The Next Stage

Well we have entered the next stage in the pregnancy, I'll be 30 weeks on Friday.  I'm home bound until the twins are born.  We have started the second week, and it's really not that bad.  It helps that I can go to some places as long as I keep it low key, that helps me not feel so trapped.  With some clarification from my doctor I discovered that I can still cook simple dinners and straighten up the house a bit; both of which Jacob and I thought were big no no's.  The hardest part is probably feeling well enough to do things, but trying to restrict myself knowing it could lead to the twins coming too early.  I am learning quickly though to take the opportunity to be lazy and let people do things for me, something mother's rarely get to do.

It's been great having my sister here the past week and my mom just joined us this week until the end of the week.  It's been nice to have someone to take the boys outside and play or to the library, so they don't also have to be caged in.  The boys are of course loving all the visitors and extra attention, though sometimes can't understand why mom can't do things we'd usually do before like go for walks or let them play outside when I'm by myself.  But I keep reminding myself that it will only be for a short time and Steven and Christopher are still young enough that they probably won't even remember this time in their lives.  I like to think of the positives as much as I can.

Speaking of positives I had another ultrasound and everything looks great.  The twins are growing so well!  One is 3 lbs 1 oz and the other is 3 lbs 4 oz, or at least that's what they were last week, which puts them in the 65% and 70% for babies 28 weeks along.  Not too bad for twins.  They also said it looks more and more like they will be identical, though they will take the placenta to the lab after their born to be certain.  One baby is head down and the other is breached, which means we're heading in the right direction for a vaginal delivery.  Also a relief to know that we are well out of the danger zone for twin to twin transfusion syndrome.  (Where one twin gets all the nutrients and the other get's hardly anything, and both twins suffer.)  But I don't need to worry about that anymore.  So glad to hear!

So to sum up.  The twins are growing beautifully!  I am feeling as good as can be expected.  I have aches and pains, oddly enough similar to the recovery of having a vaginal delivery, but really nothing too hard and serious...yet.  Because of my growth in my lower belly, I can only wear a handful of lounging pants, skirts, and one pair of short.  Good thing I rarely leave the house, so it doesn't really matter how I look.  It's becoming more real that they are coming, and coming soon.  All I really need to do is get through July and then the babies are welcome to come most anytime in August.  And then the fun really begins!

The Father of My Children

I know I'm a little late, but I just wanted to say a word or two about the father of my children.  He's amazing.  The boys adore Jacob.  Whenever he walks into the room, Christopher immediately says, "Hi Daddy."  with a huge grin.  He loves Jacob.  Steven is in a phase now where he won't necessarily tell Jacob how much he loves him, but I can see it every time Jacob plays with him.  He loves to wrestle with Jacob and have Jacob chase him and do all sorts of things that make mothers everywhere cringe.  But I let it happen because Steven loves it.  Saturday Jacob took Steven with him to run some errands while Christopher and I took a nap.  Steven loved it!  He loves spending time with his dad.

Jacob is truly more than I could have asked for in a husband and father.  He has rearranged and cleaned our whole house, so I can rest and let the babies stay in there as long as they can. Last night he let me go to sleep early while he stayed up and cleaned the apartment, and then started on the work he needed to do for his job.  I know I can say on behalf of our family how much we all love and adore this man.  So thank you Jacob, for being you and trying your hardest to be the best for your growing family.  We appreciate it, even if the presents didn't reflect it.

*This year Jacob said not to get him anything, but I couldn't do that.  So trying to respect his wishes I let the boys pick out some presents for a dollar.  Christopher picked out a toy tiger and Steven picked out a squishy spider that freaked Jacob out.  Not quite the presents he wanted, but I thought it was cute for them pick it out themselves. I did make matching ties for the boys, so that's worth something, right?

 Steven's new picture tactic

Perspective

I've been thinking a lot lately about how our perspective can greatly improve our lives.  If you think of all the prophets and great men and women in history, what do they have in common?  They know why they are here.  They are able to see the big picture and have faith that is needed to keep going during the hard times and do these great tasks.  Along these lines I remember a while a go a sister in Relief Society mentioned that we have different seasons in our lives.  There are times in our lives that are dedicated to one thing or another and it is important that we keep this in mind so we don't feel guilty for not doing something in this season that was meant for another.  For example one shouldn't be upset because they can't go sledding in the summer, there is a time for that and we need to be patient until we get there.  How does this relate?

This season of my life is filled with big bellies, pb&j sandwiches, a less than tidy home, small hands grabbing at me at all times of the day, and frustrated crying -from both child and parent.  And that's ok, this will pass and I'm sure I will miss it.  I'll miss how when I ask Steven to say sorry to Christopher and give him a kiss, Christopher says, "Sorry" and then leans in for the kiss.  I'll miss Steven's non stop talking and questions (maybe).  I'll miss the way it feels to have life inside of me move for only me to feel.  I'll miss the way the boys laugh uncontrollably while they "ride on the new river train" with Jacob.  Each season is filled with goods and bads, and we should take them as they come, not wish them away.

I can often see the big picture, yes that's good, but wanting that right now, not so good.  I want to have the perfect home that is clean and tidy, but still feels comfortable.  I want to have a family that enjoys each other's company.  I want to make a wide variety of nutritious foods for my family each meal.  I want to be a better quilter, sewer, crafter, baker, family historian, and read all the great classics.  But the reality is I don't have the time or energy to do those things.  I pretty much have a small window of an hour or so each day to do things for myself, so yes I dabble in these things to make me happy, but it's not as much as I would love.

Which is where I need to remember my perspective.  There will be a time in my life when the kids are off to school that I can put a lot more energy into those things and many more.  But now is not the time, I'll have to be patient and wait.  But how lucky for me that while I wait, I get to read my favorite classic children's books with my boys.  I get to make cakes and cookies with Steven who is so willing to help.  I get to cheer for Christopher as he learns to do something new each day.  This season may not be the one where I can wear a bathing suit in public and feel great about myself, but it is a time when I can help create amazing children that will come into this world to do good.  Yes, this season in my life is pretty good.  I just need to always remember to have the right perspective.

Little Known Facts

Christopher loves to swing: the higher-the better.  He loved swinging with Jacob and kept trying to lean back to keep things interesting.  I think I found my roller coaster partner!  

Steven can now put his flip flops on by himself, though they most likely are put on the wrong feet.

Jacob cleaned, organized, and child proofed out apartment.  We took a LOT of things we don't use to a storage unit and put everything else higher.  Yesterday Jacob cleaned it all up and it will look good without much help from me probably until Thursday.  He's amazing.

Steven went to visit my parents and sister in Soda Springs for 5 days all by himself.  I took him to Salt Lake where he caught a ride with my uncle the rest of the way.  He had a blast riding on the lawn mower (a tractor to him), seeing the geyser, playing at the park, and watching his cousins piano recital and dance performances.  He loved it!  My favorite quote from when he was there?  "Aunt Melanie, do you have a duck pond here?"  Melanie: "No"  "Do you have a Macey's?"  "No"  "Do you have a D.I.?"  "No"  "Why not?"  I'm glad we're raising him right.

Not only was it a good deal for Steven to have the one on one time, but Christopher also benefited.  While Steven was gone he started talking a lot more.  Not that Steven necessarily talks for Christopher, but Steven talks so much that Christopher figured he didn't need to talk also.  His vocabulary seems to be growing each day I can't tell you how many words he knows.  We love when he says, "Hi Daddy!" and  "Love you!"  Christopher's favorite phrase?  "No, no, no"  Sometimes it's cute when he says it, because he's teasing us.  Most other times, he's showing his new independence through the word.  

Christopher also started walking all the time now.  Which means his leg will not be like this when we play outside.

Christopher is now is a toddler bed, due to the fact that I won't be able to lift him up in 2 weeks.  He also shares a room with Steven.  This has been a struggle we are still trying to figure out and would appreciate any ideas.  But they are starting to be good friends, which I adore!  The other day we opened the door and found this.  Priceless.  Usually when we check on them at night, Steven's on his bed and Christopher's sleeping in the closet.  Poor kid sleeps mostly on the floor, I guess he's being prepared for a mission to Japan.

Let's go fly a kite!

We recently flew the first kite of the season, and both the boys were able to get in on the action this time.  Christopher actually had it stay up the whole time!  It was adorable.

Pickle-nade

A month ago, Jacob and I had a night to ourselves and the next day before we got the boys from Grandma and Grandpa's house we went to the nicklecade.  Once you pay an entrance fee you are good for the day, and the boys were free, so we took the family after nap time.  The boys had a blast! Unfortunately most of the games were too tall for Steven to play but they sure had fun on these rides.  

Now whenever we pass by there Steven asks to go to the picklenade.  

As a side note:   He also calls Subway, Cowboy.  I love to see Steven make connections with new information and the old information he already knows.