Just boys

Paige went to school today (her last week of summer school! Yikes!!) and the boys and I spent some good time playing. They are SO fun and playful these days. I love this age! They are happy, eating well, napping well...life is great : ) (yes, I understand that by saying this, Jack will start teething tomorrow and everything will go to hell)

Poor Braley bub...just sits there and watches Jack crawl around. I am still concerned, and my concern grows every day. I am aware that I am a crazy person for being upset that my 8 month old doesn't crawl. He is just SO behind is brother. But I need to get over this. I'm working on it. I am! I promise!

Paige spend the night with her papa tonight (he is in town for a week doing a little work, and of course he had to have his bug come over for a sleep over!). David and I just had the twins to feed dinner, bathe, and get down for the night. We were kind of twiddling our thumbs, thinking - how easy life would be if we JUST had twins! Ha!

Big girl bed

Daddy took the rails off Paige's crib and put the toddler rail up on Saturday.

We were so nervous! I was certain that she would just get up and walk around, come out of her room, basically refuse to go to sleep.

We sat on the couch that first night kind of puzzled as to why she hadn't come out yet.

Then we went to sleep and left the kitchen light on and our bedroom door open because we were certain she would come into our room at some point in the night.

Then when we got up in the morning, we went in her room, and she was laying awake, waiting for us to come get her!

Naps and night time sleep have stayed totally the same. Kind of strange, right? I think she thinks that she has to stay in there until we come get her, though she can get in and out with ease.

I am THRILLED with how "big girl bed transition" has gone, and pray it continues!

Sweet daddy working on the big girl bed. We both shed a few tears doing this. A precious baby she is, no more.

We tell her, "good night, Paige!" She says, "good night, mommy. I'm going to sleep in my big girl bed."

I put a pillow in there, but she won't use it! She still uses her back bumper as a body pillow. Good enough!

FYI - I love that we got convertible cribs for our kids. I think it is the main reason this transition is going so well. Her bed is the exact same in her eyes. She will stay in here until she gets too big, then we will convert it to a full-size bed.

More about abdominoplasty

I have had several emails asking me questions about my surgical consult for my abdominoplasty. Obviously, I'll know more when I have the actual surgery, but here is my understanding:

How long will you be in the hospital?

I check it at 7:30 AM, surgery is supposed to start at 9. I am booked with the surgeon for 4 hours, though they don't think it will take that long. I am required to spend 1 night in the hospital, where I will be monitored closely for infection. At 8 AM the next morning, David will drive me to the doctor's office where his nurses will check my drains, give me my prescriptions for pain meds (grin), and make sure I'm okay to go home.

What kind of restrictions will you have?

I will have the drains in for 1 week, so anything that gets in the way of those is obviously out. I am not supposed to lift anything. However, I was also told to not lift after both of my C-Sections, and I didn't follow that rule. I listened to my body, which is what I will do this time. My doctor told me that, in his experience, this surgery is the same or easier than a C-Section. I was carrying Paige around the day I got home from the hospital and in the gym in 2 weeks. I recover well. I'm not worried.

Sunday

Have I mentioned on here that David is in grad school? (sarcasm...I know I complain about it a lot). Well, he has 3 weeks left. I am so sick of my Sundays being spent alone with the kids while he studies at the library. They are cute kids and I like them, but...I can only sing Old McDonald so many times.

Do they get bigger every day, or what?!?

Passing the time by being silly!

Making Braley play peek-a-boo with her.

He was a good sport about it!

Love these kids!!

I never updated on my surgery consult. He was SHOCKED by my separation. He will correct it with surgery and remove the extra skin on 8/2. Yep - just a few weeks away : )

I am going to the lake with 8 of my girlfriends the weekend before, then Tuesday - under the knife! I'm excited, a little nervous - but mostly excited.

Ava's party

Only my child would stop playing at a birthday party and find a place to wash her hands. Goofy girl!

She hates having dirty hands.

A dirty face, however, is totally fine.

Paige and Ava waiting for cake

I can't believe Ava is 3. I sobbed when I found out my sister-in-law was pregnant. I wanted a baby so badly and we had been trying and trying. I was still in the clomid phase and was naive enough to think it would work. I remember thinking, "well, at least by the time that baby gets here I will be pregnant."

I was not.

But I could not have been more excited to welcome my precious niece into the world the day she was born. There was no sadness for me. Thank goodness.

And now she is 3 and I have 3 kids of my own!

Sweet cousins!

Big boys in their party outfits. I absolutely die over these boys, and I realize I say this often...but it is true!

The party was fun! It is way too hot here. David and I traded off watching Paige outside and sitting inside with the boys. I'm over it! I'm ready for some tailgate weather! Bring on football season!!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Big things happening today

Another Saturday, another day of golf for David and gym for me! We normally do "my" time in the morning, and "David's" time in the afternoon. But we switched it up today. David is going to learn that having his time in the morning is actually much better, considering the fact that the kids nap from 1 or so to sometimes even 4. So his kids duty today will be very easy!

We have some big plans for later today: lowering the mattresses on the boys' cribs. Taking the rails on Paige's crib off, thus turning her bed into a big girl bed (deep breaths, stay calm...), and setting up her toy potty.

Paige has started taking her diaper off in her crib, begging us to change her when she is just a little wet, and telling us every time she goes potty. She is giving us every sign that she is ready. We are the ones dragging our heels! But it is time, and we know it. Today, we start!

I also am going to buy some new clothes for the boys. I can barely button their pants, and all their shirts look like muscle shirts. I can't believe I'm going to buy 12-18! Baby Gap is going to be very glad I walked in at the end of this visit. SMH.

And at 4 today, we have my niece's 3rd birthday party!

And now, some proof that the boys need new clothes...poor things are stuffed into things that are way to tight!

Paige telling Braley to look at the camera and smile! Hmmm...think she has heard that before?

8 months

The boys don't turn 8 months until Saturday, but I'm thinking about it today, so I thought I'd do a big post all about my awesome boys.

Jack: crawling everywhere. He isn't interested in pulling up to standing yet. He just likes to move. He hates having his diaper changed and getting dressed. He freaks out on his back. He absolutely must roll over and start crawling. It is hysterical. And extremely frustrating/annoying.

He is a good eater. He likes green things! Like spinach, peas, and pears. He also likes sweet potatoes and carrots. He does NOT like oatmeal/rice cereal. Much to my chagrin, since he needs the cereal for the iron. Since they don't get formula, I need to try and get iron from other sources. Luckily spinach has iron in it, and he likes that.

He is such a ham. It is honestly hard to get Jack to not smile. He is a happy little guy. And very curious. He also loves his momma. He crawls up to me and paws at me until I hold him. I love him so much.

Braley: Very content to sit and play with toys. He likes to go in a circle. We call him our little one legged duck, because he can't advance. Just goes round and round.

He is also a good eater. He will eat pretty much anything. His favorite is oatmeal. I mix oatmeal with mango, banana, any veggie, breastmilk...he gobbles it right up! He is so precious. He is such a sweet boy. Sucks his thumb.

I have to admit I am slightly worried about his lack of mobility. I hate that I am. In reality, I know he is fine. I just wish he would get that cute tush in gear and get moving! Obviously I'll discuss any concerns I have in August at their 9 month check. I'm not letting this keep me up at night by any means.

Here is their 8 month schedule:

Wake: 8 AM - nurse right away

Nap: 10-11

Lunch: 11:30

Nurse: 1

Nap: 1:30-3:330

Nurse: 4

Dinner: 5:30 or 6

Bath: 7

Nurse or bottle: 7:30 - then right to bed!

It is amazing what a corner in napping they turned. No swaddle or pacifier. I rock them when I have time, but they don't need it. They just go in their crib, roll around, and fall asleep! It is a beautiful thing.

I'm in love with my boys. They have completed our family in the most perfect way.

Love/hate relationship with weekends

Don't get me wrong - having David home (for the most part) is great. But I don't understand why we we can't just say to ourselves, "Megan and David - we have three children now. A 2 year old and almost 8 month old twins. It is probably a good idea for us to stay home and relax during the weekends."

Oh no. Not us!

David took a half day on Friday and played golf. Paige and I put the boys down for a nap then went outside. (She looks white from the insane amounts of sunscreen I slather on her)

Then later that evening, Mr. Jackers found the dog bowls! Ugggh - I forgot what it is like to have a crawling baby in the house. And soon, I'll have 2. SMH.

(Mother of the year alert: so I see Jack crawling up to the bowl to investigate. Naturally, I run to grab my camera. As I'm taking pictures, I'm like - "no, no, Jack! Crap! Jack! No! Wait - smile! Look at momma!" Poor kid.)

Saturday came, and Paige and I hit up the gym in the morning. David did yard work and played with the boys.

We then decided it was a good idea to take all our kids to a birthday party at a horse ranch. In the middle of nap time.

In the 105 degree heat.

It actually went fine. Just busy : )

We met a nice horse named Jim.

I think she ate 2 cupcakes and a cake ball.

And Jack and Braley ate a late lunch on the floor.

After all of this, only David and I would say, "hey - let's go over to Brooke and Seth's and hang out for a while. Then go to the pool. Then go to dinner."

We are lucky that the twins are pretty portable. They adapt well. They napped in their carseats, ate when I wanted them to, happily played wherever I laid them down. My good boys.

I am always ready for Mondays, though. I like getting back into our routine. Naps in cribs on time, playtime with our own toys, meals in highchairs, etc.

Hope yall have had a nice weekend, and that you have an even better Sunday!