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Well, tomorrow (8/22), we celebrate the triplet's first birthday, which is actually on Wednesday (8/25). That's right, the big one year old, times three. We have come a long way since Hannah and Katie D first posted ultrasound pictures to this new blog.
Check out the video, and get a sense of what the peeps are up to now (--of course, their quest and development has been and continues to be mind boggling--I'm telling you, Hercules, himself, pays homage to infants--just incredible, as all you parents know). This one's called "Charlie and Friends"--he and especially his head are the main features...
In addition to what you see there, these three are standing, clapping, waving, and eating like dump trucks. Scout's also scooting along the couch. Oh, and she and Charlie are both climbing--stairs, chairs, tables even. One day, Suzy turned around and Scout was up on the table next to the couch via the piled boppies and a diaper container tuned sideways. I thought baby-proofing simply meant closing doors, covering plugs, vacuuming your floor every other hour, etc. I didn't know it meant you had to redecorate your home in the least practical way possible. We just tell people, it's a habit we formed in S. Korea...
Anyway, Suzy is back to school this year (--had her first couple of days with students last week). It's a difficult transition, of course, for both of us, but we have, thanks to Mike and Drea, a terrific nanny. I've told you a bit about her already, and will only add here, that, so far, it is working out better than we had hoped. The children are big fans of Hannah the nanna, and she is having a great time herself. The sleep and meal routine is holding strong.
Oh, and the wonderful Kory and Foa clan are taking the babes on Mondays, which, though we have only done it once yet, is already like sending the kids to their own versions of heaven. Those cousins are awesome, and Suzy and I have been emulating Kory and Jason since we met them.
And so life goes on: one year down, the rest of eternity straight ahead.
Thank you all for your continued support, well-wishes and everything else. Scout, Charlie, and Kiefer, are each unique reflections of all your love--of this great world's finest embrace. They are, in a word, happy.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Joe and Suzy

Well, as of July 8th or 9th, Kiefer joined the rank and file in the crawling world. Before, he was kind of inch-worming himself around. Scout, who did a break-dancing twist and roll until Charlie showed her how to crawl correctly, now shoots out like a sassy, hip-wiggling bullet to whatever attracts her attention. And Charlie--well, Charlie loves to climb. When he crawls, it's always like he's crossing a battlefield--slow, deliberate, dramatic (--good for teaching, I guess). But when he gets to his objective, it's climbing time, which is sometimes followed by a pretty good digger and then more drama. But just a month or so ago, things looked a bit different. Take a look:

Man, it has been fun. Watching them develop. They are all determined, and all successful, but success and the route to it are different in each case. I can't wait until they can walk, an adventure on which Scout is already embarking--that is, when she isn't completely focused on talking. I'm telling you, she is garrulous, and ridiculously cute. Often, Suzy and I will go in after a nap and find her either kneeling or standing in the direction of her brothers, holding the railings of the crib and just gabbing away. Bla bla bla... She even once was sitting with her two little legs swinging back and forth out of the crib, and just talking to no one in particular. She seemed frustrated that we interrupted her too.
I can't tell you how much fun Suzy and I are having. Summer has been great. Coincidentally, the babes' nap schedule corresponded perfectly with the World Cup games. I saw more of this World Cup, would you believe it, than I had seen of any other, and that was a great joy for me. The World Cup, actually, is the main reason I have not totally followed through on all my projects this summer, but that was a happy choice to make. We have had some great visits too, Sally and her son David, most recently, and for two nights, two days, we even hosted TL and Steve all the way from Alberta.
Oh, and Sara and Mike's son Abel was born (well done, people), and so was Annika, my friend and colleague's first, and, yea, Andrew Kanagy's Ivan Timothy has made his big entrance (--Andrew and his wife Heidi are the main reason Suzy and I have triplets, if you didn't know it). Welcome to parenthood, my dear friends--it is amazing, fun and endlessly fulfilling...
And, of course, 'tis the season for getting hitched. Just went to Galas's wedding and spent some quality time with the Swanzy--our kids' unofficial official Alaskan pediatric dentist. And we still have three more great weddings to go to yet: yea, Chris and Sarah; yea, Alan and Allie; and yea, my main man Chuck and the wonderful Sharyl. Thanks to the Marvelous One, Suzy's mother Martha, we plan to come and have a once-in-a-lifetime kind of celebration with each of you.
But the biggest event this summer, in terms of distance and trickiness, was Suzy's cousin Maureen's wedding in Omaha. Suzy has a lot of family in the big RED state, and I don't think she has missed a wedding--not one. In addition to the wedding, we stayed with Suzy's dad, whose hospitality and generousness remains unequaled, and we spent time with all the Kiefers, including Tim's family and even Katy's family (--all the way in from Japan, in fact--every moment with them is a special and rare event). Well, the trips were like a traveling road show. Everyone wanted to see the little people, even Sharon's daughter Mallory did, and Charlie, Kiefer and Scout did so well--stayed right on schedule, slept well, ate well, and were generally pleasant as can be. The drive was the toughest part, and all five of us were certainly tired the day or two after our return, but the routine was easy to refortify, and the the trip was well worth the warming and loving embrace of Suzy's Omaha family and friends. Thank you, all.
As for the blog, it's still going strong--in my head, if not always in front of your eyes. I thank you for your patience and your prayers, and your wishes, and your love--and your encouragement. Yes, many of you have said the nicest things about the blog. The only encouragement I'll ever need is right now systematically testing the kitchen and hallway gates for weaknesses--yea, like the velociraptors in that terrible movie, but your encouragement helps a lot. And to those of you just now coming down this wonderful path of family and life, well, yours is the best encouragement of all...
With much love,
Joe And Suzy

Well, folks, they're teething. Each was a little feverish and fussy for a couple of days, but now the boys each have two front teeth--and Scout, well, at least she played the part... Summer is here and so is the World Cup (--translation: the kids are being ignored more than ever). Yea! But we still had time to put together this promo for a situational comedy. Tell us what you think.

Suzy and I have more to share, including a new installment of The Infant Olympics, but we'll post it separately in a few days. For now, enjoy the promo.

A couple of nights ago, before Suzy and I turned out our bedside lights, we heard a noise come from the babies' room. I quickly whispered, "Suzy, listen." She turned her ear toward the hall. Again, we heard it, and Suzy quietly interjected, "Aaa"--but it was not the typical "Aaa" that you lady folk are so expert in. No, this one was filled with both adoration and marvel. One of the boys was laughing in his sleep...
Man O man, it's been a long time since I posted. You might guess that this is because the babies are ever more demanding, but actually the opposite is true: we have all learned to play this game ever more efficiently and my teeming mind keeps taking up other projects. Funny to think what my former sense of "busy" was. Yea, that's it, my attention is only more diffused. Or have I not posted simply because it's the end of the school year, always a crazy time?
Whatever the case, if time is short, I am only happy it is so full. One thing I can tell you (--I think I have once already), it is utterly thrilling--a parent's thrill, to discover how much greater one's capacity for love is. But what completely levels you is realizing how much your child loves you in return. Man, is it humbling... When I walk in the door, or when Suzy holds one of them close, oh, that smile ripples through your entire being, ripples through all the world besides. Trees and stones perk up in the light of so pure a love. Yes, I know, troubles and more Victorian times are on their way, around the corner perhaps, but for the moment, it is spring, life is grand and the whole family is madly in love with each other!!! That, and nothing less, is the reason I have not posted. Well, now I have much to share about each of them.
Let's see, we'll take each one up, in turn.
Scout is loud and verbose. Typically, every morning is prefaced by some 30-minute contemplative monologue--loud monologue. What is she contemplating? Without a doubt, mischief. Yes, our goose is cooked. Suzy is being repaid for a childhood of thorough rascality, and I--well, I am collateral damage. Now, Scout hasn't actually done anything to raise such suspicion, but you can see it in her eyes--there, and in the way she sometimes purses her lips and then kind of huff-snorts like an angry bull...................................................... ..............................................When we imitate her, she smiles large. What else? She does a spread eagle while in the stroller, pulls her booties or socks off regularly, will not tolerate being touched on the head by either of her brothers, and, o, she eats half of all her meals only while reading an octopus book. She also was the first to position herself on her hands and knees, not yet crawling, but very close.
Kiefer is still the chubster, and he is also a comedian. He and Charlie were sitting across from each other and he was emitting these guttural barks, which cracked Charlie up. I didn't think they were all that funny, but, man, Charlie was splitting his side. But the biggest news for Kiefer is that a few days ago, he cut his first tooth. It's as though he means to defy his station as the youngest triplet his entire life. Go Kiefer, go: Scout's extra two minutes in this world mean nothing. In truth, Kiefer is the only one that has launched himself forward in the crawling position. Oh, and cutest of all cute things, he purrs--actually more a gurgle, but warm and fuzzy like a cat.
Charlie is at the same time the most excitable and the most cuddly. Just yesterday, he picked up this old-fashioned yarn cube with a little jingle inside it, and, instead of putting it into his mouth, like his siblings would do, or drumming it onto his leg, like he often does, he just pressed it against his own cheek and closed his eyes. I thought I was watching some detergent commercial or something. But definitely excitable also! I don't have the heart to tell Kiefer, but Charlie laughs at everything. Seriously, we don't even have to make faces anymore, let alone sounds and sudden gestures--he just laughs if you're looking at him. And, let's see, he is the best at manipulating his food, and he is also close to crawling, though he seems to prefer making swimming motions while resting on his chest and belly. Oh, and Charlie is still the most likely to pee on you, which goes all the way back to Chris Harris's training. Thanks a lot, Chris...............
Generally, we're all doing well. Flavor of the week: cottage cheese, banana and peas. The trips all sit up to play, and then roll over every which way to go to sleep. All are weaned off the breast (--Scout went 8 months), and as of this morning, I am weaning them off the beard--big beard--9 months long--longer than the kids. I'm actually weaning them off their hobo-father conception gradually over the next three weeks. Hmm. The little people are also interacting with each other, still only grunts and coos and laughs, but definitely back and forth. They prefer it, actually, to bouncing in the bouncer. Sometimes we set them up in a circle and are loath to interrupt them. Today, I am pretty sure the boys are not identical. But yesterday, I was convinced the other way. Tomorrow? Well, check out the pictures and tell me what you think. Oh, and Suzy finished her spring class, registered for two more in the summer, and will only be a fall course away from her MA. She also is going back to work next year. We have found a great person to nanny. Her name is Hannah, but understandably feeling like these kids have one too many Hannahs in their life already, we are going to call her Hanny (the nanny) instead.
But I'll tell you what isn't a laughing matter--I mean, this royally sucks: people aren't making us dinner any more, or cutting our lawn, or offering to shave my beard. What gives, people?! Hello, still have triplets here. Just because they're past the cute stage doesn't mean Suzy and I suddenly know how to cook. We're starving. (--Yea, that's right, you have spoiled us, never mind the kids--and we want the swan that lays golden eggs now!!)
Enough of me, check out these new photos. Jamie's friend came over and shot them on Mother's Day. They're the best pictures we have yet! Enjoy (and thank you earnestly for all your help and warm thoughts).