Stumped

I can't believe we haven't settled on a name yet. I just can't seem to commit to any of them. I like Ben, like Eli, like Finn a lot (but my sister hates it and tells me every day) and recently have added Cullen.  I'm not going to pretend it's not for Edward. Lol, but that's the reason this baby is on it's way! ;) Turns out it's a legitimate first name-means good looking young boy and was #537 on the popularity list. Yes, this is justification for me. 

Take a sec to vote on the side if you can! I am 25 weeks and really need to decide already.  My calss of first graders voted: 4 for Finn and 13 for Cullen.  One girl said Finn  sounded "too fishy and he would have to wear fish pajamas". This is why I love first grade. 

Don't bump the grump

I think that's a new book...anyway. Let's let that suffice for my mood. 

Gracie and Tater are working through their 500th cold this (never-ending) winter.  The crust/goopy eyes in the morning are what kill me. Gracie is clapping and blinking and can't get them open! She just says "dadadada? mammama?" Poor thing. I think we are coming through it now though.  I am in full party planning mode. The last details to work out are really just the menu and making some decisions on brunch.  My not being a cook doesn't help things.  The invites turned out super cute though and I swear I can feel them getting ready to turn one. They just seem so much older and its like I can hardly keep up with all the new facial expressions and new things they are learning. They can kiss and hug each other, play an actual game of rolling a ball back and forth, laugh at us and communicate in new ways! It blows my mind.

Also helping my grumpiness was my 1st graders Bible time this morning.  We had been talking about God's big plan ( Adam and Eve, sin, redemption, etc) and they were just asking such great questions! I love it when we have a real discussion (not me just telling them things) and I have the wisdom to go with it.  They asked where would we be right now if Adam and eve never sinned? What if only Eve did? Great questions about Satan- one kid said Satan lives in the "bad heaven". What did Jesus feel like being up on the cross? How did God come up with his name? lol. I could go on. These little gems brighten my otherwise grumpy days post spring break/pre-summer break when the kids are NUTS.

Still waiting to find out if I get a job next year (low enrollment at a private school), waiting to list our house and see if it ever sells, praying we can move soon to give our babies some SPACE-I must.choose.peace. 

Holy Week

It is challenging in a new way to focus on the meaning of this Holy week.  Usually I struggle with laziness, and motivation to spend time in reflection.  This year I have all the motivation, but it seems my hours are limited and the babies demand my attention. I was a little sad we couldn't go to Good Friday service last night as it started at bedtime and we didn't have a sitter.  I tried to rent The Passion of the Christ somewhere to at least have that, but couldn't find a copy. Seems the odds were stacked against me.   I am thankful though for a prayer walk we did at church this week. We traded babysitting nights (really sleep watching) with friends so we could all take turns going and it was a wonderful experience. I got to LISTEN and enjoy quiet time with my God. I sat in sacred space and fed on the Word. I painted and prayed. We washed each other's feet-Sean and I haven't done that in a few years and it was a nice time of connection. One surprise gift that I get every year is to watch my students celebrate Easter and Holy Week.  There is nothing like watching their little hands reach up to praise Jesus and sing from their hearts of pure love. I feel honored to be there and thankful God provides me with that special time of worship at work!

Today brings a birthday party for little Jackson turning one and much needed work around the house to prepare for selling.  I need to get some things together for the babies' Easter baskets too and set up for tomorrow! We are going to a big dinner with our Seattle friends who don't travel to see family on Easter. I think there will be 20 of us and 6 or 7 babies (craziness, but fun). I hope you and your families have a wonderful Easter!  

Spring Break

I am home for spring break with the twinnies and adjusting to how tiring all day can be with them!  Tater is all over the place with his new found mobility and Gracie has a cold/teething so she is fussy on and off. Monday wasn't a great day, I felt tired and the babies were cranky.  Yesterday was a lot of fun!  I took the babies (by myself!) down to Tacoma to visit grandma at work and meet some of her friends.  The babies have been crying for anyone who is not mama or dada so I wasn't anticipating a good time. But God answered my prayers!  It was sunny in Seattle (gasp!) and I got a yummy drink from the drive thru sbucks and we were on our way. The babies were in great moods and babbled and slept.  When we got there they were friendly to everyone!  They laughed and talked and freely gave smiles.  They were willing to sit with grandma, on the floor or with whoever! Such a treat!  We at some oranges and graham crackers and fun was had by all. It was really the pick up I needed: I can go places on my own, they can behave, we are not trapped in the house for hours until daddy gets home! Today we have plans to go to my friend's house for a play date with Jackson (1 month older and Gracie's "boyfriend"). Her nanny will watch the babies while we get to have a mom's lunch out! I am excited.  Though it's pouring buckets now, and Gracie is crying in her crib instead of the 2 hr delightful nap she took yesterday this time... and Tater has snot running down his face to join her.  I am willing and praying for this to turn into a good day!

Let them eat cake?! :(

I am so beyond upset. 

I show up to get the twins from daycare and they are covered in frosting and cake. what. the. hell. 

They are 10 months old and we were saving the experience of cake (or any sweets for that matter!) for their big 1st birthday party! A moment of course ooohed  all over and photographed  by mom and dad and our families.  NOT AT DAY CARE because it is some other kids 1st birthday!!!!!!!!

I knew this boy was having a "birthday party" at the day care today. big deal, what does that mean to a one year old and 3 others under the age of one. Nothing-I expected business as usual other than balloons or something! At the very least I would expect to be ASKED if my babies can try the cake, instead they just went for it. Then to add insult to injury they are telling me the babies' reactions and video taping!!!!! I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest.  I am a very non-confrontational type person, I was in shock. I just kept saying over and over, "I am really upset, Sean is going to be really upset".  I immediately took the cake and started cleaning them off-I would hope that they would realize their mistake and apologize, but instead I got looked at like I was overreacting and told"well..it's a birthday party, of course they would have cake". This has just made me angrier! They are barely trying different table foods! We have not cleared them for sweets at all as their parents-so I think even from that stand point the day care is in the wrong (in home day care), but isn't it commonly known that babies have cake for the FIRST time on their birthday??? With parents?!  I keep crying and its silly, but I feel enough guilt as a working mom missing little moments here and there, that to have something like this unnecessarily  taken from me is crushing.  These are my first babies and their first cake. That's mine. I can pretend and make happy on their birthday-of course we will-but part of me will always know that I missed it. I missed the first faces and reactions to it. Silly and petty as it may sound to some, its not for anyone to decide or take from me.

I'll tell Sean when he gets home, I know he will be upset too.  I really hope we get a sincere apology in the morning, but we will need to express our disappointment and make it clear the boundaries that are not to be crossed from now on. No matter if it is a good day care at a reasonable price, the cost today was way to high for us. :(

Your Daily Cuteness

10 Months and 19 weeks.

The ages of my twinnies and little bean. 

I am getting into planning their 1st birthday party.  I REALLY wish we had a house big enough to host the party on my own, but we don't so I am having it at my mom's.  I am looking at a lot of adorable stuff on Etsy and will hopefully put together a beautiful/fun party.  I was wondering on my drive to work this morning- Will we sing Happy Birthday twice or squish both names into one? The only thing I don't like about one song is that people jumble up the names and it sounds stupid. But forcing people to sing it twice seems high-maintenance of me or something. MoM's- your thoughts?

In-utero, things look good. I haven't gained a crazy amount of weight despite my many Big Macs and that is comforting.  Of course I hadn't lost all the weight from the twins anyway, so I am starting at a disadvantage. I am thankful for a healthy pregnancy so far.  OH and I asked my OB about my chances of getting the PUPPS rash again since I got it with the twins and she said its mots likely I WOULD get it!!!! I know what I am praying for now. That was pure misery and none of the creams or prescriptions dulled it.  My heart goes out to anyone unlucky enough to get it.  Please God, cut me a break here!