One on One

I am frequently stopped in the store to chat about twins, which I always enjoy.  I've heard more stories from strangers about fertility ups and downs, twins, triplets, quadruplets (not kidding), etc.  Ever since Caroline and Ellie came along, I have quickly resolved to the idea that everything takes about 5 times as long as it did before twins, so stopping a couple times to chat and have sometimes lengthy conversations is just part of the gig.  I honestly enjoy it and try to soak in everything I can.

Dada

Caroline and Ellie love their Daddy.  They say "dada" all the time when they're making their constant noises, and Blake can't wait until they make the connection that HE is Dada.

with Caroline

I have come to learn that there is a universal fussy time for kids, and these girls are no exception.  It's always around the time Blake is due home from work, and I have sadly been known in an act of desperation to be standing on the driveway holding both girls waiting for him to pull up.  No matter how fussy they are, though, they immediately stop when they see him with faces lit up and arms and legs flailing until he holds them.

Ellie in pink shirt and Caroline in plaid

Lovin these Sweet Peas!

Caroline and Ellie are progressing everyday with their eating.  It's so fun to watch them discover new things to the point where you can visibly see their mind working.

Feeding twins has been an adventure.  It's funny to watch them not only getting their food all over themselves, but they also wipe their food on each other.

With their new reaching capabilities that I always seem to underestimate, I don't think I have successfully made it through an entire feeding without one of the girls knocking the bowl of food upside down at some point.  

....and it always happens the same way....

I put food in one girl's mouth while keeping the bowl outside of her reach, which is usually and unfortunately within reach of the other one [when will I learn?!?].  The other immediately takes advantage of the opportunity, and with arms flailing outside of my peripheral, knocks the bowl out of my hands and sends contents flying all over my lap, table, and floor. 

No matter how it ends up, I'm loving my two little sweet peas, and they seem to like theirs too!  

Both girls finished eating complete with peas on table.  I scooped up what didn't land on the ground or in my lap and finished feeding them.

Caroline showing off her two bottom teeth!

7 months old

Caroline and Ellie turned 7 months on Sunday.

Scootin Around

Caroline and Ellie are still working on sitting up by themselves, but they are scooting and rolling on their sides which has greatly influenced their reaching capabilities.  They are still at the point where I can lay them down and walk away, but I think I'm on borrowed time when it comes to leaving them unattended.

I briefly walked away from them the other day, and I found Ellie, the escape artist, on her way to....well, not exactly sure where.  All I know is that the floor hasn't been mopped in awhile [code for I can't remember the last time I did it].  I'd better get on that.

In efforts to keep it interesting around here, I'm constantly having to change up what the girls are playing with and how they play just so they stay content.  They think sitting up in their bumbos while attacking the hanging toys on their playmat is cool....for about 5 minutes, and then it's "okay, Mom, NOW what?"

What they really want is to be held.  Sadly, they know they will win and its just a matter of time before I'm holding both of them, pacing and bouncing around the house until my lower back can't take it anymore.

I know, my brother tells me I have a weak core and I need to work on that.  ....Right after I get those floors mopped.

Caroline

Ellie

The Key to Eating with a Spoon

We started feeding the girls food this week, and the two personalities couldn't be more distinct.  We started them out on rice cereal and after a couple days of trying, Ellie got the hang of it and has not looked back.  Caroline took a little longer to get the spoon down, mostly because she doesn't seem all that interested.  I think she's still annoyed that she has to sit in this bumbo thing, which she has never really been a fan.  I point you to Exhibit A.

Do I even need to say which baby is which?

Clearly Caroline is on the left and Ellie chillin on the right

Both girls seem to agree that the best way to wash down your food is to suck your thumb.  As soon as the spoon has left their mouth, they suck their thumb which, of course, causes a colossal mess.  Hence, we eat outside.

Ellie finds the bumbo perfect for resting her elbow on while she sucks her thumb

Caroline loves it too

They also like to simply move their thumb to the side while you shove it in.  I guess it's easier that way.  

Ellie

Once they got the rice down, we introduced them to carrots, which was gag-ilicious.  As soon as I put it in their mouth, they would think about the taste for a second, wince while throwing their head back with arms flailing, swallow, violently gag and cough a couple times, and then go back for more.  To describe it as entertaining would be an understatement.  

Ellie

Caroline

Caroline on left and Ellie on right

Caroline

Both girls taking a break.  Ellie sucking her thumb.

Ellie

The introduction to food has been a cute adventure.  However, the newfound adventure of changing diapers that look and smell quite different than what I'm used to....now THAT I could do without that.

Happy Mother's Day

We celebrated my first Mother's Day yesterday, and we had a great time just spending time together and reflecting on all that the Lord has given us in our daughters.  Our hearts are full.  Even after 6 months of doing nothing but taking care of Caroline and Ellie, it still feels so foreign that I'm a mother....to twins, no less!  I'm not sure what being a mom is supposed to feel like, but I still feel like me....with a slightly deeper capacity to love and protect that I pray will grow everyday as we learn what it means to raise a family.

Ellie in polka dots and Caroline in stripes....I'm pretty sure!

Ellie on left, Caroline on right

The strange idea of being a mom makes me wonder what it must've been like for our moms raising babies.  I think we all have this strange idea that our mom's were born into their role of motherhood, and it was the most natural thing in the world for them....when in reality, they probably felt exactly like I do....amazed at how life has changed, wondering what the role of a mother is supposed to look like, excited about what the Lord will do in the life of their babies, scared that their short-comings will shine through like a beacon, and desperately praying daily that the Lord will enter the hearts of their babies and keep them close.   

Thank you to Mom and Sharlene for always being there for us.  There's nothing like needing your Mom/Mom-in-law as you try to raise your own babies as we desperately look to you for advice, support, encouragement and just someone to talk to.  I guess the nurturing of your babies never stops....even if they're in their 30's.

We love you both so much!

About at the age that Caroline and Ellie are now

I guess rubber duckies are timeless

Caroline and Ellie have Blake's mouth

From Blake's and my baby pictures, it is clear that Caroline and Ellie won't be getting a haircut for at least a couple years!!

Who is this other Person??

We feel like we can visibly see what Caroline and Ellie are thinking.  They are constantly looking around and studying.  They have discovered that grabbing everything in sight and beyond what I give them credit for being able to reach has opened up a whole new world for them.  Beyond the constant spills with discovering my coffee, cereal bowl, etc, Caroline and Ellie's biggest discovery is each other! They are interacting with each other more and more each day and they are always reaching out to touch each other.  It's almost as if they're thinking, "wait, who is this person that looks exactly like me??"

Ellie in black and Caroline in pink

Add caption

A Story in Pictures

Take a look at this series of pictures.  It pretty much says it all.  Caroline is in the blue and white polka dots and Ellie is in the yellow and blue stripes.

To sum up....Caroline and Ellie are both into their toys lately.  Caroline is REALLY into the toys....especially the ones that Ellie is playing with.  Ellie equally enjoys sucking her thumb and after her initial disappointment that her toys are gone, she's happy to sit, suck her thumb and watch her sissy take over.

Caroline has always been aggressive with the toys even when she could barely hold them.  Stealing them from her sister is her newest trick.  It cracks us up and and its amazing to see both her and Ellie's mind working as they play together.

Both girls are interacting with each other a lot more lately.  They touch each other and respond with smiles to what the other one is doing.  We're loving this new stage.

Sturdy Babies

We have entered a new phase with Caroline and Ellie.  The girls have become noticeably stronger and they seem all around more "sturdy".  They used to be scared if we'd lift them up in the air, but now, they love it and it makes them laugh.  They are showing signs of soon being able to sit up on their own, and they can hang out to their hanging toys from their playmat to help hold themselves up while sitting.

These girls are a lot of fun right now.  They interact with us, laugh when we play with them and always light up when we walk into a room.

As the girls are getting older, they are becoming more and more cuddly.  With all the things that they do, our favorite is when when want to just sit still looking around with us holding them.  They often will sit there contentedly sucking their thumbs.

Snuggling with Ellie early Saturday morning

Cuddle Bugs

Caroline and Ellie are little cuddle bugs and we love it!  I don't usually get to enjoy cuddling with the girls as much as I wished I could just because the fact that the girls don't always want to share one set of arms.

The girls got their 6 month shots last week and they were especially cuddly and wanted me to hold them.  I always feel bad when they have to get their shots, but the rest of the day is enjoyable when all they want to do is suck their thumbs with me holding them.  Those are the days when they don't care if they only get a single arm and shoulder to lean on.  I think I'll always remember this.

Caroline on left and Ellie falling off my shoulder on the right

After this day was over, it was back to normal, and they were loving that my mom was here to hold and love on them.  Mom was loving it too!

With Caroline

With Ellie

Caroline passed out

Come back soon, Mom.  Caroline and Ellie can't wait to fall asleep in your arms!