Nine Months ?!?!

We can't believe it--the boys are nine months old (actually, at the time of this posting, nine months, 1 week). That birthday is coming up--and the summer seems to be flying by, too. Each day is a very full day, with its routines and surprises. In one respect, each day seems ordinary--wake up, eat, play, nap, wake up, eat, play, nap, wake up, eat, play, eat, and down for the night. But in other respects no two days are the same, and each one is magical as these little guys explore the world. And it's such fun to see them!!

We've had a wonderful June so far; the weather has been very good much of the time, and we've all been getting out in the neighborhood, on local walking trails, and to the stores and restaurants together. The boys are so well behaved that we can pretty much take them anywhere for a couple of hours or so. And whenever we do go out, we inevitably are asked, "Are those triplets?" and told, "You must have your hands full!" Of course we do, but we wouldn't have it any other way. At this point, it' s as hard for us to imagine not having triplets as it is for most people to contemplate their lives with three babies. And the most appropriate phrase, we've found, is that the worst day with the triplets is better than the best day without them. That pretty much sums it up!

That said, we've seen and done so much in the past couple of weeks...here's a few shots!

One day we were sauntering up the driveway on a walk around the neighborhood when we saw a butterfly with injured wings on the concrete with a hungry-looking bird looming over it. We rescued the butterfly and took several pictures with it, and then took it inside and gave it some fruit to eat. It died two days later, but it must have had a feast beforehand.

The pictures of the butterfly are so clear!

Alex studies it carefully...

Will it eat me, Dad?

Don't let it bite me, Mom!!

Ty plays peek-a-boo with the towel...

We're starting to try to teach the boys how to hold their bottles. The problem is that they just don't tip it up high enough. Alex has got the general idea, though...

Work while you eat, sleep while you play...

We're ready to go swimming (yes, you read that right, read on). Note the "Little Mermaid" swim diapers. Mom accidentally got the wrong ones for us, but we're too little to know the difference, thank goodness!

Here's our new pool...it's 30 inches deep, and 12 feet wide. And (for those of you who will worry--you know who you are!) we only take the boys in when both of us are home and we keep a hand on the baby floats at all times, and we slather the boys up with sunscreen beforehand. We're actually quite happy with it. Ty and Alex seem to really like it and kick their legs. Jacen on the other hand doesn't seem really into it.

Can we get out yet?

Alex loves hanging out in his float...

Ty is tuckered out by his swimming experience...

Family hug!

Ty is now sitting up very well, just like Jacen...

Alex is part bat!

Jody with the boys...

A happy Jacen!

Now it's Ty's turn to hang from Mom...

Alex with Ty's foot in his mouth...toe jam has extra protein!