7 Months!

Did I not just write their 6 month post?!? We have had a busy month! The wedding, parties, visiting friends, loading up almost daily to show the house..etc...The girls have done great with a faster pace on many days. The days have seemed to pass very quickly! 

This has been a great age! I know my days of being able to leave them in a room to play together are limited, because they will soon be on the move! 

Kate:

Weight: 13 lbs 4oz last week

Length: 23 1/2 in.

-Two bottom teeth have just broken through

-NEVER stop moving! You roll, flip, kick, twist...won't stay still especially when I'm trying to change your diaper!

-Think it is hilarious when I count with my fingers

-Surprised, but you are pulling up some. You have started doing it holding on to me, but then yesterday did it in a chair on your own. The hard part is you are too short to reach most things to pull up on! ;)

-Again, I'm surprised at how well you are sitting up! You have made great progress in the last two weeks! I still leave a pillow behind you due to your need to move frequently!

-Your crib is the closest to the door. My favorite thing is to see your sweet smile when I walk in!

-Love the dogs, and love being outside

-Still our little talker! We laugh because it sounds like you are saying "boom, boom" sometimes. 

Maddie:

Weight: 14 lbs .5 oz

Length: 24 1/2 in.

-Two bottom teeth

-Our observant one. You are VERY aware of sounds and what is going on around you.

-We are still having some tears with "strangers"...it's odd because sometimes you cry with people who have been around you the most! ;)

-Easy to make laugh! You think Dad is hilarious!

-Sitting up well!

-You are a toy hoarder and have an obsession with trying to chew on your sister! She does not appreciate it with your new teeth!

-Love the dogs, and love being outside

-I love to hear you squeal in your crib...even if it is at 6:30 am! ;)

Lily wanted in on the pictures

Feeding:

-4 bottles/day...still don't eat very much (20-25oz), but are gaining weight!
-Started solids...some days interested, others could care less! Showing some signs of texture issues with less pureed foods. You have meals 2-3 times a day depending on what we are doing
-TRYING to learn to use a sippy cup...we have a ways to go! 
-Maddie is more into solids, but Kate does love anything with pears! 
-Off Prevacid!!! We are still trying to be cautious if the seem like they are hurting again. But so far, so good!

 Sleep:
-Naps have improved SO much! Once they were both able to roll back and forth naps became much better. We still have our rough days here and there. They take a morning nap (9-10:30) and afternoon nap (1:00-2:30ish). I think we have finally reached the point where they don't need a late afternoon cat nap. Sometimes they will fall asleep for about 15 minutes or so.
-It's frustrating at times because when one area improves...another area seems to change...We have early risers! Lately one or both of them typically is making noise around 6:30/6:45...Sometimes they fall back asleep, sometimes they fuss, and sometimes they just play in their crib. I usually don't go into get them until 7:00ish. 
-Bedtime bottle at 7:00, then down by 7:30. 


There are many moment when I look at Kate and Maddie and wonder why God chose us? I feel enormously blessed to have TWO healthy, happy (most the time), beautiful babies. The weight of raising them in today's world weighs heavy on me at times, but my earnest prayer is for all of their days to bring glory to Him. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wrotny!

We had a great weekend! One of Matt's sisters, Emily, was married on Saturday! The family has been looking forward to this day for awhile! Emily was BEAUTIFUL!

The ceremony was very special, but the greatest part was seeing the joy on both of their faces! Gary and Emily are off to Europe, and we can't wait to live closer to them! 

Matt's Mom and Kate (teething much?!?)

The twins were spoiled all weekend, a lot of attention, holding, and meeting new people! They did GREAT...despite being in the midst of cutting teeth! My mom came from Jonesboro to help with the girls! We couldn't have made it without her! 

Happy 6 Months!

Happy 6 Months!

Kate and Maddie have seemed to grow up FAST in the past two weeks. They are becoming much more mobile, interactive, and so much fun! The girls had their first colds. It hit Kate a little harder, and she ran fever a few days. It didn't mess with their sleep and only lasted about a week! ;) Unfortunately, their first Easter was spent at the house due to their colds, and I got strep. There is always next year! 

Maddie:

-No idea on weight...but you sure look big to us! ;) We go in this week for your 6 month well check
-Size 2 diapers, 3 at night
-3-6 month cloths are fitting pretty well! Love the new wardrobe options! :) 
-Giggly, smiley girl lately. You laugh and smile sometimes when we just look at you!
-Started "talking" to the dogs and really watching them
-"Strangers" have worried you a few times this past month...the full on cry with bottom lip out happened when you saw someone that caught you off guard

My mom and Maddie

-Much to our surprise you haven't mastered rolling from back to belly...The past few days you have done it about 5 times, but get really frustrated because you can't seem to get it every time. You are trying hard, and I bet by the end of the week you will have it down!
-You inch worm, spin in circles, and your favorite is to "swim" on your belly...
-I started putting you on your belly for naps which seemed to help! But, then you started waking up in the middle of the night wanting on your belly...I probably should have just left you to figure it out on your own, but who wants to do that at 4 am! Not me! So now you sleep on your belly all night too! 
-You aren't far from sitting up...You are doing much better with a Boppy behind you. 
-Reaching and grabbing for everything
-Love the game "Where's Maddie?," Exersaucer, and playing with your feet (you have recently found enjoyment in sucking on your big toe!)



Kate:

-Seemed to get much longer this month...we will see! 
-Moved up to size 2 diapers
-3-6 month clothes...but still pretty big through the middle
-You have a cute, little dimple on your left cheek! 
-Still our little talker...you want to talk while you eat, when you play, and you talk most to Maddie when we aren't in the room.
-You have a pitiful whimper when you are tired or sick
-You are ticklish...and we get the best laughs out of you tickling your belly
-Much to our surprise out of the blue you started rolling from back to belly in your crib. Now you roll ALL over...you prefer your belly even during play and almost, always roll over when I lay you down

My Dad and Kate before a walk

-You have started to tuck your knees up some and "inch-worm" to get things you want. Sometimes you get a little confused and just lift you legs high in the air
-I think sitting up is a little further away for you...but you do surprise us! ;) It took you a little longer to get good head control, so we know you will get there. Your fascination with your feet causes distraction!
-Reaching and grabbing for everything
-Love this Pet Tails book that crinkles and has tails on it, Exersaucer, I started singing "Soft Kitty" from The Big Bang Theory one day to calm you down...you LOVE it and giggle every time


Sleep:
Still sleeping from 7:30-7:00/7:15. Kate sometimes wakes a little earlier and just babbles in her crib for a bit. Naps were AMAZING while they were sick! ;) It has seemed to help them sleeping on their bellies, but we still have our hard days! They nap(or we hope they nap) from 9:00-10:00/10:30, 12:30ish-2:00/2:30, and take a short little cat-nap in the afternoons when we are running errands or on a walk. Maybe one day our good days will outweigh our bad ones...:)

Eating:
Eating continues to go really well! Thank you Lord! :) They "want" to eat and start fussing as soon as you put a bib on. The girls eat 5 times a day, but I'm going to go down to 4 once we get "meals" going. They are ready! I'm hoping we can wean off the Prevacid here in the next few months. 


The next few months will fly bye, and before we know it Kate and Maddie will be ONE! It is going to be a crazy, busy few months: selling our house, buying a house, and moving back to Northwest Arkansas! 

The moments.

Moments of pure joy...when you fall on your sister and can't stop laughing...

The CrockPot...my new best friend

Before having kids I LOVED cooking! It was a time for me to come home, enjoy some quiet, accomplish a task, and make my husband happy in the end! I was/am not much for elaborate cooking, but rather simple, healthier(minus recipes that sometimes call for an ungodly amount of dairy...but in the South that's how we love it!), and generally easy options. 

Well...then the girls came along! At first it was easy to find time to cook because they took an evening nap. Now that they may only catnap, and Maddie seems to hate me leaving the room from 4:30-bedtime...cooking has lost its luster! 

In comes the crock-pot...life-changer...It takes throwing in some ingredients, turning the knob, and you have a great smelling house, and a delicious meal! 

Here are some of my favorite crock-pot (also gluten-free) recipes:

Cranberry-Dijon Roast: crockpot365.blogspot.com

I was hesitant at first with this recipe...but overall we like it!

• 3 - 4 pounds meat (pot roast)
• 1 (14-ounce) can cranberry sauce 
• 1 small onion, finely diced, or 1 heaping tablespoon of onion powder
• 8 cloves garlic, smashed (I didn't use this much garlic!)
• 2 tablespoons Gluten free soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons prepared dijon mustard

Throw it all in! Cook on low 7-10 hours. (Take about 7 in my pot). 

Sante-Fe Chicken skinnytaste.com

• 24 oz (1 1/2) lbs chicken breast
• 14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
• 15 oz can black beans
• 8 oz frozen corn
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth (I've put in less, because I didn't like it being runny) 
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
• salt to taste

Throw it all in! Cook on low about 10 hours. With an hour remaining shred the chicken. We usually eat it with lettuce, and make a taco salad. 

Herb-Garlic Chicken with Potatoes

whole chicken

1/4-1/2 cup olive oil

2 cloves of garlic (minced)

1 T oregano

1 T basil

1 t rosemary

salt

pepper

1. Rinse chicken inside and out; pat dry with paper towels. Place chicken on plate; set aside.

1. In a small bowl, stir together olive oil, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and paper. With basting/pastry brush, spread mixture all over chicken. Transfer chicken to crock-pot. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.

• 5-8 red potatoes, quartered

• ¼- ½ cup of olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 5 shakes dried oregano

• 5 shakes dried basil

• Hand full rosemary, crushed

• Salt

• Pepper

1. In a large Ziploc bag or large bowl, add potatoes, olive oil, garlic, herbs, and spices; mix. Transfer potatoes to Crock-Pot, and pour over bird. Cook with chicken as directed above

5 Months!

5 Months!

The girls turned 5 months on the 9th. I wanted to wait to post until after we went in for a weight check. I have felt challenged by the Lord to pray boldly and with expectation. I often pray knowing that God will do as he pleases, but not always expecting him to answer. So the past few weeks I have prayed for the girls to be 11 and 12 lbs. That would mean that would each gain over a pound in 1 month! It would be big! Well...
Kate:

-11 lbs even!!!
-0-3 month clothes, but those are getting too short...3-6 are a big jump in size!
-size 1 diaper
-starting to really grab hold of things better and reach for what you want
-still love to "talk"
-you laugh at random things...every time I take your arm out of a shirt you giggle...it's so cute! 
-your head control is slowly improving :) 
-you still roll belly to back, but just show a little effort to go back to belly except in your crib at night! 
-you move ALL over your crib at night, but almost always end up in the same spot against the side
-you have been very content lately to just sit and observe! I thank you for that! ;) 
-Eat 5 times a day...I could merge two feedings, but for now I want to offer you food as often as possible
-Bedtime bottle at 7:00, down by about 7:30...you sometimes wake earlier than Maddie, but usually 7:15


Maddie:

-12lbs 2oz!!!
-moving into 3-6 month clothes, especially for the length
-size 2 diapers
-you are a toy hog! If you see Kate with a toy, you do all you can to get it from her! 
-you have been super fussy the past week...just not content...you get easily frustrated...can't really tell what is going on! 
-Your hand and fingers are constantly in your mouth...with your recent fussiness I wonder if it's teeth...
-A thumb sucker getting to sleep...Dr. Fourmy and Dr. Bowen will have a good patient!;)
-you can gorilla sit for a short time, and have started to reach for toys while "sitting"
-rolling belly to back...and really, really close to back to belly (it's the desire for toys that motivates you!)
-you hardly move in your sleep...and I never hear a peep from you (knock on wood)
--Eat 5 times a day...I could merge two feedings, but for now I want to offer you food as often as possible
-Bedtime bottle at 7:00, down by about 7:30...then wake at 7:15

Sleep:
I am SO grateful that the girls sleep about 12 hours a night! It makes for a happier mom and dad! But...naps are about to wear me out! I HATE nap time! haha Most parents can't wait for naps to get a "break." Well...my girls aren't the biggest fans of naps. The morning nap is good 85% of the time...It's all the "45-minute intruder problem." Their morning nap is usually 1hr-1hr 1/2. Their afternoon nap...well is almost always a disaster! ;( Last week I put them down 15 minutes later and it seemed to be the "perfect" solution, because they napped great for about 4 days. Then I didn't change a thing and chaos hit! It's really hard to let them "cry it out" with twins. They don't typically wake each other up, but sometimes do...then you are stuck having to decide how to intervene. I can handle fussiness and crying...but does true "crying it out" mean letting them scream/cry to the point of sounding like they can't breath...this momma can't take that...I've tried...we all end up crying! :) I was praying/hoping it was a 4 month thing and would improve...now I'm stuck to find a "solution." I'm trying to take it for what it is, but some days it's too much. They really are on a great routine and do really well...it's just these darn naps! 

Feeding:
Feeding has been GREAT! The lightbulb finally went off, and they both want to eat! They are taking 25-30oz a day! Both girls get Prevacid twice a day, and we hope to eventually wean them off of it down the road. They have been taking Enfacare still to get the extra calories (22cal/oz). But with their great weight gain the pediatrician said to offer them a few times a day some of the frozen breastmilk I have remaining...if they take it great...if not give them formula. I was THRILLED to here this! I have a freezer full...and that was ALOT of hours! Plus it will be good for them...the bad news is it goes "bad" here in the next month...So hoping for the best! 

A year ago we thought/hoped we were pregnant with one little boy...hahaha God has a sense of humor and blessed us with two precious girls....I wouldn't change it for anything. They bring such joy to our days...even the tough days! 

Iphone dump

I now understand what people mean when they say, "The days are long, but the years are short." Some days seem like time passes SO slowly, yet I can't believe Kate and Maddie are almost 5 months old! 

Lily dog takes advantage of cuddle time when the babies are asleep

Trying out the BOB. Kate looks big to me here...but still SO little!

Maddie LOVES the Jumperoo!

New bathtime strategy! Keeps both babies happy! (Until one decides to relieve themselves!)

Fighting over toys already! :)

Much needed girl time with best friends and mexican!

Maddie Brown who I was blessed to teach 2 years and influenced naming our Madeline Grace! 

Sweet visit from the Browns!

Dad time after waking early from a nap

Much needed walk, then outside time! COME ON SPRING!

Happy, happy babies that bring SO much joy!!