Shea says goo

Truly, it just melts me. Shea will stare at me, smiling away.... gooing. No, she doesn't coo. She goos. :)

And, yes, she's still wowing us with her 8+ hour nights of sleep. Go, Shea!

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A few of my favorite things, these days...

1. Shea continues to be our super sleeper. Yay! She slept for 8 1/2 hours last night. Crazy! I'd even venture to say that might be TOO long for her to sleep. Anyway, we're loving our long nights of sleep.

2. Sometimes, when I sneak up on the boys while they're playing, I catch parts of the silliest (and, yet, quite serious) conversations. It cracks me up. Yesterday, they turned the couch into the Batmobile, the kitchen chairs into the Batcopter and the kitchen was the Batcave. They would run between them, shouting out, "To the Batcave, Batcopter, Batmobile, etc." Then, they would have in depth discussions about whether they were each Batman or Robin, Joker or Batgirl (yes, Batgirl)... and, eventually, the one of them would wind up in jail, which meant that all of the couch cushions would be thrown on him until he was "trapped." At one point, when they were busy driving in the Batmobile, I made the mistake of referring to them by Dex and Jax. They were quick to correct me with, "I'm not Dex/Jax! I'm Batman!!!" At that point, apparently, they were both Batman. Good enough for me!

3. Shea smiled. Two days ago, I got my first real, I'm-looking-at-my-Mommy smile. I loved it. We just sat there smiling at each other for a good 5-10 minutes. Then, later that day, it happened again. I LOVE THIS!


4. How the boys overuse the words "actually," "kinda," and "either."

ex. One of the boys says, "This juice is delicious!" I reply with, "I'm glad you like the lemonade." "It's not lemonade, either, Mommy! Actually, this is kinda juice."

3- I don't like breaking up the sibling rivalries and arguments over toys, etc., but I can't help but get a kick out of the dialogues preceding the fights.

"That's my tower!"
"No, I'm helping you!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!" (louder)
"Yes!" (matching volume)
"I SAID NO!"
"I SAYING YES!!!!!"
(Complete screaming) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
(Equal intensity) YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

4- When the boys sing to themselves throughout the day. Sometimes, they're singing songs we all know and enjoy... other times, they're singing nonsense words to made-up melodies, but remarkably, they'll both be repeating the same refrains to the same tunes.

5- Equally enjoyable is how I'll overhear them making up stories. Most often, these stories involve Dexter, Jaxon and Batman... but the order of events is always different and the Batman's mode of transportation frequently changes.

5- Their focus and attention when doing puzzles. They'll go through ever jigsaw puzzle we own, filling the kitchen floor with puzzle after puzzle. Of course, at a certain point, they'll both start working on the same puzzle, and though this usually starts out well, it typically ends with fighting over pieces, etc. It's lovely.

6- How much they love anything they've heard D.R. talk about. Star Wars, Transformers, Batman. Any movie they've heard him reference, they want to know everything about. They will ask question after question, until they're filled with random facts about movies they've never even seen. I wonder if they would be quite so thrilled by these things if they could actually see the films. They might be bored out of their minds... or they could just love them even more!

7- Mostly, I continue to love the hugs and kisses, the cuddles and romps on the floor. I love how concerned the boys can be about my mood. If they sense I'm tired or unhappy, they'll rush over to me shouting in their most commanding voices and pointing their little fingers, "You be happy, Mommy! You be happy right now!" Yes, they are getting to be quite bossy. That will be our next big hurdle, I'm sure!

8- We've finally developed the ability to sit and play a boardgame. This has spurred the beginning of family game night. Sure, the games seem to take an interesting turn, at times, but it's so fun to be able to sit and enjoy something together!

9- How much the boys love stories. They've always enjoyed storybooks, but they ADORE having stories made up and told to them. I love watching their faces as they hang on each word, waiting for what's going to happen next. I love when they start giggling with excitement and anticipation when something too good to be true starts to happen. Too cute.

10- I love week-ends. The boys get so excited to have a Saturday morning with Daddy home. I love Sundays, after church, when we walk back to our car, hands linked together... our own little five-person-chain. These are moments I wish I could freeze.

Fun with friends

I have several posts I've been meaning to write. The boys are doing the cutest things, these days, and I'd like to record these things before they move onto their next funny habits. However, since Shea was born, I've done most of my posting at night while she's nursing. Since she has become a super sleeper (we've been on a stretch of 7 hour sleep chunks... yay!), I haven't been posting! Until I find a time to sit and type, I'll have to settle for photos and quick updates. As luck would have it, the boys have also become super sleepers (another yay!). Though they haven't taken a nap in nearly two months (boo hoo), they have gone back to sleeping for 12-13 hours at night. I LOVE THAT! This means, Mom and Dad are equally well-rested, which makes for one VERY HAPPY family. :)

These are a few photos of visits we had in with friends, in the weeks after Shea's birth. Isn't she lucky to be so cuddled?

Don't wanna jinx it!!

As I write this, I am nursing Shea for the first time in eight hours. This is something that would have NEVER happened with the boys. Something else that would have never happend? This is the second night that Shea has slept for 7 hours straight. What takes this to a whole new level in mommy-surprise/delight? After that 7-hour stretch, I don't wake in early morning to a crying baby. Instead, I wake up on my own around 5 am and find my baby lying wide awake and NOT crying in the co-sleeper next to me. What?!

Admittedly, a seven-hour stretch is pretty long for a one-month old baby to sleep, so I'm not expecting it to be a nightly occurance. I will, however, enjoy these long stretches of sleep whenever we're lucky enough to get them! In the meantime, I'm going to be grateful for the semi-long stretches of 5-6 hours that she's been giving us since she was born. Thank you, Shea!!

Of course, being the worrier that I am, I can't ENTIRELY enjoy our even-tempered, good little sleeper. I've probably asked D.R. a hundred times, "Is this NORMAL?!" :)

Just can't get enough...

If I had my way, I would avoid ALL household tasks, ALL phone calls, etc and spend every waking moment just staring at the boys and Shea. When the boys are playing together, or being silly, or trying to explain to me how they're really superheroes or how well they can run/jump/climb, etc... it's like watching an incredible movie. I just want to keep rewinding it and watching it over and over again. Tonight, Jax was Batman and Dex was Iron Man and they kept climbing on top of chairs, jumping on top of D.R. and then being thrown onto a heaping pile of pillows. This sequence of events would alway begin with them announcing who they were. It was just about the cutest thing in the world.


But, then... there's Shea. To the outside observer, it would seem that she really just lays there. But, there is so much more to take in!! She stretches and yawns, sighs and grunts (so ladylike), wiggles and squirms... I can't get enough! Seriously, there are not enough hours in the day to just sit and stare at these three. Anyway, here are a few of my "staring" moments from the other day. Included are a really great stretch and a silly little expression. Enjoy!

That's what little boys are made of

Anyone who has been to our home recently has most likely witnessed the boys wrestling. It doesn't matter what they start out doing... puzzles, stories, legos, dress-up... it almost always ends in a wrestling match. The wrestling begins with giggles and, of course, usually ends with one boy deciding he has had enough a bit before the other would like to be done. This is nothing that I've taught them, they just seem to have this need to roll around on the floor together. I've never seen one of their little gal pals feel the need to tackle and roll... again, this seems to be something innate in their being boys. Luckily, just as I've never seen any of the young girls wrestling, neither have I seen the boys attempt to wrestle with any of their girl friends. They must sense that this just wouldn't be a welcome style of play. In the photos above, Dex is the tackler and Jax is the tacklee. :)

Stop n' Go

One of my favorite things, these days, is watching the games the boys come up with. Sometimes they play superhero and villain, sometimes they're creating road systems and waterfalls with toys and furniture, and sometimes... they are just plain silly. M was here the other day and the boys continue to think shes the cats meow. Just look at the way they look at her when they're playing. It's just too much! Being a few months older, she tends to play mother to the boys and they just love every second of it. A few days ago, while out on the playground, the boys would climb half-way up the rope ladder and then shout, "M, save me!! Save me!!" M would run over and "rescue" the boys by reaching for their hands. Then, they'd hug or giggle at the top, they'd race down the slide and the game would recommence. Too funny.

The three-year well-child visit

Dexter holds Baby Shea.
Baby Shea attempts to nurse Jaxon's nose.

Jaxon gives Shea a pacifier while Dexter introduces Shea to Batman.

The boys had their three-year well-child visit this week. I have to say, it was one of the best doctor's appointments we've ever had and, amazingly, we did it with three kids in that little office! A few days prior to the appointment, I started getting out a toy doctor's kit and having the boys play doctor's visit. We did everything I anticipated happening at this visit and they thought it was about the coolest thing ever. We talked a lot about their doctor and how nice he is, so Friday morning when we told the boys we were going to see their doctor, they both excitedly got ready to leave. So far, so good!

When the nurse came in the start checking vision, hearing, etc., the boys enthusiastically played along, commenting frequently on how much fun "this game" was. They had a blast naming letters for their vision test and Jaxon even gave the nurse a hug before the doctor came in. Amazingly, we even survived another vaccine, though, there were certainly tears aferwards. It helped when the nurse snuck back in to give the boys little notes she had written them with smiley faces on them. They were pretty pleased with that token of affection and I think she was pretty pleased with these two little boys. Before we left, she told me she was glad they were her first appointment of the day. She said, "You know, I started this day tired and not ready for work, and then these sweet little boys shower me with smiles and hugs and I can't help but feel happier!" THAT'S the kind of comment mom's LOVE receiving.

The boys continue to follow the growth chart with the following stats:

Jaxon: 32 lbs 6 oz (59th %) , 36 7/8" (23rd %)

Dexter: 32 lbs 2 oz (57th %), 37 1/8" (35th %)

I've said it before, but I love our pediatrician. Having twin boys himself, he has great insight on the boys' relationship with each other and with us and I appreciate being able to bring twin-specific concerns to him, knowing that they will be taken seriously and met with a great response. Of course, as well as the appointment went and as much as I love our pediatrician, I am thrilled that we don't have another well-child visit until four years of age. Woo-hoo!!

Can you feel the love?

One of my absolute favorite aspects of having a child is seeing him/her with someone I love, who loves this child as much (or as close to "as much," as possible) as I do. It's touching and endearing...and completely moving. Of course, it also makes me wish ALL my loved ones lived closer. Above is Daddy with little Shea. Then, Mimi and Granddad get to enjoy our little Shea Bug.

More Catch Up: Shea's First Two Weeks

Sis and Uncle Chris enjoy their first visit with Shea.
Shea takes quickly to her first bottle.
Shea's little bili bed. As cute as she looked in there, I'm so glad we only had to use it for one night.
Where do you put a baby in a bili bed when you live in student housing? Between the dishwasher and the bottled water, of course!

Shea gets some good cuddle time with Sis.
Jonathan and Ruth sharing Shea. Of course, Dexter had to "share," too!
How many people can touch Shea at once?

Now, if Seth would have been present, I would have had all my siblings together. Something that hasn't happened in years! We were happy to have Jonathan's girlfriend, Ruth, with us... though, we're sad she's back in Ireland, now!

My friend Alicia is expecting her own little girl in the next month... so exciting that Shea will have a little friend to play with!!
The boys were thrilled when their cousins came to meet Shea. It meant Arby's for everyone and lots of playtime. Woo-hoo!!
Uncle Jon and Walker meeting Shea.
Mimi provided the best entertainment for the boys when Mom was preoccupied with caring for Shea. One of the all-time favorites was shucking corn. What fun! This is Jaxon with Mimi.
And, of course, Dex had to get in on the fun, too!

The boys LOVE being big brothers. Whether it's holding Shea, covering her with a blanket, wiggling her toes, pushing her in the swing, patting her head, telling her not to cry or holding her pacifier in her mouth (above)... they're always a great big help. This is Jaxon above.
Mimi and Shea...
My cousin Sonja was another favorite visitor for the boys. Why? Because she played... and played... and PLAYED with them!! Thank you, Sonja!
How lucky were we to get a visit from Great Grandpa?
Seriously! How fun is Sonja? Jaxon thinks she's the best!

Three years old and STILL riding the vacuum!
If only I could have captured their "riding the vacuum" song. Love it! (Dex is in the front.)
Daddy and Shea sharing a rare moment together. Of course, now that D.R. is done with his radiology boards, hopefully, these moments won't be so rare!
Sleepy Shea
Last sunny day outside... boo-hoo...

Catch up: First day home

The boys are quite taken with their little sis. Dex can't seem to stop touching her little toes!
Daddy and his little Shea.
We tried for a quick family photo, but Dexter was just too busy with Shea's toes! Too funny!
Here we are, one month later, and Jaxon is still as excited about holding his baby sister as he was on this very first day home from the hospital. What good big brothers Shea has...
Another adorable stretch for Grandpa and Grandma.