Recharged

My wonderful husband let me get away this past weekend to spend a couple of days with some of my best friends - all. by. myself.

The past...oh...two months, I have really been feeling the effects of mommy-hood. I was easily frustrated, easily brought to tears, impatient, and just altogether not the mommy I want to be. I knew I needed a break and thankfully my husband realized it too.

So I made all the preparations to be gone for two days. I ironed, swept, mopped, cooked, washed, shopped, packed, made lists, organized, and just did as much as I could to make sure Dustin would have the easiest time possible without me.

I SO looked forward to my little get away! I just couldn't wait to have a little time to myself to do anything but listen to crying babies, change diapers, give baths, read children's books, sing kid's songs, prepare meals, do laundry, and wash bottles.

So when Dustin got home Friday afternoon, my bags were packed, the car was loaded, and everything was in it's place at the house for a smooth weekend. But I couldn't walk out the door. I have spent 324 straight days with these precious babies and as crazy as they have made me lately...I just didn't think I could leave them. Dustin hesitantly convinced me to go, so through many tears, I said goodbye to my three loves and I walked out the door.

I cried for the first hour.

Then I plugged in my ipod, got a Dr. Pepper, and committed myself to enjoying every single second of this gift that Dustin gave me.

And I did.

I had the very best time. I went to San Marcus where Eva, my very dear friend, was moving in this past weekend. I got there just in time to carry a couch cushion upstairs - the very last item in the Uhaul...good timing if I do say so myself. Over the next 2.5 days...we did a lot of unpacking, a lot of eating, a lot of shopping, a lot of talking, and a LOT of laughing. I also got to spend a lot of time with Kathryn and her husband Andy, which was great!



And when it came time to say good-bye, I did a little more crying. It's hard to live so far from people you care about so much.

But I got in my car, plugged in my ipod, got a Dr. Pepper, and drove as fast as I could to the three men waiting on me back home. I just couldn't wait to hold my sweet babies as close as possible and to be back home with Dustin, where I belong.

And now...I'm listening to babies cry, changing diapers, giving baths, reading children's books, singing kid's songs, preparing meals, doing laundry, and washing bottles...with a huge smile on my face, because really....this is all I've ever wanted to do. It's just that even mommies need a break sometimes.

*A huge thank-you to Neva and Lance who came here for the weekend to help Dustin. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy myself nearly as much without the comfort of knowing you were here.

Picture Post!

Happy Friday!

So, I'm aware that all of our pictures look exactly the same. Our house is really dark and pictures just don't turn out in here. So...we go outside, but Eli has some kind of aversion to grass - I guess it's a texture thing, so we have to be quick. And...the only time we're all dressed and ready for pictures at the same time is if we are going somewhere (church). And...we're almost always running late because I can't ever seem to get it together.

So those are my excuses. I'll try to be more creative with pictures, but quite honestly...I'm just happy to have some. And why am I trying to explain myself anyway? Let's just get to the pictures...

Landon

Eli
Landon

Eli

Landon

Eli

Landon

Eli

Landon

Eli

Forget-Me-Not

I just want to jot down a few things about the boys that I don't want to forget.


*We started regular milk yesterday and they really like it. I'm pretty sure it upset their tummies though.

*A couple of weeks ago, both Eli and Landon decided they wanted nothing to do with their pacifiers anymore. That was easy!

*We have been "practicing" drinking out of sippy cups for quite some time and I think we finally got the hang of it. I'm hoping to be done with bottles by their birthday.

*Landon has discovered the word "uh-oh" and says it constantly. He's also discovered the drop your cup and mom will pick it up game which gives him ample opportunity to practice his new found vocabulary. Sorry the dork taking this video turned the camera sideways when she knows it can't be rotated.

*Eli climbs on EVERYTHING. He can almost climb out of his pack n' play, he has climbed up onto my suitcase, he tries to climb on the highchairs, etc... He just hikes that leg up and sees where it can take him.


*We are finally learning the meaning of "no." This could not come soon enough for this momma. I was beginning to think they would never get it.

*Landon has picked up the very bad habit of throwing fits. Their personalities have sort of flip-flopped the last month and Eli has been my easy-going, happy baby while Landon has been a little more moody and whiny. He is very into getting his way these days.

I think that's it for now. They change so quickly and I want to remember the little things.

Busy-ness

Maybe twice a week was a little ambitious.

I think last week might have been one of our busiest weeks yet. Last Friday, I had in my care: two 10 month olds (those would be mine), one 14 month old, and one 16 month old. The only difference between mine and the other two is that they walked and mine still crawl.

We were full....crowded in fact.

As if the day hadn't been challenging enough, upon hearing the news that Dustin would be working all weekend, I loaded up the boys after the other two had been picked up and left for McKinney. I've never made this trip before by myself. I still haven't recovered enough to consider ever doing it again.

They screamed from Eastland to McKinney (about 4 hours with all the stopping we did). I'm not talking about weak cries. I mean...choking on their snot, suffocating themselves, out of control screaming. I think it took about 12 hours for my muscles to fully untense after we got there.

But then we stayed through Monday and had a great time with Grammy and the trip home wasn't near as traumatizing for us all.

We spent the entire day Tuesday in our pajamas recuperating from the weekend.

Landon had an eye doctor appointment on Wednesday in Lubbock. I left Eli with a good friend from church and I got to spend the whole day with just Landon. It was liberating and fun (except for the four hours at the doctor only to be seen for about 15 minutes...ugh). Landon's eyes are fine by the way.

Both boys had a pediatrician appointment on Thursday, so back to Lubbock we go. The same woman went with me to help - as a simple doctor's appointment is too much for me to handle alone at this point in time. Eli and Landon are just simply too active. Even with two of us...we were both sweating and exhausted by the time we left the doctor's office.

Their checkup went great. Eli weighs 16 pounds, 13 ounces and Landon weighs 18 pounds, 12 ounces and they have both grown two inches. They are perfectly healthy and even a little ahead developmentally. I'm not sure if I have ever mentioned this, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE our pediatrician. I love him.

We spent Friday in our pajamas recuperating from the last two days in the car/big city :)

Dustin had to work again on Saturday, so the boys and I loaded up once again and headed to Stanton to cousin D'Laney's birthday party. We had a great time with family!

Yesterday was of course full as always with Bible class, worship, cooking lunch, cleaning up lunch, nap for everyone, back to worship, cooking dinner, and cleaning up dinner. But oh how I love Sundays. It's so refreshing to meet for worship. It is the only day of the week that I am guaranteed to spend with Dustin. And to make it even better, Eli and Landon have apparently gotten the memo about Sunday being a day of rest because they usually sleep ALL afternoon, which makes for one very happy momma.

I have come to some realizations based on the events of the past week:

*I thrive on being busy. We do much better on days that we have something to do or somewhere to go. It's a TON of work to get us out the door, but it's usually worth it.

*I do not want to keep other kids full time. I have been asked before if I was interested in providing childcare and I declined at the time. It has nothing to do with other people's children (the two I kept last week happen to be two of the sweetest little boys I've ever known...with the exception of my own of course). It has everything to do with the fact that I am Eli and Landon's mom and I stay home with them for a reason - so that I can care for them and play with them and read to them and love them. Adding other children takes me away from them and I hated the way I felt that day. There isn't enough money in the world that would make it worth it to me.

*I can do a LOT by myself. Naturally, I was intimidated to venture out on my own when we finally got the go-ahead this past spring. But even the times we've had complete meltdowns in public or rough days on our own somewhere outside of the house...they are better than the feeling of being a prisoner of my house. And when I think about it...I can provide anything and everything that Eli or Landon could want or need. Even if they happen to need it at the same time. And the more we get out, the easier it becomes.

*One baby is easier than two. I don't mean to say that one baby is easy...it's just a lighter load than two babies. It's much more manageable when you are not out-numbered. I felt like I could slow down and really enjoy Landon last Wednesday because I wasn't so wrapped up in the logistics of everything, trying to anticipate the next crisis.


Okay...because I only like to read blogs with pictures....I'll throw in this pic of my Eli sleeping. I love how he destroys his bed trying to fall asleep.


So...this was a little wordy. Next time: less words, more pictures.

Happy first day of school to all the teachers and students!

Blogging Resolution

I feel like I need to reintroduce myself. I'm Amy. I hate cheese unless it is melted and even so, never on a sandwich or burger. Some might say I am short, but I am really average height - I just happen to be surrounded by really tall people most of the time. I am a Capricorn, I LOVE to play games, I am a mom to identical twin boys, and I used to be pretty good about recording little details of our life here to share with friends and family.

I don't know what happened. One day I just put it off until tomorrow and then before I knew it...three weeks had passed. So, I'm going to try and turn over a new blogging leaf. I love having this outlet to share pictures and stories of Eli and Landon with our family and friends. I love how it keeps me connected and makes me feel less isolated. I love how it makes me take more pictures because, let's be honest...what is a blog post without pictures? And I love how I can print this off one day and have a record of what life was like this first year and the years to come. So here's to blogging at least once or twice a week... or at least trying.

Life is good. We had a rough couple of weeks, but we've recovered and I think we are getting back to our normal, happy selves. Sometimes it's hard for me to realize that certain behaviors are just a stage. It's my tendency to completely blow things out of proportion and come to the conclusion that my baby will NEVER sleep again, or he will NEVER stop screaming before bed, or he will NEVER eat like he used to. I'm not sure what makes babies wake up screaming every two hours for just two weeks and then all of a sudden they are sleeping through the night again. I'm not sure what makes them love certain foods and then one day just decide they don't like them. And I don't know why they are so independent, but for about three weeks want nothing but to be held. I DO know that as soon as the thought pops in my head that things are going smoothly and I'm really getting the hang of things...they change things up to make sure I don't get too comfortable.

I love the way they change though. I love the progress I see on a daily basis with physical growth, mobility, communication, and the way they learn about their environment. I love the way their personalities are so apparent and so opposite. And I love the way they spend most of their days laughing together.

*Eli and Landon are 10 months old.

*They are standing on their own and Landon has taken a few steps the last couple of days.

*They are eating everything we are and I have started having to buy them their own kid's meal to share when we go out to eat because they eat so much! I was just sharing with them off of my plate, but then I was noticing that I was still hungry when we left, so now they get their own meal and we are all happier :)

*They each have six teeth - four on top and two on bottom. If baby teeth are any indication of things to come...I'm pretty sure braces are in our future.

*They.are.in.to.everything! They cannot be left alone for any amount of time or it could result in a crisis situation. I think Comet and the toilet brush top the list of disgusting things that have gone in their mouths.

*They have started giving each other kisses. It's pretty sweet - and kind of disgusting. Their faces end up covered in each other's slobber, but what's new?

Okay....now for some pictures and then I have to go. I'm totally sacrificing my shower time right now.

10 Months Old


Helping me cook dinner for a family who just had a baby.
Eli snacking on Landon's toes



Family picture at a wedding recentlyThis is what happens when I try to sit them down for a picture.
We are very independent with our food these days and not interested in anything that has to be spoon fed. This results in sweeping and mopping twice a day and daily baths.


Grammy was in Lubbock for work, so she came down to see us.

Contagious

We've been sick.

I'll spare you the details. I just think about it and start to break out in hives while considering committing myself to a mental institution.

We survived. Well, Eli, Landon, and I (just barely) survived. At one point in time I told Dustin to just go ahead and call the funeral home because I was surely going to die.

Dad's in bed now and only time will tell with him.

And in keeping with my "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" mantra...I feel compelled to keep this one short.

So instead of dwelling on the disgustingness that was my life this past week...we will now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

I present to you...babies laughing at a fly swatter.