4 Things to De-stress a Stressful Day

We have all experienced a stressful day or days.  So here are 4 things I try to do when life gets a little crazy and chaos feels like it's
running rapid.

1. Slow down and Engage
Stop what you're doing when things get a little crazy.  Engage with the people around you.  I find that sometimes the whining or fussing seems like it just grows louder and louder as I'm working through my day.  So ofter I will stop my chores or whatever feels pressing to me and just engage with my boys. The chores can wait and I sit down and we read a book or play with their trains.  Just sitting with them can change the mood in the house from crazy to calm.  Talking with them and being with them helps them relax.

2.  Make time for Quiet Time
This is for me and for the kids.  They need it just as much as I do.  Life is so busy all the time and if we don't slow down it's easy for all of us to feel overwhelmed and stressed.  The boys may not always take naps but they can lay down in their room and play quietly or look at books.  Usually they fall asleep, but if they don't we shoot for an hour.  Granted somedays it takes work to get them settled, but it's more than worth it when we are all enjoying the quiet time.  If your stress is work related make time during your work day and find a quiet place to shut off for 15 minutes.  Five if you don't have that long.  It always helps me reset.

3. Talk Happy
Be posistive. Speak good things over your children, yourself, your spouse, and every situation.  I might be having a crazy day, but it's hard for me to feel overwhelmed when my words aren't saying it.  When I give in and start saying I how feel about whatever is stressing me I notice the stress just gets worse and that's when it gets transferred to everyone in the house too.  Because they hear me and my words bring them down.  If it's hard for you to find something to talk happy about, then think on the things you're thankful for and talk about those things.  I think everyone can find something to be thankful for.  Just like bad talk is contagious, so is good talk.  So talk happy!

4.  Pray
It doesn't have to be long and drawn out.  It can be short and sweet.  "Thank you Lord for patience and grace in this situation" as your shuffling your children out the door for school because you're running late.  That was me yesterday.  I don't make a spectacle of myself so everyone around me knows what I'm doing either.  For me praying is just talking to God all day long in my daily goings.  Thanking Him for the little stuff and acknowledging Him in everything I do.    It helps keep me close to Him and when I'm closer to Him I don't feel as stressed.


Stressful days come, but I think it's all in how we handle them that determines how long they last and how they affect us. The best way our kids learn how to handle crazy days is by us showing them how to deal with them.  Do I get it right all the time?  No.  But I can't give up and that's what they see most!

These are just 4 things that I do.  What are some things that you do to De-Stress a Stressful day?

Motherhood is Calling & it Isn't what You Think!

 

There are about as many different types of people in this world as there are grains of sand.  Deep I know, but truth right?  Well you could say that same phrase about mothers too.  I don't care what the parenting magazines say, there's not 5 different types of mothers and you can't just take a 2 minute quiz to figure it out.   Some mothers are just naturally nurturers who find their passion in doing the mommy stuff and being home all the time. While another mother finds her passion outside the home all the while still caring and loving her children with passion and zeal.   Be careful not to let what others think a mother should look like determine how you feel about your own motherhood.  Mothers look different in every situation.  Don't compare yourself to another woman.  You'll only pick yourself apart and rob yourself of joy that you could be spreading to your family.  Relax and rest in this, if you are somebody's mother then God has equipped you with everything you will need to be the mother He designed you to be.   You just have to believe it.   I think that motherhood isn't just for those of us with children, but for all women.

A mother isn't just someone who gives birth to you or who just sees to the well being of those in her family.  Motherhood isn't tied to blood lines and physical attributes.   Knowing what kind of mother you are boils down to one simple thing...love.  Not the gushy, sweet kind of love, but the I'm here for the long haul, never giving up on you kind of love.  I like the gushy sweet stuff, but that's really the perks of being a mother I think.  The committed love is what motherhood is built on.  It's choosing to put others before yourself in all things.  Motherhood is saying I choose to love you, whether I gave birth to you or whether someone else did.  I choose to love you whether or not you'll love me back,  whether or not you deserve it, and whether or not you do things I think you should.  You don't have to have children to be a mother.  Motherhood is even sometimes the women who come into our lives as adults and guide us gently through the muck and the mundane.  Who spend time with us, sowing wisdom and health into our hearts.   Helping us in the hurts and lifting us up to be better women!  They say "I've been where you are and I've seen that.  You can do it.  Don't give up!  Stay the course."  All the while choosing to love us when we're not their own.   

All mother's have one thing in common, we're women.  So as women lets lift each other up.  Let's commit to only seeing the good in each other, only speaking the good about each other, and only helping each other to rise above the things that hold us back.  Not everyone is meant to be best friends, but we are meant to love and encourage and build each other up.   I know that some of us have had bad experiences when it comes to relationships with other women.  I think most everyone has a mean girl story or that gossipy, backstabby friend who cut you down, but that's when forgiveness can help you heal and love will pull you through.

1 Peter 4:8

 Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].(AMP)

With a new year in front of us this is the perfect time to start fresh in how we think about ourselves and other people.  It will make difference in our lives when choose to love others and ourselves.  It will make us better wives, mothers, friends, workers, business owners, and better women.  Isn't that what we want?  To come up and over things all while bringing others with us.  Life isn't just about being alive, but living it to it's fullest.  True happiness is found in truly loving others and that's what motherhood is all about.

Twinsie Tuesday: One on One Time

The other night I was laying the twins down for bed.  They each have their own beds, but share a room.  This night was like any normal night.  I had spent almost 30 minutes reading books, singing bedtime songs, tucking everyone in, and kissing little faces.  As I was tucking Levi in I noticed that he was scowling at me.  For anyone who knows Levi he doesn't hide his emotions very well, in fact you can read his face like billboard!  Sitting back down on his bed, even though all I really wanted to do was tuck myself in, I asked him "What's wrong?"  Looking at me with his big blue eyes he held his arms out.  So I reached for him, pulled him close and hugged him ONE more time.  He held tight and then a thought came to me...had I held him today, really held him?  I hadn't.  I had kissed and hugged.  I had lugged him around.  I had fed him, bathed him, and all the things moms do, but I hadn't taken time to hold him.  I propped him in my lap and rocked him.  We sang a few more bedtime songs and we cuddled for a while longer.  It was nice to slow down and be intentional about it.

Often times, I am doing the "mom stuff" and haven't taken the time to just be with them seperately.  I ususally feel pulled in many directions in my life and when we're home just trying to get ahead on the laundry and keep the house clean feels daunting some days.  The other thing I find with the little boys is I do less one on one with them than with their older singleton sibling.  It's not that it's my desire, but mainly because wherever we go and whatever we're doing I find we do it together.  Sometimes for convenience, sometimes out of my desire to keep things "fair", and sometimes out of habit.  

The fairness thing really gets to me at times.  I try to do for one what I do for the other.  This is probably not unusual for any parent with more than child, but I think it can amplified with multiples.  The boys have never expressed a concern for me being fair, it's mainly my own hang up.  When I start to think like this I remind myself that they are individuals with different needs sometimes.  While I was rocking Levi that night, Liam was content playing with his little trains on his pillow.  He didn't give it  a second thought.  When they were infants we kept them on a schedule and it worked very well for all of us.  It kept me sane and helped the whole family.    So I'm in a habit of just doing things with them together.  As they've gotten older this habit has carried on and I think that breaking the norm is going to be good for them and us.  

So how to do I go about it.  Making one on one time with each little one doesn't have to be hard.  I don't have to take them out each time or make big plans to make it meaningful.  My plan is to make tweaks to our daily lives.  Yes, we can do the occasional one on one trip to the park or the play area at Chick Filet, but these things are more special than simple every day tweaks.  My idea is this, to get our one on one time in  by simply changing a few of our daily routines.  Like giving them baths separately or letting them stay up a little longer while the others go on to bed.  Having Jo watch a movie with one little guy in the living room while I read or play with our other little guy in another room.  I think I'll have to be a little creative sometimes, but I'm looking forward to it.  I enjoy seeing our children's different personalities and with as fast as their growing lately I don't want to miss it.  The laundry will always be there, the dishes keep on coming, but time with these precious kids sneaks by too fast!  

I would love for you to share what you do to get your one on one time with your kiddos.  Have you had to get creative?  What's your favorite thing about it?  Let me know and leave a comment!  

Book Review: Ministry of Motherhood

This is review has been a long time coming.  From the moment I picked it up it brought light and encouragement.  I personally go through times where I'm just going through the motions in motherhood and I can imagine there might be other women who can relate to that, too.  This book The Ministry of Motherhood, by Sally Clarkson,  has been a God send!  

The book encourages us as mothers to do more than just "mother" our children, but raise them so that they will grow up to be strong and healthy in every area of their lives.  She talks about how the spritual and emotional maturity of her children would not just come about because she wanted it to or just by an example of her being good.  But that the "effective spiritual, emotional, social training in the lives of her children would have to be intentional and planned."  And so she writes of how she and her husband began to plan and talk about gifts that they wanted to give their children that would last all their lives.  She uses the acronym G.I.F.T.S. to help herself remember the spiritual priorities as their children grew up.

 In the five parts of her book she covers how she and her husband worked to instill Grace, Inspiration, Faith,Training, and Service into the lives of their children.  She gives examples from the Word of how Jesus taught and loved his own disciples.  She points out different ways that Jesus showed and taught these G.I.F.T.S. to them.   Also, she shares her own experiences from her life with her family and tells how she would use everyday opportunities to teach them these G.I.F.T.S.  She never claims to have it all together or that she a perfect parent.  She is real and open. 

This book encouraged me to be intentional in my parenting.  That our children are gifts and we shouldn't let them go to waste.   The things that we teach or don't teach them now will be with them for a lifetime. Also, that we should put a plan in place with a vision that equips our children with these GIFTS for a lifetime. And that motherhood is an important job that is often taken lightly and even more often lightly esteemed.  It is a ministry opportunity unlike any other and we should look at it as our first mission field.   

*I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review.

What a Difference a Year Can Make

There isn't a truer statement for us right now.  In my last post I wrote about the new house that we moved to and how we were just getting back into the routine of things.  Well, because of unexpected circumstances,  J changed jobs and moved again, this time back out of state.  Fortunately, back to familiar place and one of our favorite places, Texas!  But all of the moving has only been about 3 a month ordeal.  So what about the rest of the year? Well...

We are officially the parents of two year old twin boys!  Their birthday was last month  and we celebrated in the middle of moving with a small family party at home and the boys had a blast.  So much has changed for the twins since last year.  All the fun things they do and the cute stuff they say.  It is hilarious to watch them interact with each other!   And with so many changes the one thing that hasn't changed is the joy these two sweet boys have brought into our lives.  We love being the parents of twins and I'm so grateful to be their mommy. 
                         

Getting ready for their party!

 We have another year of homeschooling under our belt and we are diving into a new year of second grade material.  It's hard to believe that Tru is seven let alone in second grade.  I will say one of the best decisions we've made as parents has been to school him at home, but it has also been one with many challenges and learning opportunities for myself as a mother.  I think homeschooling is a daily decision to lead your children in every area of their young lives guiding and teaching them.

He's thinking deep thoughts...

Another year of marriage to my awesome husband, J!  We have come a long way from our first years of marriage.  God has blessed us and guided us even in the less unlovely times, it's usually my unlovely times.  So what has changed in our marriage since last year?  Well, for me I can say I am working harder at showing J respect.  I found some tangible ways to were to start by giving him my full attention when he's talking or sharing ideas with me.  Also, caring about the things he cares about and taking interest. Having a nice tone to my voice, especially when I'm asking him for help with something.  Doing what he asks me to instead of just blowing it off because it doesn't seem as important to me.  All of these things anybody would appreciate in any relationship.  Do I get it right every time?  No, I miss the mark but I have made a conscious decision to shoot for it.  One of the great things about marriage is it's not a marathon, it's more like a long journey.  We are growing together and committed to having a better marriage with every passing year.

Let me just brag on J for a minute.  One of the things I've noticed he's started doing for me lately that has improved our marriage is he has been texting or calling me through out the day just to say hello.    It makes me feel so good to know that he's thinking of me. It is a small thing that has a lot of impact on my day.  Small things add up to big things you know.   And isn't that what a year is anyway?   In a year there are a lot little things going on. Some that are mundane and ordinary and some that seem huge and life changing.  But they all add up together and before you know it things have changed.  Hopefully it's good changes.  In our case I've seen more good changes this year than bad and for that I'm so thankful! 

"We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose."

Romans 8:28 (Amp)

Father's Day Photo Shoot

I'm a tad late on the Father's Day post. We just had so much fun last Sunday and I didn't get a chance until today to get on the laptop. And anytime I have a chance to dote on my guy, I want to take it!
I could not ask for better Daddy for our boys than J. He loves them so much. When he walks through the front door at the end of the day the boys are always there to greet him with squeals and smiles. He is the type of dad who gets down on the floor and plays with them. He holds and hugs them and patiently teaches and guides them. He works hard for his family and we are so blessed to have him leading us!
For Father's Day this year I got the boys together for pictures. The idea was for the boys to hold signs that would line up to read "Happy Father's Day!" and "We love Papa" and "Papaw". I had seen a few different versions on Pinterest and thought it would be a great gift.


Well I was right about it being a great gift, everyone loved them, especially J! It was a simple idea, but even the simplest idea can turn complicated when 1 year old twins are involved. They weren't interested in holding signs imagine that, right. With Levi I couldn't catch him looking at the camera. And Liam, well, he wouldn't sit still for more than a few seconds. Signs were thrown to the ground, stomped on, and sat on. Tru was a huge help with distracting and yes even tossing a few crackers in laps just so I could get a still shot. There was only one melt down. In the end I had a lot of pictures and only a few that I thought would work.









I guess when your 1 you really have no desire to pose for pictures. It makes me laugh after looking at our out-take photos. Tru was more than willing to pose and have his photo taken. He has always enjoyed that, one might say he's a little bit of a ham. It all turned out great in the end and I think J had the best Father's Day yet!

Twinsie Tuesday: Bath Time Stories

Living with a house full of boys is not a clean job. Tru is pretty self sufficient when it comes to bathing. It is a job when it comes to bathing two messy toddlers. Bath time when the twins were infants took a lot of preparation and time. We bathed them separately. If J was home, he would take the clean baby and do the drying job while I took the next baby and bathed them. If it was just me at home, I would pull the bouncy seats in with me. So while one baby was sitting in his seat I would bathe the other, then drying and dressing that baby in the bathroom, and putting him back in his bouncy. Then start the process all over again while the first baby would watch safely from his bouncy seat. It wasn't a fast ordeal, but it worked. I never felt comfortable with two infants in the bath tub at the same time, even with the the bath seats.

Now that they are a little older, 19 months last week, they take their baths together. I still have to be prepared. Probably now more than before. I collect the supplies. Towel, wash cloth, diapers, lotions, and pajamas. I gather up the twins, herding is a more accurate word for it. Closing the door behind me because one always manages to make a run for it while I'm helping his brother. Once both boys are in the tub I let them play for a couple of minutes before we start washing. They each get a cup to play with, who needs expensive bath toys, right. They have started rinsing themselves off, each other, and sometimes even me. Very rarely do I make it out of a bath time with dry clothes and recently I had a cup of water dumped on my head while washing their hair. I guess he thought he'd help me multitask. The floor is almost always a little wet too. I don't let bath time run too long, I then scrub them down, and once it's over I pull the plug and pull one boy out at a time. Drying and dressing him quickly next to the tub while the other little boy splashes and plays. It's not always an easy task bathing two wiggling toddlers at the same time, but it has been the most efficient.

We do a little double duty during bath time too. I brush their teeth before we bathe them. They both love this because when I finish brushing their teeth they get to practice on their own. They will actually ask to brush their teeth...I'm going to ride that wave as long as possible! It's the perfect time because they are sitting still and we get in their night time teeth brushing out of the way. Bath time can feel like a drudgery. So I try to mix it up with bubbles and bring out the toys when they just wont be still. Then there are those days where I have just sat them both in the tub and rinsed them off just to be finished with it. But my favorite thing about bath time is the time I get with them separately while drying and dressing. Ever since they were infants, I took this time to talk to them and cuddle them one on one. They still have the clean baby smell after bath time,too. It's usually the craziest and loudest right before and during baths. But bath time is also a signal for them and the rest of us that the day is winding down. I had read when Tru was little how important a bedtime routine is, so we always used a bath as the beginning of that routine. By the end of bathing the boys and getting them ready for bed I welcome the bedtime routine. It means a bedtime story, prayers, and hugs. One of the best parts of our day!

Baby Gate Down!

Six months ago we had sweet little 12 month old twin boys. They were fairly mobile in that they crawled to get where they wanted to go. They were content to clamor up and down the hall way and once Liam got the hang of it he even speed crawled. I could put them in their play room with the baby gate up and they would play happily with out any sign of protesting. Now lets fast forward 6 months...we still have the sweetest little twin boys, but they are 18 months old now and not only are they mobile, they are very seldom still.

Levi and Liam are doing all the normal things 18 month old toddlers do. I think the only difference is they utilize each other. If one learns something new the other usually picks up on it. And ooh this has been the week for learning new skills. I was picking up toys in the family room when Levi reached up, gripped the door knob, and walla open door! And of course this was an invitation for Liam to try too. I walked up on him later fiddling with the same door. Earlier that day, I was putting the little boys down for a nap when we had our first crib escape. I put Liam down first and went after Levi, because as soon as he saw Liam go into his crib he bolted down the hallway to hide. I found him behind the couch, scooped him up, and started back down the hallway when I heard a thump and a cry. I ran back into their room and there was Liam on his bottom in the floor red faced with tears streaming down his cheeks. He had crawled out of his crib! Yes, OUT OF HIS CRIB! Picking him up I checked him for any signs that he might be hurt. Thankfully, he was fine just a little startled from the fall. I kept him up a little while longer just to be sure. We do have two cribs so I have since switched Liam into the other crib thinking it's taller and doesn't have a built in changing table to hoist himself up with. Levi hasn't shown any interest in climbing out and wasn't there to witness Liam actually escaping. So maybe we're in the clear for a while.

Not only do the little boys have each other to practice and learn from they also have Tru. Especially Levi, he will follow Tru around the house like a second shadow. It's so funny to me that they will just sit and watch him do something and I can see them thinking and their wheels turning. Almost like they're filing it away for when they get older. They have watched Tru hop over the baby gate in the past and just recently have been getting passed the gate. With a little teamwork a loose baby gate comes down easily. I've watched them squeeze out and I've seen them just plow it down all together.

It's amazing to think about how much has changed in six months and how different they'll be in another six. I can say one thing that we will be doing some baby proofing around the house and getting some stronger baby gates. It seems like only yesterday we brought them home. They were so tiny and slept very little those first 3 months. I guess we've traded sleepless nights for busy busy boys and I wouldn't have it any other way. ~I would love to hear any of your stories about your multiples or singletons and the changes that keep you amazed and/or on your toes.~

A Beautiful Vue--A day in the lives of Liam & Levi

After I laid the little boys down for bed tonight I walked down our hallway and into the living room only to be met by a mess of toys, a couple mismatched baby shoes, random kitchen items(they love to play with our kitchen stuff), and a few more odd and ends from the day. There was a trail of these things from the family room to the kitchen. I started to pick up thinking to myself I know I picked these things up earlier. Now our little boys didn't do all the mess, but they did do most of it and just like any little boys their age they are curious and full of energy. I told Jo while I was tossing toys in the toy box that other than their nap after lunch Liam and Levi hadn't stopped all day. So what do two 17 month old toddlers do all day. Well let me show you just a little bit...

they "help" put away groceries...

they drive buggy carts...

they try their very best to open anything they might be able to reach after rummaging through the kitchen cupboards(see the open cupboard on the right)

and most of the time they are in too much of a hurry to stop and take a picture(see very blurry photo). Now that's just a tiny bit of their busy day. I don't think five little pictures could really sum it all up. When I look at that last picture of Liam it reminds me that our time with our boys, while they're young, passes in a flash and how I should cherish every minute of it. Even on our craziest days when my energy is spent and I just push the toys and clutter aside, I can still find joy just in the simple fact that I got to spend my day with our kids. Our boys make life so much more interesting and fun. What an awesome privilege we have to get a front row seat in watching it all.

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!

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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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!

Amber Vues

Amber Vues is pretty simple...me,Jo,the boys, and everything in between. Let's start with the boys. My five year old is quickly approaching six at the end of the summer. It's always been in my mind that he's still little being 5 and all, but with his sixth birthday coming up on us so quickly he doesn't feel so little anymore. We are homeschooling him for a number of reasons and I am really seeing some progress with it. It's not always easy, the homeschooling thing, but it's definitely worth it as well as rewarding! The twins will be 7 months old next week and they are amazing. I frequently look at them and think it must be a dream...two babies at once! Really? Two babies? Being a parent to twins is like parenting on steroids. It requires double the work, but the rewards are greater and doubled too!
My Jo is a great guy and my best friend. We don't claim to have a perfect marriage, but we are committed to always sticking with our marriage. When it comes to Jo he is hard working at home and at work. He is very easy going, laid back, and a people person. Jo loves being a daddy and he's good at it. I think we compliment each other and I couldn't ask for a better partner in life!
As for me, all of the above makes up my life these days. And on top of that I have a lot of interests that I'm always trying to find time for. I think that's the challenge in my life is balancing out the daily grind and still finding time for the things I enjoy. I think most women can relate to that. I think keeping it simple and staying optimistic will always keep my vue of things successful!