thursday things

1. I saw on Faceboook early this morning that yesterday was the day Marty McFly time-traveled to in 'Back to the Future Part 2.' {Not sure if 'time-traveled' is a word or not but, since we're talking about a flying Delorean here, I feel ok about making it up.} Now, I know that Facebook is usually the most reliable and accurate source of information but the private investigator in me wanted to check to see if the rumor was true. Alas, it was not. The actual date they traveled to was October 21, 2015. Glad I checked. Also, I'm glad I didn't miss it. Now that we've cleared that up...

2. So thankful for Starbucks ice cream this week. Harris Teeter was having a buy one, get one free special on these bad boys a few weeks ago. {Which means they end up costing about the same as Walmart's regular price but I get sucked in by the word 'free' on a consistent basis.} The caramel macchiato flavor tastes exactly like the drink. Amazing.

3. Did you hear it's supposed to be around 106 degrees here in North Carolina?! Wow. I think I will eat ice cream for every meal. Don't even try to stop me. 

4. My friend, Laci, sent me this link today. I need this. It will save me at least three words a day. 

5. I've been making the girls' baby food since they started eating solids. In an effort to jazz things up a bit, I was going to make a roasted red pepper to go with their carrots. But then I Googled how to roast a red pepper and got completely overwhelmed. Maybe tomorrow. 

5. Speaking of overhwelmed, this recipe is the opposite of overwhelming and, seriously, so good. It looks hard but it's not. I promise. 

6. When I was out walking with the sisters yesterday, a woman stopped me to ask about them being twins. She told me she had 10 year-old twin girls and asked how old mine were. 'Oh, eight months?' she said. 'You're out of the fog then.' To which I wanted to say, 'I'm sorry, could you repeat that. I didn't quite catch what you said. I seem to be in a bit of a fog.' But I just smiled and nodded. 

7. I just had to ask P-dubs what day it was because I wrote this and then thought it might be Wednesday. Oh, the fog. 

life lately

We've been doing a little swimming. {Which led to the discovery that water during bath time can also be splashed. Truly an epic discovery.}

A little shopping. {Note: when you go shopping with two aunts, mom doesn't really have to do anything. Except take pictures.}

Can you tell who is more into this whole thing? 

A little singing and dancing with Uncle Bucky and his 'teeny, tiny guitar.' Ukulele? 

A little more swimming. What else is there to do when it's a hundred degrees out?! Yesterday, I walked to the car and by the time I got there my knees were sweating. Pool time, it is. 

Wait. What? Triplets?! 

Little Aubrey had the same suit as the girls. We did actually get asked if they were triplets. So great.

And a little napping. Very little. And usually not when they are supposed to. But it's ok because it's summer time. Who has time for naps?!

smoothies

Sometimes when both girls are miraculously napping at the same time, we go to extreme measures to keep it that way. Like blending smoothies on the front steps. 

what a day

I feel like today was a million years long. Full of good things (and one not so good thing) but so, so long. I should have known it was going to be long when I'd already broken a sweat 16 times by 9:00. And half of those were inside the air conditioned house doing things like packing the diaper bag and feeding the girls their breakfast. Who would have thought those things could be so strenuous? I guess when it's 90 degrees out at mid-morning, I should expect that. And these girls are getting big and heavy. {Okay, bigger and heavier than I'm used to.} You should see me trying to carry both of their seats at the same time now. It's ridiculous. 

We met Warner for breakfast {which really ended up being brunch time. So thankful Katie is used to me and doesn't get bitter over the fact that I'm always late. Or maybe she does and she doesn't let on. Either way, I love her for it.} We met at a cute little place in South Park I've been wanting to try for months solely because they have a red velvet waffle with cream cheese. And it was amazing. Definitely worth the 16 sweats it took for me to get there. Upon glancing at the menu, I also spied with my little eye a S'more French toast breakfast. Shut the front door. I will be back for that someday Terrace Cafe. Oh yes, I will. And I might even be on time. {But probably not.}

Not only did Warner not hold my tardiness against me, she even offered to watch the girls for me so I could go meet this freshly born bundle of joy. The newborn sounds coming out of that tiny baby just about killed me. He is so sweet. And has so much hair! {We're not jealous about that or anything. Not at all.} Judah, you don't know it yet but you have some of the coolest parents around. 

And then came the whole debacle where I ran out of gas on the highway. What was that? It's never happened to me before and will never happen again. I cut it close sometimes but the Malibu always seems to have just enough to get me where I am going. Which this time I was going to a gas station. And did you know how fast it takes a car to really start warming up on a wicked hot day with no air running? Oh about .3 seconds. {This would be where my babies broke their first sweat of the day.} But, thankfully, Bucky and Karen stopped on their way to dinner and let us hang out in their air conditioning while we waited for the AAA guy. Not like they had a date to go on or anything. I called my mom while I was waiting and it turns out at that exact moment, all the way up in NH, she was on the side of the road with a flat tire. Weird, right? Praise the Lord for AAA. 

When we got home I had a cold banana since I hadn't eaten since brunch and it was well past dinner time and, remember, I nurse twins. {So I was close to starving, obviously. Plus, being dramatic makes you hungry too.} I don't particularly care for cold bananas but we have a little fruit fly problem from the last bunch of bananas and while I wait for the apple cider vinegar to work its magic, any and all fruit will be in the fridge. This little chickadee liked my cold banana, though. Because, guess what? She has two little teeth coming in. Needless to say, the banana was not really appetizing to me after she sucked/chewed/gnawed on it. 

And then we were off to have a few pictures taken with the girls' cousins. Which I was late for. But, in my defense, I had a good excuse. My car just wouldn't move without gas. While we were there I got a text from Karen that something had happened to their battery and they were waiting on AAA at the restaurant. Nuh uh. If I learned anything today it's that NC summer + twins= lots of sweating. And that McLean family members can never cancel their AAA. 

Father's Day

Happy First Father's Day to this guy:

To the man who will peel two huge bags of organic apples for baby food without batting an eye. The one who will lovingly stay up with a sad, teething baby until 3:45 in the morning when I'm feeling anything but loving towards anyone or anything. To the hero who will kill spiders and silverfish and take on the most disgusting of diaper changes like a champ. To the provider who works his cute little tail off to make our little family possible. To the best friend who will watch certain unnamed reality tv shows with me and will go along with my often crazy ideas. To the dreamboat who still captures my heart. To the dad who loves these tiny girls with every bit he is and loves being a father so much, he's ready for four more. He can just hold his horses, thank you very much. To the stud muffin who can rock a pink flower headband and still be the manliest man I know...we love you and think you're the best. Happy Father's Day.

thursday things

1. First of all, it's a good thing there's no such thing as two too much cuteness in one place. {Two much. Ha. I crack myself up.} Otherwise, we surely would have been in violation of that rule. 

2. These babies are SPOILED. Today, their aunt went to a baby consignment store with a friend who is pregnant. {I know, shocker--we actually hang out with people besides each other sometimes. Sometimes.} Anyways, she came back with these adorable little outfits. 

Have I mentioned I have a little obsession with rompers? I do. It's the perfect dress/onesie hybrid. It's like a dress only it's not riding up all the time making it hard to pick up/move/buckle baby. Genius, if you ask me. Also, have I mentioned pretty much everything the girls own is consignment? We've spent maybe $40 on brand new clothes for them since they were born. If it's new, it was probably a gift (which was so greatly appreciated!). Boppies, Brestfriend, exersaucer, jumperoo, swings...all consignment. If you're having a baby, check out consignment stores and sales. You can find almost anything and a lot of times the items are barely used. There's your mom tip of the day. Which I'm sure you really wanted.

3. We got to hang out with these rad people today. We love them. Can you guess what we were doing? Here's a little hint: 

4. My sister and I used this tutorial to make some felt flowers for the sisters. I'm not crafty at all and I could do it, so you should, too. If only to get that accomplished-crafty-homey feeling. {Except really my sister did most of it . So she got that lovin' feeling.} Make one for your baby or your dog or your grandma. Just make one. 

5.   Currently reading: this. Yes, we are still having some issues. {Ahem, CG.} I will get to the bottom of this. I'll let you know how it goes. 

6.  My sister made this tonight for dinner and now I want to make it. Love me some Pioneer Woman.

six months

Six months. I still can't believe it. 

Sweet C

12 pounds 5 ounces

25 and 1/2 inches 

Lam-lam

11 pounds 5 ounces

24 and 3/4 inches

one month

two months

three months

four months

five months

thursday things

1. My seven month old 'liked' a picture on Facebook without my knowledge. It must have been at some point while she was trying to eat said phone. And it was a nice picture--only it was of a guy I haven't talked to or seen in years and barely even knew in real life so 'random' would be an understatement of the 'liking' of his picture. I didn't know I 'liked' it until hours later when Paul was on his phone and said, 'You liked so and so's picture? Why?' Horrified, I grabbed his phone to see that this was a true story. To make matters worse I was the only person who had 'liked' it. I thought about un-liking it but Paul thought that would make it seem even weirder. So I didn't. 

2. I pulled up next to a Transformer today. It made me feel really safe. And also made the Malibu seem really lame. 

3. Everyone loves a good Groupon, right? We tend to only buy them if food is involved. You see where our priorities lie. But today's caught my eye. It was 62% off of Coach sunglasses which made the new, super-low price $69. I don't know about you but that just doesn't seem like a good deal to me. I drop/sit on/spill/lose/fall down/trip over way too many things to spend that kind of money on sunglasses. If you are the type of person who can buy a nice pair and know where they are and keep them intact all summer, I'm utterly impressed by you. I'm the opposite of that person so I buy the $5 pair at Marshall's. Then when I lose and/or break 3 pairs over the course of the summer, P-dubs is only out 15 bucks.

4. We finally busted out the 'big kid' seats for the bombdotcom stroller. The girls were so thrilled they fell asleep.

5. I'm going to attempt to make this pizza crust. If it takes 18 hours it's gotta be good. 

6. When I go to Walmart, I always park in the very last row at the edge of the grocery side of the store. Otherwise, I would wander aimlessly trying to remember where I parked and I just don't have time for that, ya know? 

7. Numbers 3 and 6 may make me seem a little scatterbrained. But I swear it's leftover pregnancy brain. I had two babies which made it twice as bad. 

what i ate wednesday

Spaghetti. 

Do y'all need the recipe for that? It can be tricky. {At least it used to be for me. I wish I was lying.} 

We have been BUSY around here and I have had many nights/mornings off to be just me. {I've loved these breaks and am so thankful for a husband who can handle two babies without batting an eye but sometimes I miss the girls after I put them to bed at night so hours away from them was...traumatic. Not to be confused with 'dramatic,' which is what P-dubs says I am.} Saturday night after we went to the lake, I met up with Warner for her birthday dinner while P-dubs flew solo with the girls. And we all survived. 

Sunday I had dinner plans with some Taylor girls in honor of Julia, one of my original Charlotte roommates, who is a crazy adventurer and will be traveling to 11 different countries in the next 11 months. I'm sad she's leaving. And, also, I'm a little jealous. I honestly can't remember one thing about Monday. 

On Tuesday my sister watched the girls while I helped prep materials for our church's VBS. Meaning, I got to cut things out, glue things, brad-fastener things, and chat with adults while drinking coffee. My teacher heart was happy. 

Today I brought a new friend some breakfast to visit with her and meet her 12 day old twin baby boys. When you have twins, suddenly every other person and their brother is having twins. I'm so glad I met her. We spent the morning cuddling babies and discussing all things multiples and nursing and deliveries and nursing and twin personalities and nursing. Being with those tiny boys brought me right back to those early days with the girls where making sure they were eating and gaining weight was the obsession. As opposed to now where sleep patterns are the obsession. At the time I didn't think it was so hard but looking back.wow. Things just keep getting easier and, honestly, more fun. After relieving my sister of baby duty (she's pretty much a rockstar aunt, by the way), the girls and I headed into school where I was determined to get a few 'things done.' Which means, for the second time in the past few weeks, I stood in the middle of my old classroom looking at all the things I need to pack up and move, got overwhelmed, and went to find someone to chat with. So really I got nothing done. Except I did go to a co-workers baby shower after school was out. Until the girls reminded me a little too loudly that it was dinner time. And, wouldn't you know, zucchini was a huge hit with them. I never would have guessed. It was such a success that they needed a bath immediately after, which takes me awhile when I'm by myself. All that to say, I didn't start cooking until 9:00. Spaghetti it is.

lake day

On Saturday we took the girls to the lake for the first time for a little get-together with our Sunday school class. It was around 75 degrees and a little breezy which felt downright chilly to me. If I wasn't in the sun, I was shivering. What happened to the New England girl who went to swimming lessons on Lake Winnipesaukee every morning in the summers?! The girl who jumped in chilly water on 60 degree mornings and swam until her lips turned blue? My mom would be appalled. Seventy-five degrees and sunny would have been considered tropical weather on those mornings. I feel a little sad that the New Hampshire girl who was New England to the core is slowly being replaced with a strange, sweet tea-making, hush puppy-eating, thin-blood Southern version of herself. I love it and hate it all at the same time. It is true what they say, though...Carolina babies are sweeter than the tea.

The grass was way more interesting than the lake.