A new decade!

A little over a week ago I said good bye to my 20's and hello 30!  I think I'm adjusting pretty well to this new decade in my life, and the idea of no longer being in my 20's.  More than anything I am realizing how incredibly different my life is these days. 

To start with we are a family of FIVE, and I'm constantly surrounded by boys (even our dog is male).

Our lazy Saturdays have changed from watching college game day and checking football scores to watching Thomas the Train or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

When I go back to College Station, I am the very definition of 'Ol Army. 

I have traded in my full time job with a full time salary, for a full time job and a very different salary.  All work, but lots of play too!  Can't beat it. 

If this decade is as good to me as the last, I don't think I'll mind the 30's too much.  One thing I'm learning is that we have so much to be grateful for.  Despite the old lady jokes, I definitely won't go back to my twenties for anything.  I'm enjoying this stage entirely too much. 

Thanks Handy!

The things my kids pick up amaze me!  The other day, Levi told me he wanted to watch a competition on TV.  He's 2 1/2.  I asked him where he learned the word competition, and he pointed to the kitchen and replied "In there."  I'm not really sure what that meant, but we'll go with it. 

One of the favorite activities these days is to "fix" everything in the house.  With our Handy Manny tool set, I am pleased to announce that currently their toddler table, TV trays, both toilets, our TV, kitchen chairs, my rocking chair, Titus' pack & play, and many, many other things have been successfully repaired by these two brilliant handy men.  Not only have they "repaired" things big and small, they also correctly know the names of most of the tools.  Luke brought me Turner (one of Handy's screwdrivers) the other day and said "Mom, this is a flat head."  The crazy thing is he was right, the Phillips head was in his other hand. 

CHEESE!!!

So if any of you need a referral for a couple of good handy men, shoot me a message and I'll send you their info, although they are pretty pricey! 

Such a fun week

This has been such a fun week with Titus.  Just over the past week Titus has become very responsive.  He is really smiling a lot these days when Mommy & Daddy talk to him (not just after a meal or when he's falling to sleep).  This grin makes all the sleepiness worth it!

The other fun thing he's been doing this week is baby talk.  I love the noises that he makes as we have a "conversation."  (Please excuse the corny mom talk.)

I tried to tell Luke & Levi that Titus was starting to talk, and they quickly informed that he couldn't talk.  So I explained that babies say things like "goo-goo, gaga."  Now when the twins talk to their baby brother that is exactly what they say.  They are such good big brothers!  :)

To cap off the week, he has decided to start sleeping through the night.  The past two nights he has slept 7 hours straight.  I mean could it be a better week!?!?!

Hope you have a great one too.

What a weekend...

I love Labor Day weekend.  Even though my job doesn't pay as well as the title (I have currently chosen COO of Brooks Inc.), I love a day off during the week when Jonathan is home and I get an extra nap!  However, we took full advantage of our holiday weekend. 
We had our first and definitely not last, family movie & pizza night.  It's so much fun the twins are old enough to do this now.

We gathered up all the pillows and blankets we could find and crashed out to watch their current favorite, Bolt.  It didn't take me long to snuggle up with my pillow and blanket too!

The rest of the weekend was filled with family and friends, and a few first introductions for Titus. 

This weekend alone, Titus met his aunt Kristie from Seattle, his great aunt Merlene, and his great grandma Memaw.  I heard no complaints from Titus about the extra cuddle time he was getting from everyone. 

Hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend too!  Have a great week.

Potty Time!

My original plan was to wait until Titus was sleeping all night to even consider potty training, but when Levi told the nursery he needed to go potty last Sunday and produced quite a gift in the toilet I thought I better reconsider.  This wasn't the first time he had done this, and really was worried about putting it off any longer. 
Honestly, my biggest hesitation was Luke.  I really didn't know if he was ready.  He had never even dribbled while sitting on the potty, but I didn't want to leave him out of the fun!  Oh, the joy of twins.  So, let me tell you about our week last week...
Monday: Mom and 3 boys head to Target to pick out lots of juice, treats, and one more extra package of underwear.  (I just had to take a brief break from writing, after hearing the pleas to go potty, not kidding). 
Tuesday: We started by talking about staying dry.  We used our bear as a prop and checked his underwear.  Amazingly he stayed dry all day long!

The day proceeded with A LOT of juice to give us as much practice as possible.  Needless to say, I have never done so much laundry in one day in all my life.  For Luke, I just sat him on the toilet and gave him juice to drink until he couldn't help but go.  All it took was one time, and it clicked for him.  There were definitely moments of frustration and pulling my hair out, but by the end of the day I could see small amounts of progress.

Wednesday: The boys were asked every 15 to 20 minutes if they were dry.  If so, they got an M&M.  Every 30-45 min we sat on the potty.  If they went potty, they got 2 M&Ms.  We went through a lot of M&Ms, but we were able to stay in the same pair of underwear all afternoon.  Major progress on the home front!

Thursday: We moved to sitting on the potty just once an hr.  The boys did great!

By the weekend, I would say we were 80% there!  Still in pull-ups at night time, but very few accidents.  I won't divulge the info about our accident at Bed, Bath & Beyond.  I will say, Jonathan and I laughed pretty hard as he wiped up a trail from a certain twin with the only thing we had- Titus' burp rag. 
Today, I would say we have officially gone from three in diapers to just one!  If that's not a huge raise, I don't know what is.  So glad to not have to buy so many diapers!

So proud!

With a new born that has two big brothers, I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked how the twins are handeling the transition.  I can honestly tell you I could not be more proud of the new big brothers.  They absolutely LOVE their baby brother. 

Before Titus was born, we talked about him a lot (if the twins were older, I am sure they would have been sick of it).  Jonathan and I knew that this would be a huge deal for all of us, but especially 2 two year olds that have always been the center of everything.  We discussed their new responsibility and how they would get to help Mommy.

Almost three weeks in to their new role, these boys haven't missed a beat.  They love to help do anything from throwing away diapers, giving Titus a bath, and even wiping spit up!  Many times I have caught them sneaking into our room while he is napping to check on him or cover him up with a blanket because they think he is cold. 

I cannot believe how much they have "grown up" over the past few weeks, and am so proud to be called their Mom. 
Luke & Levi- Your mom and dad are so proud of you and count it such a blessing to watch you grow up! 
Titus- We are so glad that God has blessed our family with you.  In these past few weeks you have already brought us so much joy!  We are looking forward to so much more. 

Titus Matthew...

Wednesday, July 27th at 9:01 am our family of 4 grew to become a family of 5! 

Titus Matthew came into the world at 8lbs. 2 oz. and 19 1/2 in long.  He is PERFECT!!! 

We are so excited about the newest precious gift God has blessed our family with.  Luke and Levi are adjusting to the idea of sharing their Mommy & Daddy with this little guy.  They love getting to help with him and run to check on him when he cries.  I am sure over the coming weeks and months we will have many stories to share about these "Three Amigos" but until then, here are some of my favorite pictures so far.

The proud Daddy

Our first meeting

All 4 of my boys! 

It must be love when Levi is willing to share Mater with Titus. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

James 1:17