My other set of twins

Dear Mayzie Emma and Liza Nell,

I know I have said to many friends before that Liza has been like having Mayzie as a baby all over again. Which makes me a little nervous because while Mayzie was the best baby ever, and so is Liza...we all know how Mayzie has been from ages 2 to uh, now! Anyway, what transpired today confirmed to me that you are the same child 3 years apart. I love you, girls!

Love,

Mommy

These photos don't need captions at all!

9 month comparison

Liza has 5 teeth, almost 6...nobody else had more than 2 teeth at 9 months old!

Liza

Theo

Tillie & Georgia

Liza

Theo

Mayzie

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Mayzie 

Liza

Christmas Card Attempts

Here goes nothin...

Tillie works the hip-pop

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Tillie and her "picture pose"

Mayzie works the pageant pose

Georgia works the duck face

Again, the duck face 

 I didn't include the one we will use, although, I may change my mind!

On A Cold September Day

Dear Mayzie,

I suppose I can thank Carter's for airing this commercial that makes me want to run all of your sisters' closets and get out the hand-me-down Carter's clothes that remind me of you ( there are a lot) and cuddle them while looking at old photos of you throughout the past 4 years.  And it doesn't help that like the little girl in this commercial, you also were born on a cold September day.  Yes, some days are fussy, and some days are all smiles.  As for this commercial, it reminds me of you. :)

Love,

Mommy

Forgotten

Dear Liza,

I don't know how I did it, I have lost my mind.  I took you to the gym today.  I called and they came out to the car to get you.  I parked and hobbled in on my crutches.  Did my share one-legged on the rowing machine, the hand pedaler, and did some weight-lifting and abs.  Went down to the locker room and sat in the sauna.  (I sweat more there then I did working out- oh how I just want to run.  I told your dad the other day that I am going to be like Sea Biscuit and break out of this thing and run on Sunday.  That's another story...I don't even know the story of Sea Biscuit...did they have to put him down after he raced?  Yikes!  Did he even break his leg?)  I finished getting dressed hobbled to the nursery, told them to get you ready for me while I pulled the car up to come get you.  I hobbled to the car and drove away.  I realized you were forgotten on the interstate almost all the way to preschool.

When I finally got back, she said I wasn't the first one to have done that.  I think she was just trying to make me feel better.

Oh, and I did this at target last week.  Yes, those were just diapers and food.  Yes, you are my actual baby...real live member of the family...forgotten at the gym.

Had my milk not come in right then I may not have remembered you until even later... I can't promise this won't happen again, but I can promise this (though I will try harder to make sure you are with me):  I LOVE you to pieces and I always will!

Love,

Mommy

You are so cute, how could I leave you somewhere?

Dear girls,

You slowly strip your father of his man-ness somedays. Like yesterday while out to dinner, we took away his man card for a while... Michael was occupying Tillie by having a pretend conversation on her sparkly princess play flip phone.

Michael pretend rang the phone and picked it up and started a pretend conversation. Tillie chimed in, "who is it, Daddy?". To which my husband replied "It's the Beast."

Yes, as in Beauty and the Beast. And he continued to carry on a conversation with the Beast. I think they may have even made a plan to meet in the forbidden west wing.

Hardest thing

Sorry about all the leg problem posts. It's funny how something you can't soma darn thing about consumes you. Obviously I'm guilty as charged. This thing is testing my patience. If I only knew that I could rest for 10 days and then go kill that 26.2 miles I want to run soooooooo badly...then I think it would be easier to have patience with it. Darn. Why didn't I stop running right when it started hurting??? Damn dummy (like my grandpa would say).

Funny also how a few short weeks ago I thought training for a marathon while taking care of 5 young children, (one of them still nursing, two of them going through the terrible twos, one a drama queen and the oldest a perfect little helper) was the most challenging, draining, tiring thing I had ever done. Was. Until now. Now this wins. In a much worse way. But I hope somehow we will grow from it more than I would have by running a marathon.

Oh and might I mention Liza Nell has decided this is a perfect time to start crawling.

Coincidence?

I have a feeling things are happening for a reason around here. My broken leg= me having to SLOW down and let Michael take care of everything, while he has to now DO everything I did around here. Yesterday morning he even said, "Thank you" for getting up with the baby these past 7 months (he means 5.5 years but I'll let it go). He's been having to bring her to me to feed during the night. And trust me that's not all he's been having to do. I'll owe him big time after this thing come off my leg!

I don't think it was any coincidence that I saw these two adorable old folks in the office right before I got word of my broken leg.

We are just being given an obstacle for now. I'm sure they have had their share too.

Perspective

I got a wake up call today at the doctor's office.

I had been frustrated beyond frustrated because my ankle has been hurting me so badly I can't train.  After talking with my coach, I headed over to the sports medicine doctor to make sure it is not a stress fracture (still waiting for an MRI...so no news yet, but my fingers are crossed).

It had been a crazy morning with the girls, they squeezed me in an appointment at 12:15 right after preschool so I had no time to make lunch.  I had to make do with the drive through.  The girls did a good job making a ginormous mess with their food in the car, and a not so good job eating their food.  

I even bribed them good behavior with milkshakes.  Which despite my best efforts, both Georgia and Tillie ended up with milkshake all over themselves, especially their hair.

We all walk into the office looking a bit dis-shelved.  Like we had been been through a freaking tornado.  Me included...leaking my own milk and milkshake down the front of my jeans.

There is a woman sitting there.  Looking very, very ill and very young.  She says many nice words to me in a very weak voice about how beautiful we are and how blessed I am.  Then she says, "I am not contagious, I have cancer...can I please hold your baby?"

"Of course!" I tell her...please hold her as long as you want.  Partly because I didn't want to deal with her fussing because she was getting hungry and partly because I needed a free hand to wipe up my other kids.

At first I didn't pay much attention Liza and the woman with cancer, but as soon as things settled down I looked over and  she was just resting her head on Liza's as she sat there completely content...not even a squirm.

I got called back to the room, and the receptionist told me if it was okay, she would bring Liza back to me once the woman was done holding her.

I asked the PT who the woman was and how old she is, what kind of cancer she had (it was obvious she was visiting and was not a patient).  The PT told me she used to work in the office and has stage 4 breast cancer....and she is 28.  28.  Married, but no kids, and she desperately wants them.

She held Liza for about 30 minutes of  the appointment, Liza ended up falling asleep in her lap.   And then it just got too emotional for her.  The receptionist ended up taking Liza and bringing her back to me.  As she brought her back she told me that letting this woman hold my baby meant more to her then I will ever know.  

I guess I can stop freaking out about my ankle...and my messy kids.

First Day of Preschool 2012

Dear Girls,

As of a couple of days ago, you have officially started many years of going to school together.  The first day went fabulous for everyone!  We contemplated not sending the twins to the 2 year old program as we did with Theo and Mayzie just because of their June birthday, but we went ahead and gave it a try and much to my surprise the day went well!

Tillie even cleaned up Georgia's snack and wiped her face and pushed her chair in for her when she was all done.  Imagine that?  Sounds just like Little Miss Tillie.

Oh 

My

Godness!

When I look at these pictures I can't help but smile when I imagine all of the fun (and probably getting into trouble) you three are going to have in school together!

And probably all the fun you, Little Liza, are going to have telling your mommy about what your sisters are up to...right????  Oh who am I kidding?  You will soon be one of them!

Love,

Mommy

Kindergarten

Dear Theo,

We have sent you off on your way!  You are in the thick of your first week as a kindergartner at Webster Elementary.  After  a few tears on the first day (mostly due to nerves and probably because I made too big of a deal about "what will I do without you"- which you took literally), you are loving it!  I am so thankful, because I know if you didn't like it, I would do terribly with the whole process too.  Granted, I am not as okay with it as you are, but I'm making progress :)


Its a pretty recognizable feeling for me- bittersweet is.  I have dealt with a lot of milestones with 5 babies in 5 years.  But this is a whole new kind of bittersweet.  I've done the "oh the baby rolls over, oh they can talk and walk, oh your first soccer game"  and the list goes on.  But those are happy, superficial bittersweet type things.  This is the real deal.  This time I meant it when I said stop growing up so fast this summer.  But the summer came and went and now you are in kindergarten...and I can't do anything about it.  Thats life.  And it will keep on rolling, and we will keep on saying,  "where did the time go?"

My friend from college commented on a photo that a posted on Facebook.
 The above photo actually.  She has a 1 1/2 year old little boy.  Her comment said "I'm so glad I don't have to do this until 2016."  Well, I hope she has no plans to blink her eyes!  Because in my mind you were a soft squishy toddler a couple of hours ago.  Here is a quote from Dr. Suess that is right on!

How did it get so late so soon?
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December is here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
You are a SPECIAL boy, Theo!   Your dad and I can't wait to watch you grow and learn through these  next years of elementary school!

On a side note...Its been quiet at our house.  I get home from dropping Theo off everyday at school and quickly realize that the past 5 years I have catered to him because A.  He is the oldest and B. he is the only boy.   During the first day, while home I found myself looking at my daughters and thinking  to myself...Who are you and what do you girls like to do?  I am sure we will make progress!  Funny how pulling one kid out of the mix totally changes the dynamic!  And mind you, Mayzie is loving that she is now in charge of the game.  At least until 3:35 pm.  Which still can't come soon enough each day for a mommy that is missing her baby boy!

Love,

Mom

Also, so sorry that not only did I personalize your backpack with your name, I also made your wear a shirt that says "Theo"...not trying to turn you into a dork, just trying to be helpful!

You will have to excuse us, we're moms.

Not that kindergarten is a that big of a deal.  But I think it is a good thing I can't tag a long.  I would probably resemble these moms.

Except I would be cheering for him writing his name on his paper, or sounding out a word.  Hey, one feat at a time.

Gold Medal

Our family is lovin' these Olympics!  Even at their your ages of 5 and 3.5, (by the way the Mayzie was still in Utero during the 2008 games...and here we are 4 kids later) Theo and Mayzie have become more competitive and more interested in athletics since we have been watching at home. They often play "Olympics" where they choose which Olympian they want to be...usually it's between Gabby and Michael Phelps the only two they know.

Plus it's a good reason to wear their medals right?   Wear medals, but not clothes, I guess.

50 things

10 Things I love about each of you right now.

Theo

10.  I love the questions.  Your brain doesn't stop thinking.
9.  I love that you love to play.  ALL DAY LONG.
8.  I love that you are trying so hard to write and read.
7.  I love that you are willing to try anything.
6.  I love that you are all boy.
5.  I love that you love to dance and sing.
4.  I love that you want to be just like your dad.  You don't wear a shirt if he isn't.
3.  I love that you wear your medal all day long during the Olypmics
2.  I love to watch you help your sisters.
1.  I love that you don't complain near as much as you should for all the extra stuff you have to help out with as a 5 year old little boy.

Mayzie

10.  I love that you sneak downstairs after we have put you to bed to get some "alone" time.
9.  I love that you are fearless.
8.  I love that you are sneaky.
7.  I love watching you be the big sister.
6.  I love that you are a go-getter.
5.  I love that you are fancy.
4.  I love that you are stubborn.
3.  I love that you LOVE to cuddle your daddy.
2.  I love that when Theo is afraid to go to the basement or upstairs alone you say "you want me to come with you, Theo?"  And you go together.
1.  I love that you keep us on our toes.

Georgia

10.  I love that you are quiet.
9.  I love that I thought you were going to be my hardest to potty train...you are my easiest.
8.  I love to watch you climb and hang and climb some more.
7.  I love your tiny little body and your tiny little voice.
6.  I love that you don't want anyone but mommy.
5.  I love that you are a "loner" and we can never find you.
4.  I love that you love to get dirty and wet.
3.  I love you like to hide in small spaces.
2.  I love that no one is a stranger.  You give anyone hugs.
1.  I love your smile, its contagious and sweet.

Tillie

10. I love that you are wise beyond your 2 years.
9.  I love that you are mommy's helper.
8.  I love that you don't like any attention on you and get bashful when you realize it is on you.
7.  I love that you are shy until you warm up.
6.  I love that you love babies.  And you are so protective of Liza.
5.  I love that you love to dress up and can walk in heels better than me.
4.  I love that you are nurturing.
3.  I love that you are talking so well.
2. I love that you love to dress yourself.
1.  I love that you never do anything naughty.

Liza

10. I love your smiling eyes.
9.  I love your dinosaur voice.
8.  I love  your temperament.. laid back but not too much that we forget about you.
7.  I love that you suck that thumb.
6.  I love that you like going for runs with me in the morning.
5. I love that when I get your from your crib you have a giant smile that says "today is fabulous!"
4.  I love to hear you coo while you nurse.
3.  I love that you are a little bit of every baby I have had before but still a little different.
2.  I love that you fit right on in.
1.  I love that your brother and sisters love you and you love 'em back

Love,

Mommy

7 years!

I think I speak for the both of us when I say that if we would have had a glimpse into the future and would have been able to see the craziness the first seven years of this marriage would bring, both of us would have decided that showing up at the church on that sunny, Saturday, July 30, 2005 might be the most..

Ahh youngsters on our honeymoon!

...amazing and best decision we could have ever made!

 I am also 100% positive that that both of us wouldn't trade a moment we have experienced together in the past 7 years.

Actually, not a 100% sure...I may trade in that part where we got Mayzie.  Just kidding.  Kind of.  No I really am!  I love you, Mayzie.  (Seriously though, you are throwing a fit because your pony tail is too tight 3 times around but too lose 2 times around.  FOR AN HOUR).

I love you!  And I am sure this crazy is sticking around for a while, and I am sure Mayzie will still be throwing this tantrum when you get home from work so I am glad to be on this roller coaster  with you!

Family pictures yesterday.  I asked for this one from our photographer...unedited and a "sign of the times"

Dear God,

Please make these last 3 weeks of summer go as slowly as possible.  I just can't send him to kindergarten.  He's ready.  But I am not!  What will I do without him everyday?

OR  please have the school board instate a new rule saying..."you may send your firstborn son to kindergarten HOWEVER if you so choose you may instead send your 2nd born daughter."

And I will be just fine!

Seriously, our entire family is about to drown in pool of this girl's 3 year old drama.

"show me a day when the world wasn't new."

One of my favorite quotes, demonstrated in these photos by Liza Nell who has recently discovered her feet! She is so excited she can't even open her eyes!