Christmas with the Beetles

This Christmas season was full of joy for our family. There is something magical about seeing the holidays through the eyes of a child, and Ben's eyes didn't miss anything. He was so very excited about everything the holiday season brings. Our Christmas tree and decorations were up the day after Thanksgiving thanks to the Bennie boy. If he would have had it his way they would have been up well before. Chris brought up the tree and our almost five year old quickly went to work. He found room for nearly all of our ornaments, oohing and ahhing over each and every one. He took note of the ones that had mom and dad's names and year on them and wondered why he didn't have many ornaments with his name and year on them. We explained that over the years Chris and I were gifted with ornaments each Christmas and that over time he would also have many ornaments of his own.

Ben took full advantage of every holiday activity offered to him. One of the highlights was cookie baking with his Grammie K, Auntie Jessie and Auntie Amy. He was quite focused during this afternoon long project and everyone was sure to know which cookies Ben decorated because his cookies might have had an entire bottle of sprinkles poured over them!

We also built a gingerbread house and of course being the up and coming builder man that he is, he was the one that noticed I used the roof pieces for the side walls and that is why the house wasn't fitting together like it should (thank goodness I wasn't involved in the framing portion of our attic remodel)!

We hit up the holidazzle parade which was met with more oohing and ahhing over all the floats. His favorites were the pirate float and twinkle bus (a city bus decked out with tons of lights).

The big event of course was Christmas Eve. He tracked Santa's travels on the iPad with Uncy J and Auntie Kathryn. Santa was somewhere in South America when the little guy finally collapsed after begging to sleep with the device so he "could check in on where Santa was during the night." He woke us with squeals of delight on Christmas morning, exclaiming "it's true, it's true Santa came and he ate the cookies and drank the milk!"

We spent Christmas Eve with the Bradley family, who graciously brought dinner to our home so the twinnies could sleep peacefully in their bassinets while we relaxed with family and enjoyed delicious food and drink. Christmas Day we headed to the Schultz side where Ben played with his cousins. We introduced the babes to their Great Uncle Bill, Great Aunt Mona, cousin Lizzie and family friend Pat. Every time we introduce the twins to family for the first time, my heart swells with joy as I'm reminded of the love that surrounds these babies.

 Our holiday season was filled with love and joy. I can only imagine the excitement that next year's will bring as the babies grow into little toddlers on the move! Wishing you and your family the joy of the season today and every day. 

Three months

It's hard to believe three months have already gone by. In some ways it seems like we were just meeting H & S for the first time and in others it is as if they've always been with us.

 

The babies are changing every day. They treat us to big smiles on a regular basis now . Harper's signature smile comes complete with her crinkled eyes and nose. Sam's is bashful yet proud, almost as though he's saying " here it is guys, this is just for you," and of course it is accompanied with his sweet dimples. They are both so interactive and love to engage in "conversation." Harper apparently had lots to say to my dad when my parents watched them a couple weeks ago while we were out to dinner with friends.

 

Both babies are starting to pay lots of attention to their big brother. They watch his every move. Ben lights up when they smile at him, and almost like a proud parent he exclaims, "did you see that? Harper just did the cutest smile!"

 

We have also been treated with a little bit more sleep. The babes are consistently sleeping from about 6:30 or 7 in the evening until somewhere between 3 and 5 am. It is amazing how a little more sleep (more like a lot more!) can make you feel like a new person! Napping is still touch and go, but we figure that will come next. Right now they cat nap frequently throughout the day and most often not at the same time.

 

At 3 months, Sam weighs in at 12 lbs 2 ounces, meaning he has TRIPLED his birth weight. Harper comes in at 10 lbs 11 ounces (double her original size). We are thrilled with this progress! They have the appetite to go along with this weight gain and usually nurse every two hours or so during the day.

 

 

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Thankful (and Thanksgiving by Ben)

Thanksgiving - to give thanks.

The meaning of this holiday was not lost by me this year. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. A simple holiday where you get to spend time with family, eat good food and reflect on life's blessings. This year's holiday was much different than Thanksgiving one year ago. Last year we were giving thanks for our sweet little Beetle Ben. We were hoping to give him a brother or sister (the one he asked for frequently) and had no idea we would fulfill this wish times two one short year later. This year we gave triple thanks for our THREE, beautiful and healthy children. We spent our time with family who has loved and supported us through our journey, family who last Thanksgiving we couldn't have imagined it possible to love any more...but we spent this year with a new sense of love and gratitude knowing our growing family is so very loved by their grandparents and aunties and uncles.

Lucky for us, all that love was captured by our own little photographer, Ben. Our oldest Beetle has been taking notes from his Grampie Jim who has been learning the ins and outs of photography. Ben has been his subject during many some lessons. Little did he know his grandson would be closely monitoring his every move. Now, I might just be a proud mama, but...I think Jim might have been outshot by a four year old (it might have something to do with it being pretty much impossible not to have a real smile on your face when the photographer barely tops out at three feet tall and is instructing you on how to pose!) I've taken it upon myself (proud mama here again) to showcase some of his finest work!

 

Grammie C and Harper

The Original Bros

 

Hello

 

Crazy Daddy

 

Crazy Uncle

 

Crazy Little Boy

 

 

Grammie C and the boys +Harper (photo caught by Auntie K, I personally think it's on par with Ben's work)

 

Carol and Jen's Thanksgiving position (aka baby rocking)

 

Bradley Men

The Fam

 

Unfortunately our little photographer didn't have access to the camera at the Schultz Family Thanksgiving, but I managed to snap a couple myself (note to self: let Ben take on paparazzi duty at Christmas).

Papa K and Sammie boy

Auntie Jessie and Uncle Nick with Harper

 

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