Life With The Newlyweds: October 2011

October 8, 2011

6 Months Old
Happy 1/2 Birthday, Girls!

Payton
14 pounds 7 ounces

Eats 4-5 ounces every 3-4 hours during the day. Eats oatmeal in the morning and rice cereal and a vegetable at night before the last bottle. Wears size 2 diapers and 3 or 3-6 month clothes.

Payton has started the "happy scream". She squeals all the time and it is loud!!
She is still swaddled at night and for naps but she has developed a new way to sleep. She arches her back and throws her head back, she kind of looks like a banana!

She has also figured out how to spit and will get her shirt soaked by spitting.
She has discovered how to jump in the jumparoo and will squeal when she is jumping.

She has found her toes and grabs then all of the time. They haven't made it to her mouth yet.
When she wakes up she just lays happily in her crib talking to herself, spitting, and playing with her paci until I get her. I have to really watch the monitor to see when she is awake.

Payton, I cannot believe you have been in our life for half a year already! We love to watch you as you learn that you can reach for toys and put them in your mouth. You have the sweetest but loudest happy scream that always makes us laugh. We also enjoy watching your funny faces as you try a new veggie. We are so blessed to be your parents. We love you sweet girl!

McKinley
15 pounds 12 ounces

Eats 4-5 ounces every 3-4 hours during the day. Eats oatmeal in the morning and rice cereal and a vegetable at night before the last bottle. Wears size 2 diapers and 3 or 3-6 month clothes.

McKinley has really started to hold her own bottle.
She has also started to enjoy the jumparoo and has learned how to jump in it.

She is such a chatter box, 'talking' to herself or whomever will listen!
She rolls constantly during tummy time, she will be off the quilt within 5 minutes. Whenever we put her down to sleep we put her on her back but she has rolled onto her belly before we leave the room.

The teething process has begun and it keeps her up at night sometimes, she rolls around her crib like she cannot get comfortable. She has only had a couple screaming fits because of her tooth.
Everything she can get her hands on go into her mouth, especially our fingers.

McKinley, I cannot believe you have been in our life for half a year already! We cannot believe that you are already getting a tooth, you are such a big girl already. We love to listen to you talk. You are so fun to watch as you roll all over the floor. We enjoy watching your funny faces as you try a new veggie. We are so blessed to be your parents. We love you sweet girl!

This past month the girls and I have really gotten into a good schedule. Life with twins has really gotten a lot easier, the bottles have drastically decreased as they are eating more ounces less frequently, they are very content to play with each other on the floor, they are showing more personality, and sleeping a lot better! This is probably my favorite stage so far.

It is amazing to watch the girls learn new things daily. We have really noticed their hand eye coordination develop. They are now reaching and grabbing things and putting them directly into their mouth. They have also discovered Berkley and love to watch him chew on his bone or walk across the room. I think he has also started loving them because he will stand real still next to them and let them touch him. They just laugh when they see him.
This past month the girls have tried several new veggies. They definitely have their favorites. Payton loves squash and McKinley loves sweet potatoes. They also enjoy avocado and of course their rice cereal.

I cannot believe that the girls are already 1/2 a year old. These past 6 months we have learned more than we would have ever imagined, been more sleep deprived than we expected, washed more laundry and bottles than I care to think about, cried some, laughed lots, and experienced love and joy beyond measure. Thank you for coming into our lives sweet girls!

October 8, 2011

Matt and I met at the University of Arkansas. Matt has been a big Arkansas fan since he was a kid (he still talks about watching the basketball championship game in 1994!). Now, to say Matt is a fan is an understatement. I remember going to Arkansas sporting events with my dad when I was a kid. It was always a big deal to get to travel the 45 minutes to a game! I enjoy watching the Hogs play and getting together with family and friends for the games.

My brother recently transferred to Auburn to continue his Marine Biology study. So, when my brother and Matt get together it is always a "bashing each others team" fest. Arkansas and Auburn were scheduled to play each other on October 8. My brother drove 10 hours to the U of A to attend the game. We decided that we needed to attend the game as well.

My brother has not seen the girls since this past summer. They have grown a lot since then. He got to hang out with them before the game, but they are not sure about that color orange!!

We dressed up the girls and headed up to tailgate before the game. (I am getting a little better at making shirts!)

We went of one of my friends house for lunch. It was so good to see everyone and visit. They girls also did great being held and passed around. We then headed to a few other tailgates on campus. We stopped by to see a long time friend of mine and her family. She has a son about 2 months younger than the girls. It was so good to meet Thomas and see Sarah and Mark.

(I stole this picture from her! I didn't lug my camera with me but I am so glad she took this picture, even though none of the babies are looking)

After tailgating we drove back to watch the game on TV. We thought that 2 babies wouldn't last or appreciate a football game! Matt got to watch the game with this little fan. The front of her shirt is a Hog and the back a tiger tail. She had to support both teams since both of her uncles rooted for opposite teams.

Fortunately, Arkansas won! It was such a great day filled with good friends and family.

October 6, 2011

The girls got to try butternut squash tonight. They absolutely loved it! Matt and I also tried it (pureed and all) and it was better than I expected. I think squash might be a new veggie on the adult menu as well!

They are such great eaters and will eat anything we give them. Starting solids has been a very easy, yet very messy, road. I was excited in the beginning about starting solids but was nervous that they would not like most of the stuff we gave them. But, they have been troopers and will eat anything. I sure hope it stays with them for the rest of their life and they don't become picky eaters.

We have also been really working on sitting up. They both will sit supported but once we let go they topple over. Payton is doing great and will sit, kind of like a tripod, with her hands in between her feet. She will sit for a little bit and she even tries to catch herself before falling over.

McKinley hasn't figured out the tripod move like sister. She will balance with her feet apart for a little bit but she doesn't try to catch herself and just falls over. I know soon they will both have the hang of sitting up like big girls.

October 5, 2011

I have 2 of the sweetest baby girls. They are getting bigger and bigger each day. This week they have really become cuddle bugs. Whenever they get tired or especially when they wake up from their nap they will lay their head on my shoulder and let me hold them.

When I get them out of their crib they will lay their head down and we snuggle for a while before they are ready to play. I absolutely love that they are beginning to cuddle with me. Payton is more of the snuggler than McKinley, who has become my busy body!

I really try to stop everything and spend time holding my girls instead of just putting them down for a nap or letting them play right after waking up. Clean laundry, a clean house, or a hot dinner, are not as important as holding my babies, while they are still babies. I try to soak up each little baby snuggle, it is amazing how fast time goes and how fast they grow. I think time flies faster once you have kids.

Our sweet friend, Claire, sent us these cute onesies in the mail. They sure are 2 very cute Arkansas fans!

October 3, 2011

McKinley has been teething lately. We have had several sleepless nights where she is up stirring around throughout the night, like she can't get comfortable. We have had screaming fits during the day. She is constantly drooling and chewing on anything she can get her hands on. After all of that we finally have a tooth!

I tried to get a picture of it but this is all I could get! My big girl and her first tooth!

October 1, 2011

Several months ago I decided that I needed something to do during the day. Ha! As if taking care of 2 babies, washing bottles, doing laundry, cleaning house...were not enough! I felt like I needed something for me that I could do and feel productive. I decided to buy a embroidery machine. I thought it would be a great way to create cute things for the girls...and ultimately save money because I wouldn't be buying monogrammed things, I would make them.
I thought, how hard can it be the machine does everything you just have to put fabric in and turn it on. WRONG!! It has turned out to be the most complicated thing I have done. I have absolutely no sewing experience...my mom had to teach me how to set the machine up and thread a needle! I don't think I have saved any money either. I don't know how many onesies and shirts I have had to throw away because the words are crooked, not centered, or I monogram the front of the shirt to the back! BUT I keep my head up and keep trying. After 3 months I am just starting to get the hang of the machine and can actually monogram straight and to where the shirt still goes over the girls head!

My latest project was game day onesies for the girls. To my surprise it was a lot easier than I expected...I guess I am getting a little better at it!

I think they are ready to cheer for the Hogs and see them beat Texas A&M!

We went over to our friends house to watch the game. The girls did so good! They played on the floor for the first half then had bottles and slept for the second half.

I was very nervous during the 4th quarter that the screams of excitement would wake the girls but they were champs and slept right through the noise.

Before we left we tried to get a picture of the 3 little girls. It is very hard to get 3 babies to stay sitting and not fall over, stop pulling each others bows, and look at the camera (too much for a baby to think about!). We did the best we could and still got some cute pictures!

September 29, 2011

This afternoon the girls were playing with their toys on their quilt in the living room. I left two babies on the floor and went to the bathroom. I came back to find only one baby on the quilt where I had left her. I had a brief moment of panic but realized that McKinley could not have gone very far. In the few minutes that I was gone she had scooted under the coffee table. I knew she could roll but I have never seen her scoot, especially that far that fast!

She is just checking things out from under the table! Pretty soon I will have a crawler and my hands will be very full!

When McKinley started rolling in her crib we immediately stopped swaddling her and she did great, sleeping through the night still. We have been trying for several weeks to break Payton from her swaddle, even though she is not rolling in her crib, we just think it is time. She is not taking to being swaddled as well as her sister. She flails her arms and legs and screams until she is swaddled. Once we swaddle her she instantly goes to sleep.

I have been trying to put her down for naps unswaddled but most of the time I give in after about 10 minutes of her screaming. She has figured out how to wiggle her hands out but she stays asleep the entire time is she swaddled...we even have to wake her up sometimes! I think we have a long road ahead of us!

September 28, 2011

When we lived in my hometown my parents had us over for dinner every Wednesday. Now that we are living in Matt's hometown he talked his parents into continuing the tradition. We always look forward to Wednesdays. I am excited because I get out of the house, don't have to cook, don't have to clean up, and get a lot of extra help with the girls night time routine. We also really enjoy visiting with Mimi and Grand-daddy.

I cannot believe how big the girls look in their bumbo seats. They are so good at holding their head up and eating in their seats.

The girls were playing footsy while they patiently waited for their dinner. I absolutely love those little baby feet!

Matt has become quite the pack-mule for ALL the stuff that the girls need. Poor Matt! But he always carries things with a smile on his face! For our visit to Mimi's we bring:
2 bumbo seats, bowls, spoons, baby food, a set of bottles, baby towels, washcloth, shampoo, lotion, diapers, pj's, swaddle blanket.
We usually feed the girls and put them to bed before we eat so that we can have a nice quiet meal and visit. Then we pack up our sleeping babies and head home. The girls do so good and put up with us carting them places. They even stay asleep in their car seats and when we transport them to their cribs...they can sleep almost anywhere! We are so lucky to have great sleepers!

September 27, 2011

Daddy's girl...

The girls have grown quite fond of their daddy. When he comes home they cannot take their eyes off of him. They listen to his voice so intently and hang on his every word!
Matt is a great dad. Each day when he comes home he goes straight to the girls and will play with them until it is time for dinner (which is a great break for me!). He helps feed the girls, alternating each night to be sure not to give one all his attention! He also is a big help during the bath/bedtime routine. He gets the bath ready while I wipe the food off the girls faces. I bathe them while he gets our night time bottles ready. Then, he comes and helps lotion, diaper, and clothe the girls. We have also started reading a book before bottles and he gets to be the narrator! We each then feed a baby and put them to bed.

September 26, 2011

My favorite part of the day is the morning, and I never used to be a morning person. Matt brings the girls into our room before he leaves in the morning. They usually fall back asleep or we 'talk' until they fall back asleep. I love laying around with my girls, they are so happy and have such big smiles in the morning.

Berkley also enjoys lounging with the girls. He has become more protective of them and is typically laying around where ever they are. He will also come and stand next to me if they are crying, as a way of telling me, "Go pick up that baby!". They (all three of them!) will typically sleep while I sneak out and get a few things done before our day begins...I love mornings!

September 25, 2011

Tonight we tried a new veggie...sweet potatoes. The girls absolutely loved them from the first bite to the end of the bowl!

I have decided to make the girls food, which is a lot easier than I thought. I steam the vegetable then puree it in my food processor. I put the pureed food in ice cube trays to freeze it. Tonight the girls had 4 ice cubes of sweet potatoes (about 4 ounces).

Daddy fed McKinley this time! He makes a mess but I am so thankful that he helps at feeding time!

September 24, 2011

We decided to go home this weekend to visit my family. We hadn't been home in several weeks and we always love being there. Whenever we leave town it takes me about 2 days to get the girls things washed and packed, but it is so worth it when we get to see family.
The girls have a toy hanging across the bars or their car seat, and they are lifesavers! The girls love to stare at the toys and try to grab them. They have just discovered that if you pull one of the toys it plays music and if you pull it again it changes songs. So the entire way home Matt and I were serenaded with songs from the girls car seat toys. Most of the time both girls were pulling their toys so we heard 2 different songs at the same time. But the girls were happy and not crying so I guess it was worth it!