Playtime!

The kids are in such a fun stage and we are just loving them soooo much! The spring weather is here and we're enjoying spending lots of time outside and with family.

We went for a little ihop breakfast the other week and we are at a point where the babies HATE being in their carseats during meals and much prefer these Phil & Ted's lobster chairs. Holden is quite the screecher but is easily silenced by puffs. He LOVES those things! I keep a bottle of them with us wherever we go.

Emma Cate has been pushing up like a CHAMP! I'm sure she will be crawling sometime soon. We spend a lot of our time outdoors playing around. 

The next few pictures are just some sweet ones that my mom sends me during the day while I'm at work. I LOVE getting baby pictures and hearing about what they are doing!

our new patio chairs!

modeling the Easter shirt Gigi made

Gigi spoils us rotten with TONS of toys.

practicing getting into crawling position and bearing weight on her arms

my little reader

I love not having cheerleading after work. I am able to get home around 3 and play with the babies while they are still up and happy! We've moved a lot of the toys down to the basement and the babies are loving their new space. It is so much easier for them to crawl around on the carpet and I don't have to worry about them hitting their heads on the hardwood.

Easter 2013

We had a fun time celebrating Easter this year! It was very different compared to last year were we had a small celebration as just a family of two. My how things have changed in a year!

We attended Easter service for the first time at our new church. It is CRAZY busy! We arrived 45 minutes prior to the 11am service and waited in line to get in. We barely got a seat! Thanks to Gran, Great Grandmother, Allie, & Gigi for saving seats for us while we took the babies to the nursery. The service was amazing. I just love hearing Dr. Howell preach. His sermons are always entertaining and keep my attention (which can sometimes be hard to do!).

Gran spoiled the babies with new Easter outfits while Gigi bought them each their new church shoes. It sure is nice to have such generous Grandmas! Allie and Gigi had to go home and pack Allie up to head back to GA after church so we snapped a few pictures with Jay's side.

at the Easter cross outside of the church

Jay and his mom and Grandmother

After church we came home and saw that the Easter bunny had made a visit! The babies seemed to be at least a little interested in what he brought them! They each got a new ride on toy giraffe, two bathing suits, a beach towel, sunglasses, sun hats, a new smocked outfit, glowworm, bubble gun, a hand puppet, paci clips, puffs, and a barrel of monkeys to play with. The Easter bunn(ies) sure were good to these babies!

We followed up with some portraits of the babies in their adorable Easter outfits.

 soooo proud of himself for standing up without assistance

After checking out our Easter goodies, the babies went down for naps and the adults were able to chill out for a few minutes before heading downtown for lunch at mimosa grill. We had a yummy brunch and I was just so glad I didn't have to cook! This is our second year eating a Mimosa and I think it will become a tradition!

We ended the day with some family pictures but as soon as we started the rain started coming down and we quickly wrapped things up! We had such a fun first Easter with the kids and are thankful for all the family that came to spend the day with us!

Remembering Me

I'm linking up today for the Build 'Em Up series.

Today's topic is about remembering you. It is so easy to do everything for the kids and let yourself slide. At the beginning (when the kids still slept 20 hours a day and I didn't work) I was really good about taking care of me. I worked out everyday, got ready, and got my nails done bi-weekly. As the babies got older and slept less things started to change but I've still made time for myself. Things I like to do for me:

• getting my hair done. standing appointment every 6 weeks. this is a non-negotiable. 
• errand running dates with my husband. my mil stays with us on thursday nights to watch the babies on friday and we take advantage after we put the kids to sleep and run any little errands together.
• CMOMS nights out. I go out to eat once a month with my charlotte mothers of multiples group.
• reading blogs and us weekly. my guilty pleasures. while i pump i take full advantage of the 20 minutes of quiet time and catch up with my reading.
• i have a fabulous husband that also knows my need for "me" time. he's good about being by himself with the kids (I mean he is their father after all) I can leave on a whim and he's got everything taken care of. I am so appreciative of this! I am able to take advantage of impromtu dinners and shopping trips with my mom and sisters. Doing this on a whim reminds me of my pre-child days and helps rejuvenate me :) I feel like there is always SOOO much planning when you have kids.
• nights out. my parents have graciously babysat a few times so Jay and I could really have a night on the town. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Traveling with Twins

A little reminder to myself about traveling with nursing, cloth diapered, twins.

1. Hotels are accommodating  They have cribs and pack-n-plays. Use them. Much easier than lugging ours in and out of the hotel (and we didn't have to worry about sheets). Since I am still nursing but mainly pumping  we really needed a fridge. The hotels were nice to accommodate but it doesn't hurt to mention that you need it for breastfeeding.

2. Buy a bottle warmer for the car. We didn't and we paid the price. We traveled with bottles in a cooler. Holden is sooo picky and would not drink it. I totally spent time in the rest area rotating the bottle under the hand drier trying to warm it up. We also heated up our glass bottles in gas station microwaves... hey, we didn't have a lot of options!

3. Rest Areas are your friend. So is this website to find them. They have a site for almost all interstates.

4. Pack a waterproof blanket. Perfect for letting babies play at rest areas.

5. Pack a diaper caddy. We used this from target.

It contained 4 diapers, 2 bibs, 1 spray bottle (we use water on our cloth wipes), cloth wipes (also great for messy faces and hands), children's ibuprofen, lickity split boo boo cream, extra pacis, travel baby shampoo, baby lotion, and thermometer. It was perfect for rest area diaper changes and I didn't have to fiddle with a diaper bag.

6. Prepare to stop. Frequently and unplanned.

7. Pack an easy to access bag of toys for rest areas.

8. Load your iPod with familiar baby tunes. We go to Music Together classes and the "Hello" song instantly calmed screaming babies while stuck in traffic.

9. Bring lots of change for the washing machines at hotel and use Soap Nuts as your detergent. It is so portable and you can keep it in the dirty diaper bag.

10. Plum twist on spoons are your friends. I make all the kids' babyfood but bought organic pouches for this trip. These spoons are amazing and save so much space!

Spring Break 2013

Pictures coming soon!

I am very fortunate in my job that I have always had a spring break. I don't know what I would do without it! Last year I was very pregnant and enjoyed a relaxing beach vacation with Jay. This year was 100% different. We decided to take a trip to New Port Richey, Florida to visit my Grandpa and Susan. Driving 9+ hours with two kids was no picnic but I am so thankful for the opportunity to spend time with my Grandpa. He and Susan were so hospitable and so good with the babies!

We hit the road at 7am on Monday morning. The twins had just finished bottles and we were good to go until 11am. We made great time and arrived at the Georgia welcome center just in time for 11am bottles. It was fun spreading out a blanket and relaxing at the rest area. This is something I would have NEVER done in the past (I am always go go go!) but I guess children will do that to you!

We arrived in Jacksonville and our room was ready yet so we took a stroll along the mayo clinic campus.

Funny story- I used priceline for our Jacksonville room because I am CHEAP when it comes to hotel stays that only require one night or limit use of the hotel. I used the name your own price thing and picked the Jacksonville beach area. Of 8 hotels, 7 of them were on the water. I entered $50 and my bid was accepted. Of course I "won" the only hotel NOT on the beach. The hotel happened the be the hotel for the mayo clinic. Just my luck :) The hotel was wonderful though and we had a great experience. 

Once our room was ready we got the kids dressed and headed to the beach! Just our luck it started to rain as soon as we got there. We did a change of plans and headed west towards my old house (we lived in Jacksonville for 2 years during elementary school). We decided to have an early dinner at Clark's Fish Camp. This place is so fun and good and you should definitely go if you are ever in Jacksonville. It is definitely an experience.

We got the kids down for bed back at the hotel and enjoyed some cold beers and tv in the dark (oh the perks of sharing a room with babies that go to bed at 7pm).

The next morning I woke up with the stomach virus of spring break 2013 and after some meds we finally headed south. We had a little bumble Saturday morning that may have included one of our kids falling head first off the hotel bed... the nurse at the pediatrician's office seemed more concerned about the germs infecting the scrape on our child's head from landing on the hotel floor than anything else so we loaded up and headed on.  Our trip was pleasant but the novelty of riding in the car had definitely worn off! I also was distracted and missed my exit and went 20 miles outside of our route. Whoops!

We arrived at my Grandpa's a little after lunch and after a great visit, headed out to grab Mexican at Estella's. It was delicious and the twins had a great time.

Back at home, the twins were ready to go. Holden LOVED the carpeted floors and crawled like a maniac. He also learned to pull up on furniture and pulled up on everything in sight! Grandpa and Susan thought he was such a treat! We went for a stroll around their neighborhood before settling the babies in for the night. The adults stayed up and chatted and again, I'm so thankful for this time I got to spend with Grandpa and Susan.

Wednesday morning we woke up and played a bit before naps. After naps we headed out to Fred Howard Park to play in the ocean! Holden LOVED it (and loved eating sand). Emma Cate- not so much. She and I preferred hanging on the blanket and playing with toys while the boys played in the ocean. I can do this arrangement! We only stayed about 45 minutes but that was plenty. We enjoyed a scenic drive through tarpoon springs on our way back home.

Wednesday evening the kids went to bed and we stayed up chatting with my Grandpa. I'm writing this down for my memory. We talked about his job at the post office. He told me about a time he took a shortcut through a corn field, got stuck, and delivered the mail late that day. He told me about my mom as a baby and the dog following her around as she crawled. He talked about going back to college and raising three kids under four at the same time. He talked about owning his own business. It was just so nice to sit down and chat.

We were up early Thursday morning to pack up and hit the road! We ate a quick breakfast at the Breakfast Station with Grandpa and Susan before taking pictures and saying our goodbyes. My stomach bug was still in full force and we had to stop frequently on the way home. We arrived in Savannah (our resting place for the night) with high hopes that we could take the babies for a stroll around the riverfront. Rain ruined our plans and we settled for early bedtimes and take out. We planned to walk around the next morning but the rain was still coming down so we packed up and headed home.

Spring break was crazy and fun. I wouldn't describe it as relaxing but I doubt any of our trips will be until the kids are much, much, older.

9 Months

Emma Cate and Holden,
You are NINE months old!

What our life is like:

Our routine is staying the same. We've got everything the way we like it! 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. We've made the switch to Kawaii diapers at night and love them!. You sleep 12 hours and are still super heavy wetters. We have to make sure we put them on really well the night before! Holden likes to wake up early and "cry" for us. Usually the paci does the trick and we can continue getting ready. Emma Cate is our sleeper and waking you up each morning is so much fun! You have the best sleepy faces.

We switched to 3 bottles instead of 4 this month. You both did great with the transition. You eat an 8oz 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, zucchini, bulgar, salmon, oranges, raspberries, spinach, and butternut squash. 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. Your morning meal is usually fruit with yogurt and veggies at lunch time.

Lots of new developments this month! Holden continues to be our wild man! He learned to crawl at about 8.5 months but only does one or two crawls at a time. He much prefers to roll everywhere and then scoot on his tummy. He is pulling up on everything! He loves to get in bear crawl position and can go from crawling to sitting and back to crawling. You are both able to feed yourself puffs this month! Holden grabs them by the handful and stuffs his mouth while Emma Cate picks them up one by one and eats like a lady. Emma Cate is still doing GREAT in PT. She started rolling over this month! She doesn't do it a lot, only if she REALLY wants to see something. She is very happy observing. She still doesn't love to be on her tummy but is getting better. She is very interested in things going on around her. She also really likes to stand when you hold her hands or around the coffee table. Emma Cate is a talker and a singer. She definitely says dada and ata a lot!  In the car she likes to sing along with any music.

You both nap from 8:30 or 9 until 10. Around 11 you eat another 8oz bottle and at 12:15 you have another solid food. You nap from 12:30-1:30 and then have another bottle at 3pm. You nurse at 6:45 and are in bed by 7 or 7:15. With daylight savings time, you like to stay up a little later since it is so light outside. Our night time routine includes a bath every other night followed by nursing. You both love to play in the big tub and when we've got sometime we let you hang out in there. We still use the sink baths on a lot of nights.

Holden is looking more and more boyish. He really filled out this month and I can't wait to get his stats at the doctor on the 27th. He went from chicken legs to chubby legs :) He seems so solid now! . Emma Cate is still our petite little girl. She hasn't been eating as much as Holden (boy will sometimes take a 10oz bottle in the morning and cry for more!) She loves to smile and show her gums while breathing through her mouth to make noise. We call this her big girl smile!

Emma Cate:
Nicknames:  P (daddy's nickname for you), Emma Tate, Taters (we use this one the most), Cate, Tatie Boo.
Weight: will update on the 27th
Height: ""
Hair: Can't decide between brown and blonde but still very bald
Eyes: Blueish grey
Clothes: You seem to be the same as last month. Not a huge growth spurt for you
Eating: 7 or 8oz bottles 3 times a day. 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. Mommy made you spinach, mushroom, onion, and bulgar pilaf with salmon and you actually ate it! (brother did not)
Likes: watching mommy cook, your bottle, standing up, watching Holden, 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, being sung too
Dislikes: tummy time (but its getting better!) and putting her hands in front of her
Development: Sits up, pushes up through hands, rolls over without assistance (yay!), 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, ata
Teeth: we can see a little white but nothing that has broken through yet

Extra: I was feeling a little discouraged with you progress in physical therapy this month but then all of a sudden at the end of the month you amaze me by being so active! You can roll over (you don't really love it), and will play on your tummy. You are sooo snuggly and LOVE being held. You know that I am your mama and I love it. You will put your hands out to come to me when someone else is holding you. You LOVE your daddy and light up when we enters the room. You cry easily but change to a smile when given a toy or being sung to. You really notice the world around you and love to look around. We went on the swings for the first time this month and you love it! I love when we nurse before bed. When you are full you roll over onto your back and just smile at me and babble. You are just adorable!

Holden
Nicknames: Holdy and Holds, Spatcho, and Terry for the pterodactyl noises you make.  You go by Holden most of the time.
Weight: will update on the 27th but you definitely chunked up this month
Height: ""
Hair: blond. It continues to grow. and I think it's getting a little darker.
Eyes: Bright blue
Clothes: Definitely 9 months. Most of your 6 months are too short in the stride.
Diapers: Bumgenius 4.0 and freetime and KaWaii at night.
Eating: 8oz bottles 3 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: dancing, being naked, standing up, you love exploring and rolling everywhere. You love your lovie and holding blankets up to your face. 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. New this month, you like paper and magazines, and mommy's big necklaces.
Dislikes: being hungry (boy likes his bottle!), being tired (you are a bear when you are tired), being held still. You love to explore!
Development: went from crawling to sitting this month and back to crawling. Beginning to pull up on things like mommy's legs and the NC State footstool. 
Words: not yet!
Teeth: not yet!

Extra: Holden you are so funny. You are into everything and always do it with a smile on your face. You are a very determined little boy and on the move! You are no longer my little snuggler. You push away from me ready to go to your next adventure. You are a crazy little brother and I can see that you will probably drive Emma Cate crazy in a few years! 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 still LOVE socks and chewing on them. Daddy puts the socks over your hands and it freaks you out. You LOVE puffs and love shoving them in your mouth and hiding them in your cheeks. You bang the table when you are out. You are such a little boy. I love your sweet smile and love being your mommy!

pump it up

Haha I just laughed at myself for that corny title! I thought it was a good time to do a pumping update. Around 8 months my supply was really dropping and I thought it was going to be time to quit breastfeeding. I'm one of those people that is doing it for the health reasons of my kids, because it wasn't too hard, and boy is it cheap! After 8 months of pumping 5 times a day, I was just getting a bit tired of it. On the weekends I would drop down to three pumps a day just to get some time back and to be able to go out and do things.

After a very dismal output this past weekend I decided that at 9 months I would hang up my flanges and switch the kids to formula. I headed to the store to look at the selection and get an idea of how much this would cost us. Holy Moly. $70/week for formula? That's $280 per month. That is way more than I am willing to spend. That is my new motivation to keep on pumping. So here I am back on pinterest and blogging to pass the time pumping :) I am still not making a enough for my kids but luckily I still have a bit of frozen stash. I am doubting that I will make it all the way to 12 months but we'll see!

We have a crawler!

Holden decided to crawl for the first time yesterday afternoon at Emma Cate's physical therapy! The kids went to the 2pm session with my mom and I arrived about 30 minutes after the session started. I walked in and my mom was so excited to tell me that Emma Cate rolled over and Holden had crawled (Holden isn't in PT but tags along with us :) ).

Holden was a crawling machine and even did it for Daddy when we got home! I'm going to try and get a video tonight! I'm sure our world is about to change!