Thankfulness/Tis the season of giving

I am thankful for so many things, here are the three most!

My amazing husband who fought for me to go on a first date with him, who asked me to marry him, for a promise he made while putting the gorgeous ring that I will cherish forever on my finger.  The day we said our personal vows, the promises, and the love we have for each other.  The man who works for hard to provide for his family.  I am so thankful to have this wonderful, caring, patient man in my life.

My children who have been the biggest blessing in our lives.  I love them more than I will ever be able to communicate or put in words to them.  They keep us going everyday, and I look forward to waking up to see what the next day brings us, whether it is a good day or bad day!  I am so thankful for being blessed with twins and given the opportunity to shape them into amazing women.

Our family and friends for without them we wouldn't be the people we are today!  Thank you!

With all that, I knew what I was thankful for and I am thankful for so much more, but I didn't feel I needed to express all of this.  There are so many people who don't get to be thankful for a family, their health, education, etc... My heart breaks for these people. This leads me to "Tis the season of giving."

I have donated to St. Jude's for a long time.  I get so upset every time I hear about a child battling cancer. When I go back to work, I hope to get on a research study and find a cure for cancers.  No child should have to fight for their lives at such a young age or anyone for that matter.  Ian and I have decided to continue this tradition.  I am also going to donate to Metro Health.  Without Metro, I may not have these two girls in my life.  I am forever grateful to this hospital.

We have talked a lot and want our children to understand the true meaning of Christmas.  They will learn about Jesus.  They will learn that it is not all about presents.  They will learn what giving means.  Here are our goals for every year:
1.  Ian wants to get involved with a food bank or soup kitchen and have all of us help with serving or donating food to it. 
2.  We want to adopt a family in need and give them a Christmas they deserve. 
3.  Continue to donate to St. Jude's and Metro.
4.  When the girls understand (I will do it this year), we are going to have them go through their toys every year and give to children in need.

We will add to this list every year, and we will also get the girls involved and see what else they would like to do.  This is something that is very important to us and close to our hearts.  We may not have a lot to give and offer, but I do feel a little goes a long way.

Carrie Underwood- Change- great song!

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!

car seat safety

I got a chance to join a twitter party with Ali Landry, Britax, and hundreds of other mommies and daddies regarding car seat safety, and I would like to pass it along to all of you!

Keep kids rear facing until TWO.  Yes, I know it sucks, but it is for their safety.  Their neck muscles are not strong enough for an impact. Hopefully you will never be in a car accident, but you just don't know.  I thought I would have never been in one, but I was.  I was 25 weeks pregnant when I was in a car accident.  If I had the girls and they were forward facing before two, they probably would have been severly injured.  Something I don't want to think about.  We kept the girls rear facing til 2.  I know it stinks not being abe to see them or give them things but it is for their safety!

Latch system limits.  If you vehicle has the latch system use it.  Do not use this system and the seat belt together.  One thing I learned is vehicles have a latch limit, that you have to stop using the latch system once your child hits 40lbs.  The latch system is will not protect your child if you continue to use it after they hit 40lbs.  You NEED to switch to the seatbelt when this happens!

Installation- Take it to the fire/police department and have them check it.

Place children in the middle of the back row.  I have twins so I was not able to do this, they are each next to a window.  The safest place for a child is in the middle though.

Winter- do NOT put a heavy coats on them in the car seat.  Yes, its cold but that coat will not save their life in a car accident.  Those straps are loosened for the coat, not the child.  When the girls were little, I would just wrap them in a blanket to get in and out of somewhere.  Now that they are older I put them both in their seats, and take their coats off before I buckle.  Then when I unbuckle I put their coats back on.  Yes its a pain, but its my childrens safety, it takes 2-5 minutes out of your time, so what, you can spare 2-5 minutes!

Register you seats!

Read your manual, and don't let the car seat move more than an inch

Checking harness-  harness is tight enough when you can't pinch the webbing or staps at the collarbone.  Clip should be at armpit level.


There is a ton of info on the government websites also.  Please keep your children safe!

play groups, twins club, meeting new people!

Since the girls have been born, I have stepped out of my shell.  Litttle history- I am a very shy and quiet person, before kids I would have not made an effort to meet new people, I have a hard time striking up a conversation.  That all changed when I had children. 

The girls were about 10 weeks when I decided to look for a play group to join.  I was thankful to know someone in a play group so that helped a lot.  I remember Ian's face and reaction when I told him I had joined a play group and already went to a meetup.  He was very shocked, but so happy and proud of me.  I loved that play group and miss them all dearly!  We are sad because we have not found one out here that compares to the one back home.  There was also a twins club back home that I really wanted to join.  It was not possible with all of Ian's traveling he did every week and it always landed on the day the meeting was.  I was determined to join one where we live now.

When we moved, Ian's new position did not require him to travel.  I decided this would be a great opportunity to join the twins club out here.  Well what I didn't know was that this club was recognized at state level and national level (NOMOTC).  I was able to go to the meeting, meet other twin mommies, and really enjoy myself.  I have mom's I can talk to who know what I am going through and who have been through it.  It was a lot of fun and I am looking forward to play dates with this group and the meetings.  Also our club is hosting the state convention this year, so that is exciting! 

We also have some pretty awesome neighbors who the girls love to play with.  The girls and I are starting to be little social butterflies.  My husband loves it too, and loves to see me come out of my shell!  It also feels good, I hold my own now and have really enjoyed this experience.  I also wanted to show the girls that they can do it too.  What I once thought was an uncomfortable situation, is now a joy!  I am trying to be better in areas that I was not for my children!

Apple picking with friends!

First bonfire at OUR new house with a some of the neighbors!

Had to put one of my baby girls and me in here!



potty training tips and tricks!

Well...Harly is potty trained!  She did it in two days!  It was easier than I expected, so here are some tips and tricks.  Hopefully they help you, and potty training was not as bad as I had first thought!


1.  Stay calm-  I know how stressful and frustrating it can be when children pee on the floor.  It stinks, but you can't show them your frustration.  They will not want to do it if they see you getting frustrated.  I learned that telling them, "its OK  pee goes in the potty."  They would walk around and say, "no pee in underwear, pee in potty."  Just remember it takes time, stay calm, and they will get it.

2.  Don't expect them to get it the first time they pee in potty.  They will get very excited, but that doesn't mean they will do it again.  That is a huge step though.

3.  Don't have too many distractions.  I tried to stick to one thing during potty training.  We colored a lot, played with playdoh, and made castles with mega blocks.

4.  Twins may not be ready at the same time.  Remember, even though they are twins, they are individuals and still may not be on the same track as the other.  I never compared them to each other, I know they are their own person. My girls potty trained a week apart.  We do a lot of things together, but when it comes to leaning and experiences, we try our best to keep it separate in case one is not quite ready.

5.  YOU have to be ready.  Not only does your child have to be ready, the parent has to be ready for it too.

6.  If one learned something before the other, I let them help teach the one that has not mastered it yet.  Zoey did a great job on getting her sister to potty train.  I did not push.  They definitely helped each other, that is a great thing about having twins!

7. I recommend two potty chairs if you have twins.  They always have to go at the same time, so its great to put them on their own and watch them cheer for each other.  "Yay, sissy you peed, I so proud of you."  Those are normally their lines to each other!

8.  There have been a lot of recommendations of a potty schedule with twins.  So they both go at the same time, instead of one goes and then a half hour later another one goes.  But, I have not had to do this.  They are pretty much on the same schedule and go at the same time.  If your little ones do not, than I highly recommend a potty schedule.

9.  Cloth diapers-  I think this has definitely helped with potty training the girls.  With cloth diapers, you know when you are wet.  They would run up to me from the time they were 18 months old, telling me to change their diaper.  Disposable diapers have so much absorbency in them that it pulls away and they don't know when they are wet.

10.  The earlier you start the better.  We put the girls on the potty starting at 18 months.  We put them on in the morning, at nap, and at bedtime.  They never peed in it, but it got them comfortable with the potty.  They also watched me use the potty.  They would never let me go alone, they were scared the minute I left them alone to just pee.  So from the time they could move til now, they have watched me every time I used the bathroom.  I think that helped a lot too.

11.  We did do a sticker chart and M&Ms.  Some people don't do this, but it helped me.  They also didn't get an M&M every time they went.

12.  We use pull ups at nap time and bedtime.  From the time they both used the potty (about two weeks ago for Zoey, one week for Harly) they have kept their pull ups dry at nap.  I have been leaving them in their underwear at nap and they have not had one accident.  This doesn't go for every child, this is the last step and it takes time.  The girls just hate that wet feeling.  They have started keeping their pull ups dry at night (the past two nights), but I am going to wait a little longer before I stop using them at night.

13.  Traveling potty sit.  I was against this when I heard people putting potties in their car, but I am one of those moms now.  We have only taken one on our long trip to see Ian's family.  I don't put one in the car when we run errands.  I have them pee before we leave the house. They don't really ask me to use the restroom while we are out.  There have only been two or three times they have, and have done a great job holding it til I located the restrooms.

13.  Stick with it- Once you start, don't look back.  Even if it takes a couple weeks, keep up with it.  The minute you step back, they win.  Then it will turn into a power struggle.

14.  Every child is different!  Don't force it!  GOOD LUCK!!!