Water fun

It has been hot here already.  Yesterday was up close to 90 degrees.  This does not look good for the summer, but has allowed us to have some fun outside with water.  Last week we joined some friends at the local splash park.  I was really unsure about how the girls would like it, especially because they are not walking yet.  I also was nervous about the logistics of two tiny girls, only one mama, and lots of water, but it went really well.  After they got comfortable with the splashing water they enjoyed crawling around in it.  I am learning to relax a little and try things even though they might be difficult.  It is easy for me to say "I have one year old twins, this will be too difficult."  Sometimes that is true, but most of the time it is just an excuse.

We also went to walmart and purchased a small blow-up pool to use at our house.  We couldn't wait and got it ready while the girls were napping.  After nap we popped them in.  It is really interesting because again it took them a little while to figure out what they thought about being in the water and what they wanted to do.  They were not scared, just cautious.  I guess I keep forgetting that these are all new experiences for them.  They have never been to a splash park or sat in a baby pool before, amazing!  I am thankful that I get to experience these firsts with them.  What a gift.



A fun baby gift

I have finally had time to do a little crafting and actually finished a project that I have been working on!  It feels good to be able to be creative and I am excited to share the project on here.  Recently I found this really cute homemade baby toy on pintrest and thought it would be a great gift for a friend that was due to have a baby at the beginning of May.  I got started a few weeks ago with fabric and planning, but it was this UFO link party my friend was hosting that helped me to finish the project. 

I decided to make three smaller ones and use all three of the little boy's initials, HDD.  After picking out and prepping the fabric, black and white for the back because babies love contrast, and different fun patterns for the front, I needed to make my pattern.  Instead of drawing the letters out by hand, I printed them from my computer so they would be the same size.

Then I pinned the patterns to the fabric and cut those out.  I realized that I didn't allow for a seam allowance in the pattern so when cutting out I actually went out about a quarter of an inch on each piece of fabric.  Once I had fronts and back for each of the three letters, I got some cotton batting and used the pattern pieces to cut out batting to go in the middle.  I wanted to give the letters a little more form.

It was then time to pick out ribbon and pin the pieces together.  I tried to pick out ribbon that was different colors or textures to add more interest.  I laid the pieces with right sides out and pinned where I wanted to attach the ribbon.  I sewed around the letter about one fourth of an inch from the edge.  It was a little tricky to get the hang of making sure the ribbons didn't move and also being consistent and neat with the stitching.  I went around the letter twice so that it would be sturdy enough to stand up to a baby.

That is really it!  Once I got the hang of the process with the first letter, the second two were much quicker.  I then just attached a link to them so that they can be attached to a play gym or stroller.  I had a lot of fun figuring out how to make these work and I think the finished product turned out pretty cute.

Here they are laid out.  It would also be great to add a layer of crinkly material so that they made noise, or a different texture of fabric to the back so that they felt different.  There are many ways to make these fun and interesting for babies.

Here is a picture of the back.  I really wanted to use black and white as babies can see that well and like the contrast.

I am linking this project with the UFO challenge that my friend at The Bean Sprout Notes is hosting.  She encouraged me to participate and I am glad that I did because I got this done in a timely manner!

A time to mourn

A little over a week ago I found out that one of my closest and
dearest friends had a miscarriage. I felt so sad and helpless and
upset about this. It brought back a lot of feelings that I had had
after we lost our daughters, and I also hurt so much for my friend. It
is hard being far away from people you love, especially when they are
going through a difficult time. When I found out that she and her
family were having a memorial for their son, I felt very strongly that
I needed to be there, even though they live in a different state. It
is amazing how everything worked out so smoothly.

I found out about the memorial on last Thursday afternoon. I
immediately called my husband who was out of town and told him about
it and that I would have to leave the next day. He agreed that we
should go but had a meeting on Friday, so it looked like I might drive
up by myself. I then called my husband's parents who live about an
hour away from where the memorial was to be held and found out that
they would be home and able to watch the girls. Next I called a couple
of people who supported my decision and listened as I explained how I
was feeling. I also talked to my friend who assured me it would be ok
if we were not able to make it but would like it if we were. I went to
bed that night before my husband got home, still not sure exactly sure
how I would get up there.

The next morning I woke up and my husband told me he had moved his
meeting so that he could travel with me up to the memorial. We packed
and loaded up into the car in an hour and a half. The drive was long
but extremely smooth. E and C did really great. The slept and played
and hung in there so well. We were able to stop at my husband's
grandmother's house and let the girls crawl around before we finished
the trip and arrived at my husband's parent's house. It was late at
night and the girls were very grumpy but went to bed pretty easily.

The next morning we got up and after breakfast we drove the hour to
where the memorial was being held. We left the girls with their
grandparents. This was such a blessing. I didn't have to worry about
them at all. I knew they were well taken care of and could focus
solely on the memorial. We arrived early and were able to give our
friends big hugs and words of condolence. The memorial was so sad and
meaningful. I was extremely thankful and honored to speak the 23 Psalm
as part of the service. The message that the pastor spoke really
resonated with me. He talked about why horrible things happen. What I
remember most was that he talked about fear and how grief is fear and
God can take you through that and is bigger than that. (The pastor
said it much more eloquently than that) It was really comforting and
hit home for me. I am extremely glad that I was able to be there.

After the service we went back to my friend's house where we had a
meal with her family. We also celebrated their daughter's first
birthday with songs and cupcakes. I enjoyed spending time with my
friend's family. It was such a comfort to all be together to surround
my friend and her family with love and support.

Pregnancy loss is such a horribly difficult thing. I remember feeling
so empty and angry and lost and lonely and like no one understood.
Being able to do something outward to remember and commemorate my
daughters and my friend's son was such a helpful thing through the
memorials that we both did.

On our way home on Sunday we drove through a rain storm which made the
travel more difficult. After we were through most of it the sun came
out from behind the clouds and the most beautiful double rainbow that
I have ever seen appeard in front of us. I really don't have too many
times in my life where I feel like God has sent a sign or spoken to me
directly, but this was one of those times. Rainbows have taken on a
new meaning for me in recent years. My daughters' room has two
beautiful rainbow quilts in it and their birthday was a rainbow
celebration. They are my rainbow after a horrible storm. So looking
at this rainbow on the way home I felt joy and peace and knew it was
confirmation from God that he was there with us and my friend and
would bring joy, beauty, and peace again. There were times after we
lost our first daughters that I felt so dark and helpless, but looking
around two years later I am amazed at C and E and the joy they bring
to our lives. This doesn't deminish the saddness I still feel or the
grief that we go through, but it give me hope to hold onto, and that
is a wonderful thing.

Playing in the kitchen

This morning we needed a distraction, so I pulled out a metal cookie sheet an some measuring spoons. It was a huge hit. E and C enjoyed the different noises the could make by banging and scraping. E them decided she wanted to sit on it and has been there ever since.

Trying something new

Today we went and had lunch with our friends at chick-fil-a to help celebrate their birthday. What fun we had. Charlotte and Emma both tried applesauce that came in a pouch for the first time. It was a hit. I think I will be getting these more often.

Typical

This is a pretty typical picture at our house these days. Pulling up and having something in our mouths. Notice Charlotte's hair. It is my first attempt at a ponytail. Hope you are having a great day.

And we are finished

With nursing, that is.  I have such mixed feelings about this.  Goodbye mastitis, goodbye clogged ducts, goodbye biting, goodbye midnight feedings, goodbye being tied to a chair and boppy pillow.  Those things I will not miss.  I will miss the sweet individual time I had with my daughters.  I will miss the close feeling I had when I nursed them.  I feel like this is just one more step in a long line of things that will lead to their independence.  While that is really wonderful, and one of the goals of being a parent, it also makes me a little sad to see this phase end.  Sometimes all I want is my mother.  I hope that I can raise women that are able to be independent, but also want to continue to have a close relationship with their family, like my mother has raised me.