Welcome Back!

Yesterday my little brother Brad returned home from his mission in Tacoma Washington. We are all so excited to have Brad back home and grateful for the wonderful experience he had on his mission. Below are some pictures from the airport. It was very exciting and emotional. This was also the first time for Allie and AJ to meet their Uncle Brad. Allie was a little shy, but AJ was excited to show Brad the planes. Brad came home with another missionary who lives around here and so his family was all at the airport too.

18 Months

Today Allie and AJ are 18 months old. They are suddenly becoming these opinionated little people instead helpless babies. Both of them are learning and using a whole variety of words now. Our favorites are "Alright", "I don't know" and "Are you serious"... In the last few days the have pretty much decided it is no longer fun to let me feed them at all, they want to do it all by themselves. Although this creates unbelievable messes at times, I know it is important for them to be independent. Both of them love animals right now. They love looking at pictures of animals and making their sounds. Lucky for us they still love books and spend a lot of time looking at books and listening to us read. Lately we have been reading those simplified scriptures with pictures in the evening. They love to look at the pictures and point out "Jesus" and "Josie" (Joseph). They have also taken up an interest in TV. Somehow we happened on this cartoon called "Olivia", its about a pig, anyway, they beg for "piggy" whenever the TV is on. A few days ago they both figured out how to climb into their high chairs alone and now that is the most fun thing to do. Alberto has also been trying harder to use Portuguese when he talks to them. They are both starting to recognize certain phrases and know a few words. As always they love being together and overall get along really well. When one wakes up in the morning or from their nap, the first thing he or she wants to do is go get the other one. It is pretty sweet.

Playing dress up. AJ trying to put a clip in Allie's hair.


I like to call Allie our "mother hen". She is always trying to make AJ feel better when ever he is sad. If he is crying, she says "SHHH, don't cry" and will find toys or his binky and try to give them to him. She also likes to boss AJ and our cat around. If the cat is on the table or AJ is on a chair she will say "get down" and wave her hand at them, just like me. Her new thing is to go look at herself in the mirror in my room. She turns from side to side just like I do, as if checking to make sure her butt doesn't look big. It is crazy how observant she is. Lately when she gets excited she gets this big cheesy smile and does this little giggly dance. It is cute. She is still an avid thumb sucker. In fact, her thumbs are currently chapped and cracked. She calls them "ouchies" now. Last night I put some ointment on her thumbs and then put socks over her hands. I thought for sure she'd hate that, but in fact, she loved it. She slept with them on all night. She is one funny girl. I feel a little bad for Allie because she is the only kid her age I know who doesn't mind sharing. Both AJ and Allie are pretty good about sharing, but AJ does take a lot from Allie and she rarely fights for it or whines. When they are playing with other kids she lets everyone take stuff from her and doesn't bat an eye lash. I guess she is my little peace maker.


AJ has always been my more fussy child and as of late he has discovered the dreaded temper tantrum and man-o-man, he is good at it. Luckily, they don't happen too often. AJ still loves his binky and his snuggle puppy. When he gets hurt instead of crying for me he cries for his puppy. He calls his binky "muna", what ever that means. Even though he can throw a mean tantrum, he is overall such a sweetie. He has the biggest smile and gives the best hugs. When he says things like "I don't know" he makes these cute hand gestures, you just want to squeeze him. In addition to animals (specifically cows) AJ also loves cars. He likes to look out the window when we're driving and see the cars and he loves the movie "Cars". Everyday when we are eating lunch a school bus drives past our house and we can see it through our front window. The kids both say "bus" and now AJ likes to get on the love seat and look out the window for the bus. AJ is also learning to tease Allie. He used to take her a cup of milk or a snack, but now he will take his and hers, eat or drink most of one and then give her the whats left and keep the full one for himself. He also loves to take her baby away. That is the one toy she will fight for and he knows it. He is a typically big brother...

American Idol Miracle!!!

Although I greatly dislike Adam Lambert, I love Kris and he is in the finals. This season all you hear about is Danny and Adam so I haven't been excited about the finals and then tonight Kris made it in! Yipee!!

Allie's celebrity look alike??

This morning when I went in to get Allie from her crib, her hair was so crazy! The first thought that entered my mind was "Phil Spector". I told Alberto I was going to post a picture of Allie and Phil Spector, but he thought that was not a good idea. So, I will just post a picture of Allie and AJ. If you don't know who Mr. Spector is, you can google his name and you will see the similarities. My kids are so cute!

More Spring time fun

A few weeks back my friend Jamie and her little girl Jordyn met up with us at the Coral Canyon Park to let the kids play. It was such a great day out and the kids had a lot of fun. I love to watch Jordyn with Allie and AJ because they are the same size, but she is about 8 months older so obviously she is more verbal. She talks to Allie and AJ and tries to reason with them and they just don't get it. It is so funny to watch, but they have fun anyway!

Recently we decided to plant a garden at my parent's house. We spent a Saturday tilling, raking, hoeing and planting. Allie and AJ had a great time trying out all the garden tools and going for wheel barrel rides with grandpa. We are pretty proud of our garden, even though to date the only thing that has sprouted are a few green onions and a broccoli plant. I still have faith in our garden.

Red Cliffs

The wind has been blowing all week! So, after a week stuck indoors with colds, the kids and I have been getting cabin fever!! The few weeks before were so lovely and warm, we got used to spending most of our day outside playing in the rocks and dirt. Anyway, today the winds finally died down and so we took advantage and went on a quick picnic in Red Cliffs. Grandma and Grandpa Whitehead came with us. The kids were so happy to be outside and so were the adults. We took lots of pictures, explored our surroundings and ate some yummy food.

Groovin' to the Idols

Last night as we were watching American Idol, Allie and AJ were dancing their little hearts out. We recently taught them "Ring Around the Rosies" so we got them to hold hands and dance together. It was so cute, we had to share. I love the second video because it is like they planned their routine. Funny babies...

Prelude to a Kiss

Alberto and I decided it would be so cute to get a picture of Allie and AJ kissing to send out to everyone for Valentine's Day. They are going through a phase right now where they love to kiss us and especially eachother. With all the kissing going on around here and my new camera's ability to shoot pictures continuously, I thought this would be a piece of cake, but in fact it was very hard! Here is a collage of just a few of the "almost kissing" pictures and the one we finally went with.

Mommy Tag

Here you go mommies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for yourself! Don't forget to tag me back, so I can see your answers!

Let's see how much you remember!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Yes! We tried pretty hard to get pregnant for several months after a miscarriage, but I truly believe it finally happened when I relaxed and accepted the fact that I can't "plan" everything.

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
We were thrilled! We had planned to wait to tell everyone this time around, but my family came over the day I found out and I was too excited to hold it in. In the beginning we were both nervous, but so happy!

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
No way!

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
25

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
Since we were trying, I was taking a lot of pregnancy tests and although it was early (about 4 wks. along) I knew there was a chance I could get a positive result so I took one just for the heck of it.

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
Alberto and then my family! We planned to wait until after 12 weeks to tell everyone else, but we found out at 6 weeks (our 1st doctor visit) that we were having twins, which was so EXCITING, but also even more scary! After our next visit, which was at 9 wks. with the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor, we told everyone because he assured us there was nothing to worry about.

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
Yes! I wouldn't have been able to stand all that anticipation!

9. WHAT WAS YOUR DUE DATE?
December 4, 2007

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Oh yes! It was terrible. I was still teaching in the traditional school at that time and all the smells of school made me sick! I had one student with B.O. who I had to send away at times because I literally couldn't stand to be in the same room. It lasted for about 5 months! I threw up everytime I brushed my teeth. To this day, I don't enjoy brushing the way I used to.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Nothing really. At the end, I just wanted junk food (chocolate, cookies, brownies) this is typically for me though!

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
I don't remember being too irritable, but I did get a little bothered by the lack of curtiousy that people show pregnant ladies and it was annoying to not be able to take a hot shower without getting dizzy and feeling as though I'd pass out.

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Our first was a boy, followed one minute later by a girl!

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
I knew I had a good chance of getting pregnant with twins and from the moment I found out I was pregnant, I had a strong feeling it was twins! Once we found out it was twins, I of course wanted one of each...Can it get better than that? So, when we found out it was a boy and a girl, I was the happiest mommy to be in the world! When we were having the ultra sound, she did baby A first, which is the baby closest to the cervex and she said "Its a boy". I immediately teared up, partly because I was excited and partly because I was afraid it would be two boys!

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
35 pounds...Awesome right?

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
Yes. It was huge! I can't believe how generous everyone was and how many people came. I was truly overwhelmed. At one point, I was reading a card a friend and wrote and I just started crying! We decided to have it early (in September) in case I got put on bed rest or had the babies prematurely. I am so glad we did because I was so exhausted and swollen after the baby shower, I couldn't even go to church the next day! I can't imagine if I would have been even further along.

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
I knew. My mom planned it for me.

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
No! The doctors warned us of the increased risk of a multiple pregnancy and I saw the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor regularly to monitor each babies growth. At one point they thought I had gestational diabetes, but I just ate really well and never had a problem. At the end of the pregnancy during an ultrasound, we saw some weird stuff in Allie's abdomin which was initally very scary, but ended up clearing up on its own after birth.

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Dixie Reginal Medical Center

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
Well, I started having contractions 5 minutes apart at 5pm and went to Labor and Delivery at 7pm. I was in surgery by 9 something and had the babies at 9:52pm and 9:53pm.

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Alberto

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Alberto and my mom were in the room with me. It worked out really well because Alberto was able to go off with the babies and my mom stayed with me while I got all sewn up.

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
I had a c-section because neither of the babies ever went head down. They both stayed horizontal the whole time. The funny part is that they would do flips and so their heads would be on different sides of my stomach, but never head down!

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Obviously! But now that I have been through it, I will definitely opt out on some of the meds that made me sick or crazy in the head next time.

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
Aj was 6lbs 14oz and Allie was 6lbs 13oz

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN?
They were born on November 15, 2007 (37+ wks). I was scheduled to deliver at 38 weeks because that is as long as they let you go with twins so I was pretty proud I made it that far.

30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Alberto (AJ) and Allie

31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
almost 15 months

so all you mommy's out there, do the tag!

Ain't no Stopping us Now!!!

I titled this post "Ain't no Stopping us Now!" because Allie figured out how to open doors so there is literally no stopping them now unless we put the baby gate up.

Knocking on the bathroom door in hopes I will let them in to take a bath.
These two are so smart. Each day they learn something new. Lately, they have been practicing their running skills. Tonight after their bath, milk and teeth brushing they both began to run back and forth across the living room in opposite directions laughing each time they passed eachother. It was really cute.
They are also starting to fight over toys and books. Depending on the day the response to a stolen toy varies. Somedays they scream and/or tantrum other days they tackle eachother to the ground.
One minute they are calmly looking through books, the next Allie is pinned.

They are also learning many new words. Allie is more interested in words than AJ is, but they can both say: variations of mommy and daddy, kitty-kitty, Nay-Nay (our cat's name is Shanaynay), No, Hi, Bye-bye, Hello, Night-Night, doggy, knock-knock and cute. I am sure there are others, but for now that is all I can think of. Allie says: Cute girl, good girl, see ya, papa, tickle-tickle, shoes and thank you too. They love to give kisses. I haven't been able to get a picture yet, but they kiss eachother all the time and blow kisses as well.
It is funny how all of a sudden they want specific things and will throw a fit until you figure out what they want. Luckily, I am starting to understand each of their cues and preferences so it is getting easier.
My favorite thing about AJ right now is how much he LOVES to be read to. Both babies love books and will spend long periods of time looking through books, but AJ is the happiest when you read to him. Alberto and I have most of the board books in the house memorized and I have to admit there are times when I hide books because I just can't stand to read the story one more time! He loves to snuggle up on your lap and loves when you use funny voices and emphasize certain parts. His favorite books are the Sandra Boyton books.
My favorite thing about Allie right now is how she loves to dress up. She loves to get her shoes on and if she finds an article of clothing laying around she will insist on wearing it. Today when I was folding laundry she found one of my shirts and had to wear it, so I put it on over her clothes and she paraded around the house all afternoon tripping over my shirt, but she was happy. When we go over to my parent's house, the babies always find this one drawer that has a whole variety of cloths and my mom will wrap them around the kids like aprons or bandanas, anyway, AJ goes with it for about 10 seconds, but Allie loves it she walks all around the house looking down at herself and will leave them on until they fall off.

As many of you know, we have all had some kind of crazy colds for the past 3 weeks, but I think we are finally past it! Last week we had some BEAUTIFUL weather and so we went outside everyday and played in our boring rock/cement backyard. The kids enjoyed it anyhow and I think it was good for all of us to get out and breathe the fresh air.