Just another manic Monday

I've been playing around with my background. The robots were just too busy for me. I'm not sure what I'll end up doing, but I don't think the current brown background is what I'll stick with either. How did you get you current layout? Was it easy to achieve?

I've come to the realization that I either need to be a better blogger (post more, add pictures, comment more etc) or give it up and just work on a journal for the boys. I'd really like to continue to blog, but I think it needs to be a bit more well rounded, instead of long wordy updates about the boys. Any suggestions? I'm sure I have some sage twin parenting advice up my sleeve somewhere. I'd love to hear comments or suggestions. Thanks.

Hey ya'll (a vlog)

So Samantha over at Where the green grass grows posted a vlog. It's an exercise designed to let your readers decide if you have an accent or not, by asking you to pronounce words that are often said differently depending on the region of the United States you are from. I thought it looked fun, so here it is. I really don't think that I have much of an accent because I have family from Alabama and Pennsylvania, which probably evened my accent out enough. I'd love to see your vlog too, do you have an accent?

Here are the directions:
Say these words:
Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

And answer these questions:
•What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?

•What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?

•What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?

•What do you call gym shoes?

•What do you say to address a group of people?

•What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?

•What do you call your grandparents?

•What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?

•What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?

•What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

And here's my video 

A beautiful, hearbreaking story

I came across this video through friends on facebook. A heartbreaking question of choosing life or death when our will to live is gone. Would your choice be different than his? I'd like to say mine would be, but I don't think we can ever know what we would do. 1000 days

Rockstar

I feel like a rockstar when I get the boys to bed by myself, when DJ's at work, and they actually go to sleep. It's the little things in life that make me smile :-)

seven months

How in the world did this happen? Xander and Max are seven months old (well actually 7.5, I am a bad blogger) One day we were awake around the clock, feeding and snuggling tiny little four pound bundles of baby goodness, and now we're surrounded by giggles, toys, and the immanent reminders that our sweet babies are growing up.

That being said, this is such a fun age. Every day they discover new things. They enjoy meeting new people and dazzling everyone. They are very aware of each other, and sometimes when they think I am not looking I catch them holding hands, or rolling over to get a better look at each other. They also often steal each others toys and pacifiers. Just the other day I walked in to find a forlorn Max and Xander, with his lips pulled up into an impish little grin behind his brother's pacifier. It's easy to know when this has happened, as Max still prefers the avent soothie pacifiers (perfect for sticking his thumb into, so that he can suck his thumb and his pacifier) while Xander favors the playtex binky (upside down is the best way he insists)

I am a little embarrassed to admit that we are still swaddling. It becomes tricky to get them swaddled and find proper materials to do so. the materials for a home-made woombie are sitting on my craft table. I am  really hoping that it may be the transition they need from being tightly swaddled to being free. I am also considering  figuring out a way to make a safe weighted blanket for them. That way they could still get the sensory input (if that indeed is what they need) while being able to keep their hands free. Hopefully I'll get around to these projects very soon.

The boys are eating more solids, and cutting back on formula. In fact, this week they were down to only 3 bottles per day, but I'm not really sure if they are ready for that yet. They love yogurt, bananas and sweet potatoes still. The teething biscuits are also a big hit, especially with Max. Feeding oneself is apparently very fun. They both enjoy stealing spoons during meals.

They continue to stay on a good sleep schedule and enjoy playing when they aren't sleeping. They love reading books, listening to music and watching backyardigans. Max is getting good at rolling over from tummy to back and back to tummy. He can usually get himself to the toys that he wants. Xander is content to lay on his back and wait for his brother to roll by with something he wants.

Life with these two is an adventure, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

6.5 months old

I am really really behind on posting! We didn't have internet for a while, and that put me behind, but really I think it would've happened anyway. Being back at work and being a mom to twins is a lot to juggle. I am so lucky that DJ is so willing to help and is able to be home with the boys while I'm at work. Come October when his classes start back, I'm not even sure what the plan is. I'd love to take the boys to work with me, but I'm not sure that I could focus with them there. We went for a short visit last week when everyone had their babies at the clinic. They seemed to like the environment and noise. I think that staying home so much is getting boring to them. I've been trying to take them out more, even if it is just to walk around Target. They like to look at things, and smile at people. And they get to smile at lots of people.  Twins are a magnet for people to stop, stare and comment on. I can't even imagine what it would be like with high-order multiples. Sometimes people are nice, or inquisitive, but sometimes they are just plain rude. Why would you ask someone how their children were conceived or if they wished they only had one child? I hope people don't continue those kind of questions when they are old enough to understand them. I recently went to my first parents of multiples meeting. Although I am so blessed to have some wise experienced mom friends (shout out to Aunt Tess, we love you!) knowing other moms of twins, and hearing that our experiences are very much alike is pretty darn cool. (Only one other mom had a pregnancy as rough as mine- out of about 10- and only one other mom had a vaginal delivery, and no one else had boy/boy twins, but the trials of having two newborns at once was something everyone understood)

But that is more than enough about mommy, I know what you're really interested in is the boys. So here goes.

Alexander:
You are Mr personality. Your little smile lights up a room, and you seem to make instant friends with everyone. You still hate being on your tummy, and as soon as I put you on your tummy you flip to your back, over and over and over again. You are a superstar eater, your favorite food so far has been chicken noodle soup, which I made with lots of garlic and pepper. It seems fitting that you would like things spicy :-) You are very strong , and love to stand up. You are also quite smart. You can imitate several gross motor movements and even a few sounds. You like to figure out how things work, like the spinning globe on your jumperoo. You love music and books, and enjoy turning the pages for mommy. You are still a little night owl and will keep yourself awake until your eyes are purple. Samson has become your friend, I think you feed him when  Mommy isn't looking.You are more sensitive than your brother, and get your feelings hurt. You also startle easily, and don't like to do daredevil things. Except for hanging upside down. You love to throw yourself backwards and look at the world upside down. Silly silly boy. You are such a joy and it is amazing to see you discover more about your world everyday. Unfortunately you have been sick the last few days and mommy and daddy have been worried. I hope you start feeling better soon.

Max:
You are such the sweetheart. Your newest discovery is your ability to fake cough. You think it is hilarious, and keep yourself entertained by alternating between it and all of your new sounds. You have become quite talkative over the past month, and it is very cute. You love to roll over, and have discovered how to get a hold of toys on your own, including your brother's toys; which makes him mad. You love your feet and are quite agile despite your rotund little self. You are shy, but once you get to know someone your personality really comes through. You have just started to really enjoy solids, and have become quite the bossy eater, yelling whenever the spoon does not make it to your mouth quick enough. You like sweets; bananas, yogurt, sweet potatoes. I bet you'll like ice cream one day. You love to look at books, and will often hold one up on your own and appear to be studying it. You like to be startled and often laugh out loud when you are surprised by something. You love love love tv, and will search to find one in a new room if you hear it. You bounce like a crazy boy in your jumperoo and like to watch Buddy and Samson play. Unless you are hungry you're a very happy easy-going little guy. It is such a joy to be your mommy and help you explore your surroundings.

That's all I have to write for now. New pictures coming soon.

No internet

Hi bloggy friends! We are sadly without internet. I am trying to keep a list of things that have happened, and when I am able I will be posting everything that is going on. For now though, I will just say that I feel like the most blessed woman in the whole world. My sweet boys are 6 months old today, and being their mom is an amazing amazing experience.