Happy 3rd Birthday to My Litter & Nipissing Checklist-36 Months.

Three years ago today, I gave birth to a litter. Also referred to as "the kids", "newest Zoo members" or "Alexander, Maximilian and Artemis".

I don't think that I've ever posted about their birth story. I'll save that for another time. I'll just say that if anyone ever tells you that "you'll know when you're in labour", don't believe them. Not for a minute.

Artemis is very happy that it's her birthday today. Then again, it's been her birthday for several weeks now.

Today she just happens to be right (1 in 365 chance).

By the time you're reading this, we've winterized our house, loaded up Bucephalus and are on our way to Toronto.

We will spend the next four days at Nanna's place. Thursday night is reserved for our annual Christmas/Birthday Party with Uncle Fred and the Abeulos. Early Saturday morning, we will leave on our 5,000km drive to Southern Mexico.

Fun times!

For the past two years, I've been documenting the kids progress in comparison to the Nipissing Development Milestone Checklist. Check out 12 Months, 15 Months, 18 Months, 24 Months, and 30 months.

I hope that all this information will be relevant to my upcoming memoirs and/or enable me to prove to the kids that I actually paid attention. If not, the Grandparents love to read it. It's boring. You've been warned.

Here's how they're doing in general and in comparison to the Nipissing District Developmental Checklist for 36 months.

Nipissing District Developmental Screen. Is your Child on Track?

I've been meaning to update you on the kids development in relation to the "Nipissing District Developmental Screen". For those of you that live in Ontario, we are fortunate to receive this service for free.

We are currently using the 30-month checklist (the kids are actually 33-months, actual, not adjusted Uncle Kevin) to assess their development.

Starting at 36 months, the milestone list changes to once a year up to 72 months (6 years).


Click on the image to enlarge it.

And now for a humorous breakdown of how the kids are doing.

Can you Believe Who Has Turned Two.5 Years Young?

It was two and a half years ago that the kids were born (December 11, 2009). I don't think that I've ever published their birth story but if you want a little information, you can catch up on the (new) "About" page.

Where has the time gone?


I know that everyone says that but seriously, I don't remember the first 1.5 years (luckily I kept a detailed journal and this blog). Breastfeeding for two and missing Alexander kept me pretty busy and I can count the number of times that I left the house on one hand (not including our four month trip to Mexico).

Just to give you a baseline as to what the kids are doing, I thought that I'd include a copy of the milestones for 30-monthers issued by Nipissing District.

Where have Two Years Gone? Happy 2nd Birthday!

Two years ago today, the litter kids were born.

On that Friday, early in the morning (12:28am to be exact), Alexander was first, followed less than a minute later by Maximilian and rounded out with Artemis. Each child gets their "own minute" even though they were born in less than three.

Since the beginning, we've been using the Nipissing Developmental Checklists to track their progress against predefined milestones.

I'm pleased to announce that they are right on track!


Click on the image to enlarge.

So much so that for breakfast, they ate their weight in pancakes (official weight to be determined at their doctor's appointment tomorrow).

Update: Max weighed 11.46kg, 25lbs2oz (up from 10.55kg, 23lbs2oz from July almost 5 months). Artemis weighed 10.66kg, 23lbs8oz (up from 9.15kg, 20lbs2oz lbs from July, almost 5 months). Max was 33.75" tall (up from 32" in July) and Artemis was 33" tall (up from 31" in July).

Then, we got all dressed up and went for a long walk with the dogs. On our way home we stopped off at Uncle Eric's for coffee and our first taste of chocolate (Artemis is a HUGE fan).

The afternoon was spent de-constructing the living room. The kids did an excellent job (they're naturals). They especially liked it when Ed put a hole in the wall with a hammer (we're having renos done while we're away).


All good things must come to an end (or so they say) and Poppa went home this evening.


We're in the home stretch now and are very very busy. The plan is to head to Toronto on Tuesday.

Check out our other Nipissing Developmental Checklist posts.

Where Has The Past Two Years Gone???

  Besos, The Zoo

The Kids Turn 19-Months Old, Nipissing Update.

On July 11, the kids turned 19 months old so we headed to the doctor for their 18-month check-up (we're a bit behind schedule).

It's been 14 weeks since their last doctors' appointment (April 15). Thankfully, they got some shots a clean bill of health and did splendidly on their Nipissing Developmental Checklist for 18 Months.
Click on the picture to make it larger.

For the first time ever, I didn't have one thing to talk to the doctor about.

Where did 16 Months Go? Nipissing Development Update.

Today marks the kids 16 month birthday.

They have a doctors appointment on Friday (their first since December 13).

Other than that, they meet all of their milestones on the "Nippissing Developmental Milestone Checklist" for 15 months (adjusted).

While preparing lunch today, I noticed that there was a lull in the normally endless chatter (never good!). I poke my head around the corner to see this. Yes, I ran and got my camera so as not to lose a photo op. Note that the hockey bags have NOT been moved. Artemis just moved the blue xylophone (in the picture) and used that to climb into the chair.

Remember Uncle Andrew's red lederhosen (I like writing lederhosen). Well, Nanna also kept my first bear Cuddles.

Note that unfortunately, Nanna does not have Uncle Andrew's first bear "TeeTee" because I hid it in the haypile at our farm and then wouldn't tell anyone where it was. To this day, I can't remember myself.

Now this could be a whole other post in itself but I'd rather not remember my horribleness.

RIP TeeTee.


Back to Cuddles. Cuddles now spends her time riding around in the shopping cart (as we call it). Artemis can even put Cuddles in the chair herself. I will post a video (once I learn how).

Note that on December 13, Max weighed 19lbs, 11oz and Artemis weighed 16lbs, 2oz.

After being in Edmonton (on business) for six sleeps, Ed comes home tonight, yah!

Check out our other Nipissing Developmental Checklist posts.

They Grow Up So Fast!

  Besos, The Zoo

Update: Nipissing Developmental Checklist for 12 Months

Over the past year, I've been regularly referring to the "Nipissing District Developmental Screen" . I'm not sure how long they've been used in Ontario or if they're standard. However, our Doctors compares the kids actions to a set list of milestones based on their age; 1-2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year and annually up to 6 years).

Seeing as the kids are 9.5 months (adjusted) and 11.5 months (actual), they are currently working off of the 1-year milestone list.

From the very beginning, they have always been exceeding the milestones for their adjusted age and have almost been meeting it for their real age.

Things have changed for the one-year milestones.