thetadpoles.com

It blows my mind to think that the twins have been alive for 6 months now, half a year. At times it feels like much longer when we think of where we started, obstacles we had to overcome (and still do) and friends we have lost.

UPDATES:

• Loen: We are still the bigger twin. As of Monday Loen weighed 9 pounds 12 ounces and was 21 1/2″ long. I was so happy when she finally grew out of preemie clothes and could wear newborn size. With this huge growth spurt she is starting to wear 0-3 month clothing. It is so exciting AND we can wear dresses! Loen is our little social butterfly. She is all smiles in the morning and has just started to coo (occasionally). She is still a daddy’s girl. She loves to lie on Tadd’s chest and will give huge smiles when she hears his voice. We just started showing them books and I love the looks on their faces with they see a new picture. I’m not sure if it is the change in color or what but they will open their eyes really wide and look amazed.

• Derby: Mr. Chipmunk cheeks. That is why he looks larger than Loen even though he weighs 9 pounds 5 ounces and is 19 3/4″ long. It is amazing what a couple of inches can do. He definitely has the cheeks from my side of the family. While Derby does not smile a lot he will after LOTS of coaxing and dancing and silly voices. He likes you to perform for his love! After our last visit to the eye doctor they said that his ROP is stage II resolving and we wont have to keep checking every 2 weeks. He also has bilateral strabismus (lazy eye). So we have begun patching one eye then the other for an hour each. Hopefully this will strength his eye muscles enough so he wont require corrective surgery. Derby is our little muscle man. He is very good at pushing his head up to look around. Loen will just give up during tummy time and go to sleep. Oh well, you cant have it all.

Baby Cyclops

I know I have not written much lately. We have had a crazy few weeks. Tadd just finished tax season, while he didn’t put in the hours he has done in previous years the last 2 weeks were hard. He would come home for an hour at dinner then stay at work till 1 or 2 in the morning. I would let him sleep and get up with both of the twins at night. We were all very happy when it was over. Tadd’s mom came out to help during that time so the twins got lots of love AND knitted attire. That woman is a knitting machine.

Who else can knit our blog header?!

Cute sweaters

Twins with their MiMa T.

Then Tadd’s last surviving grandparent passed away. We were very sad to hear his Grandma McKenzie was gone. This was one day after the end of tax season. Tadd flew home to Michigan to be with his family. We decided it would be too hard to try and take the twins back. Especially with them being little still and the threat of picking up a virus on the airplane. Instead my brother Souther and I drove the six hours to Oakdale to see our side of the family. I guess I didn’t think the whole drive 6 hours on Friday hang out Saturday then drive 6 hours home on Sunday thing through. The twins were very good requiring only a couple of stops to feed and change but it was just SO MUCH WORK. I also underestimated the number of diapers we would need and came home with only one to spare.

Loen with her Great Grandma Lavon

Derby with Gr. Grandma

Derby and his Meemaw

Loen and her Uncle Iain

Souther and my dad

Me and my little sister Bianca

A very rare Derby smiling picture (unfortunatly Loen decided to throw out her arm at the last minute)

Loen laughing

Tadd & Loen

Derby working hard at tummy time (he was actually getting ready to scream)

Super cuteness once we got off our belly

Tadd and I feel so blessed. The twins look beautiful. Their pediatrician says he is thrilled with their progress. We’re looking forward to another wonderful 6 months!