Karin's photography

How small they were?

2012-02-01T10:05:00.003+02:00

1,5 years has passed by since the boys were born. After 2 days, they turn 18 months old. It's now hard to imagine how small they actually were... Here you can see the comparison: the bigger size 86, what the boys wear now, and the smaller size 44, which was even a bit too big when the boys were born...

Reasons to work

2012-01-24T19:40:00.000+02:00

Some nights, I can't get sleep after Fred has been awake for several times. I lay in the bed and think about my life... namely I think about diving myself between the family and the work.
Why did I decide to go back to work so soon? Yes, the triplets turn 1,5 years old in February 4 and I start working full-time in February 8.
Am I a bad mother because of that? I really don't know. I HOPE I'm not.
I hope my kids understand me. It's not about the money. I have enough savings to live through some years and not work. It's about something else. What is it then?

1. I go crazy being at home without using my brain. I can blame my work duties entirerly: during the last 10 years, all I have done, is remembering scientific stuff. Remembering loads of definitions. Remembering results of tests. Remembering all my lectures (I usually lecture by heart and not from notes), more than 200 hours per year. Now, suddenly, my brain doesn't have this workload it's used to. And I feel I just cannot be without it... I'm addicted to my work.

2. Sometimes, I feel that I'm doing work 24 hours and Erik 8 hours at work plus some hours at home and the rest, he is entitled to do his hobbies or just watch TV. It seems like mother's job is 24 hours while father's job is 8 hours at work and maximum 2 hours at home... because I get paid as a mother and this is 24 hours work. If I start working again, it feels more equal - we both work and after that, we can share our home duties. I know it sounds stupid, but this really seems to be a solution for me: start working feels me to have a right to complain more and ask help more. I'm entitled to some hobbies, too. I've given up 95% of all my hobbies, while it's not the same for Erik. Yes, I know - it's not his fault I'm a woman and he is a man... But still. I want it to be more equal.

3. In some weird way, it's also about the money. Or more being dependant on someone. I have never asked money from a man. Since I graduated from university, I have always earnt my own salary and covered my life expenses. I have had a freedom NOT to give reasons for someone how I spend my own money. I have always been able to take care for myself. I do not want to give this freedom and independency away... it means too much for me.

Are those good enough reasons to go back to work? Or should I, unselfishly, give up those things in life and dedicate myself to my children? But what happens AFTER that? When my kids are old enough to go to kindergarten (age 4) or school (age 7)? Is there any guarantees I can get it all back, after some years?

Don't get me wrong... I love my little boys. They are a big part of my life and I cannot imagine my life without them anymore. But I'm a person myself, too...

In the bath

2012-01-18T18:59:00.001+02:00

In summer-time, the triplets enjoyed water and their outside pool a lot. They could play there for several hours. Once we came back inside, we decided to bath them in our regular bath-tube, because the baby bath-tubes which we had before, seemed to be too small.
We started to bath them individually.
However, the ground of the bath was too slippery and Ralf got scared of it. We bought a cover for the ground at once, but Ralf was still scared. He decided to hate water. Every time, we bathed the boys, Ralf was screaming like crazy. Nothing helped. It lasted for 5 months. Last week, it changed. The reason: we decided to put them to the bathtube two at a time. When Ralf saw how much Sten enjoys it, he suddenly changed his opinion about water and baths. He started to laugh and enjoyed it very much! We all were very happy about it - now, Sunday evenings are once again for fun!
Ralf and Sten:

Kert is at home

2012-01-14T15:04:00.000+02:00

Finally Kert is at home. In his own bed. It feels wonderful after so many days and nights in the hospital. The triplets are very excited, too. When they saw Kert in his room again, they all run there. And wanted to eat all his grapes...

In the snow

2012-01-11T16:55:00.003+02:00

2012 came together with the snow. It's very special because this winter we have had almost no snow. That's why we have tried to use these snowy days as much as possible and gone out every single morning to sledge. Boys like sledging a lot. We do the same circles as we did with the triplet pram, just now with the sledges. 3 sledges in a row is not that heavy - it's just good physical excercise! Often, Glen and Aune join us, too. Hopefully the snowy weather stays... it's much more beautiful outside this way. Estonians don't like warm and muddy winters!

These 2 photos are taken in the first morning of January 1. The day was absolutely beautiful! We tried to make Tony to carry the sledges as well, but he didn't like this idea at all!

These photos are taken in the 2nd weekend of January - a beautiful sunny winter day when we went out to sledge with the neighbours:

We also did some sledge rides from hills:

This photo is taken another day, when the boys went downhill with their sledges:

In our garden:

Boys playing with the snow:

Glen made "snow angels" and our boys laughed about it:

For my brave son

2011-12-30T12:47:00.000+02:00

Kert is my eldest son. The bravest young man I know. He has had more operations in his life than me. He never complains about it. He accepted his situation and always lands on his feet. He tries to get his life back to normal as soon as possible. After every operation. I admire his state of mind, his courage, his willpower to do that.
This time, we thought it will be just like that. He had his leg operation in December 19. After that, he said he feels better than after all other operations he had in the past. He wanted to be it back to normal as soon as possible. But it didn't happen. He's spending the New Year's Eve in the hospital. And we don't know when he is able to walk again. Sad, but true. I wish it was me and not him. How can you take away the pain from someone you love? Is that somehow possible? I doubt that...
We just have to live and wait and hope for the best. If it helps...

Scrap-booking album for Christmas

2011-12-26T11:13:00.000+02:00

This is the second scrap-booking album I have made. The first one went to our neighbour-boy Glen (it was about his first 2 years) and now, the second one was a gift for Erik's grandma - the triplets' great-grandmother. She has always said that she likes to watch the photos of the boys (I have given her some), but since she has no computer at home, she doesn't see the photos online. That's why I decided to make an album for her. It was not an easy task - with all the Christmas hussle and boys' sickness before Christmas (they had a nasty rota-virus). I practically finished this album on Christmas Day! But at least it was finished, wrapped and given to Great-Grandmother on Christmas party yesterday. She loved it just the same as I loved making it.

My next album will be for myself. It's a bigger album and surely will take some time to make, but at least I already have the photos developed and scrapbooking materials laying around the bedroom floor (I have no other place to make it...), so lets start! :)

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T23:04:00.002+02:00

This Christmas, after many snowy ones, is a rainy Christmas. For an Estonian, rainy Christmas is nothing to dream of - vice versa. Every year we expect it to be snowy and white. Then, it's Right Christmas. Even when the snow conditions outside are very poor, our 3 little Santa helpers managed to arrive with the sledges as you see on the picture down. And, inside, we have a Christmas feeling with a small tree (put away high up as the boys would otherwise ruin it at once), with candles and Christmas food.
Merry Christmas to all!

16 months old

2011-12-09T23:01:00.001+02:00

Last Sunday, on December 4, the boys turned 16 months old. Yes, the boys have been members of our family for 1 year and 4 months.

What can they do buy now?
All of them walk. Fred and Ralf made their first steps being 13 months old and after some weeks, walked properly. Sten was a little bit slower and started to walk just 2 days before he turned 16 months old. Fred can also run. He loves to run away from me, when I need to change his nappy. He finds it really funny when I'm trying to catch him. Ralf is slower, but he walks and does everything like from a textbook and like a single child. We are very happy about their physical achivements.
With Sten, we have been going to the swimming-therapy for a few weeks. It's quite demanding - we need to go every morning, which means that I need to arrange someone who looks after the other two boys during that time and usually, after swimming, driving and geting back home, I need to rush to work (not all days though as I work only part-time). Sten loves our small bath at home, but in the swimming pool, he likes to observe other kids more than swim in the pool. So mainly he is just enjoying his mommy's hands which keep him on the water and looking around curiously. Only today, we had a breakthrough - as we were all alone in the pool, then there was nothing else to do than play and swim, and this made me as well as the couch very happy. We go there until Christmas. I think it does good for Sten - at least he gets one-in-one time with his mom and I know it's important for him.
Ralf talks the most. He can say a lot of different words. His favourite word is "fell down", which he repeats all the time he throws something on the floor. And he likes to do it a lot. He also says "thank you", "mommy", "Piia" (my mom's name; Kert also started with Piia instead of grandma as my mom's name is so easy to pronounce), "car", "no-no" and so on. Fred's and Sten's vocabulary is much more limited. Fred likes to point to various things and say "this", he and Sten also say "thank you". They like to laugh and the most, they like to be naughty (especially Fred).
They all eat our family food by now. Their definite favourites are lasagne and potatoe salad. They drink plum juice and yogurth with a great pleasure. Sometimes they are bad eaters and they start to get picky now. They often refuse the morning porridge. Sometimes they don't eat the dinner... but they always like banana or some other fruits.
They usually sleep from 8.30 p.m. until 8.00 a.m., when it's a good day. Of course, they sometimes see a bad dream and wake up for some moments when I or Erik have to go to their room and calm them down + Fred hasn't given up his milk bottle in the middle of the night; but all in all, I can say that finally I can sleep during the nights. It feels like Heaven! :)
The Autumn has been very, very long and dark this year, but luckily the boys haven't been sick almost at all. Just some running noses and so, but nothing serious. This is the most important, because remembering the crazy days last year with the chicken-pox, I know, that when the triplets are sick, then it's really an emergency situation at home... I hope the boys stay healthy throughout the winter, too.
In good days, it's possible to manage all day alone with the triplets. Erik is especially good at it. With me, the boys are always more picky, they show their feelings, they are easily more cranky and so on. So I'm usually glad when someone comes to help me and for a change, I can spend some time with just 1 boy - so that they all get enough mom's attention.
In conclusion: life with triplets is physically quite demanding, but at the same time, it's a lot of fun to see how our little boys get smarter and smarter day by day.

First snow!

2011-12-07T15:40:00.001+02:00

This year, snow has let itself wait for several weeks. In last 2 years, the start of December has been VERY snowy. But not this year. It has been one looooong Autumn with loads of rain and strong wind. Only yesterday, it finally snowed, at least a little bit to make the ground white.

Today, we used this special moment and went outside, with our neighbours Aune and Glen. There was not enough snow to make a snowman, yet; but at least our boys were curious about this white material which covers the ground. They obviously do not remember anything about snow from last winter (when we had it way too much), as they were still tiny little babies then...

First snow makes the mood always MUCH better. A little bit more snow, and we are ready for Christmas!

How much have they grown?

2011-11-22T21:57:00.001+02:00

Here are two photos - the left one taken in August 2010, when the boys had just arrived home: they sleep inside the triplet-pram. The other photo is taken on last Sunday (20 November 2011), when, out of curiousity, I wanted to try if they still fit to the triplet-pram and if we could take a ride with it. But as you see - it was too tight for them!
Yes, I do not have babies at home anymore... I have 3 little men... :)

All over the house

2011-10-27T20:28:00.000+03:00

Here's a list of 10 things what our boys have managed to do within the last few months... they certainly know how to get on mommy's and daddy's nerves. I wonder how long our house stays in one piece?!?

1. Fred found the baby-oil bottle, opened it and all his clothes were covered with oil.
2. One day I found Ralf with a big butcher knife in the kitchen... My heart stopped. I don't know where the hell did he get it?!?
3. Fred played in the toilet with the WC cleaning brush (this happened, though, when Erik was looking after the kids)
4. Fred broke our floor lamp in the living room. And it wasn't a cheap lamp...
5. Fred climbed to the baking oven, and the others tried to do the same - luckily I caught them in the act, otherwise the door of the baking oven would have collapsed.
6. Fred poured blackberry jam all over Sten's head and shoulders. Sten was very happy about it. :)
7. Fred threw the dog's food around the kitchen.
8. Sten decided that the spoon is the best tool to take out as much ash as possible from the fireplace. The ash was all over the 3 boys' clothes as well as the floor. They were very happy about this achievement and thought they helped their mom a lot.
9. Fred sneaked to the shower room, opened the shampoo and started to wash the floor with it. Besides the floor, he was all covered with the shampoo as well. And he was crying very loudly when he realized, that it doesn't feel nice when the shampoo gets to the eyes.
10. One morning, Erik found Sten OUT of his crib, on the floor. How did he get out of the crib, remains a mystery.

Who's name do you see the most? Yes, FRED is the naughty-boy...

Autumn

2011-10-21T13:38:00.002+03:00

Without noticing, Autumn has arrived long ago.
Today, I decided to take the boys to play with the maple leaves. It was not an easy task! First, just when I finally got them dressed, it started to rain (although it was sunny before). Then we had to wait for some time in our garden before the rain stopped. We took the pushchair and went to look for a maple... We were very surprised - we found only 1! Exactly next to the big road... But it didn't stop the boys playing with the leaves + watching the cars. They had fun!

Playing together

2011-09-14T19:04:00.000+03:00

Recently, in a Triplet Mommy Forum, where I'm a member of, another triplet mommy posted a comment: 'Just can't believe some people say having triplets is easy because they "play together..." It's bloody hard work!!!'

This saying would certainly make me angry, too! Noone, who hadn't had triplets themselves, have a right to say that raising triplets is easy. Because it's not. It's MORE complicated and difficult than you can think of. Double more, at least!

But yes, sometimes triplets do play together. Nicely. And it's so lovely to watch it. Memorize it... You want this moment to last forever! But it stops quite quickly. And a real fight starts again.

From a negative point of you, to be a triplet is like that:
Someone is crabbing the toy, I just started to love, away.
Someone is hurting you when you just thought you were left alone.
Someone is climbing on top of you.
Someone is driving just the car which I want to drive.
Someone is crying next to me and this makes me cry, too.
Someone is there, always, to fight for mom's attention together with me.
And so on...

From a positive point of view, to be a triplet is like that:
Someone makes me laugh.
Some is as small as me, as old as me and as cute as me - it makes the life much safer.
Someone is there to follow. (At the same time - not knowing if the thing to follow is good or bad)
Someone is there to go in bed together, to make jokes together and to wake up together.

Most of the photos I take, I take of the boys together. I just feel this is the right thing to do - they are there with me, always together. And yes, sometimes they play nicely together... :)

Summer-end party

2011-08-27T20:25:00.014+03:00

The last weekend before school starts again (which marks the start of Autumn, too - at least for the families who have schoolkids), we managed to go to Pille's place. It's a yearly tradition for some years now, but last August, we weren't able to do it because of our newborn triplets.
This time, we went there just two us - Erik and I. We have been out and travelling with the boys so much during the summer, that we decided we wanted to have one trip to friends, where we do not need to look after the kids, but just enjoy the party and take part of the sportsgames which are usually organized at Pille's place. Erik's mom looked after the kids and we could go! :)
As always, there were loads of delicious food and nice talks with our friends. The sports games weren't so active this time - only men drew the longbow and shot the target; for women it was moto-sports in schedule, but after 2 trial drives (by me and Pille), we decided it was too dangerous for us and this was cancelled. Maybe next year, we need to pick up safer sports again!
It was a lovely Saturday out in Käbiküla and hopefully, we all meet again... after some weeks already.
Some of the guests + Pille's family in front of Pille's house:

Our dinner with delicious food, wine and beer:

Marju, her son Märten and Pille's daughter Marit:

I managed to complete one circle with the motor-cycle and stayed on it till the end:

Men shooting:

Pille's new dog Peits (I think his name is written "Bates"):

At the doctor's

2011-08-16T20:48:00.006+03:00

Today, we visited the doctor to see how the boys have grown and developed.

And here are the results at the age of 1:

RALF - 9940 gramms and 78.5 cm
FRED - 9480 gramms and 79.5 cm
STEN - 9420 gramms and 79.5 cm
Everything was fine with them, they got the vaccine shot and also the blood was taken, which meant quite angry boys in the end... but they were all happy when we were back at home.

Right now, we try to change the daily routine for the boys. With triplets, routine - similar day by day - is crucial. When you change something, you need to change it for all the boys: all 3 have to be ready for the change. So right now, I'm trying to see if they are ready to sleep 1 day-nap instead of 2. And it seems Sten is not completely ready for it, yet, especially when he wakes up early.

I have a choice now:

1. Keeping all the boys in 2 day-naps shedule and have some free time for my own during the day or
2. Keeping only Sten in 2 day-naps and Fred+Ralf in 1 day-nap shedule and have absolutely NO time for myself, because there's always someone awake...

Obviously, I choose alternative 1, until Sten is ready, too.

The very First Birthday!

2011-08-07T11:28:00.012+03:00

On Thursday, August 4, RALF-FRED-STEN turned 1!
Yes, first BIG birthday arrived... Of course the boys didn't get a clue what's going on (except a lot of guests all day long), but for me, it was an important date: I realized that we have really survived the 1st year with triplets; I'm still alive, I'm still relatively normal and even have quite a good mood (most of the time). Wow! I have to say I'm proud of myself, Erik and Kert.
Looking back - no, I wouldn't want to repeat it. I'll be more than satisfied if those boys will be my last set of triplets. I wouldn't want to go through it again, especially the first six months, when it always felt like I'm functioning at the edge of human limits. On the other hand, in a million years, I wouldn't imagine life without those cute little boys! They are truly wonderful, I just can't stop thinking how lucky I am that they came to our family and that I'm their mommy. When I look at them, all the hard times are forgotten...
The boys had loads of guests for their 1st birthday party and I think everyone had fun. It was good to see all our relatives, friends, small kids... and we were blessed with absolutely wonderful weather in August 4!
Now, for the next birthday, "only" 1 year to wait... and then our boys will have their terrible twos! :)

*PS - the teeth-growing has progressed a lot within the last month. Sten, who was having 0 teeth at the age of 11 months, ended up leading when the boys turned 1! He has 4 teeth now! Fred, who had the first 2 teeth early, is now in the last place, having only those 2 also at the age of 1. Ralf, is in the middle, with 3 teeth. :)*

Some photos from the birthday party:

In the morning, we had small kids with their mommies visiting the boys. There were Marju and Märten, Aune and Glen, Birgit and Kaspar, Merje and Melissa:
In this photo, you can see 5 children, who were born premature (we all met in the NICU unit of birth hospital, all born on 32nd week of pregnancy), all of them are now healthy 1-year-old boys and girls:
Some of our "mid-day" guests (who luckily stayed also for the afternoon party) - our Nanny's daughters Matilde and Emmeline, I and Fred, Eda with her sons Mihkel and Märt:
THE BIRTHDAY CAKE (made by daddy):
Starting to sing for the boys "Happy Birthday" song:
Now, we prepare for blowing off the 1st candle on the cake, the boys are with grandma (Sten), uncle Martin (Fred) and daddy (Ralf):
Boys on the swing:
Grandparents with grandchildren:
Party place - our garden (as you see - perfect weather):

Visiting friends, hosting friends, travelling...

2011-07-27T09:10:00.022+03:00

Summer is so busy! We visit friends, friends visit us, we travel... It's lovely! I never thought I get used to go out with my triplets and don't make a problem of going alone to somewhere with them. I thought it would take at least one more year! But our boys are brave and they are quite good in the car.

When we got back from Muhu island (lovely 2 weeks there!), we went to a trip with Eda, Andres and their kids. I was nervous - the first longer trip with the boys, being away for 2 nights... first destination, in Soomaa Rahvuspark, without electricity and running water (NB - my boys still eat milk during the nights, so I have to have hot water to fill their bottles + water to wash their bottles during the night). But we managed with it and the next night was like a paradise - in an old loghouse with all comforts, in very south of Estonia, in Karula Rahvuspark. We enjoyed it a lot! And the road back - 310 kms - wasn't that bad. When we were at home, we were really sastified - we did it! With 11-months-triplets!
Our first destination in Karusekose, near River Raudna:

The sauna-house where we stayed overnight (we slept in the attick with the boys):
All of us in the morning - our and Eda's family:

Our second destination Järvenukka in Karula Rahvuspark near River Ähijärv:

It was in the middle of the woods and we could pick both wild strawberries as well as blueberries:

This is the house where we stayed at:

On the way back, we made a stop in Tartu and let the boys out from their safety chairs, so they played in the car for a while:

When we were home again, we visited Karin and Simon who is just 1 week older than our boys. They live about 15 kms from us but we had never seen Simon, although we have talked about visiting each other for many times. Now, finally we met him and the boys had fun together.
At Simon's place in Laulasmaa:

After that, we were visited by the other triplets' family - Maarja and her kids Erich, Hindrik and Astra.
The downside of visiting each other (the triplets families) is the fact, that we can't help each other with the kids - both have hands full with our own ones! 6 babies in the house, with only 2 moms, is quite a lot! Luckily the day was very hot and beautiful and our boys spent most of the time in the pool, which gave me and Maarja some chances to talk to each other, too. We were joking, that after some time, we could have a cup of tea and a plate of cake in peace, while our 6 children play with each other... after 4-5 years or so! :) Well, I'm sure one day we get to this point, when it's finally easy with the triplets... or am I too optimistic?
We will not be bored in the coming weeks either. On Sunday, we're taking another road trip for 3 days with our neighbours. And then, it's time for PARTY.... yes, the triplets' 1st birthday is SO CLOSE now!

11 months old

2011-07-04T07:35:00.002+03:00

Ralf, Fred and Sten turn 11 months old today. Those lovely benches with names are the birthday gift from grandpa and grandma.
We are staying in Muhu island right now, for 2 weeks. The first week has been absolutely beautiful - only warm and sunny days. Boys have enjoyed playing with water. We even managed to go to the seaside:
But as it was too much of organizing (needs 3 adults), then mostly the boys enjoy their little pool in the garden, where they three fit very well. They splash so much, that besides them being all wet, it's usually me who is wet, too, in the end!

Fred is like a fish in the pool. He has no fear and almost swims, moving very fast in the water. Ralf and Sten like to sit and make splashes with their hands. Every day, they go to the pool at least twice. They can't imagine their life without the pool anymore! Luckily my friend Eda managed to buy a similar pool to our garden in Tallinn, so we can have similar fun also when we are back at home.

Every day, I pick wild strawberries for the boys. Sten and Fred absolutely love to eat them. Ralf is sceptical, as about every new food. So he prefers to taste one or two, but never more.

Ralf and Fred are now on their feet. How much fun this is for them! Putting them to bed is such a big task... they stand and jump in bed as long as they are out of energy... which usually lasts for at least an hour, especially Fred... sometimes I feel like he never gets tired!

The current situation with teeth: Fred - 2, Ralf - 2, Sten - 0. :)

Summer in my garden - peonies

2011-06-25T11:46:00.000+03:00

Finally, I can write a post about peonies - all of them are blooming now, also the latest one - "Bowl of Beauty", which showed its first opened bloom 3 days ago. Last year - here - I have written down all the peonies I have, only 1 is missing which I bought later when the post was done. It's called "Mother's Choice" and will certainly be one of the highlights among my peonies once it will bloom well (may take some more years; this year it only shows leaves and no blossoms at all).
This summer is surely a summer of peonies - all of them have SO MANY blossoms. I guess the snowy winter really suited for them.
The first peony which opens in my garden, is "Rubra Plena", a deep red very early peony. This year, it showed its first blossoms in June 3:

The two next peonies in full blooms were "Festiva Maxima" and "Sorbet":

I got "Sorbet" accidently - I bought a deep red peony "Peter Brandt" from "Hansplant", but when it showed its blossoms a few years later, it was not "Peter Brandt", but "Sorbet". I was a bit disappointed, because I wanted a nice assortment of red and white (Festiva Maxima), but now I'm used to it. However, I am still thinking of have a red peony in this flower bed as well.

"Sorbet":

"Festiva Maxima":

I have another "Festiva Maxima" together with "Edulis Superba" (pink one, which you see in the following photo), "Karl Rosenfield" (it is later, so in this photo, it doesn't bloom yet) and "Sarah Bernhardt".

"Edulis Superba":

My peony "Boule de Neige" which is white, but has a yellow heart and some red stripes, is still small, but her blossoms are already quite lovely:

"Karl Rosenfield" is indeed a catchy peony - with its deep red colour and yellow heart, it looks just beautiful. Its blossoms are not very heavy, so it doesn't bend to the ground like many other peonies do.

"Karl Rosenfield":

It has both double and half-double blossoms, I do not know why it's so - whether the plant is still too young and the half-double blossoms are a "fault" or it is just it's speciality.

In this photo, there are 4 different peonies together, but from distance, it's hard to distinguish them, except "Karl Rosenfield" which is much darker than other 3.

"Sarah Bernhard" - so beautiful... I have 2 of them, but one doesn't show blossoms, yet.

The latest bloomer among peonies in my garden is "Bowl of beauty". I find it more special than others, because it's Japanese-blossom type peony and therefore different. I like it a lot:

I have 2 plants of them, the second one started to bloom just this year. I do not know what to think, because the blossoms are like that:

Doesn't look like "Bowl of Beauty" at all... but something with simple blossoms! However, you cannot trust the peony blossoms during the first summer. Sometimes, it shows the right ones only when it's bigger and stronger. So I won't make any conclusions, yet. If it remains like that also next summer, then obviously the seller sold me something else!

Peonies are so beautiful, but when it's hot, they bloom too short time...

Saying "Good Night"

2011-06-23T10:24:00.001+03:00

Going to sleep gets funnier and funnier in our house. Especially to Fred. He needs to do at least 100 jokes in bed before he is tired enough to fall asleep. Yesterday, Erik went to the boys' room and found them like you see in this photo. For the first time, Fred and Ralf were up in their beds communicating with each other, saying "Good Night". It was so very sweet! :)

Healthy and Happy

2011-06-21T20:35:00.015+03:00

The past weeks have been a lot of fun with the triplets. Most of the time, they have been very good boys. Ralf has had some problems from time to time - as there's nothing wrong with him when he is on my lap, then I have concluded, that he just wants more of his mom's cuddles. When the boys are healthy, they are usually happy and we have a lot of laughs together. I can even say that it's easy with them (if one can say "easy" at all when there are triplets at home). They get smarter and smarter and it's really fun to observe how they develop their skills.
Ralf has the strongest body. Soon, he will be up on his legs and I'm not surprised if he will be walking by age 1. Fred is the quickest. He goes anywhere with a second. He tries to get things from higher places, too, but has not developed his skills as further as Ralf has. Sten is a bit slower than others. He can crawl and can go whenever he wants, but he is in no hurry.
Now we are waiting for Sunday - we'll leave to Muhu island then. I'm very curious how they will like it there. And how do we manage to pack all our stuff + three babies and their pushchair to the car! But we're going to make it and we are going to enjoy 2 weeks vacation for sure. I have decided to get a vacation also from everything else - my phone is dead anyway, I won't open internet and Facebook - I just rest and charge my batteries!

Ralf: Fred:

Sten:

A wet day

2011-06-14T20:42:00.009+03:00

Today, we had a wet day. First - it was finally raining (good for the nature and our garden!). Second - we took the boys for a swim to a sports centre. It is NOT easy to go a place like this with triplets. I had so many things with me! Everything times three. Towels, napkins, clothes... And when I plan something like this, I need to know who will come with me and the boys, because alone, I cannot go with 3 babies... So my mom and our nanny Pille (+ her 9-years-old daughter Matilde) joined us - for each baby, we had an adult. The car was full - no free seat! :)

It was the first time for the boys to be in a pool. Yes, they knew what water is - we bath them twice a week, but it has always been very shortly (as we have 3 babies to bath) and they have never really played or swam in water. So now it was time and they enjoyed it. At first, they looked very curious and maybe a little scared - so big pools and so much water - but they got used to it quickly and later looked like small fish with a smile on their faces. :)
Going out with triplets, you realize that there is always lack of something. In the dressing-room, there were only 2 places where to put babies when an adult puts her clothes on. So we couldn't put all three babies away to wait us. In the cafe, there was only 1 child chair! So our plan to feed the babies after the swim didn't work out, it was wiser to come home. I'm now thinking - can we ever go out to eat: are there anywhere 3 nursing chairs available?

Apart from those little details, we had a lovely day out and after having 2 successful days out of home (yesterday, we went to visit another triplets-family), I think we are ready for.... ZOO! :)

PS - Peonies and irises are blooming right now... beautiful! More photos soon.

Container gardening

2011-06-13T07:50:00.016+03:00

Finally I'm here to post something about my garden... I can't believe I haven't done it before... and half June - the lovely summer month - has already past! It has been a very hot and a very dry start for the summer. This has resulted short time duration of blooming of flowers which should be bloom in June - for instance, the early peony (Rubra Plena) bloomed only for a week (with cooler weather, it would have bloomed at least for 2 weeks) and the lilacs have almost finished blooming.
This year, due to lack of time, I decided NOT to do much changes in my garden. I just try to keep it in order (which isn't always a success either, having so small kids to look after 24 h). But I do my best!
However, I decided that this year, I invest to container gardening. I have wanted to do it already before, but different pots, baskets and ampels are not very cheap, and summer flowers - which bloom nicely, but last only for 1 summer - are quite expensive as well, especially when you need to buy a lot of them. But nevertheless, I decided to do it - with a thought, that next years, I have all the containers I need and only have to buy the new summer flowers.
Here are some photos of my containter gardening:

10 months old :)

2011-06-04T08:12:00.002+03:00

Today, on a lovely summer day, our boys turn 10 months old. Unbelievable...

For 10 months, I have observed my boys and finally, I can write something about their characters.

RALF

Ralf is a serious guy. He does everything with great dedication, he doesn't joke when he is into something important. When he learnt to crawl, he practiced every move regularly, until he had everything "like it's in a textbook" and then he started to crawl. He's also a cuddler. He loves when someone cuddles him and he has a very kind heart. He doesn't take toys from others and is always good to his brothers. :) He can say "Thank you". To people he knows, he can smile at once. But he is a bit conservative about people he doesn't know. He prefers to observe them first.

FRED

Fred is a joker. He never misses an opportunity - when he sees something, he goes after it. In a second. Never regrets anything - he just needs to try all fun things. I think he will be our big trouble-maker soon. :) I often find him in places he knows he shouldn't be. Fred is very sporty, very quick, full of energy. When he goes to bed, he needs to do 100 funny things before he falls asleep. He likes to tease his brothers - he needs to have all toys they are playing with. He finds it funny when he can get the toys from others' hands.

STEN

Sten is our cutie. He has probably the softest personality and most of the time, just smiles. He loves to swing on his chair and stay peaceful. He loves to communicate with people and is the emotional and intellectual boy. He is very friendly and always smiles to people. But when he is tired, then he is tired - you won't miss it. But inside, he has some strong will, too, as he doesn't let Fred to take his toys. While Ralf gives his toys away without much resistance, then Sten fights for them. He knows they belong to him as he had them first.
HAPPY 10-MONTHS-BIRTHDAY, MY DARLINGS!

More blossoms

2011-05-21T09:16:00.003+03:00

A few days ago, the meadowsweet "Grefsheim" started to bloom with its small white blossoms - I can see it from our kitchen-door and it looks so lovely! Since the forsythia is still blooming too, then it makes a nice assortment with the 3rd bush -Thunberg burberry "Harlequim" with its dark red leaves.
Oh, I love this time of the year - every day, there is something new in the garden!

A Nanny

2011-05-17T18:25:00.009+03:00

"What do you need a Nanny for?" asked my mom, when I told her I'm having another Nanny-candidate for interview coming over. Why do I need a Nanny?!???? I got quite irritated by this question. I've stayed at home with my 3 baby-boys for 9,5 months, mostly by my own, from morning till next morning, always trying to have a good mood, patience, and time for everyone; yet there's a limit.

Maybe I WOULD NOT get a Nanny if any of these conditions would be satisfied:

1. My boys would sleep non-stop from evening till morning.

2. I had someone cleaning the house instead of me.

3. I had someone making dinner for other family members.

4. I had someone to fill the refrigerator for me.

5. At least one of boys' grandmothers were retired and could help me baby-sitting on a regular basis (but both work full-time).

6. I had someone else to talk to Kert, after his school day, asking how he is doing, how are his grades and offer help to study together with him (which he likes so much - to discuss things with someone).

7. I had a gardener.

8. I was married to millionaire and I would not have to think where to get enough economical resources to manage with all the costs we have.

9. My boys were never sick and I would not have to carry someone non-stop leaving other 2 on the floor for the whole day.

10. I had no need or interest to meet my friends and I had zero hobbies.

Since none of these conditions are satisfied, then I have no other choice than to get a Nanny. For the start, once a week for a day off for me and as much as needed for my work-staff.

I'm already dreaming of those days off... Does it make me a worse mother?

***

The only requirement from Kert and Erik for the suitable Nanny was: "She can't be fat" :)

Tulips - part I

2011-05-16T08:55:00.000+03:00

Tulips are in full bloom right now. Only a few, very late tulips, are still waiting to show their beauty. The days have been moderately cool and cloudy and thanks to this, the tulips seem to last longer.
Normally, I choose the flowers to my garden based on the colour. Namely, I do not like yellow flowers (they remind me of dandelion, which, unfortunately is an unwanted and uninvited intruder in my garden of which I will never get rid of...); so I mostly pick pink- and white-coloured flowers, some red (especially roses and peonies), but not yellow. However, yellow tulips are an exception. I have quite a few of them and they are beautiful. I even bought one quite expensive yellow tulip... which blooms indeed nicely!
I know most of the names of my flowers. But with tulips, it's different. Many of the tulips were here before I was here. In the first years, I bought some tulip bulbs from the fairs and didn't get the name with the bulbs. Later years, I, of course, have kept all the names, but among tulips, there are still quite few who's names I know.
These red tulips and white-red tulips are very early tulips. Both of them look lovely, especially when there are no other colours and blossoms in the garden, yet. During first Spring, when I had time, I found them boring, but within years, I have started to love them more and more, especially the red-white tulips, which develop their colours within days - they start being very pale, then adding pink colour, then red and finally even yellow in the heart!

These yellow tulips have been in my garden for about 2-3 years. They are called "Akebono".

Those pink tulips are in one of my roses bed. I know roses and tulips do not fit together well, but as roses start to bloom relatively late, then I wished to have some colour in this part of my garden before, too... So I ignored the rules and put some tulips bulbs in there... However, I'm not completely happy with the colours. I have white and pink tulips there, but the pink colour is quite pale, so maybe I'll change it soon. This tulip is called "Pink Impression".

This tulip is called "Pulse" and looks quite nice together with hazel tree "Contorta".

This tulip must be "Pulse", too, having yellow barberry "Maria" on the backround.

Mother's-Day-Weekend

2011-05-09T09:22:00.016+03:00

The weekend was extra-ordinary lovely:

1. On Friday, I went to the big gardening fair "Luige Laat" and couldn't resist of buying a lot of summer flowers (I know, I know - I have to cover them for the nights, because it can be freezing...). I planted them to summer-pots and the garden suddenly looks so colourful! Just amazing - I can enjoy Spring and Summer again (it feel especially wonderful this year - because last year, I couldn't do that because of my heavy pregnancy).

2. On Saturday afternoon, Erik made sauna and we went outside to sit, on our small terrace of the garden-house (the photo above). The sun was setting, it was quiet and you could feel how Summer is going to be soon here... no words were needed, it was so romantic. :)
3. Both on Saturday and Sunday, the weather was beautiful. After quite cold days earlier this week - it finally got warm and sunny again and I could even take some sun (although just for 20 minutes!) to get a bit of tan, and I and the boys spent lovely time outside on a blanket. The boys explored the grass and Fred found out that it's much better to crawl on the grass than somewhere else.

4. Sunday morning, I was woken up with beautiful anemones which Erik went to pick up early in the morning from the local forest. It was Mother's Day. And I'm a mother of 4... I also got a rose "Lavender Dream" (see photo below), I'll be excited to see its first blossoms.
5. Today morning continued to be good - the boys didn't wake up before Kert's alarm clock rang at 7 a.m.! I think it has never happened before!

Yes, it was an extra-ordinary good weekend! I wish there were many like that...

9 months old

2011-05-05T07:28:00.010+03:00

The boys turned 9 months old yesterday!

I baked a cake for them and we had quite a big birthday party with grandparents and uncle-aunts (we also celebrated my 35th birthday, yes I'm already THAT old!). The boys enjoyed the party and I'm happy that now they are big enough not to be irritated of crowdy house from time to time. They often didn't mind at all that the girls (Emily, Anna and Lisanne) sometimes made big noise; Ralf even fall in his small nap in the living-room just like every day.

We have not been to the doctor for 2 months (and it will be postponed for 2 more weeks because of my unexpected work-obligations which I couldn't change), but at home we weigh the boys and Ralf, the biggest milk-eater, is now 8,7 kg, Fred, quite a good eater, too (but easily vomits) is now 8,5 kg and Sten, a never-hungry-boy, 8,3 kg. I think they all are around 74 cm tall as they wear clothes of this size and they fit now perfectly.

I have intended to write a post about boys' characters, but even right now, I cannot really differiante their characters a lot. Who smiles the most? They are all smily. Sometimes people think that Sten smiles the most, but this is because he is smiling to all people at once. With me, Ralf smiles the most. Who is the most quieter? Sometimes it's Sten, but when he gets tired, then he is crying over anything, even when you touch him. Sometimes it's Ralf when he is swinging in his sitter (he can do it for hours if we let him to) and sometimes it's Fred as he loves to play on the floor for a very long time (not always, of course). Who is the most patient? Again, depends on the mood. I can only tell who is the biggest eater: definitely Ralf! And it shows in his face, too! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my darlings!

All my darlings together: my own 4 children and niece Lisanne + Erik's nieces Emily and Anna

Spring in my garden - Vol I

2011-05-02T10:54:00.008+03:00

For about a week, we had beautifully warm and sunny weather - and many early spring flowers are now in blossoms: early tulips, narcissuses, bluebells, early primroses. More and more colours in the garden - lovely!
Unfortunately now, it's cold again, so it will slow down the growth of the flowers, but I'm sure it soon goes warmer again and I can enjoy even more colours in my garden!

The bluebell:

Red early tulips:

Early primrose:

2 moms for 6 babies

2011-04-29T08:56:00.010+03:00

The days are continously sunny and nice. It's good to take walks with the boys. Yesterday, it was a historical day, when Maarja - another mom of triplets - joined us with her children; so we were out with 2 triplets' prams. I think you do not see such an appearance often. Luckily the children slept most of the time, so we didn't need to deal with 6 crying or angry babies at the same time!

Later, the boys slept in the garden and we could have some chat with Maarja. Sure there's always a lot to talk with her and we never have enough time... it would be nice to get together without 2 x triplets one day, but I doubt this day ever comes! :)

PS - My boys made a late-birthday gift for me: yesterday they slept until 7.30 a.m.!!! They tried to wake up at 5.20 as usual, but I somehow managed to put them back to sleeping positions and they slept for 2 more hours. It felt so strange! I think the bad days are over, for now, and I can enjoy our lovely days together again - me fresh and boys happy!

Every-day life with triplets

2011-04-27T09:24:00.006+03:00

Let me be weak on my birthday... Just for a moment. I'm allowed to feel like that, right?

Yes - raising triplets is not easy. The past week has been extra-ordinary difficult.

1. The boys have stopped eating milk properly. They play and make fun over it, they are never hungry and it takes ages to get one bottle of milk (150 mL) inside them. I cannot feed 2 boys at the same time anymore, they take long breaks while eating and to feed 3 boys in a row is a biiiig challenge. I would not worry, but when we weigh them each time before the bath, then the reality is, that they hardly gain any weight, sometimes they even loose weight... I'm worried and I don't know what to do. Luckily they eat "normal" food (vegetables, porridge) quite well, so at least they get some energy from them. Sten eats almost no milk during the day-time. He jokes around so much. He is hungry only during nights, never in the day-time. And I wonder where does he take the energy to feel happy and playful?!?

2. The boys have stopped their good sleeping routine during the day-time. They used to sleep 3 hours in a row outside in the pram. It gave me time to make a dinner, to clean, to work in the garden, to WASH myself or something like that. Now, it's only a wish! Yesterday, Sten slept exactly... for 45 minutes! Fred slept 1,5 hours. Ralf slept 2 hours. So to have a break for 45 minutes from the boys... it feels like nothing. Absolutely nothing. I manage to clean their room, go to the toilet and that's it.

3. The boys have stopped sleeping during the mornings, too. They are awake around 5.20...5.30, if we are lucky, then 5.45! And "on the go" at once. Before they used to stay in their beds and play there for a while, but now they are so active, that do a lot of clining and put their legs somewhere they cannot get them out anymore and then start to scream. Of course I cannot then stay in my bed anymore. And I feel like I JUST went to sleep after their last eating at night. Urrr... when the morning starts already like that, then I'm dead tired by 10 in the morning! And I still have 9 hours after that...

4. The boys want to reach every toy they see, but they still cannot crawl properly, yet. It makes them angry. I have to be close all the time to give them everything. Besides, they want to sit and play because then they see better. But they cannot sit properly yet. And they only have 1 mom, and I can support only 1, or maximum 2, kids while they want to sit and play... So I have too few hands!

5. The days are warm and beautiful and I wish I could stay in the garden with them a lot more. But since they do not sit and the ground is still a bit too cold, then I cannot really put 3 babies anywhere - again, I only have 1 me.... and not more. One is sitting on my lap while we are outside, but where do I put 2 others?

6. I'm lucky I already work. To go to work, once a week, on Wednesdays, is a vacation for me. I love my boys a lot, but I need some break, too, from this busy, busy, busy, busy life. And work is a vacation right now. I envy Erik - he shuts the door every morning to go to work for 8 hours and REST from being his hands tied every second . He can go to the shop when he wants. He can go to do sports when he wants. He can go photographing when he wants. He just walks out. I.... can NEVER do that. A life of a mom... I know! I'm now seriously thinking of getting a nanny. 1 day a week, 8 hours in a row. So that I can shut the door and walk out, too. Do something else. Then come back fresh and enjoy all the busy life again...

I let myself to be weak only today. On my birthday. I'm allowed to do that, right? From tomorrow, I'll enjoy everything again! I love my boys...

Achivement by Erik

2011-04-24T22:46:00.008+03:00

Finally, Erik got what he deserved - after many years of dedicated photographing, he won a prize in our main nature-photo competition "Nature Year Photo 2011". I'm really proud of him - among 1850 participants and 11000 photos... to be one of the best! Amazing. I know I could never achieve something like that in my entire life.
This photo, called "Fervent Singer", won a 2nd prize in "Animals in Action" category + a special reward from Estonian Ornitology Society and the State Forest Management Centre.

***

I don't even remember how many early mornings this photo required... just waking up, morning my morning hoping that one day, this magical moment unrolls in front of you. And one morning, it really did - a lucky morning for Erik.

***

A hard life of being a photographer's wife will be awarded, too - one of the awards included a weekend away in a forest house. In summer, we'll take our kids and go...

Happy Easter!

2011-04-22T21:10:00.003+03:00

Today, it's Easter Friday. The day was absolutely beautiful - sunny and warm. The boys enjoyed both their morning- and day-nap in the garden. We sat on the terrace and showed the world to the boys. For them, everything is new... so they have a lot to discover!
I had this photo in mind since the day when I bought the boxes. Those boxes are actually to keep boys' clothes in their room. But I thought they would look cute in them. I waited for the right moment to take this shot, and when Easter time was geting closer, I realized it will be a perfect time. And it was perfect time - because they enjoyed sitting there very much and found it funny! :) So here they are - our 3 little Easter bunnies... we love them so much!
The rabbits, with ribbons with boys' names, are a gift from my dear Nowergian penpal Annette. The lovely Tigger t-shirts are a gift from our neighbours for boys' 6-months-birthday. Thank you, and HAPPY EASTER! :)

Outside

2011-04-20T10:29:00.007+03:00

Spring has definitely arrived. The grass is getting greener, the days warmer and all snow has melted away, finally. Yesterday, I took the boys to the garden - on the grass - for the first time. I want them to get used to our big rottweiler Tony (who is very friendly, but of course there have been no 3 babies in his territory before) and vice versa. First try was successful and noone cried! :)

Today, in the morning, I noticed the first hepatica! Wow, it came unexpected! Just yesterday, I was in the garden working and I didn't see any, and today morning, it was there! This is so nice, finally the nature starts to wake up. So far, I've had only snowdrops, snowflakes and crocuses in the garden.

When the day is sunny and quiet, we go for walks. Thanks to Maris, a wonderful friend, we have a red cool pram to walk with and for the kids to look out to the world. They like it very much! Often, we ask our neighbour-boy Glen and his mom Aune to join us.

1st of April - Spring Signs and Fools' Day

2011-04-03T12:30:00.008+03:00

The 1st day of April brought a nice surprise - I noticed the VERY FIRST snowdrop in my garden! Is Spring really on the way now? The boys were fooling around on Fools Day':

R.I.P.

2011-03-30T10:33:00.004+03:00

Today, I bow my head in grief. I bow my head in honour of a young woman who didn't deserve to die at so young age. So unexpectedly. My dear friend said good-bye to her sister, forever, yesterday. Nothing is the same for her since this moment.

Why is life often so fragile? Why is life often so unfair? Why are two small children left without their mom's love and care and intimacy? Why are no words enough to comfort?

Only the Wind knows the Answer. Sigh. I light the candle.

Playing is fun, sickness is not...

2011-03-27T11:46:00.003+03:00

When our boys are healthy, then they are happy and every new toy is exciting. They love to play. They love to put everything in their mouth. They love to smile when a mom does something funny. They love to laugh when someone lifts them very high up. They are full of life, full of joy and our house is loud, in a good way.

When our boys are sick, then their mood is bad. No toys are interesting for them. They watch with their sad eyes and my heart gets worried. I know they feel bad, but I can't make it away... until they fight themselves to go the sickness away. They cry and our house is loud, in a sad way.

This week, both have happened. In the start of the week, the boys were sick. One day, in the morning, I found Ralf had temperature, 38 C, and he was very dizzy. After an hour, Sten and Fred were exactly the same - with temperature, sick, dizzy. Luckily it lasted only for a few days and the temperature didn't get very high (only up to 38.6 C), but I was home alone for 2 long days from morning till night, with 3 SICK babies, and it was exhausting. One point, I was just crying together with the crying boys. I felt my power is finished. But of course I had no choice than gather myself together and go on. Noone would do that for me, right? And from that moment, it got better for the boys, too. We don't know what was wrong with them, but it was definitely a virus, and they developed red spots, too. Kert had something similar. German measles (punetised)? Probably. These photos are taken before and after the boys' sickness. You see - normally, they are very happy and laughing!

Spring is in the air...

2011-03-14T17:02:00.009+02:00

Today, it's the first Spring day outside. The temperature is +7 degrees, the sun is shining, the air smells really spring-like, the birds are singing and the snow is melting... Yes, all this HAS TO create a great mood! I took the boys' prams outside to the garden (I cannot walk with them, yet, as there's too much snow) and stayed outside myself for a while, too. It has been a long winter and now it's really time for Spring to arrive - I'm looking forward to the new gardening season and all the colours what nature brings. There are no Spring flowers in the garden, yet, but I have had lots of tulips inside the house - first, it was Women's Day, when I got tulips from Erik and my brother and then, it was Erik's birthday yesterday when he got some more tulips - so I can enjoy the Spring colour inside the house right now! :)
The tulips on our dining table on Women's Day:

The tulips on our dining table on Erik's birthday:

And some photos of the boys, too:

7 months old

2011-03-04T17:00:00.006+02:00

Today, boys turned 7 months old. The past month has absolutely flied! I feel like it was just yesterday, when they had the 6-months-birthday and now already 1 month later! However, within this month, the boys have developed incredibely. Especially the mental development. They try to figure out how the toys work - for example, yesterday Ralf learnt how to push a button of a certain car which makes a noise. I showed to him how to do it and later he did it himself, many times, pushing the button very hard (because with a soft push, it doesn't work). So he learnt the point very quickly. Sten and Fred have figured out how a certain dolphin works when you pull it from a "tail". Then it starts to tremble. They are all geting smarter and smarter, each day brings something new and for me, it's so interesting to follow it.
Physically, the development is not as quick as a normal child has since they were so packed together in my belly and therefore, they need a little bit more time to make all their muscles going and strong. But Fred is the strongest - he can roll over both from belly to back and from back to belly and is so excited about it: the most, he loves to do it, when I tell him and then, he is happy when I say "Oh, how smart boy you are!".
Here I wrote about boys' characters. Now - 5 months later - I planned to do the same and write how they have changed. But I gave a thought about it, and right now, I can't really make huge differences in their characters. They change so quickly! One week, Fred is a "mommy's boy", another week Ralf acts like that and so on. All I can say, is that they all are very good boys. Ralf has been probably the easiest, usually, because he falls asleep the best; but then Fred can be a very good boy, too, playing on his own for several minutes; and Sten is the happiest boy - he always laughs when you look at him. Actually all of them are incredibely laughing joyful boys. The photos prove it - I did nothing special to make them laugh, it's how they are! Once again I have to admit: I cannot be happier... those boys are a blessing!

Change

2011-02-27T17:21:00.003+02:00

After many weeks of thinking, considering, hesitating and finally deciding and cleaning - we moved the boys to their own room. Yes, from yesterday they live "next door". :)

The main reason for that was the nights... I know this is going to sound whiny, which isn't my intention at all (especially as I do not want to make an impression that I'm not happy about becoming a mom of triplets and all the incredible experience I'm going through), but some days ago Erik was reading some posts of my blog and commented that my post are mostly cheery and make the parenting of triplets look so easy, and in reality - it's not. So, without wanting to sound like a complainer, I write the truth here: I'm NOT looking forward to the nights anymore. It's crazy... most of the time.

It all went so well until the boys got the chicken-pox. Until that point, I had managed to train the boys to eat only around 3.30 a.m. and not before. It meant some very good hours of sleep to me. But during the chicken-pox weeks I fed the boys as often as they wanted since I thought they might be thirsty due to the fever. And after that, we never got the good routine back. The boys really fool me during the nights! It's not possible to sleep in the same room with them anymore.

Let me describe you a typical night:
At 8.45 p.m., the boys start to eat. Usually it goes well, as far as Ralf and Fred are concerned. They eat well and go to sleep with no problem. Sten refuses to eat, but we have got used to this as well - it's just NOT possible to feed a 6-month-old boy if he doesn't want to. He shuts his mouth and that's it. Finished. No way I can force him to open it! So we leave him hungry and put him to bed. He normally wakes up around 10 p.m. and eats his milk while sleeping. So I'm not worried of this anymore. From 10.15 until around 11.45 the boys sleep really well. But I do not go to sleep so early, because I need to pump out the milk + I want some "MY" time, too. Otherwise it feels like I'm a slave of the boys. So I normally go to sleep around 11.15 p.m. and manage to sleep around 30 minutes before the circus starts. First, Ralf usually wants to eat around 12. Or at least I think he wants. Sometimes he eats, sometimes he doesn't. Around 1, Sten eats and usually I wake up Fred to eat during that time, too, because otherwise, I cannot sleep during "the first part" at all. from 1.30 t0 3.30 it's usually quiet, well, good nights are. I try to sleep. But after that... it's just crazy! The boys try to wake up at every reason. A tummy is lost... they are bored... they think it's more interesting to look around (even when it's deadly dark)... If not before, then Ralf is surely awake at 4. During that time, at 4, the boys used to eat before, but now they just fool around. As Ralf and Sten are sleeping in the same bed, then they do anything to wake each other up. Ralf invented a way how to do it: he bounces. How does it work? He lifts his legs very high up and then, with free fall, he lets them down to make a nice bounce with a big sound. Oh how he enjoyes it. He doesn't do it once, twice or three times, he does it 30 times in a row. To make sure Sten is awake, too. Quickly Sten learnt to do the same thing, so they are now bouncing by turns.

If Ralf gets bored, he can also play with bed sticks - he hits them with fingers to hear how it sounds. I'm happy if they finally fall asleep before they are up again, sometimes at 6, sometimes at 7. And how many hours of sleep have I got? I guess I can count the minutes and not the hours...

Yes, I've had it enough. I wanted my bedroom back. Hoping that maybe, after moving the boys to their own room, they finally start to sleep. Like normal babies! :)

The first night in separate beds in their own room was yesterday. It was not more awful as a normal night. I only went to their room maybe 25 times at night. I do have a bed for myself in their room, too, but right now, I do not plan to move there. I think we might succeed and one day, they let me sleep, too.

We changed Kert's old bedroom to the triplets' room as it was the largest. Kert was happy to get a new room with new bed and TV. I'm quite happy with the result of the triplets' room, however, I'm going to make some decorations for the walls - to make the room more childish.

The boys' room:

The boys at Kert's new room and bed:

Addiction

2011-02-26T13:40:00.004+02:00

I have to confess: our boys are addicted.... to singing!
Yes, at once you start singing to them, they do not allow you to stop anymore. You have to go on and on... at once you stop, the boys start to scream. At once you continue, they are quiet and happy again. We have SPOILT them with singing!
Therefore our evenings at home are very loud - if I'm with the boys, then I sing. If Erik is with the boys, then he sings. The boys don't mind which melody or words we use - it doesn't matter, as long as we sing! So we invents songs about anything. Sometimes I think that it's easier to play them recorded songs, but this doesn't work - they want alive performance!
On Sunday evenings, when we bath the boys, we need help. Kert is usually helping us - he looks after 2 boys who are not in the bath while we bath the 3rd boy. I have told to Kert, that he has to sing for the boys. Kert says back to me: "No. I won't do that. I can't sing". When we return to the room with the boy who has just bathed, I hear Kert singing!
So there's an option -
Not sing. The boys are angry and cry.
Sing. The boys are happy and quiet.
As simple as that!
Sten:
Ralf:

Fred:

Is it too cold?

2011-02-17T12:53:00.011+02:00

Having babies in a Nordic country brings you to a dilemma sooner or later:

Is it too cold to bring the child out to sleep the day-nap?

How cold is too cold?

My boys have always slept 2.5-3 hours outside, or being precise, in our garden house which is not heated. No matter what the weather is. In February, we always have a cold period and this year, it's this week. My boys are sleeping outside right now and it's -17C.

It is said that there is no too cold weather, but the wrong clothing.

So, keeping that in mind, I have packed my boys in every possible way, when they go out.

First - woolen jumper and woolen pants, woolen socks, normal hat, woolen hat.

Second - warm winter overalls, warm blanket inside their cocoons.

Third - sheep skin inside the baby-pram.

Fourth - sheep skin oustide the baby-parm.

Every day, when I take the babies inside, after 3 hours, they are all warm and happy.

I think I should not worry, that it's too cold?

*****

Apart from the coldness, it's beautiful outside! I just love the first sunny winter days when the sun goes higher again: it shows that Spring is not far away....

Pumpkin

2011-02-10T10:01:00.002+02:00

Our boys are not small anymore. They do not eat only mother's milk anymore! Yes, last week we started with the first "real" food. And it's my favourite vegetable - nice home-grown pumpkin.

I did some calculations: during the last 6 months, I've pumped about 45 L mother's milk to my boys - which has resulted their growth (alltogether) of 16 kg (at least half of it, as from the 3rd month, I have given them infant formula, too). To be honest, I'm more and more tired of doing the milk-pumping and at least twice a day, I'm thinking of stopping it. I have reached my aim to do it until the boys are 6 months old (actually, my first aim was to pump until Christmas) and I shouldn't feel any regrets if I stop, but somehow, days pass and I still do it. I don't want my boys to leave out from the mother's milk!

Maybe now, when I see, that they can easily eat vegetables as well, I can let it go and stop the pumping-milk which takes so much of my free time.

So, the first vegetable to try, is PUMPKIN. I had a biiig home-grown pumpkin at home, which I especially kept for the time when boys start to eat normal food. I baked it in the owen (it was so big, that I had to cut it half) for 1.5 hours and then, mashed it with a mixer and put small portions to the mini-grip bags to freeze the puree. Each day, I take one bag, defrost and heat it, ready to eat.

It's funny to observe how the boys react to the new food. Each of them have their own opinion! Sten started to like pumpkin at once. By now, I have given pumpkin to the boys for 7 days and Sten loves it - he can eat as much as you give him. Fred, was so-so. He was a bit suspicious to decide if it's eatable or not, but finally decided to trust his mom and eat it. Not as well and much as Sten, but still OK. Ralf, on the other hand, was very angry when I put the spoon with pumpkin to his mouth. He made awful faces like it tastes real bad and every time, I try to give him the pumpkin, he first hits the bowl with his hand hoping I give up and won't try again. But I'm a stubborn mom and try until he eats it...

Tomorrow, the boys get another vegetable to their menu - the cauliflower.

Looking back...

2011-02-06T21:52:00.004+02:00

It's funny to see how the boys have developed during their first 6 months. I put together 4 different photos, starting from 2 weeks of age finishing with their 6-months-photo. At the age of 2 weeks, they were 45 cm tall (Ralf and Fred) and 40 cm tall (Sten) weighing 1800 gramms (Ralf and Fred) and 1600 gramms (Sten). At the age of 6 months, they are 67 cm tall and 7 kg (Ralf and Fred) and 6.7 kg (Sten).

6 months old

2011-02-04T09:43:00.015+02:00

Half a year has passed since our family got a large extension: the triplets are 6 months old!

This post is all about saying "THANK YOU".

First, I want to thank my boys: 1 big and 3 small boys. They have made my life, so far - and surely in the future, too - worth living with great joy. Together with them, I grow every day. I thank Kert for being such an understanding son, for being a wonderful big-brother and for being so proud of our baby-boys Ralf, Fred and Sten.

Second, I want to thank Erik... for puting up with all the crazy days, what we have had over the 6 months. For leting me sleep on some mornings, when I just don't find energy to go on anymore; for leting me to go out from time to time to fresh my mind and for helping me enormously...

For the physical help, I need to thank also boys' grandmas Anne and Piia, especially for the night-shifts, and for our night-nanny Inger as well as my friend Marju. During the 6 months, Marju has come once a week to give a helpful hand for me. I'm sure she would come for more weeks, if there wasn't a tiny-little-problem - she'll give birth to her own baby-boy just any days now...

For the material help, I need to thank, the most, Helen - aunt of the boys - who has organized so many useful baby-stuff for us; Aune - our dear neighbour - doing the same thing (especially helping with all cute baby-clothes!), my brother and Taimi (for giving all Lisanne's baby-stuff for us) and boys' grandpa Toomas (without the family-van, it would have been impossible to get out of home with the boys).

There are number of other people to thank for - for example Kristi (ironing our clothes!), Kristi's mom, my friends Eda, Cindy, Svana (for knitting) , my father (cooking!), the triplets-mom Maris (for moral-help), the twin-mom Hanna (for sharing experiences) and many many more...

Thank you for supporting us! :)

Photos...

4 brothers, 2 weeks ago:

My friend Marju with Ralf a couple of weeks ago:

Grandma Anne feeding Sten and Fred during last weekend:

Grandma Piia when Sten was still very small...:

Our night-nanny Inger, when we were still in the hospital:

My brother, Lisanne and the boys (in the hospital, boys are 10 days old):

Sometimes

2011-02-01T09:35:00.006+02:00

Sometimes, it's easy with 3 babies and sometimes it's not. As simple as that.

On Sunday, we were visited by Erik's relatives Andra and Ülle (daughter and mom; Ülle is actually my mom's class-mate in primary school). The boys had just woken up from their day-nap and were super-good. Andra said after an half an hour, that "it doesn't seem difficult to take care of 3 babies at all". After having such a success with Andra and Ülle, I decided to invite our neighbour boy Glen (1 year and 2 months old) with his mom Aune here. They came yesterday morning. At first, the boys were good. I took boys downstairs and we played and Glen walked and run around, everything was new and interesting for him. It was a new situation for boys, too - another small child in their home.

After an hour, it was boys' eating-time. I thought that it would be nice to try to feed them downstairs (which I haven't done before). But this was a big mistake. The boys were OK to handle one new thing -another small child -; but weren't ready to handle two new things - besides the small child, also to eat downstairs, in another environment than they usually do. Fred took a sip of his milk and then, he stopped and started to scream. Very loud. It scared Sten and he started to scream as well. Ralf was the only one who didn't bother to eat downstairs. I couldn't calm Fred and Sten down, especially as I cannot hold two babies. My third eye was watching Ralf - if he is still eating or already refused; but I wouldn't have a hand to help him anyway. I took screaming Fred upstairs hoping he'll calm down when he sees his normal eating place. Aune took Sten upstairs, who suddenly seemed not hungry at all. Then we had Glen upstairs, exploring everything. But Ralf was still downstairs... I didn't really handle the situation anymore - how to take Ralf upstairs when Fred is still screaming, not refusing to go away from my lap, and Sten not in his best mood either. Finally Aune said she'd get Ralf while I observe what mischief Glen is up to. Fred was still crying. He refused to eat, although he was totally hungry. All limits were exceeded for him. Ralf arrived upstairs, luckily agreed to eat his milk till the end. But then he was so sleepy that wanted to go to his day-nap. Sten hadn't even started his milk and seemed not hungry. Fred refused continously to eat. What to do? Yes, the time plan was upside down.

When Glen and Aune went to another room, Fred finally started to eat. At the same time, I quickly put Ralf, who was half-asleep on his clothes and ready to go outside to sleep. He agreed to wait all dressed up, in his cocoon. When Fred finished, I did the same with him. I ran with the two cocoons downstairs, out to the garden and then through the snow, to the garden-house (I think each of the cocoons weigh 10 kilos now) and put them to their pram. Sten was waiting me upstairs, I knew I had to deal with him while others are asleep, and I hoped he isn't crying while I'm away, with 2 other boys.

When finally I had fed Sten as well and put him to his day-nap, too, then I came inside and just sat down to the sofa. I had no energy anymore. And I had planned so much duties for myself during the boys' day-nap! But I did nothing. I turned on TV and just watched it. It was skiing, young boys, and I didn't know any names. But it didn't matter - I just had to relax.

So - sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not. As simple as that.

Andra and Ülle:
Glen with the boys:

Favourite toys

2011-01-28T17:10:00.009+02:00

The boys develop their playing skills right now - they can crab toys with both hands, put them to the mouth or move the toy until it makes a noise. Quickly, they have picked their favourite toys - in some ways, they are better than others, maybe just right for their age, because all boys like the same toys.

Toy no 1 is definitely a clown in the frame. It makes a loud noise with a very small effort of moving and the frame around it is just right size for the boys to crab with both eyes.

Toy no 2 is an octopus - it crackles when you touch it and it has several legs to crab in, all in different colours. Boys find it very funny!

Toy no 3 is a centipede. It has very bright colours and again, many legs, to crab in and it's soft and cute.

We'll see how long those toys remain their favourites. We have loads of different toys, so they can pick new favourites soon! :)

****

Actually, the importance of toys in babies' life is overrated. The best entertainment, from our experience, is a jumping, dancing, singing mom in front of the boys, who besides those 3 actitivites makes funny faces and strange noises - this is what keeps the boys in their best mood!

Royal

2011-01-20T10:50:00.004+02:00

Some weekends ago, Erik went to Saaremaa island to photograph eagles. This is practically the only shot he got from this trip. He named the photo "Royal" as eagles are one of the most majestic birds who we have in Estonia.
Photographed by Erik, January 2011, Saare county

Boys vs Chickenpox - 3:0

2011-01-17T13:53:00.005+02:00

Finally, my boys have beaten the chicken-pox! Yes, all of them are recovering well and my "old" boys are back:
Smily Ralf is back.
Sporty Fred is back.
Cuty Sten is back.

I'm relieved! Of course it takes time before the spots are gone, but they are healing and the boys mood is back to normal, or almost normal. And clearly it takes time to get our normal routine back, too, - so for some more days and nights, I have to bear with more whining and grumpiness and mood swings, but this is a piece of cake next to chicken-pox fight!
What is our normal daily routine?
Let me tell you:
The boys wake up usually around 8.30...9.00. This is great, because I'm a late-sleeper and do not fancy an idea for the boys getting up in the middle of the night like some kids do!
Then, they usually play on their own - either in their beds or I take them to our large bed and they are playing and talking to me, while I am still in bed half-asleep.
Around 10.00 we have the breakfast. The boys usually get formula then - each of them eat 120 mL. Then I take boys either to the sitter or under playing arch and we all play until 11.00 or a bit more. By that time, boys are getting grumpy and it shows that they need a small morning nap. Sometimes, they all fall asleep on the same time (which gives me a chance to get a breakfast myself, too), but often they sleep in a little different times and my hands are occupied all the time. I also need to find time to pump the milk for them.
Lunch for the boys is at 12.30. All of them eat 130 mL breastmilk then and usually, it takes quite a time, because they play with the bottle, they try to talk to me while eating and so on... But finally, the bottles are finished and we start to prepare for the long day-sleep.
Usually, after geting all the boys to their clothes, cocoons and out to the pram, it's around 13.30. They fall asleep very well outside, so I don't need to swing the pram for a long time. I go back to the house then and first, sit down for 5 minutes to rest. I just do nothing, stare in front of me and gain the energy to start with... cleaning the boys' room, sorting clothes which need to be washed, feeding the dogs, pumping the milk and if lucky, finding time also to eat something and maybe... (but not every day) go to the shower. :)
The boys usually sleep for 3 hours. I wake them up around 16.30, but usually some of them is making noise around this time, too, so it shows that it's the time to go and take them inside again. They are having their milk again, around 130 mL. After sleep, they are in good mood and can play alone for a while, which gives me a chance to read my e-mails or do something else, like paying bills or whatever is urgent. Soon they want to me to be playing with them, so it's only a few free minutes.
They usually sleep their small evening nap, for 15-20 minutes, at 18.30 and after that, they eat again, around 19.00. The last two hours are quite difficult - the boys are tired of the long day and I am tired, too... We just try to pass it by, sometimes with better moods, sometimes with a bit grumpy moods... but finally 21.00 comes and I prepare the boys for the night sleep - we put night goans on and I give boys the breast milk to eat. Often, they eat more than 130 mL. Fred and Ralf can eat even up to 200 mL. By 22.00, ideally, the boys are in their beds sleeping. Of course it doesn't happen so every day... someone is craying, someone has lost the dummy, someone doesn't fall asleep and so on. But by 23.00 we usually have the quietness at home and after I've pumped the milk, I go to bed, too.
In the night, ideally, the boys eat twice. I always wake up Erik, too, because it's easier with 2 people and it gives me a chance to go to the other room for milk-pumping and get "my own time". Yes, in the middle of the night, I'm having my own time, twice for 30 minutes, to read a book, a magazine, a newspaper...
And, then the new morning comes and we start our routine again.
Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Well, if someone wants to try it, you are welcome! :) I'd gladly go on a holiday for a few days! :)

Current situation

2011-01-14T11:23:00.004+02:00

I hope, that next time, I can write the sentence "Getting better...". Today, I cannot write it, yet. The situation is the hardest with the boys right now. It's the 5th day and with Fred, it was the last hardest day, but with Ralf and Sten, it seems that the difficult days are just starting... They were with relatively good mood until yesterday - until there were still fewer spots than Fred had. But today night, the situation changed - both Ralf and Sten got so many new spots and the previous ones are big and ugly and aching, so they really seem to suffer more than Fred did... he recovered quicker. Sten is in the worst situation now. It's strange - he started with 6 spots only, the next day 30 spots and now, he has as much as Fred had - I think 1000 spots is not exaggeration at all. And he is so sad about it, I know... it all aches and itches! Ralf, I want to believe, has the last hard day today and tomorrow, he'll feel a bit better.

So, right now, we do not cope without help at all anymore. Since today night, we need 3 people to take care for the boys - 1 person per boy... because Fred, who is now healthy, needs attention and care, too, and someone has to prepare the milk, wash the clothes (oh, how many green clothes we are having right now!) and do all other work around the house.

So we have a shedule now:

Yesterday, my friend Marju helped me. Kert was home early and he was helping me, too. Today night, my mom came to help us. Erik took a free day from work, too, to stay at home today. My mom stays until our night-nanny Inger comes. She stays the next night. And waits until Erik's mom comes... she stays for Saturday and the following night. And waits until my mom comes again... Hard - but no other way: we have to cope!

For last 2 days, I've been seriously thinking of giving up pumping the breast-milk. It's already too frustrating and stressing for me, because I cannot find time for it anymore... and during the nights, it's especially hard, because it steals all those precious minutes when instead, I could sleep (yes, right now we count our sleeping in minutes, not in hours anymore). I do it only... because I feel sorry for the boys so much. And maybe the breast-milk will help them to recover quicker.

I had no idea that chicken-pox can be so difficult for small babies! Please, please, please... make this night-mare to be over within the current week!

Chicken-pox ralley no 2

2011-01-10T11:17:00.003+02:00

Yesterday, when we thought that life is almost back to normal - Fred has recovered from chicken-pox and we could re-locate him together with other boys again - I discovered the chicken-pox spots on Ralf and Sten... after we did the bath.
The reality hit me soooo hard. Do I really have to go through all this again, having a crying, aching, sad, impassive, sensitive baby again - and this time, not 1 baby, but 2 at the same time?!? Oh, do I have strength to do it? I was so sad yesterday night... I struggled a lot when Fred was sick and the others were healthy, and I cannot imagine the situation can be even harder, because it was the hardest I could deal with. And now, I'm having sick Ralf and sick Sten...
Fred still has spots, too, but all of them are healing well. Today Ralf and Sten still have relatively good mood and their spots are only in the developing-phase, so they do not itch, yet. The hardest days with Fred were the day 3, 4 and 5. I'm scared of those days with Ralf and Sten...
I'm mad at God right now - why did he create viruses to the world?!??

Prediction for this week: many sleepless nights and lots of baby-cries...

5 months old

2011-01-04T11:55:00.002+02:00

5 months have flied since I gave birth to my three beautiful baby boys. It has been an amazing journey to grow together with them - to grow as a mother and as a human being (read: to grow more patient, more peaceful, less-restless in my soul and less-worried) and to experience again, that nothing - absolutely nothing - is comparable against the love to your child.

With these 5 long (feels quite short, actually!) months I have realized, that:

1. I've learnt to love the routine - nothing works better in your daily-life with triplets

2. I can delegate some boring house-jobs to the others, which I never did before

3. I can actually wake up early with a good mood ready to take care for my boys (waking up early has always been my weak side)

4. It takes so little to feel happy... - a smile from any of my boys can make me forget all the difficult and tiresome days

5. I can never stop thinking about my boys, wherever I am...

It has taken 5 months to find out those 5 things.

Happy 5-months-birthday, my darlings!

Getting better...

2011-01-03T16:20:00.004+02:00

Thank you, all friends, for your kind words and support!

Today I can report that Fred's health is getting better and so far, Ralf and Sten are spotless. I guess it's no use to hope that they will remain spotless, but at least some gap gives me a bit of time to gain strentgh before I have to face the spots and cries again...

My mom was here again for 1 night and half day and this was a big help - she was together with Fred, holding him and comforting him while I took care for the "twins". Fred got really better last night when he got some good sleep and today, he agreed to take a day-nap in his pram-cocoon, which I placed to our sauna rest-room which is very cool as we haven't heaten it. It clearly shows that he has beaten the chicken-pox - the previous days, he agreed to sleep only on my or my mom's lap...

However, we still need help to deal with the situation because we have decided to keep the boys separated until there's still little hope that maybe the other boys didn't catch the virus. Fred stays in Kert's room for the whole week (or until we see the spots on other boys) and we have asked my friend Marju and our night-nanny Inger to come and help us during the day time when Erik is at work. Probably Fred feels back as normal already after a couple of days (but he'll remain "green" probably for a longer time!), so he can enjoy my full attention, which will be a bonus for him after suffering so much because of the chicken-pox.

I will not show any photos of Green-Fred today, but I show the photos taken before his illness - the boys learn to be on their bellies right now!

Ralf and Fred:
Sten:

Happy New Year...

2010-12-31T17:52:00.004+02:00

I hope that all of my friends have a nice New Year's Eve right now.
Here, at our home, it is VERY different than previously. Fred is awfully sick, with chicken-pox. For such a small child, being also pre-mature with underdeveloped immune-system, it's a hard disease to beat. Today it's the 4th day, he has spots all over his body - there is no clean place anywhere. I have not seen so many spots on any other child before. Of course it all aches and he hasn't let him put down for 2 nights - I was sitting on the couch the whole night holding him yesterday night and today night, my mom did the same. So for 2 nights, it has been crazy. AND, I have 2 more boys to take care for! These days I really feel that my limits to be strong are somewhere VERY close right now...
We discussed to go to the hospital, but the only hospital we could go right now, is the infection-hospital and I'm afraid that Fred, with his weak immunse system, would catch some other disease, too. I've consulted to 5 different doctors and right now, we have decided to stay home. So our New Year's Eve is like that: I'm staying in one room with Fred, trying to calm him down and trying to feed him, while Erik stays in another room with Sten and Ralf, playing with them and putting them to sleep at 9.30 p.m.. We don't meet each other - it's the most what we can do for Sten and Ralf NOT to catch the chicken-pox, although it's probably not possible that they don't catch it as they were so close together until we saw the spots and probably Fred has given the virus to other brothers, too - only a matter of time when they show their spots and it gets even harder.
Here we are - 5 of us, on New Year's Eve... praying that Fred's difficult days stay in 2010!

4 brothers

2010-12-22T19:43:00.000+02:00

Today, Ralf, Fred and Sten visited Kert in his room! :)

Christmas cards

2010-12-14T11:40:00.007+02:00

I've realized, that I never posted my last-year Christmas cards designs. And now, just before Christmas 2010, it's the perfect time to do it, right? Especially because this year, I didn't have time to make them...

My first success with orchid

2010-12-13T11:24:00.000+02:00

It is my first time, when I was able to re-bloom the orchid! I'm quite surprised by it - that it happened now, when I have absolutely no time to take care for the plants! So here it is - my white orchid...

Crazy snowy days

2010-12-11T17:59:00.006+02:00

It's snowing, snowing and snowing...

Last winter we thought that it's not possible to have more snow on the ground. But we were wrong! This winter - and only the start - has proved that it can be snowier! It has been snowing and snowstorming and there seems to be no end for it.

Yesterday, we couldn't open the gates of our garden anymore. Two of our cars were stuck inside, luckily Erik left our family van outside and we could still drive to the doctor's with the boys. It took Erik a whole afternoon to clean the gates - he had to buy a special snowplough for it.

We will definitely have a White Christmas! :)

4 months old

2010-12-06T13:51:00.008+02:00

On Saturday, we had a birthday party again - boys turned 4 months old! :)

This time, we had a real party with balloons, cakes and presents. My brother's family and our neighbours with their 2 youngest children came to greet the boys. We took the boys downstairs and they were so surprised about the big balloons and observed them with big eyes for a very long time. It was a very nice celebration!

Our birthday guests:

Next photos are from the 3-month-birthday, when we had a cake with 3 candles and Lisanne was the one who blew the candles of boys! :)

Just beautiful...

2010-11-29T08:37:00.000+02:00

Enne, kui sain emaks. (L.Tungal)

Enne, kui sain emaks, tegin ja sõin sooja toitu.
Mul olid ilma plekkideta riided.
Mul oli vaikseid telefonivestlusi.

Enne, kui sain emaks, magasin nii kaua kui tahtsin ega muretsenud, kui hilja magama läksin. Kammisin juukseid ja pesin hambaid iga päev.

Enne, kui sain emaks, koristasin iga päev.
Kunagi ei komistanud lelude otsa ega unustanud unelaulu sõnu.

Enne, kui sain emaks, ei mõelnud, kas minu toalilled on mürgised või mitte.
Ei mõelnud kunagi vaktsiinidele.

Enne, kui sain emaks, ei olnud minu peale kunagi oksendatud,
kakatud, sülitatud, hammustatud, pissitud ega näpistatud väikeste sõrmedega.

Enne, kui sain emaks, oli mul täiuslik enesevalitsemine - mõtete ja keha kontroll.
Magasin kogu öö.
Ei olnud kunagi hoidnud karjuvat last, et arstid saaksid teha uuringuid või süsti.
Ei olnud kunagi vaadanud pisarates silmadesse ja nutnud.
Ei olnud kunagi olnud ääretult õnnelik pelgalt naeratuse üle.
Ei olnud kunagi öösel kaua istunud vaadates magavat last.

Enne, kui sain emaks, ei olnud kunagi süles hoidnud magavat last lihtsalt sellepärast, et ei tahtnud teda voodisse panna.
Ei olnud kunagi tundud südant purunemas miljoniks tükis, kui ei saanud valu ära võtta.
Ei olnud kunagi teadnud, et keegi nii väike võiks minu elu mõjutada nii palju.
Ei olnud kunagi teadnud, et võiksin kedagi nii palju armastada.
Ei olnud kunagi teadnud, et ma armastaksin emaks olemist.

Enne, kui sain emaks, ei teadnud seda tunnet, kui süda on kehast väljaspool.
Ei teadnud, kui hea tunne võib olla näljast imikut söötes.
Ei teadnud sidemest ema ja lapse vahel.
Ei teadnud, et keegi nii väike võiks panna mind ennast tundma nii vajalikuna.

Enne, kui sain emaks, ei olnud kunagi tõusnud öösel üles iga kümne minut tagant, et kontrollida, kas kõik on korras.
Ei olnud kunagi tundnud seda soojust,
rõõmu,
armastust,
südamevalu,
imetlust või rahulolu, mida emadus tekitab.

Ei teadnud, et võiksin nii palju tunda...

Sten and his Bunny

2010-11-28T19:13:00.006+02:00

Our boys love bunnies. Each of them, have his own night-bunny. Sten is especially found of his. His bunny is given to him by his uncle Margus. Often, when Sten doesn't fall asleep, we give him his bunny and the dreams come quickly...

Winter has arrived...

2010-11-27T17:36:00.008+02:00

The first snow came down in October 22. But it melted away... and we had some dark winter weeks. But this week, it all changed. Just a few days ago, the amount of snow was still reasonable, but today, it snowed FOR HOURS. And it looks like perfect Christmas weather... I fear it's a month too early?!? I hope not...

Just a few days ago, it was still like on the following photo and I could take the triplets pram out. Now, it's not possible anymore and they sleep in the garden house.

Today, I had to make roads for the dogs, too, because they couldn't walk!

Visitors

2010-11-17T12:12:00.002+02:00

Last week, we were visited by Kaspar and Birgit. We met Kaspar in the intensive care unit in the maternity hospital. He was brought there 5 days later than our boys. Kaspar was born on the 34th week of his mom's pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia of his mom Birgit. Kaspar and Birgit stayed in the maternity hospital as long as we did and we got friends with them. Later, we found out that we live very close to each other. So Kaspar and Birgit came here to take a walk together. In the middle of our walk, Kaspar started to cry - and we had to return back and come inside to make him calm. On this moment I felt: it can be easier with 3 babies than with 1! :)

Father's Day

2010-11-14T19:55:00.006+02:00

Today, it's Father's Day in Estonia. Our boys love their daddy, so they happily posed for a picture for the daddy and I made a card with this photo. I took several shots, but this was my favourite (and later Erik said the same), because each boy has a different expression on his face. In the morning, the boys gave a small present and the card for Erik - a new vest to wear at work:

Besides, we went to visit Erik's parents to say Happy Father's Day to Erik's father. It was the first time when the boys were out of our home visiting someone! It went really well and they behaved so nicely - never cried. The photo is taken when we were already leaving.

3 months old

2010-11-04T22:36:00.001+02:00

Our boys turned 3 months old today. It's amazing that they've been in our family already for 3 long months! It has been a very busy period, yet those 3 boys have brought so much joy to our lives, that one cannot express it with words. We cannot imagine life without them anymore!
Yesterday, we visited our doctor, and the results of the boys' growth were the following:
Ralf and Fred - 4.9 kilos and 55 cm
Sten - 4.6 kilos and 55 cm
The doctor was very happy with those measurements and thinks they've gained weight really well.
By now, we can also see their development. Due to their prematurity, the first months were just for eating and sleeping. Now, they start to play and - I've seen their first smiles, too! I was so very happy when Ralf smiled to me for the first time! It was like the best award a mother can get from her child. I had a smile on my face the whole time after that and couldn't wait until Erik and Kert come home to tell about Ralf's development. Yesterday, also Fred has started to smile and slowly, Sten, too. It's even more enjoyable to take care for them, when they interact with me and know, that I'm their mom! :)

New hats

2010-11-02T08:14:00.002+02:00

I'm not a knitter myself. Although I wish I was, because I really like all handmade things. But thanks to that, I appreciate it even more, when someone does some lovely knitted clothes herself. Those lovely hats have been knitted by my friend Kristi's mom. She made them especially for my boys, all 3 hats have different white pattern wen you look carefully. They will wear those woolen hats during our cold winter!

3 friends, 3 babies

2010-11-01T20:02:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, my 3 friends - Kristi, Eve and Marju - stopped by for some minutes. It was just a coincindence, that they all came on the same time!

On the first snow

2010-10-23T21:49:00.002+03:00

The first snow drew Erik to the near-by fields to find out if he sees any animals. And he was lucky already on the first day... - here is the result.
Photographed by Erik. October 2010, Harju county, Estonia

Eating time

2010-10-22T11:39:00.001+03:00

This is the technique how you can feed three babies at the same time! :) When I'm alone, this is the only way I manage to feed them and still find time to pump the breast-milk for them, too.

Bath time

2010-10-18T11:38:00.003+03:00

Twice a week, the boys take a bath. All of them enjoy it a lot and if it was easier to bath 3 baby boys, we would go there more often. But it's a special and time-consuming event, so we usually go on Tuesday and Saturday evenings when the boys' grandmas are here to help us.
This week, all boys have reached 4 kilos!
Ralf - 4260 gramms
Fred - 4200 gramms
Sten - 4020 gramms
The upper photos are taken in the beginning of September and the lower photos one month later.

Ultrasound picture

2010-10-13T10:45:00.003+03:00

I think I never shared the magical ultrasound photo -

this was the time when we realized, that we will REALLY going to have the triplets!

This is the only picture where they were seen alltogether - in week 12. Later, they grew bigger and no such picture was possible to take anymore.

Don't ask me who is who... I don't know! :) But I assume that Baby A may be Ralf, Baby B may be Fred and Baby C may be Sten.

Wood, fog and silence...

2010-10-11T11:10:00.002+03:00

Erik went to the forests for a weekend in the start of October and came back with this wonderful photo. Photographed by Erik, October 2010, Lääne county, Estonia

Summer in my garden - hydrangeas

2010-10-08T12:59:00.014+03:00

Summer is officially over already for some weeks, but I'd like to look back and post some photos about my favourite Autumn bloomers - the beautiful hydrangeas. In fact, I can still enjoy their blossoms - not so fresh anymore, but they are still there. I have two types of hydrangeas - Smooth Hydrangea (puishortensia), which "dies out" for winter and acts here as a herb plant, and Panicled Hydrangea (aedhortensia), which is more like a tree. Among Smooth Hydrangeas, I have the sort called "Grandiflora" (got from Erik's mom) and among Panicled Hydrangeas, I have "Pinky Winky", "Pink Delight" and "Limelight".

Pinky Winky:

Limelight:

Pink Delight:

Grandiflora:

2 months old

2010-10-04T16:14:00.010+03:00

Time flies!

Today, our boys turned 2 months old. The boys are wearing birthday clothes today - a gift from Marta from Portugal (THANK YOU!) and they look so cute with those colourful shiny outfits. It suits perfect with the beautiful sunny autumn day!

I think it's time to tell you a little about our boys' characters. They are indeed 3 very different personalities.

First, lets meet RALF. The baby no 1. He definitely is the Leader. Our life goes how Ralf dictates it. When he gets hungry in the night, then all boys eat. When he gets unpatient to go to the bath, then we start with the bath. He has no patience at all and has to be the first all in everything. He uses his voice very often and normally cries just to get attention. He's also a mommy's boy - he likes to be in my lap as much as possible.

Second, lets meet FRED. The baby no 2. He is a serious guy. He likes to think a lot. He is much calmer than Ralf and can really wait for his milk easily, he doesn't mind to be the last in the things we do. He cries when he really needs to, and then his cry is to get help - it's much sadder cry than Ralf's voice to get attention. We think he'll be a Professor! :)Third, lets meet STEN. The baby no 3. He is our tricky boy. He likes to observe the world and is awake the most. When possible, he watches around with his curious look blinking his big eyes and winning everyone's heart... He is very moving and quick, and seems to be unpatient, but actually he isn't. He can wait just as Fred. He cries very seldom, normally only when he is very hungry. We call him our "cuty guy".

Lets see if they change their personalities when they grow older. It's very interesting to observe them, although I wish I had more individual time with each of them...

27 September 2010

2010-09-27T13:14:00.006+03:00

Today - 27 September - is the due-date of my boys, when they should have been born if they were in-time babies.

For this date, all of them have reached 3 kilo mark! :)

On Saturday, Ralf weighed 3460 grams, Fred 3250 grams and Sten 3050 grams.

On Friday, we went to see our family doctor and she also measured the boys - Ralf and Fred were 50.5 cm tall and Sten 49.5 cm tall.

So, for their due-date, they have reached quite normal baby size, haven't they? Our doctor was very happy with these results and now, we can take the feeding process a bit easier. Sure we will still keep a routine (with triplets, I find it impossible to let them eat when they want) - but now, we try to feed them after every 4 hours during the night (probably it takes about 2 weeks when they reach 4 h, step by step) and during day time, after every 3 hours like before.

PS - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEST FRIEND KRISTI! (She has come to help me once a week... and we are very grateful for that! :))

Photo: Taken on Friday when the boys were ready to get to the car and see the family doctor

Big Brother

2010-09-26T14:42:00.005+03:00

Kert is now a Big Brother. I think it's a very big change in a 14-year-old boy's life, who has been an only child so far. But I must say he has enjoyed taking care for his little 3 brothers very much - he is our biggest help during the evening feeding times. His "friend" is Ralf - he's already an expert feeding him! :) Ralf is also the name which was picked by Kert, so everything turned out just as it should be. Kert always asks if I need any help with the babies. Well, I ALWAYS need help... but I try not to occupy Kert too much as I'm afraid he'd get bored if he has to do TOO much. And even right now, he does a lot - we are happy to have such a good big brother for the triplets!

Sleeping angels...

2010-09-19T10:51:00.002+03:00

During the first weeks of premature babies' lives, their daily routine consist of eating and sleeping. They hardly cry and hardly are awake. Now, when they are already 1,5 months old and are starting to act like "normal" babies, they are much more awake and know how to cry as well. It's now 8 days to go to my actual due date when the babies supposed to be born (if there was just 1 single baby) - 27 September.
Here you can see some photos of our sleeping babies - sometimes they really do look like little angels! :)
Fred and Ralf:
Ralf and Fred:Ralf and Fred:

Fred and Sten:

Sten:

Fred:

Ralf:

Out for a walk

2010-09-12T19:18:00.005+03:00

Our doctor in the hospital allowed us to go out with the boys already during the first days when we arrived at home. So we did! And the boys love it outside - they sleep so well and afterwards, have a good appetite.

Every day, from 2-3 p.m. we are walking outside, around our village, with neighbour-Aune and neighbour-Glen. It's a shame we can't walk longer because of the long eating rounds, but hopefully soon, the boys eat quicker and we get more time to be outside.
We are having a triplets' pram which is HUGE, but I'm already used to it and can navigate with it really well. It has been the best thing to buy it - I cannot imagine life without the pram anymore - it's good to get outside of the garden sometimes and take a walk, even when it's only around our village!

1st birthday - 1 month old

2010-09-07T23:28:00.002+03:00

/I wish I had more time to post about our boys/

On Saturday, September 4, our 3 little angels turned 1 month old. It's amazing how time flies - I still sometimes wonder am I really a mom of 4... It sounds so weird to think about it - just a month ago, our family consisted of 3 human beings and 2 dogs; and suddenly, the number of human beings have doubled. This rapid change is hard to adopt, but sure I'm proud of my new big family.

We have been home for 2,5 weeks and it's super-busy, even hard to describe how life has changed. I'm all for the boys now; sometimes going to the toilet may even be a dream! :) But the boys grow and one day, they'll be big enough to give a smile to their mom which will be the biggest gift I can wish for right now.

Our life goes around eating... this is the main worry with premature babies - their eating is not stabile and there is always 1 boy who to worry if you do not pay attention enough. Sometimes it's Fred, sometimes it's Sten and sometimes, it's even Ralf. You never know who decides to stop to be brave enough to eat the whole bottle. And it's vital that they eat everything, otherwise they loose all their power at once... So far, we have been able to keep their weights growing and this is the most important. On their 1st birthday, Ralf was 2,5 kg; Fred 2,3 kg and Sten almost 2,1 kg.

We didn't celebrate their birthday with a big party, of course, since all we can do right now, is having a strict daily routine to make sure they grow (and there is no time for inviting someone over), but we had a plum cake and thought about our little miracles when we ate it! :)

Kert has been a big help with the boys - his job is to feed Ralf at 9 p.m. eating round and he is doing great with it; he already knows so well how Ralf behaves while eating and what he needs to be able to eat the whole bottle. The boys still eat 100% of my breast-milk, however, soon it will hard to have so much milk that they need to grow, so I predict that after 1 month, we need to five a little addition to my breast-milk for them.

We want to thank all our friends for support, all the beautiful greetings cards and presents and all the nice words! It means so much to us...

Photos

Daddy with the boys:

The elder brother feeding baby-Ralf and Erik feeding baby-Sten:

I feeding baby-Fred:

Home sweet home...

2010-08-23T10:49:00.003+03:00

We are at home now! :=)
Yesterday afternoon, our doctor decided to release us home. Wow, I was so surprised by it, because I didn't hope to get home before Tuesday. And now, suddenly on Sunday afternoon, we were driving with our new family van, boys inside, to our village and our sweet home which waited for the boys so much - already for 18 long days.
It is wonderful to start another period of boys' life - it's now just me and Erik taking care for the boys; and soon, it will be only me most of the time when Erik's holidays finish. We'll see how we cope!

2,5 weeks old

2010-08-21T11:10:00.013+03:00

Originally, I planned to make this post when the boys turned 2 weeks old on Wednesday... But as I can't plan any free moments anymore, then suddenly Wednesday has turned into Saturday, and I can talk about the boys when they are 2,5 weeks old already...

We are still in the hospital, but the boys get stronger and stronger. Ralf - the 1st baby - is now a very good eater and it goes very easily for him with the milk bottle (however, he still learns how to get milk from the breast). He weighs 1938 gramms - I'm sure that after a few days he has reached the 2 kilo magical mark! Sten - the 3rd baby and the smallest - is a good eater, too. His portions are a bit smaller than Ralfs, but he eats very well. He's now 1680 gramms. And then, our boy Fred - the 2nd baby - still needs to get more appetite, but at least he is gaining weight, too, so we shouldn't worry. He is 1886 gramms.

A few days ago, national TV visited us. In the end of August, our boys will be shwon in the TV programm called "Ringvaade".

We have high hopes to get home next week already! I cannot wait it... I've got used to the life in the hospital, but of course, home is home. And I miss it... I'm sure the boys are eager to settle down at home, too, and feel secure and loved...

PHOTOS

Boys have turned 2 weeks old:
Who is who?

Daddy feeding baby-Ralf:

Boys under the blanket which their grandma Piia made for them (she made 3, of course):

2 brothers - Ralf and Fred:

Alltogether

2010-08-15T10:41:00.006+03:00

Yesterday was a remarkable day in our babies' lives - finally we could all be together in the family room of the hospital! Wow, this was a special feeling... Ralf got out of intensive care already on Thursday and we had one day to get to know each other better - he has been the only baby who has enjoyed the one-on-one time with his mother. On Friday, Sten joined us, too - then, it was only Fred who was left in the intensive care... But he was strong enough to get out from there yesterday - and suddenly, we had 3 babies in our room and the VERY BUSY time has started! Triple worries, but also triple happiness! :)

We have had some visitors already, too, who have helped us to feed the babies (very hard work for them, so it takes hours to make them eat their milk - they just do not have enough muscles, yet...) - my mom helped, Erik's sister helped, Aune helped... It has been a big help, really. But during the nights, we are coping ourselves - I think today night I slept approximately 1 hour. It may take about 1 month before the babies start to eat properly, so sleepless nights will be a part of my life for some weeks. Need to get to used to them now!

Here is a picture of aunt Helen feeding baby Fred:

Those lovely flowers were brough by my colleague and good friend Marina:

Those cute Pooh-bears were given to the boys by our neighbours. Ralf owns the donkey, Fred's pet is the elephant and little Sten has the rabbit! :)

How small can a baby be?

2010-08-11T19:53:00.003+03:00

Can you imagine how small is a 1,5 kg baby? Answer: as small as you see here, in this photo. This is Sten who weighs 1,5 kg... And he has no intensions to be weaker than his "big" brothers who weigh 300 gramms more...Fred and Ralf are now sleeping angels - since they got into their twin-bed, they are mostly sleeping peacefully and you do not hear them crying. They know they are close to each other, just like in my belly.

Day 6

2010-08-10T00:39:00.004+03:00

In this photo, our triplets are 6 days old.

2 boys - Ralf and Sten - were awake the whole time when I was giving them their lunch-milk. Oh, how lovely they are... Fred was sleeping, but he is out of incubator now, too, and lives almost-normal baby-life like his brothers!

Meet our triplets!

2010-08-08T11:32:00.013+03:00

Our three baby-boys have come into this world in August 4, 2010.

Time to meet them! :)

1. RALF - born 12.41 in August 4; 1818 gramms; 45 cm

2. FRED - born 12.42 in August 4, 1814 gramms, 45 cm

3. STEN - born 12.43 in August 4, 1550 gramms, 40 cm

I managed to carry them until the 32nd week of pregnancy was over. It is a good result for the triplets, but of course they are pre-mature babies and we need to recover and gain weight in the hospital right now. I cannot stop looking at them... like miracles! :)

Photo: Erik and I during Midsummer, I'm 26 weeks pregnant

Photo: I on the 28th week of pregnancy in July 4

Photo: I on my 32nd week of pregnancy - just 4 days before the triplets were born

Along the bank of the lake

2010-07-17T12:36:00.001+03:00

Erik went to photograph the wild bears to Finland a week ago. This is one of the photos he took there. Photographed by Erik in July 2010, Finland.

3 roses (2)

2010-07-13T17:12:00.003+03:00

And some more...

The Fairy:

Leonardo da Vinci:

Schneewittchen:

3 roses

2010-07-10T13:48:00.004+03:00

Aren't they beautiful?
Aspirin: Rose de Resht:

Leonardo da Vinci:

Grill house

2010-07-09T18:39:00.004+03:00

This is our new grill house! My favourite place during the hot summer days...

A moose baby

2010-07-08T10:59:00.002+03:00

Photographed by Erik, Harju county, June 2010

Summer in my garden - peonies

2010-07-02T08:04:00.020+03:00

Peonies - my favourite summer flowers with roses - are in blooms right now. The earliest have already ceased flowering, but the others are still in full blooms and look absolutely beautiful! I find peonies very, very pretty due to their big romantic blossoms (and so good smell!) and it seems like I cannot get enough of them - in garden markets, I find myself buying new and new ones... Since they need some time to get used to the soil, then it usually gets around 2-4 years before they start to bloom. Therefore, not all my peonies are blooming, yet. But a lot of them are, and I can show you them.

My peonies are the following:

1. "Rubra Plena" - a red peony which is very early (blooms about 2 weeks before others) and I always wait for its first blooms to open - then I know, that peonies' time is there and the summer can start! :) I got this peony from Kristi's mom.

2. "Festiva Maxima" - it is a white peony which I've got from Kristi's mom (+ one I had here in my garden before we moved here).

3. "Karl Rosenfield" - bought 2 years ago from "Hansaplant" and this is the first year to see its beautiful dark-red blossoms. I love it!

4. "Sarah Bernhard" - a light pink peony which I absolutely love... I have 2 of them, one I bought from a gardening centre and another was already here before I got the owner of the house.

5. "Edulis Superba" - this is a pink peony which is the most well-known in Estonian gardens, I have 3 of them, but unforutnately none is blooming this year. 2 are too young, yet (I got them from Erik's mom in August 2009) and one is probably planted too low - I have to dig it out and re-plant it in August.

6. "Buckeye Belle" - a very deep red peony, early, which is blooming in my garden for the first year. It's beautiful when white peonies are next to it.

7. "Sorbet" - a white-pink peony, which I never knew I had. I bought another one (a red one), but got "Sorbet". Well, it looks nice, so I don't mind; but now this red one is still in my list of wanting-to-have...

8. "Bowl of Beauty" - one of my favourites again, Japanese-blossom type peony. I have 2 plants, one is already blooming (for the 2nd year), another is still too small.

9. "Boule de Neige" - a white peony, which also has a little bit of yellow and some red stripes. I got it from "Juhani Puukool" and it seems to like to live in my garden, because it bloomed already this year (being only 1 year old) very nicely.

10. "Early Scout" - I bought this red early peony only this Spring, so I have to wait until I see its blossoms. It is the only simple blossoms (instead of full- or half-full blossoms) peony I have in my garden.

KARL ROSENFIELD:

RUBRA PLENA:

FESTIVA MAXIMA:

SARAH BERNHARD:

BUCKEYE BELLE:

SORBET:

BOWL OF BEAUTY:

BOULE DE NEIGE:

In the fog

2010-06-30T07:28:00.001+03:00

Do you see beautiful and slender birds here in the fog? They are cranes, living near our home.

Photographed by Erik on a foggy morning, June 2010, Harju county

Erik's work (2)

2010-06-26T14:08:00.002+03:00

In our garden, Erik has finished the new fireplace. Now, we are waiting for the new garden furniture (with a roof) to arrive which should come next week. Then, we are ready for cosy summer outside parties! :)

Midsummer

2010-06-24T20:12:00.011+03:00

The weatherman blessed us with such beautiful days during Midsummer celebrations (everyone is waiting for the forecast during Midsummer as much as during Christmas (when we hope snow), because Midsummer parties are outside parties and the rain and windy, stormy or cold weather would ruin it totally). This year, we had a quiet celebration and couldn't go to Muhu island. Luckily here, in Kiia village, we had a village bonfire with a party, where we went for a short time, too. Most of the time we spent the evening with our neighbours, quietly. And on Midsummer Day, my brother's family visited us. It was good to see my niece Lisanne again!
SOME PHOTOS:

Photo: During Midsummer, we always have the national flag up.

Photo: In the village party, we had a snake-dancer!

Photo: Our small bonfire with neighbours

Photo: Our neighbour-boy Glen celebrating Midsummer

Photo: My brother and my niece Lisanne visiting us during Midsummer Day

Photo: My brother and Lisanne

Erik's work

2010-06-23T07:22:00.005+03:00

During this Spring, we have planned and done some work at home (inside and outside) again. Recently, Erik has made two different spaces to keep things which we do not want to lay around all the time.
One of the cupboard he built to our sauna rest-room (where we also keep house-keeping things) which took quite a lot of time, but finally, it is ready and looks as this (the right photo is the finised status):
In the next photo, you can see the shelves what Erik made to our bedroom. We had a free space in one corner and for a long time, I've thought it's a good place to keep some things - either clothes, baby stuff, cosmetics, etc; because I do not use this corner for anything. I think it looks quite good and we have again more space where to put away the things which shouldn't be out all the time!

First roses

2010-06-22T19:15:00.004+03:00

About a week ago, the first roses in my garden started to bloom. I was surprised by this, because I was sure I won't see any rose blossoms before July (due to a cold June we have had). But two of the plants have shown me their blossoms and that makes me very happy! All others, are still waiting...

The first rose to bloom is without a name. I did buy it with a name - Ilse Krohn Superior - but the truth is, that the garden shop sold me something else. I know exactly how the blossoms of Ilse Krohn Superior look like, and those are not definitely its blossoms... So this is the only rose in my garden "without a name":
The second rose is a park-rose called "Guna", it comes from Latvia and in my opinion, is very beautiful:

Fox babies are out

2010-06-19T11:14:00.003+03:00

Foxes are having their cute little babies again! :) I'm not able to photograph them this year, but Erik paid a visit to them a few evenings ago and here's one of his photos.
June 2010, Harju county

Spring in our garden - primroses

2010-06-17T07:12:00.011+03:00

The time of blooming primroses has passed by - most of them bloom in the end of April and the whole month of May, and some finish in the beginning of June. In my garden, there are 7 types of primroses:

1. Drumstick primroses "Alba" and "Rubin" (kerapriimula, Primula denticulata)

2. Primula vulcaris (varretu priimula)

3. Primula cortusoides "Primadiente" (kortuuspriimula

4. Bird's eye primrose (pääsusilm, Primula farinosa)

5. Primula juliae "Sneeuwwitje" (juulia priimula)

6. Primula rosea (roosa priimula)

7. Japanese primrose (jaapani priimula, Primula japonica)

I can add photos only for the first 5, since the Primula rosea didn't bloom this year and the Japanese primrose I purchased just this Spring and the blossoms were too little to get a good picture.

The rest are here:

DRUMSTICK PRIMROSE

PRIMULA VULCARIS

PRIMULA CORTUSOIDES "PRIMADIENTE"

BIRD'S EYE PRIMROSE

PRIMULA JULIAE "SNEEUWWITJE"