Welcome to the show

Number of days my kids have been whining and crying . . . about 5
Amount of time spent in the pediatrician's office today . . . 2 hours
Price of the visit . . . $40
Learning there is nothing you can do when your kids have colds . . .priceless

Ok, Ok, Ok, - yes I did know that there really isn't anything you can do for a cold except wait it out. But after almost a week of fit throwing, whining, crying and just basically wanting to pull my hair out, I finally gave in and took them to the pediatrician's office. I have found a new doctor who is wonderful, but unfortunately she couldn't be seen today. So, went to a different, who was as equally as great, to find out that they just have a plain old cold.

I mean don't get me wrong - I don't want them to have some horrible disease but COME ON!! Let me have a placebo PLEASE! I was speaking to my friend Emily after all of this and we think there should be a "parent pill" just to help with all of the fun-ness that comes with a cold.

Also, I'm going to vent here a little for all of my friends. Let me give you all a piece of advice and you can do with it what you want. Please, please, PLEASE don't ever tell a 37 week pregnant woman with twins:
"Oh, I just don't know how you are going to do it" or
"Wow, your going to have to grow another arm" or
"Did you plan for this to happen?" or
"Wow your hands sure are going to be full" or
"I'm glad it's you and not me!"

Oh yes, friends, and these were just the comments that I got TODAY (and let me remind you I was only out of the house for a couple of hours). And in all actuality if I were speaking to someone in the same situation I might have said some of those comments too. BUT . . . I know someday Avery, Pete, and Hailey will appreciate knowing that they made their mommy a little bit of a "freak show" for a few years of her life. I get stares, comments, you name it! Even at the dr's office, I could HEAR the nurses speaking about me. Anyone who truly knows me, knows that I do NOT like to be the center of attention and I get embarrassed VERY easily. Maybe this is just one of those lessons in life . . .I haven't quite figured out what I'm trying to be taught, but soon I know that I will learn it and will be a better person for it.

Right??

So as soon as the kiddos wake up from their nap we're heading to Wal-Mart. That's always fun (sarcastic, sarcastic, sarcastic) That's where a few weeks ago I got this comment:

"You DO know how this happens right?" (gesturing at my belly and my kids)

The countdown begins . . .

I went for my 36 week OB/GYN appointment on Friday. Everything looks really great, and it is amazing to think there will be a new baby here sometime within the next month or so. I still really can't believe it.

I must say "I'm scared". Yes, that is right. No one believes me be . . . everyone keeps pointing out that I gave birth to TWO babies at the same time. They point out that there is an hour and a half between the twins and that I was in labor for about 24 hours. But I have to say "I'm still scared." I think the reason is because you are supposed to wait and have children again when you can't remember what labor was like the first time around. Here's the problem . . .I can still remember. Of course, I'm saying all this a little "tongue-in-cheek", but I'm also a bit serious too. I guess I'm not only scared of labor and delivery but how different our life is going to change once Hailey gets here. Of course, I don't think I would be normal if I WASN'T scared. I mean who can plan what life is going to be like with 3 kids under the age of 15 months?

Oh, and did I also point out that my Dr. estimated that the baby was probably around 7 lbs. already???


February 2009 - 36 weeks pregnant with Hailey.





December 2007 - 36 weeks pregnant with Avery and Pete. We were comparing pictures and the biggest difference we can see is how much lower Hailey is. Plus, with the twins I swelled SOOOO much in my face, neck, and feet.

Who needs a bottle . . . Not I!!

It is officially done . . . no more bottles in our house, YAHOO!!! Well, I guess no more bottles until baby number #3 comes in a month . . .but, at least we have a month!!!

So many people tell me that when their children were giving up the bottle it was hard for them (the parent). It made them feel as if they were losing some of their child's "babyhood". WHAT?!?!?!?!?!!?! I am so sentimental, but not having bottles anymore is a dream come true for me. Maybe I got burned out early on. I started doing botttles full time about a month after the twins were born. At that time we were doing 8 - 10 bottles a day EACH!!! So every night I would get the 20 or so bottles mixed with my milk, measured perfectly, sterilized, and all set up in the fridge. It took about an hour and I never felt more like a chemist - stirring and mixing.

Each time we lost a bottle and gained the cup, I felt a certain thrill of victory that we were one step closer to not having them anymore! It is so nice to run to the store and not to have to lug emergency bottles or a little cooler . . . Yikes, looking back - How did I ever do it!???!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We showered the little ones with hugs and kisses for Valentine's Day . . . once again the wrapping paper was a big hit! Pete and I did get a rare night away thanks to Nana. My real present was getting my entire house cleaned . . . Nana worked and worked to do it! She's been coming every few weeks to help me since I'm supposed to be taking it easy, but this time it was even better. Pete's present to me was taking the kids all one morning and leaving us to get some things done. We got all of Hailey's little clothes and essentials sorted, washed and organized. She has TOOOO many clothes, I even had to put some of them up! We were so lucky when Avery and Pete were born.






OK - listen up brother - you may be bigger than me, but don't forget one important detail . . . I'll always be your BIG sister!

Dancin' baby

Pete just LOVES to dance. I think he got his Daddy's rhythm, though.

Busy weekend

We had quite a busy weekend, I'm hoping to be able to relax a bit today (yeah right!) We went to a birthday party for a little boy in our neighborhood. The kiddos got to jump around in the bounce house and try to smack a pinata. They had a hamburger for the first time too.

On Sunday we visited with an old friend of mine who lives fairly close near us. They live right on the lake and Pete got to go take a boat tour of the entire lake while the kiddos took a little nap (or tried to!) He had a blast gettting to see everything from that point of view! Miss Sandy made brownies, so they also had chocolate for the first time too! Avery kept saying "Yum, Yum!" while she was eating!

We tired out the little ones, so much so that Lil Pete woke up and had a really fitful night sleep last night. I think he might have been just a little "overtired" and ready to get back into the routine. They were fantastic, though, it always amazes me how good they are when they go anywhere!

Daddy's so proud

Can you tell why . . . I'm not so sure how I feel about a "girl" football player!

Brushing our teeth

Ok, OK, Ok, I know . .. I kept putting off and putting off the whole teeth brushing thing, I know I was supposed to start earlier, but I'm sure there is no permanent damage done! Tonight we brushed the kiddos teeth for the first time. Pete loved it. I think it felt good on his sore little gums. Avery was a bit more hesitant. She turned her back and kept trying to wiggle away.

Pete went first




Then it was Avery's turn

Our first overnight guest

Our dear friend Christie flew in to visit with us this past weekend. She had the honor of being our first overnight guest in the new house! She was SO wonderful and knew that I wasn't going to be able to "slep" around and do too many things. We went to Kemah for lunch and sightseeing one day, and then spent the rest of the time cooking, watching kids, playing games and just relaxing. It was so great! She helped me out so much! One of our favorite things to do is get a good bottle of wine and sample a bunch of fancy cheeses (she started that idea a long time ago!) The Kroger's that is right by our house has an awesome speciality cheese/olive section, so we went mini tasting and brought back alot to munch on! Unfortunately, I had to go "sans" wine, but it was still yummy and fun nonetheless! Christie also bought the twins their first slinky which they are totally enamored with! Thanks for being such a good friend, Christie, we are so lucky to have you!!
I love this picture because they were having so much fun running around the boardwalk, that they cried and screamed when we tried to pick them up to take this picture and leave!

The boardwalk was really devasted by Ike. All the the attractions are closed down and there are many walking piers that were basically left to sticks sticking up in the water. They were working on everything. Hopefully, before too long we will be able to enjoy it.



They sat and ate at Babin's for such a long time . . . it is always up in the air how they are going to act at a restaurant.

Christie is an amazing florist in Denton, and she had this beautiful arrangement sent to our house! It is so gorgeous and it makes the whole house smell fresh!

New baby, new year

The girl's room is coming along and I thought I would wait until the new year to debut her name:


Hailey Alyssa S.

This little baby has been Hailey, since even before I found out she was a girl! Everyone kept saying, "Oh, you know it's a boy!" and for some reason I just KNEW it was a girl! I even had a dream about her and her name. It is just another one of those things that is so different this time around. With the twins I never had a "feeling".

She and Avery are going to be sharing a room (after Hailey is sleeping through the night!) So really, Avery is going to have her room for quite some time! We are doing a flowers and butterflies theme in, of course, pink! Pete is really adjusting to being in his own room too.