Want, Need, Wear, Read

Santa is coming and this year we have successfully stuck to the fantastic idea of limiting gifts to four things: a want, a need, a wear, and a read.  So, here they are:

Want- This isn't something any of my children realize they want but when asked what he wanted for Christmas, Grant's only response has been "Fire and Rescue."  So, since that had already been purchased by Grammy and Grandpa, I had to move on to something else.  Like all good mothers, I instead purchased something I wanted!  Anyone ever have waffle blocks as a kid?  Well, they still make them and they have gotten even bigger!  Now, one thing my kids are consistent about is their desire to build forts on a dialy basis.  My hope is that the waffle blocks can take the place of couch pillows and the couch pillows can remain on the couch where they belong.  I look forward to many days of building...

Need-  The girls need a stool to stand on so that they stop fighting over Grant's when we are in the kitchen.   Thankfully the Etsy shop I ordered his from was still in business and I ordered another one.  Grant, on the other hand, is getting his own suitcase.  Random, I know.  But, I got a really good deal on one from Pottery Barn Kids and it has his name embroydered on it.  He can pack his own things when we go to Florida this summer!

 

Wear- Grant is getting a golf shirt so that he looks the part when he goes golfing with his dad.  The girls are getting leotards!  After many months of watching Grant go to his gymnastics class, I finally signed the girls up.  I am pretty proud of myself for even remembering to buy them appropriate sportswear instead of sending them in their every day clothes.  I was even more proud when I found these adorable ones on Etsy...

 

 

Read- This is the easy one!  My kids LOVE books!  Each of them is getting a box full.

 

Kate and Andie

Ok, I think I have neglected to document your lives long enough.  While I listen to each of you crying up in your room (you should be napping), I am going to try and quickly post an update.

Kate- You are such a crazy nut!  You are fearless.  On vacation in Mexico, you loved the sand, the ocean, and the pool.  You just took off down the beach and enjoyed getting good and wet and dirty.  In the pool, you were constantly walking off the ledge in the hot tub so that you could sink under water until I picked you up again.  When you get hurt (which is quite often...I am concerned about the damage you do to your forehead on a daily basis) you sometimes cry, but more often times you laugh and smile like you want to do it again.  You are pretty independent.  When I take you to the gym, you wander off to play without batting an eyelash.  When you want something though, you will let me know.  At those times, you throw a fit and turn into what your father calls, "The rare spotted Tate."  You absolutely love your brother and seem to think that you are his equal.  The two of you rough house and just have so much fun together.  You and your dad and your brother all have a special bond too because you are all rotten.  And, I say that in the most loving way :)
Some favorites of Kate-
Food: clementine
Person: probably Grant
Activity: playing with Grant or reading books in Mom's lap


Andie- You are much more of a love bug.  You are more than happy to observe your sister and Grant because you aren't quite as tough when it comes to rough housing.  You are a momma's girl!  If I am around, you want to be held or in my lap.  Until recently, at the gym, you screeched when I left you to go workout.  When we get outside to play though, you are totally different.   You love to get into the passengers seat of your brother's Power Wheels and let him drive you around.  You also love to be pushed in any number of the vehicles we have outside.  Luckily Kate and Grant are more than happy to do so!  You have a ton of hair that I just can't control and you spin it with your fingers to comfort yourself when you are tired.
Some favorites of Andie-
Food: clementine
Person: mommy
Activity: dancing to music

Happy Birthday Grant!

You are four years old today!  We celebrated with a trip to COSI, lunch at Northstar, and a quick stop at the aquarium store to look at the fish.  I had such an amazing time with you!  It was great to spend an entire day together, just the two of us.  I cannot believe how grown up you have become.  You are so independent compared to just a year ago.  Thankfully though, you still love to hang out with your mom and like to keep her close by :)  Time has just gone so fast, I appreciate the fact that you are still my little boy every now and again.  Some of your favorite things these days:
1. Playing with "my sisters" or "my girls"
2. Toy Story (I think you have watched these movies about 100 times!)
3. Playing hide and seek: "1, 2, 3, look for me"
4. Playdough
5. Legos
6. Baking things
7. Playing in the basement with your goal or pingpong table

A year has come and gone

I don't know where on earth the time has gone in the past year.  My days are absolutely hectic but somehow seem manageable.  Time flew by, but it seems like Kate and Andie have been in our lives forever.  I feel like I owe it to someone (maybe my daughters so they can have some idea of what they were like as little ones) to update my blog.  So, I am just going to get to it:

Kate
-is a rotten egg (and I mean this in a very loving way!)
-loves to torment her sister by taunting her with toys, laughing, and then crawling away as fast as possible
-loves to play with her brother and thinks she is a big kid like him
-is a "leg humper" who loves to grab on to me while I try to cook or clean up dinner
-is very passionate about food she likes and makes it known by moaning and groaning after each bite
-gets red splotches all over her face when she has been crying
-chews on the crib
-loves her mouse that is attached to her car seat so much that she gets a death grip on him and won't let go
-loves the tub

Andie
-is a chunky monkey (also meant in a very loving way!)
-also loves the tub
-has a huge smile almost all the time and is so easy to please!
-loves food (especially the cheese Kate hates so much)
-likes to cuddle and burrows her face into anyone or anything she can get close to (even the floor sometimes)
-rubs her face and twirls her hair to comfort herself
-loves books (especially the Colors book that was a favorite of Grant as well)
-dances and claps whenever she hears any kind of music

Where to begin?

Where has the time gone?!  Kate and Andie are now 8 months old and Grant just keeps growing up.  Every time I turn around one of our children have amazed me by just getting bigger, bolder, smarter, faster, funnier, smilier.  Summer has gone by way too fast.  With Grant at Primrose two days a week, I feel like every day I get to spend with him is precious.  We spend our Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the pool, the zoo or hanging out with friends.  He is such a fantastic big brother and just a great kid.  Each day he becomes more understanding, helpful, and independent.  He loves to get on the floor with his sisters and show them how their toys work, explain what each item is, and every now and then he gives a random hug or two that just melt my heart!  Grant also seems thrilled about the new baby toys that are reemerging from the basement.  He has more fun than the girls do half the time.  The latest new purchase was an elephant that shoots balls out of its trunk.  Jeff and Grant got such a kick out of it, Jeff was crying laughing and Grant kept jumping and screaming "they are going everywhere."  There was so much noise that the girls both looked at me and cried.

On the days that Grant is at "school" I enjoy the opportunity to spend quiet time with the girls (and of course I hit up the gym and run all kinds of other errands that are easier to do with two kids than with three).  Andie started sitting up a few weeks ago and Kate was not far behind.  Andie still is yet to ever roll over, whereas Kate is always getting onto her stomach.  Kate has recently started to scoot herself backward around on the floor.  Andie on the other hand is content just sitting and watching her.  The girls personalities could not be more different!  Andie is such a goof and will smile and laugh at almost anyone.  Kate is still a bit more reserved.  Although, all I have to do is toss her in the air or tickle her on the ground to get her giggling and smiling.  Andie loves to snatch any toy that Kate shows interest in and Kate just loves Andie.  Whenever they are close Kate reaches out for Andie's hair, ears, clothes, hands.  Both girls absolutely love their feet and have them up as close as possible to their mouths whenever they can get ahold of them.  We are down to two naps a day; about an hour and a half in the morning and 2-3 hours in the afternoon.  

Somehow things manage to run pretty smoothly around here these days.  Everyone is tucked into bed by 8 or 8:30 and I enjoy a stroll around the yard or a second (or third) glass of wine.  On the days Grant is at Primrose I have found a handful of times (ok, maybe just 2 or 3) to sit outside and read or watch the Today Show on the back porch with my cup of coffee while the girls are napping.  During all these times I just cant help but feel like I am living in paradise.  I cant complain, I am very blessed.  

 4th of July at Symphony on the Prairie

 Loves those feet

 Such a goofball!

 It's hard to get a clear picture of Kate because she is always moving.

 "Concerned Kate" -Jeff

Mothers Day

One day is not enough to adequately celebrate mothers.  We are blessed to be raised by a woman who would give up anything (and probably almost has) in order to bring us up right.  We then repay her by sneaking out of the house, stealing her liquor, trying cigarettes.  We rarely take the time to really appreciate her in those early years except for on the obligatory Mother's Day.  We buy a card, give a hug, and tell her that we love her.  But, we don't really "get it" until years go by and it is our turn to take a stab at this motherhood thing.  Our brains become mush because all we can think about are feeding schedules, sleep routines, and potty training.  We worry that we might spoil our kids so we are too hard on them.  We are hard on them and then we feel guilty.  And boy do we ever feel guilty.  "Mom guilt" is powerful and constant.  We just never think we are getting it right.   We need nothing more than reassurance, a hug, a smile and nod that says, "I see what you are doing and I think you are doing a damn fine job."  We don't get a paycheck for being a mom.  We don't have a boss who calls us into his office and thanks us for a job well done.  We get Mother's Day.  Happy Mother's Day ladies!  You are all doing a damn fine job!

Our girls and our lives at three months

Ok, things have been crazy and I have neglected to take the time to stop and reflect upon life and document all the things I think about the little girls who have entered our lives.  First, an update on Jeff, Grant and I, and then we will move on to those little munchkins.

Me:
I am actually doing well.  People seem to think I have to be completely sleep deprived and stressed but really, things aren't too bad.  I wish it weren't winter because I want to be able to get out a bit more with the girls.  I want fresh air and I hate cramming the girls into their car seats with all those bulky layers and blankets only to go out into the wind and cold where those blankets want to blow right off exposing their poor little faces.  On the other hand, I think winter has made things a bit easier.  It isn't so nice out that I feel like I am missing anything by sitting inside feeding, pumping, washing bottles, doing laundry, doing dishes, and cooking.  And honestly, that is really about all I do.  But, I don't mind it one bit.  The hardest thing about having twins has been getting used to the idea that I cannot love on them both or comfort them both all the time.  Sometimes one is still eating and the other is awake and bored because I just left her parked on the Boppy.  Or, both start crying in the middle of a nap and I just have to give up on the idea of comforting either of them because how would I choose, and what is the point of quieting one baby when there is still another crying.  Hopefully this means I will end up with babies who are good at comforting themselves.  Sorry girls!

Grant:
I should probably start out with a "Sorry Grant" too.  Poor guy has had to learn quite a deal of patience.  When mom and dad both have their hands full, there is very little we can do to entertain him.  For the most part, he has been very good about the whole ordeal.  He loves his sisters and doesn't seem to resent them at all. Sometimes they get a sweet kiss, hug, or pat.  He enjoys rubbing their soft pajamas and tickling their feet.  I think he is a very good big brother and when I say "big," I mean it!  His biggest concern lately is on being a "big boy."  We started seriously potty training about the same time the girls came home (less than ideal timing).  Grant pretty quickly picked up on peeing in the potty, but going #2 has been another thing.  But, finally, the incentive of going to preschool with his friends Owen, Daniel, and Addison has done it.  Grant can finally poop in the potty and he is proud of it!  Good job buddy, you will be in preschool before you know it!

Jeff:
Jeff is probably the one who is taking all this the hardest.  The culmination of building this house and the twins arrival has been like the perfect storm.  He is stressed, tired, and just not quite his normal self. You can't really blame him, but I look forward to the day when he can stop, take a deep breath, and enjoy the wonderful home and family we have created.

Andie:
You are our little chunk!  From the moment you came home you starting packing on the pounds.  Way to go, at your three month checkup today, you were 11.5 pounds!  You are already in the 25th percentile for a real three month old!  Unfortunately, although you have always been a good eater, we spent a little while trying to figure out how to make you happy (holding you always makes you happy, but with three kids, that just isn't always an option).  At first you seemed a little colicky (whatever that really means).   From 8pm until about midnight, we weren't quite sure what we were going to get.  You just seemed so uncomfortable all the time.  We finally invested in some Gripe Water and it seems to have helped.  Either that, or you have just grown out of your funk or we have finally just figured you out.  You are so fun to watch these days.  You sit up pretty well and just have the clearest bright wide eyes.  You have a huge smile and love nothing more than to snuggle and be held.

Kate:
Oh honey, you are our little peanut.  You love to sleep, take your sweet time eating, and then just spit most of it right back up.  Nothing really seems to phase you, you are extremely laid back (or just lethargic, but whatever).  I never struggle to get a good picture of you since you are normally just sleeping like a little angel.  At your three month checkup today you weighed in at 10 pounds, just barely putting you on the regular growth chart.  You spend your wake time peacefully watching the world go by.  You have a dreamy little smile that just makes me think that there could be nothing wrong with the world.  On the other hand, when you cry, my heart just breaks.  You have a cry that is the saddest sound in the world complete with real tears, a blotchy red eyes, and a pouty lip.  

Both:
You are now sleeping about six hours at a time at night.  Thank you!  One night you even made it 7.5 hours.  I couldn't believe it!  During the day you eat, spend a little bit of time awake (Andie more so than Kate) and then go right back to sleep.  You normally take turns being fussy which I somewhat appreciate.  So, maybe one of you decides to cry off and on during one nap and then the other does the same later in the day.  When you are awake I try to get you to notice one another.  At this point, you both seem totally uninterested in the other which I think is sort of sad.  But, I am sure that will change soon enough.  Oh, how could I forget to mention the herniated belly buttons.  Andie, yours showed up about a week after coming home and it got big.  Kate, you must have decided you didn't want to be outdone, because you now have a little miniature version of your sister's.  The doctor says they may heal themselves, but your dad is already thinking about surgery.  Maybe we can get a two for one deal!

I love you both so much and I can't wait to continue to watch you grow and change.