Twin Tuesday

Liam and James

I've wanted to add more pictures of the twins here on my blog and Tuesdays seem like a good day for this. They boys are growing and changing so quickly that I need to capture them a little better. I don't think that I will always photograph them together. Sometimes, even I forget that they're not a set, but unique individuals who happen to look alike. Here they are on Christmas Day looking like the identical twins that they are.

The Great Room Shuffle Debate

I've planned a super big, possibly overwhelming, and challenging summer undertaking despite my need for hiatus and renewal, but I think that this change might actually facilitate some good transitions for us all.

Here's the thing: I have 5 kids, 3 bedrooms (on 3 different floors) for said 5 kids, and out of those 5 only 1 girl!! I've been thinking that it's time for a room shuffle for a long time. When the twins first arrived, I knew that I would be losing my guest/sewing room. After the twins moved from their co-sleeper in my room to the guest room in the basement, I just let things be. They slept magnificently in their basement room until recently when they decided to climb out of their cribs. Despite frequent after-midnight trips to the basement bedroom (two flights of stairs), Paul and I continued to let things be. We didn't want to disrupt Luke and Sam and their shared bedroom right across the hall from us. They've shared a bedroom since we moved into this house in 2006 and I just didn't want to break that up until now.

After removing everything (and I mean everything) from the twins' basement room for safety, I realized that their room was going to waste. We recently removed the toddler beds because they kept taking the mattresses off and moving the bed frames around the room. Yup. They do things that my other kids would never dreamed of doing.

As Luke gets older, I decided it might be time for him to have his own room in the basement although my heart breaks a little about it since I think this will impact Sam deeply. I suggested to Paul that we move Luke to the basement, move the twins to Tess's room on the main floor, and move Tess upstairs into Luke's old spot. Tess would now become Sam's roommate. It's a massive change. (Didn't I say change was coming?) I'm still not satisfied with this plan either. Sam said he'd rather have the twins in his room than his sister. I kind of agree with this sentiment. (Currently, Sam and Luke have the biggest room.) It can easily fit 3 kids, but frankly, I don't trust the twins and their crazy whims. I can't remove everything from Sam's room to ensure their safety either. Honestly, I don't think that I will be able to make these changes and have them be optimal. I'm just trying to work with my parameters. I realized that Sam and the twins are the same age spread as Sam and Luke. Luke is five years older than Sam and there's been some growing pains among those two for some time now. I guess it'll never be perfect, but as I feel that change is in order, I'll proceed with the plan.

This plan involves a lot of painting,  packing, and moving furniture. It won't be easy, but it's time for some transition in this house. It just might be the thing to kick start some renewal for everyone in this house.

Suggestions and ideas are welcome.

Portraits of the twins

James

Liam

My friend Leah, aspiring photographer, recently accepted the challenge of  photographing the twins. They posed quite the challenge while not posing for her at all. Yet, she captured them in all their cuteness. Thanks, Leah!

Twins in a Canoe

James and Liam in a canoe

November Knitting

Amazingly, I've finished three knitting projects this week, but I didn't get a post ready in time for this week's Yarn Along. I'm finding less and less time to blog these days. Life is very full.

 I realized that I have at least three different knitting bags filled with various projects in various stages of near completion. I had at least two projects that had been hibernating since last year. I finally decided to get serious and finish Sammy's sweater and a Christmas stocking. Although I knit the body of the sweater longer anticipating that Sam would grow a lot and knowing that I'd probably take forever to knit the sleeves, (I don't like knitting sleeves) the sweater fits perfectly right now. I mean, this sounds all well and good, but it really means that I waited too long and he grew too much and he won't get to wear his sweater very long. Okay. Lesson learned. Kids keep growing. Don't let projects for your children hibernate so long!

I knit this little hat this week. This is the Pippa Toque and it's a free pattern on Ravelry. This was a fun and very quick knit. I surprised myself by knittting this hat in less than a week. I'm really enjoying color work right now and I have several Fair Isle hats on my favorites list on Ravelry right now. Color work is like painting with yarn.

Has all this knitting this week made the three knitting bags smaller? No There are still three knitting totes. I don't know how this possible. No matter how much I knit, the bags of yarn always seem remain full. I suppose this is a good problem to have.

18 Months!

Liam and James

My little guys are a year and a half today. James officially started walking on February 20th (and I wasn't there to see it) and Liam is still crawling. Developmentally, Liam usually follows James by about two weeks. So naturally, I expected to see Liam walking two weeks after James. He didn't. The other day Liam stood, balanced himself, and took seven tentative steps. He's so close, but yet, I savor these crawling days because I know  they're numbered. I'm also realist. I know what will happen when both boys are walking. They'll be heading in different directions all the time and there's only one me! It's not going to get easier with them being so mobile.

Today, I dressed the boys alike because I knew I wanted to photograph them at 18 months. Several times today I actually got them mixed up (something rare), but then James would walk and I'd know. Our time with the twins has gone so quickly. I'm not sure how that happened because this whole twin adventure hasn't been easy. It still isn't easy. I struggle every day hoping that I can meet all of my children's needs and I feel like a failure every day.  As a family, We've definitely experienced some growing pains, but I know that life is much richer with these beautiful little boys in our lives.

Look at that double sweetness! It's hard to resist!

Almost Tangled

I've been knitting Easter Eggs (using worsted weight) all day. I left my yarn on the coffee table for only a few minutes, but seriously, how could he resist all that colorful yarn? I'll share my handknit Easter eggs a little later. I'm hoping to knit a dozen by Easter. I've only knit five so far.

Something Fishy

No. I didn't knit these hats. My Aunt Rosie knit these fun hats for the twins, but James discovered that he can he remove hats making it difficult to get a good picture. I think the orange suits them very well.

Happy 1st Birthday Liam and James!

              I can't believe it's been a year already! Happy birthday little loves!

Candy Corn Hats #1 and #2

                                                        James and Liam

Candy Corn Hat #1

Here's Candy Corn Hat #1 modeled by James.  I started this a couple of days ago. Someone at my local knit shop recommended stuffing the top with tissue paper so the hat will keep its shape. I think that's a great idea! James seems delighted with his new hat. He didn't even try to take it off. I'll start Candy Corn Hat #2 today and then I'll get a photo of both boys together. I may even make a Candy Corn Hat #3 for my hubby for Halloween. He usually won't wear any type of costume, but he said he would wear a hat. Maybe I'll make one for me too. Have a great Autumn weekend friends!

11 Months already!

Look at those teeth! Look at those curls! Look at those smiles! They're so cute. You would hardly believe that those cute faces don't let me sleep much at night.

The twins are 10 months today!

Liam gets the block for a minute, but ultimately, James wins.

9 months of double cuteness!

I took this picture with my phone today.  I really wanted to get a picture on the blog today since the twins are 9 months today (also my  15th wedding anniversary!).  Although I know that James is on the left and Liam on the right, this is one of the first pictures where I thought I could easily mix them up! They are looking more and more alike lately. I discovered that James has two little teeth on the bottom, but none for Liam (yet). Although I wouldn't call it crawling, James is also mobile.  I'm not really sure how he moves around the room. It must be his stealth powers! Liam likes to stay in one place right now. They are so different, but both are equally happy.

Trying to capture all 5...

isn't easy.

Sweet Potatoes for Sweet baby James

When the twins reached 6 months, I was going to give them their first solid food- avocado.  For first foods around here (except Luke- His first food was banana) I mash up a little avocado with some breast milk and offer them their first bite of food.  Well, 6 months stretched into 7 months and today, even though I had the avocado, I opted to steam some sweet potatoes, add some butter and puree it all. Since Liam was still napping and James had woken earlier, I decided that the younger twin would get his first bites first.  You snooze. You lose.

I think he loved it. He didn't do that tongue thrust thing and he looked liked he liked the new food. He managed several small bites. We're on our way to new culinary adventures with the twins.  So, when Liam is up, he'll get his first tastes too.  Pictures of Liam to follow!

Twin Update



Liam- I trimmed those fingernails after I discovered those twin scratches on his face.




James laughing




I've neglected my poor blog for so long that I didn't even post a pic
of the boys at 7 months.  Here's Luke with twins on May 13th.  7 Months!



James and Liam-  I don't know why, but I just love that serious expression on Liam's face.  At their 6 month appointment,  James weighed 13 lbs 5 oz and Liam checked in at 11 lbs 12 oz.  They are just growing on their own little schedules.