Twin-isms: Growing Pains

My poor twins have had a bad month of growing pains - teething, colds, chest infections and nappy rashes. This means I've had two very irritable, clingy and upset bubbas. Many people look at twins and think it's so cute to have two little babies to hold, hug, kiss and play with and yes it is cute but not when they both want their mama who only has one pair of arms :(

 

This experience is actually worst than when they were first born and I had the dilemma of who to pick up first as now they both can see me and they can reach out to me or  crawl and cling to me bawling when I already have one baby in my arms - now that is really heart breaking! 

 

Sometimes I wonder if being a twin is a good thing? It means they always have to share their cuddles and time with mum and dad while singleton babies get spoiled with parents fighting for a cuddle. I have to admit that when I am on my own, the only time I get to enjoy one of the twins is if the other is asleep or entertaining them self. I love the one on one time with one baby when I don't have to rush and have the other baby looking at me crying and making me feel guilty that I am holding one and not the other.

 

For the past few weeks,  I have spent most of my days in our bed nursing the twins and playing with them while watching children's DVDs.  It's not very productive but there was a time when the twins got really upset when I left their sight. They didn't like being in the play pen and just wanted to be held all the time so our bed was the only comfortable place where I could hold them both. Lately, they have been ok on their own. After an initial cry they end up playing with a toy or find something to distract them while I quickly have a shower or have a quick bite to eat.

 

There are days when all is calm and I may be busy doing some kind of house chore when suddenly I just hear them giggling really loud - oh how I love that sound! When I turn around to see what they are giggling at, they are smiling me but I know I've missed it. I guess those are the times when being a twin is really special.

 

So, while the twins experience their first growing pains - I am still being positive by making the most of the precious times when  I have my two babies cuddled up next to me - it is the sweetest feeling and one I will make the most of while I can because I know one day they will want to be in their own bed and while I look forward to that, a part of me will miss their cuddles and closeness.

 

I've been chatting to a few twin mamas from around the world on Instagram and I'm so relieved that I am not the only one facing this dilemma. Apparently the first year is the hardest and the mothers with older twins say they wouldn't want to trade places with me for the world! They have assured me though that once they hit the toddler stage - it's very fun seeing them interact with each other - still challenging but not as much as the first year.

 

I can't believe that in 8 short weeks our twins will turn 1 and Keira will be 3 and for some reason it just sounds so much easier than having a 2 year old and 10 month old twins!

 

A sad Montana had a bad morning :( but after some teething medicine and a nap she was herself again :) This pic was edited with Iphone apps Snapseed and Vintique

My boy Lucas really is a Mama's boy as there have been times when he won't go to anyone except me or he'll be fine if I'm not around but as soon as he sees me, he only wants me.  This pic was edited with Iphone apps Snapseed, Noir and Romance

Captured: a twin bond moment. Love it!

 

We have come to the realisation that our twins are the happiest when we go out! No wonder everyone comments to us about how well behaved they are because when we are out in public they usually are!

Photo A Day September: Part 1

This is Fat Mum Slim's Photo a Day Challenge:

 

Day 1. You, now: All three children are napping, clothes are washed and hung and dinner is cooking but my hair is messy and I'm wearing daggy shorts so no selfie of me today!This is me taking a moment to catch a bit of Spring sunshine :)

Day 2. Father: Montana only has eyes for her father today on Father's Day. We went for a family outing to Chipping Norton Lakes.

Day 3. Far Away: Another beautiful day so we returned to Chipping Norton Lakes to go for a walk. I really wanted to walk across the bridge but it looked too far away!

Day 4. Inside my mailbox: Keira found her (not so well hidden) birthday present of Princess shoes and accessories and put them on for the day. She always loves checking the mailbox for mail because it is the perfect height for her :)

Day 5. Bright: Sisters sitting in the bright sun on my parents front lawn watching my brother leave so it was good timing to get this shot

Day 6. Every day: We are blessed to watch our first born Keira grow up into a sweet little lady. Even when she is being cheeky, she makes us laugh EVERY DAY :)

Day 7. Natural: Keira, the little adventurer climbing the back yard tree bare feet in the natural light

Day 8. At Night: We went to our friends Tatiana and Lino's farewell BBQ - who are leaving to travel the USA and Mexico. We had a great time eating, dancing and karaoke :)

Day 9. What we do most Weekends: We hang out with family and friends. This weekend, Lilly slept over and we were enjoying the sunshine on the front lawn while she showed off her gymnastics skills :)

Day 10. Black and White: Experimenting with new app Snapseed (black and white grunge) of this pic of Keira in the back yard tree

Day 11. Hero: Most 9 year olds would prefer to hang out with their friends. Our niece Lilly begs her mum to sleep over our place to help us look after her little cousins. She changes the twins nappies, feed them solids, holds them when they cry and plays with Keira. Although she finds it toug,h she never complains. We always appreciate the 'extra' arms that is always needed here. Lilly is a hero in our eyes and she'll make a great big sister when her twin sisters arrive in a few weeks!!

Day 12. Together: My poor twins have been teething and irritable lately but it's amazing how comforted they are when they are together. Even though they do their own things they like being next to each other - most of the times ;)

August Highlight: Nana Lilly's Visit

Nana Lilly (Damo's mum) came for a one week visit from NZ to meet her new twin grand babies Montana and Lucas and of course visit her other Aussie grand kids Keira and Lilly.

It was such a memorable moment when mum finally met our twins in person for the first time and gave them the kisses and hugs she had been wanting to do from when they were first born.

Another memorable experience was when we left the babies with Damo and I took my mother in law to the 24 hour Kmart at 3am in the morning where we shopped up a storm. Afterwards,  we picked up McDonalds breakfast to bring home to the family at 5am.

Lilly slept over and shared a bed with Nana and you could hear them chatting in bed as they went to sleep and chatting in bed again when they woke up. The next night Keira shared a bed with Nana who read her bed time stories. Such special moments which I'm sure both girls will remember one day.

Unfortunately, Nana's stay went by far too quickly but we all had an enjoyable time catching up, laughing, shopping, eating, eating and more eating - that was just us adults. The kidlets got spoilt with lots of hugs and kisses!

We look forward to seeing Nana Lilly again and the rest of the family when we all go to NZ in Dec :) xo

Here are some pics of my children and their Nana Lilly: (Note I took the pics of Keira and Lucas while I was holding Montana hence the frame being out of alignment)

Lilly with her two Grandma's Nana Lilly and Nanny Kate:

My children with their two Nana's  my mother in law and my mum:

 

 

My dad jumped in this pic:

Keira-isms: Blowing Dandelions

We moved into our current place in November last year - a month before the twins were born and just before Keira's second birthday. It's a little house built in the 1950's with a back yard and a large front yard that has trees, plants, flowers and dandelions.

Keira loves picking the flowers when we go outside. She most always picks a flower before she gets into the car when we go out and one when we return home. Most of all she loves dandelions. She will either blow them or shake them. Just when I think there are none left,  new ones sprout up so there always seems to be an endless amount of dandelions for Keira to play with!

I'm always finding little crushed flowers in our car, in her bags, around the house, in our bed room and even in our bed. I don't get angry. I just think to myself.... Keira's been here :) xo

Photo a Day August: Part 2

Here is the final part of photo a day August by Fat Mum Slim. Now that I've been doing it every day since May, it has become a daily habit. I have a few Instagram (IG) friends who have started their own challenges in September and invited me to play along. Hmmm I'm not sure how I'll go with 3 photo a day challenges! I'll stick to my current challenge and attempt the other two when I can especially as I'm already stretching my creativity with just one challenge as a stay at home mum who hardly goes out! I can see myself taking a lot of one pic fits all prompts type photos! lol

 

 

Day 16. Food: Doing some quick shopping at Coles down the road from Dees place and I ended up in Desserts - my favourite aisle lol

 

Day 17. Faces: My mother in law visiting from NZ finally gets to kiss her twin grand babies faces xo

 

Day 18. Inside: Our party of five plus Lilly went to celebrate our wedding anniversary and my birthday at the Garden Buffet restaurant in Star City. It is sea food and dessert Heaven inside!

 

Day 19. Hole: Boring prompt today. This is a plant peeping through a hole in our side fence

 

Day 20. Today: We took my met my mother in law shopping at East Gardens shopping centre and today I got some exercise chasing Keira from one side of the mall to other!

 

Day 21. Cool: Even though the days are getting warmer - the water is still cool. This was taken at Foreshore Road Beach, down the road from Dees place. Yes, we spent A LOT of time in that area while my mother in law was here. It's a lovely area but the drive to and fro with the babies was just tiring!

 

 

My fave four pictures of the month. Clockwise from top left:

 

Day 22. Home: After an enjoyable 10 day visit, Nana Lilly (my mother in law) flew home to NZ today (I love this unedited shot taken from Foreshore Road Beach)

 

Day 23. Pair: Montana's pair of feet are so hard to capture as she is ALWAYS on the move and she follows me on her hands and knees everywhere which is really annoying when I want to go to the toilet yet so cute too xo

 

Day 24. Path: All I hope for Keira and all my children is for them to choose a path of happiness - getting a little philosophical now when really I just asked Keira to run towards me on the path on our front lawn while I took a pic haha but yes of course I wish that xo

 

Day 25. Fresh: Fresh delicious blueberries. I was at a family function where a few of my friends complimented me on my photo a day pics on instagram. They asked me what today's prompt was - I told them it was Fresh and explained my the creative vision of taking a shot of the blueberries that were in my bag in water to create the 'fresh' look so my friend Tatiana offered to be my hand model and my cousin Lia did the water pouring. This was the stunning result of my creative vision. Not bad if I say so myself (haha lovo)

 

 

 

Day 26. Dream: I met my grandparents when I was 16 years old. When I was young I would dream of having them around. My children are blessed to grow up with their grandparents. My parents left today to go to East Timor for a month - the longest that they have been separated from their grandchildren and ironically they will see my grandfather! xo

 

Day 27. Tap: Keira loves to pick flowers in our front garden and then she likes to wash them under the tap

 

Day 28. Clock: No clocks in our home as we just use our iphones for the time so this is my Chanel watch that my brother got for me when he was in Thailand so I don't know how authentic it is but it looks nice :)

 

Day 29. Down: No escape for me when there is a little one holding me down soon to be joined by the other two. Alright my babies, the errands can wait for another day ;)

 

Day 30. Card: Keira signing her Father's Day card with a hand print xo

 

Day 31. Hidden: There are a pair of big gorgeous dark eyes and a pretty face hidden underneath Keira's wind swept hair. I think it's time for a hair cut! I've been meaning to take her for a while but never enough time (story of my life at the moment)