Jesse Coulter

I'm SO excited Spring is here! Warmer days and longer nights to play outside! Everyday when I pick Walt and Whitney up from school, I let them run around in our front yard for an hour or so. I have to keep my eye on Whitney the most because she will eat rocks, dirt, trash and leaves like it's the yummiest dessert she's ever had. She also enjoys discovering ant piles...God help me.

ONE YEAR! My babies are officially a year old! I love them so much I could eat them up. This past year has been filled with MANY smiles and MANY tears.

• The first few months were filled with extreme anxiety, sleepless nights (well I still have those), and trying to figure out how to raise three kiddos. I gave up breastfeeding after a week, spent lots of time in my hometown for extra help and went back to work after 3 months. I am EXTREMELY grateful for my mother and the rest of my family and friends for helping us. Our village was strong and still is.

• When people say, "Oh my goodness, I want twins!". I look at them like they're crazy. I know that sounds mean, but this is NOT easy. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. It has put extreme pressure on every aspect of my life, but it has taught me, changed me, and molded me into a stronger person.

• We had a very simple first birthday party with close family and friends. You'd think I would go all out, but I really didn't have the energy to plan it and I didn't care about going big. No invitations, no balloons, no elaborate decorations. I bought two simple cakes from HEB,  finger foods (meat, cheese, fruit, nuts) and had custom cookies made by ShortBread Baking Co. Not having to cook was a GAME CHANGER! I remember at Turner's first birthday running around like a mad woman trying to prep everything and cook, and I did not want to repeat that. The only thing that took time was making the pom pom garlands and a ONE sign, but making them was so much fun! 

Last Christmas I had an advent calendar for Turner, decorated my entire house, did tons of holiday themed activities, and hosted a Favorite Things Christmas Party for my closest friends. This year I was lucky enough to get a tree up and decorated. I'm taking it easy this year, and that's OK.

9 Months! This month flew by and the babies didn't change much developmentally.

Life lately:

• I feel like we've had a crazy amount of appointments so I've had to take a lot of time off of work. Thankfully I have a lot saved up. 

• We took a road trip to Dallas last week for a family reunion (Turner side) and the babies were able to meet aunts, uncles, and cousins for the first time. I spent most of the road trip in the 3rd row of our van entertaining or feeding them (definitely not fun).

• Nights seem to have gotten crazier this past month for some reason. Both are super cranky and fussy from the moment I pick them up from school till bedtime. I usually take them for a walk to get at least 30 minutes of peace and quiet!

• We had family photos taken with Laura Morsman Photography, and I just love having photos of all 3 of my kids together! Know though that it was EXTREMELY hot, humid and there were hundreds of mosquitoes in the greenhouse. I was sweating like crazy and we only shot together for 15 minutes! 
  
  

Let me start by saying that I LOATHE grocery shopping. I would rather scrub toilets on my hands and knees than go grocery shopping. Sooo Alex usually does the grocery shopping on the weekend while I watch kids.  When you both work full-time your weekend hours with the family are precious. The last thing either of us want to do is drop what we're doing to go grocery shopping. Cue Shipt!  As a twin mom, I'm all about convenience these days.

I have a secret for moms out there with small children when taking family photos. Wear jeans! You will be bending over, swinging, squatting, lifting and playing. You will be doing a lot of sitting...sitting on beds, sitting on blankets, sitting on chairs, sitting on benches. You get it, lots of sitting! Unless you're wearing a long dress or shorts, I've found that jeans are the easiest for photos. Or if you hate jeans, pants are an option. The darker the pants/jeans the more slimming they will be. Instead of worrying about flashing the camera, you can worry about wrangling your children to smile for a dang photo. Check out more tips about family photo outfits below!

Attention Austin Moms! I'm about to tell you about the MOST amazing company called Remedy Urgent Care which is a god send for busy families. When I found out about Remedy, I immediately reached out to them, because I knew this was a service I wanted to try. Sure enough, it wasn't long after that my babies were sick. It was Sunday afternoon when I decided I should take them to the doctor. As a working mom, these were my options;

I recently found this swing tee from Old Navy and have been wearing it non stop! It's been triple digits almost every day here in Austin, so a loose tee is a must. I rolled out of bed and put this outfit together...loose boyfriend jeans, neutral tee, flip flops and a straw hat to cover up my bed head.

SIX MONTHS! We've made it halfway, hallelujah! Time has not flown by...it's slooowwwlllyyy krept by BUT we are happy, alive and grateful. 

Life lately: 

• Sleep deprivation is still a very real struggle due to Walt waking up at least twice a night.

• We started buying diapers and formula this month and WHOA! Talk about a budget buster. Our new phrase might be, "Put it on the credit card."... kidding and kind of not kidding.

• Work and planning my local blogger event has kept me VERY busy, and by Tuesday of every week I feel like it should be Friday. Most nights I don't get to bed till around 11pm, and I'm passed out in less than a minute. 

• I'm so excited to have 6 month photos of the babies taken by my good friend and Austin photographer, Laura Morsman, next weekend!

Every month we hit with these babies is a huge milestone and accomplishment to me. FIVE months Alex and I have survived raising twins + a toddler. That may sound dramatic, but it's how I feel.

Life lately: 

• Sleep deprivation and going back in to the office every day has been a killer this month. I'm back to about 5-6 hours of broken up sleep a night. It's times like these I wish I drank coffee!

• Here's an interesting fact, Alex and I haven't had to buy formula or diapers YET! We bought a few cans of special formula when Whitney was super gassy, but other than that we have been gifted formula that has lasted us until this point. It's been through coupons and samples from our pediatrician. We have been tons of diapers and wipes from family!

• Alex has been super great about watching the kids when I've had an event to attend. Watching all three is VERY hard....you've got to be ready for lots of crying, fussing from Turner, and never a moment to yourself. I'm extremely thankful for his support of my hobbies and blog.

Mother's Day is quickly approaching and if you are like me then what you really want is some quality rest and relaxation. I always ask my husband for some sort of spa treatment, because I get to be pampered and it's QUIET! SpaSocial is seriously one of the most beautiful spas I've ever been to (it's huge), and they have amazing customer service. It is the perfect gift for your spouse or mother (Men, you can't mess this one up). The owner, Amanda, is the sweetest woman ever and you can see the love she has for her business and family. She completely redesigned this spa and it's absolutely stunning.You feel pampered from the moment you walk in, and the comfy robes aren't too shabby : ).

Now to the FUN part! I am so excited to be partnering with SpaSocial to give one lucky Mom a MUCH needed spa day! You will be pampered with a massage, facial and pedicure. The best part is you can stay for as long as you want and relax in SpaSocial's jacuzzi, pool, sauna and steam room before, during and after your treatments. Bring some girlfriends, a bottle of wine and make a full day of it. You deserve it! Easy entry below!

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Check out my recent post on LiveMom's blog about the importance of creating quality relationships with your neighbors. Families need a strong village these days, and I've loved getting to know my neighbors the past 3 years! 

Once my babes grow out of swaddling, I'll use them for blankets, car seat cover ups, burp rags or for changing when I'm out and about. It's always good to have one handy in your diaper bag. They are also perfect for newborn photos! You can buy these in sets, but I also like that you can buy your favorite patterns individually. See all the patterns here!

GIVEAWAY! I'm excited to be giving away 2 of the new black & white muslin swaddle single blankets (you choose your favorite designs) to one lucky winner! Easy entry on Instagram here. 

We made it to 1 Month! It hasn't been as difficult as I thought, but it's all due to the help of my mom and other family. My in-laws took Turner during the first week, and that was a lifesaver. Turner has been one of the hardest parts of the transition, because he is constantly wanting attention and needing our help (putting on clothes, going to the bathroom, getting food, bathing, bedtime, etc). My mom helped me with the night shifts, and allowed Alex to sleep through the night, then my mom and I would try to take a good nap during the day while Turner was at daycare. After 3 weeks, my mom went home and we were on our own. That's when it really got hard. We've had a TON of support from friends as well, and have had a few meals a week brought over to the house.

Adorable organic outfits by Rainy Lain

Sleep:

• 2-3 hour stretches. Oh, I can't wait until they start sleeping longer!

• For the first 3 weeks they slept in a MamaRoo and RockaRoo, but now have transitioned to Rock n' Plays. I use a sound machine to play white noise.

• They both sleep in their room, and I don't use a monitor. I wait till I hear one of them crying before I get up. I'm such a light sleeper, so I wouldn't sleep a wink if I heard Walt grunting all night.

Eating:

• The first week I breastfed them, the second week they had pumped breast milk supplemented with formula and by week 3 were drinking formula only.

• We are feeding them Enfamil newborn formula, but have switched to Gentlease since they have been so gassy the past week. Whitney is much more gassy and can barely get comfortable eating, and has a very hard time sleeping due to gas pain.

Growth:

• Clothing - Newborn
• Diapers - Newborn

Likes:

• Sleeping and eating (sometimes). What do most babies like other than these at this stage? 
• Whitney takes a pacifier, Walt not so much.  
• Taking naps on my chest

Dislikes:

• The process of being swaddled. Walt usually grunts and tries to get out a few times during his naps, but I know that it ultimately helps him sleep better.
• Walt absolutely hates having his diaper changed, and has the highest pitched scream the second a wipe touches his bottom.

Fun Facts:

• Walt:
• My jumpy one. He reacts so easily to sounds, and throws his hands up constantly. He's also my grunter...constantly making noises.

• Might have torticollis, so we're watching him closely. I he has a hemangioma forming on the left side of his noise. I noticed it when he was 3 weeks old, which is about the same time Turner's began to form.

• Whitney: 
• She has the cutest double chin, and I'm OBSESSED with her strawberry blonde hair.

• Also has a hemangioma like her brothers, but hers is on the bicep of her right arm

• I love putting tiny bows on her. I currently have RosieOutlookTX and TinyTurban bows. I only have a small window to dress her how I want, so I'm taking full advantage.

How Far Along: 31 Weeks (this is a week late so I can give you a full update on my 30th week of pregnancy)

Babies Genders: Boy (Walton) AND Girl (Whitney) #WaltandWhit

Due Date: February 8, will deliver no later than January 25

Things to Note:
- I threw a Favorite Things Christmas party on Friday night. It took a lot of prep work and cleaning the day of, which was a bit hard on my body. Using the Swiffer wet jet was the most exhausting part, and caused me to have a ton of Braxton hicks every time I contracted my stomach.

- Saturday night I went to a friend's tacky sweater Christmas party and my neighbor let me borrow her amazingly horrific denim jumper. It was a hit at the party, and thankfully I didn't have to worry about how I looked...because I was wearing a bag. I ate a TON, and then had horrific heartburn all night. I've been popping tums like they are going out of style.   

- I've bought the cutest boy/girl outfits lately (mostly from Old Navy & Gap).  Buying for boy/girl twins is seriously the funnest thing. I don't think if I had girl twins or boy twins that I could buy the same outfit twice, so I love it when I find matching outfits but in contrasting colors.

Nursery: Hoping to begin working on the closet very soon with an awesome collaboration. Stay tuned!

Symptoms:
-  Braxton-Hicks contractions

- Heartburn, especially during the night. Propping myself seems to help a bit.

- I wake up about 3 times per night to use the restroom.  I wake up around 3/4 I'm wide awake so I have to try very hard not to get on my phone.

Exercise: 30 min. walk. I've basically given up on exercising. At this point, every time I move I have braxton hicks contractions, and the weight is definitely putting a toll on my body so I've decided to take it easy from this point on.

Clothing: I'm really hoping that I can nurse the twins, so I've been eyeing nursing friendly tops and bras. These Bravado nursing bras look super comfy! Do you have any recommendations?

How Far Along: 23 weeks (P.S. I'm posting these a week late so I can give you a full update of how I felt during that actual week)

Babies Genders: Boy AND Girl

Things to Note:
- Realized that we NEED a ton more diapers (we have 2 boxes we received from friends). I can only imagine what our grocery bill is going to turn in to once we add in diapers (and formula if we have to).

- Was sick most of the week and still am with some type of sinus/respiratory infection or could be due to allergies. I'm not 100% sure, but all I know is that having a cough while carrying twins SUCKS! So painful.

Nursery: Currently on week 3 of the One Room Challenge. I realized I only have about 2 weeks to pull the whole nursery together because the 5th week I'll be out of town for work, and the 6th week is for final photos and the big reveal. I'm kind of freaking out thinking of the last minute things I still need to get.  See what I've done so far on my Week 2 post.

Symptoms: 
- My stomach is tightening a lot, especially when running errands, walking or exercising.

- Feeling kicks in the morning, lunchtime and evening when I sit down, but I don't feel double the kicks. I always wonder who is doing the kicking.

- I tried to nap in the passenger seat of my van while Alex drove us home from a weekend trip, but it didn't go so well. It was painful to bend my side and try to lean against my pillow, so I had to sit straight forward and try to sleep...no fun.

Exercise: N/A, too sick

Clothing: Going back and forth between fall and summer clothes. I've worn heels out to a few events and people seem surprised, but they either very LOW or wedges. Dressing up at least once a week makes me happy ; )


Cravings:
- Salty snacks, Mexican food, burgers.

- Last week I made Alex run to McDonald's at 8pm to grab me a large fry and coke. McDonald's coke is sooo much better than any other coke, and the those salty fries are heaven!

How Far Along: 22 weeks (P.S. I'm posting these a week late so I can give you a full update of how I felt during that actual week)

Babies Genders: Boy AND Girl

Things to Note:
- Super emotional watching the Leftovers Premiere...I was SOBBING during the opening scene. Any mothers feel the same way? I also cried on the way home thinking about holding two babies constantly, and the thought of Turner feeling lonely or sad that I wasn't giving him enough attention.

- Collecting a list of twin pregnancy books on Amazon I want to read (specifically in regards to sleep and breastfeeding), but I'm running out of time. I really really want to try breastfeeding, but I am terrified. I had such a hard time with Turner, so I can't imagine how it will be with two.  Praying for guidance, support and the right help.

Nursery: Decided to participate in the One Room Challenge and complete the nursery in 5 weeks! Follow along my journey, as I will be posting updates every week till the big reveal on Nov. 12th.

Symptoms: 

- Indigestion and heartburn have officially kicked in. I'll eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast, and a few hours later I'll have heartburn. I can't imagine what spicy Mexican food is going to do to me!

- Constipation...TMI, but it's true.

Exercise: Body Pump (weight training) x 2, 30 min. walk x 3

Clothing: Received an awesome package in the mail from Envie De Fraises with some beautiful maternity dresses. I wore one to my baby shower, and will be sporting the others to work very soon!

Cravings: N/A