Evelyn and Olivia: Ten Months

We are living out of suitcases right now and as a result you might notice some differences between the nice semi-professional photos we typically have and this month's photos ... no chairs (packed), no bows (in Baku), no onesies (be thankful I has any white onesies to put them in), and only my iPhone to accomplish this. I'm just surprised I actually had the blocks, stickers, and faux fur mats!

Here's your 10 month update (which I will probably add to later once I have Jason's help remembering everything!) -

- You both still only have two teeth, but act like you are teething all the time.
- Sleep is great. You go to bed on your own around 730 pm and sleep until anywhere from 630 - 730 am. You still take two naps a day and don't quite seem ready yet to transition to one.
- Liv has been a bit clingy at times, but in general both of you are really good with strangers or when I am not around.

- Both of you talk, but seem to do so at different times. In general, Evy is more easy-going throughout the day and Liv a bit more high maintenance. However in the mornings, it's swapped. Liv will happily play and hang out in the crib while Evy starts whining sooner for breakfast.
- You both love finger food and pouches and baby food. We've had to be more careful reading labels and making sure Liv doesn't have egg, but it hasn't been too bad so far.
- Shortly after Daddy came back from Baku you both began going from crawling to sitting up on your own. Now you do it constantly and it's fun to watch. I don't remember Madi ever doing that when she was little, but she really kind of skipped crawling and jumped to walking.
- Speaking of walking you both are moving left and right when you stand and will hold on with one hand and swing to look at things, but haven't taken steps yet. I did catch Liv going from one toy to another standing but both were within reach.

- Liv loves to shake her hips and bounce to music. She smiles really big and it's precious!
- Evy is happy in general and loves to laugh. She also loves to yell "Dadadadadada" at the top of her lungs.
- Liv has said "Mama" and "Baba" but no other words yet from her or any from Evy besides "Dada".
- Liv also likes to pull her foot up out of the high chair and rest it on the tray. Such a little lady. ;-)

I haven't gotten any stats for the baby books so I'll have to try and get those this week!

Evelyn Grace

Height: TBD
Weight: TBD
Head: TBD

Olivia Ann

Height: TBD
Weight: TBD
Head: TBD

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Mother's Day 2016

Somehow my husband has missed all three of our children's first Mother's Day. Coincidence? That's up for debate. ;-) However, I still had a fabulous day celebrating with my three cuties, but missing my husband far away in Baku.

I woke up to this sweet post on Facebook from Jason -

We had unusually warm and sunny weather in Stavanger over Mother's Day weekend and so we spent most of the day outdoors. We walked the twins to sleep and then Madi and I kicked the soccer ball around, played "on the beach" (i.e. sand volleyball court), and laughed. A lot. It was brilliant.

After naps the girls were all smiles and we just hung out together.

And then I shamelessly got my oldest to wish me Happy Mother's Day on camera. And she wouldn't stop saying it. #overkill. HA!

And then I remembered that it was the twins' first Mother's Day and there's a page for that in their baby books... By that time it was almost 7 pm and close to bedtime. I looked a mess and there was of course no one around to take a picture... so Stingerie girls selfie for the win. #secondandthirdchildproblems

All joking aside, it was a great Mother's Day although I would have loved to have had my husband there with us. These three are sure a handful (and it's only just beginning), but I love them so much and love being their momma - I wouldn't change a thing! Happy Mother's Day to all the fabulous moms out there!!

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April Wrap-up

So remember how I used to do Weekly Wrap-ups? Yeah me neither. It's been that long. And having Jason gone most of the month of April leaving me alone with three under three for three weeks didn't help. It was a very slow and very long month in so many ways. There was a definite lack of time for blogging and extra exhaustion, but obviously plenty of pictures that I probably took as proof to Jason that I kept them alive (especially after Olivia's hospital incident just a couple days after he left).

We had tons of support from friends in Stavanger (you know who you are and hopefully I have thanked you in person even though I know I failed to write you all thank you notes :-( ) and I would not have made it without their support. So let's get going on with these cute girls and our April Wrap-up! :-)

1. Madi loving her Olaf spoon from Ms Joy and Mr Ron.
2. Liv loves the banana!
3. Evy does too. :-)
4. Baby Benetton (outfits courtesy of Ms Daphne).
5. This girl loves to laugh!
6. And this girl loves to snuggle her mommy. (And mommy doesn't mind at all ;-) )
7. Jason's last day of work at Baker Hughes Norge.
8. Madi and her new guitar.
9. First fort with Daddy. She loved it and slept really well on the floor mattress.

1. Liv loves to snuggle on people, blankets, pillows.
2. Baby crew. We all started with one kid when we met and now we all have two. Or three in our case with the 2-for-1 special we got.
3. New umbrella stroller for future travel in the Middle East.
4. Daddy snuggling his girls before heading to the airport to go to Baku for three weeks.
5. Survived first bedtime with all three and celebrated with wine and ice cream.
6. Olivia's allergic reaction to egg landed us in the hospital for the night.
7. Dinnertime.
8. Bathtime.
9. Madi hugging one of the BFFs, Gabriel. She had many playdates with him during April and we were so grateful for her to spend time with him.

1. We had sunny, but cold weather and took the opportunity for a walk around Stokka.
2. Madi feeding the ducks and swan.
3. Hans enjoying the sunshine. ;-)
4. Climbing at one of the new training stations along the jogging path.
5. When you've got older siblings, you wear Build-a-Bear accessories.
6. Someone woke up in the middle of the night and wanted to sleep with Mommy. It happens so rarely that I didn't mind her snuggles and company.
7. Madi singing "Bjørnen sover" at gymnastics in her Cinderella tutu.

8. Beautiful Sunday dresses, but not in the mood to smile for a picture.

9. A much needed girl's night for my last Bunko Babes. 

1. Standing. The newest trend.
2. The result of bad or no afternoon naps. Two of them fell asleep in a 10 min car ride. :-/
3. Cats are still alive. ;-)
4. Enjoying the sun and her trampoline!
5. Spring flowers in bloom around the garden.
6. Sweet Evy.
7. Diaper party before bedtime. Note how everyone is in need of a diaper change.
8. Climbing pillows. And everything else around her.
9. Madi walking Hans and Kitty while I walked baby sisters.

1. CeCe snuggles.
2. Zoey snuggles.
3. Happy girls!
4. Visa pictures for Baku - first up, Madi.
5. Evy. Or is it Jason? Impossible to tell! Bahaha!!
6. Liv. Surprise!
7. Mommy and Madi coffee date before church.
8. Madi loving on Olivia.
9. Baby sisters wanting to hang with their big sister.

1. More gymnastics fun!
2. Baby #1 out cold for a nap.
3. Baby #2 out cold for a nap. And naturally these were taken at two different naps because why would they both sleep simultaneously?! ;-)
4. Evy frustrated that the circle is attached to the walker.
5. A magic bottle of wine and my favorite candy appearing on my doorstep when supplies were low. Thanks Kara!!
6. Trouble under the table.
7. Ready to go get big sister from school!
8. See above. ;-)
9. Hats a little big... haha.

1. Sushi date with Ms Chris before she headed to the US and won't get back before we move to Baku. It was hard to start saying our goodbyes this month thinking that we will be leaving Norway soon.
2. Madi and her other BFF Indira had fun running around the mall and having lunch together.
3. Beautiful flowers from Gabriel's mom Annie when they came over for dinner.
4. Last Sunday at NSBC. Totally spaced getting a picture of the family... #bloggerfail. But at least we got one of these lovely ladies! Ms Daphne and the babies.
5. Ms Lisa and the babies.
6. Dinner with good friends Liza and Adrian and their son Silas. Liza was amazing providing meals and support to our family the whole time we've been in Norway!
7. Family Starbucks date after an amazing photo shoot in Gamle Stavanger (pics to come soon!)
8. Ms Sandy with the babies. Another fabulous friend who was there for me multiple times while Jason was gone. So blessed to have such amazing friends!
9. Jason playing with his girls.

1. Sunny, but cold walk to pick up Madi from school.
2. Madi catching a ride home on Daddy's shoulders.
3. I had always wanted to do a 38 week in, 38 week out picture. That happened while Jason was gone... and I forgot and didn't realize they were actually past 38 weeks #momfail. So we took this after he was back and a couple weeks after the 38 week mark, but whatever - it's still cool. And man, I was huge!!
4. This is where Zoey spent most of the three days the packers came.
5. Can't believe we are moving and all our stuff is packed up and on its way to Baku!
6. New favorite hangout since basically all of the living room furniture is gone.
7. Goofball.
8. Dachshund babies hanging out.
9. Much needed girl's dinner with two of my closest girl friends - Hilary and Courtney. They've been amazing support and I'll miss them and our littles hanging out together.

1. Pornstar martini (basically a passion fruit martini) and the best drink I've had in Norway.
2. Taking the shot of champagne.
3. Dessert - churros and macaroons.
4. A fabulous girl's night with Daphne, another close friend who I am going to miss terribly when we move.

Overall, it was a really fabulous April... but a really hard one as well. It was challenging to go three weeks without Jason and both Madi and I really felt his absence. I am so grateful for all the support we received from so many wonderful friends. They helped me with bath times, bedtimes, watching them so I could run errands, took them for playdates to give me a break, brought us meals, prayed for us, and encouraged me that I could do this. It started to really hit me that we are leaving this truly amazing network we have established here. 

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