Twin Tales

Wordless Wednesday

2012-02-15T03:04:00.002-05:00

Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T05:47:00.003-05:00

true love isn't grand

you can't read it

it doesn't taste like chocolate

and it doesn't have the smell of roses

it doesn't look like pink or red conversation hearts

or feel like a big fluffy stuffed teddy bear

love is simple

it defies the senses

and it holds no monetary value

it disarms the negative

and it nurtures the positive

it eases and enhances life's journey

and if I were to describe it tangibly I think

it's the bubble wrap to my spirit

A Birthday and Stomach Bugs

2012-02-12T07:51:00.000-05:00

Well, I am seriously behind on working on the blog. I came down with that terrible norovirus that has been going around town in the middle of the night on January 29 and it was terrible! I was literally up all night long getting sick over and over again - not even 20 minutes of sleep!

I spent that Monday in a state of disconnect from my own brain and body, yet still had to care for the kiddos since Mike was at work. Thank heaven for Grandmommy who gave me a brief moment of rest and came over after I took the twins to school so I could rest for an hour. Then it was back at it to to entertain them all afternoon until she came back around 4:15 to keep all three until Mike got home around 5:30. I was completely non-functional.

I managed to sleep a bit Monday night, and then Tuesday we celebrated Mike's 36th birthday! I was still in pretty poor condition, but was not about to let it get in the way of my man's special day! We enjoyed a nice lunch together (well, eating was not really going too well for me yet, but I managed to do ok) while the twins were in school and then the kids and Mike had a fun afternoon (more on that in another post), and Grandmommy and Grandaddy came over for cake that evening.

It was low key, but a fabulous day together!

Happy Birthday, my Love!

Wouldn't you know it, that Friday evening Aidan, Ella and Mike all came down with the bug as well and spent one rough night getting sick over and over again. Everyone was pretty sick all weekend and enjoyed a few days on the couch watching lots of movies.

Curious George Returns!

2012-02-06T15:56:00.000-05:00

After visiting with Aidan just a week or so ago, Curious George came back for a return visit - this time with Ella!

It was her turn to share in some weekend adventures with the little monkey, and you can imagine how thrilled she was to tote him around!

They played outside on Friday afternoon....

...and enjoyed spending time at the airport overlook on Saturday....

Sunday was spent hanging out at the Nature Museum and Freedom Park, where George enjoyed visiting the butterflies (always a favorite of Ella's)....

....seeing the turtles....

....feeding the ducks and geese....

....riding in the stroller with Lauren....

...and enjoying a pizza dinner at our favorite local spot....

George was sad to go, but is looking forward to returning in a few years once Lauren makes her way into the four's class!

PS - Yes, Ella insisted on wearing her wonder Woman dress all weekend!

7

2012-02-01T10:59:00.001-05:00

Happy 7 Months Old Lauren!

Could someone please stop the clocks - just for one day? I want more time to savor these last few months of babyhood before you are on the move and walking and talking!

Yet another month has passed, and it was another one filled with lots of firsts!

Your first ear infections (a double set!)....

....your first time sitting up in the grocery cart....

....your first time sitting in a highchair at a restaurant....

....your first time playing in your jumparoo (which you LOVE!!)....

....your first time eating puffs....

...and attempting to feed yourself with a spoon....

....your first time being a practice subject for Mommy with her new backdrops and mini studio set-up....

....and we said goodbye to the beloved carrier and snap-n-go and you had your first ride in your new carseat and stroller....

Sweet little Lauren - what an absolute delight you are! You still do not sleep well at all and keep us up about every 2-3 hours at night. We tried the whole "cry it out" concept, but rather than eventually fall asleep, you just throw up.

You are really into textures, colors and patterns and love to touch and feel everything - especially tags!

You weigh about 17 pounds and have finally graduated to size 2-3 diapers. I have even begun to put you into some of your 9 month outfits as everything else is getting too short!

You are a great eater, and the only thing we have found that you really do not care for is banannas. You even eat meals on the go now and your bottle consumption is beginning to decrease just a tad.

The sound of your laughter is amazing....and you love to blow raspberries and make all sorts of other funny sounds....we even hear the hint of "mama" and "dada" beginning to sneak out just a bit!

Like I said, the time is going by just too quickly. Our last little baby is growing up before our eyes, and I just want to savor every single moment.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-02-01T05:32:00.002-05:00

Rainbow Week

2012-01-27T20:20:00.000-05:00

This past week was "rainbow week" at school. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the little ones were supposed to wear a predetermined color pairing for the day.

Needless to say, we made it such fun and even included Lauren - and also got in lots of practice time with my new backdrop stand and white paper!

Monday - Orange

Tuesday - Purple or Blue

Wednesday - Green (Lauren did match in the morning, but had a diaper blow out that required an outfit change!)

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T14:12:00.001-05:00

Sleeping Beauty

2012-01-23T17:28:00.001-05:00

Sleep is something that is very hard to come by around our house these days. Between three sick children, one sick Mommy, and the general sleep patterns of a six month old - I probably average around three total hours in any given night. Mind you - that is not consecutive. I cannot remember the last time I had a dream, as my body never actually gets the chance to sleep long enough to enter into REM sleep.

Our littlest princess has been, by far, the toughest challenge when it comes to the sleep department. At six and a half months old, she still wakes about every 2 1/2 to 3 hours at night.

I will admit that sometimes we give in and she winds up sleeping with us...whatever we can do to get even just 20 more minutes is fine by me. We did the same thing with Ella when she was an infant and she turned out just fine...so why not?!

Typically, I am solo with the trio, which leads me to be even more lenient with Lauren, as it can be quite chaotic getting all three down at the same time.

But....when she does sleep, the sweetness will take your breath away....

Aidan's Trip to the ER

2012-01-22T21:56:00.001-05:00

Thursday night brought about a first for the Parker household....croup officially made its' debut!

We had JUST managed to get the children and myself finally all healthy (the twins had ear infections and bronchitis, Lauren had ear infections, and I was diagnosed with bronchitis and borderline pneumonia), and then Aidan came home from school with a runny nose.

He went to bed just fine, but woke up at about 9:15 in a coughing fit and when I walked into his room, the look of panic in his eyes spoke more than he ever needed....he could not breathe and it was bad. He managed to get out a few wheezes and desperate gasps for air as I grabbed him up and took him immediately downstairs, called Mike at worked and threatened calling 911 if he wasn't home in less than 3 minutes, and whisked him onto the front porch into the cold air. Though the croup had never entered our household before, but I knew enough about it to know that he needed either shower steam or cold air.

Mike made it home, took one look at him and ran with him out the door to the Emergency Room. I made it there shortly after once Grandmommy and Grandaddy arrived to stay with Ella and Lauren.

It was scary.....his breathing was retracted and he was using accessory muscles in order to breathe. But after a nice dose of steroids and a breathing treatment, he turned the corner and was back to his normal self in no time.

They kept us there for an few hours for observation, in which time he wanted to know all about every button and knob in the room, where the bathroom was, where the refrigerator was, what they did in each room, and on and on!

See....a little medication and he is happy and ready to go:

...and so, at about 1:20 AM, we were sent home.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T06:25:00.000-05:00

Curious George Comes for a Visit

2012-01-15T20:24:00.000-05:00

Last week, Aidan came home from school on Friday with Curious George....and instructions that he was to tag along on all of our weekend adventures, and that we had to take pictures and write in his journal about all of the fun he had at our house.

While Aidan was thrilled to have been entrusted with George, I found that the assignment was really for me, as I had to take all of the pictures, print all of the pictures, and write the journal entry to send back to school on Monday. And of course, we get to do it again when it is Ella's turn!

Nonetheless, Curious George had quite the weekend! Within a few hours of being tucked in tightly with Aidan and going to bed, Aidan had a coughing fit that ended in him throwing up - all over George. So, George found himself in the washer and dryer at 2 AM before being placed back into Aidan's loving arms.

Aidan was better on Saturday, but we still spent a rather low key day just trying to take it easy. He joined us for a walk around the block....

....getting his shirt that had two holes sewn up by Grandmommy....

....and being hugged by Aidan all night long....

Sunday was a bit more exciting and involved a visit to the Disney Store at the mall....

....a ride in the grocery cart with Lauren....

....and dinner at a Japanese steakhouse....

All in all, I think Curious George had a fun weekend in the Parker household and we look forward to his return visit with Ella in a few weeks!

PJ Day at School

2012-01-12T19:57:00.001-05:00

How excited are these two to wear PJ's to school today and take their bunnies for waffle making and storytime??!!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T08:34:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-04T09:10:00.000-05:00

6

2012-01-01T11:43:00.000-05:00

Happy 6 Months Old Lauren!

Wow - half of an entire year has flown by since you completed our little family - I cannot even remember what life was like without your smiling sweet face!

You are growing and eating beautifully. Current stats include:

Weight: 16.5 pounds (50-75%)
Height: 26 3/4 inches (75-905)
Head Circumference: 16.5 inches (25-50%)

You are up to three meals a day and are an amazingly good little eater! Your doctor even said that we could graduate you to stage 2 foods when we feel ready.

You are still in a size 2 diaper, but quite honestly, could be in a size 3 - I just want to use up all of the remaining 2's!

You had another big month!

You learned to sit up on your own - you are still a bit wobbly, but you certainly LOVE to sit up....

....following on the heals of sitting up, you graduated to the toddler side of your little bath tub....

.... we had some issues with constipation and had to bring out the prunes and prune juice - which you loved!....

.... we have to be extra careful these days because literally anything and everything you can reach from toys to jewelry to hair goes into your little mouth....

....you got your first two teeth....

....you went on your first really long road trip (2-days down and 2-days back!) through the states of North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. You were an incredible traveller and slept the majority of the time.....

....and put your little toes into the sand at the beach for the first time....

See what I mean? Big changes and events for you this past month - and through it all you are such a happy, happy little girl - you rarely cry or fuss and have a giant smile on your face about 90% of the time.

I will say that your sleep habits still need some work. I literally cannot get anything accomplished these days, and let's not even start on your nighttime sleep! Man, oh man, this every 2 1/2 - 3 hour thing has got to stop! I know that at some point I should just be a little tougher and let you cry some, but I could never do it with the twins, and still cannot do it with you.

You and I have forged quite a strong bond. You are definitely a Mommy's girl. Dont get me wrong, you love your Daddy as well, but no one can make you happy the way Mommy can!

Sweet lady Lauren, please know just how much I cherish this time right now while you are still little. And how deeply grateful grateful I am to get to live in each moment with you, Ella and Aidan.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T10:31:00.000-05:00

Heading Home

2011-12-31T23:00:00.000-05:00

After spending some quality time with Aunt Kiki this morning where Ella and Aidan had ladybug races on the front porch and Kiki got to meet Lauren for the first time....

....we completed the last leg of our trip home today, leaving Atlanta at around 1:30 PM and getting home just before dark at 5:00 PM. The minivan was literally packed to the gills - we could not have fit one more thing in the back!

Happy New Year's Eve!

Christmas at the Beach - Day 7

2011-12-30T20:03:00.001-05:00

We headed out for Atlanta today, making it officially out of the beach house right at 11 AM.

We made it as far as Mexico Beach (about 1/2 hour) before the kids decided they had to go to the bathroom and were hungry, so we stopped at this neat little restaurant called Toucans that was right on the ocean. Strangely enough, Mexico Beach is in this little pocket that is in a different time zone, so they were not open yet.

We took the time to let Lauren and the kids get their feet in the sand one last time!

Christmas at the Beach - Day 6

2011-12-29T20:12:00.000-05:00

We made our final trip into Appalachicola this morning and enjoyed lunch one last time at our favorite spot, The Owl Cafe....

....as we explored, we came across a really cool spot for mini photo shoot with my new photo prop chairs....

....once we got home, it was warm enough for a dip in the (heated) pool....

Christmas at the Beach - Day 5

2011-12-28T23:41:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, you just need a day to walk on the beach....

....hang out with Opa and Grandma Shushi....

....eat boiled peanuts on the deck....

....play on the deck....

....take in the beautiful scene from the restaurant where you had lunch (the Sunset Grill)....

...and just plain relax....

Christmas at the Beach - Day 4

2011-12-27T19:44:00.001-05:00

Today was incredibly windy and much cooler - so much so that we decided not to even take Lauren outside!

While Lauren hung out with Opa and Grandma Shushi....

....Mike and I spent some quality time with Ella and Aidan exploring a little bit of Cape San Blas and Port St. Joe.

We played at a little playground and walked out onto the pier....

....and then had lunch and spent some time at the Port St. Joe marina....

Despite the wind, Mike and the kids did decide to take a brief visit to the beach later in the afternoon....

Christmas at the Beach - Day 3

2011-12-26T19:43:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed some time on the beach today - Lauren got her first real taste of the sun and surf while we took a walk....

....and then she finally got to stick her little feet and fingers in the sand!

Christmas at the Beach - Day 2 - Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T23:26:00.001-05:00

Christmas day was spent relaxing, opening a crazy amout of presents, and heading back down to the beach for some fun in the sun!

We had a fabulous and special Christmas dinner and just enjoyed each other's company - what a memorable Christmas!

Christmas at the Beach - Day 1 (Christmas Eve)

2011-12-24T23:46:00.002-05:00

After our evening arrival last night, we pretty much just managed to unload the cars, scrounge together something to feed the kids, and got all three in to bed.

Us adults chose to have wine and beer for dinner!

Christmas Eve was a windy and cold day spent getting better settled and heading to the grocery store (or "The Piglet" as Ella and Aidan called it). Depsite the crazy wind, we did manage to make a trip down to the beach and let the big kids run around a bit!

The beach itself was perfect - and completely deserted!!

Before we knew it, it was time for bed and to get as much sleep as possible before Santa's visit overnight...

The Longest Drive

2011-12-23T23:42:00.000-05:00

We had one heck of a long drive today! We left Atlanta at around 10:30 AM, and finally reached the house in Florida at around 7:00 PM.

A long drive with three small children is never a restful experince, as we found ourselves having to stop about every 2 1/2 hours because someone needed to use the restroom or the baby needed to eat.

But, we made it safe and sound - and despite the frequent stops, the kids did simply amazing. No whining, no fussing, no fighting and no crying - not even from Lauren!

We even got to see some pretty cool stuff along the way - Alabama is quite the place for strange sightings!

It is not every day you can stop for gas at a Texaco and peruse a random pond filled with alligators....

....or see something that creates a new definiton to "motor home"!

And We Are Off!

2011-12-22T15:35:00.000-05:00

And away we go....heading to Atlanta tonight, and then departing from Atlanta to head to Cap San Blas, Florida in the morning!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T14:41:00.000-05:00

Weekend Fun

2011-12-19T10:51:00.000-05:00

Mike and I enjoyed a little time with just Ella and Aidan on Saturday. We were supposd to go see a play, but I completely messed up and thought the tickets were for a different time, and we missed it.....so we detoured to Disscovery Place instead.

We visited the Mummies of the World exhibit, saw a movie about bugs, explored the little aquarium....

...and just enjoyed a wonderful afternoon together while Grandmommy stayed with Lauren.

Sunday morning brought a little Christmas cheer in the form of donuts for the big kids....

....while Lauren sat with us in her chair, content to play with any toy she can shove into her poor little teething mouth....

After a busy afternoon filled with photo shoots for me, we headed to Grandmommy and Grandaddy's house for a special pre-Christmas dinner, complete with Mema!

First Tooth!

2011-12-17T22:49:00.000-05:00

Looks like the end of the gummy tooth grins for our little lady!

The first little pearly white is making its' grand entrance.....followed right behind with the second one as well!

Flashback Friday

2011-12-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

I dont just subject Lauren to numerous photo sessions, I did it with the twins as well!

Here is a look back at Ella and Aidan on their first Christmas at just 7 months old:

Santa and The Nutcracker

2011-12-15T06:40:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a day full of adventure!

I spent the morning at my CMOMs (Charlotte Mothers of Multiples) holiday social as the Santa photographer. Yep, in three hours I captured over 64 families as their little ones sat on Santa's lap and divulged their special wishes.

Needless to say, I was exhausted (I am also quite sick right now, so that just makes it worse) by 2:00 PM, but I was bound and determined to get Ella, Aidan and Lauren to a Santa as well.

Why were they not at the CMOMs social? Well, the twins are on the tail end of their very first case of pink eye and I did not want to risk getting any of our friends sick. Guess I am not too worried about the general public!

Since Ella and Aidan had already asked me how Santa could be in the North Pole and at the mall, the pet store, and all sorts of other places at the same time, we had a long discussion about how these are not real Santas - just men dressed as Santa who deliver children's wishes to the man himself. Smart kids - they are no fools.

After this explanation, this was the first year of no tears - just pure excitement and joy!

Ella even stopped for a cameo with Mrs. Claus!

That evening, Ella and Aidan were in for a big surprise! Grandmommy and Grandaddy took them to see the Nutcracker in Uptown Charlotte. They were even treated to seats in the 8th row next to the Mayor and his children - Go Grandparents!

We were a little worried that Aidan would not be too thrilled, but he enjoyed it just as much as Ella and is quick to tell anyone all about the marching mice! Ella loves to talk all about the beautiful dancers and how the boy dancers lifted up the girl dancers. They both love to explain how the story was told by dancing and not talking.

The night was capped off with a sleepover at Grandmommy and Grandaddy's - perfection for all parties!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T04:16:00.000-05:00

Believe

2011-12-12T07:06:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you just have to believe!

Flashback Friday

2011-12-09T08:12:00.000-05:00

Ella - 5 Months Old (October 2007)

Lauren - 5 Months Old (December 2011)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T04:31:00.000-05:00

Flashback Friday

2011-12-02T06:44:00.001-05:00

July 2011

December 2011

5

2011-12-01T20:00:00.002-05:00

Happy 5 Months Old Lauren!

You grew and changed immensely over the last few weeks - 4 months was a big month for you!

You still insist on grabbing your feet anytime you are playing on the floor....

....or in the bouncy seat....

....we packed away the baby swing and papasan seat and brought out the exersaucer....

....tummy time has started to become a little more enjoyable for you....

....you really have the hang of reaching, grasping and holding objects....

.....we enjoyed plenty of time together while Ella and Aidan were in school....

....and you had your first taste of rice cereal, and have since also enjoyed apples, bananas and sweet potatoes....

So, like I said, you had a big month!

Despite all of your recent changes, your sleep patterns have stayed the same....you still wake at least three times per night, and we have yet to succeed in getting you to take more than 4 ounces in any feeding at all.

One of your other recent advancements is rolling over...which you do constantly, especially at night. Bless your heart, you get stuck and cannot roll back over, which makes for one unhappy little baby!

You love to pull on my hair, earrings, necklaces, etc - nothing is safe anymore! You are also really trying to sit up, especially in the bouncy seat.

You have your first cold right now, I suspect brought into the house by the twins. Along with your cold is a nasty cough, so I took you to the pediatrician just to ensure that it was not RSV or something worse. Turns out you are fine (after an RSV panel and a nebulizer treatment) and the cough should go away soon.

We did weigh you just for fun -16.2 pounds! Wow - you gained 2 pounds in the last month!

You are truly a dream come true and I am delighting in every move you make these days! I cannot wait to see what the next few months have in store!

Wordy Wednesday

2011-11-30T10:06:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, Grandmommy and Grandaddy were babysitting while I was busy working (4 sessions in one day - I was exhausted!) and when I came home, Ella asked if they could have a sleepover at Grandmommy and Grandaddy's house. I said yes, assuming that she meant sometime in the future (as did Grandmommy and Grandaddy!).

The joke was on us - she and Aidan screamed with joy and immediately began gathering their backpacks and bunnies with excited anticipation.

So, off they went for their first sleepover with Grandmommy and Grandaddy:

It is hard to believe that they are old enough for this.....I just turned in their paperwork/registration forms for kindergarten this morning - where has the time gone??!!

My Littlest Pumpkin

2011-11-28T11:16:00.000-05:00

Holiday Cards

2011-11-25T18:40:00.001-05:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can fully engage my brain into embracing Christmas - I am one of those that believes that each holiday deserves it's due - and in this house, there is no Christmas until Thanksgiving is over.

But once Black Friday hits, it is game on and I am all Christmas, all the way!

What better way to begin the festivities than to select and design our family Christmas cards!

When Ella and Aidan were born back in 2007, I discovered Tiny Prints when searching for the perfect Birth Announcements. The price was right and the options seemed neverending - they even had a selection of ones specially designed for twins!

Since then, I have been back time and time again for all sorts of cards - and, of course, I am back again this year (I am not going to tell you which one - you will have to see that when it arrives in your mailbox!)!

I am not kidding when I say that the options are neverending - just take a moment and spend some time browsing through all of the different styles and colors here. From round to square, from one photo to 3+ photos, Tiny Prints has it all. And to top it all off, most designs feature the added benefit of coordinating address labels!

If you happen to be looking for a little something extra, Tiny Prints also offers a wide assortment of photo gifts. My personal favorite is the photo book, but after perusing the other options, I am more than excited to create a few more items to stuff under the tree this year!

So, this year, do a little something fun and make your holiday card something perfect with the designs from Tiny Prints - I cannot wait to get started on my own cards! To check out the selection, simply click here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T21:37:00.005-05:00

Thanksgiving began with a few weeks ago when the kids were tasked with disguising their turkeys.

Ella disguised hers as Rapunzel:

Aidan disguised his as Captain America:

This past week they enjoyed a feast at school on Tuesday. Ella and Aidan decorated their own turkeys with what they were thankful for this year.

Ella was thankful for her mommy and daddy, her sister & brother, her toys, and spaghetti.

Aidan was thankful for his toys, his sisters, the outside, and mac-n-cheese and cream cheese sandwiches.

Inside the bags were the cutest little turkey candles:

We decided to do something completely different this year since we had no one coming in to stay from out of town - we went to a brunch at a local restaurant with Grandmommy and Grandaddy.

We got all dressed up and posed for a few pictures:

After lunch we hung out a bit with Grandaddy and Grandmommy, and then spent the rest of the day completing the switch of moving the playroom into the dining room (pictures to follow soon).

We did pause for a walk around the neighborhood:

It was a wonderful day spent together as a family - definitely time to be grateful for all of our blessings!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T07:12:00.000-05:00

Surprise Visit

2011-11-21T06:58:00.000-05:00

We received a brief surprise visit from Opa on Friday night. He was meeting Uncle Chris, Aunt Emily and Mia at the airport in Greenville at 11 PM, and decided to come see us before heading to the airport.

Needless to say, the kids were beyond excited - you probably could have heard the screams of "Opa" next door!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-16T06:52:00.000-05:00

"H" is for Hero!

2011-11-10T13:08:00.002-05:00

Each week the kids have show and tell at school - they bring in an item (anything but a toy) that begins with the letter of the week.

This weeks letter was "H", and Aidan and Ella asked if they could bring their Daddy as a "hero". After clearing it with the preschool and with the Charlotte Fire Department we were all set to go!

Mike and his crew were supposed to go over with the fire truck, but his chief decided at the last minute that he would only allow Mike to leave the station and attend.

It was a little setback, but Ella and Aidan were nonetheless thrilled to have their "Hero" attend as their show and tell for the day. In fact, Mike ended up being show and tell for the entire school as nearly all of the classes were eventually rotated through for an opportunity to meet a REAL firefighter.

Happy Birthday Grandma Shushi!

2011-11-09T03:17:00.001-05:00

When I was younger, I had no idea how hard it was to be a Mom.

I didn't realize the amount of work that went into keeping everything running smoothly, or how much time was spent taking care of us.

I never thought about the dreams you put on hold or the things you went without in order to be the kind of Mom whose family always came first.

It never occurred to me then that there must have been times when you didn't have all the answers.

But as far as I could tell, you always knew what to do.

And now that I am older, I can truly appreciate just what a great Mom you have always been.

You are not only my Mom, but also my friend and I love you more than can ever eloquently be put into words.

Happy Birthday!

Lauren's Baptism

2011-11-06T23:40:00.000-05:00

Today we had Lauren baptized at the same church as Ella and Aidan.

She was absolutely gorgeous in the same dress that Ella wore, complete with her silver cross from Mema and a new monogrammed bracelet from Mike and I and the kids.

It was a beautiful (albeit long - in fact so long that Lauren wound up having to take her morning nap in my arms!) ceremony and we all celebrated with a nice brunch afterwards.

Later in the afternoon we headed out to one of my most popular photo shoot locations so that we could get some fresh air and I could take the kiddos holiday pictures.

I won't reveal the good shots just yet, but here are a few of the outtakes that just make me laugh:

It was wonderful to spend such precious time with family this weekend, and we cannot wait to spend a week at the beach with Opa and Grandma Shushi over Christmas!

FireWife Photography Friday

2011-11-04T04:16:00.004-04:00

Branding is complete - the website is live!

http://firewifephotography.blogspot.com/

In addition, one of my photos is featured on a magazine cover!

And an added bonus, I was recently featured on a local blog here in Charlotte:

http://www.thecharlottemoms.com/firewife-photography/

It looks like it is finally official - I am a full time stay-at-home Mom with a second full time job that takes place whenever Mike is home and late into the evenings!

I love every minute and cannot wait to see how the venture grows!

Four

2011-11-01T10:14:00.006-04:00

Happy Four Months, Lauren!!

What a delight you are to have in our lives. I remember the shock of finding out we were pregnant with you this time last year and wondering how in the world we would manage three little ones. Well, now I can honestly say that I would not have it any other way.

You are such an easy going little one and really only fuss if you are tired, hungry or bored.

Big changes over this last month! You are now reaching for objects and playing with a few of your smaller rattles and toys. Just like a typical baby, everything goes right into your mouth!

Your sleep pattern has taken a turn for the worse - you used to go down for the night around 7:30 PM and sleep until 2:00-3:00 AM, then go back down until 6:30 AM, and then wake for the day around 8 AM.

In the past two weeks you have started waking at 11:30 PM, then again around 2:30 AM, and then again around 6:30 AM, yet you no longer want to sleep after your 6:30 AM feeding.

This makes for one LONG day as Ella and Aidan are both also up at 6:30 AM. It is hard for me to find any time to shower and I get no break at all during the day, but I am loving every minute I get to spend with you!

You also began rolling over last week! You still get stuck on your arm and are none too happy about that. This new skill is also one of the thing that keeps you up at night, since you insist on rolling over, thus getting stuck and fussing for help.

I love to listen to you laugh - you have a deep robust belly laugh and find Ella and Aidan very amusing these days.

Weight: 14 pounds 9 ounces (75%)

Height: 25 1/2 inches (75 - 90%)

Head Circumference: 16 1/4 inches (50%)

You are still in a size 2 diaper, and you will shortly be out of your 3-6 month clothing - you are one tall little lady and all of your pants are too short! You are still taking 4 ounces per bottle, but I have a feeling that you will be moving up to 5-6 ounces very shortly.

Things you love:

Ella and Aidan (with an extra soft spot for Ella)

Being worn in either the Ergo or Baby K'Tan

Being outside

Sitting up and facing out

Bath time

Holding hands while eating (you either grasp our fingers or clasp your own hands together)

Things you could care less for:

Tummy time

Delayed naps

We love you sweet little girl!

Halloween!

2011-10-31T23:49:00.001-04:00

What an incredible Halloween we had this year!

Ella and Aidan (AKA Rapunzel and Spiderman) were really into trick or treating and for the first time, we could just stand at the end of the driveway and let them run up to the door!

Lauren was our little ladybug - cutest one ever if I do say so myself!

Grandaddy came over and played for a while and then stayed at our house and handed out candy while we went out to trick or treat!

We had several friends over to trick or treat in our neighborhood this year - Kelley & Kyle came with Landyn and Lavery, and Amanda came with Evelyn and Lucas.

Lavery is Lauren's July 1"birthday sister" and Lucas was born on July 5.

The whole clan had such fun - we will definitely do this again next year!

Preschool Parade!

2011-10-27T09:54:00.000-04:00

Today was the annual Halloween parade at preschool, followed by playtime, snacks and treats!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T06:27:00.000-04:00

Flashback Friday

2011-10-21T10:11:00.001-04:00

Last Christmas, Mike gave his Dad (i.e. Grandaddy) the gift of time - a day in which the two of them could spend time together doing whatever he wanted to do.

On Thursday, Grandaddy cashed in on his gift and took Mike and Aidan to his hometown of Nashville, North Carolina.

Via private jet!

Aidan was beyond excited to go on his every first plane ride, and to have his special "date" with Daddy and Grandaddy!

They headed to the airport....

...boarded the private plane....

....and were on their way with one very excited little man on board....

....who even got to fly the plane (not fake fly on autopilot, but really and truly fly the plane!)....

....they visited the house in which Grandaddy was raised and toured the town of Nashville....

....before returning home to Charlotte....

.

What an amazing day for Aidan - it could not have been more perfect!

Thank you Grandaddy - we hope you enjoyed your special time with your son and Grandson!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-19T07:51:00.000-04:00

Apples!

2011-10-17T10:11:00.000-04:00

We spent an amazing day together as a family on Saturday with a visit back to our favorite apple orchard in Flack Rock, NC.

We visited last year and had such fun and just love doing this as an annual family outing!

We enjoyed picking apples....

....playing in the apple and pumpkin houses....

....and stuffing our bellies with both apple cider and pumpkin donuts!

Lauren is such a trooper and an amazing little traveller!

Flashback Friday

2011-10-14T05:02:00.000-04:00

One year ago we returned home from the vacation of a lifetime.

A vacation that, little did we know at the time, would change the course of our family in a way we never dreamed possible.

To this day, I have to laugh each time we see the commercial that states, "What will your Disney memory be?"!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T03:45:00.000-04:00

Moments

2011-10-11T03:30:00.001-04:00

Moments are part reflection, part realization.

But mostly moments are about noticing life as it happens.

Moments weave a word-tent, a shelter from a life that tells us to run faster, be better, whatever you’re doing - you’re not doing enough.

Moments are an answer to the voice in my head that constantly questions, doubts and says you’re not doing it right.

Moments are brief and fleeting, but they force me to stop, catch a deep breath and take a look at my life.

Moments are what life is all about.

Princesses, Pumpkins and Ponies

2011-10-10T04:10:00.001-04:00

Whew, what a busy, busy weekend!

Mrs. Paula came to stay with Aidan and Lauren on Saturday morning while I took Ella on a surprise "date" to see Disney on Ice - Dare to Dream (stay tuned for Aidan's special "date" in a few weeks!)!

She was beyond excited to see all of her favorite princesses and kept telling me how it was the best day ever!

Ready to go....

On the train....

At the show....

We had a wonderful time and had a nice lunch Uptown after the show, arriving home around 3:30 PM, just in time for me to regroup for Grandmommy and Grandaddy to arrive and keep the trio so that I could head off to an afternoon photo shoot.

Mike came home Sunday morning just in time for us to head out to another photo shoot at a local pumpkin patch. It was wonderful to combine a shoot with family time and made for a fantastic day!

Even better, Ella decided to ride her first pony! Yes, this was groundbreaking, as we have not even brought up the topic based upon the disaster of the first attempt two years ago!

She LOVED every second....

Aidan opted to enjoy a hayride with Daddy and Lauren....

What a super fun weekend - capped off with some super fun cupcakes while Lauren just enjoyed the fresh air!

Normally, I would have worn Lauren, but because I worked and was with another family for the first hour of the day, Mike carried her for a little while, but placed her in her carrier once she fell asleep before the hayride.

Waking Up

2011-10-06T04:07:00.000-04:00

Waking up is hard to do....but I will be darned if she doesn't do it with a big smile at least 90% of the time!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-05T04:43:00.000-04:00

Pumpkins and Fresh Air

2011-10-04T04:23:00.000-04:00

October is finally here - my favorite month of the entire year! Cool crisp air and pumpkins galore!

We spent some time at a local pumpkin patch over the weekend....

....Ella and Aidan just had to have a Batman and Belle pumpkin....

Later that afternoon we stopped by one of my photography spots for another attempt at a good shot of all three kids, which failed yet again....

....but nonetheless, the big kids had fun running around....

....while Lauren enjoyed a little time with Daddy....

Three

2011-10-01T06:43:00.002-04:00

Happy 3 months, sweet baby girl!!

Suddenly we have been catapulted from newborn to infant! I could easily ramble on about how that breaks my heart, but I think I will choose to celebrate it instead. We have been so blessed by you, our amazing and unexpected surprise miracle. Our lives changed far beyond anything we ever expected and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

No matter how difficult the day before might have been, each day brings a new adventure and each day begins with your morning smile. Yep, you wake each morning happy, smiling and ready to go! You slept through the night on Tuesday, and we are hoping for a repeat performance again soon! But really, we cannot complain about your overnight sleep habits - you are typically asleep for the night by around 8:30 PM, wake to eat once between 2:00-3:00 AM, and then are up for the day between 6:30 - 7:30 AM.

You most definitely have found your voice and love to talk - cooing, gigling and smiling as we have long conversations about all sorts of fun topics. Drool is still abundant, and you can most often be found with your left hand in your mouth - no pacifier can come close your love affair with your hand!

You are such a happy, sweet, easy baby! Bless your heart - I feel so bad for you that I cannot give you the same regulated and predictable routine that your big brother and sister had. It never fails that the time you need to take your morning nap is precisely when I need to get everyone into the car to leave for preschool....and the same thing happens again in the afternoon for pick up. You do your best going with the flow, but really do not get the opportunity for a good morning nap, and thus catnap throughout the morning, often crashing by 2 PM for a longer (sometimes) afternon nap at home.

Ella and Aidan were recently sick with bad colds (as was I), and despite my best efforts, it seems that you have cought a bit of a runny nose. Needless to say, I took you to the pediatrician yesterday just to make sure that you didnt have an ear infection. Luckily, all was well.....and we weighed you just for fun - 13.5 pounds!

We just moved you into a size 2 diaper, and you are comfortably in 3-6 month clothing and taking 4 ounces per bottle roughly 6 times a day.

Things you love:

Ella and Aidan (with an extra soft spot for Ella)

Being worn in either the Ergo or Baby K'Tan

Being outside

Sitting up and facing out

Bath time

Things you could care less for:

Tummy time

Being overstimulated

Having to wait for a bottle (that is when we experience what we call "mad baby")

Getting your fingernails clipped

Your extra chins just crack me up - you are so similar to Aidan at this age - we used to find all sorts of gook under those chins, and you are no different! Your big brown eyes and long lashes capture the attention of everyone who takes one glance at you - and most admirers are met with a huge grin!

You still do not like to be on your tummy, and have recently begun insisting that you pull your legs up when flat on your back (like in the above picture), even rolling to your side a few times.

We love you little one, and are so excited to watch you grow!

Flashback Friday

2011-09-30T02:19:00.000-04:00

Entertainment

2011-09-29T14:36:00.001-04:00

There is never a shortage of entertainment around here for little Miss Lauren!

For example, she loves her big brother and sister....

....and of course, the ceiling fan....

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-28T05:02:00.000-04:00

Wet Weekend

2011-09-26T11:18:00.001-04:00

While it rained outside, we spent all weekend inside with runny noses. Ella and Aidan stayed home from school on Friday and we have spent the past three days inside doing everything we can to keep Lauren from getting sick.

So far, she seems to have a slight runny nose, but overall is ok. I am down for the count and miserable, while Mike (as usual) comes out unscathed!

At any rate, the weather was perfect for being sick - rainy and dreary all weekend!

We spent a lot of time coloring (Ella is pretending she is Cinderalla with the bandana on her head)....

.... playing games....

.... and watching cartoons from inside the tent....

... Ella and Aidan are back at school today, and hopefully we are officially on the mend!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T02:10:00.000-04:00

Twin Talk Tuesday

2011-09-20T03:18:00.000-04:00

Overheard in the playroom:

Ella: "Aidan, why did you just hug me?"

Aidan: "Because I love you."

Ella: "Well that sure is sweet, are you sick?"

Weekend Fun

2011-09-19T14:08:00.004-04:00

We kicked off the weekend on Friday evening by enjoying dinner with the boys:

Saturday was low key and filled with errands and chores around the house.....but Sunday brought about FUN! We packed up our trio and headed to Greenville for the day to meet up with Opa and Grandma Shushi!

It was Lauren's first trip to a new state, and her first car ride longer than about 45 minutes and she did great! We had a nice bagel breakfast and then loaded up and made the 2 hour drive in no time....without a single stop, making it there in time to play a bit while waiting for Opa and Grandma Shushi to arrive....

We had lunch at a little Mexican restaurant....

....shopped a bit in the cute little stores, took an ice cream break, and played in Falls Park....

...and concluded our day with dinner at a BBQ restaurant....

We headed home at around 7:15, making it back to Charlotte around 9PM with three sleeping kiddos!

What a wonderful weekend it was!

Flashback Friday

2011-09-16T14:35:00.000-04:00

In the wake of the 10th anniversary of September 11, I am still haunted by images and thoughts of the events from that fateful day. Wives left without husbands. Parents losing children. Children left without fathers or mothers. No child should ever be left without a mother or father.

This week I had quite a few times when I felt overwhelmed by my mothering duties. I began worrying about kindergarten for next year. I felt inadequate after I grew frustrated in the preschool frenzy/carpool/dinner prep. I fret for Lauren as she is dragged back and forth to carpool twice a day, typically in the middle of a nice nap or right when she needs to be fed.

Am I doing enough, being the mother I want to be? Can I embrace change in a healthy way, or will I always live with the sadness of letting my children go little by little? Do I have what it takes to make good decisions, and help my children make them as well?

And then I am reminded that this is life. Every day is precious whether it is spent with tissues, with preoccupation, with frustration, or with sadness.

I get to experience it all.

I get to figure it out, day by day, hour by hour.

I get to see my children grow and gain their independence, I get to do 100 things at once while someone calls "Mom, mom, mom" over and over again and my brain feels jumbled. I get to make endless lists, I get to drive carpool, I get to work through hard days juggling the needs of all three kids with a husband who is gone for days/nights at a time.

What would so many trade for just one more day whether it was hard or easy, happy or sad?

So this is what I am grateful for this week - every day I get to spend on earth witnessing and experiencing the little moments that make life so very precious.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-14T07:16:00.001-04:00

Bug Walk

2011-09-13T02:49:00.000-04:00

In our household, the hours from about 5 PM until 7 PM are the most chaotic.

I often find myself struggling to prepare dinner for Ella and Aidan while at the same time trying to feed Lauren her dinnertime bottle. Then it is upstairs for baths and bedtime for the big kids, typically with me balancing Lauren on my hip or trying to keep her happy in the bouncy seat.

There are often tears and whining...it is my least favorite time of the day.

On the days when Mike is home, I get a little relief and he will often take Lauren on what we have come to call a "bug walk". The cicadas are still out in full force around our neighborhood and they provide a chorus of sounds that put Lauren into a bit of a trance.

It works like a charm!

Weekend Fun

2011-09-12T14:49:00.000-04:00

Daddy time is so rare, and we certainly made the most of our time together this past weekend!

We spent Saturday morning hanging out at our local Greek Festival where Ella and Aidan rode a train....

....flew in a helicopter....

....and enjoyed lokoumades (or donuts)....

....while Lauren slept on me in the Ergo and took a break for a little lunch with Daddy....

Later that afternoon, Grandaddy and Grandmommy came over so that Mike and I could escape for a little time together....

All in all it was a fantastic day spent together as a family!

Tummy Time!

2011-09-09T15:52:00.003-04:00

Let's just say that Lauren is not a fan of tummy time ....

Flashback Friday

2011-09-09T08:20:00.000-04:00

First Day of Preschool (2's Class) - 2009

First Day of Preschool (3's Class) - 2010

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-07T13:47:00.000-04:00

Back to School!

2011-09-06T08:30:00.000-04:00

And they are off!

Ella and Aidan headed off this morning for their first day of their last year of preschool. They are thrilled to be back in class with all of their good friends!

I am thrilled to send them to such a wonderful place with wonderful teachers and friends, and to have a few hours of semi-quiet with just Lauren.

Two

2011-09-02T12:45:00.002-04:00

Happy Two Months Old, Lauren!!

First let me say, I CANNOT get over how big you are. You no longer look like a tiny little newborn - and the numbers prove it!

Weight: 11 pounds 7 ounces (75%)
Height: 24 inches (95%)
Head Circumference: 15 1/4 inches (50%)

In other news: You are actually growing hair. This is pretty exciting considering that your big sister was basically bald until close to two years old!

We seem to have worked our way out of the extreme colic, and life is a little less noisy these days! We have also weaned you off of your reflux meds and you seem to be doing just fine!

You are still eating more frequently than I would like and my attempts at a predictable schedule do not seem to be as successful as they were with your brother and sister at this age. While not on a set schedule, we do adhere to the eat-play-sleep approach and that works out fairly well - you tend to stay awake for longer periods of time these days, especially when fighting sleep and during the "night crazies" from about 5PM until 9 PM.

You really do resemble Aidan (right down to the big brown eyes), but you have the most gorgeous long lashes and a sweet tiny little mouth and long dainty fingers (just like Ella's)!

Things you love:

Your fist / thumb
Baths
Ceiling fans
Having your head rubbed
Being worn
Being held, cuddled and sung to
Chatting, cooing and kicking your legs
Giggling - you even giggle in your sleep!
Your butterfly rattle
Sitting on my lap and watching Ella and Aidan play

Things you hate:

Being startled
Vaccines
A dirty diaper
Being left alone
Cold hands
The play mat

A few stats to remember:

Bottle amount: 4 ounces

Diapers: Size 1

Clothing: Size 3-6 Months

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-31T02:34:00.000-04:00

Morning Walk

2011-08-30T04:03:00.002-04:00

The weather was so nice and cool yesterday morning that I decided to take advantage of all three of us being up before 7 AM and take a short walk around the block.

The kids insisted on not changing and wearing their pj's (totally a pick your battles kind of moment, and not one I was willing to fight), so with a quick bottle for Lauren and a portable breakfast for Ella and Aidan, we were off....

.... we spotted an inchworm that captivated their attention for a full 15 minutes.....

....and collected enough acorns to make any squirrel quite happy....

...all in all it was a fun morning walk!

Cars and Planes

2011-08-29T06:03:00.001-04:00

We had a wonderful weekend with Opa!

Opa came in town on Friday night and stayed with us until Sunday. He had not seen Lauren since the day after she was born, as he had to head to Highlands to go back to work. Despite the time apart, they became fast friends....

Opa spent Saturday at the Auto Show while Mike and I took the kids to the Aviation Museum for the afternoon.

Ella and Aidan were thrilled to see the Miracle on the Hudson or, as they called it, "the plane that landed on the water"....

.... they also had fun just exploring all of the planes....

.... sitting in a cockpit.....

.... and checking out the size of the tires on the landing gear....

.... Lauren was not too excited about the adventure and chose to sleep the entire time....

...we topped off the afternoon with a visit to the airport overlook....

Lauren did wake up as soon as we got home and decided to pose for a picture with Mommy....

Mike had to work on Sunday, but we enjoyed a little bit more fun with Opa at Waldhorn, his favorite German restaurant, where we were actually interviewed and filmed for a television show called Food Stories airing on September 14.

After posing for a picture with all three grandkids, Opa had to head home to Atlanta.

We had a great weekend and miss Opa so much already!

Flashback Friday

2011-08-26T06:17:00.000-04:00

Everyone says that Lauren looks just like Aidan. While I agree that they do resemble one another now, Lauren was a dead ringer for Ella when she was born.

Ella - Just Born

Lauren - Just Born

They were nearly identical in those first moments; however, by the time we made it back to our room, she had somehow transformed into looking just like Aidan.

While she still has the same petite little mouth as Ella, as the weeks have passed, I have noticed a few additional similarities between Aidan and Lauren aside from their physical characteristics.

Aidan was a thumb sucker....

....it looks like Lauren may be heading down the same path....

....Aidan liked to sleep with his arms up by his head....

....so does Lauren....

....Aidan made the cutest little newborn noises (Ella never made these sounds)....

....and so does Lauren....

....it certainly will be interesting to see if her personality resembles his as she gets older!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-24T06:15:00.000-04:00

Making Friends

2011-08-23T06:05:00.001-04:00

Lauren is quickly becoming more aware of her surroundings, so I hung a butterfly rattle on her papasan seat to give her something fun to look at - and she was instantly mesmerized!

Smiles were abundant as she and the butterfly became fast friends, and both Mike and I were shocked that she even seemed to make the connection that she could move her arm to make the butterfly "rattle".....you could almost see her little brain working overtime as she literally made what looked like intentional movements and did it over and over again!