Dear Pregnant Self...

This week's Question of the Week over at Multiples...and More is: If you could go back in time (think: Marty McFly) and have a chat with your pregnant self, what would you say?

I just love this question...so here goes:

Dear Pregnant Self;

So, you're pregnant. With twins. Are you done freaking out yet? No? Well, don't worry. It'll soon sink in that you really are pregnant with twins and you can get on with the business of getting ready for their arrival. You want some advice from a mom who's "been there, done that"? Yeah? OK, here goes:

In a few weeks you're going to find out that you're having 2 boys. Yes, you heard me. 2 boys. No, not the 2 girls you think you want. 2 boys. And you know what...it's amazing raising boys. You just wait. Once you have them, you will pretty much totally forget that you ever THOUGHT you wanted girls. Really. I promise. So get started on those boys names.

Has the insomnia started yet? No? Well, it soon will. And once those boys arrive, you won't be getting much sleep either. So go to http://www.amazon.com/ right now and buy "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" right now. When it arrives, read it cover to cover. BEFORE the babies arrive. You hear me...BEFORE. You will not have time after they arrive. And if you did manage to find the time, you'll need to nap, not read.

Take belly pictures. Weekly. Start now. I really regret having so few pregnant photos.

Enjoy this time. These are the last few months of being "just the 2 of you". Enjoy it. Take a trip. I really wish we had taken one last vacation "just the 2 of us".

Know that no matter what happens, it's all going to be OK. It's going to be a bit of a rough ride. But you're going to get through it. You will get to the other side. Believe me. You will make it.

Love,

Me

Just exceptional

I recently started reading Renee's blog over at Massager Mommy. Her son Zachary has CP and is just the cutest little thing ever. Her family is doing something pretty amazing. Basically, they (and some other awesome people) have created a website called Exceptional TV where they are going to share stories of families with kids with special needs. The website is now up and running and they have started production. There are some video clips there now for your viewing pleasure but the real stuff starts in May. You really need to check this out. Really.

Get out the Kleenex box

I stumbled across a new blog this weekend...well, the blog isn't new but it's new to me. And I'm hooked. Absolutely hooked. It's by a woman named Kelle. She's a photographer, a wife and a mommy...to Lainey and now Nella. Nella has Down Syndrome. And her parents didn't know until she was born. This is Nella's birth story. Get out a box of kleenex because you'll need it. You'll cry...but you'll be uplifted too.

Don't worry...you've got the right blog

So I decided to change up my blog layout. The last one was fine but a bit boring. I'd love to do something more original but I decided that free and easy was...well...free and easy. So this is what I came up with.

I'd prefer to have a pic of both Ben and Daniel as part of the Header but couldn't find a recent one that I was happy with so instead went with this great new pic of Ben in his walker. I really want to get a pic of the two of them together...both standing up with Ben in his walker. Once I get one, then that will go in the Header space.

I also added a "The Scoop on Us" section in the top right corner to help those of you that have just come across this blog and want some background but maybe don't want to read the whole blog to find out who we are. So this should help.

I'm also going to try and blog a bit more often (I've been doing great so far this month!). This blog community is SO IMPORTANT to me and my sanity that I've decided to do more blogging in the the hopes of getting to know you all better. I figure the more I put out there, the more I'll get back. I'm really amazed by those of you who have managed to turn blogger friends into real life friends and I'm hoping by putting myself out there more then I might just be able to do that myself.

So, what do you think? You like the new look?

Our Day in Photos - A walk at the mall

Some Sunday mornings, we take the boys to the mall for a walk. The shops themselves don't open until noon but the doors are open starting at 9am for those that want to walk. Usually that's mostly elderly people, but there are some families there with small children...mostly just letting their kids burn off steam in the middle of winter.

Plus, it's a great opportunity to let Ben use his walker! Check out how happy he is to get going.

















Since Daniel doesn't have a walker (he'd love to have one though), he pushes the stroller around (we need somewhere to store the diaper bag and coats, mitts, hats, etc. Here he is looking for the bikes at Toys R Us. Sadly, no bikes were out this week.









Ben loved the letters in this "GARAGE" sign. He kept yelling "A for Alligator". We've been working on the alphabet lately and they are both doing awesome. I'd guess they each know about half the alphabet. We've attached words of meaning to each letter so they love learning them (and finding them when we're out). For example: D is for Daniel, B is for Ben, M is for Mommy, L is for Lucy (their cousin), S is for soother (they LOVE their pacifiers or soothers as we call them), Z is for zebra...and their favourite: W is for Walrus!!!


Daniel has to check everything out. Like this hinge on this door...apparently it's quite fascinating.












He also loves to 'hide' in small spaces. He loved this little nook in the wall. Unfortunately Ben couldn't fit in his walker.

















After our walk, it's time for a snack. So we head to the foodcourt. Daniel loves to get the highchairs. We take off the tray tables and pull them right up to the table with us. They had carrot muffins, goldfish crackers and water.









After Daddy got his coffee from Tim Horton's (it opens at 10am - woohoo!), he joined us at the table. Ben was happy to see him.











In this photo, you can see Ben playing Peek-a-boo from behind his cup. Don't you love that smile?











Another great smile, this time from Daniel. I had to force the camera onto my husband for this one...otherwise there would be NO pictures of me EVER.










This is just the boys being silly together. Daniel was trying to kiss Ben but Ben wanted none of it. I love how they interact together.

All in all, it was a great morning (except for the meltdown when Ben couldn't "push the stroller" like Daniel). Then it was time to go home.

More Bilodeau's

I stumbled across this article / blog entry today about Frederic Bilodeau and wanted to share it with all of you. It gives me goosebumps...

Frederic Bilodeau

Biting off more than I can chew

I may be completely crazy. In the past month, I have taken on not ONE, but TWO part-time jobs. I could have had THREE, but I had enough sense to turn at least ONE job down.

So what are these jobs you ask? Well, let me tell you.

First, I've finally gone back to work part-time. I guess it's not technically "back to work" since I've never worked there before. But I have gone back to doing accounting. My Dad, my husband and I are all Chartered Accountants. My Dad has his own accounting practice and my husband is in the process of taking over this practice so my dad can retire. I've agreed to work there part-time (about 15 hours per week) during tax season. So from now til the end of April.

Second, I'm taking on something completely new and out of my comfort zone. I'm currently in the middle of training to be a Weight Watchers Leader! I am SO EXCITED about this. I can't wait to make a difference in people's lives. I lost 40 lbs last year and have maintained this loss for 6 months now and I FEEL AMAZING! It has made a huge difference in my life as well as those around me. And I want every other overweight person to feel this amazing. I can't wait to get started.

So life is pretty great right now. I have lots of variety each week between my two part-time (paying) jobs and my two full-time (non-paying jobs)...named Ben and Daniel. I am very blessed in that I have a great nanny to help care for the boys. She works for us full-time (40 hours per week; she doesn't live with us). I get to be ME some of the time and be MOMMY some of the time. I can still take Ben to his PT sessions and take the boys to playdates, etc.

I am one very lucky lady. I just hope I can handle it all.