Reaping the Benefits

SURVIVAL MODE
Since the babies were born we've been in survival mode. First, we survived the emergency C section, then we survived the fears of the NICU, and finally we're beginning to see glimmers of surviving newborn triplet at night. We've been feeding, burping, changing, swaddling, and binkying for about 9 long weeks with all 3 babies at home….and it's been hard. There were moments when I thought that Kreg might not make it through as I looked into his glassy eyes as he mumbled to me at 3am. Whether it's having a baby's body slowly go limp as you shushed them to sleep and closing the nursery door with a celebratory dance or watching them turn their heads towards your voice as you enter a room …. we've been gathering every tiny nugget of parenthood rewards to replenish our spirits through this survival mode.

THEN IT HAPPENED
It was a sudden change of events and it snuck up on us. Our little preemies started becoming BABIES...active, cooing, rolling, smiling babies! Best of all, I'm pretty sure they recognize us since they are smiling right at us…at things we are doing…not just gas bubbles. And so it begins; we're reaping the benefits of parenthood and basking in the moments of smiles and gurgles. We're watching developments beyond the physical and into the mental and emotional and we're thrilled.

SMILES
Alton: Alton is the leader of the smiles; after all, he IS the first born. Each day the smiles seem to get brighter. This morning I lifted him out of his crib; Alton looked directly into my eyes and granted me a GIANT SMILE as if saying "good morning mommy, I sure do like you and I'm so excited to start my day!"
Baxter: Baxter is the sleeper smiler. When you least expect it, BAM, Baxter hits you with a sly little grin paired with his big baby blues. If it happens to you, you're bound to exlaim "Baxter just smiled at me!!!" They're not frequent, but they're powerful.
Charlotte: We used to joke that it seemed like Charlotte wanted to talk…we were right. Though she's always chimed into conversations with her squeals and squeeks, Charlotte has just begun to form gurgle cooing sentences with a little crooked smile. Kreg was floored after she took a third of a bottle, stopped, chirped and smiled in approval of her meal, and continued on eating.

Our little schmoopies are growing up.