8 Months...

We are 8 Months Old!!!

We can both crawl and have already mastered the art of getting into everything.  Our favorite place to play is under the end table.  Unfortunately, Mom took away all of the magazines so we have nothing to tear up anymore.  Instead we just play under it and have have fun.  We also know how to follow Mom around the house like little ducklings.  Sometimes crying as we follow, but mostly we are just excited because we can finally go where she goes now.  Our other favorite places are the bathroom and Kaysen and Gage's room.  There are so many little and fun toys that we don't usually get to play with in there!!

We are also getting really good at making growling noises and sounds like "mama, dada and baba." Our older brothers think that we are really talking now.  In the past couple days we have learned how to stand up on some furniture. Our favorite things to hold onto are the kitchen chairs, laundry baskets and carseats.  The couches are just a bit to high for us still, but we're sure to be standing up on those in the next couple weeks....or days. 

Teagen started crawling forward with his belly off of the floor really good on June 5th.  It took him a couple weeks to catch up to his sister but now that he can crawl too he has wasted no time getting in to things.  He started trying to stand up, using items to hold on to, the very next day.  He has also cut his two bottom teeth finally.  Man it seemed like that boy has been teethign forever.  This guy has quite the appetite too.  He is the bigger eater of the two and it shows in their size.  He is getting longer and longer while his sister is still this petite little thing.  Teagen is a FUN baby.  He laughs so easily and loudly.  He has this smile that takes up his whole face and the laugh that just starts down deep and bursts out. His older brothers love to play with him everyday because he will just randomly laugh at something they do, so they continue to do it (for qutie some time, until he stops laughing or they are tired.) He is a very "chill" baby too.  He wasn't always this way but as he gets older (so far) he gets better. He is the one that will just sit on your lap and be still as long as he has a binki, or a toy to hold on to.  The only time he really "flips" out is at bedtime. As soon as that lotion is rubbed on his body and that onsie slips over his head this trigger clicks and he starts screaming.  He knows it's about time for food, and he wants it now.  As soon as that bottle is held in front of his face, he opens his mouth big, and just grabs and attacks that thing.  He downs it in record time, nurses also, then gives a big burp and is down for the night. He is my early riser though and is the first one awake 6 out of 7 days. But boy is he a happy baby when he wakes up.  He is not a cuddly baby.  When he's tired, don't you dare try to rock him.  Just lay him down and he'll be happy. Which is wonderful, when we are at home.  Church is another story though seeing as how there is no where to lay him down.  He's is one cute, fun and happy baby.

Kynlee has been crawling for few weeks now and is the one who will venture into any room she can.  She loves to hold onto the kitchen chairs or the boys stool.  She loves exploring all of the new places in the house.  Of course, her and Teagen go in opposite directions though. I'm pretty sure they'll be a gate placed in their bedroom since it's right off the living room so that they can play safely in there when I can't watch them every second.  Kynlee is still this petite little girl.  She has a birthmark tha that started to bleed so I had to take her into the doctor to get it checked out.  When they weighed her she was 15lbs 7oz.  (Kaysen was that at 4 months & Gage was bigger than that at 2 months) But at least it's my girl that's the tiny one right?? She loves food, but not quite as much as her brother.  When she wants it, she wants it. When she doesn't, don't even try.  She also prefers to be nursed verses bottle fed.  She is a constant mover.  When she is held she is constantly trying to stand, face forward, face backward, just move, move, move all the time.  She also tends to "flip out" a bit before bed like her brother.  However, as soon as that bottle is gone, she is either wide awake and wants to play more or passed out and won't nurse also.  She almost always sleeps in about 30-60 minutes longer than her brother each morning.  So, if I can nurse Teagen a bit and he goes back to sleep I'm lucky and will have all kids asleep until around 6:30.  She tend to be a bit more dramatic.  If someone walks away from her, the tears instantly build up and start flowing.  She is so soft and cuddly.  She likes to just be laid down also but is a bit more willing to be held sometimes.  I love it.  She's tiny, cuddly and just so sweet.

Bath times have also become a favorite for them now that they are sitting up by themselves.  They'll splash, kick and suck on those toys for as long as we'll let them.  (excuse the blurry picture. They were moving too much.)

These 8 months have gone by at lightning speed.  Seriously, I was pregnant with them for almost as long as they are old. I'll tell you this has gone by much, much faster than the pregnancy did.  And I am enjoying every chaotic minute with these two.

7 Months...

Yesterday, Kynlee and Teagen turned 7 months. 

It was a rough day too...

For the past 3 days Kynlee has had a fever but no other symptoms.  So I thought it was probably teething.  (My boys got horrible fevers every time a tooth came in) However, this morning when I got Kynlee out of her crib she was covered in a rash.  So we headed to the doctor. Only to be told that it was Roseola, a virus, that would go away. It could become Thrush and Teagean would probably get the rash too.  Luckily, so far Teagen hasn't gotten it, and Kynlee's rash is pretty much gone. 

So...onto the good things these babies are doing. 

Kynlee is an army crawling pro now.  She gets any where and every where. It's just a matter of time before she does the real thing.  She's already getting those knees up under her....See those baby push ups??

Then she rocks back and does a modeling pose for us...

And she is almost sitting up by herself.  She does it for quite some time, then just gradually rolls onto her side/belly and lays down. 

This morning she woke up before anyone else. She just wanted to eat a little bit and go back to sleep.  My babies are so used to being laid down and falling asleep on their own, so I don't get much cuddle time.  This morning she actually let me hold her for quite some time. I sat there and read Beyonders:Seeds of Rebellion and held this little lady.  It was a rare moment...I loved it. 

Teagen on the other hand woke up after his sister (usually he's my early riser). As always though I walked in to see this smiling face...

He lays in his crib and just talks and laughs for about 15 minutes before he's ready to get out.  I love just listening to those sounds he makes.  He's such a happy boy.

He is getting pretty good at the army crawl too. He has just started doing in these past couple of days. He hasn't quite figured out how to get those knees up under him but I know he'll be there soon.  He also is about ready to sit up on his own.  After a few minutes he just gets so dang excited that he pushed off on his heels and goes flying backwards.

He loves when we go for walks. He loves looking around at everything that passes by. I'm sure he could sit in that thing all day...as long as he has something new to look at every now and then. 

He too decided to be nice this morning by letting me snap a picture with him.  He's hilarious though.  If someone is holding him, he will NOT look at them.  He's much too busy looking around at everything else.  If someone who isn't holding him talks to him, he'll look at them for a few seconds, smile, and resume looking around.  He's just a curious little guy. 

It's seriously crazy how fast the time has flown. 7 Months ago these little ones were just making thier debut.  It's gone by so fast yet it seems like they've always been a part of this family. It's hard to remember what it was like before.  I know it was a lot less hectic, but that's okay. 

There are some rough days.  Especially lately. They are great babies.  It's just hard to spread my time and attention evenly. So my older two end up getting pushed aside or yelled at a bit more, due to my lack of patience.  But I'm going to work on it. I am going to do better. Day by day...day by day. 

6 Months...

This little gal had her 6 month check up last week.   Did I mention that she is little???  

Weight: 13lbs 11oz (8%)

Height: 24 1/4" (11%)

Head: I can't remember but it was 48%. 

She is ALL over the place. She has really gotten the hang of rolling now and is using that new talent to get anywhere she wants to go. She is even trying to get up on her knees...causing me to be worried. I don't know what I'll do when they're both mobile. 

She loves her mama. Even if I turn so that my back is to her, the tears start coming. She still loves to talk and make noises in that sweet soft voice of hers.  Her favorite thing to suck on is the big toe of her right foot. If she's in her car seat, high chair or laying down, that toe is in her mouth.  She is very sensitive to strangers.  She'll smile at you if you keep your distance, but the moment you're close that bottom lip drops down and the crying begins.  She's been quite sensitive to loud noises too. She used to love the sound of the vacuum but now that brings on the tears too.  People tell me that it comes with having a girl...that they are drama.  We'll have to see about that.  I'll keep her, baby girl drama and all.  

This little man had his 6 month check up also. 

Weight: 14lbs 14oz (6%)

Height: 26" (76%)

Head I once again don't remember but it was the 14% and 1/4" smaller than Kynlee's. 

So he's long but skinny. 

He's still content to stay in pretty much the same place I put him. He can rollover both ways and does it more each day, however just prefers his back. As long as a toy is in his hands he is happy. He loves his jumpy toy and would stay in it all day if I'd let him. He used to be a bit more fussy than his sister but lately that has changed.  He is so chill and laid back...unless he is hungry.  He seems to smile at people quite a bit more than his timid sister too.  Loud noises don't seem to bother him quite as much as they used too either.  He LOVES baby food.  Okay, the boy just flat out loves to eat anything.  As soon as he sees anyone eating his eyes are following the food with this look that says, "Gimme."  

I'll say it again and just hope I'm not jinxed. These babies are AMAZING!!! They still just fall asleep on thier own as soon as they are tired. They wake up happy. They only cry when they are hungry or tired...except for the few times when I walk out of the room. They keep us busy, but I really imagined that it would be worse. I was prepared to be exhausted ALL the time, dealing with crying ALL the time but I"m not...and I LOVE IT.  This stage of motherhood is the hardest yet, but it has been so rewarding.  All  of my kids are awesome...even during the bad moments.  

  

Here's a recap of a typical day...

6:00-7:00am wake up. Eat breakfast, nurse and get dressed. 

8:00am Take Kaysen to school.

8:30-9:30am go down for a nap. 

10:30-11:30am wake up, nurse and play

11:30am pick Kaysen up from school. 

1:00pm take Gage to school

1:00-1:30pm go down for afternoon nap

3:00pm Pick up Gage from school, wake up, nurse and play

5:00pm mini nap. 

6:00pm dinner, nurse and play

8:30pm bath, bottle and bed

Typically they sleep until 6 but a few days they wake me around 5. I do not mind at all though. On those days they just go right back to bed and I start my day. 

They are so fun and happy. We just love the feeling they bring into our home. I can't believe half a year has gone by already. It's been an amazing half year though that I'd do again I'm an instant. 

I mean come on...they are friggin' cute!!!

(Teagen is much longer than Kynlee, he's just slouched in this pic) 

Through the iPhone...

We've been crazy busy lately. So here are just a few random pics of our life. The weather has been beautiful so we've had picnics and swinging galore. The boys are loving it.

The Davy Crockett hat only leaves Gage's head for bed and school. It was quite a job to get him to agree to those terms. It's currently in the washer and he is not too happy about it. He also is sporting a yellow necklace (string) and he blows on it to give it power. That doesn't leave his body either...unless I'm sporting it around to be a princess. He's also learned how to pump himself on the swing.

Kaysen is a master at getting Kynlee and Teagen to laugh. I wish this thing would upload iPhone videos so you could here those chuckles. His last Basketball game is tonight and he's not to happy about it. He's had so much fun. If I'm not sure what he is doing all I have to do is check outside and I'll find him riding his bike. He's on that thing any chance he can get.

The babies gave had a taste of sweet potatoes and carrots now and both of them were a success. Teagen especially loves it which is great because he was much harder to feed the cereal to. Now they both eat all of it. Most nights now they are sleeping from 9:30ish to about 6 which is AMAZING!!! I love those babies. They are the best babies ever! Thank goodness to or I think I would have completely list my mind by now.

Jerry is working an overhaul right now so his only day off is Sunday. We have about 6 more weeks of it and can't wait for it to be over.

My sister asked me to do the receivables for her and I said yes. Which sometimes I wonder when I'll get it done. But I've actually really enjoyed working from home again...even if I am always busy.

(sorry the photos are all at the bottom. It's the only thing I don't like about this app.)

5 Months...

On the day theses babies turned 5 months old my mom and I loaded up the car and went to Thatcher for my cousins sealing. (Jer kept the older two home so I could have a little break)

It was their first "road trip." Boy were they amazing.  They weren't too happy about being put back in the car seat after each break but the crying only lasted about 2 minutes and then they were angels.

Here's the low down on what they are doing now...

Kynlee has the softest little voice and just coos so quietly. But she moves her mouth and tongue like she is really trying to talk to you. She loves her jumper toy and just jumps and jumps like crazy. She has even been caught asleep in it.

She moves around so much when she's laying down. She folds in half and pulls her feet up as high as she can and grabs onto those tiny toes then tries to eat them.

Teagen is still a loud squealer. He's constantly making noises. Every time he wakes up he lays in his crib just laughing and talking for a good 10 minutes or longer. He is my early riser though. However it doesn't bother me because he's so smiley and happy...and he's been sleeping until at least 6:00am. (knock on wood!!!).  He prefers to spend his time sitting in his bumbo chair watching everyone.

Slowly, he's starting to like the jumper toy but not as much as that sister of his. He loves his fingers. They must taste delicious because they constantly look like prunes from being in his mouth any time he's awake.

We've just started trying to feed them cereal...

It's one more area where they are so different. Teagen is my good nurser. Kynlee is still the difficult one when it comes to nursing...simply because she is still a loud, guzzler who has to burp all the time. Kynlee is my good cereal eater and gobbles that stuff right up. Teagen just spits it out as soon as enters his mouth. 
They are both getting really good at grabbing anything within reach.  Boy my hands are getting full already. It's tricky business trying  keep my phone, spoon, and anything else stretched away so they can't get it.
Life has been easier though...

After a couple weeks of very little sleep and always having at least one baby awake during the day I finally started making them stay awake at the same time then putting them down for naps at the same time. One always wakes up before the other, usually Teagen, he's my cat napper. But I have a good hour at a time (usually) where they are both asleep. This has helped with giving my older two the attention they need too. At night I have been letting them cry a bit longer...now that we are in our own room (YAAAAAYYYYYY!!!) I can tolerate them crying longer.  After just a few minutes they are usually back asleep and go through the night. I think the trick is working (for Teagen the most) because he hasn't even made a sound the past couple nights. I've had to feed Kynlee a few times during the night because she won't go back to sleep but at least it's only one baby for now...(I'm seriously keeping my fingers crossed on this one!!)

While I was in Thatcher, Jerry took Kaysen and Gage horse riding at a friends house.

They were having a blast. Kaysen was in heaven and didn't want to leave at all. He learned how to make the horse stop, go, and turn.  He thinks he's quite the PROFESSIONAL now and keeps asking when they can go back. Then Jerry took them shooting and quad riding. I'm pretty sure they'd love for me to go out of town again so they could have that much fun with Dad more often.

Reach...

Just yesterday both of my babies looked at, reached and grabbed their toys. Yay! Now it will be easier to keep them entertained....I hope :)

Four Months...

Kynlee. You smile. Most of the time it's a little sideways smirk but sometimes we get a full open mouth smile too that makes your tiny nose crinkle. You laugh. I mean a whole body shaking, laugh that starts out deep in sound and gets higher and higher in pitch. You coo too. Your voice is so soft and quiet when you make these sweet noises.  You are an awesome sleeper. Usually going down about 9:00 and waking up about 4:30, but many times you'll go even longer. You are great at keeping yourself entertained, although your brothers are usually right by you. Gage sits by you and calls you beautiful girl over and over again.  Kaysen makes funny noises because each time he does we get to hear that adorable laugh.  He is the best at getting you to laugh. You always have your fingers or fist in your mouth and are making loud sucking sounds the entire time.  You are still a little guzzler when eating.  Which makes it pretty tricky to feed you discretely.  No matter how long it has been since you last ate you act like you are starving.  You love to lay under your play toy and look at all the colorful toys above you. You are trying to figure out how to get those toys and are almost there.  When your hands to grab one you are a bit surprised at first, then you try your hardest to get those toys into your mouth.   You are starting to move over so much.  Within a few moments of laying down you have done a 180. 

As soon as you are put on your belly you are rolling onto your back.  If your brother and you are laying by each other, one of you are getting kicked in the face within just a couple minutes because of how much you guys move.  At your doctors appointment on the 9th you weighed 11 lbs 15 oz (17%) and were 23 1/2" long (17%) while your head was 16" (45%).  They tell me you are a short little girl. It'll be fun to see how you grow.  I don't think you really have a chance at being short but I could be surprised.  You already have your Daddy wrapped around your finger.  He loves his boys, but there is something different about having a girl.  He's so protective of you and just thinks you are the most beautiful baby ever.  I could watch him interact with you all day long. He tells you to pick a good guy some day and to be smart. He tells you to listen to your mom and to be her friend.  My favorite thing about you right now is how much you smile and look around.  You are so observant and just love to watch what every one is doing.  As soon as you hear my voice your head is moving all over until you find me. Then I get to see the cutest little smirk there is. 

Teagen.  You smile too. But yours is a big, whole mouth smile that lights your whole face up.  You also laugh.  But your laugh is a high pitch squeal right from the start. You are so dang loud. It's hilarious.  There isn't a moment of quietness when you are awake.  It's not that you are crying all the time, it's just that you are constantly making noises.  You are also a great sleeper. Usually you go to sleep at 9:00 and waking up around 4:00.  Lately, you've been waking me up a bit earlier because you think that you are starving though.  I'm telling myself it's a growth spurt and I hope I'm right. Last night you did great and slept until 5:00am so let's make this a new trend huh??? You also drool like crazy. This caused me to look at your gums and sure enough, you have a little white dot on your bottom left.  I think it will be coming up any time now. You've gotten a tooth faster than any of my babies.  You love your bouncer.  Going through all of the pictures I've taken recently I've noticed that you are in that bouncer for 90% of those pictures.  You are completely content sitting in that bouncer...as long as you can see someone.  As I cook dinner you are on the kitchen floor, in your bouncer.  When I'm feeding Kynlee, you are being bounced at my feet. 

You do not like sudden, loud noises.  You startle so easy. It actually amazes me, because your brothers make so much noise I didn't think you'd notice.  You are used to their noises, it's just sudden ones that get you.  You startled easy when you were first born too. The nurses told me it was a sign of low blood sugar, I think it is just the way you are becuase your blood sugar is fine now You try and try to roll over from your back to your belly. You are almost there too. You hate being on your belly. Sometimes you'll roll over. Other times you'll just lay there and scream until someone helps you roll over.  At your doctors appointment on the 9th you weighed 12lbs 9oz (11%), you are 25" long (56%) and your head measured 15 43/4" (27%). So although you weigh more than your sister, you are small on the boy charts. Except the doctor tells me you are pretty long, especially for how small you started out.  You are a solid weight too.  When I carry both car seats I can tell that yours is heavier, even if it is just a few ounces different. Your brothers love to play with you and make you happy.  You tend to be a bit fussier, unless some one is giving you 100% attention.  Then you smile, laugh and squeal so much.  Gage calls you handsome boy and Kaysen makes you laugh the most by grabbing your hands and saying, "Here we go Wildcats. Here we go." You also like to lay under the toy and try to figure out how to get those dang things.  Just today you actually looked at one and touched it for the first time.  Other times you've just touched it on accident and then held it. You smiled so big when you did this.  You Dad loves you and thinks you are the biggest stud muffin.  He is learning to not hold you up by his ear when you are awake because you squeal so loud in it. But then you turn your face towards him and smile and that any grouchy feelings he may have had go away.  He talks to you about the cars you're going to help him restore and the basketball games you and your brothers are all going to play. My favorite thing about you right now is that as soon as you see me, your face lights up. No matter how tired or grouchy you are, that smile comes out so big and I LOVE IT!!

You two are amazing babies.  When you are tired you fuss for a couple minutes so I lay you down in your crib,cover you with a blanket and give you a binky. Then you are asleep within minutes.  Most times you never even make a sound when I lay you down. I love it.  You are starting to move so much now that you are both turned sideways and end up kicking each other.  Hopefully that addition gets done soon so you can get your own crib.  You guys love to look at each other.  As soon as eye contact is made you both start smiling and talking like crazy.  You stay awake much more during the day, which makes it pretty tricky to get anything done but I'm learning to just get it done anyways.  You rarely start and finish naps at the same time so I almost always have one baby awake during the day.  Each one of us have loved having you in our home.  You've taught me patience. You've taught me that I can do things I never thought I could.  You've made me realize that I need to slow down and enjoy the moment a bit more.  I love the chance I have to be your mom.

.2 seconds

From this....

To this....

In .2 seconds. 

Both of them are pretty good at it. Luckily it doesn't happen too often though. They are such awesome babies! Gotta love them! 

Stats...

Man I'm learning just how hard it is to get BOTH of my babies to look at me at the SAME time for a picture. It's nearly impossible. This is the best I could get...

They had a check up today. It was supposed to be their 2 month check up, they were really 11 weeks and 5 days.  

Kynlee was 10lbs 1oz and 22"long. 

Teagen was 10lbs 7oz and 23" long. He has now passed his sister. 

I can't remember their percentiles but they are well onto the charts now!!! Yay! 

I Melt...

This little guy has a way of making me melt. Something about him...just does it to me. 

It could be his cry. He really does have a sad cry.  It's starts so soft, like a whimper and gradually builds. If he's really wanting my attention or if I'm not feeding him quick enough it turns into an all out scream but still a sad one. 

Maybe it effects me so much because of the 50+ times he got poked in the heel when he was just 2 days old, to check his blood sugar levels.

Or because when he got his second PKU his heel wouldn't bleed (from being poked so much) so each time they squeezed his foot he screamed. 

 Or it could be from when he got circumcised and the bleeding wouldn't stop, and he was, once again screaming in pain. 

It could be a combo of all these things. I've been pretty lucky when it came to healthy babies. So when we had to monitor him and then when we almost had to take him to the ICU I got a little scared and attached to the little guy. 

Or it could be that when his heart rate dropped during delivery I was so scared all I wanted was for him to survive. 

It could be the way he whimpers so softly as he's putting himself to sleep. 

Or the way he reminds me of a porcelain doll with his fair completion and perfectly smooth face. 

But I'm pretty sure it could definitely be from his smile though. I mean look at this cute little boy...

All I know is I'm sure glad that this little guy tagged along for this fun adventure. I couldn't imagine life without him, even if he does turn me into a softie. 

Good Morning...

Here is to having a good day...even if it did start off earlier than I hoped! How can I be grouchy when I had theses cute smiling faces waking me up???

(Kynlee was still asleep during this pic that's why she's not in it)

My grandparents from Oregon sent down these cute Christmas outfits for the twins. Teagen is a reindeer &  Kynlee is Santa's helper. As you can see from some of the pics, they weren't really in a picture taking mood... But they still look cute. 

One is happy...she just got fed. The other is mad...he's waiting to be fed. 

This is the best group picture we could get. Coordinating 4 kids is tricky business I tell ya! 

Hope you have a good day!