Two front teeth for Christmas!

Our Christmas was the best yet! We had so much fun spending time together with each other and with our families. It makes all the difference when you have little ones to share it with.

Christmas Day Monkey Boy's top right tooth popped through. It has been giving him trouble for weeks! The left one isn't far behind. In addition, Frog's top left one appeared yesterday! So, we got two front teeth for Christmas!

On the milestone's front, Frog started clapping yesterday. It is so cute! She won't clap if anyone else is clapping. She has to have the attention. Then she smiles so big! I'm so proud of her!

Ms. E had her twins!

A couple of months ago I spoke of Ms. E and her twins. Her sac had ruptured at 17 weeks and she was put on strict bed rest. On Thursday, at 32 weeks 2 days the babies arrived. Both are girls. Baby A was 3 lbs 3 oz. Baby B was 3 lbs 14 oz. They are beautiful!!!!!!

Baby B is right up their with the other 32 weekers. She is a little spitfire! She fought the breathing tube like a true warrior. Now she is happy to only have a regular nose piece.



Baby A is a fighter. She had originally was having some problems with her heart rate, lungs, blood pressure, etc. She had to have a tube placed in her lung because it popped. HOWEVER, she is hanging in there and is doing MUCH MUCH better! In fact, they are taking the tube out already! She is still in critical condition, but is improving daily!



Baby B will likely go home by the end of the year. Baby A may have to stay a little longer. So, keep the prayers coming.

These babies truly are a miracle. They have awesome parents that have been, and are doing such a wonderful job. I'm am proud to call them my friends!

Grow babies... and keep getting strong!

Christmas or July?

I've heard of Christmas in July, but who ever heard of July at Christmas? I ask this because of the totally wonky weather we have been having. Last Wednesday we had some snow flurries at the airport. They said that was a record first. Thursday was freezing rain in the morning. Yesterday it was 81 degrees. WHAT???!!!! Yup! 81 degrees. By the end of the day I had the babies in diapers (Cute Fuzzi Bunz of course), t-shirts, and their new babylegs. I even had to turn on the air conditioner so we could sleep, as our house had gotten up to 75 degrees.

Hubby and I were talking about how wrong it feels. It is suppose to be COLD right now! What is going on????!!!! Global Warming? I think that might be a STRONG possibility!

True Love

I just watched "the Waitress". When she held her daughter for the first time it took me back. I pictured what my two looked like the first time I saw them. I imagined the first time I cradled them in my arms. It made me teary eyed just thinking about how tiny they were and how much I was filled with love.

Will I always remember those first moments? Will I recall every detail of their little cherub faces and their tiny hands?

I want to... Oh do I want to. I will never forget how much I love them. It is so hard watching them grow. I want to stay in every moment. They are so precious!

Teething

The twins have been teething for some time now. Monkey's top area looks like there are corn kernels stuck up under the skin. His gums are so swollen and red. I feel bad for him.

Frog's aren't near as swollen or red. I thought her's might be awhile... Nope, her top right one is peeking through. It is slowly edging its way down.

Teething is such a battle. Both babies have been going through big periods of fussiness. I think it's teething... No, I think it might be a growth spurt... No, maybe it is because he knows how to crawl now... Maybe it was because she was up all night...

You never know! For the last couple of weeks I was sure they were teething. Especially with Monkey's swollen gums. Both were fussy, clingy, etc. They did some ear pulling here and there, but they've done that before. I read ear pulling may not mean anything.

Last Sunday, they got a fever. "It is just teething." I was told by more than one person. I wanted to take them to Urgent Care, but I listened to everyone else.

On Tuesday they still had a fever. I finally decided to take them to the Dr. Thank God I did! Both had double ear infections! Frog had blisters on her ear drums. Both were given penicillin. I felt HORRIBLE!!!!!

The Dr. said it is hard to figure it out. Many people bring in babies for similar symptoms and it is teething. Some, think it's teething and it is an ear infection.

She also said I am doing what I can. We don't smoke, the babies stay home with me instead of going to daycare, and they are both breast fed.

Now they have been on antibiotics for over a week. They are better, but still fussy, whiny, and clingy. SO, I guess this time it IS teething.

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Christmas smile!

Last week I tried to take a Christmas picture for about 3 HOURS. We didn't end up using this picture... we used ones with Christmas lights, but this one is one of my favorite. I LOVE the smile on Monkey's face. He is going through this faze in which he squishes his eyes when smiling big. Frog looks so sweet. She is such a doll!

Yuck!

He did it again! The diaper I had taken off was full. So, I thought I was safe. NOPE! This time it was big. What do I do with this kid?!!! lol

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good
Little Frog has a new tooth sprouting out! It is her top right one. She already looks adorable with the bottom two. I bet these next ones will make her by far the cutest little girl in the world! :)

The Bad
I have avoided onions, for the most part, since the babies were born. Yesterday I had French Onion soup for lunch and some red onion on my pizza for dinner. BAD IDEA! Poor little Frog woke up in the middle of the night with an upset tummy. She puked all over her crib and all over herself (including her hair). That is the only thing that was eaten out of the ordinary. No more onions for Mommy!

The Ugly
Tonight the Wondertwins were having their bath. (Side note: now that they can sit and we have the bath seats they enjoy a bath almost every other day.) They were playing and having a good time. They were banging the boats against their seats. It was a joyious time... UNTIL... I glanced down and there were little turds floating all around Monkey Boy. What the heck?!!! How did that get there?!!!! "Honey, HELP!!!! GET THE BABIES OUT OF THE TUB!!! THERE IS POOP EVERYWHERE!!!!"

I'm not sure how or when he accomplished this feat. All three of us were right there playing! Maybe it has something to do with his Daddy and his skills... lol. There were probably 30-40 little things floating around. So, we spent the next 30 minutes cleaning the tub and the toys.

Ahhhhh... what fun. Just gotta keep taking it one day at a time!

Pulling up!

Last Monday I was in the living room playing with the Wondertwins. I went to hang up the phone... when I turned around Monkey Boy was standing! He had pulled up on the coffee table. I got a bit of video before he plopped down. I tried to get him to do it again, but he wouldn't.

Today, the babies went down for their nap rather late. The fussed and fought. I decided to separate them so they could fall asleep easier. I hadn't been gone but about 5 minutes. I went in to see Monkey hanging over the side of the crib trying to reach the strap of a toy hanging in Frog's crib!!! Had I not gone in, he probably would have tumbled out!!!!

So, tonight the Hubby and I had to lower his mattress. He is now about 1ft lower than his sister. However, he is safe... For NOW! lol

AND THAT is why we call him Monkey!!!!

HAPPY

You can't help but smile when you look at these two munchkins. They crack me up!



This was on our trip to the beach at the end of October. It was the Wondertwins first visit. I love this family picture!

The big C

I found out last night... my dad has cancer. My Daddy... one of my best friends... the person I have shared the most with... one of the people I am closest to... one of the most important persons in my life... has cancer. It is prostate cancer. I hear... if you are going to get cancer, that is the kind to have. It is one of the most easily treated. For that I am grateful.

He is my Daddy. I have looked up to him forever. It feels like a brick hit me. He is a fighter. He will be fine. I know he will. He is my Daddy... he has cancer... and he will be fine.

We have a crawler!

As of last week Monkey Boy officially became a crawler. He had been doing the one hand/one elbow/one knee/one foot scoot for a couple of weeks. Then, last Tuesday he just figured it out. Now he is on the go!!!! His favorite thing to do is chase the dogs.

Better watch out puppies... he is getting faster every day!

It's a family thing

Monkey boy woke many times through the night. He is sporting a runny nose this morning. Little frog is coughing. I think I have shared my cold. This is one time I DIDN'T want to share with them! Hopefully, breast feeding will help them get better quick!

Miserable!

Somehow I caught a cold. I am breastfeeding the Wondertwins. So, I have to rely on fluids, vitamins, and rest. I am trying to get a ton of all three. I am so stuffy and have a runny nose (how these can go together is beyond me!). My eyes are itchy and I can't stop sneezing.

Being sick with babies sucks. You just want to curl up with a box of tissues and sleep. I'm sure a ton of cold meds would help too. Instead I change diapers between nose blowing and drink orange juice as I nurse. I am hoping to nap when they nap.

Lord help me survive!

Wondertwin's milestones

So, we have some big steps. Monkey boy finally has two teeth sprouting up. The bottom left one was felt last Sunday. The bottom, front, right tooth was felt the following day.

In addition, he all of a sudden started making consonant sounds today! On the way to the vet he kept saying, "Mamamama... Bababab... Gu Gu". I was so excited to hear him!

Little Frog started sitting up on her own for long periods yesterday. She and Monkey like to play with a little piano. She sat for about 30 minutes playing with it!

She also stretches her mouth horizontally and says, "Yaya ya ya ya ya". It is so cute... especially with those two little bottom teeth.

They are getting so big!

A picture of recent happenings

Our cute little Trick-or-treat babies!




Sweet girl!


Crazy hairdo!


Family picture.


Sunrise at Myrtle Beach. This was the Wondertwins first visit to the beach.


We couldn't find pumpkins. So, we got some squash to decorate with nuts and veggies. Hey, it's in the same family!

First Costumes

News from the Wonder Twins

Monkey Boy is on the verge of crawling. He gets on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth. He gets so excited about it!!!


Little Frog has her two bottom teeth. Since they have come in she is Ms. Smiley! She is so cute and gets tickled at just about anything!!!

Prayers Please

Through our local twins club I met a woman who was interested in cloth diapering. We will call her Liz. She and I have become friends. She is pregnant with twin girls.

At around 17 1/2 weeks baby A's sac ruptured. The doctors said there was nothing they could do until after 24 weeks. Liz was put on strict bed rest.

She will be 22 weeks tomorrow. Each week she goes in for an ultrasound. Baby A still has no amniotic fluid. Yet, she survivies. Aparently she keeps making fluid, but it leaks out. Both babies continue to grow. Both have strong heartbeats.

As you know, I was on strict bed rest for the last part of my prenancy. It is SOOOOoooo Hard!!! It is the hardest thing I have ever done. Liz has been on bed rest for over a month. I am so very proud of her! She is doing a wonderful job, baking those babies!

Anyway, please please keep Liz, her husband D, and their twin girls (nicknamed, the "aliens") in your thoughts and prayers. Every little bit helps!

News from the Wonder Twins

I apologize for not keeping up on posting. The Wonder Twins have bad colds. They both sport runny noses and glazed over eyes. I feel so bad for them. I have been letting them eat and sleep whenever they feel like it. I know that is what I would want to do if I were sick.

The big news of the hour... Duh duh duh DUHHHHhh... On Saturday I felt Little Frog's 1st tooth coming in!!!!!!!! She had been fussy for a few days. I let her drink out of my glass of water. When she did I noticed a red dot on her gums. I rubbed it a few times throughout the day. That evening I felt a little sharp edge.

To my total surprise... today I was giving her a bath. I looked at her lower gums to check out her new tooth coming up. I saw, not one tooth, but TWO coming in!!!!! Good gracious this is all happening fast!

I am excited, but sad. This is a huge milestone... but she will never give me that "gummy grin" again. I can't wait to see her grin with a couple of teeth though!

DINNER!!!!!

I love making food for the Wonder Twins. It is so much easier than people think it is. It is certainly less expensive! I bought an organic sweet potato for under $2. I made as much food as I would have gotten out of 8 baby food jars.

The best part is... I know what my children are eating. There is no extra sodium... no sugars... no unknown preservatives.

It makes me feel better... and best of all... they LOVE IT!!!!

Halloween Treats

I know Halloween is a month away. However, with cute little outfits you have to wear them as much as you can. So... we are starting today.

Ha Ha Ha... Funny Mommy!

The Wonder Twins were looking cute today. Froggy has her hair in "fraggle style" pig tails and Monkey Boy is his usual smiley self. SOOOoooooo... I thought, "What a great opportunity to get pictures of both of them!!!!! LOL I don't know what I was thinking!

Monkey has a fascination with Frogs socks. Frog just keeps throwing a fit. Eventually, I gave up and put them down for naps. Maybe I will try again another day.

Such a beautiful baby!!!!!!

"Hey! I know you!"



"WHOA!!!!!!"



"Seriously???!!!!"


"Look, my first time sitting without help!"


"What did you say?"


"Hey! I know I'm cute with my little pig tails!"


"This is Mommy's favorite picture. I can't help being so adorable!"

How in the H-E- Double Hockey sticks, did she do that?!!!!

So, yesterday Ms K, Monkey Boy, Little Frog, and I were all playing on the floor. Frog was whining. So, I went to put her in bed.

When I got back into the living room, there was a poopy diaper on the floor. I could not figure out where it came from. Did Ms. K get it out of the trash? Had I changed her earlier and somehow forgotten to throw the diaper away? Had Big Dog or Puppy gotten it out of the trash? It was a mystery.

I threw it away and we played some more until Monkey and Ms K got sleepy. I picked Ms K up and realized, her diaper was missing!!!!!! The crazy thing was, she was wearing a one piece romper that had pants! How she got her diaper off and down her pant leg was the real conundrum!

My only guess is that when crawling and toddling around it had undone on one side. With all the movement it just slid down her leg.

I guess we will never truly know.

Then and Now

It seems like we just brought the Wonder Twins home yesterday. They were so very tiny. You could hold them in your hands. They didn't even fit the preemie clothes we had.


Now time has passed. They have learned how to smile, roll, giggle, etc. I amazed with each new thing they learn.

Monkey Boy likes to hold his own bottle. He only needs me to prop it back up every once in awhile.


Little Frog is discovering books. She loves this little album with pictures of Monkey Boy, herself, Puppy, Mommy and Daddy.


I am so very very grateful, especially to my husband, that I can stay home with them. I don't want to miss anything!

Cute tush

One day Monkey Boy may fuss at me for putting up this picture. But, it is just so darn cute! I can't help myself. He just has the cutest little tushie!

Little Frog and her Big Dog

Stranger Anxiety

Today we went to visit my husband at work. It was the first time his co-workers had seen the Wonder Twins since they were 2 months old. Monkey Boy was sleeping when we went in. He woke to find a bunch of women looking at him. He immediately started crying. We let a friend hold Little Frog... She started crying too! The only thing that kept them calm was if Mommy or Daddy was holding them. They have never been like this before. Most of the time they are happy go lucky and will let just about anyone hold them.

So, I guess the stranger anxiety has begun!

Got the Giggles!

Sometimes the babies get into a laughing fit. Here is Monkey Boy cracking up. I can't help but laugh when I watch it!

Who is that Baby in the mirror?

My mom said I use to love to look at myself in the mirror while bouncing. So, we put up a mirror next to ours. Bree will jump for awhile, then check out the baby in the mirror... jump... check... etc. She LOVES that jumperoo!!!

Tips for Moms or Dads

Periodically, I will try to post some tips I have figured out. They may not work for everyone, but it works for me.

Tip #1

Babies often fall asleep in the car. If it is soon to be nap time, and I am headed somewhere, I go ahead and leave early. I let them sleep in the car so they get more of a nap. I check out books on CD. So, if I am driving to get them to fall asleep, or I am at my destination but don't want to disturb them, I enjoy a good book. I am currently listening to "Other People's Children". I am often sitting in my drive way, returned from some outing, listening to a story while the Wonder Twins sleep.

Little Tar Heels

My husband is a major Carolina fan... That makes me one by marriage... That makes my children ones by birth. So, here are our Little Tar Heels!

A sitting Monkey

We have been working on sitting. Most of the time the Wonder Twins just topple over. Today, Monkey Boy stayed up! He sat long enough for me to run and get the camera, then snap a few pics. I finally laid him on his tummy when he started getting red in the face and looked at me with that "SAVE ME MOMMY!" look on his face. I am so proud of him!