Saturday, May 22, 2010

Award Winning Kids!

Yesterday was the last day of the school year session for the twins at their Mother's Day Out program.  To my surprise they had awards in their bag when I got home.  
Nala took home the following award:
Best Snuggles
















and Nia brought home this distinguished award:
Best Dance Moves
















They make a mommy so proud...LOL

And not to be outshined, big sister MacKenzie brought home some true top honors a week earlier, at school she received a Citizenship/Leadership award, Top Chinese Student (gr. 3), Top Spanish Student (gr.3), Top P.E. Student (gr. 3), Top Inschool Kumon Math Student (in North America), overall Academic Excellence, and an Honorable Mention for Music.    She too shines very bright!!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Guest Blogging on Sleep Habits

Crystal & Co - Twins


So here's the truth, I'd NEVER claim to be an expert on ANYTHING.  But when asked to give my tips on getting sleep after twins, I didn't hesitate to give my 2 cents.  Everyone's situation is different, so I simply told my story in which I give all the credit to Dr. Marc Weissbluth...

Check it out here at Crystal & Co and read what other Mothers of Multiples had to say earlier this week .  Crystal runs a series called, So You're Having Twins.   This week she focused on getting sleep...one of my favorite activities. 

Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

She

1) is Nala
2)  is very happy and cuddly
3)is my last born
4)was born 5lbs 7 oz and at 12 mos weighed 20 lbs
6) was a little slow to walk and frankly still prefers to crawl
7) loves to chat
8) claps, snaps her fingers, rolls em over, throws em in the pan, peeks-a-boo, blows kisses, points to her nose and ears, waves, and stretches "so big" on command
9) says Hi, Bye Bye, No, Stop That, Uh-Oh, Mama, Dada, and Thank You
10) somehow looks like my husband, mother-in-law, and me as a baby
11) is still nursing twice a day
12) is mostly eating Stage 3 BabyFoods and easy toddler pick-up table-foods
13) loves her sisters but sometimes wants nothing to do with them
14) never tires of her mommy, daddy, or nana
15) turns in for the night at 7:30 and is finally sleeping consistently through the night since about 11 months
16) loves falling backwards - obviously trusts that we will always be here for her
17) somehow got a broken wrist that we didn't find out about until it was healing months later
18) has stranger anxiety
19) wears clothing size 12 -18 mos and has a size 4 foot
20) is a big time drooler
21) has little hair - but one crazy little piece at the top that does it's own thing
22) rises at 6:30 a.m.
23) loves to read
24) is afraid of the vacuum
25) is a gift

Sunday, May 9, 2010

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

I hope any mother reading this has a happy & blessed Mother's Day.  I feel so blessed to have my girls and being a mom is the just honestly the greatest privilege of my life.


Mothers...enjoy your day.  I sure plan to.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Show Us Your Life - Names

I have a few friends that are expecting and it is always so exciting to prepare for the big ultrasound when you finally find out the sex of the baby.  You can finally give your baby a name.  Apparently the popular name list was listed today and Jacob and Isabella are the top names.  We have three girls and naming each of them has been very special.  I wanted my children's names to mean something and for them to love their names.  I ABSOLUTELY love my name.  I am the only one of my mother's girls that she named...and sorry sisters...but I think I win.  The name that my parent's gave me is Hope Christina...

imani macKenzie grace

Behind the name:
MacKenzie is our oldest...and well up into right at game time, her name was to be MacKenzie Imani.  I worked at Baskin Robbin's during highschool and decorated cakes.  One day someone came in and wanted a cake to say Happy Birthday Mac.  For some reason, it just had a ring to me, and from that point I wanted to be able to call my child Mac.  My husband wasn't fond of the name but gave in once I said I'd add Imani...VERY reluctantly though.  I really liked Imani too though.  Primarily because it means Faith.  I like that like Hope it is a virtuous name.  When MacKenzie was born, KT just couldn't let MacKenzie be her first name.  I agreed to switch the order of the MacKenzie and Imani under the condition that I got to add Grace - another virtuous name that I obviously (more to come) love.  I'm so glad we added the name because MacKenzie (in my life) is just the greatest manifestation of God's grace.  Today, nine years later MacKenzie Imani sounds funny to me...Imani MacKenzie has a better ring; however, because she was MacKenzie first in my womb, I will forever call her MacKenzie.  Lots of people are really confused when they hear her dad call her Imani and two seconds later I call her MacKenzie.  She is pleased to answer to either or both...or neither...she has LOTS of nicknames too. 

When I found out that I was having two more girls, I again wanted them to have names that had a meaning and purpose behind them.  I also wanted two girl names that started with the same letter, but that DID NOT rhyme.  It wasn't until the day I delievered that we decided who was who.  We gave Baby A - Nia and Baby B - Nala because we naturally said the names in that order...yep that simple...that's how we decided in the end.  Today, I can't imagine it any other way.  I can't imagine Nia being Nala or vice versa.
nia grace
nia - one who has purpose
grace - a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion
I love how that short, simple, cute name packs a strong punch with a powerful meaning.  It is so fitting for my little Nia who is so petite, but so strong and fierce (yes, already).   And yes, we repeated the Grace because I love that name OH SO MUCH and just really feel like since it's a third name for MacKenzie it just doesn't have the impact that I intended...yes I know I'm a mess.
confession - i really wish that i would have spelled her middle name Grayce.  I like that better and it would have separated her name from MacKenzie's.  Also, I think Grace is becoming overly popular, but because the name means so much to me, I went with it...AGAIN.
nala iman
nala - loved one; gift
iman - faith
Nala's name is very fitting.  She is so loving and cuddly...just the sweetest little thing.  No she was not named after Simba's wife in the Lion King or even Halle's Berry cutie patoodie little daughter.  Since I knew Nia's middle name would be shared with MacKenzie I also wanted Nala's name to be linked to her big sister's as well.  Iman has the same meaning Imani.  I was also inspired by the cute young model Chanel Iman.  I love her name. Also, THE Iman is so beautiful and carries the name so well.
Confession - I wish I would have spelled Nala's name Nahla.  I like that better.

Growing up I always said that I would name my child Morgan Kaitlin.  I've loved that combination forever.  When I was in highschool there were two young sisters that lived in our neighborhood.  One was Morgan and one was Kaitlin.  I loved both of their names.  If I had a boy, I always said I would name him Christopher Todd (linking my middle name Christina and also my dad's name is Chris).  After MacKenzie, although forever I planned to NOT have any more kids,  in the back of my mind I said if I ever changed my mind I wanted to name a girl - Gracelynne Faithe and that if I had a boy he would be Kevin Leroy II.  Another name that I considered while pregnant with the twins was Destini Hope (Miley Cyrus's real name...I think it's beautiful).


Confession - I have doodled these names many many times.  Yes, embarassing.

What names do you like?


Read other's choices here at Kelly's Korner.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Wish List Wednesday - Vintage Pearl Necklace

I went to the mall this weekend and noticed a display for Vintage Pearl.  When I checked out the website online, I realized that I visited once before.  I love these charming pieces.  The most exciting part was learning that the business is local to Tulsa!  Visit the site here.  The display had a 15% code Woodland15.  I plan to possibly use it and get myself something special soon. 

Layered Mother of Pearl
a flower and a circle

eclectic necklace

heart and copper

and finally...the dainty drops


UPDATE: 
Giveaway at Living by Faith's review site that doesn't end until May 13.  Click here to enter.

Giveaway with great Dad's Gifts hosted by Vintage Pearl.  Click here to enter.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Baby Picture Sunday

Ok...my first time participating but this week's theme:


Have Your Cake... and Wear it Too!

Here are pics of the girls at their Cake Smash Session.  I previewed one pic from the session several weeks ago.  They were reluctant at first but here is once they finally got into it.  Look how happy they look (Nala in the first image and Nia in the second).


Photo Credit: Lasting Impressions (Tulsa, OK)

Playing along with Who Says 8 is enough!

Eden's First Recital

My niece Eden had her first piano recital today.  She did a fantastic job.  Her piece was called Quiet River by Willard A. Palmer.  She sounded like a pro and looked like a doll.  She's really growing up!