Sleep

So....we are still having a wonderful experience in terms of sleeping. Thomas and Maddy generally go to bed around 7:30 or 8pm and sleep until 7am. It is nice and I truly know how lucky we are...however, it does not come uninterrupted. Thomas wakes several times throughout the night....I don't have to pick him up...just comfort him and give him his passy. I am not getting much sleep but am managing. It is so hard as Thomas would rather sleep on his belly. He seems to jump if on his back and that ends up waking him. Maddy on the other hand sleeps just fine...I think she goes SO hard during the day that she just crashes. Often, she is still snoozing when Thomas tells everyone it is time to get up. I am struggling with guilt for putting him on his tummy when nothing else works.....as I know this is not the healthiest thing to do. I have received several comments from friends on their own experiences and I truly do appreciate it. We do have the positioners but my kids seem to jump them and not stay on them.....time will tell. For now...here is a cartoon that I can sometimes relate to!

Pooped....

I just had to share these pictures. Thomas and Maddy have both gone so hard today with short naps. Whenever we have outings it seems that they don't ever get their true nap in.....so as I was finishing up Maddy's bath...this is how I found Thomas. I didn't think anything of his being so quiet as sometimes he just rests his head...but this time he found true slumber. Toooo precious! We enjoyed our Zaxby's lunch with Grandmother Smith and Jackie.
As for this week, we are currently in Valley. Shannon and I had a truly wonderful Valentine's Day. We enjoyed dinner at my fav....Outback. Jackie, Cindy, and Stacey babysat so Shannon and I could enjoy a couple of hours together out. It was truly nice. We also got to go out to dinner last night with a great friend thanks to Jackie and Stacey. It is hard to get used to some time away from Tand M but it is much needed.....even though I try to do all and be all....it is nice to get out. Shannon returns to Augusta tomorrow for work and I am going to spend some much needed time with my mom and dad and baby brother. Thomas and Maddy are excited to see Nana and Poppy.
We also got in some shopping this week. Jackie, "Nonnie", bought the angels some new PJ's....as they are really outgrowing their current ones. It is so nice to have such wonderful grandparents. Shannon and I truly appreciate all the love and support our family gives us. Diapers, clothes, time, and advice, and on and on .....they are all priceless gifts that we truly do recognize and appreciate! It is also quite spoiling as I have grown accustomed to doing it all in Augusta....well, with the great friendship and support of my pal Megan. What a blessed life we do have!!! God is so very good! I wish you all a wonderful evening.
I would also like to ask that you lift up several babies in your prayers. We have friends and loved ones that are going through pregnancies both healthy and some not so healthy. Just pray for the unborn and newborn angels....God knows their names. Thank you!

Happy Valentine's Day

Cereal

So...with the go ahead from the pediatrician, today we tried cereal. We got a few bites down before heading for a bath. It was a great first attempt I do believe. I think next time I'll make it a little thicker. I have been demonstrating my eating oatmeal to them each morning for the past week. They would watch so intently. Yesterday, I bought rice cereal to begin with and First Foods squash and carrots to try down the road. I had a blast reading labels, finding bowls and spoons, and reading up on all the strategies to make it a successful feeding. I guess I am like most moms and want to do it all right to instill good eating habits and healthy choices in Thomas and Maddy. It is looking like we are going to have to round up another set of high chairs for the Valley house. I also need to invest in the bibs that are wipeable and have the pocket at the bottom. Thanks to one of my showers we have one highchair set already in Augusta. For now though, the bumbos will work. What a fun road ahead of us....messy but fun!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day Weekend!!! Lots of love!

Plane Crash

I wanted to make a note about today's plane crash. Thomas and Maddy and I lifted the families of these victims up in our prayers after our devotion. My heart goes out to them......on the news they showed one guy waiting at the airport for his sister only to hear the flight had crashed. What heartache!!! May God's hand of peace and comfort cover them.

Friday Update

I just wanted to share a couple of pictures with you. Thomas is doing better....I think. He is still not himself....a bit fussy but does not seem to be hurting from the shots. Maddy has really not had a reaction to the shots but poor Thomas has had a tough time. You can see in one of the pictures where Maddy is holding his ear....trying to comfort him. After our appt. we came home and I put them in their soft blue and pink pajamas.....
We are currently in Valley. You can see the picture of them in the jumparoo and walker we've been blessed to borrow. Have a wonderful day and Valentine's Weekend!

Shots

We are a bit fussy after our shots......it is killing mommy's heart....Thomas is a lot more fussy than Maddy. He will just cry for no reason....just all of a sudden. I changed them out of their clothes and into pj's hopeing the softer material would help. Maddy is just starting to fuss....but poor Thomas is really having a hard time. I have pumped them full of Tylenol....if only it would help more. This breaks my heart! Their little thighs are just so tender......poor babies....

More Pictures

Maddy Close-Up

Close-Up of Thomas

Maddy at her best....jumping in the jumparoo

Yesterday...Thomas in the exersaucer

Maddy asleep after her breakfast bottle...just before we left for our appointment.

4 Month Appointment

First....let me say that Thomas and Madelynn are the best babies in the world! They did so good at their appointment today. It was warm in the office and we were a bit fussy...but all in all it was great. Dr. Jester was extremely pleased with their health and specs. They are opposite in terms of what the gender norm is for developement. Maddy is a lot more physical and Thomas is a lot more verbal. We are to work with Thomas more on his leg and neck strength and Maddy more with her verbal skills. That said, Dr. Jester said they were both right on track. She even thinks Maddy will be sitting independently by the next appt. Well....here are the specifics:

Thomas- 13 lbs even. 25th percentile and 23 3/4 inches 25th percentile

Maddy- 12 lbs 9 ounces 25th percentile and 23 1/4 inches 25th percentile

We also got the go ahead to start trying cereal. I think we will play with it this weekend. They have really shown no sign of needing more food....however they do watch us closely as we eat and do seem interested. I look forward to the pictures that come from that! Next appt is the 6 month well baby check up and shots.....April 15th.

Today is our 4 month well baby checkup and immunizations appointment. I can hardly wait to hear the weights on Thomas and Maddy. Knocking on wood....I am amazed that we have not had any illness that required us to see the doctor before now. We did have a small cold or sinus but no fever or infection. God is good.....and Thomas and Maddy are blessings to us! I want to again say thank you to our friends that sent toys and offered support to us. We are excited that we will be spending more weekends in Valley and near our friends and family. We are blessed with wonderful friends both here and there. We are working to get our travels down to 1 car. It is difficult with the stroller and Tucker but we hope to just travel in the truck this week. There is a minivan with my name on it I am sure....the timing just has to be right. Thomas and Maddy travel so well....but it will be nice to all be in one car instead of me and the babies behind Shannon from here to Valley......that just gets old and a bit dangerous at times. Well...I hope you all have a great day!!! Oh..one more thing. Shannon swears Thomas said Mama yesterday morning as he was waking up.....I am sure it was a fluke of sound but it made my day nonetheless!

Many Faces of Thomas

I tried to capture some faces of Thomas....however he usually keeps the same face.....unlike his "persnickety" sister. Hope you enjoy! Oh...the red dots on his nose are where he scratched his face on the way home yesterday....I put Vaseline on them.

New Toy

We brought back the Jumparoo that Nana and Poppy gave Thomas and Maddy for Christmas....what fun!!! Maddy is a bit more inclined to it though....I think she made herself grow an inch just so her feet would touch the ground. Thomas on the other hand likes to just sit and observe the action. Hope you enjoy!!!

Thomas and Maddy

Here is a picture taken of them just before we left for Valley. They turned 4 months on Friday! Time....SLOW DOWN!!!

Many Faces of Maddy

Here are a few of the faces I captured while trying to catch a smile.....no smile caught but she sure made me smile!

Napping....

Here is a camera phone pic of the angels napping. I am a bad mama and have let them get used to sleeping on their belly for naps so I am trying my hardest to get them back on their backs. It is so sweet to watch....but they just don't sleep as soundly. Is there anyone else in blogger land that has allowed their wee ones to sleep against recommendation? I feel awful that I have allowed it...but they just sleep so much better that way. Well, here we are trying to sleep on our backs....still Maddy reaching out for brother. She just HAS to touch him. Sometimes her hand ends up in his mouth....pulling his hair (what little is left) or yanking on his bib. Thomas never minds though....such a sweet big brother!