A&H's 3rd Room

One of the things I am enjoying most about our new house is having Allie and Harper in their little nook of room and playroom upstairs.  It has really cut down on toy pick-up and I love that we aren't tiptoeing around after we put them to bed.  Their Christmas present this year was big girl bedding and my mom helped me pick out the paint color to go with it: Pink Popsicle (Benjamin Moore).

They love reporting that their room is pink, and you should have seen how special Harper thought her room was on the day we moved in.  She couldn't wipe the smile off her face.  I'm glad this will be their room for a long time since they've already had three before turning two and a half. 

Also for Christmas, my dad repainted lots of the baby furniture Tyler and I had as little girls.  Now it fills Allie and Harper's playroom.  The pink love seat was Mom and Dad's, then migrated to my room in high school.  These rooms will never look this clean again!

Baby Boy/Blueberry #3 is due Monday and I'm really wanting to have him this weekend.  Maybe I'll get some pictures of his room up here soon. 

37 weeks and Videos of A&H

Today I am 37 weeks and 2 days with Blueberry #3.  For Allie and Harper, I was induced at 37 weeks and 1 day.  

Here's a belly photo comparison:

Twin Belly v. Singleton Belly at 37 weeks

No surprise that I was much bigger with Allie and Harper at this point.  This pregnancy has been a breeze compared with carrying twins.  No bedrest, no Braxton Hicks contractions, and much better sleep.  Also, with Allie and Harper I tried to gain as much weight as possible by eating lots of protein because research shows that twin moms who gain more weight are more likely to have healthier babies, especially if they come early.  (It definitely showed in my face and arms.)  One minor complaint:  with both pregnancies I had/have a burning pain between my ribs that is supposedly a stretched ligament.  I had instant relief when they were born and I'm sure it will go away as soon as baby boy clears out too.

I do feel like a boat at this point, but I'm reminding myself to savor this time with only two little people to care for.  Here's a 2 minute long video of these very entertaining little people (3 different clips: Squirting each other with a squirt gun, Harper's piano skills, and the new swing D put in our front yard):

Allie and Harper have adjusted so well to the new house.  I'm hoping to get some good pictures of their new room and playroom soon. They love that their new bedroom is pink, and I think this really helped with the transition.  We feel so blessed to be in a home that suits us so well and is surrounded by amazing neighbors and friends.

Lately: Fun with Houston (basically they are triplets), couch potatoes while we unpack, first ballet birthday party, princess towel, Botanical Gardens, and back patio fun.

And having fun at Catch Air!

Two are Better than One!

Before Allie and Harper arrived, my mom gave us a little tile to hang in the nursery with Bible verse:  "Two are better than one. If one falls down, his friend can help him up."  (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

With so much time spent on the changing table, Allie and Harper learned their first bible verse without me really even trying.  They both just started reciting it some time this summer; I would read it to them while they were trying to kick it off the wall.  Here is a long video Michael caught of them reenacting the verse in early December:

It's moments like these when I realize how sweet having twins is!

Two are better than one!

October-December update!

It's time for a recap on two very busy ladies!  We're staying on our toes around here trying to keep up with them.  They've had some pretty hilarious commentary lately.  Yesterday, Allie said, "I'm going to get in the car. See ya!" To which Harper quickly accepted and responded, "Are you going to take Peachtree?" Later in the day, Allie was sorting through my wallet and found our Botanical Gardens Membership card.  She said, "This 'tanical gardens credit card. (pretending to read it closely) Dear Allie, I want to go to the 'tanical gardens soon." On this same day, they both wet their pants at the playground and (separately) were in big trouble before 9am.  Later, though, Harper said, "Mom, thanks for bringing me to Trader Joe's."  They don't let me stay frustrated with them for too long.

You may remember that I attempted potty-training boot camp a few months ago.  Allie took to it beautifully for a while, but we eventually went back to full time diapers after many accidents, push-back, and realizing the difficulty of managing two curious and head-strong toddlers in public restrooms.  My next plan was to just wait until they basically trained themselves.  But plans changed because I had to keep up the momentum my Mom started when they went to Chattanooga without us for the three days before Christmas Eve.  Harper had basically refused to go potty for me, but Lovey had her pottying consistently.  Then when we got back to Atlanta she loved being a big girl, wearing undies, and getting treats, stickers, and high-fives. We had a few accident-free mornings and afternoons, but I feel my resolve weakening and push-back is emerging again as I've let them be in Pull-ups more than I should.   Now it's time to redouble my efforts by forcing myself to put them in undies and make frequent potty trips.  They are ready; Mom just needs to buckle down and not be disappointed if we revert after our move and new baby brother's arrival. 

Yes, we are moving.  You may think that we've taken up moving as a second hobby.  This is our 5th move in 6 years of marriage!  But we're excited to know we'll be in our new house long-term.  On January 31st, we will own a home basically right across this street from where we currently are renting.  We're not taking on any major renovations at this point, but picking out paint colors, completing mortgage paperwork and getting estimates on mold remediation, rodent issues, and deep cleanings has also kept us busy.  It's scary but exciting.  It feels really good to be putting down roots in Atlanta.

Our baby boy seems healthy and is growing well at 30 weeks now.  This pregnancy has been such a breeze compared to a twin pregnancy!  Half the doctors visits, no indigestion, no rib cage pain, no ridiculous weight gain, no Braxton Hicks, and I could sleep on my stomach until a few weeks ago.  This boy is a kicker.  Hoping that the move or chasing two year olds doesn't bring him early!

Here are some photos from the past few months.

I was excited that Mom found some of Tyler and my old dresses.  They love wearing their sashes with any outfit (because Cinderella and Wendy from Peter Pan wear sashes).  Harper's scab (under her eye) is from a yardwork mishap: Allie got a little excited with the rake.

Late October trip to Sea Island.

Fun in the leaves.

Dancing at Aunt Lauren and Uncle Jason's wedding.  They had a blast dancing and eating, and thought they were "at the ball." Very in to Cinderella right now.

At "Madeline's Christmas" and with the cast.  They were mesmerized for this 1 hour 10 minute play.  This will have to be an annual trip.

Meal times lately are much easier.  Limited food throwing, not too picky, get in their chairs without assistance, and occasionally even clean up after themselves.  Thankful for my happy eaters!

The beloved Dolphin Show at the Aquarium with buddy and neighbor Houston.  We love the Heckmans!

CiCi and Papa took us all to LegoLand when they came to visit after Christmas.

To the park with Houston.  Loving the tag team on childcare with our nextdoor neighbors!

Harper had her first haircut at Pigtails and Crewcuts.  Allie happily waited in a nearby fire truck since Lovey had cut her hair the week before.

And more December fun!

Photos with Santa

Ah how at peace Allie and Harper were with Santa their first Christmas:

So much changed in one year:

Though not much from last year to this year:

Blueberry #3!

Michael and I have every exciting news to share.  Blueberry #3 is on the way!  HIS way, that is.  It's a boy!  Due March 25th.  We are so thrilled and feel very blessed.

I'm not one of those patient people who can wait until delivery to know the gender, but I did want it to be a little more exciting than finding out from the ultrasound lady's monotone like we did with Allie and Harper.  So we had her seal the gender in an envelope, and later that night Aunt T-lo babysat while we went out to a restaurant that recently opened near us, Watershed.  We gave the envelope to the waiter and told him to bring us a blue drink for a boy and pink drink for a girl.  After 15 LONG minutes, this is what he placed before me:

 

As we oooed and ahhed, "Ooooh, baby girl. Three girls. wow...".  he said "Actually, it's a boy! That's a blueberry drink."  I must admit that our level of excitement definitely kicked up a notch.  I guess Watershed doesn't serve blue drinks, though we did not find it lacking in other respects. This Violet Beauregard (the not so stiff version, of course) though confusing, was quite tasty.

Blueberries #1 and #2 actually seem to get it and are beginning to notice my belly.  Before we found out it's a boy, we would often ask them if they wanted a sister or brother.  The answers varied from day to day.  Since we told them it's a brother, Harper has been insisting "I want sister." 

They also seem to understand pregnancy better than we thought.  On the day we had the ultrasound, we told them that we went to the doctor and got to see the baby.  Harper gave a quizzical look, thought for a second, and then asked, "Did it come out?"  It was a great question. They never cease to amaze.

Halloween 2012

I was very excited about Halloween this year because I knew Allie and Harper would love it, plus we live in a true trick-or-treating neighborhood.  Allie was a ladybug and Harper was a bumblebee.  I was very glad that Harper liked being a bumblebee because she did not like getting stung by one a few weeks earlier.  Our neighborhood met for pizza in the park and then we trick-or-treated our way home.  Harper was thrilled to knock and doors and be given candy.  Allie was a little skeptical of the givers at first but warmed up after three houses. She did not like when a witch with green hair showed up at one house.