Exhausting Weekend

We had a crazy abet fun weekend! Friday afternoon started off with an exciting trip to Raleigh. My mom, mother-in-law, and husband were all amazing at getting everything packed and together so that I was able to leave directly from school to meet my cheerleading squad. We competed at 7:00 on Friday evening and did so well! I was so proud of my girls. My babies handled it beautifully! I was able to find a quiet dark room in the Raleigh Convention Center to nurse them in and get them ready for bed. I was shocked that they slept through the loud cheer music and even louder awards session.

My girls took home 3rd place out of 7. I was a little disapointed that they hit a perfect routine and only place 3rd. I am feeling pretty guilty as a coach for not pushing them harder. This definitely was not my year to coach. Coaching took a backseat to my children (as it should) but I definitely didn't deliver as I normally do. I am looking forward to stepping up my game next year! We went out to eat after the competition at Sweet Tomatoes on of our favorite Raleigh chains.

Saturday morning we woke up SUPER early to head to the convention center where my high school squad was performing. The hit almost everything but came in last place. I am definitely feeling the guilt of not being a super coach. I was also a bit upset with our choreographer for not making our routine difficult enough. The girls took it well and are very motivated for next year! I LOVE my high school girls and have the best time coaching them.

We stopped at some of my favorite places on the way back to Charlotte on Saturday. First stop was Snoopy's for hot dogs and second was the Tanger Outlets in Mebane. I was feeling pretty crummy about the cheer competition and engaged in some retail therapy. Jcrew outlet had a few good sales and I got some cute spring-y things. Jay and I both scored at Vineyard Vines, he got a pair of pants and I got a dress for $10 each. My Mom bought Holden an adorable kids rain coat for $20 (originally $165).

keepin it really in my hoodie, pj pants, and stay at home socks

We arrived home to watch Carolina beat us in basketball ball, put the kids to bed, and passed out super early! We were exhausted from the busy weekend. We skipped out on church on Sunday morning and stayed in bed and cuddled with the babies. Jay had to leave to take the boy he mentors to a youth rally at UNCC followed by a basketball game so I had the babies alone for the day. We decided to go out for a fun lunch with Gigi and aunt Boey! The weather was perfect and we enjoyed eating outside.

Takes his milk very seriously

good morning

Hey Daddy

Emma Cate's adorable tushy

pretty Sophie girl got a bath at the dog boarding place

I spent the rest of the day playing with the babies. They are so much fun! We did a little finger play with cool whip on our high chair trays. Emma Cate loved it, Holden didn't appreciate the messy feeling on his fingers as much. Emma Cate has changed her smile from more of an 0 shape to the shape of a wide mouth frog. She also started breathing really heavily through her nose and cracks herself up laughing when she does this. She is one silly kid. I am amazed by both of them every day! Yesterday they both sat up and played with toys for hours. We recently bought a gymnastics type mat to put on our hardwood floors (we had a rug but after a dog accident or two we decided to throw it away and haven't replaced it yet). The mat is great and both babies can roll and tumble without getting hurt.

Jay got home after I put the kids to bed and we made a random supper. I feel like I am getting the flu so I loaded up on good for you veggies and pasta. I am started weight watchers today to lose some more weight. I was super pleased with how much weight I lost after giving birth but still have a long way to go to my goal weight. I'm hoping that joining weight watchers and heading the gym will help me lose all my weight before getting pregnant again!

8 Months

Emma Cate and Holden,
You are EIGHT months old! I can't believe I am actually writing your 8 month post! That sounds sooo big to me!

What our life is like:

Really similar to 7 months. I wake up at 5:40 and pump. I'm pumping around 18 ounces each morning. My supply is still decreasing but I'm working on it, regardless, you are still getting 100% breastmilk. We use the freezer stash when I don't produce enough. We wake you up around 6:45am for a diaper change. Recently you have both been leaking your diapers in the morning. We switched to a new brand and they seem to hold tinkle better. You sleep 12 hours and are still super heavy wetters. We have to make sure we put them on really well the night before!

You eat a 6oz bottle at 7am and then a solid around 8:15am. So far you have tried bananas, oatmeal, prunes, apples, green beans, avocado, lentils, sweet potato, peas, yogurt, pears, carrots, and zucchini. You both love fruits and don't like veggies very much. Holden does love his peas though. They make Mommy gag! Emma Cate gags when she is fed veggies with the exception of sweet potatoes. We had our first experience with diaper rash this month. The carrots did not agree with your sweet little tushes. 

Developmentally Holden is pretty much on target. He rolls all over the place and is starting to get up on all fours. He also sits unassisted for a long period of time and is starting to fall on his hands to get into crawling position. He also scoots backwards and I can't leave him alone in the room! I've found you stuck under the exersaucer and coffee table! You both hold your bottles likes champs and its sooo nice for Mommy that you both feed yourselves. Emma Cate is doing GREAT in PT. She now holds her upper body up while doing tummy time, sits unassisted for 30-45 minutes while turning her head. She is playing with toys while sitting up and laying on her belly and has just started grabbing her toes. We think she'll be rolling over soon! She is also barely starting to scoot backwards. This girl may skip rolling over in favor of crawling. Emma Cate is a talker and a singer. In the car she likes to sing along with any music. She also is chatty and I think I've heard the beginnings of hey and dada.

You both nap from 8:30 or 9 until 10. Around 10:30 you eat another 6oz bottle and at 12:15 you have another solid food. You nap from 12:30-1:30 and then have another bottle at 2pm and at 4:30. You nurse at 6:30 and are in bed by 6:45. Some days it is earlier. I think we need to figure out a 3pm nap to hold you off a little longer. Our night time routine includes a bath every other night. We just bought bath seats and you love to sit in the big tub and play. Most nights we still wash you in the sink though because it is so much easier.

Holden is looking more and more boyish. You have a sweet, mischievous smile and flirty little eyes. Emma Cate has changed facial expressions this month and has a little devilish side coming out. You both have sweet giggles and love being tickled under the chin.

Emma Cate:
Nicknames:  P (daddy's nickname for you), Emma Tate, Taters (we use this one the most), Cate, Tatie Boo.
Weight: you had to get a shot this month and were 14lbs 8oz in clothes and a diaper
Height: not sure
Hair: I think it is looking more brown but you are still so bald. 
Eyes: Blueish grey
Clothes: You feel like you grew taller this month. You are mostly in 6 and 9 month clothes. Your 3 month onesies slide off your shoulders. Diapers are still the same. Bum Genius diapers are on the smallest rise with two snaps showing in the middle.  
Eating: 6oz for 3 bottles a day and 5oz for the 4th bottle. You nurse before bedtime. Two solid feeding a day, normally plain greek yogurt with pears or bananas for breakfast and a fruit or veggie for lunch.
Likes: Watching TV (I've got to keep an eye on this habit!), your pink blanky, watching mommy cook, your bottle, your paci, standing up, watching Holden, your elephant that hangs in your car seat, looking in the mirror, talking, being tossed in the air, being tickled around your neck. Loves singing and "talking", loves when we point at her and say "YOU" and smile. Likes to feed herself. LOVES mardi gras beads (man I'm in trouble!). Likes bouncing on the PT ball. 
Dislikes: tummy time (but its getting better!) and putting her hands in front of her
Development: Sits up, pushes up through hands, rolls over with assistance, scoots backwards, wants to feed herself, you've also started blowing raspberries and sticking your tongue out. You think you are adorable when you do this.
Words: hey, dada, ah
Teeth: not yet!

Extra: I have really enjoyed this month with you! You are funny and fun. You are a busy body and love when people enter the room. You love the puppies, especially when they lick your hands (yuck). You love your Holden and stare at him when he plays. You are quick to give him your toys to play with. We may need to work on that. You are happy happy happy during diaper changes and love being diaper free. You have gotten much more picky with your foods and GAG and spit and choke and are quite the drama queen when you don't like something! You will sit in my lap and play and its so fun to see you smile. You have started a new smile where you squint and then blow in and out of your nose really hard.

Holden
Nicknames: Holdy and Holds and Terry for the pterodactyl noises you make.  You go by Holden most of the time.
Weight: 14lbs 6 oz. My skinny mini
Height: You are long and lean!
Hair: blond. It continues to grow. and I think it's getting a little darker.
Eyes: Bright blue
Clothes: Mostly 6-9 months.
Diapers: Bumgenius 4.0 and freetime. They are set two snaps bigger than the smallest size.
Eating: 6oz bottles 4 times a day and nursing at night. Your nursing has gotten so much better and its one of my favorite times with you. You love to "pet" me while you nurse and play with my hair.
Likes: Roo Song, "Listen to the Leaves" song, dancing, playing with his toes, being held/carried, being naked, standing up, dancing, cuddling (you are a huge cuddler), you love exploring and rolling everywhere. You love your lovie and holding blankets up to your face. You love to grab Sophie's hair and pull on it. You love your tambourine and any toys that make noise. You love to steal toys from your sister. You also love to pluck her hairbows from her head and chew on them. You also love the remote and Mommy's iPhone
Dislikes: being hungry (boy likes his bottle!), being tired (you are a bear when you are tired)
Development: Sitting like a champ, rolling, leaning forward while sitting to get your toys, blowing raspberries
Words: not yet!
Teeth: not yet!

Extra: You are so inquisitive! You are very active. I put you in my lap and two seconds later you are on the go! You only are still if you are sitting up and playing with toys. We rotate toys a lot because you lose interest easily. You want to crawl SO badly! You get into the funniest yoga poses and get into plank position a lot. You scream when your bottle is empty. You also try to steal Emma Cate's bottles and it works most of the time. Good thing she is a fast eater! When you are tired it is all over. You have a few of your own separate "nap" times where you need about 15 minutes in your crib to sort things out :) You like to cuddle when you are sleepy and love nuzzling in my arms. You love your toes and still love to eat your socks. You really like any type of fabric and are very tactile. You've started shoving your entire bottle in your mouth. You are also funny and fun and I love being your mommy!

SUYL- Favorite Family Pictures

Welcome! Here are a few of our new little family that I love:

Dancing at the rehearsal dinner

where it all began

Before twins.... just two soon to be parents savoring the last few days before chaos ensues! 

Crowd outside the nursery waiting to get a peak at new babies

first time Grandma

last day of the belly

last night as a family of two

Extended family

mom and daughters

Having fun

new family

grandparents