Life Lately

So after I posted last week about the lack of March Madness going on around here, we sort of rectified that situation.  It was kind of on accident, but whatever, man.  I'll take it!

Jarrod and I never know how any given weeknight is going to turn out.  We could pick up kids from daycare and make it home in one piece only to have the wheels fall off as soon as we walk through the door.  Which looks like this:

Walk through the door.  Collin leaves a trail of crap from the door to his room.  I.e. Coat, shoes, papers from school, trash from the car, toys from the car, rocks/sticks/flowers/weeds from the yard outside or at school.  He heads to his room to shuck his clothes from the day and to put on "comfy clothes".  Inevitably, he reappears in some mis-matched t-shirt and pants/shorts.  There's also a good chance he chose these clothing items from a pile in his closet that has been set aside as too small or too big/saving for the next season to come.  (If I have it in me, I'll argue with him that he needs to change, but mostly I just sigh, roll my eyes and get over it.)

While Collin is doing his usual Tasmanian devil routine, the babies are either A. being perfect angels and napping in their car seats, allowing me to finish preparing dinner and serving it up or B. screaming their ever-loving heads off and demanding to be held/fed/changed.  If it's the latter, Jarrod and I go into survival mode.  One of us makes bottles and gets diapers ready or tends to dinner on the stove top/in the oven.  We yell at Collin for the fourth time to wash his hands with soap AND water since he's just returned from a germ factory and likely has dirt all over his hands from playing outside or markers/paint/Cheetos dust (who the heck knows!).  Not that we're particularly phobic of germs, but Collin will want to touch all over his babies. And don't you know, the one night I forget to make him wash his hands, he'll have something on them that will leave a trail all over the couch, his clothes, our clothes, etc.

Exhibit A - When Jarrod picked Collin up early from school to participate in pictures with our newborns, he had orange fingers from eating Cheetos for lunch that Friday.  I tried so hard in the photography studio to scrub any trace of these away from his fingers, but we still laugh because in this photo he has a neon orange thumb!

Continuing on, once dinner is finished and the screaming has died down (either from the babies or their mommy and daddy), typically I sit down at the table with Collin and we eat our meal.  If Jarrod is able to get away from pacifying a baby (or both - he's a master at balancing one on his legs and one in his arms), he eats with us.  Sometimes, we each eat at the table with a baby in our arms.  Just this week, I prayed I wouldn't drop baked ziti on Grady's head.

After dinner, we try to spend some time with Collin and the babies before bath time and bed time routines.  So last Friday, we just happened to get to watch my faves play a game.  I love Duke basketball.  Always and forever.  If I wasn't so brain dead these days, I'm sure Grady and Atalie would have onesies since I had Collin wearing this when he was 18 months old...

*cue the tears over how stinking cute he was*

So Friday night looked a little something like this:

G Man was totally into it.  That'a boy!

We've also been enjoying the nicer weather.  Which, of course, means that today is a dreary mess, but I'm optimistic sunshine will return soon.  Babies in cute, springy outfits and visits to the park for dinner so that people can double-take us!

It's so funny when people see Jarrod with a baby and me with a baby.  I just want to say, "Yes, we have twins."  Or if we use our double-stroller, it's like a beacon for all old people within 50 feet of us to come over and try to peak at the babies.  It's OK though, because they ARE super adorable :)

Grady didn't want to look at the camera, but he wanted to hold sis's hand.  Love.

Grady has had an ear infection and has been a total pill to be around.  Thankfully I took him to the doctor and got it figured out, because we're working on being our fun loving self again!

 And sister is really starting to be such a joy!  She's less serious than when she was a newborn, and she's really starting to "talk" and laugh a lot now.  I love this side of her!

Our little Beauty.

Madness. And None of it the March Kind.

How having twins has changed my life...example #152:

For the first time in 15 years, I am in no way invested in March Madness.  I did not fill out an NCAA Tourney Bracket.  It's insanity, but it is what it is.  I can remember being in high school at a Disciple Now weekend during this time of year, with my bracket actually folded and stored in my Bible.  As we went from place to place for different activities, whenever I got the chance, I would check scores.

Not this year.  This year, my Hi-Liter and red pen are stowed away.  And based on all of the trending statuses on Facebook, it's probably not a bad thing!  #bustedbracket

Good thing I have these faces to distract me!

 Color coordinated babes

 Modeling her new necklace

 This kid rocking his teething necklace and some studly arms!  I mean, look at those cheeks!!!!

 Love them.

 Brother love is a special kind of love.

Jarrod walked around the corner the other day and caught Collin bent over Grady telling him how much he loved him.

Grady thinks Collin is the funniest person ever.  

Handsome boy.  Have I mentioned that I love his cheeks?!  He is just so darn kissable!

The babies had a doctor's appointment last week.  They are 3 1/2 months old now, and Grady weighs 14lbs and Atalie weighs 12lbs.  We're working on head/neck control, and Atalie desperately wants to roll over.  I catch her on her side all the time.  Grady could care less about most things.  He's just here to have a good time!  He loves to lay on his activity mat or in the bouncy seat and talk, talk, talk to the little stuffed animals that hang down.  He will coo at them and then give a big chuckle like someone has just said the funniest thing.  Atalie has started to follow suit, but I would describe her as more "flirting" with the animals!

Chubby Bubby is just content to hang out

Sister is trying so hard to roll over!

 Spring weather means cute outfits!

 Pretty girl!!

 This picture cracks me up!

Annnnnd apparently Atalie is cracking herself up here :)

3 Months

The twins are now officially 3 months old, and Jarrod and I are feeling about 45.  It's not very glamorous around here, but that's okay because I'm sure it will pass.  In a year or two eighteen.

Things people don't tell you about having three children:
* The laundry is never ending.
* Someone is ALWAYS unhappy.
* You should kiss your husband goodbye when you enter the delivery room because that's probably going to be your last chance at any sort of alone time.
* Your priorities shift...  As in bathing takes a backseat to napping.  Psssh.  Napping.  What's that?  Also, cheese and crackers sounds like a perfectly acceptable meal!
* There will be a lot of crying at night.  From you.  And occasionally the husband.
* There is a reason you see so many minivans on the road.

* There is a lot of potty talk.  One kid's potty habits?  No problemo!  One kid who occasionally toots?  Funny and sort of cute sometimes.  Three kids' potty habits?  I need a separate calendar just to keep track of when everyone goes poo and pee.  And my word.  The farting around here is off the charts.  I can't wait until Collin and Grady are teenagers.  *sarcasm*

BONUS: When asked, "What's something no one tells you about having 3 kids?"  Jarrod's response was, "What to do with the third one!"  Seriously.


Things most likely to make us go broke:
* Daycare.
* Laundry detergent.
* Diapers.
* Headbands for the girl child.
* The Reese's Peanut Butter Cup budget.
* All those quarters I use to bribe Collin.  (Heaven help us when he figures out the value of money.)
* Have I mentioned headbands for the girl child?  (Etsy - you call to me in the night when I'm held hostage by a breast pump.)

Now the real reason you're here - pictures!

This little bond is growing each day.  Grady thinks Collin is the funniest person ever!

Collin loves to hold a baby but it usually only lasts for a minute or so.  Who can blame him when this chunk is getting SO heavy?!

These two are going to be something!

Those eyes!!

 She is getting more animated and really likes to "talk" now.

"Go buy me some more headbands, Mom!"

Grady and Atalie - 3 months old 

And as if we didn't already think we were going crazy around here, we had several bad weather days the last couple of weeks.  Collin just wanted to play in the snow and Mommy and Daddy just wanted the snow to go away!

This was our first 'bout of bad weather.  The neighbors sure kept us entertained though!  I think Collin stood for close to an hour at our bedroom window watching these guys go round and round.

Our second round left us with several inches of snow.  Check out how deep our feet are!

We had a huge snow drift outside this door!  Collin wanted to help "dig us out" of the house.

 He was SO proud and has watched for days as this guy slowly melted and fell to pieces!

 See Above: What to do with the third one!

 Snow Days call for desperate measures.  Working from home has its perks...pajamas and a baby in your lap.  As long as that baby stays content!

FaceTime with Aunt Kiki!

Ash Wednesday 2015

Jarrod and I are observing Lent this year along with the Small Group we host.  Our group has evolved into something completely unexpected but in the best way possible.  It's one part married couples, one part college co-eds.  Jarrod and I started dating while working with youth in college, so this has been a fun reminder of that time for us.

Lent begins today, and while I haven't officially settled on something to "give up", I am really looking forward to this time of reflection.  I'll be following along with SheReadsTruth.com; here is a look at what they had posted today...

This is Lent.  It's a time to stop -- wherever we're going and whatever we're coming from...  

Lent is a pause button.  It is a quiet unlike any other time of year.  Lent is a season to close our eyes as the busy world buzzes around us, to consider those things we'd much rather forget: our sin and our humanity.  We came from dust, and to dust we will return.

Our group just finished up a brief study on Abiding, and we've spent a lot of time discussing the word "abide" and also discussing transitions.  It seems the Baum family is constantly transitioning from one season to the next, and while I suppose that's what makes up life, it seems to be happening with a frequency I've never experienced.  I'm ready for some rest.

And if you ever need to be reminded of your humanity, screaming infants will help you out in a flash!  Throw in a four year old with demands of his own and your flesh shows up real quick.  

It's been rough around our house these past few months.  No one is resting, schedules are a joke and emotions are reaching record highs and lows.  In the midst of it though, are so many blessings.  When it feels like nothing will ever get done and our life will never feel normal again, I have to remember what is true.  

These kids ... It's a rare moment when I can get them to cuddle these days.  They kick, push and grunt if one of them is touching the other.  It's as if they are sick of sharing space!

This girl is growing more and more each day.  Her brother has always been cheerful and expressive, but she is finding her voice.

Class Clown in the making!

Cheesing for Mom and Dad

Some much needed time with Mommy on the swings at the park.  This big boy is so helpful and so loving, but he is also so trying right now.  He struggles with our new normal, and while I know it's good for him to learn lessons, it still breaks my heart sometimes.

So sick with RSV but still managing to crack us up with his smirks and personality.

This girl, though, thinks that being sick is for extra attention, cuddles and even more drama than usual.
Drama, drama, got it from my Mama.

Grady looking Atalie right in the face and trying so hard to talk to her.  

Papa and Nonne to the rescue Valentine's weekend!

Our Valentines

Ice/Snow/Sleet

Ready to go outside!

Doll baby #1 

Doll baby #2

Who needs a sled when you have the bowl to the fire pit?!

Precious girl all cozy in the Ergo.

Wearing a baby and ready to go outside

THE END

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Philippians 4:8