We can write our names!

Both girls can now write their names! Emma was a little behind Mady (by a month or so?) and just made me cry when she wrote her name for me. I hope to upload pictures, but wanted to at least get this in writing before I forgot. Mady is our extra studious girl, Emma is our bundle of energy. They can both spell their last name as well and are always asking how to spell things. We're practicing writing all of our letters, but we are of course best at writing the ones in our name.

Our 4 year appt.

We had our four year doctors appointment today and it was WAY out of the norm - the girls were miserable. I'm going to blame it on their colds and that fact that I didn't lie to them about needing a flu S-H-O-T today. Emma would not do the eye exam and neither of them would put the headphones on for the ear test. These are two girls that have LOVED going to the doctors since they were able. I mean, they were born with nurses standing next to them and spent 50+ days with tubes and wires in them, so they were used to it. They only way Emma would cooperate for her physical exam was by holding my iPhone. So anyway, the stats as I remember them...

Emma
42.25" 97% percentile, 35lbs 50% - ha and her blood pressure was through the roof as she was screaming!

Mady
41" 75%, 39lbs 75%
Eyes were 20/40 and I guess they don't full adjust until age 6

Everything else was good. We're working on getting Mady set up for her plastic surgery surgery on her shoulder and belly. Last night she asked if we could just leave them on. It's hard to explain to her that she'll be happy about it later!

The girls start their first day of tap/ballet tomorrow morning and started up gymnastics again last week. We are off to Myrtle beach tomorrow after dance class. I hope to post about their Willy Wonka/Gymnastics party while we are away OR when we get back!

Our Summer Photo Shoot

Okay, so much for posting all the time. Seriously, Facebook and Pinterest will be the death of me!

Thought I'd share this:

Last night I told the girls the fairytale about Mommy and Daddy meeting, falling in love, getting married having them. Mady made me re-tell it 4 times and by the end could basically recite it herself. Too cute!

Also - Miss Mady can now write most of her name... the Y is a little tricky. Emma is getting there!

Coming soon - pictures from our photo shoot!

Happy Easter from our family to yours!

We can spell! Well, sort of..

Both girls seem to know most of their letters, most of the time. We're still working on numbers. I was amazed to find out that Mady knows most of her colors in spanish as well! I try to throw some spanish in at home, but apparently they are learning it in school as well!

Emma is a little behind her sis with spelling, but that's because Emma would rather be running circles and twirling in her skirt than studying. Who can blame her?

The can each spell out their own name and in addition, Mady can spell Mom, Dad and Ikea. Yes, Ikea :)

That's my quick update! So much for the weekly posts. Next post will be pictures of their new bedroom. I just finished painting a few days ago.

Happy Valentine's Day from the Mayers!

 How sweet are my valentines? We had a blast making this craft for their friends at school. Check out the link below to see how we made them :)

http://lilthingsilove.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentines-day-diy-for-preschoolers.html

It's time to raise money again for March of Dimes!

http://www.marchforbabies.org/emmaandmady

Every little bit helps. We appreciate anything anyone can donate to this cause that we believe so much in. I am still in shock that our girls were born so early and are doing so well. I'm looking for ideas for fundraising this year, if anyone has any ideas! I was thinking about making and selling chocolate covered pretzel rods for each holiday between now and then... st. patricks day and easter. Last year we had a poker tournament that was a huge success. I've thought about moving it to a firehall or venue but it's a big expense to rent the space.

Anyone that donates now will receive a FREE shipping voucher ($5 off) for any Lil' LJ product @ www.etsy.com/lillj9208.

Sick!

We had our first real bout of illness the last two weeks and thankfully no trips to the ER and no breathing treatments! Mady had a cough and ear infection, which she then passed to Emma, and then me. I was so happy and proud of Mady's lungs for not needing any help!

I'm working on a mural in their room right now and can't wait to post pictures when it's all said and done.

Grandma just picked the girls up for dinner and a sleepover and Christian and I are both fast at work with freelance work. With the $800 spent on two beds and a pretty hefty wish list for the next year, we're working on some extra income :)

New Beds!

The girls got their twin mattresses a few weeks ago and we finally got their beds from IKEA put together yesterday. It literally took a full day! We have them pushed together to basically make a king bed. It takes up quite a bit of their bedroom, but still worked out pretty well. They LOVE them. I will post pictures as soon as I get the closet organized and begin work on their mural. :)

Quote of the week 
from Mady: "Mommy, I'm going to work to draw on the 'puter like you" and "Emma, you're my best friend"
from Emma: "Daddy, thank you so much for my beds." (without being asked to say it)

Yay me for posting twice in a week! ;)

No more excuses.

How many times have I probably had this same post title? I started this blog for me, but also for anyone else like me. Maybe you have Endometriosis. Maybe you have twins. Maybe you went/are going through infertility. Maybe you had preemies. But mostly I started this for me. I have a horrible memory. I want to remember as much as possible about these years. The girls are also at an age where they LOVE to look at this blog and look back at the pictures of when they were babies.

Let me just get out my excuses and then I'll move on :)  I work 4 days a week at my "day job". This month I currently have 4 freelance projects going on. I own my own business (Lil' LJ) in which I also do all the design, production and marketing. I have a home that needs tended to. Thank GOD Christian does most of the cooking. Oh yes, and I also have 3 year old twins. I also am a project-aholic. I can't stop assigning myself new things to do. This week I am putting together the girls new big girls twin beds which probably will entail moving rooms and painting. Yes, they'll still sleep in the same room. There is no way they'd go for being separated yet. We're also going to work on Valentine's day gifts for their friends. Did I mention I have no time? Then there is the social world. I can't get enough of Facebook and Pinterest. I have this blog, I have a blog for Lil' LJ that I haven't touched in months and then I have my design blog.

Okay, BREATH.

I am following a decluttering calendar that last all year. Every day there is one mostly minor thing to work on and organize in the house. If I can do that (which I am) than I can certainly promise that I will post once a week with pictures. Even if it's two lines. Thanksgiving flew by. I can't even remember if I posted about it. We drove to Chicago. The drive sucked but we had so much fun and the girls adore their 5 year old twin cousins. I mean adore.

Christmas was awesome. They really "get" everything now. It's just amazing. We made a special key for santa to enter our house, as we have no chimney. They loved every minute of the holiday. Here's a few pictures and I WILL post every Friday. I WILL.