Church: Then vs. Now

The girls and I go to church every Sunday. J usually stays at home, because a) we are not the same religion, b) he takes the 2 hours of quiet to clean and get things done around the house that we don't typically have time to do (laundry, yard work, vacuuming, moping, cleaning bathrooms, washing dishes, etc.). So the girls and I go to church with my family and then to Target to run errands afterward.

It is amazing how different going to church is now compared to a few months ago.

In Nov./Dec.: The girls would sleep through the entire mass. We carried them in in their carseats and they would sleep in the carseat until we got home. Occasionally they would wake up and we would give them a bottle. Or we would go right back to my parents' house and feed them.

Now: The girls usually fall asleep in the car on the way to church (it takes about 30 mins to get there). They typically wake up on the walk from the car into the building. Then we take them out and play "pass the baby." L is typically pretty happy to sit on someone's lap and just hang out. She loves playing with my mom and sister's necklaces (so does S). Yesterday during mass L was sitting on my sister's lap and dancing with the music. She did this little sway wiggle. It was really cute! She has figured out that if she talks/yells during the service we take her to the lobby where all the other kids who are noisy go. She loves to watch the other kids.

S is a different story. She is of course my wiggle worm. Holding her during mass is like running a marathon. So she gets passed around a lot. We even sat her in a chair between my mom and me with some toys and blocked her off so she couldn't fall. She loves to watch all the people but only pays attention to one thing for a few seconds before she needs to be entertained with something else.

They both love the bells that are rung during mass. When they ring the bells both stop and look around like "where did that come from?" They are super cute!

After mass we go to Target so I can grocery shop, but diapers and formula. The girls love getting out of their carseats and sitting in the carts. I push one then my mom or sister push the other. Lots of fun!

S eating Puffs after church. I was baking so they hung out in their high chairs and "helped"



Baking and puffs are fun!


S playing before church

L before church. The girls play and hang out with Daddy while I get ready.

Karma or Intuition

This morning I woke up and went about my morning routine. I always hate getting dressed, especially since my body has changed so much from carrying around 2 big old babies. So it always takes me a few tries to find the right outfit. I pulled out a pair of blue pants and then went hunting for a shirt. I found a purple shirt I liked and had "lost" for a few weeks (crumpled up in a ball in the back of my drawer). The blue pants and purple shirt didn't work so well together but thanks to a few pooped through outfits at daycare I had washed a pair of khakis last night that were still in the dryer.

I left on the blue pants and went downstairs to make breakfast and morning bottles. I debated running down to get my pants. I thought for a moment "I can just leave these on until I finish feeding the girls in case someone pukes all over me." I decided to run down and change now before the girls woke up. Bad decision.

I feed the girls on a twin nursing pillow since I still breast feed them in the morning and then I give them about 2 or 3 oz in a bottle. It is easier to just leave them on the nursing pillow. I finished feeding the girls and guess what happened. L puked all over herself and me. There was a puddle in my lap. I mop her up with a cotton breast pad (the only thing within reach) and don't even bother with my pants. Luckily she didn't get my shirt.

So I either have really great mother's intuition or karma heard my thoughts and the universe is out to get me today. In either case maybe I should have gone back to bed!

Is it Over?

Over the last week or so my milk supply has been decreasing, much to my dismay. There has never been enough to go around but now it seems like each of the girls only gets a few ounces. The last few nights L has straight out refused to nurse. I don't know if maybe she has decided that it just isn't worth the effort any more or her teeth are bothering her, but she freaks out when I try and get her to latch. She is taking the bottle just fine though. I guess she has decided to be done nursing. S is still ok with it. She gets distracted easily so we have to relatch often. So I've decided to stop pumping at work. Then we will see how L keeps doing with the evening feed and I may have to drop that one too. Hopefully we will be able to do mornings for a bit longer.



I'm glad that nature/the girls have decided on their own to wrap up breast feeding because it would have been hard to make that decision myself. I love being able to feed them but it will be nice to be able to diet and exercise and have my body back. It is still upsetting to think about not being able to snuggle them any more and they are so cute when they eat and hold hands. I will miss it so much! They are growing up so quickly!

When Did I Become a Mommy?

Ok so I know technically this happened last year or 7 months ago, depending on who you are. When it technically happens does really sink in. I've been a mommy and enjoyed being a mommy. I love my babies so much, but every once in a while I have "holy cow I'm a mom" moments.

So what made me really feel like a mommy?
Not changing diapers
giving medicine
doing laundry
washing bottles
wiping snot with my bare hand and wiping it on my jeans (my children how snot issues, I love them anyway)
Not the hugs, kisses, snuggles, rocking
not the breaking up fights
the "chatting"
laughing or watching them learn

Nope none of that. Although I have enjoyed all of that.

Today I was standing at the sink while the girls were playing in their swing and exersaucer. As I stood their washing the vomit out of a baby doll I had that "I'm a mom" moment. I realized I will spend the next 20 years (or my mom claims at least 26) taking care of these people. It wasn't a this sucks moment, but more of a realization or perhaps an acceptance. It might be hard, this mommy business, but it sure is a blast. Certainly an always changing, never ending, exciting challenge.

3 years

April 14, 2007: Our Wedding Day

Ok first things first- I wish I was still that thin!

My husband and I have been married for 3 years. What an amazing journey it has been so far, I look forward to the next 63 more years.

Things I will never forget about that day:

- I was so nervous before and as soon as I saw J and started walking down the aisle all of that lifted.

- I loved the father daughter dance and my dad telling me how proud he was of us. Making my dad proud means the world to me.

- When we went to the hotel room J signed in and I was standing in the lobby. Two tourists wanted their pictures taken with me in my wedding dress!

- The Ritz has the best room service (it was all we had eaten all day!)

- Disney World for our honeymoon was the best trip ever!

I love you J and I don't know how I could have survived the last 7 months without you. Thank you for taking care of me and the girls. Thank you for my darling pumpkins. I love you!

7 months

L

Miss S

My little wiggle worm,
You have become one busy little girl. You love to wiggle and move and are so interested in everything around you. You are quick to smile and giggle and you love to hear yourself yell. It drives daddy crazy but he can't help but laugh with you when you shout and then giggle. You have started to become a little fearsome of strangers but the people you know you greet with big smiles.

You love to roll and you roll all over the living room floor. We've had a few close calls where we had to catch you before you tried to roll off the couch. It is very hard to get you dressed now too, but it is so much fun watching you learn new things. You sit up all on your own and you love playing with toys and chewing on everything. You also love to eat your solid foods. You like carrots, bananas, apples and sweet potatoes.

You are such a cheerful happy baby and we love you so much my little S.
Love,
Mommy



Little Bug,
You are such a sweet and easy going little girl. You are such a happy girl but unlike your sister you are very careful with your laughs. Only certain very special things get you laughing and when Daddy or I get you to giggle it is like winning a prize. You love to snuggle and your favorite game to play is grab mommy's necklace. When I hold you you concentrate very hard on my necklace and grab it to put in your mouth.

You love to eat! You think solids are the best. You love the chicken we tried the other day. You couldn't get it fast enough and you would yell at mommy when I tried to feed your sister. It was very cute. You are fascinated with the show Yo Gabba Gabba and we watch one episode every few days. You love the songs.

You love to watch everything around you and you observe things to see how they work. You love playing with the shape sorter and these little balls Nana found with things in them that spin. You always want to hold the book when I read to you too. You have learned how to sit so well and like to sit and play.

We love you!
Mommy

A Few Pictures and an Update

Long time no post. It's been crazy at work and then we had spring break this week. It was nice to have a week off and enjoy the girls. I do have to say that all of a sound they have become exhausting! They are wiggle worms who are very attatched to their mama. You have to hold S to try and change her diaper and heaven forbid I try to put either of them down on their playmat so I can use the bathroom!

So here is what our week looked like:
Monday- Doctors appointments (I got all of them out of the way, 3 for me and 1 for S)
Tuesday- Shopping with Nana
Wednesday- Outlet shopping with Nana
Thursday- My Gym playdate with my MoMs club with Grandma
Friday- Mall and Easter Bunny pictures with Grandma

We had lots of fun and I am not looking forward to going back to school!

Pictures from our adventures:

The girls really liked the Easter Bunny. S thought his whiskers were really cool!

We took the girls to the park for the first time and they liked swinging. Well S did more than L.

S

S and Dad

Little Bug chilling

Both girls have learned how to sit in the last few weeks. L is a bit more stable then S, but both are pretty good.

L showing off her skills.

S enjoying mama's straw

My Gym play date. The girls loved watching all the bigger kids run around and play. They enjoyed the ball pit and some of the other activities but mostly they just watched everyone else.

L

S

S checking her email. Ok no really, both girls love the laptop and want to hit all the buttons.

We've started putting the girls in the cart when we go shopping. They really like checking out everything. Right now it works well because they both fit in the front and I have run to put all my stuff in the back!