Looking Back...

For some reason the photos loaded completely out of order on this one so this may get a little interesting. Anyhoo, as I was realizing how close the twins' birthday was I started thinking about all of the milestones and such we've been through in the last few years. Our lives have changed a lot and just keep on changing. So, here are some old photos as I wax nostalgic:

Our little ones not so little anymore.

This is from our first apartment right after we got married. I was considerably smaller then. **sigh** I don't even remember what we were fighting about, but this was TK's apology. It was so sweet, literally. The roses are surrounded by a heart made of caramel kisses. As you can tell by my face, I couldn't stay mad. It was too cute.

This is a picture of us when we were dating. I believe it was Thanksgiving at his house. He popped the question just two months later. Disclaimer: we dated off and on for almost two years before the official proposal.

As you can see I said yes.

After living in the apartment for almost a year, we bought a house in Rexburg, Idaho. That was an ordeal and quite a move!!! (we are formerly from WA)

Sorry out of order. Our honeymoon was to whistler, BC Canada. It was so much fun!!! Good food, great landscapes and the weather was perfect. I highly recommend it as a fun vacation spot. Even for families. Beware the rocky mountain chocolate factory. I think they knew us on a first name basis by the time we left. They serve the BEST gelato (sp?) I've ever tasted and the chocolate delights in every nook and cranny of that place will satisfy any sweet tooth. I think we gained five pounds before our trip was over.

TK thought it was funny that there was snow in July on the mountain top. I almost remember having the kind of energy required to go hiking. I need to get back into shape!

More apartment life. I let TK do my hair and he wanted to take a picture. I do not miss that TINY kitchen! We were busting at the seems in that little place.

Again, out of order. This phase of our lives took place after living in Rexburg almost two years. We had a lot of drama trying to conceive and once we finally did (no fertility drugs or anything like that, just a surgery to remove a giant cyst) we got two! I was really lucky to have good health for almost my entire pregnancy, only needing bed rest a month before they were born (at 36 wks 4 dys)

They were big then and still are. Below is a (fuzzy) picture of our calendar to illustrate all of the appointments I had while on "bed rest" in April. The Dr. visits are in red.

The second to last ultrasound before the boys' arrival. I spent a LOT of time in this ultrasound room. Things got a little risky right near the end of pregnancy so the boys were looked at almost every day. Sometimes I would have appointments at two different clinics in one day. Talk about some serious medical bills. :-p

Our sweet angel babies. Cooper (the oldest by less than a minute) is on the left in this picture and Tucker (who has always been the bigger of the two) on the right. They couldn't be more different for being twins. They are nothing alike. They like different toys, different foods, they have different temperaments and they look like they have different parents. I'm often asked how I "got so lucky to have two so young." I had them at the same time! I think people assume I adopted one of them or that they are extremely close in age. They just don't realize how close. :o)

There hasn't been a lot of sleeping since then. Parenthood is not for sissies.

And now the little guys are almost a year old! I just can't believe how quickly it went. I'm sure there are more milestones to come and new adventures to be had. Thank you for indulging me on this trip down memory lane.

Easter Project!!!!

Isn't this just lovely?

I found a cheap project that I can do for Easter that will last for a long time and be easy to repair. I'll have to save up for the supplies (we're penny pinching right now), but that won't take long. Check it out HERE.

Falling Behind!

I never ever seem to have time to post on this blog! It seems I am a once a month blogger. I have so many great ideas and plans for this blog and then life gets in the way. Well, I just wanted to give a shout out to a new website that my friends brought to my attention. Definitely go check out www.allthingsthrifty.com , but be warned, you might spend a lot of time there. This site helps people with little money decorate their homes INEXPENSIVELY!! I love all of the cute ideas and the fact that they are do-it-yourself projects that I think I can actually do. Their sponsors also have wonderful links to their sites and there is just so much exploring and so many ideas (that they WANT you to copy!) for making your home a little more "you." While you're surfing, you should check out www.sisterswithflair.blogspot.com for some fun ideas as well. A friend from church and her sisters are always putting up some really fun stuff for all occasions. I think I may go there now...

Update: Oh my! I can't believe that I neglected to mention my friend Sarah's blog www.forcedtocook.blogspot.com that she has created as a collaborative effort with her sisters and others. Awesome, simple recipes!

"Pinky and the Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain!!!!"

It has come to my attention in the last few days that I have given birth to Pinky and the Brain in the flesh. For those of you who did not watch the "Animaniacs" cartoon on the WB in the 90's, I'll let you in on the plot. Every episode (about a 10 minute short in the regular cartoon line up) opens on a darkened research lab, focusing on a cage with two white lab rats in it. Brain is small in stature with an enormous cranium and intense facial features. Pinky, his loyal companion/sidekick, is tall and thin and unassuming with sort of "Dopey the dwarf" facial features. At the beginning of every show Pinky always asks, "What are we going to do tonight, Brain?" To which Brain's sinister response is, "The same thing we do every night, Pinky. TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!!!!" Their master plans are always foiled or thwarted by something or someone bigger than them or out of their control (with a little help from Pinky's lack of sidekick abilities) and thus the premise for the next episode.

Okay, back to reality. A special relationship has developed between the twins (Cooper and Tucker) lately. Cooper has decided that toys are for "babies" and will make an almost immediate dash for the DVD player, sound equipment, outlets, furniture, purse (you get the idea) that is nearest to him after being placed on the living room floor after his nap. Tucker adores his big (older) brother and giggles with delight at the sight of him. He likes to climb on him, follow him around, play with his face and just do whatever he is doing. Whenever Cooper gets caught doing something he knows he shouldn't, he has this delightfully mischievous grin as he tries to get away from the grown up about to thwart his inner evil genius. Well, as you can imagine where Cooper is, Tucker is not far. They are truly "partners in crime." I have a feeling I'm in for a lot of trouble with these two. Of course the person they most want to be like is their Daddy. And the stories he can tell about his childhood.....would make you laugh yourself silly and then silently pray that your kids NEVER attempt anything remotely close. :-p Better brush up on my first aid skills and learn to laugh a little more.

Long time no post.

Cooper nibbles on a piece of "choo choo."

I just love this face. He has three teeth now!

Traffic Jam in the kitchen.

He's so squeezable.

Gotta love that grin!

It has been such a long time since I actually had the time to post anything on here. I don't really have time now, but am letting the boys fuss for just a second. They're not hurt or hungry (just fed) and they don't need a diaper change. They just want their "mama" and they aren't shy about letting me know it. I have managed to distract them for the moment letting them run amok in the kitchen. From their walkers they can open drawers and pull on cabinet doors without getting them all the way open. They think it's heaven! I enjoy watching them too. I enjoy most things about motherhood, though I do have my days. Today I had a complete meltdown after being shrieked at by the boys, "tinkled" on after Cooper fought a diaper change like crazy and burned the cookies I was making as comfort food. All of these things culminated in the perfect storm in a matter of about four minutes. After hours of hearing nothing but whining I had reached my limit. That's why I was making the cookies. :-p
I'd have to say my least favorite things about mother hood would be constantly having "puffs" (snack food) stuck to my socks, unbelievably stinky diapers as we try new foods, TEETHING (this one really is no fun at all with twins), and.....drool/slobber. I have been covered in spit for a while now. Other than that, it's not too bad I guess. Sometimes (like today) I have a good cry and "let it all out" and then put my "big girl panties (as my mom would say)" back on and take care of my kids. I often find myself chanting a line from Finding Nemo: "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
Well, that's all I really have time to post for now. I will try to find time this weekend to recap our winter. 'Til then!

New Stats

Tucker: 19 lbs 11 oz, 27 inches long-90th percentile for weight, 75th for height.

Cooper: 17 lbs 12 oz., 26.5 inches long-75th percentile for weight and height.

I guess I grow 'em big.

Update November 19th doctor visit:

Tucker: Still 19-11, but 28 inches long

Cooper: 18 pounds and also 28 inches long! What a growth spurt!

The Coolest Thing...

The boys have reached an age of discovery lately that has me just tickled. Each and every thing they see becomes the coolest and most interesting thing they've discovered yet. Among their recent finds:

FEET!!!

Cooper has become very aware of his appendages. His hands reach for and grab whatever is within the 6-8 inch radius from his body. As he has wanted more and more to sit up and see what is going on, he has become fascinated by his own feet. I try over and over to get him to try sitting up on his own, yet all he wants to do is bend all the way over and try to pick up those things at the end of his legs. When on his back, he will curl up as far as he can and grasp his toes in an attempt to bring them to his mouth. He is a little too chubby to get them all the way to his face, but it is most adorable to see the glee on his face as he tries.

A BROTHER!

Both Tucker and Cooper have finally begun to enjoy one another's company. This morning as Tucker was playing in the "Step and Play Piano" in the living room, Cooper was lying on the floor within his brother's view. Cooper smiled at his brother and Tucker let out a delighted squeal which made Cooper begin to giggle like crazy, which in turn made Tucker belly laugh, which made Cooper giggle harder...etc. This went on for a good ten minutes. I wished I could have found the camera in time to tape it, but alas was too late. They have also begun to carry on small babbling conversations. I just love that they have taken an interest in one another. I'm not crazy about the efforts to grab, squeeze, pinch, eat and pretty much maul each other, but it had to happen sometime.

TOYS!!!

At last! All of the things that used to startle the twins about their toys-the squeaks, rattles, shakers and music-now excite and delight them. They squish, chew, throw and whack everything that makes it into their hands. I have to admit that it makes it a little easier to get a few more things done if I can distract them for a moment.

DADDY!

For a majority of their six month existence, mommy was the only thing that could make them feel better when they were upset. They have now begun to light up when they see their daddy. It warms my heart for them to recognize him because for a while they didn't get to spend much time with him and therefore treated him like a stranger. Cooper goes to Daddy for fun and Mommy for comfort. He rough houses with Dad (as much as you do with a six month old) but snuggles, eats and whimpers for soothing with mommy. It's nice to know that the "I want my mommy" bond has been created.

And the jury is still out on this next one.....THE POUT.

I'm not quite sure I love this development. It is so cute when they talk and coo and express themselves, however at the same time it is not very cute when they both wail and moan and scold me for not spending every moment I have holding and playing with them. They have learned all of the buttons they need to push for mommy to reach her limit and give in. I can't believe they have figured this out so soon. Little stinkers.

I guess that just about covers it for now. They seem to grow in leaps and bounds daily. It is so amazing to watch. The pout is being employed in full force at the moment so I'd better take care of it. No rest for the mommies.