Kicking Off Football Season 2013-August/September =)

Can't believe football season is here already! We have always enjoyed coming back to our Alma Mater for a game or two and enjoying the festivities of tailgating with friends and family, but this year is different. Different for many reasons but the main one being that we now LIVE here in Auburn. For the first time since our college days, we are now residing in the town of many tiger fans and the lively atmosphere each weekend has been so much fun as we get settled into our new "home." It's been so nice to already be in town and not have to make the drive with two toddlers. We're so grateful that my parents enjoy it just as much even more than we do and make tailgating so easy on us! Sure does help when you're 30+ weeks pregnant and toting twin toddlers through campus! =) And I struck a deal with the hubby for the season: you help me get back to the car with the girls and you can go to the games. I thought that was rather generous, don't you!? :) We'll

re-evaluate this plan once baby #3 arrives and see if it's still possible!

Arriving to tailgate #1: Washington State

It appears that Princess B (aka Makenzie) is already hating the hot weather that always accompanies the first couple games. Hard to believe at two years old that she's already expressing her displeasure. =0) We thought she might cave after the first hour or so and uncover her hands over her eyes, but it looks like her persistence never wavered. She literally kept them over her eyes the ENTIRE time she was outside. The rest of us enjoyed some yummy food, good fellowship with family, and managed to brave the heat up until kickoff time. Let's hope the weather cools off just a tad before next week! That would help a pregnant mommy out tremendously! =)

Maddie Grace thoroughly enjoyed herself-especially nibbling off her stack of chips & snacking on some dips and cookies!

We celebrated Daddy's 30th birthday with a delicious blueberry cake made by Auntie Sarah! She did a mighty fine job if I do say so myself and it was still beautifully decorated despite the blazing heat. One day we'll tell Makenzie of her lack of cooperation in getting a family pic for daddy's birthday!

Still not a happy camper, even with the extra TLC (fan waving) by Grandpa. We love you sweet girl and hate that you're so miserable!

More celebrating on Sunday with daddy's absolute favorite: Great American Cookie Company =)

Such fun on a Friday night! Mom and Dad came rolling into town mid-afternoon and we were able to make it to the first of the AUtumn nights they were having downtown. We weren't sure how this night would go considering it was only day 5 of potty training, but much to our delight, they did fabulous and were beyond precious for us all night! We enjoyed the pep rally, eating dinner at Moe's BBQ, & listening to the band. The whole night was loads of fun, but the highlight was seeing Maddie Grace fall in love with Aubie! 

Took her a few minutes to warm up to Aubie, but then it was love at first sight that has yet to disappear...=)

She LOVED him and kept requesting/tugging on Aunt Sarah's dress to take her back over to see Aubie and for the remainder of the night and for many days afterwards, all she kept talking about was kissing Aubie and Aubie's big feet. Looks like Aubie won over this girl's heart!

Dancing the night away with Grandpa and Aunt Sarah. These two came out of their shell as soon as the crowd died down and danced themselves until we drug them home to go night night!

Tailgate #2: Arkansas State

As you can see from the looks of it, Makenzie is a much happier camper this go around. Not sure if it's the huge iced cookie she's eating or the fact that she hasn't spotted Aubie yet, but she's in good spirits and we'll enjoy it while it lasts! =) Maddie Grace made herself at home and full enjoyed the festivities and being doted on by sweet Aunts & Grandparents once again!

It was also really fun having Connor in town to enjoy everything with the girls! Have you even seen cuter tigers? Nope, didn't think so either! Thankful Mimi was willing to give it a shot at capturing the cuteness. This pregnant momma was just trying to stay hydrated and not go into early labor from the heat! Phew!

Cuteness Cousin Overload...

Sure, let's try to get one family picture this season =0) Especially while Makenzie has her eyes uncovered today!

Tailgate #3: MS State

Last tailgate/game for the month of September as we have an away game at LSU and then a BYE weekend. Thankfully the temps have gone down since the first two games which made the day MUCH more bearable! We didn't snap too many pictures today because 1. The girls skipped their nap and were rather exhasuated & 2. Makenzie reverted back to keeping her eyes covered the entire time we were outside which meant there wasn't anything to capture, ha! Maddie Grace still really loved the whole experience, especially seeing Aubie come riding by in his car dancing. She still shows us regularly how Aubie danced that day and it's rather cute if I do say so myself!

We have loved being here in Auburn each week as the fans and family roll into town. Sure has spiced up our weekends here in Auburn and has been a great chance to spend quality time with family! We look forward to having a house, Lord willing for next year's season! On a side note, each week as we go to dress the girls in their "Auburn" wear, Makenzie has a complete meltdown, telling us she doesn't want to see Aubie. This girl is truly terrified of Aubie and doesn't want to be anywhere near where he might be! =( We're trying to figure out a way to help her enjoy herself, at least for one game this season! Bring on the cooler weather October, pretty please!

Potty Training!

WARNING: LONG POST MIXED WITH POTTY COMMENTS-READ AT YOUR OWN RISK =)
How do you begin to sum up potty training twins!? =) I would say I'm at a loss for words but no, that's not the problem. The problem is how do you even describe the laughs, stressful moments, and complete hilariousness of our three day potty training boot camp!? Writing this at the 2 week in mark will be such therapy and encouragement to this mommy's heart. I had been dreading, I mean dreading tackling potty training for a long time-really ever since these two girls were born! But the time had indeed come. We knew they were ready but we wanted to make sure they were REALLY ready so we could knock this out once and for all! Makenzie had shown so much interest earlier in the summer and Maddie Grace had zero desire to sit on the potty. So at that point we decided it would be best to wait and so we did. Well when Maddie Grace decided she was seriously into it, Makenzie said no thank you, I not go potty when we would ask her if she wanted to go! A little twin reversal on us! But with only 8ish weeks out from Baby Ashton Kate making her debut, it was now or never! So trying to plan a "good" time to begin didn't exist in our schedule. We had plans almost every single weekend, mixed in with football games, family and friends in town, being out of town, or church (which we didn't want to miss!) And this mom wanted daddy's help with day 1! I knew I couldn't make it on my own being 31 weeks pregnant and trying to run two toddlers to the potty ALL. DAY. LONG. So this is how it went down. We decided the day before that Labor Day would be a great day to attempt this madness. Kendall was off work, we had already celebrated his birthday, family had left town, and we didn't have too many plans. We canceled everything off our schedules and dedicated the entire day to doing this thing! I read the 3-day boot camp manual that many of our friends have sworn by the night before, sent Kendall out on a last minute pick up "treats" and "fun drinks" and we woke up ready to face it head on Monday morning!

 

Day 1: HILARIOUS! and exhausting would best describe the day! We kicked off the day by "throwing" away all our old diapers (aka bagging them up and saving them for baby #3=) Shh...and then letting the girls pick out their first big girl panties! Ready or not here we come was the motto...I believe we made 33 trips to the bathroom combined and only had 4 accidents. We'll take it. What I had not anticipated was the almost running smack into each other as we darted two toddlers that needed to "pee" at the exact same time. I think I almost wet my pants from laughing so hard as well! Besides the fact that we went nowhere, time seemed to stand still, and all we felt like we did was stare at their little panties all day long, it was a big success. We made it to nap time without shedding any tears and by bedtime, all of us were wiped out! I literally could NOT have survived the day without Kendall's help. I knew it would be tough and even though they did amazing, it's just a crazy, insane amount of trips to he bathroom and just mentally and emotionally draining to do that all. day. long. You feel like you can't relax or take your eyes off them for ONE SECOND! Not to mention make breakfast, lunch, or dinner while making a gazillion trips to the potty! Maddie Grace quickly began to tell us that she needed to go potty and Makenzie would just get this complete panicked look on her face and we would scoop her up and dash! By the end of the day, she had begun to realize already what that sensation was and it wasn't quite so terrifying! Way to go girls! We're so proud of you! Day 2 here we come...

Day 2: Mommy was on her own today! Yikes! I literally was slightly scared/terrified to tackle the day alone. But considering yesterday went so well, it felt a tad bit better! The stories began to get funnier as the commentary picked up around the potty! That kept me laughing and sane throughout the day. As far as potty training goes, the girls did fantastic! Only 3 accidents and 43 successes! Mind you, that's a lot of trips/bottom wipings for this tired and pregnant momma! On a side not, I'm always ecstatic to see Kendall's face each day, but man today was like heaven! SOO thankful to have his help, support, and encouragement! Walking through these small milestones alone would be pure agony! The girls were so proud of all the happy faces they got on their chart and were eager to continue earning a few more gummies and M & M's.

Day 3: All of the sudden it occurred to me that just because we make it to day 3, the final day of this "magical" potty training camp doesn't mean we've arrived and that life will return as normal. That reality set in and sorta put a damper on my outlook for the next few weeks/months. To say I was in a fog is an understatement. Mind you, the girls have done fantastic and we have been utterly shocked at how well they have done! We feel like it's almost too good to be true. So few accidents, no poo poo in the pants yet, and overall really doing great telling us when they need to go every time! Today's count was: 0 accidents YAHOO! and 43 successful trips! Still, it feels like our life will never be normal. EVER. AGAIN.  I do have to remind myself that we won't be pumping them full of fluids like this every day! I think I also need to hear other moms tell me that this our life will not look like this a few weeks from now. Another season of life, right?! I think I'm tired of seasons! There is always a new one right around the corner =) But come Wednesday night as we crawled into bed, we were relieved. It felt like it clicked and the girls "got the hang of it!" Not to say we're out of the woods or that they won't digress (esp when Ashton Kate arrives), but all in all, we are soo grateful that it went as well as it did! Next challenge: Figure out how to leave the house and go anywhere! But we'll save that post for another day!

POTTY TRAINING BOOT CAMP HAS BEEN COMPLETED! HOORAY!

And just to show we did leave the house...on day 4 =0)

Some of our favorite quotes during this "training" period!

-Mak runs from her bed yelling "poo poo! poo poo! and then says, maddie gace did you see it? Mg responds yaa I see it sissy! It's a big one and a small one and Mak says yay it's not stuck anymore!" :) 

-"mommy, there's more in there, help me get it out..." (Mak)

-"it's stuck in there..." (Mak)

-"don't flush it mommy i show daddy my big poop when he gets home~" (MG)

-"Oh, there's a green one in the hole..." (MG)

-"Sissy, come watch!" (MG)

-"I don't need your help mommy, you stay there and color..." (MG)

-"I save my poo poo for Aubie to see..." (MG)

-"I gotta go poo poo, I gotta go poo-it's coming down! It's coming down!" (Mak)
-"there's nuffin in there...it's stuck in there..." (Mak)
-I don't need to go potty, I just checkin...(Mak)
-"I go pee pee in the grass..." (MG)

Twin Update: 2 Years 5 Months

 

2 YEARS 5 MONTHS:

Weight & Height: Mak-26.8lbs & 33 in; MG-29.4lbs & 34 in

Diapers: Mak-Size 4; MG- Size 5

Clothes: Mostly 24 months or 2T for both

Shoes: Mak: size 5; MG: size 6

Teeth count: Mak: 16; MG: 16
Started Potty Training TODAY :) Sept. 2, 2013

 

What new things you girls have done this month!? (from 28-29mo)

-Phrases we still hear a lot of lately: “I not sleepy, I just tired,” “I can’t, my tummy hurts,” “I play games mommy,” “I play nother game,” “G-dad for Granddad,” “No, I yove you more mommy!” “I need to rest,” “I happy!” “backways” (MG says that’s for inside out clothes) “wet willy!” “I wear this,” “it messed up”-referring to IPAD problems J “my hands are full,” “I have a lot of stuff”-(to carry to car) “I’m busy right now,” “watch me mom/dad!” “ I play 2 more min” “Sissy, I have some & Sissy, help me!” “I found it!” “I right here mommy” ‘I do it too please,” “where daddy go?” “I hold that,” “I have that please,” “1, 2, 3, go!” “Mommy wake up, Mommy get up!” “I’m just playing…” “Oh my goodness,” “where auburn go, where’s aubie?” & “What is that, what is this &    who is that?” (pretty much about everything!) “Don’t get me!”

-Talking in extremely long sentences which has been so much fun! (most of the time =)

-love their miniature size Bibles and like to “read” them and carry them around, insist on taking them to church!

-LOVE LOVE matching colors-will go around the house and match what they are eating to other objects as well as any other toy to another toy, etc that is the same color

-Into letters and abc’s

-still love animals in books and movies-Mak is scared of a lot of bugs and will scream while MG loves them and inspects them and tries to hold them

-have begun trying to get out of doing things or helping clean up by saying their tummy hurts and they need to go rest! =) (where do they learn this kind of stuff!?!)

-Maddie Grace has gone pee pee in the potty almost every day and even multiple times a day since Aug.8^th! Makenzie isn’t nearly as interested in going potty anymore which has been somewhat of a twin reversal!

-Makenzie is our little snugglebug still and LOVES to get in bed between us, as close as possible, with every body part touching her, including face and will fall back asleep very soundly =)

-should never have taught them how to give wet willy’s! They love giving them now =)

-MG sorts colors and identifies them well; Makenzie sorts them well but still doesn’t seem to have any idea what color it is-bless!

-Both girls LOVE sleeping with stuffed animals-we have to put a limit on how many can go in the bed with them =)

 

 

-MG very interested in her name and writing it when she colors or on her cup, etc.
-MG LOVES puzzles and is very very good at them, she will work at it for a pretty extended period of time!

-Funny story from this month: during family worship time, Kendall laughed as he asked them who makes them righteous, knowing obviously the gap in understanding….but they both responded and we died laughing! MG said my hair? And Mak followed her up with saying Nana! Close girls…but we’ll keep working on some solid theology =)

-every night during family worship time as we’re reading a new story, they keep coming back to Adam and Eve-they will repeatedly say “they ate the fruit, they disobeyed…” and Noah is another big favorite!

-they watched their first movie in the car on the IPAD and were mesmerized-they didn’t budge and loved watching Dora and Mickey on the way to and from the beach!

-MG cries a whole lot when she doesn’t get her way =(

-Makenzie handles conflict and disappointment significantly better at this point than MG but she has recently (last couple days) began to slap the couch or bed or a toy if she is mad which only ends up hurting herself…=(

-they absolutely LOVE playing in the car…and ask to do so anytime we arrive back home.

-Makenzie hates hates having the door shut in her bedroom during nap or bedtime and will begin asking you “no shut door” leading up to each one repeatedly!

-MG still scared of loud noises-vacuum, washing machine, blender, thunder, etc and will either run to mommy with her bunny in hand looking terrified or run to the couch!

-Makenzie is such a BIG helper! She will throw away diapers, run get anything you ask, or retrieve sissy’s bunny to make her happy if she is crying! Maddie Grace prefers to stay put and asks someone else to do it :)

-When they are walking, Maddie Grace will often swing her arms beside her as she does her somewhat of a waddle-love it! And Makenzie will put her arms behind her back like she’s got something to hide-just precious as well!

-Maddie Grace is our little miss independent and wants to do EVERYTHING all by herself. Makenzie is just fine asking for help with just about everything! =)

-they learned to blow bubbles in their milk cup and they die laughing together as they watch them rise to the top

-they LOVE looking at pictures of “babies” every morning when they wake up on mommy’s phone

-new thing this month is they love to have daddy give them “princess rides” to bed-they get on his back together and go for a ride and then he drops them each off at their bed and plops them in J they love it!