Christmas 2015

Our last Christmas as a family of 6! That sounds a little strange but it's a fact, so we decided to do something a little different this year for the kids. Around September Kendal and Maddy asked if they could go to Disney for Christmas and as I am sure many of you know Disney is not an inexpensive "gift"; so we told them we would think about it. After some discussion Curt and I thought it would be a good idea to spend the money on making memories verses gifts (even though they did get some gifts under the tree). We were even able to include the grandparents in on the gift!
So the weekend before Christmas we headed to Disney it was a blast for all the girls even mom and dad. Charlotte and Olivia loved seeing their favorite characters mostly... Minnie, Daisy, and Pluto. I was worried they would be afraid but the looks on their faces were absolutely priceless and even brought tears to my eyes. The hugs, the kisses, the smiles were so amazing to watch. Kendal and Maddy looked forward to the rides and had a blast on some of their old favorites. It was a great time and we certainly look forward to taking them again. We loved making this memory with the girls and hope that they too will remember it for years to come.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was pretty low key just the family relaxing and enjoying some of our favorite traditions; making cookies and our annual Christmas Eve "party". Making cookies with seven kids...two of them 2 year olds is a lot of fun and entertainment for the adults. My sister in-law usually does all the prep (thank you!) and I take the photos and watch the kids eat the dough and icing. The twins love to add the sprinkles on more than just the cookies and the older kids love to make designs on theirs. Cookie making is not complete without at least one cookie consumed during the process.

My husbands family has had the tradition of a Christmas Eve party for a long as I can remember (I'm pretty sure I talked about here last year). This year was no different we celebrated with family and hung out played some cards and waited for Santa to show up. Christmas morning was so much fun; we are staying with family right now so there was seven kids to open gifts...the smiles and happy faces were plenty. It's so much fun watching the kids excitement with each gift. Charlotte and Olivia had a blast I just loved how they were concerned if the other one didn't get the same gift they had just opened. I love this aspect of twins... so heart warming.  We literally sat around all day munching on stocking stuffer goodies and left over Christmas Eve snacks. After a late dinner the kids pretty much passed out from all the excitement and playing from the day. It was a great Christmas celebrated over a week and spending it with family (even though we don't always have all of our family near) makes it all the more special. Next year we will have a new little one to celebrate the holiday with and I can't wait to continue our traditions as a family of 7.

Twenty - Five

How Far Along - 25 weeks 3 days

Total Weight Gain - Officially 15 pounds from the Doctor visit today. I feel pretty good about this number, after a twin pregnancy everything seems different. According to the Doctor I am right on track. Belly is even measuring 25 weeks although it feels like it's about 30!

Maternity Clothes - Everything "maternity" still fits at this point but I am beginning to see some of the size "small" shirts I bought in the beginning... thinking I could wear them to the end are starting to become a bit tight and short. I'm sure they will be good for a few more weeks and then they will need to remain "home" shirts only!

Sleep - I wish this report could change but unfortunately sleep is still not an easy task for me. Now that my belly is getting bigger, baby girl is moving more (and more forcefully), braxton hicks are picking up, and muscle aches are starting sleep is just not a friend of mine...comfortable sleep anyway. I can still fall asleep pretty quickly and easily but that only lasts about 3-4 hours (sometimes longer if I'm lucky) then it's about 30-40 minutes sleep at a time. Add to that two toddlers that are not sleeping well and it's not always a fun night.

Miss anything? I haven't felt myself missing anything recently and overall I feel pretty content with with what limitations I have because of this belly and growing baby girl.

Cravings - Chocolate tops the list again, along with the returning favorites of subs, pastries, and Starbucks refreshers. The other day I was killing time between my oil change and picking the kids up from school so I grabbed some lunch at one of my favorite sub places. When I was getting ready to pay I put my phone number in for my "rewards" and image my delight when they said my sub was free!! Woohoo craving satisfied and money in my pocket!

Symptoms - Since I am nearing the 3rd trimester (holy cow!) many of the usual symptoms are starting to show up. Back ache, muscle cramps, and braxton hicks are the top of the list right now and they are pretty manageable. I have to remind myself to slow down and take it easy from time to time especially with the twins being so active.

Looking forward to- The New Year! We will hopefully be moving into a new house (to rent) sometime in January and I can officially start nesting and then this little one will be here very soon after! I can't believe how crazy fast this time has flown (don't we all feel that way), I'm really just trying to cherish every single moment I have with this girl all to myself.

Toddler Talk - Three

Why yes it has been two months since I last talked about these crazy toddlers in my life. Today they are 28 months and of course my time hop is full of photos from 4 months and 16 months ugh why must they grow so quickly? As I type their little sister is wiggling around in my belly no doubt letting me know how quickly she is going to grow as well. This age/stage is a lot of fun and a lot of challenge, as we go day to day I am reminded of things their big sisters did that pushed the limits; the only difference is there are now two of them, making the challenges that much more ehhhh challenging.


Talk: Since when did these crazy little girls start speaking to each other like adults? I mean seriously they now have full on conversations usually ending in a some sort of yelling (aka fighting). They can be heard telling each other to say please, or saying things like "My turn now sissy", "it's ok sissy", "I do it", "sissy funny" and there is so much more. It seems like each day there is a new word or phrase that just stops us in our tracks wondering how the heck did they know to say that.  Many of the things they say are sometimes hard for us to understand especially when they are needing something from us. They don't really know/understand that there are opposites, everything is "on" even if they want it off, or "up" even when they want the window down, and even "no" when they mean yes. This is especially frustrating for big sisters that are trying to help. Patiences and Practice will get them there.

Play: Color? Color? Paper? Color Paper? These girls L O V E to color, draw, write you name it, if it involves some sort of writing instrument they want to use it.. sometimes all over the walls (But we won't talk about that). I have loved watching this skill grow from scribbles all over the page to drawing "ovals" and intense focus of color certain areas of the paper. Both girls appear to be right handed at this time... maybe baby girl will be my lefty. Park... good lord these two love to be at the park and would gladly go all day every day if we let them. They are getting very daring and willing to do a lot more that they have in the past. Sometimes wanting help and other times being very independent. The smiles we get when we tell them we are going to the park are unlike any I've seen from them... such excitement.

Food: These girls eat well some days and others they are just not into it. They will try pretty much any food we put in front of them but do have their favorites. They love to snack and must also have some sort of drink within close range.

Sleep: The.struggle.is.real.  Ok so it's not THAT bad but it has been WAY better. I think we are entering the next teething phase. We've also had some transition in our lives the last few months and I am certain it is and has been affecting their sleep habits. I know that once things settle down and get back to normal for them their "issues" will correct themselves.

News: About a month ago we successfully gave up the pacifiers (blogged about it here). And they did amazing with it... so much better than I gave them credit for. These small steps away from "baby" are so bitter sweet and a hard reminder that they just don't stay little for too long. They already love their baby sister, Charlotte loves to lift my shirt and see "baby" always wanting to hold her and give her a drink. Livy knows when my "belly hurts" if I am carrying her and she is sure to point it out and say "sorry mama". I can not wait to see these two as big sisters this little one is going to be so very spoiled. We have regressed a bit with potty training, mostly while in the car, I am sure this is also related to all the change we've been experiencing lately. Definitely looking forward to this going back to normal ASAP.

These little girls bring us so much joy and laugher and remind us every single day to choose patience over frustration and grace over anger. We love you girls.

Twenty Three Weeks

How Far Along - 23 weeks 2 days

Total Weight Gain - hmmmm I don't know :) and sometimes I like it that way... I haven't had a scale within my reach since mid-October and I think it is for the best. Finding out my weight every 4 weeks (soon to be 2 weeks) is enough for me! Reminding myself to eat healthy (most of the time) and drink lots of water is working so I will stick with it for now.

Maternity Clothes - Are their any other clothes?? Yes, it's true maternity clothes are my best friends and I have to say some of the tank tops I was wearing pre-pregancy (that I still wear now) are getting just a little short... not so much so that I can't wear them but kinda like a little warning.... your belly IS getting bigger... just so you know.

Sleep - Ehh.. pretty much my most favorite and most uncomfortable thing to do. I love going to bed at night because baby girl also likes to move a lot and just brings so much joy and calm to my evening. Falling asleep is pretty easy but staying asleep and comfortable is hard to come by.

Miss anything? Not much really. I tend to be an "over doer" in a lot of areas of my life and some days I realize I just can't do as much... like carrying the twins at the same time. I still do it but my body pays for it later. Even Olivia knows it hurts "mama's belly".

Cravings - Pastries... mostly cheese danishes.... I love those things, Especially from Starbucks I really don't think I can get enough. I really also love the Strawberry Acai' Refreshers from Starbucks... Another "thing" I can't seem to get enough of... although I do refrain from going there daily I certainly could go everyday (taking donations).

Symptoms - Overall I'm freeling pretty good, aside from the usual pregnancy aches and pains. I do tend to get braxton hicks contractions at night.. as I am trying to get comfortable. They don't hurt at this point... but I know that is coming.

Looking forward to- I feel like this belly has gotten bigger over the last few weeks and sometimes I am a bit shocked when I see myself in the mirror. Not a bad shocked I just know that it is only going to get bigger. This weekend we are taking the kids to Disney World for Christmas I simply cannot wait to see Charlotte and Olivia when they see their favorite characters! I love feeling baby girl move and I especially love the days she moves a lot and gives me some bigger kicks. There's nothing better than feeling the little baby you created move.

That First Moment

Becoming a mom for the first time is one the most exciting, scariest, proudest, and most wonderful times in a woman's life. That first moment of realization .... "I'm a mom" is different for everyone and the feelings and emotions that go along with it are very personal and ones that will be remembered forever.

My little sister just recently became a mom for the first time and when I saw the photo of her with her minutes old daughter and her fiancé tears immediately began to flow. That was the moment I saw my sister as a mother and I knew she was going to be amazing and her life would never be the same.

Through social media I've seen many of my friends post photos just after giving birth I am amazed at the rawness of emotions displayed across their face in a way we may never seem to capture otherwise. I love those moments especially when that moment makes you a mother for the very first time.

I asked some of my favorite mamas to share with me how they felt the moment they first became a mother and all I can say is "wow" ... Just wait until you read them. Some of these moms are first time moms, have twins, have more than one child or may be pregnant with a new little one... Either way the memory of that day never really seems to fade.

Christina Boyce 

Like your first kiss or the first time you fell in love, you never forget the first time you became a mother.

I am about to embark on motherhood for the fourth time, but for a moment, let me reminisce about the first time.

I was in my early twenties and had no clue what to expect. I read every book that was given to me in hopes of preparing myself for the adventure that awaited me. I took the classes hoping to breathe easier and make the most of the moment. What no one told me was that none of those books or classes would actually prepare me for the uniqueness of myfirst time into motherhood.

During the contractions of labor I was so scared. Would I know how to push a baby into the world? Would I poop on the table? Would my baby have all it's fingers and toes? Would I instantly feel connected to this new life?

Then without thought or instruction I heard his cry for the first time and realized, it would all be okay. I knew nothing, yet I knew everything about how to love him. The world vanished in an instant and all that mattered was this small child and me.

Motherhood allowed me to let go of the idea of being perfect, of being right of being the best. Motherhood opened my eyes to the idea of finding beauty in the unknown and the not so perfect. 

Check out her blog Caffeine and Three

And her Instagram here _Christinaboyce

Alyssa Farr

The moment I became a mother.
The feelings at that second are so hard to describe. I luckily got to deliver my twins vaginally. I pushed for about 2 hours before my first little girl came out and then 8 minutes later my second little came into the world as well. I remember pushing and pushing and feeling like they would never come and finally after a long 2 hours they were here. As soon as they came out they were taken to nurses and both rushed off(with my husband). I barely got to meet my little girls. Once they started to come, I feel like it went so fast. I was laying there in an empty room with just few nurses, without my babies and without my husband and I was in shock. Nothing felt real. And honestly I felt empty. I never got the joy to have my babies lay on my chest right when they came out, which was harder than I thought. That's the moment I feel like every mother looks forward too. They were no longer being protected by my body and I couldn't even be with them. I was lost. They wheeled me back to my room while the girls were getting still getting checked out. All I wanted was my babies but I had to wait, which every minutes felt like an eternity. I knew my husband was with them so that helped. About an hour and a half later they finally look me to see my babies. As soon as I was wheeled into their room, the tears started to flow. Luckily they were as healthy as could be. I held my little girls and my heart all the sudden felt a completeness, I never even knew it needed. At that moment everything was okay in the world. I no longer felt lost, I actually felt found. I felt like my whole life had a purpose. Being a mother is a dream come true. It's the most amazing and indescribable feeling. So blessed 

Alyssa's Instagram here

Tara Dunham 

How I felt the moment I became a mother.

Not that I have been a mother for long (less than 3 weeks)....I'm sure my response is way different than everyone else. I've always considered myself a selfish person, not so much in the sense of not thinking or caring about others but in the sense I always was able to take care of my needs and myself without hesitation. I was always so caught up in "me",

My future, my career, etc. The moment I became a mother all of that changed. I became selfless...for the first time I looked at another person and instantly all of my own worries, my own wants, and needs didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was this tiny human that I somehow created. From that day on I've realized what it means to care for another person more than you care for yourself.

Tara's Instagram here

Meridith Haynes

I remember feeling both panic and total peace. Excitement and fear. I'd dreamed about them from the moment I found out we were expecting two: their personalities, their hair, their eyes, their lips... They didn't look like anything I imagined, yet when I saw them for the first time I thought, "Of course."  I prayed to God that day (and every day since), "Please don't let me mess this up." Our life was far easier before Jude & Sloane, but it didn't really begin until they were here. 

Meredith's Instagram here

Check out her blog A Work in Progress