Great Big Babies!

We are happy to report that we have big babies.  They were weighed today and Samantha is 10lbs. 12oz. and Catherine is 9lbs. 2oz.  They are working very hard to catch up to the proper weight for their adjusted age.  Samantha is around 50% and Catherine is around 10%.  For all their developmental indicators they are doing great for their actual age.

Since our last post, they have both learned to do new things.

They recognize when people smile at them and will smile back.  And usually when they smile, they also like to talk.

They learned how to suck their thumbs.  Please note that Catherine is using her left hand.

And they've learned that they can get Grandpa to buy them new clothes!

We're extremely excited to see how much they are learning and changing.  It's all happening so quickly.  Catherine hasn't even learned how to crawl yet and she already wants to stand up and walk.  Samantha wants to play a lot and likes to watch her mobile and her animals on her swing.  And two nights this week they both slept over 6 consecutive hours!

We look forward to everyone getting to meet the girls next week; but for those that can't make it, keep your eyes on the blog because we should have some videos coming soon.

playing dress-up and more

(written by Catherine and Samantha)

Mommy let us write this blog because she is too tired (don't know why).  We thought we would update you on our wardrobe.  Mommy and Aunt Alyssa and Nana tried all these clothes on us and we finally took pictures of it.  The only thing we don't have are the skunk and rabbit outfits, but we are saving those until they fit a little better (we'll look even cuter, which is hard to believe is possible).

Catherine in pink and Samantha in purple.

OK, we know this is not our clothes being shown off in this picture, but it is still cool.  Mommy and Daddy got us a crib piano and it is so much fun.  We lie in front of it and kick and it makes noises and plays songs and lights up.  Nana says it is more for parents than us, but we still like it.

Below Samantha is wearing shorts and Catherine is wearing an outfit that Mommy loves because it snaps up the front but also has snaps at the bottom.  She says it is easier for Daddy to put on than a onesie over our heads and makes him feel better about his parenting skills in the dressing department. :-)

Now, below are pictures of us wearing dresses that Daddy's Aunt Debbie and Uncle George got us from Pigeon Forge, TN.  They are like square dancing dresses and fit us perfectly.  Catherine loved hers (the ruffles and ribbons are awesome!), but Samantha seemed to have another opinion (the second time I tried it on I started to warm up to it).

Now here Nana had some fun in Nordstrom's and bought us new pacifiers.  Samantha says she doesn't think it is fair that she is in both pictures and Catherine isn't, but to be fair, she was the one who was awake while I, Catherine, was still sleeping :-)

Samantha - admittedly, yes, I was cranky, but as you can see below, I am quite fun and smiley when I want to be.

2 month doctor visit

Well, actually this was our 2 1/2 month doctor visit.  The girls were 11 weeks old yesterday.  Catherine is 7lb 11 oz and 19 1/2 inches long.   Samantha is 8lb 7 oz and 20 inches long.  They had their shots and took it well considering.  They've been tired and cranky but we should be heading out of that now.  The doctor was impressed with their progress, they may even be gaining, growing faster than the curve.  They also have great head control  and we can't believe how great they are at tummy time, moving their heads and kicking their feet and pushing off.

They got sparkly band-aids after their shots.  It did not make them feel better.

Samantha wore the ACDC onesie.  This must have been from our friend Beth.

Our girls had baths in their big tub!  This is Catherine with her Michelin Man legs and Budda belly.

  So cute!

 This is Samantha.  Her hair is long enough now that you actually need to brush it!

This is what can happen some times in the morning.  It can be the only way everyone is happy.

This is Catherine's "I don't want to eat anymore!" face.

Samantha got to wear a pretty skirt

and a dress.  I think she likes this one a lot.

 Catherine did too, and she poses for the camera.  She's going to be a dancer.

making progress?

Well, we had high hopes that the girls were making progress in the sleep department, going from 10pm-3am and then until at least 7am, but then the last few nights they have been up every 3 hours.  I have to keep reminding myself that, although they are over 10 weeks old, they are only 1 month adjusted age and so probably aren't ready to sleep that long yet.

They went through a crazy growth spurt, Samantha taking 23oz a day and Catherine 21oz, but they seemed to have slowed down a little.  It worked, though!  A nurse visited the other day to check on Samantha's progress (she's doing so great, but more on that later) and weighed them.  Catherine is a little chub (see her legs) and weighed 7lbs 7oz.  Samantha weighed in at a surprising 7lbs 15 oz!  They have their 2 month check up next week and I know she'll be over 8lbs.  They are now out of newborn diapers!

Catherine is our little talker.  She goos and gees and kays, even with her pacifier in her mouth (kind of like Heidi barking with her ball in her mouth).  She's generally happy unless she's tooting, that makes her a little cranky.  However, she rarely is wailing and yelling unless there is good reason (really messy or really hungry).  When she's awake in her crib she often gives a shout here or there like "Hey!  I'm up here and awake!  Are you coming?"  She's also ready to  move, it's kind of frightening.  She can pick up her chest off the floor and kicks her legs like a Radio City Rockette.  If you put your hand behind her feet she will push herself across the floor.

Samantha has very few speeds and they vary quite differently.  She can wail like a banshee, and her flailing arms don't help her calm down.  Once she is swaddled or you keep her arms still she can calm down (and she looks like a glow worm).

She also likes her animal mobile (it's so cool, it has a remote!)

Once she's awake she's quite chill.  She stares around at what is going on.  She's very observant and serious.  She's also just starting to pick her chest up, but she's not very motivated, not like Catherine, but she will scoot herself across the floor if you brace her feet with your hand.  She loves her bath and we are going to find a way to keep her in water if it makes her happy.

Recently, the last day or two, she is starting to make noises like Catherine, less crying and more 'notifying'.  It gives us hope and makes us feel good.  She is our best burper (she sounds like Daddy!) and more consistent eater, as long as she isn't too hungry that she dribbles her food down her chin (which can lead to another bath).

 We love our hats (not!) but mommy makes us wear them outside in the sunshine.

Catherine gives Daddy hugs.

 Symmetry!  Love our pacis with dolls attached.  We can hold them close.

Hi! 

Catherine stares adoringly up at Daddy.  See those chubby legs!

hanging out

2 months old today!  Nothing new to report except that Samantha hates going down for naps.  We're trying to get her to fall asleep on her own but she doesn't seem to like that (actually she voices her opinion on that quite firmly).  We've had some rough nights because the girls seem to think they should sleep in the morning and be up until 1am or later, but we're working through that as best we can to get them to sleep sooner and longer at night.

Here are some pictures I took just playing around.  Those pink outfits are too big but too cute not to try on.  We put Catherine on the left and Samantha on the right, but they kept rolling away from each other.  We switched them, but they rolled apart again.  Mom said they were like magnets, polar opposites.  Let's hope they at least get along and like each other.

These two pictures we just had to post.  Someone from Dave's job got them Easter outfits and one was that white onesie.  It says 'one of a kind' and has a pink chick with sunglasses.  It is definitely Sam's outfit (as you can see by her hospital picture).  She is a sunglasses, lay out and chill kind of girl (or at least, when she's not attempting to sleep or be changed).  Speaking of which...

 

First Mother's Day

(written by Catherine and Samantha, a team effort)

It is Mommy's first Mommy's Day and we celebrated by waking her up as soon as it started at midnight.  Then we did our best to stay awake and spend as much time with her as possible.  Then Nana and Aunt Mary Anne came and Mommy went to sleep.  When Mommy woke up we took pictures.

Last week we had an outing to the mall and Aunt Mary Anne bought us hats to wear in the sun.  There are two purple ones, a white one with flowers, and a khaki/safari one.  Catherine is wearing the purple one and Samantha is wearing the khaki one and the white one.  Samantha also has one of the special passies.  She likes to hold on to things very tightly (we think it makes her feel secure) and this works well.  

 

These are our Easter outfits from Dani.  Better late than never!

This is what Daddy and Heidi look like after getting up with us at 6:30.

This is our supercool ride!  Mommy says it is huge, but we love it, so smooth and easy to move around.

We are off to make mommy happy on her special day!  More to come.