Sleep, Wonderful Sleep

I was braced for the worst! Riley had been waking up a lot just before their 6 month appointment and I wasn't sure that she was going to adjust very well to me not feeding her at night anymore. I was feeling very sleep deprived only getting 2 hour stretches of sleep at a time (it was like when they were newborns) and since she won't take a bottle no one could help me out. The night of their appointment we went to bed ready for a long night, we were not going to feed her at night, but offer her a bottle of water instead. The Dr. said she would decide that it wasn't worth it to wake up for water and that would help get her off night feedings. I woke up in the middle of the night and she was still sleeping. The next thing I knew it was morning and she had slept through the night.

WHAT?!? I couldn't believe it. In the next week she had about two nights that she woke up and cried for a few minutes but she knew how to put herself back to sleep and quickly did that when she realized she wasn't going to get fed. It was funny because for the first few nights I would still wake up a few times a night, I would think I heard a baby crying but when I would check them on the monitor they would both be asleep. It took a few nights for me to start sleeping good again but what a difference some good sleep makes. I am a new person!

I have been reading Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth and have found lots of great information about helping your child sleep well. These days the kids go to bed somewhere between 6:30 and 7:30 pm, I do a dream feed at about 10:30 pm and then they sleep through the night until about 7:30 am. I have always needed sleep and I think I am a much better mother/wife/person now that I am not so sleep deprived!

In other news, our computer has been kinda crazy and slow lately so I just haven't had a lot of time to blog or download pictures but I will work on getting some new pictures posted in the near future! We had our first trip to the zoo this past week, fun time with friends and the kids really enjoyed being outside. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so we will have to go back to take pictures!

Six Month Stats

We went to the Dr. today for their six month appointment.
Here's Riley's stats:
height 23 1/2 inches
weight 12 lbs.
head 16 inches

Quinn's stats:
height 25 1/2 inches
weight 14 lbs. 3 oz.
head 16 3/4 inches

They both are doing pretty good. Riley gained 1 lb. 11 oz. since the 4 month appointment and the Dr. believes she shouldn't "need" to eat in the night anymore so we will start working on eliminating her waking "habit". Quinn only gained 5 oz. in the past 2 months and went from the 25th percentile to the 5th percentile. He wants me to pretty quickly move them from the 1 meal of solids they have been having a day to 3 meals of solids a day. I feel like we are going to do nothing but feeding!!! But hopefully this will help with Quinn's weight gain and we will have a weight check in Oct. They got their flu shot and 2 other shots as well. That part was not fun, it never is, but we all survived! Geoff was able to be there so that helped a lot! He's been out of town a lot in the past week so we are really looking forward to the long weekend coming up and going to the upstate to see the grandparents :)

Six Months

I really can't believe Quinn and Riley are 6 months old today. That's half a year old and seems like such a big milestone. It seems like just yesterday that they were born and we were going to see them everyday in the NICU. We've come so far and it seems they grow up a little more every day. Time is flying by and as exciting as it is to see them reach each new stage I kinda want to freeze some days and make them last just a little longer.

Quinn, You have this exuberant personallity and when you smile you smile with your whole face! You are such a happy little boy and you have the cutest laugh. Daddy is really good at making you laugh, but when you want to be held and cuddled you reach for mommy. You love to explore new things. The exersaucer and jumper have both been so fun for you to experience. You also love being outside. If you are upset we just go sit on the front porch and you calm right down. You love to talk and seem to have something to say all the time. Sometimes when you are nursing at the same time as Riley you two will reach out and hold each others hands while you eat. It is so cute and sweet. You just started cereal and have quickly gotten the hang of it, however, in between bites you like to suck your thumb and it makes quite a mess! I think you may be getting some more teeth, I can't see them yet but you have not been napping as well lately and you've been a little fussier than usual too. You are my sweet baby boy, mama's boy, and I love you with all my heart!


Riley, Your dad and I have talked recently about how some of your issues (reflux, torticollis, sleep problems) that caused you pain have really been better lately and we feel like we are getting to see the "real" you. You have such a sweet personality and are so content these days (unless you are tired and then you just want to go to bed). You still love to have those 2 fingers in your mouth, it seems that is your happy place. Often when you smile you smile kinda behind your fingers and it is so cute. You don't talk as much as your brother, but when you do you have the sweetest, softest little voice. You recently have started rolling yourself on your side to sleep and you seem to sleep much better that way. I think you will be a side sleeper like your mommy. You also have decided you won't take a bottle anymore. Four different people have tried to give you one and you have refused them all. Are you going to be a bit stubborn? I guess it's good you need me to feed you because besides for food, you are daddy's girl all the way. You will sit content in his arms more than anyone else and when daddy's in the room your eyes follow him. You haven't liked the cereal as much as your brother but you are learning. You are my sweet baby girl, my best friend, and I love you with all my heart!

Quinn's first time in the exersaucer!
Riley rolling on her side! When she doesn't have her fingers in her mouth, it's her clothes!
Quinn hanging out with his cousins.
Happy girl! Can you guess whose lap she is in?!?
Content little girl.
They love hanging out with daddy when he get's home from work!
My sweet babies!
Family picture, Haley included!
Love her!
Isn't that a cute face?!?

Riley's first time eating cereal. She kept spitting it out and making funny faces.

Quinn's first time eating cereal.

Messy face girl :)

I feed Quinn a few bites and then Riley a few bites. While Quinn is waiting he likes to suck his thumb. Too cute!

Here they are at 6 months! Getting so big!

They are getting ready for football season and cheering on the Tigers! Go Clemson!

See those 2 bottom teeth coming in even more.

Cutie pie!

Sweet brother and sister! Happy 6 months my adorable babies! I love you both more and more every day and look forward to each new day with you!

I Just Love Them!

It's been awhile since I've had time to post. That's just life right now but I love it. Yesterday I took Riley and Quinn to Walmart for the first time. We had a grand time, Quinn took a little nap in the baby bjourn carrier and Riley road along in her carrier in the buggy. I don't go out much by myself with them, not if I don't have to. But we did enjoy getting out of the house and seeing the sites.

On Monday we had our first ALMOST mishap. Riley ALMOST fell off the bed. I was getting ready to feed them and I set Riley next to me (I was on my bed) and was getting Quinn and the next thing I knew Riley was falling off the bed. I dove after her and with some amazing reflexes managed to kinda trap her against the side of the mattress with my one hand and then get her with my other hand. When we went to sit back, I ALMOST sat on Quinn. He had fallen down under me as I jumped after Riley. No one was actually hurt but we were all a little startled (my adrenaline was running) and it was a day of ALMOST. (Until Riley actually got hurt later that day when my ring scratched her.)

We haven't gone anywhere lately but we have been busy. I actually had 3 babies today when I kept a little boy that is just 10 days older than Quinn and Riley! We had a really good day and everyone got fed and taken care of (except I didn't get a shower until 7:30 tonight).

We recently had a little photo shoot of our own. Riley loves doing these leg lifts, and will even do them in her sleep. It's so cute!
Quinn's just chillin'

Two heads are better than one!

Sometimes we like to hold hands, so cute!

Other times, not so much hand holding as knocking each other around. In Riley's defense Quinn has tried to put her hand in his mouth before so maybe she's just letting him know not to mess with her.

And sometimes they are done with the photo shoot before mommy is. Isn't this just the cutest crying little boy you've ever seen?!?

Since you got to see him crying, here's a happy face!

Sister's and their boys.

Nana came to visit last week and I got to go to my first twins club meeting! It was great and so much fun to meet so many other mothers of twins.

Quinn's two bottom teeth! I hope they don't all hurt that much!

Riley has started enjoying toys more lately. As long as she can get it in her mouth.

Look at those long eyelashes!

We got our new side-by-side stroller and tried it out going to the pool! A lady at the pool thought we had triplets! LOL!

Family fun at the pool!
Riley can most often be found with her fingers in her mouth. Anytime, anywhere, even in her sleep!

Quinn loves this little froggy and is so cute with it. Don't worry I go in and move it so it's not in his face.

This toy has neat textures and he just loves getting his tongue on it.

Happy girl. Sitting up much better too. Physical therapy is going great! Riley even rolled from her tummy to her back for the first time today! (That's just how much she hates tummy time, she'll do anything, even roll over, to get out of it :)

Such sweet siblings. Notice Riley has a toy but it's her fingers she loves!

It's almost time for school to start back and it's a little strange for me to not be heading back, getting my classroom ready, anticipating new students and a new year. In fact, it was really odd to be at Walmart with all the school supplies out and not shopping for what I need for my classroom. However, I am so in love with these two and I absolutely could not imagine leaving them every day! I feel so very blessed to get to be their mommy and am in awe of the fact the the Lord has entrusted them to me. They light up my days (nights too) and bring me so much joy. I am so thankful that they are the reason I am not heading back to school this year. I'm sure we'll find some things to learn together this year (isn't that the best, watching a baby/child learn something new)! I see lots of "field trips" in our future this year... can't wait!

A Year Ago...

It was one year ago today that we found out we were pregnant! We had our transfer 9 days earlier and in those 9 days I discovered how very impatient I am. I spent lots of time drawing near to the Lord during those days as well. We had already been through one in vitro that was unsuccessful so it was a very difficult time of waiting. My heart so wanted to be hopeful but I was scared of the hurt that comes from an unsuccessful in vitro. I was learning to rely on the Lord and the truth His plans would prevail for our lives.

I went to the Dr.'s office that morning to get my blood drawn for the test and they asked me if I had already taken a pregnancy test. I had not. When we first started trying for a family I took an early test a few times and was so disappointed when it said "NO" that I just didn't care to go through that. I wanted to wait and have the "official" test to know for sure.

While I was waiting for the results that day I spent some time reading scripture and praying. I also wrote:
My spirit and my heart are at peace. They know that the Lord is in control, that none of this is happening by chance and that the plan He has for us is the one that will unfold...Sometimes I forget that we have a God in the business of miracles, and yet with my whole being I would love to have my miracle today. It's hard sometimes to balance how much you very much want something with fully relying on God to give you what you need and what he has for you. But somehow I think the Lord knows that both can be in your heart because I only truly want this miracle if it is in the Lord's plans for our life.

The nurse had told me that morning that if it was positive they would run another test to see exactly what my levels were. She called a little before 11am and asked if Geoff was with me. I told her he was at work but would come home when I called him. So she told me to get him and call her back. My heart sank. I didn't believe there was enough time for them to run both tests already and I figured she wanted me to have someone with me when she told me it was negative. Geoff came right home and while I waited for him I just talked to the Lord and asked Him to be with us. It was a little after 11am that Geoff got home and we called the nurse back. When she said, "Congratulations, you're pregnant!" I said, "Are you serious?" I think I was in shock!

We celebrated and praised the Lord for our miracle! We spent that day sharing our news with our family and friends and rejoicing in what the Lord had done.

I learned a lot of dependence on the Lord during that time that is helping me through these days when children are teething and fussy and not sleeping like they need to. Life with twins is not always easy (life with one baby is not always easy either) but looking back at a year ago today reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for and that the Lord is with me every step of the way.