Be right back!!

In EK words.  We are off for a fun weekend.  Girls with LuLu and Poppy and yes we are headed out to Madison, WI.... 3 nights away with my favorite guy!!

Happy birthday to LuLu today!!!

Ten months old

Note to MM:

10 months old and you are ready to be on the move! Your so close to getting the crawl going.  You are the happiest babe around and my best sleeper.  You love eating and lately you would prefer food over baby food, you love pancakes and fruit!  You are so laid back and I love that about you because you are teaching me to be better at just rolling with it and smiling every step of the way.  You speak up when you need something and you always make sure we know you are there but then you just hang.  I hope you can always stay chill and enjoy your life.  Your smile is the best so smile often and I promise you and everyone around you will be happy!!

Note to MF:

My little Maugs, you will always by my mighty one.  It seems to be engrained in who you are.  You want it all and you are loud about it! Happy happy babe and always talking.  Something you and I have in common.  I love it about you.  You may be smaller but you are louder.  You too are a good sleeper and I thank you so much!! I love listening to you talk to your sisters, your laugh is the best.  Please keep that mighty might and that strong voice!  I promise that when you speak people will listen and follow you to all the good places you will go in life.

I love you both so much and we are 10 months into the journey of life with twins. You are so similar yet so different and I will always remind you, be your own person but its fine to share some qualities and traits as you are so lucky to have a connection that not everyone gets.  I can already see the bond and its truly awesome how much you love each other.

Food: you both will eat just about all baby food, you love pears.  Favorite for you both is graham cracker.

You both sleep through the night and I thank you daily! You both take 2 naps morning and afternoon.

We both love water and bath time is a happy time in our house.  You both love toys and playing.  

We are so lucky to have you both as part of our family!! 2 months and you will be one, blows my mind!!!

Canning

Yes this is what poppa has done the past 2 afternoons, so pickles anyone? Salsa? All fresh from our garden and the local farmers market.  It was the first time I used a mason jar for its original purpose. And I learned how to seal them up.  Poppa did all the work and there really was a lot of work.

Canning steps in pictures.

Pickles:

Salsa:

Soaking up a little more summer while its hot and sunny! 

Rodeo Time!!

Watch out world the state fair followed by a night at the Rodeo.  Not sure what could be next?!!  Louie came in town to hang and joined us for an evening of fun.  A first for everyone but poppa. 

She had the best time cheering for the horses and her favorite was the baby cows.  It was all very interesting and I can't imagine riding that bucking horse and lets not talk about the bull.

Time for the kiddy run and ek was all about climbing into the ring.  Thinking this was going to be a race with all the kids I followed her in to make sure she wasn't trampled.  Lined up and ready to go, kids take off and ek watches and starts to follow.  All of a sudden I look up and there is a baby cow coming straight at ek and me.  Holy shit is all I can think... I hate animals, get me out of here, get ek!!! Not letting any if this emotion. Out as ek is totally unphased and wants to see the cow.  I do grab her and head the heck out.  Blurry but poppa did get a picture of the moment.  He and Louie had no idea about the cows either.  So note to self your at the rodeo so stay out if the ring!

Poppa may have all girls but I know he loves moments like the above when his girl is climbing the fence barefoot, shrieking with excitement and asking so many questions about everything that's happening.  Makes my heart full for him.

Boots and all she had a great night out!! Littles will go next year.  

Soaking it in...

We all say and hear it over and over but really time goes so fast.  Sometimes that is a good thing and sometimes not.  I will be honest my time this year in the nicu I prayed for the days to pass and make it end but now with 2 healthy babes that are so fun and full of life and a 2 year old with a crazy fun imagination...slow down. Reality doesn't work that way but I challenge myself as I have said before to slow down and say "your going to miss this" to help soak it all in.  Somedays I forget that I am 31 not 21, hope that doesn't change and that I have almost been in the working world for 9 years, almost married 5, and 3 kids. GASP.  I still feel like it was my first day yesterday, I remember to this day coming home and saying to my parents I'm going to go there everyday.  Whose idea was it to work 5 days a week with 2 off.  You know poppy gave his silent chuckle and a yep.  I guess I liked it because 9 years later still same company but not the same daily work place.  Where I am going with this is that I want to continue to slow it down and enjoy life because it won't slow down and I know I'll hit that bump again where I want to go fast.

Moments like this where she was just excited as her momma for her first big girl bike!

She's off and waving after a clear "I got it"

Snug in new matching jams! After we had  toliet  paper everywhere, ceramic full soapin (eks word for soap) dish shattered on the floor, baby food that seems to cover the kitchen, more outfits worn in a day then girls all worn by a 2 year old, and dirty bottles that missed their am cleaning (ugh). Yes I know, one day I will miss all of that  as well.

BIG girl....

Big girl pants for ek!!! It has been a week Saturday that ek decided she wanted to go on the big girl potty and wear big girl pants ( well not really interested in underwear so goes commando for now!).  This was truly all her and she got it.  Started last Saturday at the pool when she told me she had to go (I talk poop but find typing it strange!)  hate the mess in a swim diaper so tell her lets go to potty fast. Not knowing what the outcome would be it was a pleasant surprise when she held it and went.  She has gone randomly up until then.  Monday she decided she would just do it all and no more diapers.  She has only had 2 accidents.  We rode in car today for an hour both way and she was dry, gone out to dinner, state fair... i woukd say she has got it.  Ek is the perfect example that they do it when they are ready because we did not expect this but are so proud of her.  We started a sticker chart the first day but she didn't have a lot of interest in that kind of treat.  So here we go into the next stage, she already tells me when going "I got it and need privacy".  Lots of potty talk in this house.  EK was her standard CEO on this so I don't even have any good advice on potty training.  So proud of EK!!!  

Side note: why is all the kid underwear so terrible? Please just basic colors and not a bikini cut for a size 2T.  You know I don't do characters so I will find it somewhere.  

State Fair!

We have talked about going to this for a few summers and with the gorgeous weather we decided to pack up and and head to Sedalia this Sunday for the MO State Fair.  We have never been so I wasn't really sure what to expect but I had an idea.  

First I knew we would eat a lot! We arrived hungry and started it off right, Corn dogs and lemonade! That was just the start...

The best treat!!! Yes ek has no shoes but they did go back on quick!

EK could not wait to see the cows.  Loved them and was mooing at them.  You know I don't really do animals but I will say all shined up those were some pretty cows.  But lets not talk about the beds the people had in the stalls for themselves, can't imagine sleeping or resting there.

It was so fun watching ek get so excited about all the fun! I think that was the best part if the day, pure joy through kids eyes.

Second best was watching how much poppa loved that she loved a good ole farm day, cow poop smell and all.  3 girls but so far they are girly but like to get dirty.  As the wheels of my new stroller were covered and somehow I got it on my shorts, I to was embracing and rolling with it. We are at the fair!

Ok I loved the piggy races and of course so did ek!! I am not sure what I loved more the classic decor with the flags, seersucker numbers on the pigs, the polka dot pants on Ella Mae, or how funny and fast they raced. 

The exotic petting zoo was fun from the outside for this momma. Despite the stern look poppa said she loved petting them all. Littles and I people watched!

The littles were there and enjoyed the stroll in their  new ride.  There is something about a fair that takes everyone back to their childhood when you enter the gates.  It's as if time stands still in the fair world and summer is not complete without that trip to a fair. 

As if we needed more food a pit stop at a small town soda fountain is a must.  I would say by those smiles they all love ice cream!!!!

Check up

A little late because this mom almost forgot.  Who else finds doc appointments hard to keep track of?!! So better late than never, 9 1/2 month check up with poppa.  

And we have a tooth!!! I was shocked to get the text since poppa took them.  Sure enough a little white broke through.  Go Maugie!!  Little and mighty that is for sure!

Look at that head, big head for big brain! Doc more than pleased with these numbers and the % are now compared to full term babes.  Those docs are so right that they do catch up!  

Feeling so blessed to have these 2 happy and healthy girls.  I'm so thankful for the docs and nurses that helped us get them here.  It takes a village to raise a child that is for sure!

Summer Love

There is so much I love about summer! But you can't take the Midwest out of me (even though I love the south), I love the seasons and am always ready for change.  You all know me, I love change, I thrive on change, and I need change.  Now this weather lately could stay but I'm not going to lie a pumpkin spice lattes, the color changes of leaves and my decor, football (I LOVE the sound of football in the background!)...it all sounds fabulous!! I'm not wishing away the last weeks of this fabulous season just getting excited about what's ahead.

For now more if this with my pool lover! She requests the pool, music to my ears!!  We even took our first swim in the lake on Sunday.  EK loved it and thought it was her pool!

Morning snuggles will never get old with the sun shining in! 

And while I do look forward to pumpkin spice, I'm loving my iced coffee on a perfect morning with my coffee date while we wait for the nail place to open up.  Yes I started EK young on mani/pedis and she loves it and they love her. She is hilarious, tells Kim all sorts of stories, walks in and gets her chair and color like a pro!  Don't worry it's really just a nail cut and polish but she loves it!! This time even got a flower in her thumbs, ha!!

So as I get excited for pumpkins, football, and Halloween, I'm going to soak in the summer with a few final things on my summer bucket list.

Disclaimer:Baby on table is safe