Summerland

With the arrival of summer, the girls have just metamorphosed into toddlers. I have been here the whole time and still manage to feel like I missed it. They were babies one minute and then toddlers. They once felt content and heavy like bean bags, and now they feel balanced, strong and poised like saplings in my hands - almost like I can feel them growing. It's like a small fish that you hold in your hands under the water, insistent against your palms - you could hold it but are compelled to let it go. I think it's a good thing. They are curious, they are brave, they are hearty, they are smart as whips, they are resilient; they are amazing.
They have all learned to walk, they speak sign language, they seem to understand just about everything I want them to, and of course more beyond that.
They all love to go ride the swings at the park, and Lucy is very curious - I have to keep an eye on her, she has no problem wandering farther away than I am comfortable with. Ida on the other hand, has been walking the longest, but does not like to walk (or at least fall down in) the grass. Ruthie is the big talker with "mama", "dada", "cup", "da" (duck and dog), "ca" (cat and car).
The latest adorable development came two nights ago when Jason taught them about jumping. He was bouncing up and down on his feet and the girls where really, really trying to copy him. They were walking around and squatting and standing up very suddenly at random intervals, and often losing their balance in the process. You probably had to be there, but it was just wonderful.
Lots of love to all out there.

There are still 3 of them

TRIPPIES EAT
Originally uploaded by triplings.

I don't get nearly as many photos of Ruthie, Lucy and Ida together as I would like. I know you can't really see much of them here, but they're all together, so I threw this one in. I also think it's a little startling how they are beginning to look like little girls now. I don't have much experience with babies beside my own, but it seems to me that they go through a sudden change: the baby to toddler change. Well, our girls are in the midst of that at this precise moment. It's something else.

Jason is still alive

JASON
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Just in case there was a doubt in anyone's mind, Jason is still alive. As of July 3rd, anyhow, when this was taken. We were out on the deck and the light just got more and more bizarre for about 45 minutes and then the clouds got all funny and dizzy and then it got dark and the most incredible thunderstorm ensued. There he is folks, the only male in a 4.5 female household. I'd say he's holding up pretty well.

It's just strawberry juice...

STRAWBERRY LULU
Originally uploaded by triplings.

The combo of Lucy's catatonic stare the ominous strawberry stains add up an interesting photo. This is father's day, and Bea and her mom, Jen had brought over some gorgeous strawberries and raspberries from their garden which the girls appreciated whole-heartedly - even if you wouldn't know it from this particular photo.

Ruthie takes a stroller nap

SLEEPY RU
Originally uploaded by triplings.

She is still clutching the scrap of fennel I handed her on the walk. This is the kind of moment that just tugs at your heart: a sleepy, sweaty, dreamy little baby. And you know what else? she smiled at me wide, wide when she woke up. That's my girl. Lucky me.

Squinty Lucy eats sour cream

SQUINTY SOUR CREAM LU
Originally uploaded by triplings.

A note about this and the next 3 photos: Do you think they have my eyes?

Kinda squinty Ru

SQUINTY RU
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Squinty Lucy eats watermelon

SQUINTY LU
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Squinty Ida eats watermelon

SQUINTY IDA
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ida the fashion idol

ROCKER IDA
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ida did this to her shirt all by her lonesome. She was quite pleased with herself. I just wanted to put this out there so that next year, when everyone is wearing their shirts this way, you'll know where they got it.

A Day at the Beach

Prices at the Beach
Originally uploaded by triplings.

In May, the girls all got a cold and we were unable to go to Bend for Jason's cousin's wedding. It was a pretty big disappointment, but as a consolation prize, Jason's aunt and uncle hosted us at their family house in Florence. Jason's parents (here in the picture, for those of you who don't know Nap and Kris) were able to meet us there and so we had a really nice Price family weekend at the beach. It was the girls first trip there and they did seem to like looking at the ocean and especially the waves. However, I was hoping for them to get to play in the sand and it was just too cold. In fact, this photo is from our one and only walk down to the beach with the girls.

Ida with Uncle Seth

Seth & Ida
Originally uploaded by triplings.

In May, Jason's younger brother Seth came for a visit from LA on his way to their cousin's wedding in Bend. It was the first time he had ever met his triplet nieces and they all got on quite well.

Rosy Ida

ROSY RU
Originally uploaded by triplings.

We had a heat wave in May, I think it went over 100 degrees and the roses outside the dining room window went nuts. We came home from our walk one day and the girls were roaming around the living/dining room and one by one they stopped at the window and started pointing at the roses and saying 'Ssssat?" which more or less means, "what's that? or "Give it to me." or "Tell me about it" or some combination thereof. They were very focused, so I opened the window and picked off some roses and gave them to the girls and these 3 photos were the results.

Rosy Lu

ROSY LU
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Rosy Ruth E

ROSY RUTH E
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Life of the Party

Party-Ru
Originally uploaded by triplings.

I try not to include too many photos with the binkies in place, mostly because I don't want to admit how important they are in our house, but we're working on that. Anyhow, this was shortly after Bea's 8th birthday and I was absolutely desperate for 5 minutes of peace. I gave the girls the leftover rolls of crepe paper and the noisemakers and LEFT THE ROOM for maybe 4 minutes...MAYBE. This is what I cam back to. Now I couldn't say for sure because I did't witness it, but I suspect this is an example of the girls working together because neither Lucy nor Ida had a scrap of crepe on them. When I came back in they all looked at me from various corners of the room like, "What?...Did you say something?" and were all involved in something completely different from each other or the party decorations.

ROCKABILLY IDA - Take 2

ROCKABILLY IDA
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Let me explain: When you add photos to the blog it adds them to the top; therefore, the things at the beginning of the blog are most recent and the things below are old news. This is fine, except when you are adding lots of photos on one day and trying to keep track of what has been added and what hasn't and in what order, etc. Well, in this case, this photo should actually replace the one entitled "Rockabilly Ida" below because I think it really captures her essence better than the other one, but I didn't find it until I had already added the other one so now, not only are there two of practically the same photo, but they are out of order. So sorry.
Anyhow, what I really want to bring your attention to in this photo is the wild hair, the mayhem in those eyes and that mouth that just cries out for mischief. Seriously, I am not making this up; this photo captures Ida in a moment that is hart to get on film. Here she is like a coiled spring, overflowing with spunk, our sweet little I.M.P.

Why Ruthie's nickname is "Doodlebug"

RUTHIE GRAPE JUICE
Originally uploaded by triplings.

This photo is from the same day as "milk face Lu" and "rockabilly Ida" (below). This is why Ruthie's nickname is "Doodlebug:" she is more round and compact than her sisters, her eyes are slightly less-squinty than her sisters' (and therefore more "beady" - in a good way - but doodlebug-like, she is silly, but also understated. She does not demand attention very often, but she is always up to something. Take my word for it.

Milk Face Lu

Lucy_June
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Here is Lucy on the same day as Rockabilly Ida (below). Lucy, and all of the girls, really, have this habit of toddling off to do something for a spell and then migrating back every 10 minutes or so and just standing next to me with this here look on her face. I think she means to say something like, "Hi Mom. I'm doing all kinds of stuff, but I'm glad you're here. PS: I like milk."

Airing my Laundry

LAUNDRY
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Okay, at least it's clean, but this is honest-to-god, about 2 or maybe 3 days worth of laundry. The single best thing we did to prepare for the girls' arrival was to buy the high efficiency washer and dryer set, no joke.

Rockabilly Ida

Ida_June
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ida's hair here is just too good to pass up, and how about that poker face? She and the sisters had spent a good twenty minutes climbing into the toy basket and then climbing out again. They were pretty happy about it, although you wouldn't know it to look at this picture.

Beatrice the Birthday Girl

BEA-BIRTHDAY
Originally uploaded by triplings.

At the end of April, we celebrated Bea's 8th birthday. It was a jolly time: some family from out of town, some friends from in town and a fantastically life-like baby fox cake constructed by the doting father.

Ruthie and Ruth E

Gram&Ruthie
Originally uploaded by triplings.

In this photo, my mother and my firstborn child are bonding over a set of giant baby-friendly Legos. It's kind of a deep moment and a Lego commercial all in one tidy snapshot.