Nine months...

It's crazy to think that Peter and Sadie have now been 'out' for as long as they were 'in'--longer, actually, since they were 5 weeks early! People say "I don't know how you do it," to me all the time. When out in public with all 3 kiddos, many people comment "Well, you've got your hands full!" As if I didn't know. One guy at BJs actually said "Three babies?? I'd kill myself!" Thanks for the encouragement, dude! Sometimes I'm not sure how I do it either...things are most definitely different this time around as compared to when Chloe was a baby.

For one, we were sticklers about the "no screen time" until two years of age with Chloe. With these guys, I have no problem putting one in the exersaucer while Chloe is watching PBS so that I can have a tiny break--I had no idea it would captivate their attention as well as it does! Another big difference is feeding solids. With Chloe, I was steaming, pureeing and freezing everything for her. Since P&S started solids I have made 1, maybe 2, batches of baby food. The rest has been from a jar--so much faster and simpler, and I'm buying it by the case, we go through so much! The other big difference is getting out. When Chloe was between 3-24 months, I was doing at least 1 or 2 scheduled outings per week--varying from Sign and Sing to Little Gym, plus playgroups and visits to the Children's Museum and the like. Getting out with all 3 right now is a little daunting--it can be done, but we haven't braved any museums yet. And as for classes, I did a Moms-of-Twins class when they were newborns, and then tried another with singletons, and there was just no way of handling 2 babies--someone was always getting short changed! Given, they couldn't even sit up at that point, so if I wasn't holding them both, one was lying flat on his or her back staring at the ceiling. Not so fun...
So, here we are, at 9 months. Peter had graduated from Mr. Trouble to Mr. Death Wish. He has an almost magnetic attraction to cords, is a pro at getting his fingers pinched, and can crawl up the stairs faster than you can say "I need more baby gates." He is always on the go, exploring the nooks and crannies of the world. at floor level. And putting everything in his mouth--damn you pincher grasp! He is also super cuddly and cute, and has started to vocalize more, especially as he crawls around (and around and around). He has the sweetest way of coming up to me, pulling himself up on my leg and reaching up just for a quick hug, before he is off again.
Sadie is just as squishy and sweet as ever--only now she looks so grown up with her 2 bottom teeth! She is starting to wiggle more on her tummy, sometimes even moving backwards, and will get up on all fours and rock back and forth like she wishes she were crawling. I catch her studying her the parts of her toys and surroundings quite earnestly. She also has a great laugh, and is always blowing raspberries, so it's hard to take her too seriously. She loves to be pulled to standing, and will hang on for dear life if you prop her up on her feet. It's such a relief to know she'll mostly stay where I put her though, because Peter is SO busy--I don't know what I'll do once they're both moving!
Chloe is the resident artist and storyteller; she'll narrate and act out the adventures of her dolls and trucks. She loves being outdoors, and is pretty good at entertaining herself in the sandbox or on her playset.
She is slowly adapting to having P&S in her life, and shows both her adoring big sister and jealous older sibling inclinations--it's a little Jekyll and Hyde at times. I can't wait for the 3 of them to be able to play together--I know Chloe will lead them on many adventures!