The Luckiest No Matter What!

This can't possibly be my last reflection post before they turn ONE?!?! WHAT?!?! Things We Learned About Nolan Gerard: Nolan is certainly preparing himself to take his first steps.  A couple of weeks ago, I bought a little walker thing for them to practice and play with.  Nolan was skeptical about it for a day and now pushes that thing all around the house.  He gets so frustrated and mad if he runs into the wall or furniture and can't continue walking with it and the look of pride on his face is just priceless :)  Nolan is now skilled at doing a few things that we wish he wouldn't: he can open the refrigerator, stand up in his high chair, knock over shelves in our entertainment center, open up the diaper pail, take the lid off, and reach in to find dirty diapers (gross), and climb over the ottoman in their bedroom that I usually use to barricade them away from their book shelf.  This last one ultimately results in him knocking over (or trying to k...

Disclaimer:   Don't judge what you're about to read too harshly.  My family is awesome even if we are a little codependent ;)  I wouldn't have it any other way! Every March I find myself analyzing whether March is going to go in or out like a lion or a lamb.  Making it to March feelings like you're finally seeing the light at the end of the winter tunnel and especially this year, since winter's been so awful, I was so looking forward to making it out on the other side.  However, as March kept marching on (okay bad pun), I found myself using this lion/lamb metaphor for more than just the weather... In the beginning of March, my sister Colleen moved to Illinois to be closer to her boyfriend who was already working in Chicago.  If you think our Pavona clan celebrated and rejoiced over this display of growing up and becoming independent than you clearly don't know my family :)   No offense Nick... this ...

The coldest, snowiest, yuckiest winter I have experienced in my thirty years of living is still raging on.  My boys have been cooped up, but they are still growing and experiencing the world like crazy! What We Learned About Nolan Gerard: As we've been exploring more table food, Nolan has been interesting on how he's handled things.  First and not surprising, when Nolan first tries something new, his face is one of disgust.  As I've mentioned before, Nolan may look like Josh, but has many personality characteristics of mine.  One thing I am famous for is being that person who orders the exact same thing at restaurants.  I don't like change; I live a lot by the motto of, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'  Nolan assumes that he isn't going to like something new. Usually that ends up not being the case (he's pretty much inhaled everything he's been given), but he is cautious at new things at first.  Secondly, and also not surprising is that ...

Something new I'm trying is to upload my favorite cell phone videos of the boys each month.  I wish I would've thought of this sooner.  I'm sure there is a way to mix these in with the videos I'm shooting from our video camera and I've tried to figure it out, believe me, but I haven't cracked the code yet so they've just been sitting on Josh's and my phone.  This way, I at least know they've ended up somewhere :)   

**I am posting this blog super late; it kinda got lost in the shuffle :) ** Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year'shave come and gone!  This year, everything about the holidays is magnified by two precious boys. The trickiness of coordinating schedules is magnified now that I have children who thrive on a predictable schedule that includes a morning and afternoon nap.  The amount of  stuff brought to both Josh and my parents' houses is magnified now that diapers, toys, baby food, blankets, car seats, etc etc have entered the mix.  The trouble of finding time to research, bake, and cook new recipes is magnified now that I have mobile boys who need attention. More importantly though, the amount of love is magnified!  Nolan and Judah have two sets of grandparents plus four aunts and an uncle and countless other family and friends to love all over them during this holiday season. I, as a mom, have ...

I did not exercise while I was pregnant at all out of fear. I am usually a runner and from someone who had two miscarriages previously, I would have been content with lying with my legs in the air for nine months if someone would have let me do it; I wasn't moving any extra than I needed to. I know that exercising is safe and this was an irrational fear, but I wasn't taking the chance. When I was pregnant with Nolan and Judah, I gained almost 65 pounds.  This is very much within normal, healthy, range for twins.  You can imagine what that extra weight plus having two babies in my uterus did to my body.  Towards the end of my pregnancy, I could barely walk around my house or to the mailbox or up and down stairs without being winded, tired, and incredibly sore.  My ankles, knees, and thighs were literally giving out from the extra weight in my abdomen area. After the boys were born, I had to reteach myself how to move and exercise.  The pregna...

I know I say this all the time, but again, it seemed like so much has changed this month!    Things we Learned About Nolan Gerard: This month, Nolan is EV.ERY.WHERE.  He opens up any/every drawer, jiggles every knob he can reach, and is constantly on an expedition.  It seems like every time he starts moving, it is an adventure... he is truly my little explorer.  Trying to see the world through his eyes has been amazing.  He is constantly in awe and I am enjoying being in awe of him .    Nolan learned to pull himself up, stand up in his crib, move while standing from one spot (like our coffee table) to another (like the couch).  He also has been babbling a LOT like saying "ga ga ga."  His fine motor skills have also been improving.  In mid January, when we first gave him and Judah puffs to eat, he could barely figure out how to begin to pick one up.  Now he goes after Cheerios and puffs us...