7 years

Feeling an itch can actually be low-grade pain. So the phrase "7 Year Itch" could be referring to quite some pain! Luckily for me, Josh and I are not feeling any itch. 

Each year our relationship grows, we overcome another hurdle, we love on our children together, and we enjoy the blessings in our lives! Looking over our first seven years, our marriage has been the harbor, not the storm. We've lost family members and grieved together; we added family members and rejoiced together. There was a job change, a basement flood, an upstairs bathroom geyser, and upstairs remodel. We've had hikes in Alaska, Colorado and California. A few weeks and weekends apart, but always anticipating a wonderful homecoming. Our biggest curveballs have been two pregnancies with a nauseous Bri, resulting in three children. But children we prayed for, anticipated, and rejoiced in their arrivals. There have been some highs and lows, but we've had a safe harbor, and truly a happy 7 years! I am so grateful to have been joined in love and purpose with Josh. He is the man and teammate I need and want in life and beyond!

12 months!

12 months has come and gone and it has been like no other time in our lives. I wish it had gone a little slower, allowing for a few more snuggles. That's probably the hardest thing about infant multiples. You get one fed, the other needs fed. You get one changed and freshly washed, and there is one waiting to do the same. The action seems like a revolving door, rather than basking in the sweetness of one baby. However, when there are still moments and you have two peaceful infants in your arms...wow. It takes my breath away! And there were many moments that took my breath away this year.

This last month, Mollie and Will continue to grow and learn. They are babbling and getting their senses of humor.They have gotten great at picking up food and feeding themselves. This makes Mommy and Daddy's lives much easier.

No walking yet, but standing and cruising along things is more and more frequent. I don't know if I hope they walk sooner or not. Right now I can run to the bathroom, and by the time I'm done they have crawled to the door. I imagine when they are walking I won't have those 25 seconds of peace. 

I write each child a letter for their birthday each year. I can't believe the joy and time of writing two letters, but more than any thing, I acknowledge the privilege it is to do so. Being a mom of twins puts me in a circle of moms that I have loved being a part of this last year. The moms around the country and works, but especially our local Moms of Multiples, Multiple Blessings, Club. The moms I met this year and call my friends have a great support system and a truly nonjudgmental. We give each other so much grace and support because we know what 2+ babies/toddlers/school age, etc are truly like. Not Irish twins or 14 months apart, but truly a multiples pregnancy, delivery, and newborns. Because while it has been more work than I ever imagined, I feel so much joy and pride in doing it, or most of it:) 

Mollie and Will, thank you for making me a mom of multiples! You are a double blessing! 

11 months

Double Trouble but 2x the fun - from the Fishers

11 month stuffed animals from the Doerings

So cliche, but truly, where has the time gone?

My premies are not so small! They are about 20lbs each,...and are true hand/arm-fulls! 

William is our even keeled little man. He is a snuggler, a smiler, and has great tickle spots! He army crawls surprisingly quickly and is crawling on all 4s more and more. He is picking up food to eat with his fist and thumb, sometimes using his pincers. He gets excited when he sees the yellow Kix box! 

Mollie is a our little diva. She'll shriek out upset and when we look at her to see why she is mad, she'll wrinkle up her nose and grin. She'll laugh and laugh, talk as loud as she can, and crawl all over. She loves playing with Woody's bell by the door that he rings to go outside. Mollie can use her pincers to pick up food, but prefers to be fed....diva:) She's lucky we couldn't be mad if we wanted to. She is just too lovable! Oh, and she stiff boards her body when she doesn't want to be set down on the floor or put in her car seat. 

Both have the greatest laugh when we polka. Those giggles make my day! 

The two of them are so fun to watch. Sometimes they are fully in parallel play, unaware of the other. Then the next minute, one wants whatever the other has. They can each have a pacifier in their mouth and reach out to pull the other's out. They do it simultaneously at times. It's hilarious!

Biggest thing is we started bathing them together. I was nervous because Will doesn't have much fear and they both like to move. So far so good. They love the water and practically swim around in the two inches of water. Mollie likes to splash and Will likes to crawl through the water on his belly at least one. 

Oh Mollie and Will, we are so glad you are in this family! Caleb and the two of you are our greatest joy each day!

XO

Mom & Dad

Happy New Years

I could have many resolutions including personal and family health, financial goals, my faith walk, my daily habits, my mental health and self worth, my relationships with friends and family, the time I spent unplugged and with my children, and many more. Which do I choose? If I choose all of them I know I will quickly become overwhelmed and not keep up. So I am going to choose my faith walk. My relationship with God will lead to the rest of those goals anyway. But I have to be right with God and listening to His cues to be successful. 

As a mother, working or otherwise, many times we feel behind. I don't know how to keep up on the dishes, the meals, the laundry, the kids' baths, the general clutter/mail/cleaning, dusting, disinfecting, the bathroom!, the vehicle, and routine house maintence of filters changing, etc. I seem to have long nails all the time...not by choice, but because I am not in the same room as a nail clipper when I have a moment to think about it! Heaven for bid I just make time and walk to the room that has the clipper and do it. Ha! 

So instead of working on my list, I will work on God's list for me. The only thing I have to do is listen, and that I can make a priority every day! That can and will happen. 

This last year was amazing. I am in awe of the struggles and triumphs our family experienced this year. As I put out babes to sleep last night and snuggled into our bed, I truly felt blessed. At this time a year ago I was sleeping poorly due to a twins pregnancy that was becoming increasingly more difficult, and soon to turn to 6 weeks of bed rest! Our upstairs master bedroom was about to be gutted completely, and to become a long and trying project for my husband while I was on bed rest and in the hospital for 3 weeks with our 35 week old babies, and he was home with our 3 year old and continuing the remodel. Things were all about to change with an uncertainty. This year I went to bed with the man I love completely and three beautiful children sleeping peacefully. God gave me a lot of grace this year. He was patient as I pleaded for our babies health, my stamina as they ate continuously, and sanity as our organized home has been turned upside down by double baby gear. I am learning a lot and learning what to say yes and no to; what to treasure and what to throw away. 

My little loves are my treasure that I know is mine on loan. At times I wish for a day to read, sleep, and watch movies, but those days will come again. For now I will capture the moments I share with my littles and treasure them. God will need to continue to shape me to be the mother they need. I will do my best to yield to Him and parent according to His will and word.

And just so you know who I'll be treasuring this year: 

April 2014

Christmas Day 2014

Parenting problems

Being a parent of littles can be a lonely job at times. Josh was out for a few hours and it was just the kids and me at home. I didn't think taking the kids out in the germs would be a great idea. But I was getting antsy. I thought about inviting someone over, but by the time I went through my list, there wasn't anyone to call. Her was my list:

Someone I know and not busy

Someone with few or no kids that could fit in my house

Someone who I would not need to clean for...piles of presents and toys to be sorted, out grown clothes that need to be sorted and packed up, dishes, laundry, etc.

Someone in town or near

Someone not sick or family sick so my kids have a chance to keep fighting off the influenza

Someone who likes kids and would enjoy our company

Someone who would "help"/play with my kids to keep us all happy while hanging out

Now the reason I didn't call someone was my decision, based on my perceptions. I know they could easily be wrong, and were. But it is very easy to go through my list and feel alone. And I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way...am I?

Christmas thoughts

Mollie and Will can't quite make it 12 hours through the night so at about 5:00am every morning Will wakes to eat. Mollie is sometime after that. Usually Will eats and goes back to sleep for another hour but he most know it is Christmas. He is awake, crawling around. Since he's been awake, Mollie has been changed, fed, and put back to bed. Good girl;)

We have a small tree this year with lights up on an end table, as an attempt at baby proofing. There are a few signs of the season, but most are daycare projects. (We love Ms. Amy!) 

Working until the day before Christmas Eve was rough for me. I felt behind all of December having been out of town for Thanksgiving, so not having a day I catch up and get ready for Christmas left me a frazzled. So instead of getting worked up too much I simplified as best as I could. We have a tree with lights, daycare projects hung, lasagne and caprese salad for dinner last night, and baby socks for Mollie and Will. I'll shop the after Christmas sales for their stockings:)

We were also more intentional talking to Caleb about Jesus this year. I would tell him the Christmas story before bed, talk about Mary and Joseph getting ready for a baby, complete our advent calendars, etc. We must have done ok because Josh was wrapping presents for extended family on Sunday when Caleb walked up and asked, "What you doing Daddy?" He replied, "Wrapping presented." Caleb inquried, "For Jesus?" Josh had his aww moment:)

For Christmas Eve we open presents from family and each other. Christmas morning is just Santa gifts. It's not that I need the credit, but I prefer that Santa give stocking gifts, but Not ALL the presents. This way the kids know they got presents from their loved ones. Santa can be the toothbrush giver, some candy, and small presents. He's not the hero of this holiday; Jesus is. 

Merry Christmas! 

Thanksgiving & Ohio Family 2014

I love visiting our Ohio family! Josh grew up there but in high school his parents and siblings moved to MN. Josh has lived in MN longer than Ohio now, but he is still a Buckeye with a soft spot for the Gophers.

Josh and I value family and one way we have chosen to demonstrate that is to see and visit family that we can drive to in a day or so (sorry German loved ones; we'll get there someday!). We go to Ohio every other year since we've been married and we're considering going every year. We were also in Ohio our first Christmas as a married couple and have returned for Grandma Betty and Grandpa Richard's funerals, as well as my cousin Cheryl's wedding. My side of the family also has a presence in Ohio. My mom's sister, Tina, and her family have lived in Ohio for over 10 years. We swing by them near Dayton on nearly every trip or meet halfway between them and Josh's family in Butler, north of Columbus. We always stay with Grandma Norma, and what a treat that is. She is a fabulous cook, great to talk to, and an overall fabulous grandma who loves on her grand babies, and great-grand babies. 

This Thanksgiving was special because it was Mollie and Will's first time to Ohio and first time to meet all of the family that lives there! Great Grandma Norma immediately loved on those babies! She was so helpful with their bottle feedings and making sure Caleb got what food and things he needed. 

On Thanksgiving Day we celebrated at Aunt Penny's house. She and Uncle Larry added on to their farm house and have a beautiful kitchen and eating area for hosting the large Miller family! Josh's cousin Caroline also has twins, Addison and Annabell. They are two years old and so sweet! They were so good to the babies! Caleb was also a rockstar on this trip! He traveled so well! I can't believe how awesome he did for being THREE! 

This trip marked a few milestones for Mollie and Will! 

-Their first road trip beyond the Twin Cities. We drove through the night to get to Ohio for a total of 16 hours on the road. 

-We stopped for breakfast at their first Cracker Barrel.

-Both babies cut at least one tooth! Sleep was difficult and away from home when teething. Those top ones are coming through! 

-Will pulled to standing for the first time on Thanksgiving Day! 

-First time sleeping in a hotel. We stopped on the way back at a hotel for a pool so Caleb could go swimming!

This Thanksgiving we are so grateful for the many blessings God has graced us with this year! He has entrusted us with three amazing and healthy children! We are exhausted but filled with joy that these three are in our lives!!