Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk...

First, I am emotional (well, just cry easily for no apparent reason at all). They tell me it's the hormones. Oh well. I am perfectly fine...feel great. It just sometimes hits me at odd times - like Dancing With the Stars or even a crazy commercial. HA. 

Second, I (we) are tired. Of course. There are hungry babies in the house. Nuf said.

To feed these hungry, growing, hungry children (did I mention they are hungry?!), I am mostly pumping breastmilk, a.k.a. Liquid Gold. It is just so much easier to have others able to help with feedings!  I was preparing the bottles for last night's feedings and wasn't seeing straight. I looked up with a gasp, hoping that it wasn't what I thought. But it was. I had spilled Liquid Gold all over the counter. Tears. Then Laughter. Still laughing.

Don't cry over spilled milk, (unless, of course, it's liquid gold).

Silas and Avery are doing great!  They still eat every 2.5 to 3 hours, 24 hours a day, growing like crazy! Silas is still our "little old man"... this morning, he just was NOT having the cool little baby toys (big swing, bouncer seat, play mat), so I finally put him in the chair beside me. He now has a new favorite place: the big man's chair. See what I mean?

My mom brought some pictures from the day they brought me home from the hospital... I said... oh wow! a fat Avery. ha! see?

 

We actually went to church and snuck into the balcony Sunday! Well, we were late (of course), but finally made it (all 4 of us!). They did great and slept the whole time:-) We need practice with "outings"... I'm learning to set aside about an hour more to leave than I actually think it will take to get out the door. ha!  

ONE MONTH OLD! wow.

Hotty Toddy!!  Notice Avery doing the Heisman pose:-)!

Here are a few more pics from the week...

They LOVE their Mimi!

Just hand me the blapper and get these cameras out of my way! There's a game on people!

Just had to show off the back of his cute onesie;)

Avery LOVES her bath. Watch out world... another spa queen is born!

Time flies!

Lots of happenings this week!  We ventured to Bruce's office on Tuesday and met most of the church staff - they loved it!  Wednesday was our 3-week birthday...

They're growing and changing so quickly!  I don't want to wish any time away... but it sure will be nice when they can skip that 3am feeding:-)  I was thinking this morning... you know, millions of moms around the world are up right now doing this same thing right now.  It really is a sweet time with just the two of them:-)  Note tip: if waiting on a dirty diaper to change before going to sleep at 3am, remedy is putting a clean diaper on. It will immediately become dirty. 

We've started playing more during the day - so precious!  It won't be long before they're smiling back at us:-)  I think Silas has already started looking out for his sister... what do you think?

We recorded them playing the other day - I think we could just sit and watch them all day long. ha!  What in the world did we do before these kids? 

Oh and I mustn't forget:  New songs from Auntie Grace...

One last thing... Bruce is doing great in the "Dad" role... but I must share last night's story. I laid out Avery's "nighttime" clothes and asked him to change her - he just needed to get some socks from the drawer for her feet. He did well putting on the t-shirt and onesie... but Avery came out with mittens on her feet!  ha! Bless his heart. I'll lay out the socks too next time. 

Learning every day. 

Growing little people!

So we had our first pediatrician appointment today - we really like our doctor!  He was super thorough and spent lots of time just talking with us. He said Silas and Avery couldn't look any better:-)  Again, so much to be thankful for! Here are the new stats:

Silas

6lb 7oz

19 1/2 in long

Avery

5lb 8oz

19 in long

My dad says they've definitely got the "I love to eat" Gore genes:-)  ha!  On another note, tonight will be Bruce and my (GULP!) first night alone with them... we'll see how this goes...

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Aunt Grace - she's been over here spoiling them almost every night!  We're so glad she and Micajah are in Jackson with us - I told her I'd pay her to be our nanny if she'd cook some... she said I'll order out...oh well. Silas and Avery love their Uncle M and Aunt GG!!  Grace was able to keep Avery awake (she gets very sleepy during feedings and we're trying to keep her awake... like the book Babywise promises will help get a full night's sleep...) which is very hard!  Check it out... Avery loves Beyonce!

These kids just don't know what a crazy family they've been born into! 

Thankfully, Super Mimi comes back Monday!  :-)

2 weeks!

Can't believe Silas and Avery are 2 weeks old! They are doing great... hungry all the time... probably because it seems to go straight through them (I think the diaper count is well over 200 now:-)!  ha!  Some nights are better than others - but we're starting to get "the hang" of it. Mom is going home tomorrow (oh no!), but thankfully will be back Monday! Moppy came into town Monday and we have LOVED having her here too! Everything is just so much easier with more than 2 pairs of hands!  

4 Generations!  So special!

We are learning... all the time. Silas has already "showered" Bruce, Mop and me... I might need to buy some of those teepee things! haha. I know it's too early to tell, but their little personalities are already so funny!  Silas is our "old man" and Avery is our drama queen!  Mop says she'll be the beauty queen... I say, good thing that's Auntie Grace's department... it's sure not mine! Silas is definitely ACTIVE all the time - even in his sleep... grunting and moving arms and legs and squirming all day long! Avery is more content to sit and watch her brother...

The "old man" Silas loves to sit in the big recliner for his weekly pictures... check it out. Can't you just hear him thinking, "alright people, where's my blapper"! (FYI: "blapper" is the Gore term for the remote control for the TV)

We've also had our first pseudo-baths... they weren't too sure at first, but ended up loving them!

So... I've had some complaints about the bad nursery pictures I posted awhile ago... and no, the room is not ugly mustard yellow!  Grace keeps telling me I must post new pics... 

Silas and Avery LOVE to stroll:-)

Warf, party of 5!

We go to the pediatrician tomorrow for the first time!  The 2-week appointment/check-up! I'll update with info tomorrow.

 We can't wait til we can get "out and about" more in the next few weeks!!

Welcome to Our World

Welcome to the world Silas and Avery!!  Born 9/1/10... Silas at a svelt 5lb13oz, 18 3/4 in long and Avery at a dainty 5lb4oz, 18 1/4 in long!  Mom and Dad couldn't be happier and more thankful that they're here healthy and safely. Here is what I heard while in surgery - you can't tell me anything that sounds better than this!!

After 4 nights in the hospital, Mom and babies are home safe and sound.  And- thank the Lord for awesome Moms... my wonderful Mom has been here and been a life-saver!  She's been "working" the 12-6:30 shift at night - whew!

Silas and Avery are so much fun - their little personalities are already showing (I'm sure these will change many times in the next years)... Silas has this serious, thinking face that he does - cracks me up!  And Avery is just bright eyed and happy to see the world... she seems to be the more laid back one so far:-)

The hospital had someone come around and take pictures - I'll share my favorite:

They most definitely LOVE to be next to one another!  We have them sleeping in a bassinet with their heads at opposite ends - but definitely have them close for snuggle time for naps:-)  

With newborns and as first time parents, I find myself with new obsessions:

1)  How long has it been since they've eaten?  You sure? 

2)  Did you mark on the record sheet that wet diaper?

3) What color was that poop?  

4)  How many dirty diapers have they had?

    - I understand there are two times in your life that your obsessed with poop. As a parent of a newborn and....

5)  Is that paci sterilized?

6)  Are they still hungry?  How could they still be hungry?  

7)  and the list goes on and on! 

Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention our first child. Millie has been patiently sitting at the door with her leash in her mouth BEGGING for a walk. Bless her heart. She has found the only way to get a word in and have some sort of control:

When we can't find the "blapper", we must check Millie's bed. HA.

Alright, looks like naptime is over.....

T-minus 24 hours...

I can't believe this time tomorrow, we'll be Warf, party of 4!  Wow. That was an excited wow and a nervous wow:-)  We can't wait to finally meet these little ones face to face!  On the ultrasound today, Little Boy Warf is weighing in at 5lb11 oz and Little Girl Warf is 5lb13oz, both looking great... but quite squished.  PARTY at the hospital TOMORROW at noon!  The section is scheduled to start at noon - and we'll have babies a few minutes after that!  Pics to come soon!

Moving on along...

So, after threatening their early arrival for the last 4 weeks... Little Boy Warf and Little Girl Warf are showing a little stage fright!  (or just being stubborn)  We went for our mid-35-week checkup yesterday and my doctor said she was "shocked..." that NOTHING had changed from last week! ha. Who knows. We may not meet these babies until next week anyway!  I, personally, would not be upset if it were tomorrow... but I know they're in the best place for them right now.

Little Boy Warf is an estimated 5lb8oz and Little Girl Warf is an estimated 5lb7oz - yay!  And mom is ... ok, not telling. ha!!  They looked great on the ultrasound...crammed in there. I know how i feel... can't imagine how packed they feel:-)  We can't see Baby A's (boy) face since he's looking straight at my backbone... Baby B (girl) has always loved the camera more (taking after Aunt Grace and Moppy:-).  Her little face is getting chubbier and is squeezed so tightly between the boy's stomach and her placenta that it looks like she's saying the Chubby Bunny thing smushing her cheeks in!  ha!

Now Millie and I are just passing time at home:-) I wish I had videos of my mom and sister texting each other and me... so excited! Of course, we all are.  It's so sweet to see Mom so excited - she literally lived for these times 6 years ago - to see grandchildren. I am humbled and so grateful... and undeservingly BLESSED to see this. I have always prayed my children would know her. Praise HIM! To see where He has taken us over the last 6 years is... well, I just have to sit back and take it in...there are no words. Our only response can be to truly give HIM all the praise and live to make Him known...

I was watching one of those "having babies" shows (I know, I know... I tried to stop) on TV and couldn't help but cringing when the new mother - experiencer of a miracle - said, "It's just so amazing...that we can do this.. that we can create life... women are truly amazing".  Of course the last phrase is true... (hee, hee, just kidding) but I thought about that for a minute - SO MANY people in this world think that...feeling of their accomplishment... at the first instant of seeing their baby for the first time. What a shame. We, women, do NOTHING during these 9 months to cause that little heart to start beating at 4 WEEKS. Yes, a three and a half to four week old hearts beat in utero. We do nothing to spur the little one to grow arms and legs, blink their eyes, suck their thumbs. We can certainly harm them by what we do, eat, choose to experience ... but sure can't help them develop at all. We can just provide the best environment possible for a miracle to take place.  Such a humbling experience.

I pray these children will come to know and truly treasure their Creator...the only Giver of life and breath. The One who writes all the days in our books before we are even one day old. The One who entrusts us mere sinners with perfect miracles of newborn babies and allows us to "train them up" hopefully "in the way they should go". What an investment... and such a tall order.

Ok kids, let's get this show on the road. People are waiting to meet you!!  (and Mom's having trouble breathing cause you're taking up all the space:-)

34 weeks!

Well, we made it past the "34 week" mark:-)  Just got back from the doctor today and everything looks great - Little Boy Warf is estimated to weigh 5lbs and Little Girl Warf is estimated to be 5lbs3oz!  Looks like they'll be here in the next week or two:-)  Check out this picture of our "first" child...

Poor Millie thinks I'm home all day because she is queen of the universe and deserves it... but she has been really "clingy" and tries to get in my lap - ha! When that obviously doesn't work, she just puts her head on my belly and stares at me. It's going to be interesting watching these 3 meet:-)

It's hard to believe "that" time is almost here... people ask if we're "ready" and I say "no!"... "will we ever be?" ha. It's exciting.   I'll share some pics of the nursery:

See "2 weeks" post above for new nursery pictures...

Fun times ahead!  :-) 

In other news, and news to me... when a sack of potatoes sits dormant in a pantry for over 2 months, not only do they get soft and grow good fuzzy mold (only on the underside where you can't see by just glancing at the bag)... they also leave tons of smelly (terrible!!) liquid all over the shelf and everything around the bag!  Ugh.  Just FYI. 

We'll keep everyone up to speed on these babies' arrival:-)  Won't be long now!

A few changes

I can't complain at all - it's been such a great pregnancy!  I've been able to continue working full time, going to the gym, taking walks, and I've felt great (after those first 16 weeks!)...  we went for the 32 and 1/2 week visit and I was disappointed to hear that I needed to stop working and basically all activity - basically, things were "progressing" a little too fast and the doctor wanted me to slow down to make sure these babies aren't born too early!  They (the twins) look GREAT, my blood pressure is great, just need to slow down a little:-)
Here's Twin A (BOY) at 32 weeks, 3 days weighing in at 4lbs and 5 oz!:

And here's Twin B (GIRL) at 32 weeks, 3 days weighing in at 4lbs 3 oz!:

The first week at home was an adjustment:-)  Millie (our golden retriever) thinks she's now queen of the world, deserving all day attention!  ha!  I will say... there are WAY too many having babies shows on TV during the day... I can't watch them - or I start freaking out!  haha.

We're (ALL) hoping to hold off meeting each other face to face until 36 weeks (end of August)... we're thinking it might be anytime between 1 and 3 weeks from now... wow!!

We're 33 weeks now and will go back to all be measured Tuesday!

I'll post pics of the nursery soon:-)

New Beginnings

Early February 2010:  Of course, we were so excited to be expecting... and went to the first doctor visit.  We had an ultrasound to confirm everything and I'll never forget the conversation in that room:

Tech:  "Ok, everything looks great!  Here's the first heartbeat..."

Meredith:  "first?"

Bruce:  "what??!! you mean there's more?"

Tech:  "Yes, you know there's two, right??"

Meredith: staring at the screen and can't say anything

Bruce:  "Um.... I think I need to sit down."

Then we sat in awe and heard the two precious heartbeats (exactly 174 for both!) of our 7-week old twins!  THEN, we got back into the car and laughed... and cried... and thanked God for the awesome privilege, blessing, responsibility of experiencing such miracles!

Of course, we wanted to tell our parents and just knew my Mom's response MUST be captured on video!  The surprise worked quite well, actually, since her 5-year "birthday" since her surgery was February 4th!  We were already meeting for dinner at the Parker House for a double celebration - Bruce's promotion at work and Mom's 5-year birthday!!  Check it out: 

Oh what fun times are ahead!!

Ok, here we go...

Well, I guess I've surrendered to the pressure...I've only been home off work for about 7 hours and decided that maybe I should jump on the bandwagon and start a blog. We'll give it a shot... here we go!