Three, Three and Under

Life with three kids, three and under is beyond crazy!  The twins are four months old (19 weeks) and I still look at Nick and say "We have three kids!  How did that happen?"

Cali is a joy of a three year old.  She is brilliant, caring and so tender hearted.  She is a great big sister and is so helpful.

We were excited when we got pregnant a second time and found out four days later that it was twins!  Nick's initial reaction was excitement where I freaked out.  I'm a planner so I immediately started freaking out about all the stuff we would need, a van, another crib, tons of diapers....  Nick is more laid back and kept thinking it was a deal - two for one!

Fun Twin Stuff:
- When in public you are famous with twins.  Everyone will want to talk to you and share about twins they know.
- One twin can be screaming their head off with the other twin sleeping peacefully 12" away.
- If both twins are crying at the same time the only appropriate reaction is to laugh - you are out numbered.
- Get them on the same schedule as soon as possible no matter what.  Feeding, burping and changing diapers takes 45 minutes to an hour.  If one twin wakes up hungry we wake up the other one.
- The twins have built in friends.  They enjoy playing together and talking.
- We do things with the twins we never did with Cali.  With your first child you are so worried about everything.  Cali took naps in our arms for the first YEAR of her life.  The twins have been napping in the crib since day one.

This post is linked to Kelly Korner's Show us your life

They are on the move

The twins are getting big and experimenting with mobility!  It is to the point now where they won't be in the same position I put them in.  Both babies can roll onto their sides but haven't figured out how to get over their arms yet.  They are still sharing a crib but it won't be long.  We picked up the second crib over the weekend and are just waiting for a second mattress.

Left picture - Hannah was feet-to-feet with Henry in the crib 
Top right - Henry rolling onto his side
Bottom right - Henry was laid down parallel to Hannah

They are also staying awake more and are interested in toys and playing.  Cali is a big helper in entertaining the twins.  We play school, Doctor, Dentist and hair salon with the babies.

Duke fans in training

I also wanted to share these adorable outfits that my mom made.  I found out about the onsie dress from another blog and fell in love.  With a little searching we found the tie onsie for Henry.  Aren't they just adorable?!  The linked arms does it for me!  Love them!

Twin Four Month Update

Wow how time flies!  Henry and Hannah are four months old today!  It is so fun to see the changes in them.  They are truly their own people these days instead of needy infants.  Their personalities are starting to form.  They are also responding so well to us.  They just light up when they see Nick, Cali or me.  This also means they can tell when someone other than mommy and daddy have them.  Nick and I went on a date Friday and it was touch and go with the twins before we left because they could tell someone else was holding them.  But our sweet friends were patient and did great!

The twins just love their big sister!  If they are crying she will either run to find a paci to put in their mouth or she will sing to them.  Amazingly the singing sometimes works!  Most of the time she sings "Rock a by baby" or "Row row row your boat".  It brings me such joy to have my children respond so well to each other!

Henry 4 months

Hannah 4 months

MONTHLY UPDATE:

Food - 100% breast milk on a 2.5-3.5 hour schedule during the day and 4-8 hours at night.  Using bottles and nursing.  Henry eats 5 ozs and Hannah eats 4 ozs.

Sleep - They take around 4- hour to two hour naps a day.  And they are officially "Sleeping through the night" if you use the 6 hour definition most nights.  We only get up once (typically) to feed them at night.  

Clothes - Hannah is in 3-6 month.  Henry is in 3-6 and some 6-9 month size.

Weight -  Hannah 11 lbs 4 oz Henry 13 lbs 2 oz

Height - Hannah 22 3/4 inches Henry 24 inches  

Diapers - Pampers size 1 and soon to be 2

Health - Hannah is doing great on her meds for the Hemangioma.  The spot is a light pink now instead of a bright red!

Fun Facts - Henry enjoys laughing and is very smiley.  Hannah loves to stand up, supported of course.

Cali's Dora the Explorer 3rd Birthday Party

We had a great time this morning at Cali's 3rd birthday party!  The party was at church in a room right next to the outdoor playground - a big entertainer for the kids!  The party was filled with tasty treats, a pinata, presents, friends and family.

The birthday girl has been asking for a pinata for weeks.  I had not originally planned for a pinata but after the request I had to make it happen.  Who knew the pinata would be such a hit with the kids!  Cali went first (with Daddy's help) then we continued on up from smallest to biggest.  Luckily the oldest 2 kids got a few swings in before the goodies poured out!

Daddy hanging the pinata

Chasing the pinata

Hitting the pinata

Goodies!

The party was also the twins first time being out in public at a social event.  They should have been sleeping for the party but instead were awake and cranky.  When we got home Hannah took a bottle and slept for 3.5 hours.  Henry ate and snoozed while watching basketball with Daddy.

The Grandmas on twin duty

Cali loved it when we all sang "Happy Birthday"  This look makes it all worth it!

 While we cleaned up the kids went outside to play.

So proud of our 3 year old!

Cali is 3!!!

Cali Maple is three years old today!  How is that possible?  How is my little baby three?  I'm blown away by how fast time is going by.  I'm afraid to blink for fear she'll be driving.

Our oldest daughter is such a blessing!  I know I say that a lot but I truly mean it!  We are blessed to be her parents and blessed by God because of her.  It is amazing how the Lord can use your child to teach you so many lessons about Himself.

Cali has such a sweet spirit and a tender heart.  She is so polite and friendly.  She is super smart and picks up on everything.  Her vocabulary grows all the time and she has an amazing memory!

                                                      Cali singing "Happy Birthday"

Cali Facts

Size 9 shoe
Size 3T clothes
95% potty trained - she still wears pull ups to bed
Up at 7am, naps at 2pm, bed at 8pm
Favorite color: pink
Favorite drink: white milk
Favorite food: cookies
Favorite fruit: pears
Favorite TV show: Dora the Explorer
Favorite activity: playing

Cali is also a great big sister!  She loves the babies and does so much to help us.  If one of the babies is crying she will run over to try and give them a paci or sing a song to them.  It warms my heart how she loves them!

Happy Birthday Cali Maple!  You are so loved!

3 Months Old Twins

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy 3 Months to Henry and Hannah!  God is good and we are still surviving with 3 kids under 3!

Big changes this past month have been the twins really starting to respond to us.  They react to our voices and recognize our faces.  After weeks of very little response it is so rewarding to finally get a smile or a laugh!

They are also old enough for us to go out on mini-outings.  I have taken them out a few times to run errands and they have done pretty well.  Henry will sleep the whole time and Hannah will be wide eyed taking it all in.

MONTHLY UPDATE:

Food - 100% breast milk 3-4 oz per feeding.  Using bottles and nursing.

Sleep - They nap for about an hour to an hour and a half five to six times a day.  They sleep four to five hours at night between feedings.

Clothes - Hannah is still in Newborn size and some 0-3 month.  Henry is in 0-3 month size.

Weight -  Hannah around 9.5 lbs  Henry around  11 lbs

Height - Hannah ____ inches Henry ____ inches  

Diapers - Pampers size 1 we go through 16 to 20 diapers A DAY!

Health - Hannah is doing great on her meds for the Hemangioma.  The red spot has gotten smaller and is getting lighter.  We are all fighting a cold which is interesting.  We've decided that if one kid gets sick everyone will get it.  Next time the Dr. writes a prescription for something I'm just going to ask for 2 more of the same thing since its inevitable. 

Fun Facts - When Henry laughs you can see a dimple on his right cheek.  Hannah's talking noise sounds like a lion's roar (a baby lion of course).

Henry 3 months

Hannah 3 months

Saturday in iPhone

Here is what we did today:

Our alarm clock "Mommy!  It's 7!"

Nick feeding babies breakfast

Twins take a nap after playing 

Superman Cali - she is making a mask with her hands

Maw Maw reading with Cali and Hannah

Hanging out with Maw Maw

Hannah and Henry playing

Making cookies with daddy

Being silly