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!

October Phone Photos

These girls are growing up and changing so fast.  I find myself looking at these pictures from when they were born on my phone all the time.  Before I lose my destroy my phone, I thought I should start saving these pictures so that they're not lost forever.  

Caroline = Baby A

Ellie = Baby B

Ellie on left; Caroline on right

Caroline

I have no clue who this is...I just remember that Sharlene, Mom and I all took the girls to the doctor on this day!

(Inflatable) Duck(y) Dynasty

Bath time just got a lot cooler around here for everyone.  Caroline and Ellie have graduated from the kitchen sink to an inflatable duck that we just can't get enough of!  ...much like the show Duck Dynasty that Angie (my Aunt) got us hooked on, in which Blake is definitely discovering his inner-redneck!

It's safe to say that this thing was designed for one baby, but hey, these girls can squeeze in.  The video is of Caroline.

Thank you Melissa and Russell Putt for the inflatable duck!  We love this thing!

Caroline (left) & Ellie (right)

Ellie

Caroline

Rolling in action

The girls are still wearing 3 month clothes, although I'm not sure how much longer.  Their pajamas fit them just perfectly.  They are petite little things, but keeping up on the growth chart fine.  They're getting more stable all the time and when I prop them up on the couch or a chair, they can sit up for longer periods of time.

Caroline on left; Ellie on right

The video below shows how we roll in the afternoons around here recently.  Sometimes I think Caroline and Ellie encourage each other, and then it all goes downhill in a hurry.  Caroline eventually calmed down and went to sleep, but Ellie just refused, so I ended up rocking her in their room the whole time while she just quietly looked around.  Even though I prefer for them to sleep, there's something so sweet about cuddling and rocking with them.  I love that.

Already Nostalgic

It's only been a couple days since we made the decision that it was time to separate the girls in their own cribs, and I'm already nostalgic.  They are getting so much more aware of what is going on, and they love that they are able to turn over in their cribs.  As soon as we lay them down, they immediately turn over on their backs.  Their room is at the top of the stairs, so at least I'm getting a little bit of exercise going up and down the stairs about 10 times per kid.

Here are some more pics from the other day.

Caroline

Ellie

Caroline

Caroline

Ellie

Ellie enjoying a foot massage from Caroline

It's that Time

Caroline and Ellie just started rolling the other day with ease, and we feel like it's time for them to be separated into their own cribs.  This feels like such a huge milestone and I can't believe we're already here.  I'm sad to put them in their own beds, but in effort to make sure someone doesn't get a black eye from her sister's foot, it seems necessary.

Here's how I laid them down for their nap the other day...  (Ellie is in the polka dots)

...and here's what I found not too long after going in to check on them...

You can imagine how well this nap went.  It didn't.  Both girls were so proud of themselves and just couldn't stop rolling over, laughing and cooing the whole time.

The teething rings of all teething rings!

My Great Aunt Virginia (on my Mom's side) sent Caroline and Ellie these gorgeous teething rings that have their initials monogrammed in the attached silver rattle.  They are the perfect size for their little hands and mouth, and Caroline and Ellie just absolutely love them.  They have somewhat figured out that they can make the noise themselves.  It's so cute to watch them fling their arms in every direction with a death grip on this toy listening to the noise.

Caroline and Ellie say, thank you Great Great Aunt Virginia!

5 Month Photos

I've turned into a sucker for dressing the girls alike.  When else can we do this and it's still considered cute?  I know I'm on borrowed time for this, so I'll enjoy it now!  On one of the rare occasions that the girls were not matching at all, a girl came up to me in a store (who was a twin herself) and told me she was so glad I don't dress them alike...."it's so cheesy" she told me.  I nervously laughed and said, "oh, I know!"  

....but, excuuuuse mwah....there's only adorable wrapped up in these matching outfits, for now anyway.  If they're 15 and I'm still buying them matching clothes, then I might need an intervention.

Ellie (left) and Caroline (right)

Caroline

Caroline

Ellie (L) & Caroline (R)

Ellie (L) & Caroline (R)

Ellie (L) & Caroline (R)

Ellie

Caroline

Caroline

Ellie

Ellie

Ellie

Ellie