Day in the Life in July

Despite being sure I had the calendar on my iPod set up to remind me as soon as I woke up on the 8th about it being Day in the Life… it didn’t happen.  That is, of course, because I did NOT have it set up correctly.  The problem has since been rectified.  That said, the first picture is from noon. 

Before then…

1am: I woke up with a cough.  I think my fan was hitting me in the face and drying out my throat.  I went to the bathroom and right back to sleep, facing the other way.

4am: Woke up, Matt brought me the babies to nurse, and I browsed Facebook on my iPod.  I was in and out of sleep until

7:15, when James needed help in the bathroom.  We snuggled a few minutes in my bed before the babies needed me.

7:30: I nursed the babies on the couch.  Then I made myself a plate of leftover Chinese food for breakfast.  I sat on the floor and ate it with the babes.

We went into the nursery and sorted through the bigger baby clothes for some summer 12 month sized things.  Then I got the babies changed into their matching race car duds.  James was a little sad he didn’t have one to wear. :)

8:50: I put the babies down for a  nap.  Poor Michael fussed and did not want to give it up.  He did though.

Then I made myself a bagel and James some yogurt for our second breakfast.

I sat on the couch and read a little Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone (Anybody else reread all of these from time to time?)  I crashed at some point while James played on the floor.

9:50: Lisa texted me that she would bring my girls home at 10:30. (I bet you were wondering why I hadn’t mentioned them!)

10:15: Michael woke up and we hung out.

10:30: The girls came home – yaaaaaaayyyyy!!

10:35: I had to wake up Thomas since Michael was grouchy and ready for some milk.  I nursed them.

11:00: I decided to pack everyone in the car to grab burgers for the bigs and a Dr. Pepper for me.  I was SO TIRED.

When we got home the babies played in their exersaucers while the kids ate.  I’m also positive I made them apples or something healthy to go with their burgers.

At 11:50 we were playing in the nursery and folding diapers when I realized it was the 8th! (That’s when I took the way above picture of Thomas)

12:10: I laid the babies down for a nap.  At 12:30 Michael finally stopped fussing.  At 12:40 Thomas started fussing.  I went in and tried to settle him.  He eventually went back to sleep.

12:20: Joanna and I caught up on some school reading on the couch.

Natalie and James played dolls and trains on the floor.

At 1:00 I fixed myself another little plate of leftover Chinese food for lunch.

1:10: Michael was up so I sent Joanna in to talk to him while I finished eating.

1:40: Both babies were up and I nursed them.

2:10: I fixed myself some yogurt and granola while the babies played. (In addition to being super tired, I was also ravenously hungry that day.  Well, it’s been most of the week now.)

2:30: Diaper time!

Often I lay one baby in a crib while I change the other one, then swap ‘em.

Thomas was happy in the crib so I left him there.  Then I curled up with a boppy pillow.  Sooooo tired, remember?

We all played in the nursery for quite a while.  James got the biggest kick out of coming over and laying on top of me.

I’m guessing Michael was getting grouchy at this point which is why I’m holding him. (But I also wasn’t taking the best notes at this point, so I’m not sure.)

I think I put the babies down for a nap about 3:30.  Around then Matt came home to change clothes and brush his teeth for an appointment about his implant tooth.

I remember being pretty crashed out on the couch when he left at 4 for his appointment.

At 4:45 I made the big kids each a s’more.

Big hit.  Really big hit.

At 4:50 the babies were up and I nursed them.

Matt came home at 5:30ish.  I did a little computer work, adjusting our budget and online payments and whatnot.  I just had an urge to get all that done, and it felt great!

The babies must have been playing on the floor while I did that.

At 6:00 I made a kids a quick snacky dinner of popcorn and smoothies.

Another big hit.  The smoothies were full of frozen fruit, full-fat Greek yogurt, raw milk, and spinach.  Good stuff!

I nursed the babies at 6:15 and Matt got them ready for bed and down about 6:50.

I’ll tell you what true love is, folks.  It’s letting your wife eat the rest of the leftover Chinese food for dinner.  He’s a keeper.

At some point the man even made himself some eggs and toast for his own dinner.  I can’t remember whether it was before or after the big kids went to bed at 7:30.  They went to sleep pretty easily.  The girls were very tired from staying up way too late at the sleepover.  :)

Matt and I watched television for awhile.  We likely also ate ice cream or something.

At 10:30 I was headed to bed.  A good day!

This and That

Some of these pictures are from last month because I am a blog slacker.  Some are edited, and some are not.  Again: blog slacker. :)  So there’s not really one story here, just some cute things.

Oh James…

One day it was rainy and it seemed like a good day for puddle jumping.

Unfortunately this one had just broken her arm so she had to stay in the garage with the babes.

But that was fun too.  And she was a great sport about it.

This was just a few days ago.  I thought I could do something cool with all the sunny spots in the yard.  But it didn’t turn out quite how I pictured it.  Pretty mown grass though.

Joanna apparently found some of this grass at the fireworks and had to bring it home.  The next morning she spent some time artfully arranging it for the windowsill.  Then when it was storming outside I thought that it looked like a pretty picture.

Matt and James got their hair cut on Sunday, and James was ecstatic to get a lollipop.

It was root beer flavored.  He is still talking about it. (It’s the little things, right?)

Oh this boy.

This reminds me that it is totally (for real) on my list to learn how to cut James’ hair this summer.  I’m scared and I don’t want to, but my pocketbook shall thank me. (I did some math about three little boys and haircuts, and it wasn’t pretty.)  Anyway, I know there are YouTube videos aplenty, so I shall commence learning.  :)

Yesterday my sweet Thomas fell asleep in the car on the way home and actually stayed asleep when I got him out of the seat.  It was amazing!  Unfortunately his twin brother was awake and hungry, so I had to wake my snuggler. Poor twin babies.  ;)

I made a casserole with rice and chicken and broccoli (and cream and chicken broth and garlic and salt and I think that’s all), and it was nice and soft so I thought the boys might like it.  And they did.

Well, Thomas did anyway.  Michael just doesn’t love food yet, though he gives it a try.  This is one of those things about twins that’s kind of hard/weird.  These two have different body shapes, eating styles, growth patterns, but they’re still living in the same house, eating the same things, and growing up at the same time.  It’s hard not to compare them to each other.  But Thomas is a chunk and Michael… isn’t.  :)

The Fourth of July!

First and foremost, I got everyone dressed in their red, white, and blue duds.  :)  The babies had these cute matching outfits, but they’re size 3-6 months.  I had to tuck the onesie flaps into the shorts without snapping them.  :)  It’s okay though, because they’re adorable.  I made everyone pose for me.

Then Gran and Grandpa David grabbed the big three and took them to watch the local parade.  I stayed home with a couple of napping babies.

I don’t think they missed me.  :)

Matt made it home from work by about 3:00, and we got ready to go to Grandma’s house.

I had to take a picture of Joanna in her blue and white while holding a red chicken.  Very patriotic!

First up the bigs had to help Uncle Steve crank the homemade ice cream!

And of course we had to have a cousins’ first Independence Day shot.  That’s Michael, Thomas, and Drew from left to right.

Joanna and Drew must have called each other – they were matching!

Aunt Gail made a red, white, and blue cake.  James is still talking about it.  :)

At some point the babies were grouchy, so I let Gran put the “easy” one to sleep.  Then she joined Mr. Michael for a little snooze.

I put Thomas in the Ergo and commenced a lot of bouncing and swaying.  Eventually he crashed!

After they woke up and had some dinner, we headed home to put everyone to bed.  The big three were going to watch fireworks with Gran and Grandpa David, so they got to keep their clothes on.  I made them go “rest” in their beds though.  I was pretty sure this would happen:

(Side note: I opened the window blinds, but it wasn’t quite enough light, so I shined my iPod on them as well.)

This kid was HARD to wake up. I gathered him in my arms and sat him up in my lap.  Then he grabbed the bottom of my shirt and tried to use it as a blanket.  Ha! 

Finally, I woke him up and got everyone loaded in the van. 

Mom sent me a couple of pictures of their firework watching.

She said Natalie wouldn’t get out of her lap.  :)

I love this one of Joanna with the fireworks in the background.

Maybe next year I’ll beg/borrow/steal a nice long lens and take some firework pictures.

I may have said that last year too.  :)

The kiddos had a wonderful time and seem to have recovered okay from staying up so late!!

Eight Months!

The babes turned 8 months old on June 29th, and we managed these pictures in the afternoon.  The light wasn’t quite as perfect as I would have liked, but the sun was hiding behind the clouds often enough to give it a try.  :)

I plopped Thomas down and told Natalie to stand behind him (just in case!) while I got my settings right.  But then I loved this one!

Thomas was pretty much hamming it up in all the shots, but Michael was more serious.  :)

Mr. Sock Monkey made his appearance – they could be triplets!

I looooooove this one.  I think they look like little old men, Thomas especially.  Look at all those heavy thoughts and wrinkles!

The next day, I took a few more, mostly of Michael, since his personality wasn’t really shining through the day before.  He frequently crawls himself backward under the changing table.

Joanna and Thomas were playing stacking cups around this time.

I looooooove this one too!  She has such a special bond with her baby brothers.

A few days ago I cooked the babies up some rice and carrots in homemade chicken broth.  I thought that would be a way to get some good nutrients without actually having to chew up chicken.  :)  They only have three teeth between them.

It was a hit.  Michael even wore some rice on his face.

I guess there were bananas too.  Loving the foot up on the tray.

What big eyes you have Michael!  In case it wasn’t obvious, they both needs baths right after this mess!

They’re doing really well with their eating.  Thomas is better at it than Michael, but I know that won’t always be the case.  :)  I typically feed them just one meal of “food” each day.  Mainly that’s because it’s a lot of work, and they don’t seem to need it yet.  So far they have eaten (or at least tasted): avocado, banana, peach, watermelon, carrots, rice, Cheerios, potatoes, sweet potatoes, puffs, chicken broth, plain Greek yogurt, and pinto beans.  I think that’s it.

Other things about these sweet boys at 8 months old:

• Michael can still squeeze into most 3-6 month sized clothes, but 6-9 fits him best.  Thomas cannot really squeeze.
• They have mostly moved to two naps per day, but they aren’t very long.  Sometimes they need a third nap.  Sometimes they take it.  Sometimes they’re just grouchy for a while in the late afternoon.
• Both boys can get up on their knees and rock.  I’ve seen Michael almost take a little crawl.  They both kind of scootch backward.
• Thomas LOVES to knock down towers of cups or blocks.  It’s his favorite.  Michael likes it too, but in a normal way.  Thomas is obsessed.
• I think Thomas can say “Momma.” 
• Thomas is sitting up very well, though he can’t get into or out of a sitting position on his own.  Well, he can fall over, but he doesn’t like that.  Michael is still quite wobbly, though he can sit for a little bit with someone behind him to help.  It’s fun to play with toys and “talk” to his brother that way.
• Thomas’ other bottom front tooth has popped through, but it’s still tiny.
• Thomas has drawn blood due to biting while nursing – twice!  I have been very diligent since then on trying to avoid that.  Ow!!
• Their night sleep is fine, though it’s been better.  A typical night has them eating in the 5 o’clock hour and going down in the 6 o’clock hour.  (Pushing these times back does not help the morning come later.) They most often wake up to eat in the 4 or 5 o’clock hour and then go back to sleep until 7 or 8.  Occasionally they will push the early morning feed until 6 something, but then they’re up for the morning.  It’s not terribly predictable, but we’re flexible people.  :)
• Michael can fall asleep in someone’s arms relatively easily.  It’s much harder for Thomas; he needs his bed.  I did manage to put him to sleep in the Ergo yesterday, but it took a half hour or so of intense jiggling and bouncing.  It was pretty good exercise I guess.
• They are 2/3 of the way through their first year, and that seems kind of unbelievable. 
• They are so stinkin’ cute and sweet, and so different from each other.  It’s very fun to be raising siblings who happen to be the same age.  :)