Hewitt triplets at nine months
Since we last visited the Hewitt triplets three months ago, Ollie, Finn and Trip have become giggling, attentive, teething nine-month-olds. The fenced-in play area, once a mellow haven for bottle-feeding, is now a lively scene. Chubby arms and legs propel the boys as they crawl, pull themselves up, stand and play with toys and each other.
The kitchen is also a hub of exploration as the triplets eagerly feed themselves using spoons and fingers. Since the boys have each sprouted two bottom teeth, bottle feedings are interspersed with seated meals. Favorites include pancakes, yogurt, avocado, meatballs, watermelon and zucchini. Teething has presented the greatest challenge, triggering some low-grade fevers, more clingy behavior and sleep disruption – all taking its toll on parents Kristen and Thomas Hewitt Jr. Long daily stroller walks keep the caregivers in shape and providing both stimulation and nap time.
On a recent weekend, paternal grandparents Terry and Thomas Hewitt Sr., of Ramsey, New Jersey, were thrilled to see the changes since their last visit two months ago. “The progress they have made is unbelievable,” Terry remarked. Her husband added that the calmness of the triplets’ parents helps a great deal. “They are not hovering parents, but at the same time they are very protective.” Terry added, “The love that you see the boys have for each other matches how their parents feel. They all love one another.”
- Kristen and Thomas Hewitt Jr. enjoy swing time at a nearby playground in Hampden as much as their nine-month old triplets. Thomas “Trip” Hewitt III is at left, and Oliver and Finnegan, known as “Ollie” and “Finn,” share the other swing. (Amy Davis, Baltimore Sun)
- The triplets, clockwise from left, Ollie, Trip and Finn, can now hold their own bottles, but still need supervision from parents Kristen and Thomas Hewitt Jr. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- The Hewitt triplets, from left, Trip, Finn and Ollie, typically fall asleep during their morning stroller walk. While they nap, their parents get cold drinks at a Hampden cafe. The boys still wear different colored strings on their right ankles for identification. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Three generations share the same name: Thomas Hewitt Sr., left, of Ramsey, NJ, laughs with his grandson, Thomas “Trip” Hewitt III, who is held aloft by Thomas Hewitt Jr. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Thomas Hewitt III, known as Trip, eats plain Greek yogurt from a spoon. Trip, at 21.04 pounds, weighs slightly more than his brothers. The boys like a wide variety of foods. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- The triplets, from left, Trip, Finn and Ollie, ensconced in oversized smocks, enjoy exploring solid foods with the help of their watchful parents. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Finnegan, known as Finn, manages to get Greek yogurt on his nose and fingers as well as in his mouth. Finn, at 19.10 lbs, weighs less than his brothers, but is the tallest at 28 1/4.” (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Oliver, known as Ollie, and Finn behind him, eat pieces of homemade pancakes. Kristen makes double batches of food, and freezes some for future meals. Ollie weighs 20.15 pounds. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Paternal grandparents Terry Hewitt, diapering Ollie at left, and Thomas Hewitt Sr., with his namesake, Thomas “Trip” Hewitt III, travel from Ramsey, NJ to visit the triplets every two months or so. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Terry Hewitt brings her grandson Ollie to a mirror where they can make smiling faces together. She said the triplets look a lot like their dad when he was a baby. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Kristen and Thomas Hewitt Jr. take long walks around their Hampden neighborhood with their triplets, from left, Trip, Finn and Ollie, accompanied by their dog, Jersey. The Hewitt triplets, now nine months old, are crawling, pulling up and trying to stand, eating solid food,and teething. As a result, their parents, Tom and Kristen Hewitt are more sleep-deprived than they were three months ago, but all are still thriving. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Terry Hewitt, left, and her daughter-in-law, Kristen Hewitt, keep an eye on the triplets as they get drowsy at a Hampden cafe during a morning walk with the family dog, Jersey. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Thomas Hewitt Jr. hoists Finn during an outing to the park, as Kristin and Trip, center, watch with Thomas’s parents, seated at the next bench. The third triplet, Ollie, is sleeping in the double stroller. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Thomas Hewitt Sr. and Terry Hewitt, of Ramsey, NJ, also known as “Grandpa” and “Mimi,” interact with their grandchildren, from left, Trip, Finn and Ollie, now nine months old. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- The triplets, from front, Ollie, Trip and Finn, are able to explore the toys on a new bouncy seat now that they can pull themselves up. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- In a gentle tug-of-war, Ollie, right, pulls a toy away from Finn, left, as their brother Trip gets squeezed in the middle. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Thomas Hewitt Sr. watches Finn, left, and Trip pull themselves up as Ollie crawls at right. The fenced-in play area has pillows along the perimeter to give the triplets a soft landing when they fall. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Thomas Hewitt Jr. hands off Finn to Kristen as quiet playtime continues for Trip and Ollie. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Finn is able to sit up and chew on a teething toy as he enjoys quiet time with his father, Thomas Hewitt Jr. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- After returning from a walk, Thomas Hewitt Jr. responds to Finn, center, and Ollie, right, as they gaze at him from their double stroller. Trip, in the single stroller, is napping. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Thomas’s parents, Thomas Hewitt Sr. and Terry Hewitt, back to camera, take the family to Canton Dockside for seafood during their visit from Ramsey NJ to see their grandchildren, from left, Trip, Ollie and Finn. Trip, in Kristen’s lap, seems more interested in her food than the red pepper strip that she gave him. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Thomas Hewitt Jr. and Kristen cuddle with the boys, from left, Ollie, Finn and Trip, after a morning walk. The triplets do better when they get the stimulation of being outside. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
Hewitt triplets at nine months from Baltimore Sun's The Darkroom on Vimeo.