Happy Birthday to US!

The boys are TWO today! I wanted to take some time to really remember what each of them is like at the moment. So, here it goes:

Ciaran Thomas exactly one year ago on his first birthday


Ciaran is a cuddler. He is the first to want to sit on your lap and snuggle. He is determined and head strong. He has a little bit of the devil in him. He may be small but he is mighty. He has something about his face that just makes me smile. When he smiles his eyes disappear. When he laughs it sounds nasally. He loves horses and books. He is smart as a whip but will not perform if asked. He likes to do things on his terms. He likes to be wrapped like a burrito when he goes to sleep at night. He loves the bath. He talks the clearest of the three at the moment and can say anything. He understands jokes and really "gets it". I believe he will be a real ball buster when he grows up. He is the quickest to get mad and also the quickest to just give you a hug for no reason at all.


Colin Francis at his first birthday



Colin: The best word to describe Colin is Jolly. His smile and his laugh are contagious. His laugh comes from so deep in his belly and he loves to laugh. His smile takes over his entire face. He is a joker. He is the biggest but the most sensitive. He loves to figure out "how things work". He can open any door, unlock any baby lock. He loves to do things for me. He is totally into trucks right now. He also loves his books. His favorite words at the moment are Yellow and Dirty. He loves to take a bath but doesn't really like the water over his face. I believe he just might be the class clown when he grows up. Colin is kind. Colin is so smart and will gladly share his smartness with anyone who asks.

Cormac one year ago

Cormac: I think the best word for Cormac is sweet. Everything about him is sweet. His smile, his laugh, his personality. He misses nothing. He only needs to be told something once and it is committed to memory for life. He is good for running across the room and hugging for no apparent reason. He loves airplanes and ducks. He also likes to read. Baby Signing Times is his obsession. He will watch any of the videos over and over and he can do EVERY stinkin sign in all the videos. He is like a sponge always soaking in his surrounding. He has a giant heart and you can tell already he loves deeply. He is kind and gentle. He LOVES babies. He wants to kiss and hug them. Oh, and I forgot Duke. Duke and Cormac have a special bond. None of us get it but the two of them understand each other. He is a performer and loves to peform for all. I think when Cormac is older he will be a natural leader.

None of them like when the other is upset. If one is crying the other two start saying "boo hoo" and acting upset. They love each other and it's apparent. They have different relationships with each other. It is fascinating to watch the dynamics of these relationships develop over time. Before Cormac could hear I think he was a little on the sidelines of this "triplet" dynamic. Sometimes I would get so upset because it would seem he was being left out but in actuality it was he just didn't realize Ciaran and Colin were doing something. Now they are a true threesome. A force to be reckoned with. I know they will fight and probably want to kill each other at times but I also know they will NEVER let someone else go near their brother without a fight. They are extremely loving towards each other and kiss and hug a lot. They also get mad at each other. Ciaran and Colin are the first to realize when Cormac's implant has fallen off and try their hardest to put it back on. They are and always will be his greatest teachers. He learns every day from them by having built in language models. They learn every day from him that their is nothing you can't accomplish. Some day they will understand Cormac is deaf and I know they will be his best support system. The three of them will always have each other's backs.

I marvel each day at how lucky I am in life. We may not be rich or have it all but we have a house FULL of love and laughter. I couldn't ask for more. These boys are the greatest gift I could have ever asked for and I never dreamed it could be so good. To know when I wake up each morning I go into a room of three beautiful smiling faces just waiting for their "Mama", well, that's enough to just bring me to tears. I try and not get caught up in our busy life and take time to enjoy the moments. They will not be small forever. They will not let me hug and kiss forever so I better do it while I can. But what I hope they do know is that no matter what, I will love them forever. Nothing could ever change the love I have for them.

I started this post on 3/17/08 since I knew it would take a while. In the past few weeks this boys have really started talking. They know every letter of the alphabet, numbers 1-10 and colors red, yellow, blue green and PURPLE. Purple has become a "tickle" word in our house. If you say it, you get tickled. They find this so amusing and will just run up to me and say "purple" to get it started. Cormac particularly loves this game. To our amazement he "gets it". He knows it's a joke to say the word. This is an accomplishment noticed by his teacher. Deaf children in general have a hard time learning when something is said one way and means another. They learn the words more literal meaning and it takes them sometime to pick up slang or jargon.

I think back to the day I found out about having triplets. Most people said "did you freak out?" But I really didn't. I was pretty calm and from the moment I was pregnant never had a negative thought. Not even when I went into labor more than once and they hooked me up to Magnesium causing me to feel worse than words could ever describe. I literally had no control over my eyeballs and wanted to vomit the enitre time. I just kept thinking I know these boys are going to be fine and WHATEVER is needed I will do. I also remember being about 31 weeks and going into labor again and thinking. "I don't know if I had handle Mag again for the 3rd time" But then in the next breath told the Dr. "ok, do whatever you need to" Luckily, I didn't need it because it was stopped on it's own. I never knew I could love Frank more than I already loved him. I have always known what a wonderful man he is and his love for me is unlimited. But for what he had to endure while I was pregnant and never complaining once, after watching him when each baby was delivered and him managing to not only videatape but also get a still photo! and never ever leaving my side once, my love and respect for him has only deepened. These last two years have been a lot of fun. Alot of marraiges are weakened by births of multilples. I have to say ours has only gotten stronger. He is an outstanding father. His sons love him. One of my greatest joys is to see his face and theirs each day when he comes home from work. They run and just attack him with hugs and kisses. It is a memory forever burned into my brain. Something I never want to forget.

I know this post is long and sappy but hey, I think I deserve a little sappiness once in a while!

I will post again with pics from their party and our birthday adventures of the day