One Year Ago Today

One year ago today, I woke up feeling kind of funny and thought to myself "I wonder if I should take a test?" One year ago today, I took the test and saw two sweet little pink lines. One year ago today, I had NO idea how much my life would change, and that those pink lines meant an instant family of four. One year ago today...

The day I found out was the Monday before my sister's wedding. My mom was in town and staying at my house. Jeremy had left for work and I got to sleep in because I had taken the week off from work to help get things ready. As soon as my eyes popped open I decided to take the test. When both lines appeared I could hardly see them straight as I was still trying to get my eyes to focus. I immediately went to find my mom who was in the back yard on the phone. As soon as she saw me, she hung up and asked if I was pregnant. Indeed I was. We did the typical girl thing and cried and hugged and jumped up and down. As soon as we calmed down, my mom ran to Walgreens to buy two more tests. They all came back positive in less than 10 seconds. "Oh, my!" I kept saying to myself. "How will I tell Jer?"

I decided sooner was better than later because I didn't want to take away from Court's week. So I called Jer and asked him to meet me for lunch. It's a LONG drive for him to come to this side of town and he's usually reluctant, not that day though. Somehow he easily agreed and we settled on The Range Cafe. We met soon after and I gave us long enough to order drinks before I offered Jer his "early" birthday present. We had a family member's wedding on his birthday and so I told him I was excited to give it him and since we wouldn't get a chance to celebrate later, now was the time. As he started unwrapping his gift, I went on and on about how it was the perfect gift, how he had wanted one for soooo long, blah, blah, blah. He was clueless. That is until he opened the box. As he slid the tape open, the sleave of the "Tax Deduction" onesie popped out. I've never seen Jer go as blank as he was in the moment. He simply stared at me and asked over and over, "Are you kidding me?"

I can't really remember the rest of the day. It included lots and lots of happy phone calls and congratulations but that's about it. I do remember the sheer joy of it though.

A few weeks later I was having quite a bit of pain in my abdomin. We called the OB and she wanted us to go straight to the ER to get checked out. They thought the pregnancy was etopic and if so, it needed to be removed before it ruptured. The next seven hours were so draining and worrisome. Our joy had sunk and we thought the worst. As they wheeled me down the hall for an ultrasound, I just remember holding Jer's hand and being so thankful he was there with me. I knew no matter how bad things got, at least he was there. We talked briefly with the tech who told us he could not disclose anything to us about what he saw. What a liar. He did his thing for about 20 minutes and then told me because I was so good and didn't ask any questions, he would show us a little something. Well he lied again. He showed us two little somethings. He had turned the screen towards me and said, "So here's the uterus and here's Baby A and Baby A's heartbeat, and here is Baby B and Baby B's heartbeat, do twins run in your family?!?!" Whaaaaa? Twins??? Are you sure? And he was sure. The doc came and confirmed and told us the pain was just a rapidly expanding tummy. Seven months later, well you know the ending...

One year ago today. Life is but a vapor.

Make Believe Time with Abe

5 ways to play dress up. All you need is a willing participant and a dish towel. Dew Rag Aber

Aber, the nun

The ghost of A.B.

Rocky Abey-Adrian!

Spa Abe

Am I too cruel or what?!

Well.....

We made it through the night! A little crying from Abe, only because he flips over onto his belly and then gets mad, but other than that pretty successful. Ben needed a little coaxing to go back to sleep at 4 am but only like five minutes worth. As for Jer and I, we ended up watching a movie instead of going to sleep. It was TOTALLY not worth it. Oh well. There's always tonight, and tomorrow night, and the night after that.....hahahahahaha! Sleep, wonderful sleep!

Ummmm...

So tonight we going to metaphorically "rock the boat." We are not waking the boys for their 10pm feeding. They are on their own from 8pm until 6am tomorrow. Jer and I are celebrating by doing something we haven't done in a LONG time....

We're going to bed at 9.

Come on Babywise, don't let me down now.

Five Months Old

Your're five months young now
My, my, how you change each day

Slow down for my sake

You're five months young now

Sometimes the day brings such chaos

I wouldn't trade it

You're five months young now

The world is so new to you

Don't worry, I'll teach you

You're five months young now

Such a fun time to watch you
Your laugh makes me laugh

You're five months young now

I love you more everyday

A love like no other

Half Shark, Half Boy

I was trying to get some video of Abe smiling but all he EVER wants to do is roll over or chew on his hand! Here he is doing some of what he does best, chomping on his fingers! He's a wild man I tell you! Watch me try to pull his hand away and he decides to just eat mine instead. No sound, only video. Enyoy!

Bathtime Benji

Footy Pajamas...

Do I love you because you're cute and you make Ben and Abe oh so snuggly? Or because it means that it's bedtime? I think a little of both...

4 Month Check Up

The boys went to the doc today for their 4 month shots, all five of them. That's right FIVE! The appointment went about as well as two four month olds getting five shots each could. The poor nurse...she was about 110 years old and had NO idea what hit her. She kept apologizing but the boys showed her no mercy. I just smiled and hoped the sweat stains weren't visable.

On the upside, Abe is missed it by a hair, so close we could almost taste it, about to make it onto the charts. He weighed in at 12 lbs. 12 oz, 24 1/2 inches long, and a 40cm head circumfrence. (Also known as the size of a Bobbin newborn! HA!) When we asked the doc about a weird little rash under his neck his reponse was that it was a sweat rash on a chubby baby. I kind of liked that response. Aber is finally in the "chubby" category. As for little Benito, he's still a close second. He weighed 10 lbs. 10 oz, 23 inches long, and a 39cm head circumference. He's no where near close to making it onto the charts. In fact he's in the red. That's okay with us though. As long as he's bright eyed and active, we're good. And for those of you that know Ben...well bright eyed just about completely describes him.

Dr. Kulasinghe also gave us the go ahead to give Abe rice cereal and a few first foods. I think we're going to try and wait until the boys hit 6 months though before we start them on anything other than rice. The breastmilk is just so good for them and has so much fat for growing...they just need all the help they can get. Eventually we'll have to start some food though. The boys are eating close to 65 oz. of milk a day between the two of them!

5 months on Friday...where has the time gone?!?

A Few From the Weekend...

Don't know what toy to play with? Play with all of them!

A sea of stripes

Benji Boy

Goobers

According to Jer...

[Jer while assembling the boys new sports themed mobile that HE carefully picked out]

"This stupid random red ball is supposed to go in the middle of the mobile, but I'm going to put the football in the middle because football is the ULTIMATE sport. Also, you're lucky I'm leaving this soccer ball on here."

Well, okay then.

And that's exactly how I found it a couple hours later when I went in to get the boys up from their nap. I guess there's nothing like passing your own biases onto your children. : )

Benji's 1st Haircut

Our little Benji boy got his first trim today. We're actively trying to counteract "The Donald" (as in Donald Trump) which is what we call his combover.Before

After~Don't look too excited Ben!

Twin Time

Recently we've been putting the boys together, face to face, and letting them interact. They really seem to be noticing each other more and more lately. This morning they were cooing and laughing at each other and it was such a hilarious thing to watch! We didn't have our video camera charged but we managed to catch a few pictures...

A Chance to Bake Again

After many months of baking...nothing...I finally got my chance again this past weekend. It feels so good to be getting back to my old self again. This was the final product:

Wal-Mart May Never Be the Same

Ever been shopping at Wal-Mart, had a basket full of groceries, and then your baby has a giant blow out? I have! I did my shopping last night with poo down my pants, on my flip flop and between my toes. Oh and another nice addition was the poo trail we left between the dog food isle and the shampoo isle. Of course I left the diaper bag at home too. Why does this only happen when you're out and about? Have a story of your own...leave it in the comments!

Benji Boy and His Hands

Jeremy took these pictures yesterday of Benji staring at his hands. It looks like it finally clicked that those things are attached and move when he wants them too! We were talking about it tonight and both agree that we can't wait until he can put his own pacifier in his mouth!

The Beginning of Sibling Rivalry

Uh-Oh.

Go Aber!

Look at Abey go! Is he trying to crawl or just get away from the camera?!?

Morning Thoughts

It's early, barely after 6am and I've just finished feeding the boys. Jer made coffee and the sound and smell of it brewing is filling the kitchen and living room. Another familiar sound. The dryer humming. For a moment I rewind 15-20 years and I'm reminded of when I was a kid. All those mornings getting up for school, soccer, and swimming lessons, there were always the familiar sounds and smells of coffee brewing, the dryer running, and even the morning news. I can almost see my mom standing in the kitchen filling the coffee pot or my dad sitting on the couch drinking coffee and reading the paper. It was such a warm and secure feeling to wake up to those same things every morning. I knew that when I got up and heard and saw those things, everything was just as it should.

Fast forward to my living room and now my boys are waking up to the same things.

It's amazing how when your kids are born so is the overwhelming desire to give them all of the things that you were given and more. You want them to have the same good experiences and to share the same fond memories that you had as a kid. So as I sit typing, I am also wondering how Ben and Abe will remember our mornings together. What will be the things that remind them of mom and dad, that remind them of home?

And then the thought came to me...they will remember our mornings however we instill them. I think of my parents when I smell coffee brewing in the morning only because that's what my parents did in the morning, every morning. I hear the news or a newspaper crinkling and I think of my dad, only because that's what he watched or read. So, when I want to know how the boys will remember us, I simply need to ask myself, "How do you want them to?"

I want them to remember us as parents who loved God and who tried to teach them to love God too. Who read the Word, studied it, commited it to our hearts and obeyed it. Who desired to do what was right in His eyes and who lived in a manner that brought Him glory, honor and praise in EVERYTHING we did, even the brewing of our coffee in the morning.

I trust they will have fond memories of their mom's pancakes on Saturday mornings, or watching cartoons in their jammies with daddy, but even more so I hope that in every circumstance they remember that we tried to teach them about God and His love and sacrafice for us. Further, I pray that their security does not from the familiar smells and sounds of home, but rather from the eternal hope that He, and He alone, brings.

No small undertaking for sure, but thank you Lord that your mercy and grace is sufficient.

Who Are These Babies?!

The boys seem to be meeting so many milestones lately! It's been such a delight to watch them progressing! I posted earlier this week how hard it is to consider that just four months ago they needed so much help eating and now things are so very different for them! Here's a few things that they've been doing lately:

Ben-Laughs when we tickle him; rolls from back to side; coos, squeals, and gurgles; smiles responsively; shows emotions, like happiness and excitement; quiets self with thumb and fingers; holds eye contact and intently gazes (especially at momma); studies faces; tracks moving persons; cries when we leave the room.

Abe-Wiggles himself across the floor by arching his back and pushing off with his feet; laughs when tickled; can grasp toy dangled in front of him; rolls from back to tummy; makes loud sounds; can support himself on his legs when we stand him up; plays with his hands; throws a fit when we wipe his face or change his diaper (bad boy, Aber).

I can't wait to see what another four months holds.

A Boy and His Ball

We introduced Benji to this ball this weekend and life for him hasn't been the same since! He's been playing with it NON-STOP for the last two days. He even fusses when he drops it and it rolls away! Sweet boy, it's hard to believe that just a few months ago you could hardly drink from a bottle! My, my, how fast you grow.

A 4th of July Haiku

Fireworks go BOOM! BOOM!

No more sleeping Ben and Abe

Thanks 4th of July

New Pics

New pictures posted in the Benji and Aber slide show...enjoy!