2nd Homework Assignment

This week I had to do blurry background pictures. I ended up using the purple flower picture to turn in for my assignment.

Photography class

I have started to take a photography class on Wednesday evenings and learn new things with my camera. The first homework assignment was take a picture of a bench that can tell a story....  Here are some of my photos. 

 This is the photo I ended up taking to class because I loved that someone put a flower pot next to the bench and that it meant it wasn't forgotten. 

24 weeks

Jackson and Mommy's typical week!

Just thought I would post about our daily week.  It is usually the same each week until we move into our house. We signed Jackson up to do some daily activities since he wouldn't be in preschool from Jan-March. He does start preschool April 1.
On Monday, Jackson loves to go to music class. I don't have any pictures to document but he sings and dances and plays with instruments. Then we usually go to the park and have lunch and then off to Costco. On Tuesday, Jackson has art class and then we go home for lunch. Jana and Jackson then leave to go to swim lessons and mommy has a free hour!!! On Wednesday, Jackson goes to sports and games and loves it! He gets to run around, learn about good sportsmanship and the rules for running bases, etc. Then we usually go the park and have lunch. On Thursday, Jackson loves going to daddy's school. We get up early and are at daddy's school in an hour in time for preschool. Mike's school has a preschool program once a week with the high schoolers.  Usually we are able to grab lunch with daddy and hang out after when daddy's classes permit.  On Friday, we go to the library for Friday Fun and read stories, make a project and dance.  Then we hang out in the wonderful children's area and play choo choo trains all afternoon.  So, that is our week :)

 I forgot to add, we have to do our hair before we leave the house, he loves to make it spike up in front. 

Hanging out at the park. 

Playing games at sports and games. 

Art class fun, Jackson doesn't like his picture taken, can you tell?

House Update!

We are very excited to say we have found our house!  It only took 5 weeks and 32 houses later for us to find it!  It is in a nice neighborhood where we can walk to a wonderful park.  Twin Brooks Park has a great play structure, ponds to feed the geese, and hiking trails. The house is a remodeled 1926 colonial  with lots of character. It was moved to its present location in the 1940s, has been completely renovated, and was just painted 6 months ago.  Score, we don't have to paint anything before moving in!!!! The owners are selling because it is an unexpected move up North so we are very happy.  Here are some pics. It is a 3 bedroom house but does have an extra bedroom downstairs for guests. So we are very excited!!! Can't wait to move in at the end of March!

Gestational Diabetes wins!

Well, my numbers for sugar are increasing as the babies are getting bigger. I am on the pill form of insulin and am counting down the 16 weeks till I can have a few of my favorite sugar/carb infested products! Just a few pics of what I miss most!

22 week comparison Jackson vs twins

 Hoping we can make it 16 more weeks to June 18, 2012 which would be 38 weeks. I am feeling good, just tired and definitely slower to do things. I haven't been exercising too much only because I don't want to jeopardize anything happening early. Gestational diabetes has won and I am on medicine to control my sugars.  I can't wait for the next 4 months to fly by so I can have a Pepsi!  

Jackson loves giving the babies kisses.  The girl is lower and the boy is higher.  He usually gives them kisses out of the blue and can't wait for them to get bigger and come out. I am sure after he meets them and realizes how much of mommy and daddy's time they take he will be ready for these babies to go back in mommy's tummy!  Yes, his pants are on inside out today.  He dressed himself and came in so proud we just went with it all day!

Dentist Visit

 We have been very busy this past month with trying to find a house, doctors and getting to know Connecticut. We went as a family to have everyone's teeth checked out. Jackson did great and even let them do the fluoride treatment.  We have finally graduated out of toddler toothpaste and into big kid flavored crest toothpaste!  Yeah, no cavities to report and everything looks good. 

Daddy's turn!

Twins genders revealed....

Today we found out the genders of the babies!!! I had this great idea I got from a friend and thought it would be wonderful.  However due to camera technical difficulties, I don't have a video :(  So here it is one picture at a time!!! We didn't factor in the wind or the setting of the sun which created some shadows.  Oh well!!! The twins are doing great and can't wait to meet them!

Getting ready to reveal the big news!!!

We are halfway there!!! 19 weeks with the twins!

Monica emailed all of our friends and polled them on the sexes of the babies. Here are the results.  She is so creative with the picture.  Thanks Monica!!! Looks like many people think I am going to be surrounded by a house full of boys!! We find out Thursday evening and then will debut the outcome on the blog by Friday!!!!  Hawaii residents may be able to find out earlier with the time change :)  We are officially 20 weeks on Saturday and hope to have a scheduled c-section on Monday, June 18, 2012.  However, I have learned to not count on that!!! It would be perfect though because I am only permitted to go 38 weeks and Mike's last day of school is June 20, 2012. Which means grading and all that fun stuff would be over!!! We will see.  I am feeling great and can feel the babies moving all the time. I am dealing with the diabetes diet and trying not to cheat too often. I am a lot slower moving than before and feel like the waddle will be coming soon as well as it is getting harder to tie my shoes. Other than that, I am very thankful I am able to take it easy and rest so the babies can grow and stay healthy!!!

Time to play in the snow!!!

 Jackson is already to go play in the snow. We ended up waking him up at 10 pm when we saw it was a wet snow ready for snowman making. We figured it would all be melted by morning and we were right. 

 It is amazing to see kids pick up things from books. Jackson just got down on the ground and started making snow angels.  We never even knew he knew what they were. 

 Our first snowman is complete!!!

 We randomly bought a sled the previous day just in case it snowed and was able to try it out immediately!!!

The next morning came and the snow was all melted, poor little snowman fell over. The following weekend it snowed 7 inches but was a light powdery snow, so we were very glad Jackson was able to make his snowman the previous week!!! Since then it has been a warm winter here in Connecticut and we are enjoying it because this little Hawaii boy does not like to wear a puffy heavy winter coat!

Minivan purchase

After two weeks of car shopping, we finally decided on a 2010 Toyota Odyssey for the growing family. I love driving it, it is roomy and easy to get Jackson in and out of the car. This picture was taken at 15 weeks pregnant with the twins. I can't believe how fast they are growing. 

Merry Christmas

 Jackson and Daddy getting ready to come downstairs.  Jackson was so excited to see Santa came!

 He ate all my cookies and left one for Jackson

 However, Jackson was not interested in any of the presents that Santa brought today!  He was interested in a present from Christmas Eve.  We have told him we would put it together on Christmas Day and that was the first thing he said when he woke up.  Can we play with choo choos.

 Daddy and Jackson putting together Thomas land for the choo choos.

 Skylar loves her new table and chairs from Santa.

 We finally were ready to open presents 2 hours later!

Opening presents with Pappy and Nana, thanks for a wonderful Christmas!  We love you!!

Unfortunately that is all the pics I have for Christmas.  Mike ended up getting the stomach bug after Jackson and him put together Thomas land!  He was in bed all day, it was so sad but at least we were together as a family. 

Cookies for Santa!

 Christmas Eve Jackson made sure we didn't forget to put out cookies and milk for Santa!

 Santa ate all the cookies but left the choo choo train cookie for Jackson!

Santa brought a whole chimney full of presents!  

Christmas Eve at my Dads!

 Jackson and Skylar looking at the train, they looked at this for at least 30 minutes!  

 After a fabulous dinner we opened presents galore!!! Now that we don't have to worry about shipping or packing a suitcase with presents. We were definitely spoiled!!!! 

Dad and Christine, we loved everything!!!! 

 Tyler, Stacy and Skylar enjoying all of their loot!

 Pappy and Jackson

 Pappy and his grandkids, where are we going to put the twins next Christmas :)

Pappy Coover, Grandma Christine and the grandkids.  

Thanks for an awesome Christmas!  We love you!