Time Doesn't Slow...

Overly sentimental.

That pretty much sums up how I'm feeling today. We move this weekend (same apartment complex, just a larger apartment). Yep, in five short days, we leave this cramped apartment where we have watched our little nuggets turn into people. When we moved in two years ago, they were one week shy of being one. They were just learning how to walk, couldn't feed themselves completely, and spoke in single syllables. 

Now, as we prepare to move again, they are almost three. 

Two years isn't a tremendously long amount of time, but that almost makes it worse that they have changed so much so fast.

Today as we got ready to cook dinner, I became strangely aware of the fact this was our last Sunday in this apartment. Why that really mattered, I'm not entirely sure. Still, I found myself a little sad. Which was weird, because I'm crazy excited to be moving. So much has happened within these walls, so many new milestones for the boys. 

However, we truly need the extra space - just ask Everett. 

After we walked through the new apartment last week, we told the boys this was going to be our new house. When putting them to bed that night, Everett was chattering away (he talks a LOT when he is tired!) filling me in on his new house.

E: "Mom, my gonna have a new house. With a new bedroom. And a toy bedroom. Dats like my bedroom, but just for my toys!" 

Me: "Oh really? Well that sounds like a pretty good plan. Are you excited about a new house?"

E: "Yah. Mom, my need more space!"

The things this boy comes up with. Seriously! All of the sudden he just talks and talks, and says the most random things. That's part of me being sentimental. I just can't get over how much they've changed in the past couple of months, let over the last year, or even three years for that matter.

Anyway, moving combined with their birthday looming around the corner, just has my heart all ooey gooey tonight. And since I'm feeling a little nostalgic I started looking through pictures. 

The change in these boys truly does amaze me. I literally can't even remember them being that small. 

I mean, I do remember it, I just have a hard time believing they really started out at a total of eight pounds between the two of them. Now, nobody would ever guess it if they didn't already know. Such small beginnings, but my have they turned into such amazing boys. 

No longer babies, and I even have a hard time calling them toddlers, because they just look like boys. 

One year just goes so fast. And really, look at the difference from those baby faces.

Heck, three years just goes too fast. My babies are just growing right up.

Potty trained.

Riding bicycles like Evil Knievel.

They tackle every piece of playground equipment without a second thought.

They are independent to a fault. Well, it's only a fault for me, because it means everything takes at least twice as long. They must "walk on my own feet" everywhere we go.

And this is their new favorite place to do so!

And everything is "My do it myself!"

 Getting in and out of the car, buckling car seats, putting on shoes...even laundry!

They love to sing. Except, mommy can't sing with them anymore. If I start to sing a song from the radio, a movie, or a song they know the words to, I get told:

"Mommy, please stop it." 

Every. Dang. Time.

But at least they are polite about it?! That's what I tell myself anyway.

The talking might be my favorite though. The conversations I have with them every day just amaze me. The things they remember, the ideas they come up with, the comprehension from books or movies, the words they've picked up from who-knows-where. 

Well, maybe I lied. Seeing the bond between the two of them truly is my favorite. They have their moments (well, more like chunks of the day) where they cannot get along. There is kicking, hitting, punching, and plenty of screaming. Generally though, they love each other in the purest way. The smiles they share, the giggles...

...my heart is just completely and extremely full. Being their mommy is by far the most stressful and chaotic part of every day. But with each moment of stress and chaos, I know that I am truly blessed. 

I just wish time would slow down. At least a little. 

Since it doesn't seem to be doing that anytime soon...I'll just keep taking five million pictures. Because on nights like tonight when I just can't believe it, it makes it a little better to look back through them and remember all the fun we've had. The little moments of perfection I have been lucky enough to be a part of.

Potty Stress

Twins...they make life complicated.

Potty training...it's not something to be taken lightly.

Put the two together, it's a surefire why to make a person crazy.
Real. Damn. Quick!

Everett is determined that he wants to use the potty.

We bought the unders. Now it's just me holding things back. This mama is not ready to commit!

So, we've tried a less formal approach. Just put him up there at certain times of the day.

Then last week (the moment that sparked the shopping excursion for unders) he decided he needed to be naked.

"Mommy, my snake nekked too! Pleeeaaaaasssseee!!!"

What's a mommy to do?! So I let him be naked. And had an inner panic attack about every 30 seconds. And probably every five minutes the panic escaped right out of my mouth as:

"Everett, remember, we don't pee on the carpet!"

Smooth, right?

It's okay, the smart little stink got me back for it. While they were eating lunch, I may have let the little catch phrase slip for the 37th time.

His random reply a short time later:

"Mommy, no pee on Beckett! No no pee on Beckett!"

Ha!! What do you do with that besides laugh?

The good news, he never did pee on the carpet. Yay for that! The kitchen floor and the leather couch on the other hand...thank goodness for clorox wipes! But he did go in the potty too - a couple of times. He even did the serious business there. So I called it a success for the day.

And the next day, he asked for a diaper. Whatever. Why not? Diapers it was for the rest of the week. I just chalked it up to him not being ready, and I didn't want to force it. So whatever.

Until he found the unders. Then he was determined he needed to wear those. So we had another day of me panicking every few minutes and being anxious All. Day. Long. 

It's not even just the accidents on the carpet that causes me stress.

We set the timer for 30 minutes. He goes willingly for a while and will sit there, but then wants down before anything happens.

Do I make him sit up there every time until he goes?? That seems like a lot. And if not every time, then how do I pick and choose which times he does?

Do I distract him with games and songs and books? Or does that take away from him actually trying to go? Or how do I help him figure out letting all of it out?

Because what kept happening was he'd go a little in the potty, and five minutes later empty his entire bladder on the couch. Lovely.

Those are the normal potty training stresses. Now add the fact there are two of them! 

Beckett has no desire. His interest still stops at wanting to flush. The end.

"No under-airs! No no potty. Mommy, no thank you, I not want the potty!"

Which I don't really mind. Except...

The little stink gets sick of Everett getting so much attention all day. Understandable. So now while I'm sitting in the bathroom with Everett (trying everything I can think of to get him to go)
Beckett is playing DE-STRUC-TOR throughout the living room.

Or he is in the fridge.

Or he is climbing the chair onto the counter.

Or he jumps on the couch.

Or he just HAS to have chocolate milk right that second.

So, the solution:

Twins just don't get privacy. And it seems absolutely natural for them to just be up in each others' space. No clue one is half naked. Not caring one tiny bit!

And the real solution - put potty training on the back burner. I'm in no rush. I will put all of my procrastinating powers into putting this off a little longer.

Yep, we bought the unders.
Yep, Everett wants to wear them.
Nope, my sanity just can't handle it alone.

So until Daddy can take a couple days off to help us, potty training will wait.

My sanity needs to wait.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENA!

I've been a bit of a grump this week. I don't want to do anything. I just want to be a grump. And a slob. Staying in my pjs all day would be okay with me if I didn't have to go to work.

And it's all my sister's fault.

Her birthday is today. A milestone birthday. And I'm not there. I don't get to help her celebrate it. I don't get to be there to give her a huge hug, go shopping and take her out for ice cream. I even forgot to put her card in the mail. But it was a dumb one anyway. No card said it just right.

And for a second, I almost didn't make this post. I didn't want anyone to get jealous or upset or think I don't care as much for them. I love my family. All of them. And, I love my sister. I think she is great. I want the world to know it. Plus, it helps me feel a little better. 

So if you want to be offended, that's your choice. It's not my intention though.

But I won't hold back on her special day to let at least a small portion of the world know how great I think she is, and how lucky I am to have her as my best friend.

So, in honor of her milestone birthday here goes:

40 Things I love About Dena:

1. She listens.

2. She vents.

3. She knows exactly how I feel and tells me it's okay.

4. She always knows just what to say.

5. She takes on crazy adventures with me.

6. She goes shopping with me and is every bit as cheap as I am.

7. When we go shopping, she picks out the exact same things as me from across the store. Multiple times. Every time.

8. She sends my mom the exact same birthday card I did, without ever knowing it beforehand.

9. She loves my crazy children - she listens when they call, she answers when they facetime, she cares about every dumb milestone or every new thing they learn that I get so excited over!

10. She is an amazing example of what a mom should be like.

11. She reminds me it's okay for the kids to be kids. Let them make a mess!

12. She sends me pins on Pinterest.

13. She will wander through a fabric store with me for hours and not care that we didn't buy one thing.

14. She opens their home to us any time we say "We want to come visit"

15. She makes the 600 mile trip with 3 kiddoes to come see us.

16. She gets excited over little things like I do.

17. She is the greatest piano player I have ever known.

18. She is selfless.

19. She sends random notes in the mail.

20. She loves Dr. Pepper.

21. If she orders before me at a restaurant I can simply say, "Me too!" down to every last detail.

22. We can have five conversations going at once, and still understand exactly what the other is talking about.

23. She gets the stresses of being a mom.

24. She encourages me to keep running.

25. She knows that it's really not 'all good', but there is not any other option - so we keep going.

26. We can train in different states, yet still end up running the same pace during a race.

27. She is always working on bettering herself - which inspires me to do the same.

28. She knows who my friends are and what is going on with them.

29. Nobody makes a better frozen yogurt (or Coldstone) date.

30. We laugh. And laugh. And then laugh some more.

31. We can have the most fun just sitting on the couch together.

32. She lets me be myself.

33. She has an amazing testimony of the gospel.

34. Every moment is a teaching moment.

35. She melts down too.

36. She genuinely cares about people.

37. She forgives me for not sending a birthday card for her BIG birthday!

38. She knows as much as we want to see each other, sometimes a phone call just has to suffice.

39. She supports her husband in everything he does, regardless of what it means for her.

40. She's just fan-freaking-tastic.

She's amazing. I love her more than any list could ever do justice. This list doesn't make up for the fact I can't be there, or that I can't help her celebrate, or that I forgot to send her a birthday card.

But hopefully, just a little, it will brighten her day. Help her know that she is wonderful and amazing. Because she is. And I love her.

So, Happy Birthday sis! I love you like crazy, and miss you so much. Hope it's a great day!