I've always loved you best

To my Brayden Ray,

I've always loved you best because you are Mommy and Daddies little fighter. I don't think it's possible for a Momma to feel more proud than I did the day you busted out of that NICU! You were my little comedian from the moment you came home and you still fill our hearts and our home with laughter. Sometimes I wish the world would just stop and I could sit around and have hour long conversations with you. You're my fearless bull, my social butterfly, and my little Man's man! You're a giver at heart and everyone's favorite snuggle buddy! I'm blessed God chose me to be your Mother. I love You Boo Waite. Happy 2nd Birthday! -Mommy

To my Shane Christian,

I've always loved you best because you shine like the brightest star. Your spirit is sweet and your joy is contagious. There is nothing I wouldn't do to make you happy. You make me complete! You're my silly guy and my serious guy. I never knew a 2 year old could have so much Passion! Your love for sports is enough to make any grown man cry. You do life with everything you have.... and I love watching you figure it all out. You've been called intense like your Daddy and a little high strung like your Mommy. I think you are AMAZING! You've always been my lover boy and my little touchy feely guy. Mommy loves you more than you'll ever know and you're perfect just the way you are! Happy 2nd Birthday Shaner Banainers! -Mommy

To my little Girl... Ireland Faith,

I've always loved you best because you're our one and only little princess. I thanked God the moment I first held you in my arms because he had sent us an angel! It brings tears to my eye's... watching you grow into a beautiful, bright, and full of life little girl. Your sweet tiny voice and your caring heart brings balance to our family. You are my girly girl who loves to be all dressed up like a doll. You are my tuff girl, who can look so innocent out in the yard... all covered with mud. I love to watch you sing, dance around, and tuck your animals into bed. You are Mommy and Daddies little helper and our Punky Brewster girl. You're a little slower to warm up to new people which at times can be hard... only because I want to swoop you up, protect you, and make you feel safe. But when people hang around enough and start to know the little Pea that we know.... it isn't long before you're capturing their hearts with your pixie-like grin and spunky/sweet personality. Happy 2nd Birthday to my Pea Waite! I love you soooooooooooooooooo much little girl! -Mommy

In Today's Basket of Blessings- LOVE

In today's Basket of Blessings: LOVE!!!!!! I'm grateful that God is willing to deal with me and be patient. He's slowly teaching me(with recent circumstances) that no one else is responsible for my personal happiness. So many people want to be loved and admired but aren't willing to love other people when they act less than lovable. Although I am far from being "Little Mrs. Mature", I'm learning to stop myself from looking at other people, and saying things like... "I would NEVER do this or I would NEVER do that." Have you ever thought... maybe that person was put in your life, just so that you could love them? Many times people who struggle with addictions simply feel worthless or unloved. Alcohol, drugs, eating disorders, compulsive disorders, sex, self mutilation, spending: Many of these are a result of people starving for love or feeling like they have no value. Just because I don't feel like loving someone, doesn't mean I can't still love them! Praise God that we reap what we sew which is why this week when I feel like getting a compliment, I'm going to compliment my husband. And when I feel like getting special attention... I'm going to joyfully give special attention to someone else. That's what LOVE is all about. I'm far from an expert... I constantly fall off the wagon and have to dust myself off and get back on. I know there have been times in my life when I was hard to love and I know there will be times in Shane, Brayden, or Ireland's life when they're hard to love. But we'll never stop loving them like he never stops loving us.

When life gets hard, it's so much easier to be negative than positive. To keep myself and my family smiling through the holiday's, I will be adding to my daily Basket of Blessing's. This was something I started on facebook but decided to continue on our family blog. Every day (at least every few days) I will post something I'm thankful for. I have a lot on my mind lately... I need this for myself and want desperately to chose Joy this holiday season. I want to focus on the good things in God... the positive things... and the reason for the season. :-)

It's Fall Ya'll and the Triplets are almost Two!!!!!!

Big day for Team Waite... babies went to their first Angel's game. click on the photo's to view them larger...

Happy Memorial Day from Team Waite!

Happy Memorial day from Team Waite. The triplets are sending a shot out to the 1st Cavalry out of Ft. Hood, Texas.

Triplets are 18 months!

Shane, Brayden, and Ireland had their half birthday yesterday... they turned 18 months. Where did my little babies go!?!!??! I miss skin to skin! As long as I can continue to put them in Rompers for at least another year... I'm good. ;-)

This age is fascinating. Chris and I are in awe of them every single day. They're really turning a corner right now and I think life is about to get easier. Everyone is talking so much and they're really able to listen and understand us now. Taking them anywhere, 6 months ago, was a nightmare! But now Grocery shopping is fun... it's one of our favorite things to do. They love going to the market and picking out their favorite foods. Getting out has been so much more enjoyable...they understand now that when they get to the side walk they have to ask for help and hold Mommy or Daddy's hand. They're really starting to get it! They're like little sponges. They make me so proud. I'm pretty sure I have the best job in the entire world!

Here is a video of them yesterday on their birthday. ;-) Just click on the video to watch it... Also click on any photo below to view it larger.

Here they are... in their rompers (18 months old). If only there was a video camera that captured my mom and me trying to get this photo... would have been excellent reality TV! ;-)

In case you were wondering what the sign said. ;-)

The triplets love their field trips. We go to the park now, the Garden, and the Beach. We just took them all to Sea World for the first time on Sunday... I'm pretty sure it was the best day of their lives. I've had a lot of amazing experiences (my wedding day, the day we found out we were pregnant) but watching my daughter on Sunday with the life size Elmo was right up there as one of my greatest all time experiences. She ran right into his arms for hugs and kisses... she was shaking with Excitement. I was very grateful to have my entire family there to help us juggle the babies... it was an amazing day celebrating our Nephew's 4th birthday.

Here are a few photos from our day...

So... we've had our first few tantrums in the Waite home. The terrific two's are just around the corner and my Brayden Ray is a force to be reckoned with! He knows how to out smart me... my brain just turns to mush and I feel like getting down on the floor and kicking and screaming with him! The truth is, he's just a smart dude... he gets something in his mind and will not let it go. Brayden is a snuggle bug... he gives the best hugs ever! And he's still a Daddies boy! Now when Chris leaves in the morning, Brayds says... "Dadda... work. Dadda... work." Brayden is a man's man. He loves his cousins too... Nate, Ryder, and Graham. :-) Brayden is my old sole. I fell like he understands adult sarcasm. He loves shoes, has a pet snail, and would like to be a gardner when he grows up.

Brayden...

Brayden hugging his cousin Ryder...

Brayds with his cousin Nate...

Boo giving his Pea some love. :-)

Update on our little girl... Recently we found out that Ireland has something called a Brachial Cleft Sinus. It's a birth defect that she was born with. She has a tiny pin hole in her neck that is leaking clear fluid. It isn't life threatening but she will probably need surgery at some point. Little Pea basically has a gill... we could throw her in the water and she'd be able to breathe just fine. ;-) She had her first appointment today with an ENT Surgeon. Chris and I were very encouraged by what he told us. He didn't think there was any reason to do surgery tomorrow... he thought we could wait a year or two until she was a little older. He said infection would be rare and that even if it did get a little infected... we could give her antibiotics. I feel so much better! We are still getting a few more opinions... we're taking her to CHOC in LA next week. I'm so grateful for my husband who is willing to make every appointment and pay for our family to have the best of the best insurance... so we can get her the best of the best Surgeon. :-) If you're the praying type... please say a prayer for our baby girl and for me because I'm not good with this kind of thing.

On a different note, Ireland was so funny today. She was flirting with all the nurses and office staff. When people walked by, she would say... "Doctor" and "neck". She was even looking up to show everyone her neck. UNTIL..... we got in the doctors office. She wouldn't let the actual doctor anywhere near her neck... she screamed bloody murder through the entire appointment. I was talking to her and trying to calm her down. I told her I'd take her to the fountain as soon as we were all done. Then she started to ask for her Grandma. She was crying... "Gama, Gama... all done... Gama! "

Ireland is so sweet... still a Momma's girl who loves to be up and held. She loves her brothers but is very sensitive and would just like them to take a hike at times. She is very feminine but not super girly in the things she likes. She likes to get dirty and is a thrill seeker... my bravest child of the 3. I recently took her to the Beach and she wanted to dive into the giant waves face first. She loves her animals and is obsessed with Elmo. I only let her and her brothers watch about 30-40 minutes of TV a day... before nap and before bed time. But Ireland asks for Elmo all day long from the time she wakes up... it's really hard to tell her no. It makes her so happy. I love being her Mom.

Ireland

Last but definitely not the least is our Shaners. Shane is high on life. He loves new experiences and is full of energy. He enjoys his books and has one of those photographic memories... once he learns something, it's in his brain for life. He is a music guy... loves to sing and dance. He loves all vehicles... trains, airplanes, trucks, and motorcycles. Thursday is his favorite day of the week (trash pick up day). Shane is a food connoisseur... he enjoys talking about all of his favorite foods. He'll ask for meat balls at the strangest times... like when I'm putting him in his crib for bed. Shane loves his blankie and being outside. When he grows up, he'd like to be a garbage man or possibly the next Justin Timberlake. ;-)

Shane

As for Chris and I, we are doing great! We kind of feel like we're coming out of the woods and are getting our lives back... just a little bit. ;-) Chris is really enjoying his new position on the Government team... still working for Philips. He was able to golf recently and go to an Angel game a few nights ago! Wooo hoo!!!

I'm enjoying my job lately! Nothing compares to being a Mommy. My goal in life right now is getting to the bottom of our laundry... a task that has yet to be accomplished since the birth of my children. I was recently called a MILF by a random stranger as I was getting into my car. I was all excited and flattered until I realized I didn't have my kids with me. ;-)

Here we are! At first I was kind of ticked that this was our husband/wife picture on our 5 year anniversary. But it's so our lives... I love it. Besides Brayds was too impressed with my outfit to stand back.