Mode of Transportation....

So, since the boys a have been getting bigger and more active, it has been harder to carry them both when simply visiting a neighbor, getting the mail, or going outside to enjoy the weather. Things that i don't want to put them in their car seats and stroller for.

Here's what I have been doing......

I pick one of the boys up, then bend down and try and shimmy my arm underneath #2. Quickly pick him up and turn him so that he's situated. I'm getting good at this.

Exiting the Apartment: Next, I try and grab my keys and twist the door knob to open the door. (A lot of back bending is used for this maneuver.) Once outside the apartment, I have to use my foot to try and close the door...whilst moving my body out of the way as to not hit the door as it closed. The door looses momentum and won't shut if this happens and then I have to start over. Ha!

Then to the elevator: Pushing the button on the outside of the elevator has been easy...since it's at hands level. However then I must enter the elevator and these buttons are well....more difficult. So I lean against the elevator for leverage, then left my elbow...while hoisting one of the boys up. With my elbow I would quickly jab at the button for the desired floor until it would iluminate. Sometimes a little hop is needed....depending on how the boys are situated. This is always quite comical.

Then it is off to our destitnation....where instead of knocking on my friends door....I kick! So they must know it's me by the sound of the thud. At this point I realize that I am sweating.....gross. Someone then takes a child out of arms and off we go!
......That is until the process begins all over again to go home. One difference.....I have to unlock my door. Which is a another blog post altogether! Ha!

So.....My friend Emily had an ingenious idea the other day. Wait for it......





Yep! A laundry basket. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Now we are cruzing in style. I am waiting for "pimp my ride" to call and offer to jazz up their new wheels. We took it for a spin the other day around the complex....they loved it. I figure that I am just preparing them for the rides at disneyland. So if you hear the words to "Its a Small World" in the halls....the Olson boys are out for a joy ride!!!!

The Boys' Room....

I realized that I never posted pictures of the boys' room. Here it is....

Even though the boys are identical twins, I want them to be individuals....so I wanted the saying "be an original" up on the wall. Thanks... to my darling friend Erica for helping me with all the vinyl.

I wanted to have their bedding be the same, but slightly different...so I went with same pattern different colors. Because I was SO pregnant and on bed rest, I wasn't able to make the bedding....enter mom. My cute mom stepped in and offered to sew away. Thank you mom! I LOVE how the bed skirt turned out.

I came up with this idea that I wanted to make a list of all the different definitions and sayings associated with the word "twin"...so these ones were our favorite and up on the wall they went. (again, thank you erica for the help)

The room turned out just the way I wanted it!

My (talented) friend Ashley knocked on my door before the boys were born and told me that she had a surprise for me....that she had found some fabric for quilts that she wanted to make for the boys. It was Volkswagen buses, my favorite!!! She proceeded to make two of the hippest quilts for Stetson and Reddek. Thanks so much Ash!



Here's a full view of it....

4 months

These little guys are not so little anymore....they are four months old! My hands sure are full, but I get double the smiles and giggles.

Sir Stetson:

Weighed in at 14 lbs.
Length 24 1/2 inches

- He gives coy smiles. Lots of them!
- Loves playing under his activity mat.
- Is grabbing his toes and rocking from side to side when he's on the floor.
- Blowing lots of bubbles.

- Stetson enjoys being on his stomach...he's really starting to push up now....so fun to watch.
- He can always be found with his fist in his mouth or his blanket.
- Enjoys baby Einstein's...laughs hysterically at certain parts and pumps his arms up and down in excitement.
- He's a snuggler. Loves morning snuggles in mom and dad's bed!
- Still enjoys his bath. He lounges in his bath chair....soaking it all up! (and still pees on his brother!)
- Starting to hold objects in his hand and put them in his mouth.
- He STARES at Reddek when they are laying next to each other....and reaches out to touch him. SO CUTE!
- Starting to sit in his bumbo.
- Stetson sweetly stares at you like he knows all about you!

Mr. Reddek

Weighed in at 13 lbs.
Length 23 1/2 inches

- He is a jokester. Smiles at you.....but really he's laughing at you.
- Does this who-who sound ALL DAY LONG....so cute.
- Has started sucking in his bottom lip.
- LOVES to be held above your head like an airplane.
- Enjoys baby Einstein's as well....but prefers it when his brother is next to him.
- Reddek wimpers if Stetson is having a bad time and is crying....SO SWEET.
- He LOVES his bath still....scooches all the way down until his whole body is in the water. He also loves to kick and splash.
- Can usually be found with a silly smile on his face.
- Sneezes twice WHENEVER we take him outside.
- Grabs his toes and was even found with them in his mouth the other day.
- Blowing bubbles.

- Rolled over twice the other day from belly to back.

- Mr. Reddek likes to talk....he coos all day long.

- I think he's a bit afraid of the giraffe on the activity mat. He kinda screams at him when his under him....this is a new one!
- This Mr. is a stander....wants to be walking. He bounces up and down on you when you hold him.
- Starting to sit in his bumbo!

Twin Stuff:

- They really started to be aware of each other this month. They stare at each other. They watch each other. They reach out and make contact. It has been really sweet to watch. I hope that they are best buds. I hope they grow up playing well together....that would make things nice as far as them entertaining each other.

- I have had to move them farther apart when they play on the floor....mainly because they are rolling back and forth and end up rolling into each other or kicking each other in the head. ha! In fact, I think they might have almost rolled over once or twice but couldn't because the other one was in the way!

- They are so talkative and smiley....but i have yet to capture it on camera. It seems that whenever I pull out a recording device or phone they decide to be quiet! So frustrating!!! Those little stinkers!

- I find them in the same poses a lot. Especially when they sleep. Pretty cool!

- The Dr. okayed them to start rice cereal....so we are going to start that here pretty soon. I did it once the other day but i waited a little too long into feeding time and they were screaming for their bottles. We'll attempt again later!

Twin Story:

My mom was holding Reddek and Chris was holding Stetson and I was in the middle. Reddek would make a goofy noise and I would interact with him.....then Stetson all of a sudden would start trying to get my attention so i would look and play with him. As soon as I turned to Stetson, Reddek would start again. It was hilarious!....like they were competing for my attention!!!

Picnic in the Park...

The other day, we headed to the park and had a picnic with the boys. We had pizza, sported the bjorn baby carriers, and enjoyed a fun little evening!

Birthday and Farewell Grad Party....

So I celebrated my birthday last weekend and it was a lot of fun. I LOVE birthdays because it's your day. Growing up my mom and dad always made special occasions, well....very special. They always made them fun and memorable. The little stuff was a BIG DEAL....and I love that.

So here's how I spent the day.....First off, some of the ladies took me to breakfast at the corner bakery...yum! Thanks girlies. It was DElish! Then my hubby took me to lunch with the boys. We had a nice time....sat outside and enjoyed the perfect cali weather. I opened some presents! Thank you all.....very thoughtful wonderful gifts! Then that night, we had a party for all the peps around here who are graduating. Fun Fun Par-tay!

Great day! Wouldn't have changed a thing!

What a Blessing....

The boys were blessed the last week in March. What a special day it was! Chris' parents and my parents ventured over from Arizona, and my brother and his family came up from San Diego. Thanks for coming guys....and we missed all others who live too far away....we were thinking of ya!

Chris gave the boys such sweet blessings. They were very specific to each of the boys, and then there was some twin/brother stuff in there too!

I feel so lucky to be these boys' mom. They are such sweet spirits, and I hope to be guided everyday as to how to raise them.

Love you Stetson and Reddek. Thanks for coming and joining our family!!!

Rub-a-dub-dub....

The boys LOVE their bath! It's part of our bed time routine....and when they are fussing and we step into the bathroom they settle down. It's like they know what's coming.....It's SO nice that this calms them. They are so cute when they are all suds up!!!!











This is kind of a family joke poem....so I carry on the tradition and say it to the boys while they get their bath:

There's too many kids in this tub! There's too many elbows to scrub! I just washed a behind that I'm sure isn't mine! There's too many kids in this tub!
-Shel Silverstein

3 months old! (but the post is a week late!)

I can't believe that these little guys are 3 months old already! Time flies WAY to fast!




Stetson:

* Weighed in at 12.2.

* He discovered his lips and tongue and makes this cute smacking noise.

* He stares at his fist when he's in his bouncy seat.

* He has this crooked little smile.

* When he laughs, he laughs so hard and takes in all this air and it sounds like he's choking.

* Stetson loves to takes baths. (And for some reason he is always positioned on the left in the tub and pees on his brother every time! ha!)

* He is very sweet natured. When he stares at you it's like he wants to really listen to what you have to say.

Reddek:

* Weighed in at 11.4.

* He is always happy. Smiley, smiley, smiley.

* When he sits in his bouncy seat, he props his arm up on the cushion...like he's chillin'.

* When you feed him his bottle, formula drips all down his face because he's smiling at you!

* He makes this cute face by tightening his lips together....it reminds me of a little bird.

* Reddek loves to take baths. He scooches to the bottom of his seat so that his whole body is in the water. :)

* He is very playful. When he stares out you it's like he wants to joke around.

Together:

* They are starting to stare at each other. I don't know what they are realizing, but it is always a very sweet moment.

* They are sleeping well. They are still a bit unpredictable, but their nighttime sleep hours are stretching.

* They both have started sucking on their fist. In fact, they put it so far in their mouth that they gag themselves. Silly guys!

* They are a lot of work, but so very worth it. Double the sweetness!

Beach Day!

Chris was on break last week and the weather was great.....so the beach was calling our names. Stetson and Reddek really enjoyed it. The boys hit the waves while the ladies enjoyed the sun. Good times!!!

Mr. Stetson

Mr. Reddek

Can't get enough....

I can't get enough of these two little guys!

ONE MONTH ALREADY

Stetson and Reddek turned one month old on Monday. I can't believe how fast time flies. It does not seem like it's been a month since I was in the hospital. No way. Can't believe it. We had a Dr's appointment the other day, so here are the stats:

Stetson

7 lbs. 2 oz.

19 3/4 inches long

Reddek

6 lbs. 10 oz.

19 inches long

The Boys!

wehadababyitstwoboys

First things first...the title of this post. There was a commercial a while back that had this proud father calling to tell his parents that their boy had been born but he had no cell phone and no money so he called collect and said, "We had a baby its a boy" but he said it as quickly as he could instead of his name. Any way, we did have a baby and its a boy, but then we had another!!!

The twins were born and are amazing. During these months of pregnancy the main topic of discussion has been names. One of our favorite activities to do was to go to COSTCO to see how many people would give us advice on baby names....un-solicited by us. These were complete strangers but they truly thought we would heed their advice. Jenny and I always got a kick out of it. Here is a list of some of the names we were considering along the way:

Pancho and Cisco

Burt and Ernie

Maverick and Goose

Tom and Jerry

Batman and Robin

Christopher Jr and Christopher III

But none of those seemed to stick, so in the end these were the names we gave them:

Stetson Boyd Olson was born at 8:10pm on January 31, 2011. He weighed 6 lbs 3 oz and was 19 inches long.
Reddek McDiarmid Olson was born at 8:11pm on January 31, 2011. He weighed 5 lbs 5 oz and was 18 inches long.

Needless to say...THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL! I'll let Jenny post and tell the whole story but I do at least want to say that I have a new appreciation for my amazing wife and more than that, I love her more than ever before. Yes I love our precious little boys but the whole experience changed how I see Jenny and how strongly I feel about her.

I'll stop the mushy stuff and get to the photos:

Jenny was smart and so we took some photos the day before she ended up having the babies and here are a few.

The next day the boys were born. Stetson was almost a whole pound bigger, so you can usually tell who is who because Stetsons face is a little more round.

The REAL Olson twins have arrived.

THANKSGIVING....

We weren't allowed to travel home for Thanksgiving due to the boys growing in the belly....so we stayed in Cali. A bunch of our friends decided to stay as well because the Thanksgiving break is just too short to travel all the way home for most of them. We all had dinner together.....it sure was wonderful to have great friends to share the holidays with. Thanks everyone for making the day so fun!












Full Bellies.....with food and babies!!

AMERICANA TREE LIGHTING....

A little over a week ago, we went to the tree lighting at the Americana....which is a really fun shopping area in Glendale. They had some performers, a band, and of course a huge christmas tree. It was perfectly finished off with a fireworks show. It took place before Thanksgiving though.....so I felt a little like it was Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's combined. Very fun!!!

Sorry Evans'...my picture of you two didn't turn out :(

BELLY UPDATE...

I have been meaning to update our blog for some time now. I finally got our pictures downloaded this morning, so hopefully there will be lots of updates this week!

For now, here is the belly progress: