More Thoughts on Twins

People always ask me all sorts of questions about having twins.

Q: What's it like?
A: Mostly amazing and wonderful, but also very tiring and frustrating. A lot of days I feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle with a dull sword, but then there are moments where we are smiling and laughing and playing with the babies and I can see how much we are blessed. Those moments blur out the bad parts.

Q: How do I get everything done?
A: I don't. I get half as much done as I used to and that is on a good day, although my energy level is starting to pick up a bit from getting more sleep which helps.

Q: How do they sleep?
A: They are sleeping mostly through the night now with one or two good naps during the day. That does not include when they are teething and Riley and I can be up and down all night with one baby or the other. Unfortunately their naps are not always simultaneous as well, but they are starting to fall into a more natural sleep schedule now which is nice.

Q: How do I sleep?
A: Never in my life have I been a heavy deep sleeper until having twins. I think it is my body's survival mode kicking in and knowing that I need to sleep well when I can. Subconciously though, I think I always have an ear out for a crying baby.

Q: Is it crazy?
A: I've been telling people crazy is our new normal. Even taking the twins out of the equation our life is definitely super busy with lots of different schedules going on, so yes it is pretty crazy most of the time. Although sometimes I feel like I am living in a zoo, we have learned to adapt pretty well and so have Kendle and Morgan. It makes me appreciate the quiet dull moments even more.

Q: Is it fun?
A: Fun is mostly attitude I believe, so some days I have to switch gears and say, ok what's wrong with this situation - why is everyone cranky or upset or whatever. Then I have to remember to enjoy all the little moments that will otherwise pass me by that I can never get back. Cooper and Kale have such great little personalities that they are always making us laugh and smile. I try to make myself remember to have a little fun every day.

Mostly I can say that it is fun in a challenging way. Yes, I think that is a good way to phrase it. If you enjoy being constantly challenged on a daily basis and seeing just what kind of stuff you are made of then you would enjoy having twins. Also you would need to enjoy being humbled on a daily basis and having showers postponed until noon, and develop a high tolerance for screaming and crying because to be perfectly honest, at any given moment at our house there could be at least one baby (if not the older children) having a bad moment. Sometimes people have no idea what they are walking into when they open our front door.

Today I needed to run on the treadmill for 30 minutes. This means I have to bring some toys in our bedroom to entertain the babies so I can get my run in. Of course, who wants to play with toys when they can meander over and attack me on the treadmill? I think I had to start and stop five or six times and move them back to their toys - I even tried making a barricade of laundry baskets to make sure they couldn't come over and climb on the treadmill or mess with the plug in or hit the on/off switch on the bottom (which happened a few weeks ago and I nearly dislocated my knee going from a sprint to a dead halt). I hit 18 minutes on there, listened to them cry for 2 more and had to stop at 20. It was pretty frustrating. It is hard to find time for myself and do the things I need to do.

But - five minutes later I had to just laugh because all they wanted to do was climb up on the treadmill and just sit on it. I realized that wherever I am is where they want to be and being with me makes them happy. That is what makes being a mom so great no matter if you have 1 child or 12.

3rd Grader

I used to think it was so cheesy when I heard other moms complaining about their kids getting older and how they wished they would stay little, how every year they just couldn't believe their child was going on to an older grade in school and how much they've grown yada, yada, yada.

Well, I have reached that motherly milestone where my mind was going over those exact thoughts as I escorted Kendle to school this morning. Third grade just sounds so much older than second grade. The first day is always filled with a bit of anxiety no matter how old you are. I get nervous and I'm not even the one going to school. I loved watching Kendle as she interacted with her new classmates that were also waiting outside for the bell to ring. That girl knows who she is. It's probably just my motherly bias but sometimes she just seems to glow to me and I love how her little smile lights up her face. I hope 3rd grade is a wonderful school year for her.

Of course we had to take some traditional first day of school photos outside:

School is officially back in session.

"Let the wild rumpus start!"

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Hard Week

Well, here I am with the beginning of school just around the corner. I have so many things I need to blog about, but the days just keep passing by without the motivation to do it. I've been going through the motions of back to school prep. Cleaning out kids rooms - check. Yard sale - check. School supplies - check. Trying to get our calendar of activities and commitments organized - check.

But through it all I've had a little lump in my throat and a little drag in my step. Last Saturday one of my nearest and dearest friends and her family packed up the last of their belongings and headed off to start a new life in a new town. As I looked at her empty home void of furniture and pictures on the walls it finally became real that they were really truly moving on. I watched their U-Haul drive away down the street and wiped the tears from my eyes. We have shared so many good times together and also shared the hard times too. Camping trips, girls nights, play dates at the park, backyard barbecue's, church functions, sporting events, long phone conversations, babies, morning sickness........all things that I will fondly remember (well not the morning sickness, ha). Kristen was one of my first friends I made after moving here almost five years ago. Kristen's home was always a place of laughter and fun and noisy kids and love - everyone who entered was welcomed as a friend. I know it will be the same in their new town. I'm confident that they will find their niche and become a valuable part of their new community.

So if that wasn't bad enough, this week brought saying goodbye to another near and dear friend. Although Nan isn't moving as far away, I know Pasco will never be the same without her little family living on Park street. I can't imagine how weird it will be to see a new family living in their home. Nancie always has such a positive attitude about every situation, and her family's move is another stepping stone in their journey to get to the goals they have set. Nan is the best hostess, she will make you feel so welcome and like you have not inconvenienced her at all by stopping by for a visit no matter what she has going on. She throws the best parties and has a wonderful talent of making you feel like an old friend. I will miss all of our fun conversations, girls nights, date nights with our husbands, and her generous attitude. My only regret is that we didn't become close friends earlier in life. Nan is the type of person who blooms where she's planted - she is literally like a ray of sunshine when she walks in the room and I know she will be a huge blessing to the new people she meets although Pasco will be a little less sunny without her.

Tuesday night we went out for one last girls night before Nan moves on Saturday. It was weird to not have Kristen with us, and hard to come to terms that our group of six would now be whittled down to four. I know individually we all have other good friends, but the six of us have shared some great memories over the last few years that can never be replaced. We've had birthday brunches, monthly girls nights, and a few adventures thrown in the mix that we may or may not ever confess to. I never thought that I would meet some of my best friends when I was older during my child rearing years, but I am so glad that I have. I have truly been blessed.

Kristen and Nan - you will be missed more than you know.

It just seems impossible........

********

How can it be, that this little baby girl-

- is now officially a big 8 year old?

8 years ago I endured one of the longest, scariest and most painful days of my life but from which came the sweetest reward - the most beautiful, healthy, and happy baby girl we could have ever dreamed of.

Kendle, may your light inside you always shine bright.

The world would not be the same without you.

Happy 8th birthday!