Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun

2010-09-12T15:24:00.007-04:00

The summer is drawing to a close, which means soon we can break out the blue jeans and say goodbye to the beach and swimming pool. We've had one awesome summer and while their little personalities may be trying at times, I am really enjoying this age. I am finally getting to "know" my children and who they truly are!

This is a bit dated, but cute all the same. 4th of July at Will's house was a blast, as were our matching swimsuits!

Grammy came to visit and we loved her so! We played dress up, went to church, went to the beach, and learned how to say our bedtime prayers :-)

Haircut count
Reid-5
Eva-0

And to wrap it up- some fall news. Eva is officially a ballerina! She's starting ballet class at her school this Tuesday and couldn't be happier. She did a trial run to see how she'd do since most kids can't start until they are 3 but she was a rock star and got in early! Reid starts PlayBall this week as well, so we'll have to post a picture of him in his uniform. He will learn ball coordination skills, which will be very important for a future all-star quarterback of course.

Welcome July!

2010-07-01T21:04:00.007-04:00

Summer is flying by, though officially it's only been here for a week or so. Work is busy, life is busy, but we're all happy and that's what matters. The kids vocabulary is just cracking me up. As Meema says, the way they reason things is just insane! Eva's turning very bossy and Reid, sweetly, is going right along with her every wish (don't know where they get THAT from!)

As mentioned in the previous post, we are absolutely digging the beach this year. When given the choices of what do on the weekends, hands down the beach is first choice (with the swimming pool thrown in here and there). This past weekend we introduced cousin Will to "Eva & Reid's beach" (as Eva self proclaimed it) and a good time was had by all.

Princess Eva strikes again. She's all about princesses. Where are we going for her birthday? Cinderell-D-a's castle! What's your name? Princess Eba!

And to catch up on a recent zoo trip, here's a few hot and sweaty pictures to admire. We had fun but holy cow we won't be going back until maybe October at this point!

Lastly, closing thoughts from Princess duck-duck.

Why I Love Being a Mom

2010-05-08T13:53:00.003-04:00

Today is a day that reminds me why I love being a Mom and how far we've come.

2 years ago when we went to the beach, we packed 1/2 the nursery, intensely rubbed down two 6 month olds with sunscreen, planned for what seemed like hours, and then spent 30 minutes at the beach until they got cranky and it was nap time.

1 year ago when we went to the beach, we packed a wagon full of 'stuff' (swim diapers, change of clothes, an array of snacks, tons of sunscreen, etc.), drug the kids down to the beach, spent an hour until they cried because the ocean scared them and the sand rubbed in their eyes, then went home because it was nap time.

Today we went to the beach. We put on swim suits (and only 1 swim diaper for Reid- yeah potty trained Eva!), sprayed on lotion, grabbed some ice water and grapes, and walked down the boardwalk with nothing but ONE bag of 'stuff' and ONE bucket of toys. We spent almost TWO hours at the beach, and they laughed, giggled, splashed, swam and generally have an awesome time. We left, went to Cruisers for lunch, and then went home because it's now nap time.

Awe, this is the nirvana of motherhood. A good day with good kids and a good husband. No crying (well, maybe just a bit here and there), no loads of 'stuff', and no rushing home. Just enjoying ourselves.

And this is why we are not having anymore babies :-)

As a closing note, take a look at our budding princess. If you ask Eva, her favorite princess is "Cinderelduh" because "she had blonde hair and blue eyes like ME!"

Spring Gardening with Black Thumbs

2010-04-13T20:57:00.004-04:00

Ross and I have never been super successful at growing much (if you don't count the twins & the one plant we got as a housewarming gift from my Mom 6 years ago). So, this year we decided to get down to our roots, so to speak, and plant a raised vegetable garden. With tips from Papa, a lot of dirt, and a little hard work we're off. The kids are loving it so far and can recite a list of the things we planted! Here's a few snapshots of our venture thus far.

Our seedlings- grown indoors for a couple of weeks.

Fun with dirt!

Work is over... time to play with water!

Riding the the borrowed Papa's yard cart. Reid proclaimed 'I sit with Eva.'

I'll update as the spring continues....

Oh, and a nod to our favorite newly wed couple Brad and Lori. They were married in a beautiful ceremony April 10th. Congratulations! We are so pleased to officially have 'Aunt Lowy' part of our crazy family!

And a fancy picture of Ross and I to close :)

Hello March, Wasn't it just December?

2010-03-12T09:28:00.005-05:00

Where do I begin? Oh, yeah, we've been, um, busy. Doing what may you ask? Well, I get up at 5:45 to be out the door by 7. Ross gets up with the kids at 7, gets them to school, then does stuff around or goes fishing until he has to leave for work at 1:30. I get off at 4:30, pick up the kids, do dinner, do bath, and get them to bed by 8. Then it's either off for a run (don't worry- the neighbor comes over to house sit!) or get laundry, cleaning, etc. done around the house. Usually it's a combination of the two. Then it's off to bed by 10:30, right around the time Ross is getting home from work. Wash, rinse, repeat. Yep, busy.

Oh yeah, and then there's this little 1/2 marathon thing I trained for and completed on Ross' b'day. Yay me :)

We've had a few tragedies in our lives lately and I fear more to come. Thankfully, the kids are sublimely oblivious to all of these and keep plugging away merrily. They started a new school in January and we all love it! Since Bank of America purchased my company - Merrill Lynch - we get to use their on-site daycare. Unfortunately it's not on MY site, but it's not too far away. It's awesome and cheaper than where we were. So far, it's a win/win situation.

The kids' vocabulary is just sky-rocketing. Eva told me the other day "no thank you, Mommy, I'm fine" and Reid is our little performer. There's not a song or dance the boy won't attempt. We are in the middle of potty training with Eva right now. She's doing really well and we're taking it slow. This has lead to Eva discovering how much she loves being in her 'natural' state, shall we say. The other night we had a dinner party at our house with a few friends. Eva proceeded to streak much to everyone's amusement. This has become a weekly, if not daily occurrence now.

We've had a lot of birthday parties to attend lately, which have been super fun. Here's a few pictures from our latest at Build-a-Bear for our neighbor Abby's 3rd birthday. For those who want to know, Eva picked out a pink bear (shocker), a karate outfit (she's creative), and named it 'Pinky.' Reid picked out a blue bear (shocker), a biker outfit (huh?), and named it 'Bob.' They crack me up.

Grammy and Pops came to visit us back in January as well. We had great weather and a great time. Here are a few of our pictures and one of the 4 of us at the zoo.

I know I've made promises before but I 'promise' to post more often. Welcome Spring!

Ho Ho Christmas..

2009-12-13T21:22:00.003-05:00

So, it sounded like a sweet game plan. We've been talking up Santa for WEEKS now. What does Santa say? Ho Ho Kiss-mas (see previous posts). What does Santa bring you? Presents. Do you love Santa? Yes (I know, this one's kind of pushing it).

We show up at the Dison's Christmas Cookie Exchange today. We are ready. Too cute camo Hunting For Santa outfits on (again)? Check. Happy, well fed/well rested twins? Check. Getting familiar with our new surroundings for Santa's big arrival? Check (see below)

We here the bells. Yes, Santa is here! Do we want to go investigate? Yes! Is that Santa? Yes! Do we want to go see Santa... pause... look up at Mommy... RUN! No, No, No! Ok, let's give it a 10 minute break and try again. Want to see Santa? No. Well, darn. Ross, want to just make them do it anyway? Ok...

Better luck next year :o)

Holiday Happenings

2009-12-10T21:54:00.005-05:00

2009 is almost at a close and we're really enjoying the holiday season thus far. Last year we had 2 still crawling children on our hands who were transitioning, grumpily, from 2 naps to 1 and not quite 'getting it.' This year, oh boy do they 'get it!' All they can talk about is Christmas lights, presents, Santa Clause, presents, and baby Jesus' birthday. According to Reid, Santa says "Ho, Ho Kiss-mas" and baby Jesus wants Happy Birthday sung to him every day. Eva wants presents! More presents PLEASE! (Well, at least she said please).

Let me back track a bit. Thanksgiving was wonderful! It started with a family 6K run/walk we did first thing in the morning and ended at Susie and Uncle Scott's house. The kids were all bundled up for the race and then played with their 'favorite' cousins all afternoon.

Ah, and next came the annual family oyster roast. Actually, the boat parade was the night before, but I forgot my camera and Meema has all of those pictures. I'll have to back track a bit in my postings later..

They Annual Barkoskie Oyster Roast was a great success! The weather was pleasantly chilly, perfect for oysters, s'mores, low country boil, and of course, hayrides. Oh, and Ross made his absolutely fabulous chili. There wasn't a bite left!

Meema and Papa got the kids matching outfits. They say 'Hunting for Santa' and were absolutely adorable. Here they are posing with cousin Will.

They hayrides were a blast as well as the s'mores. Once again, the kids really 'got it' this year and it just makes everything a whole lot more fun!

Next up is holiday cookie baking tomorrow, our buddy Brosnan's 1st birthday Saturday, our neighbor's party Saturday night, and then a cookie exchange Sunday. Whew, I'm going to be exhausted by the time Christmas actually gets here! But it sure is a blast :-)

Happy Belated Birthday to Y'all

2009-12-02T08:38:00.007-05:00

The twins are officially 2, in both physical form and 'spirit' if you know what I mean. Welcome to the terrific twos!

They had an absolute blast at their birthday party. It was more low key this year with just family and, of course, Elmo. The little furry creature was everywhere. Eva was so overwhelmed she just started jumping up and down and could hardly catch her breath when she saw all of the decorations! I even made Elmo cupcakes. Just call me Martha Stewart. or not.

Meema and Papa got them new tricycles and they were a hit!

Eating cupcakes and opening gifts were fun since this year; they 'got it.' Can't wait until Christmas!

And finally- the aftermath of all the fun. What a great day. Happy Birthday Eva! Happy Birthday Reid! (Yes, I made everyone sing the song twice :)

Is It Really Almost November?

2009-10-30T21:00:00.005-04:00

I have a million excuses why I haven't posted anything in, oh, MONTHS on this blog (starting a new job at work, studying for and passing my stock broker's licensing exam, getting sick for 3 weeks, etc., etc.) but basically I just haven't had the time to do it. So, time for new fall beginnings!

Our little mockingbirds are cracking me up all of the time now. Their favorite sentence is "______ (insert requested object/person here), where are you??" The way they say it is like Ricky Ricardo with "Lucy, I'm home." Like I said, it cracks me up. Eva has also picked up quite the un-southernly, rude answer of 'uh-huh' to the questions she'd like to respond 'yes' to. Mommy's not happy about that, so we're working on the 'yes m'am' with no such luck yet.

As of Monday, they will officially be in the 2 year old room which means no more progress reports home (eek) and no sippy cups at school (double eek). That also means at some point in the next year, I should hopefully have two potty-trained, big boy/girl underwear wearing toddlers. Down with the diapers and good riddens (TBD).

We are just kicking off the Halloween festivities. I brought them up to Merrill Lynch this afternoon in their oh so adorable handmade Bam-Bam and Pebbles costumes and they were an absolute hit. We'd been practicing wearing costumes and trick-or-treating at home and I was pleased that they are quick learners! (And no, the costumes are not handmade by me- thank you Aunt Katie!)

Style... we have plenty of it around here lately. You've gotta love toddler style. Please keep in mind all of these outfits were chosen by the dynamic duo themselves- no parental intervention.

Yes, Daddy is proud... Go Blue

Eva's a big fan of shoes (no idea where she got THAT one from). These happened to be Ross' house slippers.

And here's her too big Crocs. Note the lack of pants and striped socks. Gotta love her!

That's it for now. More to come after the REAL Halloween festivities tomorrow!

Hot Fun in the Summertime..

2009-07-28T19:43:00.006-04:00

Where has the time gone? August already (well, almost)? Wait, could that mean FALL is just around the corner?? I wish. In all reality, we're a good 3 months away from any relief from the stifling heat. Oh well- such is Florida, and such is our home.

Speaking of home, if we're not outside with some body of water nearby, we're getting very crafty and kooky at home. Oh yes, who needs toys when you have an empty box, toilet paper, and indoor bumper cars? Who knew?

Ross and I- thanks to wonderful angels Meema, Grammy, and Aunt Shirley- got to escape to St. Petersburg Beach mid-July and enjoyed every minute of it. Well, besides the fact we saw kids EVERYWHERE and missed ours dearly. The ladies and the dynamic duo had a ball and wore each other out the whole time. The road the train at the Town Center, went to the pool, visited the Children's Hands On museum, and read many, many books:

Weird Habits.

I think we're getting into the age of strange habits and quirky behaviors (and I love it). Hey, I'm a little odd myself and think it's refreshing to have children who think outside of the norm. Cases in point..

Reid woke up early from his nap, as did Eva. Eva curled up on Daddy- end of story. Reid slept on the sofa with me for awhile, then decided he wanted to get up, only to climb on the other sofa and fall back asleep.

Tonight, before reading Goodnight Moon, Eva dug around in her armoire and fished out her sun hat (which, by the way, she refuses to wear outside). Reid, as a good little brother always does, proceeded to follow. Now, we have reading hats.

Finally, major physical milestones don't happen nearly as often as they did those first 18 months, but we have one more step in growing older today.... officially sitting at the grown-ups table. Reid's legs aren't fitting under the tray of the highchair anymore, so we have to make them booster seats and scoot them up to the table. They were in heaven :)

Home Alone

2009-06-26T22:19:00.005-04:00

Well, not really. I'm never really alone, but it's not the same without Ross here. Meema has been a big help and our Aunt Angela just left for the night. She's going to meet us at the pool tomorrow morning for round 2 of toddler swim lessons. It's late and I haven't slept well since Ross has been gone, so I'll make this a short one.

Enough said. Goodnight!

P.S, and this, too :)

Happy Father's Day Ross

2009-06-20T13:14:00.004-04:00

Dear Daddy,

We are so happy to have you as our Daddy. You help Mommy do everything around the house, you cook dinner for us, you clean, you read books to us, you play with us outside, you tickle us until we cry, and you sing us to sleep at night. We don't know what we would do without you.

We Love You,

Eva (Baby Girl) and Reid (Big Boy)

P.S. Mommy doesn't know what she would do without you, too.

The Dog Days of Summer..

2009-06-20T12:50:00.004-04:00

... are upon us. It's supposed to be 99 here today and 100 tomorrow. Factor in the humidity and the heat index level is over 110. Yippee!

The twins are doing wonderfully. We're still going through the on again, off again toddler sicknesses and Eva has her ENT appointment July 1st. Let's hope we don't have another ear infection between now and then.

We started our first swim lessons a week ago with our wonderful 'Aunt' Angela at our neighborhood's community pool. We blew bubbles, floated on our backs, kicked around, and even dunked under water without screaming. I'd say it was a success! Here's the dynamic duo taking a break:

Lately, Reid's had a lot of fun practicing using real, non-sippy cups with water outside at school, which means we've seen him come home with a completely new change of clothes almost every day. Well, one day this week we forgot to send a new change of clothes with him and this is what he willfully wore the entire afternoon. His teacher Miss Courtney was laughing so hard when I walked in because she really tried to not have to change him but he was just too wet. Wait until his future wife sees this one day (note the pink paci was just the cherry on top):

The many faces of Eva. This could have been a blog in itself, but I didn't want to get too carried away. Oh her little personality is showing itself in many forms these days. Case(s) in point:

'Happy' Eva, relaxing by the pool:

'Time Out' Eva, because she wouldn't stop hitting her brother:

'Leave Me Alone and Don't Question What I'm Doing' Eva:

'Meema Tells Mommy I'm Her Little Payback' Eva:

Twin Love

2009-06-06T15:04:00.005-04:00

Summer time, and the Livin's is easy... well, at least for some of us. There's nothing 'easy' about 18 month old twins, But they sure do make it fun. Our 18 month healthy baby check up ended up not being so healthy. Eva had an ear infection (shocker). Then Reid had one the following weekend. THEN, Eva's never went away and she had to have 2 shots of Rocephin and another round of antibiotics this past Monday. Looks like we're going back to the ENT- time for tubes. I won't leave until they schedule her for the procedure. Enough is enough.

Good news is we are physically and mentally on target with our growth. There's still a 5 pound and 2 inch difference between the two (another shocker). One child is 23 lbs. 32 inches. The other is 28 lbs. 34 inches. I'll let you guess which is which.

Reid had his second haircut, and this time all the curls were cut. I miss them and am leaning towards letting it all grow back out again shaggy surfer style. Eva's chugging away in the hair department. I'm pretty sure hers will be stick straight like her Daddy's but only time will tell.

Playing together is definitely an all time favorite right now. Reid follows Ki Ki (sissy) around everywhere, and Eva tolerates Bubby (said with a mighty fine Southern drawl) for the most part. Who needs play dates when you have a built in buddy?

The other day we brought out a new set of blocks, but who needs blocks when you have a mesh bag? Eva brought this all upon herself and just cracked herself up for a good 10 minutes, which, by the way, is a very long time in toddler town.

Until next time....

What I Love About Being a Mother

2009-05-10T20:46:00.005-04:00

Breakfast in bed. Oh, and sleeping in.

That's right- not only did I get to sleep in this morning, my wonderful husband made me breakfast in bed (french toast, sausage, fruit, and coffee just the way I like it). Heaven! Well, I started out in bed, but then 2 little ones forced me into the living room, so breakfast on the sofa it was. Ignore the bed head.

We've had some fun this weekend, as evidence of the photos posted below. I am very excited and happy to tell that Eva has just enough hair to put into a tiny velcro bow. Oh yeah, and so does Reid. This is what happens when Ross leaves us alone. Thank goodness I don't have twins boys.

Notice the tongue? Yep, that's Eva's new thing. Supposedly Ross did the same thing as a child, and Aunt Susie still has a propensity to stick out her tongue when working on something. So, you could say it comes naturally.

We finished off Mother's Day playing in Meema and Papa's new toddler-friendly swimming pool. Who needs swimsuits when you're in the privacy of your own backyard? Eva had a grand time playing OUTSIDE of the pool with water in the mud. Reid enjoyed dancing a jig to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "If You're Happy and You Know It" in the pool. He hunches down and bops around giggling with his arms in a Frankenstein fashion. The other day he danced this way all the way through Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours." He has good taste, what can I say?

So, that's what I love about being a mother. Sleeping in. Breakfast in bed. Acting goofy for an entire weekend with my two favorite little people in the whole entire world. Isn't that what life's all about?

The Swing Chronicles

2009-04-15T21:36:00.002-04:00

So, I lied and wasn't done with my updates (see post below). We took our FINAL swing picture at 16 months old. Why final you say? Have you seen the size of my children?

5 Months

10 Months

16 Months

The End. :)

Catching Up

2009-04-15T20:54:00.006-04:00

To our loyal following: I've been very neglectful in keeping up with the blog lately. I just realized the last post was a whole month ago, SO, bear with me while I re-cap the last 30 days or so... it's a long one.

Grammy and Pops came to visit us the weekend around March 21st and what fun we had! It was perfect timing since the twins had just started walking. We played so hard every day that by night, everyone was exhausted!

Here we are playing with Grammy and Pops.

And here we are with our first trip to the zoo!

March 28th was my birthday. We got to celebrate the actual day with one of my best friends, Katrina, at her surprise birthday party. It was such a special night and almost as good as the 13th birthday party we celebrated together!

April 4th was time to celebrate my belated birthday with dinner and drinks at the beach. Thank you Meema and Papa for giving us a night off to party! We (or should I say 'I') definitely kept it lively...

On Good Friday, it was time for big boy to get his first haircut. I love his curls, but the mullet look is definitely not making a comeback! And yes, we saved some locks for the baby book. Maybe when Eva's 5 we can do the same for her...

Here's a before shot

And an after

Easter this year was such fun (even when battling brochitis with Reid and an ear infection with Eva). We went to mass that morning in our matching aqua outfits (thanks Children's Place!). Eva was all about running all over the yard, but had no idea what to do with the eggs. Reid wasn't feeling so hot, but was a trooper and tried to play along.

Whew... I think that's it. Oh, and Happy 17 month birthday to us today! Until next time!

16 Months Old

2009-03-15T20:25:00.003-04:00

Today the twins are 16 months old and we've finally officially reached that milestone everyone's been waiting for- we're officially WALKING! That's right, walking, albeit wobbly, is now the preferred method of transportation. Yippee! What a world of possibilities this opens us to. The walking happens to come with a double ear infection (Reid) and bronchitis (Eva) but you take the good with the bad. Everyone's on antibiotics now, so hopefully we'll be good as gold when Grammy and Pops come to visit this week.

Tooth Count:
Eva- 7
Reid - 12

Now, I'm going to use the twins' blog for a little self gratification. Hey, it's is called the fab '4' K's, right?? Ross and Meema brought the kids down to see me cross the finish line at the Gate River Run on Saturday. My memory was a bit fuzzy (so I had to look it up) and I haven't run this race since 2003. I'm happy to report all of my hard training paid off- I shaved 30 minutes off of my time from 2003!! See, life doesn't end after children.. ha ha ha...

And look, I'm still smiling after 9.44 miles

The kids had a great time watching all of the people and WALKING (see above) around the park afterwards in their St. Patty's day gear. If you can't read the shirts, Reid's says 'Not Lucky, Just Cute' and Eva's says 'Kiss Me, I'm Irish.'

A great weekend it was. Happy early St. Patrick's Day all!

15 Months and All's Well

2009-02-16T19:43:00.007-05:00

Today was our 15 month check up and it looks like we're doing all the right things. Drinking from only sippy cups? Check. Eating on their own? Check. Saying 4-6 words? Check with a vocab of over 10 words each. Sleeping at night? Check and knock on wood. Maitaining a huge size difference even though they eat, sleep, and play the same? CHECK.

That's right, I am realizing more and more why people ask me, "How far apart are they?" all of the time. Eva measured up at 21 lb. 3 oz. 30 inches long (25th% for each) and Reid is 27 lb. 1 oz 32.5 inches long (75-90th% each). He's broadened the gap between them to 6 lbs. Even the doctor commented how he could be mistaken for a 3 year old. A 3 YEAR OLD. Yep, so I guess they could be that far apart in age. Sigh. And by the way, you should see the looks I get when I tell people, in response to the question afforementioned, "One minute."

For comparisons sake for those who have not seen them lately, here's a side-by-side from dinner tonight:

Here are some candids we took from Valentine's Day morning before school:

And a few more just for the fun of it that were taken on their actual 15 month birthday. Eva and Michael Strahan have something in common...

Da-da

2009-02-11T21:25:00.002-05:00

Ross has been out of town since Monday morning and we all have a case of the 'Da-da blues.' We pull into the driveway every afternoon and I hear from the back seat, "Da-da?" in symphony. Da-da usually comes out to help us get in the house, but no Da-da. Thank God for Meema and Papa. They have been true lifesavers and wonderful stand-ins for Da-da! I don't have any pictures to post because the memory on my camera is full and I haven't burnt them to CD yet. Just wanted to say,"Come home, Da-da. We all miss you!"

Winter Festivities

2009-01-19T15:19:00.003-05:00

I've been MIA in posting lately due to a million and one reasons, but I'll limit them to 3 at present:

1- Two words: Stomach Flu. Reid in his manly self stuck to the 24 hours standard. Eva and her poor tummy hung on to the bug for a week. By the end of that week, Ross and I were pros at changing baby and crib bedding at 3 am without waking other baby. Whew. Glad that's over with (for now).
2- Work. You know, that place I have to go to every day to pay for daycare, get great insurance coverage, and take home a little bill money every other week. I've been working on (amongst other things) the same 3-5 year project since I returned from maternity leave last May. Phase I went through Friday night/Saturday morning. 1 am work calls are not fun. Nor are noon test scripts. Sigh.
3- Sleep, or lack thereof. See above.

This has been a wacky winter indeed.

Exhibit A: December on the beach... in a sundress... and shorts...

Exhibit B: Playing indoors because it's WAY too cold to even be outside (highs in the 40's and lows in the 20's are cold in Florida!)

Back to enjoying my 'day off' from work doing laundry, cleaning, baking, etc.... Ah, life will never be the same again will it?

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why....

2008-12-25T20:36:00.011-05:00

For the past few morning leading up to Christmas, I sang "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" every morning while dressing the babies. They must have taken it to heart about the no crying, pouting, shouting bit because they were absolutely wonderful this Christmas. I keep referring to today as their '1st' Christmas, because for all intensive purposes, it is. And besides- I was so tired this time last year I don't remember anything about the day except for what I see in pictures! For comparison's sake (and you know how I love to look back), let's see the difference between last year's Christmas Eve after mass picture and this year's.

Every child needs Christmas pajamas, and since we have double the children, we have double the Christmas pj's! Here's PJ's #1 a few days before Christmas. We're just warming up for the big day.

And here we are with the day of Christmas PJ's. I think I can get away with dressing them alike until they're, oh, 18-ish?

Speaking of dressing alike... In case you missed it in the first family photo, here are the duo in their matching plaid Christmas clothes. It's practice for Catholic school! I could just eat them up.

Much progress has been made in the way of actually understanding receiving new gifts, as evident by their reaction to....

1- the new indoor climbing/sliding/crawling around in gym from Meema and Papa

2- the Woolly and Lucy pillows from Grammy and Pops

3- the piggy bath toys from Uncle Jon and Aunt Niki

4- and last but not least... what every baby dreams of... their very own personalized Daisy BB guns from Papa!

We had a wonderful day and are very thankful for all of the wonderful people in our lives. Merry Christmas everyone!

Holiday Festivities

2008-12-19T11:42:00.007-05:00

Uncle Bill, Aunt Blake, and Will were in town visiting at the beginning of the month and good times were had by all. We went to Uncle Marvin and Aunt Edie's house on the river to see the Julington Creek boat parade where Reid fell asleep for the parade and Eva jumped up and down waving to all of the passing adorned vessels. Does this surprise anyone?

Our next adventure with Will was the annual Oyster Roast at Meema and Papa's house. It was scaled down this year for just family but we still had a blast. All of the cousins hopped on board for the hayride around the pasture, bundled up against the awesome cold winter night.

We've been making the rounds visiting all of our social circles lately as well. So many places to go and people to see! Our first Christmas party was with the multiples club we belong to- JACKPOTTS (Jacksonville Parents of Twins and Triplets). Yes, triplets- there were 3 sets at the party. Ack! I'll keep my twins. This was also our first encounter with Santa. I shouldn't be surprised by their reaction, as evident in a picture my parents have of me at around 20 months old crying my eyes out with Jolly Old St. Nick.

Next stop, Christmas party at daycare. The reaction to Santa was not much different here and produced even more tears, but I don't have it documented just yet. The daycare assistant has that picture which I will be picking up shortly. Here we are snacking with our school buddies.

So far, we've had a very adventurous season and are really looking forward to Christmas Eve mass, dinner, and of course the big day next week. We'll check back in then!

Toddlerhood and Baby Blues (eyes that is)

2008-11-30T12:59:00.007-05:00

So far, being one is awesome. Besides being sick since we turned 1 (yes, that's right- 2 weeks straight of illness), it's not too bad. Both kids are on antibiotics for ear infections discovered right around the time of their 12 month pediatrician's appointment. Reid weighed in at 23 lbs. 11 oz. and is 31 inches long. Eva is 18 lbs. 14 oz. and 30 inches tall. Looks like we're not closing the gap on the 5 lb. weight difference anytime soon.

I pulled out a few things to decorate with for Christmas yesterday, trying to find what I could put up that (1) would not be accessible by little hands and (2) would not clutter our already crowded house. I got to put the stockings up as the kids aren't quite tall enough to reach them. Next year will be a different story. For a perspective on how much they've grown in a year, take a look at these

November 30, 2007:

November 30, 2008:

Speech is getting better now, at least with Eva. I can recognize "yes", "doggy", and "thank you" (ta-ta) from her little pip squeak mouth. Of course "da-da" is a hit for both of them as well.

We have a collapsible tunnel that they LOVE chasing each other around in. Here's Reid enjoying the chase:

Aunt Susie and Uncle Scott got them this cool table and chairs set for their birthday. Not only has Eva learned how to climb in the chairs, but she's discovered she likes it up higher as well:

And finally, here's a few shots of what I get to see every day. And I thank God for it :)

A Year In Review

2008-11-16T19:44:00.011-05:00

This is part 1 of 2 blogs I am posting this week about the big birthday. I feel I couldn't get everything I wanted to in one, so here it goes.

One year ago.... I was sitting in a hospital room, drugged up on Percocet and Motrin with a revolving door of family and friends coming and going. And the whole universe revolved around 2 little, tiny, itty bitty human beings who had just entered this world at 35 1/2 weeks along. Weighing in at a whopping 4 lbs. 11 oz. (Eva) and 5 lbs. 7 oz. (Reid), they were absolutely amazing. And now I proceed with my (abbreviated) year in review.

1 week before the big day. Whoah.

Just after midnight, November 15, 2007

Home at last, 3 days old

Still tolerating each other at 2 months old

First smiles at 3 months old

Baptism at 4 months old

Hanging out in our crib at 5 months old

Chilling at the pool at 6 months old

Playing on Mommy & Daddy's bed at 7 months old

Rocking out at 8 months old

Vacationing at the beach at 9 months old

Getting into trouble at 10 months old

Buying big kid shoes at 11 months old

Welcoming toddlerhood the right way at 1 year old. Sigh.

One of the many reasons having twins is so fun..

2008-11-01T09:42:00.004-04:00

.. You get to dress them up together for Halloween! This year was a Disney year- Peter Pan and Tinkerbell had a very busy day. We started out at Merrill Lynch (or Bank of America I guess I should say), then went to Ross' office, and finally lunch at Chick-fil-a. Later on we 'trick-or-treated' around the neighborhood in our wagon. A good time was had by all! Reid was a bit tired toward the end, but Eva was really enjoying herself. Although she can't eat it yet, she really got the hang of the whole candy thing. I'm already planning for next year's costumes...

The weather has been unseasonably cooler than normal, and I love it. I don't love having to wrestle the babies to put shoes and more clothes on them, but they do look pretty cute in the end.

Back to the wagon... a wonderful early birthday gift from Meema and Papa and our favorite mode of transportation these days. Here are a few snapshots from our evening walks.

When are 'Babies' no longer 'Babies'?

2008-10-29T22:06:00.006-04:00

So, I've been thinking about this a lot lately. When are my 'babies' no longer considered 'babies.' I mean, don't get me wrong- they will always be MY babies (hello! MY Mom still calls ME 'baby'), however, after they turn the big O-N-E, they are technically toddlers. This makes me very sad. As most of you know, these 2 will most likely be it for us. A family of 4 plus 2 cats and 1 dog complete us. Unless God has other plans down the road, we're done. So, while I'm looking forward to all of the exciting stages ahead, I can't help but mourn my 'babies' being 'babies' for only 2.5 weeks longer.

We had a very exciting weekend in the Koelbel household! I think it all started with the almost nightly ritual of playing on Mommy and Daddy's unmade bed (shhhh, don't tell Meema the bed rarely gets made anymore!). This is by far one of the most exciting times of the week for these little guys, as you can see for yourself:

Then, we all went and had our family/one year birthday pictures made with our wonderful wedding photographer, Linda Olsen. It was such a whirlwind, but they turned out so well!! Afterwards, we went down to the beach with Meema and Papa where we took a few shots down on the stormy coast.

Next stop on Sunday- the pumpkin patch. The Diva wasn't as into it as wild man, but we got some good shots anyhow. Thank you Aunt Te-Te for going with us! They were just too cute and the weather was beautiful!

Our next update will be all about... Halloween! Can't wait!

Out with the old, in with the new...

2008-10-11T19:57:00.004-04:00

Today was our first participation in the JACKPOTTS (Jacksonville Parents of Twins and Triplets) semi-annual 'yard' sale. We did decent and got rid of a lot of equipment and clothing. We're going to have our own yard sale in 2 weeks to try and clear the rest. It's bittersweet. In some ways I hate to see it go - all of the memories, etc. Then again, it will be nice to have our guest rooms back. No more clutter (for now..). So, in with the new- bring on the birthday gifts next month!

Ross and I have noticed a trend lately in our household. They don't call them twins for nothing. No, they still look nothing alike, but it's very hard to capture a picture of them apart these days. They crack each other up, chase each other around, and even comfort (or sometimes smack) each other when one's not feeling well. I'll get to that in a minute. In the meantime, cases in point:

After the sale today, I came home to find poor Ross very upset. Eva was not happy and was screaming. She had a slight fever last night and tonight. Took her to the pediatrician and sure enough, a double ear infection. I'm happy to report that within a few hours of taking her antibiotic, she was feeling much better. Looks like tubes may be in our future if this keeps up...

The countdown is on! Only 35 days until the big ONE!

Just a Swingin'

2008-09-21T19:29:00.005-04:00

Ah, fall, you are but a day away on the calendar, yet months away from Florida. Well, at least the humidity's not THAT bad and the temps aren't in the 90's at this point. So, what to do with 2 babies who are bit cranky because some stupid solicitor rang the doorbell half way through afternoon naps? Go to the playground. Because of the Florida summer, we haven't been on the swings since we took that infamous 5 month old shot, oh, 5 months ago. For comparison, I've posted both. Forgive me for forgetting which side which baby was on last time...

Things are going really well for us these days. I've heard from here to about 2 years old is when you 'daydream' about having another baby. No worries, not daydreaming here!

Here are a few more pictures of the 'big trip' to the playground. As usual, Reid was really into it. Eva took a bit of warming up.

Funny story to wrap things up. In case you didn't know, we officially have 2 crawlers on our hands. Out come the super duper baby gates. Anyhow, Reid made it past the gate and found what he thought to be another laundry basket of toys, just like the one in the living room. He needed to take a closer look just to make sure there weren't any toys in there....

New Toys!

2008-09-08T20:53:00.005-04:00

I knew today would be an interesting one when Reid informed us he was awake by standing in his crib and screaming like a teradactyl at the door. This was a re-enactment of last night's screaming at his sister while standing up in his crib trying to make her play with him as she's passed out for the night. Yes, the personalities with both of them are in full swing.

Today was our belated 9 month, almost 10 month 'well baby' visit to the pediatrician's office. It's so nice to take 2 healthy babies in-- unfortunately, we left with one baby with an oncoming ear infection (Reid). He just got the runny nose and cough so hopefully we caught it in time. Eva weighed in at 17 lbs. 7 oz. (10-25th percentile) and 27 1/2 inches long (25th percentile). Reid came in at 22 lbs. 9 oz. (50-60th percentile) and 29 inches long (50th percentile). Yes, we now have a gap of 5 lbs. between them. And I wonder why people think I have a toddler and a newborn. Other than that, they are both in good spirits, as you can see by their reaction to their 2 new toys. Christmas came early!

Reid riding the lion

Eva actually standing (shocker!) and playing with her Bubby at their new activity table

Eva getting tired of standing (not such a shocker) and insisting she take a seat on the turtle

The Fab 4 K's first family vacation

2008-09-03T20:49:00.006-04:00

We're back! Well, we've actually been back since Saturday, but Mommy (moi) has been under the weather, so it's the first chance I've had to post. We had a wonderful time (minus the occassional car meltdowns and the first night's hiccups) and really enjoyed being with family for a few days. In fact, I'm pretty sure we left Bill and Blake with a strong feeling that 1 child is just about right for now.

Here we are with Papa testing out the beach for the first time. As expected, you know who LOVED it (with his diaper hanging out of his almost too small 12-18 month outfit) and the Diva was a bit skeptical. She preferred the nice, shaded views from the clean wagon, dirt free wagon.

Spending time with cousin Will was a lot of fun. Again, it's a good thing they brought the wagon as it was a huge hit.

We had lots of beach time...

And even lots of reading time with Uncle Bill

All in all, it was a successful first vacation. Can't wait until next year to do it all over again!

Rainy Days & Mondays always get me down...

2008-08-25T10:44:00.003-04:00

Good-bye Fay. Hello Destin! After a few miserable days at home (well, I won't say miserable because we did get to spend some quality time with the babies), we finally see the sun. We were all getting a little stir crazy. Reid and Eva enjoyed watching the rain beat against the sliding glass doors though.

Cooper is a trooper. He has, reluctantly, become the object of Eva (& Reid's) affection as of late. I'm sure it only gets better from here.

Well, off to Destin we go. Let's hope this first vacation goes as smoothly as possible with two 9 1/2 month olds in tow!

Couldn't Resist

2008-08-13T20:33:00.004-04:00

So, you don't get a new update from me for weeks, and then BAM.... 2 in only a matter of days!

Bath time was just too cute tonight, and I had to share.

Days in the World Celebration

2008-08-11T21:27:00.004-04:00

So, I was reading a blog from a mother of twins the other day and they were celebrating the day their babies were out of the womb longer than they were in the womb. A 'days in the world' celebration. I calculated for our duo, and they day has long passed us- July 24th. But hey, life's too short not to celebrate something every day, right??

Daycare, oh how I despise thee. Well, not the daycare itself, but more the sicknesses lurking and reappearing around every corner. Ear infection count: Reid-2 Eva- 3 1/2. I say 1/2 because we went back to the pediatrician today and she has a viral cold causing a major sore throat, snotty nose, and slight redness in the ear. The doc labeled it a 1/2, almost there ear infection and wrote us the infamous prescription for another 10 days of Omnicef. Yippee. Reid finishes his 10 day round of Augmentin Wednesday. I'm so over this, and yet it's only just begun.

To catch everyone up on a few photos taken between illnesses, here's the latest of the family over at Meema and Papa's house yesterday. Looking back through my digital albums, we haven't taken a family shot since Easter. It was about time!

Yes, twins do rock! And thanks to cousin Stephie, the whole world will know it now, too.

Here's to getting everyone healthy before our big trip to Destin in 2 weeks....

You take the good, you take the bad...

2008-07-24T15:37:00.006-04:00

Where to begin? Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first.

Sicknesses. We've all been through it lately. First is was Ross, then Reid (who still has a residual cough), then Eva, and now me. However, Eva got it the worst. She spiked a 104.6 degree fever and ended up having to go the the ER yesterday for dehydration. She has a double bad ear infection and is on her 3rd round of antibiotics now. She is so miserable, but at least she's now drinking some after the IV fluids at the ER yesterday. I know it's a bit weird, but I actually took some pictures in the ER room while we were waiting and while she was receiving her fluids through the IV drip. One for the scrap book?

Eva with Meema

Eva with Aunt TeTe (who happens to be a nurse at the hospital and graciously volunteered to come with us on her day off when I called her crying!)

On to the good stuff- bathtime. When everyone's healthy, the LOVE their bath time. Reid is starting a bad, yet amusing, habit of slouching down and kicking his sister in the water. Once they are a bit more stable, gone with the inflatable tub and onto the regular ole big bathtub.

They no longer live in their own little bubble anymore either. Each is fully aware of the other and (gently?) tries to communicate in their own way.

After 4 visits to the pediatrician and 1 to the ER in the last week and a half, our goal is to make it to the 9 month well baby visit (August 22nd) with no more illnesses!

Christmas in July?

2008-07-15T20:08:00.001-04:00

That's right... all we wanted for Christmas was ANY teeth and Reid delivered! The first tooth popped out last week and we're working on number 2. Our normally docile baby is just breaking my heart- he is so miserable. Can't wait to see how Eva the Diva reacts to her teeth when they finally decide to come in!

Dog Days of Summer

2008-07-06T10:09:00.004-04:00

7 1/2 months old and we've officially been sitting on our own for over a week now. No too bad for a couple of preemies! Of course with sitting comes a whole new bunch of 'awe' pictures. They look so old now! Crawling is just around the corner, so let's enjoy these stationary days while they last.

Grammy and Pops came to visit us from Arizona. They have not seen the babies since the beginning of March for their baptism. Yes, they have grown! We had a really nice visit and they took to them so well.

Bath time is super fun now- especially when you have a playmate and toys! You should here all of the giggling and talking during it. How neat to always have someone there to share in fun times.

Happy Father's Day & 7 Months Old

2008-06-16T11:26:00.005-04:00

1 year ago today we were just getting used to the idea of having not 1 but 2 little humans joining us in this world. Here we are now and we don't have the faintest idea of what life used to be. All I can say is it must have been pretty tame.

Both Eva & Reid are getting very close to sitting for extended periods of time on their own. They are neck and neck with who will crawl first. They are working very hard practicing every day. Vocally, Eva has taken the lead. Don't ask her a question unless you want a 10 minute response.

We had a very busy weekend! Friday night we went to dinner with Ross' family in town (Aunt Shirley, Stephanie, and Lucas). Saturday we lounged at our friends Scott & Heather's pool and grilled some brats. Then Sunday was relaxation at Meema and Papa's house watching the race and eating some chicken and ribs. So the whole weekend was basically about relaxing and eating :)

As you can see, Scott & Heather's pool was a hit

They partied so hard, they passed out

With Daddy & posing for our 7 month picture on Father's Day. Still working on our techniques for getting 2 babies to smile at one time long enough to take a picture.

Girls will be Girls & Boys will drink beer

2008-06-01T10:34:00.005-04:00

In celebration of a belated 6 month birthday, Eva had her ears pierced on Memorial Day. It was only traumatic for a total of about 3 minutes and then it was done. She looks so cute with her earrings that match Mommy's and will never remember the ordeal!

Reid is all over the place. He's starting to scoot (backwards) but otherwise rolls wherever he needs to be. Eva's not far behind. Today Reid decided to check out the knobs on the entertainment center, and then found his way to the fireplace:

We were at a friend's daughter's 1st birthday party this past weekend and Reid decided to join Daddy in a frosty cold one (sorry, no Budweiser was available).

Say goodbye to the infant car seats. Well, at least for Reid. As you can see, it is fast approaching the weight and height limit on his. So, this may very well be his last shot in the infant seat. We'll keep Eva in hers for awhile simply for logistical purposes unless someone can tell me how we're going to carry two squirming infants in and out of daycare, home, etc.

Summer Time & Six Months Old

2008-05-18T14:45:00.007-04:00

Thursday was the dynamics duo's 6 month birthday and pediatrician appointment day. Here's the stats:

Reid 19 lbs. 27 inches long: 75th percentile
Eva 14 lbs. 3 oz. 25 1/2 inches long: 25th percentile

Yep, Eva has a long way to catch up (um, I don't think that will ever happen). Besides still having stuffy noses, they are healthy and doing well. We don't go back to the doctor until their 9 month appointment in August. For a belated 1/2 year birthday celebration, we took the babies to the pool today for the first time. This meant Eva got to wear her new bikini! She better enjoy it now- it's only 1 pieces after the age of 13 .. ha ha ha. They weren't sure what to think at first but didn't really fuss and loved it. Reid was kicking like crazy!

And for those who say Eva never smiles for pictures, I actually caught one on camera a few days ago.

My First Mother's Day

2008-05-11T20:19:00.006-04:00

My first Mother's Day was wonderful. It started off by getting to sleep in (8 am- woo hoo!), having a wonderful breakfast cooked by my husband, receiving a beautiful bracelet with a charm and both of the kids' names on it along with a cute Mommy & Me picture frame, and finishing the day with all of the family out at Susie and Scott's house. I couldn't have asked for a better day! Here's a new picture of me rocking my babies:

Eva and Reid are both eating like champs now. Moving on to stage 2 foods soon. They love their new high chairs & yes, Eva does eat with her leg up like that:

Reid doesn't like to sit still for very long, as evident of his new way to get out of his bouncer when he's done with his bottle:

Thursday is the big 1/2 year birthday. Along with that comes our 6 month shots (yuck) but we'll report on the weights/heights then. And, I'll try to get a 6 month photo shoot in. That may have to wait until the weekend.. working makes me too busy and tired these days!

Summer Is Just Around the Corner

2008-04-26T20:56:00.005-04:00

We went to the playground in our community center today and took some pictures. One day we can show or little guys how they both fit in the one baby swing together! They really loved just swinging away:

Ross and I each took them down the slides as well. Too fun! The great thing about having kids- you have an excuse to be a kid again:

I didn't feel the other pictures truly portrayed the 'beauty' of feeding these kids, so we had to take more.

That's it for now!

Just Because

2008-04-22T20:47:00.003-04:00

So, I think I'm getting a bit sentimental enjoying these last few days at home with our munchkins before returning to work full time Monday. We went to the pediatrician today for a follow up from Eva's ear infection. Now I know why people have lately been asking me if they are twins or not. Eva weighed in at 13 lb. 9 oz. and Reid is 18 lb. 5 oz.! Oh yeah, a 5 lb. difference. Here are a few pictures "just because."

Thanks to my friend Christy and Mom who unknowingly bought us both the 6 month and 9 month set of these. Worked out perfect- Eva just does fit the 6 month and Reid is snug in the 9 months!:

I finally had Ross take a picture of just the 3 of us. I realized it's been quite some time since we've done this and I want them to know I'm always around, even though I'm usually the one behind the camera:

And last but not least, some more semi-naked baby pictures. Who can resist?

5 Months Old Already

2008-04-16T09:00:00.005-04:00

I have a feeling the even though Reid will end up twice as tall and twice as big as Eva, she will never let him forget who's the 'older' sister. They are definitely developing their personalities now! The laughing betweent the 2 of them is even more hysterical than ever. The other day Eva was laughing so hard just because Cooper was barking at what he thought was someone at the door. Reid just laughs if you glance at him sideways. They crack me up! We've been trying foods for about a month now and they are getting the hang of it. It's messy, but they like it. Take a look:

Unfortunately, Eva still doesn't have enough hair to even velcro a bow into it (sorry, takes after Mom on this one). Reid's a different story:

Thanks to Sharon and Doc Lucie, our children now have a favorite blankie that helps them sleep through naps and nighttime. I think we may have to get back-ups just in case!

And finally, some pictures from our 5 months' photo shoot. They are growing so fast!

April Showers...

2008-04-06T08:34:00.004-04:00

We've been keeping busy lately as the countdown approaches to Mommy's return to work 3 weeks from tomorrow. It's bittersweet, but I think it will be a good move for all parties.

Last night it was raining and the raindrops were hitting the nursery window, so Reid was straining to turn around and see what the noise was. This is how I found him this morning, laughing at me:

Eva is growing like a weed now. She's finally in 6 months clothes! (by the way, Reid is totally filling out 9 months.. eek!). Here she is lifting her head up so high in tummy time. She likes it now and has even rolled over, or so I've been told. Meemaw and Daddy are the only ones who have seen it, so I am anxious to capture it on video like I did with her brother:

And here with her brother. Eva had an ear infection earlier this week and last, which made her (and her Mommy) very crabby. I think we're back on track with happy babies now!

Hoppy Easter!

2008-03-25T13:02:00.005-04:00

The weather this year for Easter was absolutely beautiful. Eva and Reid were on their good behavior for the most part. The Diva had her moments, but when there are plenty of arms to carry you around, she does just fine. Here we are shortly after Easter mass. Someone slept the whole time and someone didn't. Can you guess who?

Here are their Easter outfits and a few shots in the bunny hats. No, they did not like the bunny hats, so that look was very short lived:

The babies love to be read to now. They can only sit still for a couple of books, but we do what we can.

Just think- this time next year we'll have 2 toddlers wobbling around hunting for Easter eggs! Fun!

4 Months Old & Hello Spring!

2008-03-15T07:18:00.008-04:00

Time flies when you're home all day with babies, doesn't it? Today they are 4 months old. We had their pediatrician's appointment this past Thursday. Reid weighs in at 16 lbs. 2 oz. and Eva (truly our 'little bit') is setting her own pace at 11 lbs. 12 oz. Reid's in the 75th percentile for weight and Eva's in the 10th. No more matching clothes in the same sizes! Reid's moving into the 9 months now and Eva's filling out the 3 months (almost) nicely. I guess they are truly 2 different children. Here's a picture taken today on their 4 month birthday. I know I'm biased, but geez, we did good on these kids!:

Before spring makes it way, we had to wear our Papa Bear outfits at least once, so Ross and I attempted to take the babies on a walk in them that one cold day we had last week. Well, as you may be able to tell, Reid wasn't feeling it so much. Eva, on the other hand, thought it was great. At least we got pictures:

Speaking of taking walks, we got to try out our jogging stroller and they love it because they could look at the world and see all of the trees as we go by:

And to close, here's Reid showing his appreciation for eating (note the adorable bib) and Eva doing what she loves best- watching TV:

Baptisms

2008-03-04T13:32:00.005-05:00

The babies were baptized on Sunday with their cousin Will. It was a wonderful weekend! Ross' parents were in town along with his Aunt Shirley and cousin Stephanie. We had a great time and the babies were on their (almost) best behavior.

We had a rare thing happen this weekend as well. A picture was taken of us with no babies in sight!

Here is a picture of the babies with their godparents. Eva's godfather is my brother Scott and her godmother is my cousin Cindy. Reid's godfather is my brother Bill and his godmother is one of my closest friends Katrina.

This was the first time all of my parents' grandchildren were together:

Lastly, here are a few pictures of the twins in their baptismal outfits. They were absolute angels!

Happy Belated Birthday Daddy

2008-02-27T10:19:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Ross' birthday this year with me being sick with bronchitis. Good times. Well, at least we got some cute pictures of the celebration:

And here is Reid in his "birthday suit" (couldn't resist!):

We'll update again soon with pictures of the baptism happening this coming Sunday!

3 Months Old

2008-02-15T20:12:00.005-05:00

I can't believe it has already been 3 months. Before I know it, they will be off to college! Well, first things first. Reid rolled over from his stomach to his back Monday 4 or 5 times! He's only done it once since then though, but both he and Eva have my cold. They are not feeling up to playing too much right now. Here's a picture of him being a big boy holding his head up strong on his stomach:

Anyhow, we had a nice Valentine's Day hanging out at home in our oh so cute wear 'em once outfits!

Here are pictures from our 3 month birthday photo shoot. What characters!

And last but not least, Cooper had to get in on the playtime action. Notice he brought his bone along as well....

Enjoying Florida's Winter

2008-02-10T18:18:00.000-05:00

We all went for a family walk today in our front carriers to enjoy the beautiful 70+ degree weather. We weren't sure how the babies would like them, but they both fell asleep with their sun hats on. It was so nice walking without the stroller. Cooper enjoyed not being tripped up by the stroller as well!

12 Weeks Old & Sitting Around

2008-02-07T11:52:00.000-05:00

Now that our heads are getting a bit more stable, we're trying out the Bumbo seats. It's only lasts about 5 minutes for now, but we're getting there. Eva's short stature makes it a bit easier on her as the back of the chair fully supports her neck. Reid's 'big boy' status causes his neck to not be quite as stable, but each day it's getting better!

11 Weeks Old

2008-01-31T12:38:00.000-05:00

Reid is starting to coo now, and they both show me their big smiles when I pick them up in the morning or after naps. Eva still has the full on big grin and Reid's is a bit more of a crooked, Elvis smile. Sometimes I even get a laugh!

Today was photo shoot day. Their "Aunt" Katie reminded me I better put them in their personalized onesies before you know who grows out of his. So, we had fun:

After that we decided, what the heck, let's do some more fun outfits:

Then, we had to do some naked baby pictures between wardrobe changes. These are my favorite:

10 Weeks Old Today

2008-01-24T10:33:00.000-05:00

We had our 2 month pediatrician appointment on Monday. Eva weighed in at 9 lbs. 14 oz. 20 inches long and Reid was 13 lbs. 4 oz. 23 inches long. Eva is in the 25th percentile and Reid is in the 90th percentile, and this is for if they had been born on time at 40 weeks! The doctor expects chunky boy to be off the charts at the 4 month appointment in March. We'll see! Ross may have his linebacker after all...

Here we are with a recent visit by our friend Shelby who just happens to have the same outfit as Eva. Shelby was born 2 months before the twins (September 14) and Reid is almost the same size as her:

We didn't realize that the UM outfits were not cut the same. Eva's is almost tight on her and Reid's is still way too long, so we thought we better go ahead and take a picture while they still fit in them!:

They are both getting really good at tummy time. Look how good they can hold their heads up! Reid's even starting to try and roll over:

And last but not least, who can resist another side by side photo. Look at Eva's smile. She's even laughing some now. His smiles are still more spread out, but they are devilish when you see them!:

8 Weeks Old... tomorrow

2008-01-09T10:41:00.000-05:00

So, tomorrow is officially their 8 week birthday, but I have to get online and post pictures when I can, so here they are! Since Ross' window to take his insurance license exam opened, he has been studying like crazy at the library. This means I am officially the full time solo baby caretaker all day. Let's just say I'm glad I at least had help the first 8 weeks! The babies are adjusting to 'waiting their turn' and I'm adjusting to being able to do absolutely nothing all day until someone comes over :o) Very interesting!

Here's Eva meeting her cousin Will. I think Will was more interested in eating her hand!:

And here's Reid meeting his cousin Will. They will be good buddies very soon:

Here we are getting ready to watch Michigan kick Florida's butt. They can't fit into their UM outfits yet, so this will have to do:

After 8 weeks, we are still not tired of each other:

And last but not least, Eva's favorite spot to sleep. Her Daddy's chest:

We hope everyone has a wonderful 2008! Happy belated New Year!

Our First Christmas

2007-12-30T11:59:00.000-05:00

Our first Christmas as a family was really nice. Having children definitely brings you back to what the season is all about. No gift under the tree could be nicer than our two little early presents.

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas..

2007-12-21T16:26:00.000-05:00

Ross and I decided to see how much the dynamic duo weigh by putting them on our home scale with Ross. By our guesstimations, Reid is 9 1/2 lbs. and Eva is 7 1/2 lbs. They are the size of 'newborn' babies now! Here are some pictures we took yesterday morning in one of their Christmas outfits & with their monkey and bear.

Bath Time & Newborn Clothes

2007-12-13T11:20:00.000-05:00

The babies love their 'big kid' bath! We have a routine every night now that puts them right to sleep. Reid especially loves the warm water. He could hang out there all night:

Eva is learning to like the bath as well. Here she is after a bit of screaming:

And of course they love the warm towels afterwards:

We've reached a milestone: they can almost fit into SOME newborn clothes! Yippee! Now let's hope they can fit in their Christmas outfits soon..

Gotta love baby clothes. Who else could get away with a giraffe on their butt?

2007-12-08T12:58:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture taken at the twins 2 weeks old birthday shoot. It's my favorite! I still can't believe they are actually here sometimes. To think that gestationally they will be 39 weeks old tomorrow. Only one more week before they are considered 'full term.'

Everyone should have received their Christmas card by now. Here was the 'runner up' shot of the babies in their stockings:

And a few more recent pictures. They are growing so fast & changing every day!

First tub bath (Daddy was feeding Reid when it was Eva's turn, so she didn't get her picture taken):

Sleeping in with Daddy:

2007-10-02T17:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our web page! We have decided that the best way to keep everyone posted on our growing family will be this site. We'll be posting pictures, milestones, and other fun things along the way. Visit often, and enjoy the ride!