It'll be one year tomorrow since I came back to work after the twins were born. (I know, Christmas Eve is a great day to start back, but that's when my FMLA ran out!)

They are now 14 months old! It's gone by so fast, but it's almost like I'm paying attention more than I did with Noah. I don't know if it's because they're not my first or because of what we went through to get them here.

Having 3 miscarriages in 6 months can really mess with you. And unless you've gone through at least one you can't really understand. The moment the 2nd line appears on that little stick, there's a baby. You have hopes and dreams for it, wonder if it's a boy or a girl and imagine how it will fit into your family. Even though I never saw a heartbeat for any of the 3 I lost, it was still my baby when that line appeared. I didn't know at that time what God had planned for me and I wondered if I would ever have a second child. I definitely appriciate what a miracle having a child is now. Everything has to be just right in order for the little one to stick around.

Noah was a surprise baby. Jeremy and I were not prepared at all, but we figured it out. I just thought when it was time for #2, we wouldn't have any problems because we weren't even trying when we had Noah. I even planned out when we would start trying so that Noah and the new baby would only be 3 years apart in school.

I know now that God's plan was to bring 2 more beautiful boys to me at once. Maybe he just wanted me to wait for the right time or maybe he wanted to prove to me what a miracle a child is. All I know is that I did not wish their infancies away. You know...I can't wait until he smiles, walks, talks, etc. Everyday, they get bigger, but I'm enjoying every moment!!

All of this reminds me of my favorite quote..."If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."

Ready or not...it's Christmas!

As evident from my lack of posting, there's not much going on here. We're just getting ready for Christmas. Noah asks me every morning, "How many sleeps until Santa comes?" That's how he counts days now, by how many times he wakes up. So, he's excited because we're down to 2! (I am too, because hopefully, I won't have to hear that question for at least a couple of months!) He also asks if he can open a present every day. Daddy already bought him some Heelys that he couldn't wait to give him. I at least wrapped it so he knew it was a Christmas present. Now, Noah's one of those annoying kids that tries to skate everywhere. I do take an extra pair of shoes with us, so if he's skating around after I told him not to he has to take them off.

Lance and Austin have no clue that Christmas is coming. They're too busy fighting with each other! If it's this bad now, I don't want to know what the teenage years are going to be like. They're always taking stuff from each other or pushing each other around. It's like a constant wrestling match at my house. I refuse to buy 2 of everything. I think they need to learn to share (I know it's a little early for that yet). Plus, they always want what the other one has even if it's the same thing.

Austin's helmet is now decorated for Christmas. He's doing pretty good with it, except now we have to use box tape to hold down the velcro so he doesn't take it off. It's quite "special" looking. I can definitely tell a difference in the shape of his head when I take it off. The biggest problem I have with it, is the smell!! I can get the helmet clean and smelling good, but I just can't get Austin's head that way! I can wash his head 20 times and it still stinks. So, I found some Johnson & Johnson baby cologne and that kind of takes away the smell for awhile. I don't know how much longer he'll have to wear it though. Probably another 2-3 months, I'm guessing.
He did graduate from physical therapy at the end of November, so that's one less appointment to go to. Yeah!!

Hope everyone else is more prepared for Christmas than I am!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!