We definitely aren't newborns anymore! This month has been trying, but with patience and persistence come great rewards!
I Love These Girls and Their Personalities So Much!
I think I mention this every month, but it cracks me up how differently these girls wake up!
Exhibit A Exhibit B
Our biggest obstacle this month has been sleeping. Now that Parker is not in pain anymore from her neck, and both girls have adjusted to their new formula, we decided it was time to sleep train them. It got to the point that one of us (or me if it was during nap time) was in their room every few minutes putting a pacifier back in somebody's mouth or putting someone back to sleep. On top of that, they were still waking up twice a night to eat, and Payton really showed no interest of eating much during the day. Something had to change! All four of us (Mommy, Daddy, and Babies) were EXHAUSTED ... Barrett was just as happy as could be!
I decided to get rid of the pacifiers. Not because pacifiers are bad. They have been a huge help to us keeping our sanity since the twins were born. (Barrett never really took one when he was a baby and I always wished he had because it definitely would have helped!) But there was a turning point where they couldn't keep them in their mouths, but they both wanted to keep sucking on them the whole time they were sleeping. So one day I just decided I was done. Although, I do think they were really cute sucking on them. But something had to give.
Our sweet friend Rachel sent us a document that her mom typed up about how she has learned to sleep train over the years. She's been helping moms do this since her children, who are grown, were babies. It was so nice to have all of these great ideas and scenarios all in one place! So we started one day, went through days and days and days of crying, and then one day they girls started waking up only once to eat and then went back to bed until around 9. I'll take it!
Other changes consisted of starting rice cereal twice a day for their reflux, changing to sleep sacks instead of swaddles, not going in their room right when they woke up and started crying, and feeding them in lesser amounts when they do wake up at night. Eventually we will phase out that feeding altogether, but I'm still not convinced they are getting the calories they need during the day. Especially Payton.
The other huge change (that affects me more than the kids) is Aunt Mary volunteered to come to our house 3 days a week to help us out. My life has CHANGED completely. I can shower during the DAY, make a quick grocery store run, go to my life group, and take Barrett out for mini-mommy-and-me-dates if I want to. But I usually take a nap ;) I feel like a new person!
Because I'm Happppppy
Precious Face
Tummy time hasn't been as intense lately since both girls can roll over now, and they are sleeping on their tummies. Even Payton stopped hovering with her hands by her side and pushes herself up. Now that she's figured it out, she loves seeing everything around her.
Twin Ruffles
Rolling Over During Play Time
Heeeeey Seester
One of my most favorite things from this month is all 3 of my babies have started "playing" together. The girls will look at each other and smile, and they both follow every move their big brother makes. It so cute to watch both of their little heads move in sync as the runs around the room, dances, and sings them songs. Barrrett's face lights up with pure joy when he makes one of his sisters smile. He looks at me with a huge smile and yells "She smile at me Mommy! She smile!!!" And then tries to make it happen again after he stops laughing himself.
Best Friends in the Making
Showing Sisters How Toys Work
Now that they can sit up (when propped) in their Bumpos, on the couch, etc. I decided it was time to let them try to play in the piano. Or, as Barrett calls it, the "PAN-ee-oh"
This Girl Loves It!
She's Waiting Until She Can Ready to REALLY Have Fun!
Fun Pictures from This Month:
Taking a Time Out
The Girls
Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2036
"Mommy, It Is Ok If I Hug Sister?"
All Dressed Up
Parker and Mommy
Payton and Mommy
Mini-Man and Mommy
Where There's a Will, There's a Way
Family Time
Say What?
Help?
My Favorite Spot
Daddy's Little Girls
Apparently, They Didn't Feel Like Taking Pictures
Cutie Patooties
Smirk
Such a Happy Girl
Look Mommy! I Can Do This Too!
(Finally)
Big Brother's Version of Tummy Time
Things We Don't Want to Forget:
5 Month Picture Out-Takes:
Payton Is Not So Sure About This
Hey, What is She Doing Over There?
Whoa, When Did You Get Here?
Mommy and My Girls
I Love These Girls and Their Personalities So Much!
I think I mention this every month, but it cracks me up how differently these girls wake up!
Exhibit A Exhibit B
Our biggest obstacle this month has been sleeping. Now that Parker is not in pain anymore from her neck, and both girls have adjusted to their new formula, we decided it was time to sleep train them. It got to the point that one of us (or me if it was during nap time) was in their room every few minutes putting a pacifier back in somebody's mouth or putting someone back to sleep. On top of that, they were still waking up twice a night to eat, and Payton really showed no interest of eating much during the day. Something had to change! All four of us (Mommy, Daddy, and Babies) were EXHAUSTED ... Barrett was just as happy as could be!
I decided to get rid of the pacifiers. Not because pacifiers are bad. They have been a huge help to us keeping our sanity since the twins were born. (Barrett never really took one when he was a baby and I always wished he had because it definitely would have helped!) But there was a turning point where they couldn't keep them in their mouths, but they both wanted to keep sucking on them the whole time they were sleeping. So one day I just decided I was done. Although, I do think they were really cute sucking on them. But something had to give.
Our sweet friend Rachel sent us a document that her mom typed up about how she has learned to sleep train over the years. She's been helping moms do this since her children, who are grown, were babies. It was so nice to have all of these great ideas and scenarios all in one place! So we started one day, went through days and days and days of crying, and then one day they girls started waking up only once to eat and then went back to bed until around 9. I'll take it!
Other changes consisted of starting rice cereal twice a day for their reflux, changing to sleep sacks instead of swaddles, not going in their room right when they woke up and started crying, and feeding them in lesser amounts when they do wake up at night. Eventually we will phase out that feeding altogether, but I'm still not convinced they are getting the calories they need during the day. Especially Payton.
The other huge change (that affects me more than the kids) is Aunt Mary volunteered to come to our house 3 days a week to help us out. My life has CHANGED completely. I can shower during the DAY, make a quick grocery store run, go to my life group, and take Barrett out for mini-mommy-and-me-dates if I want to. But I usually take a nap ;) I feel like a new person!
Because I'm Happppppy
Precious Face
Tummy time hasn't been as intense lately since both girls can roll over now, and they are sleeping on their tummies. Even Payton stopped hovering with her hands by her side and pushes herself up. Now that she's figured it out, she loves seeing everything around her.
Twin Ruffles
Rolling Over During Play Time
Heeeeey Seester
One of my most favorite things from this month is all 3 of my babies have started "playing" together. The girls will look at each other and smile, and they both follow every move their big brother makes. It so cute to watch both of their little heads move in sync as the runs around the room, dances, and sings them songs. Barrrett's face lights up with pure joy when he makes one of his sisters smile. He looks at me with a huge smile and yells "She smile at me Mommy! She smile!!!" And then tries to make it happen again after he stops laughing himself.
Best Friends in the Making
Showing Sisters How Toys Work
Now that they can sit up (when propped) in their Bumpos, on the couch, etc. I decided it was time to let them try to play in the piano. Or, as Barrett calls it, the "PAN-ee-oh"
This Girl Loves It!
She's Waiting Until She Can Ready to REALLY Have Fun!
Fun Pictures from This Month:
Taking a Time Out
The Girls
Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2036
"Mommy, It Is Ok If I Hug Sister?"
All Dressed Up
Parker and Mommy
Payton and Mommy
Mini-Man and Mommy
Where There's a Will, There's a Way
Family Time
Say What?
Help?
My Favorite Spot
Daddy's Little Girls
Apparently, They Didn't Feel Like Taking Pictures
Cutie Patooties
Smirk
Such a Happy Girl
Look Mommy! I Can Do This Too!
(Finally)
Big Brother's Version of Tummy Time
Things We Don't Want to Forget:
- the way both girls hold our fingers while they drink their bottles
- the way Barrett is mesmerized by everything they do
- Payton trying with all her might to sit up on her changing pad, in her car seat,in our arms .... always trying
- Parker wanting toys that are just out of her grasp ~ she may be the first crawler
- the different ways they talk: Payton babbles and Parker sounds like she's trying to clear her throat all the time
- Parker's giggles (Payton's are a little more difficult to get out of her, but equally as cute)
- they way Payton giggles for Barrett ... and rarely anybody else
- the smiles on their faces and how hard they start kicking when Mommy walks in the room. nothing like a tiny person who can't talk and only communicates by crying letting you know that she's glad you walked in the room
5 Month Picture Out-Takes:
Payton Is Not So Sure About This
Hey, What is She Doing Over There?
Whoa, When Did You Get Here?
Mommy and My Girls
