September Fun

Elaina LOVES corn! Diapers the day after...not as fun:(

Skylar is not a fan of eating like his sister is but he can sure drink his milk!

A pretty normal picture of Skylar post nap. Crazy hair and dangling sippy cup.

We went to Powder Valley and took a walk before hitting the nature center. Skylar hadn't been feeling well and crashed on us.

Love this picture Jon took!

Elaina was wide awake and loving her time with just Mommy and Daddy.

Checking out the leaves below.

Labor Day at Momo's. We figured out we can stay later if we give them their baths there. Only took us 21 months to get that one. Plus they love being in a different tub. Here is Elaina playing with Momo's new cat and cousin Olivia.

Skylar and Olivia

Cousins Elaina and Olivia

Elaina giving Skylar a ride in his rocker. Whatever keeps them occupied, happy, and not fighting is fine with me!


Eating ribs that she stole from her Daddy! True Texas girl! We got to spend time with our friends from DC who also adopted their son from our agency. It is so fun to get together.


Skylar playing in the basement.

Elaina and Mikey..it is a long distance romance that his mom and I are determined to keep alive.

She loves coloring these days!

And "talking" on the phone.

Chasing Vaughn (and feeding her) is a favorite of Skylar's.

Wild hair mama!!

He is a climber! Up on the chair and just banging the shoes he picked up along the way. We often find him on top of the table. It only takes a second and he is up there. Good thing he is so cautious when he climbs.

Things to not say to a twin mom (or dad)

Having twins causes us to be put on display much more than I thought it ever would. You would think, with twins being more common these days, that people would be used to seeing them. And I have to say, I think mine are pretty darn cute but it amazes me still how much attention you get. It seems more noticeable when I take just one out and can wander the aisles in Target without stares. I have heard all kinds of crazy comments. Luckily, now that they are older I haven't heard the "are they identical" question very much. I guess people don't know what to say but if you see a twin mom don't say things like "Double Trouble there!" or "You sure do have your hands full!" I mean what do you think I am going to say back to that...yes my hands are full so please hold one while I shop?! I love being a twin mommy! It is worth all the extra energy it takes to raise two same age kids just to hear them laugh together. I love everything about it so no it is not trouble and yes my hands are full but so is my heart. I am so lucky to have two beautiful children to love. And when they say you have your hands full I want to say I have TWINS not 10 kids! Speaking of which I am glad the novelty of the Octo-Mom has worn off because everywhere I went, it seemed people wanted to ask me what I thought of her. Well, probably the same thing you thought of her!! Again, I have TWINS and she has 14 kids!!! A little different!

Finally, I think some people are well meaning but for the most part I think this is just a way to sound like you are not nosy but of course you really are...in different variations I have gotten "So did you know you were having twins?". Well, no in fact I went to the hospital and poof out popped two! Or if they know we adopted they ask "did you know you were getting two babies when you went to Texas?" No our agency waited till we got there and yelled SURPISE!! When people ask if we knew if we were having twins, I think it is their way of asking did you do fertility treatments. Which is a personal question and one that a complete stranger has no business asking (however, I don't mind talking to people who are going through it too because that is what helped me so much). Yes, twins run in my family (my mom is a twin) and yes, I did fertility treatments. So yes, I did imagine that I would have twins someday. Just not in the wonderful, amazing way our children came into our lives.

Finalization!

We are home from Texas and happy to say that Skylar and Elaina are FINALLY officially Pedersens!!! We had a lot of fun in San Antonio where we finalized with three other families. We enjoyed lots of Tex-Mex food, hanging out on the Riverwalk, and time with friends. From San Antonio we traveled to Houston where we stayed with my friend from college. The kids loved hanging out with the "big" kids. She has twins that are almost 4! Skylar and Elaina did great on the trip and adapted really well but were happy to be home. It is a lot of work traveling with two very active toddlers!!!

Elaina at the airport in St. Louis


Enjoying Tex-Mex at La Margarita in Market Square (Skylar loved the beans!!)


Elaina was not quite sure what was going on.


In the courtroom and ready to go before the judge


The entire hearing took less than five minutes. Seems like something so important should take longer!


Officially a family of four!!!


Getting their adoption decrees


In front of the courthouse


At the Riverwalk...the kids were more interested in the boats passing by


Elaina and Avery at the Houston Zoo


In front of the Long Horn statue at the zoo


I don't even know what to say about this one.


First time on a carousal...she loved it!


Avery, Julie, and Elaina


Skylar couldn't stop looking at himself in the mirror.


Bathtime!

Finalization Finally!

For those of you who aren't familiar with the process, when you adopt there is a supervision period before you go to court to finalize an adoption. Our agency requires more than the standard 6 month period of supervision when you adopt a sibling group. So we were required to wait a year before we were eligible. We received word last week that we were cleared to proceed with finalizing their adoption and couldn't be more excited!! While we knew in our hearts Skylar and Elaina were to be forever our children, it still doesn't quite feel like you are there parents when you are in this part of the process. We had to do monthly reports, have visits by a social worker, and other things that just don't make you feel like you are truly a parent. We can't wait to go to court and hear the judge tell us they are forever part of our family!

While in Texas we will spend two days in San Antonio where three other families (two from our orientation group) will also be finalizing. We are then traveling to Houston where we will spend two nights with my best friend from college Maggie and her family. She has boy/girl twins that are almost 4 so it will be fun to see what is to come. Jon will also get to visit with his friend Andrew who is there receiving his first round of chemo (see blog posting below). We are excited about the trip but feeling a little nervous about traveling with two very active babies!!