First Zoo Trip!

On Memorial Day, we trekked over to the closest zoo to us, a 2 hour drive away.  I've been itching to bring Sam and Anna to a zoo since last summer, and I was so thrilled to finally make the trip!  I am excited for many more zoo trips in the future!

Watching some birds

Anna was so tentative about the animals, especially the birds.  She was only kind of okay if I was holding her and I didn't get too close(or if the animals were behind glass).  She let me know when I reached the limit for her safety zone by gripping me so hard it almost hurt.  Then  if I didn't move back, she would try her darnedest to scramble out of my arms instead.  This really doesn't surprise me because she is definitely less of a risk taker than Sam.  She let me hold her as we fed a giraffe... until the giraffe licked her leg, then she shrieked until I got her out of there!

Anna's favorite animal was the rabbit.  She almost allowed her hand to touch it.

Sam finally got to meet his first real sheep up close (his favorite thing to say has been "Baaa" for a while now and he can point out any sheep in a book and say "Baaa" without us identifying it).  Interestingly, he wasn't really a fan of the real thing. (Poor thing needs to be sheared.  It was about 90 degrees out- the warmest day so far this year!)

 Sam's least favorite animals were the alpacas.  Look at the expression on his face!

Sam's favorite was probably the lions and other large cats. When we first got to the lions, he kept pointing and saying "Oooo oooh!" Meanwhile, Anna kept looking back to check and make sure I was still close by.

Sam with Dad

Anna with Mom

The Evolution

The Evolution of my coffee drinking ways:

Pre-TTC:  An occasional cup of coffee.  A once-in-a-while stop at Starbucks for a special treat.

TTC: Limited caffeine intake including pop.

IVF and Pregnancy:  Practically ZERO caffeine.  Not a drop of coffee or pop.

Twin Baby Momma:  Daily cuppa joe in the morning... or two. 

Twin Working Full Time Outside the Home Momma: Big mug of coffee before 7 am.  Caffeinated pop at 8 am to help get me through the tired days.  Stops at Starbucks at least once a week before work (not good for the bank account, but better for my productivity!).  Developing a relationship with the Starbucks drive thru dude.  Caffeine withdrawals if the above conditions are not met.

~I may need a 12 step program this summer once school is out!!!

Twin Love

(Going in for the kiss)

Nothin' quite like Twin Hugs and Smooches!

(not to mention the double the giggles that go along with it!)

Long Time No See

Wow- I don't think I've gone a whole week between posts before.  It's been a busy week with lots going on!  First off, Sam has another ear infection.  Secondly, both Sam and Anna are walking more and more, but still aren't very steady on their feet, so they need a shadow where ever they go to prevent as many mishaps as possible.  Then add in the end of the school year complete with the kindergarten concert and end-of-the-year testing as well as a whirlwind weekend after a 4 hour road trip, and who would even have time to turn on the computer?  I've been a little exhausted and busy, busy busy!

This past weekend, we went back to our home state and stayed at my parents' house.  We went out to dinner with my MIL on Saturday, and went to Sam and Anna's great grandma's 90th birthday party Sunday afternoon (my FIL's side).  After a stop back at my parents for a quickie nap, we headed out for my cousin's wedding.  That's three sets of relatives and grandparents in 24 hours!  Sam and Anna did great, especially considering it was a lot of unfamiliar faces in such a short time. 

While we were at the park for the 90th birthday picnic, there were tornado warnings.  Really not fun when you have 2 1-year-olds under your care.  The tornado warnings continued after we got back while Sam and Anna napped, but thankfully, they were napping in the basement anyway, so that made things more convenient.  We drove across the Twin Cities to get to the wedding through tornado watches, but thankfully, although the rain put a damper on our weekend plans, tornadoes did not.

Then, although I swore after last time we'd never do it again, we attempted to drive the 4 hours home at bedtime, hoping (praying fervently, actually) that Sam and Anna would sleep most of the car ride home.  If I didn't learn last time, I better have learned my lesson now.  Once again, Anna hardly slept at all.  I really thought she would, because last time she ended up having a slightly dirty diaper (that we could not smell), and we attributed the lack of sleep to that.  So we got home at 11:30 pm with an extremely overtired Anna and this time I KNOW I will not try that again. 

My saving grace was that I took this Monday off of work anyway.  I slept in and had a massage appointment for noon (the last of my push/cut present gift certificate).  A great start to another hectic and crazy busy week, since my husband is out of town for work all week and I'm solo-parenting it again.

Just a few photos from our weekend:

 With Grandma Dianne (my mom)

 With Aunt Mary

 With Sam and Anna's Great Grandma (FIL's side)

  At the wedding reception

 Pictures with Dad, since I seem to not take that many

This was one of the only ways we could keep Sam awake after a long day!

They adored this glass wall at the reception

(The mark on Anna's nose is a scab.  We have no idea how she got it- she just woke up one morning with it like that.I'm thinking she just scratched her nose with her own finger.)

First Time Mom Alert

Whoops.

Seems like I may have made a little mistake that must be rectified.  My husband and I were discussing this weekend when we can consider Sam and Anna as "walking" versus "taking steps."  I've been holding off on saying that Sam's walking because, to me, walking means that's what he does- maybe 90% of the time?  That it is the main mode of mobility?  When they stop falling?  When I can let him loose outside and he'll walk around without me worried he'll face plant into the cement?  Something along those lines, I guess.  Both Sam and Anna take steps and have been for a while- but just when do those steps cross the fine line between stepping and walking?

I told him I would check babycenter.com and google it up and see what the general consensus is.  Most of what I read said they considered walking when it is more than 1-2 steps and the baby does it on their own, without prompting or help.  Ooops.  Sam's been doing that for a while now!  The most steps I've counted is 11 in a row, but usually that's the highest number because he's gotten to his chosen location by that point.  I'd say he walks 50% of the time at home, while at daycare she said last week he was walking about 90% of the time.  So let me make up for lost time and give credit where credit is due: YAY!  SAM'S WALKING!!!

Maybe that's sometimes the disparity in babies that walk at 9 months versus 18 months?  Maybe some people are just more giving in their assessment of walking?  I know the same can be said for sitting- I didn't consider Sam and Anna sitting until they didn't need a boppy to cushion a fall.  I guess where I'm going with this is that people - talking about me here- sometimes need to relax a little and realize people have differing opinions on stuff like that.

(Anna's still solidly in what I would consider the "taking steps" department.  That's really only because she loves holding our hands to travel around and isn't willing too often to walk on her own.  She reaches for our hands and holds them so tight, it is impossible to let go mid walking.  I think she's being smart, actually:  she's figured out, if I only walk when mom or dad are holding my hands or between mom and dad when they are encouraging me, I'm getting sole attention of a parent.  Since Sam's an attention hog usually, I think she's being pretty intelligent on this one!)

Random Cuteness

Just a few of Those-Cute-Things-You-Don't-Want-To-Forget-But-You-Will-If-You-Don't -Write-Them Down quirks that every child has. 

Right now Sam's most favorite thing to do is "Baaa" every time he sees a sheep picture.  He can recognize a sheep in several of the books we read- real photographs, cartoonish ones, fuzzy ones, and even black ones, like the one in Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr./Eric Carle.  The child has never seen a sheep in person though so I don't know where the fascination with this particular animal came from.  He is trying so hard to "Mooo" like a cow too, but he has a hard time changing from the "mmm" sound to the "ooo" sound so it comes out a little funny but it is at least the same sound every time. 

Sam definitely has a thing for animals right now.  He gets so excited when we get home from daycare, he'll sign "dog" over and over when he first sees our dog Bella (although he can and does say her name).  We keep several photos in frames on our fireplace mantle, including one of our dog that was put down last fall.  Sam always wants us to show him that photo (I'm sure he understands that he knows the other people and dog- Mom, Dad, Anna and Bella- but that one is different because he doesn't remember our dog Benelli) and tries to say his name.  It's kind of adorable to hear him say " 'Nelli" when for so long I dreamed of my children saying that and I thought it would never happen when we had to have him put down. 

Sam's also been pointing at everything and either asking we name it or give it to him by saying "That." and making a pointing or grabbing motion. We're trying to get him to learn "please" instead so it sounds a little less demanding!  Sam went through a phase where he liked to pull out wipes and put them in his mouth (ew) but thankfully he's starting to stop that.  Now he likes to give us wipes when we are changing Anna to "help."  I like this much better!

Anna has been spontaneously kissing our noses lately.  Her wet sloppy nose kisses are goobery, but adorable all the same.  She knows where her belly button is, and likes to explore mom's belly button too when you ask where it is.  We've been practicing walking with her a lot, and she loves to go from Mom to Dad- but instead of turning around, she likes to walk backwards (holding hands for balance) to Dad so she can walk to Mom again.  I think she's just about as good walking backwards as she is going forwards!  We have also been letting Sam and Anna try out utensils and Anna gets SO ridiculously happy with herself if she actually manages to get food in her mouth from the fork or spoon. 

And one last cute thing to share:  Anna also used to pop up in the morning with a smile and say "hi" to us when we went in to get them up for the day.  Now every day Anna pops up with a smile and says "all done" to us- then turns and says hi to her brother, instead.

Just some tidbits of our recent happenings at 14 months old!

400?!?!?!

This is my 400th post since beginning my blog in March 2009.  I never imagined that it would evolve into what it is today.  Looking at the past 2 years documented in the posts on this blog, my life has certainly evolved and changed as well.

This blog's humble beginnings started as a place to seek solace from the fertile world.  It began as a place to say all the things I couldn't say out loud (and the things my poor dear husband had heard too many times already).  It was a place created to help me get though the huge risk we were about to undergo via IVF with ISCI after over 3 years of unsuccessfully trying to conceive.  When I go back and reread those early words and comments, I am struck by how many current commenters have been along for the ride since the very beginning.  I am humbled by the caring words some of you have graciously shared for a good portion of the 400 posts since then.  For those of you who supported, cared and did more than simply lurk from post 1 to now, I sincerely thank you.

My blog changed into a life-after-TTC-and-IF blog a few months after it was created.  My wildest dreams were coming true- and I was going to become a mother to not one, but two babies.  I know I lost readers during that big shift, but I also gained.    The fears I poured out were different, but many of you supported me all the same along that 9 month journey.    For those of you that joined me for my twin pregnancy after IVF journey, I thank you.

One year after my blog began, another shift occurred- from twin pregnancy blog to mother of multiples.  We faced new challenges but sharing all the highlights of Sam and Anna's first year are worth more than I can really explain.  I will be forever glad that your kind comments kept me typing, even when  there was a list a mile long of other things I should be doing.  I am glad that I have the ups and even the downs in words because those early days were such a haze.  Rereading those words transports me back to the baby days and helps bring me comfort when I think about never experiencing that again.  Thank you for the comments that keep me going every day.

After Sam and Anna were born, I created a blog book of the posts I wrote up until their birth.  After their first birthday, I created another blog book using the posts I wrote that chronicle their first year.  Those books are priceless to me- ranking up there with my wedding scrapbook and Sam and Anna's baby photos.  I may not have made much time to create baby books for Sam and Anna, but these blog books say so much more than any baby book could anyway.  I am so grateful that I have them for always.

Here's to the first 400 posts!  Here's to the next 400 (and more!) to come!  And here's to you- thank you so much for commenting, supporting, and caring along the way!!!

14 months

Little tidbits at 14 months!

At 14 months, Sam:

is much more interested in words lately.  Everything is "what's that?"  and he tries so hard to say the words back to us.  His favorite word is "that!" right now and I'm working on getting him to learn "please" so that his requests don't sound so demanding!  He just learned "Baa" for sheep and "mOOOOO" for a picture of a cow.  Sam loves his Bella dog and excitedly signs "dog" when we get home from daycare and he sees her.

understands more and more every day.   Sam likes grabing his jacket and trying to put it on.  He'll move towards the door saying "dada...?" as if to ask if we can go for a walk already.  When you tell him to "be gentle," he'll stop patting the dog or Anna on the head and start petting instead.  Sam likes to challenge things he knows he should not do, like opening the fireplace doors or grabbing things he knows he's not supposed to touch.  He'll wait until you are looking, shake his head "no" and with a big grin on his face, touch it anyway. 

At 14 months, Anna:

loves to dance, dance, dance!  I can't hold her in the baby's room without her gesturing me to turn on the ipod dock so we can dance.  Her favorites are all over the board from Black Eyed Peas to Jason Mraz to Michael Jackson (or maybe that's her momma...)

is a big jokester.  She likes to give her hat to Sam and put his hat on her head and gaffaw at how silly they look with the wrong hat on.  She likes to kiss your nose with a wet sloppy kiss nd laugh before going in for another one.  She lifts her shirt when you ask her "where's your belly button?" and then giggles when you touch it.  But not stopping there, she will lift YOUR shirt, touch YOUR belly button and then giggle some more.

At 14 months, they both:

are showing lots of interest in beginning to use utensils on their own.  We given them forks and spoons now and both of them think it is a riot when they actually get food into their mouths using them. 

are fighting more and more over toys.  They try to rip the toy out of the other's grip with high pitched screams of unhappiness.  Then if they don't get the prized toy, they will have a massive temper tantrum in protest.  Anna tends to throw herself backwards when she's furious, while Sam throws himself forward.  It's hard not to laugh at how cute their tantrums look, but on the other hand, they are getting a little old already too!

are taking more and more steps.  I said I wouldn't worry about walking until they were 14 months old, and now here we are.  Each one will take 3ish steps in a row, but neither one really stands independently for any length of time.  Sam's too impatient to go slow enough to keep his balance right now.  His legs can't keep up with where his head wants to go.  His max is 10 steps in a row.  Anna's not willing to take the risk to take many steps on her own.  She likes to reach for your hands and hold on with a death grip so you can't attempt to let go.  I am getting impatient to meet the walking milestone so we can enjoy the warmer weather outside to its fullest potential.

Mother's Day Through the Eyes of a Mother

Last year, I was eager for Mother's Day.  I was looking forward to being able to experience the day on the "other side."  I had been a mother for 2 months.  Last year I was not dreading it and wishing it to pass quickly.  Too many years before last year were spent that way.  Last year we were in the thick of the survival period and a day meant to aknowledge the hard job I was doing felt good.  I felt honored and proud to finally be a mom.

This year, after over a year of being a mother to Sam and Anna and watching them grow, Mother's Day feels a little differently.  As cliche, cheesy or trite as it sounds- I don't need a Mother's Day to celebrate being a mother or a special day to feel honor or proud.  Being Sam and Anna's mother and mothering them every day is a gift itself- I feel honored and proud every date on the calendar.  Sunday could be any other Sunday and I would be just as happy to wake up and spend all day with them.  To eat breakfast in pajamas.  To play with toys on the floor.  To feel the sunshine while going for a walk.  To spend time together as a family- giggling together, dancing together, tickling together, kissing and hugging together.

Although I am looking forward to the day that I get messy art projects from Sam and Anna to show their love for me on Mother's Day (because who doesn't melt a little when you get a gift like that from a child???)- tomorrow could be just any other day.

An Email From My Mother In Law

Katie,

Thanks for the mother's day card, I love the photo (although Sam and Anna will hate it when they are teenagers!) I wanted to extend my congratulations to you on your second celebration of mother's day. Last year at this time you were caring for two tiny babies who were suffering from acid reflux. It was a wonderful time, but difficult compounded by lack of sleep for all four of you. I am sure the past year has been an amazing journey! Your children are growing and changing every day, and you and Jake are guiding them in that growth and knowledge. Just think how very different they are now then they were 12 months ago. And what joy they have brought to your lives. I know how very badly you wanted these children, and how much you went through to bring them into the world (emotionally, physically and financially). I also know that being a mother to two active toddlers while working full time is a huge undertaking, particularly because you go the extra mile to do everything to the very best of your ability. You are not a slacker, Katie. Just by being around your children it is evident that they are getting the maximum in love, care, and positive parenting. Sam and Anna (and some day their children) will bring you love, joy and comfort for all the days of your life. You are an awesome mother and I am grateful that my grandchildren will flourish with your care.



Love, Roxie

(Had to post my warm fuzzy for today!)

Wordless Wednesday

(Sometimes I just can't help but post new pictures I love.)

I Fought One Nap...

...and the one nap won.

Sam and Anna are now official 1-nap a day twinners at almost 14 months old.  I put up a good fight for a good two months, and I guess I should be satisfied that I strung Anna along successfully for that long to make it less painful for Sam. 

To stretch out two naps as long as possible, we were waking Sam and Anna up from their first nap no later than 1 1/2 hours after going to sleep, and letting them sleep no longer than 11:30 am.  They usually took a decent first nap (being put down around 9:30/10 am), but the afternoon nap was a battle (being put down around 2:30 pm).  We tried adjusting both nap times a little in both directions with no luck.  Some days, Anna refused to sleep again in the afternoon- resulting in her being awake for more than 7 hours in a stretch.  Not nice.  Most days, it took both Sam and Anna a long time to fall asleep for that second nap, resulting in playing and fussing for awhile, even if they were showing sleepy signs prior to being put down.  Sometimes this resulted in babies that wanted to keep on napping past 4 pm.  Also not nice.  The second nap length was all over the board too- sometimes as little as 30 minutes, sometimes 2 hours long, which made it harder to keep our typical schedule intact. 

This two nap schedule just wasn't working with bedtime anymore either.  Sam and Anna had begun to resist bedtime- chatting it up with each other sometimes up to an hour in their cribs.  They needed more awake time before being put down for bedtime, but I still felt they needed their usual bedtime to get enough total night sleep.  Nighttime sleep started becoming scattered with some night wakings on top of that.  All of this added up to a nap schedule that just wasn't working well anymore and something needed to be changed, whether I liked it or not.

Truth is, after experiencing a few days in a row of only one nap, I kind of like it.  I miss having the napping time in the morning to get myself ready (or take a nap myself on the weekends!), but that was just about all I was doing productively during the first nap when I was home.  Now that there's a good solid 3ish hour chunk in the afternoon, it is kind of too late to take a nap myself, I'm already dressed and presentable to go out in public(or I should be by that point)  so I've ended up making really good use of those three hours so far. 

One nap also frees up our morning for more possibilities.  Longer errand runs are possible.  The struggle we've always had with trying to work in a church service between naps and meals works so much easier now.  Going places like the zoo should be more feasible with the one nap plan as well. 

I've found too, that by the time that 3 hour mark rolls around, I'm that much more eager to smother my little ones with hugs and kisses again.  I miss them and their adorable grins and giggles.  I'm excited for them to wake up and see them again, rather than wishing they would sleep longer.

(Our daycare provider also thinks the one-nap plan works better for her routine with her other kids.)

This former one-nap hater might just be warming up to the idea a little.  Now if I can just figure out what to do when an event happens right in the middle of our one nap a day (like Sam and Anna's great-grandma's 90th birthday party in a few weeks)  I might just become a one-nap lover; as long as they continue to last for 3 hours in a stint, that is!