10 Ways I've Changed Since Becoming a Mom to Triplets

A lot of things change when you become a parent.  Right after our 2nd ultrasound when we found out we weren't having twins, but TRIPLETS, I vividly remember saying to my husband as we stepped on the elevator, "Our lives are never going to be the same."

I've never said a more true statement.  I didn't know what life with triplets had in store but I knew we would not be able to live the same life we had been living.  Not only did the things around me change (i.e. 3 babies and a house that looked like a daycare) but I have also noticed that I have transformed as well.  Here are just some of the ways that I have changed since becoming a Mommy 3.5 years ago.

1. I am more efficient.  I conquer tasks with a different attitude.  I get things done as quickly as possible but at the same time preparing for the next step.  I feel like I always have to be one step ahead.  This goes for house cleaning, dressing the kids, and getting my own "stuff" done.  I seriously don't have any time to waste.

2. No mommy judging.  I know my pre-bab(ies) self and I couldn't help but judge how parents were raising their kids.  I would tell myself, "My kids would never act that way... Or I would never let my kids eat that... yadda yadda yadda."  Let me tell you, I have changed 100% on my opinions about how other parents raise their kids. Honestly, you don't know how hard it is raising a tiny human until you are.  And now that I'm the Mommy that may give in when I know I shouldn't OR feed my kids a treat right before dinner (because I promised them hours ago, but I  forgot until they so loudly nicely reminded me)... I realize that every parents loves their children and they are doing what is RIGHT for that situation.  You may see a Mom letting her kid do something you wouldn't but you don't know what went on behind the scenes or why they are even in that particular scenario.  Sometimes, its a last effort.  Sometimes, the Mom or Dad needs a break. Or, sometimes it may be for the child's own good... it just doesn't look that way to you.  I've now learned to put all judgement aside and just support one another.  Parenthood is hard.  Period.

3. I have less patience for adults.  See #1.  This doesn't mean that I'm rude to other adults, I just figure out tactics to make conversations go a little quicker.  I'm not talking about my family or friends, but more along the lines of the AT&T guy, or the lady selling me insurance on the phone, or the 5 complete strangers that stop me to tell me "Your hands are full" at Target.  I'm nice but to the point so I can maximize my time.

4. I am a Multitasking queen.  I've found that I never had a large enough chunk of time to be really productive with a project, so I have many tasks going all at once and I tick away at each one as efficiently as possible.  I can also know what my kids are doing (most likely climbing on me) while I clean, fold laundry, or work on one of those projects.

5. Sleep is no longer a priority to me.  I've learned I function pretty well when sleep deprived.  My pre-bab(ies) self used to NEED at least 8 hours of sleep a night (most nights 9-10), but now I'm pretty happy with my 6.5-7 hours (with getting up at least once in the middle of the night).  I've learned to let it go (cue Elsa) and stress less about sleeping.  If I did stress about it, then I'd be more miserable.  I've come to terms with the fact that my children are just bad sleepers.... which leads to poor sleep for me.  I accept it for what it is.  

6. I truly appreciate silence.  My house is never silent.  It is filled with a pleasurable amount of giggles, a dash of questions, an unimaginable amount of crying, and a WHOLE lot of high pitched screaming... with some dog barking thrown in the mix.  Silence is almost never heard, but when it is, I notice... and its AMAZING.

7. I don't mind being soaked in the bodily fluids of my own kin.  The day isn't complete unless I've been sneezed on.  Spit up, pee, poop, snot, spit... whatever.  Doesn't bother me anymore.  It is like an immunity I've built up.

8. Mom-guilt is a new feeling for me. I have to be fair and sometimes someone just wants a snuggle and I can't give it to her or I want to have dinner with my girlfriends and I leave 1 with an ear infection at home who just wants her mommy.  Its hard.  Its really really hard.

9. My priorities have changed.  I think this happens for all parents.  Everything else takes a step down when kiddos are around.  

10. I didn't realize how much I could love 3 tiny humans. I mean, seriously, I would give my life for them and it makes me tear up just thinking about them getting hurt in any way. They are (most of the time) sticky, unreasonable, independent, and sometimes just down-right mean to me... but I love them so hard.  And I know they love me back.

Tips for Traveling to Disney World with TRIPLET Toddlers

 You may think we are crazy for taking 2 year old triplets to Disney World back in April, but I do not regret it one bit.  We actually set our expectations low and everything went so much better than I thought it would.  Here are my top tips for traveling to Disney World with 3 toddlers in tow.

1.  Go right before their 3rd birthday.  Did you know that kids are free 2 and under?  That saved us $1000 right there.  This was the ideal time for a toddler.  They were old enough to understand and comprehend the "Magic" yet still young enough to save us a little money.  They got into the parks free and they also ate at all the buffets for free.  It was the PERFECT time for my girls.

2.  **FAST PASSES**  This is my ultimate tip and I have to split it into multiple parts.

A:  Get fast passes. Period.  We saw so many people waiting in lines that if they had gotten fast passes wouldn't have to.  Who wants to wait in lines with 3 toddlers?... not us.  The most we ever waited was 20 minutes to meet Ariel and that was because we hadn't mastered our fast passes yet.

B: Kids under 3 don't have to have fast passes.  That's right.  They just go through the line with YOU even though the ride or meet and greet is for them.

C:  In combination with B... With most of the rides, more than one "under 3" can go with 1 adult.  We had 5 adults, so by using fast passes, the girls were able to go again and again with different adults in our party.  For instance, Brian and I would go on Dumbo with all 3 girls, then MeMe and Grandpops would take them immediately after that with their fast passes, and if 1 or 2 of the girls wanted to go a third time, Nana could take them on Dumbo.  We did this multiple times in the 3 days we were there and it worked out great.

D:  Once you have used your 3rd Fast Pass, and as soon as you scan your Magic Band to get in the Fast Pass line on any ride, pull out your phone to begin booking your next fast pass.  We could normally get a fast pass for a ride that was 30-45 minutes later.  Perfect timing after the kids have rode the ride 2-3 times, a bathroom break, and walking to the ride.  This was the KEY for us to hardly wait in any lines.

E: Most of the time the cast member would let us through if it was 10 minutes before our Fast Pass time.

F:  You only need 1 Fast Pass to get all 3 children in for meeting characters.  For instance, those hard to get Fast Passes like Meet Anna and Elsa; only one Fast Pass popped up so I was able to grab it for myself.  While walking up to the cast member to scan Magic Bands, I asked if it was okay for me to bring my husband since I was taking 3 toddlers.  She said of course, and let us all through.  Having Brian there wasn't going to slow down anything for Disney, if anything it was going to speed things up to have another adult to wrangle toddlers.  The girls were able to meet their favorite characters more than once and each time got better for them because they were more comfortable.

3.  Take help.  It would have been really difficult for Brian and I to take the girls by themselves.  Especially with potty breaks and 1/3 being scared of some of the rides.  We brought 3 grandparents.  They enjoyed being there for the girls' first time to Disney and we enjoyed having them there to help us along the way.

4.  Pack your kids favorite foods and snacks.  My girls are so picky, so bringing food I knew they would eat saved us from tantrums and spending money on food they wouldn't eat.

5.  Strollers.  We brought a double and a single umbrella stroller.  My MIL made these beautiful signs for them so they wouldn't get lost in a sea of strollers.  We attached some personal battery operated fans to keep the girls cool.  It was definitely a necessity while we were there.

6.  Go to at least one character meal.  The toddlers are free once again.  The cost was a little steep for adults but the food was really good and the characters were always great with the kids.  We did Park Fare at the Grand Floridian and The Tusker House for lunch at Animal Kingdom.  Both had amazing food.

7.  Get to the park before it opens so you can watch the opening parade.  It gave the girls a good glimpse at what they were about to experience.  Also, we did breakfast in the room or on the go every morning.  We didn't want to waste an hour or so finding a restaurant to sit down and eat.

8.  Catch the parades.  Some of the girls' favorite memories are seeing all the characters at the parade.  They still talk about Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather and Maleficent's Dragon.

9.  Nap or not to nap?  I had plans to take the girls back to the hotel 2 of the 3 days in the park.  Did that happen?  Nope.  I had every day planned out, even to the point of what order we were going to ride the rides.  We followed it for the most part, just packed in A LOT more.  The girls took turns napping in the strollers the first 2 days and then miraculously on the 3rd day, they all napped for 2 hours at the same time in their strollers.  It was perfect.  All of the adults got to sit and rest.  I enjoyed some ice cream and got re-energized for the rest of the day.  The girls slept hard so we found a cool, dark, and quiet spot.  They were ready to go and happy after that.  We were at the park that day from 9-9:30 PM and the girls did amazing.

10.  Do what interests your child.  We rode Dumbo a million times.  My husband said he had never met characters before and it seemed like that was all we did.  They loved the sand pit in Animal Kingdom so we camped out there for awhile.  Its not about doing everything, its about keeping a smile on your little ones' faces.

11.  Give in.  I'm not one to give in very much to my kids and we run a tight schedule, but something about Disney made me "Go with the Flow" a little more.  For instance, to keep everyone in our group and around us happier, I gave in and carried Samantha a large portion of the time we were there.  She is definitely a Mama's girl and would kick and scream if we tried to put her in the stroller when she didn't want to.  I took one for the team and hauled her around Disney World.  My back might have hurt a little more and my legs were worn out, but it was totally worth it for a happy child.

12.  Don't be afraid to let your kids try new things.  The girls were a smidgen past the height requirement for Barnstormer.  It is a short and thrilling first roller coaster.  Samantha rode it 7 (Yes seven) times because she LOVED it.  Taylor would have rode it that many times but our first stop there she was sleeping.  Mallory rode it twice.  The first time she was petrified, but after watching Sam ride it again and again, she built up the courage to do it again and had fun.

13.  When you get home, make them photo books.  I gave them each their own photo book for their birthday with highlights from our trip.  I used the same template but switched out individual photos.  The girls love them and even this morning Taylor was reliving her wonderful time at Disney World.  They were only 2 when they went, but I'm hoping these books will help them remember some of the special memories they made at Disney World.

14.  Take a little time to yourselves.  If you are lucky enough to have reinforcements like we did, enjoy a little kid-free time and ride the "Big" rides.  Brian and I were exhausted by the end of that day, but the last few hours alone were a lot of fun.

Enjoy the moments with your little ones.  Remember their faces when they see Cinderella's castle for the first time or their giggles on their first roller coaster.  Stay up late to see the Parade of Lights and eat ice cream while you talk about meeting your favorite princess.  I'm so beyond happy we decided to make this trip.  It was unforgettable and something I will treasure forever.

You Know You're a Triplet Mom When...

1.  The Itsy Bitsy Spider plays over and over in your head.

2.  Your husband doesn't refuse to go to the grocery store.  He actually offers.

3.  You have to use a crock pot to warm bottles... because waiting on one bottle warmer to warm one bottle at a time would take WAY too long.

4.  You're a professional at making cocktails... Milk Cocktails that is.

5.  You have a 'Pumping Station' with multiple sets of pumping supplies so you don't have to waste time cleaning every time.

6.  You are an expert in efficiency.  You have to make sure you use your time wisely.  The more you can multi-task, the better.

7.  You had to buy a cargo carrier for the top of your Yukon in order to take your family and all of their stuff on a weekend trip... heck, just a day trip.

8.  You're not afraid to catch a little vomit in your hand.

9.  You are an expert at doing everything with one hand.  Fold laundry, eat dinner, make a milk cocktail.

10.  You have to count your babies to make sure they are all there.  1,2, 3.... 1, 2, 3.... 1, 2, "uh,uh, O crap.... Oh there she is" 3.

11.  You have a log book of every feeding, poopy diaper, fever, and medication given.

12.  You feel like you should be throwing beads as if on a Mardi Gras parade any time you are out in public because of all of the attention.

13.  You are covered in spit up and drool by the end of the day... and sometimes a little poop.

14.  You make a pot of coffee and forget to put in the coffee (at least once a week).

15.  Your heart is full of love.  Being a triplet Mom is my normal.  I love it and I wouldn't want it any other way.  



Cute Holiday Clothes for Sale!!!

Hey There!  So... along with being a SAHM (Stay at home Mom), and working my real life job 1-2 days a week, I've now decided to sell some items for the holidays!  I'm so excited about my new opportunity and I wanted to reach out to all of my followers and see if you were interested in these cute clothes I'm selling for the holidays!  I'm thinking Christmas card pictures... photos with Santa... or just playing around the house.  They are just so darn cute for any occasion.

I made these to match some leggings I bought for the girls and I can't wait to see them in these cute outfits.  I'll definitely post pictures.  The Holiday deer shirts are offered in 4 different colors!  Ohh...and if you like a little bling, you can add glitter!

Holiday Deer T-shirt:

Offered in Red, Green, Pink, and Heather Grey

Sizes: 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 2, 3, 4, 5/6, 7, Youth 6/8, 10/12, 14/16, Adult Small, Medium, Large, and XL

Cost:  T-shirt: $12

Glitter!!! $2 extra per shirt

I made these PEACE, LOVE, JOY specially for all of my Triplet Momma friends, but now that I see them, they would be so cute by themselves as well.  They are offered in short sleeve and long sleeve t-shirts for babies and kids.

PEACE LOVE JOY Kids T-shirts in red:

Sizes: 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 2, 3, 4, 5/6, 7

T-shirt or Long-sleeve t-shirt

Cost:  Single t-shirt: $12, Single long-sleeve t-shirt: $15

TRIPLETS SPECIAL!!! 

All 3 t-shirts (PEACE, LOVE, and JOY) for $30

All 3 long-sleeve t-shirts for $38

And because Moms of triplets need a little special attention on my blog, I'm also offering these in t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, and hoodies!

Mom of Triplets Shirts/Hoodies: 

Offered in Pink and Heather Grey. 

Sizes: AS, AM, AL, AXL

Cost:  T-shirt: $12, Long-sleeve t-shirt: $15, Hoodie $25

And because I'm not computer/blog saavy... if you would like to place an order... please email me at theteampatterson@gmail.com no later than NOVEMBER 30.  Please don’t forget to tell me EXACTLY what you want.  Which item, how many, t-shirt/Long sleeve, sizes of each item, what color, and if you want glitter (deer shirt only).   They will be shipped the week of December 10 in time for the holidays!  Once you have given me your order, you will receive an email with an invoice through PayPal.  In order to assure you receive your order in the time frame listed above, prompt payment is essential. Prices do not include shipping and shipping costs will apply (shipping from Texas). 



Triple Play: 17 Months



How old?  17 Months.

 

Our weights? estimates S: 19 lbs 8 oz T: 21 lbs 8 oz M: 20 lbs 9 oz
They are currently wearing 12 months clothes and need to be wearing 12/18 month jammies but we still squeeze in to some 2 piece 9 months.  Just trying to make it til Christmas...

Our sleeping patterns?  We are at that transition time from 2 naps to 1.  The girls are good either way and it is making doing things outside of the house a little easier.  We can adjust our schedule a little to accommodate and I'm liking that right now.

Sleeping is getting better and better.  We finally occasionally have a night where we put them down and they don't wake up until the morning.  Other nights, I'm getting up once or twice early on and it normally doesn't take much to get them back to sleep.  Day light savings time is killing me though.  Its almost been a week and they still wake up 45 minutes early.

 Our eating schedule?  Not much has changed here.  Still the same schedule.
 

 Our favorite foods?  I've finally got them to eat string cheese and yogurt and they love it.
 

Our likes? Our new squeaker shoes (not annoying at all), trick-or-treating, giving hugs, running through the curtain in the closet, being tickled, and going to the park.
 
 Our dislikes?  Falling down, running in to walls, when they are tired.
 

Our favorite games/toys?  Puzzles and books.  They absolutely love looking at catalogs.  Their favorite is Fisher Price.

 

Our milestones?  They all seem to be running better.  They are trying to repeat words that you say. 

Things we do to make Mom and Dad smile?  Play quietly with each other, hug and hold hands, giggle, say "Mama" or "Dada".
 

Our pictures

My Girls at 15 Months Old

Here is a recap of what my kiddos are like lately.  I just love them so much.

Samantha

 

Sam is doing really well at keeping up with her sisters.  She is really stable on her feet now and is trying to say a few words.  She says "Arha" for Ryley and her pacifier.  She says "Ba" for her sippy cup, bow, or ball.  She loves to hide things.  If we are playing with a puzzle, you'll notice a few pieces missing.  And there is Sam, hiding them in the corner.  She does a good job of bringing them back when you ask her.  She has the most infectious giggle.  It is especially cute when its her sisters that have her laughing.  For the most part, Sam is happy.  She is the most sensitive and will shed a tear for any bump or stolen toy but she is getting more and more independent.  She hasn't mastered the climbing skills yet like her sisters.  She may just be less interested in seeing what is on the couch or in the jumper.  She is so picky when it comes to eating food.  She would live on watermelon and hot dogs if I let her.  She practically won't touch any vegetable or meat.  There are a few fruits she likes and most carbs she will eat.  Her hair is now long enough for pigtails and a pseudo-pony tail.  She is so cute and it makes her look a little older.  She loves to climb on her Dad's back or belly and bounce like a horse.  She's still our tiny one but she is getting stronger all the time.  Sam is always the first to fall asleep during nap time.  But, she sleeps less time than the other two and this means she is up about 30-45 minutes before her sisters at each nap.  We get a lot of one-on-one time this way.  Normally I let her roam around the house and explore.  She loves it.

 

 

 

 

 

Taylor

 

Taylor has gone through a phase of neediness and I think she is becoming more independent every day.  She has started to grow a little hair and is becoming obsessed with bows.  She is so jealous when I am doing her sisters' hair, she pats her heads and wines.  I have to either clip a bow on the inch long hair that she has on the top of her head or brush it or act like I'm fixing it and tell her how pretty it looks.  She walks off satisfied after that.  Her new favorite thing is climbing on the exersaucer.  Mallory taught her how to do it and now its hard to keep her out.  She still sticks everything in her mouth and I have to keep an eye on her when she has a book, because it seems like her favorite thing is cardboard.  She always takes the longest to fall asleep for her nap, which means she normally sleeps the latest.  She still makes her sleeping noises when she is falling asleep.  That sound will never get old and I hope she continues to hum when she sleeps.  She does so well with pointing to body parts.  She knows her hair (of course), ears, nose, belly, toes, eyes, and mouth.  She does good with animal noises and knows cow, pig, elephant, and gorilla.  She has the cutest cheesy smile and loves to be tickled.

 

 

 

Mallory

 

Mallory is so clever and smart.  She is going to be our troublemaker.  She steals toys and wants my attention as soon as someone else is getting it.  She has the most extensive vocabulary.  She says (noises that sound like...) bird, book, bow, Mama, Dada, bath, monkey, Nana.  She is still our first to do almost anything.  Now, its the first to climb on the couch, or the sofa table, or the jumperoo.  She figures it out and her sisters follow.  She's our little leader I guess.  She is so strong.  We haven't been back to Little Gym but she loves to swing from a bar or practice her forward rolls.  She will eat just about anything you put in front of her.  She gobbles it down quick, too.  She is always finished before her sisters and wants out of the feeding table.  She is obsessed with books.  Any room we go, she knows where the stash of books are, and she points, says book, and then the more sign.  She is getting better at puzzles and shape sorters, however she will get frustrated and just push the piece as hard as she can.  One day she will figure out the square will just not fit in the triangle, as hard as you push.  Mallory can give some really dirty looks.  Sometimes I think she is just doing it to get a laugh, because as soon as I smile or laugh at her, she grins and chuckles too. 

 

Almost the scowl that Mallory can give.  She is beginning to grin though.

 





 

These little girls of mine are changing and growing so much.  They are so different than they were at 12 months.  They are bubbly, cute, little toddlers that are beginning to communicate and develop opinions.  I'm feeling confident enough to let them walk themselves from room to room now, and it is the cutest thing ever.  They're just 3 little people following each other in a line to snack time or to take a bath.  Mallory will occasionally jet another direction and Sam may get left behind by the other two, but for the most part they are doing well with following directions when we are walking in the house.  I've also found out that they love shoes.  My parents bought them their first pair, and I should have known when it was never a fight to put them on.  We went shoe shopping this past weekend and they would have a fit if we tried on a pair and then had to take them off.  We finally settled for a pair of white Nike's for each of them.  They wouldn't let us take them off, so they each left the store wearing one tennis shoe each.  They were happy campers.

We have joined the Country Club in our neighborhood and they love going to the pool.  We pack up the wagon and use it to transfer all the babies and our belongings to the pool area from the car.  We are then able to put the girls in their infant floats in the baby pool.  They are tall enough to reach the bottom so they love roaming around the baby pool.  Its great because I don't have a baby in my arms at all times and Brian and I can take turns eating and watching the girls.  They are all beginning to pay attention to the TV a little more.  Is it bad that I am happy about this?  We have started time out with them as well.  They think it is more of a game at this point, but hopefully they understand the concept soon.  They love riding toys now.  While in Wisconsin, they got to play with a lot of different riding toys and now in Houston they love their Fergie (a rocker that is a frog).

They still use their pacifiers when they sleep and about 20 minutes before bedtime.  And I don't see them giving them up any time soon.  Plus, I don't want to have that fight yet.  They are beginning to play together and its so cute when they share a toy or a book.  I can't wait to watch their relationships blossom.

I look forward to everyday with these girls.  Seeing their smiling faces when they wake up in the morning is priceless.  I think they are the cutest things ever.  I love them so so much.

 

 

 Our evening ritual.  I say we are going to read a book and they all stop what the are doing (normally fussing at this point at night), gather around me and sit quietly while I read to them.  I love that time in the evening.

 

Sister love :)

 



 

And since we are in full swing for football season, GEAUX TIGERS!  I love the girls' adorable bloomers for game days :)