Two years old

Two feels like a big birthday... at their first birthday we were just happy to have survived the year and to be sleeping soundly through the night. Now that they are two it feels like they are really growing up. Two comes with more independence, which is nice, but two also comes with more tantrums and wanting to do it their way! I know that the next year will bring big changes like potty training, sleeping in big beds, going to school more (yeah!), and lots more funny moments! We were so happy because on Saturday we took them to Willow Bend mall to play and we got to just be the parents who sat on the side while their kids ran around instead of chasing after them and worrying that they might fall. So nice... I've always been jealous of those parents. I'm ready to be that parent at the park... not quite there yet!

They really are turning into little boys...

Here's some sweet pictures of them that I took the morning of their second birthday. When they are sitting in the chairs that was my attempt at getting them to give each other a hug!

birthday party!

The boys had such a great 2nd birthday party! We had it at My Gym where they go every week for class. I think they just thought they were at a class and they wondered why so many people were paying attention to them! They got to ride on a motorcycle, do a bubble fun, do the zip line, and jump on the trampoline! They had a blast! We are so glad that all their friends could come and hope we tired all the toddlers out!

The boys loved their cupcakes. Collin kept telling me, "I like it! .. Mommy... "I like it!" I'm thinking that's his way of asking for more cupcakes.

Really, it was a perfect party. No fuss, so easy, the gym does a great job, and we hardly had to do anything but have fun with our kids and friends! Here's some pictures of the action!

Two years ago today....

I was wheeled very quickly from my hospital room where I had spent the last four weeks into an emergency c-section and life was never the same after 9:01 and 9:02 a.m. That's when Jack and Collin emerged into the world tiny and little fighters! Needless to say, their birth was the scariest day of my life. Seeing them with tubes everywhere and needing help to breathe was something I'll never forget. But, God has been so faithful and good to us in that they are now very healthy toddlers. Toddlers who do all the normal things, climb on everything, throw temper tantrums, and give us lots of hugs and kisses! I know every parent says this, but my life was so different before they came into this world and I can't imagine not seeing those little faces every day. Thank you God for a blessed two years. Thank you for the support of family and friends, thank you for giving us energy and stamina and rest when we couldn't go on anymore. Thank you for lots of laughter and so many precious moments!

More blogs on the fantastic birthday party over the weekend and pictures to come!

food for thought..

I really feel as though my life centers around food. And not really in a good way...
See, as it stands right now, Caroline nurses about 5-6 times a day and eats solid foods twice a day. The boys eat 3 good meals, and 2, sometimes 3 snacks a day. So, in total I am feeding someone at least 12 times per day, sometimes 14. Oh yes, and I have to eat as well as get Sean fed (although he never throws his food on the floor, which I appreciate!).
So, if I don't answer my phone or return an e-mail, you can rest assured that I am not ignoring you, just feeding a hungry mouth.

Also, I've mentioned before that my boys eat alot. Oh, they are typical toddlers and some meals choose to eat very little, but for the most part, they EAT. Last night was a new record though. I bought them turkey sausages and they ate the ENTIRE package between them for dinner. Plus, some sweet potato and fruit. So much for leftovers!

Time Out

Well, we've had to start some time outs in our house lately. I think when you have twins the hitting/pushing starts a little earlier because they are always in each other's space. I swear, they can have an entire room to play in and they will sit right on top of each other! So, I instituted some time outs really only for physical altercations that arise... I use these green placemats that are in a basket in the kitchen and put it in the hallway. They have to sit there for about 10 seconds or so. I am saying "they", but Jack is really the one who has gotten familiar with time out. Collin has only been in it once whereas Jack frequents it about twice a day. (He's going through a little testing boundaries phase!).

Anyways, many funny things have happened since we started this. Jack definitely understands what it means. Usually he still just laughs when he is in it, though, which makes it very hard for his parents not to laugh. Now he has started alternating between laughing and crying as I think he's not sure how he's supposed to feel about it. Also, several times during the day, he will go get a placemat himself and sit himself in "time out." He sits there and says "no, no, no!." Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery , right???

Also, the one time I did have to put Collin in time out for hitting, Jack went right away and got his own placemat and put it next to Collin, sitting himself in time out too. Solidarity! So sweet!

However, Collin has never returned the favor....

\This is such a funny age! I love it!

Here's a cute picture of my boys laughing at their funny dad! I actually got one of them together which takes a small miracle!

she's growing up!

Caroline has added lots of new things to her repertoire! It all seems to happen so fast. We started some solid foods and she really was not so interested in the rice cereal. I swear she was looking at me saying "I know that's not what you're eating.." We did some sweet potatoes yesterday, though, and that was a much bigger hit! She was actually opening her mouth instead of keeping it clamped shut like she does for the cereal!

She is also sitting up by herself! Hallelujah! I love this stage! I'm going to discourage her from crawling as long as possible! She loves to sit and look at her brothers and play with all their toys. They are a little freaked out that she can now hold her toys... can't wait to see what they do when she crawls after them to get a toy...

She's also got a new, very girly pink and brown stroller that we love! She can now go to the park and watch everybody. Can't believe she's almost 6 months old! She's still the sweetest and such a joy!