I brought them downstairs to do some therapy then nap a bit longer in their swings. My precious little prince ended up absolutely shocking me & after THREE & A HALF hours, I had to wake him for the 4pm feeding!!! :) WAY TO GO BRANDON!!!!!!!!

I'm realistic & know that this might not be as successful the next few days, but I was impressed with my little angels - they're so good to mommy! I am sooooo spoiled - who knew triplets would be so wonderful???

why yes, my middle name is "supermom" (edited)

SOOOO all Memorial Day weekend my poor hubby was sick & I had a fourth little baby to take care of! It started out as a bad tension headache but then he started getting a low-grade fever so he was immediately quarantined to the upstairs while I had the babies downstairs. I took care of the feeds, did some laundry, made a few different soups for my hubby, & even made a quick Wal-Mart run while everyone was napping! I even made time to do our daily therapy with the babies. Both girls have officially mastered rolling (well technically, Alyssa can roll onto her tummy & back while Cassandra can only rolls onto her back)!!! After our therapy on Sunday, I strapped a baby in the Bijorn while the others were napping & made dinner (had to stop in the middle to switch out babies) :) On Monday, Kris finally went to the dr who told him that he might have something viral (b/c of the fever) & gave him some meds for the headaches. Ultimately Kris was told to "avoid stressful situations" but we all know that won't happen for at least another 18 years!!! Good luck Kris! Whew .. I am tired! Hopefully Daddy is feeling better soon so I can at least have a day off (heck .. a few minutes would even be nice)!!!

genius alyssa in therapy

genius cassandra in therapy

whew - i'm exhausted after all that work!

alyssa the determined

Oh sweet sweet Alyssa, my adorable first born! You have been such a fighter from the beginning - even though you & Cassie were the same weight, you were "smaller" & more fragile in my eyes. You needed oxygen longer than the other two, had lung issues, GI issues, couldn't have breast milk as fast or as much as your siblings, and more importantly, I couldn't hold you when I held the others. Just thinking about how far you've come these past 5 months makes me cry - I am SO blessed to be your mommy & love every second I have with you! You have transformed from the "fragile" little peanut into my big "lady bug" with the most determined personality! You make your needs known & are already taking charge as the eldest! You are such a little leader already & I know that Brandon & Cassandra will look up to you - even if you're mere seconds older than them! I love your little smiles, your coos & yes, even those deafening screams (but what a blessing they are when I think about how weak your lungs were just a short 5 months ago!)..... You are truly a "daddy's girl" & got him whipped first by giving him the nickname "engow" (the sound you made only when you saw or wanted your daddy). Your gorgeous baby blue eyes are just soaking everything in and already say so much ... if only I could be in that little head of yours for a day! :) I have so many dreams for you & your siblings, but only God knows what path your little lives will take & we're just along for the ride .. but what a fun ride it's been so far!

My precious princess here are some of your recent moments:

losing my mind

I'm not ashamed to say that I have had my fair share of "ditzy" moments & played into the blonde stereotype a few too many times, but recently I have caught myself doing some bizarre things that make me second guess where my mind has been.... The other day the babies were doing something cute & I was looking for my cell phone so I could take a picture & send it to the grandparents, but where do you think I found it??? In the cheese drawer of my REFRIGERATOR - don't even ask me how it got there! In the past few months, I have put the milk in the cabinet, cereal in the fridge, started laundry loads without putting the clothes in, and forgotten to eat meals I've prepared & found them hours later untouched, etc WHEW!!! The "momma brain" has definitely kicked it....

(please don't judge my fridge .. I haven't had time to run to Kroger!) :)

diaper geenie allergies

Now don't get me wrong, my sweet hubby has been absolutely AMAZING with the babies & I couldn't have been able to make it these past 5 months without him; however, my Prince Charming DOES have a little weakness ........ he is allergic to the diaper geenie! Bless his heart, but diapers just aren't his "thing" - never have been & I'm sure they never will be. Even when the babies were in the NICU, he wasn't eager to rush in & change their diapers, but that was probably because of the one time Brandon almost peed on him... :) Anyway, IF my poor husband gets stuck changing a dirty diaper it will rarely end up in the diaper geenie. Most of the time it ends up in the pack n play or next to the changing station (despite the fact that the diaper geenie is literally inches away!) The next time I go to change a baby, I'll find diapers lying around (some that have been there for hours!) & have to put them in the geenie myself! When I asked him why he never put the dirty diapers in their rightful place, he told me that once he put the clean diaper on the baby all he can focus on is washing his hands & can't "remember" to put the diaper in the diaper geenie. :) KRIS!!! Welcome to my world...

brandon the handsome

My little prince you are such a stud! Your personality is the strongest of the three and I can always tell what you're feeling b/c you wear your emotions on your sleeve (or face!). For the most part, you smile, coo or laugh , but the second I give attention to someone or something else, you'll start to pout or fuss (I'm even holding you in my arms as I type this entry b/c you wanted my attention while the girls were napping). You are definitely "Mommy's little man" and have me wrapped around your finger (as you all do!) .. I'm such a sucker! You have recently started some "call & response" conversations & enjoy hearing yourself "speak" - of course I think you're a genius! This morning you even were making the "gee" sound & wanting me to say it back to you(in my mind this is your version of "mommy" ... don't try to convince me otherwise!).

You are the man of MANY faces!

We already know you're a bit of a daredevil & ready to start crawling/walking around - hence all the straps on the swings & chairs .... well this morning you even made it out of a tight swaddle, did a 180* turn & flipped onto your stomach. This settles the "no-blankets-in-the-crib" debate :) Oh Brandon.....

cassandra the sweet

I would have bet (& lost) TONS of money that you, Miss Cassandra would be a total drama queen b/c you were definitely the stinker while in the womb (in fact, you WERE the one who decided to change positions & ended up making mommy go into labor!) but you have been everything BUT drama - you are such a sweet little princess and a total joy in my life! Even though you are the "youngest" (by seconds), you have been a little leader - the first to get off oxygen in the NICU, the first to breast feed, the first to get out of the isolette & into a "big girl crib", the first to come home, etc ... I couldn't be more proud of you! You are such a mild-tempered little angel and already have so much patience, waiting your turn while your siblings are getting mommy's attention. I do love our one-on-one moments while the other two are napping & enjoy our little "conversaions" & games of peek-a-boo! You have recently started showing off your strong neck muscles & has mastered your daily "therapy" sessions with mommy - pretty soon you will be rolling over & crawling all over the place!!! Go Cassie!

You rolling over - mommy is so proud!!! (not sure your siblings are as excited) :)

doing your happy dance

some of my favorite recent pictures of you:

You're even just discovered your thumb! You don't have a preference yet, but will easily take the paci or find your thumb if you have to self-soothe .. genius!

family walk

Each night we have "family walk" which typically lasts at least an hour & we all walk (sometimes run) 3-5 miles around the neighborhood. It helps entertain the babies, get our workout in and let us all catch up at the end of the day. Tonight Kris & I each had a baby in our Bijorns & used our single stroller for one baby (felt strange to have a small stroller instead of our huge triple one) :) Of course we were still a "freak show" & people knew us as "the triplets", but it was a fun walk b/c tonight was the first time we all wore our super cool sunglasses! Gotta protect our eyes!

Daddy & Cassie (& Alyssa in the stroller)

Mommy & Brandon

Precious Alysa

friday the 13th

Some people think Friday the 13th is a horribly unlucky day, but for me it has always been the opposite (13 was my "lucky number" & volleyball number in High School). Today as I play with my babies I am overwhelmed with just how "lucky" I have been this past year alone! In honor of this special day, I want to list my top 13 things i love about my miracle babies & being their mom:

13. The cooing/gurgling conversations we have

12. The smiles we share & the open mouth "kisses" they give me

11. When they recognize who I am by sight or sound

10. Watching their personalities develop

9. Them starting to grab my neck while being held

8. The new normals in our routine that come with having triplets

7. Playing dress up & "tolerating" the daily photo shoots with mommy

6. They rely on & trust me 100% to take care of all of their needs

5. The smell & feel of their skin

4. Looking at every feature to see if they got it from kris or me

3. Watching them discover new things or hit new milestones

2. They make me want to be a better person, friend, daughter, wife & mom

1. My life now feels complete

look what i can do mommy!

Things have started getting a little more "active" around the Cherry household now that we've discovered how to roll over! I remember just a few short weeks ago when I could leave the babies in the Boppys or swings & go shower, grab something to eat, or run up/downstairs for a minute without worrying about them moving, but those days are no more! It started with them rolling out of the Boppys while they were doing "tummy time", then doing back flips & rolling over their heads out the back of the Boppy, now we've started rolling around IN the swings or vibrating loungers! Snapping them in is a must & they can't be left alone for even a second (even if they're asleep) .. how will I get anything done?!?! I need a few more baby monitors all over the house to keep an eye on them if I do decide I'd like to take a shower before 9pm or if I want to have at least one full meal before dinner!

Here are a few pictures of my little Houdini - Brandon is the first to master the slip! I hope he doesn't teach all these bad tricks to his sisters!

Alyssa showing off her moves!