Birth Announcement

Everyone should have received their birth announcements by now.  In case I missed a friend or two I wanted to share it on here...Along with some runner-ups!

I have two special photos on reserve for the nursery reveal.  Things are coming along well in that department.  I'm waiting on the arrival of both canvas prints to hang above the cribs, and a big soft white fluffy rug!  Two shelves are left to hang, as well as a fun alphabet wall hanging I'm still making.  I'm still in search of soft grey curtains, and need to send out additional photos to print and frame for the room.  I hope within the next month I'll be able to share.

I love looking at this post.  The boys were so small and wrinkled.  We have four chubby cheeks, four rollie legs and two pot bellies!  The boys appetites are so big!  Gotta post this photo of the boys from yesterday.  This was the only picture I got before my phone shut off.  Their faces make me laugh anyways!  Do you all see what I see?  Almost two months and the tricks have begun!



Twinsomnia Part Deux

Holy crying, cuddling, eating, pooping, grunting, vomiting, pumping, bottle washing, laundry....

Cozy and ready to cuddle

One of the top suggestions new mom's receive is "sleep when the baby is sleeping."  BUT, babies do adorable things while they are sleeping...

I just want to stare allll day long!  If I were sleeping I would have MISSED this!

Do not be fooled!  Newborns sleep ALOT, however; they make it seriously impossible for parents to sleep!  Why?  You can either refer back to my little list of items at the beginning of this post, OR, you can chop it up to twinsomnia.  

Keith doesn't think it's too early to teach Aiden how to play baseball.  HAHA

I am one very sleepy mommy.  When I have an hour to rest I realize how hungry I am!  Breastfeeding must burn a gaZillion calories, cause I can eat 3 grilled cheese sandwiches, and if I weren't so tired, I'd probably keep em grilling!

Soaking up some sunshine!  Kaleb likes to give wet kisses

The boys are becoming their own little men more everyday.  Aiden likes to be awake and look around with his GIANT blue diamond eyes!  I like to lay on the couch with him and sing songs and have staring contests...when I should be sleeping!  Aiden seems to despise the hiccups, and that's almost the only time you'll hear him cry.  Kaleb seriously laughs in this sleep....ahhh, I love it!  Sometimes I sit with my video feature ready to record him....when I should be sleeping!

And now I'm blogging, when I should be sleeping!

Looking forward to Thursday.  Since mommyhood is so tiring and busy I'm off to donate my hair to Locks Of Love!

Little shout-out to Kaleb and Aiden's future BFF:
WELCOME TO THE WORLD GAVIN JOHN MAXWELL.  Born January 18th!

Full House

The boys have had a busy life so far!  We've had a full house the past couple weeks, and it's been SOO wonderful!  The gummies are currently 6 weeks old, and growing like weeds...(really awesome weeds, that you don't pick from the yard!)  They just hit their first growth spurt.  We have two 8pounders who completely fill out their newborn footed sleepers!  Aiden's double chin is amazing, and his legs are getting chunky.  Pot bellies are on the way!  I can't believe they are DOUBLE the size they were when we brought them home.

Visiting first this month was Grandpa Eddie and Uncle Ben!  They only had one full day here, so I literally had them holding, feeding and burping babies every minute.  They never had a chance to change out of their jammies.

Ben+Kaleb  Dad+Aiden

They flew out the same day Aunt Julia landed!  Jules brought along "Sprinkles and Cupcake" to meet their cousins.  They would go bump-bump when Aiden or Kaleb would rest on her tummy.  I wonder what they were talking about?  Also, she taught Aiden how to plank, and feed his brother :)

Then Aunt Jessica and Uncle Nate rolled in to join the party!

Cuddle time with Aunties!

Keith came down with a sinus infection, and sounded AWFUL.  I'm particularly thankful for my sisters help cooking, feeding the boys, changing, bathing and holding babies since I grounded Keith from touching them.

The boys have learned that they LOVE their fisher price vibrating lamb chair and swing.  They also totally dig how handsome they look in their newly knit hats from Aunt Jess!

KaleB: "ahhhhhhhh, oooooohhhh, ahhhhhhhh"..this chair feels GREAT!

Aiden, you are too cute for words

I've learned it's becoming increasingly difficult to get things accomplished.  My mommy high has officially expired and I'm starting to feel the exhaustion and crankiness.  Sometimes I feel slightly schizophrenic, trying to sort through being tired, exhilarated and in-love.  I look forward to a time when their tummies are satisfied and happy, sleeping longer than these short 3-hour feeding stretches.

Next up to visit are Great Grandma/Great Grandpa and Grandma Brenda again!  This time I will not forget to take her photo holding BOTH babies!

Loving our hats from Aunt Jess.  4 babies in this photo!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the new year!
Lots of Love

Welcome 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2013 is about to become a year of wonderful, and I look forward to all our special moments with tears of utter happiness!

My 2012 resolution was to get pregnant :)  Not only did I succeed, I was lucky enough to welcome my beautiful gummyboys to the world!

Bringing in the new year was simply magical!  Keith and I enjoyed a glass of champagne and sherbet (YUM), and got the boys successfully milk drunk!  Also, we watched one of the most amazing fireworks displays I've ever seen...from our back porch!!  I'm completely impressed with our neighborhood and their enthusiastic celebration!

I'm happy to say that my emotions have been in check since approximately 2 weeks after the boys arrived.  I cried when my mom left, one night when I couldn't get Aiden to eat and shortly after the fireworks explosion this morning.  Happy tears were flowing as I spent a few minutes dancing with Aiden, who was WIDE awake, and kissng the boys chubby cheeks!  I can't remember ever feeling so full of love!

I wish everyone THAT amount of joy, at some point in their life, in this new year!

Since twenty thirteen will be all about FIRSTS for the boys, I'd like to share photos from their first bath today! Enjoy!

Aiden on left, Kaleb on right
Ready to go splish splash!

Rub a dub-dub, Kaleb in the tub!

Aiden, UGH look at those eyes!!!

Aiden on left, Kaleb on right
They LOVE elephants!  Clean and comfy...I think Kaleb wants to go swimming again ;)

Magic

I always appreciate creative photography, especially when it documents something through time.  I borrowed this idea from the web.  It was easy to accomplish, and the end result is the best!!

At the end of every year I swear I can smell magic in the air.  People are more friendly and giving in celebration of the holidays. Well, everyday has been a celebration in our house!  Kaleb and Aiden add all the magic to every minute of every hour in every day!

We had a delicious homemade pasta noodle dinner at home on Christmas Eve, and spent Christmas day singing carols and baking cookies!  I've eaten so many cookies in the past few weeks I'm turning into a cookie.  Well, that's not entirely true.  I'm half cookie, half salami!


Christmas Day at the McNamee's house!  Doubling as the boys first outing ;)

You all saw the beautiful congratulations bouquet my Dad sent when the gummyboys arrived.  He also spoiled Keith with two delicious boxes of IT'S A BOY cigars!

Keith is officially back to work and feeling extra sleepy.  Some nights are better than others.  Today definitely called for extra naps!  This sight warms my heart <3



Sleepy Boys

Homecoming

Ready to head HOME at last!

I know we've been home for nearly two weeks, but I wanted to share the memory of the day.  A big thank you to my MOM for being here to welcome the babies to their house, and for taking photos from one door to the other!

Kaleb, slightly fussy, but it was short lived. The boys loved the car seats and stroller ride!

The day was full of sunshine and a great mild temperature.  We had a calm car ride and rocked out to the rolling stones!


SOOO happy to leave the hospital!

Aiden has been a champ, and I'm so thankful we haven't had any additional apnea spells while home!  The first couple nights were slightly frustrating, but I was able to work out a nightly feeding plan, and with additional practice, I'm sure I can manage 2 hour stretches of rest.  Put it all together and I'm probably getting 4-7 hours of shut eye.  It doesn't really compare to my pre-pregnancy sleep habits, but I feel rested and happy.

The boys are really, really wonderful!  I love when they are wide eyed and alert, watching me, the pack'n'play owl mobile, or the wall!  I also love when they are sleeping and smile when I run my finger along their cheek.  Aiden sounds like a car attempting to start when he cries, which I find hilarious and can't stop laughing....and Kaleb grunts and snarls when he eats, which is just too funny!

Aiden....always with the pucker lips!!!

The newborn stage is really wonderful.  The boys are sleepy and rest while I get things accomplished around the house.  My only complaint is that I don't have four arms!  I love to snuggle and wish I could manage both all the time!


Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season with friends and family!
Happy Hanukkah and Happy Christmas!

Hospital Days

Our hospital stay was a little longer than expected, so I figured I'd share some details and photos of our adventure.


Aiden on Left, Kaleb on Right
Sweet boys!

Although home is SO amazing, it's difficult to deny how special our week 1/2 was in the hospital.  I'll always cherish this first week, when we first met our little men and shared smiles, tears, cuddles and kisses!

Recovery from birth was scary the first two days.  It's utterly unreal what the human body can go through.  The nursing staff was beyond helpful teaching me special care for myself and the gummyboys.

Aiden was a dream to have next to me for those first couple days, before heading to the NICU to chill out with Kaleb.  Our nurse was visiting with Keith and I in the room when Aiden had his first sleep apnea spell.  I thank the angels above for the quick care he received, and wish I hadn't panicked and froze.  Keith called for additional help and within seconds Aiden was regaining color and breathing again.  So scary!  I was discharged as a patient shortly after Aiden was moved.  My nurse found an available sleep room, down the hall from the NICU, for me to stay in to be close to the boys.  I'm so grateful the military provided this option, and permitted my stay free of charge.


Aiden after the big scare

I'm not sure I've ever been so emotionally drained!  Everything brought on tears, but most were drops of joy!  I spent my third night alone in my new room, since I started sending Keith home to get better sleep.  Early in the morning on the 4th day I received a phone call, and best visit ever!  I was brought paperwork explaining how Kaleb was healthy enough to stay in my room with me!  Oh what fun!!


Kaleb, so tiny, getting ready to leave the NICU

From that moment on Kaleb and I bonded, just as Aiden and I had done!  We walked down the hall every three hours to visit his brother.  Both ate together and co-bedded for a short time.  It was wonderful to see them side-by-side!

Kaleb left, Aiden right.  Looking alike!

Mom flew in the night before all three of us were released from the hospital!  What good timing!!  I was keeping my fingers and toes crossed Aiden wouldn't have anymore episodes.  It was so great to see my Mom and introduce her to her first grand babies.  Plus, how special to have her here for our homecoming!  Coming up soon :)


Mom and Keith arrive from the airport, and love, love, love on Kaleb!



Aiden's last days in the NICU!  Ready to go home at last!