September-October update

As my friend Hillary likes to point out, I am not a very good blogger. Not surprisingly, while on bed rest, I had more time for my posts that I do now especially since I've been back at work. But don't give up on me -- Kevin still is a crazed photographer of our kids and Hope and Jack are still so darn cute, so I will make up for the quantity of posts with the quality of the updates and cute shots!!

A quick update before the pics -- things are going well for us in Havertown. Everyone has adjusted to our new schedule of day care and work. It's crazy for all of us at times, but in general everything is going fine. I have found that I am pretty happy to be back to work. It is a nice change to the daily routine of bottles, diapers, and naps and I am enjoying using my science brain again.

Hope and Jack are great. They get more and more fun each day. It has been wonderful to watch their personalities develop and see them start to interact with each other. Jack is quite a little charmer with a big smile and a lot to say. He knows what he wants and isn't afraid to let you know. Hope is more mellow and an all around happy baby. She has been talking a lot lately and is especially a fan of her time on the activity mat. She takes after her father and really loves her naps! We don't know how much they weigh currently, but we have an appointment in early November, so you'll have to check back in for the next update. But every time I pick up both car seats and lug the kiddos up the two flights of stairs to day care, I am reminded that they are growing like crazy!

As you can tell by the pictures below, there has been a lot of training of our future super fans this past month or so. We will choose to focus on the cuteness of the babies in the pictures instead of the disappointment with the end of the Phillies playoff run and the not so stellar performance of ND football thus far this season.

Jack's first tribute to Touchdown Jesus
Umm, Daddy . . . my naps are more important than the big game!
Fans-in-training with DadI couldn't resist these matching outfits with ducky bibs! Could they be any cuter? I don't think so.
Jack on the activity mat showing off his big smile and great head control.
Go Phillies!
Jack loves his hoodie as much as his mom does!
In preparation for Halloween and Fall, I suggested a trip to a local farm.

Here they are looking serious before our big adventure
Dad had Hope in stitches (as usual). Jack was not as amused.
Actually he was just really tired as he fell asleep soon after the above picture was snapped. We loved Hope's choice of leg placement and Jack's hand.
Soon after that Hope also fell asleep and got some assistance with holding her pacifier in by her twin brother.
Here they are at the Linvilla Farm by the mums with my goose gord.
The three of us in "pumpkinland" - I wanted to lay the babies in a pile of pumpkins for the ultimate photo. My more safety conscious husband vetoed that idea.
Here's Jack later in the day loving his bumbo seat
Hope doesn't quite have the head control for the bumbo just yet, but we let her try it out anyway.

The above two shots were taken on a walk by Hillary who visited us a couple weekends ago. Come back soon Auntie Hill! On that same weekend, we were treated to a short but wonderful visit with Auntie Court and the entire Beyer clan. Pictures of Addison and Braden holding Hope and Jack were priceless and hopefully Court will share them with me so I can post them on the blog. (Hint hint)

Below are shots from Jack and Hope's first night of trying rice cereal in their high chairs. The feedings are going ok depending on the night. The babies have been waking up at night and earlier in the mornings demanding food lately - suggesting to us they may be ready for some solid foods, but when the spoonful of cereal is presented to them, they don't always agree that it should be placed in their mouths and then swallowed down.




Here they are hanging out together on the activity mat. Emma was trying to join in on the fun (you can see her eyes peering out from under the couch). Having the two of them together on the mat is one of my favorite things to do. They always end up holding hands, touching each other, rolling around together, or just gazing at one another. It is so cool to watch. Jack keeps wanting to have a conversation with Hope, but so far, she isn't ready to talk back at his command.

That's all for now. Check back in a few days for photos from Halloween. (I'll send out an update as who knows how long it will take me to get the photos off the camera and up on the blog!)

XOXO from all of us!

It only took a week

I know I was warned by many that day care was going to make my kids sick, but I don't think I thought it would happen so fast. Exactly one week after Hope and Jack's first day at day care, I got the call today come pick up a sick baby. I had gone to a doctor's appointment after dropping them off and thus was still on the train downtown when I got the call to turn around. I am already having a tough time transition back to working full time and another day off and home with my babies is not going to help with my adjustment! I am thankful the stomach virus that Jack (and Hope?) has/have is minor. As if my babies didn't spit up a lot already???

Thus I cannot report much on how it is to be back to work. Strange, but good to see my coworkers again and talk/think about something other than the twins for a little bit - though I seem to do a lot of talking about them as well! I tend to sneak out early most days to make it home to help Kevin with the after school feeding. Let's hope my boss does not catch on too soon.

Video Time

Hope and her "ice cream cone"


Jack learning a new skill
Jack talking to his friends
And so it begins . . .
(first ND game with Dad)

End of Summer Photos

Above - Jack with his pucker lips

Below - An update from the shot we took 2 months ago and posted on the blog. Fortunately for all, this shot was not taken at 4am like the last one (see June 14th to compare).
Hope is too distracted by the ceiling fan to look at the camera and Dad.
But she is a big fan of her Granddad!
Jack and Aunt Marianne
Seriously Mom, we are too big to both squeeze on the nap nanny!

I am so much more comfortable alone, though I like having my doggie friend with me.
Not sure if is the hanging monkey or the fan above that has made her happy.
My boys ---
We took our first trip to Ocean City the day before Kevin returned to school. We timed it to arrive in time to feed Hope and Jack on a boardwalk bench before getting hot doughnuts and breakfast at Browns. Here we are taking a break from the boardwalk sun under a pavilion. Hope has found her ice cream cone hand. Mine was found a little later from Kohr's Brothers with rainbow sprinkles.
Somebody already loves the shore!
Me too, Mom!!!
Walking on the boardwalk is exhausting.
On another note, I finally got their name letters up in the nursery. Here's what it looks like now with the two cribs and stuff on the walls.
Hope couldn't stop staring at Jack on this morning. They are starting to notice each other and it is really fun to watch. The other night Jack was clearly directing his chattering at Hope. I cannot wait until they start having conversations.

Baptism Day!

Here are a few shots from last Sunday's Baptism.

Jack and Hope all dressed up right before leaving for the church. Hope is wearing the gown that Kevin, his brother, and nephew have all worn. Jack's romper is new and precious.

In route to the church . . . of course, the giraffes had to come too!

The big moment for Jack!

And for Hope . . .
The Godparents

Cakes from my favorite bakery in Delran.
Our backyard transformed with tents and tables.

Overall it was a special fun day for all of us. The weather was perfect (mid-70s) and we were fortunate to have so much help pulling off the party - both during and in the days leading up to Sunday. The guests of honor were in good spirits all day during their Holy water dunking (not really a dunking, but the priest did use a lot of water!), while being held by many different people at the party, and while skipping at least two of their typical naps. Needless to say, all four of us slept really well Sunday night.

Keep your eyes open for two more posts in the coming days with photos from the end of our summer and some fun videos.

XOXO

4 month check up weights!

Hope - a whopping 12 lbs 13 oz. !!!!
Jack - 11 lbs 6 oz. (3.6 times his size at birth!!!)

Congrats to Kevin's mom for guessing both of her grandbabies weights on the dot.

I am one proud mama!

new photos to be up soon as well as an update after their Baptism and party this weekend.

XOXO

First road trip - check!

Hey all,
Long time no post . . . I know, I know. What can I say - life is busy. You've heard it before so why waste all of our time with my excuses. Anywho -- first things first, you may have noticed, I changed the name of the blog. "Thoughts from my bed" really does not apply to me any more as I don't get much lounging time to ponder and type - my sleep is way too precious. "Twinwise" is a play on words from the book Babywise which we have used as a guide for Hope and Jack's schedule (official title - On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam). I am a big fan of the book and my two great little sleepers.

So what's new in our world? We are still enjoying our summer vacation/extended maternity leave, even if the end is fast approaching. I return to Penn on September 9 following a 7 month leave. That should be interesting on many levels. I am not sure my science brain still functions or if I remember how to set up experiments. We shall see. Kevin starts back up again around that time and Hope/Jack will be attending a day care near our house. Think positive thoughts, say a few prayers, and/or offer up words of wisdom (whatever works for you) that the transition is smooth for all of us. We have been so spoiled this summer!!!

Photo time:

So big!!!
Seriously Dad, enough with all the photos!!!
Hope/Jack were spoiled rotten by their Auntie Court when she visited a few weekends ago! Come back soon!

No, we are not going parasailing - just strapped in and ready to enjoy a walk in the neighborhood (which we immediately slept through).

"Mom -- why are we naked???"
Abby is fascinated by her little cousins and had just told Hope a funny joke. Jack as usual - loving the camera.

We have recently returned from our first family road trip. We headed up to Maine on Thursday for the wedding of Rebecca and Steve. Steve was the tall "lanky" groomsman at our wedding and a high school friend of Kevin's. Their wedding was on a picturesque island a ferry ride away from Portland, ME. The setting, weather, and happy beautiful couple could not have been more perfect and it was indeed worth the trip (despite all the work/extra time that was the result of traveling with Hope/Jack). Many many thanks to Uncle Ben and Aunt Marianne for coming to our hotel room to babysit so that we could attend the wedding, enjoy many lobster crustini appetizers and a couple cocktails ;-) !

Thanks for playing with us Uncle Ben and Aunt Marianne!!! (taken by my brother during their fun time with H&J)

More photos from the trip:
Jack with my Aunt Barbara in Cape Cod - he is becoming quite a flirt/charmer!
Jack happy to be out of his car seat - hanging in the hotel in Portland on his "nap nanny" - amazing bed/seat that has done wonders for sleeping/reflux and enabled us to not have to travel with two pack n plays just yet.
Hope was also pretty thrilled to be out of her car seat and reunited with her best friend Mr. Parrot (who you cannot see in this picture but hangs from the amazing jungle seat - a must for our travels and everyday lives).
Here is Hope out at a restaurant and not so sure of her surroundings. :-)

Waiting patiently for brunch - asleep as usual!

Sleeping while mom and dad enjoy an outdoor seafood lunch

No updated weights to post - the babies have their four month check up and vaccinations coming in a couple weeks, so stay tuned. We have been spoiled by so many visitors coming to meet Hope/Jack and help Kevin/me by holding a bottle (or two). Thanks to all of you and come back soon!!!

XOXO!!!