Life right now for me-- let's just say I spend my day feeding, feeding, feeding. I feel pretty darn good with what I'm contributing to my wee ones' existence, but what about the running, jumping, little people that actually need their brains exercised?

Voila! Behold, the recycled plastic jar of endless summer enchantment.

Everyone in the family, (those talking, at least) contributed ideas to the jar to be picked from daily, or when necessary.

Highlights from the jar:

• Set up a grocery store
• Have a concert in the backyard
• Embroider
• Make a movie
• Act out Toy Story, costumes optional
• Make a sketchbook
• Build a fort
• Family drawing time
• Make up stories on the felt board
• Plan a campout in the backyard
• Write a thank you to someone
• Play doctor
• Do show makeup for a show
• Make a hacky sack
• Make art only using nature
• Play hair salon
• SWIM!
  
• Sew something
• Bake something
• Draw and label a U.S. map
• Make stationary
• Practice reading
• Make something for a friend
• Make a collage from magazine clippings
• Play leap frog
• Start a band
• Have a scavenger hunt
• Write your name
• Read in the grass
• "Paint" with water outside
• Have a tea party
• Play dress up
• Learn about a country
• Go for a walk
• Do finger paints
• Take pictures and use to tell a story
  

Needless to say, we'll be busy this summer--when we're not helping the twins put on the pounds.

Ahhhh... our first outing ever, all six of us. It was quick, complicated, but we can now say we've done it. It took more time getting everyone out of the car, big kids into strollers and miniature people into slings then the brisk walk at the outdoor Army Heritage Museum. Like Bobby said, "We won't try that again until the twins are 6 months old!"

Don't worry, he's kidding.

Little Annabelle enjoying the hot weather, snuggled close to Mommy in her sling.

This photo is worth a thousand words to me.

My girls alive (despite the odds), thriving, at home, together in a crib, and of course, of their own accord, facing each other. Welcome home, girls.

The girls conspiring against the bedtime routine.


What would we do without the Swaddlers.


Johanna's got the rules down: you can touch the hair, not the face. She's cool with that.


Annabelle home at last.

Ainsleigh has been home for 24 hours now. Hopefully Annabelle will join us tomorrow. Exciting and challenging times, we're figuring out on the home front.

Preemies are a totally different ballgame from what we're used to. I'm trying to get used to the different set of rules that follow a NICU baby. Hand sanitizer has become a familiar phrase to our older girls: they know that can't even think about touching before "scrubbing up."

So tonight is slowly going by as we anticipate tomorrow with joy and a little nervousness. What better timing for our anniversary and my birthday weekend. For all of you readers, let me just say, enjoy your nights of sleep this week!

Annabelle

Ainsleigh


Tension is rising: these babes are so close to being ours and yet a long week and weekend await until everyone is home from the hospital.

Update: the girls' cribs were put side by side today. That doesn't mean anything, progression wise, but a lot to a Mommy who gets to see her girls together, in theory.

Also, this is day two of Annabelle taking priority of "Mommy's milk" due to her possible allergy to the fortifying formula. That means poor Ainsleigh is stuck with 100% formula (which she doesn't particularly care for) unless her sister leaves some for her. Awww.... the pain! Yes, it has taken a while for me to just get over the injustice to innocent Ainsleigh. That means Bobby can count on more milk runs to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning.

Mother's Day was bitter sweet: exciting to be at church and edified, hard to give up visiting the twins in its' stead. Wearing the corsage that represented my four girls with roses was saddening not having them all together.

But...
When I came into the NICU Monday morning, I was completely surprised to see my Ainsleigh in a crib! The huge milestone in the NICU! That meant no more feeding tube, and possibly 48 hours to prove she could gain weight and manage her temperature.

Fifteen minutes later her sister also was transitioned to a crib.

Now we're waiting for little Annabelle's recent hurdle--possibly an allergic reaction to the formula. The latest is that Ainsleigh could come home this Friday and Annabelle, hopefully early next week.

Talk about race to get our house in order and baby-ready. We went from expecting them home in two weeks to two more days from now. You can do it, Ainsleigh and Annabelle!

My dad put together a very short little video from our most recent hospital visit. Don't blink, or you'll miss it!

Isn't this the coolest diaper cake you've ever seen! My friends Eriko and Christine thoughtfully planned a craft day/ baby celebration for me a week ago that I missed being in the hospital recovering.

I absolutely love these button flowers that Eriko makes. And she designed the cake with the twins' eventual bedroom color scheme. The colors simply make me smile. This cake will be waiting on the girls' dresser when they come home. Thanks everyone who contributed!

And now on to the other things that make me smile.

These little muffins are gaining weight so well! I can now tell a difference in their faces-- they are starting to fill out.


Like Bobby always says sarcastically, "They look nothing alike!"