A New Workout Routine

Caroline and Ellie have perfected their rolling abilities from their tummies to their backs, and there is no stopping it.  As cute as it is, it makes naps a lot more difficult and I have had to adjust to a whole new routine.  I was used to (and really liked!) the way they had been since birth where you put them in their bed, and they immediately go to sleep.  Those were the good 'ole days.

Now that the girls are more aware and require less and less sleep during the day, they have designed a new workout routine for me.  Routine is as follows:  Carry both girls upstairs, put each in bed on their tummies; flip them back on their tummies about 3 times before giving up and just closing the bedroom door walking downstairs; take 3 minutes and put in a load of laundry, go back upstairs and flip one girl over; go back downstairs; go back upstairs and flip the other one over.  Repeat 50 times until the screaming has become totally synchronized and exhausting.  Get them both out of bed, carry them both downstairs and pace throughout the house bouncing one in each arm to try to get them to calm down.

Repeat entire routine for the next 30 minutes until they both fall asleep.

Playing with Toys...and Liking it!

These past 2 weeks have been exhausting for me with the girls teething.  Ellie has 2 teeth that have broken her gums and Caroline looks like she might have a tooth poking through any day.

Ellie with her two teeth poking through her lower gums

Another thing that's changing fast around here is the girls ability to play with a couple toys and enjoy it.  They still have a difficult time holding things, but they are starting to try.  Thank you, Catherine for the adorable and totally captivating toys!  The girls love them.

Ellie sat in her bumbo most of the time gently chewing and slobbering while she watched Caroline attack the toys as if she hadn't eaten in a week.

Caroline

Ellie

Ellie

Caroline

Ellie

Caroline a little unsure of the exersaucer and only lasted a couple minutes

Caroline

Rockin the Playmat

It's amazing how we can see Caroline and Ellie changing and growing just in how they play on their playmat.  They definitely can teach these dangly toys a lesson with the batting at chewing.

Caroline left and Ellie right

Caroline

Ellie

Supervision at its Cutest

For the past couple weekends, we've been working on our last remodel project for the house.  We've been working on our house moving from room to room every since we moved in - it will be 2 years in July.  We're currently finishing up our laundry room and half bath, and after that, we're done with all of our planned construction for the house.  We're excited and can't believe we actually accomplished everything on our list!

Caroline and Ellie are quite the little supervisors and have done really well hanging out in their swings or napping with the nail gun going off and all the noisy saws.

I picture this bathroom being the one that the girls will potty train in eventually.  We're putting the final touches on everything this week.

Caroline

Ellie

Daddy's home!

We ended the week last Friday afternoon with me counting down the minutes until Blake came home from work and would spend 2 whole days with me helping me with our girls.  I couldn't wait.

This is what Blake came home to on Friday.  The girls were so worked up, couldn't sleep and wanted to be held.  Both of them are thumb suckers, but this week, they've been taking their pacifiers.  This is pretty much what our entire week looked like during the girls waking hours.

Ellie looking at the camera.  Both girls are happy and cooing as long as they're held!

Caroline and Ellie always recognize Blake when he comes home and get excited.  It's really precious!

Caroline looking up at Blake.  Melts my heart!

Leaving their Mark

Yesterday, I took the girls in the morning to go look at a townhome that my brother, Rick, is looking to buy.  I got the girls fed, dressed and packed in the car for a morning nap in their carseats while we headed in town.  They did great.  When we got there, they both immediately wanted to be held, and so we walked around the townhome looking in every nook and cranny while I held Caroline and Rick graciously held Ellie.  We loved the property and Rick ended up putting an offer on it that morning.

I'm especially loving the 2nd bedroom and bathroom that the twins will be able to stay in when they spend the night at Uncle Rick's house!

Caroline and Ellie both left their mark by having major diaper blowouts.  Ellie got hers all over Rick's sleeve on his nicely starched work shirt that he didn't have time to change since he had to go straight back to work.  Bleh.

Thank goodness for extra wipes and plastic bags in the car.  Caroline had to also be changed, and after about 80 wipes, she was good to go.  I had to disrobe Ellie down to just her diaper while trying to keep my gag reflux under control.  Her socks and vest didn't completely make it unscathed, but for a cold day like this, it was good enough for a ride home.  This picture just says it all!

Ellie

Changing Caroline in the front seat was making me realize how much these girls have grown.  Below are some pics comparing them from now to about 4 months ago.

Caroline at 5-1/2 months old

Caroline at 6-1/2 weeks old

Thankful for New Days

Our fussy days are continuing, and yesterday was a total nightmare.  Both girls let me have it all day long, but I guess I'm due for an exasperating day every once in awhile.  We do have twins [I have to tell myself]...it happens.

I tell everyone that Caroline and Ellie feel like easy babies to me.  They're [usually] great sleepers and are [usually] on the same schedule.  What more could I ask for?  Yesterday, though, I took it all back.

Today is going much better.  I'm thankful for a new day.

Thanks to Great Grandma Winnie for the little dolls - they are the perfect size for their little hands and the girls love them!

Caroline

Ellie

Ellie

Caroline

Caroline

Ellie

Ellie on left and Caroline on right

Getting through this week

Ellie's tooth is poking through and Caroline, although showing signs of teething, hasn't yet shown any of her pearly whites.  Ellie is having a hard time and was unconsolable in the middle of the night, which makes me wonder if she's got another tooth.

I feel like we're just powering through this week.  I haven't really wanted to venture out with the girls being as fussy as they are.  It's been nice to be at home for them to take all their naps in their beds.

Ellie

Caroline

Ellie

Caroline (L) & Ellie (R)

Lying Low

After our busy weekend, I spent Monday with the girls just at the house, letting them sleep as much as they wanted and cuddling them while we wait for their teeth to break through.  Neither girl has been feeling good, so all they want is to be held and sleep.  It makes me sad for them, but its been a really sweet time.

As I was holding Ellie yesterday, Caroline soothed herself right to sleep on her playmat.  They don't fall asleep very easily on their back, but I guess yesterday was an exception.

Twins Teeth-tastic Easter

We had a wonderful weekend remembering Jesus death and celebrating His resurrection.  One of my best friends from college, Amber, invited us to her family's Easter get-together on Saturday in LaGrange at her grandparents ranch.  Amber used to include me in her family events back when we were in college, and so it's always really fun for me anytime I get to see them all again.  It's been fun to introduce Blake to a little more "Texas", and going to LaGrange is something he equally looks forward to.

Amber invited us to come up last Easter as well, and we'll always remember that weekend as when I told Amber that I was pregnant (didn't yet know that it was twins).

On Sunday, the Pastor and his wife at our church invited us over for Easter lunch along with 3 other couples.  We had a really nice time and enjoyed meeting some other young families that were also there.

Caroline and Ellie definitely made their presence known at both events by crying almost the whole time.  They both have been showing signs of teething for about a week, and this weekend was when they both started to feel the pain.  It didn't make for us being great company at someone else's house, but they were sweet and clingy, which is equally as heart-melting.  We brought our camera everywhere intending to take more pictures than necessary in their matching yellow dresses for Easter and hoping to get some family photos at the ranch, and instead, since the girls were having such a hard time, we snapped a quick photo right before we left to go home on Saturday.

Maybe next year.

Blake holding Caroline and Allison holding Ellie.  

Seeing us holding these babies makes me realize how much they are quickly growing.  Here's a picture that we took in January when Blake's parents came to visit.  

Allison holding Caroline and Blake with Ellie

Me with one of my best friends, Amber.  We've been close ever since we met over 10 years ago.

With our good friends, Daniel and Amber Roberts!  We love this family!