On Our Own

Ryan and Drew

This last week Rob and I have been on our own with all the kids. It hasnt been so bad. Rob took the next week and a half off (which was the rest of his paternity leave) to help me out until his Mom gets here on Sept 7th. We have worked out a little schedule for the night and in the early morning to help us get some more sleep. Rob has been sleeping with one of the babies in the guest room and I have been with the other in the bedroom. The babies were waking each other up and we were both getting tops....2-3 hours of sleep a night. Now that we have separated them....we get more like 6. It's been a lot better and we dont need to take naps during the day anymore. I have been getting up with all the kids around 5-5:30am when Kira arises :) I let him sleep until 7:30ish. Then he gets up and I sleep until around 10am. It works!

Babies are 4 weeks now and getting really big. I have been giving them some tummy time...which they hate and scream for the entire time. They get up at night every 2-2.5 hours. Ryan likes to entertain himself on the playmat or in the seat a little more than Drew. Drew is more of a cuddle bug and likes to be held all the time. They have both lost most of their hair on the top and have been sporting a "Ben Franklin." They have also lost their eyebrow hair too. It looks a little scary....but I remember this happening to both Kevin and Kira also.

Kevin and Kira continue to be great with the babies. Although still very overbearing at times. Kevin starts school this week. Kira starts next week. Im a little excited for that. I think they need it....especially to get out of the house. They have been trapped for the last four weeks now and have lots of energy!!

Feeding her brother a bottle

Making his own PB&J

Kira being motherly....lol

Daddy and Ryan

Ryan (red) & Drew

Drew

More On Grammy's Visit

We have been having such a good time with Grammy these past couple weeks. We are so sad that she has to leave today! :( We have been just hanging out around the house. The two of us have had the chance to sneak out without kids a couple times. First stop....Rocky Mountain to get an apple....yum...yum!

The babies are getting so big. They are 3 weeks old already! While Grammy was here she gave them their first bath in the sink. They loved it! We all enjoy cuddling with them...they are the sweetest little boys. Kevin and Kira are still wonderful with them. A little overbearing at time but at least they arent resentful or mean toward them.

We have enjoyed getting lots of pictures. Grammy and I did a little mini photo shoot at home and they also had their newborn photo session with Myra Wike. The pictures came out ok. I was a little disapointed because most of them were not perfect. But I love the ones of all four kids together!!

We love you Grammy and we'll miss you! See you in December!

Grammy's Here!!

Thank goodness for Grammy! She got here on Wenesday August 10th....although like usual the flight was not easy. She took off out of West Chester County Airport, which we never did before, and it proved to be a little hectic. Her flight leaving there was late taking off which caused her to miss her connecting flight in Atlanta, Ga. There was another flight at 2:30pm but she was on standby for it. The airline was offering vouchers for anyone who would give up their seat for a later flight. Thank goodness for two men who wanted to go to the bar and drink! She got on that flight!

She got here like 4pm as opposed to 11:30am....so it kinda wasted a day....but overall didnt make a dent in her visit :)

Im so glad to have her here. She has been helping us out so much. Kevin and Kira are having a ball with her. Rob and I have been taking care of the babies at night and she has been getting up with Kevin and Kira in the morning. We have been able to sleep in a little and I have been able to take naps during the day. Rob is back to work while Grammy is here. So its really good for him to be able to get as much extra sleep as possible.

The babies had their 2 week check up at the doctors. They both weighted exactly their birth weights...which is what they like them to do. They went a week earlier just for a weight check. Dr. Engmann said if I wanted I could bring them in. So of course I did :)

They both lost their belly buttons so we were able to give them their first baths in the sink. They LOVED their baths and were completely quiet through the whole thing. I expected them to scream....but no. Drew only screams when we are getting him dressed! Ryan is pretty calm the whole time.

This Friday was Kara's baby shower. I brought the kids over to Rachel's house so they could play with their friends and have a break from being stuck in the house. They really enjoyed that! Kara's baby boy is due a few weeks after mine were. We are all so excited for her!

Grammy has been cooking us some yummy dinners too. We have also had some wonderful friends bring us some meals for the first week. They all took turns and days. We have some great friends here in NWA! :) We were also able to freeze some of the leftovers from our friends and Grammy to have when everyone leaves us and we have no help at all. Which is another 5 weeks away!! Yeah!!

Kevin and Kira are also enjoying Grammy time.....they love when she comes to visit.

Kara's Shower

Kevin, Kira, Cohen, Faith, and Abigail

Ryan

Grammy and the boys

The First Week

First Night: The first night with the babies will go down in history. It all started out really good. The babies went to sleep at 9:30pm and woke up at 12:00am. I felt that this was pretty decent. Until...dun...dun...dun....they didnt go back to sleep until 6:00am! We were up ALL night with them. They didnt want to sleep at all! The would nod off and we would put them down....and as soon as we put them down they would wake up. I went to bed at 6am and woke up at 8am. Rob went to sleep at 8am and woke up at 10am. Atleast we were able to get 5 hours combine from our few in the early night and a few the next morning.

The next few nights were rough. Rob and I would take turns staying out in the living room with them. One of them was always up at one time. They both slept in their bouncy chairs. But they both liked one more than the other. Neither of them liked the red chair as much so whoever was in the red chair would constantly wake up. I would cat nap with one of them in my lap on the couch with pillows all around me. I would take the first shift from 10am-2am and Rob would take the second from 2am-5am. Then I would go to sleep from 5am-7am and he would sleep from 7am-9am. It was rough. We also tried to put them in the bassinet together and they would constantly wake each other up. I was really looking forward to having them be able to sleep together and cuddle together....but that didnt happen :(

The babies are pretty much sleeping all day and very inconsistant. They are very sweet and love to be held. Kevin and Kira are great with them....they constantly want to be around them and hug and kiss them. It is really sweet to see but can be very overbearing sometimes. Kira says they are "her" babies :) Ryan and Drew also have their own language already. They will grunt back and forth to each other from across the room like they are talking to each other. I love it!

Diane left on Aug 7th. She was a big help for 5 weeks. We couldnt have done it without her.....or atleast it wouldnt have been as easy!

My mom comes on Aug 10th to help for 2 weeks....Im really excited.

Ryan and Drew

Ryan

Mommy and Drew

Drew

Mommy and Ryan

Ryan

This is where they hang out

Kira and Ryan

Ryan and Drew

Ryan and Drew

Ryan

Ryan and Kevin

Drew

Ryan