March Madness!

I have recently found out that 2 of my friends are pregnant again after having their first baby a couple of years ago..And I have two other friends pregnant with Twins..When I first heard this and we were talking about those first few weeks when you find out.. You are so nervous! You have to wait until 8 weeks to find out if those words "Pregnant" on the pregnancy test are really true.. I found out I was pregnant when I was only TEN DAYS pregnant.. So yeah, the wait to 8 weeks seemed like FOREVER..

You are also, at that point, just pregnant enough to feel weird, but not awful.. Your body has no concept of whats about to happen.. Or at least mine didn't.. Every Twitch, nauseous feeling makes you think.. "Is The baby ok,? Is something wrong with the baby? Is something wrong with me?".. I mean those first 8 weeks are rough..

I realized as everyone was talking about the woes, and joys of being pregnant.. that I don't really remember much of my pregnancy. I remember little details, and things that happened, but it really was a whirlwind.. and for a second, my ovaries twitched thinking "Would I want to have another baby?"... The answer is NO.. but it made me realize that when I found out I was pregnant...then pregnant with TWINS....then pregnant with twin GIRLS.. that it all just went by so fast! It seems like it was just one shocking event after the other!

For those of you who have never read the story about MJ and I finding out we were pregnant... then having twins.. Here's this link.. I seriously could not tell the story better than this time.. KC IS PREGNANT! 

So needless to say, it was one shocking event after another.. then the girls arrived.. I realized that when you are pregnant with twins, there really is no 'blissful' period in which you get to sit back and just enjoy being pregnant.. I went from feeling sickish and bloated.. to feeling HUGE... to not being able to stand for more than 5 minutes.. to Modified Bed Rest.. to even BIGGER and Heavier.. And not being able to move without pain, and not being able to sleep.. To worrying about having them early (Pre-mature labor happens frequently with twins).. to worrying about having them naturally.. I mean it was kinda never ending..

The good thing, for me, anyway, is other than all those things, which I think is the result of building two giant babies, was that I had it pretty good.. I never had high blood pressure, heartburn, preeclampsia, swelling.. nada.. Everything was pretty good on that regard.. but I swear its because I took a million vitamins a day.. I mean I seriously took 25 Vitamins per day.. For real.

So maybe if I wasn't an old bat.. I might think of having another baby someday.. like when the girls were four or five and they could HELP me.. I have no desire to have one when I have Toddlers. Crosslee doesn't even want to share me with Londyn, who has been here FROM THE BEGINNING.. So yeah, she's not going to want to share me with some new little being.. But I do wish I had had the opportunity to enjoy it more.. I think when you have two babies you miss some of the magic of pregnancy, and the magic of infancy. I'm also WAY more likely to have twins again, after having spontaneous, fraternal twins the first time outta no where.. so yeah, you all know I would be THAT guy that had another set of Twin girls.. and then MJ would cry himself to sleep at night.. lol

I was not a fan of the infancy phase..The First few months are pretty terrible.. Two crying, hungry, small humans that are literally sucking your life.. lol.. Now they are 22 months, and I wouldn't have it any other way.. but the no-sleeping, no reward infancy phase is ROUGH with twins.. People don't get it until they have ONE baby.. then they will come up to Jordan and I and say "Man, I don't know how you guys survived".. Honestly, we don't either.. but now we agree its awesome, and we are super grateful for our healthy, happy girls.. But I will say.. Yes, if you only had one, your life was easier, and I'm jealous of your pregnancy bliss, and bonding time with baby.. I will also say, if you are reading this and pregnant with twins.. Check yourself.. Crap is about to get real..

So in other news.. Londyn saw her speech therapist last week. It went well.. Is she saying any more words? No.. but she did get her to ask for More by bringing.... wait for it...... Conversation hearts candy! lol.. Both Londyn and Cross loved those. Its funny because when the therapist comes over Cross really kinda thinks its for her.. so she takes all her toys and trinkets and plays with them and just loves it.. not realizing that its really supposed to be helping Londyn. Londyn did stay in the room this time though, so we are making progress!

Gigi and Pa took the girls last weekend. Mom had some puppies at the farm that she was placing and wanted to take the girls pics with the dogs.. However, Cross hated the dogs. Which is shocking. Cross loves all animals all the time...but there were 10 puppies and I guess it was a little overwhelming.. so it didn't really happen.. But they had a good time with Pa and Gigi..

On Sunday mom brought the girls back and stayed the night.. so the next day I took off work and we took the girls to the Science Museum.. They LOVE going there.. mainly because they have so many places where they can just run, be free, and play with stuff.. Londyn loves going up and down things.. and Cross loves the tumbling blocks.. and they both love the Water Tables.. They were soaked, but had a great time.

I also found a treasure on Craigslist.. A Climbing castle with a slide.. So Lance, My co-worker and I successfully picked that up over a lunch period without being stabbed, shot at, or having our Achilles cut.. Craigslist Success!

This weekend our neighborhood is having an Easter Egg Hunt. Not sure the girls will care much about it.. but Cross loves opening those little eggs and finding treasures, and Londyn loves running.. so it will be a win either way!

Oh! And I Love Amazon Prime.. I already loved it because you get free 2 day shipping on everything.. Which is awesome.. but now I love Amazon Prime MUSIC.. They have all the Il Divo Songs! I'm in heaven.. thank you Amazon Prime, yet again...

So.. one more thing.. If you didn't watch EMPIRE on TV this season.. you are missing out. Seriously one of the best shows on.. Oh, and that new show Secrets and Lies is pretty good too.. But not nearly as good as EMPIRE, so on demand it..

Oh, and one more thing, can you believe its been 5 years since I've been off the radio? Yeah.. I know.. tragic.. I still feel it everyday too.. But I'm still drinking from my Saucer.. Cuz my cup has overflowed.. Tis true.

Two Lanes of Freedom

I think its pretty safe to assume by now that everyone is sick of Winter.. I was thinking it was extra terrible this year.. then I read my blog last year where I was also crying about it.. so I think the theme is by this time of year, we all get sick of Winter..

Londyn has now had two appointments with her therapist.. so far it consists of Londyn running from  her. lol Londyn is very independent and her favorite thing in life is exploring.. So it is very hard to convince her to stay in one place very long.. She was not much fun at Christmas opening presents because she just ran off! But.. the nice thing is the therapist is very patient and just follows her around. Right now we are working with her asking for things. She's never really had to do that because if Cross asked for a snack..we just automatically gave Londyn one.. Or if Cross wanted a banana, we just gave Londyn the other half.. Plus Londyn is just not a demanding child.. Cross is.. So when she wants something we just give one to LL figuring she will want one eventually anyway.. lol

We'll see how it goes. I'm not too worried about it..She is a super happy girl that loves to explore, play in her sand, and drink her smoothies, so life is good. Being that we have had such crummy weather we have been looking for fun things to do with them.. So we went to the Science Museum last Sunday and had a great time! Londyn loved just running all over the place and they have a nice, enclosed place for the younger kids to play safely.. They both loved the tumbling mats.. Except for Cross thought she was 10 and could tumble with the 10 year olds.. So I had to move her to keep them from smashing her.. But You couldn't convince her that she couldn't 'flip' like they were flipping.. Its a fun place to take Toddlers..and while they are 2 and  under, they get in free.. which is good because for adults its like $15, and we don't get to have that much fun, lol

Mom came up yesterday and stayed the night..then she took the girls to the farm this weekend.. Dad will probably come and get LL tomorrow morning to play with him and Grammy J in Sentinel.. They had Cross last time, so now its LL's turn.. I think its important for them to spend time apart and get to enjoy some 1 on 1 with their grandparents.. plus watching ONE of them is so much easier than BOTH of them.. Other Twin parents tell me that once they turn like 3 or 4 it is much easier than having just one because they will play and entertain each other.. I hope that is true..because right now its just trying to keep them from fighting each other.. Cross wants to play with LL..but LL wants no part of it..

Cross has been getting in trouble this week for being mean to Londyn by pushing her, and taking all her stuff.. and for being mean to the dogs. She LOVES the dogs.. LOVES them.. but has no concept of why she can't chase them.. squeeze them.. or swat them with her broom.. so we have been learning hard lessons this week. Hopefully that will be short lived. Cross has such a kind spirit for animals that I don't think it will take too long..

We aren't looking forward to the so called "Terrible Two's".. Several of the folks in our small group have 2 year olds and it sounds frightening so far.. No one wants to have 'that kid' that bites.. spits.. or hits other kids.. So hopefully they will learn that those things are not acceptable..

I was looking back at my Timehop from a year ago and its been a year since the girls  had their Church Dedication, and since Leslie (nanny) started with us.. What a difference a year makes.. Its been a great one though. So thankful for all the people in our lives that love the girls..and so Thankful for our new small group at church.. We are all so excited to watch our kiddos' grow up together.. What a cool blessing.

I have to say, and this is going to sound pretty sappy for me, since I'm NOT a high-feeler.. Watching the world turn through the eyes of a child has been pretty incredible..

 Everyday Cross finds something new and exciting..and its as small as opening up her play dough container.. she will say "Ohh!!" like its the most exciting thing.. Watching Londyn trek through the snow and smash it with her boots..taking in every step that she takes and listening to the sound it makes.. Seeing the shock on Cross's face when I tell her that Payslee does NOT like to be swept with the broom.. Laughing at Londyn who sings herself to sleep each night with the prettiest little voice.. Giggling at Cross when she says "byyyyeeeee" in a southern Accent when I leave.. or "Oh No!" when something drops on the floor.. The innocence in their faces and the joy is just so awesome to watch..














Here's some things I've learned from my Toddlers

1) Be Careful who you trust-- Cross is very picky when it comes to people she loves.. but when she loves them, she loves them with all her heart. She's scared of strangers, but she warms up pretty quickly once they prove they are 'good' to her..

2) Appreciate the Details-- Londyn loves to examine the tiniest details on things.. the way things work. Sometimes we overlook the details because we are in such a rush to get to the next big thing. She will study magazines, her books and her blocks to see how they are made.. the way the work, and whats inside. She can't be rushed when she is reading her books.

3) Appreciate Surprises-- Some people hate surprises because they like to be in control of what happens next. When you surprise toddlers with something new, or show them a new trick, or even jump out from behind the chair.. its seriously the best thing in their world.

4) Mom's Make Everything Better-- I've always known this about my mom, and I hope my girls always feel that way about me. Cross is going through a phase (its been a LONG phase, lol) where she wants all my attention, all my hugs, and all my playtime. Being that she has a twin, I can't do this all the time, but I always make time for her, even if that means stopping what I'm doing just to pick her up and carry her for awhile. I know she won't always want to be around me every second.. I grew up having the mom everyone loved, wanted to be around, and i was always so proud she was mine. Thats what I strive for. My Mom and My Grandma were the best examples of how to be a good Mama. I'm so fortunate to have both of them.

5) Outside is a beautiful thing--I spend all day indoors, but I've always loved being outside, and so do my girls. They love going to the farm to explore new things.. They love sunshine on their face.. They have no concept of why they can't go outside when its 15..all they want to do is go outside and enjoy that freedom. They don't even need a reason to go outside.. they just want to be out there in God's Canvas..

6) Never overlook an opportunity for an adventure--I let Crosslee walk around the block in the falling snow.. because she thought it was awesome. I can guarantee you that I would NOT have done that had she not kept walking, but she did...and we both had an awesome adventure making tracks in the falling snow, tasting it on our lips, and dancing in other people's yards!

7) Love Your Spouse--My girls are so happy when we are all sitting around the dinner table, or at a resturant. Cross loves to do a "roll call" of who's there.. "Da Mome! (me) "Dae!" (daddy) "EES" (sissy) JA! (the owl) and she smiles so big once she checks off the fact that everyone is sitting there.. Londyn loves it before bedtime when we are all sitting and reading books. They both KNOW we are present, we are there, and we always will be. MJ hugs me the second he gets home at night and gives me a kiss.. I love that they see how much we love each other, and I love how much he loves them, and sees how much I love them.

8) Enjoy your food-- It takes Londyn LITERALLY an hour to eat.. Why? Because she savors each piece. She cracks me up because she smashes the food into her mouth.. but then chews and chews it.. She picks up each piece, looks at it, and then eats it. She loves biscuits.. and she will pick off each piece and enjoys it. Her face lights up when I bring out fruit.. she literally cheers. I've always been in such a hurry when I'm eating that I forget to enjoy the food sometimes, but Londyn is a true example of enjoying her food!

9) Its good to feel pretty-- When I get the girls ready for church I will say "Go Show Daddy how cute you are" and they run into the living room and he picks them up and tells them how pretty they are.. We all like to feel pretty..and like to be told we are pretty.. With all the pressure these days to be 'perfect'.. sometimes we forget to feel pretty with what we have, even if its not perfect.. I'm healthy, I'm able, and I have great eyelashes.. I'm celebrating that.

10) Its Ok to cry when something, or someone hurts you-- I suck at this. I'm not a cryer. I'm not very emotional.. but sometimes I should be.. People assume that because I'm not eat up with feelings that its ok to hurt mine.. Or to speak to me a certain way.. Well even though I'm not a high-feeler that doesn't put up with a lot of crap... it doesn't give people the right to talk to me ugly, or say things that hurt my feelings.. Toddlers are all about instant gratification.. If something happens they don't like, they cry. I sometimes wonder if I could get away with more if I just started kicking, screaming and falling out when I didn't like something someone said or did.. lol.. That would be SO great.

So even though they are little ego maniacs that seem to have some sort of a death wish.. we could all stop and learn a lot from our Toddlers.. The most important being God's Grace. Don't you know he looks down and watches us make the same mistakes every. single. day.. Just like we do with our kids.. but he never quits loving us.. He never quits believing in us.. and he never gives up on us. His  Grace, his love, and his compassion over rides every single stupid thing we do. His love is unconditional, just like my love is for the girls.. Even when they test my patience, test my boundaries, and test my intelligence.. they never test my love.. Just like the love of Our Father, its never ending..