Guess Who...

...left yesterday to spend the week at Grammie & Papa's house?

One Year Ago Today!

"Excuse me, what's that you say? In about 12 years, we're going to have twins?"

Okay, obviously that picture is not from one year ago today...... But as I was going through random pictures in search of another photo, I found this lovely snapshot of us before my Senior Prom -- April 1996 -- and couldn't resist posting it. Wow. Little did those blissfully clueless high school sweethearts know....

...that on July 23, 2007, they would be floored by the news that they were not having one baby, they were having two! This was our very first picture of the boys together. What we thought would just be a run-of-the-mill 1st OB/GYN appointment turned a lot more interesting when the doctor decided to do an quick ultrasound so we could see the baby's heartbeat as we hadn't been able to hear it that day. I was only about 10 weeks along, so this was not unusual. She started the ultrasound and said "Well, there's the sac, and inside it is your baby!" Cue the smiling and a little teariness (at least by me) that all was well with this new little life inside. Then she said "And there's a second sac." I don't think the meaning of her words was clear to either Chris or myself, because I don't think we reacted at all to that statement. So then she turned to us, freeze-framed the ultrasound picture, and said, "And that's what it looks like when you're having two babies!" Okay, now cue the dead silence. Seriously, people, I think I heard crickets. I think the phrase most used for the remainder of the day by both of us was "Two babies. Wow. Two babies." I distinctly remember leaving the doctor's office feeling like someone was playing a trick on us.

I don't think anything can prepare you for having twins -- the physical strain of carrying two babies for (almost!) 9 months, the lack of sleep, the random questions and comments from total strangers -- I think 'Double trouble!' and 'Are they natural?' are my two least favorite. (And yes, I have been asked that one on more than one occasion! Seriously, the things some people say. It would be enough for another post altogether -- Top 10 Most Annoying Things People Say to Parents of Twins When Out in Public. However -- must think of catchier, less lengthy title for that one first.) But I digress....

There are so many good things you can't be prepared for either -- the way it feels to cuddle those two wiggly little bodies close, the sound of them chattering at each other (even when they should be asleep!), being greeted by two grinning little faces when they see you first thing in the morning. We have been so blessed in so many ways -- healthy pregnancy, healthy babies, wonderful family and friends who help and encourage us in so many different ways.

What a year it has been. Yes, it's chaotic and loud and exhausting. But it's so much fun.

(I just wanted to throw this last one in as a before/after shot. For every reasonably cute picture we get of the boys together, there are at least 4-5 more that look like the one below. )

Yum Yum!

Yep, the babies have ventured into the world of (semi) solid foods! We celebrated their 6-month birthday on Sunday by breaking out the rice cereal and taking it for a test run.

Alex's first taste.

Okay, so he's not as completely horrified by this new development as he first seemed. Guess we'll have a little more. Don't you love the "I'm sooo not impressed" vibe he's putting off?


Maguire's first bite -- also not too thrilled.


Hmm...not too bad!

Let me just sit back, relax, and enjoy....

Multiple Baby Pileup

"Hee hee. Isn't this fun, Alex? We can just play and play and play and never go to sleep, as long as they keep us in the same crib!"

"Mirror mirror on the wall, will I ever get hair?"

"Seriously, dude, you're kind of invading my personal space with your enormous head."

It's all fun and games until someone's limbs get stuck in the crib bars.

"Psst, Alex....I think they're on to us. I just heard someone say something about separate cribs."

Fun in the Summer Heat

29 and Holding!

Chris turned the big 2-9 last week, and we celebrated in grand fashion. Okay, just with an ice-cream cake (decorated with blue frosting, per Ellie's orders, because "Daddy likes blue. He's a boy, Mommy. He wants blue.") Ellie helped make the cake -- and by help, I mean she ate ice cream and M & M's while I put the cake together. Chris's parents were also here to visit for a long weekend. No pictures of the visit, you ask? Well, when we uploaded our new pictures the other day, there were none from their visit. We were puzzled until we realized that we'd been too busy taking pictures with his parents' new camera that we forgot to take any with ours! Oops!

Nice Dora hats, don't you think? (Chris secretly asked for a Dora birthday party since Ellie's was such a hit in November.)

Note to Self....

When you are in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher, don't assume that a 3 year old left in the living room with a new packet of Dora stickers is going to stick them anywhere near a piece of paper. Maybe the quiet should have been my first clue....

While You Wait....

...for Chris to get around to posting about our 4th of July, here are some other pictures from our week:

Nope, not playing dead. Just Sleeping Beauty.

Maguire loves him some feet.

Brotherly love....awww.

Happy Birthday, America!

Happy 4th of July from the Studers! More fun pictures and witty commentary to come.....

"What's up, Maguire?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just hanging out after a long night of crabby sleeplessness... I think we must be getting teeth or something."

"But how can Mom possibly be mad at us with a face like this?"

"Testing, testing....1, 2, 3...Is this thing on? This is Maguire's Midnight Dance Party and we are ready to rock out! Playing all your favorite tunes including Kickin' the Crib Bars, Screech and Squeal Like a Maniac, and my personal favorite, Yank Your Brother's Ear Until He Screams. I'll be here all night..."

"Now this here is my favorite toy..."

"I want to share my waffles with you, Mommy. Doesn't that cancel out the fact that I stayed awake in bed until after 11:00 last night playing shadow puppets on the wall?"

You know it's been a rough night when you're several bites into your breakfast before you look down and realize you've grabbed a fork from the drawer instead of a spoon. And eating Rice Krispies with a fork? Let me tell you, not the most effective.

It's a good thing they're all so cute. And thank God for coffee.