A Note From Carrie

Hi everyone! I hate to disappoint you all, but this is a post from Carrie, not Mike. As you can imagine, we have been really busy since the boys' first birthday. Mike is swamped with several things so I thought I would add a post here to keep everyone updated. The boys had a great first birthday! My dad and step-mom came to visit us from Illinois. The following day, four of my closest friends from Illinois flew in for the birthday festivities. It meant so much to me to have them all here. A few months back we had entered the boys in a "Diaper Derby" photography contest which we won! Thank you to all of you that voted on Facebook. We had the pictures taken on their birthday. It was so special to us to get pictures done on that day, as well as having some pictures taken while they experienced their first cake. Mollie Kendall did an amazing job at capturing the moment. You can view the pictures on her blog at the following link:

http://molliekphotography.com/blog/2011/06/triple-goodness-austin-multiples-cake-smash-photographer-mollie-kendall-photography/

The boys were in a great mood and were excellent little models. As we were finishing up the last shots, we noticed that the boys were breaking out in a rash. We did our best at washing them up while we were still at the photographer's house, but as more time passed, the rashes got worse. We rushed out of there and headed for home. I have to admit, I was freaking out! I was just praying that they wouldn't swell up or have trouble breathing. This was our first allergic reaction so I didn't know what to expect. As soon as we got them home we put them in the bath. It wasn't a few seconds later and the rashes were completely gone. We were very thankful that it was only external. From the research that we have done, it was from the dye in the cake. That all made for quite a memorable first birthday. We did give the boys cupcakes with white icing at their birthday party and luckily, they didn't have any sort of reaction. One of the most memorable times of their birthday party was watching them eat those cupcakes. They each had a plastic ring with a sea creature on them. As we were cleaning the boys up after they demolished their cupcakes, we noticed that Zane had put the ring on his finger. We couldn't believe it!

The boys are absolutely out of control. None of them are walking yet, but they are crawling everywhere they possibly can. Zane and Cash are pulling themselves up on people and furniture. If I were to guess, Zane will be the first to walk, and it won't be long. We have to have a "play yard" (which is a plastic fence) set up in the living room to confine them to one area. They all three go in different directions and will find something to do to get in trouble. Zane's favorite thing to do it lay across the back of his brothers. As you can imagine, this really makes his brothers mad. Although, Cade has also started doing it. We try telling them "no" and they just laugh at us. We're going to have to look into military schools for these boys. Is 12 months too young for those schools???

As Mike has mentioned before, he had stopped touring with his band after the triplets were born. They have continued to play shows in Texas as they were working on a new CD. They just finished their fifth record, Life is Now. I am so proud of Mike, Joe and Ryan. This CD is excellent! I believe this is the best CD they have ever released. You can pre-order the CD now at www.backporchmary.com. It will be released on July 19th and available to download on iTunes at that time. Go check it out! You won't be disappointed.





Mike and his band did go out on one run up to Oklahoma and Missouri over Father's Day weekend. The boys and I missed him so much. While he was gone we decided to make a coffee mug for his Father's Day present. I had bought porcelain paint and put the boys' "hand prints" on the mug. We had a lot of fun. Since I don't get the opportunity to write on here, I would like to tell you all what an unbelievable dad Mike is to our sons. I couldn't have picked a better father to have triplets with. Since the day we found out we were having triplets, Mike has been so strong and supportive. There was no doubt that this family was going to come before anything else. He was the best partner to have while I was uncomfortably pregnant. He always looked out for the health and well being of myself and his unborn sons. He never missed any doctor's appointments. He took care of me and our home no matter how busy he was with other things. As I said before, the boys and I always have come first. Since we have brought the boys home, Mike has been there just as much, if not more. He helps with every single thing that the boys need. We never have fought, or even mentioned, who's "turn" it is to do something. If anything needs done, one of us is doing it. No questions asked. He hasn't been out without me, other than to play his shows with his band. Mike is the most supportive, loving, dedicated father and husband a woman could ask for. The boys and I are so lucky to have him in our lives. He's what every husband and father should be. I can't thank him enough for that. We will try to make it back here more often to post pictures and updates on the boys. I hope to get the boys out and take some new pictures of them soon. I just can't believe how fast they change. It seems like one of them is doing something new every day. I just can't imagine our life without them. The boys are such a blessing. I can't imagine having any more fun!

Here are a few pictures that we have. Most of them are taken with my phone so they're not high quality photos.

This is the boys in their swim trunks. They LOVE playing in the pool!


This is what I was talking about earlier. Zane has to be on top of one of his brothers.


Zane

Cash

Cade

This is their favorite thing to do, crawl on the end table.


They are also pretty up to date on their news.


Here is Zane waiting for us to get him up in the morning.