Oh the places you'll go....out to eat

Emma:  Mommy and Daddy take us lots of places
Brett: yeah, thanks!
Emma: We've been to the Aquarium, the Pier, and to a Lightning game to name a few of the places.
Brett: But the places mommy and daddy have taken us the most are restaurants!
Emma: Nice ones too!
Brett: Here is a list of all the restaurants we've visited since 2/1/11 (the best day ever)

Bascom's Chop House
PF Changs
Maggiano's
Parkshore Grill
Marchands
Cassis
The Columbia
Bella Brava
Sonny's BBQ
Carmelita's
The Cheesecake Factory
Champs
Casa Tina
Timpano Chop House
Boulevard Bistro
Bonefish Grill
Fuji Yama
The Lime
MJ's
Oishi (thai)

Brett: is that it?
Emma: I think so
Brett: What a twin brotha can't get reservation at Bern's
Emma: You'd probably sleep through it anyway.
Brett: Just as well, all I ever get is Similac advance
Emma: Mommy said that will change soon.
Brett: STEAK!!!!
Emma: more like rice cereal
Brett: Major bummer!

Emma: Well, that's all the time we have today ladies and gentleman. For Brett Boksen, I'm Emma Boksen, have a good night.
Brett: ....and don't forget to have your pets spayed and neutered

Where we've been!

     I know I have been a pretty bad blogger lately! But it is quite the balancing act taking care of the two cutest babies, two adorable puppies, my home, and being back in school. We are keeping very very busy around here!!


   Last weekend we went to the Taste of Pinellas in downtown St. Petersburg. We didn't stay long because it was so hot! But we did have some fun in the time we were there.

Brian wearing Brett, me wearing Emma!

     Brian's playoff beard has grown very quickly! And everyone thought he looked just like Zach Galifinakis in 'The Hangover' when he wore Brett in the Baby Bjourn. 

Hangover Shot

     The rest of the week was pretty normal. I took Brett and Emma on some adventures but for the most part there wasn't too much going on. Until Thursday - when Brian decided he wanted to go to Boston for game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. (That's hockey - FYI!) It was a last minute trip and we didn't plan on staying long. I was so excited at the idea of a last minute trip that I said yes immediately, and Brian booked our tickets! And then it hit me....I was scared to leave Brett and Emma overnight. Not because I didn't trust Brian's mom to take care of them, but because I hadn't anticipated being away from them so soon. Luckily everything was fine and Brian and I were able to make the most of the trip, with a few check-ins and constant photo updates :) 

    The trip itself was OK. I did enjoy some time with Brian and a break from all my motherly duties. It was nice only having to wipe one butt for a few hours! hahaha! But if anyone was watching the game, I am sure you can understand why us Tampa Bay Lightning fans weren't too thrilled with the outcome! And some of the Boston Bruins fans didn't do anything to make us feel welcome in their city. So there is  my mixed review. It was OK, but I can guarantee that we will probably never see Boston again. I did get a couple of pictures though! (Of course!)

Quincy Market

Holocaust Memorial near Quincy Market

Enjoying a Sam Adams Boston Lager

And here are some of the great pictures that got us through our overnight stay....

Emma relaxing!

Brett looking for his thumb.

Best friends playing together!

     

Welcome, Hunter!!

     My little sister, Rosie, had a baby boy on May 12 - Brian's birthday!! His name is Hunter Robert and he was born 5 weeks early.

     He had a week-long NICU stay and then was able to come home with Rosie and her fiance, John. Even though it was hard for Rosie to be leave the hospital without Hunter, she did need the time to get the nursery ready and some other baby items because she was not prepared at 35 weeks! (Really, who is??) Hunter was actually born two days before her baby shower. She was released from the hospital that morning so she made it just in time :) It all worked out and now they are all home together, snuggling up!!

     Brett and Emma cannot meet Hunter for a little while :( He can't be around large crowds, babies, or kids for almost two months. But we have shown them lots of pictures and I know they cannot wait to meet Hunter and go on lots of play dates. When I got my new car one of my first thoughts was "yay now we can fit three car seats back here and go places with Hunter and Rosie!!"

     AND he was a big boy for a preemie. 6 lbs, 10 ounces at 35 weeks!

Introducing Hunter Robert........

Hunter Robert

Hunter and Daddy

Leaving the hospital in the car seat we got him :)

Adorable!!

Hunter and mommy!!

    

WILW

I am love love loving our Bumbo chairs! Brett and Emma are getting so big!

Just hanging out!

Silly

Funny Guy!

     They love sitting in their chairs! I am always finding ways to get them off of their backs throughout the day so I am so glad they have enough head control to hang out in these for a little while :)

So just a couple more things to add to our clutter of toys in the living room! Sometimes I think our house looks like a Babies R Us!

2 Boksen Bloggers

Brett: Ladies and gentleman, let me first start by saying welcome back!
Emma: and welcome our substitute writer Rocco, seen below...

Emma: Rocco is graciously filling in for our usual keyboard specialist, Rusty.

Brett: Rusty is anything but trusty.

Emma: she had a vet appointment?!?!

Brett: thats what she said, but TMZ has photos of her strutting her stuff, nude, on the dog beach!

Emma: Shocking!

Brett: I would make a permanent change, if Rocco didn't use so many colors and crazy font

Emma: Well thats not the only photo in the tabloids this week.
Brett:  Wha wha whaaat?
Emma: Yep, headline Brett Boksen, Party Animal?
Brett: Whats wrong with that????
Emma:  The article says this picture was taken at Charlie Sheen's house at 5AM!
Brett: I was winning!
Emma: you are whining!
Brett: ME?
Emma: yes you!
Brett: when has a tough guy like me ever whined?
Emma: Just the other day when you spilt your milk!

Brett: Well it was very sad!

Emma: You never cry over spilt milk! Thats day one stuff!

Brett: Well why do you have to be so judgmental?
Emma: Oh Brother!
 Brett: Quick I think I heard Dad! Rocco, quick, turn off the computer!
Both: BYE!!!

The Florida life...

     Brian and I have talked about moving out of Florida once or twice. I don't think it is something we would every really do but we have pondered the idea of our careers taking us elsewhere or if Brett is a phenomenal ice skater moving up north so he can play ice hockey :) 

     But at the end of the day we love living in Florida and all the beauty that comes with it! I was scrolling through some pictures and found these from a couple weekends ago when Brian went kayaking for the first time this year. The weather has been great and I am sure he will be back out all Spring and Summer.  

Brian cleaning his kayak

Getting ready to launch

View from our dock

And he's off!

     I have a million blog posts to catch up on but I really should be doing school work right now! I am only on my first class but it is a lot of work. I am learning a lot, though!

     But...just a preview of what's to come...

• Updated nursery photos
• B&E's 3-month check-up
• My sister's brand new baby boy!!!
• Fitness/Nutrition updates and the Boksen challenge

Be back soon! 

Happy Mommy Day

Emma: Happy mommy's Day, is a day where all the mommies do things that make them happy!

Brett: So we wanted to do something nice for our mommy!

Emma:  So we enlisted the help of our trusty columnist Rusty, and asked her to get mommy a present.

Brett: but she was no help, all she came back with was a cheeseburger and fries!

Emma: Luckily Daddy got her a new car, and took her for a day of relaxation at the spa...ugh, jealous!

Brett: of the cheeseburger?

Emma: NO! of the car and spa day.

Brett: OH.........Im jealous of that burger.....and are those onion rings!

Emma: anyways, we have also been crying for food at night, yet mommy and daddy refuse to feed us until morning.

Brett: I know I try to cry as loud as I can, but its like they are trying to ignore us.

Emma: We do try to sleep though, I even posted evidence of us sleeping below...

Brett: it's hard to sleep without feeding though!

Emma: this should be good, why?

Brett: that Similac Advanced is like Crack!!! 

Emma: or cheeseburgers?!?! lol

Brett: (drooling) mmmmm cheeseburgers!

 Emma: well, we are glad mommy had a great mommy's day
Brett: yeah and we had fun with daddy all day while mommy was gone.
Emma: yep, im pretty good with a camera now, see pictures below....
Brett:  Before you "C-B-Low" somebody needs to change my diaper, uh yep, that cheeseburger just came out the other end
Emma: you are intolerable
Both: BYE!

Never say never...

     It is going to be a sad, sad, night in the Boksen home. 


     Sleep training starts tonight. I know I said we wouldn't do it. Or that we couldn't do it. But it is just really taking a toll on us. Last week I slept in the nursery, something that really upset Brian. I know different things work for different couples, but we are adamant about not sleeping in separate beds. Whether we are sick, fighting, etc...we always go to sleep together and wake up together. So last week in the middle of the night when I was a little pissy and very tired, I plopped into the glider and passed out. I broke our rule. 


     After seeing Dr. CIO (cry it out) again today and getting a pep talk, we realized that the juice will be worth the squeeze on this one. I thought we were so lucky when B&E started sleeping 5 and sometimes 7 hour stretches. But, where did those nights go?! 


   So how are we going to do this?


1. With a schedule. Well, let's call it a routine :)
2. As a team. 
3. Without pacifiers :( -- this might have to change!!!
4. Quickly. - Dr. CIO said after 1-2 nights they will STTN! (Sleep through the night). 


There is a method to sleep training. We are not locking our babies in the room for 12 hours and checking on them when we wake up tomorrow morning. I know that is how some people view sleep training. It is how I viewed it before I ever considered it. There is way more to it than that. There are rules, considerations, and exceptions. 


It is going to be another long night for all of us, and I will probably be crying myself. And I don't want to sound pompous and say "it's different with twins", but it really is. One baby up all night is tough, I am sure. But two? Up all night at different times ? While Brian and I desperately hope that each other hears the monitor first? Hopefully those nights will soon be behind us. 


So if you are reading this and have any words of wisdom or encouragement, please share by leaving a comment - I would really appreciate it :) 

Babies gone Wild

Emma:  Being spring, we thought it would be a good idea to come clean on some .

Brett:  yeah, come clean up your poopy diapers!  Zinger!

Emma:  Brilliant!

Brett: so, first thing first tell them about your joyride!

Emma:  Im not sure i know what you are talking about?

Brett: Dad's Kayak?

Emma:  OHHHH,  so I took dad's kayak out for a spin today... big deal!

Brett: does dad know?

Emma: probably now, Im sure he reads this; he loves us! 

Brett: well if he does read this he will see these pictures I have of you paddling...

Emma: well if we are going to show photos...

Brett: you wouldn't!

Emma: Oh yes I would, and i sent the photo to Babies gone Wild!

Brett: not fair, since coming out about my milk addiction, skinny dipping is where I find comfort

Emma: lame!

Brett: is not

Emma: is too, besides photos have also surfaced showing that your milk consumption has only increased recently.

 Brett: GASP
Emma: uh huh
Brett:  well, that obviously is a fake.
Emma: nope, thats you, Ive seen that same shirt in our closet.
Brett:  Its hard to give up Similac, cold turkey!


Brett: on good news we finally figured out what the Bolts and playoffs are
Emma: Yep, Bolts are the Tampa Bay Lightning, and playoffs are a tournament...what i don't get is why the winner of these playoffs on get a cup.  seems like a trophy or plaque would be more fitting!
Brett: Maybe its a cup filled with Milk!!!!
Brett: I hope these playoffs are over soon
Emma: why?
Brett: Playoffs are what's making daddy grow hair on his face and it itches and scratches me.
Emma: Its called a beard.
Brett: sounds like someone has been searching google
Emma: you know, we'd be good hockey players...  We dont have any teeth!!!
Brett: true dat! lets work on our slap shots!
Emma: our what?
Brett: never mind... bye for now
Emma: BYE subscribers

Baby(ies) mean changes!!

     Just a peak at what our living room looks like on a regular basis. I pick these toys up a hundred times a day. The crazy thing is, it is me pulling them out over and over again! Well, Rocko and Rusty help!

     Last Hanukkah I surprised Brian by turning what should have been a formal living room into a game room. He loved it! It is complete with an air hockey table, arcade basketball hoop, and a dart board. Wellll we are moving Brian's toys to the room outside of the pool, and making the game room a play room for all the babies stuff! Then maybe we can invite some people over for dinner and not have to worry about the changing table in the dining room :) Ahhh - many many changes. But so worth it!