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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Guess Who's 2 ???

Yep, can you believe it the Twins turned two July 18th.  I am still in major denial that my itty bitty preemie babes are growing up.

2 years gone by

So tiny
2 years old
 Blaze is about to turn 4 in just one week and started Pre-K in a little more then a week ago....BUT I don't even want to go there!  Daddy picked the babies birthday to enroll big brother in school and Mommy was in a serious state of depression for a few days following!  I just want to stop time, but the universe isn't so cooperative.  I have told Blaze since he was old enough to understand that he 'will always be Mommy's baby.'  So it melts my heart when I remind him almost daily, "to stop getting bigger," that his invariable response is, "But Mommy don't worry, I'm still always your baby!" He even tries to use it to get out of trouble, "But Mommy I'm just your baby."  He amazes us every day with his wit and intelligence.  Someone told him the other day, that he was probably going to teach his teacher, he's so smart.  He is SO excited about this new milestone!  Mostly so he can, (in his own words) 'play with hot wheels, and make some new friends.'   I did however compromise with Daddy as he hasn't had the socialization of a classroom atmosphere, being cared for a home with his most favorite Nanny since he was 2 months old.  So, it's only 3 hours, 3 days a week. Come now did you really think I was going to let my first born get away that easily? Baby steps for me.  I figured it wouldn't be fair to throw him to the Kindergarten wolves next year without a little easing into it.  Who am I kidding...I'd go off the deep end if I sent him off to school every day, so,it's Mommy that needs the easing into it.  :). As we anticipated he is doing great and fits right in.  He's such a sweet kid and makes friends easily.  He loves his teacher and tells us all about, 'what he played,' and 'what he learned.' He sings us his songs and comes home with a huge smile and sneakers full of sand from their very own separate Kindergarten playground.

Feels just like yesterday...our 1st born
My baby is growing up
Such a big boy





 

 So moving on to my littlest 2. And yes, I do mean 'little' literally. We are saving a bundle on clothes that's forsure!  Believe it or not just a few weeks back I grabbed a 6-9 mth skirt to put on Dylan, only to have it promptly fall to her knees.  Grabbing the next one in the pile that seemed to match I put it on and it fit perfect.  Only to then look at the tag that seriously said, NB (new born).  Yes, my little girl is still so tiny.  Everything about her is small except her lungs.  Everyone knows when the Wile family enters The Disney Store as Dylan squeals with delight running from Minnie, to Princess's ("cess cess" as she likes to say) to Jake the pirate.  She knows them all and makes sure everyone else does too.
 
Daddy's little Rocker Chick.
Do you mind if I take this call?
The Birthday Princess
Yeh! For me???


No that's not a wig! 
Her other half is the complete opposite, taking it all in with his big eyes and low pitched, "Oooohhhh's".  It so amazing that twins can have such completely opposite personalities.  In fact,three siblings  can be SO different.  They are all unique in there own special way.  Dylan the excitable, little chatter box, that is, until a stranger approaches. Blaze, our charming Mr. Social Butterfly who makes most adults think he's much more mature then his 3 ("almost 4 on August 26th") years of age.  And last but certainly not least, Jett, who remains our sensitive, shy, loving boy with a smile that could melt the hardest of hearts.

Love my sweet boy
Howdy Partner
I LOVE the camera!

Little Stinker!


They all keep us on our toes.  One child is nothing when you add twins to the mix. I swear Blaze was a total poster child for having babies. Perfect in every way it seemed.  Don't get me wrong all 3 of my kiddo's are absolutely perfect (insert biased Mommy smirk). But two 2 year old's is a handful and then some.  They love to climb and get into just about everything they shouldn't.  I can't turn my back for a second to find them both standing on the kitchen table.  Darn they're fast, or maybe I'm just getting slow in my old age.  They certainly keep us young and on our toes.  We have to catch ourselves from mumbling, "Geee Blaze never did that!"  They even surprise him sometimes with their antics.  To which he will reply with a chuckle, "Oh they are so ridiculous!"  The 'terrible two's came on like a storm, starting just shy of their 2nd birthday!  Tantrums, stubbornness and the occasional swat and hair pull are all double the pleasure and of course big brother likes to not always feel left out and joins the party, just to put Mommy over the edge.  :)

Caught in the act!
 


Tell me again why we have 2 toddler beds?
Visiting Daddy at Work.

Other then me being in denial that my kiddos are all growing up and keeping us VERY busy we have had a pretty busy year thus far...I have/had a horribly painful and somewhat debilitating impinging herniated lumbar disc for about 2 months (not fun with 3 toddlers AND  12 hour RN shifts ). Gerry continues to be busy between work at the Fire Dept. and military reserve duties.  Blaze is counting the sleeps till Papa and Grandma come for the winter. We spent most of our savings on a new AC unit (thank you hot, hot, hot Arizona!)  A June outdoor family photo shoot in 105 degree heat Neyla (the furkid) and all.






 A very unexpected and deeply emotional trip home to Canada for me, to attend my beautiful sister-in-law's funeral who very suddenly passed away with an extremely aggressive form of cancer.

Cheryl Reycraft

Forever in our hearts.
Gerry's 5th Grand-baby and my step-grand baby  being born (finally a girl for Nick and Jessica).  A summer family vacation is planned to Disneyland (California) and Sea World (San Diego) for Blaze's birthday. Unfortunately we will be just 2 days short of attending our dear friends, Jon and Christy's Salute to Surrogacy Celebration in San Diego. They have done such an amazing job in putting together whats sure to be a grand celebration of all things surrogacy. We even got the privilege of a guest spot article in their magazine (to be given out at the conference).  The Baby Chase is still set for its November publication (and you can reserve your copy now on Amazon) Both of our amazing SI Docs (aka GodMama & GodPapa) have confirmed they will be finally coming to Arizona to visit in November after 5 and 1/2 years of coaxing. Its sure to be a jam packed November of vacationing with dear friends and possible media spots for the book in maybe Washington, New York or California.  We truly feel honored to be a part of all of this excitement!  Who would have thought our journey of a lifetime would become a novel?  We still love to take time to help other couples, whether it be via phone or email  interested in pursuing Surrogacy in India. Yep, things remain pretty status quo in our little blessed household.  ;)

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Next Chapter - THE BABY CHASE

As most of you know we have never been shy in sharing the story of our journey of surrogacy in India. Newspapers, magazines, even an Apple iPod app...wrote of our journey.  We are proud to tell the world we are the lucky parents of 3 amazing little miracles.  Little did I know that one random email I received from a female writer just 3 short years ago, asking us to do just that, 'share our story', would forever change our lives. 
I gave her the link to our blog (like I had so many times before to various readers who had reached out to us), and said, 'well here's our blog, If you think our story is what you are looking for then let us know how we can help.'  We talked for what seemed like hours our first initial phone conversation.  After hanging up the phone, out of curiosity, I started to Google her name, Leslie Morgan-Steiner.  Only to discover, much to my amazement (and somewhat embarrassment) that this woman writer was not just anyone, but a New York Times Best Selling author of the memoir Crazy Love and the anthology Mommy Wars. 

Meeting Leslie has truly been an honor and a pleasure for me. Not only is she a brilliant author but one of the most kind, wonderful and inspirational women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  For 3 years our family has been a part of her everyday work and she in-turn has become a part of our family.  She has learned some of our most intimate secrets and shared in our journey of devastating losses and abundance joys.
We first met Mothers Day 2011 when she traveled to Arizona to meet our little family of 3. Blaze was just 20 months old and the twins were five months from our second surrogate's due date. Talking with Leslie was so effortless. She made the often intrusive world of 'media interviews' seem so comfortable. It was like talking to an old friend.  Over the years we have had family gatherings, numerous phone conversations, dozens of emails and text messages with random crazy questions and reminiscing with much laughter and tears.



She even traveled with us to India and shared in one of our most precious life-changing moments, the birth of our twins Dylan & Jett (who took us all by surprise and scurrying to make last minute flights when they decided to make an early arrival).




 It truly seems like yesterday Leslie (who immediately became his absolute best friend) was walking hand in hand with Blaze at the Phoenix Zoo.



So here we are now come full circle. Her book featuring our family - THE BABY CHASE- How Surrogacy is Transforming the American Family from St. Martins Press is set to be published this November 12, 2013.
(AND is already being sold on Amazon for pre-orders.)
 
When I first saw the cover it was very surreal! What is my simple little family's picture doing plastered on the front cover of a book written by an acclaimed writer??? It was really happening... after years of sharing our tale and her endless hours work, it was finally all coming together and there it was in print for the world to see.  I couldn't be more proud to have been part of her work.
We are about to enter another crazy roller-coaster ride this fall with the release of the The Baby Chase. Reviews, controversy, media spotlight, it's all about to hit us head on.  
My hope is simple:
That Leslie's eloquent writings will help others gain knowledge and understanding of the trials of infertility and see that surrogacy in India can be a very positive and wonderful experience for all involved. 
That maybe it will reach through the pages and touch another life and give them hope in making their dreams of family a reality. 
Or maybe just a great "feel good story" showing that dreams (if you wish hard enough) really can come true.
So many of you, our blog readers/followers have been along for our ride and a part of our journey from the very beginning.  We hope you read the book, and know that when you do, a part of it includes YOU, our cheering squad, our outlet to vent, our inspiration, our solace, our blog land family. 
Thank you for being a part of our lives for the last 5 years and thanks for being apart of our story our BABY CHASE.

Friday, April 19, 2013

LONG, LONG overdue!

Sorry no time for writing...what else is new!  Dylan and Jett are already 21 months and Blaze is 3 1/2!  How time flies! (too fast for my liking)  So without further adieu in no particular order, pics of our growing, beautiful brood...

Love my accessories AND my Daddy

Mommy's handsome growing boy!

Curly head Jett

Too cute for words

Already having fun in the sun here in Arizona

Lunch date with Mommy

Taking pictures of myself, such a big boy!

At the ZOO...

we LOVE the water...

every one of us!!!!

Did I say I love my accessories?? even ones I make myself.

Bubble wrap...SO much fun!

Christmas Classic

Yes I am Daddy's girl!

I am almost as big as a large McDonald's soda...almost!

Won't leave home without them..seriously NEVER!

Daily walk around the block.

My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades...even at night. 

Getting SO big.  :(

Yes, its time we got our own beds!

Life with twins when you turn your back for just a second!

Mommy did NOT do my hair (for the record)!

Big boy walking his dog.

I want glasses too!!

Stinker!!!

Love me some chocolate!

Who could resist those big brown eyes???