Back with Bits

First, thank you for all the birthday wishes. The boys love all the attention and say thanks. They had a mellow birthday weekend. One thing we wanted to experience was the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. And we did. On a Saturday. In 90 degree weather.

Maybe not the best laid plan, but it was fun. The aquarium resembled Disneyland with a bazillion strollers (yep, we were also perpetrators)(with a double, mind you). It was hectic but also fascinating.

The space is not too big, easily accessed and will be loads of fun when the boys are a bit older and we go on a Tuesday. My brother is credited with the photos as we had yet another lens malfunction and relied on our little point and shoot for a few snapshots. (Please send replacement vibes, it is in the shop and we are hoping for a new one as this one seems to be cursed).

Somehow the one year mark has held immense significance for me, it seems like things that have been slightly out of alignment have shifted back in place and I have felt whole in many ways. My belief in my skills as a Mama, my confidence in my choices and actions are all feeling good, and though I know that can change in a heartbeat in this strange and lovely land of Parenthood, I feel like I should just enjoy it for now.

I have been setting little and big goals for this year. I have a feeling time will be marked by the day of their arrival for awhile....New Year's can step aside for resolution time. So, I have decided on a few actions. I am returning to yoga, keeping better track of my health via a few new means (for now I am keeping my new blog private as I only need to be accountable to me), and taking better responsibility for house work, cooking etc. I finally feel like I have the energy to take on these actions.

And in crafting news, I have been playing with the new sewing machine a bit. I love the box bag I spotted on other sites and tried my hand at one.

It was fairly simple using this tutorial with a few modifications found here.
It is also a wonderful use of some of the precious fat quarters I have been stashing for awhile. I like how the simple construction highlights fabric choice.

And I am falling in love with the color teal, as evidenced by zipper and yarn choice. The yarn is from an etsy shop, The colorway something like "He saw her across the smoky bar".

I was sold on the name alone, but the yarn itself is lovely and knitting up easily into Veronik's Lace Ribbon Scarf. So I have knit some things for my sewing and now I am sewing some things for my knitting. A vicious cycle, the craft world.

Thirtieth Day :: Happy Birthday Boys!!!

So tired. So here are more than one photo to show Day 30, their day, the day our twins came into our world, our life, our hearts and brought their unique form of joy and zest for life.

In honor of my first post about the boys...

Diapers changed : 4000

Bottles made : 3500

Laundry loads done : 500

Sleepless nights : Uncounted

Getting hugs and kisses, cuddles from sticky faces, baby vomit on every part of our lives, watching people become, receiving unconditional love, thriving not just surviving their first year : Priceless.

Thank you babies for being you. Thank you family for being part of this. Thank you blogging friends for every comment left, every time you read, every bit of support.

We look forward to the next year, all of us.

I think I will take a little break from this as it has been a challenge to post for 30 days in a row. But I will be back, hopefully with more to share in more ways than one.

Oh, and the lens malfunctioned (again). So, ugh. Back to Canon.

30 Days :: Twenty-nine

I have entitled this picture "I got your back". Here's the "No, I got your back". Because as brothers and twins I am anticipating this will come to be. I stitched up these cuties and put them up high, they have sat in wait for their two little boys to come along and give them love. Now tomorrow is the day they get to meet their boys. I think they are very excited.

Here is how I see the initial meet up going ;
Mason : Squeal. (Spaceboy in mouth). (Fingers on French knots). (Run to get Owen's).
Owen : Baa Baa Baa. (This is his new incessant sound). (Ignores Spaceboy). Mom (yep, he calls me Mom, not always but when he gets mad). (Runs after Mace to get his Sapceboy).

But I just know someday they will love on them good.

The joy I found in creating with my boys in mind was so immense. These little Spaceboys are what started my new love of all things sewn. I love them. Not as much as I love them, but I do love them.

Wee Wonderfuls is the place to get your pattern if you have a special little person wishing for a companion to take with them on their journeys afar.

Not even sure what to do about tomorrow's picture.

30 Days :: Twenty-eight

This is Tim in baby jail. Put there to give him time to decipher the cryptic instructions included with all items purchased at Ikea. Not helping was his head cold from which he should have been recuperating. Instead, on his sick day I place my husband in baby jail while I attempt to rearrange the whole baby area. It was a bit chaotic, but he did it. You know why? Because he is the superman of all Daddies.

He is my hero. Every moment of every day, through this walk of parenting, through the lovelies and the breakdowns and the sleeplessness and the juggling and the cuddles and the explosive 2 a.m. poop that almost hit the wall (remember that one, honey?). So, this day is my tribute to the one that walks everyday with me, not just the 30. Love you, MCD.