Nia and Robert Tolbert from Waldorf, Maryland, were your average family. They already had a son and were as happy as can be. Then, their family expanded to the max when Tolbert got pregnant for a second and a third time, which isn’t really unusual. But it’s the type of pregnancies she experienced that made international news and left her husband floored... literally!
They Realized They Had a Future Together
Nia Tolbert met her husband Robert in 2007. Once the two of them started dating, they realized they were truly made for each other. Of course, they had a few hiccups now and then just like any other couple. But their love overcame all obstacles. And then they got some amazing news.
They Were Ready to Start a Family
The couple knew that starting a family was the next obvious step in their relationship. So, they were very excited when they learned they were expecting their first child. And in 2011, Tolbert gave birth to a boy named Shai. But this was only the beginning of their road to parenthood.
There Was a Second Surprise in Her Belly
In 2014, the couple got hitched, but there was something brewing inside her stomach that would alter their lives forever. It turns out that she was pregnant for a second time, and they were both excited to give Shai a little brother or sister. But then something happened that left them shaken.
They Went to the Doctor’s Office for Answers
The Tolberts went to the doctor’s office to get a sonogram which would tell them if they were having a boy or a girl. But the news wasn’t what either of them had expected.
The Couple Was in Double Trouble
The couple was told that they were having twins. Not only that, but they would be welcoming two boys. In 2015, Tolbert gave birth to Riley and Alexander. This meant that their household was literally a party of five now. But would they be open to having more kids down the line?
They Had Enough Children for One Lifetime
The Tolberts had talked about it and decided that their family was big enough as it was. Raising three boys was going to be a challenge. But they were ready to keep them in check and shower them with love and affection. And just when they were getting used to their routine, life threw a curb ball that caused dad to faint.
Technician Makes Her Go to Red Alert
Tolbert remembered that back when she was expecting twins, the technician had asked her if multiple pregnancies ran in their family. And during a routine check-up, the technician once again asked her the same question. That’s when alarms went off in her head.
The News Sent Her Whole World Spiraling
“Oh, we must be having twins again,” she told ABC News. But that wasn’t the case at all. It was much worse than that and once she learned what was really happening inside her body, she felt everything spiraling.
She Was Afraid He Couldn’t Take It
Tolbert rushed home to tell her husband what the doctors had shared with her. But she wasn’t sure how he was going to take the life altering news. Then she came up with the perfect way to soften the blow.
She Broke The News With a Gift
Tolbert wrote a handwritten note and placed it inside a gift bag, which she left for him to find. He mistakenly assumed that she had gotten him a FitBit, which he had been hinting at for a couple of weeks. But the gift came in a completely different form.
The Gift Sent Him Into Shock
Although he didn’t find a FitBit in the bag, he found something that was bound to keep him fit as he ran around the house. Of course, that all depended on whether he recovered from the shock.
The Note Revealed His Wife’s Dark Secret
The first thing he noticed was a note that read: "Please accept this gift from me and God." But it wasn’t until he looked inside that he was really blown away by his wife’s mind-numbing secret. He thought he knew her well, but clearly that wasn't the case.
The Giftbag Made His World Crash
"I opened the bag and I saw a very, very long sonogram," he said. "Then I saw three onesies in the bag ... and they were numbered 1, 2, and 3." And then the world came crashing down on him.
He Needed Time to Recover
He felt like fainting the moment he realized his wife was going to have triplets. But he didn’t actually end up on the floor. "I was just shocked," he told ABC News. "I just went straight to bed." But would these triplets bring chaos to order?
The Kids’ Genders Were Balanced
At the time, the proud mom of six told ABC News, "We’re already planning for our new household. It's going to be equally balanced now -- with three little girls and three little boys." But could they handle all the extra expenses?
They Knew It Would Be Stressful
Having three boys already helped the Tolberts prepare for the task of raising three additional kids. She told ABC News: "I know we’re not going to sleep for a couple of years, our grocery bill is going to go up, and our house is not going to be quiet and that's OK." Fortunately, they didn’t have to worry about sibling rivalry.
The Older Brothers Couldn’t Wait
So, how did the triplets’ older brothers feel about the news? Well, Shai and twin brothers Robert and Alex were as excited about the new arrivals as everyone else in the family. But how did this unexpected pregnancy happen?
Conception Was Completely Natural
While some multiple births can often be the result of a fertility treatment, the conception of these triplets was completely natural. And according to Tolbert, all six of their children were conceived the old fashion way. But the birth was a totally different story.
She Had to Undergo a C-Section
On January 30, 2018, the triplets were born at 34 weeks and 5 days through C-section. Each of the babies weighed about 4 pounds. The girls dubbed the “Tolbert Princesses,” consisted of identical twins Zuri and Bailey and a fraternal twin named Mackenzie.
The Cuteness Grows Every Day
Despite so many kids, the Tolberts took the sweet chaos with good grace. "The cuteness gets more and more unbearable every day and all the big brothers (and DADDY) are in love," Tolbert wrote on her Instagram when the triplets were one week old.
The Family Has Insta-Followers
Tolbert has continued to give followers a glimpse at the lives of her beautiful six kids on the Instagram account, @totallytolbert, which has over 28,000 followers. But they’re not just Insta-famous anymore.
The Triplets Became Movie Stars
On July 24, 2019, Tolbert broke the news that the triplets would be starring in “Harriet,” a film about the life of Harriet Tubman. And as a mother, she was overwhelmed by her daughters’ involvement.
Their Daughters Made History
“To be there as a mother witnessing my daughters make history alongside such a dynamic group of black people. I’ve never been a part of a project this historically rich, this moving, this ‘riveting’ ever before in my life. Today I get to share that with my triplet babes,” she wrote on Instagram. But did the triplets perform well?
Mom Was Their Personal Assistant
“They did all the hard work smiling and cooing on cue... Mama was just the driver, feeder, soother, entertainer, diaper changer and sleepless zombie. But I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world,” she added on Instagram. The film was released on November 1, 2019. But to the Tolberts, their children are already stars.
Six Kids Was Overwhelming
“To be honest, it’s been a little overwhelming,” Tolbert tells Babble. “We’re still just regular folks with babes to love, bills to pay, and responsibilities to tend to.” But given that their triplets alone became movie stars before their second birthdays, we can’t wait to see what all six of their kids will do next.