They're TWO!

Samuel Alexander. He has the sweetest heart ever. If Sam hugs one person, he always goes around and hugs everyone else in the room too. He's a mommy's boy and always wants to be near me. He sits on the couch and pats the seat next to him for me to come and sit there. One time in the church nursery, the worker told us that Sophie was crying and Sam just brought her her bunny and that made it all better. Sam is also such an excited little boy. He loves to jump and often he'll just be walking with me, holding my hand and jumping up and down! When he knows were going somewhere and I ask them if they're ready to go, he'll shout, “YAAAAAA Sophie-Juju!” He loves making us laugh and will continue anything he might be doing if it brings a laugh.

Sam is a great eater - not really picky at all. Waffles (wa-wafs), bananas, and juice are among his favorite treats. He loves helping me cook in the kitchen and really likes to please. His favorite show is Jack's Big Music Show. His favorite song is “Baby Mine” and it always calms him down. Trains (choo choos) are his favorite thing, whether they are in a book or in his hands. He's getting good at saying his ABCs and enjoys counting, though everything is two. He's putting words together and learning new ones every day!

Julia Brooke. Our soft spoken little girl. Once I was concerned that she might not be talking as much as the others, but when I started really trying to notice, I found that she was just quieter. Like her mommy! She is a sweet soul and loves cuddling. She requires less sleep than the S's so she always wakes up early from her nap. Lucky Mommy gets some one-on-one time with her! Julia can be really silly too and is happy when she makes you laugh too. She sings sometimes through out the day and it's the sweetest sound. Whenever she's on the balance beam at gymnastics, she sings, “la la la la la.”

Jules loves playing with older girls and will cling to them in a playgroup. She loves being chased and will just crack up! Her favorite thing on TV is the monkeys that come on before Little Einsteins. Too bad their bit is so short! Her favorite foods are bananas, anything sweet, and crackers. She loves the song “Bop Bop Dinosaur” by Mr. Stinky Feet and is such a good little dancer. She loves the ABCs and says so many words! She loves playing with baby dolls and I'll often find her scrunched into the little doll cradle, tucking them in.

Sophia Cayden. Our loud little bit! Always a spit-fire and the center of attention. She's our silly sweet spirited child! Triple threat! Not very snuggly during the day, but if she wakes up when Shane and I do our nightly baby sneak, she pops up for a snuggle and a kiss. Sophie loves jumping, spinning, and dancing. She's a good little gymnast and is sure to win the gold someday. She's just a natural at hanging from the bars and forward rolls. She plays very well on her own. If she were an only child, she would be so easy!

Sophie will charm the socks off of anyone and play with anyone in a play group. Her favorite toys are her Money (the bunny) and Peanut (the elephant). She also really likes her Little People animals. Favorite foods include waffles (faffles), cheese, and pasta. She's on a veggie strike right now. She loves “Bop Bop Dinosaur” too and dances to anything. She talks. A lot! She will repeat everything and often just go around naming things or doing a roll call of people she knows. She's put as many as three words together and is just amazing us everyday with things she says in her sweet little voice!

A typical day for us is busy. We have activities of some sort nearly every morning, and many afternoons too. The kids wake up around 8. Shane gets them up, changed, and dressed while I make breakfast. They play while I get ready and then we go where ever. They're always very excited to go bye-bye. We're usually home by 12 and have lunch, but sometimes we eat out too. Then 1pm is nap time, though lately I've tried keeping them up just a little longer in hopes that they (JULIA) will sleep longer. By 3, Jules is up and we snuggle on the couch. Sometimes Sam and Sophia sleep till 4:45, but more often Sam is up by 4. Then we play. We might walk to the park or play out back. Daddy gets home around 5:30 so he plays while I get dinner ready and we eat by 6:30. The kids get their pants, socks and shoes off by themselves and get help getting their shirts off. Then it's off to bath time. I bathe them and Shane dries them and tucks them into bed by 7:30 or so. I love our routine but I especially love that they're at the age where we can be flexible. If we happen to be out till 2pm, no big deal! If they don't get to bed until 8, oh well! They do great!

I'm looking forward to the Twos, though one day a few weeks ago I was sure they had gotten the memo to turn two a little early. They were psychotic! Luckily it only lasted that one day. Our biggest challenges right now is the testing. Sam will look right at me and do something he's not supposed to do. They hit, throw, fight, bite, pinch, pull hair.... We're trying to be consistent with discipline, but we're also working out what works best for each individual child. I came to terms that it really is ok to discipline each of them differently. I was concerned that it might not be good for them if Julia gets a time-out in a crib while Sophie gets a physically restrained time-out, while Sam just gets a stern look. But we have to do what works for each of them. I'm thrilled to say that for the most part, they are very well behaved kids. They certainly have their moments but I can count on them being good most days.

I'm excited to see them grow, learn new things, and become more independent. It's bittersweet too – we were cleaning out the basement the other day and found some pieces to one of our pack n plays. It made me sad that we don't need those baby things anymore! A few months ago a visited my friend and her newborn triplet girls in the same NICU that we were in two years ago. Oh did it bring back memories! The walk down the hall, the smell, the purple walls.... It seems like forever ago and just yesterday at the same time. Hello to the nurses and friends who helped us out way back when, and thank you for helping our babies grow into the healthy and active toddlers that they are today! And thank you Lord, for granting us the wisdom and patience to handle this life of ours. We are SO blessed!

Happy Birthday Sam, Jules, and Sophie!

Pictures to come - I promise :)