Surrender

I have been the worst blogger lately!!! In short, these are the three main reasons:

The other night, I explained to Greg that I have erected the white flag. I surrender. I'm done. I give the house over to the children. I have a new respect for the damage that 1 three-year-old and 2 (almost) one-year-olds can accomplish in an amazingly short amount of time. I try to maintain a patient, diligent balancing act most of the day. Then, as soon as 3:30 hits, two additional children bound through the front door and toss (literally) two backpacks on top of an already fragile haystack, and it's officially more than I can handle.

I don't mean to complain. I can't imagine spending my day doing anything else. But, for some reason, the past few months have been exhausting. I feel like I spend all my time digging away at that mountain only to discover a bigger mountain the next morning. Needless to say, anything "extra" takes a back seat. I've run out of the energy to even think about interesting posts.

On a more positive note: I find it absolutely fascinating and completely captivating to have two children the same age. They move around the house together, destroying anything in their path. Nothing is more interesting than the cup cupboard or the pajama drawer. They squeal with delight as they examine every inch of a sippy cup. They roll it around with their fingers (sometimes with their toes). They stare at it, lick it, bang it on the floor, bang it on the oven, bang it on their brother, scratch the inside, and blow through the top. They put it in the little "cup bin", close the cupboard, open the cupboard, and scream with pleasure when they realize that it is still there.

Ahhh...The education one derives from a sippy.

So, here are my three youngest munchkins:

You will have a hard time convincing me that nurture is stronger than nature. These boys are hilarious. At 11 months, they wrestle each other constantly. They take each other down (and apparently an open-mouth drool on the top of the head indicates the winner). They climb all over each other, take toys out of each other's hands, switch bottles in the middle of a feeding, and poke each other's eyes/nose/ears/mouth.

Through all of this torture, they never cry or become irritated with each other.

But (big BUT), if someone else enters the scene (namely Miss Paige), the screeches and pleas for help can be heard throughout the neighborhood.

Interesting.

I generally put Spencer to bed first, just because I am most likely searching for Kade's binkie. If I put him in the crib, turn on his music, and leave the room to fetch his brother, Spencer immediately stands up, stares at the door, and cries. As soon as I come in, put Kade down, tuck Spence in again, he calmly rolls over with his thumb in his mouth.

Interesting.

Kade is more gentle than Spencer. Spencer's new game is to "play" with my hair. I'm trying to teach him the concept of "softly". Kade hangs back and lets Spencer (the adventurous one) lead the way. Kade loves to climb over and under furniture. He is quite content just sitting in the middle of the bar stools, surrounded by rod iron. Both boys like their Mama, but Kade especially likes to have me hold him or snuggle him. If Kade gets his feelings hurt, he has the most pathetic cry. He puts his head down and just kind of moans softly. It is sure to break your heart right in two. Kade laughs at the drop of a hat. You don't even have to tickle him to get the giggle - just act like you're going to do it and his belly starts rolling. It is impossible to be grumpy or sad when you hear that laugh. He makes my heart happy.

Spencer is always on the go. He is constantly climbing, crawling, searching. He likes to get his hands dirty. He can hear the bathroom door open a mile away, and he usually crawls in high speed to get there before it shuts. Spencer has a deeper voice and a deeper cry. Spencer tends to be a bit more chatty than his brother. His form of communication is "Dada." If I repeat it, he looks over and his face just glows with delight. Then, he repeats his greeting more loudly and passionately. We have several conversations a day. Spencer is a No Nonsense type of guy. He drinks his bottle quickly, plays with toys quickly, and is completely determined when he wants something. The other day, I watched him climb over a step stool to get what he wanted. Apparently, bumps and bruises are a small price to pay for success. Spencer constantly has his tongue out. At first, I thought it was just his teeth, but it is always hanging out. He makes me laugh daily!

Then there's my Paige. This child is a Do-er. I have never had calm, passive children, but Paige reinvents the word "independent." She never asks for anything; she simply does. She makes up her mind and finds a way to get what she wants. If that means rearranging the furniture, then so be it. I honestly believe her little 20-something-pound body could move the couch if she decided. This trait is both incredible and exhausting. Every day she asks me, "Mommy, am I big?" She has absolutely no concept of her age/size/knowledge etc. Three is the bi-polar age. Her adorable is off the charts, but she can do a 180 in the blink of an eye. The usual signal is the constant whine/cry. Paige has recently learned about whispering and secrets. My world stops when she takes my head in her hands, turns toward my ear, and says, "Mommy, I gonna tell you a whisper secret." Then, in the quietest voice, she says, "I love you" (followed with a giggle and her hands up to her mouth). Sometimes, she'll turn my head to my other ear and whisper secret: "You are my mommy."

I have to find some way to cope with my house, my yard, and my "To Do" List, because although these three definitely keep me hopping from the moment they wake up until the moment my head touches the pillow at night, I love them to pieces, and I truly love having little people around me. So, I guess instead of surrendering my home, I should surrender my heart. To everything there is a season. I guess this is my season of legos on the floor, never-ending laundry, fingerprints on the windows, snot on my shoulder, and A TON of smiles, laughter, love, and creativity in our home.

Topic: Spelling "Discuss Among Yourselves"

Is it really necessary to teach spelling in school? I mean, I know it looks horribly ignorant to look over a job resume and see spelling errors. So I guess it is a necessary skill. But is there any way to postpone it until high school? I just adore my children's handwritten notes and their creative spelling.

For Easter, we put up our "Love One Another Wall."

We left it up all last week to allow everyone to write comments as they desired. The comments were so adorable. Personally, I think the spelling for "cute" should be replaced with "cqt" or "sweet" should be changed to "soeet" or "cautious" should definitely be changed to "coushish."

Spencer:

I love how you grab my face with excitement to greet me. - Mom

I love your curiosity and constant quest to learn. - Mom

I love that you eat fast. I love when you eat my face and give zerbets. - Dad

Spencer is a cqt brather. - Macy (Spencer is a cute brother.)

I love how you are so coushish. - Austin (I love how you are so cautious.)

I love how you say "DaDa" when you are trying to communicate. - Mom

Paige:

I love how you play and play. - Austin

I love how you are always thanking me for doing things for you. - Mom

I love your brown eyes! I love your squeaky voice and how you let me give you eskimo and butterfly kisses. - Dad

I love your sweet singing voice. - Mom

Paige is nis. - Macy (Paige is nice.)

I love how you don't walk or run - you prance (or gallop). - Mom

Mom:

Mom is soe seet. - Macy (Mom is so sweet.)

Mi mom is soeet. - Macy (My mom is sweet.)

I love that you try and try and try new things with our family! (Don't give up on us.) - Dad

Macy:

I love how you chace me. - Austin (I love how you chase me.)

I love how excited you get over the smallest things. You LOVE life! - Mom

I love your loose tooth! I love your fancy words! I love how you treat other people with kindness. I love when you dress up. I love that you want to ride in my car with me. - Dad

I love that you are so cuddly and love to be around people. - Mom

Kade:

I love that you already like piggy back rides. - Austin

I love how you smile with your entire body. - Mom

I love that you take a binky. You are daring...even if you always get stuck. - Dad

I love how you get so excited to see us after a nap that you "jump" and fall backward in you crib. - Mom

Kad is fany. - Macy (Kade is funny.)

I love that you laugh even before you get tickled. I love how happy you are! - Mom

Dad:

I love that you are so dedicated to me and our family. - Emily

I love how you play legos with me. - Austin

I love how you are constantly forgiving me and finding the best in me. - Emily

I love how you let us play on the ifone. - Austin

Dad is fanee. - Macy (Dad is funny.)

I love that you play with our kids and talk to them about their lives. - Emily

I love your belly laugh! Makes me smile EVERY time I hear it! - Emily

Austin:

I love it that you are trying so hard to be respectful at school. - Mom

I love my brather. - Macy

I love your laugh. It is contagious. It is the happiest sound in the world. - Mom

Austin is asm. - Macy (Austin is awesome.)

I love that you are creative with legos, dinos, and fun games you make up. I love that you play with your sisters and brothers. I love that you listen to Styx and OMD. You are so wonderful!!! You are my favorite oldest child! - Dad

I love how much you love your brothers. You are so good to get Spence every morning. - Mom

Rag-a-Muffins

Sometimes the boys like to stay awake and "chat" with each other after I put them down for a nap. I usually give it a few minutes, and then go in and kiss them again, lay them down again, put the binkie in again, and start the music again. This usually works. Today, I heard some commotion and decided it was time to remind them that it was nap time. (And when I say "chat," that is exactly what I mean. They weren't crying, just jabbering.)

This is what I found:

That is Kade. Apparently I left the car seat too close to the bed. The shots aren't great (I was desperately trying not to wake him and not move anything in the room while trying to capture the moment), but he is completely out - with a pretty tight grip on that toy. He woke up with lines on his forehead from the bars of the crib. Earlier in the day, I walked in to see him standing in the crib. Without him noticing me, I observed as he peeked over the edge (on his cute little tippy toes), took the bink out of his mouth, tossed it out, and laughed as he watched it hit the ground and roll away.

Spence (the chatterbox) was found observing the entire situation with his legs hanging out the crib. He was kicking them and bouncing. Notice the thumb in his mouth. That was my indicator that he really was tired.

Nobody can accuse my kids of not having personality. Even at this age, curiousity is infinitely more important than sleep.

I love them more than words can describe.

(Look at Spence's big toe pointing up. Hahaha)

Each Life That Touches Ours For Good

I actually enjoy going to funerals. Is that weird? My husband would exclaim a resounding "Yes! You are definitely wacko!" I don't mean to be terribly morbid, but I do enjoy attending funerals that rejoice in a life well lived and bear testimony about the grace of the Savior and His loving, charitable sacrifice so we can live again. I had this opportunity a couple of weeks ago, and I walked out of the service so uplifted.

Greg and I met at a friend's wedding. One of my best friends married one of his best friends. (Go here for the full story.) Greg met Steve as a Freshman in college. They are only a few days apart. They served their missions together, returned together, attended some more school together, and eventually married two beautiful, talented, amazing women. Steve's grandparents lived in the Orem/Provo area when Steve and Greg were at BYU. They often went over to Steve's grandparents house for meals, and Steve's grandpa took them fishing occasionally. Greg grew to love these adopted grandparents, and they took him in and loved him right back. I had the opportunity to meet them and visit with them on a few occasions throughout our married life. They loved me and drew me into their home immediately.

On March 4th, Grandpa Carlson passed away. He had been suffering with health problems for a while. Although they had relocated to Arizona, he was buried here in Salt Lake. Steve and Liz and Steve's entire family made the trek to Utah for the funeral. Greg and I (and Spencer and Kade) had the privilege of attending the funeral. Although I had only met Grandpa Carlson a handful of times, he had a profound impact on Greg's life (which, in turn, has a profound impact on mine). Greg is not known to "gush" about people. You definitely have to earn your praise from my husband. As he reminisced about Grandpa's life, I watched him speak with complete awe and reverence about a man who loved unconditionally and chose to live life joyfully.

Several times throughout the service, family members spoke of Grandpa's positive attitude. They also spoke about his ability to love and not judge. His daughter (Steve's mother) gave the eulogy. She spoke about how she has always felt that the Savior loves her because her dad loved her so deeply and always treated her with love and respect. Several people spoke about Grandpa's funny sayings and the ability he had to "enjoy the journey." He loved to fish. Fishing became a great metaphor throughout the service. His family spoke about how he taught them to relish in the peaceful surroundings and the majesty of the Lord's creations and not worry so much about catching fish.

I watched Greg, Steve, and Steve's family laugh and swap stories and sweet memories of Grandpa Carlson. It seemed that one person's memory led to another and another. As I sat through the beautiful service, contemplating the life of this man who loved the Lord, loved his family, and lived a happy, full life, all I could think about was the hymn "Each Life That Touches Ours for Good."

Each life that touches ours for good

Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;

Thou sendest blessings from above

Thru words and deeds of those who love.

What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

When such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior’s name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.

- Karen Lynn Davidson

Although I hardly knew this good man, by impacting the life of the most important person in my life, he has dramatically influenced mine. I left that service with a renewed passion to love my family more deeply and find more joy. Period. I also started contemplating how many people have impacted my life and they may never realize. Of course my close friends and family have an enormous impact, but I also thought of friends/acquaintances that I may or may not keep in contact with anymore. People that attended school with, people from past wards, people that have moved from my current ward, new ward members that I don't know very well yet. I thought about the stranger at the grocery store who stepped in to help a mother that was clearly struggling with her little ones. Instead of shaking her head, this woman took action. I thought of the sweet temple workers who helped me when I first received my endowments. I thought about all of my YW leaders. I thought of past roommates. I thought about people in my life who have died, but have left an everlasting imprint on my life. I thought about teachers and friends who have loved my children, thereby influencing my life tremendously. I thought of all of Greg's past friends, extended family members, youth leaders, professors, bishops, mission presidents, etc. (the list could go on and on) whom I have never met but have made him the man that he is today. It is almost mind boggling to consider all the people that have touched my life.

I believe that we have a greater power to influence than we realize. I have been so blessed to be surrounded by so much good.

I am grateful.

My Outlet

I have missed you, my lovely blog. My family has missed you because I haven't been using you to "dump" out my brain. I have several posts swimming around my head, but I will have to miss you a little bit longer. We went to the doctor yesterday. For the third time in six weeks, we have four ear infections and one infected throat. As a result, we have spent more on health care this month (insurance, doctor visits, prescriptions) than on our mortgage. Thank heaven for a wonderful pharmacist who gave us one prescription for both babies. Saved us $35. Bless you, Mr. Pharmacist.

So, once we get a few healthy ears, and I am able to get a little sleep, I will return. I have to go now because Spencer is climbing up my arm demanding to be loved and Paige is crying (for the fortieth time this morning) because she spilled her milk (again).

Ear Infections = Very Clingy Babies

Three Year Olds = A lot of Tears

Homework

Macy included this note with her homework. I obviously told her about her birthday WAY too early. She has been counting down since the beginning of March. I probably should have told her the night before. She is SO excited!

Translation: It's two more days until my birthday. From, Macy

Deep Thoughts - March Edition

A few weeks ago, we were getting ready for Saturday Night Baths (it's capitalized because it is an event at our house). We were administering orders: Macy, let me take your hair out before it gets wet; Paige, don't forget to take your panties before you get in the water; Austin, please remember to use soap to wash your entire body, etc. When we were done, Austin said, "Okay, but I don't need to wash my hair because I already had a 'head bath' today." (He had his hair cut earlier the day, and they washed his hair in that little wash bin. Otherwise known as a "head bath.")

* * *

Macy went to Tracy Aviary with her school class. She came home and told us all about it. She got very excited when she told us about the male peacock. She told us that he had all of his tail feathers out so he was "beautiful." Then she educated us: "That's how you know that they like girls."

* * *

Occasionally, I put "dust" on the chore chart. This guarantees at least an hour of whining and griping, even though I only assign one bookcase. On this particular day, I even let Macy pick any bookcase to dust. When she was on shelf #2, she sighed, wiped her brow, and exclaimed, "This is like cleaning a mansion."

* * *

For breakfast, I often cut a banana in half for Macy and Paige to share. The other day, Paige had eaten her half, but was playing with the peel. She was holding it by the tip and bouncing it up and down. "Look Mommy," she said, "It's an oscapus!"

* * *

An excerpt from Macy's prayer the other night: "Thank you for Daddy's job so we have a home and food. Please help Daddy so he can save twenty thousand dollars to give to the children's hospital. Please bless our friend in the morning class who is at the children's hospital."

* * *

Just to get it off my chest: Two things I was born without: Grace and Flexibility. It's a good think that I am neither a First Lady or an Exotic Dancer.

Macy Poppins

Tonight, Macy enlightened us with this beautiful number:

"Super-cali-fragilis-that-is-my-ali-toe-cious."

Then, she spent an hour after dinner doing this:

She's in the linen closet watching home videos - with the door closed. She was quite put out that I had the door open while snapping a few pictures. I like the way that she's made a nice bed for herself with the towels, blankets, and baskets.

I especially appreciate the fact that when it was time to go to bed, she neatly folded each and every blanket and towel that she used and put it back in perfect little stacks on the correct shelf...Yeah right!!!

I love her - mess and all! Nobody makes me laugh like this Little Princess.

The Decade from Hell

Just before Christmas, I was in Barnes and Noble when I saw the cover of Newsweek. It read, "The Decade from Hell." You know how it is at the end of year. You get lists and lists of Best/Worst. The year is pretty much analyzed and compared every which way possible. At the end of a decade, this scrutiny is magnified by about 100. Ever since I've seen that headline, I've been contemplating this first decade of the 21st Century.

I came to the realization that while "the world" (well represented by the editors at "Newsweek") may view the past 10 years as constant economical and social turmoil with mistakes at every turn, the past 10 years have been monumental in my little life.

At 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2000 (when it became readily apparent that the world did not blow up or shut down or whatever Y2K was all about), I kissed my husband of (just over) 5 months. We were young, naive, stupid, broke, and blissfully happy. Our eyes were bright and hopeful and full of dreams for our "future." 10 years later, at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2010, we kissed again and then went to bed. We are still happy, but much, much more exhausted.

In the past decade, all five of my children have been born. Sometimes, I close my eyes and try to picture each individual hospital room and I try to recall those feelings of the moments that they were born. These four events, alone, have changed my life and my eternity in ways that go beyond words. No matter what happens from this point on, I will always be forever grateful that I have been given the opportunity to be a mother and bring these spirits into this world. The moments of their births are the most sacred, precious experiences of my life.

It just proves that no matter what is going on in the world, I believe that we can "make it" as long as I have Greg by my side and the love of my family. Hell??? If I'm being completely honest, there have been days. But overall, I would have to name it The Decade of Blessings. I am truly blessed. Now, I believe we are entering The Decade of Learning (or The Decade of Teaching - depending on how you look at it) as we try to actually raise these 5 kids that we've been given. (It could also be called The Decade of Patience. To quote my mom when she found out we were having twins: "If this doesn't teach you patience, then you must be a lost cause." So true!!!)

Mystery Package (no pun intended)

Admit it.

You get excited when you go to the mailbox and there is a package addressed to you. How about that thrill that goes up your spine when you open the door to see the UPS guy waving politely as he runs back to his truck only to look down and see happiness wrapped up in brown goodness on your doormat?!?

Well, today, my husband walked in the door after some meetings carrying the weekly grocery store ads, ads for the bazillion President's Day sales, a few bills, a baby shower invitation, a second birthday card from my Grandma (she forgot that she already gave me one three weeks ago), and a brown package.

My eyes passed by all the "regular" stuff, and I said, "What's in the package?"

Greg said, "I don't know. It's addressed to you."

He mused while he found a knife to open it up: "What did you order that you forgot about?"

My mind was racing. This is so exciting! I don't remember ordering anything. Maybe somebody sent me a late birthday present, or maybe I did order something and put it out of my mind. This was nearly as thrilling as finding a $20 bill in your winter coat the first time you wear it in November only to realize that you left it there the past March.

With wild anticipation, Greg turned back the flaps of the box for the big reveal:

Right now, you are probably asking yourself, "Is that what I think it is?"

Allow me: Why yes, that is exactly what you think it is. 72 to be exact (12 packages of 6), along with a lifetime supply of lubricant. The invoice simply stated, "Undercover Condoms."

I have no idea where they came from. (I immediately suspected several mom's from my son's school class trying to send Greg and I a not-so-subtle hint.)

This intensely funny situation turned somber when we realized that they were ordered from my credit card number and will be classified as a "Fraud charge." At least we don't have to pay the $103 for the year's supply of birth control. Too bad my Identity Thief didn't make a purchase on "Incognito Diamonds" or "Confidential Corvettes."

Now I have no credit card.

But I do have a size-able donation to make to Planned Parenthood that should be tax deductible.

What did you receive in the mail today???

My Maternal PhD

It is so interesting being the mother of twins. I feel like I should be taking notes so that I can write a thesis someday. In nine months, here are a few observations:

• As a general rule, Spencer meets developmental milestones (rolls over, sits up, crawls, gets teeth, etc.). Then, about two weeks later, Kade follows.
• Up until 8 months, two babies can sleep in a crib together. At 8 months: 1 day, Spencer starts crawling on top of his brother in the bed. Sometimes on his legs, sometimes on his torso, and sometimes right on top of his head. This entices Kade to scream at the top of his lungs in severe panic in an attempt to save his life from accidental suffocation. Two weeks later, Kade repays the torture by doing the same to Spencer. As a result, two cribs are needed.
• With the cribs in an L-shape in the bedroom, twin brothers will crawl to the corner closest one another and "chat" and reach out to each other during the first few days of their separation. As a result, a mother's heart is broken.
• Both boys have two bottom teeth (that are extremely difficult to photograph).

• Whenever babies have blocked tear ducts, just wait eight months and finally make an appointment with a specialist. Since the soonest appointment is nearly four weeks away, just wait and attempt to work through the mountain of paperwork (honestly...How much medical history can a 9-month-old have??? Well, a lot actually). Then, about four days before the doctor appointment, the eyes will clear up on their own. Miraculous!!!
• These boys are completely oblivious to knawing on the head, getting their hands eaten by another human being, getting toys/snacks yanked from their hands, getting crawled all over (except the head).
• My husband is a Gene Hog! Honestly, just look at those eyes!!!

Spencer at Nine Months:

• Nearly always rejects his binkie. Greatly prefers his thumb (sucks his left thumb).
• Crawls on his hands and knees at a fast pace. Enjoys exploring the hallway, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Has developed a recent curiosity for the stairs (much to his mother's dismay).
• Loves to crawl over obstacles. (I actually saw him giggle and "jump" [while on his hands and knees] the other day when he spied a TV tray that was set up. And last week at church, the bars on the legs of a piano entertained him for about 25 minutes as he crawled back and forth.)

• In the last two days, has learned how to go from crawling to sitting. He likes to show off his new trick.
• Likes to pull himself up on ANYTHING!!! About half the time, he successfully "gets down." The other half of the time generally ends in him yelling to be rescued. (Found him today standing in the crib holding on for dear life and yelling for help - with his pants down.)
• Happy boy, but likes to observe and explore on his own. Rarely fussy, but you have to earn a response out of this one. Generally just smiles contently instead of giggling and grabbing and copying.
• Is extremely ticklish in his legs.
• Adores the bath and likes to splash with his hands.
• Refuses any nourishment that does not come from a bottle (which he happily holds by himself). Speedy eater.

Kade at Nine Months:

• Willingly takes both his binkie and his thumb (sucks his right thumb).
• Can crawl on his hands and knees, but still enjoys a good "Army Crawl" - especially on the wood floor.
• Also enjoys obstacles and is quite resilient. The other day, I observed him crawling over the bottom step of a step stool. As I watched him (high-centered on the step), I wondered how he was going to get out of the situation. After much wiggling, he fell forward, head first, and landed with a bang. I expected tears, but I only saw triumph on his face.
• Happy...Happy...HAPPY child!!! He kicks constantly (this turns into a bounce when he is on my lap). Last night, when I woke him from a deep, deep sleep at 11:30 for his bottle, he could not open his eyes, but he kicked his legs to show his appreciation.
• Dances (aka: kicks) whenever he hears music of any kind.
• So very responsive. He responds to his name (only when I call him), and squeals with delight at the very sight of my face (or Dad's, Macy's, Austin's, or Paige's). Talks and babbles and tries to repeat sounds (not very successfully so far). Giggles with the very pretense of touch. Reaches out every time someone walks by, and immediately grabs my face with a "kiss" and a pat to express his gratitude. Whenever I walk in the room, he tries to blow raspberries with his lips to try to please me.
• Cannot quite figure out how to get down once he's pulled himself up. Generally panics and "calls" for help. Occasionally, he'll try to "fall" gracefully - that technique rarely ends well. Yesterday, I caught him screaming for rescue as he was slowly doing the splits in the bathroom while holding onto the tub for dear life.
• Adores the bath and likes to splash with his feet.
• Refuses any nourishment that does not come from a bottle (which he happily holds by himself, and generally "pats" while eating). Slow eater. By the time Spencer has finished, Kade still has about two-thirds of the bottle left.

I adore them both! I fed one after the other last night (I like to hold them for their late-night feeding). As I was holding the bottle and rubbing the cheek of Number 2 (this time it was Spencer), I just stared at him and marveled at the capacity of the human heart. Although they look like the same person, they are definitely starting to show distinct differences in personality and preference. I love them both so much, and they both bring so much happiness into my day. At times, it is difficult to put them back in their cribs to say "Goodnight." I would rather just hold them and observe them and try to memorize every little inch of those adorable little faces. One day, they will be bigger than me, but they will always be my babies. I simply cannot get enough of them!!!

*Pictures: Last week, Jen called me and asked me to bring the boys over PRONTO because the light was perfect and she needed to get some shots of a blue hat to send to a client (they loved playing with the tassels). This was perfect because I was going to try to take some pictures this week, but now I'm off the hook. She got some adorable images (as always). It definitely comes in handy to have a back-up! :-)

How's Your Day?