DIY Halloween Costumes!

I was researching Halloween costumes- oh-- pretty much since the girls were born. We wanted to do minions and Andrew was going to be Gru (Despicable Me is one of our favorite movies, it's not only hilarious, but I love the adoption aspect!) but some people we knew decided to do that as well! So Plan B- something  creative! I didn't want them to be thing one or thing two or twinkies, etc. I finally found something on Etsy. 

Peanut Butter and Jelly! How perfect! :) minus the fact this set was 159.99 on Etsy! Um- no.. 

My best friend had made the girls tutus for their shower so I knew we could do it! We didn't have an embroidery machine but a iron in transfer would do! & I have the how thing covered! 

Brown Tulle- 3.77 for 30 yards.. Maybe used 15 = $1.89

Purple Tulle- 3.77 for 50 yards. Maybe used 15 (that's generous) = 1.00$ 

Ribbon was 1.00 each and I barely used any of it. =$2.00

Elastic was 1.97 and we used half of it= 1.00$ 

The iron on transfer sheets we used a 59% off AC Moore coupon. So we figured it out and used 2 sheets = 0.50 and I had the onsies so free! 

I used this tutorial: 

Took a few hours but it ended up looking pretty good, only we could see some of the knots weren't even. Megan was inspecting her purple tutu and noticed the inside of the tutu was super smooth. So we turned them inside out and it looks professional! She's pretty much a genius! 

Added the bows on the outside. Ironed our iron in transfers (remember to change your printer properties to mirror image) and added a small bow to the shirt and used papertowels as our baby models!! 

For their headbands 

Total cost: $6.40! Compared to $159.99! 

And ya know what? I kind like ours better! (I plan to glitter spray the purple one)! 

Thanks to my husband for watching the girls allllll Saturday morning by himself while we made these & thanks for my bestest friend since 4th grade- Megan! I would still be making these tutus if it wasn't for her! Next up DIY Baby Pants! & an Alumni game outfit-- Eek! 

Yep.. I'm THAT Mom...

I'm a worrier. Always have been, always will be. I worried when we were TTC, both times we were pregnant and now even more as a mother. Early in pregnancy, they thought something was wrong with Ella's left foot. Possibly club foot. It looked turned in on the ultrasound and every time it never changed. It was hard not to envision what life would be like if that were the case, but everything else was perfectly healthy- so we considered ourselves lucky. When she was born, definitely no club foot! Just how Ella was positioned in the womb. Praise The Lord! 

Fast forward 2 months later... Ella favors one side of her head. Which is becoming evident in the shape of her skull. She prefers to lay a certain way. I worried or may be torticollis- which I had. I have also noticed her muscle tone is rock solid. There is no flopping her around. She tends to not straighten her legs out. With those symptoms- I took to google! Not my smartest move. I had made the pediatrician aware of my concerns and she said we would watch Ella's head for anything worsening but she didn't feel he muscular knot that goes along with torticollis- but she could do a birth to 3 referral if we thought necessary. Well after reading googles diagnosis- of cerebral palsey. I said yes! I am currently awaiting a call from them, but I'm freaking out. Peds said she noticed her increased muscle tone but didn't think it was CP. I'm praying for my little Ella until we can get answers. She has several of the risk factors which scare me. 

You can especially see her legs bent in this one..

My poor sweet Ella! 

Ella is now officially the BIG SIS! :)

I am still in shock! Our little Ella is bigger than Bria! It's good and bad.. Bria shod have gained 2 lbs ideally- and she only gained 1.5lbs. She is just a slow grower and for now Ella is a shortie! 

Bria Cole is officially the little sis! Bria weighs 9lbs 8 ounces of pure cuteness! She is 22 inches long and we have finally surpassed cousin Kay's birth weigh! She did so great with her 3 shots and one liquid! She absolutely loved the liquid, unlike the Tylenol I gave her right beforehand. Which she projectile vomited. She cried the saddest cry during her shots and I cried as well, but we immediately gave her her bottle and she was content. Only let out a few cries while drinking it but quickly fell asleep. Mommy held and comforted her afterwards. 

Our shortie weighs 9lbs 12 ounces! We knew she was gaining weight but never dreamed she would have gained that much!! ❤️ It! She cried with her shots as well and so did I! I was feeding Bri and daddy was tending to Ella. She immediately took to her bottle and all was well! She didn't like the liquid one was much, but she didn't like the Tylenol either! 

I'm seriously so proud to be their momma! I love every little ounce of them! 

Bittersweet Happy 2 Months!! (Yesterday!)

The girls turned 2 months yesterday! I told Andrew how it's went by so fast, but feels like forever at the same time. The day we gave birth to them feels like so long ago! Andrew started getting sad seeing these comparison photos.. 

Our little Bria! So crazy! 

We don't have their official weights until Thursday! I'm praying for 9lb babies! :) 

To Our Ellie Faith: 

You have come so far!! We are so proud of your little cheeks and double chin! You are eating 3 ounces consistently with every bottle and sucking it down like a champ! (Unlike your sister!) You don't take a binky at night- which we love, but you go a little crazy if you don't have it at nap time! Mommy went back to work this month so you are spending more time with Daddy and time with Nanny & Pappy 2 days a week and so far Aunt Stacy and Mamaw Charlene one day a week. Hopefully soon you will spend time with Kayleigh and Aunt Neena! You are still on newborn diapers and most newborn clothes. Sometimes you wear 0-3 months but it's almost always big! You smile at us both often and love to smile in your sleep! I love the noise you make when you take a binky when you are tired. I love how much weight you have gained- it makes us happy and sad all at the same time! You love looking at people and things and are holding your head up really well!  Neither of you are a fan of tummy time however! You are getting more blonde hair and you have the prettiest blonde eyelashes. Happy 2 Months Baby girl! We love you to the moon and back!

To Our Bri Baby: 

You have grown up so much! Your facial expressions make mommy and daddy laugh everyday! When it comes to eating, sometimes you eat all 3 ounces. Sometimes- you don't! You are still in newborn diapers and newborn clothes, sometimes you can fit in very small 0-3 month clothes! We will find out how much you weigh in a couple days! Your beautiful hair is slowly falling out but it's coming back in at the same time. Your eyes are bluer and your eyelashes are ao pretty and long! You love to sleep at night but aren't a fan of daytime naps! Mommy went back to work this month so you are spending more time with Daddy and time with Nanny & Pappy 2 days a week and so far Aunt Stacy and Mamaw Charlene one day a week. Hopefully soon you will spend time with Kayleigh and Aunt Neena! I love all the sounds you make! I love how alert you are lately! You have grown so much in 2 short months little sis! Our hearts couldn't be more full! We love you to the moon and back! 

8 Weeks Old & Family Photos

I hope Eek! Our girls are 8 weeks old already! 2 months are coming up! :( 

First off, 2 weeks ago we decided to get family pictures done. A girl I went t high school with was running a special and we jumped. We aren't going through this again and I want to capture every moment. We got our photos back yesterday and I'm in love. I can't stop looking at them! She gave us 184 back as all of them are perfect! Our girls have hilarious faces in most, Ella is screaming in some and that's our life. She captured it. I messaged her our gratitude and to let her know of further affordable sessions and she said she would love to see our family grow up and we can keep the same price or future sessions! I'm totally blown away by her kindness! So blessed! 

Here's a few-- if I could post all 184- I totally would!! 

I hope the girls will one day look back and be proud of their mother. & want to look like her! ❤️ 

Reflecting

I don't have a fancy title to this blog post. I just want to reflect (as I sit here pumping while my 3 loves are asleep.) 

I'm lucky,blessed, amazed, overjoyed and a million other words with my life right now. Sure- it's crazy. Yes, my hands are full. But- my heart is filled with love all around. 

Everyone on Facebook is complaining about the Christmas stuff that is already in stores. It's not even Halloween yet, blah blah. I personally love it. I have always loved it. I love the reason we celebrate Christmas and that it forces you to keep tradition and see all your family no matter how busy you may be. It's also a constant reminder of the blessing we received last Christmas. 

I remember trying to be super positive but in the back of my mind- knowing that  I could potentially see one lonely line yet again. I remember getting up around 4 or 5 and taking the test. I didn't look at it- I put it in the closet and shut the door. I went back to bed. Andrew probably assumed it was negative as that was the routine every month- I was super quiet when I came back to bed after nothing each time. 

I remember waking up at 830, since we didn't have kids there was no real reason to be up super early on Christmas Day. I remember opening up the door and seeing two very dark lines! I immediately put it in Andrews stocking and told him he had another gift in there. 

I thought how can two people be so lucky- we tested positive in Christmas Day- what an amazing gift! Little did I know about 20 days later- we would realize it wasn't luck at all..... 

Officially Back To Work.

Ugh. 

Going back to work and leaving my sweet babies faces was waaaay harder than I imagined! 

Before going back to work, my sole purpose was caring for my girls. That's was my #1. I was a mom first. Handing them off, I felt like I was giving up my #1 job. It's only day 2- I'm hoping that feeling wil go away. Maybe after this week. I didn't think it through. I work Thursday 8-8, Friday 8-8 and have a wedding Saturday. Dumb. I'm dying for Saturday to be over and to have Sunday and Monday with my babies! 

In the meantime- I've been making my girlies headbands! & I'm loving it!