Finally a new update!

Last weekend the girls went for a rainbow mini session (in honor of St. Patrick's Day) with a local photographer.  Claire was all smiles, but Caroline was tired and a little grumpy.  Here are a few of my favorites!

Claire isn't camera shy!

Happy girls

Caroline

Claire

My favorite!

The girls continue to grow stronger and change each day. They have both been fighting runny noses and lots of congestion this past week which hasn't been fun. Claire has been eating well and is now on a 3 hour eating schedule which is a little easier for us.  I would guess that she is a little over 11 pounds.  She moves about while she is on the play mat and loves to talk, especially while she's eating.  Caroline loves standing up, bouncing, and playing in their exersaucer.  She has been laughing and talking and even trying to blow raspberries back lately too.  The girls have especially been enjoying the visits from all their grandparents lately!

6 months old!

Yesterday the girls turned 6 months old.  I don't know where the time has gone.  The girls are really noticing and interacting with each other much more now.  I laid them on the same activity mat and they held hands for the longest time, which was absolutely precious.  They even giggled at each other this past week.

Sweet girls

Finally one smile!

And Claire is out!

Claire has had a some really good eating days this week.  Now she can roll from her belly to back and back to belly!  She is continues to smile and talk more and more. 

Sleepy Claire

Caroline has become very chatty, which is really just a high pitched almost yell.  She giggles and we even got a few belly laughs from her this week.  She loves looking in the mirror!

Happy Caroline

You can see all the 6 months pictures here- https://carolineclaire.shutterfly.com/

Family time

I wrote this last weekend and never posted it so everything is really two weeks ago-
This past week we were able to spend some time with family.  On Monday, after our appointment at the Pulmonologist, we headed to South Carolina to meet Lily, the girls' new cousin.  Then on Wednesday Nana came to visit.

Playtime!

Claire was 10 pounds 4 ounces on Monday at the doctor visit.  She isn't gaining as much as we would like her to so we are a little concerned.  However, she is talking more and becoming more active every day.  She has been turning over now too.  She is great at turning from her back to her belly.  For the past 4 or 5 nights we have found her on her belly in her crib each morning.  She is also improving on holding her head up.  The physical therapist put a special tape on her back which helps isolate her muscles for improved control.  It seems to be working!

Claire was excited to travel!

Caroline had very good weight gain.  She was 11 pounds 7 ounces on Monday.  She is still trying so hard to figure out how to roll from her back to her belly.  So funny that the girls have opposite rolling abilities. She still hasn't seemed to adjust to sleeping in her crib.  She has been waking up pretty much every night and sometimes several times a night. 

Caroline

I can't believe that I girls will be 6 months old this upcoming Saturday!

Another winter storm & Valentine's Day

We got another 2 extra days off of school this week due to winter weather.  Thursday, Friday, and Tuesday were planned furlough days, and Monday is President's Day so I get another 8 days with the girls!  The bad news is that unfortunately the weather kept Nana from coming again this week.  We know she'll be able to make it over soon though. 

More Snow?!?

We finally pulled out the swing last week and both girls seem to love it.

Caroline enjoying the swing and her WHOLE hand

Claire fast asleep in the swing

Caroline continues to "talk" and laugh more and more each day.  She is getting so much stronger.  It is becoming more obvious that she really wants to start moving on her own.  She is a pretty active baby and gets really fussy when she's hungry and is pretty much inconsolable until she eats (I have no idea where she gets that from).

Caroline ready to move

Tired of trying.  Her legs just aren't moving the way she wants them to move

Claire loves to smile and stick out her tongue and is always looking around. She is more calm than  Caroline overall.  She continues to be inconsistent with eating.  But she seems to be gaining weight.  We go for shots on Monday so we will get both babies' weights then.

Happy Claire

For the past two nights the girls have slept in their cribs in the nursery. They have been sleeping in rock and plays in our bedroom since they came home and we decided it was time to try sleeping in the cribs. So far Claire has had a little easier tranistion than Caroline,  but overall they both seem to like being able to move around more.

And finally, the girls celebrated their first Valentines Day yesterday.  Thanks to Aunt Pam for the cute shirts!

Happy First Valentine's Day!

Caroline is happy to get the bib off!

Claire isn't so sure about this holiday

Sisterly LOVE

Snow days & 5 months old!

Tuesday of this past week a HUGE winter storm hit Atlanta. It dumped almost 3 inches of snow on the city! All joking aside, it really did paralyze our unprepared city.  Schools were dismissed 2 hours early on Tuesday and it took me over an hour to get home.  Normally it is a 15 minute drive.  I was very lucky to make it home so quickly (compared to others) and safely.  We didn't have school the rest of the week and I enjoyed every minute of staying home with the girls.  I say it often but I really can't believe how big the girls are getting.  Both LOVE to be to talked to and love to play on the activity mats. Caroline hits and kicks like a champ when she is on her mat. We really have to watch her now because she has been moving herself off the mat pretty quickly. Claire is a little more calm and watches everything very carefully, but she gets her kicks in too.

Mom, Claire, and Caroline freezing the snow

Dad, Claire, and Caroline enjoying the snow

Claire sleeping on the activity mat

Caroline in her Bumbo

Claire sitting in her Bumbo

Caroline busy playing

 Today the girls turned 5 months old!  Where has the time gone? 

Happy 5 months sweet girls!

Sisterly love

Porter loves his sisters

Back to Work

Before I went back to work on Monday we took our first family walk around the neighborhood.

Dad, Caroline, and Porter

Claire snoozing on the walk

 The girls had a busy week with Dad.  On Tuesday they had their 4 month check-up and shots. Claire weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces and Caroline weighed 10 pounds 2 ounces.  They are getting so big! Wednesday Caroline had a physical therapy session, and then on Friday they had another Synagis shot.  Both girls are smiling and interacting with John and I so much more now.  Their little big smiles just melt my heart.

Claire

Caroline

 Caroline is getting very strong.  She rolled over from her belly to her back the for the first time this week! She loves tummy time.

Playtime

Sitting in their Bumbos

Happy New Year and 4 months old!

We had a quiet New Year's Eve at home this year. Claire was wide awake at midnight and Caroline was fast asleep.

Claire

Caroline

January 1 marked 4 months for the girls!

Caroline- 4 months old

Claire- 4 months old

Claire cheesin'

And I can't leave out that last week Claire weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces when she went to the pediatrician!