Quads at One Year

The babies are at such a GREAT age right now and are SO happy. I spend all my time playing with them and loving on them while they are awake...it is just so much fun!!! I know that the "two's" are just around the corner and that temper tantrums will start soon---so right now, I am just soaking as much in as I possibly can. I want to remember what the babies are doing at one year and how their 1-yr check ups went with the pediatrician a couple of weeks ago...so here it goes:

Andrew Paul Steece

20 lbs
29" long
4 teeth
(firstborn and shortest out of 3 brothers--like his father!)
Nicknames: Drew, Drewster, Drewster the Rooster, "A", A-train, Dwew

Drew is easily our happiest baby right now. SUCH a sweet baby boy. He is always the first one to smile and makes these little happy gurgle noises when he's perfectly content-playing with a toy. He is very easy going and laid back. Very much a cuddle bug, he is the first one to crawl over to you and climb up your legs. Drew is a LEFT HANDER (strong left hander)! Mr. ACTIVE still LOVES to be flipped upside down and bounced about--so much energy. He is still fascinated with lights and ceiling fans--loves being outside. Drew was the last of the boys to pull himself up, but now has the hang of it and is unstoppable. Drew is such a good eater and is learning the sippy cups pretty quickly. He rarely turns away any food that goes into his mouth! He loves pretty much every food.



Savannah Leigh Steece

17lbs 13 oz
27 1/4" long
no teeth (but as of now, she has 2 bottom teeth!)
Nicknames: Sav, Savi, Savannah Wee, Savi-wee-wee, Princess, Prindella, Prin-tey

Savannah has an infectious deep laugh and is speaking at a 15 month level already. She can "say" banana and constantly mimics my words. She is army crawling, but using her arms to pull up on everything (crazy strong arms)...we are getting ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) to work with her on strengthening those hips--she wore a pavlic harness for MONTHS when she was a baby and her hips are still pretty weak. Once known as "Miss Independent"--now known as: Miss "i-wanna-always-be-in-someones lap-or-being-held" (especially with mommy). Savi LOVES books and loves to sleep/nap. She laughs at her brothers all the time and lights up when she sees one of them enter the room. She is doing well with her sippy cup, but fights the majority of food that goes into her mouth. We can't tell if Sav is L or R handed...she usually eats with her left, but occasionally eats with her R. She LOVES bananas, fruit, yogurt, cheese, ice cream (yes, the sweet stuff!)



Ethan Joseph Steece

19 lbs 14 oz
29 3/4" long
6 teeth
(the tallest and the smallest boy)
Nicknames: "E", E-man, E-baby, the hulk

Ethan is wise beyond his years. He is like an adult trapped in a child's body. He looks right into your eyes like he knows exactly what you are saying. I am amazed at how quickly he learns new things- pulling up, walking while holding onto things, etc. Like Drew, Ethan is one of the first ones to crawl over to you and climb up your legs. He is fascinated with Shiloh and is always trying to pet her. Ethan loves books and is practicing his woodpecker skills on his crib as he is teething on the wood. Mr. PICKY--when it comes to his bottle. It HAS to be warm or he will NOT drink it whatsoever. Ethan is a strong RIGHT hander. He is getting better at those sippy cups and is great with food and picking things up with his fingers...he will eat just about anything as well. He likes popping blueberries with his front teeth and feeling the juice squirt out.



Benjamin Stephen Steece


20 lbs (not BIG BEN anymore--weighs the same as Drew)
29 1/2" long
6 teeth
Nicknames: Ben, Benny, Benny-Boo, Boo-Bear, Ben-HI-meen, Bensch, Boosh-lash, Boosh

Ben is like a cat. He USED to be all needy and wanting your undivided attention...but now that he can crawl--he is definitely Mr. INDEPENDENT! However, when he wants to be lovey-dovey, he completely melts into your arms. He is a mess--he likes to stand at the top of the stairs and make monkey noises "ooo-ooo-ooo" to get your attention. His favorite game is throwing toys off of the second floor and watching them hit the ground. Ben walked all the way across the room using one of those walking-toys. EVERY time you put him in his crib to take a nap or sleep, he will cry. (even if it is only for 30 seconds) He is quite the little 20 lb termite and has gnawed on his crib like you wouldn't believe--a trait his father did as a child. Ben is a performer and loves to flirt with a crowd--especially females. When Ben wants his bottle--he wants it NOW. If you try to put anything in his mouth that is NOT his bottle nipple (i.e. any sippy cup) he will throw a HUGE fit!..but is getting better. He will generally eat everything I feed him--but I have noticed that he likes MOM to feed him his food, instead of picking it up with his hands (we think Ben is RIGHT handed, but he uses both)...He LOVES being pampered and groomed--he will let me play with his hair or ears forever and does not mind when I'm wiping off his face.


Other notes of importance:

We started feeding them more "real food"---pureed ham, chicken, scrambled eggs, pancakes, cut up fruits and veggies. We started weaning them off of formula by gradually mixing it with whole milk and they have done GREAT with the transition...they are off of formula completely! WOO HOO! It won't be long before they can turn around in their carseats--another big WOO HOO!

The pedi warned of temper tantrums starting soon! YIKES! She said to completely ignore when they are throwing a temper tantrum--no positive or negative attention. That should be fun! ;) They do not weigh as much as she would like---an extra pound---so i will work on fattening them up! ;)

Developmentally, they are all where they are expected to be--except Savannah b/c she is not crawling on her hands and knees yet. We are set to meet with ECI next week.
Quarantine WILL start on OCTOBER 1ST! YUCKO...but even more important this year b/c the kiddos more than likely will not qualify for the Synagis shots.

Things that my pedi wants to see them doing by 15 months (which is NOVEMBER!)
WALKING
WAVING BYE BYE
TALKING 5 TO 7 WORDS
POINTING TO DIFFERENT BODY PARTS WHEN ASKED (NOSE, EARS, MOUTH, ETC)
MAKING ANIMAL NOISES WHEN POINTING TO A PICTURE

So, mama has been busy around here!...reading them LOTS of books!

Another side note: I had given myself ONE year to relax and just concentrate all efforts on surviving with quads. Well...the time has come to get back in gear---I recently joined a gym and will be trying to be better about staying healthy and losing the rest of my baby weight (10 pounds..at least!) It has been 2 full years since I have done anything remotely close to "fitness" so I've got lots of work to do! (BTW- Gen McNulty is my work-out buddy, inspiration and accountability partner from across the states) That woman is amazingly self-disciplined!

Last weekend, Joe had his big "Fantasy Football Draft" in Austin. (YAWN) So I packed up the kiddies and headed to Waco for the weekend. My parents anniversary was on Friday and my Mom's Birthday was yesterday--so we came to celebrate! We took the babies to a highschool football game on Friday night and out to eat at Texas Roadhouse on Saturday night which went really well! (They've been out to eat 4 times now and have exceeded my expectations so far...I'm sure things might change as they get older! Ha) Thanks dad, for sending the pics--I've gotten really bad about taking pictures lately...

Quads at Papa's bank


Getting in a quick book before bedtime


Good luvin' at church from the Halls and their grandkids (Savannah holding Savannah)


The Normans with Andrew and Ethan


Granna with Ben-HI-meen


Lauren with Ben, Me and Drew