This is the age where kids love to explore and climb and my babies are no exception.  Gymboree classes, library story-time and “kid zones” at the mall are perfect entertainment but the 1 adult to 3 crazies ratio is a little intimadating.  Therefore,  I have desperately been seeking fun and exciting things for the kids to do around the house.  They already have built-in playmates so with a little creativity, we can have a blast:

Our favorite toys are the most basic:  a sealed cup filled with coins (x3=lots of noise but so much fun), wooden spoons and empty formula cans:

The kids love to play in the toilet whenever they get a chance (that should have been in my dog post) so they have a blast with a simple tub of water outside:

We made our own playzone in the living room:

I set up a splash pool on the back porch.  It is the perfect depth for the kids to splash around safely.  The deck is completely fenced in so I can easily keep track of all 3 (I know these sprinkler pools are not very “green” but I only run the hose for 5-10 min. which is enough to fill the pool for a day or so).

All three kids can now climb stairs.  They love to race up before each nap and before bed (I feel my biceps and quads shrinking already).   Only Marcus understands to go down backwards so this is a highly supervised activity.

We have a new mother’s helper starting this summer so between her and grandma we will also get to do all the “traditional” activities like libraries, museums, parks, etc.   I have a feeling besides the added company, the kids will have just as much fun at home as out and about.

I have a confession, I have not always wanted to be a mom.  There was a span of my life that I did not think I wanted children.   I never was a huge fan of babies .  They always seemed like a lot of tedious work and I thought having children would rob me of my freedom and independence.

I didn’t despise kids, hardly!  In fact, I coached a summer swim-team for several years and intended to teach middle school at one point.  I even worked as an assistant director at a daycare center for a year after I graduated college.   While working at the daycare center, I would have moments of rocking an infant, or tickling an 11 month old, or reading to a 2 year old where I felt a longing for children I had never experienced before.  I became wishy-washy about having kids.  Then, in my late twenties something “clicked”.   I started to want a “family”.  The idea of children became something bigger than longing to rock a child to sleep or read a bedtime story.  It became an understanding there was more to Max and I’s life than our individual hobbies and passions.  I wanted us to attend our children’s soccer games, talent shows, and watch them graduate.  I wanted us to share in the excitement and happiness of our daughter’s wedding day and welcome their families “home” on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I suddenly realized I longed for something more in life than work, travel and pets.

There are definitely times I feel these busy babies have robbed me of my freedom and independence.  I don’t see any more trips to Rome or Paris in Max and I ‘s immediate future.  I desperately miss my job.  And I was right, babies are  A TON of tedious work.  But, they are also so much more fun than I could have imagined.  Max and I are in hysterics  at least once a day watching silly baby behavior like Mia waving frantically at a snake at the zoo or Marcus “running” to keep up with his push toy.  And of course I love them to death and thoroughly enjoy watching them learn new things and explore their world.  Even bigger than that, parenthood is more complex and rewarding than I ever imagined.  It is sort of like a trip to a coffee shop.  You know you can count on the  latte.  The simplicity of the milk, coffee and a touch of froth mix together to make a simply delicious and delightful treat.  But, then when you try the mint chocolate mocha you realize there is something more rich and exciting; even more fulfilling in the coffee shop.  It may cost a little more, and result in a few more pounds over the years, but the deliciousness is worth the sacrifice.

Taking a trip to the zoo, going out to restaurants, and even going on a run is a little more “colorful” since the children arrived.  It reminds me of the first time I ran with my contacts.  The trees, sky, and creek were all more vibrant and sharper; life was more in focus.  I have had to make several personal sacrifices for my three babies over the past 1.5 years but it has been worth it.  I expect to make several more sacrifices over the course of my life but they will also be worth it.  There will be a time the kids sleep past 6 AM and don’t require a hug and kiss every time they take a tumble.  There will even be a time they can walk themselves to the car and don’t require being patted to sleep.  There will be a time I can think straight again and work!  I can even see trips to Ireland and Australia in Max and I’s future.  So in all honesty, having children will not rob me of all my freedom and independence.  Hardly!  Becoming a mom will only make my freedom and independence more fulfilling.

Being a mom rocks.  The new focus my children bring to my life make the forrest more colorful, the ocean more peaceful and people more beautiful.  Like getting contacts, I have no regrets about having children and will never look back!

Happy belated mother’s day to all you moms out there.  You know exactly what I’m talking about.

Today we took the kids to the North Carolina Zoo for the first time.   Let’s be honest, the kids are 10 months old; the geese in the parking lot where the most exciting animals at the zoo to them.   They were more interested in watching all the big kids run around and trying to grab at the plants in the desert exhibit.  But, we all had a great time and enjoyed the walk and beautiful weather.  I especially enjoyed listening to some of the kids commentary at the exhibits.  At the otter exhibit we heard “He might be dead” regarding the sleeping otter.  At the gorilla exhibit, a little boy took a peak at the silverback and said “He sure is a fatty”.  Good thing he wasn’t competing for the “top dog” position in that tribe

The tran ride back to the car was definitely the hit of the day.  Josie was on my back at this point because she gets a little moody if she is in the stroller too long.  I wish we had gotten a shot of wide-eyed Marcus but he was too busy holding on for his life to look at the camera.