Meeting Dan and Lark

Later today, Dan and Lark came to meet us. We did our best not to spit up on them (we think the judge appreciated that!) . They brought daddy a book - "Tales from the Dad Side" and we had a nice visit.

Nanna and Poppa head home to Miami

Mommy seems sad today. Didn't know she'd miss those nice folks (Nanna and Poppa) so much. She says it's ok and they'll come back at Christmas. We'll be sure to learn some new tricks by then. Meanwhile, we'll try to be extra good to help Mommy and Daddy learn how to deal with us without extra hands.

Football weekend and first dinner out

We went over to Aunt Shirley and Uncle Michael's house today. It was tiring, as we had 3 different football games to watch.

We had Florida vs Florida State first. Georgia played Georgia Tech. It was sad that Georgia had to lose, as Uncle Michael and Daddy weren't pleased. Uncle Ross and Aunt Shirley were happy that Florida drubbed FSU. At least that was good for someone. Mommy wasn't surprised, but an un-beaten Alabama team beat Auburn in the Iron bowl. We wore our lucky Auburn bibs - but it didn't seem to inspire the Tigers. Let's get em next year!

Later - we went out for our first dinner "out." We all went to Pero's Italian restaurant. All the adults had pizza, but we didn't get anything but pacifiers. Ok - Mommy had bottles ready for us - but we weren't too hungry. Maybe eating out will be more exciting when we can order from the menu!

The Martins come to visit

Courtney was home for Thanksgiving, so Tricia, Thom and Courtney all came over to meet Connor and Kate. What a treat to see Courtney. She has grown up in to such a lovely young lady. So interesting to see that now she's a young professional, prepared to talk about the business world. Of course, Hugh and I remember when Courtney was just "quarter til eight" many moons ago.

Our first Thansgiving

Today was a big day for us! First - we had a BIG surprise this morning. Mommy and Nanna were feeding us in the breakfast room when the doorbell rang. Poppa got the door and told Nanna that she had to put down the babies and come to the door. Well - Aunt Roxie and Uncle Ross were there to surprise all of us! They flew in from Halifax to meet us (ok - and everyone else too). Right behind them were Aunt Shirley and Uncle Michael (Michael keeps a good secret), and our cousins Kevin and Lauren. Two steps behind this part of the family - and up comes Uncle Chris! How fun to have so many of Mommy's brothers and sisters here to coo at us. If only Aunt Anne-Maree could be here (but she'll be coming soon).

A few hours later, Daddy's family starts showing up too. Grandma shows up with our kitty-cat Noisey. Noisey is staying at Grandma's until we learn to roll our and make sure he doesn't smoother us with love. Aunt Martha arrives next (although Uncle Tom has an upset tummy today and can't come). Then Aunt Anne and Uncle Patrick arrive, and Aunt Ruth and Uncle Gar - along with cousin David.

Everyone is here to celebrate our FIRST Thanksgiving. Mommy and Daddy keep telling everyone about their double blessings. I guess they mean us!!!

Tennis Anyone?

I finally got around to sending out the cutest birth announcements. After going back and forth on formal announcements vs just emails vs more casual announcements - we finally found the perfect ones! At a web site that specializes in multiples, we found the cutest TENNIS announcements.

Maybe we'll be raising the next Williams sisters or Bryan brothers tennis team.

We're 4 weeks old!

We're really starting to grow! Nanna and Poppa have been great helping Mommy and Daddy with all of our feedings. Kate is eating 3 - 4 ounces, 7 or 8 times a day. Connor enjoys the chow a little bit more and is now up to 4 - 5 ounces, 7 or 8 times a day.

We got weighed at home and Kate is weighing 9lbs 5oz, and Connor is already up to 10lbs 9oz. Connor is now officially in Size 1 diapers, while Kate is able to fit in to the newborn diapers still.

We have finally decided to sleep 4 hours at a clip (sometimes) at night - so everyone is resting a little bit more. During the day, though, we like to be awake more often, and Kate REALLY wants to be held most of the time. Hey - who wouldn't?

Those cute Aprons!

Jana came to visit with us today at lunch. It was so great to see her again.

We visited, and then she helped me set up the twins for some photos wearing our infamous Home Depot aprons. Regina T. at work had these especially made for us. Oh so very cute!!!

Mom's first birthday with twins

It's Mom's 45th birthday today. Because of us - she now really understands how precious birthdays are. Daddy helped us buy and sign our first birthday card for her. It makes her cry when she reads it because she loves us so much.

We decide to be good and let Daddy take Momma out for a fancy dinner at Pano's and Paul's while Nanna and Poppa take good care of us. Life is good!

Our "official" due date

We were supposed to be born by today - November 17th. Instead we are now 3 weeks old and doing great! Kate is now 8lbs 10 oz and Connor is 9lbs 10oz. Wow - they sure are growing fast.

Kate is still the night owl (and loves to keep her Daddy up from 11am til 1 or 2 am). Connor on the other hand is more wide awake in the mid-morning.

We're just now having 4 ounces each in our bottles. Sometimes we can go 4 hours without waking up, but other times we seem to get so very hungry after just 2 or 2 and a half hours. Hard for your ol' Mom and Dad to know what to do - but we are doing our best.

Amy makes us look so handsome and pretty

Amy Barnett came over to shoot professional portraits of Connor and Kate today. I was amazed at how mobile she is, since she is pregnant and due to deliver her son Gage in 2 weeks. I know I certainly couldn't move like that 2 weeks before delivering the twins. Then again - she reminded me - I had almost 15 pounds of baby I was carrying.

It took us a while to get settled in. Not Amy - the twins! Connor wanted to sleep through all of the shots, and Kate wanted to scream through all of the shots. Somehow, Amy managed to get some fabulous shots of our beautiful babies. Does pee show up on camera? Turns out it doesn't.

I really love the pictures of their little hands and feet, as well as the one with me and Hugh holding each of them in the palm of our hand. So tiny!

Hey - did I tell you our babies are beautiful? Yeah - I know we're biased!

Check our her website www.amybarnettphotography.com. Better yet - hire her to take your family photos!

PKU re-testing

Kate here giving you an update on me and my family.

Here I am at the Docs office. I'm 17 days old now and have gained 1lb, 3oz in the past 8 days alone! I'm now 8lbs 2 oz. Doc says I'm doing great - just need a re-test on my PKU results from the hospital. I have a score of 34, and out of range is 33. The nurse has a hard time getting me to widdle in the little bag, so Mom and Dad had to take me home and handle it all there. Then, we had to go off to Cobb WellStar for them to take my blood. Funny - it looked like it should hurt me, not her - but Mom was the one who cried.

Connor weighed 9lbs 3oz! My brother Connor is back at home getting TLC from Nanna and Poppa. He's lucky he doesn't need blood work today, but then again - he has plenty of needles in his first few days.

With love,
Kate (with help from Mom)

First pediatrician's visit

Today is our first pediatrician's visit. We have to get you to Doctor Avril Beckford's office at 1:15pm. Even though the office is only 5 minutes away, Mom and Dad have to get ready so early in the day since this is our first real outing with each of you (and Mom's first time leaving the house since you were both born). We just don't even know what we'll need with us!

Connor - now that you are 9 days old, you have gained one ounce and now weigh 7lbs, 13 oz. Every one says how handsome you are. We think you look like your Daddy (and you sure make some cute faces when you are hungry).

Kaitlyn - you are still right at your birth weight 6lbs, 15oz. You are a more delicate eater and certainly let us know when you have had enough formula (you purse your lips closed). Doctor B. told us how advanced you are as you showed off by doing a 90 degree roll on the table.

Doctor B. pronounces you both healthy as can be and says that we can wait a full month before we need to bring you back. Great job my precious babies!

Kelly S. hangs out with us

"Aunt" Kelly couldn't wait any longer and had to come see Kate and Connor. She is a pro with babies and stepped right in to help with feeding, diapering and general love on the babies! Aren't we lucky to have Kelly in our lives. She has certainly been there with us since the beginning!

We're ready for our photo shoot

Mom and Dad want to take a few pictures so they can create our birth announcement. I went back and forth on doing a formal announcement (velum, heavy card-stock, with pretty lettering). At the end of the day, we decided on an informal announcement that reflects Hugh's and my favorite sport - Tennis!

We took a million pictures of Connor trying to get ONE photo with his eyes open. We think we finally got a head shot that captured his little funny personality. Kate, on the other hand, made us work for her glamour shot. She is so serious - and it comes through in her pictures too.

We think Connor and Kate are PERFECT!