How can this not make you smile! These are the moments I dreamed about when I found out I was having twins. Happy Monday Everyone!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Twins Giggles
How can this not make you smile! These are the moments I dreamed about when I found out I was having twins. Happy Monday Everyone!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Happy Birthday Jackson & Riggs!!
Last Friday the twins turned ONE! I am still trying to figure out how this is possible, it does not seem like it has been a year since they were born-then yet again I can't remember what it was like without them.
As you might have read our plans were a little altered for the weekend when Riggs came down with Hand, Foot & Mouth on Thursday, then Jackson followed on Saturday. Their big birthday party was postponed but we were still able to celebrate on Friday with our families. Aaron's parents, sister and her boyfriend had come down from New Jersey and my parents and one sister were here as well.
We headed over to my sisters for a yummy flank steak dinner, presents and of course cupcakes. I think they were a little unsure as to what to do with the cupcakes-we have let them have virtually no sugar this first year. Jackson quickly figured it out and destroyed the entire thing icing and all-he was crazy the rest of the night. Riggs threw half of hers on the floor so he didn't get as much which was probably good since she was not feeling great. We were also able to celebrate Aaron and my Mom's birthday since they were Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
The twins were troopers through it all even though they were not feeling great. We had a great time with our families and are excited to have their party next weekend.
Enjoy the pictures there are a ton!
As you might have read our plans were a little altered for the weekend when Riggs came down with Hand, Foot & Mouth on Thursday, then Jackson followed on Saturday. Their big birthday party was postponed but we were still able to celebrate on Friday with our families. Aaron's parents, sister and her boyfriend had come down from New Jersey and my parents and one sister were here as well.
We headed over to my sisters for a yummy flank steak dinner, presents and of course cupcakes. I think they were a little unsure as to what to do with the cupcakes-we have let them have virtually no sugar this first year. Jackson quickly figured it out and destroyed the entire thing icing and all-he was crazy the rest of the night. Riggs threw half of hers on the floor so he didn't get as much which was probably good since she was not feeling great. We were also able to celebrate Aaron and my Mom's birthday since they were Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
The twins were troopers through it all even though they were not feeling great. We had a great time with our families and are excited to have their party next weekend.
Enjoy the pictures there are a ton!
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| Smash Cupcakes! |
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| Couldn't get a picture where they both had their hats on. |
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| Jackson inhaling the last bit of icing. |
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| JackJack was so proud of himself. Poor Potamus looks pitiful. |
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| Sugar High! |
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| Presents-check out my cool Clemson hat Riggs got me! |
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| Tailgate chairs for Aunt Siri Aunt Melissa, Uncle David, Cousins Luke & Grayson! |
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| Our first wagon ride. |
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| Matt, Sarah, Siri & Aaron. |
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| Grampy, Grammy, Granddaddy & Nana. |
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Easter Sunday
This year was the twins second Easter but the first one where we could go to church as a family. Last year they were tucked away in the NICU since they were just over a week old.
I was so excited to be able to make their baskets-I tried to be very practical and get stuff they would need even if it wasn't a holiday with a few cheap fun things. They were filled with food pouches, goldfish, bubbles, bunny ears, bath toys, pajamas, sunglasses and a skirt for Riggs, socks and shorts for Jackson, sidewalk chalk and a bible to share. They were so cute as they looked through their goodies that morning before church.
After we enjoyed the morning we got ready and headed to church. The twins had had colds all week so we decided to skip Sunday School to make sure they did not share with any of the other babies. I had been so excited about their Easter outfits, I had gotten them about 2 months ago. On Friday I decided it might be a good idea to try them on-of course both were huge. I spent the weekend trying to figure out what to do-even looked for new ones. In the end I was sewing their clothes on Sunday morning so they would fit better. I think the cinching worked and they were so adorable.
We headed off to church so celebrate the real reason for the day our Risen Savior. I was hopeful I would actually get to sit through the sermon but knew that might be hard since we did not feel we should put them in nursery and Riggs is not able to stay quiet or still enough for church. We made it through about 3 songs and then made our exit to the lobby for the rest of service. During this time Riggs spent the better part crawling around a spitting up her milk. We had just switched them to 100% milk and we learned that morning she has an intolerance and right not can't handle it. During church I think she spit up 6 times-I had no idea how fast milk curdled-this was the worst thing I had ever smelled worse than throw-up. After Aaron and Jackson joined us we decided it was best to get her out of her dress and try and wash it for some after church pictures, the smell was sickening. Aaron took care of this and ran it out to the car so it could dry in the sun. While he was gone I was corral both as they crawled around when Riggs spewed again. As I was cleaning this up Jackson took off towards the worship center doors-of course church ended right then and the people started flooding out. I was stuck wiping up R's mess so I could not grab him and there was no one I knew around to ask to help. Luckily one lady saw what was going on and offered to grab him so he didn't get away or get trampled.
We left church and went to one of our favorite restaurants in downtown, Smoke on the Water, had a great lunch with Staci, Charlie and Haley and then tried to get some pictures in the park. Well as you can imagine at this point the twins were well past their nap window and this was not too successful, but we were able to snag a few cute one.
I have learned holidays with little ones are exhausting but such a a joy as well. While I know they did not get a lot out of Easter this year in the future we want to make sure they understand what the true meaning is. It is not about the egg hunts and the candy, but about Jesus who died for our sins and rose so we could have eternal life.
I was so excited to be able to make their baskets-I tried to be very practical and get stuff they would need even if it wasn't a holiday with a few cheap fun things. They were filled with food pouches, goldfish, bubbles, bunny ears, bath toys, pajamas, sunglasses and a skirt for Riggs, socks and shorts for Jackson, sidewalk chalk and a bible to share. They were so cute as they looked through their goodies that morning before church.
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| Look what the Easter Bunny left the twins! |
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| Checking it all out, of course Riggs is in Jackson's basket. |
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| JackJack and his bunny ears. |
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| Riggs was not a big fan of the glasses |
We headed off to church so celebrate the real reason for the day our Risen Savior. I was hopeful I would actually get to sit through the sermon but knew that might be hard since we did not feel we should put them in nursery and Riggs is not able to stay quiet or still enough for church. We made it through about 3 songs and then made our exit to the lobby for the rest of service. During this time Riggs spent the better part crawling around a spitting up her milk. We had just switched them to 100% milk and we learned that morning she has an intolerance and right not can't handle it. During church I think she spit up 6 times-I had no idea how fast milk curdled-this was the worst thing I had ever smelled worse than throw-up. After Aaron and Jackson joined us we decided it was best to get her out of her dress and try and wash it for some after church pictures, the smell was sickening. Aaron took care of this and ran it out to the car so it could dry in the sun. While he was gone I was corral both as they crawled around when Riggs spewed again. As I was cleaning this up Jackson took off towards the worship center doors-of course church ended right then and the people started flooding out. I was stuck wiping up R's mess so I could not grab him and there was no one I knew around to ask to help. Luckily one lady saw what was going on and offered to grab him so he didn't get away or get trampled.
We left church and went to one of our favorite restaurants in downtown, Smoke on the Water, had a great lunch with Staci, Charlie and Haley and then tried to get some pictures in the park. Well as you can imagine at this point the twins were well past their nap window and this was not too successful, but we were able to snag a few cute one.
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| My Easter Babies! |
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| I love a boy in a boytie! |
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| Sweet little girl! |
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| The best we could get, we didn't even try a picture of all 4 of us. |
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Great Expectations
In life there are many things we have Great Expectations about. With the twins I have found to look for the blessing in the circumstances and not dwell on what should have been (in my opinion). Over the last three years I have learned more and more my plans don't matter one bit and I to try and not romanticize what I perceive to be normal-if I do I will just feel jipped out of moments that "should" have been.
In October of 2009 Aaron and I decided that it was time for us to add to our family and start trying for a baby. Being a mother is the one thing I had always known I wanted to be in life. While in the back of my mind I am pretty sure I felt this was not going to be a simple task but I longed for this and had Great Expectations. After 11 months and a little bit of medical intervention we finally got our positive pregnancy test and were finally going to be parents.
A few weeks later we went in for our first ultrasound so excited to get our first glimpse of our baby that we had longed for. Quickly we knew we were not seeing what most see on that little black and white screen-there were two perfect little heart beats growing inside of me instead of one. On that day I know we were in shock not sure what to think-I can't really say I remember much else that happened-We were only planning on one but we got two. I don't think we had any idea what a blessing this "change of plans" was to become in our lives.
Through out the pregnancy things went well and as they continued this way our Expectations for a normal delivery grew knowing from the beginning this may not be the case, with the increased risks that come from carry twins. At 34 weeks 1 day we got our game changer once again. I went to the OB for my weekly appointment and was admitted to the hospital for pre-eclampsia. The next morning it was determined the twins would be delivered that day. This was the day I had dreamed about for so long, I was finally going to get to become a mommy and hold my sweet babies for the first time. Jackson was born first and Aaron was able to hold him for a few seconds and let me give him a kiss on the head before they took him to the NICU. Then our feisty Riggs was born 2 minutes later. She was not doing as well as her brother and they decided to put in a breathing tube and quickly wisked her out of the room, I was only able to get a quick glance of my little girl as she passed. Neither of these met the Great Expectations I had for this moment. It was about 6 hours before I got to see them and over 24 before I was able to hold my babies for the first time. And as you can imagine, I left the hospital in tears a few days later without my babies-not the moment I had dreamed of once again.
Then last Friday they turned ONE! Now this was the time I was to finally get That Moment. Friday we would spend with family and then Saturday was the party I had been planning for months. Well not exactly. Thursday morning as I was literally walking out the door for work I noticed a few spots on Riggs and an extremely irritable little girl who would not eat her breakfast. My Expectations were once again squashed as we later determined our little girl who had not been sick all year had Hand Foot and Mouth. We were able to celebrate with most of our family on Friday, but my oldest sister could not come since she has little ones too. However Saturday, the big party I had dreamed of had to be postponed until the twins were healthy.
At first as I processed all of this I felt so jipped; why have I not had those perfect moments like everyone else does with their babies? But then I reflected on all I had and while no none of it went as I expected, it has all been perfect and exactly as God planned it. I have two perfectly healthy 1 year olds (well other than HFM) who I adore more than anything. I have been brought more joy by these two little ones than I could have every imagined. Have we had those Perfect Moments I dreamed about? No. But have we had so many Perfect Moments, that have far exceeded my Expectations? Yes! I guess in all of this I have learned it is not those planned moments that make our story it is those that happen on their own that make life so amazing!
Don't worry the twins will still have their party, just not when I planned.
I am hoping to have more post (probably than you want to read) in the next few days as I catch up on Easter and such-since the last week was spent working on the party.
In October of 2009 Aaron and I decided that it was time for us to add to our family and start trying for a baby. Being a mother is the one thing I had always known I wanted to be in life. While in the back of my mind I am pretty sure I felt this was not going to be a simple task but I longed for this and had Great Expectations. After 11 months and a little bit of medical intervention we finally got our positive pregnancy test and were finally going to be parents.
A few weeks later we went in for our first ultrasound so excited to get our first glimpse of our baby that we had longed for. Quickly we knew we were not seeing what most see on that little black and white screen-there were two perfect little heart beats growing inside of me instead of one. On that day I know we were in shock not sure what to think-I can't really say I remember much else that happened-We were only planning on one but we got two. I don't think we had any idea what a blessing this "change of plans" was to become in our lives.
Through out the pregnancy things went well and as they continued this way our Expectations for a normal delivery grew knowing from the beginning this may not be the case, with the increased risks that come from carry twins. At 34 weeks 1 day we got our game changer once again. I went to the OB for my weekly appointment and was admitted to the hospital for pre-eclampsia. The next morning it was determined the twins would be delivered that day. This was the day I had dreamed about for so long, I was finally going to get to become a mommy and hold my sweet babies for the first time. Jackson was born first and Aaron was able to hold him for a few seconds and let me give him a kiss on the head before they took him to the NICU. Then our feisty Riggs was born 2 minutes later. She was not doing as well as her brother and they decided to put in a breathing tube and quickly wisked her out of the room, I was only able to get a quick glance of my little girl as she passed. Neither of these met the Great Expectations I had for this moment. It was about 6 hours before I got to see them and over 24 before I was able to hold my babies for the first time. And as you can imagine, I left the hospital in tears a few days later without my babies-not the moment I had dreamed of once again.
Then last Friday they turned ONE! Now this was the time I was to finally get That Moment. Friday we would spend with family and then Saturday was the party I had been planning for months. Well not exactly. Thursday morning as I was literally walking out the door for work I noticed a few spots on Riggs and an extremely irritable little girl who would not eat her breakfast. My Expectations were once again squashed as we later determined our little girl who had not been sick all year had Hand Foot and Mouth. We were able to celebrate with most of our family on Friday, but my oldest sister could not come since she has little ones too. However Saturday, the big party I had dreamed of had to be postponed until the twins were healthy.
At first as I processed all of this I felt so jipped; why have I not had those perfect moments like everyone else does with their babies? But then I reflected on all I had and while no none of it went as I expected, it has all been perfect and exactly as God planned it. I have two perfectly healthy 1 year olds (well other than HFM) who I adore more than anything. I have been brought more joy by these two little ones than I could have every imagined. Have we had those Perfect Moments I dreamed about? No. But have we had so many Perfect Moments, that have far exceeded my Expectations? Yes! I guess in all of this I have learned it is not those planned moments that make our story it is those that happen on their own that make life so amazing!
Don't worry the twins will still have their party, just not when I planned.
I am hoping to have more post (probably than you want to read) in the next few days as I catch up on Easter and such-since the last week was spent working on the party.
Easter Egg Hunts
This year we had 3 Easter Egg Hunts we attended. While the twins weren't able to do a lot of "hunting" we still had a lot of fun at all of them. I had fun making them cute Easter pails for these hunts!
Our first one was with my Upstate Moms of Multiples Club. We had a great time hanging out with other twins and even a few triplets. This club has been a great resource for me this year as we have learned the ropes of having multiples. The social committee did a great job putting it all together. There were 3 hunts for the various age groups, fun on the playground, bubbles and a hotdog lunch. Jackson found a prize egg (well actually we found 3, but shared with our friends) and they both loved picking up the eggs and of course they went right into their mouths! I think we learned at this hunt that Riggs will be better off wearing a bubble instead of a dress so she can crawl around easier.
Our next Easter Egg Hunt was at our church. The weather was rainy so it was moved inside we we still had fun with our friends and got lots of eggs!
Finally we went to my parents hour for their annual Easter Egg Hunt on the day before Easter. This has become quite the event for all. Their is a hunt for the younger adults (us) and then one for the kids! We were came home with a huge bowl of candy and about 30 bucks in coins. We had a fun time spending the day with family and friends. Jackson and Riggs love hanging out with their big cousins Luke and Grayson. We didn't get many pictures for this since we were busy keep up with the twins, but here are a few as they check out their hunting success!
Our first one was with my Upstate Moms of Multiples Club. We had a great time hanging out with other twins and even a few triplets. This club has been a great resource for me this year as we have learned the ropes of having multiples. The social committee did a great job putting it all together. There were 3 hunts for the various age groups, fun on the playground, bubbles and a hotdog lunch. Jackson found a prize egg (well actually we found 3, but shared with our friends) and they both loved picking up the eggs and of course they went right into their mouths! I think we learned at this hunt that Riggs will be better off wearing a bubble instead of a dress so she can crawl around easier.
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| Sibling Love! |
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| Checking out her eggs. |
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| Sweet Jackson. |
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| Some of our twin friends and their parents. |
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| A Riggsapotamus on a Hippopotamus. |
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| Playing! |
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| Riggs playing with Brynlee & George. |
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| Silly Jackson with his egg nose. |
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| GEORGE!! |
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| Jackson & George playing with their spoils. |
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| Looks like Riggs stealing an older kids basket. |
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| Riggs checking out her bucket of eggs. |
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| Jackson checking out his. |
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| Jackson checking out Riggs' bucket. |
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Denial
I think I have finally reached the point of denial. My babies will be ... one on Friday, how did this happen? Hoping the party prep keeps me busy so I don't have to think about it too much!
Can't wait to share all of the festivities from the big day with everyone!
Can't wait to share all of the festivities from the big day with everyone!
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