2016!!!

It's 2016!!!

We look back on what an awesome, challenging, year.

Luke turned 3, we survived our first year as parents to twins!!!, we finished a renovation, sold our BR house, built a beautiful home and moved to suburbs, turned one year closer to (gulp) 40,  switched schools for Luke, Matt was promoted, we suffered through another miserable Purdue football season, spent time with family & friends....whew!  I'm exhausted thinking about it.  But we made it. 

There was a time when the girls would be sick, or not sleeping well, Luke was in full threenager and it just wasn't a good time.  It was a very challenging for sure. I felt disconnected from myself, friends, and co-workers due to the lack of sleep, cold weather, and constant feeling of being overwhelmed.  I wasn't being a good mom, wife, friend, employee, you name it.  So I'm hopefully back on track.  And as a family we joined the Y to kick off 2016.  The girls are getting some more activity, Luke can learn / play new things, we get a work out in, and since the girls are back to being pretty good sleepers are now 21 months, we stay up a little later at night and feel a little more normal routine. 

We are so excited on what this year brings!  Here's to a healthy, happy, and safe new year.

Where did October go?

I feel like October has been a month full of Halloween parties- and I don't even like Halloween!


"Is it Halloween yet?!"  Luke asked that all month basically.  We have had Luke's Fall Festival party at his school October 13th, dress up on Oct. 16th, Conner Prairie last week,  Ne-Ne & Pop-Pop's Halloween party the 24th, Sunday the 25th  at Nicole's for Emma's b-day, a night at the Children's Museum and then it  was FINALLY Halloween!!  No wonder Luke was confused. 


He's a Ninja and it is awesome.  The girls are the Purdue University All-American Marching band Silver Twins!!  But they all have skeleton PJ's they have worn as well.  So we alternate.  They are all so cute!

The girls are now 19 months and full on trying to communicate.  Little walkers, runners, head shakers, no! no!, go! go!, ball!  Dog! Uh-oh! Great little helpers getting things and love to try to put on their clothes & shoes.   They have not been sleeping well, but I think it's the growth spurt they are going thru and teething.    We had their 18 month apt and Dr. Moore said they are just perfect!

Riley:
23.65 lbs    - 32%
31.5 inches - 31%
45.7 cm head- 21%


Vivian:
24.1 lbs         -39%
32.25 inches- 54%
46.7 cm head - 48%

Pretty much even with everything though I do feel Riley talks more clearly.  They love each other and they love their brother.  And we of course love them.  :)

September

We are more and more settled everyday.   The kids love all the space and everything our neighborhood has to offer.  We only went to the pool once - and that was hectic- daddy with Luke in the big pool going down the slide and me with the girls in the baby pool on floaty things.  They all loved it.  But less than an hour was perfect.
We have a great park we like to go play at and now the tennis courts are a big hit.  We can cage them all in, bring some balls & Frisbees, and they go wild.  Luke really loves the Frisbee disc course at the park as well.  He is getting pretty good.  He & daddy take golf cart rides and get a few holes in now and then.
The girls have been great sleepers but must be teething b/c the last couple of weeks they have been waking up. It was rough over the weekend staying at grandma & grandpa's for the night, but we got through it.
Luke has been needing us to lie down with him for a while, which makes for not a lot getting done but I wouldn't trade his sweet voice and bedtime stories for anything. 
Sisters are sooooo good at getting toys, clothes, diapers- you name it!- when you ask.  I notice that Riley is more of the peacemaker.  If she sees Vivian or Luke upset, she comes over with a toy to help.  She's the sharer.  Vivian gets so mad and upset, while Riley is much more chill. 
They both are very patient when it comes to dinner time (usually).  Maybe because they are use to not getting 100% of our attention at the drop of a hat. 
They have a little car that Riley likes to push Vivian in.  And Vivian lets go and has the biggest smile on her face as Riley pushes her around - fast.  Sometimes I'm a little worried they are going to crash right into the wall, but so far, so good ;)  
Such good kids!  Almost 18 months old.  Unbelievable.  They are getting close saying more words everyday.  They are both really good at 'Doooog' and "Ma!' and 'night-night' and 'all done'.   They do great 'Mu-awh!'s when they blow kisses, too. 
Everyday is pretty awesome and amazing to think I have 3 children.  Better than my wildest dreams!!!

Summer 2015

I wrote this last week and just now publishing! Tomorrow we close on the new house!!!!  And we move in this weekend!!


But here is the post:


So much going on this summer, it's been hard to catch my breathe.  With 2 very active girls and a big, energetic big brother, sometimes I need it to slow down a bit.
We have officially (closed) sold our Broad Ripple house and now our new house is almost done.  In fact, we go today for the walk through and close next Friday.  Wowzers!!!  It seemed so long ago in May when we began this process, yet it also seems like it was just yesterday.   I know we are all looking forward to the new, big, space, the parks, the trails, the yard, the garage!!  But it's a little sad to leave the house I've been in for the last 14 years.  And the convenience of walking wherever and dropping by and seeing friends in a split second.  It's a new adventure, though, and it will be probably even better than I can imagine.


We told Luke's TBDC when his last day was and it was very sad for me.  He loves Ms. Donna and I really like Ms. Stephanie the director.  Plus our 'Good morning Ms. Melinda' wave is something he looks forward to.  He has done so many great things and it's so fun to see him so eager to learn and please.  We will miss them very much.  But that said, we found a new school up by our offices that I feel he will love just as much. It will just be an adjustment, more for me than him, I'm sure.  Kids are so resilient and we are lucky he is so happy and makes friends easily.  The girls will continue to stay at Pam's until they are ready for bigger and better things. I think we might move them earlier than we did Luke.  They, too, will thrive when the time is right. 


Speaking of the girls, they are just so darn funny and silly.  Silly sisters we call them.  They love to help you put things away, give you the remote, give their graham cracker to their other sister, or help wherever they can.  They must be going through a growth spurt because they are not sleeping as well as usual.


Luke equates the new house with a marble game.  Basically Raya & Charlie and Max & Luke have the same marble games, and new houses, and he must assume he is getting one because we are getting a new house.  So, I will have one for him in his room when it's ready!   And he has helped me with his shower curtain and bathroom.  Can't wait!

A gift from God

Everyday we drive by the Broad Ripple United Methodist Church and they have a weekly saying on their sign out front.  I always like to read it to Luke.  This week's is "You are a gift from God to the world'.  He usually just giggles and then we keep talking about whatever we are talking about.  Well after about 3 days of me saying 'Luke, you are a gift from God to the world' today he said 'No, mommy, you are!'  And that melted my heart. 

Almost 15 months....

The girls had their 15 month check up Tuesday June, 23rd  and they are doing awesome!! Such happy girls!  Except when getting prodded.  


Riley : 
weight: 21.34 lbs - 28 %
Length: 29.25 inches - 37%
Head:  45.20 cm 31%


Vivian:
Weight: 21.59 lbs - 32%
Length 30 inches - 39%
Head:  46.20 cm  - 61%


Walking, blabbing, but no real words, besides 'oh!'  ma-ma- da-da ball ....


Very good eaters, lots of cheese, turkey, fruit, cottage cheese, apple sauce, veggies.  Great with sippy cups, trying to  get rid of their night time bottle, trying to use spoons....


Sweet and funny.  They go bonkers fighting over the see-n-say but other than that, just like to explore around and play with Luke's cars.


They can give high fives, blow kisses, turn on the light switches.


They are genuinely so excited to see Luke when we pick him up from TeddyBear.   All smiles.  And he still is a great big brother.


He goes through his threenager days of 'I don't want to brush my teeth and wash my face!' and the next day it's no problem. Just never know what you will get.  But at his sweetest, it really is the sweetest thing.  The unprompted 'I love you, mom'.   And I want to give you a kiss. 




We had the pleasure of attending Gretchen's wedding and everyone amazed when they were sitting at the table and being 'good'.  It just is them and it's no secret / tricks.    We all have our moments, but thinking the good far outweigh the bad.




I look forward to our next adventure in the new house and the room to play and be together.  They are all terrific!

Things I don't want to forget Friday...

Luke can now tell the girls apart!  I noticed last week he was calling them by their correct names and I couldn't tell if it was fluke or not.  So I said 'Luke, which sister is that?' And he correctly said Riley.  So later I tried again "Luke, which sister is that?" Again, he was correct in saying Vivian.  So I asked him how he knew and he said "Vivian has a square head like you mommy.  Riley has round head like me."  I don't see the square head he is talking about, but Riley's is much rounder, so we'll go for it.  And whatever works, works. I do catch him every now and then saying 'Square head took my toy' - which I can't help but chuckle.




Riley is taking steps!!! She is so proud of herself and doing a great job.  Maybe 5 or so at a time, but definitely gaining her confidence.




Vivian is not too far behind.  She was the first to crawl and use the walker but feel like one day she will just pop up and do it.  But so far,  she's content using the walker and cruising along the furniture.  And of course, they still use their popular tri-pod method of getting around.




Vivian had her post-ear check up and finally her ear infection is gone.  And she was able to finally get her 1 year shots.  She's been in such a good mood and her little mischievous smile is way too cute.  And man, does she laugh and give you funny looks, and shakes her head to be silly. 




Luke has been doing awesome at TeddyBear Daycare.  He tells me about his day, though whenever I ask about what he had for lunch, he's like 'nothing' though everyday on his progress report he has eaten all of it :) He's making friends and usually excited in the morning to get ready and to go there. Usually. He's been 'happy, cooperative, & helpful', sleeps during rest time, and learning new things.  We had a great day at Mommy & Me Tea Day for Mother's Day weekend. 




We survived our 1/2 week without daddy while he was in Vegas for TUG.




I took the girls to Gretchen's bridal shower and Luke when w/the Carlyles to the Tripp & Tagg's baseball games.  Then they watched them that evening for the bachelorette party.   We all had fun!


This Memorial Day weekend we are going to the Kincaids, Mroz', & Habels.  On Sunday, we will be celebrating Claire's 11th birthday!! So hard to believe!!