Crazy Train!

It's been a crazy/rough/fun couple weeks here! We have had minimal snow days (minus today, whoop whoop) so I have had to take the girls to my mommas (meaning I have to get up half an hour earlier. Boo! )

Bria has been fussy. I'm not sure of fussy is the word, but she's been hard to put to sleep; isn't comforted by her bink, isn't content and has been chewing the crap out of everything! Today she officially cut her first tooth! It's through the gums people! 

I would LOVE to have a photo, but she barely opens up for me to touch it and take a teensy peek, let alone get a snapshot! 

Here's what we have been doing to help her teething process. We checked her temp consistently and no fever so we didn't give Tylenol, but in hind sight- it may have been useful. 

Sophie The Giraffe- the new version. 

Literally the best teether toy we haven she gnaws on it and you can hear her chewing. 

Pacifier- she chews and chews and chews on her pacifier. I think it will need replaced soon. 

Mesh Teething Bag- found in my last post. With ice. She loves. 

Orajel- there were days when she wouldn't suck her bottle without it. Poor thing. 

I cannot believe my little baby has a tooth! Crazy! 

Bria has been sitting up like a big girl for a month now.. 

 And now her sister has decided she wants to too!

Ella is basically crawling. Today she got up on all fours. I'm.not.ready. 

Ella found a new love. 

This jumparoo is perfect! It kind of floats and she loves it. Right. Left. Right. Left. It's hysterical. 

We have also started baby food! Green beans baby! Bria was all about it at first. Ella wasn't sure what to do, now you can't feed Ella fast enough. Here's aftermath day 1, round 2. 

She can also palm a baby basketball. Making daddy proud! 

Today was also nana's birthday! 

It seriously doesn't get cuter. 

We also went to a consigment sale and spent $51.. Whoops! Got a lot of summer rompers, pjs and these swimsuits! Pleassseeee bring on summer! 

& ended the night with this view. 

2/3rd of my heart. The other third was in my lap! :) 

God fufilled dreams I never even knew I had. 

Blessed. Period. 

Our 6 Month Must Haves!

So my sweet friend RaShelle asked if I would blog about what our must have have been for the past 3 months. Some have stayed the same, some are different. 

http://themoorepartyoffour.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-essentials.html?m=1

We still use and need: 

-our bottle warmer

-burp cloths

-long sleeve onsies

-fleece blankets 

And can't forget: 

-jj Cole car seat covers! It's been an awful winter in WV and those have been much needed! Although the girls always push the flap down, but as my parents call it, a little caccoon, they are always warm!! 

1) Bright Starts Activity Jumper: 

The name is slightly misleading, it's not a jumper,  but Ella loves this thing! It's adjustable, she more marches than anything but she could play for hours in it (disclaimer; we do NOT let her play that long in it! She goes maybe 10 minutes and then dies to roll around on the floor) 

2) Baby Einstein Jumparoo: 

This is Bria's favorite. Ella is really starting to get the "jump" part and is starting to like it. Bria goes crazy and jumps  and jumps and jumps. This helps me and allows me to use the bathroom, start dinner, etc. 

3) Bright Starts Tablet: 

These girls LOVE their toys. & they fight over this one! It's hilarious to watch. It lights up and plays noise- it's hard for them to chew on but that's the only downfall. They LOVe it! I can't stress it enough! 

4) Violet the Puppy! 

Violet, or Scout for the baby boys, can be programmed to say the child's name, favorite food, color and animal. They love this! If the girls get fussy before bed and we are trying to keep them awake. It immediately keeps them quiet. Bria usually lunges her whole body towards violets face! It's one of the cutest things! 

5) Our Monkey: 

This exact monkey! At first Bria really became attached to it, she does prefer something near her face as this is pretty lightweight! Ella now LOVES it. I can lay her down in her crib, give her her monkey and she rolls over and Lays on her left side. And she's out. It's really cute! She also likes to suck on it so I have to wash it a lot but it's definitely one thing we couldn't live without! 

6) Teething Mesh Bag:

So I haven't got very fancy with it. I usually let her suck/chew on an ice cube but I think I'm going to freeze breastmilk or fruit (once we make it that far!) She's been a needy teething baby lately and this helps her! 

I'm sure the next 3 months will

Hold something entirely different. Honesty the list isn't very long, we play all day. As long as we have a few (20) toys, the girls are easily entertained. Ella rolls everywhere and scoots and Bria sits up so well, they practically play by themselves! 

So I started T25... For one day

I desperately need to get in shape. I want to lose about 30ish pounds in 6 months. (By the girls first birthday) it's not my ultimate goal weight but it's a good start! That will put me pre fertility drugs when I lost weight and about the size I was on my honeymoon, maybe a pound or two smaller. 

I definitely need to get healthier regardless. We have T25 and I wanted my off days to be Mon/tues since I work 12 hour shifts those days. So we started Wednesday.  I used to do TaeBo in high school and college. It just feels like that on steroids. It wasn't too terrible. I was exhausted and my arms were killing be the day after but I can handle it. 

The next day, I almost fell asleep while driving, while pumping and could barely keep my eyes open at all. I skipped t25 on my 2nd day. Ugh. 

However, I went to sleep BEFORE 9pm! The girls fussed a couple times around 1,2 & 4 and ate at 515, I pumped and was back in bed my 630, Bria fussed then, out her back to sleep and we all slept until 815! Bria didn't wake up until 9! I feel amazing and can't wait to do it again tonight! I have also been looking into whole30. I would only prob do it for 30 days but that should surely shock my body into some weight loss!! 

Why Having Twins Rock

Not to down play having a singleton. There are many opportunities such as toting your singleton around on your hip that twin mommas can't do, but I feel like this post is a long time coming. 

We take our twins out as much as we can. My husband and I have only been out without our girls twice. Once to do all our Christmas shopping in one entire day, and the other to shop the day after Christmas to get wrapping paper. That's it. I already feel like I lose out on enough time with them when I work full time- I'm not about to give up one second more! Which is why my husband and I probably won't watch a movie until they are 5 and can sit through one on their own and we all go as a family of four. I waited waaaay too long to get these girls here and I don't plan on pawning them off on anyone- sorry all the people that want to watch them! :) 

We take them out a lot, and we always get the same comments. Oh bless you, better you than me, or the go-to line: your hands must be full. 

I would love to say- I am VERY blessed, I'm more than happy to take any twins you have off your hands so yes I guess better me than you, and yes ding dong- our hands are full, now stop gawking and let us shop.

I'm tired of saying- they are actually good babies.. No one listens, they go on and just shake their head. 

People stop and stare and ask questions. & always say something negative. 

These babies weren't unplanned, they were very planned. My husband actually wanted twins! So there. Move along. 

(This post has taken me days to write so my timeline may be off). 

I was just talking to another twin momma who brought her girls over today and she said everyone should experience twins and she's right! Everyone should. No having 2 under 2 doesn't count. Try two needy newborns, and only having two hands. It's not the same. Sorry. 

Having twins and raising these girls will be my greatest accomplishment no matter what I achieve. 

Twins are double the:

Love

Snuggles

Tears 

Hugs

Cries

Smiles

Hands

Diapers

Bellies 

Developmental accomplishments 

Milk

Bottles 

Giggles 

Hands to hold

Puppy dog eyes

Twins are truly double everything. They are best friends and my best friends. They are so amazing to watch interact. The smiles you get in the morning after a refreshing nights sleep (for them).. Yea I get that two times! 

Twins are special. My girls are extraordinary. They are wombmates and best friends. They complete my life I. So many ways and I am BLESSED and thankful they are mine. That I was thought strong and confident enough to raise twins. 

So, yes my hands are full with the neatest  and most epic thing that will ever happen to me. 

 

Our Little Valentines!

As with any holiday- this valentines day was the best yet! & we ate at McDonald's. No joke. 

We had a dr appt planned at 1:15 and the girls were getting their ears pierced at 3:15! Andrew was going to take a half day to help me and he ended up not having school! Yay! 

He was very sweet and tried to let me sleep in, but I'm pretty sure Ella is part Hulk and you cannot drown out her excited play scream! So I was up! 

B weighed 15.4 and was 24 &5/8inches! 

E weighed 16.6 and was 25 inches!  We knew Ella was going to be the  tall one with the size of her hands, it was only a matter of time! 

We took off to Morgantown and realized we were both starving so we ate nuggets and a McDouble as our valentines day lunch! Andrew decided to go through town, on a Friday, in a college town, during rush hour/end of class day, when students were trying to go home. I knew I was having anxiety issues after having the  girls and that trip confirmed it. I thought I was going to die. We finally made it right on time and I barely had time to pee before they brought us back. Since we had the ear piercing done in a dr office- we didn't have a huge selection, but it was cheaper and very sterile going this route! We warmed up their bottles and E was first. She screamed and screamed and screamed. It was worse than shots. I couldn't get her to eat her bottle afterwards and it was bad. I was out in the waiting room trying to console her and it was only adding to my anxiety/ making me sweat. B did much better apparently. She had stopped crying when I made my way back in there. But-- my oh my did the girls look cute! 

Daddy was smart and Momma got matching earrings for valentines day!! 

We came home, played, and had a homemade steak dinner! It was the best! 

I'll leave you with photos of the cutest little girls! Ours! 

Happy 6 Months!

A day late. Such is life.. 

Seriously. I want to cry. I would cry but right now it's moreso due to lack of sleep than anything. It's sad. I feel like the newborn stage was hard with sleep but I was prepared. I prepared myself. Now, that I KNOW the girls can sleep through the night. It's frustrating when they get up at 445/5 to eat. Usually they go right back to sleep. Ella was having a tough time this morning. 

I posted on Facebook yesterday how crazy is it that everyone tells you how fast it goes. And you're like yea... Yadda Yadda...  I've heard it before. But it's ridiculously true. It's such a weird bittersweet type of feeling! 

Our Ellie Bellie, 

You are a rolling fool! We lay you on your back to play and you immediately roll to your belly and start moving! You are army crawling very well now and I expect you to crawl in a few weeks! It won't be long! Your blonde hair seems to be getting a little longer/more fuzz! Your eyes are still deep blue (I'm still hoping someone has brown eyes!)! You are barely squeezing into 3-6 month sleepers but 3-6 month clothes are a tad baggy. You are still in size 2 diapers! You are starting to make a lot of noises and experimenting with sound. We are convinced pappy and nanny are trying to get you to say pappy first because you make a P sound. Daddy is hoping your first words are da-da! You still look so much like momma and people are starting to see our resemblence! You love your activity center and all your little toys, anything you can chew and you especially love Violet! Your favorite thing to do is play on the floor and roll everywhere. We are working on sitting up but you just roll from one side to the next! You're getting there! You had a lot of time with daddy this month because of the big snow storms we have had! We are so proud of everything you have done! Your PT says you are very advanced for you age! This past 6 months has been the best! Thank you for being you! Mommy and daddy love you to the moon and back! 

Our Baby B! 

You are such a big girl! You have web sitting up for a month now and now you are a pro! You could sit up and play all day! You aren't so much for tummy time and don't have a interest in crawling but you will get there! You are slowly growing out of 3-6 month sleepers but in 3-6 month clothes fit you well or are pretty baggy! You are in size 2 diapers just like sis! You hair is coming in a lot! It's a dark blonde/light brown! Your eyes are getting a little gray in them and will probably be hazel like daddy's! You say ma-ma! Which is my favorite accomplishment from this month!! At first you only said it when crying, but now you say it when playing too! You have started making a b noise as well, so I'm not sure what that will end up! You still look a lot like daddy's baby picture, even though some people think you still look like momma! You love (like are obsessed) with your jumparoo! You adore your puppy violet and pretty much any toy you can put in your mouth! You had a lot of time with daddy this month because of the big snow storms we have had! Ella's PT said you are very advanced for your age with your sitting up so well! We are so proud  everything you have done! The past 6 months have been the best!! Thank you for being you! Mommy and daddy love you to the moon and back! 

Our Life

I want to remember to document how life with 5-6 month olds are... Did I really just say 6 month olds?!? Sigh! 

So here recently- Andrew hasn't worked much. It's winter in WV and the winter has been terrible. So school has been scarce. Literally, at one point it was over a month and he had only worked 7 days total. Must be nice. So we have been able to get the girls on a pretty rockin schedule. Oh what I would do to be a stay at home mom and have them consistent everyday! 

Morning- 800-900 wake up! Sometime they get a bottle before this, sometimes they sleep through the night. Bri has been and lately and waking up at 5-6am, but does generally go right back to sleep after her bottle. 

They eat. && We play. And play and play. They play for 10 minutes in their activity center/jumpies, and play alllllll day long on the floor. By 1030-11am we are ready for a nap. Ella usually lays down and immediately falls asleep and B takes a little rocking. They sleep anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours (Ella.. Never Bria. That girl doesn't need sleep!) We eat and start playing again. Same scenario. 10 minutes or so in the jumpie and the rest of the time rolling, sitting or laying- playing on the floor! Around 230 they are ready for another nap! This one is usually a little shorter. Around 45 minutes to 1 hour. Up, eat and play again! 

Should I just say. Eat, play, sleep every 2-3 hours! Nap around 4/430.. Also short and after 5- no nap so they are nice and sleepy by 745. Bath, bottle bed!