3 1/2 months

They are at such a cute age.  They smile and coo.  They both wrap their little arm around my shoulder when I hold them.  I swear when the other twin cries, their grip gets tighter.  They know they don't have the luxury of being held all day.  Sam loves to be held...well, they both love to be held.  Sam seems to be held more because he is a little more temperamental.  He will also just sit in your arms without any fuss.  Ben gets restless if you hold him too long.  We learned at church last week, it was not good for Ben to be held the whole time.  Ben is much more willing to sleep, he also sleeps more than Sam during the day.  Sometimes I do pretty good keeping them on the same schedule but most days I just go with whatever they do.  It's so different from how I have been with my other children.  I put out fires.  That is a good way to describe it.      

This picture is so weird!  Huge head Ben!  I have not realized how big Ben is getting!  From the fit of their clothes, I can tell Sam is longer and generally a little bigger. Ben has a bigger upper body with shorter legs.  They are both drinking 6 oz. every 3-4 hours.  Their sleep schedule is from 8pm-3 or 4 ish.  A few weeks ago they started waking up in the middle of the night.  Not cool.  Actually, it has worked out nice because after they feed at 4am they go back to bed until 9am.  So, it gives me time to get the kids ready for school, breakfast and sometimes myself dressed :).


What a fun time.  I love their blue eyes. 

Sibling love

                                                        Nothing is more sweet than the love of older siblings. 

Sam cooing at Ben

3 months

                                                           Sam                                                              Ben

The twins are 3 months old.  These boys are so so so so unbelievably cute.  They are smiling and cooing.  They are wonderful sleepers and eaters.  The Lord has blessed us.  We have been so blessed with these twins.  I personally think this is a direct blessing from the missionaries who are serving in our family: Grandma & Grandpa Ordyna, Lisa & Bradley.    

                                            The whole crew.  Good thing we have a policeman to enforce the law :).

                                                                       They are watching Eden dance. 

3 years old

Ruthie has a sweet voice.  I love when she saids, "Sure!"  or "what's that again?" when trying to think of something.  She loves to watch sesame street clips on YouTube.  She decided to give up diapers last month and hasn't had one accident.  One day she was in diapers and the next she was in panties.  She loves Eden.  When she is in the mood to be silly, she loves playing with David.  She also likes the babies but doesn't really pay much attention to them.  She gets spoiled by strangers when we are out in public.  Everyone wants to talk to her about her brothers.  A few weeks ago, the nicest Grandma bought Ruthie a toy at Michaels while we were waiting in line.  Yesterday, another nice Grandma carried Ruthie out of Target because she was screaming and kicking while I pushed the stroller.  Of course, when the stranger picked Ruthie up...she stopped crying and was silent while this lady encouraged her to be a nice girl.  Ruth has received service from all kinds of people.  At the mall, a middle age man bought her a gum ball.  I'm not sure if it is because she is so darn cute, or they take pity on me having twins.  Either way, Ruthie is defiantly benefiting from the twins!  She used to really love her sippy but since wearing panties- she only gets them in the day.  Apparently a sippy in the day is not as appealing as night time.  So, she isn't as attached anymore :).  Ruth likes to ride in the bike trailer behind Paul's bike.  She likes to read books and change her clothes several times a day.  She copies her older siblings. She pretends to write letters and likes to color.  She insists on listening to the wheels on the bus while in the car.  She LOVES mushrooms.  She & David will eat a whole plate of sauteed mushrooms for breakfast.  I am excited she is 3 years old.  This is such a fun age.  Hopefully she will leave the terrible twos behind.  She has short hair because she dislikes getting it combed.  She still screams and whines when I brush it.  She does brush her own hair now, so that helps.  She loves to sing 'I am a child of God' before her nap.  Happy Birthday!  I love you Ruthie toothy.   

                                                                                 She wanted a PINK cake.

                                                      She picked an Elmo pinata for our family night activity. 

                                                                           

                                                               Sam observing the birthday festivities.

Smile

Ben

                                                                                        We have smiles!

Sam

 Ruthie had her OWN play date.  This is her friend Jay.   She loves Jay.  Ruth is also officially potty trained!  It has been about a week.  She only wants to wear pink panties and still requests candy for going number 2 in the potty.  She is VERY excited about her birthday coming up.   

9 weeks

 

Still waiting for a smile.  What beautiful boys they are.  

 


 This little lady is the biggest helper!  She looks so grown up to me.  Whenever Eden holds one of the twins she saids, "look at the parrot on my shoulder". 

Ruthie toothy is growing up too.  Still not potty trained and almost three.  She is half way there.  She will wear panties and go potty in the toilet, ONLY when I go in the bathroom with her, shut the door and sit on the tub ledge.  During the day this works out but when things get crazy with the twins, dinner time, homework, etc.  She refused to go potty by herself.  So, we aren't quite there yet.  This little lady wishes she was still the baby.  I think all my children would love to be an only child...well, maybe not David.  He likes the company.      

                                                                              I adore my children.

Blessing weekend

 On Sunday, September 2, 2012 Paul gave the boys a name and blessing.  Ben was quiet through out the prayer.  Sam cried the whole time. It's a good thing Paul had a tape recorder in his pocket because I missed both blessings.  Between Sam crying, Ruthie in the isle, David trying to run on the stage and Eden worried about finding all the crayons it wasn't exactly a  spiritual moment for me.  Paul did a great job though.  Aunt Alyssa sent their adorable onsies.

 We did have family in town!!! My brother Tyler stayed with us this weekend on his way home to Utah.  It was so nice to have him here.  The kids loved having an uncle around.

 Late on Sunday, I realized I hadn't taken a picture of the boys.  I attempted a few....the flash makes their eyes crazy.

                                                Then it became comical because their faces were hilarious.

                                  

We also were blessed to see more family.  We went and visited Grandma Dorothy.  She loved on the twins the whole time!  It was a touching visit.  We love Grandma Dorothy.

First day of school

Eden- 1st grade

David- kindergarten

Celebration of school starting.  6 & 3 were the only candles we had, the kids wanted to blow out candles. 

                                                                                      Father's blessing

                                                                     Ruthie didn't want to be left out.

 We all had a GREAT day!  Eden and David ran to the bus stop.  They were first in line.  They were on the bus before I even realized it.  I waved at them through the window.  I was pleased to see them sitting by eachother.  At 3pm they came running off the bus with smiles.  When asked how school was:
David: "I don't have homework.  I have Mrs. Koch.  I made 3 friends.  Their girls."
Eden: "We went over the rules...but I already know the rules."

6 weeks

Ben squirms and grunts.  He has quick short breaths and can never really decide if he wants to cry.  He will stir for awhile before deciding to screams.  Sam is abrasive.  He is either crying or not...there is no in between.  

We have reached the famous 6 week mark!  The week you receive medical clearance from your doctor.  The week you can enter the world of work & daycare. 6 weeks also brings increased fussiness.  You are not only allowed but expected to now come out in public.  Am I ready?  Yes and no.  I have been inside for awhile, some fresh air will be nice.  I am not ready to greet strangers who smoother my babies with germs and questions.  I am not ready to hear the familiar comments: "twins, are they identical?", "You are busy", "Are these all yours?".  I feel like everyone stares at me.  Listens to my every word and watches my every move.  I know I am being sensitive.  I am not friendly.  I do not want to talk to strangers.  I don't want to chat with the lady in the grocery line...because I am trying to keep track of Eden dancing, David sneaking toys in the cart, Ruthie opening gum and 2 babies from crying. 

Having children has made me less tolerate.  I am not as patient and considerate as I used to be.  In fact, I'm pretty self absorbed at the moment.  One day I will be able to look above my own self and see others.  Right now I am surviving and that has to be good enough for me.

I am ready to tackle another 6 weeks.

life as a twin

                                       

                                                                                   This is how they sleep.

  
 Late at night, having some awake time.  Waiting to get changed.  There is a lot of crying as a twin.  Especially since they are on the same schedule.  They sleep, eat, burp, poop and cry at the same time.  I have gotten pretty good at feeding and burping them at the same time...but it's hectic.  One of them always has to wait.  Crying is part of being a twin.  Lots and lots of crying.     

Ben is wide awake.  If I put them next to each other.  Same will try and eat Ben's face. 

This is what happens when water meets dirt and Ruth is unsupervised.  David was the mastermind behind this mess...at least they were playing together nicely for an hour. 

4 weeks old

Sam

Ben

4 weeks

Alone

Yesterday I took all 5 kids to the park by myself.  It was the first time I have taken them all out.  Besides the doctors and one quick visit to Target this is this first time the twins have been out.  It took me all day to prepare...mentally for this outing.  We were suppose to go around lunch time but really we went at 6pm.  Twins are just as horrible as I imagined.  I love my twins.  I really am grateful for them. However...it's pretty terrible.  VERY time consuming and VERY overwhelming when you have 3 younger children who are also demanding. 

I am surviving.  Some days better than others.  I have a great support system here, truly heaven sent angels who lift my burdens.  God bless good friends.