Happy 4th Birthday Andrew!

Andrew turned FOUR today!  It's appropriate that the Winter Olympics are on as Thom and I watched 3 long days of the Winter Olympics in 2006 when I was induced with Andrew.  We watching curling, women's ice hockey, and other sports no one watches.  But anyway, enough about his reluctance to come into the world -- he's FOUR now! 

He had his four-year checkup at the pediatrician today.  Andrew is doing great!  He continues to remain around the 98th percentile for height (43 1/4 inches) and weight (48 pounds). 

We started his birthday with a special breakfast (he picked scrambled eggs and biscuits) and opened his presents.  The Cars theme continues!  For his birthday dinner tonight, Andrew picked Cars chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  It was a lot of fun!  We had special cupcakes decorated with Cars for dessert!  James and Patrick are becoming cupcake connoisseurs as well.  Andrew loves to wear pajamas when he's at home - and he coordinates his outfits and jammies himself (just a note when looking at the pics).  Happy Birthday Andrew!  We love you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  We hope you have had a fun and loving weekend!  Andrew had soccer and swimming yesterday.  After Mass this morning, Andrew had a swim make-up class today.  James and Patrick loved watching him swim!  They will start lessons in April.  (That means two adults will be in the pool with them too!)  James said, "Hi Andrew!" while watching Andrew.  I wasn't sure if he really said it at first, so I repeated, "Hi Andrew?" and he then more clearly and definitively said, "Hi Andrew!" 

These are some photos Aunt KAW took of us before Mass this morning.  Getting everyone to smile at the same time is a challenge!

Other fun stuff I forgot to mention

We watched the Super Bowl on Sunday night.  We cheered for the Colts, but were happy for Drew Brees (Boilermaker and Mortar Board member!) and the New Orleans Saints.  Here are some photos of James and Patrick getting ready for the big game. 

Many ask, "How do you tell them apart?"  That's a very good question.  James still has a scar on his upper left arm (from the in-utero surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion).  So if it's bathtime (or I'm desperate), I can check that.  In photos, I try to make sure Patrick is always on the right (a tip from our pediatrician who is the mother of fraternal twin boys).  Patrick always have a blue pacifier while James always has green.  For clothes, Patrick will usually have more blue on and less of a pattern.  Their cries sound different and their personalities are different.  Patrick is more easygoing.  Their cribs are next to each other (lengthwise -- the end of one touches the head of the other).  They usually end up sleeping head-to-head.  They will reach through the crib slats to touch each other.  We caught James this week reaching through the slats into Patrick's crib to take little toys!  Sneaky baby!

Today, while Andrew was at preschool, James climbed into his red chair.  James was SO proud of himself.  Patrick cheered him on! 

In other funny Andrew news, Andrew asked me this week, "How do you get to heaven?  Do you take a plane?"  I tried to explain about being a good boy and doing nice things for others.  Andrew said, "I think you need a ticket Mommy."  Hmmm....

A very fun weekend! February 5-7, 2010

We had a great weekend celebrating James and Patrick's first birthday!  Nana-Hannah and Papaw Williams and Gamma and Pop-Pop Golden came for the weekend as well as Aunt Susan, Uncle Chris, and cousin Allie.  And of course Aunt KAW is always here!  James and Patrick enjoyed their cupcakes much more this time around.  On Saturday morning, we went to Barnes and Noble to meet Olivia, the fabulous pig who is featured in the books (and tv show) by Ian Falconer.  Andrew really enjoyed meeting Olivia!  In addition to these pictures, you can also view the entire Kodak Gallery album.  Katie Ann is Godmother to both James and Patrick (as well as Andrew).  Our dear friend Nina Collins is also Patrick's Godmother.  And our other special friend Suzanne Greenwalt is James' Godmother.  So this (relatively small) party included family, Godmothers (and their families), the Arrington's, and the Shirk's (the special people we got to know who were so helpful while we were pregnant with the twins). 

One-year checkups and stats!

James and Patrick saw Dr. Sara Patterson at Goodlettsville Pediatrics this morning for their one-year checkups.  In addition to Dr. Patterson being a super-cool doctor, she is also a mother of 3 kids, including twin boys, so I think she gets it when I look a little harried.  James and Patrick are doing awesome! 

James weighed 19 lbs, 9 oz (8th percentile) and is 30 inches tall (58th percentile).  His head measured 18.75 inches (83rd percentile). 

Patrick weighed 20 lbs, 5 oz (15th percentile) and is also 30 inches tall (58th percentile).  His head also measured 18.75 inches (83rd percentile). 

Dr. Patterson estimates that they will be around 5'11" to 6' tall when they are fully grown.  The growth curve for their height has stayed pretty consistent.  Because they were five weeks premature (born at 35 weeks), she wants us to continue with formula until at least 15 months, or they are 22-25 pounds.  Currently, they will sleep about 7-8 hours and then wake around 3-4 AM.  They are HUNGRY and we feed them an 8-ounce bottle (which they devour).  They then go back to sleep until around 7 AM.  She said to continue this night bottle until they are bigger.  James and Patrick also got 2 shots (pneumonia and chicken pox vaccines). 

Andrew's 4-year checkup is on his birthday, February 16.  Stay tuned for his news!  Also, the babies' first birthday party is Saturday night.

James and Patrick's 1st Birthday

We celebrated James and Patrick's first birthday yesterday!  WOW!  We are also having a very small party on Saturday night at our home.  James and Patrick had a great day.  They are really happy babies (as I have said before -- their happiness still amazes and inspires me!)  Thom and I constantly pinch ourselves as a reminder we're not dreaming.  Our pregnancy was so complicated; we prayed for them to make it, be healthy, and that we would be able to celebrate big milestones such a birthdays!  And now here we are!  James and Patrick had birthday cupcakes.  James initially dug into his cupcake, but then decided it was not for him.  Patrick carefully inspected his, and only took a few bites.  Here's a link to the entire album on KodakGallery as well.  Enjoy! 

Snowy Saturday

While I was in Chicago at the Mortar Board winter meeting, it snowed 5 inches in Nashville!  Swimming and soccer were cancelled.  Thom and Andrew had a great time playing outside in the snow.  They even made a snow pig!

Bathtime and Bedtime

Bathtime and bedtime are always eventful in our house.  It often really takes all three adults in the house (Thom, Katie Ann, and I) to get everyone clean, in pj's, and bottles for James and Patrick.  This picture (above) is one of my favorites as they (Patrick - R and James - L) are waiting for the tub to fill.  Next, Andrew and James helped Aunt KAW give Patrick his bath.  Finally, we all end up on our bed to feed James and Patrick.  Andrew calls this "Babytown Fun." 

I am flying to Chicago tomorrow moring for a Mortar Board winter meeting.  I will really miss my boys when I am away.  The big news here is that we are under a winter storm watch.  Sumner County Schools are already cancelled for Friday.  Andrew's preschool follows that schedule so he'll be home too.  Enjoy your weekend and stay warm!

Saturday morning fun - soccer and swimming

This morning was Andrew's debut in pee-wee soccer at the YMCA.  This co-ed fun league is for ages 3-5.  He really enjoyed practicing with his team, the Bears.  He was not as fond of the actual game -- he wanted to bring his own ball out to share and couldn't understand why there was only one ball for everyone.  Andrew likes his space and to do his own thing.  I think a bunch of preschoolers running in a pack wasn't necessarily his cup of tea (or juice).  We'll see how next week goes!

After soccer, Andrew had swimming.  He says swimming is "his favorite" and he likes it "more than school."  I said that was great, but he still is going to school too.  Rick and Mary Shirk came to watch Andrew swim.  Patrick enjoyed sitting on Rick's lap and catching up!

James and Patrick - happy little guys!

Just a few cute pics of James (wearing red) and Patrick (wearing navy).  Happy Friday!