The Weekend

I love the weekends mainly because Jared is home with us. It is not uncommon for him to have to work though. Yesterday he worked and it. was. rough. I have no voice. That in itself is a challenge while trying to instruct 3 year old boys. We had a meltdown of cataclysmic proportions. Truly, worst, EVER. It was both of them. A kind neighbor spotted it happening and offered to help. (That usually makes it more embarrassing.) It was BAD. It left me spent, completely. Today is a new day and although Jared plans to get the leaves done he does not have to work. I am hoping that today holds a lot of relaxation (O.K. a little relaxation).

This was a few weeks ago. Jared had a chance for a Saturday Morning nap and Alex decided that he'd join him. :)
*On a side note: we bought those rings for Addison and Eli calls them his wrinkles. No idea why but now of course the whole family calls them that.

seen & heard

We started working on the cubby verse this week and I told them the reference which was in Luke. To which Eli replied "where's Logan?" (My friend Stacey's sons are named Luke& Logan) I said "no, not Luke your friend, Luke from the Bible. He said, "WELL, where is LOGAN from the Bible?" Oy. He then said his verse and finished with the reference which was "Logan 3:23". I am no scholar but I do know that there is no "book of Logan". :)

Alex's two new phrases are "yeah, that's what I talkin'" when we understand what he is trying to tell us and "I got a prah-lem (problem) here".

I also overheard Eli tell him something he was excited about and Alex replied "WONDERFUL!!".


They recently disagreed with Mama, jointly. I made the mistake of flushing the toilet when Alex had wanted to and it turned into a MAJOR MELTDOWN. I sent him to his room and I heard him tell the whole sordid story to Eli who TOTALLY agreed with him and made sure he told me about it. "Mama Alex needed to flush, you need to let him." Ugh!


While the boys bathed recently I cleaned their rooms and made their beds. Eli climbed into his bed and said "who cleaned our room? Dad?" (No comment on his assumption by the way) I said "no, mommy did it". He then proceeded to say "thank you Mommy for making my bed" I said your welcome and then to further cement his position as the "perfect" child he said "and thank you for cleaning up my room". Love it.


Jared was recently loud when Addison was sleeping. Eli is very conscious of the noise level while she is sleeping although I don't know why b/c I never worry about it. I figure it is completely necessary that she get used to noise due to the fact that she has twin brothers. Anyways he scolded Jared and said "You know better than that."


Recently Nani and Papa bought them pillow pets and Alex got in the car and exclaimed "I LOVE Nani and Papa and I LOVE my pillow pet".

I cannot possibly keep up with all of their 3 year old moments but this is my attempt.

In girl news: Addison is 4 months old tomorrow and I have a new weight to share! :)

The day is here.

This is going to sound crazy but I have been anxiously waiting for this day. I have fond memories of my AWANA days and still remember verses that I learned as a 5 year old. Crazy, how that works, huh? :) Anyways, the boys are officially starting "Cubbies". It is AWANA for 3 & 4 year olds. I got the letter in the mail with emergency forms and sat right down and filled them out. Yes, Miss Procrastination takes a back seat when I am excited about something. Anyways, the boys got a letter with a cubby bear on it but there was just one so I made a copy, put it into separate envelopes and they got their first piece of mail also. They were so excited. Alex slept with his letter and then quickly grabbed it before getting out of bed the next morning.

Every day since they ask when "cubby church" is. On Sundays they ask "is this cubby church or regular church?" Since I started this post (3 weeks ago) Alex came home from the first night of cubbies with a vest and I didn't think much of it but Eli didn't have one. Jared just assumed he left it in the car but upon searching we came up with nothing. I asked my sister if Alli came home with a vest and she said no. Upon further research (I made my sister Missy investigate) no one not even Miss Shari (his cubby teacher) knew why he came home with one because they still have to be ordered but Shari did say there was an extra one there and "someone" must have given it to Alex. Knowing my Alex I am assuming he thought "Wow, that vest is cool and there is a bear on it. I think I'll take it home." You see when Alex puts his mind to something LOOK OUT! So he has since slept in it and wore it to play outside. I finally washed it and hid it because I was afraid Eli would get a bit jealous and I didn't want to have the "you have to share your awesome vest with your brother battle". Since then they both have recieved vests and all is well.

They both said their verses the first week and got stickers. The next weeks verse was "all have sinned" which, led to a lesson on sin, which, has led to some pretty funny discussions with my little boys. So fun. One of the cool "bonuses" of all this is that Mommy is unable to get these little verses out of her head. This week I keep repeating to myself "everything He had made was very good, CHA CHA CHA". (Cha, cha's added by Mama so that it sticks in the boys heads.)

This past Spring they also started Sunday School and they have lessons. I ask them regularly what they learn and I hear nothing but "crickets" (complete silence). When I ask them what they did they say "puppets" and they sing "twinkle, twinkle, little star", EVERY WEEK. Hmm... so, recently, I decided to mess with them and ask them some specifics; "Did you learn about Jesus?" Alex responded "yes". "Did you learn about monkeys?" again "yes". "Did you learn about clowns?" "yes" "The circus?" "yes", etc., etc., and on it went. I said, "wow you learn a lot in Sunday school" to which Alex responded "yep, Jesus LOVES the circus."

Despite their inability to tell Mommy and Daddy what they've learned I am overjoyed and thankful at being able to pass on this heritage to our children and hey, who knows, Jesus very well may like the circus. :)

Home with the boys

I am enjoying a morning home with the boys. I let them "help" me with the dishes which I am pretty sure must be every 3 year old's dream. I love this time with them and yet I am being reminded how difficult motherhood is. When I was on bedrest and in the hospital I thought I would treasure each moment with the boys even if they were at each other's throats and acting crazy I would be the utmost in "calm". Since then reality has hit and I have moments of pure frustration however I am determined to be thankful for this blessing that comes in the form of 2 little 3 year old boys. And to think I am going to add a newborn to the mix. Were we insane? (Don't answer that!):)

Alex actually uttered the words "I love helping with dishes". Oh if I could only bottle that enthusiasm and release it when he is about 7 years older!

"Binoculars"

I would never argue that NICU life and keeping up with Alex and Eli is easy but thankfully the boys offer quite a bit of comic relief. Yesterday that came in the form of their new "binoculars". I am telling you if you ever need to laugh borrow a 3 year old or two!

I laugh when I think about how horrified they will be when they look at these photos as teenagers. :)

Wednesday's Update

Tests went really well again today. She got 8/8 for her BPP and the doppler's once again showed blood flow. We press on until tomorrow! I am being re-tested today for signs of pre-eclampsia but I have no physical symptoms that would indicate that is has progressed at this point although we will find out more tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers.

Apparently the boys are having a cranky day and Briana is the lucky one who gets to deal with that. Please pray for them as they continue to adjust to their current life. It is hard on a 3 year old to not be with Mommy. As you know it is also hard on Mommy.

Reality Check

I haven't had a good "pull my hair out" story in a while so I thought I would share my experience last night at soccer practice. Jared worked late so I was on my own. This doesn't really phase me because during the week I always go places by myself . It is always when you have that false sense of confidence that you get your butt kicked and that I did. :) Never underestimate a 3 year old much less 2 of them.


Neither of the boys napped yesterday which set us up for a bit of failure but I didn't concern myself with that. I was just thinking beautiful, sunny day, outdoors, and soccer. Bring it on. I mean yesterday when I told them that they had practice Alex pumped his fists in the air and did a little dance followed by a big hug for Mama because he was SO excited. Today I was met with "I don't want basketball" (they get a little confused about which sport they are playing). I pressed on as they resisted their shin guards, or as I keep calling them "shin splints". I managed to get them dressed and over to their field only for Eli to decide he didn't want to do anything. I didn't press him. I just worked with Alex and invited Eli to do a few things here and there. He, of course, joined in when it was time to kick the ball in the net.

Things were a bit hectic but I survived. The real drama was saved when it was time to leave. Alex was having fun standing inside the soccer net when some sweet 10 year old came over, and while his mom chatted on her cell phone, began kicking the ball with all his might at my 3 year old. I had decided this was officially our cue to leave before Alex was bloodied. Alex didn't agree and proceeded to throw the biggest fit I had seen in MONTHS! I was carrying water bottles, 2 soccer balls, my bag and trying to corral them to the car when I realized he wasn't budging unless I picked him up. There were lots of stares and lots of kicking and screaming. I finally managed to buckle him in his car seat which any parent knows is next to impossible when they are adamant about not letting you.

Once he was in I figured my problems were over. As I walked Eli around to the other side of the car Eli was saying "I'm a whale". I responded "cool, like Jonah and the Whale". As I buckled him in he began squirming and crying and pleading "no, Mama, I a whale, I a whale!" Apparently me putting him in his carseat put a cramp in him being a whale. I had to laugh that I was fighting with a child who was screaming about being a whale, for goodness sakes! I mean how do your respond to that. I just kept saying you can still be a whale in your carseat.

Jared and I are pretty sure that 3 is going to be harder than 2. I had girl's night last night with ladies from church and the 2 that have had and currently have 3 year olds agreed with me. I am still not sure if I am glad that I was right or if I am dreading the next 12 months that lay ahead. :) God knew what he was doing thought because 3 is also the MOST hysterical age so I think it kind of balances out.

I wrote this post last week and there is practice again tonight so I am REALLY hoping it goes better. Jared works late so I am on my own. I am also thinking that I may lug my double stroller to the field in case we have "issues" again. What can I say? Live, learn and go to girl's night to get tips from women who have "been there done that". Works for me!

They're 3!

I find it absolutely ridiculous that my babies are 3 years old but it is true. It happened on Sunday. In fact little Mr. Eli said "I not a baby" today for the first time. Ugh! I cannot believe it. They are getting smarter and smarter every day. Jared and I find it impossible to keep up with all the funny things they say. Sometimes what they have to say is funny and sometimes they just sound like little adults which is just as comical.



Eli told me today that Jesus needed to get his balloons for him so that he could sleep with them during nap. This was right after I told him that they could not stay in his room because it wasn't safe. I guess he figured who can override what Jesus does! Too smart, I tell ya! Along with what they are saying there is what they are doing. The boys have always been active and somewhat physical but now they get a little UFC with one another. (I had to check with Jared just now and make sure that is what the scary wrestling where they can break each others bones is called). If Jared so much as skips a day or two without roughhousing with them me and Addison better look out because they are coming for me and my tummy gets in the way. Poor baby has taken some knocks already.



At the same time they still snuggle in my arms and think that Mommy and Daddy's kisses heal all wounds. I cannot say enough about how sweet little boys are and how much they adore their Mommy. That is definitely a perk to having boys. I try and hold onto these moments because I know it won't last forever.



I snuck in and kissed them goodnight last night before I went to bed (Jared and I cannot resist doing this nightly) and they were both asleep. It reminded me that 3 years ago I couldn't even see them, much less hold them and they couldn't have forced me to kiss them. They were too tiny and fragile. I am so thankful for how far they have come and I don't know if I will ever get past a birthday without remembering those scary days at the beginning of their lives. I hope I don't, anyways.



As far as their actual birthday celebration we had a great time with family and friends. The boys were absolutely spoiled. For the past month when I asked them what they wanted for their birthdays their response was "birthday cake". When I asked what kind of presents they wanted Eli responded "a blue one". Um, O.K. They received much more than cake and we feel blessed by all the people who love our boys as much as we do (well, almost).



I am excited to see what this year brings and hope to blog a bit more so that I can keep better track of the hilarity of this age. Three is a lot of fun already although I am pretty sure it is going to have it's share of challenges. A major one being potty training. Ugh!

I'd share b-day pics but I couldn't find my camera. (Thank you pregnancy brain!) My niece took lots of pictures so I just have to get them from her. More posts to come because as I said they are quite the characters lately and lots is going on.