Peas and Love

We're officially caught up in the storm that is/was Holidays 2008. The kids have changed so much, friends and family have stopped by and Kelly and I have had just enough time to breathe.

We cannot begin to believe how much the kids have changed - not only since they were born, but just in a week!

Their eyes are now focusing in on mom, dad, or whomever may be holding them. They're also looking at the little things we've put up in the crib and swings. We've detected a little more responsiveness from them. No longer are we just 'tolerated'! They are beginning to sleep longer at night; instead of the usual 4-hour time between the 8pm and 12am feedings, now we're going, on average, from 8pm to 2am. Small steps.

Their faces and bodies have changed, too. Nearly three weeks ago, they weighed: Max - 12lb 5; Olivia - 8lb 10 and August 9lb 8 *disclaimer - approximate weights!

If we had to guess, Max would be about 14, Olivia 10, and August 11.

Our visitors have been many and generous with their gifts. Aunt Sam, Uncle Dave, Josie and Annie; great Uncle Greg, great Aunt Jane and great Grandma Norris; great Uncle Denny, great Aunt Anita; great Aunt Janice, Uncle Tim and cousin Regis, Aunt Amanda, cousins Molly and Abbey; great Uncle Reynolds, great Aunt Sandy, cousin Mikayla and fiancee Heath; Grandma Chris and Grandpa Steve; Grandpa Larry and Grandma Diana; the Jameson ladies; Ms. Sigulinsky; Kim Perlstein; and if I've missed someone I'm sorry!


Picture time:



It's been great having so many of our extended support system has gotten to see the kids a little bit. They seem to be socializing pretty well - the kids have not put up much fuss having strangers (to them) hold and feed them.

Kelly and I were able to 'break out' for a night of grown up entertainment, attending our friends Kris and Beth's wedding reception and our friends Ryan, Matt and Kelley in Iowa City. Being away was great, but the home fires brought us back quickly and I can't imagine being away for more than one night. Big thanks to Grandma Diana, Abby and Molly for holding the fort down while we were away.

Now we prepare for our return to full-time work after New Year's and adjusting to having an in-home nanny. While the challenges keep coming, we just have to keep meeting them!

A New Year's toast for all of our friends, family and blog readers:

To the good times that gather us;
To the challenges and trials that draw us closer;
To the laughter that keeps us together;

Happy New Year!

A Visit From the Baby Whisperers!

We've been visited by the baby whisperers....shhhhhhh!  They're still asleep!  Two little fairies bearing gifts (3 cans of formula, an Olivia book for Olivia and the cutest little tiger bibs for the boys...grrrr! Oh- and dessert goodies for we adults...yum!) dropped by our humble abode today.  I was very thankful for the magical help feeding the wee babes and the fairy dust they seemed to leave in their wake of restful bliss! Yesssss!

The baby whisperers had highly top secret techniques they brought from their respective regions of origins...texas and muscatine...to lull seemingly alert and conscience babies into the depths of sleep...for very long periods of time, I am happy to report.

Here are some special super secret pictures I snuck of the baby whispers in action!  I hear they get violent if you try to replicate or steal their hypnotic ways!

Babies 1st Christmas 

"Hi.  Dis is Max.  Gwama Koowey said we could open a pwesent if we stayed sweeping wast night.  We did it!  Momma wet us open deese!  Sanx Gwama!  We awe supah cute. bye."

An Icy Hello

Our family survived our first ice storm this week. It was without drama, really - the storm came, went, and left us with a bunch of ice.  

Kelly's mom was here for a few days, giving us a much-needed hand with the kids.  They are so lucky to have the grandmas they do! 

We had done some preparations in case we lost power, in order to keep the kids warm and fed. Kelly really liked this part of the storm day, and we ended up with a big plastic tub of emergency supplies raided from our pantry and garage. Luckily we didn't have to dig into the canned goods.  Split pea soup? No thanks. 

In the midst of storm preparations, we endured another storm. Of diapers. Kelly's work friends so graciously supplied us with enough diapers for awhile, and we thank them for their generosity!

From Dec 20 2008

The kids are changing right before our eyes. Olivia has a shock of black hair now, and really filling out. August is trying to catch up with his little (big?) bro Max and his head is every bit as big as Max's. And Max is just a robust baby boy.

Our feeding times have decreased significantly with our posting a limit on feeding times of a 1/2 hour and of the discovery of fast-flow nipples for the little ones. Olivia has had some issues for quite a while with keeping awake through an entire feeding. Her suck isn't quite as strong as the boys, and it would take her so long to feed that she would just fall asleep...and then wake up earlier since she couldn't get enough to satisfy her. Not anymore. Now, Ms. O is our best sleeper.

Max has taken to eating his formula in record speed - without aid of a fast nipple. August is catching up with Max, but with a fast nipple.

We are looking forward to our first family Christmas and to the kids growing and keeping healthy.

Pics:

Merry Christmas Letter!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Babies are doing well. Here are their stats:

August- Height: 21 3/8 inch. Weight: 9 lbs. 10 oz.

Olivia- Height: 20.5 inches Weight: 8 lbs. 11 oz.

Max- Height: 22 1/4 inches Weight: 12 lbs. 5.5 oz.

As you can see they are progressing nicely. They had their 2 month shots the other day as well. Everyone did well. Max showed his affection for the doctor by taking a big dump on the exam room table. (That a boy!) He continues to wear the cannula until his appointment in January (2nd). Hopefully it will be gone soon. We're getting sick of the baby attached to a tube routine.

August is still very laid back. He really doesn't cry he just grunts or groans. When he does cry it's super high pitched. We think he must have been a choir boy in a last life. He also slept 6 hours last night. One down two to go.

Olivia is starting to voice her opinions. She seems to be a very good observer. She'll listen to Max and then will cry like he cries. She's smart too. She knows we will come pick her up if she shoots out her little wail. She must be like her mom.

We are starting to "sleep train" the babies this week too. We found this book, Twelve Hours in Twelve Weeks, and we are taking our process to the next level. Now that they eat every 4 hours around the clock, we have to try to eliminate one of the night feedings. The first night was interesting to say the least. With Mike up for 2 hours and me sleep walking through the whole thing, we are starting to feel the burn of sleepless nights. Please pray that we figure out this process and get the kids to sleep at least 5 or 6 hours without eating or waking us up. That would be amazing!

Thank you everyone for all your continued thoughts and prayers, the food you've brought by, the cards and gifts you've sent, the things you've let us borrow, the promotions you've gotten for us, the rooms you've cleaned, the bottles you've fed and the podees you've put together! 2008 has been a blessed year for us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We can't wait to see what 2009 will bring.

Love, Kelly Mike, August, Olivia and Max

Busy Busy Bees

Momma here.  Wow!  Babies are a lot of work! Mike hasn't had too much time to post lately, so I've raided the blog.  We had a few visitors during Thanksgiving and Mike's mom Chris came and helped us last week.  Thank you so much!  

Here are some recent photos of the clan and some of the visitors...per request of a certain Aunt Amanda by text message: Tell Mike to send me some pics...I miss them!