{Privacy, please...}

The time has come.  We're going private.  So.  If you want to keep up with our little family, via our blog, send a request to kimballmaemoments@gmail.com.  Everyone is welcome...as long as we know who you are.  :) 

{Babyland}

Welcome to what I like to call, "Babyland."  I knew this would be a place where our little family would spend A LOT of time.  So.  I wanted it to be fun, happy, inviting, cozy, organized and most importantly, kid friendly. 

To get the show on the road, I needed a jumping off point.  My inspiration comes from color and fabric.  I searched high and low for fun, playful fabric that wasn't too juvenile.  (Need this room to grow with the babes!)  I wanted fabric with lots of red, yellow and blue.  Why, you may ask?  Most baby/kid toys/things are red, yellow and blue.  I knew the room would eventually be full of dolls, stuffed animals, trains, planes, etc., (you get the idea) and wanted everything to look as though it belonged in the room rather than looking like and afterthought.

I went to every fabric store in the Salt Lake area and found a lot of lovely fabric.  However, it was at a cost.  (Cha ching!)  I was NOT willing to pay $30 a yard for fabric intended for a nursery.  No thanks!  You can imagine my surprise when I found, "just what I was looking for" at IKEA.  I was shocked!  It was darling!  Fun?  Check.  Playful?  Check.  Whimsical?  Check.  My desired colors?  Check.  Not the typical kind of fabric found in a nursery?  Check. Check.  Inexpensive?  At only $7 and $9 a yard, it was right on budget.  I was sold!     

I only planned to use fabric in two places; curtains and bed-skirts.  In my mind, there is no reason to spend money on fancy shmancy, matchy matchy bedding for a crib.  It never looks tidy because babies/kids end up taking all sorts of things to bed with them...random blankets, toys, stuffed animals, etc.  So, again, why not make it look as though all those "random things" belong?  (Side note: There are some matchy matchy crib sets that are darling.  It's just not my style.  Too much work.)  I chose to keep things simple.  The only adornment, if you will, that my cribs have are the bed-skirts topped off with stuffed animals and quilts.

My inspiration.  Such fun fabric - full of great mountain scenes.  I think I'll put a U (for Christian and the UofU) on one mountain and a Y (for yours truly and BYU) on another.  No pressure kids!    

Found this great dresser at a local antique store, the day before my babies came home from the NICU. (Talk about cutting it close!)  It was originally a dark, almost black, wood.  I had it painted yellow and added crisp, white knobs.  Viola!  For the art, above the cribs, I got a little creative.  My friend has a store called, Say Anything Expressions and can basically make anything you want.  I had her put T and C's initials on 10 X 10 boards and painted them a bright color.  I then framed illustrations from a nursery rhyme book in ready made 10 X 10 frames.  The mobiles were $20 from a local store called Babinski Baby.  The darling quilts, at the foot of the cribs, were made by a very dear friend and neighbor.

I love our changing table.  (Thanks, again, IKEA!)   I wanted a table that enabled me to lay a baby down with their feet touching my stomach.  Most changing tables are designed so babies lay parallel with the wall.  Why?  This makes NO sense.  When you lay a baby down on the floor, bed, etc., to change them - you NEVER lay them sideways.  It's much more natural to have their little feet touching your knees/stomach.  I'm just sayin'.  Moving on.

Got these great shelves, again, from IKEA.  I tell ya what, that store does not disappoint.  These shelves are meant to hold pictures, but I decided to use them to display books.  What better way to decorate a children's room than with books!  You can't ask for better artwork.

The stories this chair could tell.  Would you believe that this chair used to be in the mother's lounge of the church I grew up going to?  It's true.  I have no idea how old it is, or where it came from, for that matter.  My mom had used the chair and mother's lounge when my younger brothers were babies.  She thought it was the most comfortable chair!  When it was time to renovate the church and for the chair to go, she quickly claimed it.  It wasn't as cute as it is now.  It used to be dark brown.  Yuck!  We found black and white checked fabric and had it recovered, for less than half the cost of a normal glider or rocker.   What's the best thing about this chair?  (Aside from the fact that it's oh so cute?)  It has a high back so you can rest your head when you're up with a baby in the middle of the night.  When my babes are past the "rocking" stage, it will be a great place for them to curl up with a book.  Speaking of books, I have to mention the little bookshelf/table to the right of the chair.  It was a steal!  I found it, on sale, at Target for only $18.  You better believe I snatched it right up.  It was originally a light, honey color.  I promptly painted it brick red.  It works perfectly as a table and additional spot for books.  The art on the wall, is again from IKEA.  Only $11 for the print and frame.  Can you say, baaaargain?

This little beauty was my mom's rocking chair when she was a little girl.  I think it's perfectly sweet and a wonderful final touch.

I think the babes are happy with their room.  Sweet dreams my luvies!

{Time to Decorate}

Oh the joys of putting together baby furniture.  Good thing Christian is one handy guy.  I thought a lot about what I wanted the nursery to look like.  I didn't want it to be too girly, boyish or expensive!  I also didn't want it to look like a typical nursery.  I wanted it to be a bright, happy place.  (Who says you have to stick with blues and pinks?)  It would be a place where a kid can be a kid.  No frills here!

I was truly shocked at how much money people will spend on baby furniture.  (Ridiculous.)  The only actual "baby" furniture in this room are the cribs - which turn into toddler beds.  Everything else will grow with the babes.  I searched high and low for decent priced cribs, fabric, etc., and finally settled on cribs from IKEA.

I must say.  Seeing two cribs in the room made this "twin thing" much more real, overwhelming (in a good way) and exciting.  Two little people were heading our way!

 

Penny wasn't very helpful.  And to tell you the truth, neither was I.

Ta Da!  Now it's time to fluff it up with fun fabric, accessories and toys! 

Everything was going great, until I came home and found Penny here.  In the crib.  Sitting on freshly pressed curtains and bed skirts.  Do you think she was starved for attention?

{Babies! As in two!}

We  found out we were going to be parents on April 16, 2012.  What a wonderful and nerve racking day!  I was scheduled to go to the doctor early that morning for a pregnancy test.  My emotions and mind were racing.  I was hopeful and excited, but knew I had to prepare myself for a negative result.  I drove to the doctor's office and patiently sat in the waiting room.  They called my name and off I went to have my blood drawn.  It was a quick appointment.  The nurse sent me on my way and said I would receive a call, later that day, with the results. 

I didn't have, what I thought, were the usual signs of pregnancy.  I wasn't queasy or tired and aside from my rampant emotions, I felt pretty good.  The entire drive home I thought, "I don't think it worked.  I'm not pregnant."  However, when I pulled into the garage and turned off my car, the thought came to my mind, "You can still be positive even if the IVF didn't work."  

I am, by nature, a positive person.  Yes.  My positive outlook may come more naturally than it does to others.  However, making a point to be happy, is something I consciously do.  I make an effort to ensure my life is one of happiness and laughter.    

As I got out of the car, I thought of Marjorie Pay Hinckley.  She is, aside from my mother, one of the most positive women I have ever known. And although I never knew her, personally, I admire her outlook on life.  She said, "The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it.  You either have to laugh or cry.  I prefer to laugh.  Crying gives me a headache."  I decided then and there I would be happy if my pregnancy test was positive or negative.

How could I be happy with a negative pregnancy test?  I could be happy with the close bond I had formed with my husband while undergoing IVF.  I was happy to be surrounded by loving and supportive family and friends.  I could be happy knowing I had been blessed to feel the prayers and fasting of others, offered on my behalf.  I was happy knowing that I would be a mother, some day - either through adoption or carrying my own child.  It WAS going to happen.  I was sure. 

You might be thinking, "Really?  You had these thoughts?  It's easy to say all this, almost a year later."  But it's true!  I thought my pregnancy test would be negative and spent most of April 16th coming up with reasons why I could (and would) be happy with a negative result.  This is not to say, however, that I wouldn't be dissapointed and crushed if told I wasn't pregnant.  Rather to say, I was doing my best to find the good in a potentially heartbreaking outcome.  

When the doctor's office called, my heart was racing.  I picked up the phone and was incredibly nervous.  I tried to prepare myself by sensing the tone of the nurse's voice.  Was she happy?  Sad?  Trying to let me down easily?  I didn't know what to think.  After a few questions she finally said, "You're pregnant." What?!?!  I screamed.  Literally.  Screamed.  I screamed so loud I scared our dog.  The nurse laughed.  I hung up the phone and dropped to my knees saying, "thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you" over and over again, through my tears.  

I quickly got in the car and drove to Christian's office.  He saw me and could tell I had been crying.  But were they happy or sad tears?  We walked outside, holding hands, not saying a word.  After taking a few steps we stopped.  I looked at him and simply said, "Yes."  We both cried and shared a sacred, quiet moment.  We were going to be parents. 

A few weeks later, on May 2nd, we were told I was carrying twins!  There is no way to adequately express the overwhelming joy I felt when 1) I was told I would become a mother and 2) that Heavenly Father was blessing us with two children.  I had always wanted twins.  And ironically enough had actually asked Santa Claus for twin baby dolls, when I was a little girl, not once - but two years in a row.  And not just any kind of twins...they needed to be boy/girl twins.  

As my pregnacy progressed, I was convinced I was carrying twin girls.  Goodness gracious, am I glad I was wrong.  On July 18th, Christian and I were told we were going to have a GIRL...and....a BOY!  Now came the fun part.  Telling our parents.  We decided to use balloons. 

Grandma & Grandpa 

Nana & Bobo

{Watch out for the ceiling fan!}

{Dedicated Dad}

This is what a dedicated dad looks like.  I'm a lucky gal.  And my kiddos are lucky babies.

Penny wasn't very helpful.  She preferred to nap.

Ta da!  Final product.  Way to go, dadio!

{My friend, Mary}

I have a wonderful friend, I lovingly refer to as "German Mary."  (That's 'cause she's from Germany.)  We met while I was living in Washington DC and are an unlikely pair as there is 30+ years between us.  Moreover, we are quite opposite when it comes to all things political.  However, she is such a lovely person and I truly enjoy talking with her.  Mary came to UT, in September, for a visit.  She specifically asked that I show her around Temple Square.  We had a great time wandering around the grounds and eventually found ourselves in Deseret Book.  (She wanted a good "introductory book about Mormons.")  The sweet sales person offered her a Book of Mormon.  She graciously took it, turned to look at me and said, "I'll read this if Mitt Romney wins the Presidency."  Classic Mary.   

{Footsteps for Fertiliy}

My cousins, Serena, Laurel and Holly, put together an incredible 5K, this past September.  It's called Footsteps for Fertility and gives financial help to families seeking fertility treatments.  It all started with Laurel and Holly wanting to help Serena and her husband.  It was amazing to watch the entire event come together.  And being someone who had just gone through IVF, it was wonderful to watch a needy family win a free IVF cycle.  The couple who won the cycle couldn't have been more appreciative and Serena and her husband are about to get their treatment under way.  I am so happy for her and pray all goes well. 

It was a great turnout.  I have a feeling this is going to turn into and annual event.

Grandma even drove up from St. George to support her granddaughters.