Three Month Old Today!!!

Every time we hit a milestone date, I always think how crazy it is! Time sure is flying! And I really do try to stop and enjoy these little, special moments with each of my little guys! So much has happened in the last four weeks too.  Guess I'll get started (and I am still trying to figure out a format for how I want to record all the happenings. As of right now, I keep track week by week of everything they are doing and what's happening on my phone).

9 Weeks Old

Landon, my chunky monkey, you fidget when you eat. Hands moving back & forth kind of like some OCD tendency.  It's hilarious.

Parker, my little man, you always have clenched fists holding on to something. My shirt, your bib...Daddy actually calls your bib your security blanket (and since you wear it a lot because you still are spitting up quite a bit, it is the easiest thing to hand on to).

On June 3rd, we fed you both a 4 oz formula bottle. Parker, you slept from 7:30 until 1am!!! Longest stretch yet. We woke up a little surprised. Landon, you were having tummy issues all that day so you fell asleep, then back up for an hour fussing a bit, but then slept from 8:30ish until 1!!

Landon you're so funny with your binky. Even if you want it, you won't just accept or take it. You pierce your lips together and make it impossible for whoever is trying to put it in your mouth. And if you really don't want it, we certainly know it. It won't last and you will spit it farther than I ever think possible. And you're our little burper. When sit you up after eating, you have no problems just burping right away. And I know you will hate me writing this and putting it out into the internet, but boy are you gassy! It's what can wake you up out of a dead sleep and sounds like it is coming from a grown man. But it makes us laugh all the time, because for some reason we still never expect it.  As we've heard said before, baby farts are funny!

On June 5, you guys had your 2 month well appt. where you got your first set of shots. :( It's hard to see you cry and have that pain inflicted, but honestly, I feel like it was almost nothing compared to the appointment where you had your circumcisions.  And we were pretty prepared.  Dr. H said we could give you a little Children's Tylenol before you came in, so we did.  Really, you both cried for a second or two and then were fine.  I think the appointment and the shots though wore you out.  We took you home, fed you right away and you two were pooped!  You both had a low fever on & off for 2 days. And you slept a lot but probably because of the Tylenol we gave you about 2 times a day. At this point, you were still waking just about every 2 1/2 hours all day & night. Boo.

10 Weeks Old

On Sunday, June 10th, you had your first pool visit to Christa's. Landon, Mommy put your feet in. At first cried, but then I did it again and you liked it after that. I think it was the initial coldness that just took you by surprise. Parker, your feet didn't go in this time but soon enough.

Parker, you laughed out loud at Daddy on June 12th while Daddy was playing with you lips. We loved it! It was the greatest sound!!!

We live in one of the most popular destinations in the world, so why not take you to some of those big sites?We went to the Hoover Dam on Friday, June 15th for an early Father's Day outing. We had breakfast in Boulder City at the famous Coffee Cup Cafe (it was very yummy too).  You both didn't feel like sleeping, so you were content with just looking around the cafe as we ate and enjoyed a beautiful summer morning.  Then we all walked across the dam. We had the whole thing to ourselves the whole time. We only ran into one other person walking across the dam, and she worked there.  And it's not like it was that early.  It was about 7am! It pays to get places early. As Grandma always says, early bird gets the worm! 

On June 14th, we put you back in your cribs again for the second time (the first time we did that, we only lasted a night and 1/2). You both went down really well. Not much fussing and fell asleep with us only having to come in once or twice to try and quiet you.  We both have to wake up and come in to feed you in the middle of the night, but never more than twice. Now, I wish I could say we were only going in there twice, but that's not so.  Something just seems to happen that makes you both very fussy after the 2 or 3 am feeding. We're hoping you'll both grow out of that soon!

11 Weeks Old 

We celebrated Daddy's first Father's Day. We went and ate lunch at Subway then headed up to Cashman Field to watch the Las Vegas 51s play the Colorado Skysox. Your first baseball game!!! It was fun! We carried you in with the Baby Bjorns and got to go on the field to take a picture during their annual Father-Son catch time. We only stayed for 2 innings, but they were a LONG 2 innings. Unfortunately, the 51s were losing 0-12. Boo. It was 105* today and probably even hotter at the stadium. You guys were such great boys. You napped at first then both woke up and played a bit. And you were little rock stars.  People kept stopping and checking your both out, loving your baseball outfits and big smiles! We had such a great day. Then you came home and passed out! The heat really kicked both of your butts!

Landon you are definitely our congested boy. You always seem to have a stuffy nose and have become used to, although never really like it, the saline up your nose and the hospital-grade nose sucker. You started to really get close to full-on laughing this week. We kind of shake your belly or tickle it and you try to laugh. You want to. It's almost as if you don't know what you need to do to make it happen. It's the cutest thing and I can't wait for the day that you just let it go. Big love bug, we have you in 1-2 diapers. They are ever so slightly bigger than 1s and not quite 2s. Something tells me you could easily pull off 2s though.

Parker, you are still our tiny little man. I always worry that you're not getting enough to eat, or more like keeping enough down, to gain adequate weight. You are in 1 diapers but we have to make them pretty tight. Newborns would for sure be too small though. But I think it's just because when we put you next to brother, you just aren't as big as him.  He is our heavy weight, and you my boy are our feather weight!

You both have found your hands and in full force. You both seem to want nothing more than to put them in your mouths. We try to replace them with your Sophie giraffes but it never fails, you're all about sucking on your fists. It's funny too because sometimes in the middle of the night I'll wake up to hearing this sucking noise and when I look at your video monitor, one of you will have your hand out and will be just going to town! Hilarious!

One of the cutest things your dad and I love are when you both are falling asleep and you smile, kind of chuckle, and make this sound like a dolphin. Too cute. And although you both do the same thing, you both make it sound so different.  Ah, those little moments!

12 Weeks Old

We went and got a weight check on June 25th. You both are definitely growing! Parker, you weighed in at 9lbs 9oz.  Landon, you have 2 lbs on your brother weighing in at 11lbs 11oz!

You both are pretty good sleepers. Don't get me wrong, we have some bad days, but for the most part you take good naps and really go down well and sleep well at night! Mommy and Daddy are thankful for that! We also really watch your sleep cues for nap time. Landon, you get a little fussy, but really it's all about yawning for you. Once we see a yawn or two, we know it's time to "wrap and sack you," as we say. We put you in your swing and if we've timed it just right, you are usually sleeping within 10 minutes. Parker on the other hand, you are our vocal one. You get fussy and tend to tell us you're done doing whatever we are doing. And sometimes you pass right out in your bouncy chair but then other times you get even fussier there. And the batteries ran out in your chair and we haven't replaced them, so we just bounce you by hand if you're really cranky or fussy.  And then our hope is that you sleep the whole time. Haha. Doesn't always happen with you little man. You seem to nap for 1/2 hour to an hour and then can sometimes wake up and be wide awake!

Landon, you LOVE the ceiling fans. I mean love them, bordering on obsessed. You'll find it in any room or from your swing and just look like you're gushing at it or flirting with it. It always makes me smile. And oh you have started blowing bubbles. Both of you! It's like you discovered drool this week. Lol. Your eating habits have sped up a bit. You are faster eaters, done most of the time in under 10 minutes now. Parker, love bug, you are pretty much out of newborn outfits. Some 3 month outfits are a little too long, but they are definitely fitting around your belly. Landon, cutie pie, 3-6 months fit you best. Some 3 months getting a little too tight. 


As we round out your first 12 weeks of life, we are hoping that we'll soon figure out this whole sleeping thing. Going down is great (and even going back to sleep after your middle of the night feeding is good), it's just making it to 5:30am without any hiccups (haha, or maybe I should say without farting...get it? Because that's what seems to be the culprit).  This week we started feeding you a 5oz formula bottle for your last feeding of the night, then you get baths, we read a story and it's off to bed.  This bottle seems to get you a good 5 or 6 hour stretch at least.  Then we do a 3oz breast milk bottle sometimes topped off with another 1oz of formula for the middle of the night bottle, just so that feeding goes a little quicker.  Daddy will feed one of you while I feed the other. We've only done this for a couple of nights, but it seems to work pretty good. We'll see how it continues on in the coming weeks! Fingers crossed we start maybe going to sleep from 7 or 8 pm until 5:30! Wow, what would that be like?!

I should probably start wrapping this up.  I could write pages and pages about you both.  You are really the little loves of my life.  I thought going back to work in the fall wasn't going to be too difficult, but after literally spending every day with you minus a few hours here or there, I know it's going to be harder than I think! I am not ready for that yet and luckily, don't have to think about it for a while.  However, we have met with a couple of babysitters and are hoping we'll make a decision about a great place for you to go to once we go back to school in August. So, it makes me happy to end this post by talking about how both of you are really looking at and seeing each other, just in this past week. It's like "oh, who is that other little person right next to me?" It's cute. And sometimes when you lay you down next to each other, you happen to find each other's arms or hands and will hold them. I know it's probably not on purpose, but it still warms my heart! Keep growing big my little love bugs! I can't wait to see how many more memories we get to make this summer and to see these great milestones you keep reaching! It makes my heart so full! I love you both!

What Would You Do?!

Decision Day has arrived. We have come to the point where the hubby and I have to make a decision about our remaining embryos.  We received a letter from the fertility clinic stating that we had 7 embryos remaining and there were three options. Option number one, store them for another year at the cost of $500 (um, don't have that just laying around...especially with two baby boys). Option number two was to discard or destroy them.  Option number three was to donate them.  Wow, I have kind of thought about this, but I guess not really.  What to do, what to do??? We already had made the decision that we were done as far as adding to our family. We have our two beautiful baby boys and feel content to be a family of four.  I know, many of you are shaking your heads and thinking, You never know! You might decide in two years or so that you want more! I have to be honest, I don't want more.  Having twins, two babies at once, is an experience all it's own, and being able to do that and only have to go through one pregnancy, I'm golden.  I have said since I knew I was having twins (and since I was sicker than a dog during my first trimester) that God knew I could only handle being pregnant once, so he graced me with my two then! And don't get me wrong, I feel that beyond the morning sickness of those first 16 or so weeks (remember people, I lost almost 20 lbs, so I was SICK!), I feel like I had a great pregnancy, so don't think that I hated the whole experience.  I felt great actually the rest of the time and the only discomfort was really having a foot or two up in my ribs. 

So, I would say that I had a great pregnancy, but I am happy having experienced it once.  That's what I really wanted.  I did it and I am good.  A lot of people keep saying too, don't we want to try for a girl? Hmmm, as much as I would love to add a girl into our male dominated family and extended family (since my sis has two boys too), I am not much of a gambler.  LOL! I am of the mind set that I am pretty sure I would keep having boys no matter how many times I got pregnant.  Isn't that how it happens? =)

With that all being said, we knew we didn't need the remaining embryos. On to the big question then...what do we do with them? I personally have a very strong opinion about this, as does my husband.  They just happen to be the exact opposites! Of course.  We are like that a lot...feel very strongly about things and a lot of times, the exact opposite of what the other wants. Hehe, it's what makes us work.  I believe wholeheartedly in donating them. Hubby thinks we should discard them, and I get why he feels that way.  But I feel deep in my heart that donating is the only way to go. Hubby has a hard time thinking there will be other "us's" out there.  Wouldn't that be weird? he keeps asking. He gets caught up on what they might look like, how can we know that there might be little people out there that are technically biological siblings to our little guys? But all I can think about is if we were in that position...the position of not having quality or viable eggs and sperm...I would try any way possible to be able to carry a baby (not that I am against adoption, that would just be another step down the road once fertility treatments were exhausted). So why wouldn't I "help" out another couple if I could? That's the only way I can think about it.  This is our way of helping a hopeful, trying to conceive couple. I guess it just makes sense in my head....and my heart.  My hubby, he still isn't completely on board but has agreed to go along with it, for me.  He is so wonderful like that.  I know I can never truly explain to him why I feel the way I do about it (he is a man, he only thinks with  one side of his brain, my guy!), but I am grateful he is willing to let me have the say here.  And so, we are donating 7 embryos, out into the world (well, even closer, the same city...ok, that is a little weird) to what I hope is a very wonderful, loving couple.  As I told the hubby, there is no guarantee that they will become anything (geez, we know from experience as a couple of ours didn't take or terminated after implanting), but even if just one does, I am glad we are putting them out there for a couple who wants a baby just as bad, if not more, than we did!

So, what are your thoughts on this?  I asked a group of friends recently and was really surprised how many said they wouldn't be able to donate either. And many were shocked that we were going to at least hang on to them another year. It was interesting to hear all these thoughts.  No matter what though, I feel confident in our decision and with my little embryos the best of luck and hope they make it to very good homes! And to find some humor in this, I did tell my hubby how appealing we at least look on paper! LOL! Two well educated, active and healthy teachers...gee, I think I'd choose my embryos too! Those would make some good looking babies! ;)

My Two are Two Months Old!

May 31st, 2012...wow, it certainly seems like it snuck up on us.  My boys are getting bigger every day (Landon, you really seem to look and feel bigger. Parker, I think because brother has you beat, we tend to think of you as our little lightweight man!). And weeks 5-8 have been full of fun and excitement.

So, where to begin? How about with our littlest little man.

Parker, little peanut...my love bug,
Week 5
Around 5 weeks old, your reflux really seemed to be doing somewhat better. You still spit up pretty much every time you eat, but the volume of what you spit up doesn't seem as much. This makes Mommy and Daddy feel a little better.You went from being really alert in the car and when we were out and about, to not.  I am glad to say, your attentiveness and alertness is back.  I love seeing you with your eyes wide open checking out the scenery flying by from the little mirror behind your seat. When facing your brother, you are definitely seeing him and watching him even if he doesn't pay any attention to you! And being you, you still are peeing on everything and everyone! LOL! At 5 Weeks old, you didn't really care to sit in your swing still so we had you napping in the pack and play or in cousin Zack's bouncy blue chair we've inherited. You really like the vibration and it seems to put you to sleep. You are most certainly our active little man. You flail your arms all about.

I am happy to say I heard your 1st coo (that I could decipher) on Monday, May 7th; and at your 1 month appointment, Dr. H uped your Zantac meds from 2cc to 3cc to accommodate for your weight gain. With the little bit of tummy time we started around 5 weeks, you really are starting to hold your head up and I think I can safely say, you really like tummy time. With the helpful introduction to naps on your tummy by grandma, you easily fall asleep for a nap this way!

Week 6
Your spitting up still comes and goes. I mean you always do it, but sometimes less than others. Good days and bad. You really are starting to see so much and we can tell. You follow noises and definitely follow people, like Mommy and Daddy when we walk by you. You finally slept for a nap in your swing again. It's been a while. You really weren't liking your swing or car seat for a few weeks there, I think because of the reflux. You don't nap really well usually, sometimes for 20 or so minutes, sometimes barely an hour. But you do sleep rather well for the most part at night. We're grateful for that.

Weeks 7 & 8
The biggest happenings these last two weeks are how much you are blossoming with your little personality. You "talk" to us after every feeding (and I think part of it is talking while going to the bathroom, probably because you feel better). And we can get you to smile just by talking to you.  We love this! You seem to like discovering that you have this little voice. Can't wait to hear when it really takes off! And we finally moved you into size 1 diapers as well.  They may be a little too big, but the newborns we just a little too snug. You have no problem filling them up though.  =)


Landon, my big boy! My love bug!
Week 5
You are cooing more for sure and making fun sounds, which has always been you.  I am pretty sure you have made noise awake and asleep since pretty much the day you were born. You started to smile around 5 Weeks old. And around that time, you started wearing mainly 0-3 & 3 month clothes. You have a big belly, even if length is still a bit too long on some of the outfits. You seem to be sleeping a lot more...while eating, in the car, etc. You are our day sleeper I guess. You have a little harder time at night, but I think it's because you get bad gas.  Boo! You lost all your hair up front like your brother but you both are still adorable! I am hoping I am wrong about this but you for a bit of time seemed to be growing out of sleeping in a swaddle in your swing. Might just have to let you sit in it and as you're getting bigger, we will really need to start strapping you in. You got into size 1 diapers on May 8th!! Wow!


Week 6
Buddy, you are our sleeper. You fall asleep while eating, wake up for the burping pretty much and then fast asleep you could be again. You do sometimes get in your swing and just stare off for a bit too. Your cry goes from 0-60 in no time and I think it's because you really only cry when something is truly wrong. And you have the breathing sob down pat. I'll try to video it but it's cute the way you do it. Just know I'm not laughing at you, just loving who you are and how you're so different from your brother. And I am glad to say, FINALLY you lost your umbilical cord Friday May19 with a little help from mommy. It was hanging on by a thread. I thought that thing would NEVER fall off. Of course, there is the smallest part left on the very inside of your belly button. Hopefully Dr. H can take care of that at your 2 month appointment. And you are still our snorter.  You make anyone near who can hear you snort, laugh.  No one expects that sound from such a little package.  I find it adorable though. Let's just hope it doesn't mean sinus problems later on.

Weeks 7 & 8
You seem to be staying awake a little more.  It's funny that this is even something we pay attention to, but with you and how much you seem to always want to close your eyes, it's nice to see the big eyes open every now and then. You waited about a week longer than your brother to start cooing and ooing at us.  I find this ironic since you are the noise maker in your sleep and such.


All three of us had our first walk to the park, just us with Daisy, at the beginning of May! This was a BIG step for mommy!!! We ended up walking 4 days that first week. It was great! Now it seems to be our morning routine, for the most part. We get up, eat and head out.  You both seem to enjoy the walk, checking out the scenery at the beginning and napping for the remainder of our time.

You both got letters welcoming you to the world from the POTUS (President of the United States), Barack Obama! Just in time for your 6 week mark!!! You also went to your first concert. Country! Yee haw! It was Country in the Park and we heard Phil Vassar with the Snyders, Christa and the boys, Colleen, Dom and their two little ones, along with Stephanie and Tony. It was a beautiful day out. A little warm at first but great in the shade of the umbrella we brought. Landon, you slept most of the time and Parker, you were awake damn near the whole time but enjoying it. You loved laying on the blanket in the grass in the shade.

You both also "slept" in your cribs for 1 1-2 nights. By the middle of the second night, Mommy and Daddy decided it was a little easier, and more convenient with your late night and middle of the night feedings, to keep you in your Pack and Play bassinets in our room for a few more weeks...at least until Daddy is done for summer break. 

For your first Memorial Day weekend, we headed north to visit family and to introduce you to more of Mommy's friends. We stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's house, even though they were beach bums and in Cancun while we were there.  Wish we were with them! You got to meet your cousins for the first time.  It was awesome! They LOVED you both.  They both wanted to hold you all the time, push Landon in the swing, bounce Parker in the bouncy chair...anything to be near you both.  It was great! We can't wait until you guys are a little bit older and can play with your cousins. I bet we'll all be sorry then, with you four strapping young lads running around!  We also enjoyed a BBQ at Auntie and Uncle's, hanging out with great friends and enjoying a cold, rainy Memorial Saturday.

And on that Sunday, you were left with your first babysitters! Well, if Auntie and Uncle really count! They watched you two while Mommy and Daddy went into Reno to eat some yummy sushi and watch Avengers, the movie! Thanks Auntie and Uncle.  Mommy and Daddy really needed that date!

We came back home after a fun weekend, and a couple days later Mommy's BFF Chaney drove down to spend some more snuggling time with you two.  It was absolutely wonderful having her here and boy did she spoil you both with lots of hugs, kisses, and cuddles! And we were so fortunate to have her here on your 2 month "birthday" because we went and got your 2 month pictures done at Portrait Innovations.  It was a great experience, and Mommy and Auntie Chaney were so proud of how well you both did! And we LOVED all the pictures (probably a little too much, because Mommy couldn't narrow it down and ended up buying a bunch!). You both were in such good moods and really seemed to be having a good time. It made for some great pictures and some memorable moments captured forever!

So, to my two little men, thank you for the past two months. They have been wonderful, especially this last one as you both keep growing like weeds and really developing these amazing, wonderful and beautiful little personalities! Mommy and Daddy love you and have lots in store for this summer! It's going to be fun!

Pictures to come!!