Keithing up with the Twins: Picture Perfect Life

A good picture is all about angle. I'm no photographer, in fact I'm extremely uneducated when it comes to it and anything to do with lighting, frame, focus, etc. All the crap you need to take a "good photo". When we had the babies, I knew I wanted to document their lives, just as my mom documented all of ours. I absolutely treasure all the old pictures, baby books, and film she has from our childhood.

In the beginning it wasn't hard. The babies were peaceful, slept often and stayed in one place. We purchased a nice camera in hopes to capture each moment with a beautiful lens. We've been able to capture some pretty great moments with our Nikon but the accessibility of our phone cameras is hard to beat. Let's face it, when a baby starts to take their first steps or starts mumbling their first words, your first action isn't going to be "run to the closet and get the good camera!" You soak it in and if you can, you grab your phone (because it's always nearby) and snap away.

One night this week, Alex and I went in to check on the babies (like we do almost every night before bed) and B was sleeping on his back! Which is strange since he's been a stomach sleeper since he was about 3 months old. Could not pass up this photo opportunity.

We also have the luxury (and I know most people wouldn't dare touch a sleeping baby) of picking them up and holding them after theyre asleep. Some nights we will just go into the nursery, each take a baby and just squeeze on them. They won't be small forever, so we are really taking full advantage of the time we have now.

But trying to take a good picture of the babies now has proven to almost be impossible. They are both ON-THE-GO and there is no stopping them. Even the Itsy Bitsy Spider song, which used to get them to sit still to take a picture, isn't effective anymore. I used to be able to post so many more pictures and have more time to take them, but most of my time now is playing with them, chasing after them, taking them to the park and pictures is sometimes the last thing on my mind.

So with that... The following pictures...

Case in point... these are the majority of the pictures on my phone. Blurry, one baby in and one baby out, eyes closed, etc. The good ones I am able to capture, I almost always share to Instagram. So when you see a good one, know that there were probably 15 others like the ones above.

Baby Books... This was something I knew I wanted to do from day one. I had one, my sister had one and I even remember looking at my mom's! Such a special thing to have and to pass down from generation to generation. But I knew I couldn't do one, obviously. They both needed their own. I purchased these from Paper Source... Here's the link. They have been PERFECT for twins. They have a boy and a girl one with decor to fit them but the book itself is the same for both! I have been able to keep up with them and so far haven't missed a moment! I would HIGHLY recommend these books, even if you don't have twins. They're super cute too!

On a somewhat related note, but also not, I feel the need to say, life isn't like the pictures you see on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. I've struggled with that myself. Knowing that reality isn't displayed as I see on my iphone. I follow bloggers and mama's that seem to mother effortlessly. That seem to always be baking fresh loaves of bread, or snapping pictures of their children playing with two small blocks in the living room quietly. I'm here to tell you, life just doesn't move like that in our house. Yes, there are those moments of quiet and serenity where the babies play together and are content but more often than not, they are pulling on each other's clothes, hungry, or wanting attention. I love my babies more than anything. But life just isn't what the pictures portray. Real talk on the blog today.

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T w i n U p d a t e...
Today was their 9 month check up at the doctor! I took them by myself for the first time. That was nerve racking. Especially when I thought we didn't have shots, only to show up and find out they could get their flu shots. I was also asked to fill out packets worth of information but hey, I survived. We are home now and everything is great.

Bennett is weighing in at a whopping 21 lbs 1 oz and a lengthy 28.5 inches tall! Emmy is weighing in at 18 lbs 10 oz and 27.5 inches tall. They both are developing exceptionally and are right where they need to be. I always feel a little vulnerable at their doctor's appointments. Hoping I'm doing everything okay and praying that the doctor won't think something is wrong. Of course that's my mind getting the best of me. But our doctor is so great. She gives tells me everything straight and has such a positive outlook for everything.

The babies are eating like crazy and loving food more each day. We've been trying all kinds of new foods, some have been hits and some have ended up mostly on the floor. I've been told to try foods with them multiple times before writing them off. I've heard it helps with avoiding picky eaters. Who knows. Ask me in a few years how it worked.

Such. A. Beautiful. Mess.

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Sunday was my birthday! The big 2-6. Who am I kidding... I don't feel any different at all. But saying goodbye to my 25th year of life was a little bittersweet. It was the year I had my babies and the year that would change me as a person, forever. Being closer to 30 doesn't bother me, as I think it bothers some. I like the change in age and I'm eager to see what will happen in the next 365 days.

Alex always knows how to make me feel special on my birthday. Each year he tops the year before. I don't know where I would be without this guy.

This weekend we have another wedding. Babies will have their first overnight at Grandma's and I'm sure they're going to have a blast!

Until next Thursday,
Lauren, E&B

B has been teething something fierce and those copper mugs were the perfect remedy. I think he as more interested in what was in Daddy's mug though. You're too young Bubba. Much too young.