Recapping the end of 2016

 It's been a while since I've updated this thing.   The holidays always get me running around, stressed and tired. .

Here is a quick recap to get you up to speed on all things Bedford.


In September, the twins turned three.  We celebrated by going to Disneyland.  The kids loved it.  They loved the characters so much, and rode on most of the little kids rides.  Dumbo was their favorite ride and Snow White was terrifying not just for the kids, but me too.  The loved the parade, especially Audrey.  She sat there and watched every dance move, and waved to every princess.  It's a Small World was another favorite ride.  The kids sang the song on repeat for weeks.  Baby Violet was great too.  She is seriously the best baby ever.  She ate, slept, went on It's a Small World and Pirates snuggled up close to me.  She just sat there looking around.  She's perfect.  On the day of their birthday, we had a little family party at the house with pizza and cupcakes.  My parent's got them a trampoline (highlight of the night) and they got a ridiculous amount of toys, dress-up, and Playdough.  They were in heaven.

In October we focused all our energy on Halloween.  The kids were so excited about Frankie (our 8 ft inflatable Frankenstein)  Finny still asks where Frankie is, even though it is January.  They were so excited when Wes came home with a pet for Frankie; an inflatable Halloweenier dog.  This age is so fun.  This year they picked out what they wanted to be for Halloween.  Audrey was set on being a witch, and Finny was adamant about being a ghost.  They dressed up, got tons of candy, and trick-or-treating was a success.  Baby V was unimpressed with Halloween.  She was a pumpkin and screamed the entire time we were trick-or-treating.  I literally had to run home to put her down; turning off all the lights and hiding from trick-or-treaters.  I heard one kid at our door say, "No, I saw her run in there, I know she's home."

November was all things turkey and Thanksgiving.  We visited my brother at the fire station on Thanksgiving day, and then headed over to my aunt's house to stuff our faces.  Baby V even had sweet potatoes at the dinner table.  This girl loves to eat.  She's a biggie and opens her mouth super wide for you to shovel food in.

In December we got swallowed up by Christmas.  I'm talking gingerbread house making, listening to Christmas music ALL DAY, and visiting Santa multiple times.  This holiday season was my favorite. The kids are SO into it and it was adorable.  Starting December 1, our days would go something like this: wake up, look for Elfie our Elf.  He was everywhere; the kitchen, Christmas tree, even the bathroom.  Then they'd head for the kitchen to open up a day of their advent calendar and get "their first chocolate."  Then we'd open the front door to find a little surprise on our doorstep.  Someone had been leaving pieces of a nativity scene every day.  It was so fun.  We would sing Christmas songs all day their favorites being "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer," "Jingle Bells," and "A Wonderful Christmas Time."  We would talk about Santa, and what the kids wanted him to bring them.  Bikes.  Both wanted bikes.  They loved walking around our neighborhood at night after dinner and looking at all the lights.  It was a magical time, and I kind of wished it never ended.

We were part of a live nativity.  Baby V was Jesus.  All 15lbs of her.

Wes got home, after being gone in DC for two weeks, and all was right in the world.  (Big shoutout to my parents for feeding us a few nights, and to my mom for staying with me at the house a couple nights so I had someone to talk to  <3  )  We were ready for Christmas to come now.  We celebrated at Nick and Heather's a few days before Christmas, and then went to my parent's house for Christmas eve.  On Christmas day we woke up, ate waffles, opened presents and attempted to ride the new bikes Santa brought.   We went to church and then headed home for lunch with my parents and more presents.  We spent the rest of the day riding bikes, playing with their helicopter and Audrey's "puppy clean."

Christmas Eve

Princess bike

Lightening McQueen bike

Usually our New Years plans are boring/non existent.  We fall asleep by 10, and wake up at midnight to ring in the new year only to fall right back asleep.  This year was different.  Nick and Heather got married on New Years Eve.  The kids dressed up in a princess dress and tuxedo, and walked down the aisle hand-in-hand.  They were so adorable.  The wedding was probably the most beautiful thing I've ever been to.  White room, wall to wall flowers, floating candles, chandlier, the works.  The groom looked happy, and the bride was stunning. We danced the night away, rang in the New Year with all our closest friends and family, and kissed while the confetti shot out all around us.  It was a night to remember and even though I didn't have a single drop of alcohol, I felt extremely hung over the next day.  Must've been a good one.  (Another shoutout to Wes' mom who flew out to help with this event. She was easy going when I was stressed, held a crying baby during the ceremony, and watched the kids so we could dance the night away.  <3  )

Gorge

So tired

#NewYearNewMcIsaac

First time seeing each other all dressed up.  

Love them

Cutest lil dude ever

I die.

After New Years, we loaded everyone up and headed to Arizona to spend time with cousins and family.  We had tons of fun having dance parties, playing silly games, and eating at all our favorite Arizona restaurants.

First time on the swings! Loved it

Wes' mom with all 10 of her grandkids!  And they are all looking!

Now that the holi-daze are over, we spend our time playing with our race track, dressing like a princess, playing Hungry Hungry Hippos, and eating everything that gets stuffed into our mouth.  I'll let you guess who is who.  We still sing Christmas songs, and are still asking why our Christmas lights aren't on (even though we took them down.)

Okay now to purge some toys and move on to the next holiday.  

Pirates and Princess all day err day

Baby V through the months

happiest baby ever

those cheeks though

Sister jammies

"Mom, what about me?"

Two on three

For starters:
I need to figure out how to change my blog name to one of the following:
Officially Outnumbered
Two on Three
Babies Everywhere
I.  Am.  Tired.  The end.

The day we added another munchkin to our lives was a day like any other.
I was the size of a hippo and waddled through the house packing up any last minute things before heading to the hospital.  It was calm, peaceful, and scary at the same time.
I hugged my babies one last time quickly escaping the room before they saw my tears.  I cried the whole way to the hospital because hello pregnant, and because I knew from then on my babies were no longer my babies, and life from here on out would be different.  Also, I was terrified of having another baby because of my near death experience before. 
We got to the hospital, changed into our OR attire, and met our nurse who was the worst.  She mocked me about having another c-section, and laughed at the amount of little kids we have.
The wheeled me in, without Wes as he was changing, and I began to get the epidural.  Alone.  With Mean Nurse by my side.  I hate her.  I started crying again as I was hunched over getting a giant needle in my back, holding the arms of Mean Nurse who continually asked me why "I didn't even try to have a natural birth."  Lady, it was too late, back up before I hurt you.  The Anesthesiologist was a dream boat and made everything better.  He calmed me, put on Adele, and talked to me while I laid on my back having a slight panic attack.  I could never lay flat on my back while being pregnant.  The weight of the baby made me feel like I couldn't breathe.  He gave me oxygen and I calmed down.  Wes came in, held my hand, and I cried again.  After that it was smooth sailing.  My doctor came in, started the procedure, and chatted it up with the nurses.  Just then the baby made a giant wail and everyone assured me that she was perfect.  "She's SO big!"  "Her eyelashes are so long!"  "She's got a good set of lungs on her!"  She was 8lbs 2oz and 20 inches long.  My biggest baby.  My doctor reassured me that I made the right decision having a c-section as the baby probably wouldn't have fit coming out naturally.  She was too big.  Did you hear that Mean Nurse?  I made the right choice. 

As soon as I saw her sweet face I saw Audrey. . . and then she opened her eyes.  Nope, not Audrey.  Not really Finny either.  A new little face that was all her own.  Violet Ann, you are the best baby there ever was. 

We are surviving as a family of five.  It helps that Violet is literally the best baby.  Aside from the fact that the girl likes to eat (she is 3 months now, and is wearing size 6 months) she sleeps well, poops well, and is just the happiest baby ever.  Smiles non stop, singing and kicking to her heart's desire.  The twins are cute with her too.  Always trying to giver her a blankie or a toy, and kissing her nonstop.  They call her "baby Violet," or "tiny baby" and make sure to kiss her before bed. 

Aside from it taking a little more time to get everyone in and out of the car, things are perfect.  It's madness here a lot of the time with someone always needing something, but our family is now complete.  I can feel that now in my heart.  Finn Audrey Violet  These are my FAV people and I'm lucky I get to call them mine. 

chunky lady

First time meeting the baby

Heading home!

Audrey anyone?

1 month

2 months

3 months

My happy girl

Stay tuned for next week when I tell you about my three-nagers.  For real.  Drama, rebellion, and the WHY phase.  Three-nagers.  Sigh. 

The dos and dont's of 2.5 year old twins

Slowly we are learning how to survive two 2.5 year old twins.  Their energy is high, tantrums and tattle-telling are in full effect, and curiosity about everything is constant.  I heart them, tantrums and all.

Dos and dont's:

Don't get frustrated when you sit them on the potty and they say they don't have to go, and not 5 min later you find them behind the chair pooping in their undies.

Don't mention any of the following foods unless you plan to make them in the next 5 min: pizza, berry smoothie (or bui fui in their lingo) or pancakes.

Do bribe them with snacks while doing any sort of shopping, and make sure to not let them run around.  Keep them in the cart.  I seriously spent an hour chasing after them in the toy section of Walmart.

Don't put syrup on their pancakes until it is in front of them.  Finny doesn't trust that I've already put syrup on it.  He has to see it happen.

Do play hide and seek around the house.

Don't get frustrated when you've spent the past three days with a sick kid, and then a day later the other one comes down with the same sickness.

Do watch what you say very closely.  Unless you want them to start saying, "No way, Jose," to everything, or that "T" is for "toots."  They remember everything.

Don't promise them a pink bus, or any other toy for that matter, unless you are already at the toy store.  My mom and I had to make a special trip to the toy store because she promised Audrey a pink bus, to match the yellow bus she already had that Finny had claimed as "his."  Just to be safe, buy two of every toy. Serious.

Do drive around, if you are feeling crazy.  If you are feeling stuck in the house, or if the kids are continuously fighting, throw them in the car and drive around pointing out every bus, trash truck, mixer, crane, and any other automobile.  Or take a drive by the beach.  "Ocean!" "Sand!" "Boat!"

Don't lose your patience when you ask them what they want to eat, make it, and then they don't eat it.

Do give them all the snuggles and kisses.  Even when they wipe off your kisses, or try to escape your arms.

Do sing "ABC's" song on repeat all day.

Do melt into a million pieces when they make you flowers at church and are super excited to give them to you.

Do laugh when you find Audrey "reading" a book to Kona.

Don't give in to every silly request they have to play with your phone, or watch the ipad.  Even when they ask so nicely and bat their little eyes.  "Please mommmy.  Please??"

Do remember that this stage of life is hard, but it is seriously the best ever.

Don't cry every time you think of them getting older.  Okay you can cry a little.

They LOVE taking rides with dad!

Finny got a little "dir-ly"

Always helping me out.

A perfect place to eat a snack

Toddler beds! Finny cried himself to sleep because his bed was "broken" Sweetest boy ever.

A brief moment they weren't fighting or hitting


Stay tuned next time when I change the name of my blog to "Officially Outnumbered"
AHHHHHH.