2 Months old

10 weeks old

(They were more intrigued with looking at the fan than their mommy)

I have been trying to post now for a week. This past week has been very busy. I cannot believe Shepherd and Spencer are 10 weeks old today. Time is just flying by. My boys are so precious and I am so blessed with such sweetie pies!

We have been dealing with a lot over the past couple of weeks. My last post was short and sweet and just said we have been dealing with hard times. Well, Shepherd has some colic and Spencer has had some stomach issues which cause a MAJOR diaper rash that would not go away. We have FINALLY gotten that under control and am amazed at the mommas that can use cloth diapers everyday. We used them for a while to help the rash, and I don't see how they do it!

Through all these tough times, the boys have really started smiling! It is so wonderful to see them respond to my smile! They are cooing and even trying to laugh. Spencer will open his mouth so big and want to laugh, but nothing comes out. It is so funny! Both are really holding their heads up well when they are on our shoulder. They love to look around to see what is going on. It really shows me how big they are getting. They are eating every 3 1/2 to 4 hours and taking anywhere between 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 ounces. They both love to eat! They are wearing most 3 month clothes. They are a little big, but all their newborn outfits are too small. So we don't have too much to wear right now, because we are in between sizes.

Here are some sweet smiles!

Spencer's smile-trying to laugh

Shepherd sweet smile-sometimes almost seems like a shy smile

2 month stats:

Sweet Shepherd

10 pounds 12 ounces

21 inches tall

-Loves to sleep, but fights it. He will cry until he just gives it up and falls asleep. I have realized that he requires more sleep than Spence.

-When he smiles, his nose crinkles up (He has his Daddy's little nose)

-When laying beside his brother, he loves to just look at Spencer. I can't wait for them to really notice one another and make each other laugh.

-Kicks his feet when I change his diaper in pure joy! He loves to lay on the changing table. Sometimes when he is upset, I can lay him down and he will stop crying...

-Loves his bath- he will smile and kick the water

-Looks so much like my dad (especially when he sleeps!)

-Has the longest, darkest eye lashes

-Has his hands in fists all the time. He looks like he is ready to fight. He puts his hands up to his face when he is sleepy. One is usually in his mouth and the other is touching his ear or hair. It is so precious!

Happy Spencer

11 pounds 12 ounces (when I took him 5 days later for the rash, he weighed 12 pounds 1 ounce)

22 inches tall

-Smiles and coos all the time

-Loves to stare and talk to the ceiling fan

-Wants to be held by mommy all the time

-Does not like for clothes to go over his head

-Wants to be entertain and talked to (Today I went into the kitchen and his eyes followed me and tried to stretch his neck to see over the couch. When he couldn't see me, he cried. I walked back into the room and there was a big smile)

-Looks more like Matt's side of the family

-Always moving his arms and legs- I think he will have a difficult time sitting still anywhere!

-Does not like to take long naps (most days)- I think he is afraid he will miss something

-Grunts and makes all kind of noises in his sleep (was snoring pretty loud during church last week)

I can't wait for the boys to get older and can help me cook dinner. Here are pictures of them helping us make cookies. Spencer loved it. I think he is ready to eat cookies now, see his tongue! HA! Shepherd still wasn't too sure about the bumpo! Their high chairs get here on Wednesday, and I bet he will like sitting in that better!

The doctor wants me to give them an hour of tummy time a day. I put them on their boppys so they can look at each other and maybe like tummy time better.

Spencer doesn't mind tummy time most of the time. His neck is really getting strong. I think Shepherd wants to sleep.

MOM GET US UP!!!!

Whacha doin mom?

Shep couldn't find his passy, so he found his thumb during his nap last week.

If the boys nap together, they have to be touching. They are so sweet!

We have had some visitors over the past few weeks.

Tony Mauck was driving through to preach at a gospel meeting in FL and he stopped by to see the babies. It was great to see him and catch up! Both boys loved him. Spence thought he was too funny.

DeeDee came and saw us for a few days over her spring break. She was a big help, especially because we had to go to the doctor some while she was here!

My mom is still coming at least once a week to help. I really look forward to these days! It is nice to have extra hands and someone to talk too! We always go out to lunch and shopping if we do it during nap time!

Spring is here!

We ordered a BOB double stroller and have already used it 5 times. Any time it is 60 or above, I am wanting to go for a walk. I just bundle the boys up and go! They are learning to like it. It is so great to be outside!

Sweet Extras....

Mommy is too funny

Tex knows his place...at least he thinks he does...he has his paws just over the line...

Shepherd loves to cross his legs while he sleeps..too cute!

Tough but Sweet Times

The past week or so has been pretty rough...The boys cried for 2 1/2 hours last night. They are 7 weeks old now and I am really wanting to get them on a good schedule, but we are still in survival mode right now. I keep telling myself not to stress over it and that we will get it all worked out in the weeks to come. I'm nervous about how today is going to go (took me over 2 1/2 hours to finish this blog..HA). My mom was here yesterday and I am so thankful for her! She knows just what to do to help out and it is such a relief to have her here! Love you, Mom!

Here are a few sweet times from this past week...

We have started smiling this week

Not quite ready for the bumpo, but mommy wanted to try it

I'm going to love it!

Wait...maybe not

Sweet brothers!

Daddy already wants me to be able to play in the tub. He bought us rubber duckies.

I'm not too sure about this whole bath thing...

1 Month Appt

We had our 1 month doctor's appointment yesterday. Both babies are healthy and look great! Our doctor spent a lot of time answering ALL my questions. (I had a page worth..hey I have 2 babies!) They had to get one shot, which was terrible for me. They also had to take blood from their heel, which I think was worse than the shot. Shepherd was SO upset during and after the shot. His little eyes were looking at me, like "Why did you let her do that?". It was terrible. Spencer cried some, but was a tough boy! Spencer was wide awake while the doctor examined him and let Dr. Carter do whatever he needed. Shepherd slept through the whole examine, until the shot! =)

I try and get the boys to have tummy time every day. The doctor said they should be getting 30 minutes of it every day. It is so hard, because they do not enjoy it. It is harder on me, than it is on them! I try to entertain them while they are on their tummy, but how much can you entertain a 5 week old? I hope it gets easier!

T he doctor also said the boys should be getting sunshine. It is 30 degrees outside! I can't wait for it to warm up and we can go on walks! I think we are going to go driving today and pick me up some lunch. They boys can get sun in the car. This weekend it will be in the 60's. A walk will be a MUST!

1 Month Stats

Shepherd-

9 pounds 4 ounces (He has gained exactly 3 pounds since birth) eats 3-4 ounces every 3-4 hours

20 1/2 inches long

Head- 14 1/4

Spencer-

9 pounds 14 ounces (Our chunky monkey!) Eats 4-5 ounces every 3-3 1/2 hours

20 1/2 inches long

Head- 14 1/2

Next please!

Spence's lovie

Shep's lovie

Uncle Justin feeding his first bottle...he is doing great!

Uncle Kyle came for a visit

4 Weeks Old

My sweet little ones are 4 weeks old today. They are really getting big. We weighed them this morning using our friend's scale and Spencer weighs 8 pounds 12 ounces and Shepherd is 8 pounds 3 ounces. We can't believe how much they have grown in 4 weeks. They are eating every 3 hours. Spencer LOVES his food and has eaten almost 5 ounces at most feedings. Shepherd is eating a lot too, but not as much as Spencer. I am so glad they are healthy. We go to their month check up next Tuesday, and I am really looking forward to it. I am anxious to get a good report on each.

My cup runneth over...

We had a good weekend. DeeDee (Matt's mom) came to visit the boys for the first time. Shep and Spence loved having her here. She held them and sang to them. They even smiled a lot at her in their sleep. Next time she visits, they will be smiling a lot! We can't wait to see those smiles!

Here are a few pictures from the past few days...

4 Weeks old Today

Hanging with Daddy

Playtime with DeeDee

DeeDee with Shep and Spence

This is how I end up when both want to be held when I am by myself. This is how Daddy found us when he got back from Target.

Hanging out with my boys...Tex isn't sure what to think about all this

My sweet family

3 WEEKS OLD!

Shepherd and Spencer are 3 weeks old today! I can't believe it has already been 3 weeks. They have flown by! My sweet babies made their arrival on January 11 at 11:23 am. They were born in the same minute. The c-section went so fast! I was thrilled to find out that both babies were above 6 pounds. Shepherd weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces and Spencer weighed 6 pounds 2 ounces. I was so nervous the whole pregnancy about their health, but they were perfect! Both had an APGAR score of 9. I just started crying when I heard all those numbers. They were here and beautiful!

First Family Photo

Spence and Shep are the BEST Babies! They are sleeping 3-4 hour stretches at night and only cry when they are hungry or want to be snuggled for a little bit. For the most part they are able to put themselves to sleep when I lay them down. I rock them for a minute, kiss them, and put them down. Hopefully that will continue to go so well! =)

Shepherd and Spencer could not be anymore different! My friend Amanda was the baby nurse in the OR and that was the first thing she told me when they came out. "They look nothing alike!"

Shepherd

-dark hair

-observant eyes- looks around at everyone

- loves to curl his legs and ball up (we call him our little koala bear)

-patient- I can feed him 2nd and he will wait his turn

- looks like my brother, Justin (He is already competing with Justin for the long hair)

Spencer

-light hair

-LOVES to eat (we call him my little perona because he can never get enough)

-always moving his arms and legs ( I knew this from the very beginning because he was always very active in the womb)

-has the most adorable double chin

-looks more like his Daddy, especially with the cleft in his chin

-loves to snuggle with mommy

TWINS- Having twins is a lot of work, but so much fun! I am so blessed and thankul to have theses 2 boys! I am so glad they are going to have one another to play with and grow up together. They love to lay together. When i put them in the bed, they are separate, but always scoot close together.. I LOVE IT!

Truly Blessed

I have reached 37 weeks and the doctor decided that tomorrow is the day! I go in at 11 for a C-Section. God has truly blessed me in so many ways. I prayed for years that I would find a Godly husband, and Matt and I both decided to go to FC at the last moment where we fell in love. Matt and I prayed and tried for a baby, and now God has blessed us with TWO babies. As I look forward to tomorrow, I am amazed at how God has perfect timing.

Matt and I have spent this last week looking back at pictures and can't believe we are going to add 2 sons to our family. Matt is the love of my life and he has done an amazing job taking care of me these past weeks. I could not have done it without him. He is going to be an excellent Daddy and wonderful example to our boys. He is a Godly man and I'm so glad Shepherd and Spencer will have him to look up too! I thank Matt for 5 1/2 amazing years as a couple, and as tomorrow begins we will double our family to 4 and start a new adventure.

Please keep us in your prayers tomorrow!

Coming soon...Shepherd Mark and Spencer Matthew

36 WEEKS

We reached 36 weeks yesterday and it came with a punch! I woke up thinking "This is it". I could barely walk due to the immense pressure. I automatically got in the bath tub to get some relief...and there was none. For the next couple of hours there was nothing I could do to feel better. We talked to the on call doctor and unless I was having regular contractions he said to just stay in bed. He said since I was 36 weeks with twins, the boys are getting big so there wasn't much we could do to make me more comfortable. So, for the past 2 days I have not left my bedroom except twice to try and eat with Matt and his mom who is visiting. I had to hurry and eat because sitting up was NO FUN! I am not having contractions if I stay in the bed, but the pressure is still here. If they go away, it means they aren't doing anything. =(

TUESDAY, TUESDAY, TUESDAY- I go for an ultrasound and HOPEFULLY we will talk about inducing in the next week. We are hoping for Saturday, Jan 9 because my doctor is on call and I will be 37 weeks. Won't it be wonderful if they come and are not considered preemies!?!? I can't wait to see their faces, and now we are so anxious to see how much they will weigh! I feel so blessed to have been able to carry them this far,but I continue to pray for their health daily!

Time is getting very near! Maybe the next post will be hospital pictures!