Lots to Post!

Time really does get away from me and before I know it, weeks have passed since my last post and I forget the milestones we've achieved that I haven't kept up with! So...wha have we been doing?? Creeping (crawling hasn't been mastered yet), pulling up on things and occasionally Campbell thinks he can walk...he can't, but sometimes I think he thinks he can!





The twins are SO different. Of course, when they were born we were determined to always look at them as their own individual self and try not to refer to them too much as "the twins." Well, it isn't too hard to do that! They have such different personalities and those sweet little personalities are coming out more and more each day! Just for me to remember what they were like at 9 months (I can't believe 9 months have passed!) here is a little about each baby:



Campbell...my sweet little Campbell is what we are calling "all out"!



By this, we are referring to his busyness and desire to be into EVERYTHING, but only for about 15 seconds before he moves on to the next thing. He loves to take toys from his sister, but as soon as he does he drops them and it's on to either the toy she has picked up or another toy laying on the floor. He loves his walker because he has discovered he can get anywhere in it...especially following us around. He LOVES to climb on everything and into everything! Tonight, David found him in his baby bouncy seat (that we used when they were tiny babies) sitting on top of the bobby pillow laying in the chair! He LOVES to climb on his siser and bite her from behind (not to worry...doesn't do much harm through her clothes and diaper), sit on her or hit her on the behind. Not sure where all this comes from, but he actually does love her and loves it when she pays him a little attention! He is usually the first one up and as soon as she comes downstairs, his face lights up. Melts a mommy's heart! They have started playing a little better together, but like I said before...he gets bored after about 1 or 2 mintues. He has LOTS of energy and keeps us on our toes. He did give us a scare 4th of July weekend...I had gone to the store and David was at home with the babies. David had taken Avery into the bedroom to change her diaper and Campbell was left playing in his jumpy seat in the keeping room. David walks back into the room with Avery and doesn't see Campbell. He panics and then he hears him fussing. He sees him laying on the floor beside the jumpy. Apparently (all we can figure out because we tried to replay the events when I got home) he decided he wanted the toys attached to Avery's jumpy (that was sitting beside his) and so in true Campbell fashion, he goes after them only to come out of his seat and FORTUNATELY her bouncy broke his fall. So...lesson learned...Campbell can't be left alone except in the play yard. David freaked, I freaked, but thankfully he was okay...barely even cried. Just a few seconds of whining. The first of many near heart attacks he will give us I'm sure. He has the cutest little dimple and loves to smile at you. When he is doing something he isn't supposed to, he looks at you while he is doing it to see your reaction and then smiles. Makes it so hard to
tell him No!



Avery...my little princess.



All I can say is that she is her mother's child! I see so much of myself in her (and my mom confirms it) that it is scary. She is very skittish and scared of everything. She warms up eventually to strangers, but not before crying and screaming! She analyzes everything before she goes for it and touches it. She's a thinker (like her daddy in that respect) and if you put her down in unfamiliar territory she will sit there until you pick her up (their pool in the backyard is a prime example...put her in it, she didn't move until we got her out). She is prissy and very finicky. She doesn't like to get her hands too dirty and holds everything very carefully. When she looks at you, your heart melts. She has the sweetest smile and with her one tooth right now, it is precious! I think she won't mind shopping one day with mommy...actually I think it will be right up her alley! Avery can also hold her own (which is a good thing with so many boy cousins!)! Many times, we have found her sitting on top of Campbell and using him as a prop to pull up on. She doesn't always let him take her toys (occasionally she pulls back and holds on to it), but if he does, she just picks up something else. I guess you could say she is used to it by now! The few times she is caught doing something she isn't supposed to, before you can get the word "No" out, she gets a scared look on her face and drops whatever she is doing...Campbell on the other hand forgets his name when you say it and keeps doing what he is not supposed to be doing until you pick him up and tell him "No."

We are having so much fun with them right now and it is so neat to see them get bigger, stronger, and discover the world around them. Looking back, this time last summer I was very pregnant, we were looking for a house and trying to imagine how much our life was going to change in 3 months...little did I know that we would find a house at the end of July, move in, be put to bed, and then have the twins 7 weeks early. They may have been teeny tiny then, but now looking at them it's hard to imagine them that small!

Precious Avery...1 day old



Sweet Campbell...1 day old



I know I say it in just about every post, but David and I feel truly blessed to have these precious miracles and be their parents. It's just passing by too quick! Why doesn't time just stand still??!!

We Survived!

Yes! We survived (or should I say I survived?!) 10 days by myself (with some assistance from great family!) while David was in South Africa hunting! It was daunting to say the least and I didn't let on that I was quite nervous for two reasons...1) My husband going to a foreign country hunting big game and 2) How would I survive working and taking care of two babies by myself??! Thank goodness my sister Julie (Aunt JuJu) has been staying with us the past few weeks because she was a GREAT help! (And also GiGi and MiMi and of course our wonderful nanny Carolyn!)

So what did we do while Daddy was gone? We crawled on top of each other and used each other as a prop to pull up on...



We watched our crazy cousins be silly...





And were cute as always!



Well almost always...



We were so glad when David returned...not sure who was happier me or the babies (probably me!) And he brought friends with him when he returned (well they will be here in a year or two)...5 friends to be exact. I can't remember all 5, but I know a Kudu and Impala will be hanging somewhere in our house (his room of course!). He had a great time and I'm so glad he got to go with his dad. We're just glad to have him home safe and sound. Maybe in my next post, I'll have some pics to show!

We have reached another milestone...we had to lower Campbell's bed tonight. Avery's will probably be lowered this weekend. Sunday morning when David returned, we discovered that Campbell had figured out how to use the bumper pad to pull up on his knees in his bed and bang his hands on the bed...NOT good! Of course I had to take a pic!



We are reaching so many milestones and I'm so happy to see them thriving, but at the same time, it's a little sad to watch my babies grow up! We're almost 9 months old and I know 1 year is just around the corner! We are just trying to enjoy each day with them! I love watching them discover new things and it is so much fun to watch them interact with each other. Of course it is not always in the best way (using each other as a prop to pull up, taking toys from each other), but they are so much fun right now and I can tell they are going to take care of each other as they get older. Avery is our drama queen and Campbell is our busy-body...what a combo! Looking back, that's how they were in the womb! Campbell was always kicking and turning (on the sonograms and all day long) and Avery was the one that put me in labor!

As tired as we are at the end of each day, we wouldn't trade the craziness for anything!

Back to Blogging!

I'm back!! After 8 months off, I thought it was time to get this blog up to date! I wish I had been blogging throughout the past few months, but not quite sure when I would have done it! It has been so busy!!! Besides keeping the few people that read my ramblings up to date, I want to be able to look back and remember the milestones the twins have accomplished. Maybe one day, I can sit down and review the past 8 months, but for now, I'll start with where we are at the moment!

Avery and Campbell are definitely on the move! They are not completely crawling yet, but they have figured out how to get from point A to point B even if it means climbing over each other! It's only a matter of time before they are up on all fours...I cringe at that thought! They are all over the place though, so today, we have locked them up. We knew it was coming, but I don't think they did. Poor Campbell didn't understand why we were on one side and he was on the other. Avery on the other hand, could care less!





This just shows how different they are! It's amazing to watch their little personalities develop and change DAILY! We have figured out though that Campbell is into EVERYTHING! Avery is just content (most of the time) to sit on their "play area" and play with whatever toy she can get her hands on! Campbell on the other hand...well you turn your back for less than a minute and he could be in the other room! I guess that's what we get for having such an open floor plan! I just didn't think they would move that quick on their tummies! Avery has almost figured out she can get places quicker if she gets off the floor, but she hasn't mastered being on her hands instead of her elbows yet. Campbell is just content getting everywhere on his stomach.

The past 8 months have been a blast...hard at times, but we wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything! These babies have changed our lives and brought us so much joy! When we found out we were having twins last year, it scared us as we knew it would be an undertaking getting them into the world (and it was) and then the daunting task of making it through the first year and raising them. God has truly blessed us and we feel honored that He chose us to be their parents. What a gift and privilege it is to be a parent. We know these babies are not ours, but HIS. We just have the joy and privilege of raising them and teaching them about HIM.

I think we're ready...but are you ever really ready??

So...I'm on bedrest now. Well, actually I've been on bedrest since Sept 1st, but just now getting a chance to update. I knew it was coming, but didn't know it would be 7 weeks out!!! We went to the Dr. Sept 1st and apparently my cervix had shortened which means it would be only a matter of time before I started dilating. We got a good report otherwise. The babies both looked good and growing ahead of schedule. Campbell weighed 3lbs 7oz and Avery weighed 3lbs 2oz. Apparently Campbell is head down and ready to go and that may be part of the problem. Avery was being her normal calm self and curled up breeched. So far my tall frame and long torso has helped me out, but since I'm all belly, the weight is centered in the front and the babies are wanting more room! We also found out our children have long arms and legs...hmmm...wonder where that comes from! So...in order to keep them in a little bit longer, I was put to bed for the remainder of my pregnancy. I also had the privilege of getting 3 shots in two days!! I got my flu shot in my left arm and a steroid shot in my left hip on Tuesday (and they still asked me what arm and hip I prefered? Seriously? Does it really matter? It's going to hurt ANYWHERE you stick me!). I went back Wednesday to get stuck in my right hip (the steriod shots were to help speed up the development of each baby's lungs). Then I was given medicine to take every four hours that is supposed to relax the uterine muscles and the cervix. So far, I can actually tell it seems to be working.

We went back to the Dr Sept 8 for our weekly appt hoping that the bedrest had been doing the trick. Well...not so much! The babies looked great and she could tell a difference in their lungs from last week to this week which was great! Campbell and Avery were both measuring about the same give or take a few ounces (they said they don't usually measure from week to week because the change is so little). Campbell had turned again and was now feet down and Avery had her feet tucked undeneath her. I could tell Campbell had turned again because I didn't feel as much pressure. If only he would stay in one place!!! Well...my cervix had shortened to .6mm which was not good! Basically I'm starting to thin out! And I thought I was nervous last week! After a quick check, I've dilated 1cm, but my contractions are coming about every couple of hours and only like 1 or 2. So, after consulting with the specialist (Dr. Perry) we were sent home to wait and hope I don't dilate more and if I have more than 6 contractions an hour to head to the hospital. We'll go to Dr Perry on Tuesday and see Dr. T right after. He'll get a better look at the babies and my cervix and then she'll do her checks and they will make the decision of how to proceed. She would really like for them to stay put at least to 34 weeks...if we can hold on! We're praying BOLDLY for that! These babies were prayed for before their conception, have been prayed for while they have been growing inside and we are so grateful to have so many friends and family praying for their safe delivery. God has a plan and He is in control...He's proven that so many times in my life and in David's so we wait on HIS perfect timing for their entrance into the world. Until then, we take it day by day and know that He will take care of the four of us.

So...a few pics to go along with this VERY long post!!

30 Weeks...the growing belly!



Some pics from my baby shower! I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family!!!

Loved my cake!!! It matched the invitations!



Mom and her daughters!



The sisters and the sis-in-laws



Me and Lil



Not a favorite pic, but it is a pic at 26 weeks and since Lil put it on Facebook I will put it on the blog.



BSBFs...almost all of us!



GiGi and Mimi



The Hostesses



My Girls!



My old roomie...I love her!



One of my dear college friends that drove over from Atlanta! I miss you Kim!!! (I stole this from her blog!)



Maybe I will get one more update in before the babies come...we'll see how Tuesday goes!

Update on Campbell and Avery

I've got to get better at updating this blog!!! I want to remember so many things in this pregnancy, but it's so hard to blog it all!!!

We went to the Dr last Tuesday and got a great report! Both babies are doing great and she is pleased with where they are in their growth! They both weighed 2lbs and 5oz a piece...they are in the 50th and 51st percentile for growth! She says we look good enough to go all the way to 37 weeks! If we do, both babies will weigh in around 6lbs a piece (if they continue their growth)! Unfortunately she wants me to start taking it easy and cutting back some...I was like seriously??? "Don't you know how much I have to do to get ready for their arrival???" We're still working on their room and getting everything ready for their arrival on top of just moving into a new house and working a full time job!! I know it will all get done, but seems like the time is getting shorter and shorter before their arrival!!! I'm feeling good so far, but can definitely tell my energy level is very low! I've figured out I feel the best between 10 and 4 each day...after that I might a well call it a day! We'll go back to the Dr Tuesday as we have started our every other week visits! I can't believe we only have 9 weeks left!!! We are so excited about their arrival and with each Dr visit feel so blessed to continue to get great reports and see how these sweet babies are growing!!!

Just a few new sonogram pics...we've about figured out that Avery will be our shy child and Campbell may give us a run for our money (he always tends to make his presence known at each sonogram! They are both breeched (which is fine since I'll have a c-section anyways. Campbell was sitting with his legs crossed and Avery had hers tucked under her. I think they are both starting to fight for space (the first of many fights I imagine)...it seems to be getting tighter in there!!

2 Heads!



Avery (she wouldn't look at us...so shy!)



Campbell...a face shot of his sweet face!!! Can't wait to see it face to face!!!



Another shot of Campbell (apparently he has some long legs...he spent a little time showing us how he likes to play with his toes as he stretches his legs above his head!) I shouldn't be surprised he has long legs...he can't help it...his parents both have long legs!!!



And another



I'll try to post some pics from our baby showers! We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friend to help us celebrate the upcoming arrival of these 2 sweet babies!!!

More Pics

Well...as promised I have finally gotten a chance to upload more pics!

The babies are doing great! We had a great Dr visit at 23 weeks on the 21st and due to the babies size, they couldn't get a shot of them together. Of course Avery would not cooperate (as usual) and Campbell loves having his picture made! Campbell weighed 1lb and 6oz and Avery weighed 1lb and 3oz. They are doing very well and so is mom! We'll go back at 27 weeks for another check-up and then we will start going every other week! I can't believe I'm already this far along! I must say the time has passed rather quickly although there have been a couple of weeks when I was thinking to myself how slow time is moving!!

Avery



Campbell



As much as I don't like doing belly shots, I really would like to remember how I grew throughout my pregnancy.

8 Weeks



16 Weeks



21 Weeks



24 Weeks (kind of looks like pregnancy is starting to tire me out!)



Hopefully, since I'm starting to feel a little bit more caught up, I'll stay caught up! Who knows...with the move in a couple of weeks and being pregnant it doesn't look like life is slowing down too much!

Returning!!!

New updates are coming....I promise!!!