Winter blahs???

playing good together

Cousin play date

Happy Valentines Day!! I have been busy (of course) w/ my little ones just like everyone else & the time just seems to go fast...( just like everyone else) Hard to find time for my blogging & baby book updates but I am trying. I am good about picture taking. This winter has been so mild so we have been able to get outside and play a little bit which has been wonderful. Not only for Lizzie but for the babies as well. We also have had a few date nights which has been so nice! Lizzie continues to be a great big sister and a great daughter. She is so patient and kind to them..we couldn't be more proud of her. The babies are also doing well...Hard to believe they will be 7 months this month. They have the cutest personalities and are starting to be mobile.....I think I need roller skates! I am not wishing away winter just yet...The end of winter means they are just get older and older. As much as I may gripe about being home on these winter days, I cherish my warm cozy mornings w/ all 3 of my children around me! Lizzie loves crafts and books so that is a life saver! We have settled into a really nice schedule (finally) & that gives me 1-2 hours w/ Lizzie in the mornings. We use that time to do our crafts or just color and talk. Amazing what a preschool age has to chat about once you really get her going.

No privacy ...they are on the go.

Valentine Treat bags

Date night at J. Alexanders

Here are some pics. of our winter 'not so' blahs.

Old man winter....

                                                    Napping together .....snuggle buddies

                      Happy New Year!!  Fun party at Grandma wagner's

                                                 We started solids!!!

                        A warm day in January?? we'll take it!

Old man winter has showed his ugly head....We get creative & continue to come up with new games that will both keep Lizzie happy & both babies smiling. The babies are almost 6months...I can't believe it! They are getting so adorable & funny. They cruise around the house in their little walkers and are pretty content most of the time. Lizzie has been very cute w/ trying to play with them the best she can. It usually ends with a baby crying but it is ok..she is trying.
I am one that loves a good cozy day & will cherish these days with them so little...but I am really looking forward to spring and summer. Last summer I was completely out of commission with the pregnancy so it will be so nice this year to get out in the sunshine....sigh...until then it is candy land & craft days for us!

On Dancer....on Cupid...on Prancer..etc etc...

Well I forgot all the reindeer names ...& probably some important gifts this holiday season but spend one day in our house & you will see why! CRAZINESS...we are beyond busy but that is not a complaint or a whine in the slightest. I used to dream of having a fun hectic house full of love & children- that is just what I got! This time of year with little ones is purely MAGICAL. Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a 3year old is so amazing..especially knowing that you are the ones  making it that way. We have not let having the twins slow us down & have managed to still do some great holiday traditions. I promised some pics & pics I have. Here are a few of the last few weeks....

                                                               My little helper loves to bake!

                                             peace.

                                        I have a hot cocoa partner now when I drink my coffee

                                             Just doesn't get better than this.

                                                       My silly little girls.

Hope everyone is having happy holidays! Love, us.

December is here??? how ??

I can't believe it is December already....where did our time go?? Things are actually starting to feel 100% normal & dare I say ..more relaxed? We had a rough week last week with Andy & I both being sick ..wow,it is amazing how much we both do. Even with one of us sick it is really hard BUT two of us sick was down right crippling! Charlie & Sylvie are 4 months old and are getting sooo big. Charlie is 16lbs & Sylvie is 12lb. They are still sooo different but both have the cutest personalities. We are so in love w/ them & we know how blessed we are. Lizzie loves her new " big family" as she says...we will see how long she says that.
I will post through the holidays as this is the happiest time of the year & I will be snapping tons of pictures.

Fall fun!

My favorite season is upon us & I couldn't be happier....We have been to the pumpkin patch once already on an unseasonably warm day in October. Lizzie had a good time but I am sure the babies didn't care if we were there or not. Sleep you ask??? Charlie & Sylvia def. have their moments but for the most part they are doing pretty darn good. We have the 2 cribs & Charlie is exclusively in his...Sylvie still spends a great deal of nights in her bassinet BUT she does also sleep through the night.

Short post but here are some pics of fall & nursery.

Life w/ multiples...

Where in the world do I begin? As I read the previous blogs ....I am taken back to a simpler time. A time where meals were eaten...nights were for sleeping, & grocery shopping w/ the whole family was a normal weekly occurance. Now, meals are hurried & at times consumed w/ one hand in 5min, nights are for bottles & Cheslea lately reruns ( not talking wine or beer bottles either) & grocery shopping w/ the whole family is a true freak show. Would I change anything about my life right now? NO WAY!!! I am beyond thankful for my 3 beautiful, healthy children even though I am busier than I ever dreamed possible.

People are very interested in twins...I am seeing this everytime I leave the house & go in public. I always hear the comments that people think they are so original and funny...ie. " better you than me", " busy girl", " Are they identical?" & my favorite " are they twins?" ...My answers for the first few weeks were very polite and even flattered...now, I have come up w/ more " Suitable" answers for such questions. Example: Are they twins? usually just leads to a stare and a sarcastic smirk b/c really...could they only be 2 months apart and be mine? Overall, people have been very kind. Not only strangers but our family and friends. So much kindness that I don't know what we would have done without them. Both of our mothers have been exceptional w/ the help ....both in meals & babysitting they have been fantastic. I don't think we cooked for the first month and a half & words can't express what that did for us a new family of FIVE! I still some days are in shock to think " I have 3 kids...how did that happen?" unlike most people have 2nd child and have time to adapt to that...I went straight to 1-3. Now that it is all said and done I can't imagine our family w/ out Charlie & Sylvia. They really are so magical & we are beyond blessed.

Thanks again to all of our family & friends that have helped us....we seriously couldn't have done it without you guys...Much love from our growing family!!! xoxox

p.s. This post would have been longer but Sylvia is ready for her night bottle & snuggle. Who can say no to that?

" But your so close"

I am coming to the end of week 34 of this very LONG twin pregnancy. I still have a discordance between the two babies of about 23%. Our little boy is bigger by exactly a pound...but our little girl is still a good size. They took me off 'Strict' bed rest & am now on moderate bed rest...which is a good thing considering how uncomfortable the end is turning out to be. I have been getting so much help with Lizzie during the day from family which as been amazing. I don't know what we would do without all this help. I am able to keep her now that they gave me more freedom w/ the bed rest but I can't do anything really 'fun' with her. I look forward to recovery so her and I can have some fun outings together again. Lizzie has been handling things really well and I don't think she has thought anything of it. She knows I have babies in my belly & because of that I am unable to lift her. Lets see if she is as understanding after the babies are home with us. I titled this post " but your so close" b/c I hear that 100 times a day & it just doesn't seem true. I do know I am close but it is getting really tough. I have tried to keep a good sense of humor about it but I am getting so 'DONE' w/ this. I have a lot of baby in my belly which causes me to have trouble sleeping, eating, walking, breathing, sitting,....you get the picture. I need to remind myself that it is in fact almost go time & to just try to enjoy all this rest I am getting. I don't have many pics...(avoiding those these days) but have some of Lizzie enjoying summer. We were able to enjoy a lovely dinner one night followed by a carriage ride...she thought she was a princess & it was so cute to watch her so excited.

a bump in the road....

I went to my 30 week ultrasound & got some not so great news. Baby A & Baby B are both looking really good & I have been doing well also. Problem is the difference between the two babies is 20% which they consider borderline dangerous. Right now baby girl is in the 40th & our big baby boy is in the 65% . They sent me directly to the hospital to meet w/ a Perintologist. That is where they did another ultrasound, Non stress test, Doppler...Also got steroid shots as a precaution just in case I have to deliver early. They put me on strict bed rest which has been hard. Mainly because I have so much to do to get ready for two little ones & a 2.5 yr. at home. I got really lucky & my first week my mom was off so she was able to help a lot. I am now going to the doctor every week for heavy monitoring & to continue to check the growth of the babies. Thanks to all of friends & family for support, phone calls, meals, visits, & prayers. Esp. would like to thank all who are helping w/ Lizzie. She has been having a great week spending time w/ Grandma & will love all the time w/ her cousins this summer. ( even though I miss our days together so MUCH...I know it is for the best) Also thanks to my friends esp. Valerie & Lisa for throwing a great " Sprinkle" for us...even though I was sitting in a chair all night, it was so nice to see our friends supporting us. We got a LOT of much needed items. Will keep everyone posted.

Mother's day & 29 week twin update

Big belly!!

Another great Mother's day this year...even the weather turned out great. This year we were able to go see Grandma Wagner on Saturday night. Lizzie got to drive her car and have fun w/ uncle Sean & Rachel. Andy took Lizzie to see Grandma Ruwe for breakfast which she loved. Even though I had to work on Sunday for a few hours ...I was able to come home and get a nap w/ Lizzie which was great. When we woke up...the sun was out & we were ready to play. Got to spend Mother's day night just hanging out at home which was PERFECT.

29 week Twin update: I am in the final STRETCH of pregnancy & it is going so fast. We still have to decorate a nursery but hopefully that will be very soon. I am ready to get everything organized and together so I can spend a few weeks relaxing before the babies come. So far everything w/ them is looking really good. I can NOT complain. I am having more aches and pains but nothing that is alarming in anyway. As much as I am going to love meeting our little boy & girl...and not being pregnant. I am going to miss feeling them have wrestling matches in my giant belly. I will post some pics of my growing twin belly....It is hard to believe it is going to get a LOT bigger. I feel like I am going to POP!

Spring & 25wk update

Time is FLYING by so fast...I can't seem to get it to slow down! I have been trying to do so many fun things with Elizabeth throughout this pregnancy. I have been enjoying all of the things that we like to do together before she has to share her time. We had a blast in Disney & the fun just continues. I know she will always have fun & maybe even MORE fun once the babies are born.

Speaking of babies...They are doing great! They have an estimated weight of 2lb a piece at this point! That is the same as a singleton baby at 25 weeks which is VERY good news. I am measuring about the size of mom carrying one at 31 weeks! Needless to say, I am feeling large these days but I know I still have a lot of growing to do. Twin pregnancy is very hard and much different that carrying one baby. Despite it's challenges, I have been doing very well considering & am so thankful for that. My goal is to carry these 2 babies to 38 weeks and bring them home with us. So far so good!

here are some pics. of Elizabeth getting ready for Easter & enjoying Spring. I need to take a new 'belly' pic but this is all I have for now. I have it hiding under an apron to avoid dye getting all over my white shirt.

I have seen this before????

Lizzie 6 weeks old

...and again w/ daddy 2.5 years

I was taking this picture today & thought to myself " I have seen this before!" Not much has changed in 2 1/2 years!!

17wk twin bump pic

about 15 weeks pregnant w/ Elizabeth

17 weeks pregnant w/ twins

Here is a picture of my growing bump. I found the pic from about 15 weeks and the difference is obvious. This is also my second my pregnancy so my body is very comfortable with stretching.

Twin Pregnancy is......

As most of you know I am now 17 weeks pregnant w/ fraternal twins....I haven't updated my blog in awhile b/c I think I have been living in a state of shock! I need/ will take some belly pics because it is amazing how fast my stomach is growing. So many changes are taking place that I am just trying to get through day by day. Since I don't have any pics yet I will describe the differences of a twin vs. a singleton pregnancy. The nausea was the same if not worse with Elizabeth..Not sure why but not complaining. The biggest difference is just the speed of the pregnancy ...My belly is growing at mock speed. My waist line has not been the only thing compromised...My immune system seems to have left the building! I am catching every virus that I come into contact with. ( which is a lot considering I have a 2yr old) I can not even imagine what I will look like at 36 wks pregnant...My guess is that it will feel like I have two Lady Gaga's grammy's egg vessels hanging off the front of me! The good news is....as I have mentioned. it is going FAST. Other changes that are also the reason for this speedy pregnancy is the fact that so much preparation is needed when you know in a few months we will be bringing two babies into our home. Our basement is getting finished....& we had to get a mini van. 2 things that may have been needed down the road but not w/in a few months. Now the shock has turned into pure love & excitement for these two little babies. Now, I can not even imagine having one. Andy, Elizabeth, and I are ready for our most exciting adventure ever!! Erin

Happy Valentines day Lizzie girl!!

I was able to go to Lizzie's Valentine's day party at school this year which was so fun! We went just for the party so she could pass out her valentines (& collect of course) It is always so nice to visit the school & see how she interacts w/ her friends. After weeks of hoarding & collecting so many different types of Valentines from multiple stores...it was nice to see her pass them out w/ out the fight that I was envisioning.

Hope everyone enjoyed a fun day w/ your favorite Valentines...I know we did.