R and O

The girls personalities are becoming more apparent each day as we quickly head toward my FAVORITE baby stage. Oakley is wild, crazy, and hilarious. Reagan is sweet, innocent, and chubby. Now, if I could just figure out how to get them to sleep through the night on the SAME night!
Can you tell them apart? I don't think they look a single big alike, but people often tell me they look identical. I think people just hear the word "twin" and assume identical.

Snake River Stampede

While the girls went to my sister's bridal shower (she is marrying a guy who's from a small town, near our small town...small world!), Trevor took Treyson to the Snake River Stampede. His friend got him tickets which included ALL YOU CAN EAT concessions - which apparently, was Trevor's favorite part as he informed he ate 3 Chorizos, 4 Mtn. Dews, nachos, peanut M and Ms and popcorn. Wow, glad we're watching our weight here! Trey had the time of his life and even made the paper! Love that little Wrangler wearin' cowboy!

cropdusters

We farm a small part of our tiny acerage. The cropdusters came to spray the beans yesterday morning and Treyson loved it! Actually, he liked it till they flew about 50 ft over our head. Then, the loud noises were a little scary. What a fun thing for a little boy to be able to witness!
We also went to the splash park after the girls' shots in town. I beg Trevor to come along for their shots simply because it's difficult to console two screaming babies AND keep Trey from getting into everything. It was such a fun afternoon. Nothing makes me happier then when our whole family is out doing something fun together!

And, a random photo of Trey's "going on a walk" attire....in 100 degree weather.

We have a YARD!

When we moved into this little house of ours, our girls were a week old. Our yard was a nightmare of dirt, weeds and broken sprinklers. Seriously, horrible. It's still not "done", but we've made great progress on it and the grass has come up beautifully. How wonderful it is to have room to play!

Now, COME OVER!

Work Out

Getting a workout isn't as easy as it once was....

Swim Lessons

Treyson is the most cautious child alive. Not a dare devil bone in his body. It's honestly made for some easy parenting; however, we live near two large canals. They TERRIFY me. I decided the best thing to do is get Treyson to learn to swim quickly. Problem is, he didn't even want to put his face in the water. SO, we're doing a month of Mommy and me, and then a few weeks of level I. I'm hoping it helps. So far, it has. He's already gustered up enough courage to jump on the diving board! On the last day of lessons, it's a "fun" day, so we all went along to see Trey show off his skills. Or rather, lack thereof.

The Size of my Kids

The size of children is odd to me. I feel like, sometimes, some moms like to compare the size of their children to somehow prove their child is healthy. Just the other day, I was having a convo with a mom at swim lessons who commented on how little Treyson was and how he must be "unhealthy". I assured her, my child would not suffer from childhood obesity or early onset diabetes as hers would (she caught me on a bad day which resulted in smart alec responses to smart alec remarks...). Or like the time, my future brother in law assured me chubby kids grew up to be healthier, "fitter" adults. WHERE do people come up with these ideas? Since when did a FAT baby become the "healthy" thing? (note. her kid was not chubby. he was fat. Just like his mother.) This thought process is starting to drive the health major in me crazy (just like the leftover twin fat/skin/growth/inflated balloon is driving me crazy).

So, here I am, defending my skinny, shorter little boy. HE doesn't like to eat and he goes about a million miles a minute. The calorie ratio on top of this cancer patient looking father (in high school....not now...now he looks very...uh..healthy? ) results in a 29lb boy. For a LONG time, I worried. I'm okay with it now thanks to a good pediatrician. He has been sick twice his life (1. RSV 7 weeks. 2. the week the twins were born). Never thrown up. Never had an ear infection. In 20 years, he will be like his dad who was also always the littlest in nursery and who now, is large and in charge and has the immune system of an ox.

Now - fast forward to my girls. Heavens. They're eating the same stuff Treyson did and look at them. Reagan is HALF the size of Treyson. Oakley is close behind. I have no idea what is happening.

No matter what. big or small. skinny or fat. blonde or brunette. As LONG as they have blue eyes, we'll keep 'em. ;)

Cows

Just a normal day around here....

random

Holy cow.

Why didn't anyone tell me how huge I was...

Organizing old photos and found this. Feels like a million years ago...

It is truly amazing what the human body can do, isn't it?

bonding.

Can I admit something without having stones thrown at me?

It's been pretty hard for me to bond with the twins. I love love love love them and could never survive without them at this point...but it's not been as instantaneous as I had hoped.

First off, I'm NOT a newborn-type girl. Like, I love them and think they're sweet, but give me a rough and tough, crazy, fun 2 year old ANY day. Newborns scare me. Yes, scare me. I guess I'm like a man - always feeling like I'm going to break one.

With the twins, it was this feeling times two, PLUS I have honestly spent the past 4 months in auto pilot. Just trying to meet basic needs, figure out how to function, and try not to get anyone killed - including myself. When there is SO much to do, there isn't as much time to just sit and bond. Even nursing feels mechanical for us (nursing two babies at once + small boobs = mechanical).

I've struggled b/c I want, more than anything, to feel like I really have a relationship with these sweet girls. I love them so much.
I've been thinking and praying about it a lot. I've concluded I need to spend 15minutes a day with each girl, just holding her and talking to her. This might sound like no big deal, but it's hard since there is almost always an immediate need to be met here. Plus, I have a complex and feel like if I hold one, the other will feel abandoned. UGH!

I've also decided to find one moment a day that makes all this "mom" business worth it. Some days, there's lots of moments. others there is just one. IT's REALLY helping me so I thought I would share. Perhaps, it would make your monotonous days brighter too.

My moment today? Cooking "with" the girls" and getting them to smile at the SAME time! :)

Little Cowboy

Oakley's A LITTLE confused.
No, she doesn't get to go.


One huge blessing in our life is the fact Trevor can often (and LOVES to) take Treyson to work with him. Treyson begs to be able to go. I seriously don't know how we would do day to day without this luxury. Since it's a little difficult for me to take all three kids places without another adult, we live in our house and for a 2 year old, this often means boredom. His ability to be outside in the dirt, cows, tractors and hay makes him the happiest (and dirtiest) boy alive. I swore my child would not be caught dead in John Deere, but now, I think it's so cute on my little cowboy/farmer.

moments

Trey talking to his sisters. Sisters holding hands.

4th

Thanks for the outfits Moe!I told him to sit nicely. He is obedient.

Trev and his sister Kali.

Hope your 4th was as happy as ours....parades, BBQ, babies, yard work, and fireworks. The fourth of July continues to be my favorite holiday! Love this country and oh so grateful, for my brother and others who fought to protect our freedom. People like him and few and far between these days. As much as I pray my son never has to go to war, I hope Treyson will have the bravery of his uncle.

Diapered Babies

R weighs about a pound more than O. First babe that LIVES to eat!

The girls loved being outside in their pack and play - in only diapers. Yum.

Trey had an accident and escaped mid-change. He ran around naked playing golf with dad. Oh, how I wish I could post those pictures. hilarious. Just feel a little bad posting naked pics of my child on the WWW.

Family Photo Opp

I know these aren't professional, and none of them have all three kids looking at the camera, but I just adore them. Love our little, large, family.

Car

Happy, ADHD Treyson.

We spent quite a bit of time in the car during our weekend. Post-fish gazing, I was in the back of our minivan (Yes, I gave in and am SO glad I did. I'm sorry, but those of you who knock the mini are totally missing out. It's amazing.) with Treyson and Oakley. I witnessed Sweet Treyson, holding Oak's sleepy hand and singing some random song about cows and hay as she dozed. It was one of "those" moments.

Fish Hatchery

Sweet Baby Reagan. Asleep almost the entire time. She's cutting her first tooth!
Learning proper "roll" technique.

Mom and O

Mom and 2/3. Treyson strangling his sister. Oakley eating her fist.

Action shot. running from Grandpa Great.

Pretty Baby.

Um. Daddy and daughters? Pretty much the best thing around.

Checking out the HUGE fish.

Treyson loved the BIG FISH! Never in a million years would I think to take my kids here, but I was so glad we did. Treyson learned all about fish, and how to roll down hills. We got to spend some quality time with Miss Oakley, and Reagan got a great nap in the car with her great grandma.