Stop, take a breath, and enjoy your friends and family

I'm not sure what the point of this post is. I just hope someone reads it and they stop and take a breath. 

There is so much sadness right now, surrounding so many of my friends in the Buy/Sell/Trade internet world. One sweet little girl is saying her goodbyes after succumbing to cancer; a mom who I knew only through the internet world was stabbed by her husband in front of her kids and passed. Only a few months ago she posted in our chat group- asking advice on how to obtain a burner phone so she could try to get out of her abusive marriage. Another's husband just found out he has stage 3 cancer. A friend of mine was in an awful wreck with her son on the interstate. So many prayer requests and it just makes me sad. 

A good friend of mine posted earlier. She had a good friend in town with her kids. They were swimming at local hotel poor so the kids could swim. Her out-of-town friends' 4 year old son ended up drowning. My friend's husband tried performing CPR, but the sweet boy didn't survive. You can look at her FB page and see pictures as recent as last week, and just like that he's gone. 

Time is so so fleeting. I know I post about time flying so many times on this page. It's just true. Horrible things can happen in the blink of an eye. I am the WORST imaginable at not being "in the moment". I'm constantly thinking about needing to do this and that, ignoring my kids, letting them watch TV or play by themselves so I can get stuff done. Then yelling at them or being frusturated if we're running late for the next thing. 

I'm just sad. I am a lucky lucky girl, and my family is the best. I want and pray that this year I just enjoy them. I need to take it day by day and just talk to them... Listen to them.... Play with them...love them. 

It's just too fleeting. So many prayers for all those hurting. I'm going to go kiss my babies in bed. 

The Blog Post about Blogging

I feel like I have approached a wall in the blogosphere. I'm not really sure how or why it happened, but I have definitely hit something. I'm pretty sure it has to do with my babies, and the fact they are now (aaaccckkkk! FIVE)

I'm trying to be a bit more sensitive to posts about them now that they're growing older, and think "would they want me posting about X,Y,Z". After all, in my TimeHop app this week (a social media app that is both awesome and awful, as it makes me cry at least once a week) TimeHop goes back five years, and pulls up your exact post on that day one year ago, two years ago, etc. So some posts are me posting about those early days of parenting, which I have blacked out. Ha! It happens when you have twins. 

However, the one this week was The Poop Post. While I did try to black that gem of a memory out, it's still fresh on my brain lol. 

While those posts are funny when they are babies, probably not so much now. 

I'm in an transition. In life and in blogging. I feel like most of my posts lately have been pictures of them, and just general things we've been up to. I've noticed I don't get my nice camera out as much as I used to... More relying on my iPhone. 

However, my Instagram account is my lifeblood lately! That's my go-to for daily funnies that the kids are into. But not "blog-worthy" if that makes sense.

I think I'll probably do a little bit more of lifestyle, things going on my my brain, and of course my kids. I think I knew it was coming, since last year when I changed the name of the blog to "The Fabulous Baby Striblings", to "Mandy With Multiples", but I just hadn't thought about it that much. 

And then in another part of my brain, I'm thinking "do people still read blogs?" I know I don't nearly as much as I used to. But then again, my kids are older. I was obsessed with other moms in the thick of new-babydom. I related to them. Now... I feel like those moms now have five year olds and are in the same rut I am. Many very popular mom bloggers have even stopped blogging, or have taken a break. I mean, my blog link feed over there is like a desert. Life happens, I get it. We don't have the two hour napping breaks like we used to to "catch up" on our blog reading. Our attention span is about one minute now. I honestly don't have time to read super long blog posts. (Hence my love for Instagram!) 

But all in all, my kids are still cute, they're still hysterical, and we are still up to everything lol. I still love blogging, and we will be around forever. But just posting my thoughts at the moment, which is pretty much for blogging is for anyway, amirite? 

Happy Thanksgiving 2013!

Thankful for so many things in my life its believable. I am very blessed and very happy. I have a great husband and friend of 11 years (wow). I have two amazing, special twins that I'm so glad to have fought so hard for. I have a great family on my side and Jake's. As dysfunctional and different as we all are I am lucky to have them. I am thankful for my new niece Sutton, and although in the NICU know she's a fighter. I have a very lovely home, and have more that we could ever need. I now am finally at home with my babies and am doing some work that I truly love, although I was/and thankful for the work I did at the AHA.

I'm in a great place in my life and I'm beyond blessed! Woohoo and Word.

BIG news!!!

Ya'll, I have so many posts that need to be published. A sweet Halloween post, a visit to the pumpkin patch that is Gentrys Farm, Baby Olive's Christening, etc. But, the reason I have been so MIA, is that this new venture has taken a big turn personally and professionally.

I literally started it in August. And now, it's busy enough that last Friday was my last day at The American Heart Association - WHAT???

Yup. So, now I get to be home with my kiddos three days a week, and work on furniture. It's SO FREAKING EXCITING. I am doing something creatively that I love, and am finally getting to be the SAHM that I have have wanted to do recently.

I never thought being a SAHM was my thing. And, I have learned I wouldn't have been good at it when they were babies. Babies, aren't and haven't been my "thing". But, OMG - I am in LOVE with my kids right now. Pretty much from 2.5 years and on, they have been these perfect little buddies. I get to hang with them so much more now, and still have this amazing business that fuels my passions, career drives, and creativity. Win/Win.

I am so excited about this new chapter. Go check it out!  www.facebook.com/lepetitemaisonshop

Here is a pic taken from a booth I had set up at a Holiday Open House :)

If I Could be Anything in the World {Blogging with a Purpose}

There is a series running around the blogosphere about Blogging with a Purpose. (Www.frommrstomama.com) 

Each week is a new topic to delve into and express your thoughts through. This week is "If I could be anything in the world".

You know, it's funny. I am not AT ALL the person I thought I'd be. And that's ok. I was one of those girls that grew up knowing EXACTLY what I wanted to do. I was a self-conscience fame-whore...admittedly.

I wanted to be a famous actress. I totally could have been (didn't all girls??) But, I knew that wasn't going to happen. So, if I wasn't going to be world-famous, by goodness I was going to be locally famous. Television news here I come!!!

I knew I was going to major in broadcasting at a young age, and was one of those few people who entered college with said head-strong major in hand. I knew what I was going to be when I grew up. Woohoo! Let's get this show on the road!

Then life happens. I met a boy. I met said boy my junior year - his senior year in college. He moved to Nashville after graduation, and then I had to do some soul-searching. Also during this time I read a stupid fiction book about a nosy little busy-body reporter who brought down the White House. I felt myself routing for the White House staff over the reporter who was it in "for the good of the land". This book (I swear, how silly) and meeting the boy changed my course. In one of my poly sci classes we did a mock election (there was a current presidential election at this time) and they assigned roles for everyone: president, vice, campaign manager, etc, etc. Me and another girl were the only broadcast journalism majors in the class so we were naturally assigned to do all the reporting on our "election". I remember being so bummed! I wanted campaign manager! 

I was knee-deep in my major at this time. I had already completed two internships at two local news stations. But, I decided then that I didn't want to move from small Podunk city to small Podunk city trying to make it in the broadcasting world.


My minor was political science at the time. So, I flopped them. I decided I wanted to do something that makes a difference. I LOVED my political science courses anyway, and was already one of those annoying passionate college kids during a fantasic presidential election, so with all these outside influences in my life...I made the decision. And it was a big one in your senior year of college after knowing what you wanted to do your entire life. But I loved the boy, and didn't want to move around. To Nashville I went. Oh, and I married the boy :)

Now you are probably asking what politics am I doing now right? Well, I work in advocacy for a non-profit, and doing what I have wanted to do. My favorite class in college was my interest groups class. I would love to work more in advocacy and had aspirations or working on the hill some day. I am a very driven person. But then? Life happens.

We wanted to start a family. We struggled for a while to do so. Doctors told us we had "unexplained infertility" and it may not happen for us. Life took all those career-driven, passionate endorphins and put them full steam ahead into baby-making. Two and a half years (finally) later we were blessed with Josh and Jules and I haven't looked back. While I do still love my job and want to be that person I was, I'm just not. And that's ok. My kiddies are my contribution to this world and I'm very proud of that and them.

Plus, I have many years left to save the world :)

Five on Friday - vol. 1

I decided to "try" to jump on the Five on Friday bandwagon. I probably won't get to it every Friday, but I'll try. You just kind of post about 5 things you are loving, or five things on your mind. My local bloggy friends Following C's and The Neimeyer Nest usually participate, and it's piqued my interest. :)

Here we go!

{ONE}

It's so dang hot here. Like, "really, really" hot. And humid like craziness. And it seems like every time we attempt to go to the pool, it rains. Like alot. And I'm getting kinda sick of it...like alot.

2nd time in two weeks I've let them play in the rain...because, obviously.

{TWO}


We are going up to New York in August for a long weekend and I'm super stoked about it. I'm kind of obsessed with New York City and it's my all time fave place to go. I've blogged about it a bit here, here, and here so I'm excited about going back. Jake and my sisters husband are going with us, so it will be a bit of change from our normally girly trips, but still uber fun.

A pic from a previous trip. Im guessing 2008 based on the date stamp - ha!

{THREE}


I got a chair reupholstered thinking it was going to go in the babies' room as replacing their nursery glider, but when I got it back I realized how WHITE it was. (I have been a sucker for white things lately, bad for toddlers and cats). So, after moving it around places, I decided to squeeze it in our bedroom for now and look for something else for their room.




See the chair squeezed in over to the left? It's super whitey white, along with my bedspread now covered in cat hair. I will eventually learn. But man, I love it!


{FOUR}

I, for one, and so flippin' excited for this Royal Babe to get here. I'm obsessed. I know I might be alone. But eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
{FIVE}

And with school comes football season! Its officially that time of year where I start scoping the web for cute orange stuff to wear to football games (Go Vols) It's football in the south, ya'll - wardrobe is key. (all photos via Pinterest)

I must find some Tory Burch orange flats like, yesterday.

Love this so much!

Happy Friday!!

Would love a vote - thanks!

The post in which I felt like a failure

I know (hope) most moms have had days like this. I haven't had it happen to me yet, but this week, it did. I was *mortified* in a public place by my children.

Our grocery store visit started out fine. If I have the babes with me, I typically go to Publix, because I like their car shopping carts better. I'm weird, I know, but theirs are up high, while the car carts at Kroger are down low. They typically fight in those and I have to separate them. At Publix, they are up top with me. 

Anyway, so like I said, it started out fine. They LOVE going to the store. I should have known it would be bad when we had our first meltdown right at the bananas (Yes, as in, the first thing you get to when you get in the store). We made it through a couple more aisles, and then they started arguing. Josh wanted to get out an walk (no) wanted to come up in the seat with me (which he did), he wanted to get back in with Jules, they fought some more, I am pulling out my hair at this point. And OH THE WHINING. I let them have a fruit packet hoping that would settle them down.

We are halfway through the aisles at this point, and this was quick trip anyway, but I was done.

But all this yes, I know, can be normal.

It was a check-out when things got bad. They love to "help me" put stuff onto the register, which is fine. This is when Jules had  a meltdown and Josh stood up in cart. He got "scolded" by the bagger lady. (well, not scolded really, but I had my back turned trying to calm Jules down, and the lady was just worried he would fall). So, then I got him down and he started pulling stuff off the racks. OMG.

The register people at Publix had to tell Josh no again because Jules was screaming and I had to deal with her.

I am just a mess at this point and want to get out of there. Can't I control my own children? Why do the people at Publix feel the need they need to help me? I should be telling my own kids no, not them! However, they had to because let's be honest, I was outnumbered! We got to the car and I got them out and tried to get them in the car while bagger lady puts my groceries in the back. I am MORTIFIED at this point. Josh is throwing a fit because he doesn't want to get in and stands in between my legs. And, again, bagger lady tells him to stay with me. I say "he's ok, this is how we do this and get them in the car". She doesn't know our routine of getting twin two-year-olds in the car, and it does look crazy I guess if you don't know us. But, it works for us and I have to do everything at the same time. Again, she was just trying to help, I know. But, honestly, I want TO DIE.

But, for the first time in their 2.5 years on this earth, I was so embarrassed that she felt she had to help me. Mortified. I can't explain this feeling, but I know some of you out there have experienced it. I felt ashamed, and it was an awful feeling. I usually have good kids, I really do. And usually, they don't team up on me. It's usually one or the other. But not that day. It makes you feel like a complete failure as a mother and that you have failed in some way in mothering the babes because they act so awful sometimes.

But, I also know that they are two. And I have to take a step back and realize that. But, I also need to re-evaulate some disclipine. Because things like that will now be kept to a minimum if I can help it, because I certainly don't want to feel like that again!

Flashback Friday - Not Remembering

I haven't done a Flashback Friday in a while, and since I have a few minutes, I thought I would do one. I started looking back though my Picasa web albums looking through some old pictures of the babies. It honestly makes my breath stop because this entire journey has gone so very fast. And they are only two! I can't imagine them being 5 or 6.

So, I was looking back though all of these pictures and it just makes me sad. I might be alone here, but I don't remember most of anything. It devastates me! I remember them being little, and when they crawled, sat up, etc. But I don't really "remember it", ya know? I don't remember how they crawled, and what I felt, and how they smiled, and had baby giggles. I just can't remember it. It has just gone too fast. I am very thankful for all the pictures and the videos I took. I especially love all my videos. I can at least go back then through them. Looking at pictures isn't enough, because they are just pictures. I don't remember alot looking at them. I may be so weird here, and maybe it's because I have twins. I don't know. But, I guess that's why most people decide to have other babies, no? Because they want to relive it all again because they can't remember it much. It makes me sad to know I don't remember my babies at 6 months old, but I love my babies at 2 years old. They are fabulous, and every stage is just getting better and better.

But wow, it has just gone so fast that its hard to stop and remember that exact moment when I fed them cereal for the first time. I don't remember what it felt like to hold such tiny babies. I don't remember what it was like carrying them around in my Baby Bjorn. I don't remember dressing them in onesies every day and thinking THAT was a hard. I don't remmeber Jules and Josh having reflux. While I remember Jules puking all the time, I don't remember much about it.  I have pictures, of course, but it's not the same. Man, I feel blue now :(  Sigh...makes me love, love, love that I kept this blog up and running.

They look like little furry penguins here.

Jules in her infant bathtub. I don't remember ever using this! (ok, not really, but kinda)

These were his first "shoes" he ever wore. Little sweet slip ons from Janie and Jack

Me and Jules. Man, she was so delicate and little. But, I guess she still is, lol

This was July 4th at a friend's party. Jake and I were both sporting the Baby Bjorns

Baby legs - they were HUGE on them here. Now, Jules sometimes wears them as leggings with her dresses.

Baby legs here too. Look how huge they were! And teh babes would just fall all over each other, lol

don't forget to vote!


Linking up with Jen for Flashback Friday!

The Eleven.

This has been making its way around the bloggy blogs, and I was lucky enough to get tagged by Amy at A Good Life, so I am uber excited to play along. Yippsies.

Here are the rules:
1. post these rules.


2. post a photo of yourself & 11 random facts about you.


3. answer the questions given to you in the tagger's post.


4. create 11 new questions & tag new people to answer them.


5. go to their blog/twitter & let them know they've been tagged.

So, here are my random facts about myself. (in no particular order)

1. If I have my choice in public bathrooms, I usually use stall #2. I have no idea why. It's just a thing. The first one is too close, and there is no need to walk all the way down to the others. I am so weird, I know.

2. My biggest pet peeve in when you are in parking lots and you are waiting on a space, and they turn towards where I am waiting. Drives me crazy. Turn the other way, yo.

3. I don't like to shop. Crazy, isn't it? Thats why no one is happier than me that the Internet exists for such things. I have a gigantic selection and can pick what I want without having to walk through several stores to not find a thing.

4. I clearly am a lover of chicken sandwiches. I really didn't notice it much until my mom started pointing it out. I ate them (and chicken biscuits) alot while pregnant. However, I have noticed that whenever I go out to eat, that is usually the choice I make. Weird!

5. I am the middle sister of three girls. And we are as different as could possibly be.

6. I had a pot bellied pig for about a week my senior year of high school. ( I loooved them  - still do) but we had to give it back to the farm, b/c my dad pretty much freaked. However, I stopped eating pork and haven't since. Her name was Mrs. Oscar Meyer, lol.

7. I was a broadcasting major in college and my entire life I wanted to be a news anchor. Then while interning, decided I hated local news, and hated the stupid local angles stations put on national stories. (Oh, there was a Tsunami in Japan? Let's go interview Joe, who lives down the road, who vacationed there in 1975.) So, then I became OBSESSED with the political process in college, like all those crazy college kids and changed my major my senior year to Political Science. Now, I am so jaded by politics now too, and think they are all evil-doers.

8. Over the years, my celebrity crushes have come and gone but one remains - Mark-Paul Gosselaar. LOVE him, love him. He is my forever crush. Also, I loved Jason Minor (from the Mickey Mouse Club, lol) and Chris O'Donnell. I once SWORE I saw Jason Minor (I am well aware not a one of you probably knows who in hadey I am talking about) at a car repair shop I was at here in town. I wanted to ask him soooo terribly bad. After all, who (besides me) would  ever recognize this guy all these years later? Well, I didn't talk to him, but immediately googled him when I got home. And yep, he lives in Brentwood as a financial advisor. Seriously. He was FAMOUS at one time. I would have made his year had I said anything to him.

9. We probably aren't having any more babies. Aside from the infertility stuff and not wanting to go through all that again, I just don't honestly think I could do it. Having two toddlers running around is one thing. Adding the up-all-night newborn phase is something I don't want to experience. Then add to that how I have one perfect girl and one perfect boy, and I don't want to press my luck, ya know? Then add to that that each stage has been so awesome! Then add to that the rides at Disney would be all off since we would be a family of 5 then. It's not off the table, but it's leaning that way.

10. Someone was shot at my high school a few years ago and it was also all over the national news. It made me sad then and also now thinking about Ohio. I hate that my alma mater has changed so much. Its getting better since then though, which is good.

11. I can't wait for my babes to start watching movies. Crazy isn't it? Who would wish that? Their attention span is a 30min show right now, but I have tons of Disney movies I CAN'T wait for them to start watching. I hear moms talk about Cars, Tangled, Nemo, etc. And I am jealous, lol! I am crazy. But, I love Disney too :)


Okay, so how was that for random???? Now, here are Amy's questions for moi:
1. what is one thing your working on to change/better about yourself? Being consistently healthy. I have my spurts and OMG if I had the time I would be! I would love to work out 3 times a week, but it just doesn't happen that way. I am lucky to get out once. I had high hopes of doing another half marathon this year, but there is just no way I could train for 1-2 hours a day.


2. what is your dream car? I am not a car person. I never have been. I dunno. I guess because you go through that "OH WOW this car is AWESOME!!" Then three years later you think its a crappy piece of tin.

3. if you could have one talent you don't already have, what would it be? I wish I were better at photography. I love it, but I think you have to have an artists' mind and eye, and I certainly don't have that. I was a performer, and a math nerd. An artist I am not. But, photography is my goal. I am working on it.

4. what is your favorite part of the day? When I come home from work. I get home right when they are having their post nap snack and they are so very happy to see me :)

5. what is your favorite day of the week? Friday.

6. what did you want to be when you were a little kid? An actress or singer, lol. Didn't everyone practice their autographs all the time for when they became famous?

7. what's your favorite physical feature about yourself? My boobs and lips. Weird, I know. But I have great lips, and my boobs are perfect. They fit my frame nicely :) And I have had friends that are too big/too small and it really messes with your self-esteem if you are a woman. So, I am lucky in that sense.

8. what would you love your kids/future kids to grow up to be professionally some day? Famous?? Ha, Ha. Honestly I have no idea. I did one of those psychic things when we were TTC and Ruby told you if you were going to have kids, and what they would grow up to become. She said I would have a daughter and she would be a teacher, and that I would also have a son and he would be in banking. I dunno. I want so much more for them, ya know?

9. what is a pet peeve of yours? I listed a big one up top. Another one is poor customer service for no reason. A prime example: I was in Ann Taylor this weekend and bought a skirt on sale for $29.99. I took it up to the register and she rang it up at $39. I told her it was on sale, and she said it wasn't. I asked "are you sure?". She said yes. Didn't bother checking, Didn't do a thing. So, of course, After I paid, I went and looked and it was on sale, and I had to stand back in line, do a return and re-purchase for her not taking 2 seconds to go see. That crap makes my blood boil.

10. what would your husband/significant other/best friend say is their favorite thing about you? Probably my silliness. I am a funny, quite silly person in general and love to laugh.

11. what is your dream vacation? Hmmm. This one varies. My dream destination of all time has been Paris, but as you can see, its wasn't all that. However, I love busy cities and love exploring and seeing sights, and I love a beach resort. So, I guess it depends.

Okay, So I am tagging Angela, Mandy, Blair, and Christi
 
And here are my questions:
 
1. What is your favorite guilty pleasure food?
2. What is your biggest (or just one) regret in life?
3. What is your favorite hobby?
4. What is your most favorite piece of clothing and why?
5. What game show would you most love to be on and why?
6. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
7. Name one thing you would want to change in your life right now. (that you haven't already blogged about)
8. What is your favorite thing about each child?
9. What would you love your kids/future kids to grow up to be professionally some day? ( I liked this question)
10. What does your family do at night for dinner? (cook, take out, etc?)
11. Name a great random memory.


Don't forget the vote!

Thankful

2011 has been a wonderful year. No huge surprises, no huge disappointments. Just beyond blessed.

Thankful for:

This guy. Although we have our ups and downs, and can make each other madder than anyone on the planet, he's my best bud. Love him to pieces and would rather hang out with him than anyone on the planet. He's a great friend and a great dad. So thankful for God for putting him in my life.

My little buddy. He's a warm-hearted, easy going dude. A typical little sweet boy, he will steal your heart in a second.

This girl. Boy, she is a spit-fire. And the sweetest, smartest, funniest, spunkiest little girl you will ever meet.

Other things that top my list this year:

My family:  I don't know what I would do without them. We are all alike, and each time we're together one of us is mad. But, that's how we roll. Love them.

My in-laws: couldn't ask for better people than Jake's family. They rock.

My job: I am blessed to have a job that I love and I know makes a difference.

My friends: I am the first to admit I am the worst friend ever. I get immersed in my life and forget to touch base and call and catch up nearly as much as I need to. My friends understand that, and call me. They get it, and don't judge me for it, and I love them for it.

My online friends: Formerly dubbed "infertiles", we are now a life-long group of sisters that have been through one of the most difficult trials we will experience, and now share the bond of motherhood.

Me: I thank God each day for the life that I have been given. I don't deserve most of it. The choices that I made going through life that I thought I would regret. Those decisions lead to other paths in life. I met Jake because we lived next door to each other in college. What if I didn't move there? I moved to Nashville. We have a wonderful house, do not want for anything, and have wonderful friends. I questioned him many, many times through the hell that was infertility. I now know everything happens for a reason. I know I was meant to have twins, and had I not gone though infertility, my life would probably be different. I would be different. I am thankful for the mother I have become, than I was sceptical I would become. And I am thankful for the Mothers around me past and present who have shaped me into the mother I am. Love my babies, love my hubs, love my family, love my life.

Thankful for your votes!!

Flashback Friday - Sweet Dreams Books

Yes, I know this is a baby blog. And, yes, I know you are here to see pictures of my sweet, precious babes. But, because its Friday, you know I will do an uber fab Flashback Friday post! And I could have posted a flashback picture of my sweet babes from last Halloween (well, okay, here you go...they are so cute!).

Halloween 2010. They were bears. Super cute ones.

My sister and I were recently reminiscing about these oh so cheesy books from our teenager years called the Sweet Dreams, and it cracked me up so bad that I felt I should dedicate a Flashback Friday post about it, since I have read almost every single one of them in my lifetime. Yes, so let's just go ahead and say this is the most pointless blog post in the history of blog posts.

Sweet Dreams was a teenage young-adult love book series that consisted of over 200+ books. They were written from the 1980's until 1996 I read, which is crazy. It makes me giggle to think back on it because it was so cheesy, but the funny thing is that many celebrities got their start in modeling on the books covers. (such as Courtney Cox Arquette, below)

So, here are some of my favorite Sweet Dreams books. I swear, I LOVED THEM. It honestly seems like yesterday! (How old am I??? Please tell me I'm not the only one who remembers these books!) and again, apologies for this being the stupidest blog post ever. Hopefully it will take you down memory lane, and not make you want to un-follow the blog. *We will be back to baby posts tomorrow :)*

This one was themed around sailing



Hehe! here she is! I think this one was about a debate team



A classic - Love on opposite rival teams. Will school loyalty or love win out?

Probably my favorite one :)

Three cheers for votes!! Come on, please?