Makes My Monday: Where's Michael?

I went to check on the kids last night and what I saw was the following:

The twins were asleep in their bed

Michael's bed was empty

A little panic set in, but I kept reminding myself that he had to be in the house (even though I did check the window).  For the life of me, I couldn't figure out where Michael was.  I checked under the bed.  I tried to see if maybe he had gotten up and was out with daddy with out me knowing.  Then I checked the last place I could think of.

There he was, fast asleep in the toy box!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Counting

It's not quite Monday yet, but this truly makes my Monday and every other day!  Michael is just barely putting words together, but he can actually count to 11.  He's been doing it for a while now, but I was finally able to get it taped.  I am so happy with his progress and can totally see how much of a benefit pre-school has been.

Happy Monday!

Amy

Makes My Monday: New Haircut for Mom

Since my mom got diagnosed with cancer and I found out she may have to have chemotherapy, I started thinking about cutting my hair.  I had been growing my hair out for about a year and a half and it went from being pixie short at my wedding, which it had been that way for years to growing it out to my shoulders.  I started thinking that I could cut my hair short in support of my mom, who will most likely be losing her hair from the chemo that she starts this week.  I made the decision to go short and got my haircut Saturday.  I had some concerns about wether or not I really wanted to continue growing my hair or if I wanted to cut it.  I had asked people on facebook, I asked my husband, and most importantly I did some soul searching about what I wanted (wow the soul searching sounds so crazy, but after putting the time into growing my hair, I didn't want to do something that I would regret), I decided that I really want to cut my hair.  I made an appointment and brought a picture of how I wanted my hair.  The funny part is that I brought a picture of what my hair looked like prior to growing my hair out and when I showed the picture to the hairdresser, she asked if I had ever had my hair that short before.  My hair is now as short as it was 1 1/2 years ago and I am so happy that I did it.  My husband who played Switzerland when I asked his opinion on cutting my hair, finally admitted that he likes my hair short.  Now, I just need to make time to maintain my haircut.

Length of my hair prior to cutting it

My new haircut!

Cutting my hair to how I want to wear it and in support of my mom, makes my Monday.  Check out http://twinfatuation.blogspot.com to see what makes others Mondays.

Amy

Makes My Monday:IEP and Preschool

Michael turns 3 tomorrow.  I can't believe I have a 3 year old and he will be starting school soon.  Michael has a fairly significant speech delay and has been in EI for 6 months until he aged out at 3.  EI made a referral to the public school system given his speech delay and him being somewhat behind in his social skills.  We went for his initial IEP meeting and I really felt like those that observed him, got a really good picture of who he is.  They talked a lot about his strengths and how those strengths would be really beneficial in helping him with the areas that he needs to work on.  I got to see his classroom and I found out that he is going to need a back pack and a lunch box.  I am considering making him a lunch bag instead of buying one.  It's something simple that I can do and it will be nice for him to have something that I made for him.  For now he will be attending the 1/2 day pre-school program and will even be getting services through the summer.  This plan is in place for the next year.  I guess then we will have another IEP meeting.  I am so happy that he got into the pre-school program.  I really think it is going top be good for him to be in school and away from me for a short time.  I'm sure that it is going to be an adjustment for all of us, but I am so excited and can't wait to see him bloom into who he is.

Having my oldest start pre-school and hopefully getting better with his communication skills and social skills totally makes my Monday!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Play Date and Kids Crafting

Today we met with some friends for a play date and the kids did a St Patrick's Day craft.  The kids had fun and the moms got to talk.  Play dates and crafting certainly make my Monday!

Eva Rose was the only one who stayed at the table while I got my camera, along with our friends

All the shamrocks we made

Update on my mom:  She goes tomorrow for her lymph node biopsy.  One we have the results from that she can then make a decision regarding treatment.  She will either get to choose between chemo and radiation or just radiation if lymph nodes are not involved, and if they are then she will have chemo and radiation for sure.  What we do know is that it was a small but invasive tumor that is semi aggressive.  We can certainly use any all all prayers!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Fine Motor Skills

The other day I went to AC Moore and got a few things for the kids to sort.  I decided to take them out and let them play with the colored wooden beads and string them on some pipe cleaners.  They had fun and I was amazed at their ability to put the beads on the pipe cleaners.  These kids are definitely delayed in the speech area, but their fine and gross motor skills are so where they should be if not a little ahead.  I am so happy when I see them complete these tasks!

Stringing beads

Stringing beads and making Valentine's Day cards

Stringing beads and making Valentine's Day cards

Practicing fine motor skills totally makes my Monday!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Sharing

Having 3 kids within 10 1/2 months has it's trials and tribulations, one of the worst being sharing.  All 3 hate to share, but my daughter is the worst.  I made cupcakes last week and like all kids, they love to eat the leftovers.  Who would have thought that they would share the leftover batter so well?!

Sharing cupcake batter makes my Monday!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Play Date and Mommy's Crafting

Even though it was absolutely frigid, I took the kids on a planned play date with another friend who has twins.  The kids got to play together and the mom's got to be a little creative for the girls!  Next time we get together, we are going to try a craft for the boys!  I love the little tutu that we made!  Quick and easy and no sew and the kids were around playing with each other!

Getting out of the house on a frigid winter day, getting the kids to play with other kids, and getting so,me crafting with another twin mom totally makes my Monday!

Amy!

Makes My Monday: Halloween

So, this year, we were actually able to go out and trick or treat around the neighborhood (all 5 of us).  It was a blast.  I was a little stressed right up til we went out, but everything ended up perfect.  I made 3 of the 5 costumes, yes even mom and dad dressed up, and was sewing right up til the last minute.  I was so stressed that I was thinking I was not going to be sewing again for quite some time.  Once everything was done and all costumes were on,  I was so psyched with how everyone looked, that I decided I loved to sew and will not be putting it off (in fact I am going to partake in an apron swap, my first sewing swap!).  All 3 kids started off slow, not really sure what they should be doing, but soon after, they were running up to the door to get their goods!  By the time we went to visit family and friends outside the neighborhood, we had been out for almost 2 1/2 hours.  The kids were exhausted and ready for their last milk of the night and then off to bed!

Here are some pictures of our latest Halloween!

Michael

Eva Rose

Thomas (I made his costume)

Family photo (I made part of my costume, all of Tom's costume, and all of Thomas' costume)

Happy Halloween Everyone (a little late),

Amy

Makes My Monday: First haircut!

I finally decided that it was time for Thomas to get his first haircut.  He is almost 21 months and finally has enough hair, but the little length on the bottom was looking a little shabby.  I was hoping to get him to get long enough hair to have curls, but even though the boys have curls, they are just not good looking enough to let their hair grow.  Like we did with Michael, we took Thomas to a barber shop in Cambridge.  Now tom and the 2 boys will get their hair cut at the same place.  Thomas got his hair cut on Saturday and actually did great for getting his haircut for the first time.  Michael still cries and he has had 4 haircuts.  He even cried when we went into the barber shop Saturday, afraid he would have to get a haircut again.  A lollipop settled him right down!  This was the first time he and the twins had a lollipop and they loved it!

Before!

During, doing ok!

Breakdown!

Lollipops make everything better!

Lollipops for the 1st time all around.

The boys have all had a real haircut, but not Eva Rose.  Mom just cleaned up her bangs a little, but it made a huge difference, not that you can tell by these pictures!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Talking

We have recently started with early intervention for all 3 kids for speech.  All 3 kids were really saying very little for their age and we have even had to check to see if there is a hearing issue that is causing the speech delay.  So far 2 have been tested and we know that hearing loss is not the reason for the delay for those 2, but my daughter has some loss with high frequency sounds.  We never realized that her intubation with her RSV could have caused issues with her hearing.  We are going back in a couple of months to make sure that the test was correct and then I guess we have to have her followed for this issue.

EI is  going really well, and we have seen some really good progress over the last couple of weeks.  This weekend, we took the kids to the Deerfield Fair in NH.  While we had the kids in the oxen barn, Thomas my younger twins said "cow".  He's never said it before and then all 3 kids were able to say it along with sheep later in the day.  I am so glad that we are seeing progress so quickly.  I just hope that it continues.

Talking totally makes my Monday!

Thomas petting the calf

Eva Rose petting the calf

Michael petting the calf

Amy

Makes My Monday: Beach

Yesterday we went to my sister in laws in Kennebunk ME.  It was our first trip to the beach this year.  I was amazed at how much Michael loved the ocean.  He didn't want to leave the water, even after he fell face first a couple of times after losing his balance!  It totally solidified the fact that me and my husband need more than the 2 of us if we want to take them to the beach!

Thomas kissing Daddy!

Michael and Eva Rose with their cousins.

Taking the kids to the beach for the first time this year makes my Monday!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Siblings

My youngest son climbed into the rocking chair in his room and got really cranky when he couldn't get down on his own.  I decided to put his twin sister next to him and take pictures then, I decided to have my older son join in.  All 3 kids hammed it up in front of the camera and stopped crying and started smiling!  I love that my kids are starting to play with each other and as much as I know they will fight and they already do, it is so nice to now that they are going to grow up close in age and hopefully close with how they get along!

All 3 kids

The twins

Love Thomas' face!

Makes My Monday: Walking

My little girl is walking!  15 months old and she is pretty much full on walking.  Her little brother by 1 minute is not really there yet.  I think he is happier crawling since he can get there faster.  I now have 2 walkers and pretty soon (I'm sure) I'll have 3 walkers.  I really can't wait, but at least for now I only have to chase after 2 on foot instead of 3, though Thomas is pretty fast crawling!

Since I can't figure  out how to post video, I figured I'd post consecutive still pictures of her walking at Drumlin Farm during April vacation!

My little girl walking makes my Monday!

Amy