I Might Be Losing It

No really, I think I'm going crazy. I have been so busy lately trying to get us settled in and familiar with the area and people in it, and my mind has a hard time keeping up with me. I am going to attempt to recap our week, but bear with me if I go off on a tangent. Ive been a bit ADD lately, so I apologize in advance if this is difficult to follow and.....OH Squirrel! ;)

Monday started with hangovers thanks to some Superbowl fun. Not so fun with a early wake-up call from two very loud, very bouncy toddlers. It made for a long morning, but once we got up and going (and I got my coffee) we were all doing okay. Monday was also the day that we picked up trying to potty train. 

I've tried before, but it just wasn't happening. They weren't interested, and it ended up with more frustration for all of us than it was worth at the time. Analiese started to show some interest, so here we go again. Last time, I tried more of a structured method: the potty training weekend. Honestly, I think if we did that now it might actually work, but for twins, it needs some major adjustments....and we would still need our hard floors. Carpet + 2 naked toddler booties = a mess I have no urge to clean. I have found tons of information on potty training, but nothing really on potty training twins. I've seen the general advice given (they both don't have to at the same time, give them their own potties, don't compare success, etc...) but nothing as in depth as you would find for a singleton. Frustrating. As you can imagine, things get a little trickier with two little babes running around, and I don't think a lot of people realize that it's more in depth than "just get two!" or "do the same thing, but double!" It's a bit harder than that. What works for one might not work for the other, but they still want to be doing the same thing, and when one sits down the other stands up, then one pees on the floor and the other slips in it before you can clean it, and...well you get the point. Anyway, for now, we are just winging it. The girls will tell me the have to go potty or I will ask them if they have to, and most of the time they will go in their diapers before they even get there. We have had a couple successes, but nothing consistent. When we get back from the vacation we are taking next week I will be more consistent with getting them to try and sit down, but for now I'm mostly letting them call the shots. But question: any twin momma bears have any advice on the potty training front? If so, I'm all ears!!

Well folks, that's tangent number one. Let's see how far we get before number 2! 

Tuesday was another lazy one, with the majority of the day sat on the bathroom floor because the girls' new favorite game is to see how many times we can pull our pants up and down before mom goes crazy! It's a fun one full of laughs...mostly from them. We did get some serious book reading done though!

Wednesday was probably my favorite because we got to go have lunch with Dan at work! We have met him at his office in Chicago a couple times, but nothing on a regular basis and it was always something that had to be planned in advance. Its so nice that his office is close enough for us to make a last minute decision to meet up for a quick lunch! Our days tend to get a bit monotonous if we don't have tons going on (I feel like it comes in waves) so its nice to break up the routine and see our favorite guy!

Thursday was the day my kids decided they didn't want to nap anymore. Cue mommy's major panic attack. They have been fighting them for a while now, but they can't really make it through the day without them and not be complete basket cases. I also need the naps so I don't go completely crazy. Nap time is my time to clean up a bit and watch some trashy reality TV in the peace and quiet. It's vital to our household sanity. Without that...all aboard the hot mess express!! They have also been fighting bedtime (which I don't understand because they can barely keep their eyes open during dinner.) I know its common after a big change, but again, if anyone has some tips for us I would greatly appreciate it!! 

Friday we got to go on our first date night since moving here!! I can not even begin to explain how much of a relief it was to find out we have family here with a 16-year-old daughter to babysit!! We finally got to see American Sniper and we watched in style! The theater here is amazing. Complete with full bar and comfy reclining seats. The movie was amazing as well. I have never left a theater with everyone so somber. It was very moving to see, and there was not a dry eye in the house. I would definitely recommend it! It makes you remember that our freedom isn't free and will make you appreciate all our service men and women even that much more. 

Today (well almost yesterday) we had some serious running around to do! I did some grocery shopping for a 5 day juice diet I am starting tomorrow, then the 4 of us went to sign up at our new gym! I am so excited to have another positive reason to leave the house! We also went to check out some furniture. We set out looking for a dining room set and patio furniture, and ended up buying a new sectional instead. How that happens I have no clue. I am pretty pumped for it to get here Thursday though!! Tonight we have just been relaxing and enjoying our gift we got from the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Hill. We have the privilege to stand next to them when they get married and could not be more honored!! So here's to you guys!! 

I think its time for this late night blogger to get some sleep because we have a personal training appointment bright and early! Wish me luck on this juice detox. Good night! 

xoxo

-Emily

Sunday Funday: Super Bowl Edition

Happy Sunday all!! (No, I haven't started with y'all yet, but it's coming I'm sure)

This week has not been super eventful (it's been a little gloomy outside) but the couple things that we did do were worth talking about...at least in my world. First of all, here is a picture of the girls pathetically looking out the window, hoping the sun comes out so we can go play. Spoiler alert: it didn't. 

In lieu of some fun in the sun, I went to my first playgroup! Not only in Atlanta but ever. I've had the girls together with other kids plenty of times, but never really too close to their age. I found online a group of moms with kids right around the girls age, that gets together every week. I went for the first time on Wednesday, and am pretty sure we will be going back every week. The moms are so easy to talk to, and it's so nice having all the kids going through the same things at the same times. I can only speak for myself, but I am always second guessing if I'm doing the right thing, or being a good enough mom, so it's nice to have other moms back you up. That is so huge and helpful! And of course, it's wonderful having the girls around other kids their age! They were shy, and kind of just played with each other most of the time, but I'm sure they will warm up and be great friends with the other tots!! Let's be real: play dates are more for moms than kids, so if the babes can have fun at the same time? SCORE! 

This week we also played some dress up: 

Went on a quick shopping trip to our new  favorite grocery store: 

And put the finishing touches on the girls' room. I'm so excited, because I already feel like this house is more of a home in just a couple weeks, than our townhouse in Beecher ever felt. It has nothing to do with the family (or lack thereof) around us, so to my fam back home, don't be offended. I just think that we have actually moved into this place more. We've put pictures on the wall, have space in the kitchen to have all of our things out, eat meals at the table together everyday, and just put more of our personal touch on everything. We grew out of our house in Beecher shortly after the girls turned one, so it's nice to have a space that we know we will be staying at for a while! This is just the girls room, and I will be putting more rooms on the blog as the finishing touches are put on. 

Today, along with the Super Bowl festivities, we also got together with the family we have down here! Now let me tell you, my grandma is one of ten, so we have a lot of family. It's crazy to think of how many cousins we have all over the place (still mostly based around Beecher), so we didn't even know we had family here until we decided we were moving. I've seen them at various family events, but not tons, so getting to sit down with them today was kind of like meeting them all over again, and it was great! We have a new babysitter for the girls, I have a new shopping buddy, and Dan has someone new to go golfing with. I'd say the meet and greet was a success!! It's such a comforting feeling knowing that we have family down here. We are already planning on getting together for dinner soon, planning on heading to an outlet mall I just found out about, and going out to see a movie utilizing our new sitter. I'm pumped! 

Now for the rest of the day, we are just watching the pregame coverage and the the big game!! GO SEAHAWKS!! (at least that's what Dan says) We are also eating my specialty crock-pot chicken fajitas, and trying some cilantro lime quinoa. We will also be drinking what has become a Super Bowl tradition: Corona-ritas!! They are delicious and go perfectly with our fajitas! 

And one quick pic of Dan's serious game face and Ana not caring. 

Sorry this post had pretty much nothing to do with the Super Bowl and the title was misleading...but really, I wouldn't know what I was talking about anyway ;)! Everyone enjoy the game and have a great week! 

Xoxo

-Emily