Your song

Dear Liv and Carter,

When your cousin, Morgan was born, Liah heard the song "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis on the drive home from the hospital.  Ever since then, she has thought of that as Morgan's song.  You also have songs.

Carter - Your song is "Good Life" by OneRepublic.  You stayed in the NICU for 8 days before you came home to us (your "forever home" as I like to think of it, but we all know that's not really true, it's your home "for now").  On Day 7, the NICU nurses told us that you'd be released the next day so we would do a "room in" with you that night.  So, Dad and I packed our overnight bags and checked in to the hospital to spend the night with you in a hospital room.  The night went pretty well and the next morning we just waited for the nurses to send us all home.  While we were waiting, I held you and watched TV.  There was a commercial for Disney World vacations and the music in that commercial was "Good Life".  The song was pretty popular the month you were born, and hearing the words at that moment while holding you in my arms brought tears to my eyes.  I knew then and there that every time I heard that song I would think of you and the good life you had ahead of you.

Olivia - Your song is "Stereo Hearts" by Gym Class Heroes.  You came home from the hospital two days after Carter did.  After I had found Carter's song, I was on the hunt for yours too.  I told Aunt Ellie about Carter's song and about how I was looking for one for you.  She called me back later that day saying she had found it - Stereo Hearts.  It's a funny song and was very popular the month you were born.  The lyrics are pretty lighthearted but I found them to be appropriate to my feelings for you.  Also, there's a part in the chorus where they sing "O, O, O, O, O, O, O" which is the first letter of your name, so that became your song.  Although Carter's song makes me cry, your song makes me smile and laugh. 

Here are the chorus lyrics to your songs.  I know these songs are uncool to you now, which is ok.  I love them and always will because, to me, they are your songs.

Good Life by OneRepublic
Oh, this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

I say, "Oh, got this feeling that you can't fight"
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life, a good, good life

Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes
My heart's a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every note

Make me your radio
Turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
So sing along to my stereo

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh, to my stereo
Oh oh oh oh, so sing along to my stereo

Bumbo

Carter and Olivia have both been getting so good at holding their heads up, so we decided to let Carter try out the Bumbo.  He wasn't too sure about it, and I didn't let him stay in for too long as I didn't want him to get too tired.  Still, I got a cute pic of him in it.

First Day of School: Crayon College

Today was the first day of school at Crayon College in Hattiesburg.  They actually went to school a few days in Arlington while we were preparing to move, but this is the first day of their "real" school.  I didn't get a pic of them on their first day (stupid I know), but I got a pic of their backpacks and lunch pails.  My friend Ann Loiselle got the twins these backpacks, and I have to restrain myself from squealing in delight every time I see them.  Dang they are cute!  Same goes for the lunch pails (in regards to my reaction at their cuteness).  Aunt Liah and Uncle Phillip gave these to the twins for Christmas.  I just love personalized things for the twins!

Moving Day

This is moving day.  It makes me sad to think about it, so no commentary.  Just pics.

Master Bedroom

Master bath

Twins room

Twins room

Forrest's office

Hall bath

guest bedroom

Weekends with Grandmommy and Pops

Grandmommy and Pops apparently got the feeling that we all (meaning Forrest, me, Carter, and Olivia) could use a break from each other, so I got an email from them midway through December saying that they wanted to take Carter and Olivia for a couple of nights.  They said they sensed the twins could use a vacation from us (ha ha) so they gave us the choice of two weekends: the nights leading up to Christmas, or the weekend of New Years.  I responded with "BOTH!". 

So, that's exactly what happened.  Grandmommy and Pops picked up C and O on the evening of Thursday, December 22 and took them to the lake house.  We joined them there on Saturday, December 24 around lunchtime.  Also, on Saturday Dec 31, they picked up the babies and took them to their house.  We went and picked them up on Monday Jan 2. 

These two weekends were such a gift - it gave us the opportunity to pack.  Thanks so much Grandmommy and Pops!

Then, as if that wasn't enough, the next weekend (the one before we moved), Aunt Sue and Uncle Jim picked up the babies and took them to Grandmommy and Pops house.  We had THREE WEEKENDS IN A ROW without the babies.  Whoa!  We missed them so much, but it was necessary as we had to get packed and ready for our move. 

We have the best family!

We love to read!

Santa got Carter and Olivia each a book for their stockings and I couldn't be more delighted with the ones that he chose.  One is a book from the popular children's cartoon "Olivia".  It's fitting, obviously.

The book in Carter's stocking is from a series that I remember reading as a kid.  These books are so cute!

Christmas Morgan

Morgan really "got" Christmas this year.  And by "got" I mean she was very interested and curious about how it all worked.  And by "Christmas" I mean, the idea that Santa brings presents.  So, one could argue that she didn't really "get" Christmas, but she started to understand at least one small (and not so insignificant to a little kid!) part of it.

On Christmas Eve, Liah made cookies and milk and Morgan made sure they were displayed on the coffee table close to the fireplace so that Santa could have them.  Getting her to bed that night was no easy task, as she wanted to keep getting up to see if Santa had come.  Finally by about 11:00pm, we verified that Morgan was asleep and Santa got the green light to deliver presents.

On Christmas morning, the first thing Morgan did was to look for the cookies and milk.  She saw that there were only crumbs left on the plate, and that the glass of milk was empty.  She looked up with wonder at her mom and asked "Is he gone?".  I guess she wasn't sure if he was still around the house someplace.  Then she looked at all the presents and started jumping up and down and squealing with delight.  In true Helms family tradition, there was a glut of presents.  Very exciting for a little girl (and big girls too, heehee).

We always open stockings first, and because Morgan was so excited, Liah let Morgan and Caroline open their stockings before everyone was set and ready for Christmas morning to begin.  Fortunately I didn't miss it.  The first thing Morgan pulled out of her stocking were some Disney princess themed bandaids. After just that one gift she declared "This is the best Christmas ever!"  Haha, I guess those bandaids were a better gift than we thought.

I sure do love my Christmas Morgan!