Why we have Kids

You will see something new
Two things. And I call them
Thing One and Thing Two.

"These Things are good Things."
Said the Cat in the Hat.

"They are tame. Oh, so tame!
They have come here to play.
They will give you some fun
on this cold cold cold October Day."

6 months

We made it half way through a year! Happy Half Birthday to Elizabeth and Cosette! We went for the 6 month check up today and got cleared for solids. More on that later.
Now the stats:
E
10 lbs 9 oz
24 3/4 inches

C
10 lbs 5 oz
24 1/2 inches

They are super models again with height being in the 70th percentile but weight not on the charts. Typical for preemies and twins the doctor said. They will continue to grow at a rapid pace while typical babies begin to slow their growth during the next 3-10 months.
See the band aids from the shots, but they were troopers and did a great job for me. I took them by myself for the first time. The girls woke up extra early today and made our normal routine different besides fitting a doctors visit in. It was a challenge getting them in the car, out of the car, in the stroller, up the elevator, in the waiting room, entertaining them while waiting for the doctor, getting them undressed, getting them dressed, entertaining them while waiting for the nurse to give the shots, comforting them (and me) while they got the shots, out the door, down the elevator, back in the car, and back home. ALL BY MYSELF! I'm tired from just typing all that! :)

Pumpkin Patch

Elvis in the Pumpkins

Elizabeth makes a brake for it

Sweet friends

We visited our local Pumpkin patch as a family Sunday. We had a friend see us and stop and offer to take our pictures. Of course we said yes! And bonus- She's a professional photographer.

And it took all her professional skills to get all three girls to look at her at the same time.

Smiling- that's a different story!

Wrestle Mania

Pinned Ya Again


I'll eat you up I love you so


Look at me when I'm wrestling you!

Punch you in the MOUTH!

Grandpa's Trip

My dad got to come for a visit last week. This was a great treat. My parents live in Alaska and usually we only get to see them once a year. So for him to get to come for a visit was great. AND it was on business so his company paid for it!
My dad split his time between us and my brother in Dallas. Sadly, daddy caught a bug on the plane and wasn't feeling well on the second half of his trip. Thankfully, we had him on the first half and we didn't get sick!
So my dad flew from Fairbanks Alaska, saw my brother in Dallas, drove to see me in College Station, then I loaded up all the girls and we then DROVE down to Galveston. My Dad likes a good road trip!
John had to work and couldn't join us, but my dad and the girls had a great time. We visited his house (open to all if you need a fun cheap place to stay in Galveston), saw the ocean, and ate at Bennos. mmmmmmmmmm.
I didn't have any bottles for the babies, which meant I had to nurse them on this trip. My dad has a phobia of all things girl. And especially anything that has to do with feeding, diapering or changing. I was occupied with Elizabeth and Cosette (in a feeding kind of way) so Dad was checking out another part of the house (paint on the wall). Gianna HAD to go potty. This being a different house and all she needed some help with things. Daddy paced back and forth. Wanting her to wait for me. ME knowing that it was now or get a rag encouraged him to help her. Beads of sweat formed on his brow. Mumbling about waiting and holding it, I talked him down and through the steps. And in the end, he overcame his phobia and helped Gianna go potty- and wipe. With a few nervous laughter's thrown in.
Fast forward to the next dad when my dad had to head back up to Dallas for business. Gianna was with John in the potty and needed help wiping. John said, All done.
She said-

GRANDPA's turn!!!!!!!!


I guess that was the highlight of his trip for her.

Just in case...

Just in case you very wondering, our town is VERY SMALL!

How is it that the cries of your own child can send you over the edge like nothing else? Gianna has been having well let's just call it "issues" lately. Like my failure to read her mind. Or let her put her feet in her sisters faces. Or the one time I asked her to go potty. Or wanted some privacy while I went potty. Or that I offered my help in something. When I didn't offer help. Or when I was cruel and wanted her to walk instead of ride in the stroller. Or when I wanted her to ride when she wanted to walk. Or because it was a Wednesday...
So today was a whiney day. And my ears HURT from all of the loud shrill noises coming from my child. They babies were kinda fussy too, but they are babies and they get a little more leeway.
So we go to the library and I explain: You get to walk today. I'm putting the babies in the stroller today.
Not. Having. Any. Of. It.
Patience tapped from morning of listening to previous whining, and bottom spanked. No warning. NO second chance. Put in car to try to muffle screams.

And to witness my fail was another mom from Sunday School. (Hi Lori!)
Thanks Lord for keeping me humble.


And when we left- a random Mom (who I don't think saw our circus on the way in) said, "You make it look so easy. Mine are 4 years apart and it's hard."
Nervous laughter from me.





Don't call CPS 'k?

Lamentations 3:22-24 (New International Version)

²² Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. ²³ They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Overall They're Cute!

It was Overall Day for the youngest Ludlows. And I have to admit... I love my girls. John and I kept being amazed by them. I cannot beleive that they are almost 6 months old!

Sweet Cosette

All Smiles Elizabeth

I love love LOVE these girls. John and I keep being excited by all of our girls. We are surprised by all we have survived in just a few short months. We are getting into routines. They are sleeping through the night, and life is good. I just love those toothless grins. Love and joy and baby squeals!

Just so you know...

I was going to write a great post with pictures and everything. But 2 out of my three children are screaming.

Well now it's 3.


I'll go get them now.

What's up with that?

What's up with the lack of posting lately?
Well, three kids tend to wear out my brain cells. I've found that they are taking my creative cells first. Then the ones that find joy in the little things, and then my patience cells. (Nope, those are the first to go!) Really survival has been key. Pictures take a BIG back burner.

What's up with the ads on your site?
Some of you know that John works for himself as an internet marketer. Part of what he does is finds good deals and then offers them up on websites. Another part is that if I need something and I buy it from one of his ads- he gets money from it. So I usually ask him for one of these if I'm planning on making a purchase. It's sort of like a coupon for me. They are really just on the blog for me, but if you want to make a purchase John gets a little bit of the commission for sending you there. But in no way is this blog going to turn into a money making blog.

What's up with those babies?
A LOT. They have taken to being on a schedule! And for the past 4 nights.............They have slept through the night!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, a party has taken place. Now we just need to get me to sleep and everyone will be happy. E rolls everywhere and is putting everything in her mouth. C just likes her fingers to go into her mouth and will put them there over eating! 5 and a half months- can you believe it?!?!?!

What's up with Gianna?
She is a walking talking amazing little person. She has conversations, and is starting to make up stories. She tells the babies stories all the time and says, "Was that a good story?" She LOVES her mothers day out (school) and will tell me stories about what happened there. She is a good helper and loves to entertain her sisters (they love watching her!)

What's up with John?
He is enjoying being his own boss. Sometimes owning your own business is draining- not to mention having twins is hard, but a year into it and he says he'll never go back to corporate America. It's also hard being the best husband and father ever. We are so glad that he's ours!

What's up with you?
I've actually been enjoying crafting a little lately. Some bows and finishing Gianna's room (pics to come). We joined a couples bible study this fall and are really enjoying it. Getting all three girls ready and out the door keeps me busy most days. I get to sit down on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Gianna is at MDO and the babies take a morning nap.

What's up with you?

On Tuesday

I have been cleaning out our house for a garage sale this weekend. (Twin Mom's Sale- there is something for everyone. If you live in town- Come by and BUY!!!!). I let her look at a photo album. Gianna found this picture of herself in a swim suit. We had been talking how when she was little she did this and that. She really enjoyed looking at the pictures of herself.
So a few days later we had this conversation:
She said: On Tuesday When I get little I'm going to wear the mermaid swim suit.
Mommy: But you can't get little- you only get bigger.
G: Oh. When I get bigger I want the mermaid swimsuit.
Mommy: You won't be able to fit into it.
G: Oh. I NEED the mermaid swim suit.
M: You need it?
G" I NEEEEEEEEEDDDD it.
M: I'm sorry but you can't fit into it. Maybe next year we can get a new mermaid swim suit.
G: A new one?
M: A new one
G: Oh OK Mommy.

Who wants to bet that they see Gianna in a mermaid swim suit this summer?

A walk to remember

Last week John and I had been motivated by the nice weather and our need to reduce our midsections to go for a family walk. That is something we used to do everyday in our prebaby world. I really don't remember much about that world. Just that I slept in sometimes and I used to go on walks.
So we started off. Nice weather. Cool breeze. Cloud cover. Perfect.
Cosette and Elizabeth are still too young for sunscreen so we like to take them out when it's cloudy. We enjoy the walk. I thought to myself- The clouds look dark, but they always fool you. The day before we had gone to feed the ducks so we were out of bread. So we were only going to go to the playground. Not because John wanted to but because of "Playground playground playyyyyyyyyy grounnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddd" Gianna "asked".
Yes we can do it we said. Play happened. Then John felt a drop on his head. Hmmm


We said-times up, and started on our way back home. A mile away. We got two houses past the park when the light rain started. Three houses before the downpour You know a Texas kind of rain. A kind family invited us to wait it our on their porch. Gianna wanted none of this waiting stuff and decided to dance in the rain. We waited until it lightened up just a bit, but it still was raining. So John carried Gianna and I ran with the girls in the stroller in the rain.
We laughed and ran. Ran and laughed. Ran in the rain. Elizabeth and Cosette were content as could be. The didn't know why water was falling on them, but they didn't seem to mind it that much. They had fingers to chew so that was fine by them!


Wet girls after we got home! We all were totally soaked!

John and I will file that memory under fun times with girls. And thankfully the file keeps expanding!

A Prayer

Lord,
Give me a heart for laundry. Or a least the will to do it.
Amen

At the Hop!

This week we had a sock hop with our Sunday School. I had a good time making the girls' poodle skirts (sans poodle) Gianna had a blast dancing chasing balloons!