Happy 16 Months!

Okay I am WAY late this time. It's been that kind of month! 

Ellie Bel, 

Your vocabulary has taken off this month! You love to talk talk talk all day long and I would love to know what it's about!! You are getting better at repeating what we say and I love hearing you whisper or scream whatever you decide to say! 

You were almost 25 lbs and 31.25 inches at the doctor!  90% in height! Duh! You have never had a roll on you and continue to be rock solid and super strong! The things you pick up everyday amaze us- a 5lb weight ball- no problem. Mamaws heavy wooden cat, sure. You scare the crap out of Mamaw and Papaw but I think it's hilarious! 

Your temper tantrums were at an all time high this month but we all have been pretty much sick the whole time so it's hard to tell. You had your 3rd ear infection, your first allergic reaction and your first bout of explosive diarrhea. (Pappy got that one).  We went to the ENT and no tubes so far! Thank goodness!! 

You have been able to cheese lately and it's super adorable! You love the camera all the time! You are especially a Momma's girl! You love all animals, bathtime, books, running (not walking), being outside, frozen, any snacks, breakfast and witht lunch or dinner. You usually don't eat all 3 meals great. You love water. You have tried orange juice and your face is hilarious every time! You hate being told no, not getting the appropriate snack, sleeping in past 630-7, when Bria has a toy you want, not having your monkey.

Your obsession with your monkey and binky this month is beyond. Im not sure if obsessed is the right word.... 

You are so much Fun and I cannot wait to see what these next few months hold with your talking, running and everything else you get Into! I cannot express the joy you have brought to me! Love you to the moon and back babydoll! 

Bri Bri!! 

You are one smart little cookie! You love to talk and repeat what we say! Your love for reading is so cute! You will bring us a book, we ask if you want us to read. So say yessss and shake your head up and down. 

You have a love for shoes, an obsession with your binky and monkey. (Like. Bad), the movie Frozen (that's bad too!) and snacks!! You could snack all day long! It really doesn't matter what it is. I can't even get in a certain cabinet in the kitchen without you running over yelling "nacks, nacks!"

You are 23.5 lbs and about 29.5 inches! You got your first ear infection this month and your first bout of the stomach bug. Mainly vomiting but some diarrhea as well. It was so sad.. 

You are still such a cuddle bug and I love it! You aren't much of a morning person but you are always the first one up screaming waking Ella up too.. We haven't figured that one out yet. You've learned to say cheese, you love all animals, especially our kitty, Track. Niiiiiiice is what you say when you start Petting him! 

Bria, you are so smart and fun and I cannot wait to see what the next month holds for you both! You are so cuddly and sweet and I really couldn't love you more! Love you to the moon and back babydoll! 

It is Enough..

I feel like there is a lot of pressure to be perfect and great at being a mon. Especially to twins. & ***especially after infertitly.. 

Because- we ASKED for it.. Right?! 

That's truly a whole different topic in itself. 

However, with social media, the ability to take a peep into someone's life that you don't even know- is great. In some ways- especially when TTC it was a lifesaver. I have made lifelong friends and built relationships with people I haven't even MET.. & I am beyond thankful. 

There are others that you follow for fun. Twin moms and their lives are different than singletons. It's like a club. A stressful but amazingly exhausting club. (On Instagram specifically) - you follow them I their lives and get a "peep" I to their lives. Their perfect, best dressed, brand rep, perfect hair, makeup and custom clothes. & I know- it's not always like that. It's not always peaches and roses and rainbows. But you can't help but compare. 

Why. Can't I get just ONE picture of my girls together both looking in the same direction. Forget- smiling and perfectly dressed in personalized clothing and huge bows. I mean Ella does nothing you want her too and hates to wear a headband usually. Let alone sit by her sister for a picture. I mean. Come on.

How. How do these people afford it. Their girls wear super cute custom clothes and pajamas pants that have their name written all over it?! I mean- is that even real? Their bows to match every outfit that another IG shop is tagged in. We have to buy double. Two of everything. The mom usually doesn't work & they have all these specialized clothes (x2). I looked up a shirt one time. $34 a piece!!!! She had two girls and two shirts! $68 is more than my water bill a month. Are you joking?! && I work fulltime!! 

When. When do they have the time to make dinner, do their hair, get dressed and clean their house. I shower at night and don't blow dry. Usually don't straighten it in the morning. My clothes don't fit right anymore and there's not money in the budget to buy for my Mommy body (which is another topic. No time to workout. Or eat right. No lie- I'm lucky to scarf down my fiber one bar in the morning without two grubby fingers wanting their share). & my house is constantly messy. Always. I can't remember a time when it was super clean. Oh. Yes I do. May 2014 when I hired a cleaning lady once. & how I miss her so. I've been meaning to call her back. But who has the time? 

Where. Going all these fun places (hair, makeup and clothes done up for all 3, mommy and twins). I can barley change my clothes before leaving the house and a lot of days I don't and wear my pajamas. & the girls did look presentable 10 minutes ago before they found he cheesies and have orange in their faces, shirts and have ripped out their hairbows. 

Now, with Ellas for throwing a fit. I definitely can't leave. 

The point of this all is how much pressure you feel as a mom to post your crafts and Perfect lives and activities. You need to be fit. And skinny. I mean- I had kids 15 months ago. I should be thin by now. Right? & I should have time between my fulltime job, daily life of kids and husband and school- that I could clean and dress well. 

No. Everyone is different and all circumstances are acceptable. I need to listen to this. Some sort of comparison runs through my head everyday now that I'm a mom.. Especially to twins. And especially after infertility. 

Follow Ups!

Okay, so I've been a little slacker lately. But, life has been crazy y'all! 

We nixed the one nap transition becauuuuussseeee, two cranky girls needed sleep and they had ear infections. It was so awful and sad! Poor girls especially Ella, was so fevered one Sunday. I took off her clothes and was rubbing her with a cold wash cloth and she fell asleep on my chest!! I have a picture but it must be on my computer already. It was so sad. It was 445pm. Bria fell asleep on Daddy. It did melt my heart though. I cannot tell you the last time Ella has fell asleep me holding her. Probably 10 months ago. Anywho. Right ear infections for both and a little respitory thing. So Azithromycin we got. 

Bria got better. Ella did not. Amoxicillin we got. 

ENT appointment too. 

So glad we opted for an early morning  appointment, the girls could run free in the waitng room after a long morning in the car. 

Ear infection was gone! Wahoo! He cleaned out her ears which she HATED! Bad. & told us to follow up in 3 months. No tubes!!!! I was so worried after the 3 ear infections since April. But PTL. 

I have my fun loving babies back!! 

However, this HFM thing is still haunting us. Poor Ellas feet have been peeling for ever. And I noticed the other day her toenail looks weird. The next day, it freaking fell off! Apparently, with HFM toenails can shred. Then bria lost one too. Wtf?! So weird. We have a pediatrician appointment on Wednesday .. 

I shall just leave you with some pictures.. 

Fifteen Months... Um What?!

My baby girls are 15 Months Old! 

Wait. At 15 Months can I even say babies? 

Toddlers? Ugh. 

Ellie Bellie, 

I just had to get a new phone and have transferred my pictures over to the hard drive already so I have to screen shot some Instagram posts.

My Ella girl. You are a toddler for sure! Rambunctious, fun, dramatic, and usually all around crazy.

 You are cutting two more molars. I feel bad for your poor poor gums.  Also, you are currently fighting your 3rd ear infection and your worst fever yet. Sunday I felt so bad for you. You were burning up, cuddled against momma with a fever of 101. I was running a cold washcloth on your back and you fell asleep. I can't even remember the last time you fell asleep with me holding you. I wanted to cry. I felt so bad for you. You and sissy fell asleep at 630 and slept until 630 the next day! We have a specialist appointment for you next Wednesday to see what to do from here. 

You love to run around like crazy. Pre bedtime is my favorite part of the day. You and Bria chase each other and it's so much fun! 

You love to snack but aren't a huge fan of sitting down and eating lunch. I think because you feel restricted. You still love music, your dancing is hilarious. Some of your favorite things besides music is snacks, suckers, ribbons, your shopping cart, throwing clothes out of the laundry basket, being outside (which it's getting too cold) , you have a new love for your binky. & of course, your MONKEY. Oh how you and Sissy love your monkey! There's no hiding it from you!! If you are looking for it or See it from afar you usually make a whiny Noise because you just want to cuddle it. 

You are still throwing fits, Especially when you are tired. We just got through you throwing a major fit at Aunt Neenies house. At this stage, you have made it difficult to go many places because you hate doing what we want. Like riding in the car. Our saving grace has been Frozen. Oh Frozen. 

In a panic, we turn on Let it Go on YouTube and watch away. We are t even sure if you really blink! 

You are getting so much more strawberry blonde hair and I think your blue eyes are here to stay! You wear size 4 diapers and 18 month clothing. With the occasional 2T or  24 month shirts. It kind of makes me sad. You still look like momma but everyone thinks you look like Dadda. 

I can't wait to hear your vocabulary grow this month. I can easily distinguish thank you right now and it melts my heart. 

Bri Bri, 

Bri bri, you are such a little girl now! Your hair is longer, your running is faster. It's so super cute and some days I can't handle how cute you are! Your personality is super sweet and much like a toddler- with random fits thrown in! Mainly in the morning when you want your milk! And don't want to wait for it to heat up! Or if we don't pick you up immediately when you want to be held. 

You are so fun and giggly. Pretty much anything can make you laugh. Being tickled or being scared are some of your favorites. We play lots of games now became up two are so interactive. A scary hide and seek are always fun! 

You hair is getting super long and is thin Iike Momma's. Your hair is a light brown/dark blonde, which was my hair color at 5-6-7 years old. My favorite wait to fix it now besides pigtails is a bow or flower clip to the side! 

So cute!! Right?! It just curls right under your ears! Love it! 

You had your first ear infection and that day you fell asleep on Daddys chest- which is rare anymore! 

Your eyes are a blue/green. Must be hazel like Daddys. You have 11 going on 12 teeth and your molars look so big in your little mouth! You are in size 4 diapers and wear 18 month clothes. But you can wear some 24/2T and it makes this momma sad! You love to wear socks And shoes. You love to repeat us. You love to be thrown up in the air, or to read a book, or eat snacks. You could eat all day. You love your slide and musical books. We are convinced you will have great musical talent. Your dancing skills have improved so much in the past month ;) . It's so cute to watch! 

You're obsessed with animals and love to woof if you see a puppy! You love the movie Frozen and you especially love the songs. You are such a delight everywhere and rarely fuss! We are so proud of everything you've done. We love you to the moon and back little one! 

What's Going on In The Moore Household

Snotty noses. 

All day. 

Erryday (is that how you even type it?!) whatever- Everyday. 

I am usually recapping important events that happen after the fact. I never state the day to day that goes on. 

The girls schedule is changing because we are trying to go down to one nap. And it kinda sucks and I'm questioning if I made the right decision. One day I say yes. Most days I say no. They cannot sleep for more than 1.5 hours and I don't know whyyyyyyy. Gosh. 

Laundry is backed up in every facet. A ton is cleaned waiting to be put away. A ton more is waiting to be washed. 

The kitchen is a mess. Always. I constantly have food in my carpet, usy happens 2 seconds after I sweep. 

The downstairs playroom is on hold because I have a ton of ideas but little to no artistic painting ability. 

I am currently over half way done with my schooling. Woot woot! 3 months in 51% done. I'll take it. Waiting for my coding books to come in to start the next section. 

There were 5 tests I didn't even touch the study guide because I knew all the answers to the test without reading the 100+ page digital study guide. Thank you pharmacy tech background, radiology school and working 6 years in a doctors office. 

Andrew starts basketball on Monday. Let me shed a tear. This is not going to be fun or easy and I don't know how to manage it all. If I thought I was overhemed last track season. Throw in school and my mini home renovations I want to do. Yea- setting myself up for failure. 

So last night I transferred all my photos and videos to my hard drive and now my phone is bare with some year old favs. I shall leave you with some throwback thursdays. 

Gahhhhh

I have so many all time favs, but this is one of the top ones! 

Wahhhhh

Don't Be A Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins

Christmas is SO close people! SO close!! Eek! 

I'm beyond excited. 

With that said, it's inevitable that people are going to buy the girls gifts, and usually double. 

Please sweet baby Jesus, no more toys. Atleast until I clean out what we already do have, Amen. 

The house is a toy play land. It's truly insane! 

Here's a glimpse on one side. Also not shown, 2 desks, one kitchen, a toy box, a slide and horse. Crazy. 

So the girls do have some things they could use. 

A jeep. Which my mom is getting. 

A play vacuum or broom. They are obsessed with our brooms which are ginormous and they need one their own size. Which my SIL is getting. 

A new playroom which we are doing to hopefully take back some dignity in our living room! 

I did finish the chalkboard painted wall! Girls LOVE it! 

I still need to paint the rest... Anywho. 

We desperately need this! 

Buggy Bench! I NEED this. So the other day I needed cat litter and some ther things. I cannot take the stroller and pick up more than 2 things. 

I normally put Bria in the cart as Ella on top and Bria has been taking a page off her sister and standing up and jumping. Seat is NEEDED! 

This.

This beautiful, so awesome thing is what I want to get the girls. Can you imagine them coming down the stairs Christmas morning and having this awesome jungle gym I play on?! I'm SOLD! 

So, if all goes well- I'm buying it! 

Other things they need: 

Socks with grippers. As funny as it is to see them slip and slide in the kitchen- grippers are a must. 

Any 2T clothes. We are currently wearing mainly 18 months but some 2T/ 24 months as well. Since we will probably be in this for a while we need more clothes than we have. 

2t pajamas. I did manage to purchase some at the consignment sales recently like 8. But generally- we need a good 20- 28 pairs. Lol no lie. 

Diapers or wipes- obviously.

Undies? Maybe?! I'm inspired by a twin mom I follow and she potty trained her 20 month olds. They are 22 months now and usually have no accidents! I'm how awesome is that?!

Sisters for life. 

Happy Halloween from Pebbles and Bam Bam

So this year I decided the girls will be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was Andrews favorite show, and my sisters. I was excited. 

Then, in my heart I wanted to do Pannles and Bam Bam. I hated to make Ella Bam Bam , the boy, but good golly did she look like him and Bri has the perfect pebbles hair.. 

Right?!? 

So I said- ya know what. That's why a I'm doing. This may or may not be the last year I get to pick for them and I want it to be pebbles and bam bam! 

So that's what we did. Costume total: about $18, with all the fabric and my heavy duty needle. The club I got an amazon for free with my points. 

My friend came over and we sewed our little hearts out! 

All that was left was the bones. I tried twice and failed. Finally my awesome coworker traced them for me and I finished them at work! 

We did trunk or treat and then trick or treat and the girls were a HIT!! 

Look at the difference!! 

My BABIES. 

Gah. 

Halloween was a success the girls only had one nap that day and I was never so glad for it to be on Halloween! They trick or treated their little hearts out! It was so fun! 

(I have better nikon pics) 

So so fun! I am so stinking excited for the holidays. I'm pumppppppped. 

Coop as Bam Bam and Hayd as Pebbles. My aunt kept calling them Teen Moms. Teen version and baby version! Love! 

Operation One Nap & Sleeping in (MAYBE)

So. The girls sleep hasn't been bad. Don't get me wrong. I don't ever want it to get to that point that we were at before. No thanks. 

Previously the girls schedule has been like this.

6am wake time (girls would fuss from 515 on, sometimes would scream and make us get them at 530). 

Nap 830-10

Nap 130-3

Bedtime 7pm

We tried putting them to bed at 8- still up at 530. 

 

*** Please do not tell me to put them to bed later. It doesn't work for us. I'm so sick and tired of hearing this. we've tried. It doesn't work. Why would I not let them get an hour extra of sleep if they wake up at the same stinking time?!? I may blow up at the next person that tells me this. Good for you - your kids go to bed at 10pm and wake at 10am. That's just not feasible for us when I have to work and take the girls to my moms by 7. ***

Okay. I'm done. 

It just drives me nuts people telling me what I should do. Shut it. 

The girls are restless at times during the night and way too early wake time. 

We are trying to slowly adjust the nap times and create one nap. 

My mom tried it on day 1 (Monday) - they stayed up until 930 (at my moms they could go until  9 so half an hour). They slept 2 hours!!! Until 1130. They were pooped by 2 and Bria slept about 45 minutes and E slept 15-20. That was one of the best nights of sleep recently! Bria only fussed once, which she usually NeVER does! Ella who is restless 3-4 times a night for a binky, only had to get up once. Slept from 7pm to 6AM!!!!! I was amazed! 

Next day (with Stacy) they make it to 945, until 1125. And slept from 2-3. Went down at 7, didn't make a peep until 615!!!! Well Bria did once but Ella did not. 

Wednesday was a little different they acted exhausted at 930 so I put them down then and they woke up at 1040? Really? So they slept from 2-3. 7-6 again. 

Thursday was a little different. 945-1145. No second nap. Andrew said they fell asleep on the way home from my parents. I got home at 5 and they were screaming . Bloody murder. They were exhausted. Thank god it was trick or treat and there was stuff for them to do. But that definitely didn't work. They were up a little through the night for binkys and Ella wanted up at 515, but she ended up sleeping until 615. Bria woke around 6. 

We will see how today goes! It's going to be a long process, but I think it will be worth it!

Since this is about sleep. :) 

Fall Family Photos!

I was nervous. Generally because of Ella. She has her own mind and it's afraid to let us know she's over it. 

Case and point- fall family photos. 

This one is the best! Shockingly not a bright yellow/orange typical WV fall but nevertheless- the weather has been odd. It was 80 yesterday and Saturday we have a chance of snow?! Whatevs. 

These girls are beyond Mommas girls. It's actually crazy most days especially if I have to work Saturday but picture day- perfect for me. 

Ugh Ella. 

Bad for Daddy. 

Luckily I can work the camera a little and usually Daddy is in all the pictures- not momma. 

Bria's face is this one:: 

Freaking love. Attitude in Pigtails! 

Bria girl. Please. 

Ella refused. Adamantly. 

Thankfully our photographer was nice and felt bad and offered to get more of the girls and I'm SO glad we did! 

Baby models? Yes please! 

Dying here. Seriously. 

This was basically what Ella did the entire time. She's something else. 

But then she sent me these: 

I melt. She's so perfect to me like her sister. Even if she's not smiling. 

Mom fail on these piggies. 

How lucky am I ?! These girls are super gorg and have their own personalities. And it's awesome!! 

Thankful for Kara Emily Photography and her willingness to take on these two twice!