It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This weekend was packed full of events. It started off Tuesday night when we walked down Christmas tree lane. It is a must see if you are in the Central Valley...it is better this year, than it has been in the past. So many new things and always a joy when you get to walk down it.
Well...this weekend we also got the rest of the house decorated for Christmas. Rich was such a trooper last weekend to put the lights on the house...I'll remind myself to get outside to take a pic real soon! Then we went and got a tree. I wasn't sure how the girls were going to react with the tree in the house. But so far, they are full of ohhs and ahhs...it is amazing to watch!
Hannah also stood up and started walking this weekend, and looked at us like we were crazy when we were cheering for her. She gave us a look that she has been doing her steps her whole life. (Megan has been walking for about a week or so)

Oh and Megan fell and bumped her head badly...not only once but twice! She looks so tore up! My poor baby. I guess I am glad Rich already took the Christmas photos...which is why I am updating again tonight. We put together the photo for our cards, but I will not post that until a later time!
Here is a sneak peak though...enjoy!

Picture Catch up Day!

We sure had fun at the pumpkin patch! I don't know what it is, but watching kids do things for the very first time brings a sense of wonderment to you. Grandma and Grandpa went with us. Then when we got home, Hannah got to try on her Halloween costume for the very first time! Well...you see her little expression!
We have had great Fall so far.

We went to the zoo...and have had some play dates with the twins club. It will be so fun to see what comes of the Holiday season.

Tagged

Ok Darlena here you go! My neighbor, a good friend and a wonderful mother...tagged me...I had to go on my browers to the fourth folder and post the fourth picture.

So here is me at 12 weeks pregnant. Yes that is my 12 week belly....can you tell that I am having twins? Most women don't even show at this time and look at me, I am a house! I was put on bedrest at this time, so it was an afternoon after napping that Rich took the picture.

Ok...so if you read my blog...you are officially tagged!

Wonders....

Well, yes time has passed again, and I haven't posted in a while. Although I check in on blogs and love to read the updates, I fall behind on our happenings, of course with my little wonders, Hannah and Megan I sometimes wonder how I remember to get dressed in the morning for work!

We have been doing well. Megan had a couple of bad ear infections and we are hoping that on Thursday when they have a well baby check up, they will be good and we won't have to think about tubes. Hannah is just as happy as ever...Happy Hannah as everyone says, but 'Hannahbear' seems to be more fitting!

Halloween came and left with our little bugs loving their costumes. They have both taken a few unassisted steps but haven't done it since. We still have the toothless wonders...well they have 2 teeth...but no one is really worried about it, at least I don't think so.

The girls are still not quite 20 pounds but hope that I will have more of an update on Thursday!

Bug-a-boo

Today was such a fun day for the girls and myself. we went to a "twins club" Halloween party, and just had a blast watching all the kids and seeing all the gobblins and ghouls.....it is such a great group of women that let me know that i am not the only one experiencing certain things. the friendships I have made have been so wonderful as well. i can't believe that we have been apart of the group for a year now!
Hannah and Megan loved their lady bug costumes....so much, I could not take them off of them without a tear or two!

So cute!

Models?!?

Tagged....took me a while to catch up!

10 years ago I was:
1. 22 years old
2. starting my first year of teaching
3. just finished my credential from Fresno State
4. Never thinking about getting married or having twins
5. hanging out with friends and playing darts on any given night

5 things on today’s to do list:
1. go to babies r us
2. watch Emily play soccer
3. Go to Target
4. take a nap....have a cold/sinus infection
5. go grocery shopping...didn't get to it, will be on tomorrow's list

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. string cheese
2. yogurt
3. grapes
4. protein bars
5. popcorn

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off all bills
2. Start a trust fund for hannah and Megan
3. Go back to Australia
4. give money to charity
5. buy a honda oddyssey

5 places I have lived:
1. Arvada, co.
2. Fresno, Ca.
3.
4.
5.

jobs I have had:
1. Play it Again Sports
2. Hume Lake Christian Camp
3. St. Agnes Hospital
4. Roosevelt Elementary- Kinder.teacher
5. Hamilton Elementary- third grade

Birthday!

September 13th was such a special day! The girls turned 1 years old!!! I am so proud of them, they are doing so many things. They are full of personality and love to show off for you.
We had a sesame street theme party....I made the cakes, and they just had fun!

Busy

That is one word that I can truely say is my life. Work is back in session, the girls are back in daycare and we are inching closer to the girls 1st birthday.
THings that have been going on-

July- Hannah started crawling when Grandma and Grandpa were visiting.
August- Megan started Crawling right before I went back to work. School started for me. I have 16 students...loving every minute of it. The girls got really sick and they spent one week in daddy daycare (daddy did double duty with the stomach flu) We got to get upclose and personal with a firetruck, and went to our friend, the twin boys 1st birthday party.

To my fellow bloggers, I apologize for being MIA....but hopefully you all understand with the word, busy!

Too, Two Fun

We reached big milestones this weekend that couldn't have come to quickly since I go back to work starting Monday...

Megan Started Crawling!!! Hannah has been becoming a pro the last couple of weeks and it was making me sad not to see this milestone because I had to go back to work, but much to my amazement.....

Megan is CRAWLING....I am beyond excited!

I just hope I don't miss their first steps.....I have heard first words, seen first crawls, I hope I see first steps....


But taking one day at a time, I am planning their first birthday. I am so excited!

Yumm-O

Mommy made a new dinner for us....

Italian Goulash......Can you tell we liked it???

We also got Blueberries for dessert!

Nothing Sweeter

There is nothing sweeter than watching a baby sleep..... Hannah and Megan were always arm in arm when they were little...definitely two peas in a pod.

Now they sleep in their own beds, and there is nothing sweeter than walking into their room and finind this!

Memories

So I saw this on someone else's blog, and thought it was cute, but kinda cheesy. Well the more I thought about it, the more I started thinking about memories I have with my friends and family that I would want to comment about on their blogs. So I am doing this post not because I want you to leave memories of me, but so that hopefully you will post this on your blog, and I can leave memories of you!! Thanks!!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you knew me a little or a lot, if we’ve actually met in person or not, anything you remember!2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you

Gotta Love Medicine....

This last week has been very trying. Both girls have gotton really sick, and it has been not alot of sleeping. At first I thought they were teething, as you would think for 10 month olds they would have at least one tooth....but when their fevers reached 103.5 I knew there was something more.
We headed out to the doc's office on Tuesday, and poor Megan has an ear infection and throat infection and Hannah has an upper respiratory infection that got treated because the doc thought it could settle into pneumonia.

Poor girls.....


But after 3 days of antibiotics we are getting smiles back and they are talking and acting more like their happy selves.

YAY...gotta love medicine sometimes!

Photo Contest

Ok Fellow bloggers....
I entered the girls into a photo contest to win an IPOD it needs votes....

Could you please vote for me?

You don't have to sign up for a thing, and your info will not be shared just votes!

http://www.picture.com/voteforme/photovote1.asp?PID=3019582

Sleepy

How is it that a baby can be up all night screaming....until 4:30 in the morning, then sleep for 5 hours and wake up happy like nothing happened. Where me, I am awake until 4:30 in the morning, wake up again at 6:00 in the morning for the other baby...and can barely function.....


People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. ~Leo J. Burke

Happy Anniversary

It has been 4 wonderful years since I uttered those simple word, "I Do" that meant more than the simplicity of it all. Rich has shown me what it is to be loved and feel loved. He has stuck by me through the thick and the thin. He has supported me when I wanted to change grade levels while teaching, he held me when we lost our first pregnancy, and now he has shown me what a great father he is when we were blessed with twins. For this I say, I love you babe....it has been a wonderful 4 years so far, and I am blessed to have you and blessed that we are able to write a story together. I am looking forward to more of the chapters being written as more years pass!

I love you!

photo contests

So alot of people have asked me or told me I need to enter the girls into photo contests....so here is try #2.....it will win a pair of shoes...but at least I can try right?

http://www.contestformoms.com/babycontestphotos/thumbnails.php?album=62&page=1

Hard Job.....found in disgust....

Yuck....I went to sweep the kitchen floor, as the girls are starting to get more mobile.....I saw what I thought was pepper spilled on my floor, boy was I wrong! I swept my "pepper" for it to only come alive and start moving around....ewww.....I have bugs...back to the kitchen I go, hopefully I can find the source of the bugs or I am calling Clarks!

Working out!

We as many of you know, I am a dancer. I have been dancing since I was 3 years old, at the Grange there in Arvada. THen when I moved to California I began dancing at Terry Clark Dance. Well, I have been dancing for a greater part of my life 29 years to be exact....

Anyways, every MOnday night, I have a tap class that I take the girls to. Usually they sit so quietly and circle their ankles and fuss when we all stop tapping. Well, Not tonight.

Megan had nothing to do with sitting in the stroller and playing. So I had to hold her for the entire hour. One full hour of tapping with a 15 pound baby on your hip....I must say it was quite a work out for me, but for Meg? Well she was all smiles and giggles and just "wowed" every turn, tap and sound.....

Too funny!

New Beginnings

I have been thinking recently about how life makes many twists and turns, and how life can go by so fast that you really don't know what to make of it. I have been having an empty feeling inside, and realized what it was.....I had taken my life away from God, I used to attend bible studies and sunday service, and read the bible...I always gave my problems to God and asked for guidance....then in 2006 things changed. I got angry with him for taking my ^baby^ away from me. I was in a sprial downfall and felt that he took my baby from me.....then In 2007 I got pregnant again. My feelings towards God changed and I begged for forgiveness and to take me back again.

Now that I am in a new routine, and new life and realizing that I can't control everything in my life...I pledge to God and to all my friends....I am making a new beginning....I am praying for your happiness, and for a fulfilled life. I pray that each and every one of us celebrate successes big and small, and we share our lives with a greater being......I pray that we all seek the help we need and pray that we don't take anything for granted. Life is fragile, Life is small....we can make it better if we believe and work with our own strengths.

Thoughts

ok,so it has been a while since coming back to the blog...so many things are happening right now....for a while it felt as though it were spinning out of control. now, i really think things are falling back into place...but boy was i lonely.
I have had to give alot to God this last week, and realize that for piece of mind I can not fix everything, nor do I have control of everything. I have to ask for guidance and peace, or i am liable to have a nervous breakdown.

with that out....

here is our happenings....

We have had such a busy couple of weeks, and doesn't seem to be ending soon. We had a visit from Aunt D'Anna, Uncle John and Cousins Courtney and Jason...boy were they fun. Grandma and Grandpa were here too...we took family pictures (will be posted soon)
After that Poppy Walbridge has come to visit...next weekend we are going to visit our Great Grandma Veras....then we will have some down time.

WE are trying to get on our knees and are army crawling around the room.

For the fourth, we went to my sister's house for a BBQ and fireworks. The girls loved it, especially since we did NOT have any piccolo pete's.....hopefully next year they like it just as much.

9 months

As I stated earlier, the girls are 9 months old now. They had their well baby check up and.....the verdict is in......I have peanuts!!!!

Hannah weighs 16 pounds 5 oz. and is 26 1/2 inches long. She is in the 50th percentile for height and 20-25 % for weight.

Megan weighs 15 pounds 2 oz. and is 25 3/4 inches long she is in the 10-15 % for weight and the 25th for height.

They are so tiny....but LOVE their table food!

This was too fun!

74 As a 1930s wife, I am Superior Take the test!

Luck

I never knew how lucky I could be until i sat back and started looking at my life. God has blessed me with two beautiful daughters that never cease to amaze me. In their nine months of life on earth, each day brings me such joy and amazement. I think I have a permanent smile on my face for everything they do. I couldn't imagine my life any different, than with my two daughters. Yea, I may miss out on having mommy's little boy, but my two girls mean the world to me.
I have a husband who is not afraid to step in and help out, even if it means to ask a question or two. He is my rock, my friend, whom I don't know what life would be like without him. probably chaotic!
I have a supportive family who have helped me be the person I am today.

Is there more than that, that is needed for happiness???

Bear with me!

I think I found a better compromise to my blog dilemma! I want a pretty background, where all the links work! And I can still have my pictures and my poems....I think I have it.

I also figured out the blog roll!!!!! Wa-hoo.....thanks TRACY for the reccomendation!

Schedule

I know that there are others out there who have more than two...but multiples bring a new sense of scheduling and getting ready. So I thought I would post a schedule to let you know what a day is like with twins.....

6:30 am wake up---you hear 2 voices and 4 legs kicking the mattress you know it it time to get up. Start off with 2 diapers. Knowing that if one is poopy, the other is too...they are on the same schedule

6:45 2 bottles...down go 12 oz. of formula

7:30-8:00 breakfast Used to be oatmeal and a fruit, but recently they have been liking pancakes, cheerios and some sort of fruit...pears, peaches, strawberries or babanans.

8-9:00 play time! They play, giggle roll and try to get on their knees.

9:00-11:30 Nap time...just like clock work. Start with a diaper change...then lay them down with their music

11:30 or 12 when they wake up another diaper change (so as you see we already have gone through 6 diapers for the day) Then another bottle. Another 12 oz for the day.

12-1:00 play time

1:00 lunch time....hmm this changes but generally a veggie and a fruit...of course not pureed...they just want food they can pick up. Their fav. being zucchini

1:30-2:15 more play time then another diaper change...number 7 and 8 for diapers.

2:30-4 or 4:30 Nap time again. During this time...I try to pick up the house, and do a load of laundry and wash the rest of the bottles

4:30 another round of diaper changes....number 9 and 10 diapers...then bottles. Another 12 oz down.

4:30-6:00 play time...daddy comes home and plays too, while I throw together dinner. (usually a 30 minute meal from Rachel ray)

6:00 dinner time...another fruit veggie, and cheerios.

7:00 bath time. 20 finger, 20 toes, 8 cheeks, 2 tummies, 4 legs, 4 arms and 2 heads of hair. Also 2 more diapers....so 12 diapers a day. Or more if they have a poopy diaper in between....

7:15 bottle usually 3-4 oz each...then into bed. 2 hugs each girl 2 kisses for each girl, then lay down and you never hear another sound.

Whew...time to clean the kitchen up!

Changes

I am going through changes on my blog. (Thanks Tracy!) Another blog inspired me to do so. I will be working on it through out this next week. This is not set in stone, but we'll see what happens.

My Friend, My Husband, Their Daddy

I realized that my blog is mainly about my girls, or me. I have never put in a post about Rich. We are getting closer to our 4 year anniversary, and never have i found a person, more caring or supportive of me. Although he was very nervous to be a daddy, he has proved to be not only my best friend, but a wonderful daddy as well.

Ahhh....

It is 7:20 pm....the girls are sound asleep, bathed, fed and given bottles. Not bad for being home alone all day long.
Now I need to wash all of the bottles so I can watch, So you Think you Can Dance.

Wow!

9 months on June 13th

HANNAH
MEGAN
9 months.....Hannah and Megan you are growing up so fast. I am loving each and every stage that you are going through. Your personalities and love for one another and for mama and daddy is contagious. You keep a constant smile on our face and each new day brings a new adventure. I see your determination to learn to crawl....I know that anyday you will do it too!

Hannah your constant smile and laid back personality. Your love of sweet potatoes, and zucchini...I know you take after your mommy.

Megan your new poses and silly personality. I know that you are just like your daddy.

I can't wait to see your other milestones.

I love you more each day!
Mommy

New Word

Well I don't know if you call this a proud parent moment...or just a moment to let you know that your daughters are thinkers and understand somethings around them....

Zeno (the cat) walks by the girls daily and meows...well today as if it were a chorus for a new meow mixes commercial. Zeno walked by and both girls said....



"Meow"

oh so proud.....

now if I can figure out if they are part feline or part chipmunk...they seem to store their food in their cheeks...too cute!

Crazy?

Well today, I think everyone that lives here thinks I am crazy! I went grocery shopping with the girls. Thankfully they are sitting up now. So Hannah was able to go in the cart while Megan was carried in the infant bjorn. I went to a grocery store where you even pack your own groceries...and success....it was so fun!!!

i worked so hard for this...and i am so proud!!! i worked to get the girls on a schedule. rocking and rocking to make sure they slept at the same time...and wa-la....they sleep and eat at the same time everyday. i love it!!! they wake up around 6:30 or 7:00 and then nap in the morning around 9:30-11:30 and then again 2:30-4:00 I love their schedule. then at 7:00 at night they go to bed and sleep all the way through the night. i love it!!!!

megan has been making me laugh. she is in awe of the ceiling fans....to the point of her just saying WOW and then whispers wow. i am so in awe of her.
hannah crack me up with her bwa-bwa...then rolling all around the room.....too fun!

the wind down and hidden

Have you ever been a shadow in the world? Sometimes I wonder if I am just a shadow living a life with my family in a small little box that many can not see in. I seem to be looking through a tunnel into others and i think...wow no one notices I am existing or gone. I lurk here and there and get over looked in many ways. It is weird and nice, all at the same time. It doesn't seem to matter where I am either. At anyrate the most exciting thing is going to happen next week....

the last day of school!!!!!! My "year" is winding down. I will get 8 glorious weeks with my girls! I can't wait. I have missed so many firsts....and now I will experience their new ones. I can't wait to see when the girls start crawling....I just need Megan to get over her ear infection. Right now she is peacefully sleeping even though she didn't really eat all day. My poor baby! At any rate, I am going to clean the house, and see if I can make a comeback and become part of the world, come into existance!

ahhhh....vacation

the way i see it, every weekend should be a 3 day weekend. i was so relaxed today at work and wanted to "just have fun" with the kids...too bad not every Monday was a day off, i would enjoy going to work again. well...i do enjoy work, I am just ready for a break....so now a treat before the real time off! woo-hoo.......

precious life

so i have been sitting here trying to find the words to say to my friend, and the prayers that could be handed to her. she lost her baby at 22 weeks. she held her in her arms for a few short hours and then had to say good bye just as quickly as she said hello. i am at a loss for words. i know what it is like to say goodbye to a baby you want so dearly and now may 22 will always be a memorable day for her. God wanted this baby to stay with him...he wasn't willing to give her up. is that something i understand? no can't say that i do...does it help me realize that your family is needed to bond with and to care for...my heart goes out to her...i wish i could gracefully put into words what I want to tell her...i wish i could take the hurt and the pain and turn it around for her. i just want her to know that she is well loved and that i am terribly sorry for her loss. i send her the warmest love and the biggest (((HUGS)))that can get to her through the wire.....
may you find comfort and healing in this trying time! may your son's smiles and coos help you through and find the strength to move forward. your strength and fight is admirable and your little girl will always know what a fabulous mom you are and you will forever be her hero for never giving up.

two in one night

Here are the loves of my life...

stress

you know you are stressed when you can not speak words clearly. with 14 days of school left, i am faced with a long list of tasks that need to be completed by certain days....OMG is all i can say or shout. I have a list of testing that needs to be completed. activities that i want to do, but no time. the minutes tick by so fast....just when the day gets started, then it ends...hopefully after tomorrow i can check off some of the tasks...i am so ready for my list to be complete! maybe my skin will clear up, and i can relax this summer. knowing that tc is not coming eases my mind as well....i love the reading project, but it is not working with our students. I am so glad that there is change a comin' it helps out so much to know that others are noticing that change is needed. i just need my break from work,so i can start fresh with new students that will be coming to my room in August.....

8 month bliss

i never thought that motherhood could be as amazing as it is now. the girls are so full of personality and a real joy to be with. they hardly cry and have put themselves on the most awesome schedule ever. i think many are jealous that my two are as good as they are, but, after a rough pregnancy what can i say? God has blessed me once again. not only with the gift to have these two, but to have such great girls. i know some probably criticize that i had to stop breastfeeding, as with two i got so overwhelmed....but i think that 1 week shy of 6 months was pretty darn good.

the girls are hitting milestones but are not crawling yet. scooting around the room...yes, crawling? no. but barrels of fun are they.

on a side note....how do you tell others that they are over reacting without really telling them that? i have been part of a couple of chat rooms that i don't want to leave as i have found the coolest people in the world...and i am building friendships, but at the same time wow drama that comes about is too much for me at times. i wonder if there is way to tell someone to chill out with out hurting feelings? on a computer is difficult....in person would be better, but i don't talk on the phone to these people. oh what to do!
oh well, i think i have rambled enough. i can tell i am being a procrastinator right now. don't want to clean. if i at least vaccuum while the girls are sleeping, it will be better!

Patience

Boy, patience has been a great thing for me the last couple of weeks. I was on pins and needles for my neighbor to have her sweet baby...then the stress of standardized tests....I think I am one big knot! However, now that we are getting through the first week of testing...the knot is slowly going away.
But then I am still sad....I am sad for my dad's best friend who is passing away from cancer, I am sad about a friend of mine who may be going through a miscarriage. When I think about the number of women who have miscarriages and don't deserve them....it irk's me. I guess even with blessings under your wing, you just never get over that loss. What gets me, my baby would have been 2 years old now. That is so sad to me, that this time is going by.

Anyways-just some thoughts tonight....

New Picture

thoughts

you know it is pretty funny when you post information on the computer how people read into what you say, and what you really mean. without a voice, the computer is really not your friend. it creates drama even without people realizing what is happening, what could be one persons view completely harmless and truthful can throw a wrench into anothers side without trying. for instance, a thought about children with downs syndrome....life and love is truly learned from a child with special needs. and downs is no exception. i have a friend that is going in today to have a baby with downs and we are all elated to have this little boy to join our lives. he hasn't even made his appearance and everyone has open arms waiting for his appearance. but once again, what may be one persons view is totally not another. it is so weird how views change and people change over time. what could be a safe place to share thoughts and feelings may not always be a safe place....or may be a bit unwelcoming...it is strange how things change for a while, then all is well in the end. Life is like that in many ways, God has you meet many different people in a lifetime,and he never gives you more than you can chew...it is mysterious. life in general is a prayer after another, a worry after another a tear shed after another....i guess things work out for a reason,and everything is in His hands....

7 months

Wow- Has time really flown by! I sit here and think about the time that has gone by since September 13th, and I wonder if I am missing anything?
Oh, how I wish I could feel the kick and the jabs again....but how I would never give up the firsts that are here. The first giggles, the first rolls, and the first time eating food....but if you blink an eye, the time goes by faster than you wish.

Now that the girls are here, I have so many fears now that my girls are here....I worry about what they do, I worry about working....oh how I wish I could be a stay at home mom....I hope I don't ever miss out.

Love has grown between us. Nothing is better than hearing the words mamma....although R. will think that Dada is even better. I can't wait to see the milestone that are yet to come. But at this point I love my peanuts, and can not imagine my life without them.

Best Sound in the world!

This weekend I got to hear the best sound ever.....Megan is saying mamama....mama....she says it when she is happy and when she is crying, she will say it again. Music to my ears!

Hannah is so funny with her sounds...she is blowing bubbles and forces herself to laugh...it is hilarious!
I love to hear my babies coo!

new website

I wanted to have this blog be from me, while the girls got to post on their own site. Please check out www.totsites.com/tot/hannahandmegan

I'm back!

Well, it has been nearly a month since I posted...so much has happened, I don't know where to begin!
I went back to work....which has been an experience. Oh, how I wish I could just stay home and watch my girls grow up, I would be on cloud nine. But then, having the adult interaction is great as well!
The girls also got sick for their first time. It has been so upsetting to sit there and have your little one stare at you with long faces, and wonder "How can I make them better?"
We have had 3 trips to the doctors and one to the urgent care. Two rounds of antibiotics and now a new found hope that the ear infections will go away....
Thank goodness Grandma could come help us out.
I hope that I can keep my Blog a little more up to date...
Up coming events Hannah and Megan will be 5 months old in a few days, at their last appt. Hannah weighed 13 pounds and Megan almost weighed 12 pounds....ugh, they grow so fast!

Getting it done

Just had to share a pic, of the girls and I. They were fussy when daddy was cleaning the kitchen. You do what you have to do to get the job done right? Well, after about 10 minutes of walking around, they fell asleep...they both weigh about 10 pounds, but after they were asleep, they felt more like 25 pounds each!