More Back Yard Fun

We haven't been taking the boys out too much due to them still getting over their sickness so I have had to get creative with their entertainment. They thoroughly enjoyed playing outside today as usual. Who knew so much fun could be had with a water hose and a little gladware. Who needs gymboree? :) You may notice the third child. I have been watching Alli. It is much like having triplets and although Jared says we totally could have handled it I think the Lord knew what we were capable of when he gave us twins. We have had a lot of fun though. I purposely added the pic of the boys sitting on top of each other playing because this is pretty typical for them. They more commonly sit back to back but I think it is such a funny twin thing that they do.

Wordless Wednesday

This IS a challenge

I am sure that it doesn't help that the boys have been sick which makes things a bit off kilter but when did every single thing in the day become a battle. I put on the bib, they take off the bib. I put them down for naps, they play for an hour. I say get down from the entertainment center, they say "I'd rather climb on top of it, thank you very much". I say get out of the bathroom, they say "but this toilet water is awfully refreshing (ewww!). I say eat your green beans that you thoroughly enjoyed yesterday, they decide to spit them out or hurl them to the floor. Ugh, it has been a long day! I am also debating about the transition from two naps to one b/c about 60% of the time they aren't sleeping during their 2nd nap. Today I tried it. I took them to the library and walked around the pond there. Got them home at about 11am fed them brunch (I guess that's what it would be) and put them down at 11:30am (one hour after their usual morning nap). At 12:30 they were still screeching and playing so I thought I'd get them up and try again later. At this time I found Alex in his crib with the entire 80 count wipes strewn to and fro'. Hmmm great. I obviously didn't realize he could reach the changing table. Once I'd entered the room he began screaming b/c he and his brother (he was the chosen representation apparently) wanted up (or "utt" as Eli would say). So now they are back down for round 2 and it sounds quiet. I am exhausted due to our 4am breathing treatment and a couple of mini-crying moments last night. You know the ones: Child screams enough to rip you from your sleep, you rush to their aid and they are sound asleep. Don't you love this thing called parenthood? Yes, I do actually but toddlerhood is definitely becoming more of a challenge! I actually took pictures of the state of our house right now to show Jared. He knows it's rough some days but I found the need to have photographic evidence :) I will spare you the pics of my messy house that I need to go clean but here are pics from the library.

Their mother didn't seem stressed out. They just followed her around like the sweet little ducklings that they are. Maybe I should have gotten some pointers!

** On a happy note the librarian said that they could join the toddler story hour early (it is typically for 2 yr. olds) as long as they could sit still. I plan to try one and see how it goes because I truly am not sure that their little active selves can handle a 1/2 hour story time.

Who Are YOU...

and what have you done with Alex and Eli????

My children have decided to begin to pick up food for themselves. This is crazy because as of 2 weeks or less ago they still opened up their mouths baby bird style and waited for Mama bird to feed them. Today in order to give me something to blog about they decided to even use utensils. I handed the forks to them thinking this should be entertaining and they LOVED it. They were particularly interested with the stabbing of the food. I'm pretty sure they may have done this a while ago but with them being my first I just continued to feed them myself. Now, however, I sit there like hmmm what should I be doing??? I guess I will continue to watch in awe of them :) Boys, you continually amaze me with all of this growing up stuff but please don't be in such a hurry!!!

Love, Your Mama

My Own Backyardigans

The Backyardigans is one of the boy's favorite shows. They are only really interested in the opening song at this point but nonetheless that part captures their attention. Anyways, they have thoroughly enjoyed playing in the backyard this summer. Their favorite thing is probably the swing but recently playing with the rocks behind the shed has taken a close second. I am not sure what we will do with ourselves all winter. I am guessing some days we will just bundle up and rough it :)

We are on the mend

The boys are feeling better after another long week of ailments. We actually spent all day Tuesday at the hospital due to breathing difficulties. Yesterday, however, they both really turned a corner and seem to be feeling much better. Nothing like a scare to remind you that these little guys are fragile. We are now in isolation. This is familiar to any parents of preemies but I'd forgotten how challenging it is to be cooped up. The pediatrician doesn't want them around anyone until they are better because she fears that if they get sick on top of what they have we may end up back in the hospital. I truly think that they will be fine but am happy to follow her precautions mainly because she is the one with the medical degree.

The upside of all this is that Jared was home with us most of this week. It was really nice to have his help with all of the extra responsibilities that sick babies bring (ie breathing treatments, medications, crabbiness) and the boys just love having him home as do I. Alex and Eli are starting to do so many new things. Alex gets up on his new bouncing zebra toy all by himself and Eli gets off of it by himself. Alex can also climb onto the couch and yesterday I caught him climbing on the entertainment center. I seriously think we are going to be forced to wall mount our TV. He is such a monkey. They are also saying new words all the time and shocking Jared and I . It is funny because we both look at one another in awe as if saying "did you hear it too?" I can now hand them bananas and they scarf them down. No more mushing those up which is nice. They have definitely come a long way with their eating and are moving towards all table food. We are thrilled about this as it seems our lives are spent running to the store to restock the pantry with those darn little jars of food.

I leave you with pics of the boys and there adventures. Oddly enough regardless of how sick they are they don't seem to slow down too much.

The famous pillow game. I picked this up from a blog I read and the boys love it. We toss all the couch pillow on the floor and they just climb all over them. Good times!

I got out!

It has been a long couple of weeks. Actually, I don't even think it has been that long but both boys have been sick which slows time down to the point of a stop when you have toddlers. I planned to go to church this morning and as often happens the boys began their hysterics. It is like they KNOW Mommy is trying to get out of the house on her own. I pushed past their screams of displeasure while I did the dishes so that I could shower and get out. I turned on the bathroom fan and listened to my shower run in order to block out the sounds so that I could pretend that I was relaxing even though my Mommy guilt was kicking in and I was thinking "Maybe I should stay home, I mean Alex is sick and mopey and blah, blah, blah." My sister Mindy and I swore we would not be the kind of Moms who didn't get out and when they did worried about our kids the entire time. Sheesh SO lame. We now however both have toddlers and yes, sad to say we tend to be those Moms. Not all the time but more than we thought we'd be. Anyways as I exit the shower I hear Daddy reading to the boys and think I may just salvage this outing. And then....dum dum dum dum.....a wail comes from the nursery and Jared is asking me to come there. It finally happened. I have been anticipating this event and knew it would come sooner rather than later. Eli bit Alex. Alex was inconsolable. Oh well, I guess I am downloading another sermon this week. But alas, Jared forced me out the door and assured me all would be well. Thank you Lord for a great service and a great husband. We are also going out tomorrow night on a ...gulp...DATE! I am so excited :)

I'm not sure why Mom insists on making up these stories.

Does this look like a face that could bite?

I too am shocked at this display of aggression (just wait until I get those top teeth).

15 months old

Boys, today your 15 months old and Mommy FINALLY got around to starting these chair pics. I have seen them done and have had good intentions but I always think of it 2 weeks after the fact. You are doing lots of new things right now that are too numerous to mention (meaning I don't have the energy to write about it at this point because you have completely worn me out today, my sweet boys) but these are the ones that come to mind.

• Alex today at Target today we turned to go down an aisle where there was a cute girl stocking the shelves and you proclaimed "HI!". It was hysterical because it was in the right context and everything. She kindly returned your "hi" and we were on our way.
• Eli your Leap Frog table said "yellow" in it's weird female leap frog voice and you repeated "yellow" as if this is a word you'd been practicing.
• You are EVERYWHERE. Not walking yet but very quick crawlers.
• You love playing in my curtains and hiding behind them.
• You love putting your hands all over Daddy's new plasma TV and he dutifully wipes off your grungy finger prints nightly.
• Eli you make the funniest face that I have yet to get a good picture of but I will and someday it will probably embarrass you.
• You both are at a stage where you protest almost everything but at the same time you are unpredictable so sometimes laying you down for a diaper change puts you over the edge and the next time as I hunker down for a battle you sweetly lay back and patiently wait for me to finish.
• You are enjoying biting apples (preferably the ones Daddy is trying to eat). We tried popsicles per Dr.'s order due to Alex's sore throat and fever and while Alex learned to not bite into it this concept is foreign to you Eli. You continually try and bite down on it and make this hideous scraping noise with your teeth and look at us like "why does anyone enjoy this kind of pain?".

That's it for now here are your 15 months pics, along with some outtakes, with the sign that should say 7/18/08. OOPS!

Naptime Fun!

The boys are currently "in negotiations" deciding whether or not they want their 2nd nap. Today, thank goodness, they wanted it unlike Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (yes, I am keeping track). I love their naps and feel completely spoiled during them. I am able to get some things done around the house but more importantly I have time for a delicious cup of coffee and my devotions, and/or reading and/or working out (ok, not so much the last one, but I am a work in progress). I have subsequently checked out 2 books from the library and revisited 2 books on my bookshelves to find some answer to this nap dilemma. Unfortunately, however they pretty much all say that they may, in fact, be ready to drop the 2nd nap. Very profound, thanks so much wise parenting experts. So, with no help there, I guess it is time to just watch and learn. I am learning that so much of parenting is that way (weaning from a bottle, nutrition, sippy cups, pacifiers, discipline, vaccinations, I could go on and on and). I often just roll with it, but unfortunately, I still long for a manual on the more difficult days.

On a side note, this morning in a book called "Grace for the Moment" by Max Lucado I came across this:

"Faith is trusting what the eye cannot see.

Eyes see the prowling lion. Faith sees Daniel's angel.

Eyes see storms. Faith sees Noah's rainbow.

Eyes see giants. Faith sees Canaan.

Your eyes see your faults. Your faith sees your Savior.

Your eyes see your guilt. Your faith sees his blood.

Your eyes look in the mirror and see a robed prodigal

bearing the ring of grace on your finger

and the kiss of your Father on your face."

This was encouraging to me regarding this mysterious thing they call parenting. I trust that God has a plan, even on the most difficult days, with these sweet boys and it is a MUCH bigger plan than I am able to see through these, sometimes, weary eyes. I look at what he has done in my life that I would never have dreamed He'd do and I am truly in awe.

These pictures are of the boys one day laughing and giggling with each other after their nap. It is a daily occurrence here and is one of my favorite times of the day. I love how excited they get about one another and even more (to be completely honest) I love how excited they get when I come into their room :) This is one of the MANY perks in my life as a Mommy!

It Just Clicked

This is the most frustrating statement for me to hear. Examples: How did you get your child to drink from a sippy cup? Response from some wise soul who has accomplished this "one day, it just clicked." How did you get your child to sleep through the night? It just clicked. How did you lose 50lbs.? You get my drift. I am not these people. I like a formula, a manual of some sort on how to accomplish these things. My friends and family laugh at me because when it comes to parenting and many other subjects I am an avid reader and love to learn (not so much in elementary and high school but that is another story). I like answers. For instance, if you asked me how I got my children to sleep through the night I would have an actual response. I put them on a schedule and I think that is what did it. Anyways, today in the words of every seemingly arrogant parent before me.......it really did......it just clicked. I have been in sippy cup hell for months. I cannot exactly wean my boys off bottles if they can't tip the stinking cup in order to drink from it (frustrated? me? not at all, well yes, VERY). So after not even trying for weeks I went for it today. There 15 months appt. is coming up and I tenatively planned to wean them by 1 year corrected age which is in less than 2 wks so although my goal is not going to be accomplished I thought I should keep plugging away. My pediatrician advised me to use a sippy cup with a blocker thing (not the official term but you know what I mean) and remove the said blocker. I had recently switched to trying the soft spout since it seemed like this would be easier but her logic was that they have to then suck and tip requiring a coordination they may not have. I have to stop for a moment and laugh at how ridiculously complicated this all is. Anyways, I have tried the removed blocker method twice before and somehow today it clicked. So here are pics of the evolution from non-sippy cup drinkers to professionals. I should say that they only drank a small portion and then proceeded to make milk rivers on their highchair trays and splashed it on the walls and floor. Cleaning this mess up required some serious planning on my part. So maybe they're not exactly professionals :)

Eli @ 11 months (1st pic) Today (14 1/2 months)

Alex 11 months old (1st pic) Today

He picked it up immediately, tipped it up and drank from it, like "what's the big deal Mom?"

So, in reality, it was STILL not an "it just clicked" moment b/c I first tried in March (see first sippy post). Oh well, I am just glad they got it. Good job boys!!!!!

Eli's Anniversary of Independence!

July 4th, 2007 (1st day home all together)

This was actually the boys 2nd time celebrating this holiday. Eli was released from the NICU on July 3rd last year so we were ecstatic to have him home. I remember being so stressed out that the fireworks in our neighborhood would upset him. As I recall, they didn't he was just happy to be home with his family and we were happy to have him. It was his own celebration of independence from nurses, doctors, oxygen, feeding tubes, etc. This year was MUCH more laid back as this is a less stressful time in our lives comparatively speaking that is. This year the boys enjoyed Greenfield Village with Mommy and Daddy, eating frozen custard, watching the horses and buggies and people dressed in period costumes go by, seeing Aunt Linda and Aunt Kim and Grandma and Grandpa. They still haven't seen fireworks since they are generally asleep by 7pm but who knows maybe next year.

I love the picture of the boys in the stroller being so loving towards one another. Moments, later Alex tried to see if Eli's ear was removable and Eli followed up after that by checking whether or not Alex's hair was attached. Overall they were great and we had a nice family day.