Homesick

Keep Calm.

2012-01-23T21:23:00.000-05:00

via etsy.com here

I must admit that "calm" is not an adjective I would use to describe my house.
It is cozy, crazy, loud, and fun.

But definitely not calm.

Most would assume that the absence of calm is due to the twins.

Wrong. These 2 are pretty calm.

At 8 months ~

Mr. Jack has 4 teeth, is crawling super fast, loves to eat and jump, and hasn't lost his smile.

Miss Ryan is working on cutting 2 teeth. She is rock solid sitting up but has no desire to move. She has beautiful, piercing blue eyes, the best cheeks ever, and you better not mess with her Puffs.

Every time I look into their big eyes, I am blown away by this gift that feels like a great big bear hug from God.

But the calm stops here.

Enter stage left. Caleb.

I really cannot put into words how my heart overflows with love for this monster. He is super special to me and I love him more than I can describe.

But I'm not sure he understands English.

Despite every possible method to teach him how to treat and play with Jack and Ryan,

he continuously terrorizes the babies.

CONTINUOUSLY.

I am hoping that soon the twins will be old enough (and big enough) to hold their own and teach Mr. Monster a little lesson. I've been giving them pep talks and game plans, and they seem to be united in this mission.

When Jack sees the Monster, he starts to cry.

But Miss Ryan thinks he's hilarious.

Even a smack or pinch by the Monster doesn't get her down.

Until....

Enter stage right. Eveley.

Nope. No calm here.

But lots of smiles and giggles.

and some strategizing.

Death

2012-01-16T06:28:00.000-05:00

Death stinks. It is plain rude. And as abnormal and rare as our culture pretends it to be, death is all around me.

Sickness. Cancer. Tragedy. Evil.

The world tells me that death is final and avoidable.

It isn't.

It was 5 years ago today that we experienced death and said goodbye to our beautiful Robbie.

And while death was indeed devastating and unwelcome, the Bible tells me

death is just the beginning

We miss Robbie. Still. I miss his chubby cheeks and sweet voice. His absence is very obvious. I wonder how different our life would be if he was leading my brood. Maybe he would keep Caleb in line. Or curb Eveley's competitive spirit. And what would he think about these twins?

I'm not sure.

My sweet Eveley talks about her big brother Robbie all the time. No, seriously. All the time. And they have never met. If you ask her how many children we have, she will always loudly answer 5. This has made for some interesting conversations around the mailbox in our new neighborhood.

Eveley is excited that we will be with Robbie again and has an entire list of things she plans to tell and ask him.

She has a very unique perspective on death. We will all die one day and, she reminds us, it could be today. To her, death is pretty normal and only leads to something better. She does not fear it or sense the need to avoid it.

She wants to "go see Robbie's flowers" every time we are near. Here, she was just 2.

As we were celebrating Christmas with my parents, my dad asked the children, "Why did Jesus come to this world as a little baby?" Eveley promptly raised her hand and responded, "He came to be our Savior."

Jesus came to save us from our sins and defeat death. It's pretty simple to her.

But it is the truth. And she believes it. So do I.

Robbie is alive. He is safe. We will be with him again someday.

And while here with us for just shy of 2 years, our Robbie gave us snuggles and kisses and left us an incredible gift - Homesickness. For that we are grateful.

Until we see you again. Maranatha!

2011~ Let's Review

2011-12-31T06:52:00.002-05:00

Looking back, 2011 has been a year of surprise blessings for our family. Let's review.

January

We began the year with these two monkeys and {one} on the way.

On January 19, we got the surprise of our life when we discovered we were pregnant with 2, a boy and a girl.

February

The monkeys didn't care and simply wanted to play in the dirt.

But Bob and I knew life was a changing. So we dropped the kids off with grandparents and headed west for our fantastic babymoon.

MARCH
brought us back to reality.

and back outside.

APRIL

we're still outside

looking for Easter eggs

posing

cooking

having a few meltdowns

and turning 4

MAY

about to explode

trying to prepare for a whole new adventure

and 2 became 4

We were all so very tired.

well, almost all of us.

JUNE

a month of major adjustments

Then God sent us Mathers!

JULY
was spent cooling off with family

AUGUST

We began venturing out as a family

and got our first smiles

SEPTEMBER
brought us to school

brought us hope that he will some day get along with these babes

brought us to the apple orchard

and brought us many more smiles

OCTOBER

this was it.

We were so busy selling a house, buying a house, and moving

NOVEMBER

Getting settled in the new house

where Eveley now has unlimited playdates with neighbors!

It was trying for everyone.

Twins get their first taste of food.

And love it.

DECEMBER

Happy Birthday, Caleb

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Phew.

We never could have imagined what God had in store for our family in 2011, and we thank Him for His faithfulness and blessings. Knowing He holds tomorrow, we look forward to 2012.

Happy New Year!

Tennessee Christmas

2011-12-28T20:50:00.000-05:00

The week before Christmas, my parents rented a chalet in the mountains and all of the McCays got together for a relaxing and fun time.

Well.... as relaxing as it can be when you have 9 children 5 and under....and 4 of them are 7 months and under. So many chillins!

My sweet friend April made these shirts for us. They're numbered in birth order.
Robbie was the first grandbaby.

Don't my parents look proud and happy?!

My brother Rob and his sweet family.

My sister Kate with her family.

Little sis Carrianna and her family.

And somehow, my youngest brother Will did not have to pose for a solo picture. He is heading to Texas A&M this weekend to begin school. Say a prayer for Texas.

The 4 newest grandkids -- little Reese and Beau made my twins look big.

You could always find one of these.

The boys were trying out their new tool kits on the log cabin.

Sweet cousins making beautiful memories together.

I am very blessed to have a such a full and rich heritage.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T21:23:00.000-05:00

My #1

2011-12-13T15:08:00.000-05:00

This post contains no bathroom humor. Promise.

But this is my #1

Sweet Caleb turned 3 this past week. He has gotten a little gypped over the years as his birthday falls just after Thanksgiving, my birthday, and right before Christmas.

But I was determined this year -- come hell or high water -- that we would have a special party and celebration for this little boy. It turned out to resemble Hanukkah a little more than a birthday since it lasted nearly a week. But this boy felt special. And that was my #1 goal.

His birthday was on Thursday. I planned his actual birthday party -- with just some family friends -- for the weekend. But I still wanted to acknowledge and celebrate his actual birthday. So, I greeted him that morning with a big hug and kiss and told him it was his birthday. He just growled at me and yelled, "No it's not!"

Whatever.

We took donut holes for his little class at MOPS that day. I warned his teachers that he may yell at them if they decided to sing. But I was still determined to make him feel special.

I made him a special birthday meal -- barbecue chicken and mashed potatoes (something he will actually eat).

Eveley and I made some sugar cookies for our family dessert. This is THE BEST plain jane cookie recipe ever. (Recipe to follow) We called these Stir and Drop cookies, because that's literally all you do. Topped with some green buttercream (we let Caleb choose the color) and some red sprinkles, these were the perfect way to celebrate that evening.

I let him sample one while we were waiting for Dad to come home.

We had a nice evening and let Caleb open a few presents from his grandparents.

That weekend, we had Caleb's actual birthday party. In the past, I have LOATHED character-based parties. I'm not much of a name brand girl. No LV or red-soled shoes for me. So I tend to shy away from specific character party planning. But my little Caleb LOVES Thomas the Train. This is probably a familiar story for any of you who have had a boy. And you have heard the "Thomas, you're my #1" theme song a few hundred times.

What is it about these little trains? It must be the British accents.

Remembering my goals -- make Caleb feel special without losing my mind -- I opted for a different kind of take on a Thomas cake.

My rainbow cakes never fail me. So we went with Thomas' colors.

and ended up with this.

This was a homemade Buttermilk Cake with Cream Icing. Absolutely delicious! (Recipe to follow)

And the train was handmade out of fondant.

Joke.

It was a wonderful week-long birthday celebration for our sweet Caleb.

Now, when you ask Caleb, "Are you 3?" he yells, "No, I'm #1."

We agree.

***************************************************

Stir and Drop Cookies

2 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 t vanilla
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt

Mix all together with spoon. Drop on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes until brown around edges.

Buttermilk Cake

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 t vanilla

Beat shortening at medium speed with mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

Combine flour, salt, and soda. Add to shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Pour into 3 greased 8-inch round cakepans.

Bake at 350 for around 24 minutes.

Cream Frosting

2 sticks butter
1/2 cup cream
1 pound confectioner's sugar
1 t vanilla

Beat butter until creamy. Add sugar and cream, mixing well. Mix in vanilla. (I used a double recipe to get thick icing in between layers.)

ENJOY!

Just so you know

2011-12-12T06:37:00.000-05:00

Just so you know...

Every time I open my mailbox and pull out a beautiful Christmas card of your lovely family, I have a mini panic attack.

I love family Christmas cards. And I try to capture the true essence of all of the members of our family in a beautiful 5x7 flat piece of paper. Kinda difficult.

Even more difficult is finding a time when someone is not sleeping or eating, and when all 4 are CLEAN, DRESSED, HAPPY, and COOPERATIVE.

Here is Phase 1

2 down. 2 to go.

And I still have to order them, address them, mail them...

Would it be weird to have a Reindeer on an Easter card??

Making progress

2011-12-07T05:27:00.000-05:00

The tree has arrived, and it is beautiful! When our resident lumberjack went to the forest to chop down the family Christmas tree (...or when my suit-wearing hubby ran to Lowe's after church), I requested a BIG tree.

We have loads more space this year in our new home and a mostly empty formal living room. Other than my piano and a rocking chair, this room is bare. So, what better way to fill it up than with a beautiful gi-normous Christmas tree!

Hubby heeded the request, and we got a beautiful tree.

We have some very special Christmas ornaments, and unpacking the treasures is a highlight of the decorating process. Every year, I buy each of the children a special ornament signifying the past year in their lives.

This year,

Sweet Eveley Joy

Crazy Caleb

Ryan Elizabeth ("my little pink piggy")

Lovable Jack

Eveley requested to put on the star again this year. And since Caleb really couldn't care less, I didn't think we needed to teach a sharing lesson at this point.

She insisted on trying to do it herself. As usual.

When this didn't work, she accepted a little help from dad.

But the top of this tree was still too high, so dad got the honors this year.

Along with the wonderful smell of the tree, our house is also filled with the smell of this.

If you haven't tried it, you simply must. You will thank me!

Holy Moment

2011-12-04T21:11:00.001-05:00

I had a holy moment in the car on my way to church this morning. Just Eveley and me.

We were listening to Christian radio when I heard this song. It wasn't the first time I heard it, but it was the first time I actually listened to the words.

Beautiful. And, even better, Truth!

Definitely put me in the Christmas spirit.

Merry Christmas!

Life in the Fast Lane

2011-12-01T21:10:00.000-05:00

Fall is now gone, and these chillin's just keep growing. How does time pass so quickly? The years are flying by, which I'm sure was not the case 10 years ago. Must be global warming.

The best part of winter is these stinkin' cute hats.

The twins are now 6 (almost 7) months. We just introduced solid food right before Thanksgiving. I was planning to do it at 6 months, but we moved on their actual 6-month birthday, and it took a few weeks for me to even find the high chairs.

The first eating experience was not a great one. They were a little sleepy and did not feel like learning a new skill.

Those faces say it all.

So we waited another day and tried again when they were in better moods.

Our Ryan Elizabeth is a trip! She appears to be very serious and intense. But when she decides to cut loose, she almost explodes with giggles.

Ryan and Jack are such sweet babies!

Bath time is their favorite! And there's nothing cuter than a naked baby.

Except a fat naked baby.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, we attempted to get a family picture, hoping to wrap up the Christmas card project. This was the best one. The lighting isn't the best, so I'm not sure it will make the card.

My sweet Eveley is LOVING school. She is a wonderful big sister and a great helper. She is constantly asking how she can help me and loves to surprise me by cleaning her room or the playroom. What a JOY she is.

My sweet and sour Caleb has a birthday this month. He turns 3, and is putting to test the question whether terrible 2s or terrible 3s are the worst. I can't tell you enough how this little boy makes his mama's heart nearly burst. I love him dearly, and he holds a very special place in my heart. He is a major toot most of the time, but he is also one of the sweetest little boys the other 30 minutes of the day. I love this boy bunches.

Baby Jack is almost perfect. His big blue eyes pale in comparison to his big wide smile. He is an angel.

The other afternoon, I let Eveley use my camera to take some pictures of the twins (finally giving in after her incessant whining). She got some cute ones.

A rare look at Jack without his smile.

And then I found this.

:) Just wanted to squelch all those rumors that super mom lives here.

Late Fall

2011-11-30T21:20:00.000-05:00

No more excuses. Our life is crazy. My kids are growing like weeds. The year is coming to a close. It's December, and I'm just posting Fall / Halloween pictures. Whatever.

I made this pinafore for Eveley last year. (Thankfully, I made it a few sizes big so she could continue to wear it. No way am I sewing anything lately.)

I picked up the cutest little pirate costumes for the twins. But when Halloween rolled around, they were miserably sick. I stayed home with the little pirates (sans costumes), and Bob and Mathers took the older two.

Shortly after Robbie was born, my dad bought him a "real" firefighter outfit. We put it away planning for him to wear it one day. So it was neat for me to be able to pull it out this year for Caleb. He loved it!!

Eveley insisted on wearing her Raggedy Anne costume from the dress up trunk. (I think she just wanted to wear a wig.)

So many more pics to follow, but blogger is giving me grief.

Will try again tomorrow.... or the next day.

Sorry

2011-11-23T21:47:00.001-05:00

My sincerest apologies. I cannot believe it has been over a month since I last blogged. Terrible, I know. But it has been uber craziness in our neck of the woods.

But in the midst of this craziness, I am so very thankful for an intensely loving and caring Heavenly Father. He desires to have a unique relationship with each of us. His attention to detail is mind-boggling. I do not want to forget this "Red Sea parting" in our lives.

Over the past several weeks, we have sold a house (after getting multiple and over-list price offers) and purchased a house (the absolute perfect house for us), all within a matter of weeks. We have been in our new home for 2 weeks now and are in love. There is still so much to be done, but we are taking this Thanksgiving weekend to slow down, relax as a family, and thank our God for blessing us in such a unique way.

My camera battery is charged, and I promise to return with an updated look into our crazy.

House sick

2011-10-18T21:34:00.001-04:00

It's just a house. Right?

Wood. Nails. A little paint.

But it also houses beautiful, irreplaceable memories - first baby, first food, first steps, first Christmas, second baby, third, fourth and fifth baby.

And those not so beautiful, but equally irreplaceable, memories ~ messes, fingerprint-stained doors, smudged windows, "art"-covered walls, scratches, dents, and ketchup-stained ceiling (don't ask).

Bob and I were married in 2003 and bought our first town house in Virginia Beach. We lived there for 11 months when we found out God was moving us to a new city, giving us both new jobs, and blessing us with a baby. We sold the house (in less than a week), moved into a garage apartment in the middle of nowhere (seriously), and waited for several months while we searched for our new home.

We moved here in January 2005. Five months later, our sweet Robbie was born. And nearly seven years later, we are bursting at the seams.

So we had a little photo shoot for our beloved house.

Our house has been on the market for about six weeks, and I am praying that God sends just the right family to make this house their home.

We have purchased a new house and will be moving in the next few weeks. Each night, I pray that the moving and packing fairies will come while I am sleeping. That seems to be my best bet of getting everything ready to go. So far, no luck. But fingers crossed.

I am so very thankful for our new house and cannot wait to get everyone and everything settled there. (And Pinterest seemed to come along at the perfect time for all of my decorating and creative ideas!)

But in the meantime, I am taking in all the memories and still trying to wipe off the fingerprints.

Time keeps ticking...

2011-10-10T21:55:00.000-04:00

Time goes by so quickly.

The summer began with many, many sleepless nights.

And two scrawny babes.

Then a few smiles began to appear.

and a couple chins.

5 Months

As of last week, Jack weighs 13 pounds, 2 ounces, and Ryan weighs 14 pounds 6 ounces.

They are the best of friends.

and are constantly holding hands.

It was a long summer. And it took quite some time for the family to adjust. But, by George, I think we did it.

My sweet Eveley is LOVING school and acting very grown up.

And crazy Caleb is constantly asking to "hold" the babies. But he still doesn't know which is which.

Here he is showing his tractor book to "Jack" --

Last week, I walked in the living room to find Eveley reading my Bible to the twins.

I hid in the back and listened to her story. It went something like this:

"God told Mary and Joseph that they were going to have a baby. And He knew it was going to be Him because God is real smart."

Eveley loved her golden crown that she got this weekend at a birthday party.

I walked past Jack and found that she decided to share.

He was not amused.

We have lots of exciting things going on around here! I'm excited to share soon.

Happy 5-month Birthday, sweet Jack and Ryan!

Pimp My Ride

2011-10-03T21:15:00.000-04:00

I'll admit it. I am a minivan driving mama.

Unlike some moms, I did not have to go through a weird internal battle to submit to the minivan.

I cut my teeth on a minivan.

It looked something like this.

I got my permit and driver's license driving this.

And then had the great privilege of driving my four siblings to and from school in this.

But then I got a job and could purchase my own vehicles.

I bought this in college.

And this in law school.

I got married and began having babies.

Robbie didn't mess with my cool factor. But when we were pregnant with Eveley, and knowing that we desired to have a big family, we took the plunge and bought the minivan.

It doesn't bother me in the slightest.

The doors open with the push of a button. There is crazy cargo space. The sound system is pretty rad. And it {somewhat} comfortably fits our entire family in it.

But last week, my medium-sized ego took a beating.

Thursday evening, an unfortunate lawn mower accident demolished the rear side window of the minivan. I didn't see it, but Bob noticed it when he arrived home from work.

"Don't worry," he said. "I'll take care of it."

I didn't think about it again.

...until the next day when I had carpool pickup.

I went to the driveway to find this.

Really??? Bright, cobalt blue tape???

"This is no biggie," I told myself as I buckled Caleb into the backseat.

We headed down the road to Eveley's school to pick her up. And a few, short minutes later, we were riding in a wind tunnel.

When we arrived, the minivan looked like this.

So I parked beside this jewel and hoped no one would notice the giant disaster on the side of my minivan.

Ummm...honey... this is why they call it painter's tape!!

But the kids thought it was an awesome adventure. So I just cranked up Bob & Larry, put on my giant shades, and pretended I was driving this.

Apples of my eye

2011-09-22T11:15:00.000-04:00

We have lived in this city for nearly 6 years. And we finally made it to the popular apple orchard this weekend. The cool weather came out of nowhere and immediately put me in the fall mood. I absolutely love fall!

We rummaged through the closets to find some warmer clothes and headed up the mountain to this beautiful place.

The twins were well behaved.

Our cousin Mathers, an Alabama girl, is living with us this year and enjoying Virginia's change of seasons.

We picked some delicious apples, sipped hot apple cider, took a hay ride, and finished it off with some apple cider donuts.

Caleb refuses to bite his food and instead shoves huge chunks of food into his mouth.

A wonderful first visit. And definitely not the last.

Final Piece

2011-09-19T20:54:00.003-04:00

Well, the final piece of our family puzzle {at least for this year} was safely put into place last week.

Congrats to my sister Kate and her husband Oscar.

Welcome Camden Beau Heidbreder.

What a cutie!

My parents are in Texas now visiting little Beau and loving on mama Kate.

Let the good times begin!

Firsts

2011-09-08T21:35:00.000-04:00

Well, the time has come. It's official. I now have a child in school.

I have kind of suppressed the thought of school since it mostly reminds me of Robbie's absence. He would be going to 1st grade!

We decided Eveley would go to preschool this year. She turned 4 in April and seems ready for a classroom and learning environment. Call me a nerd, but I really enjoyed school and believed Eveley would as well.

I signed her up for Transitional Kindergarten at a church preschool where she will be going 5 days a week. This is the first church we joined after moving to the area, and these people have become family. Their children's programs are phenomenal and the staff is full of beautiful, godly people. We are very blessed to have this opportunity for Eveley to be loved and nurtured by such wonderful influences.

Eveley had a bit of separation anxiety from her mama after the twins were born. Who could blame her? But VBS was a great training ground, and we have really encouraged her about school over the past month.

Yesterday, she decided she wanted me to write her teacher a letter. So she dictated the following

Dear Teacher,

I love school, and I'm not going to cry. You are the bestest teacher in the whole world. I will not say 'Oh my God' or 'Oh my heck' and I want to learn how to read.

From Eveley Joy

Umm... so I didn't write the note exactly as she wanted me to.

This morning, she woke up excited about school. On the ride there, she piped up from the back seat, "Mom, you know I am never alone because God is always with me."

"You are absolutely right, Eveley!" I said.

Then she proceeded to quote her Bible verse from Sunday school.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Robert 3:5".

With the hundreds of Roberts in our family, it makes perfect sense! I couldn't bear to correct her. =)

She then told me she wanted to do the drop off! (This means, I will just pull up to the curb and let a teacher walk her into the school.) And she did. Without even looking back.

This is a HUGE turning point in our family's life...or that's the way it feels right now. We are losing a bit of our flexible, pajama-filled days. And the schedule requires us to be out of the house by 8:20 each morning. Do you realize what this means?

By 8:20, I must:

wake up. start coffee. change Jack. drink coffee. nurse Jack. put Jack in swing. kiss Caleb and Eveley good morning. tell Caleb to step away from Jack. wake up Ryan. change Ryan. nurse Ryan. tell Eveley I can't answer questions until I've finished my second cup of coffee. move Jack to bouncy seat. put Ryan in swing. fix Caleb some waffles and milk. fix Eveley her PB&J and milk. shower. (hopefully). dress Caleb. dress Eveley. dress myself. fix Eveley's hair. fix my hair. drink coffee. pack the diaper bag. pack Eveley a snack and drink. put on some mascara. pump. find car keys. find everyone's shoes. put Jack in car seat. find Jack's paci. put Ryan in car seat. find Ryan's paci. carry twins downstairs to garage. yell at older kids to come on. wipe sweat from brow. fill up travel mug with coffee. put twins in car. remind Eveley to buckle. buckle Caleb in car. remind Eveley to buckle. remind Eveley to buckle. drive away smiling and singing, "This is the Day," at the top of our lungs.

Fortunately for me, God is very wise. He knew that this would be impossible. So, without my knowledge or advice, He orchestrated a beautiful plan that included having my neighbor offer to take and bring Eveley home three days a week and supplying us a live-in nanny! (more on that later...)

He Loves Her. He Really Loves Her.

2011-09-04T21:45:00.001-04:00

My darling Caleb is 2. Enough said.

He is overflowing with spunk and syrup. I love him to pieces.

But he made the transition with the twins quite difficult. As any 2-year-old boy, he wanted to push, poke, and prod. Leaving him unattended anywhere near the twins was just out of the question. This made maneuvering through the house almost impossible.

We instructed him to "pet" the babies like a kitty cat. That was the best I could come up with. Words like "gentle" and "baby" just didn't register with him.

But he has turned over a new leaf and is a little smitten by Miss Ryan.

Wish I could say the same for her.
(camera phone photos!)

The Aunts Go Marching One by One

2011-08-31T08:30:00.001-04:00

I have two really rad sisters.

Growing up, we weren't very close because of our age difference. I am a {little} older.

But now we are the best of friends, and last summer began the process of us sharing common experiences when both sisters got married.

We have been able to spend the past year talking about the ~~difficulties~~ awesomeness of marriage.

Then, the first of January, both sisters found out they were expecting their first babies. And later, we found out both would be having boys.

I have begged them to set up skype in the labor room so I could participate. But they have rudely rejected me.

Their due dates were 2 days apart, which led to major heartburn for my parents. But God has orchestrated it beautifully (why did we doubt?).

Little sis Carrianna gave birth to this sweet bundle on Sunday evening.

Meet my new little nephew.

Reese Daniel weighed 6 pounds 3 ounces and has already stolen his mom and dad's heart.

I am excited for my sisters to experience motherhood and this love like no other. They will be great moms.

He's so sweet. It makes me want another little one!

Almost...

Oh, Kate.... batter up!

As Night and Day

2011-08-15T22:30:00.000-04:00

Our twins are 3 months old.

I almost had to pick myself off of the floor after typing that sentence.

First of all, I can't believe it's been 3 months! And secondly, I can't believe I have twins!

Twins do not run in my family. At all. Unless someone is hiding something from me, I know of no other twins in my blood line.

I knew very little about twins in general before January of this year. I had always found them to be intriguing, but upon discovering I would soon be a "mom of multiples," I began doing my research.

I may have been foreign to twin trivia, but I did know that boy/girl twins are never identical. Duh! But you would be surprised how often I get the question, "Are they identical?"

Jack and Ryan Elizabeth are fraternal twins. Upon doing a little research, here are a few interesting facts taken from a "twin" website

* In the caucasian race, you have less than 1% chance of having fraternal twins -- they occur once in every 125 births. But if you are a fraternal twin girl, you have a 1 in 17 chance of having fraternal twins. {Congratulations, Ryan!}

* Once you have a set of fraternal twins, you are twice as likely to have another set in a future pregnancy. {uh oh}

* Fraternal twins are hereditary - they run in families. While identical twins happen by sheer chance, fraternal twins run through the mother's family. {or not...maybe God just chooses to answer your heart's prayer and give you twins!}

* The older you are, the greater your chances of having fraternal twins. {32 is not old, thank you very much.}

* Twins are more common in large and tall women. {Great...and there we have it....}

While Jack and Ryan are twins, former womb mates, they are as different as night and day.

Ryan Elizabeth is my little pink piglet. She snorts and squeals. She is as solid as a rock and has a pound advantage on Jack. She is very sturdy and can already stand up while holding my fingers.

She holds nothing back. From day 1, Ryan has been the loud mouth. If she is hungry, you will know it. When I was in the hospital, I would be awakened in the middle of the night to hear her screaming as they wheeled her bassinet down the long hall.

She can complete her meal in about 5 minutes flat. She means business when it comes to eating and wastes no time. She is pretty intense.

Jack is my little lamb. He is so laid back and peaceful. While Ryan is screaming her head off, Jack is looking around with his eyes wide open and his mouth in a huge, wide grin. I have a hard time feeding him because he is constantly smiling. I try to limit the eye contact so he can concentrate on sucking!

While they are as different as night and day, Jack and Ryan do share a few things in common. They are both deeply loved. They each fill my heart with sunshine -- even at 3 a.m. And they are gifts from God.

Jack and Ryan remind me that Jesus is the "Life Giver." He is a personal God and loves each of us uniquely and individually.

Count your many blessings. Name then one by one.

Weekend Treat

2011-08-09T14:00:00.001-04:00

Bob and I were asked to speak at a function this past weekend for our law school. Since it was being held at The Homestead, one of our all-time favorite spots, we gladly accepted.

We have stayed here quite a few times for various events but have never taken 4 children with us. Since my cousin Mathers was still here helping out, we decided to go for it! And we are so glad we did.

The kids were great, and we all had a fabulous time. Besides a mad fit, thrown by Master Caleb at breakfast, and a loud reference to a "stinker", made by Madam Eveley at dinner, everyone was on their best behavior.

We spent the afternoon at the pool.

Snuggled in bed at night

Taught the kids to play chess...

Kinda... Where's Caleb?

Did a little fishing

Let the kids run free around the grounds

{Tried} to teach Evie how to pose for a photo

Soaked our feet in the natural hot springs

And exhaustingly tried to get a family photo.

Perfect.

Summer Blues

2011-08-04T16:15:00.000-04:00

Our summer has been pretty low key -- some of that purposefully and some of that is out of necessity.

But I have been trying to insert some fun and special things into the weeks for the older two.

Our "special" outings have consisted of trips to the pool, Walmart, the library {ahem...the kids think Barnes and Noble is the library...} or the mall.

I made the kids pose a little yesterday morning before we headed out to the mall -- it is about 110 degrees here, so we enjoyed the indoor play area and carousel.

A blog reader and sweet friend made these shirts for the four monkeys. So cute!!

In the midst of our packing, Eveley found the secret stash of presents from her 4th birthday. I tried to put up some of her gifts so we could pull them out periodically this summer for a little fun. But she spotted a gift from her friend Cohen -- a bubble gun that blows colored bubbles.

I looked at it and tried to find an excuse as to why we couldn't play with that. I admit it. I'm a little neurotic about messes and like to try and keep the kids, my house, and my stuff tidy. But I decided to relax and let the kids have a little {messy} fun.

While I was cooking dinner, I loaded the colored bubbles into the cute little bubble gun and let the kids outside onto the back porch.

Just a few minutes later, this is what I found.

I know the Smurfs are making a comeback, but this was ridiculous.

Tomorrow, we are really having a special outing and heading here.

You will find me relaxing here.

and eating here.

sleeping here.

and chasing my crazy kids around here.

I've got nothing

2011-07-29T13:39:00.002-04:00

I'm just realizing that it has been 16 days since my last post. Pathetic, I know.

But I have a really good excuse.

Four children, four and under?

Twin infants?

A majorly persnickety 2 year old?

A four year old with a stinking attitude?

Hooked up like a cow to a pump every few hours?

Well, all of the above. And...

We are putting our house on the market.

Seriously. We are crazy loons.

But I have been busy packing up our clutter, moving the 2 trillion bins of out-of-season, out-of-size children's clothes, and separating big kids' toys from babies' toys.

All while showing my local Goodwill some major love

and tripping over the 300 baby contraptions lying around.

We are praying God provides the perfect buyers and perfect house at the perfect time. Putting our Trust in Him, we are super excited.

I promise to put up more pictures soon ... if I can find my camera.

"Grand" Parents

2011-07-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

DISCLAIMER: lots of pics!

Our kids are so very blessed to have wonderfully loving grandparents.

Bob's dad went to be with Jesus the day before Father's Day. We were able to spend some good time in New York with him in April before the twins were born but were very sad to say goodbye (for now).

Bob's dad was a character, in the best sense of the word. I remember meeting him for the first time when he visited Bob in law school. He was thoroughly upset when I referred to him as "sir" and told me that's how people talked when he was in the army but not now. He ordered me to stop the No or Yes Sirs. That's a pretty hard task for a good southern girl. But I tried. =)

He was absolutely hilarious. Bob would say this is where he gets his great sense of humor. I won't go that far, but his dad was a hoot. He was Irish to the core and wanted to make sure the kids wore the Notre Dame gear that he would send.

When Eveley was beginning to talk, we debated the many names for her to give him -- grandpa, pops, gramps, etc... But one day she called him by his actual name, Bob Byrne. He loved it and decided that was what the kids should call him. And they did!

We will miss him greatly but will have fun remembering the funny stories he gave us! And we are looking forward to a visit from grandma this week!

On top of the great love that the grandparents show our kids, both of their homes also provide awesome vacation destinations. Whether our kids are going to see Bob's family in upstate New York or my family in southeast Tennessee, they always have a wonderful time filled with outside play and getting dirty.

This past week, the kids and I traveled south to spend the Fourth with my family in Tennessee. Bob had to stay put and work (and catch up on some rest) but my cousin Mathers is still here helping out so we attempted the first road trip with all four.

{almost as difficult as trying to get a group picture of all four...}

It took a ton of prep time -- cleaning out the van, laundry, packing, organizing baby stuff, -- but it went much better than I expected. And, to beat all, the DVD player did not accompany us! {I can hear your gasps}

We have been having some issues with the power outlets in the van, so the DVD player was MIA. It was replaced with several children's CDs and we nick-nack-paddywhacked our way down the interstate.

I'll keep the commentary to a minimum.

One of the highlights of a trip to Tennessee is always getting to spend time with the cousins.

My grandmother gave the twins a wagon -- for future use, of course -- but the other cousins put it to immediate use.

We spent the holiday weekend at a nearby river/campground area, which Caleb innocently referred to as the ocean. (It doesn't take a lot to impress these kids...)

Eveley with Uncle Eric

Caleb and Eveley helped Marmee pick the garden.

until we realized that Hansel Caleb was leaving a trail of green beans.

These action-packed days wore everyone out.

We spent many evenings cooling down in the pool. This was the kids' first chance this summer to swim. I was so excited to see how much they are improving.

{The cousins with Marmee and Pop and their great-grandmother, Mimi}

The twins just sunbathed.

The kids relaxed on the hammock, ate homemade ice cream, had picnics outside, and giggled with cousins.

And the girl cousins experienced their first "Pop's picnic".

Growing up, my dad loved to pile us all in the car on a Saturday and set out for "Papa's picnic". We never knew where we were going, and it wasn't something extravagant, but it was always fun...well, it was usually fun!

Since my dad had the week off from work, he decided to take his 3 granddaughters, Layla, Eveley, and Anna Lea (ages 5, 4, and 3) to the movies to see Cars 2. This would be their first movie theater experience. We women were a little skeptical but the girls (and Pop) were pretty excited. I don't have any pictures of this experience and I'm not sure it will be repeated any time soon. After 3 large buckets of popcorn and 45 trips to the bathroom, the crew returned home. Pop just shook his head. But the girls were still giggling. And when we got home from Tennessee, Bob asked Eveley what her favorite part of the trip was. "Going to the movie fee-ater," she yelled. I would say it was a success.

A Glimpse

2011-06-28T18:00:00.001-04:00

Things are still a little crazy here, and I am still struggling to put together a cohesive thought. So, I will ration my creative energy and just give you a little glimpse of our past week.

Here is my "Push Present" from Bob

According to Wikipedia:

A push present (also known as a "push gift" or "baby bauble") is a present a new father gives a new mother when she gives birth to their child. In practice the present may be given before or after the birth, or even in the delivery room. The giving of push presents has supposedly grown in the United States in recent years. [1]

He graciously let me pick this out on my own. {I'm not sure if you're still supposed to call it a push present when the babes were pulled out instead of pushed. I digress...}

It is from the Vintage Pearl and is just perfect. Their customer service is fantastic, and they worked with me to help design the perfect charms for each of my blessings. (Notice I had to get all of Ryan Elizabeth's name on there...still a little controversial...)

We have a nanny! Hallelu-yer!
"Jack" - not pictured.

My cousin Mathers, who lives in Alabama, asked if she could come stay with us this summer to help out with all the chillins. Um...we said yes.

Our days continue to revolve around the little ones -- keeping them fed and clean is a major job!

{these are iPhone photos}

We are also harvesting our garden -- I use the term "garden" very loosely.

We have always wanted to have a garden but with our large deer population, terrible red clay, and expanding family, we knew it was unwise to dive into that task this summer. So we compromised and planted a few pots on our front porch. We have tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.

Just call me Farmer Brown.

My babies are growing almost as fast as the produce.

Look at those big blue eyes. I think I'd rather eat him than the cucumber.

Jillian Who?

2011-06-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

People can't get enough of Jillian Michaels. Everyone is shredding away. My sister-in-law is a slave to Jillian and raves about the results.

But those biggest losers need to be very afraid of my new trainers.

These professionals mean business.

They never take "no" for an answer.

They are tough as nails.

And their yell makes Jillian look like a kitty cat.

They require me to stay on a strict diet -- 3500 calories and about 100 ounces of water a day.

The exercise plan is vicious. We train all day and all night. I have to run up and down several flights of stairs at their whim.

They are trying to break me.

I've been training with them for a little over a month.

After just 1 week, I had lost 30 pounds and was only 5 pounds away from my goal weight. Take that, Jillian.

One Month

2011-06-12T16:20:00.003-04:00

We made it!

I'm not going to lie. There were days (many of them) where I didn't think we would make it.

But I kept telling myself, if Kate Gosselin and the Octomom can do it, then surely there's a good chance I can do it too!

We have not done it alone. There have been so many people who have loved our family through this transition. It has been amazing - and humbling - to watch God orchestrate the masses to come help and encourage us. It's a reminder to me, an admitted control freak, that God sees each of our needs, big and small, and employs His unlimited resources to timely meet them.

Our Aunt Jenn stayed at our house during the week of the twins' birth to take care of Eveley and Caleb. Trust me. That is a HUGE job.

Then my sister Carrianna changed her plans so she could stay with me in the hospital. She took such great care of me and the babies, and she made that 4-day stay tons of fun too.

My mom stayed with us for 2 weeks. She did laundry, kept the house clean, cooked, played doll house with Eveley, chased Caleb, cleaned out my refrigerator (which had not been done since Caleb was born...when she cleaned it out then...), changed a bazillion diapers, helped with the twin's night feedings, and took care of me. Then she took Caleb and Eveley back to Tennessee for a week to help us ease into this new phase.

My dad made 2 roadtrips to our house, lived alone for 2 weeks while my mom was with us, and gave the kids the time of their lives in Tennessee, letting Caleb ride on the tractor, lawn mower, and in the back of his truck!

The birth of the twins has required everyone in the family to sacrifice and adjust. After Caleb and Eveley returned from Tennessee last weekend, we hunkered down and took this challenge head on. But it required a ton of energy - both physical and mental -to take care of everyone. My precious husband is even splitting the night shift with me so I am not completely exhausted.

By mid-week, Bob and I felt like we were at the end of our rope.

{This is where God steps in, again.}

Our dear friends showed up on our porch one evening with a bag of popsicles. He took Caleb and Eveley outside to play, and she held the babies while Bob and I were able to eat dinner together AND TALK! Then they brought in the older 2, bathed them, and put them in bed. The twins were ready to eat and go to bed themselves. It was a perfect gift of love at the perfect time! {And they came back two nights later to do it again!}

My church family and MOPS sisters signed up to provide us with meals through mid-July! Friends and neighbors are running errands for me and scheduling regular play dates for my older 2.

There are no words to tell you how blessed we feel to have these people in our lives.

I can only pray that God pours out an extra special blessing on each of them and that I will be sensitive to love others in their time of need, just as others have done for us!

'Splaining the Naming

2011-06-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

I must tell you that the most difficult part of this pregnancy was deciding on names for the twins. Call me crazy (some of you already have), but I really take the naming game very seriously.

From the moment we found out God was blessing us with twins, I knew that their names had to capture the significance of this great gift. Bob agrees that naming our children is a great responsibility, not to be taken lightly. But he did not agree on my name choices. I'll spare you the details of our discussions (spat of the century), but we were still in disagreement as I walked into the operating room.

My hope was that once he saw my body being cut open to birth these babes, he would be more deferential to my opinions. But I was wrong.

We asked everyone's opinions -- seeking advice from our family, the nurses, and any one who happened to walk by our hospital room. We were desperate.

For the first 3 days, they were labeled Twin A and Twin B. This was so confusing since our little girl (who was Twin B in the womb), beat out her brother for the first spot and officially became Twin A.

Fortunately, by Day 3, we had finalized the birth certificate paperwork and their names became official.

Let me introduce:

John "Jack" Kelsey Byrne

Jack's name held the least controversy, and Bob and I were in agreement pretty early on.

Bob's grandfather was John, and he went by the nickname Jack.

We gave Jack the middle name Kelsey to honor our great friend and mentor, D.A. Kelsey, an appellate judge in Virginia. Bob and I both clerked for him at different times (Bob for 2 years and I for 4 years) after graduating from law school, and he has had an enormous impact on our family.

When I began my clerkship, I was pregnant with Robbie. I was able to work from home 99% of the time and even took Robbie in to the office on occasion. He was one of the first people I called after Robbie's death, and we prayed together on the phone. Bob and I were honored to have him give the eulogy at Robbie's memorial service in Virginia. (a copy of the eulogy is on the sidebar). It is our prayer that Jack grows up to be a strong and fearless man of God and chooses to serve Him all the days of his life.

Ryan Elizabeth Synclair

Now for our sweet daughter. This is where the controversy began. I'll spare you the details of our spat and simply say that this is her official name.

Ryan is Bob's grandmother's maiden name.

Elizabeth is my mother's name, my first name, and Bob's aunt's name.

Synclair means “clear sign”. To me, the gift of these twins was a clear reminder of God's purposeful involvement in our lives. Although there may be times when He seems far away or silent, the truth is that God will never leave or forsake us and His love for us is incomprehensible.

We pray Ryan Elizabeth learns to trust God with all her heart.

I asked God for twins...for many different reasons. And He answered this prayer with beautiful Jack and Ryan Elizabeth.

We are so very blessed . . . . and so very tired.

{Don't let them fool you.}

2011-05-30T11:24:00.005-04:00

This past month has been a blur...full of sweet blessings and difficult transitions.

Everyone is getting used to the new babies and their constant demands.

Caleb and Eveley are definitely having a rough time, and I am looking for a giant bubble to protect the twins from big brother Caleb. He thinks it's hilarious when they squeal or jump, and he tries out multiple methods to get them to do so. This has been the biggest challenge.

The older two left this morning for Tennessee where they will spend the week having fun with cousins. Bob and I will be concentrating on the twins and figuring out a good plan of attack to meet their needs. This will be good for all of us, but I already miss the other two terribly.

I'm hoping to catch up on blogging this week, but I'm promising nothing. If there's something you really want to know, just leave me a comment and I'll do my best. :)

Here are a few pictures taken by my friend Jenn. They are 2 weeks here.

Six

2011-05-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

Six years ago today, I was given the most invaluable gift ~ Motherhood

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new."

Robert Emmet Byrne, III was born around 6:30 in the evening, weighing 7 pounds and 13 ounces. We welcomed his bright blue eyes into our lives, and we would never be the same.

Sweet Robbie,

You taught me the value of motherhood.

You taught me that selflessness isn't too big of a sacrifice.

You taught me to enjoy every minute of the day, even the hard ones.

You taught me that words are not adequate to describe a mother's love.

Happy Birthday.

Venturing Out

2011-05-23T15:00:00.000-04:00

I have loved introducing the twins to our friends and family. But it is not very easy to get everyone out of the house.

Their first trip out, leaving the hospital and heading home, proved to be quite difficult.

Being a super planner, I had washed and prepared two carseats for the babies -- one borrowed from my sweet friend Joy and the other was Caleb's.

But our little peanuts were little. And these carseats would not do. I didn't even know that was a possibility! So, we had to send Bob out to Babies R Us to purchase 2 brand new carseats (with a 4 pound baby minimum) before we could leave the hospital.

This past Thursday was my MOPS group's last meeting. I hated to miss it and desperately wanted to see my sweet girlfriends and introduce them to the twins. But the babes were only 9 days old and I had just undergone major surgery. Yea. Blah. Blah. Blah.

I was determined to go.

I would have never attempted this without my super hero mom being here. (at least, I don't think so...) But with her help, I thought we could do it.

We began preparing on Wednesday. I pumped bottles, laid out clothes for everyone, packed the diaper bag, gathered my end-of-the-year gifts and cards for my leadership team, and found an outfit for myself that fit. Everyone was bathed and smelling delicious.

Thursday morning, I woke up and threw everything into high gear. We got everyone fed and dressed, put all 4 kiddoes into their carseats and I walked around to get into the car. I breathed a sigh of relief as I was still on schedule.

I got into the car and turned the key. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I couldn't believe it, but my car battery was dead as a doornail.

I began to sweat and tried to hold off the tears. I called a friend who lives nearby but was already at MOPS. She was able to contact another friend's husband who lives down the road and he came over the help us out.

To make a very long story short, he tried multiple times, called every mechanic friend he knew, and could not get the car to start. We told Eveley - who was strapped in the very back seat - to pray about it. The battery was dead dead, he said. Then the tears came. I tried to remain calm but I couldn't stop crying. I was so very sad (and quite a bit mad). So I called my MOPS friends and told them (as I failed to hold back the tears) that I wouldn't be able to make it.

I began unloading kids from the car. Then our friend, Mr. Mark, said he would give it one more try. He positioned the jumper cables a little differently and I got in to turn on the car. All of the sudden, the lights came on and the car started. I couldn't belive it and started crying even harder! My mom told Eveley to thank Mr. Mark.

"Not Mr. Mark," she yelled, "It was JESUS!" That made me almost bust a stitch.

We quickly thanked him for being our angel, put the kids back into the car, and drove to MOPS! On the drive there, Eveley told me that it was a miracle. She was right.

So we all made it to MOPS. I unloaded the kids and started handing out bags before the ran to class. Then I realized I had left the diaper bag in the garage. HA! This story keeps getting better and better. But fortunately, I had not left my boobs at home, so the twins were fine.

Caleb and Eveley were able to go to their classes, which they love, and I was able to visit with my friends for a bit.

When we loaded back into the car to return home, my mom asked me if it was worth it. DEFINITELY, I said.

So our first venture out was a little bit of a mix between Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Miracle on 34th Street.

I'm not sure when we will attempt another outing.

Report from the Front Lines

2011-05-18T08:31:00.009-04:00

GUEST POST FROM Anna

I got the privilege of spending some time with Ryan, Jack & their tired mama. Here are a few photos to satisfy the baby gawking. These little bitties are ADORABLE! I kept saying, "Oh my gosh! They are so cute!", perhaps 50 times. I did take a few minutes away from the camera to hold them. Delight!

One day, months from now, Lauren will have tons of free time to blog. But for now, it's feed, sleep, repeat. Thank goodness Lauren's sweet mama is here to help.
_________________

from LAUREN

I found a few spare minutes this morning and wanted to update you all just a bit. I haven't posted in a while because I thought it was unwise to record any thoughts during that first week of mental instability.

Each day is getting better and we will figure this thing out soon.

These babies are precious and, for the most part, very content. You can already spy the differences in these two -- they have very different personalities and demeanors. Jack is cool as a cucumber. Miss Ryan Elizabeth is a bit demanding. But they are adorable nonetheless.

A sweet friend made these blankets and hats for the babies.

JOHN "JACK" KELSEY BYRNE

RYAN ELIZABETH SYNCLAIR BYRNE

I'll give you the full story behind the naming game soon.

Ryan Elizabeth is trying to decide what to wear today...

Ryan Elizabeth is already fed up with Jack.

I've found that these pacis are their favorites. And Eveley's silly bands work great for helping me remember which twin nursed on which side. =)

We are blessed!

They're Here

2011-05-11T14:30:00.000-04:00

There are many details to share but my arms are constantly full of nursing babes, so you'll have to hold your horses.

We are wonderfully blessed. Thank you for all your prayers.

Happy Mama

2011-05-08T21:15:00.000-04:00

We spent this last weekend trying to soak it all in -- enjoying our family of 4 and the sunny weather, celebrating Mother's Day, and checking off the final items on our "to do" list.

Mother's Day began early as Bob took us out for breakfast on Saturday. This is definitely one of my favorite things to do. Hot coffee and pancakes. And hungry kids who will actually eat the food. We are very aware that family meals out will be a rarity.

Then Bob took the kids to the park while I got a massage. Awesome! Our evening ended with a yummy dinner cooked by my sweet hubby.

But, of course, my favorite part of Mother's Day is loving on my precious children.

We are still having a hard time wrapping our minds around what is getting ready to happen. Having a birth scheduled to the date and time is very different for us....not to mention that we will be leaving the hospital with TWO babies. But God is working out all of the little details and reminding us of His great love.

My little brother graduates from high school on Thursday. So my parents will be heading our way next weekend after finishing his celebrations. But my awesome sister Carrianna is going to come stay with me in the hospital this week. She's a nurse and actually stayed with me after I had Robbie. I am so thankful that she rearranged her schedule to come and be with me.

My sweet Eveley is super excited!

My crazy Caleb doesn't really care.

I am glad this pregnancy is coming to a close. Besides the awful first trimester, this has been the easiest pregnancy by far. I'm afraid these babies are going to pop out of my belly button, but I have oddly been pretty comfortable.

I decided to heed everyone's advice and take a few pictures to record my physical predicament. Here's a belly shot from yesterday. I got so cracked up at Eveley's face. She obviously thinks the belly is hilarious.

And while I am feeling well, I am suffering terribly from pregnancy brain.

For example... I called our pediatrician's office this past week and asked to speak to his nurse. I carefully explained that I was having twins and would like to request that the doc perform our baby boy's vasectomy in the hospital so I wouldn't have to bring the twins back to the office later in the week.

The nurse acted so confused.

I went through the details again. We are having twins, a boy and a girl. I would rather not have to bring the babies back to the office after leaving the hospital. So I'd like him to do the vasectomy in the hospital.

She paused. "Um. Do you mean the circumcision?" she said.

Oh my word. Of course. I was so embarrassed but am sure their office got a good laugh out of it. =)

Happy Mother's Day to my mom who is the best mother on the planet...and to my two sisters who will welcome little boys into this world in September!!

Counting Down!

2011-05-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

Our precious twins are scheduled to arrive in six days. SIX! May 10 will be their birthday unless I go into labor before then (which I highly doubt).

These two are destined to be close friends. They have been snuggling side by side for the majority of their time in the womb. And they are not budging.

So the inevitable C-section has been scheduled. I am now seeking my friends' advice on C-sections and recoveries. Since this pregnancy has been completely different from the beginning, I guess it makes sense for it to also end in its own unique way.

While I must admit that I'm pretty disappointed this won't be a natural delivery, I am also confident that the breech position of these babies contributed to a comfortable and pretty easy last several months. I have been amazed at how good and normal I've felt. I have not had any back problems with this pregnancy, which is a major blessing!

We are almost ready for this. The big transition has been made. For the past month, Caleb has been out of the baby bed and is sleeping with Eveley in bunk beds. We were very surprised at how easy this move was. They are both enjoying the time together and we have had no issues. Now, we just have to rearrange the car seating assignments and install the infant car seats.

Our bags are packed for the hospital, and I have (hopefully) not forgotten anything. [You know I pride myself on being a fabulous planner.] Anyone have any suggestions for things I should pack??

It appears that I will spend four days in the hospital and will have tons of time to blog and inundate you with pictures of these sweet miracles. (HA!) I'm sure things will be busy, but I will definitely try to keep you all updated.

I sincerely covet your prayers this next week – peace for me, Bob, Caleb and Eveley, and for a safe and healthy delivery of these babies. (oh...and we need to name these babies! That's a whole separate post!!)

So...the big question. What to do over these next several days?

I had a final ladies night out this past weekend with girlfriends. The kids and I are making several appearances at their favorite spot on earth – the bounce and play. Winter clothes are stored and flower beds are planted. And I have a massage scheduled for Saturday.

In these last days, I am trying to concentrate my energy on spending quality time with Caleb and Eveley {and sleeping as much as I can}. ~~Their~~ Our world is about to be rocked.

It's Worth It

2011-04-25T08:38:00.004-04:00

We enjoyed the Easter weekend, remembering the unbelievable sacrifice that Jesus made for us and celebrating God's beautiful plan that it completed.

Of course, Easter Sunday included some new duds for the kiddies, and we attempted to get somewhat of a family picture. These were the best we could do...

This year, we were able to teach Eveley the truth of Easter (in 4-year-old terms) and were so excited to hear her interesting questions as she tried to understand this wonderful picture of love.

As we are nearing the birth of the twins, Eveley has also been interested in how they are going to get out of my tummy. Wouldn't we all like to know.

I told her that we will go to the hospital and the doctor will take the babies out.

"Will it hurt you?" she asked solemnly.

"Well, yes it will hurt mommy," I told her honestly. "But it will be worth it so mommy can have these babies in her arms."

"Did it hurt you when I came out of your tummy?" she wondered.

"Yes it did. But it was worth it because I wanted to have you!" I explained.

A huge smile broke out on her face because she realized a little more how much I loved her.

And then I realized how God must have felt something similar. The Gospel plan was going to hurt Him deeply -- He would have to send His only Son to a sin-ridden Earth where Jesus would be ridiculed, hated, beaten and crucified. And Jesus would endure the physical pain required by submitting to this plan.

But they said it was worth it.

Worth all the pain for me...and for you.

Because of the enormous sacrifice, we can be welcomed into an intimate relationship with God right now and into His loving arms one day.

Hallelujah.

My Joy

2011-04-18T16:43:00.002-04:00

Today is our Eveley Joy's 4th birthday. As I have said many times before, she is certainly living up to her name. She brings us enormous joy and many laughs.

My Eveley ~

You have certainly grown up this past year and are such a sweet girl. We love you deeply and are so proud of you. You are a great helper to your mom and have already declared that you will be taking care of your baby sister when she arrives. (I think baby brother will have to fend for himself.)

You have learned many new things these past few months -- how to swing by yourself, play Twinkle Twinkle on the piano, and dress yourself.

Lately, you have been very interested in talking about Jesus and your big "brudder" Robbie. We went to the cemetery together last weekend and you wanted to go look at "Robbie's flower." As we were walking around, you asked to see "Miss Meredith's flowers," -- one of my friends. I explained to you that she didn't have any flowers there because these were for people who had already gone to heaven. You looked up at me for a second and said, "Then I want to go see God's flowers."

I cannot believe that you will be starting school this fall, but I know you are going to love it!

Your daddy and I love you with all our hearts and are excited to see how God uses you. I know He has already used you to bring us (and many others) great joy.

Mama

CELEBRATION PREPARATIONS

Eveley always enjoys helping me plan her parties. I began asking her what type of party she wanted and got a variety of answers -- pirates, princess, Strawberry Shortcake. But we decided on having a "Sweet" party which allowed mom to improvise as we went along.

Both Eveley and Caleb were huge "helps" in the kitchen.

For the cake, Eveley wanted one that was similar to last year's rainbow cake.

Remember this.

This year, though, we would use brighter colors -- pink, green, yellow, orange, aqua, and purple.

Eveley helped mix the colors, and we ended up with 6 bright layers.

Unfortunately, the green layer did not survive Caleb.

So a 5-layer cake of colorful goodness would have to do this year. I made a snow peak icing and topped it with some pink sugar.

CHANGE OF PLANS

We had hoped to celebrate her birthday on Saturday but the weather would not cooperate. Afraid she would be utterly disappointed, dad arranged for a different type of surprise on Saturday.

An entire dump truck of gravel for our massive driveway.

Eveley (and Caleb) LOVED it!

Caleb has inherited Eveley's purple crocs from last summer. =) {Only for around the house, honey. I promise!}

THE BIG DAY

We were able to have Eveley's birthday party Sunday afternoon. The weather was gorgeous and so many friends were able to join us.

Eveley thought it was a perfect day.

And it was...kinda...

Due to some "miscommunication" with dad, the birthday cake arrived at the party looking like this.

But Eveley didn't care. She was surrounded by friends and family and having a blast!

This was the replacement cake from the local grocery store. =)

Caleb wanted to blow out some candles too.

and eat some cake

Today is Eveley's "official" birthday and she has decided to spend the entire day -- beginning at 6:30 -- playing with, and wearing, as many of her birthday presents as possible.

Happy Birthday, Princess!

Family Update

2011-04-15T10:00:00.005-04:00

We are really enjoying the arrival of spring and looking forward to the arrival of the twins. And while we have much to do indoors to prepare for the babes, I have been trying to spend as much time outside as possible with Caleb and Eveley.

Last week was our MOPS Easter egg hunt. It was a fabulous day!

This shirt was Caleb's gift from our babymoon in Los Angeles. Kinda sums him up. =)

Now for my precious twins in utero. They are pushing the family tradition. While I have said many times that "I only birth stubborn children," it is rare that their stubborness shows up before birth. But these twins are hard headed and are snuggled close together with their heads firmly placed underneath my rib cage.

One doc said there is still hope that our boy will flip given the good amount of amniotic fluid. But my other doc said to start preparing for a C-section, which would most likely be scheduled for the week of May 8.

I won't give up hope yet. As a friend reminded me yesterday, this entire pregnancy has been filed with miracle after miracle. So, I am still praying for my boy to turn.

In the meantime, I am trying out a few recommended ways to urge the babe downward -- standing on my head, placing a bag of frozen peas on the top of my stomach, and considering a trip to an indoor pool.

And I am focusing on the blessing of these two healthy babies. As of Tuesday, baby girl weighed 4 pounds, 9 ounces, and baby boy weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces. She has continued to face inward and we have yet to get a good look at her sweet face. He is facing outward and is content to bounce on my bladder.

There is so much to do! But our top priority this weekend is celebrating Eveley Joy's 4th Birthday.

I asked Eveley what she wanted for her birthday and she said, "The Lizard of Oz." Still looking for that...

The Besties

2011-04-11T20:18:00.013-04:00

This past weekend, several girlfriends hosted a baby shower for me.

When they mentioned this a couple months ago, I was very excited and surprised to have a baby shower at this stage of the game (babies #4 and #5). But I have the best friends ever!!

They have been so excited with me at the news of these twins, and I am extremely blessed to have them in my life.

The theme of the shower was "She's About to Pop." No arguing there!

It was a beautiful morning with bright flowers, a southern brunch, cake pops, some famous caramel corn, presents galore, and crazy games.

The girls had to stuff a pink and blue balloon up their shirt so they could somehow get an idea of my physical predicament. =) Then we had to figure out how to pop them. Hilarious.

I am sincerely overwhelmed by the generosity and love of these girls. They are beautiful people and amazing friends.

Ultrasound tomorrow!

What's in Your Nursery?

2011-04-07T08:30:00.001-04:00

TWINS UPDATE: I am 33 weeks and 5 days. We will be going Tuesday for an ultrasound to determine their size and position. Other than some heartburn, I am feeling great and really appreciate your kind words and prayers! Another belly pic may be coming...

I have been out of the baby gear purchasing phase for quite some time. Of course I went through the typical research phase with my first pregnancy and collected all of those "must haves" for Robbie. Being Miss Practical, most of my larger purchases were in a pattern that would work well for a girl or boy. So when I was pregnant with Eveley, I simply added a few girly items. When Caleb arrived, I again pulled out the boy items from Robbie, and we were set.

It has been several years since I have made any significant purchases for a baby's arrival. But the addition of the twins is necessitating some new items. My dilemma is deciphering what is truly needed given the fact that we are quickly outgrowing our house and don't want to add unnecessary clutter.

And with my sisters both going through their first pregnancies, I am racking my brain to help them come up with that list of true "must haves" to help them prepare for their new arrivals.

Here are a few things that really helped me.

My sweet friend Jenna, who was an experienced mom, sent me a great gift of goodies for Robbie. It was a basket containing all of the necessary items for a baby boy AND it was accompanied by an instruction sheet! It included everything I would need for grooming, teething, bathing, caring for his circumcision, nursing, fevers, and a notebook to record our breastfeeding schedule. It was a lifesaver to have her words guide me through the little things that just seemed so overwhelming during those first months.

The car seat is obvious. And there are tons of cute and safe ones to choose from.

But the most important part of the infant stage, to me, is having a stroller that the car seat can be fastened into. This is such a huge time saver and helps keep those little ones sleeping. When I first had to purchase one of these, I had the Graco system that weighed a ton and felt like you were pushing a truck.

These new snap n go frames are awesome, and they seem to be the perfect solution for that first infant stage.

After baby grows up a little, an umbrella stroller is a must have. My favorite is the Maclaren stroller. It is easy to collapse and store. But the main reason I prefer it is because of the height of the handles. It is great for us tall moms (so this doesn't apply to you, Carrianna) and it keeps me from stepping on the back wheels. I have always opted for the one that has a reclining seat to allow for easier napping.

We have also used air purifiers (or noise machines) in our kids' rooms. This is really more about settling me down than them. But it does help me relax about other noise in the house.

I have not had a video baby monitor but think one would be awesome! We did have an audio monitor with Robbie, but I found that it did nothing more that totally stress me out during those first weeks. I could never sleep as I was listening to all the little gurgles and sounds. So we ended up turning it off at nights and just keeping the doors open.

I think a video monitor would allow me to look in on the little one to reassure myself that he/she was covered and sleeping well without having to wonder what all the noises meant. This seems to be especially important this go around as the twins will most likely be sleeping together for the first part, and I will want to make sure baby girl is not continuing to torture her brother like she is doing in the womb.

I love the boppy! (so did Robbie)

It has a million uses. For the first 2 weeks, I sat on it. But then was able to use it for nursing and propping baby up during the day. And it gives great support when they are learning how to sit up.

I also think a pac-n-play is essential, especially if you live in a multi-level house. It enables you to have a diaper changing station, place for naps, and place for safe and confined play. Great investment!

I also think that a play mat and jumperoo (for a doorway) were wonderful things to have.

Can't you tell how much Caleb was loving it!

You can't have enough gowns to start out with. They make diaper changes much easier than trying to fasten all of those snaps on a full sleeper in the middle of the night.

Things that made my "you've got to be kidding" list included: wipes warmer (unless you live in a cabin in Alaska), diaper genie, and a co-sleeper.

Sorry, but we have never had babies sleeping in our room. It isn't due to some high parenting calling. Rather, I CANNOT sleep with a baby in my room. It is pure torture.

So... what's in your nursery??
I would LOVE to hear any of your comments or suggestions.

Not for you.

2011-03-29T10:20:00.001-04:00

This post is not for you. It is for me.

The past few weeks have been pretty rough. I have met my match.

Earlier this month, I had composed a blog post in my head telling you how my children appeared to be at the “perfect” stage. They were playing well together and giving me some uninterrupted chunks of time. They were kind to each other and sweet to me. And they were cute as a button.

Then something happened. I'm still not quite sure what it was. Maybe that Supermoon??

But lately my kids have been kicking my mental butt (sorry, mom).

Eveley has no concept of patience. Or, at least she does not have the correct concept of patience. When asking for a puzzle from the top shelf, a cup of juice, or help in the bathroom, she expects immediate action. So I spent a good portion of the week explaining patience to her, telling her that she may just have a wait a few minutes while her very pregnant mom tries to get out of the chair, finishes changing Caleb's diaper, or huffs and puffs up the stairs with an armful of laundry. I hoped we were making some progress.

The next day, we were heading out the door for MOPS and running late. I loaded the car and buckled Caleb into his car seat. Eveley had run into the driveway to collect rocks. After asking her to come to the car several times in my sweet mom voice, I yelled at her to obey me NOW.

“Mom,” she said calmly, “you just need to be patient.”

Whatever.

Then there's darling Caleb. What can I say about him...

He is definitely our most cuddly child. He loves to squeeze and hug and smooch his mama. He is always saying the most adorable things and constantly says, “I yuv you, mommy!” He melts my heart.

Then there's the other 22 hours of the day. Caleb is unbelievably stubborn. My mom says he is not strong willed, just stubborn. The verdict is still out on that one. He gets terribly frustrated when things don't go his way – like when he can't have waffles at 2 in the afternoon, or when his sister comes within a 2-mile radius, or when his iPhone request is denied.

This past week was especially rough because both monkeys were sick. They had terrible coughs and colds and were running high fevers. This meant we were stuck in the house all week, I had to physically restrain Caleb every 4 hours to administer his meds, and we were all cranky. There was not much mommy love going around.

Case in point: Eveley was in the middle of a tantrum. I made her sit in a chair in the living room until she calmed down. This brought about more screaming and crying, which led to a hacking cough. You know what comes next. She threw up all over the chair and floor. As I was on my knees cleaning up puke, Caleb came around and bit me in the rear end.

Seriously?? I think that pretty much sums it up.

So this post is to remind me of my precious monkeys...

To remind me how much I love their energy, fiery spirits, and spunk.

To remind me that you can't be a toddler forever.

To remind me of the sparkle in their eyes, their plump cheeks and sweet smiles.

Aren't they so sweet??

Change of {Birth} Plans

2011-03-22T08:30:00.001-04:00

I have never had a tough and strict "birth plan" upon entering the hospital. My only plan was to labor away. If I ever felt like I was going to die, then I would gladly motion for the nurse and politely request that she call the magic man for the epidural.

That's just how I roll. I never wanted to pressure myself or subscribe to the "hero" mentality that the only way I could ever be a real woman was to "do it like they did it in the old days." Let's be honest. Even without an epidural, our experience these days is not like those of old.

So my philosophy is to just do what works for me at that moment.

Child #1 -- I experienced pretty hard labor for 15 hours with Robbie, traveled back and forth to the hot bath tub, rocked on the giant exercise ball, hee-ed and hoo-ed. But when the doc told me I was still at 9 cm and could possible be there for a couple more hours, I beckoned for the magic doc. With the epidural in place, I was relaxed during the pushing phase, which lasted just about 20 minutes, and was able to calmly welcome little Robbie into this world and into my arms.

Child #2 - I decided to get an epidural with Eveley when I was about 7 cm but said epidural never took effect before she was born. Not the best $1200 I've ever spent. But it was a happy birth experience nonetheless.

Child #3 - Mr. Caleb decided he would like me to experience the au natural route. He came so quickly, I hardly had time to put on my hospital gown. No IVs, no needle pricks, nothing. And as I writhed in pain and screamed at the top of my lungs, sweet Caleb was born.

Honestly, I recovered much quicker after Caleb. But I was able to really take in the actual birth of Robbie. So my conclusion? To each her own. Period.

Feel free to birth in your own bed, in a giant tub bathing with your hubby, squatting in the woods, or while having a family reunion in your hospital room. It's not my business.

Here we are at child #4 and #5. And I claim no experience or wisdom in this area. I have been researching and stalking message boards to see if I can better understand this whole twin birthing process.

Monday, I spoke with my OB and asked for a little more guidance on the upcoming birth. A little background on my doc. He is a type-A, marathon-running, stress-loving kind of guy. He personally delivered nearly 400 babies last year (more than 1 a day for you math averse people) and is a machine. He is a big proponent of natural births and doesn't mix words. I love him.

I mentioned to him that I had read that an epidural was recommended during twin births, just in case an emergency C-section was required. He completely agreed and suggested I get an epidural from the get go. I was pretty shocked.

He explained: "Sometimes, after the first baby is born, the second baby will be breach. So I may have to reach into the uterus to grab the second baby's feet."

Um...excuse me??

Do I look like a cow?

Don't answer that.

However, if this birth goes as quickly as Caleb's, he informed me that an epidural may not be possible. "But, don't worry," he said, "I can still do it."

Yea. I'm not worried about you, doc. I completely trust your skills. It's me I'm a little concerned about.

A Family Affair

2011-03-11T12:00:00.001-05:00

You think our life is getting crazy this year?? Well, let me fill you in on a few more details to prove that is it definitely turning into a crazy (but awesome) year.

If you have been around me for any little bit of time (in person or in bloggy world), I am certain that you have heard me speak of my extended family more than once.

I am the oldest of 5 children. We are each very unique but all love each other deeply and enjoy being together. That is a testament to the purposeful, godly parenting of our mom and dad.

Our family history definitely can not be characterized as smooth sailing or easy peasy. But we have continued to trust in the Lord, stick by one another, and weather the storms.

2010 was the "Year of the Weddings." Both of my sisters were married within 3 months of each other. Kate (on the right) and Oscar were married in April and live in Houston. Carrianna (in the middle) and Eric were married in July and now live in Charleston, SC.

Weddings are so much fun and bring all the family together. But they are also tons of work, and my mom was in great need of a much calmer 2011.

Yea, right.

2011 will now be known as the "Year of the Babies." Around the first of the year, we discovered that all 3 girls were pregnant. Kate and Carrianna are due with their first babies, 2 days apart -- the first week of September -- and I was able to drop the bombshell that my pregnancy would add 2 grandbabies to the mix, bringing the total to 10!

Now, my parents are no strangers to a household of kids. My "little" brother is still at home and will graduate in May (right around the time these twins are scheduled to arrive...as if things weren't complicated enough!). My mom had her 5th child at 35, and I thought that was pretty impressive. But I can now say that I have won the "race" as I will birth 5 by 32. Watch out Mrs. Dugger! =)

I am so excited for my sisters to experience motherhood and wish I could actually be with them as they do. If only they lived nearby....(I hope my brothers in law are reading this and feeling guilty.) And, of course, my parents are struggling to work out travel schedules to be there for each one too.

There are many unknowns right now -- genders, birth dates, baby names, labor experiences. But one thing's for sure: Christmas is gonna be crazy!

Fat Tuesday -- You asked for it...

2011-03-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

I promised I wouldn't do it. But, in honor of Fat Tuesday, here it is.

I am 29 weeks (and 3 days). Right now, I feel like I did at 8 1/2 months with my previous pregnancies. And I am growing larger by the minute. I have no idea what to expect in the next several weeks, but I do know it isn't going to be pretty.

We had our 28 week ultrasound last week, and the babies are doing great. Our sweet boy weighs 2 pounds 4 ounces, and little girl weighs 2 pounds 6 ounces.

Unfortunately, they have repositioned themselves. My little girl is just hanging out lying across my stomach horizontally. And our boy is currently in a breach position and kicking the fire out of my bladder. He has been labeled Baby A, so it will be important for him to turn around and be head down in order for us to have a natural delivery.

Our next goal, according to the doc, is to get to 34 weeks. We will have our next ultrasound then and will hopefully find that the babies have straightened themselves out.

The goal for March is to transition Caleb out of his baby bed and into a bunk bed, which he will share with Eveley. Then we will begin pulling out the boxes of baby girl and baby boy clothes and restocking the nursery. Thank goodness my mom is coming to visit next week!!

Babymoon ~ Phase 2

2011-03-04T09:30:00.002-05:00

After spending 4 days in the relaxing southern California coast, we made our way north to Beverly Hills.

Again, it was an amazingly unique experience. We stayed at the Beverly Hills hotel which prides itself on being a private place for celebrities or people in the biz. They have a secluded entrance and allow no paparazzi on the premises.

When we arrived, we saw Ashley Olsen here waiting for her car.

It was kinda ironic to be on our twin babymoon and run into one of the Olsen twins.

As we were leaving the hotel one evening, we drove around the corner to find a group of paparazzi sitting on the concrete ledge. They jumped up with their cameras as our car came around the bend. Then they sighed and immediately sat down. Not even a flash of the camera. I wonder what gave us away??

Bob and I spent a good amount of time here in the hotel lobby.

I plopped myself into those big pink chairs, sipped orange and cranberry juice, and gawked away. This was definitely not the place to pull out my big Canon SLR camera but I tried awkwardly to snap a few photos with my iPhone.

This was the best one I got!

It is Steve Martin. (I promise...)

He was at the hotel having lunch with Amy Adams, and Bob and I stood with them outside for a few minutes while waiting for the valet.

I couldn't believe I was standing beside George Banks! I love him! (Hope you have all seen Father of the Bride...)

We saw Denise Richards (who has weirdly skinny legs) and Sylvester Stalone at the hotel.

Then it was time for us to make our late night TV debut.

I arranged for us to have tickets to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Bob didn't really want to go but I convinced him that this was a unique opportunity and it would be cool to go "behind the scenes" of a show. Bob researched it on the internet (of course) and read reviews of others' experiences.

One guy said: They only seat really cool and hip people on the floor of the audience so they can go greet Jay when he walks out on stage. My wife was 5 months pregnant and we got stuck up in the upper levels and couldn't see much.

So, while we were waiting in the lines to go into the studio, we began picking out the "cool and hip" people who would be chosen to sit on the floor. Since I am 7 months pregnant with twins, we thought we would be lucky to even get inside the studio.

But lo and behold, as we entered the studio, the pages pointed for us to bypass the stairs and head into the main entrance. And we soon found ourselves sitting on the studio floor right beside the camera man.

If you know me personally, you know that I am not dramatic or very emotional. I'm pretty reserved and shy away from awkward spotlight opportunities!

As the hosts explained what we would do -- run up to the stage to shake hands with Jay when he came out on stage -- I almost passed out. But before we knew it, the band was playing the theme music and the camera man motioned for us to head to the front of the stage. Here are my 2 seconds of fame!

(You only need to watch the first 40 seconds or so of the video (I am not endorsing the rest of this show. I have on a gray striped sweater and Bob is wearing a light blue shirt.)

Watching the taping was really interesting and tons of fun.

We spent the next day sightseeing in Hollywood. There were lots of preparations taking place for the Oscars which were just a few days away.

Our last night, we headed to Spago, one of Wolfgang Puck's restaurants.

We decided to forego the tasting menu since it didn't quite pan out the last time we did it. As we were waiting for our food, out comes Wolfgang himself.

I was totally surprised since I didn't expect he was actually at the restaurant. He walked over to us, looked at my belly, and said, "I see you've already eaten." How rude! Just kidding. He was really sweet and asked about the pregnancy. When we told him we were having twins, a boy and a girl, he said, "I need your recipe. I can only make boys." Pretty funny.

We flew out the next morning and nervously returned to the real world. We were so excited to see the kids and they seemed to be happy to see us too!

We are now are back to reality. I drive a white mini van, eat spaghetti which I have to cook myself, clean toilets, wipe bottoms, and wear sweat pants 5 days of the week.

And I have a wonderful, funny husband, and crazy kids.

Now this is the good life.

Babymoon ~ Phase 1

2011-02-28T20:00:00.001-05:00

We are home, and trying to get back to the real world -- and eastern standard time -- after having a fabulous and relaxing time on the west coast.

I don't know where to start. I almost felt like I was on the bachelorette -- minus all the girls vying for my man. Our vacation was jam packed with beauty, glorious weather, unique experiences, luxurious food, relaxation.... oh, and a little stomach bug too.

We were treated to blue, sunny skies in California and a nice little rental car upgrade. Southern manners go a long way!

The first day was spent exploring the gorgeous coastal towns -- La Jolla, Del Mar, Laguna Beach, and our first destination of Newport Beach. These little towns were so cool, and it was such a treat to be able to pull over, grab a coffee, and pop into a little antique shop or boutique. We spent most of the week driving up and down the Pacific Coast Highway, and we logged over 900 miles on our rental car.

Bob was selecting some special rocks to bring home to the kids. They are easy to please!

Our accommodations were just perfect. We stayed in a bungalow at the Pelican Hill resort in Newport Coast. It was fantastic. Complete with a cozy fireplace, huge soaker tub, and gorgeous views of the ocean, it was our personal hideaway.

(the view from our porch)

We decided to keep the TV and computers off, and spend the time just reconnecting. Bob and I are truly best friends and really have lots of fun together, especially when work and home stress are removed.

Saturday night was our "celebration dinner" at an amazing five-star restaurant called Studio at the Montage hotel. We got glammed up and settled in for a 6-course Tasting Menu while overlooking the Pacific.

It began with the bread and 2 selections of butter (goat's or cow's milk butter). We were served the most amazing homemade brioche rolls I have ever eaten. I told our waiter that they almost made me cry!

Each course featured 2 preparations and included caviar, crab salads, foie gras, lobster pastas, coute de bouf and black truffle potatoes, and the dessert finale. The food was delicious and like nothing I had ever tasted before. I don't plan to add any of these recipes to my weekly meal plans, but it was a fun experience nonetheless.

The pastry chef made this extra dessert to help us celebrate!

We were still getting adjusted to the 3-hour time difference, so I woke up pretty early the next morning. And I wasn't feeling too good.

I'll spare you all the details, but let's just say I spent that day hugging the potty. At first, I was afraid it was food poisoning. Oh, the irony. But we soon realized that the stomach flu had invaded our vacation. On the bright side, I was able to totally relax and recover without all of the motherhood responsibilities. That was a blessing. On the down side, I had no appetite for several days. Total bummer!

On Tuesday, we began phase 2 of our babymoon and headed for Beverly Hills!

Giddy

2011-02-15T20:30:00.001-05:00

I am just giddy! Bob and I are heading out for a second honeymoon (or babymoon) and we can hardly wait.

We had talked about the need to get away - sans kids - before the baby was born. When we found out it would be babIES coming, we accelerated the planning process.

I am quickly becoming enormous and didn't want to be too uncomfortable for the trip. And we knew that it would be a little risky to travel too close to the due date.

So, we are packing the suitcases ...

and dropping the kids off at my parents' house. I have been telling Caleb that he is going to rehab. (This is what I'm calling it, since he will be without the iPhone for an entire week. I'm depending on my mom to fully rehabilitate him!)

Bob and I are preparing for our first flight together since our Hawaiian honeymoon in 2003. (Can you believe that? We both have flown many times since then but never together.)

Bob is a vacation research fanatic, and this trip is planned to a T. Our motto is "Go big and then go home." We are facing the reality that this will likely be our last chance for some peaceful alone time for the next several years. We are holding nothing back!

We will be flying into San Diego.

I am totally excited about the flight! Five hours sitting next to my hubby. A button to signal someone when I need a beverage or a snack. The chance to watch two awesome movies that we have been dying to see. And an opportunity to even catch a cat nap. I can't wait.

We are staying here for the first part of the week.

And we are ending up here for the last part!

You will find me here.

We will also be visiting him.

Bob has already warned me not to stare. But I am an admitted people watcher. I love it! It's fascinating. And to be in Beverly Hills -- during Oscars week! -- I'm sure there will be much to see. So I am bringing a big pair of sunglasses and a book that I've already read (so I can pretend to be reading instead of gawking).

I am looking forward to:

dictating my own sleep schedule

enjoying an entire cup of coffee while it is hot

having someone make my bed

not cooking

not wiping any bottoms

eating a meal uninterrupted

wearing perfume

I know I will miss my monkeys terribly. But they will be having a blast and making great memories with the grandparents and cousins. I doubt they'll even miss us. =)

Some Answers

2011-02-09T10:20:00.000-05:00

I have been laughing at the series of questions posed to me -- most by my crazy friends or family members. But I will take the time to answer a few of the legitimate inquiries.

Where did I get the dress I am wearing in this picture?

I already knew the answer to this question before even looking back at the picture. For me, there are really only a few possibilities. I buy most of my clothes from TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Ann Taylor (or Loft). That's really it. I'm not stylish enough for most of the more popular stores, and I am way too frugal to drop $100 on anything other than a wedding dress. I would welcome a visit from Stacy and Clinton as long as they bring their $5000 card with them and promise me a week in New York. But, for now, I am content with my bland wardrobe.

To be specific, though, I got this dress at TJ Max for $19.99. It's black (so I have the right shoes to wear with it), it does not need to be dry cleaned or ironed, and it's comfortable. Perfect in my book.

How is the diet going?

Diet is going well. I must say that I have cheated a bit. The news of the twins gave me much cause to celebrate, and it's just not as fun celebrating with celery. So I did have some treats.

Then, my husband's birthday was a few weeks ago, and that necessitated some sort of cheating, right?

On his birthday, I thought it would be fun to surprise him for lunch. I took the kids to the grocery store and let them pick out balloons for daddy. Caleb selected Thomas the Train and Eveley chose a butterfly balloon.

Then the kids chose this "birthday cake."

I had 2.

We quietly told the receptionist that we were surprising Bob and she directed us to the conference room where he was in a meeting.

Eveley was so excited! She raced into the office proudly holding the baloons. They must have hit something sharp on the ceiling because they burst loudly! She was crushed and slumped to the floor. Now, I just had to make it to Bob's office so we could shut ourselves in.

As we walked down the hall, other attorneys and the staff were popping out of their offices to say hello and congratulate us on the "twin" news. Caleb desperately wanted to sprint around the office, so I was gripping him on my hip and trying to make it to Bob. Just then, he looked at me and slapped me in the face. I acted surprised and some of the older gents gave a look that said their kids had never done such.

"Caleb!" I said, "You don't hit mama."

What did he do?

He hit me again.

Happy Birthday, we cheered.

Q and A

2011-02-07T13:45:00.002-05:00

In the blogging world, one thing I find difficult is responding to readers' questions or comments. Often times, I will get a question within a comment but, when it's not someone I know personally, I have a hard time knowing how to specifically respond. So, I thought I'd give you a chance to ask away. I definitely did not intend to ignore ya!

If there's something you've been itching to ask, here's your chance. Leave it in a comment or send me an email (if you have my personal email).

And if you're not familiar with the whole "commenting" process or if you don't have a profile set up, you are still able to leave a comment by selecting the "anonymous" button and signing your name at the end.

I did have a few recent questions inquiring about the type of stroller I was referring to in my previous posts. Here is the mac daddy of strollers -- the City Select found here

And it is now sitting in my garage, thanks to Ebay!

Now I am bunk-bed shopping!

Have a great week!

Focus!

2011-01-30T21:00:00.000-05:00

I must admit that the big surprise has totally thrown me off my game. There are so many new thoughts and questions running through my mind that I am having a hard time getting it together.

This is my poor Caleb. Yes, he is wearing Dora pull ups. Don't judge. He wasn't too excited about it either.

Fortunately, I still had a few of these in the closet from Eveley's potty training days. Otherwise, it could have been really bad.

Yes, I ran out of diapers. I never do that. I like to stockpile and usually have another box in storage ready for emergencies like this. But not now. I have been jolted out of my routine and things are starting to go to pot.

I did spend the weekend cleaning out my upstairs closets, organizing underneath the vanities, and deep cleaning the bathrooms. I hate cleaning bathrooms.

And even though I can hardly move right now -- thanks to this beautiful back -- I do feel much better.

Sudden Reality

2011-01-24T14:11:00.007-05:00

We are still getting used to the phrase "when the babies come" or speaking of "the twins," but we are honestly still in shock! A good shock. But shock nonetheless.

After spending a few days in a true daze, my Type A personality took over and I began the research and planning phase of this new stage --

What new baby equipment would I need?

How do I feed these little ones? Can I nurse them both? Do I want to nurse them both?

Where will everyone sit in the van?

How will we rearrange bedrooms and sleeping arrangements?

Will I have to undergo a C-section?

Am I prepared to go without sleep until 2013?

What about all of my outside commitments? Do I need to clear my plate of a few responsibilities?

Eek. These are just a few of the millions of questions running through my mind right now.

I began google-ing these questions to find some "expert" advice. As I began searching for helpful tips on raising twins, I came across a whole section on twin-carrying mothers' bellies. Now I am plain skeered. Don't expect to see any belly pics of me on this blog.

I have found the stroller/travel system that I would love to get for these babies. But who knew that a twin system would cost more than my first car!!

When they outgrow the carseats, it will turn to this (among 16 other possible positions).

Craigslist, don't let me down now!

But I am reminded how God answers prayers. Even those that seem insignificant or petty. Eveley was born only 3 months after Robbie went to heaven. Needless to say, I was not in the best frame of mind. But I had many friends who vowed to pray that she would sleep for me. Knowing how desperately I would need rest, they asked God that Eveley would be a champion sleeper. And God answered that prayer completely. She slept through the night at 4 weeks. And not just 8 hours, but she would sleep until 10 in the morning (over 12 hours a night). I do not take their prayers and God's answer for granted. It was invaluable. In fact, that is why we call her Peeps today. We began calling her "Sleeper Peepers" because of her wondrous sleeping ability.

So I am now asking God to also give these babies calm and peaceful spirits that love to sleep!

Thank you so much for all of your warm wishes. We really are ecstatic! And those of you who have twin-experience, I would gladly welcome your suggestions and advice. This is a whole new ball game for me.

Surprise #2

2011-01-20T12:59:00.005-05:00

Well, as you remember, we announced our big Surprise here. I am 22-weeks pregnant, feeling great, and ready to begin preparing for the new addition. My due date is May 22, the same date I was due with Robbie.

This was an emotional few days as we reflected on Robbie's homegoing and celebrated our HOPE in Christ. {And much thanks to all of you who contacted us with love and encouragement. We deeply appreciate you!}

Yesterday was our ultrasound. The big reveal. This would be my first ultrasound and I was very excited to "see" the little babe! Of course the major excitement was finding out whether this would be a girl or boy. Eveley was adamant that she was having a sister.

We prepared the kids, brought snacks, sippies, and iPhones for entertainment, and waited patiently for the doc to call our name.

It was finally our turn. I revealed my big belly for the doc. I have complained that I felt much bigger this pregnancy and seemed to "pop out" earlier than with the others. My mom reassured me that it was just "loss of muscle tone." Thanks, mom.

So...without further ado...

AND

Surprise! We are having twins. That is the first time I have written that statement and I am honestly still in shock.

As soon as she began the procedure, the tech asked us if this was our first ultrasound. When I said yes, she said, "Well, I guess you're going to be surprised that there are 2 babies in there."

And surprised we are!

There is much to tell you about this beautiful gift. I am overwhelmed at this news because I have prayed for twins for several years. Call me crazy, but I have truly asked the Lord to bless us in that specific way.

To answer the much-asked question, NO, we do not have twins in our family. The closest set of twins that we know about is Jacob and Esau. So I'm not sure any of us are prepared for this reality -- but definitely excited!

This pregnancy was different than before. I felt bigger and I was much more sick during the first 14 weeks. And it looks like this was just the beginning of differences this time around. There will surely be much to learn.

I will be having regular ultrasounds from this point forward and will hopefully acquire some better photos to pass on. The babies were not cooperating for their first portraits. Baby boy's face was squished as baby girl is sitting on his head. (foreshadowing, I'm sure)

Thanks be to God for this beautiful gift. It is so wonderful to watch God answering prayers and performing miracles...

and, to know that my muscle tone wasn't the problem.

4 Years Home

2011-01-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

Today is our beautiful Robbie's 4th Heavenly Anniversary. I cannot believe it has been 4 years since he was in our arms. And it is difficult, almost impossible, to find any words to express the depths of our feelings.

I have written about the Respite Retreat that Bob and I attended awhile back. This was a weekend gathering of couples who had lost children, hosted by David and Nancy Guthrie.

There, we met Greg and Nicol Sponberg whose little boy had gone to heaven very suddenly. Nicol was a former member of the Christian music group Selah and had begun a solo career. The last night of the retreat, Nicol shared a song she had recently recorded after the homegoing of her son Luke. I thought the words of the song were perfect. They helped me picture the true awesomeness of our son's new Home and expressed our gratitude for the time we had with him and the gift he left us behind -- the ache for Home.

The song has now been released, so I can share it with you all. It is a perfect way to sum up my aching heart 4 years later.

What is it like to be held in the same arms that hold the universe?

What is it like to sleep on the chest of the King of heaven and earth?
When you open your eyes and look on the face of the Giver of life, the Author of grace, do you know?

That your days here changed everything
You're missed here and will always be
But you left here the greatest gift of all
Cause our hearts ache for Home

What is it like to breathe in and breathe out heaven's glorious light
What is it like to be robed in perfection, no reason to cry?
When you feel on your face, your Father's kiss, his welcomed embrace, we prayed for this, you should know

That your days here changed everything
You're missed here and will always be
But you left here the greatest gift of all
Cause our hearts ache for Home

Twinkle twinkle little star
We will keep you in our hearts
Twinkle twinkle little star
We will meet you where you are

Your days here changed everything
You're missed here and will always be
But you left here the greatest gift of all
Cause our hearts ache for Home

This song, and the rest of Nicol's new album, is available on iTunes.

Diet Update

2011-01-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

I kinda hate to even call it a diet because that always messes with my mind. But I thought I would update you on this week's progress with our new eating plan (sound better than diet?).

First of all, thanks so much for all of your feedback. I very much enjoy hearing advice and tips from others who have experimented with the different health options out there.

I know that you are not coming to this blog for health or nutritional information. Sorry. For you, here are a few pics of the monkeys from Sunday morning.

Project 52 - 2011 is underway!

See how much they are loving this diet!

My main goal in this endeavor is to purposefully try to eliminate sugar and white flour by focusing on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and natural foods. In doing this, however, I want to stick with budget- and schedule-friendly meal and snack options.

And it was a great first week! Here are some of my favorite finds:

Natural fruit spread. We have always eaten natural peanut butter (no sugar, just peanuts) but I bought some natural blueberry jelly at WF and it is great. This will definitely stay on the master grocery list as we all love a PB&J.

Whole wheat flour. I finally read up on the differences between white flour and the other options and now understand what all the hype is about. So I purchased some whole wheat flour at WF to have in the pantry just in case.

When I decide to cut out white flour and sugar, the first thought that goes through my head is NO MORE PANCAKES. This is heartbreaking for me. If you've been reading this blog very long, then you have recognized the overabundance of IHOP references. I love pancakes. Love them. So I thought I was going to have to end this love relationship for ever.

Not so. I purchased a "healthy" cookbook at Walmart and found several whole wheat pancake recipes. Expecting them to taste like bricks, I nevertheless made a batch this Saturday morning. They were stinkin awesome!

3 cups whole wheat flour
3 eggs
3 cups milk
1/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons baking powder
Serves 7

I did make them in an iron skillet, used butter, and topped them with some honey. They definitely did the trick and gave me a whole new excitement for this lifestyle change. I know there are other recipes that use applesauce instead of oil or make other substitutions, and I will try them out in the future. But these are a keeper. My kids devoured them too after turning their nose up at the WF frozen whole grain waffles I served them earlier in the week.

So our week's dinner menu consisted

MONDAY: chicken and broccoli casserole; wild rice; fruit

TUESDAY: Italian chicken breasts, baked sweet potatoes, salad

WEDNESDAY: white chicken chili (recipe here)

THURSDAY: turkey meatloaf, polenta, green beans (I made up this recipe for the meatloaf and it was delicious. Simply added chopped fresh mushrooms, onions, green pepper, herbs and seasonings, and one egg. Topped it with some mozzarella cheese and salsa [no sugar as compared to ketchup]). And polenta was also a new thing for us to try, but it will become a regular side.

FRIDAY: taco salad (black beans, corn, avocadoes, salsa, served on greens)

SATURDAY: gingered chicken stir fry and long grain rice; fresh pineapple

SUNDAY: roast, potatoes, carrots, onions and mushrooms cooked in crockpot while we were at church

For my weekend "treat", I had some sugar-free vanilla ice cream with fresh fruit. Yummy!

The main struggle this week will be continuing to find meal options without making a major grocery store run. My bill last week was equal to 2-weeks worth. I'm hoping to stretch it for another week so we can achieve the budget-friendly requirement!

I'm not watching my weight, for obvious reasons. But I have been able to tell a great difference in how I feel and have even noticed some changes in my waistline (minus the baby bump!).

Thanks again for all the tips, and please keep them coming!

What to do?

2011-01-07T11:57:00.000-05:00

Ever since I joined the hated "club" -- a mom who has actually had to bury her child -- I am often asked for advice or suggestions for dealing with another who is just beginning this difficult journey.

These requests for help often get me thinking back to those early days. What was helpful? What was not helpful? What was comforting? What was depressing?

Over the past several months, I have been posed this question too many times: What should we do? How do we reach out to this family?

Let me begin by acknowledging that all stories are different. And I do not dare presume I know what is best for another mom. But I can share my experience and offer a few bits of advice.

Without a doubt, the thing that brought the most comfort was Scripture. Reading God's promises and focusing on the Truth literally removed the phyical pressure we were feeling on our chests. I had several friends who sent over 3x5 cards with different verses written on them. These were very helpful as it was critical to keep God's Word on the forefront of our minds. A few of them still remain stuck to my dresser and bathroom mirrors.

But I do remember one evening in particular. It had only been two weeks since the funeral and Bob and I had gone out to dinner alone. It was terrible. We barely knew what to say to eachother and encountering the public was painful. On our way home I remember wishing I could read a book about someone else who had experienced something similar ... and survived. But it couldn't be a story about butterflies and rainbows. It had be the story of Hope because of Christ. When I got home, there was a UPS package on our front porch with a book sent from a friend. Reading about someone else's journey -- someone who is surviving this journey because of Christ and their recognition of the HOPE He offers -- really helped encourage and inspire me to lean on Jesus and keep on taking the difficult steps.

Here are some of my recommendations:

This was the book I found on my front porch that evening. In one car accident, the author lost his wife, his mother, and his young daughter. It is deep but so full of great insight and thought-provoking perspectives. The author presented his sincere questions on faith and God that arose after the accident, and then explained his journey to the hope-filled answers he found. Both Bob and I were really helped by this book.

I would recommend anything written by Nancy Guthrie. She has such a gentle way of encouraging others through their devastation by pointing out the grand promises God has given us in His Word. As I have written about earlier, her books (and later herself personally) played a big role in my initial response to our tragic loss of Robbie.

Holding on to Hope, her first book, helps give you a look into her family's tragedy and their journey through it. A friend sent me this one just a few weeks after Robbie went to heaven.

Then I ordered the One Year Book of Hope, a devotional based on her story. It was a lifesaver! The book guided me through a dark and difficult year, focused on topics that were at the forefront of my mind each day that year, and gave me wonderful perspective on the Hope and Joy we have in Christ. I told Nancy that when I was finished with the book, I could barely believe we had survived an entire year. This is definitely one that I would send someone going through a similar loss.

And this other book by Guthrie is a great resource as well and is full of Scripture!

I just read Mary Beth Chapman's new book a few months ago. Mary Beth wrote so honestly about going through the tragedy of losing their daughter all in the public eye. And since I was a MAJOR follower of Steven Curtis Chapman and his music throughout high school and college, it was very cool to learn the stories behind some of his great songs.

One last bit of advice. Even if you have no idea what to do, just do something. Don't fear saying or doing the wrong thing. If you express your sincere sadness and make an effort to reach out, it will be a blessing. This could be in the form of cards, phone calls, or meals.

And don't forget the ministry of presence! Sometimes you don't need to say anything. Just stopping by to offer a hug, or hanging out during the day, can really be invaluable. I remember several girlfriends inviting me over or stopping over in the morning, bringing coffee and bagels, and just sitting. We didn't have to speak deeply about the pain, but having their presence was so meaningful.

You could offer to help with some needs - caring for other children, grocery shopping, cleaning, addressing thank you notes. Any bit of sincere effort will surely be appreciated. And I will say that there is a lot of financial burdens that come with death -- unexpected, unplanned-for, and difficult-to-face bills are hard reminders of the loss. Helping financially can be a great blessing as well.

Hopefully this will give you a little bit of guidance if you are ever asking this question of what to do to encourage a family going through such a deep loss. There are so many ways in which people showed their love and concern for us. Family, friends, friends of friends, and strangers continued (and continue) to encourage us in a variety of ways. We are so thankful.

The "Whole" Experience

2011-01-04T16:59:00.005-05:00

New Years often brings with it several resolutions. And, as has been the case for many of my new years, this one brought with it a resolution to eat better. Not just eating more fruits and veggies -- we do that already -- but I really want to educate myself about different eating options and plans that will benefit me and my family. As you all know, we moms control the eating habits of our children (and, to some extent, our husbands). If there are no oreos or honey buns in the house, guess what, we won't eat any. (That made me hungry just typing that...)

I honestly have a small aversion to these health ~~nuts~~ conscious people. But when I stopped and thought about it, my aversion was simply because it is a whole area that I know very little about. And (probably even more so), it is expensive and really messes with my efficiency disorder.

But I have never felt as good as this summer when I completely gave up sugar and white flour. Cutting out these ingredients seemed to allow my body to really target my body's fat pockets that like to linger. Sugar was gone, and I stuck to whole grains. I kept this strict routine for nearly 3 months but fell off the wagon when I got pregnant. I definitely don't feel bad about that. Every pregnant lady will tell you that during that first trimester, you just eat whatever you need to eat. I was so sick and nauseous that a diet without flour and sugar or Chick-fil-A breaks would have surely put me over the edge. So, as you can see, I take a balanced and realistic approach to this "diet". If you catch me eating a piece of pizza or sneaking a donut at MOPS, please don't judge me.

Today began this New Year's resolution. No better place to start than a trip to Whole Foods.

Here's my confession: I have only been to Whole Foods one time in my life. I went a few months ago to sample their offerings of coffee. And I technically did not buy anything because the "coffee guy" gave me a complimentary pound of organic coffee.

But I spent the past few days with my grocery list, recipe books, and nutrition blogs trying to figure out the best, easiest, and cheapest way to eat well.

Whole Foods is a whole 'nother world. First of all, people there weren't as forgiving of my screaming children. Just sayin.

Secondly, I was pretty overwhelmed by all the offerings of beans, grains, and flours. And the price on most of the groceries was much more than I am used to paying. No matter how health conscious I become, I just can't imagine paying $10 for a bottle of salad dressing.

Thirdly, the high point, is that I left there with 4 bags of groceries. I bought a ton of food and, at my other regular grocery store, would have ended up hauling 40 bags to my car. So I was a great fan of their bagging skills.

I would love to hear any recommendations that any of you may have as to some helpful blogs or websites. Right now, my plan is to try and cut out the majority of our processed foods and stick with the real stuff. Fortunately, we do not have food allergies and I am not trying to combat anything specific. But I would love to be able to finish out the last half of this pregnancy feeling energized and healthy. (And losing the flanks wouldn't be so bad either.)

This week's meal plan is full of avocadoes, blueberries, fresh pineapple, tomatoes, quinoa, Ezekiel tortillas (new one for me), and Greek yogurt. I'll let you know how it goes.

Project 52 Complete

2011-01-02T20:45:00.005-05:00

I will admit that I had to fudge a little bit around the late fall months, thanks to the first trimester lovelies. And it isn't that easy to get a usable picture of both children, so I did have to create a few collages. Nevertheless, Project 52 was a success. We had a fun time looking back over the collection and seeing how much our monkeys have changed.

I hope to continue Project 52 this year and look forward to adding another little face to the collection in May.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Reflections

2011-01-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

One thing you think I would have learned by now is that life is unpredictable. Especially with young children. You can schedule, plan, and organize every minute of the day. But with one whim of your little one, you will often be required to throw the paperwork out the window and roll with it, baby.

Case in point. I bought matching pajamas for Caleb and Eveley -- cute Christmas monkey pjs which I let them open Christmas Eve night. They would be so cute on Christmas morning - Eveley in pink and Caleb in green - and the pictures look great. Well, Eveley decided she "wants her feet to be cold" so she refused to wear the footy pajamas. No matter how much I begged or fake cried. So I will have to remember "No footy pjs" if we are to carry on this tradition.

We had a sweet Christmas Eve service at church and then Bob and I stayed up late putting all the finishing touches on the gifts.

I woke up at 5:30 on Christmas morning. I was too excited. So I went downstairs, made some coffee, and did some laundry. Festive.

Bob finally got up around 6:45 and we were able to have our own quiet Christmas time together and exchange gifts. Eveley came downstairs after 7 but Caleb was still sound asleep. Bob and I both tried to wake him up, but he wouldn't budge. So we decided to let Eveley go ahead and open up several of her presents. Bob led us in a prayer and then asked Eveley if she would like to pray. She bowed her head and said, "Dear Jesus, thank you for saving us from our sins." Bob and I almost cried. What a sweet gift.

Caleb finally joined us and we finished up the gifts.

Caleb's main gift was a train table filled with Thomas characters. I don't know what the big deal is about this show, but my Caleb is absolutely obsessed with it. He screams "My Thomas" as soon as he wakes up and loves to play with the trains and watch the cartoons. I think this gift was a pretty smart choice!

After we had a Christmas brunch, we hurriedly packed the car and headed to "The Sweetest Place on Earth," Hershey, PA.

The kids already have chocolate mustaches.

We met Bob's parents and aunt and uncle there and had a great few days together. "Vacations" take on a totally different meaning when you have a strong-willed 3 year old and a stronger-willed 2 year old. Nevertheless, it was a fun time.

We stayed at the Hershey Lodge where the Hershey characters make periodic appearances. Our kids went nuts when they would see the Kit Kat or Peppermint Patty walking around the hotel. Caleb would scream "Waaaiiittt!!' and chase them all through the lobby. I couldn't count how many family pictures Caleb interrupted. And Eveley was stalking them either giving them a spanking or kicking them in the shins.

We had our fill of chocolate. If that's possible. They had hidden Hershey kisses all throughout our suite, chocolate butter at breakfast, frozen hot chocolates, and chocolate shampoo and conditioner in the bathrooms. Pretty great for a pregnant woman.

I haven't blogged about this much, but my sweet Caleb is an iPhone addict. He absolutely loves it and would play on it for hours...literally. I really try to strategically plan his iPhone time -- waiting for a table at a restaurant, grocery shopping, my bath time. He will not move. While on vacation, I did let him play it during the afternoon so we could just sit by the fire and read or talk.

When he would see a character walking by, he would jump up from his seat and yell for it to stop. But as soon as it would stop and turn to look at him, he would resume his game. It was pretty rude, but hilarious.

Like father, like son.

After returning from Hershey on Monday night, the kids and I repacked and headed to Tennessee to spend a few days with my family celebrating a late Christmas together.

The kids were making memories with the cousins.

I was spending time getting to know the new brothers in law.

We had a wonderful Christmas 2010. But we are glad to be home and are spending the day un-decking the halls and reflecting on our family's purpose for the new year.