project 52.17

difficult.

This life with y'all is so.much.fun.  

But, I wouldn't be honest if I didn't also say that sometimes it's difficult.  Sometimes it is stressful.  Sometimes (okay, lots of times) I am worn-slap-out.  

I'll just give you the most recent one of the more recent events (because I would probably have to post this immediately in order for it to be the most recent.  Often these difficult events happen back to back to back).

On Wednesday we went to a children's museum for the first time.  We went to Marbles  with our friends we meet up with every Wednesday.  After our friends left to make it home in time for naps, we went to the nursing room so y'all could eat.  Problem number one.  Both of you were hungry.  Neither of you wanted to stay in the stroller.  In order to keep you calm, I carried you both while pushing the empty, giant, jogging stroller.  We get to the nursing room and the jogging stroller wouldn't even fit into the room without rearranging the furniture.  So, we rearrange the furniture just enough to fit the stroller (with all our crap in it - so it had to come in with us) in the tee-tiny room and shut the door.  Then, I'm stuck behind the stroller.  I climb over the stroller holding both of you.  

I finally get around and situated and start nursing Tate while Crews calms down enough to sit in the stroller (haven't quite figured out tandem nursing without my twin nursing pillow).  All is going well until Crews gets upset.  So, I finish with Tate and lay a blanket down on the rug and place Tate on it while I change Crews' diaper.  After changing his diaper he is so fired up and ready to eat that I don't worry about putting his clothes back on, I decide to go ahead and feed him first.  

While feeding Crews, I see Tate start to roll over from his stomach to his back and it looks like he's going to land off the blanket and off the rug.  I quickly try to grab him and I'm a millisecond too late.  His head bangs on the tile floor and he starts crying hysterically. 

So, I sit Crews beside me in the glider while I try to calm Tate down.  Naked Crews falls over in the glider and starts trying to latch on to my back and I can't get him up because Tate is going ballistic! It was  quite the sight.  Finally we get everyone calmed and clothed and squeeze ourselves out of the nursing room and go along our merry way.  We better get going because we're going to be doing it all over again in 2 1/2 hours!

So, although everything is rainbows and butterflies most of the time, there are definitely times that are difficult and stressful and make me "need a moment".  

But...I wouldn't have it any other way. I love it.  All of it.  

Just another thing you're teaching me.

To appreciate the blessings in the difficult moments and find beauty in the imperfect.

the twins' nursery.

When I found out we were having twins' I spent the next few months trying to figure out the nursery.  I looked and looked for a twins nursery online that I really liked but I had a hard time finding some examples from which to draw inspiration.  After being at a standstill for quite a few weeks, Jordan actually picked out the bedding and we went from there.  

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures!

Here's the view from the door.

And then, if you take a step inside, this is what you see.

I really wanted to love this room.  I wanted it to be right.  But I also didn't want to break the bank trying to get it the way we wanted it.  So, we found some things on sale, made some things, used some old furniture and then spent the money on the things we felt like were worth splurging on.

We were able to find the cribs on clearance at Target and we bought the bedding while it was on sale from Pottery Barn Kids (and got a twins discount!).  We actually had to drive to multiple Targets to find the cribs.  We bought two from our Target and then got them home and put them together and the colors looked different.  They were both named the same color and both were a brown-ish color but the difference was significant enough that we packed up one of the cribs and took it back.  Then, we drove to three other Targets before finding one with a color that matched closely enough that you couldn't tell the difference when they were side by side like these would be!

We ordered out letters from CraftCuts and were very pleased with them.  They are so expensive at PBK or other baby stores.  But, this website allows you to choose the font, size and thickness of your letters.  I loved all the options there were and it was a lot less expensive!

Somehow the nursery turned nautical, which was not my intent.  But, as it came along, I fell more in love with it.  I wasn't going to go with red.  But, I couldn't come up with another color I would like with the navy that also looked "boy enough" [a big concern for Jordan :)].

My mom and I made the curtains and the pillow for the chair.  I knew I wanted a pillow that matched the curtains and I wanted it to have navy piping.  So, my mom came up with a genius idea.  She had an old pillow with navy piping and an embroidered front.  So, instead of making a pillow from scratch and putting the piping in, we just cut the material to fit the front of the pillow and ironed the raw edges under.  Then, we just top stitched around the edge of the already-made pillow with red thread and navy bobbin thread.   It worked great and it was like a 15 minute project!

Jordan picked out the "My Brother and Me" picture frame.  We put the only ultrasound picture we have that shows both babes in the same frame.  I love this picture and wanted it displayed in their nursery.

 I designed and printed the birth detail photos on the wall above the chair.  I got the rustic, wooden frames from Hobby Lobby.  We bought the lamp at Target and Jordan's mom got the little white table at a yard sale.  It looks distressed but I liked it so we left it that way.  One of our splurge items is the glider/recliner.  It's a Best Chair that my parents bought us as our baby gift.  I am absolutely in love with it. It's so comfortable and I know it will last through all the babes (yes, we hope to have more - but not for a few years :)) and will probably take up residence in our bedroom or the family room once it has served it's purpose for the babies. We ordered it at a local boutique but we were able to get it during a 15% off sale and we were able to get a $50 credit for every $500 spent so we were able to get some additional money towards other merchandise when we purchased the chair which was great!

(I also have to point out The Jesus Storybook Bible.  It's the top book on the stack under the table.  It's fabulous!  Seriously, I can't say enough good things about it.  You should get it.  And read it.  Even if you don't have kids!)

Our changing table is opposite the window.  Jordan's parents actually bought us an old antique dresser from a little store and we asked one of their family friends to fix some tracks for the drawers to slide on (since it was difficult to get the drawers open).  But, we mentioned that we were planning on painting it and he couldn't stand to see an antique with nice wood "go to waste".  So, he made us a dresser that looks exactly like the antique and we painted it instead.  And he decided to keep (and then donate to his church) the antique dresser.  We painted the dresser a bright red and then Robin helped us wipe it down with an acrylic paint (Burnt Umber) from Michaels.

We had the most difficult time finding a white changing pad cover.  I guess that's not the best color for changing dirty diapers but there wasn't another color I liked.  Actually, I've contemplated just making this a dresser without the changing pad even on there.  I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually changed a baby on this thing.  It's just not practical when you have two.  It's much easier to just lay a blanket down and get on the floor and do both together.

Courtney took the twins' pictures and I got a large one printed and bought a frame from Michaels when they were 50% off, not long ago.  The frame is like 16x20 or something like that.  I love that it's a huge picture of their sweet faces when they were so tiny!

The last thing is the wall in between the two closet doors (opposite the cribs).  Jordan saw these toys at BuyBuyBaby and was so excited about them!  He built and stained these floating shelves to display the toys.  It's a way of adding a little "boy" and a pop of color.  We both love this wall!

I hope you enjoyed the nursery tour :)  I'm excited to finally be sharing it here!  A list of all the items in the nursery and where they were purchased can be found below!  Please let me know if there is anything I leave out that you're curious about!

Also, have you posted a picture of your nursery?  I would love to see it!  Leave a comment with the link to your nursery post.  I'd love to come check it out :)


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Wall color: Antique White by Benjamin Moore (I think...)
Ceiling color:  A super light blue (not sure who or the name - but I'll try to update when I find out!)
Light fixture:  Lowes Hardware
Letters above cribs:  Craftcuts
Best Chair Glider/Recliner:  SmartMomma   
White table:  Yardsale
Lamp base and shade:   Target
"My brother and me" picture frame:  BuyBuyBaby 
Curtain rod and rings:  Bed, Bath and Beyond
Curtain fabric (Red ticking and blackout fabric):  Joanns
Pillow:  Unused pillow from my mom
Birth details prints:  designed by me
Birth details frames:  Hobby Lobby
Dresser:  Built by a family friend
Large frame and mat over changing table:  Michaels
Changing pad cover:  BuyBuyBaby or BabiesRUs (can't remember)
Hamper:  Homegoods
Construction toys:  Made by Plan, bought from BuyBuyBaby
Floating shelves:  Made by Jordan

Project 52.16

thankful.

The two of you were dedicated this past Sunday at our church.

It was such a sweet time.  Being supported by family and friends and our church.

We stood before the congregation and our family and friends and vowed to do all that we could to raise you in a home that points you to Jesus.  Our prayer is that you become passionate followers of Jesus and we want to do anything to make that possible.

It made me so thankful that your daddy and I were both raised in Christian homes.  We were pointed to Jesus from the beginning.  It is such a blessing that I do not take lightly.  

 I pray daily that we would not take this job for granted.  That we would impact your lives and that our lives would constantly reflect Jesus.  

project 52.15

joyful.

The two of you have brought so much joy to my life.

Your sweet smiles and coos.  

Your head resting on my shoulder.

Your feet splashing during your bath.

My heart is full and I am oh so thankful.

You have also allowed me to enjoy all the little things life has to offer. 

I have learned to slow down and breathe life in.

Sitting on a blanket watching the sun set with y'all. 

Laying in the floor reading books with the breeze flowing through the open windows.

Rocking you to sleep and watching you smile and breathe.

My perspective is different.  I am filled with an inexpressible joy.  Joy for life and for creation and for Jesus.

 And I have the two of you to thank for that.

See other Project 52's here.

embrace the camera.

I'm going to start joining Emily, at The Anderson Crew, for Embrace the Camera each Thursday!

She started this idea because she wanted her kids to have pictures of them together. 

I love this idea so I want to start it now.  Not always being behind the camera, but taking pictures with them.

Crews (L) and Tate (R)

Note to self:  Going like this to Walmart is a terrible idea!  You will get stopped by every other person throughout the entire store.  And each time you are stopped the person (with a rat tail and three teeth) will want to get in your twins' faces and carry on a five minute conversation.  Cream of chicken soup and eggs are not worth it.  Go after your husband gets home.  Or, go with the eight-foot train (pushing a double stroller and pulling a grocery cart).  That is easier than getting personal with half the county.  I promise!

sneak peek.

I took maternity pictures for Joy and Rob last weekend.  They were so much fun and I know that baby will be well loved!  Can't wait to go back in a month or so for newborn pictures!

Here are a few of my favorites!

::: may goals :::

• Make two presents ::  I have a few different presents that I want to make this month. There are a couple that are computer based that I keep putting off but I'm really excited about them.  If I'd just sit down and spend some time doing it!  And then, I have a painting project and of course some sewing projects.  Aggghh, so many projects...so little time!

• Read Shepherding a Child's Heart  ::  I have heard so many good things about this book.  From what I've heard about it, I know that I will probably read it multiple times.  I've tried to wait until the boys are a little older but I am excited about it so I'm going to go ahead and read it :)

• Figure out photo books  ::  So the boys are six months old.  Yikes!  And I still haven't figured out how I want to document our life.  Double Yikes!  I know that I want to do some type of photo books but I'm not sure if I want to do separate books for each boys (leaning against this because I'm probably not going to be successful at keeping up with 5 photo books a year some day!) or if I'm going to do one book per year.  Whether there will be lots of text or just pictures.  I have been debating on this since before the boys arrived and I need to go ahead and make a decision so I can start working on it.  I was hoping to complete a few pages per month.  Obviously, I'm already pretty behind.

• Fix playroom/craft room/office  ::  We have a room in our house that I spend more time in than any other room.  It has our computer and office stuff in there, my sewing and monogram machine and then books, toys and baby gear.  It is making me absolutely crazy.  I want it to be cute and functional and inspiring.  But instead it's a boring disaster.  The room is a blah color.  There isn't really any decor - just things that kind of end up here because I don't have a place for them elsewhere at the moment.  And it's always cluttered.  I'm so over it.  And I'm annoyed that I spend more time cleaning up than actually creating in this space.  So - May is my month.  I'm going to embrace the challenge and get it right so I can't use it as an excuse to why I'm not sewing more.  Plus, I apparently think that all the stars are going to align and life is going to be perfect if this room would just get fixed.  Ha - I'm insane.  Here are before pictures.  I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do - so PLEASE let me know if you have a great vision!

• Start a devotional book :::  I switch back and forth between doing a study and just reading chapters in the bible for my quiet time.  I don't want to be dependent on another book to tell me what to think about the bible but other times I need more application in my life through a study.  I haven't figured out what study I'm going to do - but I better get on it!  I'm hoping to be pretty consistent with my quiet time this month - when I'm not consistent I notice a difference and I desperately miss this time in the mornings.

Happy May! What are your goals for the month?