Morning...

We had a great morning...click the title to share some of it with us :)


Morning time.....

Our weekend...

First, on Friday night Tom and Cristy came for a visit while they were in town for a conference.....we like that this is becoming a yearly event!
Here is Tom's very serious self portrait...

and here is one he took of Cristy and Amelia....

Thanks guys for taking time to come and see us on what we know was a very busy weekend for you!

The rest of the weekend was spent just hangin' with the babes...

Here is Sammy in what is probably his favorite time of day.....and ours:)


This is how I get the time to clean the kitchen...the babes love to watch the ceiling fan!

This picture cracks me up. Amelia already loves to snuggle up to her little doggie blanket...

and these are from tonight.....nothing better than two, beautiful sleeping babies!


Oh, speaking of beautiful...here is a beauty we brought home today. Joelie bought it for $300 as a commuter car for himself--yay!! Please last for one year you little Subaru..that is all we ask of you!

That's all for now! Jen

The rest of the story...

I've had several friends say to me lately, "Are things really going as well as they sound?!" " You sound so happy....aren't you exhausted?" I don't know how to answer this really except to say that yes, I am happy and yes, I am exhausted. Happily exhausted? I think if you asked Joel he would tell you that this is indeed the most productive and content I have been since we have been married.....I think this comes from a few things. One is that I have wanted to be a mom for a very long time and so my overwhelming response to motherhood is thankfulness. Despite this, I will readily admit that having twin infants is not always a walk in the park. It has challenging, overwhelming, frustrating, and yes, exhausting moments most everyday . I just choose to talk about (and try to focus on) the joys because I assume you all know, or at least you can imagine, the challenge that two babies can be. But, just incase you can't and so that I don't ever come across as not being genuine , here are a few examples....

Last night as I fell into bed Joel said, "Do you know how filthy your feet are right now?They are totally black on the bottom! " My lethargic response was to continue crawling under our white duvet and manage a "Yes, yes I know. It's totally disgusting."

On the same note, the other day I rushed into the shower as soon as the babies were both sleeping and my first thought as I stood underneath the warm water was "Which body parts need to be cleaned the most?" Time management takes on a whole new meaning!

Often I look at the many lists of thank-yous I need to write, get a huge feeling of guilt in my stomach and just sigh and move on to the next dirty diaper, feeding, slinging, etc. .

Most everyday I think of errands that would be great to run or places that would be fun to go and though i have had some victories in getting out with both babes, errands have to be well thought out and preferably within walking distance(getting them in car seats, which they hate, and taking them in and out to do several errands is just not worth it...plus Joel and I share a car). So yes, at the end of many days when joel gets home, i feel like tossing him our two bundles of joy and running out the door into the big world of bookstores, Walgreens( I NEED to print out pictures), and Target and my beloved Taco Bell (sad, i know).

Then there are the times when both babies are crying...these are the hardest moments by far. Especially if I'm hungry (which is alarmingly often while nursing two babes) . Yesterday my lunch was on the counter ready to eat for about an hour and a half while I comforted, fed, rocked,and pleaded with two grumpy babies (Amelia wasn't feeling well and Sam needed to poop). Sometimes it turns into desperation. Which leads me to my final story.

Yesterday I had said lunch heated and ready to nourish my grumbling stomach when both babes simultaneously broke out into hysterical screaming. Hungry cries..i recognized them immediately. Now it had only been about 2 hours since their last meal so I wasn't expecting this ravaging hunger to over take them so quickly (which is why I think it is ridiculous that people think you can feed babes on a schedule that you set forth, but that's another story). So, my desperation was threefold. Desperate to feed the babes so that I myself could eat. Desperate to quiet the piercing hunger cries. And in my delusional hunger state I was desperate to finish a chapter in the novel I am currently reading. See, usually I read while nursing. But usually I only nurse one at a time. For some reason, I was determined to quiet the cries of both babes, feed them, and read at the same time. I didn't want to take the time to rummage in the closet for the enormous twin nursing pillow...so I did what every (?!) sleep deprived, hungry mama would do. I laid both of them on the bed and nursed them in a position that I can only describe as very similar to the yoga pose called Cobra. See picture above. I thought that maybe if I laid on my stomach I could put the book out in front of me and read ...but I really didn't think out the rest. One problem was, I was laughing so hard tears were running down my face and, well, you just would have had to have been there (though I'm very glad you weren't), but the babes kept getting frustrated because my laughing would cause them to unlatch.....let's just say it wasn't my most graceful mothering moment. Eventually, though, they were satisfied and I got to eat (the reading would have to wait for later:), and life went on.

All this to say that it does get crazy. And I don't always react by laughing so hard that I cry. But, I don't know, when you see a bed of roses you can choose to see the beauty or the thorns. And most days I can see the beauty and that is why I write about it and talk about it. It's a choice. Maybe along the way, things will change and hungry, tired delusional nursing will be the least of my worries. But for now, I am loving being a mama to these little souls and I love sharing some of the moments with you. And if the yoga nursing was a little much for you...

It's all in an effort to be real my friends:) Love to you, jen

Simple pleasures; they make me miss her....

I am cooking beans and cornbread and the house smells like the bacon simmering in the big pot on top of the stove.

I am walking out to the garden to look for fresh tomatoes. Sam is with me peeking his bright eyes out of the sling.

I am eating a good hamburger out on the porch with Joel and Sam and Amelia...the night air cooling us off and making us feel light and breezy.

There are certain people in your life that you talk about certain things to. One friend maybe you find yourself always talking about surface things...current events, day to day happenings in your life. Another maybe you find yourself always cutting to the core of how you are really doing deep inside. Maybe you have someone that you have great conversations about your spiritual walk and the things God is teaching you. I am so thankful to have people in my life to talk about each of these things with....but there is one area where there is a hole sometimes. After all, who really wants to hear about how happy you are while cooking beans? Or how delicious that burger tasted after eating spring rolls the two nights previous for dinner.

My grandma. She is who I called to talk about simple pleasures. Food in paticular. And today as I was walking out the back door to the garden, the bacon smell simmering behind me, I was thinking about calling her. Wishing I could call her. Appreciating the hole in my heart that is there without her.

Simple pleasures; they make me miss her so.

A few pictures for ya....

Can't you just imagine Amelia saying "Sam, stop yawning! This is important stuff I'm reading to you!" :)







Have some cute videos that I'm trying to upload...hopefully sucess will come soon! Jen

The anatomy of a morning out with the babes....

3am-7am--At least one of the babes is awake each hour to eat! Don't feel too bad for me as this isn't normal for them at all!Get the babies changed and in the car.

7:30 am--Leave to take Joelie to the Prison for work.

8:30am--Pull through Starbucks and get a chai to keep me awake for our big morning. Listening to Rich Mullins and am really convicted by his commentary on why he wrote "It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine" song. I'll try and remember to share it with ya sometime.

8:45am--Get home and feed Sam while trying to find something to wear. Settled on a black comfy skirt, white tank, black zip up top. Went to get my sling in the nursery and realize it's brown. Is it really silly to want your sling to match your outfit? Take off my outfit and change into jeans and a green top..stuff the brown sling in the diaper bag. Burp Sam, set him down...

9:00 am- 9: 55am-- Feed the cat, feed Amelia, burp Amelia, change her outfit after she spits up all over it, swing on the porch swing so that everyone remains calm, get the umbrella stroller from the garage and put it in the car, get the diaper bag (which was lovingly packed last night by the best daddy EVER), grab the babes and put them in the car and off we go!

10:20--Arrive at the library and meet my friend Anne in the parking garage and meet baby Vera for the first time!!! Anne is my walking buddy that walked with me during my pregnancy, and then hers, until my 28th week when everything came to a screeching halt. Can't wait to resume our walks, but this time with three babies! Anyway, I slip Amelia into her sling, Anne slips Vera into hers, I get the stroller out for Sam and away we go...

10:35am--We arrive at the Breastfeeding Cafe! Yep, that's right. Our first outing with just the three of us (well, where we take the car) was to the Breastfeeding cafe:) It is sponsored by the Utah breastfeeding coalition and is a little space in the library where you can take classes about breastfeeding, babywearing, infant massage, etc. for the month of August. As soon as I heard about it I knew we had to go. Today was a New Mom's morning where you can go and meet other new mommies and chat about all things motherhood.

10:35-11:15am--Meet about 5 other moms and talk about breastfeeding, cloth diapering, slings, getting out with babies, etc. The space was really great with signs about breastfeeding pictures of breastfeeding mamas, etc. We had to leave a bit early because a mom came with some older girls and the babes still aren't supposed to be in close contact with kiddos. So Anne and I left and walked around and chatted a bit and then I headed home. Up to this point Sam and Amelia haven't made a peep--I couldn't believe it.

11:45am--Try to leave the parking garage when i realize my debit card is still in my black skirt pocket at the house and I am .25 short. Have to wait while the guy tediously writes out a ticket so that I can mail in my .25 to the library!!

11:48 am--Amelia wakes up and realizes she is STARVING!! She starts screaming at the top of her lungs. I think "Maybe we can make it home," but quickly realize I can't handle the sad cries. I pull over into some shade, jump from the front seat into the back (sandwiched between the two car seats) and feed her an emergency bottle I had packed. All is well with the world.

12:15--Home again.

A lot of work for a little outing? Yes. Worth it? To me, yes. It was a change of pace, I got to see baby Vera and Anne, and got to chat with other new mommies.
At the same time, I surprised myself with the emotions I felt upon arriving home. I was so happy to be here. A different happy than I have felt so far. I felt happy for it to be just me and the babes again..my little constant companions in our home. I don't know how to explain it really.....but it was a good way to end a morning out. So here we are..the babies are full and sleeping and I am going to make myself try and sleep a bit too. New pictures soon, Jen

Why I love Saturdays....

* Joel is still in bed with us when we wake up, which means...
* I get to see him snuggle with the babes in the early morning sunshine, and then...
* He gets some much needed rest while I walk with Sam and Amelia to Paradise bakery to get a yummy muffin and chat with my mama on the phone....
* We have some porch swing time until Joelie wakes up and then we all get back in bed for a little more snuggling...
* We go for a walk in the afternoon to the book store and read for a while and then walk to Wild Oats to get some spring rolls for dinner. All the while we say "Yep, they're twins" , "Boy and a girl", "Sam and Amelia" "4 months, but 6 weeks adjusted age" about 100 times:)" .
* We come home and friends drop by and hold the babes and chat and drink root beer and walk out to the garden with us to pick green beans.....
* We give Amelia her bath and afterwards she quickly falls asleep in her pink striped pajamas with her cheek smushed up against my arm as we swing on the front porch swing saying goodbye to friends...
* Sam is still awake after his bath with wide eyes and smiles so Joelie puts him in the sling and heads to the redbox to get a movie for us to watch. I have a feeling Sam was asleep by the time they hit the corner of our street. I don't know for sure because they are still gone as I sit here writing at the table with the whir of the fan overhead and the dishwasher in the kitchen.....feeling satisfied after a long, full, wonderful Saturday. Hoping yours was great as well, Jen

The babes first hike and a bit of Sammy's new found voice...

High On the Mountaintop...


This isn't the greatest video to show you Sam cooing and laughing ....in fact, he hits himself in the face and cries a bit! But, it is what we have managed to get on our camera so far and I wanted you to hear his sweet voice. So just click on the link to hear baby Sam and his daddy talkin'...

Sam

Our new favorite thing...

Seriously, we spend hours out on the front porch these days. I wish you guys could come sit and chat while we swing, swing, swing.

And a couple more for ya....

The babes looking oh, so serious...

Amelia looking a little happier...


And here is one of Sammy and bub from the other day. He was in Park City with CrossCanadian so we got to run up and visit with him for a while....last year this time is when we followed the band (bub really) around a couple of states on our big summer road trip. Camping in Chalice, ID next to the music festival was one of the best parts of the trip...my how times have changed! However, we did take Amelia and Sam hiking the other day and it was great. It felt so good to be back on a trail (you know, since I'm such an avid hiker:) and the scenery was amazing. Don't worry, I took lots of pics of course! Anyway, we were so happy to see my brother again and I think he was pretty happy to see two little certain someones:)


Guess that's all for now. I haven't been very good at the whole "sleep when they sleep" concept and I must start . I have a feeling that will all change on Friday when the grandparents leave...I'll be falling into bed at 9:30 with them!

Hope all is well with you friends, Jen

As promised....

More pics of Shanny's wedding-- just click on the title to enjoy!



A Beautiful Day

Love is in the air....

It all started with John Mike and Tara...they were married in December of 2006. They were absolutly beautiful and we were so happy to be there with them on their most special day. I had lots of gorgeous pics of the day but have switched from my PC to a Mac and it has thrown me into great confusion. So, here is one from their dating days...


Next came our little Sam and Amelia in April....they came much earlier than expected but oh what love they brought with them!

They just had their 4 month (1 and 1/2 months adjusted age) appt. and are both doing great. Amelia weighed in at 10 lbs 6 oz and Sammy at 9 lbs 2 oz:) You have come a long way babies!

A month after the babes were born my Bub and his Robin had a gorgeous wedding day.....



Then our Shanny came to SLC and became Mrs. Shanyn Zink.....



And, fear not, the love fest continues! John Mike and Tara will be introducing baby Echo into this world in December.

We can't wait to meet you Echo...Amelia is especially excited to have a girl cousin to be best of friends with!

Weddings and babies galore.....love is indeed in the air!

Sharing sleep....

In the mornings when the babes start to get restless and i (desperatly ) need a bit more sleep, we have learned a little trick to buy me some time. We turn them around towards the window and prop their heads up on a pillow so that they can see outside. They love to watch the shadows of the tree branches swaying and sometimes, when we're lucky, they fall back to sleep. This morning when I woke up, this is what I found. Oh and next to them was my sleeping hunkorama husband. Can't get much better than that.

Happy day...oh happy day

It was a beautiful day all the way around....congratulations Tim and Shanyn and God bless your marriage and days ahead....Jen

ps. more pics to come:)

A walk in the mountains...

It does the body, and the heart, good.....






Just for fun, here is one of Sammy looking cute in his BabyLegs....

and here is Jim making some delicioso plum jam out of the abundance of plums from our tree out back...yuummmm!

Amelia loooves her pink giraffe. She smiles and coos at it more than at any of us!


Hope you all are well, jen