Updates and photos

I know during my last blog, I posted a photo of our recent play date with 3 other sets of twin boys. However, I thought I would share the rest of the photos as it was just so cute to see all these babies playing together! All of these babies' mothers are in PAMOM and although I live nowhere near these ladies, I thought it was worth the hike to get the guys out of the house. I try to get them out at least once a day, even if it's to the store. This house just gets too small for all of us to be cooped up all day. Plus, it's amazing that they have SO many toys and after they play with them a few times, they are so bored! Most days are spent finding new pots and pans to bang on!

Run Jakie Run!

Look! Babies that stay in one spot!!!

I also must comment on the fact that my children's brains seem to grow leaps and bounds every single day. Their vocabulary is ever expanding...yet still no one has mastered "mom." Jonah has stared almost making sentences lately. He says, "Whassat" ALL THE TIME as he points at something. It is amazing! The other day we were getting ready to leave and I had 3 out of their 4 shoes. I kept saying, "we need to find a shoe guys, we're missing one shoe" while I looked under couches and in toy baskets. Then a few minutes later, while I was changing Jake's diaper, here comes super-smart Jonah with the missing shoe in hand. I just stood their with my mouth open for a few seconds...how did he know what I was saying? And these days, it seems like he says hi to everyone. OH, and let's not forget our furry friends. Jonah (and sometimes Jake) greets them all with a finger pointing and a "woo woo" which I translate to mean "woof".

And Jake seems to understand just as much. He likes to take the shoes off the shoe rack but when I ask him to put them back, he does. And if I ask him to hand me something that's on the floor, 9 times out of 10, I'll have it within seconds. Unbelievable! Of course sometimes, he'll run from me when I ask, but most of the time he decides to be sweet. See...here I'm asking him to give mommy back her phone for the 100th time that day. Thank you Jakie!

And it's so cute when GG or Granddad calls because as soon as I say "Hi GG" or "Hi Granddad"...echos usually follow. Super cute! And one of THE most adorable things ever that my kids are recently doing is helping mommy clean! It feels like I'm cleaning ALL the live long day. And apparently, the twins think so too. So, they've decided to pitch in. Anytime Jake has a cloth, napkin or wet wipe at his reach, he will bend over and use it to wipe the floor or carpet. He watched me mop the other day and then took the liberty of helping me swifer afterwards. And then Jonah has started adding a "hmmmm" sound when he swifers...like he's vaccuming. Ugh, so precious! A couple of days ago, they both ran their small toys along the carpet with the "hmmm" sound...which I think meant they were using the dustbuster. Ha! And, of course there's helping mommy with the laundry. My boys are SO helpful!

I couldn't turn this one but here's Jonah vaccuming. (And yes, it was a "no pants" friday afternoon)

And last night as the boys were getting ready for bed and doing the opposite of cleaning in their nursery, they decided that it was time to tell daddy who was boss around here. A wrestling fest broke out...and daddy didn't win. Hee hee.

But the most helpful thing they're doing lately is saving mom's back! The boys have figured out how to crawl down the stairs backwards so I don't have to carry 40+ pounds of baby up and down the stairs! It does make me nervous, but mostly appreciative. Jake has quickly mastered it and although you can't tell from this video, he'll flip his legs up and slide down on his belly...and boy is he fast. His GG and Aunt caught him doing this for the first time the other day and burst out laughing at his skills.

It's an exciting time in our lives, but boy does it wear me out! I am constantly on guard with these boys and I honestly don't feel like 2 eyeballs is enough. I have to watch them all the time, which as anyone knows is almost impossible with 2. Jake has learned how to open doors and mommy not only has less of a way to confine the boys when necessary, she can't even go to the restroom without company. They are soooo busy learning and touching and doing and jumping and running. They're having a blast but their attention span is super short and they're so fast that it's a challenge for me to even empty the dishwasher anymore without someone running off with a fork. Eeek! I love where they are in their development but I must say...it makes for one tired momma come bedtime. But, I wouldn't have it any other way. Love my boys!

And for my praying friends, would you mind asking the Big Guy to help find my parents some jobs! Both have been laid off and it's a hard time to be looking for a job these days. Thanks in advance.

I am so blessed!

Recently I came upon an icon on one of the blogs I follow. It showed a tiny little arm that was just engulfed by her father's wedding ring. It said, "Please Pray For Kayleigh". I have seen this icon on occasion and the other day, I decided to see if this was a feel good story. The other day, it was a bad day and I've been intrigued to follow since then. I decided to check on her again tonight. Well, all I can say is that I am a pool of blubber right now. This sweet little girl who was born 12 weeks early weighing 1 lb and going through a string of over 200 medical procedures (including being the youngest person ever to undergo open heart surgery) lost her fight for life this week. Her parents are UNBELIEVABLY strong Christians and their faith is one of the strongest I've ever seen. Even in their suffering they are delighting in their gift from God and know that each day brings them closer to seeing their little girl in Heaven again.

This makes me think about my precious friend Allison. She and I met online and were both carrying twins when we decided to buddy up. Our due dates were within days. We became very close, emailing as if we were on instant message about our aches and pains. We both found out we were carrying boys around the same time. Our stories were so parallel. Then, at 25 weeks, Allison was in a car accident on the way home and both boys did not survive. Even though I have never met this woman in person, when I found out...I was a wreck. She and I are still close and this Mother's Day was a happy day for her as she was able to hug and kiss her newborn, Henry.

Hearing about and reading these stories makes me feel so ridiculously blessed. I have amazing, wonderfully healthy baby boys. And I don't know why God chose me for this journey but I will GLADLY hold on tight and enjoy this ride. I know that each day is a gift for me to wake up from the sounds of not one but two little cries. I try not to complain when I have to get out of bed to rock someone back to sleep because I know some people don't have that privilege. I don't even mind it when someone poops on the floor (Jake). I just try to laugh it off and enjoy the fact that I have this cute story to tell.

So, my point is, I'm a grateful mother. I'm so glad that I have twin boys. They fill my heart with more love than I even knew was possible. And I thank God for them and the family around me helping to raise them. I'm not sure why some children are only here to bless our lives for a short while, but it's not for me to know right now. The ony thing I need to know is that God only gives us what we can handle. And he is ALWAYS here for us to lean on. And although I thought he took the day off when I found out that I was carrying 2 babies, I know now that He chose to bless me on that day...even though I had no idea it was really what I always wanted. So tonight I will pray for Kayleigh's family and I will praise Him for her time here with her family and I will also say a thank you for Allison's bundle of joy as well as my two monkeys. And tomorrow I will kiss my boys 150 more times that I already do.

Aunt Lissa and the awesome Odin in our tent!














This was after we got back from our Mother's Day lunch. It was just a cute shot.














Jonah is chewing on his straw as Aunt Lo and I are trying to clean up the mess the boys made on the floor of the restaurant.











And Monkey See Monkey Do these days!











And last week we had a play date with 3 other sets of twin boys! 8 babies total!!











Jake is a ham these days as you can see. There is no piece of furniture or obstacle that these boys can't tackle anymore...I'm in trouble!