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Sunday, February 6, 2011

Snowcation

                                                          Tim with Maurkice Pouncey








 She fell asleep in her jumper while I was feeding Tayden




 Carrots anyone?




 TCU practice field with Steelers' Logo




 My red penguins
 Brooklyn taking a closer look


 Tayden checking out the snow



 He is so thrilled!


 Look at me!





 Tayden look over there!


I know, I know - it has been way too long since I posted.  I have no good excuse, life has just been busy!  My principal gave me very strict orders to update the blog during my four days off from work, so I am finally sitting down to complete my homework.  As I type Tim is still busy trying to find a seat at the Super Bowl tomorrow.  I know it probably won't happen, but he gets an A+ for effort.  It is neat that the first Super Bowl of the twins' lives involves the Steelers.  They were fans back in their NICU days with their yellow blankets covering their isolets.
Before the weather got bad, we ventured out last weekend to go checkout downtown Fort Worth and TCU.  We saw the hotel where the Steelers are staying, the ESPN headquarters, and Tim even snuck onto the practice field at TCU (I highly doubt they practiced outside in the snow).  We took the twins to Trinity Park and walked by the river.  There were several people walking and riding bikes and the babies couldn't look at everything fast enough.  We tried sitting down to feed them, but they were too busy people watching.  Tim did go back downtown this weekend and was able to meet Steelers' rookie Maurkice Pouncey.  He even got a picture with him! 
Getting four unexpected days off from work was a great blessing (I probably won't feel this way in June when we are making them up).  I spent every minute possible with the twins - there is no place I would rather be!  They are growing and changing each day and definitely keep us busy.  They are going to bed around 10:00 or 10:30 and sleeping until 9:30 or 10:00.  They usually take one nap in the afternoon for about 2 hours.  They still have 4 - 5 bottles a day and they are eating solids twice a day.  They have started on Stage 3 - which is chunkier and are doing well.  We have given them some table food - scrambled eggs, cheese, pieces of chicken nuggets and bread.  They love it all!!!  Anytime one of us is eating they crawl over and start smacking their lips.  They love reading books, watching Sesame Street and strangely enough - the iPad commercial.  We can be anywhere in the house and when they hear it come on they freeze and try to find the tv.  We have started giving baths in the big tub.  They love splashing and playing with their toys.  We quickly realized that we need a mat in the bottom to keep them from sliding.   
We did take the twins out in the backyard yesterday.  We bundled them up in layers and their winter coats which are too big.  We sat them in box lids so they didn't get wet.  They looked like little red penguins.  Neither of them knew what to do.  They looked around and didn't seem too impressed.  I know that if it snows next year, things will be completely different.  At one point Brooklyn bent over to look at the snow and fell face first into the snow.  Luckily, the jacket kept her face from getting covered.  Both of the babies have been healthy - which is a blessing.  They will go in next week for their 4th Synagis shot and then they will get their 1 year vaccines the following week.  Yes, 1 year!!!  I cannot believe that they are about to be 1.  This year has flown by and I still find myself looking at them and thinking - these are my children.  I never imagined, when I stood beside their isolets in the hospital, that they would be this healthy and strong - God is so GOOD!!!
Brooklyn goes full speed from when she wakes up until she falls asleep.  She is into everything and is already proving to be quite sneaky.  She will hand her brother a toy so that she can take the toy he already has away from him.  Tonight I was sitting in the "cage" and she was trying to get my phone.  She grabbed my face and starting giving me kisses while reaching down and taking my phone.  She definitely has mastered the art of distraction.  She now claps her hands and says "Yeah."  We have been working on sounds that animals make and she can moo like a cow and cacaca like a rooster.  This morning she woke me up by repeatedly making the cacaca sound.  Who needs a rooster when you have Brooklyn?  She loves giving kisses and waving.  She will sometimes actually move her hand like a wave and say bye bye and other times she raises her hand like she has a question.  She laughs quite often and will crinkle her nose up and make a really silly face.  She has started to dance when music comes on and will tap both hands down and the same time in a rapid manner - my mom calls this her Stevie Wonder impression.  She did cut another bottom tooth so she now has two.
Tayden is much more mobile now and is starting to get into everything as well.  He is still army crawling, but making progress towards a regular crawl.  He pulls up on everything - couch, coffee table, legs, Brooklyn, etc.  He will hold on and walk a few steps.  His occupational therapist came last week and said that he is making great progress.  We asked about his crawling and she said to give it time and it will happen.  He makes noise most of the time - dadada and tatata.  He has learned to stick his tongue out and spit which is not so fun when he is eating carrots.  He laughs at almost anything and it is the cutest little laugh ever.  He is calmer than Brooklyn, except for when he is hungry.  He has a set of lungs for sure!!!  He also gets mad when Brooklyn takes a toy from and will take it back and put it in his other hand where she can't get it - pretty sneaky!!  He pulled a fast one on me the other day.  While they were napping I figured I would take a quick nap too.  (Sidenote:  we put Brooklyn's Nap Nanny down inside a pack n play so that if she gets out, she can't go far.  Tayden's however, has been in the floor, because he hasn't figured out how to get out yet.)  When I put him in his Nap Nanny I didn't fasten the straps because I was sleeping two feet from him and I figured I would hear him wake up.  Much to my surprise, I woke up to find that he had crawled out of his Nap Nanny and to a basket of magazines I have by the bed.  He was ripping the pages of the magazines and laughing.  Little TOOT!!!  It is now time for his Nap Nanny to go in a pack n play.
Tim is doing well - staying busy.  He shows houses every Saturday, most Sundays and usually a few nights during the week.  He still loves staying at home with the twins - which is such a blessing.  He continues to amaze me!  I knew he would be a wonderful father, but he goes above and beyond every single day!
SueSue came over last night and Tim and I ran to Cheddars for a quick dinner.  I hadn't left the house since Monday night so I was walking very cautiously on the driveway - not sure what to expect.  He was already in the car with the car started by the time I got in.  I started laughing thinking back to last year when I was pregnant and it snowed on Christmas Eve.  He wouldn't let me take a step by myself - how things have changed! 

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Synagis Shot #3

The twins had their third Synagis shot yesterday (only 2 more to go).  The doctor checked both of their ears and said that Tayden's ear infections have cleared up and Brooklyn's ears look good.  Brooklyn now weighs 21 pounds and Tayden weighs 21 pounds 10 ounces.  Tayden does still have a little cough so she recommended giving him Zyrtec for a few days.
Tayden has started army crawling and is gaining speed each day.  He is pulling up on everything and wants to be standing up all of the time.  He now says Dada (I am still really working on Mama).  Brooklyn is now holding onto objects such as the couch and walking from one end to the other.  She is quite sneaky and loves to crawl to the dog food bowls to dump the water out or to any shoes she can find and try and put in her mouth.  We did get a baby fence to keep them contained and they enjoy being in there for short periods of time.  Tayden's two bottom teeth and Brooklyn's lone bottom tooth are very visible now.  They still want to put everything in their mouths so I am assuming that more chompers are in our near future. 
We have been spending more time in the nursery to get the babies more familiar with their cribs.  We did a trial run of having them sleep in them last weekend.  We talked it up to the twins (I think this was more me convincing myself it would be okay).  We got both babies to sleep, put them in their cribs and walked to the living room.  We were marveling at how easy it was and then Brooklyn started screaming which woke up Tayden.  First attempt - FAIL!  I know some people will say that you have to let them cry it out, and I agree with that to some extent.  You have to keep in mind that since April 9th the babies have slept in our room every single night(never in our bed).  Even when they were hospitalized in May with the flu, Tim slept in the hospital room with one baby and I was at home with the other.  For the first 3 months they were home I slept with one eye open making sure that no one was refluxing.  We had to be close by in the event of an episode and that quickly became a habit.  They got used to sleeping in our room and we got used to having them there.  I feel bad sticking them in an unfamiliar room and expecting them to cry themselves to sleep the first night.  If they were used to their beds and room it would be another story.  I am sure researchers and medical professionals would have their own theories, but I am sticking to mine for now.  Just to clarify - I don't plan on the twins being 5 and still sleeping in their nap nannies in our room.  I do want them to sleep in their own room, I just believe in taking things slowly.
Tim officially resigned from his job last week! It was a big step, but one that we had prayed about and discussed at length. We know that it is the right decision for our family at this time. The real estate business was slow through the holidays, but is picking back up, which is a very good thing for him.


Hard to get a shot of the lone tooth
Two chompers

Brooklyn's hiding spot
Our new gate
Wearing Daddy's hat

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Christmas Pictures

Tayden
Brooklyn in her box
This is the secret to keeping her confined!!


Santa found us!
Tayden and Uncle Craig
Brooklyn tried to eat the ribbon
The Christmas box with cousin Payton
New Year's Eve
Party pooper

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

*I have been trying to post pictures as well, but my computer is acting a little crazy.  I have many to share!
When I last blogged, Brooklyn had a stuffy nose and Tayden was a little stuffy.  Brooklyn made a quick recovery, but Tayden's stuffy nose turned into a terrible cough and then double ear infections.  He would wake up in the middle of the night screaming and we had no idea what was wrong.  We didn't know how to help him - a terrible feeling!  Tim and I have both been battling sinus issues and bad coughs as well.  Tim took Tayden to the doctor on Wednesday and he is now on an antibiotic and ear drops.  He seems to be feeling much better!!! 
Despite our entire family being sick, the twins' 1st Christmas was wonderful!  We spent Christmas Eve at my sister Jamie's house and then went to SueSue's on Christmas Day.  The twins loved spending time with the family and playing with their cousin Payton.  Santa definitely found our house and brought the twins a playhouse, books, bathtub toys, Taggies, a doll for Brooklyn, and balls for Tayden.  Tim and I got them an activity table, a shape sorter, and a few other goodies.  We brought them in the living room to see all of the presents and they weren't quite sure how to react.  After we opened everything, they were most content with their old toys and Tim's shoelaces - go figure!  Brooklyn has started to figure out how to work her playhouse and loves standing up at the activity table.  Tayden has figured out how to pull up on the table as well!  She has perfected crawling and can get anywhere quick - her target lately has been Sambo's food dish.  She will crawl all the way to the bowl and then look up at us as if to say - I'm not supposed to be here am I?  Tayden prefers to roll everywhere and can get across the living room rather quickly.  Brooklyn still tries to grab anything that he is playing with, but he is getting better about holding on tight and not letting go.  Tayden now has his two bottom teeth fully in view and Brooklyn has one on the bottom.  They are both interacting with each other a lot more which is really neat to watch.  Brooklyn will wave hi and bye bye and has even said bye bye a few times.  They both give kisses - so sweet!!!  Tayden's appetite has been a little weak, due to being sick.  Brooklyn on the other hand, has decided she likes table food like scrambled eggs and rice.
My grandparents and uncle came to visit this past Monday.  They got to see all of the babies new tricks and love on them for awhile.  It was so good to see all of them and celebrate Christmas.  I wish that they lived closer!!!
I had surgery on Wednesday to repair some things that were damaged during my pregnancy, so Tim and SueSue have been on full-time twin duty.  They have both been great and I have been able to get some good sleep and just rest.  Who knew having surgery would be like a vacation?  I was able to pick the babies up for the first time today.  I am still a little sore, but feeling okay.  We had a low-key New Year's Eve - ordered some Italian food and stayed warm.  Brooklyn was alseep by 10:00, but Tayden was up to see the ball drop at midnight.
2010 was an extremely eventful year for our family.  There were times of uncertainty, fear, anxiety, excitement, celebration, love, and a deep sense of joy.  Joy that neither Tim nor I had ever experienced before or knew was possible.  We will always remember 2010 as the year God allowed us to become parents to the two most amazing gifts - Brooklyn McCarty and Tayden James.  We look forward to 2011 and all of the milestones it will bring, but above all we are praying for good health and great happiness for our family and all of you as well.  Your continued love and support mean so much to us and each one of you is a blessing we thank God for daily.