We started celebrating Easter yesterday with our ward. We had an Easter egg hunt (they divided it up into 4 age groups and each group was in a different area so Scarlett had a great time). We played a bunch of games and had Easter crafts. When Scarlett started the Jelly Bean Walk she won the first two rounds!
We then went to the park to fly her puppy kite.
For Easter Sunday we put Scarlett in her new Easter outfit. She was sooooooooo grumpy. I don't think she smiled until we were walking into nursery. "Nursery!!!!"
When we got home she delved right into her egg stash. Turns out she's way more into chocolate than fruity treats: "chalk-it!"
I love Easter. I loved our Easter program and the opportunity it gave us to remember the Savior and His Atoning Sacrifice for us. I am so grateful that He gave his life that we might be free from sin.
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” ( John 11:25).
I had my 30 week ultrasound this past week. My belly is measuring the size of a 38 week singleton belly...well... at least at that moment. The twins roll around a ton and they only measure the height not the width of the belly. Turns out that after 34 weeks they won't stop labor. But starting at 32 weeks I have to get Non-Stress Tests (NST) twice a week. That's when the belly is full size and they don't know how the babies or my body will handle it. Scarlett had a little temper tantrum when I was checking out at the OBGYN. A bunch of nurses came into the hallway to see what was going on. They kept going on and on about how cute she was and how they remember those days. At least they were laughing at her instead of being annoyed! So my phone tries to learn and estimate things I might need. Android's awesome - I love Google! Anyways, I noticed that it had assigned my address as "Home." Great. But I also noticed it has assigned a place for my "Work". Curious, since I don't work outside of the home, I opened it up to see where it thought I worked. It thinks I work at the OBGYN! hahahahaha! Here are the babies. Twin A's nose is all squished in some of her pictures. Twin B kept covering her face with her arm - last time she was hiding behind her leg. Little tease!
I think Jake and I must be car people cause last week we traded in our Durango for our 6th car in the 5 years we've been married:
Buick Lesabre
Mazda Speed3
Jeep Wrangler
Dodge Durango
Ford Fusion
Dodge Grand Caravan
We that's right folks - we are officially minivan owners. I was trying to avoid that fateful day... but with 3 car seats it seemed inevitable.
We went to many used lots and finally found a van with the options we wanted in our price range. We played the good cop/bad cop negotiation technique and it totally worked! We found out that the couple that came into the dealership while we were on our test drive also had come in to put an offer on the van! It was a hot item at the lot.
The salesman we were working with had a bunch of markers for Scarlett to color with. On the way home she was freaking out in the backseat "I'm a mess! A mess" cause her hands had marker on them. haha! Girl after my own heart! She does NOT like dirty hands.
Anyways, we've had it for less than a week and I already love it! I love the backup camera, 2 DVD screens (that can show different movies at the same time), navigation screen, stow 'n go seats, black leather interior, heated seats on first two rows, lots of little compartments, big trunk, doors that open with the keyfob, etc.
Since I've become a SAHM (stay at home mom) I've been trying to find ways to stay connected with the engineering community. One of the ways I've found is to volunteer for EngineerGirl.org. It's a site dedicated to helping young girls and teenagers understand and get excited about engineering. They put on contests and do all sorts of fun things (I'm pretty sure that some schools require the students to come to the site). Anyways, one section of the site is dedicated to profiles of real engineers (see mine here). The girls can ask a general question about engineering and one of the professional engineers will reply back to them. Some of the questions I've answered have even come from college students seeking career advice. It's really fun and hopefully I can help someone with my experiences.
Anyways, a few months ago I received a question on the site from a lady who works for the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame. She said they were doing a new exhibit for Michigan Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and wanted to feature me in the exhibit. How cool! But I replied and told her that I'm not working right now. AND I actually just moved to Michigan. My career was spent in Connecticut (though I did a summer internship here in 2007). After I told her that information I was sure the opportunity was over, but they still wanted to include me!!! I sent her a bunch of pictures and answered many questions. They had a big opening of the exhibit on 3/14 - during my awful stomach bug! I was so sad I missed it. So this past Saturday Jake took me to Lansing to see it in person. The exhibit is open through Feb 2014. So if you're in the Lansing area - you should check it out! ;-)
I was surprised to see that they even used my picture in the FSAE car on another wall!!!
I'm so glad that I have the chance to be home with my girl (soon to be girlS). But sometimes I feel like part of me is "on hold" right now. I'm grateful for little opportunities like this to fulfill that part of me. And hopefully someday my girls will look back and realize that I chose them over my career.
Afterward we decided to check out the Impression 5 Science Center (since we drove all the way to Lansing for the day). Scarlett thought that was way more fun than the Women's Museum... though I'm not sure why...
I'm catching up on lots of blog posts today. I'm behind, because Scarlett and I got the WORST stomach bug I've had in years. Oh man, it really sucked. 5 full days of suck. I popped a bunch of blood blisters in my eye from throwing up so hard. The twins just kept kicking my stomach and making it worse. I even started having contractions from being dehydrated (luckily I was able to chug a bunch of water and they went away). Oh, and I missed celebrating Pi Day. Suck suck suck, suck monkey. Suck.
But we're feeling alive again. So here two really long blog posts to fill in the missing weeks of our lives!
The biggest present Scarlett got this year for her 2nd birthday was Grammy, Grumple, and Aunt Jami coming to visit! We had so much fun hanging out. Plus I enjoyed a relaxing 2 weeks of sleeping in and having my mom take care of me. It was awesome!!! I can't wait til the rest of you can come visit us! ;-)
Here's a little bit about Scarlett at this stage:
Knows shapes numbers and letters. Learning opposites like float/sink, left/right, up/down. Likes to sing the hymns in Sacrament meeting (it's cute and she's really trying to sing the words that we say so I don't stop her. Plus we're in the back and she's not that loud). Is really sweet - when she's not tired. Takes care of me, asks "ok mom?" when I have to rest my belly, fetches me pillows and blankets, has figured out games to play with me while I lie on the couch. Likes to say "cute" when she thinks things are cute. Will even say "cute mom" when I wear a shirt she likes.
Knows all her letters, numbers 1-10, most shapes and colors, and is learning patterns. I attribute most of these skills to WordWorld and Team Umizoomi.
We went to the doctor today. She's met ALL the developmental milestones for a two year old (good job Scarlett!)
Height: 36 in, 93% (Scarlett was squirming and the lady measured from the top of Scarlett's pony tail...sooooo that may not be an accurate number.)
Weight: 26 lb 12 oz, 41%
Head Circumference: 48 cm or 18.75 in, 63%
The other day she was just wearing a diaper after our shower. She grabbed a tissue and put it on her belly. I was trying to figure out what she was doing - then it dawned on me: she had made maternity underwear that went up over her belly! haha! Just like mine!
We were playing with her headbands one morning. She put the green one on me, the pink one on her, then she held the blue one and stared at it for a few seconds. Then she went to the top of the stairs and yelled "blue one, Dad!" I told her he was at work. Later that evening I saw Jake wearing the blue headband! What a great daddy!!!
She's doing this new thing when she thinks where she taps her finger on her lips and says "hmmmm......".
The only disadvantage to having my family in town: lots of cameras! So I have a ton of photos and video to share! Hope you don't get too bored.
We went shopping for a new maternity support belt (since the one I wore with Scarlett is too small). Motherhood Maternity has fake bellies you can try on maternity shirts with. Scarlett thought it was funny to wear!
Scarlett had tons of fun playing with her Aunt Jami. She got lots of treats, Gatorade, and cartoon time. She would walk up the stairs real slow and breathe hard and loud - just like Jami. It was hilarious! She liked to "fly" on Jami's feet. She watched a Spanish show on Jami's phone. She's really into Spanish these days. When she watches Dora I'll hear her yell out "azule" or whatever the show says.
She also used Jami's neck pillow a lot. Then yesterday she saw the Boppy in the twin's room. She exclaimed "big one!!!" and wore the Boppy around her neck.
My mom invented a game where we would take turns drawing something, then we would show it to Scarlett. Based on what Scarlett said the rest of us had to guess what the picture was. Well my mom drew this and Scarlett yelled "Mom!" I think it's a true likeness! :-)
While my mom was here we introduced Scarlett to the whole potty thing. She's sat on the potty before but this was the first time she wore underwear and sat on a potty her size. She's not really into the potty. She's more interested washing her hands (which she does now even after I go potty). So we decided to take a little break for now.
Hangin out on her bday eve.
We had Chinese food one night and Scarlett asked for the chop sticks. We normally don't use them, so I was shocked when she put them in her hand and tried to eat with them. Where did she learn that?
Screaming with Grumple is a favorite!
Grammy and Grumple got this little recliner for Scarlett's bday! She said "wow!"
We had her bday celebration the night before her birthday (cause my family flew home on her birthday). She got lots of great presents. Thanks for everyone who sent her gifts and for those who gave her a bday phone call. She loved the "Happy Birthday" songs over the phone!!!
Jami and I decided to try making this zebra cake (I saw on Pinterest, of course). The only difference is I used cake mix with pudding in it and I just made them like the box said. No variations at all. Then we topped it with Strawberry frosting - a Neapolitan delight!
Singing Happy Birthday
I found a tent and tunnel at BB&B on clearance. Sold!
She loves her new puppies. She makes the little one crawl through her legs while she yells "tunnel!" She also sends him down the slide, cause obviously he would want to slide too!
On her actual bday we went to Chilis for dinner.
Saying goodbye for now
My mom and I went to a Mom2Mom of Multiples sale (second hand flea market type thing). I wasn't able to find a lot of matching girl clothes (seemed like most of the twins were boy/girl) but for $30ish I was able to get a Graco swing and Bumbo to match those we already have!
On morning after my family had left I heard Scarlett talking in her crib. She usually chats for a bit then yells "Mom" when she's ready for me. This time she yelled "I pooed!" "Stinky!" "I pooed!" then a few seconds later she screamed "GRAMMY!" I only wished Grammy was here to take care of that! :-)
For playgroup this week we had a little bday party for Scarlett. We invited a few extra friends to join in on the fun - including a few superheros!
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