halfway to 3!

Wow, where has the time gone.  From the time you both turned two until now, so much has changed.  I think back to when you girls were babies, and I have a hard time remembering things.  I will look at pictures and tear up just remembering those times!  It is amazing how much you two have changed, my precious babies are growing up so fast.  Daddy says you are little women. He is so right, you can have a conversation just like adults do.

I am understanding the "enjoy these moments because they will be all grown up before you know it"  It is so true, I feel like the days are going so fast and before I can blink your a day older, 6 months older, a year older.

Here are some things that have happened these past few months:

Tantrums are fewer and fewer, which is so nice.  It is nice because there is less throwing things, and kicking!  Yes, Zoey when you get mad, you have a little temper and throw things.  Harly you like to scream high pitched at the top of your lungs and kick.  You are understanding everything, you know right from wrong, and you are just a joy to be around even with those few tantrums.  Daddy thanks you often because you are finally out of the screaming, crying stage.  He loves this happy little grown up stage!

There are challenging days, you two are just so strong willed and definitely girly girls!  You are so smart that you challenge me everyday, you get bored and want to do harder things.  It is crazy how smart you two are!  You two like to be independent and get dressed by yourself.  Those days are great though because we all get to learn and grow as a family!  I love a challenge too, it makes me a better mommy! If you didn't challenge mommy and daddy then our lives would be dull, so keep doing it!

Its easier for mommy and daddy to ask one of you to calm down your sister.  When we can't get you guys to calm down or understand what is wrong through your tears, we just ask your sister and she can calm you in 2 seconds.  there are times where you are so upset you go into another room, your sister will come find you, hold you, rub your back, kiss and hug you, and bring you back to where we are.  It is the sweetest thing in the world.  I would be lying if I said I don't cry often! 

You two LOVE to help with everything.  From cooking, to baking, to folding the laundry and sweeping the floor.  You want to be a grown up, though you really do not like to pick up your toys!
The "why" questions have started and I love every minute of it! I never say because I said so.  I also refuse to say that because you should understand.  When I tell you not to do something and you ask why, I give you an explanation, same with when you just ask why questions.  I don't want to be that mom who says because I said so.  You two also talk up a storm and sometimes we can't get you to stop!  It is the cutest thing! 

You both love to explain everything.  Whatever you do or whatever question I ask you, you will explain it and not give me a one word answer.  Daddy and I give each other credit for this because we don't like to give you one word answers either!  You both also express your feelings.  You tell me your happy, sad, mad, or scared.  It is so cute!

Nap time is awesome!  You both fall asleep the minute I say its nap time.  It is GREAT!  Bedtime is a million times better!  From the moment we switched you to big girls beds, it has been easier.  You are sleeping through the night 98% of the time too which is fabulous!

I love how excited you get the minute you hear the garage open and daddy lock his car!  You both run around the island, then to the door and open it.  You both say daddy I can't see you (because it is dark outside).  When you do spot him, "there you are daddy."  Then the giggles start, daddy gets in the house and you jump in his arms.  It is an amazing site, you love him so much.  You ask to go see him at work, and ask me 5 times a day when daddy will be home.  I love bedtime when you wrap your little arms around daddy as he lays on your floor and reads you a story.  When you look him in the eyes, take his face in your hands and kiss him.  Then you shout back to each other I love you for a couple minutes!  Daddy always tells me that he loves this stage!

You two love baby dolls, trains, Dora, and playing games.  I love our family game nights, they are the best!  You love to chase each other around the whole house.  Dance, and sing are two of your favorite things.  You both can do this all day long and be happy, as long as you have a tutu or dress on!  You like to dress up in mommy's clothes, so you can be a mommy and take care of your baby dolls.  Its the cutest thing ever!

The love you have for each other is indescribable!  You two may fight here and there, but the sweetness outweighs the fighting.  you are always helping each other out, calming each other down, dancing together, singing together, and watching you play baby and mommy role is my absolute favorite!  I can't get over how much you have changed.  Going from infants, to babies, to toddlers has been amazing.  It has truly been a blessing to watch you both grow up and watch you achieve each milestone.  I am lucky to be able to watch this, and will be so sad next year when you start preschool.  I can't even believe you will be going to school already and I will be losing two hours with you guys.  I think this is going to be harder on me than you two!

I love you more and more everyday.  I can't wait to continue this journey called parenting with you two.  You girls are the greatest gift I could have ever been given, besides your daddy!  Thank you for making me so happy, you two bring so much joy to your mommy and daddy!  I am so proud at the way you two have been growing up and turning into amazing little girls who will one day change the world.  You two are so unbelievably smart, caring, and just all around sweet!  I love you always and forever!

1st embarassing moment!

The girls decided today was the day they were going to embarass mommy in public for the first time EVER.  They have never given me problems in public and not to brag about my kids, but they are their father, "happy go lucky, laid back kids."  They really never give me a hard time when we are out.  Today was a different story.

I am lucky that is was not in front of strangers, but it was in front of all our baby and mommy play group friends.  Today was our Easter party.  I knew that today was probably going to be a rough day.  They both woke up crying, which they rarely do.  We also had a lot of showings over the weekend that took place at naptime.  So they didn't really have naps this weekend.  If you know my kids, you know they need their sleep!

Every thing was going well.  They were playing, and happy.  After the Easter egg hunt it all went down hill.  For the past year, they have been getting extremely jealous of each other, especially if Ian or I are alone with them.  They each want us to themselves.  I was holding Harly, and Zoey got upset and started crying.  I picked them both up and sat with them, thinking ok, lets just sit on mommy's lap and play with stickers.  Well that didn't last real long, they started pushing each other, they didn't want to share mommy.  After about 5 minutes of crying (could have been 10 minutes), I was flustered.

At home, I usually just tell them they have to share mommy and remove them both from my lap.  Then I get a new toy that we can all play together to distract them, if that doesn't work, I find something for each of them to do on their own.  I was so flustered I didn't know what to do.  I needed them to understand that they can share me and I wasn't going anywhere.  They are deathly afraid that I am going to leave them.  They can't be in a room alone without me in it, and if they are, they call out and search for me to make sure I am still around.

I don't know if I handled it the right way today, but I couldn't think at that point.  I never prepared myself for a situation like this.  A situation where they both break down at the same time in public.  They have had breakdowns in public, but not both of them together.  What I did:  I put both of them down, told them it was time to go bye bye.  They both screamed because I put them down, and also I think they were scared I was going without them.  I went and got all of our stuff, said a quick goodbye to everyone and started walking to the door.  Zoey followed, but Harly wanted me to pick her up.  When I started making the door close, she ran to me.  The minute we got in the car and I started driving they were happy.  Me, I was still so flustered and ready to cry.  I am not sure why, I think just from not having a break this weekend and being stressed with all the life changes happening right now in our life.  I am sure they sense that too and it doesn't help them.

I don't know if I could have handled the situation differently at that point.  They were so worked up, there was no calming them down.  They usually calm down rather quickly for me, with daddy, he can calm them down in .2 seconds.  I wish daddy was with us today!  But, I did the best I could.  I didn't want to give in to them and pick them up.  I wanted them to learn and understand that they can't fight when they are both on mommy, I want them to know I love them both equally and that mommy can hold them both at the same time.  To mommies of twins-  twins get jealous, they always have to share you and daddy, they don't get to have you all to themselves.  I think the girls are starting to see that.  To mommies with different age kids- I am not sure how it works for you guys, any feedback would be great, especially since we will be having more kids at some point!  I know they were just over-tired and worn out from the busy weekend, but next time this happens I am a little prepared.  Also if it was just one who had a breakdown, I would have handled the situation differently.  It would have been easier to calm one down then two.  I have a lot of patience, and if I would have gotten a break over the weekend, I probably would of had a lot more patience to deal with them and pull them to a corner for a talk, but my patience was running thin.  So the best thing for the three of us was to just leave and go home for a nap.

When we got home:  The girls were so happy like nothing ever happened.  Not sure if they were just overwhelmed too with all the people there.  That could have also been a factor!

sharing their easter eggs with each other!

Harly so happy!

Their cheese faces!

Sissy was chasing Zoey into the house, they play so nicely at home!

They slept from 1-4 today and were so happy all evening, so I blame it on the lack of sleep from this weekend!  **Any words of wisdom and advice is more than welcome**

Tantrums...

O M Goodness! The tantrums have started in this household! I have tried many things.  This is one thing I will not tolerate in my house, cause I will go insane!  Some people may not like what I do, but everyone has their own views!

When the girls throw tantrums it is either because one has a toy the other one wants, they don't like what meal or snack I made them, or because they don't like what outfit or shoes I picked for them.

Like I said, these tantrums are not allowed in my house.  When they start to throw a tantrum I get to their level and tell them to stop crying and tell me what they want, then give them mommy's explanation on why they can't have it, or what they did that was bad.  Whether the explanation is: you have to share with sissy, this is the meal mommy made (it is usually the veggies, they are on a green bean kick right now and only want those and no other veggies!), or you need this outfit, you can't go out naked (yes, they are in the "I don't want to wear clothes stage". 

A lot of moms have told me to leave the room and let them throw the tantrum, they will stop at some point.  I can't do that, I have tried it and can't handle it.  Especially if both of them are throwing a tantrum, I want to throw one with them.

My way works for me and the girls.  It may work for you or it may not.  The girls understand everything.  They understand my simple explanations. It just works!  A lot of people think that I am comforting them and letting them get away with it.  I am not, they don't get picked up and cuddled.  After it is over and done with, they listen, they wait their turn for the toy, they usually eat the meal I made them, and they put the outfit or shoes on.

Now when the girls are older and can actually communicate using words (right now they can't tell me why they are upset, only way is to cry), my technique may change.  If they are throwing a tantrum for no good reason, if they did something wrong, or if they want a toy they can't have because sissy is playing with it; then they can go to their room or time-out until they calm down and can use their words.

the tantrums have been less and less everyday! YAY!!

From day 1, we have also given the girls choices.  If we have an outfit that came in two different colors, the girls pick what color they want to wear.  Choices have worked well in our household and we will continue to give the girls choices not just with clothing.

must be easy having one child!

I love having twins, I love my two baby girls.  But there are days where I think it, it must be easier to just have one.  the girls are just getting over a virus, but one had it and when it was done, the other one got it.  So I had 2 weeks of sleepless nights instead of just one. 

Teething- Their teeth have been coming in a week apart.  WHY can't they come in at the same time?  So one of the girls will get 2 teeth, then a week later the other one will get 2 teeth.

Its double everything in my household in stead of just one, but I wouldn't trade it for the world! Its just one of those nights where I need to vent!

I love my girls and they are very well behaved girls, I am not being biased because they are my children, but truthfully they are very good, but I am not the most lenient (sp?) mom.  We don't let them get away with things.  today, we were out all day shopping with titi, and they did so well.  I am very lucky that I can take the girls out to a restaurant and they are going to behave.  Everyone has warned me that I would never be able to take them to restaurants, but we have a routine of making sure we order their food right away and that we have toys and snacks to distract them.  I also do not get out of the house a lot by myself with them so they love to look around and see all the people.  they laugh at everyone who walks past them, and they say hi to everyone!  I love it! 

Weighing the good with the bad. Yes there are days where I want to pull my hair out, curl up in a ball and just cry, and there are times I have to give myself time outs.  If I just had one the house would be spotless, I would have time to shower, I would have time to take a nap instead of cleaning the house, but at the end of the day when they cuddle with my husband and I and drink their bottles I can't imagine my life without them, and i couldn't imagine my life without all the chaos!  When we go and check on them before we go to bed and see them sleepng I get teary- eyed every time.  Ian and I sit together and tell each other every night that those girls have been the best gifts in our lives,and instead of our relationship getting pushed aside, they have made Ian and I's relationship stronger.  We are stronger because we want the girls to see the love that we have for one another.

Newborn picture!

3 months!

3 months!

Family picture on vacation 1 1/2 weeks ago, they refused to keep their flower in so their hair is all over the place!

They are our life, our strength, our motivation, our love, and forever our baby girls!  At the end of the day when the storm is calm and we can sit down for a moment, we know God has given us a challenge, but in the long run He has rewarded us.  We get double the kisses, double the hugs, double the laughter, and double the joy, which out-weigh double the challenges!  We would welcome twins again if we were blessed, but not for a couple years! But we would welcome just one too!