My Valentine's

I'm sure I've mentioned here on the blog how Valentine's Day is right up there on the list as one of my favorite holidays of the year. However this year, we were sick and didn't do much that day but lay around and watch movies. Andrew had come down with an awful cold and Olivia and I had a stomach bug. I did however snap a few pictures a day or two before. So glad I did, because there were no pictures taken on Valentine's Day at this house. Stephen and I were able to celebrate earlier in the week, when a sweet lady from our ward offered to come watch all three kids so we could go out. We took advantage and headed out of the city for a little dinner. We also did do our traditional candlelit fondue dinner, the next day. I was just grateful I could spend Valentine's with those whom I love most!

So here are my Valentine's

So here's a darling picture of Andrew in a gift that he made for me at school. His smile here cracks me up! And he was sooo excited to give it to me! Love him!

 Miss Kathryn Mary

Little Olivia June

 Mr. Andrew Bruce

And of course my Sweetheart I love this guy. He is perfect for me in so many ways! I'm so grateful I get to spend eternity with him. 

4 Months Already???

4 months

Time is flying by with these girls. I honestly stay so busy that I can't keep up with the days and life is rushing by way too fast. 

Olivia 

Weight: 11lbs 6oz (7th percentile)

Height:23 3/4 inches (28th percentile)

Head circumference: 38 3/4 cm (3rd percentile)

This little girl is a ray of sunshine. She has become a master at getting out of tummy time and rolling from her tummy to her back. She is so strong and can lift her head up to 90 degrees on her tummy and stay there for quite some time.  She's found her hands which are constantly in her mouth and as well as her little voice. She is starting to really notice the world around her and tries to find her sister when she hears her crying.  She still has a sensitive tummy with her GERD and does pretty good most days, but some days she is still in a lot of pain. Poor thing! It's so hard when there isn't much more we can do for her. Thankfully she'll eventually grow out of it.

Trying to catch this little girls smile on the camera is tricky...she is super fast, but that smile sure melts my heart!

 Daddy's little girl

Her fingers are ALWAYS in that little mouth!

Kathryn 

Weight: 12lbs 13oz (29th percentile)

Height: 25 1/4 inches (83rd percentile)

Head circumference: 40 1/2 cm  (34th percentile)

This girl sure has had some growths spurts the last few months. She has gained over 3 pounds in just two months. She no longer fits in 3 month size clothing, we've moved onto 6 month on her. She loves to talk to anyone who's willing listen and loves to chat in front of the mirror or just to herself. It doesn't matter. She's become quite the chatter box. Kathryn's favorite song to sing is 'Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes'-complete with all the actions of course. She giggles every time and Andrew always asks if we can go faster. She is really batting and reaching for toys now and loves to blow bubbles. 

She absolutely loves mirrors!

 I love when I'm able to get some one-on-one time by myself with my kiddos. 

Savoring the moment!

She loved going for a walk and being outside on the warm spring days!

After we found out we were having twins, I prayed and prayed....about a lot of things, but one of those things was that these girls would be patient. Patient with me learning how to balance two babies. Patient with us as parents trying to learn how to share our time between three kids and patient with each other as they would have to wait for diaper changes and feedings etc.  Also, I prayed they'd be patient with their brother. Who although he's almost 4, his gross motor skills and self help skills are about the same as a 12-16 month old. He takes a lot of time and effort. I knew that these girls would be special little spirits joining our family and having a sibling with special needs. I am now seeing those prayers being answered. Heavenly Father has blessed our family with some wonderful and patient little girls, for which I am so grateful for. I honestly didn't know babies could be so good and easy. (I guess I only have Andrew to compare with and he certainly was not an easy baby with all his medical needs.) Yes, there are two. And yes, it's double the work and everything takes twice as long. But I am so thankful for my prayers being answered. Love them both so much! I sure am blessed.

 Story time with mommy!

 Tummy time is much more fun with a friend! 

Stephen came home from work earlier one evening and both these girls were awake and happy. He decided it was time to teach them how to wrestle.

 Sisters. 

They are just starting to notice each other, when I set them down by each other. It's pretty fun when they start smiling and talking just like they would into a mirror. 

 I braved by myself for the first time their 4 month doctors appointment. This time two nurses came in and did their shots at the same time. It about broke my heart to hear that little hurt cry come from both of them at the same time. Double heartstring pulling. 

January Happenings

Here's what we've been up to in January! 

We started off the new year with Andrew officially in Primary. He is a new little sunbeam this year! I just can't believe it. I tried to prepare him all week for Sunbeams, but he didn't really understand until we went the first week. He struggled and didn't want to go, but now he loves it! Singing time is a favorite and whenever we have family prayer he always asks if it's the opening prayer or the closing prayer. He sure makes us laugh! 

Stephen and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary this month. Crazy to think it's been 8 years! We were able to celebrate a bit too. We split the kids up between a few different people in our ward and headed to a mtg with Andrew's teacher at school...romantic right? But then we caught an early dinner after the meeting at the Cheesecake Factory. It was yummy and was our first time to be 'kid-free' in months! Love him! 

Another awesome January happening was that both girls officially are sleeping through the night. Just after Christmas we did a little sleep training and they learned so quickly how to put themselves to sleep and then sleeping through the night came just the next day. They have an evening feeding around 7-8pm and will be in bed by 10. Then they sleep until 6:30-7 in the morning. It's awesome and I feel like a human being again! 

We've had a bunch of warm days here in Georgia and it's getting me anxious for spring! We've tried to get outside and enjoy them while we can.

Once this kid gets on his bike, it's hard to get him off. He loves it and is getting pretty good and can peddle all by himself.

We ventured out to the pet store on Martin Luther King Day! Andrew had a day off of school and Stephen had to work. So we decided we needed to get out if the house for a bit and Andrew loved walking all around and seeing all the animals. 

Taking a walk around our complex, Andrew was eyeing the pool. It was full and he was begging us to go swimming. It was warm, but not that warm. Just a few more months buddy!

One Saturday we hit up Zoo Atlanta. It was awesome weather almost 70 degrees and we went the last half of the day, so it was pretty empty. We couldn't have planned it more perfectly. Andrew loved walking around everywhere in his walker and the girls were such troopers. Tons of the animals were out and active because of the warmer day, which made it a lot of fun. Of all the animals at the zoo, Andrew was most excited to see the panda bears and the snakes that day. 

 Riding the Komodo Dragon

 These girls did awesome and loved being out and about!

 Andrew has been into maps lately. He found that each sign at the zoo had a map and would ask where the map was showing.

I loved the parakeet house. It had tons of birds everywhere, flying all around you.  

 Family Picture

Here's Andrew's favorite snake because it was big and right up against the glass. As for me...I stay far far away from snakes. 

Our biggest adventure the last month has been potty training. Oh the joys! I somehow feel more official in the parenting realm, now that I've dived into the potty training phase of raising kids. Honestly, we didn't know if Andrew would ever be able to potty train. We thought we would be in diapers for many years after he was born. But he started to show some interest this summer, then everything happened with the girls and I was laying in a hospital bed, so that wasn't going to happen. I finally feel like I can tackle this. It really came down to Andrew having a messy diaper right before therapy one week and I somehow forgot to throw in an extra diaper into my purse. So we rushed out to the car. (We always keep 2-3 extra diapers in there) But for some reason there weren't any except a few size one diapers for the girls. So yes, just picture me in the back of a minivan trying to squeeze my almost 4 year old into a size one diaper...good thing this boy is Mr. skinny pants and has a tiny waist. It worked and was a temporary fix, but I realized we NEEDED to get him potty trained.

So we decided to keep him home from school for a few days and we dived into it one weekend last month.  Let's just say day one was a huge struggle and a bit traumatic for him...and for Stephen and I. Really,  I mean weeping, wailing and gnashing of the teeth doesn't even begin to describe the first day. Stephen and I looked at each other at the end of the day and said 'what are we doing???' We honestly thought we were going to scar him and he'd never get the whole potty training thing down. Days two and three were a little rough, but things are much better now. He is very intrinsically motivated, this boy doesn't want to earn a m&m no....he just loves flushing the toilet as a reward. I'm all over that one. EASY!

It's been a concern whether he is ready or not with his physical disability and he's also on a muscle relaxing medication that he takes 3x's a day for his spasticity. I didn't want to dive in to potty training, not knowing if he had the fine motor muscle control. But after the horrible first day. He came right up to me the second day first thing and said, "Mommy, I fixed it! I don't have to go potty ANY more." I tried so hard not to laugh....fixed it huh? I don't think you can hold it in forever kid....but good try.

Now we are to the point where we usually only have one accident a day, if any. But I have to remind him to go every hour or so. So I wouldn't say he's totally potty trained. He doesn't self-initiate and tell me he has to go. Although, he has done it a handful of times, but it's always a hit and miss. With his CP, I don't know how long, if ever, that he'll be able to go and sit down on a toilet all by himself and be totally independent. But that's okay. He's been diaper free for almost four weeks now and that's awesome news in this house. I was way too tired of changing diapers for three children. 

Andrew found one of the toilet training books I'd borrowed from a friend. He was insisting that he read it to me. Such a funny boy!