Thy Will

This song... this video... these lyrics...this woman. I have NO words, but I feel the need to share this.

Thank you, Lord, for putting this in front me this week.  I needed this for many, many reasons... and maybe someone who is reading this needs these words too.



Thy will be done...

Life with Twins

Well, it's been almost a solid four months since my last post.  The blog has taken a complete back seat (or possibly the trunk) on my priority list.  I feel horrible because this was going to be my documentation of their milestones, something I (and the girls) can look back on.  It still is... for the first year... but everything has kind of derailed.  Mainly for one reason...and her name is Johnalyn.

You see, this sweet faced, gentle souled little girl hates sleep.  "It'll get better after a year" they say... We're 16 months in, and I'm still waiting!!  She has taken most of my sanity away.  I feel like we've tried everything to get this girl to sleep, and nothing seems to work.  SO, when she goes to sleep at 7:30-8:00 every night, I literally run to bed myself to get as much sleep as possible before she wakes up screaming.  She moans, she thrashes, she screams... she's a mad woman at night!  So, because of this, I've axed the blogging in my evenings and have opted to get a jump start on my 4-5 hours of chopped up sleep at night, so I can be at a functioning level during the day.

ANYWAY!

The girls are 16 months old.  WHAT?!?!

They're doing wonderful, they're happy babies (during the day) and they're constantly learning and exploring.

Danika:

Our little peanut is 18 lbs 15 oz, 2% on the 'charts' (I told her NOT to poop before her doctor appointment, and she failed to listen!).  She's 30 inches, 25% on the 'charts'.

Favorite words:  "Bye, Bye" (along with a parade wave).  "HI!" (along with a big smile and wave). "Mama"  "Dada"

She hasn't started walking on her own yet, but loves to push toys around... and boxes... or anything she can find to push.  She is our acrobat and has NO fear (like her dad).  She will slide head first down our stairs and laugh the whole way down.  She straddles the arm rest of our couch just to hang out or tries to reach for a bin that is within arms reach.  If anything can be climbed on or up, she'll try it.  She's quickly being labeled as our wild child, and has this very evil 'back of the throat' laugh when she knows she's being naughty... but that girl can give the BEST hugs and snuggles.

We were struggling with her sleeping for awhile, but we gave a shot at the pacifier again and she took to it!  Now, when she wakes up in the night, we pop that paci back in her mouth and she goes back to sleep... it's magical!

Both girls LOVE to be outside but Danika is a bit more timid outside.  She hates anything on her hands, so she refuses to touch grass or rocks.  She loves to swing, ride in the wagon, and climb on play equipment.

Johnalyn:

She's tipping the scales at 19 lbs 13 oz, 5% on the 'charts', and is 29 inches tall, 5% on the 'charts'.  Now, if you compare the two girls... Danika is lighter and taller... Johnalyn is shorter and heavier... Match the girl taking after which parent?!? ha.

Favorite words:  "Mama"  "Dada"  Her vocabulary isn't as pronounced as her sister.

She has just recently taken off on the walking, and she is SO proud of herself.  Just in the past week she has gone from standing on her own, to taking two steps, to 10+.  From a parents perspective, it is SO WEIRD seeing her toddle around!  I don't think Danika will be too far behind now that she will see how much more trouble you can get into when you walk!  

Johnalyn likes to get down and dirty... she loves playing in rocks, dirt, grass, etc. She owns the play equipment at the park.  She loves to try to do pull-ups (and to our surprise does really well on trying to pull herself up), she would sit and play with rocks all day if we would let her, and LOVES to go down the slide with daddy.

She LOVES to give kisses... on the cheeks and mouth, even with the *smack* sound.  It's probably one of the most adorable things I have ever seen.

Both girls know where their belly buttons are, but sometimes Dani gets confused and pulls her shirt up and points at her nipple instead.  :-/  We're working on that...

They are also getting really good at matching... we have a wooden puzzle and they are able to match the pictures to the puzzle pieces... their little minds are always going!!

They love to play together but when they fight, they FIGHT!  They hit, pull hair, bite, scream... it's quite the scene... but then we get to see them love eachother by hugs and kisses.  Danika is very in tune to Johnalyn, and sometimes when Johnalyn is crying, Danika will crawl up to her and start patting her butt or back (like what Mom and dad do)...  Johnalyn will sometimes crawl up to Danika and give her forehead a smooch.  I live for these moments and the sweet little interactions these two exchange!

The girls were struggling with ear infections, and they ended up getting tubes in April.  They did SO well, and rocked those little hospital gowns!!

Another big milestone... the girls got their first haircuts!!  I was reluctant to get this done, but they were ripping their ponies out, along with a fist full of hair.. and their hair was constantly in their eyes.  We took them in for a 'bang trim'... and we came out with what donny calls,  "Hockey hair" (or mullet)... neither of us are fans... but as my Mom said, "The only difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is two weeks"... well, we're going on a month, and I'm still saying it's bad!!  *sigh* oh well, it makes a good story.


As the girls are getting older, I feel like I'm becoming more relaxed in some ways and more anxious about other things.  The girls have become good eaters when it comes to solid foods...they will try anything and shake their head no if they don't like or don't want. They love cheddar puffs, guacamole, baked beans, and yogurt. Our pediatrician a year ago was always very 'hard' on us when it came to their ounces intake and it was never enough, so I would be so anxious (and anal) about their eating schedule and counting ounces (it was still never enough).  I got to the point where I would so obsessed about it, I finally cracked.  I couldn't anymore.  I was done worrying about it and finally let them take what they wanted to take.  We are still very much routine based... and I think it will always be that way just to maintain order, and I think that is how is for most families... I have always needed routine, and that is how I can keep, what little I have, my sanity.

We are still having trouble with the girls taking liquid... and I do blame myself for this because I feel because I was always pushing ounces onto them to meet their 'daily goals'...I would never force the bottle into their mouth, but I was constantly pushing them to take more even though they wanted to be done.  I feel that I somehow created a bottle/liquid aversion for them.  I am hoping by relaxing a bit, this will cure itself over time.  They will drink water from a sippy cup, but will spit their milk out and clear across the room.  They will still take milk from their bottle if their tired and/or sleeping... this is how we ensure they are getting proper hydration.  BUT as of today, our NEW pediatrician (who was a breath of fresh air for me!) told me to start transitioning them off of the bottle and formula, put milk in their sippy, and they will drink when they're thirsty... simple but such a complicated mental concept for me!!  For 15 months it's been all about pushing as many calories as possible, any way possible.  Now I'm basically being told "let them figure it out on their own...".... my mind is blown.  I know their both still little peanuts, but I finally have a doctor who is 'okay' with that, and letting them grow at their own pace is okay!  It makes me wonder what our path would have been like if she could have been our pediatrician right at the beginning of our journey (she's new to our clinic).

That brings us up to date for the most part!  We are BUSY, but our little girls are growing, flourishing, and making us laugh like we've never laughed before!