Some things to remember...

Some pics of Bella at about 8 months. Is Paislee her clone or what?


Bella is getting big too fast. When she first starting talking well, I couldn't believe the things that came out of her mouth. They are becoming fewer as she is learning more and more, but here are a few from this last week.

B: Mom, can we pinger faint?
M: Yeah we can pinger faint!
B: I loooove pinger fainting!


M: Bella, why are you leaving a trail of chips on the floor?
B: Because the bees are hungry!
M: Oh?
B: Yeah. That why's they need something to eat!
translation: Bees are actually flies

B: I don't have a baby in my tummy.
M: No you don't. You are too little.
B: Jayce doesn't have a baby in her tummy eader!

Since her recovery, whenever we are talking to someone (at church, a cousin, a friend, a complete stranger) Bella will do a big loud fake cough and say:
"I got the cough-es. That why's I'm really sick!"
She really is better now, don't be alarmed if she coughs on you.

Super Busy & Happy BDay Papa Don

I can't believe how busy we got. I mean, all of a sudden! Bella was in the hospital with Pneumonia last week. She had been 104-105 for about 6 days, without a big cough. I took her in on a Saturday, and the NP said "it's probably just a virus". So I went home feeling stupid and paranoid. By Monday, she still was 105 and I brought her along to the Tiny's checkup. The doctor could tell she was completely miserable. Listened to her breath, checked everything and said he thought it was pneumonia! Dr. Edwards is pretty amazing. No one would have thought pneumonia. She was hardly even coughing. Even the nurse at the hospital said she didn't think that was it. After a chest XRay and some blood work, yep PNEUMONIA! I didn't know anything about it. I've never had it and neither have my kids. I was clueless.

Right away, they put her on an IV with some antibiotics. It took two tries to put the IV in. She was screaming and crying so loud, the entire pediatrics floor could hear. The saddest part was her crying, "stop momma. I want to get up!" over and over again. Next time, I want them to sedate her or something. Seriously, that was traumatizing for both of us. The rest of her 24 hour stay, she ignored all doctors, nurses, basically anyone she did not know. I had to laugh when her nurse came in and Sweet Pea rolled over and faced the window. I guess she figured if she couldn't see the nurse, the nurse couldn't see her and she would go away. I didn't blame her at all though. She was miserable and she went through A LOT for a little girl. How do you explain what is happening to a 2 (almost 3) year old? I tried, but failed horribly.

So while Bella is sick in the hospital, Levi is working so hard. He has gotten just slammed with work all of a sudden. I am not complaining. This is the answer to our prayers. We are so very grateful. He has been working 75+ hour weeks lately. After the slowest deadest winter, we are SO DEEPLY GRATEFUL!

I am extremely grateful for a thoughtful, sweet, hardworking, talented, funny, and handsome husband. I couldn't ask for a better guy. He doesn't complain, even though he is sooo tired and his whole body probably just aches. LEVI YOU'RE THE BEST!


Tiny's are busier than ever. They both decided they wanted to know what is going on in the world upstairs. I have caught Kailia half-way up a few times this week. Paislee is getting a tooth and is completely miserable. Now, Bell is now back to herself again (finally!). The girl cracks me up. I love my three little princesses. They bring so much light into my life. We went to the park today and doubled up Tinies on an infant swing while Bella dug in the dirt. (No that is not Bella digging, it's some random little boy).

Today is also my Dad's birthday. Happy Birthday, Papa Don! We all love you and can't wait to go on a bike ride soon. Funny story about this picture....He was visiting from Canada and it happened to be his Bday soon. So, we had a little 'surprise' bday cake & ice cream. I put the appropriate number of candles on his cake. When I took this picture he was like, "What??!! I'm not 39, I am 38! Come on do the math Lyndsy." So I felt pretty stupid. But then Jen, my sister in law says, "What year were you born? She's right!" The other picture is last year at his "fake" birthday at Tucano's. He loves to get everyone else sung to even if it's not their birthday, so we had to get him at least once, right? ha ha ha

Already famous...

Check page 42 out...so fun. Bella was a winner for this magazine in 2007. We got a gift certificate to Tucano's from her. This time we got one to a new baby boutique in Highland called La De Da. You have to make 'em earn their keep!

Bella got a haircut

After fighting with Bella every single morning for the past year, I d took decided to take Bell to get her hair cut. I took her to Cookie Cutters. It's a really cute salon especially for kids. I almost chickened out right before, but we took off 5-6 inches! I am so happy with how it turned out. I love the A-Line layered above the shoulder bob. I think it totally fits her personality.It's also ten times easier to do. I love it. I think she loves it too. Bella can we trade hair, please?

Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover

Have you heard of or seen Susan Boyle? She was on Britain's Got Talent. WOW. I was totally floored. If you haven't seen or heard her perform, take a minute to watch this video.

She brought chills up and down my entire body and started to tear up.

Things I didn't Expect with Twins

I have really enjoyed being the mom of twin girls. Each new milestone with them is so much fun and interesting. Here are some things I didn't expect with my twins:

1. That it would take me 8 months to be able to distinguish each baby by their own cry.
2. That I would be more amused than overwhelmed with them starting to crawl.
3. That they would have such different personalities.
4. They switch certain traits from time to time. You can't just say, "she's the fussy one, or she's the demanding one."
5. That strangers would constantly be asking if they were twins. ("No, they just happen to be the same age and dressed alike....."
6. That identical twins could have their unique look (at least to mom & dad).
7. That identical twins could have different cowlick patterns!
8. That they would grow and develop so differently with some things and so identically with others.
9. That my 2 year old would love them both as much as she does.
10. That nursing both wasn't as freakish or awkward as I thought it would be. I remember looking through pregnancy books when I was pregnant with Bella and seeing pictures. I showed Levi and thought how weird it was. I never thought that would be me. I never thought it would be possible.
11. That two little babies would sometimes be more convenient than one. (no wasting any baby food, because they share) I can't seem to think of any others at the moment....
12. That they would wear headbands only 2% of the time because it is a lot of work to keep two on.
13. That it would be hard to keep them in matching outfits during the day...blow-outs, food stains, etc.
14. I didn't realize how much I'd rely on my stroller to go ANYWHERE by MYSELF.
15. I didn't think I'd actually NOT mind going out of the house as much with 3 kids 2 and under. It's too much of a hassle. When I do go out by myself though, people are usually so helpful and sweet. At my brother's track meet, a man and his wife carried and pushed my stroller for 15 minutes to help me get it through bumpy grass and dirt. I had all three girls in the stroller. It was heavy.
16. That I would secretly hope to have another set of twins someday.

struggling

The past month or two I have really been struggling! I am usually a happy and motivated person. But the last two weeks especially have been tough. I have felt extreme highs and lows, lack of drive, inadequacy, tired, worn out, overwhelmed, etc. I kept thinking, "What is my problem???" I talked to Levi and to Levi's mom about how I was feeling.I then realized maybe it was post-partum depression. I read about it online and it makes sense. I think my body is still trying to get back to "normal" from having the twins. I still haven't started my period yet and nursing two babies definitely takes it's toll.

So, I asked Levi for a blessing and it has really helped. Little by little I think I am coming out of it and am feeling more like myself. I think I need to not be so hard on myself and not expect perfection all the time. Has anyone every experienced post-partum depression? What did you do to feel better?

thanks!