An addict...?

Here are two pictures of my "stash". I started with the AMP(2 brown, orange, yellow, aqua, turquoise, purple, army green, hot pink and light blue) with 3 layer hemp inserts and the Bummis organic cotton prefolds used with a snappi inside the Bummis Whisper and Brights wraps. I have now added a few more into the mix. I added a light green and a red AMP, so now have 12 total with 20 hemp inserts (which can also be used in any of the other wraps). I have 4 Bummis wraps, 2 snappis and 18 Cotton prefolds which I also use in the 4 flip wraps (pink, blue and 2 green). I got 6 Bumgenius 3.0 as well (light blue, dark blue, butternut, yellow, light pink and light green) which have microfibre inserts and infant inserts (used as a doubler now) but can also be used with the hemp inserts. I also got some AMP microfibre inserts (or doublers for night) which are similar to the Bumgenius ones, but slightly thicker. Included in the top photo are my 2 XS Bumgenius infant dipes which no longer fit and the infant doublers. I think my stash is pretty much complete and should take us right through until they are finished with learning how to use the potty.

First Pony Rides

Anna and Alex got to ride a pony for the very first time last Friday. Although Anna wasn't feeling her normal chipper self, she loved it. Alex was more cautious and thought Osk was a little huge and scary. He did eventually get on and sit for a short while.

Congratulations!

A big congratulations to Holly (my little sister) and Josh for getting hitched this past weekend. They lucked out and had beautiful weather for the big event. Holly looked lovely and Josh had the biggest grin when he saw her. The wedding was held at my father's house, set amongst the beautiful flowers his wife Jean tends so lovingly. Jean catered all the food and did an amazing job, although she was so busy no one got to see too much of her. It was lovely to see my sisters Sharon, Ellie and Holly on Friday and Saturday. I would have loved to visit more with all of them, but between me being busy with cranky babies and them being busy with wedding prep there wasn't too much time for visiting. The wedding was like a big family reunion for that side of my family, it was great seeing everyone as well as a few friends I rarely get the time to see when I am at home. With my hands full of twins, I didn't get a chance to take any photos, but my friend Susi sent me a few and here is one of my sister Holly and her new husband Josh in the background with my wonderful Grammy and Grampy , Marg and Doug, sitting in front.

Reaction to MMR vaccine

Poor Anna has been feeling crappy the last couple of days and has broken out in a rash that looks like the measles. I called the Health nurse 811 line and talked with a nurse there about her rash. It seems like she is one of the lucky 5% of people who has a reaction to the MMR vaccine . The picture is of the rash all over her back. Fortunately she isn't contagious, good thing as she was around a lot of little kids and other people over the last few days.

On top of her reaction, she is having a horrible time with teething. In the last 3 weeks she has gone from 2 to 6 teeth, with # 7 and 8 almost breaking through, the skin is stretched tight as can be over them.

Poor little girl!

little monkey girl...

Just because they are too darn cute!

Switching to CDing

Yep it is true, we have made the switch over from disposable to cloth. I LOVE my cloth diapers and am pleasantly surprised how easy it has been so far. I started my stash with AMP size 2 pocket wraps with AMP 3 layer hemp inserts and with Bummis organic cotton prefolds used with Snappis and Bummis covers. So far I am loving both systems.

Teeth

This week the twins have gotten more teeth. So at 1 year of age Anna has 4 (two bottom fully in, 2 top just peeking through the gums) and Alex has 12 (top 4, bottom 4 and 4 molars -one just poking through).

First Birthday

Anna and Alex had over 30 people come and celebrate their first birthday with them. And many many other people who would have loved to have been able to come. They are very lucky little kids with so many friends and relatives in their lives that love them.

Grammy Olga came to spend the weekend to help get things ready for the party, which was a big help to Mommy and Daddy as there was food to make, tables and chairs to set up, decorations to put up and twins to keep fed and entertained. Anna and Alex enjoyed getting to spend more time with Grammy.

We were very lucky that there was beautiful weather as over 30 extra people in our smallish house would have been a tight squeeze. We had the party on our front lawn. Most of the little people at the party played together in the gazebo (except Sadie who is 3 months older than Anna and Alex and is always on the go-what we have to look forward to very soon once the twins get better at walking on uneven ground). After the food and cake Alex, Anna and Sadie had a pool party.

The playing, cake eating, pool partying and meeting so many people tired the twins out and they went down for a nap while Mommy, Daddy, Grammy and a few friends started the clean up. After their naps, Anna and Alex were ready to play and tore into opening their presents. They loved all of them! The tissue paper was a favorite and was oh so fun to chew on. They got many new outfits, new toys and books. A few favorites so far is their new wagon and blocks, stuffed animals, their balls, shape sorters, cups and CD changing radio. I am sure they will love having their new books read to them, watching their DVD and wearing their clothes as well once they stop playing with the new toys. We are also opening a bank account for both of them. Thanks everyone for the gifts.

Just so we can remember who was there, here is a list, thanks to you who took the time to come out and make their day( and ours) so great.

Mommy & Daddy

Grammy Olga

Grammy Carla & Grammy's cousin Michelle

Aunt Emily,Uncle James "Jimmy" & Cousin Sadie

Aunt Ellie & Aunt Holly

Daddy's cousin Krystal, Michael and Jacob

Great Aunt Wendy and Great Uncles Derrick and Paul

Both of Mommy's friends named Beth :)

Jamie, Ian and the twins Carter and Aidan

Neighbors Hans, Janette and Bjorn

Kenneth, Katharine and Amelia

God uncle Shaun and Deidre

And throughout the day friends Keith, Cathy, Pam and Christie dropped by to give their birthday wishes between haying.

Pool Party

Anna, Alex and their cousin Sadie all jumped into the kiddie pool at the party. I figured it was a good way to wash of their sticky hands and faces after eating cake. Ian and I got them the pool for their birthday and it was a big hit.

Husbands

I was reading a blog today and came across a post about her husband. The Author, like I, had listened to other women complain about their husbands. I loved the words she wrote to express how she felt. She writes much more poetically than I do, so I will share the link to her blog post here.

http://gentlemothering.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-husband-my-hero.html

Cake!

Anna and Alex each got their own cake for their birthday to smash. Not much smashing occurred. They both politely stuck their fingers in the icing over and over and licked the gooey sweetness off, but never got around to finding out what was under the icing. They did have a piece of the big cake afterwards along with some cold ice cream.

Happy 1st Birthday!

Anna and Alex had their first birthday party yesterday. They had a few friends come their own age (and many older friends come to help celebrate their first birthday and Mommy and Daddy having survived their first year with twins!) Here is a picture of them with their friends Amelia, Sadie and Jacob. The twins Aidan and Carter (3 months old) also came, but they didn't join in the playing too much.