The Chain is Gone

Yesterday, I was the party planning committee chair. I called for reinforcements to get everything done. Thanks to Doug's neice, Heather, for helping with the streamers and making Doug's favorite cookies with me. Thanks to Doug's mom for helping so I could finish dinner and put the final touches on the party. Doug walked in the door around 5:30 pm and we had dinner (my first time barbecuing and we didn't have an explosion) before heading to to see 110 in the Shade at a small community theatre. Audra McDonald was the star of the show and was breathtaking. I knew nothing about the play, but loved it!

I was so happy to watch Doug tear the last link off our paper chain. This is a big milestone for him (and me) in his program. He is in a 5-year program and he just completed his 3rd year. He has no more coursework from now on - no more classes! He will now focus on his dissertation and work for the next year. I am so proud of him for working so hard and having long nights at home with me and E&S. Doug, you're the best.

Party for Five

It has been a party - for 5 months now. These two babies are my world right now. Some days, that world is the greatest - and other days, a little overwhelming. Doug and I say pray at night and thank our Father in Heaven for the opportunity we have of being their parents.

Look at this face. She melts me with her smiles because she doesn't give them as freely as her brother. Because there are two of them, one of her favorite times is on the changing table when we talk to her and play with her. As soon as I put her down on it, she bursts into a grin and starts laughing.

Not sure if you remember this outfit, but Doug and I bought it the day we found out I was pregnant. Ethan doesn't fit into his yet, so that photo will come later. We laughed when we found out we were expecting a boy and girl because we purchased one boy and one girl outfit that day back in May 2009.

Ethan has discovered his hands. He holds them like this all the time and makes us laugh. He smiles with his whole body and when he is happy, is SO happy. When he's upset, he is SO upset. He is finally starting to grow at a faster pace (thanks to my sister Sarah's advice--Ethan and her daughter, Grace, are going to be great friends because they are so alike). He has gotten some chub on his cheeks, but is so skinny next to Sydney. I'll need to post a 'diaper only' photo to show the difference. After a lot of work, he is sleeping and eating better. Now if we can get him to stop wasting so much energy crying so hard!

Love this cuddle photo. They are becoming better friends, even if I am getting ready to put them in separate cribs. When they wake up, the other baby is mauled until waking up.

I don't know why Sydney always looks so startled in photos. I think it's her looking at us smiling and clapping and trying to get her attention for the photo. We must look so strange.

Wish I could get one of them both looking at the camera and smiling. I don't know that it's ever happened.

They are growing up so fast - moving and rolling all over the place. They are changing every day. It seems like I am always saying, "that's the first time I've seen that!"

Let's go to the movies!

I made my acting debut in 7th grade in "Anything Goes" as a reporter. There were 3 of us. When the director asked the 3 of us who wanted a speaking part, I nearly died. "No way!"

Well, I just submitted an application to be an extra in a movie next Spring.

Do you think these photos of me (cropped from photos my friend Kayla took of me with E&S) match this description?

"We seek individuals with darker hair and olive to brown skin tone, and notable bone structure."

I thought I fit it. In the next 4 weeks, I will hear back from them. You may see me in the background on many various New Testament stories filmed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on a new permanent set in Utah of Jerusalem. It would be amazing to participate in the scenes of the Savior feeding the 5,000 or of Lazarus being raised from the dead. I am completely excited about the opportunity. I guess I shouldn't be so upset that I got my dad's nose and a little middle-eastern look.

This is an article about the project. Pretty amazing to build a whole set of Jerusalem. I imagine there will be tourists coming to Salt Lake just to see that!

Happenings

The day after Ethan rolled for the first time, Sydney followed. The problem we had was catching it on camera. I chose one of about 2 dozen video clips of her attempting the roll. She was apparently camera-shy.

Finally, the moment arrived when she rolled and we had a camera ready...and we almost missed it.

Two friends gave us Bumbos (Thanks Steph and the Wrides) and we can't believe how big they look in them!

Love this face.

Ethan freaks us out when he does this, but he LOVES to hold things as he's falling asleep and squirms like crazy. I always go move him to make sure he can breathe easily.

Syd was playing with her dad today and smiling. It was the best Father's day present for her Dad. Happy first Father's Day Doug.

Roll Over

Ethan is a mover and a shaker. He has been since I first felt him kick in my belly. (He never moved his position, so I knew it was him.) Well, he's now rolling over and we can hardly believe it.

When the babies were blessed last Sunday, (similar to a Christening--they are given a name and blessing by the Priesthood authority) Doug blessed both of them that they would develop a close relationship with each other. It has been amazing to me that, since that blessing, I have noticed a difference in their bond.

- This week was the first time I ever saw them look at the other baby and smile. Before they would look at each other but have a stunned look (when one would be crying hard or something). I was hoping they would make eye contact and smile at the same time, but not yet. Both babies did it independently though on the same feeding. That was amazing.

- They hold hands a lot now when I feed them. They did that occasionally before.

- They 'cuddle' in bed a little more as well.

I sat last night and thought, "Wow--they seem to be liking to be together a lot more." Then I remembered their baby blessings and was amazed that I would be able to tell a difference. (Thanks to my mom for the cute blankets.)

I have learned that playing time with the babies happens on my nursing pillow because I am always there! If I put one baby in the baby gym, I am usually feeding the other baby. Here is one of Ethan's favorites (besides me talking and singing to him while I am burping Sydney).

Weighing in

A nurse, Avon, comes from the county every month to monitor E&S's growth. She came yesterday and my suspicions were confirmed.

Ethan: 10 lb 14 oz

Sydney: 11 lb 13 oz

She taught me how to teach them to use their hands to support themselves when on their bellies, how to prevent stiff back muscles in Syd (common in premature babies), and to encourage them to hold rattles and stuff. It was pretty useful and exciting to see their growth.

Blessing Day

Sunday was a special day at our house when the babies were blessed. When we got them dressed in the morning (thanks Jenn and Doug's mom for your help), they looked like angels. Doug gave them wonderful blessings. The babies weren't too fussy, although I was nervous when I was in the foyer with Ethan screaming as they were announcing the order of the baby blessings - there were 4 including E&S.

They were hungry once we got to my parent's house for a family lunch, so the photos were tough.

They wore booties that Ruby Passey (sp?) made in Doug's ward growing up (she has since passed away). Doug's mom and Michelle gave some to us that they had saved. Here Ethan is showing his off...

We got these sunglasses from some friends in our ward. I couldn't resist.

It was the perfect occasion for a Four Generations photo with my parents and grandparents. Thought it was funny that we had a boy and girl to complete the male/female photo on each side. It was a great day.

Sleeping Babies

We took a few photos of the babies last night and tried REALLY hard to get them to both look at the camera at the same time. Nope, didn't happen. We should've taken a photo of us trying to get their attention and get them to smile...that would've been more entertaining.

Sydney looks just like a Beckstrand in this photo to me...and Ethan seems to be wanting to touch the camera. He's a curious boy.

We caught a few great photos of them sleeping today. Ethan had his mouth open like this the very first time I saw his face (in the NICU).

My baby recliner made of 2 pillows with cute Syd chillin' while I burped Ethan. She was out.

Cousins!

Look at these cute babies! They are just 2 days apart. Kayden came to visit Ethan and Sydney yesterday and we couldn't resist taking a photo of the three of them. I love the way Kayden is putting his arm around Sydney. He did it for the ENTIRE photo shoot. Oh, young love.

One of my big excitements was seeing that E&S aren't too small for their age. I was a little bummed when Kayden's mom, Chelsea, said that he was only the 5th percentile. But still, they don't look too far off.

Time and time again I disbelieved what the doctors had told me about E&S and then I am proved wrong. Well, here's another one. They both had umbilical hernias...big ones. Sydney's was especially large. It was bigger around than my thumb. The doctors said that it would go away on its own. If it didn't by 18 months, they would do surgery. Well, all of a sudden, it vanished. Yes - it is gone. Now there is just some loose skin there. Ethan's is gone as well. Craziness. Shows you what I know...

Look at it before (not a great shot of it, but it will do). It's funny - she is wearing a premie diaper here in the NICU shot, but a size 1 in the current photo - amazing how big she's getting!