Happy Halloween

Yesterday we went with friends to the mall for a trick or treat event. It seemed like every kid was dressed as either a ninja turtle or Elsa from Frozen. Today we checked out the children's area at the local library and tonight we are home and totally over prepared for the 10 trick or treaters we will get. Wonder who will eat the leftover candy?

Here are the girls in their costumes. They were cabbage patch kids. 

I also had a little fun taking their pictures today. 

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween. 

New Wheels

When I got pregnant I was driving a Subaru. It was the first nice car I ever purchased and I did so a few short months after landing my first professional job out of grad school. It was a Subaru Impreza Outback sport. I seriously loved that car.

When we got the car seats at our baby shower we decided to try them in the car. Since my car was a sporty model, the backseat was not large. In order to install both car seats the driver and passenger had to practically hug the dashboard. It wasn't comfortable and it definitely wasn't going to work for long trips. 

It was at that time we started to look at new cars. We were looking mainly at SUV's that had third row seating. I liked the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. Since my FiL goes to automobile auctions I had to be somewhat flexible about what I wanted. He found there were lots of Mazda CX9's at the auctions and we looked into that vehicle. For the price, we could get more features than the Honda or Toyota. 

The plan was that W would keep my Subaru, we would sell his Honda Civic Si, and get me a bigger SUV. 

Then I got into the accident that broke my water. My Subaru I loved so much was totalled. 

We brought the girls home from the hospital in my FiL's car. Shortly after we purchased a Mazda CX9. W's parents offered to give W their older Prius with the agreement that he would sell his Honda Civic and give them the money (the Prius was worth more). 

At first I liked the Mazda. Then I started to hate driving something so big. It felt like I was driving a school bus sometimes it was so large. Then one day in July I got into a minor fender bender in a parking lot. The scary part? I had no idea what I hit until after. I didn't see the car at all (it was a tiny Celica). It was then that I realized how large that car I was driving was. I realized how big the blind spots were and I remembered a few other close calls with cars I didn't see until the last minute. After that I was nervous driving the girls in the Mazda. Any time I changed lanes on the highway I worried I didn't see a car that was in my blind spot (despite obsessive checking). I hated merging with traffic and driving around parking lots. I didn't feel safe in the Mazda with the girls. It was that simple. 

When my car was in the shopgetting it's fender replaced we had a rental car. We got a mini van to see if that's something we would like. It was worse than the SUV. It was just as large and the only redeeming qualities were the electric doors. 

We took the girls in the Prius one day and, surprisingly, found it to be more than enough space for us. It was then that I decided I wanted to get rid of the Mazda. We didn't need something that huge, I didn't feel safe with the girls in it, and it guzzled gas at 17 MPG. 

We tried listing it to sell by owner but gave up after a few weeks and traded it in. I got a 2011 Subaru Outback in a really pretty blue color. I love it! It has tons of space, it's super comfortable and fun to drive, I can see and don't worry about blind spots, and it's so much better on gas. Although we didn't get as much as we hoped as a trade in, I'm so glad to no longer be driving the Mazda. 

Because there were some pros to the Mazda I decided to list them. There are a few things I will miss and lots that I won't. 

Pros of Mazda CX9:

Third row seating and large trunk for our dogs

Leather interior 

Great trunk height for diaper changes

Large backseat that's easy to crawl into from the front seat 

AWD

Trunk opens and closes with push of a button 

Cons:

Large blind spots

Drives like a truck (because it is one)

Large back doors (need to open wide enough to climb into third row) 

17 miles per gallon

All in all, I'm so glad to be driving a car I feel safe in. The improved gas mileage balances out the slightly higher payment so we aren't really paying much more a month. Also, I seriously love my new car!!

#MicroblogMondays: Happiness

Recently we had family photos taken. I wanted to get pictures done for Lucy and Clara's first birthday but also wanted some of all of us together. We hired my friend who also has twins and is a professional photographer. She recently got me the images. One of them really resonated with me. 

W and I got married 5 years ago. We didn't start trying for a family for the first year and just enjoyed married life. About a month after we started trying I got a referral to an endocrinologist due to abnormal hormone levels. We took the fast track to surgeries and IVF after getting some devastating news early on. 

For years we did treatments. We did 2 IUI's, 5 fresh IVF cycles, and 4 FET cycles. There wasn't a whole lot of down time between cycles. We miscarried three times in that time. It was really hard on both of us and, honestly, I stopped feeling genuinely happy. I would smile for pictures, but I just didn't feel happy. I often would look back at this one picture from our honeymoon and wish I could feel that same blissful happiness again. 

Then we got pregnant and I successfully carried twins to 34 weeks. Our lives drastically changed. I went from trying to speed up time to get to the next appointment or cycle to trying to slow down time to enjoy my girls. 

When I looked through our 172 images from my friend a certain picture stood out. It's one that captures the happiness and joy we both feel again now that Lucy and Clara are in our lives. It perfectly sums up life with them and I love it.

It's just so nice to see that look of genuine happiness on my face again. 

This post was written as part of Mel's MicroblogMondays. Check it out here to participate. 

#MicroblogMondays: 5 years

Friday was our 5th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately it didn't go exactly as planned as W woke up with a stomach bug. He ended up taking 1 of his 2 remaining paid days off for the year. He was so sick during the day but started to feel better by the afternoon. I gave him his gift (a pen made out of wood), a card, and some homemade applesauce to try to help him feel better. 

Unfortunately it hit me that night a little too. I didn't feel anywhere near as bad as him, but I sure didn't feel great either. Luckily we hadn't cemented any plans prior to the day. 

Saturday was spend lounging around on the couch and doing nothing. On Sunday we got together with friends and enjoyed a beautiful fall day. 

I'm sure when we stood on the altar 5 years ago we had no idea what was to come; infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and then twins! It's been a wild ride to say the least! I'm sure it's not quite what we pictured, but I also can't picture my life any different. 

13 Months

This post has been sitting in my drafts. I think I wanted to add more pictures but am realizing that's probably not going to happy. So, instead I'll hit publish. 

On Friday, October 3rd the girls turned 13 months old. I haven't decided yet, but I'm pretty sure I'll be telling people they're a year old rather than how many months old they are specifically.

The girls celebrated their 13 month birthday with their 12 month appointment with the pediatrician. We had rescheduled because their original appointment was supposed to be days after Lucy got her cast off and Clara got her upper lip tie clipped. Those appointments were traumatic enough so we put off 1 year shots for a few weeks. 

Unfortunately both girls had lost a little weight at their appointment. I recently dropped a daytime feeding and they haven't made up for it yet with food. Clara takes milk from a sippy great but we haven't had any success with Lucy yet. We are trying, but it's a challenge. 

Clara- You are all over the place, crawling and pulling to stand on everything. You are still so full of personality and spunk. You cut an upper tooth this month and it really bothered you. Your sleep and moods were very affected by it so we're glad it's through and you've returned to the happy and sweet baby I love so much. You still love to growl and are just starting to try to imitate sounds or words. You said "yum yum" one night after sucking on a medicine filled syringe. You love syringes and think they're one of the best toys. If your sister ever gets medicine and you don't we have to give you the syringe or you freak out. You've pulled yourself up and walked behind your walker and are starting to let go and stand independently more often. You love your sippy cup or water bottle and will chug from them. You're full of spunk and personality and have showed us glimpses of your attitude this month. You focus so well during play and show us that you have great problem solving skills. 

Lucy- A whole month without your cast and we're all so happy. At first you were very reluctant to try to move much, but lately you've been trying so hard. You stay in a sitting position but scoot yourself around by your arms. You're also trying to pull to stand more. You definitely have the desire to move but I'm not sure you know where your legs go. You're moving in and out of positions more and more. You start physical therapy this week so hopefully that will help. You're really trying to talk and will say "up" most consistently. You've also tried to say bye-bye, pepper, hi, and pop. You are consistently signing "please" and "all done". If I ask you if you want milk you smack my chest, it's pretty funny. You got your first little curl on the back of your head and it's so cute. I'm hoping you get more curls. Your sleep seems to be improving and you are doing more long stretches at night. Out of desperation we started playing white noise in your room and it really seems to be helping. Although not ideal, it's better than you getting up 3-4 times a night. You have been so snuggly lately and your daddy and I both love it! You love to lay your head on my shoulder and snuggle in. Your favorite food is yogurt and we know you'll almost always go for it since you like to throw food off your tray. You're not impressed by your sippy cup and seem to only like milk from the tap. We're working on it every day but you're not convinced. 

We've been working on using plates and bowls with the girls and they're doing pretty well. They are both wearing 6-12 month clothes. They love to be told they've done a good job and will both do the movements to if you're happy and you know it. I love these 2 little girls so much. So frequently I just stare at them in disbelief that they're both mine! 

Birthday Party

Even though I'm totally behind on some of my posts, I still want to add them to this blog. I want to remember them (as clearly as possible when writing them a month or two late). So, even though we celebrated Lucy and Clara's birthday party over a month ago, I'm still going to add my post.

The party was on August 30th, the saturday of labor day weekend. The weather was gorgeous although a bit windy. We served BBQ food with pulled pork, beef brisket, macaroni salad, fruit salad, rolls, and salt potatoes. We had friends cater the food. They gave us such a great deal we couldn't say no. We had the cakes done by the local grocery store and we had lemonade, iced tea, beer and lime-a-ritas to drink Apart from the bees stinging two friends (one on his tongue), it was a great day! Clara got upset when we sang them happy birthday and didn't get to enjoy her birthday cake until later that night. Lucy got stuck in her new swing because of her cast, but luckily I missed that one. All in all, we had about 40 adults and 18 kids. It was so fun celebrating Lucy and Clara's first year.

A little out of focus, but I love her face. 

Lucy in her new swing (before she got stuck). 

Cake time!

Poor Clara wasn't into it. 

With Char the LC from the NICU. 

So serious about her bow. 

Birthday banner I made hanging outside. 

Balloon wreath. 

Looking so fancy in her new tutu. 

She loves getting dressed up. 

Clara's headband was looking a little rough, lol. 

Hanging with their buddy Carmine. 

Clara enjoyed her cake later that night.  

Beautiful day. 

Lots of babies!

Monthly photos hanging up. 

Guess I only got a picture of the fruit salad. The other food was amazing too!