I know I have been a bad blogger lately. We have been so busy it seems. But the kids are downstairs watching Curious George so I had a minute. My children have changed so much in the past few months. They are no longer in cribs, their vocabulary scares me, and most importantly, they are potty trained! So, I feel I have two preschoolers, not toddlers, definately not babies. I went through a couple of weeks of thinking maybe I want one more...but then I came to my senses!! I think we are so blessed to have two beautiful children that we can really devote lots of time to, besides we don't want to be out numbered. Anyway, I love this picture! Its Madeline and Ben with my cousin Kim's two boys, Will and John Mitchell. I think Madeline and John Mitchell have lots of Baggarly traits and favor each other a lot. So I am still here. I don't know if anyone reads this thing but I look at everyone else's all the time. BBB

Merry Christmas!

This is our Christmas card this year. They were sent out a little late but at least they were sent. Maura made them for me and I think they turned out great! Thanks Maura! We had a nice Christmas but we all are exhausted from lack of sleep and running around. The kids have runny noses, again. Ben is asleep on the couch now,which never happens so I know he doesn't feel good. I guess we will go to the Dr to make sure his ears are OK and he doesn't have strep. See you next year!bbb

Finally a picture with both of them smiling. My friend Bryan took this one and several others last week. Thanks Bryan! I am getting over some sort of stomach bug-not a fun week. Jamie had to come home twice on Monday so I could rest. I worked Thanksgiving and Jamie took the kids to his brother's house in Warner Robins. One of my patients was a 19 year old with a brain tumor, so I am not complaining. We are working on warming up to Santa so hopefully I can get a decent picture soon!

Halloween was great! My parents, The Wrights(Jen, Jason, Alexa, and Carleigh), Wes and Meg with Harrison(pictured above as a Chicken) all came over for chili and trick or treating! The weather was perfect and the kids really got the hang of holding their bag out for candy. (Something for nothing is easy to grasp.) I have been using the candy as a prize if they potty. Some days they go on the potty so well. Other days it seems like they don't go at all. They love to wash their hands and play in the water. Not my favorite thing. Getting out the door is harder than ever. Either I can't find a shoe or someone magically has to potty. Gotta go! bbb

Both the the kids fell asleep in the car. I climbed out of the car as quiet as possible so they could sleep. They haven't been napping at all, since Madeline learned how to climb out of her bed. They go to sleep around 7:30 and sleep about 12 hours, but that isn't enough for me! They can say anything now and other people besides me can understand them. I got on to Madeline the other night and she said, "I want my Daddy"! I can't believe she had started playing us already. They are having school pictures made on Wednesday. I have been so excited for someone else to have to deal with the idea of taking their pictures. I thought they might turn out good without me there. Of couse, Madeline slipped today and has a welp on her temple, plus a scratch on her cheek. Oh well, maybe they will have cute pictures next year. We had a nice surpise this weekend. Jamie's mom came up and spent the night with us. Jamie and I got to go the our street party without the kids. It was so nice to talk to all my neighbors and concentrate on what they were saying instead of what the kids were doing. Ben was calling Jean "Grandmom", it was so cute! They didn't even care when we left! What a great feeling!!

This is a picture of us at the farm with the MOMS Club. I thought I didn't need a stroller because the kids could walk but I ended up having to carry both of them to the car. We had a good time though!
When I was little, Jen and I would pretend we were married to twins who were pilots. I guess we wanted to be married to brothers so we would be related. We would also pretend we lived next door to each other, with a pool that connected the houses. You know, so we could swim to each other's house, anytime. Somehow we have stayed best friends since we were three. Now fate has made our dreams come true!!! Jen and Jason have put a contract on a house in our neighborhood!! There isn't a pool to connect us but we can use the golf cart path and we won't have to get wet! bbb

Just wanted to say that my kids love "school". This week they walked right in and didn't look back. I admit I wasn't sure I was doing the right thing by leaving my precious children in the hands of strangers. But now I feel confident in our decision. I am sure they are going to pick up some bad habits and colds. So far they seem to have only picked up good things. Madeline is all about counting everything now. She says, "I count Mommy". I have noticed that they seem to play together better, too. They hardly ever went in the playroom by themselves, but now I will look up to find them in there, playing together with their toys. Ben has started calling Madeline, Maddie. Aunt Jen is the only other person who calls her that, but she answers to it. Well, he calls himself Maddie too sometimes, but its progress from Co-pa! bb

These pics are from the kids first day at Mom's Morning Out. ( The middle one was just dress up for Ben.) I had the hardest time getting the picture of both of them because they refused to stand by each other. Tomorrow will be day three of, "school". I was so worried for nothing. Of couse they pitch a fit when I leave them, but it doesn't last long. They are so proud of their,"purses", AKA lunch box.

Ben and Madeline can carry on conversations with us now and it is amazing every time. The kids started out calling Jamie's dad, Co-pa, instead of Grandpa. I hear him saying Co-pa all the time so I was begining to think it must be an imaginary friend. We recently realized that was what he was calling Madeline. When I tell him, "Ben, her name is Madeline", he quickly corrects me by saying,"No Maddie, yuck". So I ask him," Well, what's her name then", and he says, "Co-pa".Both of them love Dora, Deigo, and Lilo and Stitch. Madeline asks to watch these shows by name all the time. For some reason, Stitch, always sounds like she is saying a word that rhymes with witch, if you know what I mean!bbb

For those of you who don't believe in Murphy's law here's a little test. Put your kids down for a nap. Start a load of laundry, make a few phone calls, unload and load the dishwasher, and straighten up your messy house. Finally sit on the couch or if you really want to test it...crawl in your bed for what you hope would be 10 minutes of peace. Presto! In less than 60 seconds you will hear one or both of your kids screaming in their room that they are,"all done" with their nap.

I know I have been a slack blooger lately. Even Jen has blogged more than me! We have been so busy. Moving, well that speaks for itself. We bought a golf cart which has given us lots of fun stuff to do. We can go the pool,park, grocery store, or out to dinner and the kids love it. I also joined the MOMS Club. We have lots of new friends right here in Fayetteville and there are always activities on the calender like playgroups, lunches, and mom's night out. I am working part time for a home health agency. I see patients two days a week and whenever else we can fit it in. The kids start Moms Morning Out in a couple of weeks too. As you can see we are in potty training mode. There were several times I didn't even knowMadeline was using the potty because she would dump it before I even saw if she really went. This picture is the first time I knew for sure she was using the potty. What a great feeling to know they won't be in diapers at their prom! The second picture really captures their personalities. Madeline, hamming it up, looking for mischief, and Ben watching her so he can follow her lead! bbb

I wanted say how nice Peachtree City really is so, if you will think this is bragging please quit reading. Man, it is so nice here! I didn't think I would see such a difference but, we are so pleased with our decision to move here. Jamie not having to commute is the biggest change. He is home by 5:15 and he can come home for lunch. We are also enjoying the PTC lifestyle. No, we don't have a golf cart, yet. But we ride our bikes on the cart paths and to the park. Soon we plan to ride them to dinner. There is so much to do that is geared toward families. Everything is kept clean and nice, restuarants and parks especially. And I am not scared to go to Wal-mart anymore, because the one here is awesome! I have joined the Mom's club so we have lots of friends and playdates. All the moms are like me in that they wanted to stay home with their children even if that meant they were poor! The kids will start Mother's Morning Out in August. Its 3 days a week from 9-1. I hope to work at a home health agency during those hours. I am excited for the kids to be in a classroom setting. I think the socialization will be good for them, and me :) bbb

I love this picture. Its so hard to get a good one of both of them. The kids are supposed to be taking a nap right now but I still hear them whining and talking to each other. Thank goodness tonight is Poker night for the girls!!!

Jamie and I had a wonderful time in Hawaii. We are so fortunate to have such wonderful friends and family that will step forward to keep the kids just so we could go on vacation! Can you believe Melba and Barney came up from Florida just to help Miranda keep the kids? I know the kids enjoyed all the extra attention too! Thanks everybody! love,bbb

What a difference a year makes! This picture is from the kids' first birthday when they were still little babies! Ben wouldn't even feed himself, but why should he when there is always a woman around to do it for him? They will be two on Saturday and things have really changed. Now they can walk, talk, feed themselves table food, hug and kiss, and, of course, throw temper tantrums. But I've changed too, I think I have learned to go with flow a little better. Our schedule is flexible and we can adjust to whatever is going on around us now. I know some think I was too ridgid with their schedule and still am. But for the record, we were in pure survival mode. Sleep and as little crying as possible were our goals. If things weren't on schedule the only ones who had to pay were Jamie and me. And, I must say I think we've done pretty good so far! The kids sleep good (knock on wood) and are happy, well adjusted toddlers. Most importantly I am still sane!bbb

This one is too good not to share. Jamie and Dan had to take care of the kids while Karen and I went to a bridal shower. (We accidentally stopped and got pedicures on the way home.) We had a great time hanging out with the old gang from back in the day when we all lived in Buckhead.
I can't believe Ben and Madeline will be two in less than a month. Where has the time gone? OK, I sound like my mom. The kids are really talking now. They are putting words together and asking questions. Everyday they say something new and their speech is a little clearer. Despite their ability to communicate, they are throwing tantrums when they don't get their way. Its a test to see how long I can ignore the fits and pretend I don't even hear them, especially in the middle of Wal-mart. bbb

Just wanted everyone to take a minute to read today's www.dooce.com (March 8th). Its a good one : )

We are slowly but surely getting settled in the new house. I still have a few more boxes and we need to hang stuff on the walls. I have no idea what is in the basement, but whatever it is should be trash since we don't seem to need it. The kids have done pretty good in the new house. The kitchen is open to the family room which works well for toddlers! But I swear they have go- go gadget arms because somehow they get into everything. We took their pacifirers away 3 nights ago. They were only allowed to have them in bed but this is a huge adjustment. They both have woken up crying in the night. I am determined to stick with it though, and not give in to the temptation to just give 'em the darn thing! Madeline has learned to say please. Of course, it sounds like peese. Its so hard not to give her whatever she wants when she says, "peese Mommee". Both of them are little mimics, repeating everything we say, they even copy me when I sigh. Sometimes I still can't believe I twins, much less two toddlers! bbb

OK so now I should be unpacking instead of blogging. But I couldn't resist a quick blog to let everyone know that moving is hard work. I think our next home will be a retirement home because I couldn't handle another move. When we got here with the truck there was only carpet in one room and of course the furniture for that room was in the back of the truck. Needless to say, I must be the luckiest girl in the world to have such wonderful family and friends. I don't know what we would have done if my parents hadn't kept the kids. And Miranda, Heather, and Jen were unbelievable since they helped me clean and unpack! Thanks guys!
On another note, please pray for my parents. My mom fell down a flight of stairs Monday night. She broke her collarbone, cut her head, and bruised her face. She kinda looks like she got in a fight, and lost. I have to add that she went to So. Regional and it was almost an hour before she saw the Dr. As a health care professional, I must say the level of care there was poor to say the least. My dad had surgery on his shoulder about 3 weeks ago. So now they match, neither one can drive or really move their right arms. Hopefully they will both heal quickly.

We closed! I can't believe it! We are moving Friday so pray it doesn't rain. My mom is keeping the kids Thursday and Friday nights, thank goodness. I hope they will sleep well at her house. They tend to wake up really early when they aren't in their own beds. But, my mom says not to worry about it. Tomorrow we are having all new carpet put in the new house. Jen is going over there with me to scrub! She is a clean freak with a touch of OCD so when we get done I know things will sparkle! Thanks Jen! I have packed a lot, but there is still so much to do. Wish me luck! bbb

OK I still should be packing instead of blogging, but I thought it would be fun to post a picture of our house. Actually, we have packed a good bit, thanks to Jen and my mom. Over the past few days, I have learned that packing is counter productive with two toddlers. And I have realized that my house is going to be a mess no matter what I do. So, I am trying to do stuff during naps and at night. Jamie talked to the attorney today and she says things look good for closing. I sure hope so, cause I am not unpacking all this crap unless we move! bbb

I really should be packing right now. Jamie got some stuff done this weekend, but I didn't do any packing Saturday. I had to work yesterday. I have so little motivation today. Its raining and cold, so I would like to go back to bed! I haven't been sleeping well since my brain is in overdrive. But what this really boils down to is that I don't want to pack and then not close. I guess I don't have a choice. I have to pack and hope we close without problems. bbb