Thankful Thursday

    Thankful Thursday #4!

     It seems I have a lot to be thankful for. And I mean a whole heck of a lot. But to be concise (and to continue having blog subjects), I will just narrow it down to one thing today. 


     I am so thankful for being married to the best guy, Brian. He does everything he can to make me happy. And I am usually pretty easy to please. But there have been a few instances recently where I have been quite difficult. Just this morning I was being less than friendly after a loooooooong night in the nursery. Instead of Brian reacting to my bad attitude he cooked me breakfast to cheer me up. Sometimes he can be so selfless. 


     Thanks, Brian! You are seriously amazing!!!


      And now, back to that nursery story. Brett and Emma have slept in their cribs all week. And it hasn't been easy. For the record, they are doing just fine in the cribs. I am the one losing sleep. We started by putting B&E in the same crib. A big crib can be a scary place, so we thought they needed each other. The first night I woke up to some crying over the monitor. No big deal, I could probably get by with just returning some pacifiers and be back in bed in minutes. When I went into the nursery, Emma had turned herself sideways and was kicking her swaddled little legs all over the place. And since she was sideways, those little legs were landing on Brett's face. The weird thing is, he didn't seem to notice! She was the one screaming. After completely freaking out and confirming that Brett was still alive, I separated them. The next night, I came into the room to Emma's leg hanging out of the crib. Freaked out again...but everything was fine. That same night, Brian found Brett face first into the side of the crib. I am so tempted to put the crib bumpers in. But, I am going to wait it out and discuss the situation with the pediatrician next week. Last night there were no issues, but I was having trouble sleeping and was up all night finding pacifiers. How these babies manage to get them out of their mouths and across the room is beyond me. 


     Emma is already in bed and Brett is yawning away in Brian's lap. So, cheers! Here is hoping to an easy night. Did I just jinx it?


     And PS - in case you didn't notice, the Bolts won game 7 last night and went to the next round of the playoffs! Game 1 vs. the Washington Capitals is tomorrow night. But we aren't scared, the biggest fans in the land live right here in Seminole, FL!

The first flag we have ever flown, haha!!

Daddy's playoff beard, B&E in their jerseys

WILW

WILW # 2!

Today is an easy one!


I am LOVING that it is my good friend Lauren's BIRTHDAY!!! (Feel free to click on the link and wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!)


Happy Birthday, Lauren!!


Lauren is such a good friend. We have a lot of fun together and I love that she is one of the most organized people I know. She always has her planner with her, a little trick that I have now picked up on myself! 


She is funny, the perfect person to talk to, and just a beautiful person inside and out. I am lucky to have a friend like her!! 

When I first met her and Kristina! BFFs at first sight :)

Copper Top in Tampa

Helping her move into her BEAUTIFUL house

Lauren's bday party last year

Lauren and Brett

Lauren and Emma

I am looking forward to celebrating with you at your party!! 

Two Boksen Bloggers

Brett: Hello followers
Emma: What a week for us!
Brett: ya, and I was awake this time!
Emma: yep, and lots of important things like Rusty's Birthday!
Brett: ya it was super fun, but mommy and daddy have no idea how old she is?!?!
Emma: What?
Brett: ya, mom said she was 7, but Daddy said she was 49!
Emma: WOW! one of them is waaaaay off!

Brett: Well, earlier today we went to the park off the skyway bridge with mommy's family for Easter.
Emma: yeah, but there was so much good food, and all we got was Similac advanced!
Brett: True Dat!
Emma: true dat?
Brett: ya what's up homie
Emma: whats gotten into you?
Brett: ever since I put Dads shades on today Ive been feel like a cool cat.
Emma: (eye roll)
Brett: you's a jive-turkey!
Emma: you's ridiculous...lets see that picture of you cool cat

Brett:  oh yeah, so cool!

Emma: Back to reality, we love having tummy time with mommy
Brett: Mommy is the best! she takes care of us, and loves us so much!
Emma: and with mother's day coming up soon we wanted to show our appreciation, soooo...
BOTH: WE LOVE YOU MOMMY, THANK YOU!!!

Emma: see ya later
Brett: we gotta run!

Thankful Thursday!

Thankful Thursday # 3!

Today I am thankful for...my car!!! 


     A couple of weeks ago I made a challenge to myself that I would get out of the house at least once a day. It might not seem like a big deal, but taking the babies anywhere alone seemed very intimidating to me! I figured most MoMs (Moms of Multiples) were like me and didn't do much without some helping hands. Boy, was I wrong! I went to a MoMs group a couple weeks ago and learned that these women were taking their babies and toddlers out all the time. So why couldn't I do that??


     The very next day I went outside and had a stare down with my stretch limo stroller. All 44.4 lbs of it. After a few minutes I opened my trunk and decided to lift the stroller into my car. By myself. Obviously, I survived. It wasn't bad at all! What was I so afraid of?


     Since then I haven't stopped. Sometimes Brian calls me and when I tell him where I am, he just laughs. I literally take B&E everywhere!! Earlier this week I called a Lincoln dealership with a couple of questions on the MKT. Does the third row go flat? Is there cargo space with the third row up? Can car seats go in the third row? The salesman was very friendly but not sure on all my questions. Being the extremely patient impatient person that I am, I told him I would just come take a look myself! So I grabbed B&E and we went over to the dealership! And in case anyone is curious...the third row lies flat when not in use. There is cargo room even with the third row up (more than most SUVs I have looked at), and the third row does take car seats. Unfortunately this car is stellar on paper, but when I actually saw it, I couldn't get over the fact that it looks just like a hearse. But at least I was able to cross it off my list!! 


     Some other adventures we have been on include trips to the mall, Target, lunch with Brian, and visits to my school. 


     I am just so incredibly thankful that I have a reliable form of transportation so that I can get out of the house and get things done! And Brett and Emma love it, too. They take the BEST naps while we are out. And good day sleep = good night sleep. I don't want to jinx it but Emma has basically STTN (slept through the night) all week. Brett only wakes up once to eat, and they both go to sleep by 10.  They are by no means on a "schedule" (but wouldn't that be nice??!) but at least they sort of have a bedtime. 

     And while we are on the subject of sleep...I am happy to report that B&E have been in their bassinets for probably two weeks now. And I am sad to report that the weight limit on said bassinets is 15 lbs. Something tells me Brett should already be out of his! So I am going to stretch it out until their next weigh-in at their 3 month checkup. And then we will move them into their cribs. So sad :( 

Tummy time - so close to rolling over!!!

Rusty wants tummy time, too! 

WILW

What I love Wesdnesday # 1 (and I realize at 12:36 AM it is actually Thursday!)


I have to start by saying that I love - my very understanding friends! 


I have always been a very "go with the flow" type of person. I am always up for a good time, extremely flexible, and ready for just about anything. Unfortunately, some of that has changed. 


I had plans to meet my good friends Lauren and Erika for breakfast this morning. Erika and I had been texting about where to meet. Our usual breakfast spot is very tiny and would not accommodate my large stroller, which I needed since B&E would be sleeping during breakfast time. After some discussion, we finally agreed on a place. Phew. 


"See you in twenty." Erika texted me. Hmmmm....not so much! I wouldn't even make it out of the house in twenty minutes! With Brett screaming for his breakfast an hour earlier than usual, I honestly wasn't sure when I could meet up. But luckily, Erika and Lauren were very, very understanding. 


After what seemed like an hour later (probably because it WAS an hour later) I arrived at breakfast. I took one look at the cozy booth Lauren was snuggled into and asked the hostess to move us to a different table. How in the HECK was I going to cater to B&E in that tiny booth!? So Lauren grabbed her diet coke - it was lunch time at this point - and Erika grabbed the stroller. We made our way to a much more comfortable table where we could eat breakfast in a little peace with the two cutest babies!! 


We all enjoyed our breakfast and had a great time. The babies were fantastic, as always. I got lots of comments on how adorable and well behaved they are. Don't mind me when I seem unphased by this. I know I have incredibly good looking and well behaved babies :) 


And of course I love that Erika got some great pics on her Palm! 

Emma's pretty smile!

Look at Brett's belly!! Even Emma seems shocked!

Just hanging out!

PS - Didn't I say they would be sleeping during breakfast??? Oh well! 

Gaga ooh la la!

    Recovering from the weekend with two cups of coffee down already.....babies are sleeping in today which always makes me HAPPY!! :)


   Saturday night was the Lady Gaga concert in Tampa and Brian surprised me with two tickets a couple of weeks ago. I was thrilled of course and brought Katie! We had a blast. But seeing Gaga up close (thanks to AMAZING SEATS) wasn't even the best part. It was everything Brian did to make the night so awesome for me!


     First of all...me + girls night out + way too much fun = lots of drinks and no getting behind the wheel of a car!! Brian tried to get us a car service with his work discount but everything was sold out due to 2 concerts (Lady Gaga and Jimmy Buffet) along with it being prom season. So instead I drove his car to Tampa and left it in his work parking lot overnight and Brian made sure we had plenty of cash for a cab ride home.


   Then after the most amazing concert ever - not an exaggeration there! - Katie and I galavanted around the town all hours of the night in an attempt to meet Lady Gaga at a gay bar in Ybor City. We stood in line for about 2 seconds before we realized we were too hungry and needed some food pronto. After we settled our tummies we hopped in a cab and went home. I wonder if Gaga ever did show up at G Bar...does anybody know??


   When I came home Brian was sleeping and so were B&E - he did an amazing job of getting them to bed by himself. I have had to do it by myself quite a few times and I can assure you it can be difficult! I crawled into bed suddenly regretting the last drink (or 2, or 3...) that I had because I knew B&E would be awake soon and wanting to eat! But the night came and went and I woke up at 8:30 to everyone still sound asleep. Lucky them! I had to stumble my way to the kitchen for Advil and then got back into bed. The next time I woke up it was 10:30 and Brian and the babies were downstairs. I could hear him chopping away at some vegetables and when I came down, he was making me an egg white omelet! He had a cup of joe ready for me as well - my hero!!!


    So not only did I get to have a fantastic night out, but I got to come home and SLEEP IN! He was on baby duty all night and morning. I am so lucky to have such a great husband who would do anything for his family. He really is special :)


     After relaxing most of Sunday we went to pick up Brian's car in Tampa, and then had an early Passover dinner at Aunt Phylis' house. Brett and Emma's first sader! Mazel Tov!


    I will leave you with some fuuun pictures! :)

Visiting my classroom

Just being cute!

Push-ups!

My little princess!

          

Brian being silly - see his playoff beard?

When the Mommy's away, the babies will play

Brett: Hello again, fans!
Emma: while mommy is at Lady Gaga we have taken control of the house.
Brett: Im in control.
Emma: no me!
Brett: no, I am thats why daddy calls me "the big man on campus"
Emma: Dad says alot of funny things, he calls me "Lady goo goo Gaga"
Brett: We are sooo happy mommy is out having fun tonight
Emma: yeah she deserves it. We can be quite the hand full
Brett: Two hands full!!!
Emma:  see what I deal with people!

Brett: What's new with us?
Emma: Well mommy and daddy put a screen around the pool so we can go swimming without them.
Brett:  How rude!
Emma: I know they get jealous when we do things without them
Brett: Yeah, today i pooped all over and daddy was mad...he can poop too!?!?

Emma: well we better watch out because daddy is talking more and more about the Lightning and Playoffs characters.
Brett: let me at em!
Emma: Im not sure who these people are but they can get their own daddy!

Emma: Thanks for reading
Brett: and thanks for not smoking
Emma: no comment

Busy Busy Bees!

     The last few days have been super busy for Brett and Emma! Last week we went to the park...

First trip to the park!

And of course Brett slept through it...

Emma loves the park, Brett loves to sleep!

     And over the weekend we went to the beach. Let me tell you, this was an ADVENTURE! Haha. Brian and I are obviously new to parenting because we were not prepared for a Florida beach day. We lasted about an hour, but it was fun. We kept the babies nice and shaded...except for a couple quick pictures...so that wasn't really an issue. But it was still so HOT. The water isn't warm enough for them to go in yet so we stayed ashore and it was borderline miserable until an extremely generous woman gave us her beach umbrella. She was super sweet and very generous. Her family had been playing with Rusty the whole time (we were at the Ft. Desoto dog beach). We told her it was our first family beach trip, but I am pretty sure she could tell :) So she kept insisting we take the umbrella and even gave us a little shovel to dig a hole for it. Luckily the babies had been in shade from their carseats, but the umbrella was like a little miracle haha! So now we have a beach umbrella. Maybe one day we will see a family at the beach who could use it :)

     I know Brian err Brett and Emma already posted some beach pictures...but just in case!

Loves the beach...

 

Loves to sleep...

 Monday was another new adventure! We went to the Florida Aquarium with our very best playdate friends Malia and Leila. 

First trip to The Florida Aquarium!

Malia and Leila (not their first trip!)

Relaxing!

There are some fish in that tank!

Brett is awake - ready to explore!

Fish fish fish!!!

     *Teachers get FREE admission into the aquarium so I am sure we will be back many times!* 


     On Tuesday we went to the moms group at Bayfront, they meet every week. It was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to anyone in the area. Anyone with a baby of course, or else you might look sorta creepy! But there are babies of all ages sitting, crawling, playing, all kinds of things! The mommies get to chat with each other and ask questions. The group is led by a nurse/lactation consultant who seems very knowledgeable about all things baby! 

     We left there and went to the Gulfport Farmer's Market to pick up some fresh vegetables and I learned all about hydroponics - growing plants and vegetables in water instead of soil. And I bought some hydroponic grown strawberries...yummy! We just have a few strawberries left from our trip to the Strawberry Festival, so some new fresh strawberries were in order!

     Last night Aunt Katie came over for a visit and we went to the mall to get outfits for the Lady Gaga concert Saturday night. I am so looking forward to this. Brian has had this planned for a little while and I couldn't be more excited. Katie and I are going to dinner, the concert, and then to Channelside after. Last week Brian had a night out after a hockey game to celebrate the playoffs. He had a really great time and lucky for me the babies were awesome the whole night! I am hoping he gets just as lucky this weekend while I am out on the town!

Katie wore Brett at the mall!! She was pretty excited about this!

     It didn't take long for me to realize people probably thought these were mine and Katie's babies...that was a little funny. And awkward :) 

     So as you can see...we have been a very busy bunch! There are so many fun things to do during the day. I can't believe how much of my life I have wasted at work! Haha! 

Baby Time!!!

Brett:  Sorry folks we didn't do much this week, we'll try to do more next week, bye for now...
Emma: What are you talking about! We did soooo mucho, you just slept through everything.
Brett: I was sleeping???
Emma: you passed out cold! I think you have a drinking problem
Brett: you're right, I do, my name is Brett and I'm a Milk-a-holic
Emma: first step is admitting it
Brett: Amen sista!

Brett: so what did I miss?
Emma: so much cool stuff, like, um, mommy and daddy took us to the dog beach and brought Rwusty along.
Brett: no WAYYYY!!!!
Emma: oh yeah, daddy and Rwusty went in the water and mommy took care of us.
Brett: Cool, I wish I was there
Emma: you were THERE!!!!
Brett: oh yeah!
Emma: I just feel bad for whoever this Jimmy John guy is because Mommy and Daddy ate him at the beach!
Brett: Cannibal's!!! we better watch out!!!

Emma: you also slept right through dinner at the Vinoy with Aunt Arlene and Uncle Dave, and Mommy took us to the park.
Brett: You're kidding right?
Emma: Nope
Brett: Maybe its time to start attending those MA meeting.
Emma: MA????
Brett: Milkaholics Anonymous
Emma: Bro, please!

Brett: Well I wasn't asleep when Grandma Lisa baby sat us the other night.
Emma: no you cried so much that I doubt she'll want to baby sit again
Brett: yeah right, she loves us
Emma: Thanks Grandma Lisa for letting mommy and daddy go on a dinner date!
Brett: they weren't still full from eating Jimmy John!
Emma: Guess not

Emma: Over the last week we (mostly me) got to spend time with a lot of our family and friends and are very grateful
Brett: Yeah, we love our family
 Emma: here are a few more pictures, feel free to comment on how cute we are! Well bye for now...

Thankful Thursday #2!

     I learned on Facebook, from Alyssa, that April is infertility awareness month. So, today I am thankful for science, my doctors, supportive friends and family, and the best husband in the world. Without all of them Brian and I would not have been able to survive the struggles we faced. Our battle with infertility was short lived, compared to most. For that I am thankful. 

     And while twins DO run in my family, they also run in the fertility treatments :)