Summer 2013

Alyssa and Allison are enjoying their last days of Summer before they are officially first graders.

 

They are my light. My laughter.

 

 

I'm not 100% sure where they got their completely crazy and outgoing personalities, but I could just gobble them up.

 

They are so sassy and full of life.

 

They turned 6 years old this Summer and with that came this pair of mature little girls that continue to amaze me day after day. I truly love them more then I ever thought possible.

TGIF

Happy Friday from the Stone Family.

 

xoxo

 

Couldn't Help...

but share their beauty with the world!

Alyssa & Allison

3 years

Twins

To this day I still wonder why God chose me to be a mother to twins. I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to watch them grow and interact. As if being a mother wasn't enough, being a mother of twins is like taking things to an extreme.

From the time they were born I was labeled 'one of those moms'.

It brought tears to my eyes to see them all bundled up in the same crib; side-by-side and sleeping peacefully. I giggled with excitement when I first dressed them alike.

I've received a lot of heat for apparently 'not letting my children be individuals'. Haha...that's a joke!

You would only need to be around my girls for a few minutes to learn that, dressed alike or not, they are completely different. Check out their shoe preference...

Alyssa is our outgoing princess and Allison is our sneaky perfectionist.

A few examples...
-Alyssa is ALWAYS in some form of a dress. Whether it's just a dress-up costume or her fanciest frilly dress, she is always dolled up.

-Allison is up for wearing anything in her closet, but you better believe that she is going to have to put her own little touches on it. She likes leggings under her shorts and shirts under her dresses.

-They both have a say on how their hair is done and 9 times out of 10...it's a different opinion.

-When picking out their shoes, Alyssa will gravitate towards the more girly sandals and Allison throws a fit until I find her cowboy boots or flip flops.

-While watering the flowers last night, Alyssa waited just long enough to see the water hit the bottom of her watering can before she took off to dump it out. Allison stood there holding my hand until the water reached the top before she carefully walked over to the plant and nicely poured it in.

-When going to bed, Alyssa will kick her blanket off and get comfy where as Allison will neatly tuck the blanket under her arms and closer her eyes.

-As the girls sit at the table coloring, you will see piles and piles of crayons surrounding Alyssa and then notice that Allison puts every crayon back in the bucket before choosing another one.

. . . . . . . .

What I find the most funny is that it's the non-twin mothers that are the most judgmental.

"When you have twins of your own I will kindly sit back let you make parental choices on your own. I will not add my opinions about children that I know little to nothing about. Unless you are around my children on a daily basis and have facts to back up your assumptions and off the wall statements, I ask you to please mind your own business. I am clearly doing something right!!"

-Sarah Stone

Stop

I'm stopping...

Taking a step back from the chaos that has engulfed me over the last 48 hours.

Trying to relax.

That is cut short by my precious 10 month old who has a double ear infection.

The twins climbing all over me. Begging for me to read countless books to them.

Sippys. Books. Snacks. Puzzles. Toys. Cartoons. Potty breaks. Play-doh.

Screaming 10 month old.

Medicines. Bottles. Diarrhea up the back. Pedialyte. Sleepless nights. Short naps.

Registering my nieces for school and missing my husband.

The heat. Oh, the heat!

Fingers in fans. Naked butts. Candy in hair. It's CRAZY!

Rummage sales with my momma in the morning.

Preparing for a baby shower on Saturday.

FINALLY...Baby shower on Sunday.

Maybe then I can breath!

Does it get any easier?

That is the 1 Million dollar question with twins.

There have been many times when someone would randomly come up to me and say "Don't worry, it gets easier." It started when the girls were a few months old and the only thing I could think was, yeah right, we'll see!

Well, my babies are about to turn three and I am here to set the record straight.

Being a parent of multiples does NOT get easier as they get older. Your 'hard' changes daily. As you move away from the things that are physically challenging (feeding two screaming infants at once, carrying two tiny babies at once, making two trips up the stairs just to get them down for a nap (3 times a day), washing of clothes/bottles) it becomes more and more draining mentally (who is who, one distracting you while the other runs upstairs, wanting different things for dinner, fighting over toys (that they each have their own of), running in opposite directions while outside).

It's still hard, but is a whole new way. It takes patients and the ability to go with the flow and let them figure things out on their own. Before they were born I would freak out over the small things. Would I need to buy two of everything? No, not always. Let them be the ones to decide. Watch them, attempt to figure them out. All twins are not alike and what works for one mother may not work for you.

I am constantly being asked questions about how my days goes with twins. While I can tell you that it's not nearly as interesting as one would think, it has also changed a lot from when they were infants.

9am- The twins have been up for around 30 minutes, but because there are two, they play quietly until mommy drags her butt out of bed. Then I get them and their little sister out of bed. Some mornings they want to hold me hand going down the stairs and believe me, they keep track of who's turn it is!!

9:30am- Breakfast and cartoons. I usually just make the girls cereal and I know that Allison will want less cereal and lots (I mean LOTS) of milk. Alyssa on the other hand will just the opposite.

10am- By this time Alyssa is still entranced in her Dora or Yo Gabba Gabba, Allison is on to the next thing; coloring, playing house, tea party. By the time Alyssa is ready to join her sister, Allison is off to something else. Within an hour Allison will play with 100 different toys...Alyssa will have been sitting quietly doing the same thing the entire time.

11am- It's time for Madelynn's nap and I will tell the girls NOT to follow mommy upstairs. Of course, without fail, Allison is right on my heals while Alyssa gets comfy on the couch to read a book.

12 Noon- 9 times out of 10 they will NEVER agree on what they want for lunch. In that case, Mommy decides what SHE wants and they deal with it. :) Allison is more open to different, off the wall foods. Alyssa is more picky. She wants the basics, nothing funny, and would prefer it deep fried or covered in chocolate. She would choose a bag of chips and donuts over Allisons rice and tuna salad sandwich.

1pm- NAP TIME for the twins. Yay! They share a room, but each have their own beds and know which is which. Alyssa's eyes go shut the second her head hits the pillow; Allison will do her best to stay out of bed and run around until I chase her down and sing to her. Then she will test me by opening her eyes 50 times to make sure that I am, indeed, watching them. She makes me tired!

3pm- Everyone is awake and wanting to go outside. I tell them they have to wait for Daddy to come home. Alyssa sits on the couch waiting, while Allison plants herself right in front of the door. haha.

5pm- Dinner! Alyssa & Allison sit next to each other at the table and know which chair is which. As long as we have some sort of potato, there is no struggle to get them to eat. Allison prefers rice and Alyssa wants chicken. Typical!

8:30pm- Bath time and bed for all 3 girls. Johnathon and I take turns each night with who we tuck in first. The girls each get to pick 2 songs for Mommy to sing and then we shut the door. On occasion we will hear them up and talking, but usually they are quiet and fall asleep shortly. Even if they are up playing, they always find their way back to their own beds. Once in a blue moon, one girl will ask to sleep with her sister. If her sister says okay, we let them! If her sister says no, sorry! That's just how it works.

Well, I hope I have satisfied your craving for wanting to know the details. If you ever want to know anything else...just ask! I promise I won't bite your head off for being curious!! :)

xoxo

are you ready?...

as promised, here are some pictures from the last few weeks. i do apologize for the HUGE time gap of missing pics, but this should more than make up for it. :)

Allison is more rambunctious that EVER! she is talking more and more and can say literally just about everything you ask her. she is really into tickling everyone and playing house. i don't think a moment goes by that she isn't playing "mommy", whether it be with a baby doll, duck or pony! she is such a sweetheart and a HUGE part of my life.

Alyssa seems to be a tad more mature than her sister lately. she is still her same old ornery, feisty outgoing self, but she is such a good listener and follower of directions! if there is a task to be done, Alyssa is the one to ask! she is constantly playing dress up and giggling when she isn't getting naked and sneaking some chips out of the pantry. :)

my little girls are getting so big and i'm having a hard time accepting that. i am just trying to enjoy every ounce of time that i have with them before the new baby gets here. they will always be my little darlings!

Alyssa & mommy

Allison is playing "mommy" and feeding her baby as Alyssa is hypnotized my the TV! haha, so typical!
still feeding her baby...

little Allison Leanne @ State Farm Park

Nana & her sweet Alyssa

they were going CRAZY!

Mommy & Allison...

...now with Alyssa

Allison was FINALLY standing still for me

haha...at least she was in the water this time!!

ALYSSA...aka: my little water baby!

always on a mission

:)

a goofy pic my mom took of me while i was laying on my side.

JOHNATHAN

(my fully energetic nephew!)

i was attempting to burn off some of that stored energy of his

he gets super bashful around my belly, but my mom was able to sneak in and capture this rare moment between the two of us.

my big ole belly @ 30 weeks and some odd days!

life is getting easier by the day!! the girls are now into holding hands and walking as a pair. it really makes traveling with them by myself doable. believe or not, they even listen when i say no, stop, turn around, come back and sit/stand still. i am SO lucky to be the mother of these beautiful angels!

Johnny's grandparents were in town and got the meet the twins for the first time!!

the girls were loving on their grandma & grandpa for a bit!

they ♥♥ them so much!

Allie-gator was having a little fun with her Papa

my lovely momma and her sister, Deniece

Johnny's grandma invited me and the kids to a carnival at her church a few weeks back. there were snow-cones, cotton candy and moon bounces! i took this opportunity to let my nieces get out of the house and have a little fun. here they are right before i let them run loose...

Breanna & Emma

the girls were really enjoying all of the sweets

ATTACK OF THE COTTON CANDY!

as you can see from all of the photos, its been a very long and crazy couple of weeks. everything is about to slow down as i go on bed rest this weekend and the kids start school TOMORROW! i will be taking Breanna and Emma to school and then its off to the couch for me. im not exactly looking forward to being trapped in the house as the last few summer days pass us by, but i have found a few things to keep me busy. i have started to crochet!! i know, i know...it sounds lame, but i am super duper excited! :) i have started making Madelynn a little dark/deep purple blanket and i must say, i'm doing pretty good. it was very frustrating to learn at first, but with a little help from my mom, im nearly a pro at this point! haha. ;)

i got a call from Johnny today and had a WONDERFUL 45 minute convo with him. he sounds fantastic and is just trying to stay focused on his fast approaching homecoming into San Diego. they are at port right now, but that's about all the info i feel comfortable giving at the moment. he got to talk to both of his little girls and hear them say many many sentences and comments. Allison even told him that she loved him and tried to tickle him through the phone...she is so predictable sometimes. haha.

we have officially started planning my baby shower!! my mom is really looking forward to doing this for me. i have to say that i feel a little weird having a second one when my girls are only two, but its a great way to hang out with everyone before i have to leave and who couldn't use extra baby stuff?!?! anyway, its planned for Monday, September 14th. if you wanna come then just email me and i can give you all the info!

im feeling alright! i think i may be coming down with something, probably what my mom had last week. ugh! :( the baby is doing great though...still moving ALL the time! my last Dr.s appointment went wonderfully and a lot better than i was expecting. they have decided not to put me on the P17 shots just yet, but are glad that i am going on bed rest. i finally got my medical records from the Navy Hospital (they are a joke) and we got a 100% green light on the whole VBAC, natural birth, water birth agenda! i am SO SO SO excited about everything and i am actually looking forward to the whole experience. they are going to pencil in a c-section date just in case i don't go into labor on time. its not the route i want to go, but i have to be back in California in time for Johnny's ship commissioning on the 24th. i promised him i would be there and i have no intentions on missing it.

i don't want to sound like an emotional wreck, but...
I MISS MY HUSBAND!
some days it feels like he has been gone forever and won't be back any time soon. :( i can't even begin to explain what it feels like to miss your best friend so much and so often. only another military wife could truly understand how i am feeling. i guess the pregnancy hormones don't help the situation at all. i hate that he is missing out on so much of this pregnancy and won't remember this precious time like he does with my previous pregnancy. i can only pray that he makes in home in time to feel Madelynn kick one last time before we celebrate her entrance into this world. the bottom line, i am helpless without him and i want him home!

xoxo