Doing “Normal”

Yesterday I felt the most “normal” I’ve felt in a long time. Having three babies oftentimes limits me in so many ways. Breastfeeding three babies oftentimes limits me in so many ways. I love having three babies. And I love breastfeeding them. By nature of these things, though, we simply don’t do a whole lot. Oh, we get out of the house. I am asked that all the time – and we really do. David and I enjoy running errands with the babies and doing things on Saturdays. And of course we make every effort to get to church on Sundays. But fun things? Things that many parents can do on a whim or by themselves? Things like the park? …not so easy.

But in the last few weeks I have dropped our late afternoon breastfeeding which allows us lots more flexibility! Yesterday was a sweet reward for me from all the hard work of dropping this feeding and dealing with babies who weren’t super excited about this change. My mom’s side of the family had a little birthday celebration at a park in Mt. Dora (45 minutes away!!!). So I nursed the babies after their morning nap (yes, you, too can have sleeping babies at 17mo =) and we hopped in the car. When we arrived we fed them their lunch – I am in love with the reusable snack bags from Bumkins! Of course, all the family who had never met them were stealing them away from each other. Once the babies warmed up and got their silly on, they enjoyed flirting and sharing half-eaten apples and smooshed peas…mmm!

After they ate, we played. Yes, played. We had my sister and her boyfriend, my brother, my mom, my dad and of course David and me corralling and watching and taking pictures and pulling leaves out of their mouths…if only I could have this size entourage every day, we could do anything!!! We went on the swings and walked on the dock and chased them and blew bubbles and sat at baby picnic tables and had a really fun day. The babies did superb, as well. They do best missing a nap when they’re super distracted (ride home? not so much). And they were so distracted. Everybody wanted to hold them and play with them – I often found myself with no baby and just continually looking around and counting, “1, 2, 3.” :sigh: Soooooo fun. And the best part? We were flexible. When you’re fitting hour-long breastfeeding meals in throughout the day, you lose sososo much flexibility. Trust me. You just do. And when you eliminate one of those, the afternoon just opens up and becomes a world of possibilities…well, as much as possible with three 17 month olds. =) (For those of you wondering if I have weaned, I have not. I am now in love with our current breastfeeding plan of three times a day…each. I have no end date in mind and this is the type of plan I have been eagerly working towards – all those grueling months of worrying over weights and sitting for hours at a time has now turned into this leisurely time with each of my babies a few times throughout the day. It is a glorious payback. Glorious.)

Besides the constant questions and stares they get from people anytime we go out, I think the babies are most used to having pictures taken. It’s as normal as having a diaper change. =) So, of course, here are some that I snapped:

Emma and Papa – the babies loooooove their Papa!

Great-Grandmother and Makenna

Sleepy Emma with Aunt TeeCee

Aunt Betty (birthday girl!) with Noah

Check out these leaves, mama!

Dada with his boy

Aunt TeeCee swinging with The Animal and Emma Claire-bear with mama

Eatin’ on the run! Gotta love bibs with pockets!

Makenna on a walk with Dada

Sweet girl!

Play-time with Papa!

My studly little man (see his owie over his right eye? 🙂

My smiley-girl!!

My sweet girl!

A Christmas present from my sissy – pushed my day over the top!!!!!

And these…I HEART THESE, Steph! 🙂

Have you “liked” us on Facebook yet? If not, you can click “like” on the right and get all the updates and goings-on at the Fountain Circus!