6 Month Appointment and a BIG Fear

The twins had their 6 month appointment today and I took them... by myself! This was VERY interesting, especially when it came time for their shots. But I must say, I love my pediatrician because she was so great about it. She even fed Kaylie for me! Anywho, on to the details!

Kaylie is now at (drumroll please) 19lbs 7oz, 25.5 inches!!! Cavan is my "peanut" at 18lbs 4oz, 25.25 inches! They are both growing wonderfully according to the pediatrician, so I'm happy! No starving babies here! And get this, she wants me to start adding a 3rd meal to their day! We tried it today and they certainly didn't protest.

Now on to a new fear that has entered our lives. Well, not all our lives, just Kaylie's. The tub! Now I know it's not the duck tub we just got, because she plays in it without water (Yes I stick them in there to play and they love it). But then the second I bring her into the bathroom and she sees the duck in the big tub, she freaks! Screams so loud and cries so hard (with real tears!) I'm almost tempted to just let her keep stinking just so she's not scared.

I've tried taking the duck out of the tub and put it next to it and she still screams. I can kind of distract her with bath toys for a quick minute to soap her up, but I have to move very quick. It's not the water temp because it's the same as I've always had it. Does she just not feel secure in the world of big tubs. So I'm at a loss on what to do. Any Suggestions?

Down on the Farm

We took the twins to the farm today and they LOVED it! Although it was really strange to go picking pumpkins in 80 degree weather! In any case though, we had a really good time seeing pumpkins and apples for the first time! See!

Rubber Ducky, You're The One...

So the twins have outgrown their infant tub. Sad, I know. My little munchkins are munchkins no more. Now they aren't exactly ready for the BIG tub yet since they're still a bit wobbley sitting up. So I had to find a transitional tub. Well, we have certainly found it! Thank you to Krista from The Cameron Chronicles, she recommended the Duck Tub.

I got mine at Target for under $12

If you haven't seen this and are in the market for a transitional tub, this is awesome. Best part, it QUACKS! And the twins LOVE it! We let them sit in it at first to try it out before putting it in the tub:

Second best part about the Duck tub? It doubles as a play area...a CONFINED play area!

Bath time, and play time, just got a little more fun thanks to this rubber (er...vinyl?) Ducky!

We're Dating...

Play dating that is! A few of my sorority sisters and I have started a little playgroup and a couple of us met up on Tuesday for a great trip to the zoo (Shelby from First Comes Love Then Comes Baby? was one of them)! The twins had so much fun meeting new friends and Shelby's daughter, Emma, was definitely the leader of the pack (she was the only mobile one). She showed us all the animals!

Including this Llama who doesn't let you get the food out of the machine and just help himself when you lift the latch.

He had his eye on Shelby hoping she'd come put more money into the food dispenser!

The weather was perfect, the company was great, and the kids were adorable. It was also nice to get together with other moms to just have adult talk! I love the twins, but sometimes you want to have a conversation where you can understand the response, haha. It was also fun to see the twins interact. Needless to say, we had a great time and can't wait for the next play date!

Top 2 Tuesday - Hair Products

Link up folks!

Oh man, this is tough. I'm awful when it comes to product loyalty with hair products. Fun fact, I am a licensed cosmetologist. However, I've never been one to load my hair up with product. These days I'm lucky if my hair gets dried! So I guess I will go with what I'm using now?

1. Redken All Soft Shampoo & Conditioner: This is actually one product I typically go back to. It does exactly what I need it to do and leaves my hair shiny, clean, and, well, soft.

Source

2. TIGI Rockaholic Born to Rock: My hair has been a bit neglected since the twins came along and has become ridiculously long! With long hair come TANGLES! I hate tangles and I was constantly ripping the comb through my hair after my shower. So I decided I should just get something to help. This is a leave-in-conditioner and detangler. It has helped immensely! I have learned though that a little bit goes a long way.

Source

Now don't forget that I've started up my Project 365 so be sure to check out the daily pictures everyday!

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha...

We've got teeth! No longer just a tooth. The two of them each have two teeth, one in and another coming in, on the bottom for both! Letting them chomp on my finger is becoming a little more painful these days so I try to opt for the teether instead.

So with teeth comes oral hygiene! We started brushing the babes teeth and... well, this is what happens every time:

Kaylie thinks its food at first and is strongly disappointed after

Cavan is not fooled and quickly turns away

Then reluctantly lets me brush

This is the same routine every time we brush. I'm hoping they'll get used to it soon because they'll be doing it for the rest of their lives!

In other news, the twins have blown through all the stage 1 foods and are now on to meats! They've had chicken, turkey, and just tried beef last night. They're favorite was definitely the beef. I don't know why since it looked and smelled like something I'd give the dogs, but hey, they don't know much different. So they are now eating a fruit and cereal in the morning then a dinner at night with meat and either fruit or vegetable. I'm very interested to see their weight gain next week at their appointment! All these solids have to be packing it on. Although they are becoming a bit more mobile. Cavan is almost crawling! Yes you read right, CRAWLING! I'm done for when this happens.

SITS Back to Blogging Day 5 - Why I Blog

Today is Day 5, the final day, of the SITS Back to Blogging Challenge and the topic is "Why I Blog". As always before I get into it make sure to visit the sponsors of this event! Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances I'm trying to win these beauties since we're wearing out my Mom's with every load!

Well if you've been reading my posts this week you all know why I started blogging, as an outlet to help me cope with my miscarriage. Now? Now it is so much more. My main topic is and always will be my two precious little babies. I write to chronicle every tooth, milestone, and well poop explosion! I do occasionally have a post about myself to a) Connect more with my readers and B) Sometimes you just need a baby break. I also have the VERY occasional giveaway, because I love my readers and want to give back!

A lot of my family and friends can't always see the little ones and always want to know how they're doing. They want to see how big they're getting. They want to know what they're up to. So I blog for them.

My babies may want to look back one day and see how they got to where they are. What's their story? You know, in addition to their baby books, they may want to know all the knitty gritty details of their life. So I blog for them.

I've met so many wonderful women here in the blogosphere and kept in touch with old friends. I love when people tell me that they have done something because of what I wrote, like the 101 in 1001 challenge or the Project 365. So I blog for them.

Lastly, this blog is my outlet. My place to come when I need a break, have something to say, or am just ever so proud of something my little ones have done. I share what is important to me. I never write just for the sake of writing or trying to "Up my stats". I write for a purpose. This week has really helped me to remember that, by uprooting some old posts and getting me back to my prior state of mind. Although I never really strayed. It has definitely been nice though to see how far I've come. So much has changed in the past year and I have the SITS girls to thank for helping me see that again. I don't know if I would have realized it as much if I hadn't blogged about it. So, for this reason, I blog for me.

SITS Back to Blogging Day 4 - Inspirational Woman

Day 4 of the SITS Back to Blogging Challenge is to write a post about a woman who inspires you. So before I get into it make sure to visit the sponsors of this event! Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances

Here goes...

When I think of inspirational women, there are so many who inspire different aspects of my life everyday. Since this is a back to blogging week, however, I have chosen the woman who has inspired my blogging.

When I was still finding a way to cope with my miscarriage, I joined a social networking group where I met several women in the same boat as me. Women trying to get through the day by day activities still carrying the weight, both mentally and physically, from their babies they'll never see grow up.

As I became more involved in the online community, I started noticing blogs people were writing. One really stood out to me. She had been through a loss, fought through it, and was then pregnant again. It gave me hope. It gave me peace of mind that I may someday have that too. So I read, and read, and read. Instantly captivated by her open and honest writing style. Here I was, relating to someone I don't know, never met, but yet laugh and cry through many posts with her.

So I thought, if this has helped her, maybe blogging is something I should do. I didn't want to keep retelling my story to everyone over and over because I didn't want to push everyone away. I didn't know any other way to get out what I felt. So I wrote. I wrote my first entry, unedited, wholeheartedly, unjudged. I hit publish and told no one. I was afraid to take that step to show what I had been keeping so deep inside my heart. I didn't have the courage this other woman had. Then I went back and reread her blog from the beginning. The more she wrote, the more I wanted to write. So when Ryan and I decided to start trying again, I decided I wanted to document this, just like she had. So I could look back and see how far I came, just like she had.

I still read her blog regularly and feel the same as the first post I read. She now has her beautiful family and has overcome so much including Postpartum Depression, not an easy task. And she took us all with her along the way. She's read by many, and I'm sure has inspired several other women like myself. This woman is "Blair" at http://theheirtoblair.com/



She doesn't know me, and she probably doesn't read my blog, but she is the reason I started. And it has truly been a wonderful journey for me. So for this, I thank her and can only hope that her inspiration has seeped through my blog and helped others find an outlet as well.

SITS Back to Blogging Day 3 - Title I'm Proud of

So here is Day 3 of the SITS Back to Blogging challenge. I am to re-upload a post with a title I am proud of. Now this post, though I am proud of the title mainly because it was what I had to do and really just summed up the situation, the situation itself was not pretty. So without further ado, I give you...

When you Must Hose Down Your Child...

Ok, so I didn't technically take my daughter outside and crank up the hose, BUT I did go with a more gentle approach to "Hosing" down my child. I stuck her under the faucet. What caused me to resort to such things? Oh that would be the epic poop she decided to use as a moisturizer.

Let me bring you back to Sunday, the day of said epic poop. We were driving home from the beach and I knew she was doing something in the back seat. She was grunting and groaning and her face kept getting red. Then she spit up EVERYWHERE! So when we get home both the twins are screaming for food so I decided to feed them before we changed them. Ryan took Cavan and I took Kaylie. When I tell you the odor that came from my child, it was just toxic. Of course at first I thought it was just the smell of her spit up all over her (which I should mention was part of it). Then I got a whiff of something a little more foul permeating into my nose. I lifted up her cute little dress only to see one of the most horrific sites EVER! Her little once white onsie was now greenish brown!

Now I've had my fair share of diaper changes, but I honestly had no idea where to even begin with this one! How do I get the outfit off without getting poop all over her? Will the wipes really clean this mess up? The only thing I could think to do was hose down my child, but I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to hose down an 11 week old. So I thought, the faucet, similar concept, more acceptable, right? It was off to the tub for us. I carefully rolled the outfit off her, and successfully got it off without spreading the monstrosity. Then I started running the water and check the temp. I then just stuck my daughter under the faucet and just rinsed and rinsed and rinsed. Then I soaped her up and rinsed again...and again...and repeat.

I think the funniest part of the whole thing was the look I got from Kaylie when I stuck her under the faucet. It was a "What in the world do you think you are doing to me" look. Looking back it was pretty funny, but at the time, I was horrified! I'm sure it won't be the last time either.


Make Sure to visit the sponsors of this event! Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances

SITS Back to Blogging Day 2 - Post I Wish More People Read

Ok I'm caught up now! Here is my "day 2" of the SITS Back to Blogging challenge!

This was posted on New Years Eve 2009. I really think it summed up my year pretty nicely. It really showed that without the bitter, the sweet just isn't as sweet.

Ever since I was younger I've always tried to look for the positives that come out of negative events in my life. My ability to do this was strongly tested in 2009 with the loss of our first pregnancy early in the year. I will admit, it was not easy, but with the help of family and friends I was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now I look at it with a whole new perspective in that our first baby was not strong enough to do all they wanted here on earth. But God works in mysterious ways because he has blessed Ryan and I with two little miracles. Words cannot describe the excitement and joy running through my heart everytime I feel a little poke in my belly. I don't know if it's because of everything that happened early in the year that has helped me appreciate this precious gift or if I would feel the same if I was blessed with twins the first time around. I feel no worry, no fear because I know these babies will be born with so much love surrounding them that they will be stronger than they'll ever know.

In looking back through the year, there have been so many wonderful events. I have seen family and friends marry the ones they love (12 weddings to be exact) and I couldn't be happier for all of them. Marriage is such a wonderful gift and it always finds the soft spot of my heart when I see someone I care about find that person they want to wake up to for the rest of their lives. So many new babies have entered the world this year including a new baby niece, Ava, for Ryan and me. Ryan and I were fortunate to keep our jobs this year and we are both very thankful for that as well. We are both looking forward to all the excitement 2010 will bring to our lives!

All in all, I think 2009 was a year of tests of strength, courage, and love and I wouldn't change a single day. Here's to a Happy and Healthy 2010!

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We'll take a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne."

Make Sure to visit the sponsors of this event! Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances

SITS Back to Blogging Day 1 - My First Entry

I'm participating in the SITS Back to Blogging Week. Go visit their site and link up if you want to do it too!Also, Make Sure to visit the sponsors of this event! Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances

Ok so I'm a day late, but I think this is a great thing to kind of go back and see how far we've all come. It's amazing how different life was when I first started this blog. Well here is my first entry back on June 25, 2009.

Some of you may already know my story and some may only know parts of it. Ryan and I first found out the news in December that I was pregnant. We were shocked, scared, and excited all at the same time. We told our family and friends and they were all shocked as well and happy for us. As the time went by, I had the waves of nausea, food aversions, and all the other glories that come with the first trimester. I went to my first appointment and got to see our little bean on the big screen. Heartbeat was strong. Second appointment Ryan got to see our little baby too. He said the baby looked like a teddy graham and well that's what we ended up using as a nickname.

I hit my second trimester and was ecstatic. That is when they say that you are least likely to have a miscarriage. A relief in my eyes. Then I hit 15 weeks, primarily 15 weeks 2 days. I started to have a little spotting. Nothing major so I didn't think too much about it and just took it easy that day. Then came 15 weeks 3 days on March 9, 2009, probably the scariest and worst day of my life. I woke up to blood. Bright red blood. I panicked. I went into work and immediately called the doctor. They sent me to get an ultrasound. Ryan came and picked me up to take me. I was hoping and praying that our baby was ok.

When we got to the waiting room I started to feel a little cramping. Off and on, but not too strong...yet. We got called into the room and the tech went to check our baby. No heartbeat confirmed. There was my beautiful, lifeless baby on the screen, still in my belly, and there was nothing I could do but cry. Ryan held me in his arms and we both just cried and cried.

I then had to go back to my OB's office and get checked out to schedule the D&C. On the way to the office my "cramping" became stronger and more frequent to the point where I couldn't even scream anymore. I immediately ran to the bathroom after checking in and threw up. The nurse came to check on me and brought me to the room. I told her about my cramping and she said she was going to the waiting room to get Ryan and bring him in. It was at the moment I felt a "rush". I stood up and looked down. The entire table and floor was now covered in blood, my blood. Again, panic.

The rest is a rush of events, Doctor telling me I "Passed" the fetus, sending me to the hospital for another ultrasound. It hit pretty hard to see the second ultrasound, an empty ute. The place that once carried a life was now just an empty space. Confirmed that no D&C was needed and I was able to go home. The next few weeks were very painful and very hard. I had the greatest support from my husband, family and friends. They were my strength.

We later found out that our baby had what is called Trisomy 18, a chromosome disorder where there is an extra chromosome in the 18th strand. Only 5% of babies that have this disorder make it to birth and the ones that do typically do not make it past the first year. Our baby was sick and God knew. He was looking out for our baby. He took our baby to a place where s/he could be stronger than we could ever dream. And though I may never hold you in my arms, I forever hold you in my heart.

An angel wrote in the book of life, the story of our baby's birth. Then whispered as she closed the book, too beautiful for earth.

Top Two Tuesday - Things You Want To Accomplish

Well I have my list of things to get done in the next 2 years + a couple months on my 101 in 1001 page, but here are 2 things I want to accomplish this year!

1. Set up the Twins Christening: Yes I know they are 6 months old and we still haven't set it up. I really want to get this scheduled for February (two of the Godparents live in Cleveland half the year and we really want them to be there). So if I get it all set up in the next couple months, we should be good to go come February!

2. Spend an entire day with just my dogs: This is really important to me. They've been really good adjusting to the babies and are so good around them. However, as you can imagine, they're not getting as much attention as they used to. I really try to interact with all of them (babies and pups) but the babies always take priority. So I want to take an entire day and just take them to a park or for a long walk and special play time. I mean look at these little faces!

12 Months? WHAT?

I'm not sure if you've noticed, but over to the right I post the twins clothing sizes. Yes you read correctly, they're in 12 month clothing! WHAT? They're only 6 months old! Well I do always say they are very advanced, but whenever I look at their clothing sizes I can't help but feel like time is going too fast! I know that's not their true ages, but it's still crazy to see it every time I put an outfit on them. Although they do still have a little room in the 12 month clothes, I'm hoping that they'll stay in this size for a while now. I want them to stay little a little while longer.

I Love This Sound

Learning to Sit is Like Bumper Bowling

When you think about it, it's definitely true. Learning to sit is like Bumper Bowling. You start off with a little padding (Bumbo or Boppy pillow)

You continue to practice, all the while favoring the left or the right.

Until finally, after all your hard work... you get it just right.

6 Months!

6 Months ago my babies looked like this:

So innocent and pure. Such little exposure to the world still starting to form their opinion on it. So tiny. Learning to do the necessities to survive: sucking, breathing, spitting up in Kaylie's case. Two little people who just minutes before were in my belly, now here in the flesh for me to hold in my arms. I never thought I could love someone so much when I first met them. Love at first site, it does exist.

Now 6 months later, although they are much bigger (about 3X their birth weights) and much more mobile (scooting and almost crawling), so many of those things from the beginning still hold true. They are still innocent and pure, still have little exposure to the world and all it entails (although more than just hours after birth), and I still love them more and more with every snuggle. From belly laughs to high pitched screeching fits, these two little people mean more to me than I could ever put into words, but they know... they know.

In 6 months, what have I learned about being a mother? To stop worrying about what I'm learning and just enjoy every "first" these two precious babies experience. Cherish each moment and remember there is always time for a snuggle.

PS. This picture also kicks off the restart of my Project 365. Check it out!