A New Year

A few days after Christmas, Mark and I took the boys to Target, just to get out of the house.  We do that a lot.  Go places just to go.  None of us do very well when we are cooped up inside for more than a day or so, so there are often mornings when Mark and I look at each other (while Grumps 1 and Grumps 2 are melting into puddles of despair at our feet) and say WHERE SHOULD WE GO?!!  This means trips to Lowes, the mall or any other indoor place that has wide aisles for the stroller and is loud enough for the occasional shriek.  The destination on this day was Target.  And not even our neighborhood Target. Oh no, we need variety here and a road trip that is longer than five minutes to stretch these outings as long as possible.  So we went up to Plano to go to the Super Target. Cue angels singing.

Now I can wander around Target with absolutely no agenda or anything in particular I am shopping for any day of the week.  Am I right ladies??!  I could easily kill an hour or two going up and down every. single. aisle. and buying all the things.  But Target is not so leisurely when you have a husband and two one-year olds in tow.  It's more like a rapid lap around the perimeter (must keep moving or Parker will decide he'd rather you carry him than ride in the stroller) looking at holiday clearance and vacuum cleaners (yes, that is exactly what we did).  We might have lasted 25 minutes in there before we were out of Cheerios and getting close to two meltdowns. 

On this particular morning it was very cold and slightly raining.  So basically perfect weather for unloading two grumpy boys from the stroller, strapping them into their carseats, taking off the stroller seats, loading them into the back of car, dumping out all the Cheerios that fell down into the bottom of the stroller, and then folding it up and lifting it into the car.  While we were doing this (and getting rained on and freezing, btw) a pick-up truck was ever so slowly coming up to us in the parking lot.  I thought that he wanted our parking place and was thinking, "Seriously?! Can't you tell that this is not a quick process so you should just scoot on past us and find a spot a little farther away?!" when he stopped beside us and rolled his window down.  An older man, probably my parents' age, peeked over the window and into the cold and smiled at us.

"You're doubly blessed," he said.

And Mark and I looked at him and back at each other, nodding.  We knew he was right.

So Long Sweet Summer

A great BIG thank you and WELCOME BACK to everyone who found me from my post on Twin Talk!  I hope some of you will stick with me, either here on my blog or on Instagram.  It was so much fun to "meet" so many of you from your own blogs and IG accounts.  I have so many new twin moms to follow, which has been tons of fun.

This week I started back at school, which has been going great.  I have the sweetest class this year and I'm excited to be back in the school groove.  I have been pretty wiped out though!  It usually takes a week or so to adjust to my schedule in the fall, but I am finding that starting the year with babies makes it that much harder!  Plus, the boys are in a new class at their school now, and they have a different nap schedule.  So we all needed a good week to adjust and get used to it.  But! They now nap for {almost} THREE HOURS IN THE AFTERNOON! Straight. In a row. I thought moving to one nap would be INSANE, but it has actually been pretty fantastic.  It is working out well for all of us, so we can't complain.

Thank goodness for the long weekend!  I am catching up on blogging {i also have a teaching blog!} and trying to also get some last details wrapped up in my classroom.  Knowing that we don't have work yet tomorrow is the best feeling.  We have had a pretty lazy weekend, just hanging around at home and watching lots of college football {yay!}

Henry and Parker were {of course} sporting their Texas gear {Mom's team}, but Henry also gave Dad a shout out with his OSU hat.  Luckily, his head is big enough to wear Mark's hat!

Right before school started, the boys and I went to the pool with one of my fellow teacher friends.  Her sister-in-law and niece were there too, and the littles enjoyed playing with some cups {that may or may not have been for the wine.}  One thing we did not do nearly enough this summer was hit up the pool.  But, we still have tomorrow.

Enjoy your long weekends. Soak up the sun!

This Girl is a Guest Blogger!!

You guys, I think I am {finally} a legit blogger because I am being featured on another blog!  I know what you're thinking.  How can someone who posts {maybe} once a month make it as a guest blogger somewhere else? Well, I am kind of asking myself that too.  But lo and behold, today you can find me over at Twin Talk Blog where I will be sharing the boys' birth story.  

I never imagined I would be a Birth Story Sharing Kinda Blogger, but if you are at all interested in a little insight into Henry and Parker's big debut, head on over to Twin Talk Blog today.  And if you are a twin mom yourself, FOR SURE add Twin Talk to your blog list because it is an awesome community of twin moms!  Meredith and Amber, both mothers of twins and even from the DFW area, started the blog together as a way to share and collaborate with other moms on ALL THINGS TWINS.  Like if you were/are super googling during your pregnancy about twin births or wondering what the heck your twin baby bump was going to look like at week 32, then this my friend is the place for you. {Sidenote: I do not want to relive what my belly looked like, ahh}  Meredith and Amber, as well as tons of other twin moms {::cough::me::cough} share everything from their favorite baby products, great ideas for what to feed your littles, and even help you find other Twin Mamas in your area for TWIN PLAY DATES.  Can you even imagine?  I guarantee you will want to be BFFs with all the awesome ladies on Twin Talk.

Ok whew.  Twin mom rant over.  Welcome to any new readers who found me from my guest post and DISCLAIMER: I submitted my birth story post to the blog like months ago, for real.  I don't even remember what all I wrote, so I hope I don't cringe when I read it.  But yes, welcome!

That's me and my husband Mark, Parker (on the left) and Henry (on the right).  

When Meredith emailed me to let me know that my story would be on their blog today, she was like OMG I can't believe your girl turned out to be a boy and I was like OMG I can't believe I actually kind of forgot about all that!!  Or at least I don't think of it that often.  These little guys are so a part of our family that I cannot even dream what it would be like if we had a girl in the mix instead.  The picture above is actually from July 4, taken outside our house.  We recreated a picture we took last year on the fourth, which I posted on social media as an announcement about my pregnancy:

Notice anything different?  Yes, last year we had a blue chair and a pink chair.  This year, we replaced that pink with another blue.  It was a truly shocking and fun surprise to hear that nurse say, "oh they're both boys!" right after our little guys were born.  The brother bond Henry and Parker already share is the best thing ever.  And I don't think Henry even notices that his bed is pink....... ;)

In other news, school inservice starts on Monday for me, so tomorrow is actually my last official day of summer vacation and my last day to be home with the boys.  I am sad but also so excited to start a new year and get back into the swing of the school routine.  We are laying low this weekend and hopefully will have a smooth transition back to my Working Mom schedule.  The boys and I have been busy making the most of our freedom these past several weeks by visiting grandparents, hitting up the pool and taking lots of walks before it gets to be 104 degrees outside.  My parents live on a ranch, and Henry got such a kick out of "driving" their mule around their property every morning we were there, to check on the cows!  

Everyone have a good weekend!  And don't forget to follow Twin Talk.  They are also on Instagram here.  If you are a twin mom and blogger too, leave me your link!  I am always looking for others to follow.  And if you don't have a blog, let me know where you are from.  Any Dallas area moms?  I'd love to get together!  Twins or no twins!

xoxo

Super Dad!

This picture is from December 11, so it’s an oldie in terms of our time as parents.  But I remember this night perfectly.  I was still at home on my maternity leave, staying at home alone with the boys all day.  Most days were good, but sometimes Mark would come home from work and find me crying and exhausted.  This was one such day.  He came in the door, changed his clothes and said, “Give me the babies!”

And then I went and took a shower.  Heavenly.  

Thank the Lord for this guy.  There’s no one else I would rather do this crazy parenthood thing with than him.

Snapshot of Our Morning

Love waking up to these two every day, even when they decide to wake up at 5:00 in the morning, ready to start their day!

 

The Third Month

When you have a baby, everyone tells you that three months is the magical age when it stops being so hard.  They cry less, smile more, sleep better and seem to recognize you as someone who they know and not just a person who keeps them fed, clothed and in dry diapers.  

And you know what?  I think they are all right!  The third month was a great one, and the boys really are making things easier for us.  They are pretty much awesome sleepers right now.  Last night, they slept for almost 8 hours straight!! {although, technically, this is in Month 4, but whatevs.}

They are happy babies, smiling more and more, watching Mark and me and looking at us with a real recognition.  They are doing great at school, and coming home in good moods.  Plus, they stay busy while they are there so we have great late-afternoon naps, and then some super sleep at night!  Everyone feels rested and happy!

{Henry}

The happiest little guy.  Henry is still as snuggly as ever and loves to smile at Mom and Dad.  He also loves him some ceiling fan, which he is looking at in the above photo.

Still has his serious moments too.

Chubs.  A good friend of mine {Hi LJS!} emailed me this week and said, “Henry looks even more like Mark, which I didn’t even think was possible.” Which is THE TRUTH.  He is his daddy through and through {but luckily scored his mama’s eyes}

He’s our Giggle Bear.

{Parker}

These days, Parker is either super tired and a little on the grumpy side, or wide awake and HAPPY.  His days of crying and screaming for hours are long gone {whew!} and he is so much fun.  Plus, his baby blues will slay you.  He’s gonna be hard to say no to, this little guy.

In the above photo, he wasn’t really feeling up to a photo shoot.  So we tried again later and got some good Parker grins. {below}

You mean Henry’s asleep and I get all your attention? 

He’s still a little Wiggle Worm, as evidenced by his constantly kicking feet.  This kid stays skinny {compared to brother} because he is always moving and grooving!

It’s not a ceiling fan that is capturing his attention, but the other Favorite Pastime in the house these days: the skylight. 

This was last weekend, after a trip out in the cold to Sam’s.  Henry’s head is too big for almost all our hats, but Parker can still squeeze into some of the little ones we have.  It was Superbowl Sunday, so footballs seemed good!

We are already well into Month Four by now, and just experienced a new first - our first Snow Day!  School was canceled for these guys today, so Dad got to stay home and hang out with them all day.  Mom’s school was NOT canceled {grr.}

As Seen On IG

Things are still kicking at our house, despite the crickets here lately on the blog.  Two weeks ago, I started back at work and the boys started at their school.  Things have been going surprisingly very well with this!  I am really enjoying being back in the working world and Henry and Parker are doing great with the new routine as well.  Overall, it’s been a win-win.  It didn’t take us long to get sick though.  I’m not sure if I brought the bug home from my school, or if they brought it home from their school, but Parker and I both got sick last weekend.  I spent 12 hours on the bathroom floor, and Parker got sick a few times himself.  Luckily all the grandparents were ready and willing to help out, and we all eventually made it back to work and school!

Here are some pictures from our life lately!

Sometimes they just both want to be held at the same time and I’m the only one home, so I’ve gotten pretty good at juggling them.  Just don’t ask me to pick anything up off the floor!

Bottles, bottles, bottles.  We are constantly washing and making them.

Coming home from school one day, Parker Bear was looking especially cute.

Same day, in the morning before school.  Parker was giving us one of his first real grins!

Play date with Jimmy, who was so sweet and “petting” Parker.

Hanging out and feeling good!

This was on my last day at home before work.  We were trying to take a group selfie!

Ending this post with a picture of my very best friends.  These girls are my favorites and even with 4 kids (and one on the way!) between us {not to mention a Newly-Wed!}, we still get together at least once a month.  KD {in the middle} just left us and moved off to Denver.  I am so sad to no longer have her living up the road.  This was at her send-off celebration dinner a few weeks ago.  Much love to her and all my girls!

2014.

Ringing in 2014 with Henry… Parker didn’t make it ’til midnight.

We are already ten days into the New Year!  2013 was {obviously} a crazy, great year for us.  I started the year out not pregnant, and then BAM… 365 days later, we have two babies.  How did that happen?

{Henry, Parker wearing their whales and continuing to refuse to acknowledge each other}

This year, I didn’t even think about making any resolutions, probably because I haven’t had time to sit down and think about it.  But if I *had* made any, I think they would have looked like this:

* Lose the baby weight, so I can wear all my old clothes again!  I miss my old jeans.  They are still too snug.  Even most of my shirts don’t quite look right.  I’ll get there though.. eventually.

* Be a good mom.  Duh.  My newest job is my most important goal this year.  I want to be the best I can for these little guys, so they know they are SO loved by their mom and dad.  I still find myself surprised to think that we are PARENTS.  That’s huge!

* Balance.  I go back to work next week {tear. for real. there have been tears.}  My heart is torn because I miss my job and my kids at school so much, but I can’t imagine leaving these guys everyday. Luckily, I have a great support system to help with this transition: Mark is of course helping to remind me that H and P are still going to do great, and that we will just give them LOTS and LOTS of extra love so they don’t forget about us during the work days.  My job is also rocking by allowing me to ease back into being at work, so I’ll start out working shorter days, so we can all get used to our new schedule.  And hey, summer break is only four months away…. we can do it!  And finally, I have so many great Working Mom Friends who have been helping me this week.  Hearing from other moms who do this everyday helps me realize that we are all going to be okay.  So a big THANK YOU to everyone who has been helping me get ready for this new phase of parenthood.

So maybe if I had made resolutions, those would have been them!

Now, on to what we’ve been up to lately!  We pulled out the Bumbo chairs last week, since the boys can hold their heads up better now.  These chairs rock.  H and P {mostly} really like sitting in them and looking around, which means I can have them both awake and happy, without having to figure out how to hold both of them! A win for Mom!

  Henry, Parker

The other day, I put the guys in their chairs after they ate and Parker immediately fell asleep.  He stayed like this for a good 20 minutes before I was convinced he really was going to stay asleep and I moved him to his bed:

 

Seems like lots of our photo opportunities are on the bathroom floor these days, like these two a few weeks ago.  Both Henry and Parker are strangely captivated by the bathroom and love to lay on the floor and stare at the walls and lights in there. So we hang out there. A lot. Don’t judge us.

Henry, my neon running shoes {had high hopes of working out that day}, Parker

Oh hey, in the bathroom again!  But we had just taken baths, so at least it makes sense this time.

Do your eyes hurt yet?  Stripes on zig-zag, ahh!  {P and H}

Henry, Parker - thinking about life

Henry is a snuggle bear.  Parker prefers to squirm, so snuggles are a little tougher with him. But this little cuddler is getting in some quality snuggles here lately.

This photo fooled 3 out of 4 grandparents!  Who is it??  The majority guessed Parker.  Wrong!  It’s The Hulk himself.  Maybe they do look more alike than we realize?

And…. that brings us to present day.  Lots of laundry, one crying baby and a rainy morning.  Guess I better get started!  Thanks for stopping by and checking in on us.  Please send me some good thoughts and positive vibes next Wednesday when I go back to work.  We’ll all need the prayers.  Heck, if I make it out the door on time, I will consider the day a success!