10 Months of Charlotte & Olivia

So she was right... the 18th is this week... in fact it's today and I couldn't be more proud of all of the milestones and accompaniments the girls had during the last month. Its crazy how much they changed in those short 30 days (or is it 31?... either way it was too fast).  This was the month of sickness for both of the girls starting with Olivia and finishing with Charlotte and she got the worst of it. 

Olivia

 She is becoming a lot like her big sister Madison with her smiles, noses and actions. BUT she is still very much her own little person her personality shows everyday. She is still very much an observer of what is going o around her... except when she is near mommy and daddy she is constantly crawling and climbing all over both of us. And when she sees her daddy come home from work that little butt just starts bouncing on the floor with her arms held high and a big smile for daddy to pick her up. She's also taken to flopping from one of us to the other when we put her in the bed with us- its quite funny and she sure gets a kick out of it. 

The month starting off with a stomach bug for Olivia which I first thought was associated with teething as both her top teeth came through this month. But when her sister started in with the same symptoms I knew it was worse. For about 5 days poor Olivia was feeling crappy from her teeth and the stomach bug and the fantastic diaper rash that came along with it all. She was super clingy and didn't want anyone but mama and I had to be holding her no matter what i was doing. I loved the extra cuddles of course but it left no hands for poor Charlotte. Luckily when Charlotte started in with the stomach bug Olivia was on the mend and her first upper tooth had come thorough and she became a lot less clingy. 

She has learned how to stand on her own with out needing assistance to pull her up. She even took a few steps with her walker. She has become a speed crawler all over the place it is just the cutest thing to watch. When she is on the tile she will bear crawl with her butt up in the air walking her feet and hands on the floor. 

You love music when you hear it you look around to see who is singing and get the biggest smile on your face and then that little butt starts to bounce on the floor. You've caught on to the "so big" game and it is just adorable. You've also started waving "hi" and will mimic many sounds your favorite being the tongue sticking out raspberries. Your little crinkled up nose is one of your favorite games to play with anyone willing to do it with you. 

You've been sleeping through the night off and on (story of my life) but getting to more so on... and I hope we can keep that going. You love to eat and I am pretty sure you hit a growth spurt during the month... you almost overtook your sister in the eating category. Your favorite foods are blueberries, pancakes, oranges, yogurt, oatmeal, and any kind of pasta. You have been taking your formula mostly in a sippy cup with only one-two bottles a day. I think you would probably go without the bottle but mommy is the one not ready to let go. 

Sweet Olivia you really are just as sweet and silly as can be I can't wait to see how you continue to change and grow- we love you little one.

Charlotte

Miss Charlotte and she is a little miss for sure, demanding attention in the most sweetest of ways. She is very much like her big sister Kendal. Loving and always looking for a snuggle, she is the first to lay her head on your chest or shoulder making the one holding her simply melt from her sweetness. Charlotte also enjoys watching what is going on - until she determines if its something she wants to be involved in... which is almost always a yes for this little girl. 

You started out the month on a better note than your sister but that only lasted a week until you came down with the same stomach bug as Olivia. I think we went through diapers just like they were newborns again! But poor Charlotte your stomach bug gave way to a fever lasting 4 days, then that became a rash all over your body for 3 more days and you were lucky enough to then have a UTI... which we are still treating. All of this and she was great through it all- a little fussy and extra cuddly but still your sweet sweet self. 

Poor girl you still have no teeth and I swear we are just going to wake up one morning to two or more teeth. You are also able to stand on your own unassisted and you pretty much do it all the time. Soon you will be taking steps and then we are all in trouble. 

You love to play "how big is" and you even answer for your sister. Waving hi is a new favorite thing and you will mimic anything. Your favorites are the kissing sound, saying ri ri ri (which your uncle Ryan taught you), and making the raspberry noise when you hear your sister do it. You also love music and have a tendency to "dance" when you are standing up (as long as someone is holding you up) and the music starts. Your little legs start moving and you stick your little butt out... can we say adorable! 

Sleeping is pretty good for you- this month has been tough but I am hopeful things will start to get better once you are feeling 100% again (please let that be soon). You also love to eat... still.. and there hasn't been  a food you have refused. Your favorites are pancakes, meatballs, blueberries, bananas, yogurt, any pasta, and peas. Just like your sister you do amazingly well with your sippy cup and could probably go without the bottle... maybe this month I'll have the courage to do it!

Charlotte you are such a sweet heart and I see you staying that way forever- we love you so!

Baby Girls we can't imagine our lives with out you the joy you bring to us is beyond measure and everyday we think about how blessed we are to have you as our daughters. Life works in some pretty unexpected ways sometimes but those unexpected things are sometimes the biggest blessings. 

We love you both so much!!

Already??

Sitting on my couch the other day I asked my sister in-law this very important question "is next week really the 18th?" When she said yes I think I had a mini meltdown. I couldn't believe and quite honestly I still can't that my girls are going to be 10 months in a few days!! How on earth did that happen?? I proceeded to pick up one of my girls... yes "one" because well its pretty hard to pick them both up at the same time these days... and I hugged her so hard and told her to stop... stop it right now... I did not say they could grow up so fast, I did not give them permission to be "almost" one year olds... seriously I question their loyalty to me as their mom..

I was talking with my husband and I told him that I couldn't believe how fast this month went.. of course he was like its only June 13th what are you talking about?? That's when I realized; I measure my months from the 18th to the 18th.  I don' know if this is a good thing or bad??? Does it make my "months" fly by or does it make the twins "age" that much faster?? 

Weren't they just this small yesterday!!! 

Look how itty bitty they were!!

So about that baby number 5... do we all have our babies get to a certain age and we start to have this internal dialogue about when is the right time? Clearly we all aren't going for baby number 5, number  2 or even more (and thats ok) but for me its baby number 5... Have I discussed this thought with others (namely my husband) yes, yes, I have and most think we are crazy so I am preparing myself for comments I don't necessary want or even ask for- I think to myself... just wait until you are pregnant at the store with a 10 year old, 8 year old and two toddlers... Yea, I can't wait for those comments I'm preparing myself for my witty replies now. Like maybe I'll say "I'm selling one to make room for the next", or "this time its triplets" (insert jinx here), or "I have 4 more at home" and to the ever popular "you've got your hands full" I think I will say "no not really... they are perfect angels and I'd take 10 more if I could". The decision as yet to be made "officially" if number 5 will begin production in the next 6-8 months but either way I'm going to love on my girls (all of them) every single second I can because it really does just go way to fast and I wouldn't replace my "months" for anything-- no matter what day they begin and end. 

Before you ask .. no they aren't all mine :) two nieces and one nephew

Again not all mine :)

It's give away time AGAIN!!

I am so excited to be having our second give away! Our first one was so amazing and I had so much fun and got to meet some new amazing Mamas! This time around we have three shops putting up some pretty awesome stuff! Last time our bow give away was such a huge hit we had to make sure we included some bows this time around as well. We've added some onesies to the mix and an awesome summer tote from Thirty-One!!!

First up is 5Heartstrings one of my most favorite bow shops on Instagram! She is also one of my favorite twin mamas! 

I just love the fabric and designs she comes up with! This bunny wrap was perfect for easter and these dresses! The quality is fantastic as well as the fabric being super soft! 

These bows are perfect! I love them! 

Next we have Olive & Birdie! You can find them on Instagram at oliveandbirdie and on etsy here .  I am so in love with these onesies and there are a lot of different options to chose from. The most popular seen on many instagram feeds is the "one" onesie I love it and it is on order for the twins first birthday!

Next is Thirty-One!!

 Ok seriously these totes are pretty amazing. There are so many different uses for them it blows my mind. And when I am shopping their catalog there are so many items I want to buy! Our thirty-one friend Kelly Howard (also twin mama) is donating an awesome large tote just in time for those beach trips this summer!

 Check her out here 

Now for the good stuff what are we giving away!!

From 5Heartstrings

Olive & Birdie

and Thirty-One

There will be 3 Winners

Two Winners will receive their choice of bow from 5Heartstrings and one Onesie from Olive & Birdie and One Winner will receive the Thirty-One tote!

Here is how to enter:

1. Follow me klynnphoto as well as  5Heartstrings and Oliveandbirdie on Instagram.

2. Head on over to Kelly's Thirty-One page on FB and like her group (here)

3. Leave a comment here (on the blog) with your name, email, and what you would like to see for our next give away. 

Entry Period:

Entry will begin Tuesday 6/10 at 9am EST and will end Thursday 6/12 at 9pm EST. 

Winners will be selected via random draw Friday 6/13.

I hope you all enjoy these items and I can't wait to read all your comments!!

Good Luck ~ Kristy

Memorial Day Weekend Fun

Since I don't "work" long weekends seem to happen pretty frequently. But I have to say it is nice to have the "long weekend" with my husband and all of my girls. This weekend certainly seemed long with trips to the store, a fantastic overnight stay for a wedding, a cook out, and a trip to the pool. 

First up our trip to SAMs Club- my first store outing with the twins alone in quite a while. Let's be real here for a minute I am used to questions about the twins and frankly questions about how/way we conceived the twins. But not this particularly fun day/trip to the store I was feeling very overwhelmed by the amount of attention we received from the moment we walked into the store from the time we left. We had to wait in line for over 20 minutes to make a return and of course the return area is right next to the exit so every single person that passed by asked questions or made comments, or tried to touch my babies! UGH PEOPLE HANDS OFF!! 

Ok, so I know people mean well and people are naturally curious I can get that and to a certain extent I am ok with "some" of the questions. But let me get my twin mom vent on for a few seconds here- Please, please, I don't want to tell you how we have twins, I don't want to tell you if the are "natural" or we had to have "assistance" conceiving them. I don't want you to tell me I have my hands full or hear you say "double trouble", I don't want to answer your question about "Twins running in my family"... Ok rant over. I guess it just comes down to this... I don't ask you or others for that matter how you conceived your children, I don't ask if boys or girls or two children or five children run in your family ect.... Honestly, as much as these questions bother me I find myself answering them- I don't want to be rude and I know there is a general curiosity about twins but sometimes I just want to buy my formula and eat my SAMs Club samples in peace! 

Saturday was wedding day- as some of you know aside from being a pretty cool mom to four girls I am a photographer "on the side". The wedding location was over an hour away so we (hubby and I) decided to make a day/night of it and stay at the wedding location. We were lucky to my sister in-law watch the girls for us. It was nice to get away for 24 hours and have some (a few hours) of alone time with my hubby. 

Saying goodbye to these cuties and of course my big girls is never easy but - mommy/daddy time is always needed.

I couldn't have asked for a better location to shoot a wedding and the bride is a good friend so this was  great wedding and memory!

Sunday was grocery day and relaxing with friends! 

We had a great memorial day just hanging with family, relaxing, and hitting the pool. The babies love love love the pool and they are getting braver every single time we put them in. Olivia is not "jumping" in from sitting on the edge it is so cute to watch her hold her breath as she scooches her butt off the side into the water! 

It was a great day to remember all those that serve and have served our country...