Hot Springs

We took a family vacation to Hot Springs, Arkansas this week and it was so much fun! I was a little nervous about the car ride there with the boys but they did great! We rented out a cabin on Lake Ouachita...spent time on a pontoon boat, cooked burgers on the grill, went shopping in town and played lots of games. It was a really great family trip, I was kind of sad that it was so short...I definitely could have used more days on the lake while Grammy and Grandpa watched the boys for us. :)

4th of July!

Happy 4th from the Cassidy's!

 

 

9 Months

Christian and Caleb are 9 months old...Time flys!! I know I say that every month, but its true! They had awesome check-ups today. Passed all of their milestones and Dr. Crow was just so impressed with how well they were doing. The next step is to get them down to only 4 bottles a day (as opposed to the 5 they currently get) and to eat more "people" food. This is exciting and also a little scary. Exciting because the road to getting off of bottles is finally here...no more formula or washing bottles, HOORAY! Scary because I'm freaked out about them choking on something...afraid I will panic and not know what to do. I know I need to get over that fear...all parents go through this and all babies need to learn how to eat. So....starting Monday, people food it is!

 

22 lbs 3 oz  29 in

Two bottom teeth and is crawling

Loves puffs, sweet potatoes, sweet carrots and bananas

 

 

21 lbs 3 oz 28.5 in

One bottom tooth and is crawling

Loves puffs, yogurt melts, sweet potatoes and applesauce

C & C Fly to AZ!

We had our first family vacation and it was great! It was also very exhausting...the plane ride alone did Eric and I in. Having to sit in a small seat while holding a baby for 4 hours is hard work! If that wasn't hard enough, both boys decided to have diarrhea the entire trip...lucky us! Changing diapers on a plane in mid air is rough...but, having to go to the bathroom yourself while holding a baby is even more rough. The good news, despite all of the obstacles, is that the boys were angels. We received so many compliments from strangers about how good they were and how lucky we are to have such wonderful little boys. I'll have to agree with them...our boys ARE awesome and we are definitely blessed to have them.

The boys had a lot of firsts in Arizona. First plane ride, first trip to the Zoo, first time swimming and first time playing in a baby walker. We also had so much fun seeing all of our old friends...the friends who were with us as Eric and I struggled to get pregnant...who were there to support us as we went through IVF...and who were there to celebrate with us as we found out we were pregnant with not one, but TWO babies. Being able to introduce the boys to all of these friends who prayed for us and supported us during that time was so wonderful. The boys also had such a great time with Eric's parents...they are just so in love with their Grandma CC and Grandpa DC.

While we had such a great time in Az I'm so glad to be back home...I think the boys are too!  What I learned is that the boys can travel and that they are actually quite good at it. Makes me feel like my life is becoming a little bit more "normal".


Christian and Daddy




Caleb

My Impact Peeps - Love these Ladies




Baby Bumper Cars!



The Phoenix Zoo

 Susan and Baby Faith

Me and my Boys

Christian and Daddy




Caleb and Grandpa DC

Wrap Buddies

Today the boys got their helmets wrapped and I have to admit...I've got some pretty cute helmets heads! It was such a wonderful day and I'm blown away with how many people took time to wrap helmets for all of the precious babies that were there. What a wonderful company and a great cause!
http://www.wrapbuddies.com/

A day in the life of a twin mom

I realize that up until this point I have never talked about my day to day life with the twins. I've never shared what my schedule is like...never shared my tips for moms...and I've never shared what life is REALLY like. Mostly because I didn't want to come across as if I have it all together or that I know exactly what I'm doing, it's more...I really have had no clue what I'm doing! I thought if I shared what life was really like up until now...I might have freaked out a few soon-to-be moms....especially those soon-to be-moms who are having twins.

Up until about 5 months of age the boys didn't really have a set schedule that they followed. Sure I tried to put them into one, but I quickly realized they are going to do what they wanna do. Life since they have decided to follow a schedule has been pretty great! Here is what my day looks like...

6:30/7:00 am - Wake Up!

(change diapers, check clothes/sheets for peepee leakage, remove said peepee clothes/sheets if dirty, let dogs out, make coffee, make bottles, feed dogs)

 

7:30 am - Feeding Time

(feed and burp boys, try to drink coffee and watch news)

 

8:00 am - Play Time

(boys play, take empty bottles to kitchen, re-heat coffee, make breakfast, gather laundry to be washed, tidy nursery, try to finish coffee, eat breakfast and watch news)

 

8:30/9:00 am - Nap Time

(This part of the day should be easy, but most days Caleb fights naps and Christian sleeps for 30 min. leaving me with little to no time alone)

 

10:30 am - Feeding

(food is added to this feeding time so we eat in high chairs in the kitchen)

 

11:00 am - Play Time

(Whatever needs to be done that I haven't previously had time for, tries to get done, empty bottles to kitchen and playing with the boys on the floor)

 

12:00/12:30ish - Nap Time

(shower...maybe, eat lunch, clean, laundry, catch up on a show, make phone calls or check email)

 

1:30 pm - Feeding

 

2:00 pm - Play

(afternoon walk)

 

3:00ish - Nap

 

4:30 pm - Feeding

(cereal with this feeding-eating in high chairs in kitchen)

 

5:00 pm - Play

(tv time while mommy cleans in the kitchen and sometimes cooks dinner, get clothes and other things ready for bedtime, count down minutes til daddy arrives)

 

6:30 Bath/Feeding Time

(bathe, diaper, dress, feed)

 

7:00/7:15 - BED TIME

(breathe a sigh of relief)

 



 

I'd be lying if I said that every single day is like the one above. That's just what an average day looks like...it doesn't take into account the days that the boys wake up at 5:30 am, days when they are hungry before the 3 hour mark, the days when they decide they don't want to take 3 naps a day, doctor appointments, or play dates with friends. Such events cause a "re-work" to the daily schedule.

 

Being a mom to twins is hard work...It's exhausting emotionally and physically, it's frustrating, irritating, stressful...and makes you question yourself everyday. Am I a good mother? Am I doing the best for my boys? Are they going to grow up to be messed up because of something I did wrong? Being a mom is hard work no matter how many children you have, but the joy they bring makes it all worth it. When I look at my boys playing I have such happiness...I cannot believe the miracle that they are and that I was responsible for it. Well...partly responsible :) I imagine that's what God thinks and feels when he looks down on us. Having babies has made God's love for me so much more clear, so much more real...I have a reference point now and can understand a little bit more. Our God is a GREAT great God!

My Loves



Christian

Caleb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Oooooooooooooooooooh April!

Let's just say I'm really ready for the month of April to be over. This month has been really hard! The boys had their first REAL sickness....the dreaded stomach bug. For the first time since becoming a mom I really felt so helpless, there was absolutely nothing I could do to make my babies feel better. I've realized that seeing your child sick when there is nothing you can do is the WORST ever! I think it might even be worse for a control freak like myself...LOL!  Thankfully...the bug lasted a week and they are both back to normal. Well...they are feeling better but Caleb has been waking up around 2 or 3 every night. I feel like I am back in the newborn phase...one sleepless and exhausting phase I did not want to go back to...ever.

Helmets! They boys picked up their super stylish helmets this month. I was worried that they would be bothered by them or that sleeping with them would become a problem, but they wear them like champs! Truth is, I think they really don't even realize they are there...Good enough for me! I think I'm the one more bothered by them. I'm not quite use to the strange looks they get from strangers...most time I want to look at them and say "Nothing is wrong with them! They are just fixing their flats!" I also hate how hard it is to cuddle them. So far I've gotten one busted lip and a smack to the eye socket...OUCH! I am hoping to get them wrapped next month, I figure if they are gonna wear a helmet they are gonna look good doing it!


Christian                             Caleb

Eric accepted a new job this month with USAA, this is very exciting and brings new opportunities for him as well as for our family. The downside is that he will have to travel a few times this year for training. My first experience with this was last week. I was really nervous thinking about how I would handle being home with the boys 24/7 and not having Eric come home at 5 to help. I also was not looking forward to having to do the boys bath time routine by myself.  Bath time was quite comical and a little harder than I had planned for....BUT, I survived! His trip made me realize just how grateful I am to have him and all of the help he gives. Props to those single moms who don't have an extra set of helping hands!

Two good things did happen this month and April wasn't a total waste :) The boys were baptized AND they had their first twin play date. My mom was able to do the boys baptism and it was so special. The boys LOVED seeing their Nana and as a result really put on a show for the congregation. Such lil flirts I tell ya! Their first play date was also a success! We called it "Muffins with Moms of Multiples"...I'm pretty sure the play date was more for us than the kids. The boys had a really good time and they just love their new friends

 

The Clark's and The Cassidy's



Muffins with Moms of Multiples