Here goes! From Mass.

It has finally dawned on me that if I wait for a decent chunk of time in which I have two hands free and my wits about me, I may never write on this blog again. At least not for several years. If I'm not clutching a babe to each breast, changing diapers, securing a binky, cleaning a binky, or looking for a binky-- then I'm probably playing Lightning McQueen with Lincoln. Scratch that. I'm doing all those at once! I'm learning that if there's something I want or need to do, I better do it right here right now, or it'll remain in the ever-growing "undone" category, gnawing and festering in the back of my brain. So if we're ever out to lunch and I jump up to put the laundry in the dryer, just understand it's a symptom of having 3 kids... under 3.

Yes, the twins are here! I'll briefly summarize what has happened in the last few months.  Tyler was laid off from his job right around the time I was  put on bedrest.  We had savings but didn't want to waste it all on rent so we moved into my family's house for the last two months of our time in Utah.  Tyler collected unemployment and was able to play with and care for Lincoln.  So really, it worked out perfectly.  At 37 weeks and 3 days, I was pushing the boundaries of my tolerance. My skin was so stretched it was shiny, like a red, marbled bowling ball. Only bigger. Much, much bigger. I was aching from the sheer weight and pressure of two full-term infants residing inside my body. My doctor thankfully agreed to induce me a little earlier than planned, because I was also at my mental limit.  My family was wonderful and catered to our every need, while I laid around and tried to survive.

Hazel Eyre Metcalf was born on July 9, 2011at 6 lb, 11 oz.

and Ezra Oakes Metcalf arrived 12 minutes later, weighing 7 lb, 3 oz.

I love them.  It's hard with two, though.  I can't fully relax and dote on one for too long, because there's always the other one who's not being held.  This is so different than it was when Lincoln was born, because they are only 7 weeks and already I feel like they're growing up too quickly-- "Slow down!" I keep thinking. And it will probably continue this way.  Tyler and I will try to catch up as everything happens all too fast.

Our home is awesome.  I considered it almost blasphemous when Tyler declared he liked this place better than our apartment in Salt Lake City.  I adored that home.  It was our first as a family and it was beautiful.  But now, I'm beginning to see what he means.  This is the same size as the old place, but it's a 2 story townhouse.  The bedrooms are bigger, the kitchen/living area layout is better, and there's a playground right outside the back door.  I've been slow to decorate the walls.  Winter will be here too soon and I'll have PLENTY of time to dawdle around indoors.  Right now I try to make sure we all get outside as much as possible.  So if Lincoln asks to go to the playground (which he does as often as any two year old would, with the enticement just feet away and nearly visible from the living room), I try to oblige.  I've also found that my spirits inevitably plunge if I don't step outside at least once a day.  And the fix is almost instantaneous!  My heart drops whatever emotional load it was carrying, and breathes a gentle sigh of relief as soon as my feet touch the grass.

I'm so glad our families helped us to get here.  I can't thank everyone enough.  We make a decision, and our parents do everything in their power to help us follow through.  Lucky ducks, indeed.

Now I'm just going to post a bunch of pictures, which is really what you want to see!

Ezra bathing in the sink.

Hazel in the sink bath (6 weeks).

Hazel happy to be clean.

Tyler and Linc in the pool.   We have a small fitness room too!

Hazel, poolside.

Smiling at Daddy.

Making cookies in the new kitchen.

Ezra and his father.

Twin bibs!  From our friends Tiffini, Hal and Iris.  THANK YOU!

Ezra, wearing his older brother's 3-6 mo. clothes already.  I love how he's chunked out!

I have had my best friend pluck my eyebrows for months now.  I have to manage it on my own now!  Getting better at it.  :-)

My sweet girl, sleeping through Hurricane Irene.

My happy toddler.

Adjusting the sand bags.  Thankfully, this is as close as we got to flooding.  Hurricane Irene ended up effecting us very little.

Burp cloth buddy.

In a state of undress.

Oh, the living we do in this room.  :-)

This is my friend Jessica.  We met in fifth grade and haven't seen each other in 13 years.  Now we just happen to live 10 minutes apart, so of course had to meet up!

Posts will be haphazard, but I know it would be nice to see updates more often, now that we live so far away from family and Utah friends.  We miss everyone!  And as Lincoln says, "I loves you!"

Congratulations!

Two major accomplishments have occurred in Tyler's family this past week.  

His father RAN A MARATHON 

and his sister GRADUATED from high school!  

Two unforgettable events that thankfully Tyler, Lincoln and I were able to witness.  

My mother-in-law has been a runner for years.  She has 7 marathons under her belt as well as half marathons, 10 Ks, and any other races she can sign up for.  Recently she has had knee trouble and a hip fracture, which has put her behind in typical mileage count.  For someone who needs to run as much as she needs to breathe, this is a huge bummer.  After all these years, though, her husband decided to try out her beloved hobby.  It's sweet and supportive.  I can't believe how far he carried it: all the way to the finish line of the Ogden Marathon!  Just in time to beat his 50th birthday.  Amazing?  Absolutely.

Nick ran out to cheer him on the last hundred yards or so.  It was beautiful!  I loved the endorphin high Bill was floating on afterward.  Way to go!

Recovery drink: Coke.  Post race activity: racing his grandson.  Impressive.

And then only a few days later, his youngest daughter walked into the world of adulthood.  Katie is done with high school, and ready for the big, beautiful life ahead of her.  Honestly I think she's already wise beyond her years.  She makes mature, rational decisions like deciding to end a relationship when it obviously won't lead to the place she wants to go.  She doesn't plan on marrying or having children any time soon; I think she's seen enough of that with her older siblings.  ;-)  There are other goals to accomplish for now.  She is going to take a year off before going to college, to work as a CNA and to visit a few of her friends that live in different states.  I think it's awesome to breathe in a little bit of real life before plunging into a degree program that may or may not be what you really want to study.  You are one smart girl, Katiebug!

Here she is with us, Grandma Cox, and her parents.  Her older sister, Tara, and her children came too, right after my camera battery died.  I was bummed, but what can you do?  It was fun to sit in the stadium seats with family all around us.  Lincoln had a blast with his cousins.  Thanks for bringing us all together again, Katie!

Summer Hats

      Lincoln has very soft, sensitive, pale skin.  He burns easily if we don't apply and reapply, and then reapply, sunscreen.  He definitely needs a summer hat once the season arrives.  I looked at all the typical stores: Target, Smith's Marketplace, Babies R Us, etc.  Nothing was very cute or even fit his head.  It seems that babies need protection, but once you hit big boy/toddler sizes, you're kind of stuck with baseball hats.  So I went to a children's thrift store, Kid to Kid.  They would obviously have different styles and more variety.  Turns out they had the perfect hat for Lincoln, and I didn't even need to have him with me to know it would fit!  

$2, reversible, and he loves it.  Perfect!

I decided to purchase a new summer hat, too.  We're not adding very much to our household right now, considering we have to move it across country in a couple months.  But, I've already been sunburned this spring and I know you're supposed to be extra careful while pregnant.  By now I've worn it enough to know I made a wise choice.  Linc loves it too!  He put it on his head and promptly fell asleep.  I have such a funny kid!

As far as I'm concerned, this is what youtube is for:

Happiness in a three minute clip!  Lincoln watches these with me almost everyday.

Alleliua!

It's behind the times, but I can't neglect an Easter roundup.  It was a lovely day.  For the past three months, Tyler has been waking every morning with our child to give me more rest, but this specific day I was wide awake and had things to do, so I volunteered.  (Yes, I know, Tyler is awesome.)

We showered.  I sang "Christ the Lord is Risen Today!" because it's my favorite Easter song, and really the only one I could remember.  I got myself and Linc dressed, then we headed to the kitchen to make rice krispie treats for the family get-together.  Still singing.

About every other weekend we are either at Tyler's parents house or mine.  And for special occasions like this, both sets of parents join in the fun!  I'm going to miss that.  So much.  Anyway, us three plus Liz piled into our minivan and headed to the Metcalfs.

You wouldn't believe the meal they put together!  Cafe Rio down to the very dressing-- but even better, because you got to make your own!  Lori worked so hard at recreating the pork, beans, rice, tomatillo dressing, etc.  Then everyone went at it to create their own salad or burrito masterpiece.  I always want more rice in my pork salad, and so that's exactly what I gave myself!  Everyone was impressed with that meal.  Well done Lori and Bill!

Of course there was an Easter Egg Hunt.  That's mainly what I took pictures of, so here you go:

The cousins assemble.

While he was a little slower than the competition, Lincoln still understood the concept better than last year!

But "Gama" and Papa Lawrence helped him scope out plenty of eggs.

And look at that cool bucket, decorated by Linc himself!

It caught this princess' eye! 

We were all thankful for the sun, except maybe Evan at that moment.

My brother and best friend get along really well, and it looks like my niece enjoyed their company too!

And last but not least, guess who stopped by?  The Easter bunny, of course!  

Thank the Lord for family and friends.  Especially when I'm a big, fat, grumpy, pregnant wimp I love being with people who won't hold it against me.  

Whale

I feel so much movement.  Tossing and turning, punching and kicking.  They're telling me what a handful they're going to be once they escape.  I smile and pat my belly, assuring them Linc, Tyler and I can handle whatever they dish out.  Hopefully.  

23 weeks

The twins are growing.  My belly button has popped.  I have trouble bending over.  And I'm only 23 weeks!