Making Nature-Girls

When Jack was little, we were constantly outside.  I think the fact that he walked at 9 months and that it was much cooler weather when he was learning to walk enabled us to walk around outdoors much more.  We also had a screened porch at the house we were in.  The girls, however, learned to walk during the hottest months of summer which made it much more difficult for them to spend a large amount of time just roaming around the backyard...  Additionally, we had nice grass when Jack was younger.  Now, we've got glorified weeds and rocks.  With no shade.  It's just a pretty abysmal lot and it's not a ton of fun for kids.

So that's what I'm going to claim as my defense as to how in the world I, lover of all things outside, have managed to raise two very prissy girls who pout and whine at the mere mention of grass.  They'll do water (though, Addie much more than Jordan) and the beach, but you can forget anything else.  Last weekend we tried to go for a lengthy walk to a park, play for a bit and head back.  They wanted nothing to do with it.  This past weekend we tried a different park, and I switched my tactics a bit.  Where I had previously thought fewer clothes would be better to keep them cooler, this time I put them in (way too big) jeans and shoes to insulate their delicate skin from the offensive... air?  Grass?  Bugs?  Sun?  Whatever... I also brought towels for them to sit on and lounge in the shade of a tree.

The result?  Slightly happier twins.  Though, even still, Jordan was far more adventurous than Addie who only ventured off the towels towards the end and only then because I was holding her hand.

So I dunno... what do you think?  Can I convince them that nature really is okay?  Sigh.  I'll keep trying.

Black and White Wednesday

This is my beautiful little girl, Jordan.  Somewhere along the line during her 12 months of life, she's developed into a stunning child with a sweet temperament, bright personality and inquisitive mind.  She's always been strong-willed and she's always made her presence known.  But she has really, really, truly become a delight.  She is so curious and so eager to learn and play... When she had reflux, there were days when she cried more than she didn't and I was convinced the only thing that would help was an exorcist.  There were moments when I felt utter despair because I was convinced she didn't love me.  Now I recognize that my sweet Jobug was just in pain and there was nothing I could have done.

Which makes this time so much more refreshing and makes my heart ache with love even more than I thought possible.

I no longer worry that she doesn't love me - how can I when she scoots over to me and grabs my face and plants an open-mouth Jordan smooch on my nose?  How can I when she buries her petal-soft face into my neck and sighs contentedly just before I place her in the crib at night? 

She chases her big brother with zest and gusto, climbing to heights she shouldn't be able to reach, but getting there through ingenuity and determination.  She feeds snacks to her sister with a patience and kindness usually reserved for (and seldom achieved by) much older people.  She offers smiles to strangers willingly and without judgment, and she wakes up each morning with an energy that is infectious and inspires me to see the world as she does: a fun, friendly place with treasures beneath each rock and behind each door.

Love you so much, Jobug! (And I forgive you for needing a forceps delivery, even though I'm still feelin' that one...)

See more beautiful black and whites with Lisa at The Long Road to China...

...and don't judge me for using the colorizing effect again... It's super fun and I'm so glad my friend Amy inspired me to give it a shot!

My Little Girls are One!

Well, on Saturday I got to celebrate the culmination of our first year with our precious twin girls.  I've been a giant ball of emotions as I reflect on the profound achievement their birthday represents... The struggles and challenges of this past year have been, at times, overwhelming, but the triumphs and joys have been breathtaking and far outweigh any of the difficulties.  From their birth onward, Addie and Jordan have been nothing short of astounding to me... And like a baby does not select how he enters the world, neither have my girls been at fault for much of the stress that has permeated the last 12 months.  However, what makes my heart swell with love and pride is the fact that the same stress would have been overpowering without their big velvety eyes staring earnestly into mine and their sweet smiles reassuring me that there is always a plan and their creamy skin for receiving my kisses to ease my nerves.

There is no doubt in my mind that Jordan and Addie are incredible little people... the only doubt I have is my ability to be the Mommy they deserve.  So, I hold on to that doubt and use it to drive me to be better.  From their conception, Addie and Jordan have ensured that I wake up every morning and have to actively work at being a mother - to them and to Jack - and at being a wife and woman as well.

Jack has been phenomenal also.  He has handled the entire transition so well - embracing his role as big brother just as solidly as he embraced his role as my baby boy over 3 years ago.  He takes his job seriously - all aspects - from protecting them and making them laugh when they're upset or ordering me to feed them when they cry to hurling balls directly at their heads or whomping them in the event that they play with his stuff.

Our whole family has grown.  Not just in that we have gone from a family of 3 to a family of 5, but we've become stronger, closer, more resilient and have overcome a hefty amount of adversity through nothing more than our love for one another - narrowing our focus so that we see only what is truly important despite what may be going on around us.

Addie and Jordan.  You are so much to so many.  The world is fortunate for your births and I am fortunate to have been chosen to be a part of that.  I can't believe how much you've grown this past year, and I am beyond excited to watch each new day unfold.  Thank you, for all you've given me, my babies.

(By the way, this post also counts as my entry in Mom 'n Me Monday at The Peanut Gallery!)

Mom 'n Me Monday

My friend Crystal took these photos of me with the kiddos when the babies were only 7 weeks old... I had no idea how much they'd mean to me later, as we're tipping the scales at 11 months now.  I have so few photos with me and the girls as infants - any of the kids - and I'm already sad.

That's why Mom 'n Me Monday is awesome.

Though, it defeats the purpose to always use old pictures.

(Cut me some slack, we're moving and trying to clean up the house and yard here while finding a new place to live!)

Anyway, head over to the Peanut Gallery to play along!

Mom 'n Me Monday

This is Jordan... She's my youngest baby (by 9 minutes) and has been a pain in my rear the whole time - from her painful kicks to her forceps delivery (ouch!) to her goofy nursing technique and the ear-splitting reflux cry... But despite all of that, my little JoBug soothes the aches and pains she causes with her bright-eyed, impish smile and infectious giggle.  Her skin is softer than any baby's skin I've ever felt and sometimes doesn't seem real.  I am addicted to kissing her, even though true snuggles with her are hard to come by.

These photos are certainly not perfect as I used the self-timer on my camera and hoped it would work.

I also haven't done a whole lot to edit them.  I wish I could get some of my scraggly hairs out of the pictures.  Oh well.  She had decided not to sleep one day during nap time, so while big brother and big sister slept, Jordan and I took advantage of the alone time and spent a couple hours playing... and smooching.

I truly, truly, truly adore her.  I see such a giant personality in her little self... she is one of the funniest people I've ever met and she only has 3 words.  All the time I'm clinging to her babyhood, I'm also looking forward to hours of laughter with her as she grows older.

You can read more about her on the Exhibits page...

.. But these photos are really a better way of seeing who she is.

The most incredible thing about Jordan is that she daily challenges me to be a better mom.  Some days I do better than others, but more than anything, she forces me to think outside the box (sometimes WAY outside the box!) and makes sure I'm always pushing myself to work harder and do more for them all.

Thanks, Baby Girl, for being you and for being mine for a little while.  (Here's a smooch for the road before she headed off to find something to get into...)

Want more adorable photos of Mommies with their kiddos?  Head over to The Peanut Gallery to check them out or to play along yourself!  Happy Monday!

(By the way, the earrings you see in the photos are the infamous earrings from the dryer-dissection escapade from this post, in case you were curious.  I have not, in fact, removed them SINCE that episode.)

In Which I Post Pictures

Jordan.

Addison.

Jack.

 Sweet son.

Sweet Addie.

Sweet Jo.

Addie.

 

 Jordan.