Pumpkin Patch

A few weekends ago Matt's youngest sister, Carolyn, was in town from college for the weekend. We decided due to her visit, the nice weather, and season we needed a trip to the pumpkin patch. After looking we discovered Farmland Adventures. Not just pumpkins, but animals too! The girls were in heaven (and Matt was too!)

1 Year Stats

Kate and Maddie have come a LONG way from here!!

3lb 12oz............................................4lb 6oz

Kate:

My very first memory of you is seeing your TINY bottom! You were so small, and still are our little, bitty Kate-Kate. Since I first laid eyes on you, I thought you looked just like your dad...to this day you still do! From your first days in the NICU, you have been active and determined. You are into everything, and quickly figure out solutions to problems. Everyday you are doing something silly that makes us laugh! You are a JOY, and have the CUTEST crinkled nose smile! Kate you are independent, a talker, and I pray you do great things!

-16lb 5oz (Weight check in 4 weeks. Our pediatrician is not too concerned about where Kate is. If she doesn't gain well in the next month, then we will discuss other options. She is just our petite girl!)
-27in long
-10 teeth! ;(
-Dad says you caught this from Lily, but you often crawl quickly, with your tongue out, and make a panting noise! haha
-You constantly point to things and say "dis," translated "this." So we name EVERYTHING around!
-One of the reasons you aren't walking yet is you don't know how to SLOW DOWN! haha When you push the walker around the house it's at lightning speed. Same when we hold your hand to walk. I'm afraid once you are confident taking many steps, I'm going to be chasing you even more!
-You finally eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise the LORD! You LOVE all meat! Recent favorites are pork chops, curry chicken, spaghetti, grapes, and green beans. You still have a strong love for peas! 
-Obsessed with being outside, and you get VERY unhappy if we can't go out! 



Maddie:

Maddie,

I remember the first time I was able to hold you (for 5 minutes!). I've never loved someone so much, that I didn't even know. You have the sweetest grin that could win anyone over. I think you know it can charm us! Oh, how you are strong willed, and maybe a little on the stubborn side! ;) I know those traits will come in handy someday! You love to cuddle more and more! Maddie Grace you are tender-hearted, spirited, lovable, and a joy!!

-17lbs 4oz
-27 1/2 in
-9 teeth
-You LOVE cats!!! (We will not be getting one). If I need to cheer you up, I just say "cats" or name Matt's parents' cats...you instantly smile and giggle. You squeal and chase the cats around for hours!
-Still few words...but you sure know what we are saying! ;) I can now say, "let out the water" in the tub and you pull the stopper up to let it out. You sure love to babble to Kate in your twin language!
-You make a fish noise when we ask what a fish says
-Standing up in the middle of a room is your new trick! You are so proud of yourself!
-You haven't been as interested in food lately. You have almost fully transitioned to whole milk. New food favorites are sweet potatoes, curry chicken, pork chops, spaghetti, and brownie! ;) 


Matt and I both agree that this has been the hardest, yet greatest year for us! From the high-risk pregnancy, NICU stay, feeding issues, growth problems, and just the chaos of twins it has been tough! But there have been SO many joy-filled moments, and we wouldn't change it for anything! 

1st Birthday!

I'm SO behind on blogging! We celebrated Kate and Maddie's first birthday a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, both girls were dealing with a stomach virus the whole birthday week! Kate struggled to get well, and was not herself during the party! It was sad to see her so upset, but we all know the stomach virus makes you feel horrible! 

We are so thankful to some friends and family for making this day special! The girls so graciously gave the stomach virus to Matt's parents...so they were unable to make it. We felt so bad the way everything happened!

My parents and grandmother got the girls Cozy Coupes! They are obsessed! We have used them in the house a lot, because it has suddenly turned to winter here! Ugh!

Aunt Sarah made the trip! 

My dad and Kate

Our good friends, Joe and Mavis (okay probably Mavis picked it out!), sent the girls new dresses and sparkly shoes. Maddie has been obsessed with adult shoes for some time...Once she discovered there are shoes her size, she was SO happy! Maddie would not take them off, and pitched a FIT at bedtime when I wouldn't let her sleep with them! haha

As we predicted Maddie LOVED the cake...Kate was less than thrilled about it! ;(

Matt and I can't believe how Kate and Maddie are already 1! We are so thankful for those that love our girls and made this celebration special! 

The other half

I mentioned in the previous post how the chaos of last week was very difficult for Maddie also. Whether you have twins or just multiple children, scary events can traumatize all those around.

When Kate started seizing, I was carrying her around. Matt had grabbed Maddie and was on the phone with 911. I don't remember her being upset until we were in the garage. When Kate started to get worse (we were probably more tense too), Maddie started becoming very upset. As Kate was placed in the ambulance, Matt tried to have a neighbor take Maddie in...nope not gonna work. She was HYSTERICAL! You often hear twins (especially identical) say they sense when something is wrong with the other. It was very clear that Maddie knew something was wrong. Matt's mother arrived quickly and is a familiar face to Maddie, but it even took his mom hours to calm her down. Matt's mom texted Matt and said Maddie had thrown up a little on the couch from getting so worked up...well she was being kind...it was a lot. Maddie crashed eventually and I woke her early the next morning to head to Little Rock.

It's hard to describe how different Maddie was acting. To those of us that know her best, she was not herself. It was as if she was lost, she didn't "talk" much, hard to keep occupied, and the saddest was that she would sometimes crawl around fussing as if looking for Kate. 

Maddie was with my mother majority of the time. She adores my mom...maybe even prefers her over me sometimes! haha But, even my mom had a hard time keeping Maddie content. It didn't help that Matt and I were in and out, trading shifts of being with Kate and Maddie. 

Kate was discharged after Maddie had already gone down for nap. Kate had fallen asleep in the carseat, so we brought the carseat into my grandmother's house. We put it in a different room from where Maddie was sleeping. Maddie woke up from nap, and it was the strangest thing. She was fussing and whining, like she sensed Kate was there. We asked, "Where's Kate?" and she kind of babbled. Matt then showed her a video of Kate talking on his phone...Maddie's face was priceless. She grinned big, pointed, and started talking. Soon Kate woke from her nap and I was excited to see their reaction. It took Maddie a second, but then she grinned big, kept touching Kate, and talking. They were together again! Her whole demeanor change, and she soon became the Maddie we know!

Since the days of my risky pregnancy, their birth, and nicu stay I have always feared losing one of them. Not for me or Matt, but for the twin that is still here. They have a bond and connection that is obvious at this young of age. 

It took Maddie over a week to feel comfortable again. The situation seemed to cause her separation anxiety to get worse. She would have breakdowns if Matt or I left them room, even if one of us was holding her. Slowly but surely she has returned to her normal self!