Happy Blogiversary!

Well, blog...it has been two years.

I made you to record my random thoughts like in this first post. Somehow, you became my sounding board, support, and link to amazing women.

You now are a wonderful momento for Max and Harper in the future.

We have been through a lot together and I can't believe all of the ups and downs the last two years has brought our way.

Thanks, blog! Here is to another year of bloggity blogging together!

-Lisa-

First Christmas in Pictures

Max and Harper had a pretty awesome first Christmas. It was a busy few days and they were troopers through it all. Saturday 12/21, we had Jeremy's family at our house to open gifts. Sunday, 12/22, we went to Jeremy's aunt's house for a family gathering. Christmas Eve we spent it at my parents' house opening gifts with all my siblings, nieces, and nephew. Then Christmas Day we had lunch at my parents and then went to Jeremy's parents that night. 

Christmas Night was rough. Harper needed to be held and just screamed most of the night. She finally went to sleep on me. I was also sick with a sinus, head cold so we took them to daycare the day after Christmas. The plan was for me to rest and start to feel better.

Well...daycare called for me to pick them up. Both were running fever which they weren't running that morning because I checked. I took them to Children's Mercy to find out my poor babies had ear infections. No wonder Harps was having a difficult time. I am so glad they made it through their first Christmas being our happy babes. 

Needless to say, yesterday was a tough day for Mommy. Both babies needed snuggles at the same time and I was exhausted. I felt like a twin newborn Mom again. Man, I don't miss that tired feeling. Good news is that both babies are feeling better. Appetites aren't 100% yet but they are happier and no more fever. 

Now for the pictures:

My first gift. What do I do now?

Oh...this is fun!

Look at all of our big cousins!

Max loved unwrapping!

And eating boxes, paper, etc.

Max & Harper made their grandparents a photo book. Link below.

Sleepy boy

Christmas morning

Bella loved her Santa gift!

They don't know Santa yet...but they loved opening his presents.

Some of their Santa loot

Grampa lovin'

Cousin Love

More cousin love

They love Uncle Curt too!

And even more cousin love!

Yep...more cousins that love us!

Look at us!

In case you didn't know...it is our first Christmas!

Oh! And our first solid food! Carrots!

What? Is there something on my face?

Poor Max needed his Nonnie

Harps snuggling her Aunt Allison

Beyond blessed this Christmas!!

A picture above shows my parents reading their photo book. We made one for each set of grandparents. I love Shutterfly and love their projects. We also made my siblings a frame with pictures too. Here is the link to the book: Shutterfly Book .




 -Lisa-

I Remember

It wasn't that long ago.

In fact, some days it feels like yesterday. But honestly, other days I feel so far removed. But I am not.

I remember the sadness. Especially around Christmas.

Everyone posts pictures of their babies or growing bumps. They talk about announcing pregnancy to family or their babies first Christmas (sorry!).

All I wanted for four Christmases was to share the holidays with our own baby(ies). I pictured the mantle with stockings and the childish laughter opening presents on Christmas morning.

At some point, I thought the day would never come. I had even resigned myself that it was Jeremy and I. That's it.

All when I had nearly given up the hope, Max and Harper were conceived. I was the girl that announced pregnancy at Christmas last year and am celebrating their first Christmas this year.

But I still remember.

I know how fortunate and blessed we are. I know that I sometimes take our miracles for granted. There are so many good friends and wonderful people in this community that yearn for my excitement at this holiday season.

So, tonight...Jeremy and I plan on praying and lighting a candle in honor of our struggle and in hope for those that are still struggling.

I do hope that you have an amazing holiday that is filled with love from family and friends.

Blessings your way!

-Lisa-

Santa

It was time for Max and Harper to sit on Santa's lap for the first time. It couldn't be just any Santa...it had to be THE Santa. 

So, what did we do? 

We navigated the craziest parking structure known to man. No elevator to actually use with a stroller. So we walked down and down and down until we could enter Kansas City's Crown Center. 

When we get into the Center...we have no idea where Santa's Village actually is. So we walk and walk and walk. We nearly abandoned the task until we saw the line of eagerly awaiting children and frazzled parents. 

The line looked fairly short. That was until we noticed that it wrapped back and around multiple times. After an hour wait, we finally got to the entrance of the village. No strollers allowed they said. So we parked and got them out. 

They were dressed in their holiday outfits. Of course, as soon as we got Harper out...she spit up on her dress. With no burp cloth since that was abandoned with the stroller. I used my own shirt sleeve. When has this become acceptable to me? Seriously. 

Well, Santa's Village requires you to wind around inside the Village...so we walk and walk and still no Santa. Finally, we see Santa and we have both (Jeremy and I) had it. We have lost the Christmas cheer and spirit and just want out of the Christmas Wonderland. Good thing Max and Harper did amazing. 

We got our token picture and paid for the ridiculously overpriced ornament too. They wouldn't smile but didn't meltdown either. 

Needless to say...any old Santa will suffice for years to come. Live and learn, they say. 

Our presents are wrapped. School is out for the break. My papers are all graded. I am just SO much looking forward to the next two weeks off with the babies. I can't wait for their first Christmas even though I will have more fun than they will. 

I hope you all enjoy time with family and have a very Merry Christmas!

-Lisa-

5 Months and Fabulous!

Max and Harper are growing way too fast for Mommy.

They are now BOTH rolling both ways and can literally roll themselves across the floor. I think child proofing is in our immediate future. Max even scoots himself to get toys.

They wear size 2 diapers (but not for long!). Max wears size 3 at night because he quickly pees through those because he flips to his tummy to sleep. Nothing we can do to stop it but doctor said to leave him because he obviously has the neck control to be okay.

They both are in 3-6 month clothing and in 6 month as well. It is sad that I have had to pack away another size of clothing (3 months).

They are still only on formula but this is the month we are going to experiment with solids. Around Christmas (because it is close to 6 months), we will try veggies.

They hold their own bottles like champs.

I feel like that Max, especially, is looking like a toddler instead of a baby. He is so long and just looks like a little man.

We are excited for visiting Santa on Saturday. I will post those pictures soon. For now...here are their 5 month pictures.

We are getting so big and obviously too smart to only smile when Mom wasn't ready to take a picture. 

You grab my ear? I grab your stupid bow! 

-Lisa-

PEGPS & Ornaments

So I am a crazy person since it is the end of semester. There is a blog over at Love, Teach that had a recent article about how you should not date a teacher. Part of what she said was this:

You thought PMS was bad? Try PEGPS.

PEGPS stands for Pre End-of-Grading-Period Syndrome, the period of time before grades are due for report cards. Like PMS, PEGPS is characterized by extreme irritability, poor nutritional choices, and zombie-like fatigue. However, unlike PMS, PEGPS lasts for 2-3 WEEKS and happens four to six times per YEAR. 

And when PEGPS overlaps with PMS, you'd better get the hell out of Dodge, my friend.

I am this victim of PEGPS right now. Especially the irritability! I swear...I was angry teacher today. I am stressed on getting our projects done and me getting grading completed. Plus, there are finals to create and planning for our next units. 

I teach 4 different courses, and I am swamped. English I, 8th grade regular English, 7th grade regular English, and 7th grade enriched English. So....essays, more essays, and more essays. Yikes!

But my day was brightened when I came home. I received my adorable ornament as part of Teresa's ornament exchange at Where the Bleep is our Stork. My exchange partner is Stephanie. We just "met" and she is adorbs. Yep, I said adorbs. She is in the trenches of infertility and I just hope and pray that her miracle baby(ies) are on their way. 

I nearly cried when I saw the ornament. Partly, due to my insane mood swings PEGPS (ha!) and mostly due to the specialness of our ornament. It is personalized for our miracle babes. I LOVE IT, Stephanie. It is perfect in every way. Thank you!

-Lisa-

You are Raising My Babies

I can't begin to tell you how difficult it is to have your babies away from you for most of the day. I am SO hoping that I can take a break from teaching for a couple years so I can focus on my own babes instead of other people's.

I do love the sweet smiles I get everyday when I pick Max and Harper up from daycare though. It makes my sometimes awful day forgotten. I love that. I just wish I was able to spend more time with them. I am really looking forward to Christmas break. I know that I will still need to take them to daycare even though I am off (we are paying no matter what) but will only take them for a short amount of time. I will use that time to clean, wrap presents, prepare food, etc. I just love morning snuggles and my morning snuggles only happen on the weekdays.

The people and place you leave your precious babies is so important. I HIGHLY recommend our daycare provider. Brighton Learning Center is amazeballs! Even though I hate the thought of leaving them...those ladies are so good with our miracles. They love them so much and I love that. BLC is worth the extra money we pay. We get educated and caring women who teach (I know they are only 5 months old!) them so much. We get crafts and pictures that show all they do. It is pretty incredible. BLC has a blog and Harper and Max are in some of the pictures for tummy time. I do believe they are the cutest babies featured if I do say so myself! Ha! Here is the link.

We looked around at a few different locations and considered lots of different options. I just know that we were led to make the decision to place our babies in BLC's hands. They are spending more awake time with them than we do...sad! But they love them and that is all I can ask for as a working mama.

-Lisa-