Tuesday, December 20, 2016

We're Having TWINS!

We're Having Twins!


 






I'm sure those who follow us on instagram and facebook have already seen that we shared a big announcement a couple weeks ago, we are having not one but TWO new babies join us this coming summer! We were on the fence about whether we would stop at two kids and told ourselves after Layla was around 15 months we would talk about a third baby.  When that time came we felt like our family wasn't fully complete and decided to go for baby number 3. Within 2 months we were pregnant and just a few weeks later we found out through our first ultrasound that there were two babies growing with two perfect heartbeats and 2 sacs! It was the biggest shock of our lives, literally. I have never been that shocked and truly felt like it was a dream. I was sure i was going to wake up and come to find it never really happened. But the days went by and it sank in deeper and deeper. I knew there was a possibility of miscarrying one or both babies, since that happens naturally for alot of pregnancies, but i also couldnt focus on that and felt like I needed to process the fact that four babies were in our future. We would be adding a third and fourth baby at the same time.

The first week or two was an emotional roller coaster. I went from being so thankful and excited, feeling special and trusting Gods plan, to feeling overwhelmed, anxious, fearful, and had so many thoughts of "how are we going to handle this?", "whats this mean for my other two kids already here?", "will i be able to divide myself evenly?", " how will this impact us financially?", "we need to move, get a mini van, and double baby everything?", etc etc etc. Im sure you can imagine the flood of thoughts that one might have.  Not to mention the scary things you hear and read from others about twin pregnancies and deliveries and NICU stays.  I had to choose to be thankful and turn my focus towards the gift that this is, that God chose our family for this miracle. Twins dont run in our family, this was completely a natural spontaneous crazy God miracle that somehow either my egg split (which would mean identical babies) or i randomly ovulated twice (which would mean fraternal babies).  Fraternal babies are what people say can 'run in families', carried on the mothers side, she can inherit a gene that can cause "hyperovulation" which means ovulating more than one egg per cycle.  I dont have this gene, twins do not run in either my mom or dads side, so we were completely shocked.  There has never been a thought in my mind that twins would be apart of our future. Now its our reality and i feel like God has really helped us see this as such a huge blessing, i also think our families being so supportive and kind has helped tremendously. The fear i have about surviving this next year and a half is now gone, i know mine and my husbands families are going to be here for us and supporting us every step of the way, they have been by our side giving us all the love we could possibly need right now and i just know we're going to be ok.  This is not a death sentence like some might feel or think, its a gift, and although it will initially be really hard we know in the long run is going to be so special to see all of these kids bond and have each other for a lifetime like we have with our siblings.  So all in all, we have moved past fear into a really good place of peace and excitement. When i say we, i guess i really mean me, haha! My husband has been so at peace with this since the minute we saw those two babies in there, im the one who was up and down the first week, damn prego hormones. Im so thankful for him and how he is always my rock and knows just what to say to make me feel comforted and bring my head back around to gratitude and GOD.  We feel grateful and are just amazed we have made it to almost 13 weeks this week with these two special babies. In a couple weeks we'll find out the genders so be sure to check back here!

I'll try to be as honest and open as possible and share our journey along the way as often as i have time to on here. I know for me, reading other pregnancy blogs and twin journeys is helping so much right now for me to feel like i know what to expect, what could happen, and also finding hope in other peoples stories.  I would love for you all to be a part of our journey and be praying for our little twinnies.  Please share in the comments if theres anything you want to know about, any specific posts, or if you have had twins or are pregnant with twins.

Also thank you all so much for all of your sweet comments, we read every single one!

^^^Here they are at 10.5 weeks^^^

^^^Here they are at 12.5 weeks ^^^

XOXO

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Holiday Photos With Dulcet Creative


 Holiday season has officially begun and we are so exited! Having two little ones to share the magic of the holidays with is so special for both my husband and I.  We were asked to do a little promo shoot for Dulcet Creative for their new mini dulcet white space sessions they're offering this holiday season, of course we said yesss and jumped on the opportunity! If you haven't checked them out you are missing out, link to their website HERE.  I had to share some of our mini session with you all because they turned out so cute.
I hope you guys are all having an eventful holiday season full of love and making memories! I'll try to come around here a little more often since ive been neglecting this space i love so much.  Thanks for following along all these years and to see us on the daily you can find us on Snapchat & Instagram sharing little snippets of our fun crazy lovely life.





















Monday, October 17, 2016

The Start Of Fall + TART Collections Fall Line

TART FALL COLLECTION 2016
Hey ladies! Happy FALL, im loving this chilly weather this week, the wind, the rain this morning, all of it! We have been hitting every pumpkin patch in the area since October 1st and cant get enough of all of the fun festivities. Im convinced October might be one of the best months for kiddos with all of the fun activities available, there are carnivals, pumpkin patches that offer rides, games, face painting, picking pumpkins, etc, carving pumpkins, apple picking making pies, and cant forget costumes and trick or treating. Its an eventful month thats for sure. Im so excited to go into this holiday season with my two little people, Layla is old enough to get to enjoy every little bit, and Cash is already talking about Christmas! With that said i've partnered with Tart Collections to share their Fall 2016 line with you all! I love Tart, i've wore their stuff in the past and the quality is so great, it holds up even after a zillion washes because being a mom of two my clothes are always a mess at the end of they day. See below!

Coupon Code for you all for 15% off your first purchase! enter FALLTESSA15 at checkout



I've been living in this Indy hat, proof on my instagram @tessaarmstrong8


Link to this ADORABLE Fall hat called 'Indy" HERE




Im wearing the Adora blouse and im obsessed! its so silky smooth and light weight billowy and covers all the right places (;  perfect to dress up or down. I wore it to my brothers gender reveal with shorts tucked in the front and ive wore it with jeans and these leather leggings. Its cute with everything.  Heres the link

LOVE these leather leggings called Sadi, they are a perfect fit and a must have for Fall, link here





Coupon Code for you all for 15% off your first purchase! enter FALLTESSA15 at checkout

Happy Fall and happy shopping!


Saturday, September 3, 2016

Summers Ending

Summers Ending:

 

I love living in Southern California, we have pretty smooth transitions season to season and for that im so grateful. I think it would be harder to let go of summer if i knew we were headed towards freezing cold weather where you dont want to leave being bundled up on the couch with hot cocoa. Im an outdoorsy girl and i get cabin fever pretty quickly, so the weather here is perfect for us. It gets just cold enough to wear sweaters and sip on cocoa but its also warm enough to be back at the beach by January and get away with wearing flip flops all year round if you wanted to.   Summer is now coming to an end in the next couple of weeks and Fall is just around the corner. Im excited for a new season and all thinks pumpkin and all the fun that the holidays bring, especially now having two kiddos that will reap all of the benefits.

Summer is always my favorite season and always feels the shortest. These next couple weeks we'll be sure to be soaking in the last of our beach days for a while and enjoying the sunshine.  Our anniversary is also coming up, September 22 and we are trying to think of something fun to do with the kids and also alone together.  Let me know if you guys have any fun ideas?! Also what is your favorite season and why?






^^^DISNEY^^^



^^^FIRST TIMER... 8.30.16 ^^^

  ^^^best buddies. it makes my heart so so dang happy. Best gift i could ever give them is each other.^^^


^^^When you roll to the beach straight from nap.. leggings. ha ^^^^

^^^backyard play^^^

^^^love wearing my babies^^^

^^^^cousins who are best buds^^^


  ^^^She wants to be IN the water and hanging with the big kids^^^^




Have a great holiday weekend!!
Xo