photos from March

For pictures of the babies in March, click HERE!

jared = 2 cool 4 school

...and by school I mean the Baby Bjorn. I know, they look ridiculous. But, isn't this one of those things where functionality wins over fashion? According to Jared, it is not.

get by with a little help from my friends

Sometimes people ask how I do it, taking care of the twins. I like how one twin mom put it: "I just do." And there is so much truth to that. But I'd also have to give a huge honorable mention to my awesome friends here in the city. I consider it such a blessing that several of my friends just happen to have some extra free time right now-- one friend just quit her job, one is looking for a job, one is in school and taking a light load this semester, one goes into work in the evenings on Wednesdays... It's pretty amazing that in a place where nothing and no one ever stops, people have made time for us.

Thank you, friends! You make this adventure just that much better.

steppin' out with my babies

Last week was the first week of amazing Spring weather, so we were all over the place!

The twins took their first trip to Central Park. We had lunch on a park bench in the Conservatory Garden and then watched the St. Patrick's Day parade roll down 5th Avenue.

We joined lunch bunch, a weekly gathering of moms and kids from church that is outdoors on nice days.

We had our first "alone" outing-- meaning just the 3 of us without any help-- to (drum roll please)... Rite Aid. I was immensely proud of myself.

We went to Gabe's first birthday party at this great playhouse where I'm sure we'll be spending a lot of time next Winter.

The kids were fantastic at all of these places, making me excited that they travel so well.

...And then there was church. Isaac started fussing 10 minutes into church, and I listened to the rest of the first hour through the speakers in the mothers' room. After that I called it quits and went home. Eh, can't win 'em all.

sunday best

Isaac & Bethany at 8 weeks!

7-week photos by Johanna

I hate to spoil the surprise, but I can't contain myself. Johanna and Talmage, Jared's sis and bro-in-law were here for a few days to round up our fabulous 2 months worth of visitors/helpers. Being the amazing woman and photographer that she is, Johanna turned our nursery into a photo studio for portraits of the kids that could be used for baby announcements. So, I should totally not share this and wait til we send out the official announcement, but I just think they are such great pictures that I can't not share immediately.

Here's the link to the photos on Johanna's blog. Be sure to check out Johanna's other great work, too.

Thanks, Joh & Tal for being such fabulous helpers! Come back soon!!

rub a dub dub, we scream in the tub

The twins hate bath time. Haaaaate it. A strong but appropriate word. This photo gives some indication of the decibel level Bethany reached during her first bath.


So, when my friend Andrea showed me this video of the Tummy Tub, I was sold. I mean, just look at all those happy babies, and the twins in the middle! This was the answer to our bathing problems. I did wrestle a bit with the fact that it's basically a $40 bucket, but that wrestling was mostly just for show so that Jared wouldn't think I was being completely unreasonable. Plus, is $40 too much to pay for your children's happiness AND hygiene? Of course not. Divide that by two and it's really a steal.

So we got it.

They still hate bath time, only less now. And it's getting less and less torturous each time. Definitely worth the $40.

baby blessings

Bethany and Isaac received their baby blessings at church on February 7. It was a great day to have the blessings because both sets of grandparents could be there, and it was a special way to celebrate Grandma Lee's birthday! Pictured above are the twins with Grandpa Lee, Jon Horey, Dad, Brendan Smith and Grandpa Dixon.

I admittedly had anxiety over all the unknowns of the day. Will the twins scream through their entire blessings? How will they do on the subway? Can we make it through the hour-plus long Sacrament meeting? Will they pee/poo/puke all over their gorgeous family heirloom outfits? How do I feed them and what goes on in that mother's room anyway? What do we do with all the guests we've invited after the meeting?

Fortunately it all happened without a hitch. The blessings were beautiful, the kids were happy, our friends and family were wonderful. It was a great day.

The twins' first subway ride... headed to church!

With Grandpa & Grandma Lee

With Grandpa & Grandma Dixon

With Mom & Dad, in blessing blankets from great aunt LaNetta