We have been spoiled!

For the last week and a half my family and I have been spoiled by the wonderful visit of my husband's parents and grandmother.  They are so kind and loving, and we had a great time with them.  Here are just some of the ways that we were spoiled by their visit.

E and C got to take to two trips to the splash park in one week.  They had wagon rides every afternoon and lots of individual play time with loving grandparents and great grandparent.  I think both E and C got pushed around in the pink princess ride-on toy about an hour each day.

Here we are just about to leave for our date, dinner and a concert.

I was spoiled in many ways also.  I was able to do my hair and put make-up on at least four days while they were here.  I had help while my husband was out of town which made bed time so much easier.  I had time to run some errands, go out to dinner with friends, go on a date with my husband, and clean around the house.  We power washed our entire house and cleared out a lot of brush in our yard.  I played a lot of cards with my great grandmother-inlaw, which was such a treat as I don't get to play games very often. 



Over all it was a superb visit, topped off by a mother's day shared by three mothers. I am thankful for being able to be a part of this special family and all of the thing that they did for us during this visit. 

What a Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.  It has always been my favorite holiday, and this year it was even more meaningful as we got to share it with Charlotte and Emma, who I am so incredibly thankful for.

We drove up to Missouri to spend time with my husband's family.  We first stopped at his Aunt's house and visited with his grandma and two of his aunts.

Sitting with Aunt Winnie

Wearing Daddy's hat with Great Grandma

Emma enjoying a water bottle with Aunt Jane and Keith

Charlotte loved this baby doll Aunt Jane gave them.  She also enjoyed Mr. Don's company.

Sitting with Great Grandma.

After leaving his Aunt's house, we headed to my husband's sister's house.  I was so glad that we were able to spend a couple of days there, including the actual thanksgiving day.  Emma and Charlotte had such fun playing with their cousins.  I am lucky enough to have great relationships with my cousins, and I really want that for my children as well.  On Thursday John's parents came in the morning and spent the day playing with the four girls.  It was wonderful because then I was able to help with the food preparation.  It was really enjoyable to spend time with my sister in law in the kitchen.  The meal was an incredible feast and there is just something so special about sitting around a table with family that you love.  Emma and Charlotte even got to have some of the turkey, potatoes and sweet potatoes blended in the food processor.  It was a hit.  Friday John and I left the girls in the capable hands of his sister's family and we headed out to do some black Friday shopping.  Again, such a treat to have a little bit of time for just the two of us.  We were able to get some great deals too.  A good friend of my came to visit that afternoon (more about that in an upcoming post) and then later that afternoon we all packed up and went to the mall to visit Santa.  I didn't know how Charlotte and Emma would react, but they did great.  We were able to get a good picture and it was fun to see them doing something that I remember really enjoying as a child.  Saturday John woke up with a fever, so he spent the day in bed and I loaded the girls up in the car and went and visited another friend (more on this in an upcoming post).  Thankful John was feeling better by that evening.  We packed everything up and left early Sunday morning.  Overall we had a really special time over the holiday.

Cousins!  

Madeline was so sweet with the girls and wanted to help with them and hold them all the time.  It was funny though because when she would hold one of them they looked like giant babies.

Emma and Elizabeth playing

This horse was a hit!

Cousins having fun together.  I love this picture.

Emma taking a ride.

The beautiful Thanksgiving table.

Here I was, thoroughly enjoying helping to prep the meal.

The whole group.  So thankful for this family.

Uncle bud watching Charlie Brown with his nieces.

Having a tea party.

Look at how well they were sitting at this table.

    

Attempting Something New

Since having twins I feel like I have had to learn how to do a lot of things all over again, taking into account two very small children.  There are instances everyday where I am trying something new or figuring out the best way to tackle something.

This weekend my husband and I had the opportunity to eat out with the girls.  This was the first time we had done this, just the four of us, since the girls were born.  I have to admit that I was nervous, but also tried to be as prepared as possible.  We made sure to go at a time when they would be awake and hungry.  I packed bibs, spoons, food, wipes, and sippy cups in the diaper bag, as well as the normal assortment of diapers.  The girls did great.  They were so distracted by all of the different people to look at that they didn't get much eating done, but it kept them very entertained. Both my husband and I were able to order and eat our food, although we did take turns trying to feed them.  We did make a mess and were loud with lots of happy noises, but there were no huge meltdowns.

It is very encouraging to have such a great family outing.  I am looking forward to the next time that we are able to go out together.

Charlotte having fun banging on the table.

Emma was too distracted to eat very much.

Little Reminders

Yesterday I was moving through the house picking up various clutter when I really took a moment to think about and notice how our house and lives have changed in the last few months.  There are little reminders all around me.

Two pairs of shoes on the stairs.

Two little tooth brushes in the bathroom.

Bibs ready for meal time.

I am so truly thankful that I am surrounded by these little reminders.  I have been working to appreciate the here and now, and I was able to do that yesterday.  It sunk in a little bit more how incredible the journey to this point has been.  

18 Weeks!

It is hard to believe but we have already reached the 18 week mark.  I had an appointment with my specialist this week.  We got to see a lot of both babies.  The doctor had lots of positive things to say and doesn't need to see me again unless my regular doctor thinks I need to.  Every day with these babies is such a blessing.  While my anxiety has been rearing its ugly head lately, I also am so thankful to be at this point too. 

Here are some profile pictures of the girls.  Oh wait, I didn't tell you?  We are having two GIRLS again.

                                                    Baby A

                                              Baby B

 The resolution on the scanned pictures are not that good, but you can see the sweet noses and outline of their profiles.  I plan to write more about my thoughts on having two more girls and how I am doing in general, but I wanted to make sure to share these pictures with you.  And now I will leave you with a picture of me at 18 weeks. 

Feeling Loved and Supported from Far Away

I received a package from my mother today that I know was her way of putting love and hugs and good thoughts and prayers into something I can hold.  When I opened I cried and cried, because I truly felt the love that she had pack with it, which was just what I needed to not feel quite so scared about tomorrow.  What she sent was a plaque, or board, that she had painted in 1987 when I was four years old.  We always had it in the kitchen and I have read it time and time again.  It has little encouragements and sayings on it that have always made me feel better, and also I feel really embody how my mom chose to parent me.  Some of them include "I like you just the way you are" "You can trust your feelings to help you know" "You have every right to be here" "You're welcome to come home again" Your needs are ok" "You don't have to hurry."

Thank you mom, for loving me so completely, all the time, without question or concern.  Thank you for raising me in a purposeful and thoughtful manner.  Thankful for being here for me in just the right way, even though you are far away.  My prayer is that I can look to your example to be the very best mother I can to be my own children, and I know that you are an incredible grandmother to all of my children.

I was going to include a picture, but right now I feel like holding on to this just for myself.  I will include one in the future when I feel like it is appropriate.