Farewell, 2013

For very obvious reasons, I could go on forever about what a monumental year 2013 was for us. I was hoping to do a comprehensive post recapping the year and all that it entailed, but when it came down to it, I realized there was no way to adequately put into words how much my world shifted in the last 12 (particularly the most recent 9) months.

So with that, I just want to share two songs that best capture 2013 for me:

"Safe and Sound" by Matthew West

Can't believe you're here now

Tiny dream come true

The answer to a prayer now

I'm so in love with you

"How Deep the Father's Love for Us" by Sarah Sadler

How deep the Father's love for us,

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only son

To make a wretch His treasure

Farewell, 2013- sad to see you go, but very much looking forward to what God has in store for 2014!

Babies' first Christmas

Oops, I didn't mean to take all of last week off, but I'm thankful that most of you all were blog slacking as well so I don't feel as bad.

The week was a bit of a blur as we fit our quick trip to Austin in the middle of a week of working (for me… Brian took the whole week off because someone didn't lose all of his vacation days during maternity leave!), but it was still a fun and memorable first Christmas for the twins for sure.

Allison already recapped Christmas Eve and Christmas day on her blog, so feel free to check out her post for most of the details. Highlights included plenty of eating, somehow managing to get all 4 children dressed and ready for the Christmas Eve service at their church, and of course, Santa came!

In the family room at church- shocking that the babies didn't want to stay quiet during the service, right?

These two were very interested in Rocky and I think the feeling was mutual

We decided to follow the Olivers' lead with Santa's gift-giving for Colby and Clara: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. And because it was their first Christmas and deserves to be over-documented, allow me to break it down for you:

- Something they want: a swing for the front yard and a play mat
- Something they need: an inflatable duck tub for the bath and new sleep sacks
- Something to wear: coordinating striped outfits from Target
- Something to read: Curious George Pat-a-cake and The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?

And just as was the case with Brian's family, they were also spoiled with plenty of other toys, clothes, and gifts from my family, including their new PB "anywhere" chairs:

Colby really has that "huh?!" face nailed down, doesn't he?

Speaking of spoiled, Brian very thoughtfully (and surprisingly) got me these new boots:

Frye Paige Tall Riding Boots in "grey antique" for those that are interested in that kind of thing!

AND my mom surprised me with this pretty new purse:

Michael Kors Jet Set Top-Zip Saffiano in black

I suddenly feel very fashionable, but don't worry, I'm still keeping it real by sporting workout pants and old sorority t-shirts as often as possible.

As Allison mentioned, we failed to get a picture of the babies in their Christmas day outfits, so these iphone shots will have to do:

 Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

When we got home, I was excited to find the babies' first Christmas ornaments that I had ordered waiting for us in the mailbox:

Made by BlueCreekMemories on etsy

It's hard to believe their first Christmas has already come and gone, but I am already looking forward to next year when they will have a little bit more of a clue about what's going on. Hope your Christmases were equally merry (and chaotic)!

Christmas babies

Being that I only have 2 days off of work for Christmas this year, we aren't going to be able to do our normal multi-day tour de Texas to visit mine and Brian's families. We are going to make a quick 24-hour roundtrip to Austin, but won't get to be with Brian's family at the ranch in La Grange. So with that in mind, we decided to celebrate Christmas with them a little early this past weekend since everyone would already be together for his sister's birthday (happy belated 25th, Shannon!).

Everyone spent the night at our house on Saturday night and on Sunday morning we pretended it was Christmas day. I could get used to this whole having more than one Christmas morning thing!

The babies were, of course, the center of attention, and while we had every intention of taking a family pic of all of us, we only ended up with pictures of them… oops.

I snagged these cute matching Santa jammies from Target for $6/piece- they made for some cute pictures!

All set to open their first presents from Aunt Shannon

And by "open," clearly I meant "eat"

Family pic in our pjs- I think Colby and Clara pull off the early morning no-shower look a little better than Brian and I do...

All that present-opening is pretty tiring

See what I mean?

I asked Brian to snap these pics while they were both in the jumperoos- I just love these little Santa feet!

Hard to get a still pic of Clara's feet given that she is constantly bouncing up and down, but he managed!

Aunt Shannon and Brian's parents (recently named "Mimi" and "Granddaddy") were very thoughtful and generous in their gift-giving as always and made sure to stock the babies up with more toys, books, and clothes than they know what to do with- these babies are spoiled (as are we), that's for sure!

And in the spirit of Christmas, Colby, Clara, Davis, and Avery got together and made a video for you all to enjoy:

Would You Rather Wednesday

All I have to say after last week's WYRW post is that you all sure don't seem to be bothered as much by wedgies as I am. Props to you on that.

This week's question is brought to you by two unfortunate little babies that have fallen victim to the latest germs going around their daycare. Would you rather...

come down with RSV  (like Colby did last week)

OR

come down with hand, foot and, mouth disease* (like Clara did this week)?

*Lest you forget, I came down with HFMD last summer just before we started IVF, so poor Clara is just following in mommy's footsteps.

Things to consider:
- Both of them are viruses and therefore cannot be treated with medicine.
- Both of them are highly contagious.
- Both of them are stupid.


(The good news is that C&C are taking both illnesses like champs and have not been too under the weather as a result!)

Day in the life: working mom edition

Yes, it's that time again: time for another "day in the life" post! I wrote my first day in the life post back in 2010, which I like to refer to as the "DINK" edition. Then I wrote another one back in the Spring, aka: the pregnant & working edition. Most recently, I shared what a day was like in my (brief) life as a stay-at-home-mom. So now it's only fair that I let you all in on the excitement that is a day in my life as a working mom. Hold onto your hats because it's about to get crazy…

5:15 am - My alarm goes off and I roll out of bed, thankful that the babies slept peacefully the night before. I shower, put on makeup, and as I anticipate the day ahead, I try not to think too much about work that early in the morning.

5:40 am - I wake up my trusty sidekick (that would be Brian) and head to the kitchen to eat breakfast, make lunch, very briefly check what I missed overnight on the internet, and pack my bags for the day.

Just like when I was pregnant, M/W/F = english muffin + cottage cheese, and T/Th= cereal. My current cereal of choice is Kellogg's Smart Start.

Thought you might enjoy this festive shot that includes all of my pumping supplies along with the vases full of ornaments in the background. Also in the background: the bottle drying rack, my laptop and cereal, and the babies' high chairs.

6:05 am - Time to wake up the little bits! 

Notice the puddle of drool under his chin?

Brian and I switch off which baby we get dressed every other morning. On this particular day, it was my turn to get Colby ready. I snapped this right about the time he was realizing that he was awake and therefore hungry.

6:10-6:40 am - I nurse the babies while Brian eats breakfast and loads up the car. This is also when I peruse Facebook, Instagram, and e-mail. I also usually check my work e-mail during this time and cross my fingers that there are no problems waiting in my inbox.

6:40-6:50 am - I have a whopping 10 minutes to pick out what I'm going to wear and get dressed. Meanwhile, Brian plays with the babies and loads them up in their carseats. 

Noah and Buster are major sources of entertainment these days.

Here I am, dressed and ready to face the day. As usual, I'm sporting a wet bun. I would like to dry and straighten my hair more often, but I like having 5-10 extra free minutes better.

This picture was actually taken at work, but these are some of my favorite shoes so I wanted to be sure to include a pic of them!

6:50 am - Hit the road! Brian and I are still carpooling, so the car is loaded up with Brian, Colby, Clara, me, my work bag, my purse, my pump, and the babies' daycare bag. We're like a traveling circus!

Clara typically snoozes for part of the ride, and today was no exception.

7:15 am - Drop the babies off at daycare, followed immediately by Brian dropping me off at work.

7:25 am - First pumping session of the day! This is usually a quick one and is just one I added in a couple of months ago to increase my supply. Thankfully it only takes 10-15 minutes. Also thankfully, I have an office, so I'm able to pump while I work. Only a few awkward situations have arisen as a result so far, i.e.: when I'm adjusting the pump while on the phone and the suction noise makes a farting sound that the person on the phone can very obviously hear.

9 am - Morning snack time! No picture, but I had a pumpkin oatmeal muffin. 

10 am - Second pumping session of the day. This one usually takes 30-45 minutes.

12 pm - Lunchtime. Our office building supplied lunch that day from Hasta La Pasta and my department actually had an ornament exchange- fun times! 

Before

After… don't judge me, I'm nursing twins.

I ended up with a cute A&M ornament and a cute owl gift bag (thanks, Brittany)!

1 pm - Third pumping session of the day. I also like to refer to pumping as "feeding my third child"… I sure do spend a lot of time with this thing!

2:30 pm - Afternoon snack time. This is always a caramel nut brownie Luna bar. And yes, I'm still hungry outside of my normal snack times, so I usually bring a pack of peanut butter crackers for good measure and forage for candy and other snacks from co-workers/the break room throughout the day.

4 pm - Fourth pumping session of the day. Why yes, now that you ask, it does get old by that point.

5:30 pm - Brian picks me up from work and we pick the babies up at daycare. This is usually my favorite part of the day and it seems like we can never get inside fast enough!

6 pm - Arrive home. Brian unloads the car while I put all of the milk in the fridge and start the nightly clean-up ritual.

Six bottles and four food containers to wash (with corresponding Inchbug labels, of course!)

6:15 pm - Brian and I eat dinner while the babies hang out in their jumperoos or high chairs and snack on Cheerios. Tonight's dinner was crispy southwestern lasagna. The babies are still just eating two solid meals a day and their second one is usually right before we pick them up. Eventually they'll eat "dinner" with us, but for now, it's easier to let the daycare handle it!

6:30 pm - Change clothes, put everything away, and get settled for play time. And far too often, this also includes folding baby laundry! We typically do their laundry once a week, but most weeks we have to do 1-2 extra loads mid-week thanks to a diaper blowout or spit-up mishap.

6:30-7 pm - Playtime! Usually we bring the babies (and their toys) to hang out in our room since it's carpeted.

Enjoy this sequence in which Colby snags Clara's toy… that giraffe ("Raffie") is highly coveted in this house!

Sneaky guy!

7 pm - We still just do baths every other night and that was an off night, so it was straight into jammies for the babies. If they're not too fussy/hungry/sleepy, we'll read a story or two. On this particular evening, it was a classic: The Very Busy Spider.

7:15-7:45 pm - Nurse the babies. Clara always finishes first, at which point Brian takes her and puts her to bed.

8 pm - Colby finishes eating and I can usually snag a brief 1-2 minutes of snuggling with him before Brian takes him to bed. He wasn't super sleepy on this night but he was super smiley :)

8-9 pm - The one glorious hour of free time we have! Usually we catch up on tv shows or do anything else mindless that requires no thought or effort.

9-9:30 pm - Take a bath and get ready for bed.

9:30 pm - Fifth and FINAL pumping session of the day (again, added in to increase my supply).

10 pm - Lights out! Needless to say, I have zero trouble falling asleep these days. I savor every minute of the 7 hours I get on weeknights, that's for sure.

And there you have it. The days are long, busy, and tiring, but thankfully we are in a manageable routine and do our best to make the most of our time together. 

Hopefully I didn't leave out any exciting details, but if I did, feel free to use your imagination- it's probably just as glamorous as you're imagining it to be :)