Meeting Tom and Deannie

Tom and Deannie came to dinner tonight. I was so glad to be able to visit with them and try to BEGIN to thank Tom for filling in for me while I was on maternity leave. We were able to keep Kate and Connor up until 8pm so we could visit a little.

Do you think Tom and Deannie love kids? I think so. Tommy and Vance are lucky little boys to have such loving parents.

I can't wait till the weather warms up so I can have Kate and Connor try on the precious outfits that they brought for the twins.

We're 4 months old!

Connor and Kate turned 4 months old today. Everyone says times flies - and they are right. It's hard to imagine how tiny they used to be (OK, 8 and 7lbs isn't that tiny in the baby world, but tiny to me!)

We're still in size 2 diapers but we are now only eating 5 times a day vs 6 (or 7!). The babies eat at 6:30am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm and a late night feed at 10pm. Then - they sleep through to the morning. Not too bad! Connor is in 6 month outfits (and a few 9 month outfits). Kate is in some 3 month outfits as well as some 6 month outfits - since she's more petite.

Here are the previous months pictures so you can see how much they've grown!



The January 27th 2009 photo at 3 months...



Here's the December 27th photo...2 months.



Compare that to the November 27th photo at Thanksgiving and then...



...the October 27th photo from Northside Hospital in the Operating room.

Meeting Rob and Will

Tracy brought over Rob and Will this afternoon. I missed the whole thing, but Hugh had a chance to meet them. I think you can CLEARLY see that Will is Tracy's son! So cute!

More photos of our Angels

Don't Kate and Connor look like Angels in their Christening gowns? We took some more pictures tonight since I wasn't convinced that we got enough pictures on Sunday. So - I washed the gowns, Nanna ironed them, and we took yet MORE photos.

Just so anyone reading knows how crazy I am - we took about 75 photos in 30 minutes. Mostly - I'm just trying to get little Kate to smile for the camera. Even with all of those shots - her beautiful smile is elusive (but Connor gave us a few nice grins).




Also - I wanted to be sure to get a few shots of me with the twins. It occured to me Sunday that the twins had already changed out of their gowns before I was certain we got the shots I wanted with them. Time will tell - but for now I took matters in to my own hands. Yes - a control freak always.

I had to be sure to get a great shot with Nanna and Poppa...the long weekend flew so quickly!

It seems like a life-time ago (but it was!)

It seems like a life time ago that Kate and Connor came to be. Well - to be accurate - they were conceived just one year ago today. But - for them - that IS a life time!

Christening Weekend

Family started gathering for Connor and Kaitlyn's baptism this weekend. Nanna and Poppa flew in from Miami on Friday afternoon, and Uncle Chris came in from Chattanooga on Saturday. Then on Sunday, we had a caravan drive over to Athens. We had a quick feed for the babies and a change of clothes at Grandma Jane's house. Not just any clothes, but the christening gowns from cousin Lauren and Cousin David.

At the Athens First United Methodist Church, we met up with Ruth and Gar, Anne and Patrick, Martha and Tom, Shirley, Michael, Kevin and Lauren. Wow! So many people here to celebrate such a special day.

Connor and Kate were so well behaved while Minister Chuck Hodges and Martha Aenchbacher bapstised them and paraded them up and down the aisle of the church. Then after a few family photos (hopefully soon to follow), we headed back to Grandma Jane's house for a family lunch. You would think for 4 month old babies - that this would have been a big enough day...and yet we had more in store.

Jane hosted a "sip-n-see" for so many friends and neighbors to come by and meet "Jane's twins." How nice of so many people to stop by and meet our little ones. I can't wait to get some photos from Shirley and Martha so I can post them to share with everyone. For now - you just need to trust me that they were precious!

Rice Cereal...YUCK!

Well, maybe it's Mom who's excited about rice cereal, because I'm here to tell you Connor and Kate HATED their first taste of rice cereal. Nanna and Poppa arrived earlier today, so I thought it would be a good time to try this milestone next step.

Yes - I mixed the rice cereal with formula to make it taste like something they are used to. I used the beautiful silver baby spoons that Dr. Mitchell-Leef gave us. Yet Kate and Connor turned up their noses to the whole thing. Oh well - we'll keep trying.

Peek a Boo!

Today - we played "peek a boo, I see you." For the first time - Connor REALLY seemed to enjoy it and laugh. Each time I went to put the towel anywhere near him to cover his face, he smiled and laughed in anticipation of the "I see you!" part. It's so fun to see him "get" what's coming next. Kaitlyn wasn't nearly as amused... maybe she has more sophisticated tastes!

Aunt Anne - just in from Paris!

Aunt Anne came by later today. It was great to see her after her recent trip to Paris. She bought the cutest little short sleeve onesies for Connor and Kate. I think they may fit them later this summer (especially if they keep growing at the rate they are).

Aunt Ruth and Uncle Gar visit

Aunt Ruth and Uncle Ruth came to visit today. They were nice enough to come over to bring Cousin David's Christening gown (now 21+years old). It's a really sweet gown and will go well with Kate's gown that we've borrowed from Aunt Shirley. Now let's hope both of these gowns fit!

We had a nice visit and Ruth looked great taking turns holding Kate and Connor. They also saw Kate "sing" to some music (ok - it's closer to shreaking - but she's having fun), as well as listened to Connor "talk" up a storm. What a conversationalist. He says "who," "grrr" and "ha." One day we'll understand what he means.

It's Valentine's Day

Today is our first Valentine's Day as a family. We had a lot of fun playing and being silly with kids songs from iTunes. Aunt Shirley, Uncle Michael and Cousin Lauren came to see us today. We were trying to think when Michael last saw the twins - and it sure has been a while. I think it was actually Christmas Day. Wow - they keep growing up so quickly!

Later over dinner, I found my Valentine's Day card from Kate and Connor. I don't know how they found time to go to the store (or had money to buy the card), but it was certainly cute!

Working our way up to a laugh

As Hugh was feeding the babies this morning at 6:30am, I spent some time playing with them on the nursery room floor. It's such a fun time because Kate and Connor are almost always in a terrific mood. Today, Connor smiled so big that he almost choked himself. I think it's the first of him trying to laugh - but instead he gets all choked up. can't wait to hear their first real laughs.

Meeting little Kaylee

I had a chance to meet Stephanie's previous little girl Kaylee today. What a little doll. She could barely hold her eyes open and her head just bobbled everywhere. While I was enjoying meeting her, I was mesmerized looking at her petite size. What blows me away is that she was 6lbs 11oz - so just 4oz less than Kaitlyn at birth, yet I can't remember Kate EVER being that tiny. Oh my goodness. Kate and Connor are growing up even faster than I thought. Don't grow up too fast my babies!!!

We're 15 weeks old today!

Grandma had to head back to Athens this morning, but not before we got a few more photos. What a nice way to spend the early morning - hugging on babies!

Grandma and Noisey come to visit

Grandma came to visit this weekend. We had a good time - but we mostly just spent the weekend sitting around holding babies. What could be better? She was terrific in helping feed the babies (at 11pm and 6am - ok - ALL through the day). Also - we've been working on the baptism plans and the sip-n-see plans for later this month.

Noisey had a chance to meet his young brother and sister. It seemed like an uneventful greeting - which was good. He actually tried to sit in Connor's Lap - until he realized Connor really doesn't have a lap yet.


The good news is that it doesn't seem that Connor or Kate are allergic to cats, and Nosiey doesn't run off anymore at the first whimper or cry from the twins. Positive steps in reconciling the family.

Kate and Connor started playing with a new toy that Kelly loaned to us. It's a Winnie the Pooh walker/chair. While they're still a little small for it, we just used some blankets to prop them up. Hays saw it and immediately wanted to know where we got it from. I though that her question was interesting, so asked her why she wanted to know. She said she loved the walker - but it turns out they don't sell them in the US anymore due to safety concerns (kids were rolling down stairs in them). Guess I'm glad I didn't put the wheels on it yet. Hey - the walker is on the main level with no stairs in site!



So far - it seems to help Connor and Kate be entertained since they can now better see their toys and grab them. Anything would be better than lying on the ground anymore. They're getting to that fun age where everything goes in the mouth - hands, thumbs, fists, toys - ANYTHING.

Weigh in time...

We decided to weigh these babies today just to see HOW BIG are they. Connor feels like he weighs soooo much more than Kate - so we thought we'd check. Connor is now 15 lbs, 12oz, and Kate weighs 14 lbs, 7oz. It seems like a lot more than just 1 lb+ difference.

Connor graduates...

Connor graduated from Physical Therapy for his torticollis today. Miss Lauren (his therapist) said he was doing great and didn't need to come back anymore. Yeah!!!

Tracy tries her hand with the camera

Today Tracy tried her handy-work with the camera. I love the pics! The twins outfits are sooo cute - coordinated little brown overalls. I have a bone to pick with Calvin Klein, though. He made the overalls with no snaps on the legs - so you actually have to take the overalls OFF to change a diaper. How dumb is that?? Then again - I can't even notice that when I gaze at these 2 cuties!

We're almost 14 weeks old

Tomorrow, Connor and Kate will be 14 weeks old. I thought I should buy some Valentines Day outfits to take some more pictures (doesn't take much of an occasion to get me excited about more pictures).

Did you know that most little boys' outfits are red and white, while girls' outfits are pink? Also - they are really between sizes - especially Kate. Anyway - I found some cute Mickey and Minnie Mouse outfits that go together... well - look for yourself!




Connor was in a great mood - but for the life of me, I couldn't get Kate to smile AND sit still so the picture wasn't a blur. Here's the best one I could get of her. Such cuties!!!