Topping this weekend's news.. POOPY and PEE PEE!

Big steps in the potty training world this weekend, guys!!  For the last few weeks, Lilly has been in panties off and on, but still having accidents every now and then.  We were still putting her in diapers for nap time and night time.  BUT THIS WEEKEND.. she went all weekend night and day with no diapers and NO PEE ACCIDENTS!  She also actually went #2 in the potty for the first time!!! THIS IS HUGE! She says "I need my panties.. I'm a big gowl!" Still had one accident after that though.. the poopy is a littler harder for her to understand at this point!! 

Ok, so that's enough about bodily functions!! 

Here are some pictures of them out in the front yard riding their bicycles.  I'm using the term "riding" pretty loosely.  They usually just push with their feet on the ground.  :) 

Black and White sweetness..

I took these  one night while playing with the black and white setting on my camera for my photography class.  This is the only one I got of Nate.  He was playing with his "choo-choos" so I caught one of his hand.  I LOVE his little chubby hands and feet so much.  I never want to forget how sweet they are!

Of course I got some close ups of my beautiful girl.  She loves the camera and loves having her picture taken.  I love this pretty smile.

 Still sucking on those darn fingers..

 Lilly and Mommy's hands



Don't want to forget!

It's been a while since I posted pictures.  The ones below are all from the last month or two.  I always have a lot more "outside" pictures when it starts getting warmer- and it definitely has!! 

I also wanted to jot some things down before I forget..

Lilly has been sleeping MUCH better, thank God.  She says her night night prayer most nights, after she makes sure to give Nate a hug and a big smooch.  We have to make sure everything in her room is cleaned up before bed.. I'm serious- everything MUST be in its place!  She freaks out if a sock is hanging out of a drawer, or if there is a toy in the middle of the floor. It's hilarious! 

Nate is not so much the clean freak that Lilly is.  He'll pull all of his stuff out of his drawers and announce that he is "makin' a mess"!  He is sleeping great too- what a huge blessing! 

They are totally song birds lately.  They sing songs at daycare every day and it must have just finally hit them because about a week ago they started singing and now they just won't stop!  Lilly busted out with her entire ABCs perfectly and we were shocked- the entire song perfectly!!  Nate finally sang it tonight too, but he isn't quite as clear as Lilly!  Other favorite songs are Farmer and the Dell (they make up a verse- "The Farmer takes the wipes", instead of "wife".. so funny), Ring Around the Rosey, and Itsy Bitsy Spider.  I could listen to them sing all day long, it's so sweet to me, and I'm so amazed at what they are absorbing and comprehending. 

Well that's enough for now.. on to the pictures..

Better Together?

So a couple of weekends ago, we had a birthday party for a sweet four year old little boy to go to.  Lilly was feeling sick and we didn't think it would be a good idea to take her around other kids, but I didn't want Nate to miss out on all the party fun.  He had been acting so excited about going to the Spider Man party, so I decided to take him by himself, just him and me.  The whole car ride there he was shouting for joy and acting so excited, and as soon as we got there, he FROZE.  When we got out of the car, he insisted I hold him to walk up to the door.  We went out to the back yard where everyone was playing and Nate was holding on to my leg the entire time.  There were lots of other little boys and a couple of little girls, some younger and some older than he is.  Several he had seen before, not entirely all new faces.  They seemed to all be having a great time riding around on big motorized cars, jumping in the Spider man bouncy house.. but not Nate.  Nate just stood there paralyzed.  I tried to encourage him without pushing.  I have to be honest, I just don't understand his anxiety, and I think it frustrates me the most because I see him watching and I KNOW he wants to go join in the fun, but he is just too scared.  It makes me sad, and that day at the party underneath my sunglasses, I got teary eyed a few times watching Nate watching the other kids having fun.  If there had been one other kid there who seemed shy or scared like he was, I don't think I would have felt so bad, but Nate (and sometimes Lilly) always seem to be the only kids who are so scared and shy anywhere we go.  He never did warm up.  He was too scared to get in line to pull the string on the pinata, and every time someone tried to talk to him, or get him involved in the festivities, he avoided eye contact and/or ran away. When we had to leave, of course he was screaming and bawling.. it was as if, if I gave him a few more seconds he thought he would work up the nerve to go have some fun..I know it sounds dramatic, but it really kinda crushed me. 

So of course, I'm sitting here wondering if I have done something wrong.  It's not like we don't have him around other kids.  He goes to daycare every day and we take him to birthday parties, play with cousins, etc.  He is around other kids and other adults plenty.  WhenI got home that day and told Brian about it, he brought up a good point.. maybe Nate was even more uncomfortable without his sidekick twin sister there.  I think even though he would have been scared, he would have eventually warmed up and followed her around.  He just seemed so out of place, and I do believe that his insecurity level was raised a notch because she wasn't there with him like she always is.

Lilly seems to basque in the attention when she is by herself, but it has been that way since the day they were born. They had to be under that lamp due to jaundice right after they were born, and I could only take each of them out for 30 minutes one at a time to breast feed.  The nurses told me that when we took Lilly, Nate had a fit, screaming and crying, until we put her back in the little baby bed thing (don't know what that little cart is called?), but when we took Nate out, Lilly was usually just relaxed or sleeping, and didn't seem to notice he was gone.  Just different personalities, I guess.  He has been my little needy sensitive baby since day one.  And maybe for that reason, I am sometimes more sensitive about him, about his feelings.  I don't want him to feel like an outsider.  I don't want him to feel scared.  (I know, I know, he's only 3.. but he's my sweet baby boy and I worry!!)


If anyone else with twins or multiples is reading this, does this sound familiar to you at all?  Do your kids act differently in crowds when they are together versus when they are by themselves?  Every once and a while we take them to do things separately, but I think maybe we will try doing that a little more.

Mother's Day at the "Beach"!

What a PERFECT Mother's Day I had with Brian and my babies today! 

We live so close to a lake, and there is a cool little beach spot that we've never taken the kids to, so we finally did this morning.  What amazingly beautiful weather! Lilly got right in there and started throwing rocks in the water with Daddy, but Nate was very timid (more like terrified), and cried for about 20 minutes, but I was determined to stay there until he warmed up to the water.  He finally did, and started joining in the fun with Lilly, which made me SO happy to see.  I have really been worried about my baby boy lately, and how scared he is of everything.  It was so awesome to see him conquer one of his fears and enjoy playing at the beach.  When we left he kept saying "we have FUN at the lake!!"  

After the lake, we came home and ate lunch, kids took a bath to get all that icky off of them, and we all  got a nice long nap in!  Brian grilled for dinner, so no cooking for me (YAY)! Add to that the gift I got for a MASSAGE at Massage Envy, and this was an AWESOME Mother's Day! 

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Mommy and all of the wonderful Moms in my life!  I love you all!!

Easter in Iowa!

HAPPY (late) EASTER everybody! 

Brian has tons of family in Iowa, and we had been meaning to get up there for so long to see his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.  So we finally bit the bullet and planned the trip for the last week in April.  We didn't realize it then, but it put us on the road on Easter Sunday!  It actually worked out for the best because we ended up getting to see a lot more family because they were all there for Easter- and we were even there in time to take part in the delicious Easter lunch!

Brian's parents, sister and her family, and other younger sister were able to drive from Colorado to meet us in Iowa, which was awesome.  We stayed with Brian's aunt and uncle who were the most gracious hosts!!  Don and Denise, thank you SO MUCH!  You really made us feel at home!! 

On Sunday after we arrived, we had fun watching all the kids hunt Easter eggs in the yard.  Nate and Lilly got plenty of eggs this year, but they had the most fun eating the candy that was in them!  I'm pretty sure they both had tummy aches by the end of it all!  The next few days were spent visiting with both sets of Brian's grand parents and enjoying family.  We were so grateful to get to spend time with everyone.  It was worth the drive! 

Here are some pictures from Easter and the rest of the trip..


Painting eggs with cousins and Aunt Stephie.  Lilly was best buddies with Aunt Stephie and cousin Anna!!

A hunting we will go!

 relaxing with grandma

 Kicking the ball with grandpa

 Took a while to warm up to the great grandparents!! 

 Aunt Pam and Nate

 Grand kids with grandma and grandpa G!

 This picture cracks me up.. Don and Nate were having fun with this little toy that flew around..

 Visiting grandpa Pierson on the hospital.. We weren't quite sure what to expect, but he was doing really good! 

 Grandma Pierson won the kids hearts right away with some coloring books!  Cars for Nate and Dora for Lilly- How did she know?!? Perfect!

 Grandma and grandpa Godfredsen's old farm by their house.. so great, I took several pictures.  I just love it.

 Nate got to sit on the tractor!

 Playing on the piano at grandma godfredsen's.. they really loved it! 

I hope to keep in touch with everyone, through my blog, or email, or Face book or however!  We found out Brian's cousin is expecting twins and I joked about it being so difficult (ok, so it's true), but the whole truth is it is wonderful.  For all the stress, there is double joy and laughter and blessings.  I love having twins- wouldn't have it any other way, I promise! 

We had such a good time slowing down in Iowa and relaxing with family.  Home cooked meals and quiet, wide open spaces.. Iowa was not too shabby!!! :)