Polar Bear, Polar Bear 2nd Birthday

Happy second birthday Wyatt & Grayson.  I'm sorry if I went a little crazy with color for your Polar, Polar Bear birthday party but snow and freezing temperatures in April will do that to a mama. There are lots of things I would bottle up about two. The way Gray struts when he walks. How he pets Icy and gives him the sweetest hugs. How Wyatt has stopped fussing and become the loviest nugget with the cutest dimple. How you both loved your first ride in the "waget" (wagon). How you both sang "Happpppy To You" at your party today.

A few things I won't miss about two? The constant fighting over toys. Seriously if you're reading this and considering ever giving my boys a gift be prepared to buy two of the exact things or we aren't friends any more. The screams that result from not having two of EVERYTHING have literally damaged my hearing. Struggling to take you out on play dates with your big brother and sister. Food allergies. Could you please be in the 10/20% that grow out of their nut allergy ? My anxiety would thank you.

 

First birthday flash back here. Wasn't this like yesterday? Today you are both sleeping from about 7p-7am pretty consistently. You both weigh close to 25 lbs, although for the first time Grayson (Baby B) is the bigger twin. You both love music and if I don't play your favorite songs on repeat in the car you literally will scream all the home. Wyatt esp was doing a ton of screaming in the car to the point we turned the car seats face forward at the beginning of March. I would have liked to do extended rear facing but the screaming is just as likely to cause an accident.  I don't think there are any long road trips in your future until this stops. 

You both make us smile and laugh everyday. Sure its hard. Damn hard, but boy do we love your little faces off and want to remember you just like this for always. Happy Birthday, Wonder Twins.

Happy 6th Birthday Mia Isabelle

Dear Mia,

This was a big year for you my love!! You became a big sister (again) x two, started kindergarten, got your tonsils out & learned to read. You went from a toddler to a tiny lady in milliseconds!!! You love Shopkins, roller skating & your favorite food is anything dessert!! Like mother like daughter! You always want to go, see, do & try anything new. You take swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School & gymnastics at the Y. You have aspirations of being a professional gymnast when you grow up. No more weather girl:( You love drawing daddy & I millions of pictures & are a total little mama to the twins.

 

I thought for sure getting your tonsils out would help get rid of your night terrors. So far no luck. They actually increased in frequency (like every nite) but they do seem to be shorter and less intense. After you had one every nite for two weeks, I said screw it and re introduced dairy into your diet. I figured if you're going to have a nite terror every nite you deserve as much ice cream & cheese as you want. For your cake you requested yellow writing (it's your favorite color) with smiley faces, hearts and flowers! I hope you loved it. You also requested a girls only date (which you ask for almost daily!). So after work I picked up Ivie & Ellie and we went to the movies to see Beauty & the Beast.

It Takes Two First Birthday

We canceled Thanksgiving during a bad bout of mastitis, had kids puking on Christmas day, so it was no surprise the twins had horrible colds the week leading up to their 1st birthday party. By some miracle the non stop screaming & snotty noses cleared and the party was on!!! When I  told Damon  I wanted to do an It Takes Two theme he said, Oh like Noah's Ark?' I was actually thinking more along the lines of Snoop Dog & Dr. Dre. We each picked our favorite duo & my BFF Brandi made us custom t-shirts to wear at the party. I chose John Lennon & Paul McCartney, Damon chose Kirk & Spock, Wesley, Batman & Robin and Mia, Mickey & Minnie. The twins wore the Best Friends shirts from Indie Nook.

When it was time for the smash cakes Wyatt had everyone laughing because he went crazy on his cake, eating it by the handful. He eventually picked it up with two hands. Like mother, like son. Grayson wasn't super interested. I think he was still feeling a bit under the weather.  Uncle Tony brought the traditional Mrs. Goodman's cake& I made the twins little cakes from a box after trying to research peanut free options. Honestly, I was pretty anxious the whole time they were eating it!!! We ate tacos & played with friends. All the kiddos loved snuggling with all their Grandma's. How lucky are they to have 3?

 

A few days ago I was scrolling through ig & came across a story. A mama was walking through a store with her 2 year old. An older woman approached & engaged the little boy. She looked at the mama who also happened to be pregnant & said I have a son who is 20. If I could go back in time for only one moment I would go back to hold & rock my boy when he was just 6 months just one more time. the sentiment gives me such a lump in my throat. I've said it before, time is a gift but also the most cunning of thieves. Happy Birthday Wyatt & Grayson, I want to squeeze you forever!!!!

A Year of Change

Happy Birthday to my Wesley David.  His 3rd year was so full of change & growth. Just six days after he turned three Wes became a big brother to TWO baby boys. He transitioned amazingly well. Maybe because his behavior wasn't that great to begin with, (hahaha) we didn't notice a huge change. He has always been gentle, kind & interested in his brothers. It was the realationship with his big sister that was at constant odds. For 9 nine months they fought, bickered, called each other names and pretty much made each other miserable. I thought for sure they were going to grow up despising each other.

Then they started swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School. After the first few weeks Wes still wasn't sold. He didn't want to go (just like pre-school). He'd fuss before the lesson saying he wanted to stay home. He hated wearing his goggles and never wanted to go under water. It got to the point I thought about not taking him anymore. As the weeks progressed Mia was having more & more fun. She was excited for her lessons, getting more comfortable in the water & showing off the ribbons she was earning with each new skill.  Around the end of the year something started to change in Wes. He would put his goggles on before class started. He started going under water with no complaint & and he would yell for Mia across the lane to watch him.

It was here I could start to pinpoint a change in their relationship. Instead of having one day a month where they might play nicely together, they would have 3 or 4 days in a row!!! I'd find them in Mia's bed sharing the ipad for morning cartoons.  He no longer fusses when it's time for school although I still think he would prefer to stay home & play with his friends all day (who wouldn't?).  His teacher said he has recently started taking more time & is showing pride in his  projects, AKA he didn't give a crap before. I've noticed at home too, all of sudden he loves coloring and will spend an hour on one picture. It's so funny because usually he only uses one color crayon. I'm so glad I stuck with taking both kiddos to their swim lessons. It's not always easy to find the energy after working all day to haul both kids every week but the pay off has been SO WORTH IT On so many levels!!!

 

Happy Birthday baby! I'm so proud of all the things you accomplished this year! Starting pre-school, being the best big brother & showing excitement for learning & adventuring. Every year with you gets better & better.

                               This post is in partnership with Goldfish Swim School.

Lynds and The Twins 2.0

Here we are a year later. A year out from the ultra sound that completely changed the course of our lives. Celebrating daddy's birthday, creating our traditions as a family of six. Maybe we only spent 15 minutes picking apples and posing for pics so we could hurry to the Lynd's store for fry pies (they were out:( and pumpkin rolls. Sure the kids didn't cooperate and Damon's totally over having his picture taken. This is us. Happy, healthy, loving and making memories. Welcome to the family Wyatt and Grayson, you complete us!!