Meeting a new friend

Well the boys' met Bryce Spieler, their first friend, today!  Marty and Angela Spieler are Grant's godparents and our very good friends.  The boys' meeting is actually very bittersweet as Angela and Marty are leaving at the end of the week to move to Buffalo, NY where Marty will be coaching football for the University of Buffalo.  Peter and I are Bryce's godparents.  Angela and I met at work and became fast friends.  We will miss each other terribly however we will be keeping in touch frequently and planning visits as often as we can.  Our boys will always be friends :) 

4 Months Old

Well summer is officially here and we've become confident parents and have ventured out to a variety of places, including taking the boys to their very first Red's game.  It was pretty warm but they seemed to enjoy the sights and sounds of the game.  I also even went out on my own to our first playdate with some of the girls from the maternity swimming class at the gym!  It was quite a sight with all the car seat carriers!
We're also being completely spoiled by these boys and their sleeping habits.  They sleep from 11:00 p.m. until 9:45 a.m. regularly with three naps during the day!  Peter is definitely well rested but I'm still getting up once in the middle of the night to pump.  But, really I've kinda mastered the process so I can do it while zombie-like!
 Here are the updates for this month: Both boys are practicing lots of tummy time, much to Grant's displeasure.  JT rolled from his tummy to his back on 5/26.  He is much more chill with tummy time and his skills are slightly better.  He rolled from his back to his belly on 6/9.  Both boys love to make silly sounds and babble and love when we repeat these sounds back.  The first form of a "conversation."  Grant loves to scream with happiness and both boys smile a lot.  Grant also found his hands and realized that he can grasp things like a pacifier or bottle (bonus)!!!  Although he grasps toys, he moves them on accident because he doesn't have the complete control yet.  Both boys are lifting their heads and necks to check things out, usually people.

Here are some pictures of our fun from this month:

 Another trip to the zoo-and a beautiful peacock

 First time in the baby pool

 JT, Grant, Jackson, and Gabriella on our first playdate

 Happy Birthday, Mommy :) A perfect way to spend it, too!

 Watching world cup in the boppies

 This is seriously how JT falls asleep sometimes

 We're 4 months old today :)

 First Red's Game vs. Houston (5/28)

Baptism: Every Good and Perfect Gift is From Above

The verse that I always come back to when I think of what a miracle the boys were to us is this:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17

I have never really spoken much about it to others but I do not think it was a coincidence that the boys were born on a Sunday...the Lord's day.  I can barely even think about it without tearing up.  Not one day passes when I am not beyond thankful that God blessed us with Grant and James.  They are happy, healthy babies who have been watched over by Him before they were even here.  

So, today we celebrated the little miracles and decided to have them baptized to give thanks to God for blessing us.  We will always teach them about the importance of faith, prayer, and belief in all the good things that come from above.  We know that the godparents we've chosen will also guide the boys in this way.  Grant's godparents are our good friends, Angela and Marty Spieler.  They are having their own little boy in June!  JT's godparents will be my sister and brother-in-law. 

The ceremony took place at St. Martin of Tours, where we are parishioners.  Father Terry Hamilton said the mass and baptized both boys in front of our friends and family.  Afterward, we celebrated at our house with a cookout.  Here are some pictures from the day:

3 Months Old

I was feeling very blessed this month as I celebrated my very FIRST Mother's Day!  One year ago I was so fearful that this day would never come, that I would never be able to be called "mom."  Little did I know that we would have success with IVF the very first time the following month.  I know He knew the plan and I'm just so thankful to have Grant and JT and look forward to the day they call me "mommy." 

Here are the updates for this month: Both boys love to play with the rattles, but can't quite figure out how to manipulate them.  They also have started cooing and JT makes a funny "guh" sound when he's happy.  JT rolled onto his side from his back on 5/1/12.  Grant's head control is getting better and he holds his gaze on interesting and bright new objects.  The biggest update is that both boys began sleeping through the night (from 11:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.)!!! Therefore, we moved them into their own room and their own (separate) cribs.  We knew it was getting close to the time where they needed to be separated since they were nearly on top of each other frequently in the pack and play.  They both seemed to like their cribs and the transition was smooth.
Now this sleeping more thing is great, and really they were very predictable babies (only waking when it was time to eat) but mommy still has to get up and pump so I'm not really seeing many benefits from them sleeping through the night.  But, I'm so thankful I can provide enough milk to feed them for most feedings so I'll continue as long as I am able.

 JT practicing some tummy time

 Grant snoozing away on a warm spring day

 Belle is so protective and they are just so curious about her

 Celebrating my first Mother's Day with my mom

 First time in the Bumbo seats

 Rock on!

We're 3 months old today...never too early for our Mickey hats :)

We have a roller!

Although I think this was by accident, Grant rolled over today.  I don't know if he'll attempt it again and  I feel like I was pretty lucky to have caught it on camera!  I can't believe his big head allowed him to roll over in the first place!

2 Months Old

We are definitely getting the hang of things at this point.  We even ventured out to the zoo for the first time during the boys second month! Not an easy task with twins! It was exhausting but also nice to get out and feel normal for a few hours.  The boys won't remember it but we will.  I was still pumping for the boys and unfortunately the zoo doesn't have a baby care center, so instead I pumped in the car.  Just the first of many times for that!  This month we also celebrated your very first Easter.  We felt very blessed during this time because the boys are our miracles.
Here are the updates for this month.
Grant still loves to sleep and sleeps longer than JT.  He smiled for the first time on 4/4/10 (Easter Sunday) and both of us were there to see it.   He also found his hands this month and enjoyed putting them in his mouth.
JT smiled for the first time on 4/5/10 and again, both of us were there to see it.  He preferred to be held facing outward or upright and was very curious and nosy.
Both boys love to be read to and we developed a great nightly routine of reading some of our favorites: The Going to Bed Book, Pajama Time, Goodnight Little Pookie, Goodnight Moon, and I Love You Through and Through.  These are our regulars with others mixed in from time to time.  Both boys are also much more alert and observant.  Both seemed to recognize us more and more each day.

 Daddy and JT

 Grant

 JT

 JT at the zoo for the first time

 Grant

 Our first Easter with the boys

 Easter Sunday

JT's first smile caught on camera

1 Month Old

Peter and I are starting to get the hang of things.   Here are the milestones for the boys at 4 weeks: both eat (3 1/2-4 oz. every 3 hours), sleep, poop, cry (occasionally)...copy/paste. We took our first trip out during week 2 when we went to Diane's Restaurant with Aunt Kristen, Uncle Dan, Grammy, and Grandpa.  It's a great restaurant if you want quiet and low key.
Both boys are sleeping in our room at night and for the most part, have already become good sleepers with a good routine (if an infant can have a routine).  We are lucky not to have any day/night confusion.  

Grant is our eater.  He is ALWAYS hungry and he guzzles it down, which sometimes results in spit up. During the first month he really enjoyed watching the mobile on the little lamb swing.  Both boys love the swing and we often put both of them in to snuggle together.  At three weeks we had to take Grant to Children's Hospital to have his hip click evaluated.  The nurse who came to our house the day after we went home checked both boys and found that Grant's right hip had a "click." She said it was slight but we should still discuss it with our pediatrician.  Dr. Zwergel did not hear or feel the "click" but referred us to Children's for an ultrasound just in case.  The ultrasound revealed that everything was normal (thank God) and Grant enjoyed the extra attention from the nurses.  He even helped Children's test a new form of technology, which had never been used on infants before!

JT is the wiggle worm.  He is more "active" and "alert" than Grant, who just prefers to eat and sleep.  He makes all the funny faces and already has a little personality! JT loves to watch our ceiling fans, even if they aren't on. 

Aunt Kristen with JT and Uncle Dan with Grant (JT's Godparents)

Marty and Angela Spieler (Grant's Godparents)