Christmas and Updates

December has been an exciting month so far! The boys turned one, Christmas is coming, they are both walking (and picking up speed), more teeth are coming in -- it's nonstop over here!

We just had their one year check up: Sam is 21lbs and in the 40% for weight, Tyler is 25lbs and in the 80% for weight (he's slimming down! he used to be 150% for weight!). They are both healthy and progressing as they should -- such a wonderful blessing from God. I thank God every day for their health. Tyler has 6 teeth, Sam has 4. We're trying very hard to progress to "real" food, but they just love their mush. Plus, it seems to be the only way to get them to eat veggies at this point. It can be quite frustrating. We are also approaching the transition to 1 nap -- if they are entertained, they can almost do without the second nap. We do struggle with getting them to go down. We simply do not have the kids that just love to go in their cribs for a nap or nighttime. Also frustrating.

Their birthday was a success. We had two parties: one with the Ploegs at our house, one with the VLugts at Nana's house. They did great at both (no major meltdowns) and they loved their cake (shocking, I know). They loved their presents too ... it's plastic toys and little people / Thomas the Train heaven in our house. They also got these little chairs that they love to climb on and sit in like little old men.

Christmas is this week and I was just looking back at some pictures from last Christmas -- they were just so small (and we were just so tired!)! A lot has changed this year! We tried and tried to get a great Christmas card photo of the family, but they didn't exactly cooperate. The result was humorous at least!

And one from last year:

Dancy Party USA - Manheim Steamroller Edition

One Year

One year ago tonight my life changed forever. One year ago tonight, at 1:16am and 1:47am, on December 5, 2009, I met the two most beautiful boys in the whole world. One year ago tonight, Jack and I went from husband and wife, to parents with a family.

It has been a crazy, but wonderful year. I can honestly say, there are months with not a whole lot of clear memories but thankfully, I have a lot of pictures and blog to remind me of some of the details that came along the way. I do clearly remember, though, all the wonderful family and friends that showered us with gifts, help, meals, laundry and prayers and I (and we) are so grateful.

Guess Who Else is Walking!

I finally caught Tyler walking -- he's just not as interested in it as Sam is but he certainly can walk when he wants to.

It's Beginning ...

to look a lot like Christmas!!!

I started some decorating this weekend for Christmas and yes, many things will be different this year. Anything meant to go below waist-high will have to stay packed away for another year (or two) or used at the church youth house as the little monsters have a way of destroying anything shiny or non-toy-like. The Christmas tree is still a "probably" though as I have a fence from my wonderful sister-in-law, Brenda, that she used to go around the tree when her boys were little.

My latest Christmas project was making stockings for my boys. I bought some for Jack and me ages ago and wanted something similar ... but alas, no luck in the stores so I headed for the fabric store. I revved up Grandma's old sewing machine and went to work putting together new stockings for my little boys. The trim around the boot I had to hand-sew and the letters were iron-on. I'm still struggling to find some snowflakes that don't look old-lady-like ... I thought I could cut them out myself but that is way harder than you'd think with felt. Anyway ... here's the result!

Guess Who's Walking!!

I caught Sam this morning in a walking mood (and I always forget I don't know how to turn the video ... so turn your head instead :) ).

Almost One!

It has been a beautiful November week. It was almost 70 degrees a few times this week so of course, we had to pack in a few more stroller rides and romps in the grass for the year. The boys just love it.

They both have taken some steps -- up to about 10 "baby steps" and then they crash. They still much prefer the faster crawling method of transportation, however, and they both started about the same time. They love to babble, but I'm not sure that "mama" really means me yet. They both have 4 teeth; two top, two bottom. Sam was a little ahead of Tyler on the teeth. They both officially have a cold right now and it is very much a snot-fest around here. We are struggling with skin issues and I feel terrible that I gave that to them. Both have excema and we just haven't been able to isolate it to one specific thing or food and it is VERY frustrating. Tyler still has it "worse" and even gets serious (at least to me) reactions from time to time where he itches his eyes so bad they puff up and get swollen (and I immediately grab the benadryl) after eating certain foods. They still love their trucks and we have races daily. Sam likes to ride on his sometimes now too. Sam also loves to read books -- we'll find him quietly in the other room just reading "Brown Bear" all by himself. They both still love remotes, phones, and other gadgets we'd prefer them not to play with and both throw a fit when they are taken away (in fact, in order to finish my blog, they each have one of these unapproved gadgets). They love to play the piano. They love to take baths. They love to eat sweets.

I can hardly believe they are almost 1!

Roar!

Two Tigers .. Twice the Roar, Twice the Cute!

The Boys

Not much new around the Ploeg household in the past few weeks. Both Sam and Ty have taken one or two steps and can totally stand on their own, but no "real" walking yet. I don't think it will be long though ... and I'll be sure to catch it on video! We're struggling a little bit with naps of late as I think we are approaching the transition to 1 nap. It's probably time to get tough again with bed times (I feel this has happened every 3 or 4 months)... which is no fun as much crying is involved. Grr. Other than that, the boys are cute as buttons and love to giggle and play.

Here are some pictures from a beautiful fall day at Nana's painting pumpkins with the VLugt cousins:

Truck Races

October

I am now over a month into my job and I'm relieved to say we have great childcare and the job is going well. The woman watching the boys is a wonderful Christian mom -- actually, she's a mom of someone I went to high school with so I feel like I know her enough to feel comfortable with her in our home and with our boys. I am so excited to have that piece in place. The job itself is going well too. I work with two "older" guys, the partners, and one other guy my age-ish and we do audits (which I did before) of governments and non-profits (which I did not do before). So far I really like it and I have been busy enough while at work to feel like I'm learning a lot, contributing some, and distracted enough to not think of the boys too much. I'm so glad that it is October rather than September with all its unknowns.

The boys are not yet walking but they both stand unassisted and love to walk behind their new toy trucks (or sit on them, as below). I may have even seen a step by Tyler but I'm not so sure on that. Sam has three teeth with another I think I see on the way; Tyler has one and there must be another coming as he is pure drool and snot and chewing on his fingers. Tyler is still very much a Mama's boy, but he does love to play with his toys, especially the new trucks. Sam loves books and technology. He'll take a remote or a cell phone any day over a toy (which, by the way, don't be surprised if you get a call from Sam some day). He also loves to just sit and turn the pages of his books, particularly "The Turkey Ball". It's a lot of fun to watch them grow and learn!

Playing

Oh the boys...

Growing Up

My boys are getting older. Shocking, right? Here are the ways I've noticed this week:

1) My girlfriends and I had another playdate today and as I was driving home I thought, geez ... I don't know that I talked to the ladies all that much! I'm pretty sure I was chasing the boys around the playworld at Centerpointe most of the time. Apparently the era of us actually getting to chat while the babies just laid there is over (at least for most of us).

2) My boys now love to eat their own food. By that I mean they have now mastered the art of pinching food between their chubby little fingers and smushing it into their mouths. It is so stinking cute.

3) They officially both have teeth that have poked thru. Sam was a little ahead of Tyler this time but only by about two weeks. It's so crazy to feel these sharp little pokers in their mouths (I can only imagine how they feel!).

4) Tyler can now stand unassisted for up to 5 seconds ... hopefully he'll hold off on walking for another month or so though.

5) They officially fit into their new fall gear from Nana -- size 18 months (well, it's a little big yet but not by much).

So precious. The grow up so fast!

Playing Outside

The boys were having a ball tonight playing outside. They look like such little boys in their super cute outfits! Love, love.

Life

This was a busy week for the Ploegs. On Monday, I officially went back to work. My mom and dad helped us out this week watching the boys on Monday and Wednesday (Jack was home Tuesday) which was great in that while I was a little worried about the caretakers, I was not worried about my boys. I knew they were loved, I knew they were safe, I knew they were fine. The work itself was interesting, similar but different than what I was doing before. I hope that with a little time, I figure it all out and really like it.

In addition to working this week, my skin decided it was due for an all out freak out. I finally was able to get to the doctor Thursday morning but I was downright miserable all week. Perhaps this was God's diversion from worrying about my kids this week (although, I think I may have preferred that over the skin issues). I walked away from the dermatologist with no fewer than 8 prescriptions and am feeling great now thanks to a healthy dose of steriods (a fabulous but very short-term fix).

Also, this week just so happened to be the 7th Annual Party at the Ploegs! I started having a theme party on the Friday of Labor Day weekend the first summer we got married and have continued with new themes ever since. This year's theme was "Neato in Neon" and I always get such a kick out of seeing what people come up with to wear (thankfully, everyone buys into it, even if just to humor me). I was fully prepared for the boys to be total buggers but we just kept them up until they were really tired and once they were down, they stayed asleep! Fantastic! I think the party was a success and hopefully a good time was had by all.

I am glad to have this week done. The party was fun as always, but it's a lot of work, especially with the babes around. My skin feels better. And I at least have the first three awkward days at the new job under my belt. I know about 4 other moms who went back to work this week and it is helpful for me to remember that lots of women do the working/mommy thing every day. That doesn't mean it's easy, but that's life!

Here's a little sample of the fun and festivities from the Neon Party!

And here are my precious babes this morning in some new outfits because it was chilly!

Providence

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-34

I try to live my life without worrying too much about the details as I know God has a good plan for me. I know that whatever hurdles pop up along have already been figured out and planned for a specific purpose. Living without worry, however, is easier said than done. When Jack and I were struggling to become parents, we prayed hard and often for patience. While something I would never wish upon anyone else, dealing with infertility brought us closer to God and each other which in the end, I feel has better prepared us for parenthood. When I lost my job smack in the middle of the IVF process, I could do nothing else but laugh at the ridiculousness of the timing. Looking back, though, I see that the trying to get pregnant allowed me perspective to not freak out so much about losing my job. Being home the last 15 months also allowed me to focus on a healthy pregnancy and then raising my little boys. It has truly been a blessing.

I now face my next challenge -- I'm going back to work part-time. I am terrified. I am nervous. I am worried. In my head, I can see how God has worked this job out for me (it's part-time, makes financial sense, and is super flexible) but my heart is aching about leaving my boys three days a week. I am eager to look back on these next few weeks of transition with the same peace and understanding about God's magnificent plan as I have with the other challenges we have faced, but it's not easy. Worry comes easy. Trust is hard.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Giggles

I love the giggles. I don't think I'll ever get enough of these two clowns giggling. Lately it feels like I'm constantly chasing, constantly moving things higher, constantly picking up a child who konked his head, constantly trying to get them to sleep at the right time. Among these constants, however, I am constantly thankful for these babies -- for their smiles, for their cries, for their giggles. I am also extremely thankful for a successful surgery for my mom last week and for little baby Emelander who I hope to meet on Friday. Blessings abound!

UPDATE: Baby Emelander is here! Andrew Jack arrived Friday, August 13 at 11:35pm weighing 6lbs 5oz and almost 20in long! Congrats Chris & Julie -- he is BEAUTIFUL!

Double Trouble

Camp VanderLugt 2010

Camp VanderLugt 2010 is officially history. This year, our travels took us to a new cottage near Fremont at Crystal Lake. The cottage was huge, the weather was awesome, the water was warm (but a little sea-weedy), and the company was fantastic. We went tubing, made tie-dyed shirts and took a family picture, had lots of campfires, ate smores, and played lots of games with the kids. I would say fun was had by all ... except for maybe my boys. They were pretty much awful all week. For the month prior to the cottage, the boys had been sleeping quite consistently from 8pm to 7am (which was awesome). This, however, was not at all the case at the cottage. They were pretty much up on and off all night, every night ... which lead to crappy naps and crabby babies (and tired parents). Argh. We do have great pictures though from the happier moments. I think I mentioned this before (see Mytrle Beach post) but vacations just aren't the same with kids! :)

In other news, the boys are crazy crawling all over the place now. They chase after each other through the house and it's quite hilarious. They also both sit up on their own (finally) and pull themselves up to their feet on couches, people, etc. They even both climbed their first step (they love to play on our hard wooden steps/ floor -- needless to say, there have been a few head clunks). When I finally catch a good video, I'll be sure to post it!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

This week, Jack's grandma, Lucille Bode, passed away at the age of 87. That means she was around 10 years old during the Great Depression, 20 during WWII -- certainly old enough to remember experiencing both. During the funeral service, the Pastor mentioned she knew what it was like to appreciate "Give us this day our daily bread" -- something we all too often take forgranted. She also had already fallen in love with Grandpa Jay before he was sent off to serve in WWII -- I can hardly imagine saying goodbye under those circumstances. Grandma and Grandpa went on to have 6 healthy children, 17 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 64 years of marriage. She died peacefully in her sleep after experiencing a rich life full of the love of her family and her love for her Savior. What a blessing. Great is Thy faithfulness.

It's Official

It's official ... I've got two crawlers. I'm not saying they are super fast or very efficient at it yet, but they are both getting the hang of the crawling movements -- from the lunge and fall, to the army crawl, to the real deal -- and are getting to where they want to go (generally in the direction of something I don't want them to play with ... ie. the remote, my laptop cords, etc.). Tyler is also working hard at pulling himself up. Lots of activity around here!

God Bless America

Fireworks, parades, baseball, and burgers .... how much more American can you get? We had a very busy but fabulous weekend celebrating the Fourth of July. We went to the Holtvluer cottage on Friday, Ashley and I walked in the Caledonia parade to support Justin Amash for congress on Saturday, had a VLugt family Road Rally Saturday night, played in the baby pool on Sunday, went to the Grandville parade and hung out at the Ploegs on Monday, and saw our friends from NY on Tuesday. Phew! No wonder the kids (and mommy) took a 2.5 hour nap yesterday morning!

Success?

Dare I say it? "Sleep Week" at the VanderPloeg's was a success! While I don't doubt that there will be nights of crying here and there and they certainly don't go down for naps without a peep, I feel the crying has given way to some semblance of a schedule. They generally are pooped by 8pm and sleep til at least 5:30 - 7am -- which is great -- and naps are at 9am and 1pm. The hardest thing by far is enduring the crying. During the day, I often step outside and weed or eat ice cream on the front stoop as it still breaks my heart to hear them cry. But after they give in, I'm always glad I held out. Plus, they are so cute when they are sleeping. Check out these pictures with their booties high in the air -- I just couldn't resist. And then when they woke up happy as clams, I threw Sam in with Tyler and caught them with their smiles. Golly, they are cute!