Jillian & Lyla 18 months

My sweet baby girls are getting big. The twins had their 18 month check up this morning. Thank goodness Grace was there, she was really a big help with mama doing it all on her own. I joked I facebook that I deserve a medal doing it on my own. Doctors appointments with twins are brutal. Its a lot with 2 crazy toddlers by yourself. It goes something like this: one baby is up on the table screaming like the doctor is trying to kill her. As I am trying to comfort her, the other child is crawling around the floor getting who knows what diseases and eating the board book she found God knows where while the doctor asks me questions about each of their development that I can barely hear because everyone is crying. I must look like a daff crazy woman as I stare blankly at him trying to remember which twin is doing what when. Good times. I am going to start wearing a tank top into that place because I come outta there a sweaty mess. I also would like to bathe my children in hand sanitizer but I digress.

Back to my original point. 18 month check up. My healthy girls are in the 35-40th % for weight and the 70th for height. Good growing for my baby beans that started off so tiny. No surprise with the way they eat. Holy moly these babies can eat. I swear I don't know where they put it but they can put it away. They eat more than their four yar old sister by far. One of my questions to the doctor was actually if I should cut them off at some point. Aunt Nicki jokes that they are like dogs and if given the chance would eat themselves to death. Dr. Tim assured me children at their age eat out of hunger not for any of the other silly reasons us adults do. So we will just keep feeding the crazies and hope we don't run out food.

My other question/concern is about their speech. They really aren't saying many actual words. They can say four words: hi, mama, dada, uh-oh. I know its not a matter of hearing or lack of comprehension because they respond appropriately and can follow directions. They know exactly what we are saying, now if we could only figure out their "twin speak". In talking to my friend Kristin who went through the same thing with her twins there isn't a whole lot we can do. Jillian knows exactly what Lyla's grunt means and responds in turn with her own grunt which just reinforces this language. Dr. Tim said if they don't add any more words in the next 3 months to let him know. He doesn't get real concerned until 2 or 2.5 and then we could look into speech therapy.

Its funny how different each child is. Grace was speaking in full sentences at 18 months. The twins sound like little cave men in comparison. Its so hard not to compare but I am also ot really worried. Grace's strengths were fine motor and language while the twins are big muscle and coordination. Give them a chair, stool, kitchen drawers and no mountain is too high. They are so curious and and so very active.

Everyday is an adventure. They amaze and astound me on a daily basis. This is Jillian and Lyla at 18 months.

1st Day of {Pre}School

Another first in the life of a child. First day of preschool!! Orientation was last Thursday and Grace was less than thrilled with us leaving her alone in the classroom while we went to the gym. This is a child whom I have been blessed enough to never have left with a stranger in her 4 years here on earth. Was it time? Yep. Was I still anxious and close to tears the last couple of days? Absolutely. Is she so ready and I know she will do great? For sure :)

Let me digress for some bragging. Grace has been reading for about a month or so now. Not War and Peace or anything but just shy of her fourth birthday she not only recognized every letter but knew what sound they made and could sound out 3-4 letter words. I don't attribute this to anything I did, I credit it to Nana and Leap Frog. Hahaha. No, but really she was just really interested and wanted to read. So my concern for her is not academically but social. She is my shy guy and thats okay. The fact that the shirt she chose to wear on her first day says "social butterfly" makes me chuckle a little bit. The interaction and social aspect of preschool will be so good for her. When I initially told her she was going to go to school she said, "I GONNA BE SHY!!". I said thats okay your daddy was shy until he was 14 and he turned out okay :)

Speaking of my biggest shy guy, this is the note he left for Grace. Cue round 1 of tears for mommy.

Grace woke up happy and ready to go. We got her dressed and brushed her hair and teeth first thing which is different than a Nana day. I told her she was wearing Ally's hand-me-down t-shirt and that it made her brave at her new school and would make her brave too. Big 'ol smile. We talked about what her day would be like while she was on the potty. She was looking forward to doing the weather board, playing with the kitchen, and finding out what circle time was all about. She was exited and calm and ready to go.

We got in the car and she was fine until we puled into the line for drop-off. When the tears started falling I asked her if she was going to be a big girl and she nodded yes. I told her I was proud of her, I loved her, and that Nana would pick her up after circle time. Mrs. Tippens opened the door and ended up having to carry her in crying. She remembered Grace from orientation "having a hard time" so I am sure she took extra special care of her. I pulled away with tears in my eyes too but I knew she was in good hands.

Mommy: How was your day?

Grace: good

M: What did you do?

G: Circle time and played on the playground.

M: Do you want to go back?

G: Yeah but I might have tears because I am shy.

M: Did you make any new friends?

G: No. {pause} I was happy when I played with Noah on the playground.

M: What is your teachers name again, I forget?

G: Mrs. Tippens mommy

M: Did you learn anything?

G: How to go out on the playground.

:)

Road Trip

On our way to to Twinsburg OH for the annual twin festival. Stopped at McDonalds on the way and everyone stared at us. I said to Adam that since there will be approximately 1500 other sets of twins there we won't be stared at. We will blend right in...with all the other crazies :)

YaYa Sucking her fingers in the car. Seriously. Cutest. Ever.




Bean Beans holding her Shara Tiara doll. So. sweet.

And my big girl. Konks out before the crazy twins.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Blogging

Well hello, dear blog. How I cherish you. Really I do, despite my lack of bloggy love. I had twins and forgot all about you. The 2 babies at the same time while working full time and you just fell by the wayside. I am going to try and do better. Promise, k? :)

Going to try this mobile blogging stuff. I think I can handle that, right? I so miss blogging because it gave my pictures and everyday life a "voice". FB is nice to remember little anecdotal things but there is no way to document it forever. At least not yet (someone get on that, will ya?)

I am going to make an effort because I know I am going to want to look back at it someday. I am not promising anything long or lengthy and the pictures are going to be straight from the iPhone but it is something.

So here it goes...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Great Wolf Lodge

We went to Great Wolf Lodge in January with the Huffs and had a blast. Grace loved the water park and keeps asking when we are going back. 6 kids under 5 was a little crazy but fun. We joke with the Huffs that we need to find some friends with no kids! Lol. It is nice to hang with people who "get it" if ya know what I mean.

Donnie and Grace bonded over story time, cartoons, and pizza. Nolan declared Lyla "his baby". It was uncanny how he immediately took to her and could tell them apart no problem. Isn't this the sweetest?

That leaves Big A and Jilli Bean a match made in heaven, at least according to Jillian's future MIL Katie :)

Adrian and Katie also celebrated a birthday while we were there, 1 and 30!! Two big milestones and we were thrilled to be a part of it.

It was pretty magical that during story time at the lodge is snowed in the lobby. Seeing the look on Grace's face was just priceless.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Allan

On Jan 31 my father in law Allan passed away suddenly at home. Words fail at a time like this but I was able to write him a letter to express what he meaned to me. He was so much more to me that just my father in law. He was my biggest fan, my partner in crime, my children's Papa, my husbands best friend, my... family.

Life is short. Tell those you love how much you love them. Don't waste time on things that don't matter or waste energy on feelings that are hurtful. Our time is too precious to spend it doing anything but trying to be happy.

Dear Allan,

I miss you so much. I have only known you for 13 short years but you have made such an impression on my heart that there will forever be a piece of it missing now that you are gone. I owe you so much, you have been such a big part of my happiness. You created and molded the love of my life. I know you know how special Adam is because he is so much like you. How many times over the years have I shaken my head at something you did or said and marvel at how much you two are alike. You would say something to Ann or have a certain mannerism and I would say, “Oh my God Adam does the same thing”.  He is a little lost without you…we all are. You were his best friend and he loved just being with you. You filled up a room with your presence and that is going to be greatly missed. My only peace is that you live on in him, your other boys, and our little girls.

You immediately welcomed me into your family with open arms. You even said to Adam early on in our relationship, “Don’t screw this one up”. That makes me laugh. You always made me feel like I was “your girl” and the daughter you never had. After 3 boys you treated me like a princess and I loved every minute of it. You always greeted me with that infectious smile and a big bear hug. I was special in your eyes and you even let me sit in your favorite chair. You loved me like you loved everyone, with your whole heart. Here was this big tough man on the outside but you were such a gentle, kind soul. You never missed one of my gymnastics meets in college. There you were having no clue about this gymnastics stuff but having enough appreciation for athletics in general to be my biggest fan. I loved when you would try to coach me afterwards even though you had no idea what the moves were called. You were so curious about everything. You made people feel like you really cared about them, and you truly did.

We would sit on the porch of Duck Lake together a lot. Everyone else would be inside or out on the dock but you and I had some good talks out there in those rocking chairs. I would be hugely pregnant, or sunburned, or just trying to escape the craziness and there you would be right beside me. I’m going to miss that so much.

What breaks my heart the most is that our little girls won’t get to grow up knowing their incredible Papa.You would have loved to see them do anything when they were older, whether it was gymnastics or under water basket weaving. You would have been there in the stands cheering the loudest. When we asked Grace what she loved most about her papa, she said he plays with me, tells me stories, and says, “where can I get me one of those mushbeards?!”. You always made her laugh. You got such a kick out of her and her spunky personality. Your voice will forever resonate in my head telling her that she was the most beautiful girl in the whole world. The look on your face holding those babies when they were born will also be imprinted in my memory forever. You could not have loved those girls any more, they were your pride and joy and you let them and everyone else know it.

Thank you for loving us like nobody else can. I am not sure what we are going to do without you. What I do know that we now have the ultimate guardian angel watching over us.

I love you,

Jane

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Jillian & Lyla: 6 Months

I had no idea what to expect 6 months ago. Twins. Two babies. I was scared and I knew that my life was going to change and it was going to be really hard.

What I didn't expect was that it was going to be so....wonderful. Now I am not trying to say that it isn't difficult at times but having twins has been amazing. Two babies is quite literally double the joy. These two have absolutely and completely stolen my heart. They are so different. They are so alike. They have this incredible bond with each other but still love their mama.

I have been blessed with angel babies. They are a force of nature that I feel lucky to be a part of. Below, I have written a letter to each of them for memory's sake.

Dear Jillian Kate,

Also known as Jilli, Jilli Bean, Beaners, Beanie, Beanie Baby, and Chunky Monkey. You are my sweet girl. It is hard to believe you came into our world only 6 months ago because now I can’t imagine my world without you in it. Daddy and I cried tears of joy when we saw you for the first time and you have continued to be an absolute joy ever since. You are the happiest baby. You fill our house with happiness and I can’t help but smile when I see your sweet face. Smiling for you is a whole body experience. You are charming and social and people instantly fall in love with you. You remind me a lot of your big sister Grace when she was a baby. I feel like I get to relive some of her babyhood with you. Speaking of that big sister, you love her so much. You love when she talks to you and to watch her play. You are very sensitive in in-tune to Lyla too. When she cries it startles you and makes you upset. You love to be close to her and to hold her hand. You will forever be baby A, #1 of the matched set and you play that role very well. While you are extremely good natured, you are a bit impatient and don’t like to be kept waiting. When you are tired you just can’t cope. So far you have hit your milestones a little earlier than your little sister by 7 minutes, always just a few steps ahead.  You like your paci at night when you are falling asleep. It took us a while to figure it out but you like to sleep on your belly and you love to have your head rubbed, it soothes you and makes you happy. You laughed for the first time this past week and it was one of the best sounds I have ever heard. You had daddy and I in tears laughing at you and your guttural belly laugh. You also like to blow raspberries and talk to people. You have always loved to be talked to and to look at faces. You reach your little hand out to touch faces like you are studying every feature. You love music and to be sung too. Even when you were just a newborn you would react to singing and dancing on TV. Maybe you will have a future in Broadway and be the only one in our family with musical ability? You are such a blessing Jilli Bean. You make my heart full and make our lives feel complete. I love you and Happy ½ Birthday.

Love,

Mama

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Dear Lyla Claire,

Also know as Lyla Bean, Ya-Ya, Ya-Ya Bean, Peanut, Scooter, and Slobber Monkey. You are my amazing little peanut. You came quite literally shooting into our lives 6 months ago and have been full of surprises ever since. It is hard to believe you have only been here for 6 months because now I can’t imagine life with you. You march to the beat of your own drummer and I love that about you. Your first 7-8 weeks you must have had some awful gas pain because you cried a lot and just seemed uncomfortable. And compared to your twin, Miss Happy Pants Jilli, it would have made anyone look bad! But you are like the little engine that could. We have learned not to underestimate you little one. Now you are the most content baby I have ever encountered. We may have to work a little bit harder for a reaction out of you but when we get one it makes it that much more special because you are so animated. You are kinda goofy. You make us laugh with your antics already. You have this look in your eye like you are up to something and you never stop moving! I have a feeling you are going to be our stinker, giving us all a run for our money. But all you have to do is flash that crooked smile and mama melts. That is the same crooked smile your daddy has and I love that he passed it down to you for me to fall in love with all over again. You love to watch your sisters but they spend most of their time trying to get your attention not the other way around.  You will forever be baby B, #2 in the matched set. You are so good about waiting your turn and being patient. You don’t get worked up about much and I love that about you. You are just my laid back, happy little love. You have slept through the night on your belly since about 8 weeks despite Jilli crying right next to you. I think you are probably going to be our comedian, entertaining us at the dinner table and making us laugh. You are also perpetual motion: you are always moving and exploring. You have 2 speeds: full tilt or out cold. You are such a good sleeper, we just lay you down and you put your 2 fingers in your mouth and your little butt up in the air and are good to go. You are such a blessing Lyla Bean. You make my heart full and make our lives feel complete. I love you and Happy ½ Birthday.

Love,

Mama

***UPDATE*** 
At their 6 month check up on 1/3/11 here are the stats:
Jilli: 15lbs (22nd%) and 26.25" (58th%)
Lyla: 14lbs 3oz (12%) and 26" (48th%)