Tubby Time

Tonight we went to a neighborhood cookout to celebrate the opening of the pool for the summer.  We had a good time eating, hanging out with old friends, and meeting new ones.  We got in a little late so we just threw all kiddies in the tub for quickie baths.  Kate's mouth is blue because she had a blue popsicle on the way home :)

The brothers liked sissy getting in the tub with them

Mattie-moo gettin' rowdy as usual!

Matthew decided he wanted out so Kate tried to help him; I love John-John's sweet little expression!

"Let me outta here!"

"Ok, if you're not gonna get me out I'm comin' out myself"

John has started saying several words within the last week or two.  He says "Uh-oh" a lot, especially when he drops something.  This past week he said "Mama" once.  He is also saying "duck" and "quack-quack."  Matthew has been saying "Da-da" for the past week or so, and still likes to wave and say "bye-bye."  

Kate's last week of MDO for this year is this week.  We are going to miss Mrs. Elizabeth and Mrs. Julie! They have been such wonderful teachers this year!  

Family Photo Shoot

Just a few weeks ago we met the wonderful Keaton Thurmond of Keaton Elise Photography over in a field in Edgefield, SC and had her take a few pictures of us.  Thought I'd share a few of my favs!  **Matthew in red, John in blue**

Don't Have a Title for This One...

We had a fun week last week.  Grammy was here visiting during the week then Julee came in to see us on Friday for the weekend.  It has been hot!  We got the kids in the "pool" again a few times last week...they seem to love it!  

Julee took this shot with her iPhone...cute shot.  Kate knows how to work the camera :)

Getting so big!

Kate, JuJu, and Matthew

We love Aunt JuJu!

This past Friday night Joe gave me the green light on going out and having a "date night" with my sweet sister.  Love her!!  I don't think we have done that since before we had kids.  We went out to grab a bite to eat then to see a movie...a real date!  Much needed food for the soul.    

We took the boys to have their ears checked this past Thursday.  Each time they get an ear infection they have to be seen back in the office within one or two weeks just to be sure everything is all cleared up.  I didn't have a real good feeling going into the appointment...the boys had gotten congested again and had been pretty fussy.  And sure enough, they both had ear infections AGAIN.  This is #5 for both of them.  So we are headed to see the ENT this week for a consult and very likely getting tubes.  Hopefully soon.  I hear it really makes things better so we are ready to do it.  Poor little guys have been on antibiotics practically half of their lives...it seems like they really just haven't felt that good since Christmas when all this fun began, so we are praying this will help.

When I asked Kate how school went today I got the usual "Good!" she gives me.  But she quickly followed up with some more interesting information.  I asked her who all was there today, and she again gave me her usual answer, "Beau and Charlie."  There aren't many little girls in her class at all, I don't think this helps the fact that all she ever seems to talk about are the little boys.  Then, she got a huge smile on her face and let out a loud giggle and said, "Beau kissed me on the cheek!  And then he kissed me on the mouth!"  Wha?!?!  You are TWO, Kate.  I texted Joe to tell him what she said...the message I got back from him said, "My stomach hurts."  Lord, please help us!!

Park Fun...9-Month Photo Shoot...& Welcoming Summertime

This was the first time we offered the boys their sippy cups.  John thought it was funny.  Matthew decided chewing on the bottom rim of the cup was more fun.

I love how Joshua is just hangin' out in the background of this photo.  This particular evening Kelly and Billy had come by with their boys to eat dinner with us and to help out with my crazy crew since Joe was going to be getting in late.  There are babies just layin' around anywhere and everywhere in our houses these days.

Kate loves some park time

She doesn't slow down much when we're at the park

They had their own fun while Kate played 

John tried out the slide...the static electricity got the best of him

Love this sweet face

I know all babies are messy when they're learning to eat.  But to say these two boys are messy eaters is a bit of an understatement.  I feel like I need to wear a Gore-tex rain suit when I'm feeding them.  Matthew after another messy lunch.

John:  "You gonna clean me up, or what?"

Matthew, 9 mos

John-John, 9 mos

Two sweet lil puddin' pies

Brothers 

Today Kathryn, Will, and Joshua came over to play with us in the little pool out in the back yard since it is so warm outside.  It was the first time we have been in bathing suits this season.  We can't wait for the big pool to open in a few weeks!  

Joshua---oh so cool

Kate loves the water

It's amazing how much fun a tiny little pool in the back yard can provide

Ready for summer

Kathryn and Joshua....Kathryn's expecting baby #1 in October!  

Joshua was really diggin' the pool

John has always thought Will is so funny!

I should also add that I think we are very, very close to becoming mobile.  Last week we were up in Kate's room playing when I came around the corner of her bed and found Matthew up on all fours rocking back and forth.  I'm not sure whether to encourage this or to knock him over when I see it...how I will keep up with them once this starts is still puzzling to me.

New Look

I was getting REALLY bored with the look of the blog, so after looking around briefly on the internet I found this new colorful, bright, cheerful design :)  Working on a new name possibly as well...we'll see about that soon...and maybe even more changes...  A lot has happened in our household since I started blogging 2 years ago!  I feel the need to update things a bit :)

The 9-Month Check-up...Lessons Learned...and Other Thoughts

Let's just be honest real quick.  Joe and I are a FAR cry from knowing everything about twins.  Each day brings something new and that told adage "just as soon as you think you've got something figured out with kids, it changes again" applies doubly (obviously) to twins as it does to single babies.  HOWEVER, we have come a L.O.N.G. way in 9 months.  When we first started this journey I had moments where I wondered what the Lord was thinking in giving us TWO babies at ONE time.  I do feel like now, however, we have a pretty good understanding of what to do with infant twins (most of the time, anyway......well, some of the time.....ok so maybe we still have no clue what we're doing!!).  It has been such an incredible adventure, quite wonderful and difficult at times, and very different from having one baby at one time.  I thought I was up for taking them to the doctor for the 9 month check up by myself...just another little mistake and lesson learned the hard way.  I've been running everybody to and from doctors appointments by myself quite frequently the past few months just between sicknesses and ear check-ups.  No big deal.  Joe told me he was in for a busy day at work so I just told him no worries, I would take the boys myself.  I thought for some reason that we wouldn't be getting any shots at this appointment.  Each baby ended up getting two.  It was tough not being able to comfort them individually after they got their shots...they gave Matthew his shots, then boom, I had to get John so he could get his sticks while Matthew was still screaming :(  I realized what a luxury it has been to have Joe along with me for all our past check-up appointments.  And we discovered at this appointment they each had another double ear infection :(  If these don't clear up we may be headed for the ENT and possibly tubes.  They had been fussy lately but I had chocked it up to teething.  The boys were not happy as we were making our exit and they wanted everyone in the place to know about it.  John weighed 18 lbs 8 oz and Matthew 18 lbs 6 oz.  They were each in the 25th percentile for both weight and height...still a little small but Dr. seems comfortable with how they're growing.  Our next check-up will be their one year appt.  My goodness!!!!!
This past weekend Matthew started waving and saying "bye-bye."  It is one of the sweetest, cutest things I've ever seen, if I do say so myself :)  They are both babbling incessantly.  Mostly
"ga-ga-ga's" :)
9 Months?!?!  When did THAT happen??  I'm glad I've written things down because it really and truly is all a blur.  Just some silly little memories from the past 9 months I'd like to store away:
1.  When I bathe the boys I have to get out FOUR bath cloths:  one for each baby to chew on
     while he is bathed and the other for actually bathing him.  I could never get the bath cloth out of their mouths long enough to bathe them without them fussing, so I'd just grab another one.  For the past several months now each evening when I go to bathe them I grab four bath cloths without even thinking about it.
2.  All three kids playing and laughing in Matthew's crib together.
3.  Neither Matthew nor John takes a paci, unlike their big sister.  But they both love to suck on
     2 fingers when they're sleepy.
4.  They cut their first tooth on the exact same day.
5.  Feeding the boys bottles in the boppy pillows on the sofa while they pull the fringes out on my
     throw pillows.
6.  Matthew shoving his fist into his mouth following EVERY SINGLE spoonful of food I offer him,
     as if he is helping to push it on down his throat.  
7.  John's bedhead after naptime.
8.  Figuring out how to ride "3-wide" in a double stroller and a two-seater wagon.

There are hundreds more but this is all I've got tonight...and it's late!  Bedtime calls...