4 Month Update

Time for another monthly update! We have not done the 4 month pictures yet (we are a little behind:) But the pictures are from their 4th month of activities. Enjoy!

Kailyn, at 4 months:

- weighs 10 lb 14 oz.
- is 24 inches long
- eats 6, sometimes 7, times a day, for 12-20 minutes (with last feeding being a bottle)
- has been taking Zantac for reflux for 3 weeks and is doing pretty well with it
- goes 8-10 hours between feedings at night (doesn't mean that is a continuous sleep:)
- takes 3-4 naps a day, averaging from 40 minutes to 2.5 hours
- is still swaddled for all sleep times and uses a pacifier most of the time
- rolled over once, from back to tummy and then immediately from tummy to back
- always has her hands in her mouth
- likes to kick things (including her brother)
- is very pleasant, laughing and smiling a lot
- loves to be talked to and sung to
- is very wiggly!
- favorite song is "If you're happy and you know it..."
- enjoys baths but does not like to have her hair brushed
- can hold a rattle and other toys very well
- doing a great job of sitting up, assisted, and holds head up well during tummy time
- is a big Daddy's girl, loves to be held by him
- very sweet and a joy to be around!




Issac, at 4 months:

-weighs 12 lb 7 oz.
- is 25 inches long
- eats 6-7 times a day, for 10-20 minutes, with the last feeding being a bottle
- started rice cereal for the first time 3 days ago, has one serving per day
- LOVES rice cereal
- takes 3 naps a day, from 30 min to 2.5 hours long
- does not like to be put down for naps and wakes up frequently
- goes 6-8 hours between feedings at night (wakes up frequently)
- is fully swaddled at bedtime and has one arm out for naps
- beginning to take out his pacifier a lot by himself
- loves to talk and "howl"
- is very happy, laughing and smiling a lot
- very observant, loves new places, people, things
- starting to grow some hair!
- does very well at holding on to toys and anything in his reach
- likes to roll to his side
- has almost found his feet
- LOVES to sit and stand, always on the move
- had his first fever after this round of immunizations (up to 104.2)
- enjoys singing, reading, and staring at Kailyn
- very pleasant when not tired and hungry, and a lot of fun!

Auburn Trip

Well we made a first trip in a while down to Auburn for Labor Day weekend. We enjoyed seeing Mama Linda and Papa Tom as well as Uncle Ben, Aunt Dee and cousins Ayla and Paxton. The trip down was somewhat eventful, we stopped in Montgomery to feed K and I (and mainly Rachel). Rachel and I loaded up on Chick-fil-a and K and I took a bottle while being very distracted at the lights and sounds of the resturant. So about 1 hour and 30 mins later our time at chickfila was done. We seem to be quite the spectacle because at one point we had 4 people crowding around our table to see the twins.

Our first night in Auburn was also eventful as the kids struggled with being in a new place. So with little sleep we enjoyed a Saturday in Auburn. We had good food, a lot fun and a fair amount of crying. Saturday afternoon we loaded up and went to Tigerwalk and again were quite the spectacle. Kailyn and Isaac wore their Auburn bibs from Mama Linda and Papa Tom and took turns sleeping through the festivities. That night Dad and Josh went to the game with Ben and Andrea and we enjoyed club seats (which means all you can eat which is really the only reason Dad and I went. . . ok the only reason I went.) Mom and Rachel manned the kids which the rest of us were grateful for. Sunday was full of church, naps, food, walking, an ice cream truck and playing with babies. Monday we enjoyed a little more family time, shopping and made the trek home. This trip was uneventful as we made it all the way home without have to stop and feed! Thank goodness! We enjoyed the time with help from the family and K and I enjoyed their cousins, grandparents and Aunt and Uncle.

3 Month Update

A little late in posting the twins' 3 month update, so technically this is their 3 1/2 month update:) Thank you for your patience!


Kailyn, at 3 1/2 months:

- weighs 10 lbs 8 1/2 ounces
- eats 6-7 times a day, with the last meal of the day being a bottle-feeding
- usually takes 3-4 naps a day, ranging from 45 min to 2 1/2 hours
- sleeps 8-9 hours at night (YEAH!)
- is swaddled for all naps and bedtime
- is doing better about spitting up (taking a little Zantac now)
- still has reddish hair but it is getting lighter (and a little curlier)
- is becoming more shy in a crowd
- loves to "talk", coo and smile
- is beginning to grab on to rattles, blankets, books, etc.
- will move about 90 degrees on a blanket on the floor
- usually very pleasant and rarely fussy, unless tired
- chewing on hands ALL the time and drooling like crazy
- still love to be held
- are still rocked to sleep for all your naps



Isaac, at 3 1/2 months:

- weighs 11 lbs 14 1/2 ounces
- eats 6-7 times a day, with the last meal of the day being a bottle-feeding
- usually takes 3 naps a day, ranging from 45 min to 2 1/2 hours
- sleeps 7-8 hours at night, but usually wakes up 4-5 times in between
- is swaddled for all naps (with one arm out) and bedtime
- is no longer rocked to sleep for naps, will fall asleep on his own in his crib (YEAH! Took about a week and a half of training)
- loves to talk, and does it loudly
- beginning to get some fuzz on top of his head
- rubs his eyes when sleepy
- grabs lots of objects and holds up head very well
- loves to look at things and be in new places
- smiles a lot and is very pleasant most of the time, unless hungry
- loves baths
- chews on everything and drools A LOT




The individual baby pictures were done by my sister-in-law Andrea. I'm going to post some more from our 3 month photo shoot soon!

Lucky number 7!

Happy 7 year anniversary to my wonderful wife Rachel! I am so thankful for you and love every moment we spend together. Every year, month, week and day get better and I couldn't be happier! I love you and I am looking forward to a wonderful 7th year!

2 Month Update

2 month update on Kailyn and Isaac (2 weeks late:)

Kailyn, as of her 2 month checkup:


- weights 8 lbs 8 oz
- 22 inches long
- eats 7-8 times a day, 15-25 minutes each
- is a great napper, naps at some point after every feeding
- is consistently going 5-6 hours between feedings at night
- still has a lot of hair, which is getting lighter, with a touch of red
- coos and "oohs" a lot, very vocal
- LOVES to be talked to
- LOVES to be held
- enjoys reading books and looking at toys
- gives lots of very sweet smiles and even laughs some
- has discovered her fist
- sleeps in the nursery for most naps and every night
- enjoys the swing and bouncy seat

Isaac, as of his 2 month checkup:

- weighs 9 lbs 7 oz
- 21.5 inches long
- eats 7-8 times a day, anywhere from 25-40 minutes each time
- is a pretty good napper, but usually no longer than 45 minutes at once
- doesn't like the process of going to sleep, fusses a good majority of the time
- is consistently going 4-5.5 hours between feedings at night
- still doesn't have much hair but what he does has appears to be red
- very smiley and looks like he is talking (without making much noise)
- sucks on his bottom lip when tired and rubs his eyes
- LOVES laying on a blanket on the floor
- LOVES ceiling fans
- starting to roll on his side
- has discovered fists and enjoys looking at them
- enjoys reading and looking at toys
- doesn't like to be burped

1st nursery night

So I am writing about our first night in the nursery, mainly because I am very excited about it and secondly because I can totally make fun of Rachel for it. Rachel has been long resisting moving the kids to the nursery for several reasons: 1. Its an admission that they are getting older. 2. "What if we can't hear them? . . . " (problem solved by setting up two monitors. . . seriously) 3. Rachel is generally against change. This reason I am thankful for because I don't want her getting rid of me. So both kids did spectacularly all day Saturday and we did a little bedtime routine and both kids were out like lights. So far so good. I can tell Rachel is getting a bit anxious mainly by going over fears which I tried to extinguish without getting too frustrated. (probably didn't succeed there) So we lay down, me with a huge smile on my face knowing I don't have to hear every grunt and groan and Rachel's heart's racing fearing an attack of spit up. So about 30 seconds later I get a "What's that noise???? I think. . . well that didn't take long. And she replies to her own question . . . I guess its just the crickets. That's right the crickets. I reply with "Oh boy here we go" and we both start laughing hysterically. The laughing must have worn Rachel out because she didn't get up all all in night except the one time I called her over the monitor. That's right little miss panicky Rachel didn't even stir half the time I heard them and the other half was content to let me get up and check on them after an obligatory "I can check on him/her if you want? " after I'm already out of bed. Luckily the kids did great and I am excited we are well on our way to having our room back and hopefully sleeping through the night.

No exaggeration was made at anytime during this blog post.

In other news, Rachel is doing a FANTASTIC job as Mom and has held up remarkably well feeding two hungry kids. I am very proud of her and love helping her during the night and whenever I am home.

Travel Day!

So we embarked on our first family adventure yesterday. I had taken some time off work and with a lot of Rachel's family headed to Ohio for the 4th we thought it was a good time to take the babies to see everyone. Our plan was to head out after dinner time and drive through the night because that's when K and I sleep the best. Well . . . 6 to 7 p.m. is what we like to call the witching hour at our house and Tuesday was no different. We finally get them feed and in their car seats and both are screaming until we go out to the garage and both quiet immediately. Maybe it was because they were excited about the trip or maybe it was because a huge thunderstorm started. We then caught every red light in Pelham. Both kids were great, K fell asleep very quickly and I-man fell asleep right after his hiccups were done. We then made it all the way to Athens, AL a whole 1 hour 30 mins of driving before Kailyn was ready to eat. Here's where things get interesting.

We pull into a Chickfila and were 10 spots from anyone on either side and secluded from the windows of the restaurant but in full view of the drive through. Which happened to be the busiest place in Athens.......... there were 3 cars in line the whole time they were feeding. Rachel starts to feed K in the back seat while I run into the restroom before the store closes. Well, the back seat has little room and with the car not running Rachel becomes hot and claustrophobic fast. K is doing her best bucking bronco impersonation and soon both girls are near tears. Meanwhile I-man guzzles down his bottle and promptly falls asleep. K decides to take 45 mins to eat instead of her usual 2o so what we thought might be a quick stop wasn't. We also forgot a very important part of her routine, her gas drops. Bad idea. For the next 2 hours every 15 mins K would take 5 mins to scream her head off and spit up. I-man slept like a champ. We made it to the 5/8th mark and it was time to eat again. This time we choose a Days Inn parking lot which I thought was quiet and secluded (Rachel interprets as dark and scary and nearly broke her neck continuing to check behind us as she fed. She also self confessed when her head wasn't spinning like a record player she was checking the mirrors.) This feeding went well and we (not K) gassed up but the store was closed so I had to find a Waffle house to use the restroom (selections are limited at 3 a.m.) While I was in there K decided to blow out her diaper. I mean blow out. So I changed her diaper in the front seat (funny thing Waffle house didn't have a changing station) and when we got home realized poop was all over her legs and sleeper. I then realized we had 3 hours of driving time to go and if we stopped again we would get stuck in Cincinnati morning traffic. So I told the kids I would give them each 100 dollars if we didn't have to stop again. Sure enough both kids slept like champs and only had to be consoled in the last 10 mins. Like mother and father these kids can travel!
Here are some other facts.

Rachel did not go to the bathroom one time. 11 plus hours. How, I do not know
I was passed by a man talking on his cell phone at 4 a.m. Who was he talking to?
5 hour energy is amazing.
Seeing deer instantly makes you more awake.
5 hour energy makes the taker want to make jokes at 3-4 a.m. The wife of the taker does not find them funny.
The gas station where we stopped had 2 for 3 dollar sloppy joes. Seriously. I thought the hot dogs and tostatos on those hot metal rollers were disgusting but gas station sloppy joes. Yuck.
Both my kids are awesome travelers. If we had remembered gas drops the trip would have
been great.
We enjoyed seeing a beautiful sunrise over the rolling hills of southern Ohio.
A special thanks to Kristina and Leannya for letting Josh sleep the night and day before so this journey could be possible.