There was one missing

                          I bought six new stockings online this year.  I only needed four, but I figured I'd put the other two away (just in case).  Stockings can be expensive, and I really liked these ones.  We don't have a fireplace or a mantle so I had to find a spot to hang them.  I tried hanging them on the new dining room wall...on the kitchen wall..on the living room wall..but I couldn't find the perfect spot.  They just didn't look right anywhere I hung them.

                           Mikey and I decided we weren't going to exchange gifts this year.  But..he didn't say anything about gifts from the twins! So, I started working on a little something with Eli & Ezra for Daddy.  I had Mikey stamp his hand prints in white paint on a black piece of paper.  I later stamped a hand of each of the boys on top of his in their colors...green & blue.  I put it in a frame and began to write something on the frame, but, I hesitated. "Daddy & his Boys" is what I was going to write.  It just didn't seem right.  Of course they are his boys, but not "all" of of his boys.  There was a hand print that just couldn't be stamped on that paper.  I wrote (Eli ~ Daddy ~ Ezra..2013) wrapped it and put it under the tree.

                          I pulled into the driveway, it was snowing.  I had the Holiday Station on XM.  The Christmas version of Canon in D came on.  The twins were asleep in the back..I knew this because I could see their sweet little sleeping faces through the mirrors.  They were perfect, all snuggled up with their crocheted Santa hats on that Nana had made them.  I began to think of our wedding day.  I walked down the isle to Canon in D.  It was something I had dreamed of for a long time.  What a beautiful day our wedding was.  It was a simpler time.  A time I thought I knew what pain was..a time I had dreams, dreams of a family and how happy we would be.  I had no idea then what the future had in store for us.  The little children singing on the radio sounded like angels.  They sang of Christmas Magic. I couldn't wait to see that special magic in my children's eyes.  Of course the twins were only 6 months old. They didn't even look at Santa when I took them to get their picture taken with him a couple weeks ago.  Each on Santa's knees..of course Eli on the left and Ezra on the right.  I looked up at the mirror to make sure the twins were still sleeping...I wonder if the neighbors will think it strange that I'm sitting here in the driveway. I could barely see them! The mirror almost seemed distorted.  I blinked my eyes and tears began to stream down my cheeks.  I am supposed to be happy...aren't I?  This was an exciting time..The twin's 1st Christmas!  It will be great...we will make it great.  They will have that Christmas magic!!  Ezra woke up and started to cry.  The song was over.  I wiped my face and turned off the car.

                                I had my Mom embroider the stockings.  I figured that was the problem.  They just didn't look right because there were no names on them.  I finally hung them in the front hallway on the wall ledge. (Dad    Mom    Eli    Ezra)  I moved them multiple times trying to space them out evenly.  I thought about going to get Mikey's measuring tape.  That's what he would do.  He would measure and place them perfectly.  No matter how many times I moved them, they never seemed right.   And then it hit me.  I stared at the space between my stocking and Eli's.  I stared at that space like it were haunted.  A huge gaping space that really was no bigger than five inches.  I counted from left to right over and over again.  1 2 3 4...1 2 3 4...1 2 3 4.  As if I had some issue with the number.  I stared at that space again.  And I told myself those stockings would never look right to ME no matter where I put them...no matter how evenly I placed them.  Because after all, there was one missing.  Aidan's.

Things I've made in my spare time..or lack there of!!

So..just because I am a Mommy of twins doesn't mean my life has been taken over by two little munchkins...Oh wait!...Yes it does! Haha! Creature Creature Double Feature is what I call it! I have somehow found time to work on some projects, whether it has been during a 15 min nap or during a feeding.  Have you ever tried to hand stitch a onesie while tandem breastfeeding? I have!! I've also painted. Using the sewing machine was only during naps..but would always wake my little creatures up. So..you could say I have multiple projects going on at the same time all over my house. Let's start with the Turkey Onesies! I made these months ago, knowing I would be so busy as we got close to Thanksgiving. I picked up some plain long sleeve onesies to start. I used some scrap fabric I had in my fabric stash.

I cut out a turkey body out of the brown and then some feathers out of different patterns.  I used an iron on bonding paper to tack the pieces on the onesie. It looks strange here..but don't worry, it gets cuter.

After both onesies were ironed, I started to hand stitch with a embroidery thread around the body and then each feather.  I could have used the machine, but I love the hand stitched look...and...I couldn't hold the machine up over the boys while I fed them ;)  This took me quite a while as I would stitch at feedings or while they napped in my arms...I know I know..talented right!?! Ha! After all the stitching was done I cut eyes and beaks out of felt. I just used tacky fabric glue for the facial features. Honestly I only plan on having the boys wear these once on Thanksgiving day. I don't know how my dark colored fabric scraps would hold up after a washing and I don't want to test it.

See...they're getting cuter..right? Oh...I almost forgot. I also cut out some red fabric for that little dangle thingy under the turkey's beak. Because "dangle thingy" is the proper term for it!  I stitched in some little legs too. Can you tell I made the turkeys so they were facing and looking at each other?! Hmmm?? Hmmm? Hehehe! But wait...it get's cuter!

                                                                         I told you!
Who better to model my turkey onesies than my little "Pumpkin Pie" and my little "Butterball"!!
And they are modeling them while lying on Eli's "Magic Blankie", which brings me to the next project.

Magic Blankie all started when Eli fell in love with my Care Bear Rainbow Blanket I bought special to bring to the hospital when I delivered my "Rainbow" Twins. He would snuggle with it and stop crying instantly...and he cried non stop for 3 months..so..that blankie really was "Magic"!  The blanket was a little big and started to pill a little more after each washing.  I decided to make my own Magic Blankie for each of the boys. Of course it had to be made out of the softest, cuddliest fleece I could find. We love owls at our house and Ezra really digs polka dots..so it was simple!

Owl print on one side and brown and white polka dots on the other!  While at the cutting counter at Joanns a woman looked at my pile of fabric then at the twins in the stroller than back at me.."When do you have time to sew?" she asked. I giggled and said "I don't know".   I had to hand stitch their initial on the corner so I would know who's was who's. Ya..both my boys have matching initials..so.. E for Eli and Ez for Ezra. Done! They love them!

It's starting to get pretty chilly and my little creatures need to stay warm when we are out and about. Since snowsuits and bulky coats are not safe to wear in the car seat I decided to make a car seat blanket that I came across on Pinterest.  It has open slits in the back for the buckles to go through, so the boys can be swaddled after they are safely buckled.  Here it is in the car seat.

And of course the cuter picture that you really want to see...........

Snug as a bug!!  or 2!  I made a hood on the top of each blanket to keep them extra warm.  I have to say they look pretty adorable all swaddled in there!  Two sets of eyes peeking at me through the owl fabric...yes..we used owl flannel.  Whooooo can resist!! Hahahaa! Ok..enough with the owls. I also bought more flannel in green polka dots for Eli and blue polka dots for Ezra..(of course)..to make them each another one.

My sister in law and I decided to paint some pottery for our 3 boys for their 1st Thanksgiving and 1st Christmas.  I think we will try to make something for each 1st holiday.  Here is what I made for the twins...

I'm still working on their Candy Cane Initial Onesies. Hopefully I will get them done soon..until then! Happy Thanksgiving week!! Smooches!!
                                       ~VB

Eli & Ezra's 1st Boo!!

Halloween has come and gone and Thanksgiving is on it's way. And I'm not going to lie..Christmas magic is swirling through my head! Shhhh...don't tell Mikey! Hehehe! Before I get into Thanksgiving, let's have a look at the twins' 1st Boo!

Mario & Luigi

Princess Peach and her boys!

 

Mommy & Mario (aka Ezra)

The boys 1st Halloween was fun and I'm already coming up with ideas for next years costumes, and maybe some for the year after that as well! Ha!  I've been working on some projects for the boys in my "free time"...like I have any! Stay tuned for Turkey Onesies, Magic Blankies, Carseat Blankets, Taggies and more!!

A Butterfly's New Journey........

Wow! It's been quite a while since I've posted!  I guess you could say I've been pretty busy..like "double" busy. Haha! Pun completely intended.  And here is what I've been putting every ounce of my time into..........

My twin boys!!  They arrived on June 11th. Eli at 6:33 am weighing in at 6 lbs 6 oz.  Ezra at 9:11 am weighing in at 7 lbs 3 oz.  Both were exactly 19 1/4 inches long.  The doctors and nurses said it was the most emotional delivery they had ever seen.  And I thought they were two of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. There were tears in one of the nurses eyes as I asked her repeatedly if Eli was okay, while we waited on Ezra to make his appearance.  The room was so quiet during the almost three hours of waiting.  I know some of the team in the room had known about Aidan, and I'm sure by the end of the delivery, both teams were filled in after wondering why I was so concerned if the twins were breathing.  I can't really explain in words the feelings that were swirling through that room as they placed Twin A..." Eli" on my chest. So you can just see for yourself.......

The first week home was tough..but Mikey was amazing.  He helped every step of the way.

Eli Aidan

Ezra Aidan

It's been a whirlwind of a three months!  I'm not sure how frequently  I will be able to post, but I'll try to keep up.  I hope you're ready for this Butterfly's New Journey...And then we had twins!

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

A Shower for my Rainbows

My Mother threw me a shower at the Stevens Estate.  It was a vintage theme with burlap and buttons.

Me & my Mom

27 weeks and already so big!!

1 Boy-2 Boys-1 Girl

                                                     All cousins due to arrive this Summer!

One of my favorites! 

Me & my Nuna