Smiles!

Chase smiling!













Owen's big smile















Cousin Sophia
smiling



















































Owen in the floppy hat and Chase in the Pooh hat.

Schedule

When we found out we were having twins the best advice I got from other mothers and books was that we needed to be on a strict schedule. When one baby is hungry you feed them both. This is supposed to synchronize their lives. So, since day 1 we've been feeding them at the same time, napping them at the same time, bathing them around the same time, etc. Here is a sampling of how our day goes:

6:00 a.m. Jeff gets up for work and takes the boys downstairs
7:00 a.m. Susie feeds the babies
7:30 a.m. diapers are changed
7:40 a.m. play time
8:00 ish-nap time
10:00 - Susie feeds the babies, diapers, play time, nap time
1:00 - Susie feeds the babies, diapers, play time, nap time
4:00 - Susie feeds the babies, diapers, play time, nap time
7:00 pm - Susie feeds the babies, diapers,
7:30 pm - walk outside
8:00 - nap time
10:00 - Susie feeds the babies and they go to bed.
10:30 - Susie and Jeff wait in bed for the first pacifier to fall out
1-2:00 - One of the boys wakes up and we feed the babies
4-5:00 - One of the boys wakes up and again we feed, burp and change the babies
7:00- Feed the babies

It never ends-feeding the babies is my life!

My sister was here for a few days last week. It was so wonderful to have her here and for her to experience our lives with twins! She loved Chase and Owen and helped out by allowing me to nap and for Jeff and I to run errands. We had a lot of fun playing with the babies and looking at their wardrobe. It's too bad she lives out of town. :(

Jim and Sandy are here for the weekend and can't believe how much the boys have grown. We are going to Walker next weekend and I bought floppy hats for the boys on Clearance today at Target. They are pretty cute on them, way to big of course, but cute.

I got pooped on by Owen again. This time it only hit my arm. ;) He seems to be pretty gassy-sorry to share that Owen. Both boys are napping well and are starting to extend their night time sleep. Last night we had a 5 hour interval. I spent hour 4 putting the pacifier back into Owen's mouth-I knew he could hold out and Chase wasn't awake. They did it! Jeff and I couldn't believe how different the night felt only getting up 1 time!

Double Digits

Both babies weigh over 10 lbs! yipeeeeeeee. They had an appointment yesterday and got weighed. Chase was 10.3 and Owen was 10.05. Everyone could tell Chase was Baby A just by looking at them. I asked "How?" and got the response that they see so many twins they can tell who is the bigger one and he is usually Baby A. Funny. They are eating well, gaining amazing amounts of weight and will be back in 2 weeks for their 2 month appointment. They are 7 weeks old today! Still getting up every 3 hours at night to eat, cuter than ever and we love them more and more each day.

Both Chase and Owen are really starting to hold their heads up when put on our shoulder. They look around and are proud of their strength. Chase likes to look at himself in the play mirror and Owen likes to kick his right leg and move his left arm. They have new hair growing in on the tops of their heads, so they aren't bald up there anymore. Their eyelashes are getting longer and look so cute. They can still poop with the best of 'em-man it's amazing! :)

Favorites

My favorite part of Owen and Chase is their hands. They are sooooo little and sweet I could look at them all day. They open and close their little fingers, which are really fat. They point their fingers, put them in their eyes, put them in their brother's eyes and curl them so cute. I measured their hands today so some day I'll remember how small they are. Each boys' hand was 2.75 inches long from the first wrist fold to the end of the middle finger. That's TINY!

We had new pictures taken of Owen on Monday. When we had the originals done by our neighbor Owen had a bad day and we didn't get many pictures of him because he was crying. I felt badly about this and took him back so we would have more pictures of him. They turned out GREAT! Enjoy a few.

Aunt Kate came and has spent some time with the babies. She says she loves them. I'm happy to hear that. She is staying with us for a few days and is going to make some dinners to put in the freezer. Yipee. I think I may even get in a few naps while she watches the babies. That would be amazing. My parents were also in town for the weekend. My dad had not seen the babies in 3 weeks and was amazed at how big they were and how alert they are.

Owen and Chase stay awake longer and longer. They look around and look at toys and just love to look at me! :) They really like to take walks at night and lie on their tummies. I've found they also like to fall asleep on their tummies, so it's not the exercise I was hoping for.

I bought Halloween costumes yesterday! You'll have to wait to see what they will be wearing . . .

Bath Time

Chase is all clean after his bath. He likes his alligator towel!
Owen all snuggly after a bath


Chase gets a bath from Daddy

Everyone participates in bath time for Owen

Bye Bye Mom

My Mom's official stint as nanny has come to an end today. It was sad to say goodbye and she had a hard time leaving, as well. She starts school on Thursday and needs to be home for that. We had such a great time with her here. There is something special about bonding with your mom after having a child. I'm sure those of you who are mothers can relate. It was fun to see my mom interact with the babies knowing she was probably similar when interacting with me. She was a great support for me, answering questions, talking me through my fears and giving me confidence. We'll miss her around the house and the fact she helped Jeff so much with landscaping and practically did all the sewing on our new kitchen window curtain. We love you Mom!

I saw my friend's baby yesterday and she was only 6lbs. and a few ounces. She was tiny! I couldn't believe how small she was. I was then reminded that my babies had been smaller! Had they really? I can't believe I've already forgotten how small they were. How time flies.

My best friend Lindzy had a little girl on Sunday. Her name is Addyson and she looks pretty cute. Lindzy and I have been friends since our freshman year at ISU. She lived in the cities until Aug. 2006 and now lives in Virginia. Giving birth to my babies and not having her here for it was difficult. Now that she's had her baby I find myself longing to be with her to help and encourage. It's such a special time in our lives and it really stinks to not be able to spend it with each other. Long distance friendship stinks! We should all live close to our friends and family, life would be better.

New outfits from Katie Abbott

Our first big outing to the Carver County Fair


Grandma Anderson and the boys


Jeff talking loud to the boys

A Story for the Ages

What a day yesterday! We took the boys to the Carver County Fair in Waconia. It was a beautiful day and the boys did just great. We dressed them in new white onesies that said "Stop Copying Me". They were a hit. Jeff and I got to eat a ton of fair food and were content. I had a corn dog, my favorite. I put ketchup and mustard on it and boy was it good.

A little while later I noticed Owen had a little mustard on his paci. What a horrible mother I thought! I got food on his paci and didn't even notice. It was just a little bit and I didn't have a napkin so I licked it off. Sandy's friend Char was there and thought nothing of it. Then I looked down and saw Owen's hand had mustard on it too. I didn't think I was that messy with my corn dog, but whatever. I started inspecting him and realized there was a big pile of mustard in the bottom of his car seat . . . coming out of his onesie . . . oh my gosh! It wasn't mustard, it was poop! Owen pooped out of his diaper and the poop was everywhere! That was what was on the paci-not mustard! I licked off poop! GROSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! We laughed and screamed so loud and couldn't believe what I had done. The story quickly spread through our group of friends at the fair and I think it will be one to tell for the ages! :)

Smiles

Today was a great day for me! I woke up, came downstairs and started talking to Owen. He turned and looked at me and SMILED!!!! What an amazing moment for a mother. I started to tear up and kept talking to him and he smiled again! It was so sweet and just melted my heart. Yesterday Jeff said Chase smiled at him. I have to admit I didn't believe him. After today I do believe! :)

They are wearing their special Thing 1 and Thing 2 onesies from Grandma and Grandpa Anderson. They were a hit at the National Night Out party last night. Chase is wearing "Thing 1" because he was the first one out. Owen is in "Thing 2". We alternate the pink pacifier so both boys get a chance to use it! Ha ha. It was the only one at Target when I needed it!

Chase













Chase on the left-Owen the right

Jeff and Chase

Chase

Owen's cute little face

Owen and Mommy

This is a picture of Chase that was taken by the photographer in our neighborhood.

Updates

Chase and Owen are doing so well! They eat every 2 1/2-3 hours and are so happy to get their tummies full. After eating they arch their heads back into the cutest pose we've ever seen and we just cuddle and burp them and love them up. Owen really likes to be next to Chase and we found him cozied up to him last night in bed 3 different times. It's very cute. They will now stare at each other if they are laying by each other and always touch hands. (This may be because they are always flailing, not by choice!) They follow objects with their eyes and turn their heads. They for sure know my voice, as today Chase heard my voice and his eyes got real big and he looked for me. It was an amazing moment as a mom. Both boys have little bald spots on the back of their heads from laying on them. Chase is still our most vocal child-grunting at every movement he makes. Owen makes great faces and usually has his left eyebrow lifted while doing so. We had some projectile vomit yesterday from Chase, but haven't had any since (thank goodness). They are fun little guys and keep us on our toes. There is never a dull moment with twins. Someone is always awake needing attention. We sure love our job! Jeff and Susie

Chase is enjoying his wake time.

Owen looking at Mommy with his favorite paci.

Sleeping babies look so peaceful! This was the first day Chase and Owen have been in sleepers. They were a little big, but cute none the less!
Chase is on the left-Owen the right.

Thank you!

Jeff and I can not believe the generosity of friends and family and even new neighbors! Thank you to everyone who has poured into our lives by sending cards, gifts, bringing meals, calling to check in and praying for us. We feel so blessed and thank God for all of you. We didn't realize we would be so taken care of after the babies came. It's been wonderful!

Porch relaxation

I'm sitting outside on the porch with the babies. Jeff and my Mom are planting plants in the landscaping beds-one of my favorite things to do. I guess it's fun just watching them. Jeff and Mom make a good team! The babies are trying to sleep but they keep waking up when their pacifiers fall out. They are pretty cute.

It's been a busy couple days. On Tuesday I took the boys to the Dr. and had their weight checked. Owen weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz! Chase was 8 lbs. 6 oz! They are getting to be such big boys. I had a follow up appointment with a neurologist today. He basically told me it's going to continue to take time for my face to heal, but the fact there has been progress is a good sign. I wish there was a magic pill to take that would make it all better overnight.

We are looking forward to my sister, Kate, visiting in a few weeks. She'll get to meet her nephews for the first time.

The boys are officially 1 month old today! Happy Birthday Owen and Chase!

As you wish . . .

I guess people are getting sick of looking at my poopy shirt! Here are some pictures to delight you.

You think YOU had a bad day . . .

I was changing Owen this morning, he had a poopy diaper and it was no big deal. Suddenly there was an explosion and it shot all over my shirt, my arm, hit the carpet, the hard wood and shot onto the rug under our table. I didn't even know what to do I was shocked! I laughed good, got the camera and documented it. What else is there to do? Oh-I also cleaned up the mess.

Owen's sweet sleeping face and his disgruntled face.




































Owen and Chase in their prison stripes