My Favorite Baby

Lila Pearl is definitely my favorite! (Don't tell Lincoln.)

Lincoln Scott is definitely my favorite! (Don't tell Lila.)

Mr. Trouble

Hey buddy,

...what are you up to???

You little rascal!

A Hiking We Will Go

Sunday was gorgeous up here in the Pac NW. We took advantage of the weather and went hiking at Twin Falls State Park. I have always loved a challenging hike, but man-oh-man do these hikes get more challenging carrying a baby on your back. Now I know I'm not the biggest girl, but I'd like to think I'm strong. (Strong-willed for sure!) It's super-tough though. Maybe it's good training for when I hike Mt. Whitney someday. Sorry Rainier, I hate being cold.

Mother Of The Year???

Hello. My name is Karla, and I am NOT mother-of-the-year.(MOTY) Let me explain.

Reason #4326 (Why I do not qualify for MOTY.)

In my life before children, when I had parenting all figured out, I proclaimed more than once that my children would never play with my keys. I mean, could you think of handing them anything more contaminated to put in their mouths??? Gross. I definitely would never do that. That would like be letting them suck on coins.

Yeah, so I let my babies play with my keys. Trying to keep 2 babies happy on long outings, when the only thing that will satisfy their sense of curiosity is your nasty, jangling, metallic-tasting keys. Judge me if you will. I'm okay with that. But I've learned (yet again,) to never-say-never.

Reason #4327

Today after running an almost unheard of DOUBLE-errand, in the afternoon no less, we had a very bad thing happen. We had just finished Costco and a full grocery run. Lincoln was falling apart, Lila was close and I was rushing to load up. Lincoln first. I snapped him in his car seat, shut the door and I heard a terrible noise. The car locking!!! Yep, my keys had fallen into Lincoln's lap when I was strapping him in and I forgot to grab them. So Lincoln is locked in the car while Lila, me and about 15 grocery bags are outside of the car. I will go ahead and not collect my mother-of -the-year award here. (Insert panic laughter.) I'm looking at the Linc-man trying to will him to press the unlock button. Meanwhile he continues to lock, and re-lock the car about 50 times. Yes, the horn is honking by the way. And then another terrible thing happens. Lincoln drops the keys. I try calling Brian, oh about 20 times. No answer. (I knew he was working late this evening.) I tried calling my neighbor, no answer. I called my girl Emily, who called her husband who was going to come bail me out. Finally Brian called me back. He was able to slip away and come bail me out. Whew! Lincoln was so over peek-a-boo at that point, and Lila was quite cold. And me, well I was exhausted. So thank you to M + Em for being so willing to help a girl out. And you're welcome to all the people who sat in their cars at Costco just to watch my drama unfold.

Not-so-much fun for El Linco.

Lila had the better end of the deal. FOR SURE!!!

Waiting for Daddy

Waiting for daddy is something we do a lot around here.

1st Fort

I'm sure this will be the first of many forts for our lil' dude. Such a boy. Such a stud.

Totally Twins

Night Stand

As I was getting ready for bed last night I was laughing to myself about all the random things that are on my night stand. I mean seriously, how much has changed in the last year?!? Here is my list...quite telling of who I am and where I am in life right now.

• 2 baby bottles
• water bottle
• Infant Motrin
• nail polish
• lamp
• lotion
• dog collar
• Cooking Light magazine
• Sunset magazine
• People magazine
• Parenting by the Book by John Rosemond
• I, Alex Cross by James Patterson
• journal w/ 2 pens
• baby monitor (no need for an alarm clock)
• hair ties
• pacifier
• random baby shoe
• booger sucker

What is on your night stand???

Word!

A little Wednesday morning truth to start your day...

Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.

Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being 'in love' which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is leftover when being in love has turned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.

Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.

--St. Augustine--

Check It-

This is one of our favorite birthday presents.

We go bird watching in it almost every single day.

A Treat!

Lila + Lincoln are playing more together all the time. And it is absolutely, melt-your-heart adorable. They laugh in a way that they only do with each other. And they talk and talk and talk. It is hilarious. Here is a pic I snapped of them tonight having a blast. These are the moments that a mama who just survived the first year with twins dreams about. Ahhhhh....

1 Year Old Updates

Lila Pearl is our oldest (by 2 minutes) child. She is the sweetest girl ever. I mean it. Ask everyone who knows this girl...she is such a sweetheart. When I come and get her in the morning or after her naps, this girls e.n.t.i.r.e body shakes with excitement and she squeals and squeals. She is into cuddling mama + dadda + Jezzy + her baby...pretty much everything. The day after I wrote the post about her only having 2 teeth, her 3rd appeared. And now her 4th, 5th and 6th are coming through too. She also continues to be a champion eater; there is nothing she won't eat. You would think this girl was raised during the depression the way she cleans her plate each and everytime. She's walking, talking and melting my heart with her adorable personality. When she isn't cracking me up with her silly ways, I sit back and reflect on what a joy it is to be the mama of Lila Pearl Swisher.

Lincoln is truly a wild man. He spends his days exploring, babbling and zipping around this places like he owns it. He loves books, pounding things, screaming, sneaking off into places he shouldn't be and playing with his sister. Oh yeah, and he is obsessed with Jezebelle. We are convinced he and Jezzy will be best friends. (Jez doesn't know this yet!) Unfortunately paper doesn't contain any calories, because if it did, this boy would be pushing 30 lbs. He always is eating paper! He is in the top percentile for height, and in the 5-10th for weight. When we asked the Dr if everything was okay with his weight, he told B + I to look in the mirror--he can't fight genetics! Long and lean is what he is destined to be. He is our shark boy with a mouth full of teeth and an adorable smile. He is outgoing and curious, and he makes my heart full.

O Happy Day

1st Birthday Party (x2)

Well we did it! Last Sunday we threw the big 1st birthday bash, with you know, about 30 of our family and closest friends. It was a perfect party. I would only change 2 things. Our Linc-man was soooo sick, but he was a trooper and definitely didn't disappoint when it came to digging in to the cupcake. Also, I left my camera in the car after the dedication. I was so busy during the party, I couldn't remember where it was. So thanks Dad for getting these shots. What an amazing day, shared with the people we love, in honor of our double blessings.

I made all the decorations. Yeah, I have way to much free time.

The only shot with the lighted candle. Dang it!

She's Walking!!!

Oh did I forget to tell you??? Our baby doll has been taking steps for several weeks. First 2, then 4, then 6 all the way up to 15. But it was just steps, and it was mostly the 'Walk-to-mama' kind of steps. The past week we have seen Miss Pearl shuffling to get to places she wants to be. Well in the past 24 hours it happened. Full-on happened people! Our sweet baby girl is walking! From room to room, from toy to toy. I don't how it all changed over the last 24 hours, but it has. We didn't think this girl could be more adorable, but seeing her walking around--so proud of herself--she absolutely has!

Park Days

Parks rock!

Walking

Walking with these babies is a must. I have walked with these babies almost every single day since we came home from the hospital. The babies were only 6 days old on our first walk. It was a clear day, but about 30 degrees and freeeeezing! I didn't really walk, more like shuffled...very slowly. (Notice I still couldn't button the bottom button of my jacket!)

The babies love the fresh air, and I love the change of scenery. I need the change of scenery...

Have you heard it rains a lot here in Seattle? Well when it does, like today, this is how we roll...

***Jemi, we L.O.V.E the hats!!!***

Baby Dedication

Remember that baby dedication I blogged about? Well here is pic from that morning.

Random Thoughts From An Overtired Mama

Here are just a couple of my random thoughts before I hit the sack after one crazy-beautiful, almost-perfect and all around fantastic day....

*This morning we dedicated our babies at our home church. It was quite fun to see both of our families in our church on a Sunday morning. (Lila + Lincoln were super-adorable and on their best behavior.) What a full-circle moment to be standing in front of the church, holding our 2 precious babies, and saying a prayer over their lives. It doesn't seem that far ago that we were standing in that same church praying for a baby (or SURPRISE! 2 babies,) to become a part of our lives. After that we were praying for a healthy pregnancy, a full-term pregnancy, and for 2 healthy babies. Wow. Wow. Yep, that deserves another WOW. (Lila says 'wow' by the way. Sooooo cute.)

*We have amazing, amazing friends AND super-wonderful families. I mean, can you imagine ME, this football-loving girl scheduling a 1st birthday party on Superbowl Sunday....during the Superbowl?!? Yah, my life is so crazy I didn't even realize the oversight. But did that stop the people who care about us and the L's from coming? Nope. I kept thinking how blessed we are to have these people in our lives. And now, how blessed Lila + Lincoln are to have these people in their lives. So some are a little crazy. Ok pretty much everyone we know and like are a little crazy, but that is how we prefer it and we wouldn't dream of it being any other way. So thank you old friends, new friends & family--our hearts are full. (And our pocketbooks are not hurting either since we won 75% of the money in the bets on the game. There should be a rule against hosts winning bets next time. NEXT TIME!)

I have pics of their birthday and party I will post soon. But this girl is tired so it will have to wait. So in the words of one of my beautiful nieces Lucca, 'Peeece'!

364 Days Old

When we put our babies to bed tonight, we kissed our less-than-a-year old twins goodnight. Tomorrow, well tomorrow they will be 1. ONE!!! (Deep breath Karla.) Insert every cliche here and it would be true. This is what I know for sure, when I attempted to go to sleep 1 year ago, I felt excited, anxious, nervous and uncomfortable. I couldn't wait to meet the babies we dreamed about and prayed for. All babies are miracles no doubt, but some babies start in your heart long before they grow in your belly. Lila + Lincoln were 2 of these babies. I knew I would love these babies, but my mind had no understanding of how much and how immediate the love would flow. We are talking tidal wave here people! The whole birthing process was a dream. I enjoyed every. single. minute. In fact, I have enjoyed every single moment of this whole entire (sleepless) year. But can I be a little honest for a second--this birthday is also a little bittersweet. I'm a little sad that this baby phase is coming to an end. Hard work no doubt, but some of the sweetest moments of my life.

Here are some pics of the whole damn fam before bed tonight. Yep, this is how our family pics will look for the rest of forever I'm sure. (That is until we add another turd to the photo....)