Paper chaining

My mom and I started this little craft project yesterday and I hope to finish it up today. I'm going to hang it over Maddy & Libby's cribs and changing table in their room. We originally saw it in a Land of Nod catalog and decided to make one ourselves. I feel like I've stepped back into the 3rd grade making this, but it's so much fun.

All you need is construction paper in colors of your choice, (I used orange, yellow, blue, pink and green) scissors, pencil, ruler, and glue or a stapler. We are using the stapler because it's quicker. Cut evenly sized strips of paper (around 1"-1 1/2" wide), decide if you want them random colors or in a pattern, and make some rings. The stapler makes this job go very fast.

Can't wait to get it hung and show the final project.

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to share our 1st family photo with all 6 of us. Photographing two babies is hard, but to add the dogs was quite an accomplishment!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the D family.

gowns

My parents are here visiting, and Mom and I decided to take a few more photos of Maddy and Libby in their christening gowns ... since they won't likely be putting them on again anytime soon. They have teeny tiny little buttons that are nearly impossible to button, so the entire act of getting them dressed is quite a production in itself. These dresses were from my Great Aunt Lucy's family (who Libby is named after), so it was really special that they are still in good enough condition to wear. I really hope that we can continue to use them for years to come.

We set up shop on top of our duvet cover and took almost 200 shots. I think we were all exhausted when it was over! Here are a few of my favorites for your viewing pleasure.

in my inbox

Is somebody trying to tell me something? The email said something like "have you entered yet?" Ummm, yeah ... I need to do something more than thinking about running and maybe we'll see.

pros and cons

Working from home has several pros and cons. One pro that I have noticed the most is you can literally work in your pajamas. Today, I wore my favorite Pine Cone Hill PJ's while talking on the phone, working on my computer, attending a webinar, but is it a con that at 5:15 PM, I'm still wearing them?

I guess you could say that I was just prepared early for bedtime, but you also might say that my neighbors may look at me funny when I stepped outside around 2PM to check the mail.

Hmmm, this could be really dangerous. PJ's 24/7?

Still here

It's just been a blur the past couple of weeks and I don't even know what I've done that worth mentioning! I started back to work two weeks ago and I'm loving it. There have been days that I literally worked in my pajamas. I probably shouldn't admit that, but it's wonderful! I'm still learning the ropes, but so far, so good.

We also had Maddy and Libby's christenings yesterday ... they were perfect during the service. We had no idea what they would think about the new sounds and experiences, but they were great. We had to sit up front, so they were entralled with the children's choir and the row of 8 -10 year old girls who sat in front of us. We are Methodist, but our Ministers believe in using a lot of water on the head for the christening, so they were both dripping a little, but it didn't seem to phase them. I was lucky to have 5 family dresses to choose from for the big day, so they were both in dresses that are at least 100 years old. We wish we knew the stories behind the gowns, but they have been lost over the years. They fit them well and they looked so sweet. They also loved to grab handfuls of the dresses and chew on them. Hey, a toy and dress in one!

After the church service, we hosted about 30 people for lunch. Mom and I had been busy this week ... we made 4 pans of lasagna, 2 pans of brownies, a red velvet birthday cake ... all made with love. My Mom doesn't claim to be a cook, so we had our share of mishaps along the way, but everything turned out great. We won't talk about the cheesecake that had to be thrown out ... that's another story! The day was a blur, but it was a great day of celebration ... we used my holiday china for the first time, along with my Grandmother's china, so that was special. A lot of dishes to hand wash, but nice that they were used.

Hubby also turned the big 38 yesterday, so it was fun to have family and friends around to help him celebrate.

So now it really feels like Christmas is right around the corner ... the stockings are hung, cards are mailed, some presents are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree. 10 days to go ... where did the time go??

Monkey time

Monkey's here!

To Do list

I typically feel better when I write down my to-do list. Otherwise, I just feel like all of these things are swimming around in my brain and that begins to make me feel like I'm a bit off my rocker. So here goes ...

1. Do some work. I started my new job on Monday and while it's part-time, I'm still getting the hang of truly working during the day. Things are still kind of "loose", so I've been able to just dig around on my own and look for events, see what's been done before,etc. I pulled out my old business contacts, started making a few calls, and it feels pretty good to be back in the saddle.

2. Have some fun with Monkey! He arrived yesterday afternoon, so I'm hoping to get him out and about while he's here.

3. Get some things done around the house since my parents are here - - hang a mirror, couple of pictures, put up wall monograms for Maddy and Libby, paint our cell phone cubby, etc.

4. Bring in the Christmas tree off our patio, trim it, decorate the house, hang the wreaths, etc.

5. Get ready for M&L's christenings on the 14th and also the luncheon that follows for about 30 people! Ack ... we are crazy for planning it right now, but the date worked at church so we went for it. Oh, and that also means making sure the house is clean including all of our catch all rooms that are typically ignored. Ugh.

6. Shop for Christmas ... Hubby and I are done with our gift for each other, but hardly anyone else on our list is done.

7. Get a mani/pedi. My nails look awful and are driving me crazy. I was a horrible nail "picker" when I was younger and I finally kicked that habit several years ago. Having my nails look like this makes me want to start all over again.

Now that I'm rereading that list, it doesn't seem so bad. But for some reason, it's never as easy as it looks.

Lessons learned

We had our first overnight trip with two five-month-olds for Thanksgiving and I think everything went pretty well. We did learn a few things from the trip ...

1) Don't expect two five-month-olds or any baby for that matter to not cry when brought into a loud and very busy house for the first time. We had a little bout of crying when we first arrived from what I will call "too many people in my face all at one time ... back the hell up." Luckily, they ate and then were happy to meet about 20 "strangers" who all wanted to ooh and aah over them.

2) Two babies in two pack n' plays in one bedroom makes for a sleepless night for the parents. At home, Maddy and Libby have slept in their nursery from day one and for us to all sleep in one room, we could hear every little sound they make. It was more than distracting and we woke up almost every hour. Would it be awful if the pack n' plays went in the living room for Christmas?

3) Girl cousins love babies. They looked so disappointed when I told them the girls were napping and couldn't be disturbed. Later, I found 3 of the cousins peeking in the window to see if they could see if they were really sleeping.

4) Dresses and cardigan sweaters, while so adorable are a big pain for babies to wear. The dresses just get bunched up and just seemed to get in the way. But, oh how cute are matching little dresses with white cable knit sweaters?

Edited to add photos ... for you, Leesie! My friend Lindsday took these for me last week ... I realized that I never took a photo on Thanksgiving Day (horrible Mom I know), but I'm trying to track some down from the inlaws! These are the dresses they wore, so you'll get the idea!

The list is growing ...

We're getting ready for our 1st overnight trip to the Grandparents for Thanksgiving, so I'm starting to try to pack up everything we'll need. Or at least everything we can pack in advance. We're only staying one night, so we won't need much more than our last trip, but a lot of "just in case" items. Extra "extra" clothes, Tylenol, Mylicon gas drops, more bottles, more of everything really. Oh, and I love this one that Hubby wrote down ... ALL parts to the breast pump. Honestly, every time we go over to a friends' house, I leave something behind that goes to it. Uhmm, not fun and I would definitely be in trouble for an overnight visit that lands on a holiday.

Ok, TMI I know. I claim hunger pains and having a cold since Monday and now it's causing me to just write anything that comes to mind. Off to pack!

5 month photos 11.21.08

Happy 5 month birthday girls! They love their shirts from "Aunt" Mad About Plaid Girl!

Gainfully employed (almost)

I had my interview yesterday. It went well and really didn't feel like an interview at all. First, we talked about my children and oohed and aahed over pictures. They came bearing gifts from the company, which was a very thoughtful and appreciated gesture. We met at a restaurant and enjoyed a nice meal and dessert, while they described more of what the job entails and more about the company.

So, they never asked for a resume and basically left it with "We'd love for you to join our team." Really, that's it? It's that easy? What's the catch? I heard about this job from a friend who has partnered with them in the past, so I'm assuming her recommendation may have sealed the deal. So, I asked a few questions via email last night, but I'm ready to say yes. The job will be part-time and I can work from home. It will involve a little travel, but all in North Carolina, and no more than what I had done before. So, after it's all official, we need to figure out some sort of childcare. I may try to do some work while the girls are napping, but I'd like to find someone who can come in and help with them for a few hours each week, so I can knock out uninterrupted work.

I'm excited to have found something that is so flexible and that I can do from home and still get to spend the majority of my time with M&L. So, cross your fingers and let's hope that it all works out ... the pessimist in me is still waiting for them to say, "oh, yeah we forgot to mention that this job entails you weaving tiny baskets in our damp warehouse and selling them on the corner." Let's hope not.

The parents are coming, the parents are coming ...

Their EDT was 5AM CST today. Oh, that should put them here anywhere between 2PM EST and 6PM EST. Let's just say that my parents may be one of the last couples on earth who don't have a mobile phone and drive the speed limit. Oh, and stop at every rest stop for breaks. So, I wait all day and never really know when they'll arrive. The standard 8 hour drive can take anywhere from 8 hours to close to 12.

I'm looking forward to seeing them and let's face it, more importantly for them to see the girls. We looked back to see how much Maddy and Libby weighed when they left and they have doubled their weight since then. I'm sure they are going to look like little porkers to my parents.

So, on our agenda while they're here? Thanksgiving, a photo session for Christmas cards, hopefully a Christening for Maddy and Libby, planting peonies, and hopefully getting a few pictures hung around the house.

Mom is also bringing a collection of Hallmark ornaments that she's decided she no longer wants, so she thought I would be the perfect one to put them on Ebay for her. I can hardly wait for that one, but I think I'll be reminded that Hubby and I have built in babysitters of the free variety, so how can we say no. If you are looking for a particular ornament, send me a comment and we can talk, because she may have it. She was a little obsessed with them to say the least.

So, Hubby's not drinking yet, we don't know how long they are staying, but I'm sure there should be some interesting stories along the way.

My day of "cooking"

One of the hardest things for us to figure out since the girls arrived on the scene is what to eat for dinner. When my parents were here after the girls came home, Mom had dinner on the table by 5:30 PM sharp. I don't think we've eaten that early since we were kids. It was wonderful to say the least, but they've been gone and we've burned through all the meals that were brought to us by friends. (Thank you - they were yummy.) I would try to cook something before Hubby gets home, but the timing is usually off and I'm feeding the girls, or um, playing on Facebook. So, we often find ourselves looking at each other at 7PM, asking the dreaded question, "What's for dinner?"

So, we decided to make a trip back to Let's Dish and this time we are being extremely lazy and choosing the "dish and dash" option. That means someone else even prepares the food for you. For an extra $10 and when I'm on limited time when I'm out sans children, it makes sense. So, later today, I'll be picking up chicken breasts with cranberry chutney, mini mozzarella stuffed meatloaves, a pork tenderloin, and a beef roast. We have the portions divided, so we typically can get 2-3 meals out of one dish. We've had the meals before and have found them all to be very good.

So, that is my cooking for today. One day, I really do hope to cook again on a regular basis. I mean, I do watch Martha for new recipes and subscribe to three food related magazines ... doesn't that count for something?

In amazement

Last night, I attended a Celebration of Life service for my good friend's mom whose battle with cancer ended earlier this week. While I didn't have the chance to know this woman, her daughter showed such amazing strength, dignity, and grace. It was such a sweet service, full of laughter and joy, and far few less tears. This woman fought cancer for 8-9 years and did an amazing job. From what her family shared, she never got angry, mad, or sad ... she just accepted it and knew that God was in charge.

Usually events like these always make me sad, but I left last night feeling inspired. From listening to my friend and from hearing about her mom's positive outlook on life. So, I think I will try to laugh a little louder, be more kind and giving, and take time to enjoy the little things.

This may not be 100% appropriate, but it reminds me a little of the quote from Ferris Bueller. "Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Preparation

I have a job interview on Tuesday. I've known about it for a couple of weeks and now I can't believe that's it's almost here. So that means I have a little preparing to do this weekend - print my resume, brush up on my interview skills, read a little more about the company, oh and pray that I can find a suitable outfit to wear. I'm hoping that I can find an Ann Taylor top that I wore early in my pregnancy that let's just say, is forgiving where I need it. Oh, and heels - I don't think I've had on heels since Spring of last year!? It's kind of exciting ... my feet won't know what to think!

If my clothes don't work, I'll be doing a whirlwind shopping trip on Saturday. Not my favorite kind of shopping and that's when I usually can't find anything that works.

So, not to jinx myself about this job, but I still think it sounds too good to be true. It would be part-time, I can work from home, and they are very family friendly. I've talked to two other women who do what I would be doing and all have had nothing but good things to say about the company and their jobs. We're talking the company paying for nannies for them at the annual company retreat. So, we'll see ... my stay at home gig may be coming to an end.

I've really enjoyed my time home with the girls. They are amazing and I hope that if everything works out, then I can have someone come in to help with them a few days a week, then I won't have to feel like I'm missing out on their day to day activities. I mean, I can handle life without poop and spit-up, but those smiles. I would have to get my daily allotment of smiles.

11.12.05

It's hard to believe that three years ago, I was walking down an aisle surrounded by friends and family waiting to get a glimpse of that familiar smile.

Happy 3rd Anniversary, C! I love you! My, a lot has changed since this time last year!

Photo by Kellie Kano.

Nature walk

It's been gorgeous here the past couple of days, so I decided to take along my camera on a little nature walk to try to capture some of the pretty fall colors in our neighborhood. I don't know how much "nature" we saw on the walk ... there were several squirrels, a couple of kids, a Labrador retriever, and several Volvos ... but I will say that the fall foliage is beautiful.

Ready to go. On the walking path in our neighborhood.

Libby stayed awake for most of the walk.

Orange

Red

Yellow

Love all the trees.

Our street.

We're on the charts!

At our 4 month appointment today, we were excited to hear that Maddy and Libby made it on the growth charts. Maddy is up to 10 lbs, 8.5 ounces and 22 3/4 inches long and Libby is 11 lbs, 8.5 ounces and 23 1/4 inches long. This put Maddy in about the 5th percentile for height and weight and Libby in the 7th for weight and 10th for height. Whoo-hoo! At their 2 month check up, they didn't even show up on the charts. Our Pediatrician was very pleased with their continued growth and development. We had another round of shots (glad that's over) and they are both still snoozing after a good bout of crying.

We left with the go ahead to try rice cereal, vegetables, and fruits if we would like. I think we may try a little rice cereal this weekend and see how that goes first. Does anyone out there make their own baby food? I think I may attempt to try - my biggest problem is that we aren't the best about eating vegetables ourselves ... especially ones liked cooked carrots, squash, and peas - some of the veggies that are on the list to try. This may just force us into cooking (and eating) more veggies ... not a bad thing at all. I think it would be better for them if we make the food and also more cost effective. I know I saw a cookbook in the Williams-Sonoma catalogue ... does anyone have any good recommendations for baby food cookbooks or websites, otherwise all I'll end up making are sweet potatoes!

So a good appointment, and we left with 2 cans of our NeoSure formula. Always excited for samples, especially ones that retail for almost $20 a can and seem to be scarce on the shelves lately.

Things that make 'em cry

For the longest time, well the past 4 months, nothing has seemed to shake the girls and upset them - vacuum, TV noise, daddy's loud voice, phone ringing, doors shutting, etc. We've purposely tried not to keep the house extremely quiet, but also don't blare the TV either. We want them to be used to noise and learn how to sleep through some noises. We do have dogs that bark and I do like to vacuum our house. Well, maybe I don't really like it, but a necessary evil.

We have noticed recently that loud sneezes (like Hubby's or Zeus') will start the lower lip quivering and will result in crying. Yesterday we found a few more.

We made it to church for the first time with the girls. We were on time and I was actually wearing make-up and a skirt. Complete with just a small amount of spit-up on the bottom that I didn't notice until we were in the car. The girls were fed and looking pretty dreamy, so we opted to just carry them into church in their car seats. All was going well until the organ played. Both looked up startled and poor Maddy's lip went down immediately. Luckily, it didn't last long and they were fine for the rest of the service.

We decided that lunch would be good - we were prepared and the place we chose wasn't busy, so we rolled the train AKA double stroller right in by our table. We all had a chance to eat and I took Libby to the restroom to change her diaper. They had one of those changing tables in the stall and everything was fine until I stood to close to the automatic flusher on the toilet and it flushed. Loudly. A look of fear was on Libby's face, then she started to cry. Poor girl. I got the diaper changed and grabbed her, luckily not "flushing" the toilet again. Whew.

Lucky for us, we aren't around church organs or standing around in bathrooms that often!