The Zoo!

Brent and I decided to get out as a family this weekend and take the girls to the zoo! Even though they weren't really sure what they were looking at, we are pretty sure they had a great time...even though we went at 9 am and skipped their morning nap. I know, did I lose my mind?! No, I figured it would be better to go before it got blazing hot outside and the girls would behave as long as they were entertained and we would just push their nap back. It worked...they were perfect but after about an hour Reagan was leaning over in the choo choo trying to lay her head down to go to sleep so we headed for the door.

This is us on our way in...yes, someone actually was taking pictures of us with his camera phone in the parking lot. I wanted to snatch it from him and stomp on it! But I refrained and we ignored him.

Daddy paying to let us in...
The tigers! The most entertaining part...

He (or she, not really sure) was playing with this log in their little pond...

Our cute girls! They were wearing their pink dresses with the giraffe on it...

They were in front of the rhinos here but you can't really see them because of the light

Orangutan! It was eating something out of a little, yellow box...

Lazy lion...he's the king of the jungle, he doesn't have to do a darn thing if he doesn't want to...I guess it's good to be king

Lionesses

We had a great time getting out with the girls and we beat the heat for the most part. We can't wait to take them again when they are a little older and can enjoy seeing the animals more. They were more entertained staring back at all of the people staring at them.

Later on today, we got them out again to go for a rush trip to the grocery store. Brent pushed the double stroller and I took the basket with Baylee sitting up front. It was a very quick trip in and out, but I always think it is funny when people see the double stroller and they say, "Ohhhh, how cute, twins!" then they see Baylee and realize they are all wearing the same thing and are the same age and then they say, "Oh my goodness, TRIPLETS!" By the time they get to that point, I am zooming by them and not slowing down. No eye contact and no one has to stop and answer any questions, that's the best way to do it. ;)

Luke Slater Payne Has Arrived!

The newest addition to the Chambers' growing brood of grandchildren arrived at 7:58 PM Wednesday, July 28th. Luke Slater Payne, my oldest sister, Mandy's first baby, joined us at 8.6 lbs. and 20.5 inches. He is just precious!
My sister Missy, Pop, Grammy and I were all there waiting anxiously for Luke to arrive. After a day long labor, Mandy delivered via c-section that evening.

Pop and Aunt Missy waiting outside the hospital...the waiting room was getting pretty crowded so we took it outside for a bit

Aunt Missy and me

Aunt Missy and Grammy

Grammy's Visitor's badge - 7/28!

Mandy- in labor - we brought her some stuffed animals for Luke..a cute bear, a monkey and a little lamb

He's here!

Awe...Mommy loves you Luke!

Look at all that hair!

The nurse had to heel stick Luke for a glucose test...

He didn't like it :(

Aunt Missy holding Luke for the first time

Luke Slater Payne

Me getting to snuggle Luke!

My newest nephew! I love him!

He was holding my fingers tight...sooo cute!

The next day, Grammy getting to snuggle Luke

Luke, welcome to our loving family. We are so happy you are here!

Separation Anxiety

I'm not going to sugar coat this...it totally sucks. The girls' separation anxiety has been going on for about the past 3-4 months and it shows no signs of stopping any time soon. They say it is just a phase but I'm starting to doubt this phasing out.

Let me paint a picture for you. Our morning starts out like this: I get the girls up, feed them, dress them, we go to the living room to play. I make sure I have my phone and water ready to go in the playroom, because all hell will break loose if I try to get up and walk away from them once we have made it to the playroom in the morning. I get down on the floor of the playroom and play with the girls before their breakfast time. I usually try to have it ready to go in the kitchen before they wake up in the morning because if I have to get up and walk away from them for more than 5 seconds they go absolutely crazy. I mean...CRAZY! I can't even act like I am going to get up and walk away from them or else it is an all out tantrum. Usually, it is just Reagan or Addie, but Baylee has her days where she won't let me do anything either.

Bathroom break, forget it. If I want to eat lunch, I either wait until they go down for their nap at 1:30 pm or I have to listen to three little girls crying their eyes out at the gate of the playroom until I come back. If I have to go answer the front door, I am sure whoever is at the door is wondering what the heck I am doing to those babies because it sounds like they are all in physical pain. When I start to put them down for their naps, whoever is 2nd or 3rd is usually crying their heart out and covered in snot and tears when I come back to start someone else for naptime.

Recently, the momma attachment has gotten worse. Now, if I am anywhere near their sight, no one else can console them. Just yesterday, Addie was crying because I put her down on the floor to tend to something and Brent picked her up to try to calm her down, he walked around with her, tried to make her laugh and play with her, she kept holding her arms out wanting to come to me and when I finally gave in and took her from him she calmed down right away. Same thing today, Reagan wouldn't stop crying and she didn't stop until I picked her up and held her.
Yeah, it kind of felt good that they only wanted their Mommy about the first 2 times...now it is just draining.

If I do, by chance, sneak away while they are distracted and playing, I have to make sure they don't see me again until I am ready to come sit down with them and play. Yes, I have been known to army crawl across the living room floor from our bedroom to their nursery just so they don't see me and I can get a few things done around the house. I have to sneak from behind one piece of furniture to the next...it is so draining.

I'm exhausted tonight, all three girls were so cranky today. We spent the afternoon over at Gran and Grandaddy's house and when we got home they were all in such bad moods and I was at the end of my rope. Addie and Reagan wouldn't stop crying unless they were in my lap. Yes, we put them to bed a little early tonight just so I could get a break for a little while.

I hope this phase ends soon because three babies screaming and crying at you all day, just flat wears you out. Most days, I can take everything in stride and deal with it until Brent gets home and I have some help, but I have to admit that some days I am a complete crazy lady by the time he gets home. A momma can only take so much.

New Developments

Well, we have three crawlers now! Addie and Reagan started army crawling earlier in the week and are now getting up on their knees and crawling to get things. Baylee is close to cruising, she usually ends up flat on her booty but she is adventurous and has no fear so far. :)
We also have some teeth! Addie is getting 1 and Baylee is getting 2. Reagan is definitely teething but nothing has popped through her gums yet. We have only had one rough night with Baylee so far and it really wasn't all that bad. She just ended up going to bed around 10 pm instead of 7 pm like usual because of some pain she was having, but after the meds kicked in she thought it was party time with Mommy and Daddy so Daddy promptly put her to bed.

Watching "Shrek the Third" with Daddy before bedtime...

A few pics of the girls from earlier this week...

Baylee, weird face :)

Poor Addie, upset face :(

Reagan, sweetie!

Addie, mommy's honey

Ohhh, blue eyes

Baylee, snotty :) - Baylee has very sensitive skin on her face..any food or snot or just her rubbing her face on her sheets at night can cause her to get red, rashed cheeks. It goes away within a day, but she looks pretty red when it flares up.

Addie, upset again...

She's ok now ;)

Baylee, climbing all over me, I'm her personal play gym...

I love this face Reagan makes...she usually adds flapping her arms and kicking her legs like crazy when she gets really excited. So cute!

Blue eyes again...sweet girl

Baylee Boo...smiling for the camera

Such a cheezer!

She found the camera strap...

Uh-oh...Baylee's upset...

Laying her head down, sobbing

And she's back!

Reagan again

We are looking forward to the arrival of our newest nephew, Luke Payne, very, very soon. And we are looking forward to the girls' 1st birthday party! I can't wait to see their faces when we put Grammy's cakes in front of them. :)