The Harris Family

Christmas morning

2012-01-23T14:41:00.013-06:00

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. It was Anna's first ever of course, the boys' first that they are likely to remember, and our first time celebrating with just our little family. It was heavenly.

I was worried that we wouldn't have much, but Steve assured me that it would be fine. He was right of course. We made a lot of gifts and found great deals for everything else. Our Heavenly Father really provided for us.

I was also a little worried that the boys would be upset about not getting to open gifts before church. We have church at 8:30am, so there really wasn't time for much present opening. So we just opened stockings, went to church, and then opened the rest. The boys were fine with that though. How nice that they don't have any expectations yet.

The boys behavior at church was far from amazing, but they enjoyed the music, and we felt the Spirit. We spent a lot of time this month singing Christmas carols. I think music is one of the best ways to spread the true meaning of Christmas.

When we got home, the boys opened their gifts, and they loved them all. It is funny how our little Christmas ended up being so bountiful. God is so good, and he provided more than I thought possible.

And of course the best Christmas gift has already been given: our Savior, Jesus Christ. May we always remember Him, His life, His death, and His resurrection all year long. He is the way and the life.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas jammies!

2012-01-23T14:19:00.012-06:00

Every Christmas growing up, we always opened one present on Christmas eve. And it was always pajamas. As a little kid, I can only imagine I thought it was cool. I got to open a present a day early! But as an older kid I remember thinking "Pajamas?!?! I want to open something good!" My mom continues the tradition, and as an adult, I love my Christmas jammies.

We decided to carry the tradition on in our family too. So here are the kids opening their Christmas jammies on Christmas eve. Afterwards we piled in the car and went to look at Christmas lights. Now whenever the boys wear these pjs, they ask to go look at lights.

David tearing in!

And he looks pleased!

Erik going at it.

Pajamas!!!

Anna opening her first Christmas present!!

Apparently, it is delicious.

All three kids in their new Christmas jammies. The boys just adore Anna.

And Anna adores them right back.

Happy, Merry Christmas Eve!!

Decorating our Christmas tree

2012-01-23T13:59:00.008-06:00

Sorry about all the catch up posts.

David and Erik helped decorate the Christmas tree this year. They loved it! I would hand them ornaments, and they would place them on the tree. The ornaments ended up a little (well, a lot) clumped, but it was so fun to let them help, and they had a great time. And of course after I took pictures, I moved them all around so it looked nice.

Erik choosing a spot. You can see their favorite spot in this photo. They hung half the ornaments on one branch.

David placing an ornament on the tree.

Mommy handing out the ornaments.

This spot looks a little bare.

Ta da!!

Ready to ring in the holidays!

Pictures with Santa

2011-12-05T19:58:00.004-06:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Our tree is up, the stockings are hung, and the kids have been to visit jolly old Saint Nick.

David and Erik loved seeing Santa this year. We told them all about how Santa bring children presents, and they though long and hard about what they wanted to ask him for. When we went to the mall, there was absolutely no one else there to see him (it was in the middle of the afternoon on a school day), so the boys sat on Santa's lap for over 5 minutes just talking to him. They loved it! They both asked for "a real fish to go in the water" and also a train. It started out that David wanted a fish and Erik wanted a train, but both liked the other's idea as well.

So they had a great time, but the pictures were awful. Not one had both kids looking at the camera or even looking happy. And the cheapest package was $25. I wasn't about to pay that kind of money for a terrible picture.

Thankfully Santa Claus also visited our church Christmas party, so the boys got to sit on Santa's lap again. When asked what they wanted for Christmas, I was shocked to hear them both ask for a horse!! A horse?!?! Um, I don't think that's going to fit in Santa's sleigh this year...

Anna got a turn on Santa's lap too. She was as pleasant as could be expected of a 4 month old baby sitting on a stranger's lap. And I was able to snap some pictures of them, which aren't amazing, but they were free. =)

David and Erik sitting with Santa.

Anna meeting Santa for the first time.

Halloween Fun

2011-11-21T14:42:00.038-06:00

Yes I know Halloween was a month ago. Yes I know I haven't blogged in over 2 months. I'm calling it the blogging paradox. The busier your life is, the more fun things you have to blog about, but you have less time to actually blog about them. Anyway, life with three kids is busy, but we're loving it.

Here are some Halloween highlights.

David and Erik with their pumpkins. They really loved pumpkins this year. So we took them to two different pumpkin patches. They loved them both.

Erik loved the Buzz cutout.

And of course David loved Woody.

They both loved the slides.

And bouncy houses.

And the loved, loved, loved the pond.

They spent forever looking over the edge of the bridge.

Here's why!

Erik also loved the hay.

And the flowers.

And of course, the pumpkins!! Erik like the "big, giant" pumpkins.

David loved the "little, tiny" pumpkins best.

Erik by a giant jack-o-lantern made from hay.

David with the hay jack-o-lantern. They both really like hay.

Anna was less impressed.

She is a cute little pumpkin though!

Look at those darling chubby cheeks! The boys loved when she wore her pumpkin onesie. Once they even corrected me. "It's a jack-o-lantern, Mommy. It's a pumpkin with a face."

Erik and David also liked playing dress up. Here is Erik as a super hero and David as a frog.

David with his jack-o-lantern. He loved his jack-o-lantern and kept wanting to hug it and give it kisses. And surprisingly, he really enjoyed scooping out the seeds and guts. He doesn't usually enjoy getting messy.

Erik and his jack-o-lantern. He wanted a scary face. I think it turned out pretty cute, but he was happy. (Bonus points to whoever guesses who carved whose pumpkins).

And here we all are dressed up for the ward Halloween carnival. Steve was the Cat in the Hat. David and Erik were Thing 1 and Thing 2. Anna was little Sally (the girl in the book with the big red bow). Kristi was the fish, you know, the one who tells everyone else to behave. It seemed fitting. David and Erik embraced their parts well. They ran around like crazy things all night long.

The boys had a fabulous time trick-or-treating for the first time. Erik walked right into the first person's house. I told him it wasn't our house, and he responded "Oh, it's not?" David, despite being told several times what trick-or-treating was all about, was still pleasantly surprised when the first person put candy in his bag. "Mommy, she gave me candy!"

Our camera ran out of batteries trick-or-treating, but we got some when we were home. Here is Mommy with her boys snuggling before bed.

Skeleton David, laughing about all the good times.

Skeleton Erik, ready for some sleep after a long, fun day.

Anna tries to roll over

2011-09-22T21:29:00.011-05:00

Anna came so close to rolling over today! Here is a photo montage of her best attempt:

On her belly, ready to go.

Pushing up...

Leaning over...

Leaning...

Almost there...

So close...

Mommy help!!

A little help from Mommy.

That's better.

Anna Smiles

2011-09-22T15:00:00.006-05:00

Anna continues to be a very happy and loving baby. She makes the sweetest cooing noises when she eats, and she smiles at everyone. She's such an angel!

Missy miss smiling at Mommy.

Pajama Time!

2011-09-22T14:49:00.004-05:00

Pajama Time! by Sandra Boynton. If you haven't read it, you should. Here are my three amazing kids showing off their pjs.

Woody (David), cow (Anna), and Buzz (Erik)

The full body shot.

Weird things my boys do

2011-08-24T20:25:00.007-05:00

Sometimes David and Erik are weird. Here are some examples. Please excuse the lack of pants and shirts in some of the pictures. That's just part of the weirdness. :)

David building a castle.

David in some buckets.

Erik "sitting in Anna's pillow."

Erik and David showing me their hands.

Bucket dancing. Hidda-didda-dah!

Big Brothers and Little Sister

2011-08-12T13:20:00.005-05:00

Erik and David showing off their "glad faces."

Erik being a proud big brother and David adoring his little sister.

Giving their sister some smooches!

Baby Anna is here!

2011-07-27T16:15:00.017-05:00

Anna Brielle Harris was born July 22, 2011 at 11:26am. She weighed 7lbs 12oz and was 21 inches long. She is the most beautiful baby. Here is the story of how she came into the world.

Thursday I was having contractions off and on, but nothing regular. My mom and I ran some errands and then that night we went to a card making class. We got home and the contractions were starting to hurt, so I ran to the grocery store to make sure the boys and my mom had some food, just in case. When I got home, I was too wound up to sleep, so we watched a movie. By the end of the movie, I was having some pretty good contractions, so we made sure things were ready to go and then we went to sleep at around midnight.

But sleep didn't come for me. Between the contractions and being anxious to meet my baby girl, I just couldn't sleep. Then at 2am, I got up to go to the bathroom and my water broke. And just like last time, once my water broke, the contractions came hard and strong. So we jumped in the car and drove to the hospital. We checked in just before 3am, and I was dilated 3cm. My contractions were so painful and really close, but Steve was great and really helped me through it all. I got my heplock and blood drawn, and by 5am I was more than ready for my epidural. Thankfully my blood platelets were high enough, so we were good to go. After my epidural, my nurse checked and I was 5cm. Things were looking great.

I was trying to get some sleep since I had been up since 7am the day before, but I just couldn't. So I just spent some quiet time with just me and Anna (Steve didn't have any trouble falling asleep once my epidural was in). At 8am, my new nurse (they had a shift change) checked me, and I was still only 5cm. We were both a little worried that I was going to stall, but she was super positive and encouraging. Right after she checked me, I felt the contractions get much stronger, and I really concentrated hard on opening up.

At 10am, my nurse came in and said that Anna's heart rate was dropping with each contraction, and because she was such a wiggly baby, they wanted to do an internal monitor to keep better track of her heartbeat. But when she went to check me, I was 9.5!! So she said it wasn't necessary and went to tell my doctor we were getting close. At around 11, I could really feel the contractions. They were painful even through the epidural and I started feeling the urge to push, so I called my nurse and sure enough, we were ready.

I pushed for about 15-20 minutes, and it was so hard!! I had forgotten how hard it was. Labor is well named. But again the nurses and my doctor were so encouraging, and Steve was amazing right there with me pushing me along. And then she was here!!!

Her cry was just beautiful, though very different from Erik's and David's. I don't know why, but I really expected her to look and sound like one or the other. But she's just her own beautiful little person.

The doctor put her on my chest and she snuggled right in. Even all messy she was the most beautiful little baby. Then a nurse wiped her off while I got stitched up. And then I got to hold her for an hour before they took her to get a bath. It was just so wonderful and healing to have her in my arms. I was smiling and crying and laughing all at once.

And it is amazing how different my recovery has been. I'm still very sore and tired of course, but nothing like last time. Last time I felt (and looked) like I got hit by a bus. But this time I felt so energized somehow. Which meant that I still couldn't sleep even though I knew I should. I finally did get some rest at about 10pm while Anna was in the nursery.

Our hospital stay was so great. The nurses were wonderful and so encouraging of my VBAC. My original nurse even came to check on me when her next shift started because she wanted to see how our birth went.

We came home Sunday afternoon, and we are loving being a family of five. Anna is such an angel baby. She is a great nurser and a great sleeper. I hope she keeps it up. She already has her daddy wrapped around her little finger, and David and Erik are very proud and happy to be big brothers.

Anna less than an hour old

So happy to finally have her in my arms.

I'm so in love with our tiny miss already.

David holding Anna.

A proud big brother. (Ignore the cookie crumbs on his mouth. It was hard to keep 2 three-year-olds entertained in a hospital room, so we resorted to bribery).

Erik likes to pet Anna like a puppy.

He also really enjoyed drinking from my big hospital mug.

Steve is so in love with his little girl.

Mommy and Anna, ready to go home!

Daddy and Anna. They are just smitten with each other!!

Everyone loves Anna, but Anna does not love her car seat. :)

The Little Pool and Outside Chalk

2011-06-15T14:24:00.006-05:00

Trying to stay cool despite the Texas summer heat, we purchased a plastic pool for the boys to play in. And I admit, I like to sit in it too. :)

Our apartment pool (which the boys call "the bigger pool") still isn't open, so we spend a lot of time in the "little pool."

And Steve discovered that adding "outside chalk" (that's David and Erik for sidewalk chalk) makes it even more fun! It turns to paint, and we had so much fun finger painting and making footprints.

Erik getting in the pool the "silly way."

David and Erik splashing in the little pool. David is wearing my headband because he thinks it makes him "look so cute."

Our family's footprints

Baby Anna at 33 weeks

2011-06-09T09:11:00.002-05:00

We've decided to name our sweet baby girl Anna Brielle, and we're so excited to meet her, though I do hope she stays put for at least another 5 weeks. Yesterday I got to have an ultrasound, and everything looks great. All her organs are normal, she's growing right on track, and she's in a great position!! And the tech even switched over to the 3D ultrasound just to give us some fun pictures. They didn't turn out super good because she's already pretty engaged and she's quite the wiggle worm, but here's a sneak peek at our baby Anna:

Baby Anna at 33 weeks

Erik's version of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"

2011-06-06T14:10:00.004-05:00

In which Erik says his first swear word and David shows off his no-hands sippy cup skills.

Easter Egg Hunt 2011

2011-05-16T12:49:00.014-05:00

"Good Crap!"

2011-04-27T14:16:00.003-05:00

This morning as Steve was headed out the door to school (for his last day of classes this semester, yay!), he accidentally let in a spider. It was big enough that it made him jump backwards. Steve doesn't like spiders or any bugs for that matter, so I didn't think much of it, but he was seriously concerned about leaving us alone with that spider in the house.

He thought it went under the couch, so he lifted it up to see if I could see the spider. Nothing. But his carpool was here, so he had to go. I wasn't too worried. We get a lot of spiders here, and how big could it really be?

Well I went back to washing dishes (Erik was in his bedroom playing and David was in the family room), and not a minute goes by when David says "Mommy a brown spider. A brown spider by my Pooh car." And sure enough, there by his Pooh car was the spider. And it was GIANT!!! I kid you not, it was the size of David's hand.

So even though I was expecting it, I couldn't help but yell "good crap that's a big spider!" And naturally both boys start exclaiming "good crap! good crap! good crap!" Well I guess there are worse things I could have said. :)

Sorry. No picture. I just wanted that thing out of my house! I'm fairly certain it was a wolf spider. A wolf spider the size of a baby tarantula!

Sishy.

2011-04-05T19:52:00.002-05:00

Erik has trouble with the "F" sound, he either substitutes "S" or "P" so at night we don't watch a nice game of Wheel of Fortune, we all sit on the couch enjoying Wheel of Portune. I had a similar problem when I was little that resulted in my being unable to say my own name, when I tried it came out "Meemon." One of my Dad's favorite stories about me is when someone imitated my pronunciation of my own name and I corrected them vehemently saying: "My name's not Meemon, my name's Meemon!!" In a similar vein Erik and I were discussing fish, which he pronounces "sish" or "sishy," and I imitated him. "Right, a sishy..." he cut me off and looked me in the eyes and said very earnestly: "Not sishy. Sish."

We watched conference this weekend and out here among the gentiles we had to go to our ward building to watch the satellite broadcast. When the broadcast started and the panorama inside the conference center came on the screen Erik saw the organ and declared, "It's a monster, it's scary!" Kristi told him: "It's not a monster, it's an organ." He immediately declared that "It's a organ, it's scary!" Erik is kind of awesome.

Big Boy Bed Adventures!

2011-04-02T20:06:00.010-05:00

Well, today was the day. We made the switch from cribs to big boy beds. Really, we just converted the cribs, but I have to admit that I cried (just a little) looking at their beds because it just seemed like such a big step! I also cried the first time the boys used a fork, so I admit that I am a cry baby. :)

Nap time went pretty well. Daddy had a dodge ball tournament this morning (a fundraiser for an organization at his school), so we were out a little past nap time, and the boys fell asleep in the car for a few minutes. They went right back to sleep once we were home, and they were really excited to sleep in their "big boy beds." We had really hyped it this morning.

They didn't stay asleep as long as normal, but David woke poopy, so that is probably (hopefully!) the reason.

Tonight they didn't go down as easily. They got right into bed when I told them to, but as soon as I shut the door, they jumped up and were running around and laughing with each other. They tried to come out several times, went back when I told them to, but were up again as soon as I shut the door.

My solution? I turned their door knob around so I could lock them in. Once they realized they were stuck, they both started crying. I went back in and told them they needed to go to sleep. David was very upset that he was stuck in his room, but I told him the door was going to stay shut. I gave them each one more kiss, and then left again. And then they went right to sleep!!!!

I just checked on them, and they are both sleeping peacefully in their big boy beds. And it only took about 30 minutes from the first "good night" to asleep, which for the first night, I'm calling a success.

It's a girl!!!

2011-03-11T16:06:00.002-06:00

That pretty much sums it up, right? :) I'll post pictures and details later.

David makes me laugh!

2011-03-09T15:48:00.008-06:00

When I went to get David from his nap today, his jammies were lumpy. Apparently he had unzipped his pjs, stuffed in his kitty kak, penguin, and duck, and then zipped his pjs back up. I'm not sure why, but it made me laugh so hard. I was letting Erik sleep a few extra minutes, and I could barely hold the laughter in as I got David out of their room.

Lumpy, stuffed jammies. I wonder if this is what I look like to him? Perhaps I should feel flattered that he is imitating me? Perhaps not.

I tried to take a picture of what was inside, but David quickly stopped me.

And then gave me this look.

And then said "Kitty kak stay in jammies!" Okay David. Whatever makes you happy. :)

3 more sleeps!!!!!!

2011-03-08T11:46:00.002-06:00

Only 3 more sleeps until we find out if our new baby is a boy or a girl. We thought it would be fun to see what others think we are having, so if you'd like, go ahead and vote in the poll on the side of our blog. We'll be sure to let everyone know on Friday!

J was for Jellybeans...

2011-03-04T14:40:00.014-06:00

As part of the home school preschool program we are following, the boys have been making a letter of the week. A is for alligator, e is for elephant, j is for jellybeans, etc. They really love it, and I've been putting each page in a sheet protector and then in a three ring binder to make a book. They just love their ABC books.

Apparently, they love them a little too much. They were reading them during blanket time a few days ago, and when I came back to check on them, they were eating the J page! Yep, they just bit right through the sheet protectors to get to the jelly beans. Yum! I guess we need a new J page. Perhaps some jellybean stickers this time.

Erik enjoying his jellybeans and plastic.

David picking off some jellybeans through the holes he made with his teeth.

Enjoying the "fruits" of his labor.

Their poor J pages.

A close up of the destruction.

Super good news!!!

2011-01-21T09:01:00.005-06:00

So it has been so long since I blogged (again), but this time, I have a really good excuse! We're expecting again!!! Our little baby (yep, just one this time) is growing strong, and I just heard the heartbeat again last week. I'm about 13.5 weeks along, so my morning sickness (which actually happens in the evenings) is starting to let up. My estimated date of delivery is July 25th, so we're having another summer baby.

I have so many super cute things to blog about (despite my feeling crappy, the boys have been just as cute, funny, and delightful as ever), and I promise to get back in the swing of things soon. Just as soon as I get my rather messy home under control. :)

Here's a picture of new baby at about 7 weeks. We can't wait to find out if he is a he or she is a she. :)

Halloween 2010 (a little, okay, a lot late)

2010-11-20T13:58:00.012-06:00

Wow. I can't believe I haven't blogged in over a month. I wish I had a good excuse... I don't though.

Anyway, here are some darling pictures from Halloween this year. And yes, I made their costumes. It was so much fun that I can't wait to make them something for next year!

The whole family at our trunk-or-treat.

Mr. Smee and Captain Hook

Tinkerbell and Peter Pan

Hook and Pan

Erik enjoying his homemade hook.

David ready to go home. I promise he enjoyed himself. But it doesn't look like it in any of the pictures. :)

David's Peter Pan costume

Erik's Captain Hook costume

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-18T14:03:00.016-05:00

A few weeks ago, we went on a family outing to the pumpkin patch. The Flower Mound pumpkin patch in Flower Mound, Texas is awesome. They have a train (weekends only), hay rides, slides, bounce houses, a jail (hehe), and tons of character cutouts. And of course, a lot of pumpkins. The best part? Everything (except the pumpkins) is free!!! We had so much fun, and we might make another trip if we have the time. Here are a few of the many awesome moments we captured. There is nothing better than watching your children have fun.

Pumpkins!

David about to go down...

A really big slide!!!

Erik's turn!

Weeeeee!!!!

Playing in the bounce house.

Erik trying to get the "cheese." That's what they call the camera.

David having a great time. Yay!

Mommy with her favorite boys on the hay ride.

Daddy was sad that we didn't take any pictures of him. So we took this one while driving home. :)

Sick :(

2010-10-18T13:52:00.005-05:00

I have to apologize for my poor blogging this month. I had a few rough days, and then Steve was really sick. The boys have been sick the last week or so too, and my house has been a disaster. We have watched a ridiculous amount of "big bird" (the boys' new favorite show), and had the most boring dinners imaginable. I'm so grateful for a husband who is willing to eat peanut butter sandwiches and quesadillas for dinner. :)

Thankfully everyone is feeling much better, and so hopefully things will be back to normal (or whatever can be considered normal around here). Here are some pictures of the boys from last week looking all sickly.

Erik watching Big Bird on the couch.

David watching Big Bird from the ground. :)

Halloween Bags

2010-09-23T13:10:00.005-05:00

Halloween is coming soon. (37 days!) This is the first year my boys will actually get to walk around to trick-or-treat, and I'm really excited. We've been practicing "trick-or-treat," and they're getting pretty good.

My friend Gwen was making these darling bags for her kids to use for trick-or-treating, and she offered to help me make some too. I'm so pleased with how they turned out. I have very limited experience with sewing (buttons, scrunchies, that's pretty much it), but with Gwen's help these bags turned out great! (Here's the blog where she got this super cute idea!)

Cowboy Hats

2010-09-07T14:43:00.012-05:00

Aunt Gigi and Uncie Rob got the boys these awesome cowboys hats for their birthday. I'm hoping to get some boots and cowboy pjs to complete the look. For now, diapers will do. :)

My little cowboys.

This picture makes me think David is riding off into the sunset. :)

Deputy Erik

"Yee-haw!"

"Ma'am."

The Dentist

2010-09-07T14:09:00.007-05:00

What does a monster eat after he goes to the dentist?

The dentist!!!

-Ethan Hepworth (my darling nephew)

I took the boys to the dentist last week. I have such a hard time brushing their teeth, that I was sure it wasn't going to go well. But the boys really surprised me. They did great! David was saying "hi" to everyone, and the whole office thought they were darling. (of course!) Erik cried a little when the dentist wanted him to open his mouth, but I was prepared and handed him his blanket. He calmed right down and let the dentist brush his teeth so well! And ever since then, they have been so much better at brushing their teeth. Yay!

Of course I had to get a picture of their first trip. They didn't actually sit in the dentist chair for this visit. They sat in my lap with their head in the dentist's lap. But I put them in "the chair" to get a darling picture. Well, I got some pictures, but none of them are darling. They just wouldn't sit still. Oh well. Then the boys got to pick out a toy from the treasure chest, which was their favorite part I think. :)

I was really pleased the boys did so well and that their teeth are clean and healthy. Steve went to his appointment the next day, and when they learned that it was his twins that had been in the day before, the whole office went on and on about how cute and well behaved they were. That made me smile. :)

David gave me a good "cheese" but my very slow camera missed it. :( He was happy though. :)

Erik was so interested in all the "toys" around the chair that he wouldn't look at the camera. This is the best picture I got...

I tried to get a twin picture, but neither one would look at me! Despite all this, I would call it a success dentist visit. Just not the best pictures. :)

2 year old twin photo shoot!

2010-09-07T13:35:00.010-05:00

Yes, it was as hard and exhausting as it sounds! But we got a few good shots. :)

This one is my favorite! They just look so happy to be brothers.

I call this "the boys of summer."

Erik

David

Last year, David was all grins. This year Erik was giving them up left and right.

David looking so cute!

Erik looking dashing in his loafers. :)

Random Cheese

2010-08-25T19:27:00.012-05:00

Our boys call the camera "cheese." They say "hello cheese" when we take it out, and "bye-bye cheese" when we put it away. Here are a few random shots of our cheesey boys.

Our New Rides

2010-08-18T12:42:00.007-05:00

Nana and Jen came to visit, and they decided to buy the boys some early birthday presents. Thanks Nana and Aunt Jen Jen!!!

So happy with their new toys. David seriously loves that pizza cutter. He wishes I would let him sleep with it. :)

Sometimes it is fun to share toys.

They're still learning the rules of the road.

Erik and his pooh bear fire truck. I think there is a bit of an adventure up ahead!

La, la, la, la. La, la, la, la. David's car!

So sweet! (sorry, no picture)

2010-07-26T12:12:00.001-05:00

Today David fell down and cut his lip open. While I was holding him, Erik came over and brought him a blanket. When David stopped crying, Erik gave him one of the trucks he was playing with, and they played together so happily. It's moments like these that make me feel so blessed to be a mother of twins.

my boys

2010-07-19T12:37:00.006-05:00

We like to spend Sunday afternoons watching a movie together. Here are some pictures of my three favorite boys watching Elmo. :)

All my boys snuggling on the couch. Daddy is getting a little sick of Elmo.

Erik sucking his fingers.

David wanting to be like his brother. :)

Why I love "On Becoming Baby Wise"

2010-07-13T14:16:00.001-05:00

Before I became a mother, I taught first grade for three wonderful years. I loved teaching children, and I loved seeing the look of wonder and excitement when my students learned something new. I learned from books, classes, others, and my own experience that structure and routine combined with knowledge of subject and love of my students were the foundations of learning. Those ideas greatly shaped my teaching philosophy. When I found out that I was pregnant, I wanted to apply what I had learned as a school teacher to my new, even greater calling of mother.

When I was still pregnant with my twins, I knew I wanted my boys to grow up to be kind, respectful, hard working, loving, and good. I also wanted them to know that I loved them more than anything, and that our family is central to their lives and to mine. I had all kinds of ideas of how to help older children learn those things, but I had no idea how to apply my goals to babies.
Then one day while visiting a friend (who was also expecting), I picked up the book "On Becoming Baby Wise" from her coffee table. As I started to read, I realized that the ideas in the book matched my parenting philosophy perfectly. Here was a way to apply my goals to infants.

We started using the ideas from "On Becoming Baby Wise" from the day we brought David and Erik home at 4 days old. At first we just focused on getting full feedings. For sleepy premature babies (they were born at 36 weeks), that was a challenge. But soon the boys started nursing better and even wanted to have some time awake. Our routine was going pretty well by the time the boys were a month old, but feeding two babies every 2-3 hours around the clock had me completely exhausted and in desperate need of some long stretches of sleep. My mom (who had been helping us with the boys) was headed home, and I needed to be alert enough to take care of my boys by myself. I remembered the book had said that most babywise babies will sleep 7-8 hours by 12 weeks, and I thought "I've got to try this because if it works, it will be amazing!"

So I reread some parts of the book and looked online for some ideas. I stumbled across the blog babywisemom.blogspot.com, and I felt like a prayer had been answered. I started having a set time to start the day, and then just let our routine follow from that. By the time my boys were 12 weeks old (8 weeks adjusted), they were both consistently sleeping 7-8 hours at night. My boys were a babywise success story, and I was a new woman!

But our babywise success doesn't end there. Sleeping through the night is a wonderful milestone for any new baby and mother (doubly so when you have twins), but it is not the end goal in parenting. It is a step towards something much greater. By reading more books in the "wise" serious and other parenting books, watching others, and learning from my own experiences, I have begun the journey of helping my sweet babies become good men.

Now my twins are approaching their second birthday. I can't believe how fast they have grown up. Their smiles and laughter bring me more joy than I would have thought possible. They are still wonderful sleepers, but more importantly, they are starting to learn all those things that I wanted them to know.

They are kind. They touch each other gently. They can softly pet a dog. They share toys.

They are respectful. They say "please" and "thank you." They are learning to pray and be respectful to God.

They are hard working. They pick up their toys. They help me with the laundry. They help put away the groceries.

They are loving. They freely give out hugs and kisses. They smile all the time.

They are good. They are learning to obey their mommy and daddy. They are learning to make good choices.

I hope they know how much I love them, although, they might not know completely until they become parents themselves. Each night when I kiss David and Erik good night and put them to bed, I am so thankful for Babywise. It helped me become the mother I am today.

4th of July

2010-07-13T12:41:00.006-05:00

For the 4th of July, we went to visit Steve's Uncle Scott, Aunt Brenda, and cousin TJ. We all had a really good time swimming. Erik enjoyed the lake, while David preferred the pool. Aunt Brenda is a great cook, and we all stuffed ourselves full of her wonderful southern food. The boys also really enjoyed playing with their dog, Heidi.

Scott and Brenda let us stay in their camper trailer (which was really nice!), but the boys refused to sleep in a big boy bed. After a long day without any naps the boys still wouldn't fall asleep. We even drove them all around in the car hoping that would work, but Erik refused to sleep. We decided it would be best to head home so the boys (and Steve and I) could get some rest. The boys didn't sleep well on the way home, but once they were in their own beds, they slept great. I guess they are still a little young for camping. Maybe next year. :) But we have plans to make another day trip to visit Scott and Brenda and TJ because we had so much fun!

Erik swimming in the lake with Aunt Brenda.

TJ pulling David around the pool.

Erik and David showing off their 4th of July outfits. :)

Isn't Texas green? I really love it.

Brotherly hugs. :)

Baby Bunkins in Baskets with Books

2010-06-24T14:36:00.005-05:00

Big Boy Stuff

2010-06-16T13:35:00.013-05:00

As much as I hate to admit it, my babies are turning into big boys. They are learning to do so many new things, and I have a mixture of pride, excitement, anxiety, and sadness about it all. They are learning new words every day. They are also getting really good at identifying objects. David is especially into lights. Weird, huh? Erik has peed in the potty chair twice now which was really exciting.

They are such sweet boys, and I'm (mostly) glad that they are growing up. :)

David saying "Bee-bo." You might not know what "bee-bo means" or maybe you've forgotten. It's just the tiny hippo way of saying "belly button."

David showing off his belly button.

We got some new (well, new to us) furniture for our family room, and David especially loves the new chair. Mostly because he can climb up it like a little baby spider-man and reach the light switch.

*turns light on* "wight!" *turns light off* "bye-bye wight!" repeat

Erik loves shoes. He loves his new blue sandals the most. But he also loves Daddy's shoes.

Tying knots? :)

Wearing Daddy's shoes.

Trying to walk in Daddy's shoes. Maybe someday bunkin. :)

David and Erik "help" cook dinner

2010-06-05T19:40:00.005-05:00

I guess we're having sea food. :)

Pictures from our trip to Utah

2010-05-26T14:42:00.024-05:00

We had a chance to visit my family in Utah a few weeks ago. We had a great time. We went to the aquarium, made cookies, had homemade pizza, played with our cousins, met our Uncle Jimmy, visited the zoo, went fishing, met our baby cousin Gracie, and so much more. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

All tuckered out after church.

Erik didn't even make it through lunch.

Erik enjoying some homemade chocolate chip cookies. :)

David saying "yum" with a mouthful of cookie.

Erik (blue), David (green), and Grandma (red) at the aquarium.

Erik playing on the giant frog.

David posing for a picture near the "deck." They spent a good amount of time just climbing in and out of it.

David smiling with some flowers.

Erik with some flowers.

Seriously, I don't know why they love flowers so much, but they do.

David and Grandpa

Erik slowing down just long enough to take a picture.

Grandpa and David fishing.

Erik stealing the fishing pole from brother.

A baby elephant. So cute!

A giraffe.

A tortoise.

Erik and David exhausted from a day at the zoo.

A family of geese we saw in the zoo parking lot.

New Neighbors

2010-05-26T13:47:00.012-05:00

Our wonderful neighbor Silvia (who we are really going to miss) moved and gave us this hanging plant. She didn't want to take it with her because a bird had built a nest in it. So we hung it up thinking that the bird wasn't going to find her nest after it was moved. We were wrong.

Meet our new neighbors: The Billingsleys. Charlotte and Reginald Billingsley moved in about a month ago just a day or two after we hung up the plant by our porch. I did a little research and found out that they are house finches. And now they are the proud parents of twins: Royce and Abigail!

Yes, we named the birds living outside our window. We're weird like that. The birds grew up fast and flew away, but we sure loved having them for a few weeks.

Here's a picture of Charlotte. She's a little shy. Reginald wouldn't pose for pictures.

Here are the eggs. It made me so happy to see new life growing.

Here is Royce. Abigail took her time and was born the next day.

Here they are together. Don't they look like little rat birds? But somehow, they're still cute.

All grown up. I was so sad when they flew away. We'll miss you guys!

Big boys

2010-05-26T13:38:00.004-05:00

Our boys are growing up way too fast.

Here is David sitting at the table. He can climb into the chair all by himself now.

I don't know why, but Erik loves to wear my sweaters. Quite the look with only one shoe and boogers all over his face. Somehow he is still super cute. :)

Chocolate Bunnies

2010-05-26T13:19:00.007-05:00

We bought the boys chocolate bunnies for their Easter baskets. Then we forgot all about them. We pulled them out a few weeks ago and let the boys enjoy. Apparently, they like chocolate.

Erik eating his bunny. He got the ears I think.

Eventually he stuck the whole chunk in his mouth. Yum.

He clearly enjoyed himself. :)

David's smile is just darling in this picture.

And in it goes.

When he was finished, David started signing more. Sorry baby. You've had enough.

No Words

2010-04-27T13:23:00.008-05:00

This post is hard to write. There are so many things I want to say, and I have no way of saying them. No words can express all my feelings. But I have found writing, even if the words are imperfect, to be healing, and so I write.

We were expecting a baby this November. We were overjoyed. I bought the boys "Big Brother" t-shirts and taught them to say "baby" and "sesame seed" (our nickname for our baby). We were planning on spreading the news when I was 10 weeks along, and we enjoyed having our little secret surprise. We loved being a family of five.

But on April 11th, we lost our baby. I was 9 weeks pregnant. I know it doesn't sound like a very long time to grow to love someone, but I spent over 1000 hours carrying our little baby, and I felt her spirit in our home from almost the moment she was conceived. We love her, and we will always love her.

The hardest part of losing our baby has been not knowing how to grieve. We had no body to bury, no cheek to kiss good-bye. The people we loved most didn't even know there was a baby to be lost.

I know she is safe, but I have so many questions, and my heart just aches to hold my baby. I have found that writing my thoughts and feelings has helped to heal my heart a little, so I created a blog for my little lost baby. I also hope that it will help her to be remembered. I don't want her to be forgotten.

Naming her has also helped. We named her Cecily. If you'd like to read the story of how we named her, please feel free to read her blog: RememberingOurCecily.blogspot.com

I want to apologize for telling so many of you this on our family blog instead of in person. I know that it is impersonal, and I wish I had the strength to say these things out loud. I'm so sorry. I just couldn't find the words.

Easter 2010

2010-04-07T12:29:00.024-05:00

Here are some pictures from our Easter this year. We visited the Easter bunny, dyed eggs, and had an egg hunt. The boys really enjoyed themselves. We're grateful for holiday traditions that can build family memories like these.

But even as I post all these darling pictures of my boys and reflect on all the fun we had, I know that this is not the best part of Easter. Bunnies and eggs and candy are wonderful, but there are much more powerful symbols -- the cross, the bread and water, the empty tomb -- that give us hope of better todays and better tomorrows.

I want my family and friends to know, that I know Jesus Christ lives. He is the Son of God. He is risen, and because of His power over death, we will all live again. As a wife and a mother, that brings me such comfort. I know that not even death can separate me from the ones I love. Happy Easter! :)

Erik and David didn't really enjoy the Easter bunny. Maybe next year...

Erik helping Mommy decorate Easter eggs.

David helping too!

The finished products. :)

David having a fun time collecting eggs.

Erik wondering why this egg doesn't open.

Off to find some more.

One of the blessings of being a twin. Sometimes you get two Easter baskets, if only for a while.

What? We eat ground food at home. Why can't we have a little ground candy?

Erik shoved three whole whopper eggs in his mouth. He couldn't even close it, so the colored drool just kept coming. Gross! Of course I didn't have any baby wipes either, so he just had to be sticky until we got home.

It took them a bit, but they got the idea that eggs go in the basket.

They never figured out that the green basket was David's and the blue basket was Erik's. They both put eggs in both pretty equally. :)

And of course, baskets are good for more than just eggs. Other treasures (like blankets) can go in there too.

Basket-head David! :)

random pictures of the boys being cute

2010-03-31T12:36:00.012-05:00

Erik with his basket of books.

"The Jolly Barnyard." Good choice.

Of course he spends a good amount of time on the duck page.

He looks like he is smiling, but really, he's quacking. :)

I honestly don't know what David is doing in this picture.

But he likes it.

He is such a lounging time bunkin.

I think in this picture, he is having some deep thoughts. Probably about cows and ducks.

Family Home Evening Blog

2010-03-17T21:09:00.003-05:00

Steve and I really want FHE to be something we do consistently with our family, but up until a few months ago, we weren't doing so well. I just had such a hard time coming up with ideas that would work for kids that were really young. I asked a friend of mine what she does for family home evening with small kids. She gave me some great ideas, and after talking, she said there really should be a blog for FHE lesson ideas for young children. So we decided to start one. :) We have 14 authors so far, and the blog is going really well. Feel free to check it out.

http://fheforchildren.blogspot.com/

The Twins - Then and Now

2010-03-11T13:40:00.008-06:00

As the boys passed the 18 month mark, I've been reflecting on how much they've grown in such a short time. So I decided to do a few "then and now" posts to see how the two sweetest babies have turned into the two sweetest, almost-big-boys.

Is this like a blog version of a clip show? Oh, well. :)

David and Erik as tiny newborns. We used to call them our baby burritos.

Erik and David at 6 months. They were just learning to sit on their own, but they already loved each other.

David and Erik on their first birthday!!!

And here they are at 18 months. They are just the cutest and sweetest boys any parents could ask for. We love you bunkins!!!

Erik - Then and Now

2010-03-11T13:34:00.007-06:00

My baby Erik as a newborn baby. This was the first time I got to hold him. His mouth looks a little funny from the tape that held on his oxygen.

Erik at 6 months. He just learned to sit all on his own, and he's praying he doesn't fall over. :)

Erik on his first birthday! He already loves to read.

Erik at 18 months. He's such a sweet and happy boy!

David - Then and Now

2010-03-11T13:27:00.005-06:00

My baby David as a brand new baby. This was the first time I held him.

David at 6 months rockin' his band!

David on his first birthday! What a cutie pie.

David at 18 months. So grown up!!!

The twins at the park

2010-03-03T14:42:00.017-06:00

We have lots of parks near our home, and it is finally warm enough to go play at them again. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from last week's trip to the park.

We started out on the swings.

Wee!!!

We stopped for a drink.

Then it was time to play!

They did it again!

2010-03-03T14:28:00.007-06:00

Ever hear the phrase "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me"? Well, shame on Mommy because I left the cereal on the table again, and of course the boys emptied it all over the floor. Daddy thought it was funny enough to take pictures of. I was pretty upset (at myself, mostly), but I'm glad he did because it is funny to me now.

Erik having his unscheduled morning snack. Please ignore the snot. He's teething.

David enjoying his spoils.

Oh, and apparently the bag is a fun toy too.

David ran off with the box to the kitchen to spread the Kix love (aka mess).

You're only in trouble if you get caught...

2010-02-26T19:44:00.007-06:00

We're in trouble.

Every Friday the boys and I go to play group. We all love it. I like getting to talk to other moms, and the boys like getting to play with new toys, see new places, and play with friends.

This morning I got the boys ready to go and then let them play in the family room while I went to double check the directions on how to get to the house we were meeting at. I should have suspected something when the boys got quiet. Apparently they can now reach things on the kitchen table. I came out to find this:

Yum!

Wait, Mom. Don't be mad. We can put these back.

We're sorry.

Busted. :(

Cutest Blankets Ever!

2010-02-20T21:13:00.002-06:00

One of my favorite blogs is doing a great give away for these really cute blankets. Check out the website http://www.fillintheblankie.com/. There are so many choices for style and color, and you can personalize them with up to 200 characters. Angee, please don't spend too much time there. :)

What nice new feet you have.

2010-02-19T13:58:00.014-06:00

David and Erik are getting ready to start nursery, and Grandma and Grandpa Hepworth graciously offered to buy them some new Sunday shoes. It took two trips to two different shoe stores, but we finally got two pairs of shoes that we liked in the right size. The boys love their new shoes, and I can't wait to see them all dressed up for church next week. They are growing up so fast.

We like our new shoes. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

We like the new boxes even more!

Erik enjoyed putting the lid on and taking it off again.

Hmm, maybe we need to have another lesson on body parts. Shoes go on our feet baby Erik.

Erik showing us that little things go inside bigger things.

David playing peek-a-boo with his shoe box.

Here I am!

Cheese!

Snow Day

2010-02-19T13:02:00.007-06:00

David and Erik had a blast playing in the snow for the first time. They were a little unsure at first, and they had some trouble walking (it was up to their knees), but in the end, they had a good time. Erik needed no prompting to take a bite, and David loved watching the snow fall. We thought it was funny that the video looked old fashioned because the snow falling made the picture look a little grainy.

Growing up, oh so cutely!

2010-02-10T21:00:00.008-06:00

David and Erik just keep getting cuter and sweeter as they grow up. They are 17 months old and just buckets of fun!

Erik is starting to talk a lot more. Some of his new words include ball, pig, and bath. He also loves to roar. He has started saying "amen" about 10 seconds before every prayer is finished, and he keeps saying it until the prayer is over. Both boys are getting very good at folding their hands for prayers. They're such good little boys.

David has developed the habit of walking backward into our laps to be read to. The funny part is, he does it from about 2 feet away. :) Both Erik and David continue to love reading. They both can say "mama, book please." Erik says "doo" for book, and David say "jeetch." Strange, but he really means book. They sign please which is really sweet. They love library story hour, and the librarian (who has twins herself) just adores them and always comments on how well-behaved they are. (Yes, I'm bragging just a little). Enjoy some cute pictures because a post wouldn't be the same without them.

Erik giving his teddy (and David's teddy) a hug.

His teddy has been upgraded to blanket status. Note the fingers. :)

David loves to play peek-a-boo in his cabinet. He hides inside with the door shut until you say "Where's David?" Then he pops outs and we reply "Oh, there you are!"

Clearly he loves it.

Making Their Happily Ever After

2010-02-02T14:20:00.002-06:00

My beautiful sister and her awesome husband are now officially certified to adopt! Check out their great adoption blog. Angee and Robby, you are going to make wonderful parents someday soon!!!

Giddy Up Little Cowboys!

2010-01-20T13:03:00.007-06:00

David and Erik got these rocking horses for their birthday from their Nana and Lynn. They LOVE them! They have figured out how to push the buttons on their ears to play the song, and they have gotten so good at rocking.

On our rocking horses!

Yay!

Hugs for my horsey. So sweet!

Dismount.

Cheese! Now I have two horses!

It's a Hard Knock Life

2010-01-13T12:44:00.004-06:00

We've had a rough few weeks around here. David got an ear infection that required antibiotics. The medicine gave him horrible diaper rash. Then we all got the stomach flu. I've been cleaning up so much puke and poop it is almost (but not quite) funny.

To top it off, Erik got a black eye. We didn't actually see it happen, but we think he slipped and hit his cheek on the window sill. When I went in to see why he was crying, I couldn't find anything wrong with him. He cried for a good 10 minutes, and I probably held him for 20 minutes straight. Unusual for that busy little boy. When he got up, I realized what had happened. Poor baby. It doesn't bother him now, but it looks much worse. All green and blue under his eye. Also, I'm now grateful for all the standard twin questions I usually get when we go out. Those are much better than "how did he get that?!" :(

Erik's black eye. :(

Mommy and Daddy having a little fun. :)

The Beach/Hollandween/The Moon

2010-01-06T15:12:00.014-06:00

We have left 2009 behind us like a burning ship on the high seas somehow probably. We spent part of Christmas vacation visiting my Mom in California so I thought it would be great to introduce Erik and David to the beach. See, Kristi hates the beach, so if ever the boys are to be instilled with the wonder, awe, and love I have for the beach, I must be the lone instiller. (I know right? Hates the beach? Weird.) My Mom took Kristi and my sister Jennifer shopping post-Christmas Eve which created a perfect opportunity to introduce my boys to some natural wonder. My Dad and brother Jacob came along so there was probably male bonding. Jacob had no idea how to find the beach despite his claims to the contrary. He led us a merry chase before we stumbled onto what was probably a private beach. (I deduced it's private nature from the hostile/confused looks the natives gave us as we approached the water.) This beach is in Oxnard which is practically Northern California, hence our sleeve length. Here are the pictures I took or caused to have taken.

Dad and Erik, Jacob and David

Yours Truly with Mine Truly

On the way back we stopped to play in the sand. The boys love dirt indiscriminately.

Especially Erik.

With the new year upon us it is appropriate to discuss some of my Halloween antics with you, gentle readers. Or should I say Hollandween.

This is Professor Holland. He spent part of this semester stridently attempting to interest me in Civil Procedure. This is his characteristic attire: A blazer, something better than a t-shirt and blue jeans. This look is called "power jeans" and I'm not kidding. Ask Google. I asked Professor Holland whether he was aware that he is on the cutting edge of fashion, he claimed he was not aware of any such thing. You and I know the truth though, don't we? On Hollandween my class decided to give homage to professor Holland. I have pictographic evidence.

Power Jeans. All of us.

Oh yeah.

It was pretty hilarious. Professor Holland was giddy with delight right along with the rest of us. He would stop periodically during the lecture, peer out across the power-jeaned masses, and stifle a chuckle. Or maybe a tear.

In sum, here is a picture of the moon.

Pictured: The Moon

We love candy!

2010-01-06T14:04:00.020-06:00

The boys really enjoyed this holiday season, mostly because of the ridiculous amounts of treats their parents and grandparents gave them. The list of holiday yummies includes root beer, egg nog, pumpkin pie, cheese cake, chocolate chip cookies, homemade caramel, candy canes, pixie stix, chocolate-covered cherries (although, not on purpose), and lots of chicken nuggets.

Erik and David both enjoy candy canes. Always have...

Erik at 4 months

David at 4 months

Always will!

Erik at 16 months

David at 16 months

This year they also learned the joy of pixie stix...

David having a taste.

It's yummy!

Erik enjoying some pixie stix.

And he approves!

They also got into a box of chocolate covered cherries. I couldn't help myself. I grabbed my camera and took a few photos before I cleaned them up.

David trying not to look too guilty.

Sharing with Erik

He doesn't look too happy, but Erik signed more for 10 minutes straight afterwards. :)

Happy Christmas 2009

2009-12-16T12:40:00.003-06:00

Daddy, Erik, David, and Mommy

Favorite Things

2009-12-09T19:58:00.018-06:00

I thought it would be fun to post some of the boys' favorite things. They are growing up so fast, and it is fun to see what preferences and talents they each have.

David still likes to eat things that aren't food.

Erik does too!

Erik loves his blankie!!! Every time he touches it, he pulls it to his upper lip and starts sucking on his fingers.

David has recently discovered that his tongue is a toy. He likes to stick it out and move it around. It's pretty funny.

Erik is our little book worm. He loves to sit and "read" books, and he definitely has favorites. He'll pull them off the shelf, toddle over to your lap, and sit down to hear a story. What a cutie baby!

David's "cheese smile."

Erik also loves ducks. Duck is probably his favorite word. It there is a picture of a duck in a book, he'll find it, point to it, and say "duck!"

David prefers pigs. The pig he is holding in the picture now has to go to bed with him. He doesn't want to take a nap or go to bed without it.

David's new talent is stacking cups. He's always so proud of himself when he does it. As soon as the top cup is on, he smiles really big and claps for himself. :)

Erik thinks it is more fun to knock towers down. Don't worry though. David will just build it again and clap before Erik gets up from reading his book to come knock the stack over.

We Love Bath Time!

2009-11-18T13:35:00.002-06:00

Just a great shot of the boys enjoying bath time.

Trunk-Or-Treat!

2009-10-29T13:52:00.003-05:00

This year we were asked to be in charge of our ward's Chili Cook-Off and Trunk-or-Treat. We've never been to a trunk-or-treat before, but since we were in charge of it, we thought we'd go. :) The whole party went really well. We had lots of people bring chili for the chili cook-off, and lots of people dressed up, which is always fun. Steve and I were a little worried we would be the only adults dressed up, but we weren't.

A little five-year-old girl in our ward named Chloe had just watched The Wizard of OZ for the first time the night before the party, so she was a little star struck with our family's costumes. She kept asking her mom if she could eat dinner with us, but when I went over to say hello, she wouldn't say anything to me because she was so nervous. We did get a cute picture of us together.

After dinner we went outside to trunk-or-treat, and lots of people participated. We pushed the boys in their stroller since they are still not very good at walking and even less good at walking where we want them to walk. Plus Steve's costume (although really awesome if I do say so myself) made it difficult for him to move and hold babies.

The boys even got to try some candy, although we didn't know it at the time. We let each baby hold a piece of candy thinking they couldn't open it, but both of them chewed right through the wrappers. So Erik had some Twix and David enjoyed a Tootsie Pop. We all had a very good time, until poor baby David fell out of his stroller and bumped his head really hard on the parking lot. He was crying so hard, but thankfully once we got him home and in the bathtub, he felt much better. Hopefully actual Halloween won't be so traumatic.

A Photo Tour of Our Home

2009-10-21T09:55:00.025-05:00

I finally got (almost) everything unpacked and hung up. We really like our new place, but I don't like all the bugs. I killed 5 spiders yesterday! Gross! But other than that, I really love our apartment. Join me for a little picture tour of our new home.

This is what you see when you walk in the door. I like how the half wall hides my sink and dirty dishes. :)

Here's another view of the kitchen. That picture mural is still a work in progress, but I like the way it's turning out. The frames were only $3 at Walmart, so it was a pretty cheap way to decorate such a large space.

And here's the kitchen. If you look closely you can see some of the twins' art hanging on the fridge.

Angee made those "family" letters for me several Christmases ago. I'm glad I finally have a good place to hang them.

To one side of the front door is the dining room.

And the family room is on the other side.

Then our bedroom is next to the family room.

And here's the master bathroom.

On the other side of the apartment (by the dining room) is Steve's office...

And the boys' room.

And to finish our tour, the babies' bathroom. The soap dispenser quacks when you press it. I'm sure the boys will love that someday. :)

Splishy, Splashy Bath Time Fun!

2009-10-14T09:57:00.002-05:00

David and Erik have decided their new favorite bath time game is to throw their toys out of the tub. I decided a logical, natural consequence for this would be that once a toy is thrown from the tub, they lose that toy for that bath time. Thinking I was oh so clever, I implemented my plan. It turns out my babies don't need toys to have fun in the bath. :)

Erik Walking!

2009-10-07T21:40:00.002-05:00

I finally got a video of Erik walking. He's been doing it for weeks now, but he always gets so excited when he sees the camera that he plops down and crawls over to get it. But today, I finally got it on film!!! Here he is taking a few steps and smiling really big for the camera. :)

David's First Haircut

2009-09-23T15:35:00.005-05:00

David got his first haircut on September 19, 2009. It was sad to cut off his fluffy puff hair, but he looks darling now too, just a whole lot older! He did not like the clippers. I think they reminded him of his archenemy, the vacuum. :) Steve had to hold him the whole time, while I tried to cut. We ended up missing a pretty big spot, but we didn't notice until we were at church the next day. Sorry you had silly hair for a day, David! He loves his toothbrush lately, so we gave him that to calm him down after the trauma. Enjoy!

Before

David's first haircut (part 1)

David's first haircut (part 2)

After

Here's a nice view of the back. Doesn't his head look so round? :)

Erik's First Haircut

2009-09-23T14:06:00.011-05:00

We gave Erik his very first haircut on September 19, 2009. We started video taping and then realized we should take a before picture with the still camera. So he has two takes of his part one video. :) He just made the cutest smile in the first part, so I wanted to post it.

He did a good job. He thought the clippers were funny, at least for awhile. He got really sick of sitting in his high chair, and it was very hard to cut his hair because it is so fine. He was crying by the time it was all over, but he had a good time in the bath afterwords. And his hair turned out pretty cute. We noticed it looks a lot lighter in color now that it is shorter.

Before

Eri's first haircut (part 1, take 1)

Erik's first haircut (part 1, take 2)

Erik's first haircut (part 2)

After

Profile

Bath Time!

2009-09-17T13:50:00.005-05:00

Sippy Cup Success

2009-09-17T10:00:00.009-05:00

Yay! My babies drink milk from sippy cups! They still get a bottle of formula in the morning, but at all of their other meals, they are sippy cup pros! Okay, not pros. Professionals wouldn't drop their cups every two minutes, but they are getting pretty good. I posted proof. :)

We are sipping time babies!

Erik's close up

David's close up

Risky Business Babies

2009-09-03T08:21:00.010-05:00

The boys wore their cute new outfits to church on Sunday. (I still can't believe that they are in 12 months clothes!) We took their pants off for naps, and I just never bothered to put them back on. We decided they looked like Tom Cruise in Risky Business. So, we gave them some sunglasses and took some really cute pictures. Boys, please don't start running a burlesque house while I'm gone on vacation, okay?

This is our new desktop. Erik's eyes are so funny, and David is doing something weird with his mouth. I love it!!!

Erik looking a little too cool and a lot too cute!

David didn't wear his sunglasses for long. :)

His expression is priceless! What is that baby thinking?

Apparently glasses are better for eating than for wearing. That's babies I guess. :)

It's Our Very First Birthday

2009-09-01T13:49:00.017-05:00

The twins had their very first birthday! It was a fun-filled day of check-ups, shots, driving to the airport, balloons, special buttons, baked beef stew, and birthday cake! I think they had a good day, but boy was I exhausted!

David wearing his "It's our very first birthday" button.

Erik playing with his button, and David trying to get in on the action.

David being a lounging baby.

Erik reading a book he got from mommy for his birthday.

David wasn't too sure about those balloons.

Erik was sure that he hated them!

I made them another cake, but this time it was carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

Erik LOVED it! He sucked it right up.

David liked his too! CHEESE!

First Birthday Photo Shoot

2009-08-29T22:51:00.013-05:00

We took some great pictures for the twins' first birthday. We think they turned out pretty darn cute. :)

Erik and David loving their birthday balloons.

Erik and his crazy hair!

David and his cheesy grin!

Erik and David being super sweethearts!

Oh, they are just too big!

My Erik baby

My David baby

Erik wouldn't stay sitting, and David didn't want to get up. He looks pretty comfy. :)

Video of Our New Home

2009-08-19T20:58:00.004-05:00

Well, part of our home. A small part. The kitchen floor. But it is decorated with two really cute babies, so I didn't think anyone would mind starting small. Enjoy as David and Erik are entertained by plastic lids. They also wave, sort of. Mostly I promised everyone more videos, so here you go. :)

Adventures in Grocery Shopping

2009-08-16T20:24:00.002-05:00

So yesterday (Saturday) I went grocery shopping with both babies by myself for the first time ever. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, although it was pretty hard. Getting them both out of their car seats was tricky. First I put on my diaper bag, next unbuckled Erik and left him in his seat, then I unbuckled David and got him out. Then I could lift Erik out (while still holding David), lock the doors, and walk from the car to the store.

At the store there were no carts to hold two babies in the front, so I put both of them in the basket and put groceries on the bottom. That worked for awhile, but I was running out of room. I figured they couldn't do much damage to themselves (or the food) with some canned vegetables, so I put those next to the boys and made a little barrier of cans. Then I could put food in the basket too.

This worked well until David got a hold of a box of mac and cheese. "He can't open it," I thought, so I let him shake it to his heart's content. A few minutes later I was distracted by a couple who wanted to talk to me about my babies. I answered all of the usual questions and comments: "Are they twins? Are they identical? Are you sure? They look just like each other! Which one is older? You must really have your hands full." After bidding farewell, I looked down at David, who I noticed had stopped shaking his box of macaroni, and he had chewed a hole right through the box! I got all of the box pieces out of his mouth, took away his box, gave him a toy to distract him from his loss, and tried to hurry on to finish my shopping.

We were almost done. I just needed to get some frozen veggies, but I was rapidly running out of room in my cart with my boys taking up so much space. One of the bags got within Erik's grasp, and I thought, "He can't chew a hole in that." Well, he couldn't. But he could pile up frozen vegetables on his lap until he was a little baby-sickle. I didn't even notice until we were pulling up to the check out, and he started to cry. I felt so bad. His legs were so cold and red. So I held him while I unloaded my groceries. Thankfully the couple behind me was very understanding, and they helped me unload my cart. The checker went into "speedy checkout mode," and the bagger offered to help me to my car.

While walking out I saw a mother pushing a cart with two spots for babies at the front. "Next time I'm using that cart," I thought to myself. The bagger loaded my bags into the trunk while I strapped in the babies, and we headed for home. The boys and I were all exhausted and happy to be back home. Thankfully my boys are great about playing in their cribs by themselves, so I was able to unload and put away groceries with no crying babies.

Oh. We had mac and cheese for dinner. :)

The Lone Star State

2009-08-08T15:07:00.004-05:00

So now we live in Texas. The only thing I really don't like is all the bugs. Fort Worth is really great, and we love our new apartment. It's great to have more space. The place we live is so nice and family oriented, and everyone we meet is super friendly. We're still not completely moved in yet, but thanks to my mom (Mamma to the babies), we are close. Steve starts law school at Texas Wesleyan on Thursday, and he's really excited. I'll post pictures of our new place when it's all decorated, but for now here is a great one of Mamma and the twins. Thanks again to Mike, Jake, Jen, Angee, Robby, Jordan, Carly, and Mom for helping make our move so much easier. We miss you all so much!

Grandma Hepworth with Erik and David. They're going to miss her (and so will me and Steve)!

No Bacon.

2009-07-23T00:47:00.002-05:00

Hello gentle viewers. I have decided to delve into the deepness of this vast array of knowledge known as the interwebs and share with you on the web log as my wife has.

She has become quite a web logger and I was impressed by the number of links running down the side of the web log. Hello to you fellow web loggers especially!

Today I had the dubious opportunity to purchase some of Wendy's new Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuits. You know the advertisements. Sure they have the same pressed egg discs and horrible american cheese as the rest of the world but the way the bacon prances happily about on screen piqued my interest.

I pulled into the Wendy's parking lot and was planning to drive through the drive through (which innovation is as aptly named as any I have yet encountered) when I noticed a giant green dump truck in the drive through. Being pressed for time and somewhat boggled by it's presence I opted to park and go inside. This was a mistake.

Inside I was helped by an employee, we'll call her Disappointing Janet, who seemed competent on the surface but who in the end failed to meet my meager expectations. Where a normal person might only need a single Wendy's Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit, I ordered two of Wendy's Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuits in order to help maintain my manly physique. My gaze wandered around the nearly empty dining area, settling briefly on a white-haired gentleman who was enjoying his breakfast alone, until after much sizzling and many dings I was presented with my Wendy's Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuits in a charming white paper bag. I paid and thanked Disappointing Janet before leaving.

I hopped jauntily into my car ready to enjoy two Wendy's Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuits and headed off to work. I unwrapped my treats/breakfast one handed, bristling with excitement over the Applewood Smoked Bacon that I would soon be enjoying when to my disgust I realized that I would not be enjoying the bacon at all. Disappointing Janet, you earned your name. In my hand I held merely a Wendy's Egg and Cheese Biscuit. Surely this heinous mistake would not be repeated with the other sandwich. Surety aside such was the case with sandwich number two.

If I had only followed that garbage truck through the drive through my order would have been handled by someone else. Now I will never know if the commercials accurately describe Wendy's bacon because I will hereby be boycotting their breakfasts. Unless I'm really hungry and they're closer than Dunkin' Donuts.

Baby Stuff I Love

2009-07-22T12:48:00.037-05:00

Now that the babies are almost one, I feel like I am a baby expert! Okay, not really. But I have had a wonderful time raising my twins these past 11 months, and I thought I would share (with whomever wants to read this) some of the things that have made being a mommy to my babies more enjoyable. Please enjoy this list of Baby Stuff I Love and feel free to list any of your favorite baby things!

Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton

We read this book to the babies every night before bed. I love all of Boynton's books. The rhymes and silly pictures are fun for parents and babies.

Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields

This book was given to me as a gift when I was pregnant, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has or is expecting a baby. It is full of information to help you pick the best baby gear for your buck. I love the charts that compare features (like weight limits in certain car seats) and how the authors don't get paid to advertise any products. They just tell you what they and their readers think is the best.

On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam

I know that lots of people (especially on the Internet) don't like this book, but I love it! It is founded on such wonderful principles (like putting your marriage first and raising healthy, respectful children), and it has been so helpful to us. When I was pregnant every twin book I read said to "put your twins on the same schedule," but none of them offered advice on how to actually schedule a baby (let alone two!). Babywise was our answer. It helped me get the boys on a flexible schedule that helped meet every one's needs. I truly believe that this book was a huge contributor to my being able to nurse my twins for 9 months, and I think that my boys are happy and healthy because of the ideas that I read and followed. I'm on the third book in the series now, and I'm still loving them!

http://babywisemom.blogspot.com/

To go along with the book, this blog is awesome! It is run by a mother of three who answers questions and comments about implementing babywise (and other books from the series) in your family.

Carter's Onesies

I know that Gerber invented the onesie (or at least has claim to the name), but Gerber's aren't very well-made. Carter's are. They aren't paper-thin, they don't shrink or stretch, the snaps hold well, and they come in all kinds of cute patterns (and white too)!

Baby Gap Gowns

The only baby clothes I bought before the babies were born (thanks to generous gifts from family and friends) were some infant gowns that were on sale at baby Gap. (I got 4 for $2.50 using a coupon and discount!) Steve wondered why I bought our babies dresses when I brought them home. They turned out to be the best pajamas for tiny babies. They have snaps down the front that make them easy to get on and off, and the elastic at the bottom isn't too tight, so middle of the night diaper changes are easy too.

My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow

Okay. Get past the silly, misspelled name, and this is one great nursing pillow. I received it as a gift from a dear friend (thanks Carly!), and it was so helpful when nursing my babies. I have a Boppy pillow too, and I like it for helping my babies sit and have tummy time, but for nursing, the brest friend is even better than Boppy! It is made from foam, so it keeps your baby's head right where it needs to be. Excellent for nursing two babies at the same time, too (if you ever need to do that). :)

Munchkin Baby Spoons

These spoons are great because of the white hot feature. Anything over 100 degrees will turn the spoon from colorful to white. I also like how the well is slightly deeper than others I've tried, so they hold thinner foods better.

Bumpkins Bibs

We tried a lot of bibs, but these were my favorites for lots of reasons: They are waterproof, machine washable, have a great pocket, don't stain, and are really cute. I rinse them out after each meal (it takes about 30 seconds to clean both), and then I hang them to dry. They are all set for the next meal when it is time. I throw them in the washing machine twice a week with the babies' laundry. Best bibs ever!

Vicks Humidifier

I had a hard time finding a humidifier that I liked. After reading lots of reviews online, I came to the conclusion that nobody liked his humidifier. Until now! I love mine!!! It is easy to clean because the water empties completely from the reservoir, and it makes just enough white noise to help the babies fall asleep without being too noisy. We put distilled water in it, and we've never had any white dust deposits.

Aveeno Soothing Relief

We have the soothing relief diaper cream, lotion, and body wash. All are great for our little boys' sensitive skin.

10 months old!

2009-07-03T17:35:00.008-05:00

Well, the twins are now 10 months old, and of course they just keep getting cuter. They are also getting harder to photograph. They don't want to sit and smile while they pose with their teddy bears. They want to climb all over!!! So here are the best of almost a hundred pictures Steve and I took. I still can't believe how grown up they are.

David and Erik sitting back to back. You can see a bear in the background for comparison. :)

They have both discovered diapers. Here's one of Erik checking out David's.

Here is David almost smiling with his bear in the picture!!! When he smiles really big you can see that he has three teeth and two more on the way!

And here is baby David making a monkey face. He's so cute!!!

Steve and I have both commented that David often makes expressions that remind us of Calvin from the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes," but this picture is of Erik making a Calvin face. So funny! I'm glad that both boys inherited the ability to move their eyebrows independently just like their daddy.

Here is a picture of a very happy Erik. You can't see them, but he also has his two top front teeth now.

Crawling Babies!

2009-06-20T12:38:00.007-05:00

David and Erik are learning to crawl! They aren't very fast yet, but they are extremely cute. I guess we'll have to finish baby-proofing our apartment now. I think it's really interesting that the boys seem to be developing at such similar rates. They have pretty much done everything (rolling over, sitting unsupported, cutting teeth, pulling up) within a week of each other. I'm counting today as the day they "started" crawling (their baby books have a place to record the date of milestones like this), but they've been so close for about 2 weeks now. Steve said they had to move in one direction for a few "steps" to be actually crawling. So you can judge for yourself if you think they have it yet. Enjoy! (Thanks for the camera and the much improved picture quality, Granddad!)

Texas

2009-06-11T17:01:00.002-05:00

Well, we're moving to Texas. Steve got accepted and offered a nice scholarship to a Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, so we are off to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I'm nervous and excited and sad and happy all at the same time. I'm nervous about living in a new place. I'm excited to meet new people and experience new things. I'm sad that we won't live close to our family and friends here in Arizona. I'm happy that Steve is excited to go back to school. Things are going to be crazy for the next few months while we try to figure things out, but we both feel that it's going to be a great three years!

We have a trip to Texas planned to look for an apartment, and we're looking forward to having some time with just the two of us (Angee, Robby, and Jen are going to watch the boys for us). We found some good deals on flights and hotel, but I'm still nervous about actually finding a good place to live in only three days. I've also never left my babies for more than a few hours, so I hope I'm not a total mess. At least I know they'll be in good hands while I'm gone. It just didn't make sense to try to bring them along. We wouldn't be able to get things done nearly at quickly. I've been slowly weaning them the past week and a half, and it's going really well.

Also Steve has to be at orientation on August 13th, so that means we have about two months to pack, move, and unpack before school starts. I'm not stressed out yet, but I know I will be.

I tried really hard to think of a clever title...

2009-06-03T12:49:00.007-05:00

Well it is Wednesday, and that means it is time to blog. I have been so disorganized these last few weeks because we ran out of ink, so I couldn't print my chore chart. But things are better now that I have my chart to guide me (I feel foolish. I made the chart. I decided what went on it. I'm the one who did the chores. I could have just kept doing the things on it. But it just isn't the same if I can't check off the boxes).

Okay, so. Here is what has been happening here:

David has the terrible new habit of spitting his food all over. He takes a couple of bites just fine at first, and then his just starts blowing non-stop raspberries. (Sigh). He gets so messy, and I'm worried he's not eating enough because he's having too much fun playing. He's been waking early from naps because of it, and I just don't know what to do with the kid. I guess the answer is take a darling picture and post it on my blog. That way I vent some frustration, others can give me some helpful hints, and everyone can have a good laugh.

Erik's story is a little sweeter. Steve went to get him from a nap on Saturday and found him all curled up on his side with his blanket. We had to take a picture because he looked so stinkin' cute!

So many times I find myself longing for the time when the boys are asleep and I can get things done or have some time to myself. Then when they are in their room, they are all I can think about. Sometimes I want to go wake them up so we can play and snuggle. I don't, but I think about it. :)

Also included in this week's pictures are some photos of the babies' room. I've been working on these decorations for months, and this Saturday I finally hung them up (with Steve's help). We hung a bunch of other things too. Steve says I have used up all of my "hanging things credits," so I'll have to earn some more before Saturday.

Messy baby David! He has decided that spitting his food is the best thing in the world. Mommy disagrees.

Sleeping baby Erik all snuggled up. Steve went to get Erik up from a nap and found him like this. We had to take a picture before we woke him. So sweet!

These next two are at a baby's eye view because that is the only way I could get the crib and the name in the picture.

Please ignore the messy laundry. I didn't realize it was in the picture. :/

Angee helped me with this one a lot. The frames at the bottom are still crooked, but I haven't bothered to fix them yet. I want to get some more recent pictures in them first.

Singing Time

2009-05-27T18:38:00.003-05:00

We got this really great cd of children's music, and the babies just love it, (and so do I)! Here is a video of me singing along (poorly) while David and Erik laugh and dance. Enjoy.

(This will probably be the last video with bad resolution. Steve's dad got him a video camera for his birthday. YAY!)

Bye-bye Baby Bouncers

2009-05-14T16:52:00.005-05:00

The boys have out grown their baby bouncer chairs. I packed them away yesterday with all of their newborn and preemie clothes (for the next baby/babies). It was kind of sad to think that they are too big for them, but as Erik successfully toppled out of his while he was strapped in, I just had to admit to myself that they outgrew them. These bouncers were a gift from a parent of twins in my class last year. They have helped us so much. The babies practically lived in these chairs for their first few months of life, and the boys ate their first taste of rice cereal in them too. The chairs even doubled as an ottoman while I nursed. So Amanda, if you follow our blog, THANK YOU! For fun I added some pictures of the boys in their chairs.

(For those of you who follow me on facebook, sorry for the repeat.)

David and Erik in their preemie clothes! They were so tiny and had such skinny little legs.

David and Erik all grown up. Check out their awesome hair!

Teeth

2009-05-07T18:03:00.004-05:00

David and Erik both have teeth! Well, David only has one, but still. They are growing up so fast. They are both being little punks and refusing to drink from a bottle again, but if that's the worst thing in my life (and some days it is), then I feel pretty lucky. I've decided to try sippy cups instead. Right now they just play with them, but at least they don't scream when they see them. Also, both babies look really good as far as their skin is concerned, so I've been trying to eat dairy again. So far, so good. No more outbreaks of eczema. I'm hoping that they may have grown out of their allergy already, but I'm not pushing my luck. I'm still limiting dairy. But I must say that my cereal was extra delicious this morning with real milk. Yum! Other baby news is how mobile the boys are getting. They still don't crawl, but they roll over all the time, and they even choose to play on their tummies (something I had to make them do until now). Erik can also scoot on his bum. It's pretty slow, but it gets him where he wants to be. David is a rolly-polly. He can roll anywhere in the room, and he's getting pretty fast. Today he discovered the hanging blinds that cover our sliding glass door. I had to pull them back out of the way because no matter how many times I moved him, he kept finding his way back. His rolling never really seemed purposeful before, but I have to admit now that it is. Both babies also love "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," although they prefer Aunt Gi to sing it for them. As far as cute pictures for the week, Angee suggested trying to get their teeth. I tried. Here you go, Boo!

You'll have to look close to see David's tooth. It just barely came in on Tuesday. He's been really good and hardly fussy at all.

Erik's teeth were much harder to capture on film, but eventually he gave me a little grin. I just love his little hippo teeth!

8 months old

2009-04-29T16:38:00.010-05:00

The twins are 8 months old, and amazingly they are cuter than ever before! Erik recently cut two teeth, and they are so cute. He kind of looks like a baby hippo when he smiles. David hasn't had any teeth break through yet, but it looks like he's close. David has recently starting blowing raspberries non-stop, which can be a little frustrating when I am feeding him. He completely covered his high chair tray in disgusting blueberry rice cereal mess. Good thing their trays can go in the dishwasher! The best news is that both babies are drinking from bottles (I just tried again on a whim), and so we have officially started the weaning process. Steve calls them "weanies" and me a "weaner." I've changed the dinner nursing to a bottle, and today they even did lunch from a bottle too. They still don't love it (I can't say I blame them; formula smells gross), but they are doing pretty good. Now I just have to figure out which formula they aren't allergic to. My mom was here for the week, so she got to help take the boys' 8 month pictures. Those bears just keep getting smaller.

Baby David looking so cute. Grandma and Aunt Jen were more fun than teddy.

David found his diaper while we were taking pictures. It's his new favorite toy. Gross.

Baby Erik was being extra smiley. I couldn't get a good one of his teeth though.

His hair is getting so long! It lies flat in the front, but it still sticks straight up in the back.

When we tried to get pictures of the two boys together, they kept pulling at the blanket they were sitting on. So we gave them another blanket to play with. Of course then they kept covering up their sweet faces with the blue blanket. I picked this one to post because you can see Erik feeling his teeth with his tongue, and David has his blanket on his mouth just like how he sleeps with it.

Grandma and the twins! Thanks for playing with me all week, Mom. We miss you already!!!

Babies and a Beach Ball

2009-04-29T16:30:00.004-05:00

Steve brought a beach ball home from work, and the babies loved it. You can hear David laughing while Erik beats away at it. So cute!

Pictures by Angee

2009-04-23T00:12:00.012-05:00

On Saturday we had my sister Angee take some family pictures of us at the temple grounds. She did such a great job getting my boys to look cute. Here are a few of my favorites. Thanks, Boo!

Our family as of April 18, 2009

Mommy holding David, and Daddy holding Erik.

Here are the twins playing in the grass. I think they're looking at Uncie Robby in this picture.

They sure loved the grass. We need to get out more boys!

Here is baby Erik looking so happy. He was very good at taking pictures (unusually so). It must have been Aunt Gigi's charm. :) I tried to get one of him smiling to show off his new tooth, but this was the best I could do.

Baby David was being a little fussy (I think he may be getting his first tooth too!) But we did manage to get a couple of him without a frowny face.

Mommy and baby Erik

Mommy and baby David

Daddy and his boys

I liked this one because it seemed real. Plus I liked how Steve was kissing David. This is what our life is like. Steve kissing babies and me laughing because our life is so great!

Just a regular Wednesday

2009-04-15T15:48:00.004-05:00

I don't really have anything fun to post, but one of my daily chores on Wednesday is to post something on the blog. That way I know I'm not letting too much time go by without saying something, forcing me to play catch up later. My daily chore chart has changed my life! I love checking off those boxes, and my house is staying so much cleaner. The only other new thing in my life is the babies' slightly different schedule. They still eat five times a day, but now they go slightly longer between feedings. I thought about dropping down to four feedings (they are plenty old enough now), but I kind of felt like I just dropped a feeding, and I don't want to rock the baby boat. But then they were still sleeping when it was time to eat, and neither baby was very hungry for the feeding in the afternoon. Their new schedule is working out great! They even get slightly more time with Daddy in the evenings which is always a plus.

I just had to post some cute pictures! Here is Erik eating his blanket. He loves to suck on things, especially cloth. A few days ago I was folding laundry, and he spent a good 2 or 3 minutes trying to reach a shirt I had folded. When he finally got it I took it back(I'm such a mean mommy) and tried to offer him a toy instead. He cried until I removed the shirt from view.

Here is David being super happy (as usual). He was totally smiling for the camera. It was like he finally figured out that's what I've been wanting him to do all along. Maybe we take so many pictures the camera doesn't even phase him anymore. As long as he doesn't start calling it "Mama" I think we're okay.

Five by Five

2009-04-13T12:07:00.003-05:00

No, this post isn't about Faith (and if you get that reference, then I love you!) This is all about me. Five things about me in five different categories for a total of 25 random things about Kristi.

5 things I was doing 5 years ago:
1. I was happily engaged to Steve and excited to start our new life together.
2. Working lots of hours to pay for said life.
3. Going to BYU.
4. Doing my first practicum in a 1st grade class.
5. Planning a wedding (well, my mom did most of it).

5 things on my to do list today:
1. Clean baby toys.
2. Clean the humidifier.
3. Fold lots of laundry.
4. Take Steve's suit to the dry cleaners.
5. Feed babies. :)

5 Things I would do with a million dollars:
1. Pay off all of our students loans.
2. Buy a house with a big yard and a garden.
3. Buy the house next door for the Jebs (our best friends).
4. Give 10K to my sister so she and Robby can adopt a baby.
5. Buy some blessings (give the rest to charity). :)

5 jobs I've held:
1. gymnastics instructor (awesome!)
2. file room clerk (boring!)
3. medical billing (fun because I did it with one of my best friends)
4. grocery store checker (to pay for school)
5. first grade teacher (for three wonderful years!)

5 things I want to be doing in 5 years:
1. Be living in a house.
2. Have one or two more babies.
3. Be married to a law school grad!
4. Be getting the twins ready to start school. (Crazy!)
5. Renewing my teaching licence.

5 people who should do this too and then let me know so I can read it:
1. Angee
2. Jessica
3. Nanette
4. Jen Jen
5. Anyone else who wants to