New Milestones

Shepherd and Spencer are just growing up so fast. They are starting to look more like little boys instead of newborns. I am so excited for each stage, and even though it has been tough, I am going to miss the newborn stage. Every time they learn something new it is so fun. I just don't want them to grow up. I can't believe they are going to be 5 months next Friday! I never understood when my mom said she wanted to "put a bucket on our head" to keep us from growing... now I understand fully. Love you Mom!

Many little things have occurred the past 2 weeks that I want to remember. Both of them found their feet last week and now grab them all the time. I think it is the cutest thing when they play with them! Shep and Spence both like to turn on their sides a lot. It is easier for them to find a toy when they drop it or to look at one another. This has caused them to turn over from their back to belly. Spence has done it a few times and Shep has done it once by accident. Shepherd is very content to lay on his back and play with a toy. He loves his toys and always has to have one in his hands. Today they were laying on a blanket in the den while I washed bottles. They have been looking at one another for a while, but today Spencer LAUGHED at Shepherd. I mean belly laugh! I was so excited! I have been waiting for the time when they REALLY notice one another! Both of them are just laughing all the time!

Today is Friday! YEA for the weekends when I have another set of hands! I will leave you with just one photo...

This is how Matt found us on Wednesday. We were VERY glad to see Daddy walk through the door!

Beach Trip

We had a great time on our beach trip! It was fun to just spend the weekend with Nana and Papa, Julie, Blake, Caroline, and Jackson! The boys loved playing with Caroline and Jackson. They were so sweet to them. Caroline played with the boys and helped me keep an eye on them. The beach was beautiful! We were able to take the boys out in the mornings and then again in the evenings. They can't wear sunscreen yet and the sun was pretty bright. Matt stayed in on Saturday and let me go out for a couple of hours and then Nana and Papa kept them Sunday afternoon for both of us to go out and enjoy the ocean. The boys loved walking down the beach. Matt and I carried them in carriers and walked. The sound of the ocean always put Shepherd to sleep! It was so relaxing. We are going again over Labor Day. They will be older and be able to enjoy it better. I am already counting down!!

Here are a few pictures that show our trip better than I can tell it...

My favorite of Shepherd

We went walking a lot with the boys since we couldn't get them out on the beach

Spence sleeping in the stroller

Shep playing with Papa in his cooler

Blake playing with Shep...I love Jackson in the background

Caroling and Spence in the big chair. The boys LOVE Caroline!

Hanging out at the beach

Listening to the water...may favorite place to sit...right in the ocean

Building sand castles.. and Jackson knocking them down!

Shep hanging out

Sweet Caroline

Spence and Daddy

Jackson and Caroline playing in the ocean

Walking on the beach

It was a GREAT trip!

Loving Life

Days are going so smoothly at our house. We are on a schedule and introducing foods, having good naps (still only 20-30 mins...), and playing all this time....THINGS ARE SO FUN!

We started giving cereal a couple of weeks ago. The boys didn't really like it at first, but this week we added applesauce to it and they LOVE it. We are giving sweet potatoes tonight for the first time. Here is what they look like afterwards...

I guess the big news this week was Spencer scooted a little on his belly Sunday night! He may be an early crawler and Mommy isn't too sure about what to do with herself once that begins! I have moved our ottoman and just lay out a big blanket. I have their toys all around me and we just play most of the day. We move from the bouncy seats, to the floor, to their exersaucers, floor, then to their bumpos. They aren't sitting up yet, so I don't want them laying on their backs all day (but its hard with two, because I can't hold both of them all the time even though I want too!).

Shep reading a book (yes it is upside down...but hey we are learning!)

Playing in their bumpos and looking at the playmat

Hey Mom!

This is so much fun!

They have begun chewing on EVERYTHING! It is so funny to see the boys grab something and then can't get it to their mouth fast enough. Shepherd has really started yelling this week. He is talking all the time and has gotten very loud. This makes for an interesting church service!.

My gums feel better now!

This is Shep's favorite chew toy!

We have a fun couple of weeks ahead of us! We are taking them on their first beach trip! I love the beach and have been dreaming about going since last October when I was confined to the house! I can't wait to let the waves roll over my feet! I know it will be a little more hectic since we will have 2 little ones in tow, but I think it will make it more fun. We are getting to go and that is all that matters! I can't wait to take pictures of the boys on the beach. I wonder what they will think of the sand on their feet. I can't wait!

In a few weeks, the boys will be going on their first plane trip. Matt's mom is getting married in Houston. We are so excited for her and can't wait for all Matt's family to see the babies! We are staying with Matt's cousins Brad and Lydia who are expecting. I can't wait to see them and talk Baby! I have to admit though, I am a little nervous about the plane trip. We will be confined to 2 small seats with 4 people! I think I am more worried about the people around us! Maybe they will have sympathy for us since we have twins, and not get too aggravated with cries! =) It will be an adventure! I will try and take pictures all along the way!

4 Months

We have had a lot of fun this past month. The boys are smiling and laughing all the time. Spencer is rolling over and Shepherd is able to hold toys on his own. They are learning and advancing every day. I love to see them concentrate on grabbing a toy and then their face when they accomplish it.

I had a great first Mother's Day. I love being a mommy!! I know I have a great task of raising these boys and am looking forward to it! We heard a great sermon on Sunday of the importance of mothers within a home. It is a lot to think about, but I pray everyday that God will show me how to help guide Shepherd and Spencer to Him.

Matt and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary last week. I can't believe we have been married for 6 years. We celebrated it a little differently this year. We went out to an early dinner, came home and gave baths, fed and was watching tv by 8:00. It was one of the best years though! =) My good friend Nicole texted me on my anniversary saying who would have thought 6 years ago that Matt and I would now have twin boys! Sometimes I still can't believe how truly blessed I am!

The boys turned 4 months old yesterday. We had their 4 month appointment. Here are their stats...

Shepherd

14 pounds 9 ounces

24 inches tall

16.25 head

Spencer

15 pounds 1 ounce

24 inches tall

17 head

Here is a video of a few different things.

Shep and Spencer having "twin talk" while eating hands, Spencer rolling over ( I love how Shepherd is almost encouraging him), and Shepherd laughing (excuse my wet curly hair!).

All precious moments!!

(More videos to come, because this month we introduce FOOD!)

Wrestling/rolling over...almost

Rolling over is a new milestone that I know my boys will begin doing soon. Spencer rolled over when he was 5 days old, but hasn't done it much since. I usually have to start him now to get him to do it. I have been practicing with both boys on how to roll over to show them how to do it. Sometimes they think it is fun, and sometimes not... They have really done well with each milestone so far and I don't think they are lagging behind in anything. Our doctor says not to fret if they don't do everything on time since they were a little early, boys and twins. He says all those things are stacked against them...well not if I have anything to say about it! =)

Each day I make sure they boys have some interaction time together. While they are noticing one another, they don't really play together yet. Most of the interactions they have is hitting each other in the face when they are swinging their arms in delight on their play mat. Sometimes they try and eat each other's hands when it touches their mouth. It is so cute! Here are some pictures of their play time together yesterday. We were practicing rolling over and I thought we could roll on each other. They thought it was fun! I know this is the first of many wrestling pictures I will get...

What is going on?

I want to get him!

Love it!

The boys looked so cute at church yesterday. Here are them playing with Matt before we left yesterday.

Fun Fun Fun

Having so much fun!

We have had some great weather and fun weekends! We spent a lot of weekends in March in Birmingham. It was a lot of fun, but traveling even 2 hours is hard with twins. They love their beds and like to nap when they want. Last weekend was A Day here in Auburn. We went and walked around campus, had a picnic lunch, and saw the new basketball arena. It makes me excited for the boys to get older and enjoy seeing the eagle and Aubie. I can't wait for them to say "War Eagle Hey!" for the first time! Tomorrow my parents and Justin are coming down. Saturday is Cityfest and I can't wait! It is a big outdoor arts and crafts show. I had a booth in it 2 years ago, but this year we are going to go walk around and have a picnic lunch! I hope the weather holds out for us!

We are battling with our first cold this week. It is horrible! I hate to see them not feel well. At least it is not affecting their sleeping. We have now slept through the night for ONE WEEK!! Right now they are eating every 3 1/2 to 4 hours and usually eat around 4 :30 or 5. We get baths around 6:30 and then they are so ready to go to bed by 7 to 7:30. We wake them up for their last feeding around 9 or 9:30. I know most people say DO NOT WAKE A SLEEPING BABY! But right now this is what is working. After that feeding, they will sleep until 5ish or even 6:30 like they did today! Matt and I feel like new people!

Shep and Spence are laughing out loud for the past couple of weeks! We are going to try and get it on video soon! it is so precious! Shep laughs at bath time every night. He loves not to have on clothes and thinks it is too funny! They both laugh during the day, but I can't video them while holding 2 babies!

They have been noticing each other for a while now, but never at the same time! This past week, they both looked at each other at the same time, smiled and cooed! It was such a special moment...I got teared up. Since then, it has happened at least once a day. It is going to be so much fun through the years to watch their friendship grow. I love my sweet Shepherd and Spencer so much!

A Day in Auburn

While walking back to the car, we saw the new Auburn basketball coach. Shep and Spence were very excited to meet him!! =)

Hanging out with Brooks

Resting in the new basketball arena

War Eagle! The new basketball court

I love all the orange!

Just for fun...

ADORABLE!

PRECIOUS

Hanging out in Dad's chair

Waking up from snoozing on couch

Hey Mom!

Sweet Moments with Twins

Mornings are my favorite time. Both Shepherd and Spencer are in good moods and all smiles. This past Tuesday I heard jabbering over the monitor during their morning naps and this is what I walked into...