Hand, Hand, Finger, Thumb

I love these hands...

I love these feet...

But what I really love is the whole package...




The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies....EVER!

Two weeks into being a Mommy, I was tired, a little stressed and more tired.  I was on the verge of tears 24 hours a day and felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster.  No one tells you that you may have these feelings and if you do, it's OK!  But now that I think about it, even if someone did tell me about it I don't think you can fully comprehend how it will affect you until you in are in the thick of it. 

During the third week of being home with two little munchkins, a friend brought me a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Not just any ole' cookies, but the best homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies I have ever had.  I devoured them within in a matter of days.  They made me feel so much better.  For me, comfort food is sweets and I don't think she will ever know how much her homemade cookies brightened my day(s). 

I made a batch last night and thought it would be a shame if I didn't share the recipe with you.  I hope you love them as much as I do and that one day they brighten a dark day of yours.

3/4 cup Butter Flavor Shortening
1 1/4 cup packed Brown Sugar
2 TBS Milk
1 TBS Vanilla
1 Egg
1 tsp Salt
1 3/4 cup Flour
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 cup Oatmeal
1 12 oz bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Combine shortening through salt and mix by hand. Add flour and soda.  Mix in oatmeal, chocolate chips and nuts (optional).

Bake 9 - 10 minutes at 375 degrees. 

*I like mine chewy so I bake them 8 minutes.

ENJOY!

Wordless Wednesday

Sing-A-Ma-Jig

Have you ever heard of or seen a Sing-A-Ma-Jig? They are free-spirited, off beat characters that sing in harmony and the Boys each got one for Christmas from Grandpa and Brini. If they are fussing or bored, I just whip out the Sing-A-Ma-Jig and all is well; they are completely mesmerized by them.

I only captured Brooks on video; Jackson was asleep and I was not going to wake him!

Wordless Wednesday

Two Month Doctor Visit

Last week, Mom and I took the Boys to see Dr. V for their two month check-up. I still can't believe they are 2 months old!

I contemplated using the double snap-n-go stroller. I'm so glad we did; it is so much easier then carrying the car seats. This stroller is a MUST have for anyone with twins. One car seat is heavy, two is very very heavy and awkward.

Here is the stroller, although this picture was taken at a different time.



Back to the appointment.

First order of business was to weigh the Boys. We striped them down to their birthday suits and carried them to the scale. Jackson weighed in at 8 lbs 13 oz and Brooks at 9 lbs. Hard to believe that less than 2 months ago Brooks weighed less than 5 lbs. These Boys have been doing some eating!

Here is Jackson waiting patiently to see the good doctor.


Next, was a thorough examination by Dr. V. After he poked and prodded on the little guys, he told us that Jackson has a heart murmur. A ventricular septal defect (VSD) to be exact. Dr. V assured me that these are very common in infants and only about a third of the cases require corrective surgery. As he was telling me this, I could feel face getting hot and my eyes filling up with tears. I was trying to be brave, but it is difficult to hear that something is wrong with my babies. Jackson will see a pediatric heart specialist in the coming weeks. More on this later.

Lastly was their first round of vaccinations. They cried, I cried, Mom cried. Not a dry eye in the room. We all survived, though. The nurse had it down. They each got three shots in their little chubby thighs all in less than 30 seconds. Jackson screamed the loudest, but Brooks screamed the longest.



What a day. We all napped that afternoon. I think the visit took it out of us.

Lazy Sunday

Before babies, our weekends included breakfast in bed and lounging around watching movies. Now, things aren't quite so relaxed. However, we did get to spend part of this past Sunday morning in bed. The Boys love their boppy pillows, so warm and cozy.

Scream and Shout

Bath time at the Bridges' house continues to change and evolve with each and every occurrence. It started out with blood curdling screams, then to whimpers and now they just tolerate it. Their least favorite part of bath time is my favorite part; I love to rub baby lotion all over their little flawless bodies. This, of course, is when they choose to scream the loudest! Here are a couple of bath time videos we took on December 28, 2010. They still fit in our bathroom sink!

Guilt –\ˈgilt\

It is a small innocent word … just 5 little letters, but it carries such a big stick.

Merriam-Webster defines Guilt as a: the state of one who has committed an offense especially consciously b: feelings of culpability especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy.

Guilt comes in many shapes and forms and can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

I realize I’m only two months into this whole Mommy Business, but guilt has already set in.

- I feel guilty that instead of spending quality time with my children, I find myself multitasking. (ie folding clothes while sitting on the floor playing with the kiddos).

- I feel guilty when I drop them off at school for strangers to care for them.

- I feel guilty that it feels good to be at work instead of at home.

- I feel guilty when I go to Target. I feel like I should be at home soaking up every moment with them, all while needing a break at the same time.

- I feel guilty that I feel relieved to have help feeding the boys. By the 16 bottle I need a break, but then isn't it my job to love, care and nurture my children!?!?

Now for the big one:
I have the ability and opportunity to provide the best possible nourishment to my children. It is something they can’t get anywhere else and that no one else can give them. However it takes a lot of time and work (OK, not like digging ditches or anything but still seems like work) to make this happen. But every time I hook up to the pump my mood changes. Matter of fact I dread it. I’ve considered many times to give it up but ending it means they will never get it again. There is that guilt again!

I know guilt will never leave my side. It is here until the end.

______________________

I have so much to update and will hate myself it I don't get it done because in a year when I read back through these posts I will be sad that I missed documenting Month 2 of their life.

With that…more to come!

First Day of School Picture

I have a lot to update, but in the meantime I wanted to post a picture of my Boys before their first day of "School". Well, not really school, rather Mother's Day Out. They've gotten so big!!

Not the best quality picture as it was taken with my phone.