Today is our fifth anniversary!  Crazy how fast five years can go.  And even crazier how much our lives have changed in that time.  But one thing’s for sure…I do love this man every bit as much (and more) as this day I married him.  Happy Anniversary, Eric!

Our Jeep is sitting snugly in our garage.  It only took one day for it to be worked on instead of multiple days.  For it’s very own “spa” day, the Jeep got new front brakes/rotors and tires (with alignments), a brake flush, a transmission flush, a new air filter and serpentine belt, a new brake light in the back window, and an A/C recharge with dye. 

Sadly, I expect that the “recharge” did not actually fix our A/C, but it’s a start.  I’m pretty sure we’ll be back in a week or two for a second attempt, but at least I have it for now!

And since the Jeep is back, I can go places if I want to.

Of course, we all three have colds, so I think naps may be the most important thing we do today.  But I still haven’t gotten Eric an anniversary card or gift for tomorrow and we’re running low on milk.  So maybe we’ll make it out sometime…we shall see!

Happy Thursday!

I feel like I have about seventeen things to blog about, but whenever I try to focus on one to write it down, it gets all fuzzy in my head.  So this may be a weird, squiggly sort of post.  We shall see…

The Farm
We headed to the farm for the Memorial Day weekend.  Overall it was a good visit.  Here’s a quick recap:
Some Bad:

• Unfortunately, the babies don’t sleep well there.  That makes for long nights for me and Eric (the babies sleep right next door with paper-thin walls). 
• Eric’s grandmother is very difficult for me to deal with.  She pounces on us whenever we arrive where she is (as in, she was standing thisclose when we stopped the Jeep and Eric nearly knocked her over opening his door).  I totally understand her excitement to see/show off the babies.  But it still is hard for me to take.
• I didn’t really get a break.  We just added socializing to my normal baby to-do lists.

Mostly great:

• Eric got to play farmer on Saturday.  He drove tractors, loaded hay, and did a couple of chores that the others had been meaning to do, but couldn’t get to.  I think he really enjoyed himself.
• Eric also went kayaking with his other brother on Sunday.  They had a good time.
• My MIL loves to be able to see the babies. And my FIL and BIL are starting to enjoy the babies more now that they’re bigger.  And it’s fun to see all the small-town, farmer folks just love on our babies because they love my in-laws so much.  It’s nice to know there are still places where babies are celebrated!
• And my MIL is going to make the babies a couple of blankets with different textures/fabrics for them to explore.  They will love these!

Down
I’ve been tending towards discouragement recently.  I’m not sure exactly why, but I’ve really struggled not to wallow in self-pity and negativity.  Yesterday, Eric gave me a longer-than-usual hug, and I almost cried.  Some of it is that I got Eric’s cold (as did Erin).  Some of it is that I’m stuck at home this week with the babies while our Jeep gets some needed repairs.  But most of it seems to be that I really, really need a for-real break.  Someone to volunteer to man the babies in every way except feeding (and maybe for at least one of those, too).   My MIL is great, but she waits for me to tell her what to do, waits for me to give permission to do things.  I really need someone to spell me for a bit, not just “assist”.  I’m just worn-down: physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally.  I’m running on empty.

Jon & Kate Plus 8
This situation has just broken my heart.  It makes me sad every time I hear something new about them.  I think I’m going to quit watching their show just because I don’t want to be part of the primary cause of what’s tearing their marriage apart.  And I’ve actually been praying for them (I think they are Christians)…it’s just so sad.

Closet Romantic
On a more light-hearted note, I realized the other day that I’m a closet romantic.  I’m super-rational and not very emotional (for a girl) as a general rule.  But there are just some things that set my little girly-heart all a-flutter.  For example, in the movie Definitely, Maybe, he finds a book that used to belong to one of the other characters, and he almost gives it to her, but doesn’t, and you realize that he really loves her, not the other two chicks.  Or in Stranger than Fiction, when Will Farrell’s character brings his love interest flours, instead of flowers.  Since she’s a baker, he actually brings her a box with 6 or 8 bags of different types of flour.   Yep…those are the moments that break my latent romanticism free from the chains of rationalism they are usually bound up in…

Fun Things:
And then, for other happy things in my life… 

• Check out this website for adorable pictures of baby animals. Marla posted a link to it on her post.  Be sure to click on some of the other options.  I thought the pygmy hippo was too cute!
• We watched Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium last night.  I kid’s movies!
• Friday is our 5 year anniversary.  I think we’re going to get a babysitter and go hang out together at Easton or something.  Should be a good time…
• Erin rolled over from her back to front over the weekend for the first time.  I’m pretty sure it was an accident (she looked super surprised!), but they are both pretty close to doing it for real.
• We gave both babies pears last night with their oatmeal at dinner.  It was our first attempt at baby food (I let Eric choose what we’d give them).  They HATED them!  I guess they were a bit tart…but since they’ve never had anything but bland, both babies reacted very negatively.  It was quite funny to watch them make super-ugly faces.   Of course, now I don’t know whether to try pears again today or just go on to something new (I realize they recommend waiting to watch for allergies, but I’m not sure they got enough pears into them to create an allergy!)…

And that’s all I can think of for now.  I should fold baby laundry while the babies nap, but I think I’m going to go look at cute animals instead.  Happy Wednesday!

Since I haven’t posted since Monday, here’s a quick recap:

• My in-laws’ visit on Monday went well.  Grandma’s shingles were not really contagious anymore, so I let her hold babies.  They have not developed chicken pox yet, so I guess it worked out fine.
• My iron died on Sunday when I was about to iron.  I was going to watch Juno while I ironed, so instead, I just watched Juno.
• My MIL offered to buy me an iron while they were out shopping on Monday and bring it to me.  So they did.  But there wasn’t a great selection at the place they went, so she just picked the “best” one.
• Since the iron my MIL bought me (and brought me) on Monday was pretty cheap, I bought myself a nicer one on Tuesday (Eric was okay with that). 
• On Tuesday night, we watched Prince Caspian in HD (we recorded it from a movie channel we get).  It’s been so long since I read that book, I have no idea how close it was to the actual plot.  But it was a good movie anyway.
• I ironed all afternoon on Wednesday.
• My new iron works fantastically.  I had no idea how bad my old iron had actually gotten until I saw the new one erase creases like magic.
• I watched another movie while I ironed (Definitely, Maybe).
• Eric actually came home from work at lunchtime on Wednesday because he’s had a scratchy throat all week and wasn’t feeling the best.  It was really nice to have him home to hold babies and to talk to.  
• Wednesday night, the babies had trouble getting to sleep, which is very unlike them.  But we finally got them settled.  It was a reminder for me how nice it is that we can usually just lay them down…and they go to sleep.  Neither bedtime nor naps are battles for us (right now), and I’m very thankful for that!
• Yesterday, we stayed home because the Jeep doesn’t have A/C right now, and it was too hot to take the babies out in a car like that.  I think we’ll be getting that fixed in the very near future.
• I did get a number of small cleaning projects done.  I found out that Alex didn’t like the noise of my cleaning the stairs with my new Dust Buster.  I organized/sorted in the loft.  I made lasagna to put in the freezer for future meals.  I made dinner.
• Last night, I went to my first ever meeting for the Mother of Twins club in Columbus.  I’ve belonged since before the babies were born (as an honorary member), but I’ve never made it to the meetings.  Since last night was the last one before the summer, I decided to go.  It was fun, but it was a late night for me.  I’m beat this morning!
• This weekend in our subdivision’s “official” garage sale weekend.  So this morning, I think I’m going to walk around with the babies and see if there’s any of our neighbors’ junk that we need.  Should be fun!
• Tomorrow, we’re heading to the farm for the weekend.  I’m not into the right mindset for that yet.  Nor am I in the mood to organize and pack.  *sigh*  I need to get both of those adjusted sometime today. 

And that is the update, I think.  I really should write more often so I don’t have these super-long posts.  Oh well.  Thanks for skimming to the end!  Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!

Here’s the randomness of my world today:

• I just finished a note to some people from my church that I’ve never met, but they had twins last week.  And both of them were over SEVEN pounds!  Yikes!!!
• Alex sort of gave up sleeping this weekend.  Between our running around and his own issues, he hardly napped…which meant he did a lot more waking up at night than normal. 
• So that makes for a tired Mommy today.  
• So that means naps are the highest priority today!
• Except of course that my MIL called last night to see if it’d be okay if she, her sister and her mom stopped by for a bit this afternoon while they were out shopping.  Um…I guess so.  But I’m still putting the babies down for naps even if they’re here!
• And Eric’s grandmother has shingles right now.  Please pray that the babies don’t get chickenpox.  It should be fine as long as they don’t come in contact with the shingles rash.  But I think I’m going to ask that she not hold them today, which will be hard for her.  But understandable, I hope…
• I got a ton of housekeeping done on Saturday morning.  I have no idea where the energy/motivation came from. 
• We bought a used double stroller on Friday evening for $100.  We took a walk with it yesterday afternoon, and it’s fantastic!  Yay!
• We went out to eat twice this weekend (Friday night – Chinese, Saturday night – BBQ) and then to a small group picnic last night.  I hardly had to cook all weekend. Nice!
• I woke up last night, in the middle of the night, suddenly very ill.  I literally woke up from a dream realizing that I might be sick.  Thankfully, I wasn’t (at least not that way), but I did spend 15 minutes or so in the bathroom taking care of “other” business.  And this morning I was fine.  Weird…
• This week is already shaping up to be super-busy.  Good thing I don’t have much cleaning or laundry to do (since I got it all done on the weekend)!

Okay, I think that’s all my randomness for now…I may have pictures to share later…if I get them taken! Happy Monday!

We had to tear apart the living room this morning before Eric left so that we could have a small portion of the ceiling painted.  The roof had leaked just enough to create a water mark in one small place.  So now that the roof is done, a painter is coming sometime today to repaint that section of the ceiling.  Of course, it will probably take him longer to set up and tear down than actually to paint the ceiling.  But, that’s how it goes, I guess.

And until he comes (he had another job first thing this morning, and then us), we’re displaced.  Three sections of the sectional are sitting in front of the other two sections, and the television can’t be easily viewed, and my open floor space where the babies play is covered with couches, and the rest of our furniture and baby stuff is just piled places. 

So the babies are in the loft with me, and I guess we’ll just be hanging out upstairs for most of the day.  Could be a little boring, to be honest.  At least we can watch some full episodes or movies online if it gets really bad. 

And on that note, I’d better go.  Alex is rubbing his face like he’s getting tired, and Erin is starting to make a lot of noise (a cue that she’s getting tired, too).  Later!

Yesterday evening, my BIL came over.  He’s a pharmacist for CVS, and he took Eric shopping.  See, he has a  flex spending account for health purchases and overestimated how much he’d need for the year.  So he let me look through their FSA eligible things (they’re all on the website), make a list of stuff, and he and Eric went and bought them!  I guess they spent like $200.  Crazy, huh?  But also incredibly generous!

Here’s a look at all they came back with:

And just for fun…here are some pics of my babies sleeping.  These are their normal sleep positions…aren’t they too cute!?!

In bullets

• The roofers finished about 1:30 yesterday, but the dumpster is still in our driveway.  So we’re parking behind it or on the street until it’s picked up.
• Usually I can just load up the babies in the garage when we go out.  It’s a lot farther to carry two car seats out of the garage, past the dumpster, and to the Jeep.
• We ran to Meijer this morning.  I’ve been needing to get out of the house again (for more than just a quick run to the mailbox).  It felt good.
• The babies are gurgling on their blanket with their toys.
• Erin has started to roll over now. She pretty much refuses to stay on her belly these days.  Even though Alex has been able to roll for almost 2 weeks, I’m pretty sure she’s already done it more than he has.  I guess he just likes being on his belly!
• The babies did pretty well with all the noise yesterday.  We got little naps in the morning, but much better ones in the afternoon.  Good for them…great for me!
• Sadly, I can’t think of much else to say. 

Happy Tuesday!

Today there are roofers on our roof.  They are very loud.

On Friday, I ignored a phone call from our contractors.  It turns out I should have picked up.  I found out later (from Eric) that they were calling to let us know they could do the roof on Saturday and someone would be dropping off the roofing supplies that afternoon.  So suddenly a large truck was in my driveway, and I had no idea why!  Oops!

Anyway, we were glad they could do Saturday because that would mean Eric would be home.  The dumpster was delivered at 7:30 am.  Eric was at bible study, so I got up when they knocked to let us know it was here.  Then I worked around the house and (when he got home) Eric hung out waiting, having found a great excuse not to mow the lawn (ie, the roofers would be throwing things in the grass).  9:00 am – no roofers.  Noon – no roofers.  At 2:00, Eric finally called our contractor.  He checked on it and called us back. 

Um…he was very sorry but the rain on Friday put the crews behind schedule and they wouldn’t be here until Monday.  Would that be okay?

Um…sure.  So this morning at 7:00 am, the roofers arrived.  Eric was just finishing getting dressed, so he answered the door when they rang the bell.  Of course, I figured I’d better just get up, too, so I did.  But I’m hoping that such an early start means they’ll finish very quickly.  I mean, we don’t have that big of a roof.  And until they’re done, it just sounds like a major thunderstorm is camped directly above our house.  Good times!

Other than that, the weekend was good.  I cleaned and did chores around the house.  My family came up for Mothers Day and had a good visit, I think.  And that’s about all that I have for today…Happy Monday!

My sweet little babies:

Today you are five months old.  It hardly seems like days, much less months, have gone by since I walked (slowly) down that hallway to the operating room.  I cannot believe that, by this time, five months ago, I was waiting alone in the recovery room while your Daddy and the nurses took you both to the nursery so your grandparents could see you.  You were so tiny and wrinkly and healthy and perfect.  And already, at only hours old, you were already displaying the personalities we’ve come to love so much.

Alex, my big guy, our Mister Buddy, you are such a jolly little guy.  Your smile just lights up a room and you love to laugh.  At anything!  In fact, if Mommy or Daddy laughs at something, you laugh right along with us.  You have started to roll over now, though you still don’t do it very often.  I guess it’s just easier to let Mommy flip you over when you start getting cranky…easier for you, anyway!  But you love to be on your tummy and you are super-strong.  You love to reach for the rattles and try to chew on them (or anything else you have handy), and you drool and blow bubbles all the time.  I’m hoping we aren’t heading for teeth too soon, but it might be in the near future.  You love your evening bowl of oatmeal, especially if Daddy feeds it to you, and while you’re still waking up some at night, we’re finally doing much better than we were!  But above all of what you do, I want you to know that you just fill up my heart, little man.  I love your first-thing-in-the-morning smile.  I love your little voice and infectious laugh.  I love to see you try something new and finally succeed.  And I am so very glad you joined our family at 7:52 in the morning, five months ago.

And of course, my little Erin, my Lady Baby, Daddy’s Sweet Nugglin, you are not less loved.  You have the biggest blue eyes and the cutest round cheeks.  In fact, five months ago, your cheeks were the most noticeable thing about you!  Now they are just one of the wonderful parts of you!  You are shyer than your brother is, but not less friendly.  You just like things a little quieter, a little calmer.  You talk a lot, especially to your toys and Mommy’s hand.  But when people talk to you, you get very focused, trying to mimic what we do with our mouths so that you can do it, too.  And when you get tired, you get louder.  A lot louder!  You have not rolled over yet, but you are very accomplished with your fingers.  You can grab anything and pull it towards yourself.  And you just love to pull the ring on the frog on your bouncy seat…we’ve heard the song he plays a thousand times already, I’m sure!  You just started cereal this week, so we’re just learning how to use the spoon together.  But I’m so glad I get to be the one to teach you such important lessons.  I’ll do my best to keep you up on all the lessons you need to grow up to be a lovely young woman.  Yes, little Erin, I love you more than I can say.  You are sweet and snuggly, and I love watching you be so different from your brother (and so alike at the same time!).  I love your facial expressions and your focus when you want to figure something out.  And I’m very glad that you joined our family exactly 72 seconds after your brother, five months ago today!

Yes, dear babies, Mommy and Daddy love you.  Having you has been wonderful and difficult and crazy and enjoyable and full of challenges and marvelous moments of grace.  We are committed to teaching you to love God and to be independent, capable human beings someday.  But for today, for just this moment, I think I’m just going to squeeze you, pray over you, love you, laugh with you, and be thankful that you are still small enough to be my babies.

Love, Mommy