I Have to Share!

I can't believe how sparse the pictures of my little babies are on this pathetic blog of mine!  I was admiring them both today as they layed on my bed next to each other, both cooing and smiling away at me.  As I delighted in their sweetness I decided that today is the the day I have to gets some pics up of these angels.  We are just so happy to have these little ones in our home.  They bring so much joy.  They really are the sweetest, happiest, cutest little babies. Enjoy the pics! They are already three months old!!  I can't believe how very fast time goes.  I wish I could just freeze them right now as they are.  So fun!!Emmeline- 2 days ago
Elizabeth, also 2 days ago
Chillin' together in their swing- a favorite pastime of theirs.
I love the little grin on Emmi's face in this picture. 
Emmi on top, Lizzie on bottom. 
These are my favorite outfits of theirs as it makes their blue eyes POP!  Lizzie on left, Emms on the right. Aren't they cute??!!  (I'm not a proud mama or anything am I??!!)

A Fun-Filled Fourth

For the 4th I met up with my parents and we headed to the scenic little town of Salado, Texas.  What a fun little place it was!  Lots of cute little shops, big beautiful trees and a fantastic park.  We set up under a massive pecan tree and let the kids head to the creek.  They had such a fun time.  At first Peter was being a bit moody, saying he was too hot, etc.  He did have a late night the night before.  After eating lunch, and more importantly, roasting marshmallows, he commented, "I feel so much better now after eating marshmallows!"  A little sugar can go a long way!  I still can't figure out how to get the pics in order.  Oh well.  And I forgot to get one of my sweet babies in their 4th of July dresses!  Shame on me!  But they did look adorable though, just for the record!  

Matthew all tuckered out after playing all day.  He rested his head on my lap and fell dead asleep within a few minutes. 
Here's Hannah making a splash.  
Hannah tried and tried to catch a minnow to no avail.  I did manage to catch her a polliwog though. 

Peter enjoyed Matthew's water shooter as Matthew spent most of the time under the water. 
Coming up from a swim. 
This is how my boy spends most of the time in the water.  He really is a fish.  He could swim when he was 1.  Seriously.  He has always known how to hold his breath under water and how to get around.  It's so fun to watch!

After the park we were all so hot and needed a treat.  So off to ice-cream we went!
Hannah enjoyed strawberry ice-cream with blue sprinkles. 
I rarely let the kids get a double-dipper but in honor of the holiday I let Peter partake.  He wore out at the end and shared with his mom.  :)

We headed to Papa and Grandma's for awhile to relax, then off to the fireworks display in the town my parents live in, Georgetown.  We did not get home until 10:45.  Jordan is out of town currently (Leah is with him, hence the lack of Leah-lou pics- they are in Utah for Jordan's Grandfather's burial services) so I manned getting everyone in and in bed alone.  No small task with the twins!  Matthew was so out of it he stood in the garage and peed his pants in a sleepy stupor.  As I cleaned him up both babies woke up and were MAD.  They started screaming as I got everyone in their beds.  Crazy, crazy but overall a wonderful day.  God Bless America, my home sweet home!!

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Two Babes in a Tub

A couple of days after bringing the babies home from the hospital Jordan and I had a wonferful time bathing the babies.  It was so adorable to see their reactions to the water.  So much fun! 

Miss Elizabeth after her bath, happy to be done with that ordeal.  
Can you see the sad little pout on Lizzie's face?  
Not sure what to think...
Lizzie
Miss Emmi curled up and hiding in her towel after a traumatic experience.  She DID NOT like it!!  
Please STOP!!  
Do I have to take a bath?!

We are loving these little peas.  They are so much fun.  

The Twins Have Arrived!

We are so thrilled to announce here on our blog the long-anticipated birth of our twin daughters, Emmeline and Elizabeth, on April 22, 2009.  I (Andrea) can't seem to get the pics in the order that I want but oh well, here they are anyway!  So I will share a bit of the birth story...

I went in to the OB Tuesday, April 21st in the morning to find out I was dilated to a 3, 75% effaced.  The OB told me if I wanted to she could break my water the next morning.  After discussing it with Jordan we decided to make the appt and get the show on the road.  I was much relieved though to go into labor on my own that night at about 11:00 PM.  With each kid my labors get longer so I was not worried about getting to the hospital anytime soon.  My contractions continued all night and we went in at 8:30 AM where I learned I was dilated to a 4.  I kept laboring as they hooked me up to the monitors and IV, etc, then learned I was at a 6 and 100% effaced.  At that point they broke my water and I got an epidural (only my second one with all the kids I have had).  It was great!  Before long I was ready to have these babies and was wheeled to the OR in case they had to do an emergency C-section.  The nurses were so intrigued I was opting for a vaginal birth with twins they called in their buddies, thus bringing in an audience of 15 people to watch the birth!  By this point I could care less though, anxious to meet the babies.  They came easily, 4 minutes apart and beautiful.  Let me introduce them...

Tired MamaBorn first...Emmeline Sue, 5 lbs, 7 oz 19.5 inches, born at 4:58 PM.  Elizabeth Anne, 6 lbs, 3 oz, 19 inches long, born at 5:02 PM.  

Pic taken before getting into the car to go to the hospital.  Ahhh, what a relief it is not to be pregnant anymore!

The ladies all bundled up. Lizzy on the right, Emmi on the left. 
Proud Daddy, already in love with his ladies. 
The nurses let Jordan bathe the babes in the nursery.  He loved it!

I stayed at the hospital for 2 days after the babies came.  My mom stayed with me both nights to help with the babies while I tried (quite unsuccessfully) to get some sleep.  It is so wonderful to have my family here!!  We are so thrilled to have these babies here and are absolutely in love with them, as are the other children.  What a blessing it is to have them.  

Some Prego Pics

Jordan snapped a couple pics of me while getting birthday stuff ready for Leah.  They are not great pics- I think I look half asleep (which I usually am these days) in the second one.  But you get the general idea of my big pregnant tummy.  I am happy to report the babies are doing so well.  They really are very healthy- no complications at all.  And although I am super-duper uncomfortable I still get around a lot and live life pretty normally.  I am slowing down though and really just get so tired and sore by the end of the day.  I have ultrasounds every week now and my perinatologist says by next week they are on track to weigh 6 pounds a piece.  They are growing at a rate of 1 oz a day each.  They have also said I have the body for holding these babies in pretty close to 40 weeks so I may end up with big babies!!  I am 35 weeks Monday so things are moving along.  I have had such a fun time getting their cute little things washed and ready for them.  Still struggling with the name decision but one way or another they will have names!!  Thanks all for the very nice comments and name suggestions!!  I really appreciate it.  

Me and Matthew getting the cake ready (he almost always pulls the stool over to "help" me whenever I make anything in the kitchen.

Me and the babies, almost 35 weeks pregnant.  Don't I look like I am about to fall asleep?  Oh well.  Not the best pic but then again I am not looking my best right now!!  

Happy Birthday Leah

Yesterday was my Lovely Leah's 8th birthday.  I can hardly believe I have two kids over the age of 8 now.  Where does the time go?  She had a really fun day doing all the things she wanted to do.  It started off with a yummy breakfast made my my awesome husband.  She really wanted a fruit salad with a special sauce to go over it.  So that's what she got!  Jordan got up at 5:15 to make it since the kids are out the door at 7 AM for school.  For lunch Jordan and I both went to her school and brought her lunch.  It was so fun to be with her, despite all the gawking children admiring (or being horrified by) my enormous tummy!  After school Leah went to a friend's house to play, then came home to her favorite dinner of chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice and salad.  Then onto the cake- I did a homemade white cake with blue frosting since it's her favorite.  I did some of the batter into cones too for a little extra fun.  My parents came for the festivities.  It's so nice to have them so close!!  Then on to present time.  I put together a sewing kit for Leah as well as a pot-holder making kit, a paper-doll set and some blue crocs.  She loved all her presents and has been busy making bean-bags today.  So overall a success!  I love this girl and am so grateful to have her in my home.  She is the peace-maker of the household, trying to smooth things over for everyone.  She is very, very affectionate and sweet and wants to please.  She really is a good girl.  Anyway, here are some pics of the big day...

Opening presents
My pretty Mom and Leah all snuggled up

Leah's breakfast, fruit salad

Happy Birthday! Doesn't she look big??!

Big Ol' Mama!

So we moved to Austin! We have been here for five weeks and so far, so good. Moving is always hard and we have of course had some rough spots with kids adjusting and all. We have really enjoyed the new area. Lots of really nice people, beautiful scenery and enjoying the new house. Best of all I am by my parents and sister. I LOVE IT!! It's so fun to be able to call up my sister or mom and actually be able to get together with them. And the kids have loved being closer to their Papa and Grandma and cousins. Good times!!
Many people have asked for prego pictures. It's amazing to me that during the craziness of moving and all I have gotten HUGE!! I am now 30 weeks but am bigger than I ever have been in any pregnancy. Really wierd. For me being pregnant with twins has been quite an adventure. I feel very, very blessed to have this choice experience (although when my ribs feel they are going to crack I may not think so!). Basically I am just bigger faster, hurt more, eat a lot more and get pummelled by babies a lot more!! Really they move so much! It feels like they are doing constant somersaults. It's really crazy how hungry I am! The docs have said I have to gain between 40-56 pounds (YIKES) and so far I am doing just fine. Almost to 30 pounds. Hopefully I will stay on the low end not pass up 40 pounds. The babies are doing great- growing at the same rate with healthy heart-rates and all. If only we could get their names down! I have lost many hours of sleep trying to figure this out. Any great suggestions anyone??

So the pics are to make a point...The one on the bottom was taken two weeks ago, the one on top just two days ago. Look closely and you can see how much bigger I am in the top pic. I am growing really fast!! What an adventure!!

My goal is to get more updates on here so keep watching. We finally got a new camera so I have some fun pics to add on here.