Mini-Van

Well, it is pretty obvious now that a van is needed. I never thought I would drive a mini-van, but the car is just way too much hassle and the ease of a van will far outweigh its "uncoolness!" I have been driving around practically eating the steering wheel and there still isn't room for the carseats to sit properly and only the snap and go stroller fits in the trunk - which if they get much heavier the carriers might be obsolete and the snap and go will be useless. So, my car is on craigslist and so far we have had a couple of nibbles. The problem is that we have not had a car payment in almost 10 years, can't afford one now, probably can't even qualify for a car loan in this economic environment, our "extra" money is going to daycare, and if it wasn't imperative to have a safer more practical vehicle it would be completely irresponsible to purchase a new one. That means that we are on the hunt for a van for $6,000 (what my car is listed for) or less - should be a really nice van, with low miles (ha, ha)! I have found a couple of Honda vans in the $6,000 - $8,000 price range - they are old and have been driven quite a bit, but Hondas are good vehicles so I think that is what I am going with! Watch out - I can't even park my little volvo, I am going to be a road hazard in a van for sure!

First Day at Daycare

This is pretty funny - shows the order of events. They first looked like they were not happy at all. The second picture they are calming down some, although Tyler looks like he is about to lose it and then in the third picture they are out!!! I was so happy to get the pics - started missing the little boogers and wondering how they were doing!

Wiggle Worms

Here is a picture of them touching feet - they start out at the top of the positioners and inevitably find a way down to contort their bodies to get their feet against each other. It is really odd, this is not as much as they sometimes do, there have been times that Katie has completely gotten herself off the positioner. I bet if they weren't swaddled and on positioners these little houdinis would really be all over the place!

A couple of ten pounders!

Yep, that's right - both of them are exactly 10 pounds and 21 inches long. His head is a bit bigger but for the most part they are the same! He is still eating really well and she has kind of leveled out so he may even surpass her, but that's ok - boys are supposed to be bigger!!! They had their shots today - Lance took them, I am back at work. He said that Tyler took it pretty well but Katie was wailing before the nurse even got to her, so sad - glad I wasn't there. The doctor was happy with their growth and development and said that if you take into account their prematurity they are in the 50th percentile for weight and the 25th for length - they are a bit short but that shouldn't surprise anyone. They do say that 98% of boys are as tall as or taller than their mother so Tyler should be at least 5' 6" - but height doesn't really matter for professional golfers so no worries :-)!

More pictures!

This is what Katie actually wore on Halloween. We couldn't figure out how to put them in their carseats or stroller with their costumes on and this onesie is cute as can be (thanks Catherine) so she was not only a pumpkin for her first Halloween, but a princess/ballerina too!!!

If you notice the gashes on poor Katie's face do know that we really do cut her nails - Lance has started calling her the slasher because she always manages to gouge her face and Tyler's - this one was the very day that they were freshly cut and filed!

Tyler wore a cute Halloween sleeper as his second "costume." Are you starting to notice a typical pose for Tyler?!? He always has one arm up looking like he is just chilling, taking it all in or about to break into the "sprinkler"dance - one or the other.

"Poor" Tyler sleeps on hot pink sheets because they sleep in the same crib and the proximity of Katie's crib to the changing table, door, etc. made hers the chosen one! Grandma Ratliff is responsible for awesome bedding for the two of them and one day Tyler will sleep on bright blue sheets!!!

Tyler really didn't mind the costume - he just wanted to sleep!
















I had to get Lance to take this picture - you probably can't tell from this angle just how sweet they truly looked at this moment, both sleeping and oblivious to the fact that they were sharing my chest! I really do wonder when they will notice each other - other than the touching feet thing I don't think they know the other one exists!

Two months old!

Tyler and Katie are two months old today!!! I can't believe that it has been two months already since these two were born. Last night we had some friends over (which was fabulous, to feel like we were social again) so we altered the babies schedule a bit so we didn't have to go feed them and bathe them at 9:00. Well, we ended up getting them down by 11:00 PM and they slept all the way until 5:00 AM!!! I, of course, freaked out when they didn't wake at 2:00 or 3:00 and got up to go check on them but they were doing great and even at 5:00 would probably have gone back to sleep. We are getting awfully close to a full night's sleep, I think - woohoo! It worked out great that the time changed because it really was 4:00 AM and we were able to feed them at 7:00AM and get them back on their normal schedule. Too bad that will have to be altered tomorrow since they go to the doctor during one of their scheduled feedings! We are getting to the point where we can be a bit more flexible because they definitely tell us when they are hungry, or sleepy.

One of the cutest things ever is how these two wake up and it is going to be short-lived so we definitely need to capture it on camera SOON. No matter how we put them down if they are in the same crib they find a way to contort their swaddled, sleep positioned bodies to touch feet! It is actually kind of scary because you will look down into the crib and not even see Katie since she somehow manages to get her body parallel with the crib rail to get her feet to touch Tyler - but it is really, really sweet. They are almost beyond sleeping in the same crib and the positioners aren't going to hold them for long so we really need to remember to take a picture.

Here are pictures from Halloween - as you can tell, they weren't real thrilled with dressing up but it was their first holiday and I just couldn't resist!

The differences in twins

Before I had the babies I read articles about not being depressed if your baby was unhappy or not as "perfect" as you imagined and I frankly thought those books and tidbits were quite silly. My naive thoughts ran toward well, of course babies cry and if you think your baby is going to be the newborn you see on movies and tv you are crazy BUT, now I know what they were cautioning about. One of my babies is relatively happy, cries when infants typically cry - when wet, when hungry, when tired and during the witching hours for no particular reason whatsoever and I expected that. She will let out gut wrenching shrieks and cries that you think should shatter glass, but she will also reward you with an hour of bright eyed playing and and tenative practice smiles that will melt your heart. The other whines, fusses, and grumbles constantly when he is not asleep with no real identifiable reason other than wanting to be held which often doesn't even work to quiet the rumbling! He rarely wants to use us has his entertainment and has had very, very few "smiles." Until last night when a friend commented on the baby of another friend I could not put my finger on exactly what was bothering me about Tyler and his fussiness and general discontent - she said to my other friend "your baby is so happy," and then I knew - I am afraid that Tyler is unhappy. You don't realize that there is a real association with how happy your baby is and what kind of parent you are perceived to be - if your baby is crying or upset everyone thinks you are doing something wrong or tries to find a reason i.e., his tummy is upset, he is hungry, he is cold, hot, you should pick him up, you should not pick him up, you name it - people want to find a reason for a fussy baby. I am coming to the conclusion that sometimes the reason is simply because he wants to cry or he is just so not amused by not being able to communicate or get what he wants that he is going to fuss about it! When you think of babies you think of giggles and smiles and coos and bright, happy eyes and sure the occasional crying, but you never envision a serious little being who seems downright reluctant to be happy. I am hoping this is just a phase and it is part of the colicky type of crying and fussing that is normal until 3 months old or so, but if not, if I do have a serious little thinker rather than a baby who lights up the room with smiles and laughs I think I'll have a pretty good idea where he gets it, and it isn't from his dad!
I love my little Tyler so, so much - please don't think I am even hinting at favoring one over the other - I just think it is natural with twins to be able to see the differences pretty easily and to make comparisons. I think for many, many years to come I'll be questioning our parenting, trying to get to know these little ones and trying my damndest not to make them anything they aren't or judge them for not being exactly what I expected them to be - and right now I am really beginning to think that God is using Tyler to try to teach me the patience that I know will be more than necessary in the years to come!

My Sweet Little Babies!