First Mother's Day

I was able to celebrate my first Mother's Day with a quiet day at home with the girls.  I got a very special gift from the girls and a hour massage gift certificate from John!  It was a great day.  Here are a few pictures.

Sweet, sweet Mother's Day gift from the girls

The best gifts I've ever been given

Claire

Caroline

Both girls have had colds for almost a week now.  Over the weekend Caroline developed a high fever along with her already runny nose and coughing.  She went to the doctor today and has a double ear infection.  Poor baby.  The good news is today was my last official day of work for the school year so I'll be home until the end of July with the girls (and John too)!  We are looking forward to traveling to Ohio and to the beach to visit grandparents and other family!

8 months old

The girls turned 8 months old this past Thursday.  We are still working on incorporating rice cereal into their diets, and now both girls are getting a little more in their bellies than on them!  Caroline has been practicing holding her own bottle, and Claire has been eating much better the past few days! They are both moving and rolling ALL around when they are on the floor.  They are also practicing sitting up unassisted. We finally got the new stroller out and have been able to enjoy the beautiful weather!

Claire

Caroline & Claire

Caroline

Enjoying the new stroller

Caroline practicing holding her bottle

6 month check up and Easter

Last Monday the girls went for their 6 month check up and shots.  Since their actual age is 7 months, but adjusted age is 5 months the doctor decided to do 6 month their check up in-between  Both girls did well for getting 2 shots, an oral vaccine, and also blood taken.  Caroline weighed 13 lbs 15.7 ounces, she was 24 1/4 inches long, and her head measured 16.25 inches.  Claire weighed 12 lbs 7.3 ounces, was 24 1/2 inches long, and her head measured 15 3/4 inches.  They will continue to take the Neosure preemie formula and we got the go ahead to start rice cereal.

Caroline isn't impressed with rice cereal

And neither is Claire!

This past week has been busy, Nana came to visit, and we went to Grandma and Grandpa's in South Carolina for Easter.  The girls had a nice first Easter.  We went to church and both girls did well, however, Easter probably wasn't the best Sunday to take two babies to church for the first time!

Family Easter pic

Happy Hoppy Easter

Not as happy without the bibs

First Easter baskets

7 months!

On Tuesday, the girls turned 7 months old, it really doesn't seem possible.  I was fortunate to have this past week off of work for Spring Break so I was able to spend the week at home with John and the girls.  Both girls continue to grow stronger each day and are both very aware of their surroundings.  They love to watch Porter and sometimes even give him a screeching yell.  They are very "talkative" these days.

Serious Seven Month Olds

Silly Seven Month Olds

Claire

Claire still hasn't decided to start enjoying her bottles yet.  She is still inconsistent with eating most days.  But she seems to be gaining weight when we weigh her at home.  We think she weighs about 12 pounds.  They have a check-up next Monday so we will get a more accurate measurement then.  Claire loves sleeping on her belly and chewing on her fingers.  She rolls from side to side easily and sleeps 6-7 hours each night.  Dad has to wake her to eat in the morning. She continues to have an easy going temperament and loves to smile and show off her dimples, or maybe we just love to see her smile!  The physical therapist decided that she will see her every other week instead of every week, which is a good sign!

Caroline

Caroline on the other hand LOVES to eat.  We estimate her weight to be close to 14.5 pounds.  She is getting better at using her hands to grasp, pinch, and scratch.  She even showed us yesterday that she could sit up on her own for a bit!  She sleeps through the night also, but is usually the first one up and ready to eat each morning.  She too loves to have her hands in her mouth.

See more pictures at - https://carolineclaire.shutterfly.com/

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!