Settled In

A month has past since we moved and we are settled in. It took a little bit and honestly I still haven't unpacked all of the boxes, can you say procrastinator, but our new place is starting to feel like home. I've enjoyed the great Fall weather that being back here has to offer.
Tru and I raked leaves a couple weeks ago and I know it looks likes he's working...

...but we raked them so he could jump in them. That's the best part of piling the leaves up anyway, right? Either way he was happy to rake if it meant he could play.

Just another perk at our new place is the view. The trees were changing colors when we moved in and it was an awesome sight to watch. It just fueled my love for all things Fall!

The twins are growing like crazy! Levi has started to walk. He hasn't mastered it yet, but he's getting there. Liam has started to try but no steps yet. He starts to stand, then plops back on his bottom which really amuses him, and so he'll spend like five minutes just standing and plopping and laughing. Also, they've started to climb on EVERYTHING. I spend a lot of my day corralling and playing in the floor with them. They definitely keep me on my toes.

Liam doing what he enjoys...climbing.

And then there's Tru. He's just about adjusted to the move. He's making friends at church,we're back into a good school schedule, and we're going to get him involved in few more activities after the first of the year. Things are good here and we're getting back to a normal family groove. It's a great way to start December 1st!

Unpacking

So I'm back...we have packed,moved, and now in the process of unpacking. After packing our whole house in just a under two weeks I'm taking my time with the unpacking. Our new house is nice and in a good neighborhood. All the boys are doing well. Tru is adjusting. I've contacted a home school group here in town that a friend from church suggested. Our main concern for Tru is to help him with the social aspect of our move. He's excited to get involved with the group and so am I. The two best things about the move is our church has welcomed us with open arms and J really loves his new job. We are getting the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and with family. And J is so happy with the new job and he's excited to go to work in the mornings. All in all things are going well.

Also, Levi is walking! He'll just stand up and toddle around. It's so amazing and cute to watch. Liam is on the brink, but he hasn't taken his first steps yet. This last year really fells like it's been a big blur. It's gone by so fast! Well like I said I'm back and I'll be blogging more frequently as things come together here at the house.

Pumpkins, Parties, & Packing

We made our trip to Mainstay Farms last weekend for a visit to their pumpkin patch. It was a beautiful day a little warm for what I like October to feel like, but still great Fall Texas weather. We trekked around the farm pushing the little boys in their double stroller, took a hayride pulled by a really cool tractor, walked through 2 out of 3 mazes, and played up,down,under, and around their 3 story tree house. My personal favorite, besides picking out the pumpkins, was the 100 foot slide "The SuperChute". Tru and I rode down this bumpy black slide on itchy burlap sacks and had a BLAST! Tru had his face painted and we munched on a harvest trail mix while we waited with the twins. It was the best day!

Then yesterday we celebrated the twins first birthday...one year! It is amazing that a whole year has past since they were born. I think about what we were doing this time last year and the fact that it involved very little sleep. I vividly remember our first night with the twins,it was a little rough. Thankfully, we adapted quickly as did they and now they sleep beautifully and have since about 3 months old. What a difference a year makes. So we had few people over for pizza and cake Friday night. The little boys loved it. We served their pieces of cake straight on their highchair tray and let them eat it with their hands. So cute and very messy, but mostly cute. Liam dug in. He didn't hesitate at all. Levi actually waited until after we finished the birthday song to try his piece and put his face in his cake a couple times. Did I mention how cute it was? Blue and green frosting was all over them. So much so that the bath water was a lovely shade of aqua green. All in all it was a nice first birthday I'll post pictures later this week.

And in the middle of pumpkin patches and birthdays we're packing and getting ready to move back to our hometown at the end of this month. We worked our tails off today packing and moving things into the garage so that loading will be quick and easy. We moved here to help with starting a church a couple of years ago. It's an awesome church with a great church family and passionate Pastors who live what they preach. We were privileged to serve at The Way Church and we have met so many awesome people while we were here. Even though we are sad to leave J and I know that our time serving here is up and we're looking forward to the next chapter in our lives. We have family and friends in our hometown and we're excited about going to our church there. The whole process of moving isn't fun. I just try to focus on the "after" the move stuff. I like unpacking and getting settled and with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner it will make this season back "home" even more fun and special.

Mercy Come Morning Book Review

I finally finished Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren. It was previously released as Christmas Every Morning. The story is about Krista Mueller a college history professor who has made a life for herself far from everyone who loves her. But when Krista recieves news that her mother, who has been battling alszheimers for many years, is in her final days she rushes back to her hometown in New Mexico. Upon arriving Krista is faced with old feelings of bitterness and unforgiveness for her mother who is quickly fading. Krista is also met with the possiblity of rekindling her first love for an old friend, Dane McConnell, who has been caring for Krista's mother. She begins to sort through her mother's past as well as her own and in the process sets things in motion for healing for the relationships in her life...
There is a bit of mystery that pulls you into the story as Krista searches through her mothers letters seaking out answers from the past. I liked how Lisa Tawn Bergren mixed the present and the past together with such ease. She tells a story of how important it is to forgive and not let bitterness steal away time, just how Alzheimers steals away the time and memories of the people who are afflicted with it. The characters in the story were genuine. I did have a hard time liking the main character, Krista, until a little later on the book when things begin to unfold. All in all it was a good read.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Twinsie Tuesday--Night & Day

So as the twins approach their first birthday there have been so many new happenings in our house. First I've witnessed the first signs of brother struggles over toys. What's so funny is Liam just lets Levi have whatever it is that he wants at the time. Whereas Levi will follow Liam until he get's his toy back. As twins they are getting the opportunity to learn early on to share. Good times!

They are definitely coming into their own personalities. Liam is pretty laid back and he's got a sense of humor. Now I know what some might say "How can a baby have a sense of humor?" I don't know how to explain it really...he just laughs easily and often. Only time will tell I suppose. Also, Liam is our adventurer he loves to explore. Levi is our social bug. He loves to be talked to and lights up when he's around people. Lately, he will wave to get someone's attention and he's been saying "hi" to people we pass in the market. Levi is very expressive and there's no mistaking what kind of mood that boy is in. Lately, Levi has been standing on his own. J has been working with him to walk, but I think when he's ready he'll just do it. Liam on the other hand seems content to crawl and he's good at it. He speed crawls...I've never seen a baby get around as fast as he does. Once he does start to walk I imagine he'll be fast.

The two are like night and day. From their personalities to their physical appearance they are so different. I see how creative God is when I look at these sweet boys and my heart is full of gratitude to have the awesome privilege to be their mommy!

Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

{A Moment in our Week}

Truitt trying on his Gi for the first time. He was so excited. He's really enjoying his karate class at the Y. Good times!

Twinsie Tuesday--Switching Seats

We switched the boys seats this week. Their little legs had grown to the very limit of their infant seats. The infant seats are nice in that you can carry your sweet bundles into wherever you may need to go without ever actually taking them out of their seats. However, the weight of two almost 20lb boys in carriers on each arm gets old. So we made the switch. Of course they're still facing backwards and I double checked everything to be sure they're in properly. With Truitt we actually went to the police department and had them show us how to put his seat in. We've been out and about this week without any problems. But I've made sure to always have our double stroller with us. My arms would be very full otherwise. A double stroller is definitely a must have for a family with twins.
It is a little bitter sweet though. Switching their seats is just a small reminder that they're growing up. They came home in those infant seats. I remember putting them in for the first time at the hospital and tucking receiving blankets because they were so small. It seems like a dream sometimes, especially with their first birthday quickly approaching! Oh my...how blessed we are to have these boys in our lives!

Liam all tucked in on his way home from the hospital...

and a very displeased Levi getting ready to leave for the first time. They were sooo little.

{A Moment in Our Week}

Our sweet Liam boy...
he is our laid back little guy.

Thursday Catch Ups

This little blog has been neglected recently. We have been working really hard to finish up with kindergarten and I'm happy to say this is Tru's last week. We are actually finishing the last of his curriculum today! The plans are to do a little review & prepping for next week and start 1st grade the week following. I am overcoming being a procrastinator...steps right?

I wanted to update today on my 30 things before 30 list. If you havent read it just check it out! J & I have started working on the top of my list together...losing weight. The set goal for me is to be 100lbs lighter before my 30th birthday, which is a couple years away. My goal I have in my mind is to do it by next year's birthday. So far so good. I've lost 22lbs as of this morning and J's lost like almost 40! Isn't like a guy...oh well it's amazing! We are following Dr.Simeons "Pounds & Inches", drinking a ton of water and making some lifestyle changes. It's not always easy, but I just remind myself, when I have the urge to blow it, that I want the end result more than whatever I might be wanting at the moment. All in all it's going well,praise the Lord! Also, on that list are a few furniture projects I've wanted to complete and some things I want to learn how to do. I actually started one of the furniture projects yesterday, I'll post pics of it when it's finished. I want to relearn how to sew and get back into knitting. I've learned to sew before, I took a couple classes in school and used to love to watch my grandmother, I just haven't done it in a really long time. I do have a sewing machine and a good friend showed me a few things the other night. I want to be able to make clothes for the boys and maybe even for myself. If anyone has any advice for a beginner or books they recommend on sewing or knitting it would be greatly appreciated.

The twins are doing great. Growing like crazy, crawling and pulling up! Levi has been standing on his own a little here & there, but no steps yet. Both are cutting teeth and chewing and drooling. It is so amazing to think how much change a year can bring...they will be a year old next month! They definitely keep our days busy.
Speaking of twins I hear that nap time is over and so is my break. Good times!

Truitt turns Six!

Truitt turned 6 last Saturday and he had a blast! He and J went to a movie,Tru's choice of course, and then later that day before his beach party J's surprise arrived...a limo truck! It was favor from someone J knows from work a very kind favor. So Tru and J got to ride all over town picking Tru's friends who were coming to the party. I met them at the beach with the other parents and set up before they got there. Thankfully I had help from a few good friends because I had the twins and supplies. Once the kids got there the party was on...nothing like a beach party right? It went really well I think. We did have a few party crashers. Apparently cupcakes and open juice is an invitation for honey bees, but all in all it was great. The most important thing was that Tru had a good time...

I have more pictures but my computer is doing weird stuff right now so these will have to do. It's so hard to believe our boy is six years old! My how the time goes. We love our Truitt!

{A Moment in our Week}

With the weather letting up some this week,high 90's, I took the twins outside to try out the backyard swing...

It's so funny to me how different they can be sometimes. Liam so enjoyed it, but Levi was ready to get out as soon as I put him in. Usually with Levi it takes a few times for him to get used to something. Good times!

{A Moment Past}

I thought it only appropriate to post a past picture today because our Tru is turning six tomorrow! So I dug through my pictures and I found one of my favorites...

Oh my sweet sweet boy!
*Picture taken by one of our awesome friends, Mandy, check her out over at http://justmandyness.blogspot.com/

Life's a Garden...dig it!

We are not really a gardening type of family. However, a family and life is like a garden, right? And we have been working hard around here on our "garden" and with the help of the original Gardner we are seeing some great results...

Tru's been working hard with school. We only have about six lessons to go and then he will start first grade. We are both looking forward to a change. His sixth birthday is this Saturday and we are throwing him a party at the city beach with some of his friends and J has a special surprise for him. It's a pretty simple party, cupcakes & swimming, but I know he'll have a blast! I'll post pictures of everything later next week.

Also, this past Sunday the twins turned 10 months old. We are getting extremely close the one year mark! It is amazing how quick it has gone by and yet sometimes it feels like years. The boys are on the verge of walking and their personalities are really starting come through and they are like night and day. We have a lot of fun with them!

Lastly, this Summer has been a very trying time for our family. Thankfully we are coming out of it...we've been doing some spiritual gardening in a sense. This has been a season of pruning back the dead, unlovely things in our lives...and though it has been uncomfortable at times, it has been well worth it. There is still more "pruning" to be done, but we are thankful to be seeing the work bloom into healing and restoring of peace in our lives. Our Father is so good to us! Summer is turning into Fall and this season in our lives is coming to an end and only God deserves the Glory! Jesus said it best...

~John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

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Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Weekend Recap

~Playing in the yard, movie night, super short yard sales, crazy oven fires, firetrucks, family time, The Help, late night coffee,Twins turning 10 months old, hanging with church family, pizza with friends, swimming at the Y, one very flat tire, diaper exchange, oven moving, late night chats, & some Jody time.

CRAZY!

Seriously, crazy is probably an understatement! I took all of the boys grocery shopping earlier today and not the "picking up a few things" kind of trip. I was determined to do a full trip. The plan was to have Tru push the twins in the side by side double stroller leaving plenty of room in the buggy for a full trip's worth of groceries. I usually have a J or a friend watch at least the twins when I go, but Tru had helped me before using the stroller on a short trip and I figured he did so well the last time it would be fine.
So as we entered the store things were going well until my help was sucked into the bakery with hopes of getting a birthday cake...ooh just a week and half before his birthday party. Wouldn't our guests enjoy that?! As I was herding him towards the produce section the distractions only grew louder. Half way through this great idea Tru is not only fully distracted, but now Liam can't contain himself! He was squirming up and down...hanging as far out of his seat as he could stretch himself. And when Liam wasn't hanging out of the stroller he was reaching for whatever came into his reach. He would just let his little chubby hand dangle out the side of the stroller. I was having a hard time focusing on my list and every other aisle we would meet other shoppers. I'm sure we frustrated a few since we were moving at a stop and go kind of pace and every person we talked to would start with the same phrase "Oh, don't you have your hands full..." Really?!
I thought seriously about just leaving my buggy and walking out a couple of times, but then I thought the whole trip would have been pointless. So we trudged on and finally made it to the check out lane. This was actually the easiest part of the whole thing. Everything went smoothly and we checked out, loaded all up, and made it home with out any issues at all. The twins were asleep by the time we got home making it easy to unload and put things away. Needless to say I wont attempt an outing like this for a little while. That really would be crazy!

Twinsie Tuesday--Older Siblings

Ever since we first heard those two amazing words "It's twins!" life has never been the same...for the better of course. It has been such a great journey adding these sweet little boys to our family. But I remember thinking early on about our oldest, Truitt, and how he would adjust to not only adding one brother but TWO. J & I wanted to be sure that Tru would not feel left out or have any negative feelings when his twin brothers hit the scene. There were 3 things that I think helped him ease into being a big brother of multiples...

First, we made sure that Tru was involved with just about everything we did when it came to the twins. He was with us when we first found out we were having twins and at every sonogram after that. Later, he went and registered for baby stuff with us. He enjoyed zapping stuff with J, when he could get the gun from him, and helping make decisions on what he thought they would need. We also made sure he was included in the baby shower where he received a big brother book and helped open the gifts. We also took him to an older sibling class at the hospital where he learned about new babies and got a tour of where we would be.

Secondly, we had "brother time" with just him after the twins were born. What I mean by that is we wanted Truitt to be with us as soon as possible after having the twins. I had a C-Section and after they got us back to the recovery room we had alone time with just Tru and the twins. We wanted that time for him to get to bond with the boys right away and show him that he was an important part of such a special moment for our family. It's making me teary eyed just remembering his sweet face when he came tip toeing in the room. He was so gentle with them. It is such a precious memory for me.

Last, we made sure that he had plenty of loving & attention when they came. Especially, the day we went in to have the twins. My parents were able to come down and they payed special attention to big brother while J & I were tending to newborn twins. I wasn't sure what to expect the first couple days after they were born and wanted to be sure he was taken care of while were adjusting. The morning of the C-Section, they took him for breakfast, then after they came for the first hospital visit they took him to the park and treated him to his choice of lunch. We were in the hospital for a couple of days and they loved on him the whole time!
Now once we came home and we all began to adjust. There were a few issues, but it was mainly Tru testing some boundaries with us. He never had negative opportunities with the twins. We still made sure he was involved with them and praised him for the help he would eagerly and sometimes not so eagerly provide. I also never put the twins in a negative light, like saying we couldn't do something because of them. These were just a few things that worked for our family during such an awesome time in our lives.

The thing that I believe helped the most was praying and believing for a smooth transition all through my pregnancy. I would confess over Tru as often as I could that he would adjust well. I still confess that all my boys have a strong and healthy relationship with each other and I believe they will grow up to be great friends...don't get me wrong I'm not saying they wont ever have sibling opportunities arise. I just trust what the Word says that there is power in our words and I'm a believer of the Living Word! But that's a blog for another day.

Raining Change

Well it finally rained! It has been a very long hot dry summer with out any rain. There were a few spits of it here and there, but finally on Friday evening it came pouring down and then again early Saturday morning and carried on till lunch. Saturday was a wonderfully rainy day. It was nice to play with boys and watch it rain from our front door.



With August coming quickly to an end Tru and I are working on him finishing kindergarten and starting 1st grade next month. We used My Father's World kindergarten curriculum and it worked out great for us. I supplemented a little more math than it had, but all in all it was great. I think for first grade we are going to piece together different curriculum. I'm looking forward to this new season and school year. I've put together a schedule for all of us during the week and I'm setting myself some goals for the house. I've had my challenges keeping house and staying ahead of the laundry for as long as I can remember. But bad habits can change and I'm excited for change.
Speaking of change, the twins are doing something new every week! Liam is working on standing up on his own...



and Levi has two more teeth coming through on the top. I know my days are numbered until they are walking. They are already into everything. They are serious movers and when they are going it's not always in the same direction. So I've made their bedroom a "baby free zone" where they can play and move however they want and I can watch them much better that way. Like I said every week brings something different and I'm just learning to adapt quickly. It's good times here in our house!

{A Moment Past}

So I apologize for neglect to my blog this week. It's been a little crazy and let me just say I'm so glad this week is over. We had a yard sale Friday and we're finishing it this Saturday or rather today. So there is no moment this week. Dont get me wrong there were a lot of precious moments that I want to pause and enjoy, but I didn't take any pictures this week. So how about one from a moment past...


J & Levi...oh my they were so little. There's something so beautiful and strong about a child in their daddy's arms.

Longing for Fall

There hasn't been much time this week to blog and I'm taking an opportunity during nap time. With the summer coming to an end I am so ready for a new season, in more ways than one. I am looking forward to Fall and all that comes with it. It's not just the cooler weather and the colors. It's the feeling of Fall and it seems like the best stuff happens when the leaves start to change colors. So while thinking about this post I had to dig up a few of my favorite Fall photos...






I think thing I'm looking forward to the most this Fall is adding the twins to this collection of favorite Fall photos!

{A Moment in Our Week}

~A single moment in our week...


They were watching J pull in the driveway. My lovely boys.

Turning 28!

So yesterday was my 28th birthday and today starts my 30 things before 30 list. It was a nice day. It all started Tuesday night with cards and presents from my guys. J got me exactly what I wanted this 2 Tone Messenger Bag/Purse from Maurices...

(You can check it out here:http://www.maurices.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1162291)

It's a great bag that has plenty of little pockets and the cutest inside lining. I haven't really been using a purse since the twins were born and this bag has plenty of space to fit a couple diapers and some wipes for a quick trip to the store. It was a perfect gift...he did good.
Then a good friend treated me to an adult only lunch which in itself was a pretty good gift. After that the boys and I made a trip to the library and by this time the twins were a little off schedule. I used their double side by side stroller and wheeled them around looking for certain books while Tru played with Clifford on a computer game in the children's area. Liam, who is my busy body, attempted to pull a row of books off a shelf from his stroller. The aisles were wide enough for a single stroller, but a double stroller put the books in perfect reach. All the while I can feel people watching, some smiling and some not, because we were making a little noise.
Once we got home is when the real birthday fun began. I layed the twins down for their afternoon nap. During this time I changed their bedsheets twice! Levi managed to pull his diaper off and get his poop all over the bed sheets. Do you know what's more fun than one baby covered in poop? Two babies, that's right! So after cleaning both babies up and changing the crib sheet I layed them down again. They finally went to sleep but it wasn't long because of all the extra nap time fun. When their nap was over Levi's diaper had come off again and he had soaked the crib sheet this time. Good times! It's really comical when I think about it today. All in all it was a good day. J and I have plans to see a movie this weekend and take the boys out and about together. I am so thankful to get to spend these days with my kiddos and so it makes each birthday sweeter than the last!

Twinsie Tuesday--Say What?

So you're minding your own business, while pushing a cart full of groceries and babies, when all of sudden you're stopped by a total stranger.
"Twins?" they ask curiously.
"Yes..." you smile politely and wait...

This waiting after the polite smile and nod can be followed by an array of statements and/or questions and can put you in what I like to call a "Say What?" moment. Ranging from inquisitive to just plain weird these moments are common when taking your twins out in public.
I once had a lady argue with me in a check out lane about whether the twins were actually twins! Levi is a little bigger than Liam and they are fraternal, not identical, and with that can bring two completely different looking kids. Most people expect twins to look the same. Then there are the people who will say things like "Oh my you poor thing." or "Double trouble, huh?" and my favorite "Better you than me!" I had a person when seeing I had 3 boys and no girls say right in front of my boys "But didn't you want a girl?" She didn't mean it to be rude and I just replied with a smile "We have so much fun with all these boys and we couldn't imagine it any different."

I have read about other parents of multiples and the remarks they receive. Sometimes it's a little comical. Like asking if boy/girl twins are identical...really identical. Then there are questions that are, I think, no ones business but still get asked by total strangers. Like whether or not your twins were conceived naturally or with medical help. Most people might wonder about it, but usually will not ask. In these situations I always try to be polite, answer questions if you want to, and if I'm trying to get "In & Out" of somewhere I just don't make eye contact. Eye contact is like a tractor beam, it will pull you in and then you're compelled to stop. It's really a little funny when I think about it.

Thankfully there are more polite interactions than weird ones. It makes taking the twins out easier when people are polite and not negative about having twins. I do believe most people, even when making the not so positive remarks, mean well. I would love to hear about other parents "Say What?" moments, so please feel free to leave a comment.

Image above from:
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Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Memory Lane Monday

Oh my goodness! August is really here and with that brings birthdays in our house. For some reason we have a lot of family who share August as their birth month, including Tru and I. I was looking at our soon to be 6 year old in total amazement today and wondering where has the time gone! His baby looks have almost disappeared and what's left is this long legged little boy. He is really coming into his own. He has such a great personality and sense of humor. He's always thinking, he is an awesome big brother, and a real helper to me! Am I sounding a little partial, that's what a mom is for, right? I'm so grateful to have him as our son. I was looking at some of our old pictures and found this one:



A straight on face shot of Tru. Those sweet baby cheeks! I remember when I took this picture...I was working full time and I took my vacation to work on potty training him. I so enjoyed being home with him and the week off only fueled my desire to be home full time with our boy. It is amazing how the Lord meets the desires of out hearts when we let him handle our circumstances...but that is a story for another day.

***A special thank you to @kellierasberry for re posting my blog on twitter Friday and thank you to all her twitter followers who stopped by over the weekend. I appreciate you checking out my blog! Also, another special thank you to my hubby who has made it his special mission to help me build up my blog following...your the best, J!***

{A Moment in Our Week}

~A moment in our week that I want to savor...if you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.



*Inspired by SouleMama

Twinsie Tuesday--Don't Be a Shut In!

Photo Credit

There are a few things I do to make these days outside of the house easier. First, be prepared. Pack your diaper bag with the essentials, even if you are taking a drive around town, you always need diapers, wipes, and food i.e. bottles,formula,snacks. Second, I always try to work an outing around their schedule. So I go out after they've had their bottle, baby food, and a change. Then I have happy full babies with clean pampers and fresh clothes. Third, call a friend. It's always good to have an extra hand and someone to chat with, but if no one is free, don't let being by yourself stop you. If you're a new mom take it one step at a time and don't overwhelm yourself. By that I mean don't attempt to do too much if you're not comfortable. Start small...a stroll, a drive, and trip to the grocery store. Whatever you do don't let yourself feel cut off.

That's right...it is humanly possible to leave the house with your twins. It's not always easy. It's not always fun. But actually getting yourself out the house and going somewhere will help with your sanity. Even if you go for a stroll around the neighborhood or a drive around town the fresh air and the reminder that there is life outside your twin enclosure...it is good for you and your family!

Decoration Inspiration

I have been working on something that I'm going to get to share on here in a few days, but it got me looking for some decorating inspiration. I found this really great picture from the Country Living site. Just looking at this inspires me to organize,decorate, and cook an amazing meal. I want to sit down that chair, scoot up to the desk, and write a recipe! I am going to have to make room for a space like this!


I am wanting to completely revamp our bedroom. Right now our bed is on the floor just sitting on the box springs. I like things simple. I prefer less clutter and clean lines. This master bedroom is just that...simple and comfortable with a romantic touch. Everything I imagine our bedroom should be. I found it here--http://www.easy-decorating-ideas.com/master-bedroom-decorating-ideas.html--along with a few other great ideas for decorating a master bedroom.



It's good to get inspired!

{A Moment in Our Week}

*A moment in our week that I want to savor...if you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.




Inspired by SouleMama...http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2011/07/this-moment-2.html#tp.

9 months ago today...

Nine months ago today I was sitting in a hospital bed at this very moment with two sweet babies in each arm. They were tiny and new. We were tired and even though we had been parents for 5 years before their arrival, I felt very novice and a little uneasy. We had waited for months to hold them and kiss their little cheeks. We had heard their hearts beat and I had felt their kicks and tumbles. They looked nothing like I thought they would look like. Liam with his dark hair and super high squeal. Levi with his long body and cotton top hair. For twins they looked nothing alike. They were up most of night that first night.

Nine months ago tomorrow I was completely exhausted and a little overwhelmed. My nerves were on end and J was very kind and forgiving to my snappy attitude. We came home a couple days later with two healthy baby boys and started our life as a family of five. We took it day by day by day. Sleepless nights, a massive amount of diapers,hours of crying and a lot of dirty laundry has passed these past nine months. But most importantly so has baby cuddling, precious firsts, sweet gummy smiles,and the knowing that countless more blessings are ahead. These little boys have brought so much joy to our family and I can not imagine our life with out them!

Wednesday Recap-Back from Vacation!

We left Friday night to go back to our hometown for a little vacation getaway. We got to hang with family and friends and just enjoy each other and got back this morning. Definitely a little exhausted. So I'm going to keep this short. I will leave you with this great picture from our trip. We spotted this "Batmobile" being pulled down the interstate late Friday night and when the guy stopped we followed and he let Tru take a picture with it. I think Jody was more excited than Tru was...it was really late. The things we do for our kiddos, right. So I'm going to finish the rest of the vacay with my boys.

A moment in our Week

Our sweet moment this week...I got to play toothfairy to this sweet little boy...



~If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. Friday's post has been inspired by SouleMama(http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2011/07/this-moment-1.html#tp). Check out her beautiful picture this morning.

Twinsie Tuesday-- Preparing for your Multiples

This Twinsie Tuesday I want to talk about 5 things to do before your twins hit the scene. There are few things I found through experience that helped make our life with our little ones much easier.

~Our fraternal twin boys about a month old. Levi on the left & Liam on the right.~

1.)Stock up on the Diapers
My twins combined go through 14-20 diapers a day, but during the first 3 months it was more like 16-22 combined daily. Especially while I was nursing them. One thing I wish I would have done more was buy different size diapers and wipes every time I made a trip to the store. Even once a week or every payday would have helped. When people would ask what we needed I would always say diapers. Also, along with a baby shower we were blessed with a diaper/wipes shower around the time the twins were a couple months old. The diapers we received lasted us almost 4 months! You can never have too many diapers.

2.)A little Formula doesn't Hurt
Ok let me start out by saying I completely agree with the breast is best campaign. Nothing is better for your twins than mommy's milk. I was determined to breastfeed. I even pumped the week after they were born during a quick trip to the ER due to complications with my c-section incision. It took alot of patience and a couple trips to the lactation consultant, but we were getting the hang of it. The main issue was that Levi took almost a month to get back up to his birth weight. He was not gaining the weight fast enough for our pediatrician at the time(we use someone different now)and after multiple VERY stressful visits to her office I gave in and began supplementing with formula. I was working on about 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Add the pressure from our pediatrician, along with few other factors I ended up switching to full time formula by about 2 months. I wouldn't change anything because our boys are healthy and happy,but looking back I wish I would've tried a little longer. I would suggest even if you aren't going to use formula to have a couple cans on hand for emergencies. Now if you know you're going to use formula right off and you don't qualify for any government assistance, we pay ALL out of pocket, I would stock up while you're pregnant. Formula, just like diapers, is not cheap and multiples go through it quickly. In the beginning we were buying about 3 regular sized cans of the store brand formula a week. That's about $50-60 a week just on formula.

3.)Rest
I'm sure everyone has told expecting parents to rest before your little one arrives, but with multiples you had better do it. Rest as much as possible. Don't feel guilty, because once your bundles of joy arrive sleep is virtually non-existent the first few months. I am blessed because my boys began sleeping through the night,10:30 pm to about 5:30 am, at about 31/2 months. We were putting our faith out there and speaking over them before they came out that they would be good sleepers...praise the Lord for good sleepers! I did have opportunities to feel guilty though, because I was home with Tru and he still needed my attention. So when I wasn't able to nap,which was more times than not, Tru & I would play Lego's on the couch or color or snuggle up with a good book together all the while giving my body the rest it needed to grow our two healthy boys. Sometimes we have to be creative while meeting our needs and our families' needs. Once your babies do arrive rest when they rest. Don't worry about the house. Setup something for your older children to do and rest. This is something I should've done more often.

4.)Plan for a full Pantry
So the months before your double bundle arrive work on stocking your pantry with healthy snacks and staples to help you stay nourished toward the end of your pregnancy and the arrival of your precious ones. I made sure that Tru had snacks that were healthy and easily accessible in the pantry and fridge so he could serve himself before and after the twins came. There were days at the end of our pregnancy that I found it literally difficult to get off the couch. Also, after your babies come and you're in the feed,burp,change,sleep mode you will want things that will be easy to get to for you and your family. There were days in the first couple months after the twins came that I would barely have time to eat before the next feeding so a granola bar, a package of nuts, or string cheese was helpful to keep my energy up.

5.)Schedule Help
Help is something you will most likely need, but may not always feel like you want at first. It was hard for me to ask for help from people other than J. It was easier to take help from my immediate family, like my mom and dad. My parents came a couple weeks before the boys were born and did my grocery shopping and cooked some meals for the weeks to come. It was great! But when it came from others I had a difficult time with, it was my own fault. Nevertheless, take help in any way you can. Most people want to help especially when the little ones first come home. So when someone asks to help...tell them what you need. There are plenty of things that people can do...cook a meal for your family, take your older children to the park, or fold some laundry. For me it was a matter of how comfortable I was with the helper. J's parents brought their RV and stayed a month. They were very patient with me because I didn't always feel comfortable with them doing things for us. I had to take the help for my family's sake. In the end they did some laundy and mostly cooked for us and would take Tru for the night freeing our hands a little more during the day to bond with the babies, while still making Tru feel loved and secure. It blessed us tremendously!
If you have any other ideas that worked for your family while preparing for a little one or questions please leave a comment. Have an awesome day!

*Also, an UPDATE from yesterdays post*
~Tru lost his first tooth last night! Can't stop it our little boy is growing up!

Memory Lane Monday

So last night we were enjoying a homecooked dinner, J cooked out and it was great, when Tru jumped up out of his chair. "My tooth is loose, my tooth is loose!" He was so excited. J looked at his little bottom front tooth and sure enough is was loose. Tru let me wiggle it,too. The little tooth was loose, but still hanging in there. J offered to help pull it out and Tru was on board 'till he saw the string attached to the pantry door and decided to try my way first..."So I just wiggle it for a day or two and should come out?" He asked over and over, that same question all last night and a couple times this morning.

Needless to say the little tooth is still there today. Tru's first loose tooth is a little bitter sweet to me though. The little boys, who are 8 months old now, just cut their first teeth a month ago. It seems like just last week it was Tru who was cutting his first tooth. I remember when I first discovered his first tooth. I worked fulltime at a bank those days and so I relished every moment I could with our sweet little Tru-baby. When we would get home from from work/daycare I loved just holding him. It was the middle of winter. Jody hadn't made it home yet so it was just me and Tru. We were sitting on the floor of our den in a house we were renting from a sweet older couple living next door. Truitt was only 4 months old...so tiny. I had him in my lap on the floor scooting some toys in front of him while dinner finished in the oven. He was knawing on my thumb when I felt something sharp. I put my finger in his mouth gently rubbing where a little tooth had pushed it's way through his gums. Things like that, for me, just stick with you. Wouldn't it be funny if that was the tooth he was loosing now.

When you become a parent it seems like everyone says "time is going to fly by" and "they grow up so fast". And the truth is everyone is RIGHT! Time does fly and they do grow up too fast...course it doesn't feel that way when you are dealing with sleepless nights and banchy screams(Liam), but none the less it's true. I know that little tooth is going to come out soon and I might shed a tear or two because I was there when is came out the first time. I am so grateful for my beautiful children and the memories I get to keep. Thank you Lord for all the times past and present and all the times to come!

Our Tru-baby...

Ode to Nap Time

Nap times are essential in this home. The twins usually need two naps a day, a morning and afternoon nap. During the week I use those nap times for homeschooling Tru, cleaning house, laundry, prepping lunch & dinner, and anything else that needs my attention. But on the weekend when J is home I get to use nap times for whatever I like. Free time for just J & I to hangout and watch a movie mildly uninterrupted, remember Tru is still up. Our arms are free to do whatever we want. It's a nice restful moment for all of us. I even venture out sometimes, without any children, and J is happy to oblige me. Basically it's free time for whatever I want. Now I will say this, one of my other favorite times of day is walking into the twins room and seeing the excitement on their sweet faces and their little arm outstretched longing to be picked up. It melts my heart every time. But for now I'm going to take advantage of this Saturday nap and enjoy the couple hours I have. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Saturday nap in progress!

{This Moment}

Following a very neat Friday tradition--"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember." ~Soule Mama check her blog out...it always inspires me, http://www.soulemama.com

Twinsie Tuesday--Research, Read, & Relax

Something that has helped me with my twins is being informed when it comes to being a parent of multiples. Especially in the beginning and you're new to the idea of having twins. I wanted to know everything I could about what was ahead for us and our family.

The first thing I did after finding out we were expecting twins was hopping on the Internet and research every website I could find. I just went and googled "having twins" and of course there were a ton of results. And I found alot of helpful sites, but the one that I used the most was Raising Twins. They have a lot of helpful information and even a list of more sites to check out. Here's the address if anyone is interested http://www.raising-twins.com. Researching isn't limited to the Internet though. Take advantage of anyone you know who has had twins. Most parents of twins are more than willing to sit down and share and encourage expecting parents. They've been there and understand. Also, there is usually some sort of Moms of Multiples group everywhere who would be happy to help be a resource.

The Internet and talking with other parents is essential, but I think that having some good books about twins is a must. I found it good to have them so that whenever a thought or question came to my mind I would have the a book on hand to answer it. I looked and looked for the right books but in the end I bought 2 off Amazon that worked for me. The book Twins 101 is set up as a quick read, which J appreciated, and it's a wellspring of great tips. The author is not only a doctor, but a mom to twins, too! The tips in the book cover pregnancy through early childhood. I especially liked the survival tips. Also, the book has a great list of twin resources in the back.



Multiple blessings is a book about multiples from pregnancy through childhood. It covers everything for you, from what to expect while pregnant with your multiples to early childhood. There's even a chapter that discusses the logistics of getting out of the house with your little ones...trust me you'll appreciate this part! I am still referring back to it for ideas and encouragement.

So after all the researching and reading I suggest just relax, because once your little ones get here relax mode comes in small spurts. And when they do come...relax and enjoy your sweet babies. Being a parent to twins is a true blessing that few people get the opportunity to experience. It is not easier to be the parent of multiples, it requires double the work because you are doing everything times two. But keep that in mind because the hugs, kisses, and sweet moments come multiplied too!