Public Thank You Note and Bumbo Seats

Kind of a weird combination...I know. But they kind of tie together if you bear with me. We have been limiting our visitors like the pediatrician requested, but my dear friend Cindy texted me this week asking if she could come visit today. She is a pharmacy resident at Lebonheur Children's Hospital and is super busy so I decided it would be okay. Plus the girls are over 8 weeks old now so I think visitors are more welcome now.
Anyway, that's Cindy up above. We've actually known each other for quite a while now. We were physics lab partners back in Knoxville um....maybe 9 years ago? Then we re-met when I started my job after I graduated from pharmacy school. So here's the Public Thank You Note: Cindy brought Lexi and Lyla the cutest stuff today!
She had read on here how I decided I liked dressing Lexi and Lyla alike and she bought them a bunch of new clothes! Thank you so much, Cindy. That was so sweet of you and I've already washed all of them. I can't wait to dress them in their cute clothes! Plus, she brought a Wub-a-Nub, which is a Soothie pacifier with a little stuffed animal attached to it. So cute.

Josh and I have been so blessed by the gifts that we have received for Lexi and Lyla before and after they were born. I have been completely overwhelmed by our family and friend's generosity. From my pharmacy co-workers buying our pack n play and swings, to my aunt buying all of their bedding. From one of my patients hand knitting blankets, to friends getting us Phish tickets. It goes on and on and I am truly thankful. I just want everyone to know that we love you all and appreciate everything that you all have done for us.

Onto the Bumbo seats...my, well step-grandmother, Carol purchased them from our registry for Lexi and Lyla. Tonight Josh and I were dancing with the girls (don't laugh) before we fed them and decided to try them out. The results were hilarious:

Lyla and Lexi (with the Wub-a-Nub)

Josh was trying to get Piper to sit in between them. I didn't mean to get him in the picture!

I think they did pretty good for being 8 weeks old! Thank you Carol!

Alexa Isabella (Formerly known as Baby A)

Well apparently these girls are deciding to alternatively clock in and out! Lexi decided to be awake after the next feeding and Lyla decided to nap, allowing for Lexi's photo shoot. Looking at these pictures amazes me because the girls are really starting to look like little people! I wish that they were both awake at the same time to take some pictures together.

Here's Lexi!

Lyla Julianne (Formerly known as Baby B)

My little Lyla and I are enjoying some quality time together this morning as big sister Lexi is napping. We've been reading books, doing tummy time, and cuddling. Both girls go for their 2 month check up next Tuesday and they will be getting their first round of shots then. I am terrified to hear the noises that will come out of these girls! I will definitely post how that goes! As I was taking these pictures, Lyla kept giving me little smiles but unfortunately I wasn't able to catch any of them on camera!

Here are some pictures of Lyla:

Just because

I used all my thoughts for the "Bath Time" post so here are some pictures just because!

Lyla loves to hold onto her paci. She also loves to rip it out of her mouth when she doesn't want it anymore.

Lyla

Lexi either watching the tv or the light.

The girl loves lights.

Lexi (L) and Lyla (R)


Lexi with some super cute socks on

Lyla all wrapped up.

Bath Time!

Josh and I are really becoming pros at our night time routine. We are now able to feed, bathe, and change TWO babies in under an hour! I don't really know if this is good timing or not, but I think it's pretty impressive! Here's how we do it:

1. We each feed and burp a baby.
2. Josh gets the tub ready while I take the first baby (usually Lyla) to get cleaned up down below and get undressed. The other baby hangs out in her bouncy seat.
3. During the bath, I'm the rinser and Josh is the scrubber.
4. I then take the clean baby to get dried off and changed and put her down in the pack n play while Josh gets the tub ready for the next baby.
5. And then we repeat with the second baby

It works pretty well and I can't really find any place in the steps where we could save time. Any suggestions?

Lyla about to get wet (that's a wipe covering her private area- I don't want to embarrass her too much!)

Lyla not freaking out quite yet!

Lexi ends up on a wet net since she's second. I don't think she likes it but look at that big belly!

Lyla on her way to get dressed. The picture isn't great but her face is priceless!

A change in plans

Many of you may know that I had originally intended to NEVER dress Lexi and Lyla in the same clothes. I made this decision as soon as we found out we were having twins. I want them to have their own personalities and be their own person, not "the twins". I was also super concerned that I would not be able to tell them apart! This has proved not to be so much of an issue due to Lyla's "stork bites" on her eye lids, in addition to her smaller size (stork bites do go away though). Plus, their wardrobe is so much bigger because they can just share clothes! However, I might be rethinking this decision. For the past few days I've been putting them in the same sleepers and today I put them in the same onesies. So are you asking why I've changed my mind yet? Because they look SO FREAKING CUTE! Here's the proof (I don't think Lyla liked the flash very much, poor baby):



So does anyone have any thoughts on this? I don't have enough matching outfits to do this everyday, but should I start buying matching or should I keep them in different outfits? Tough decisions for a Twin Mommy.

Seriously

As a new mother, I think it is my right to think my daughters are the most beautiful girls in the world. I actually think that that is EVERY mother's right. But I also have photographic evidence that will follow my ramblings.

Josh and I have decided to start a bedtime ritual to work Lexi and Lyla toward sleeping through the night. I think at 6 weeks old they are probably still too young for this and with their smaller weights they probably still need that middle of the night feeding. I will be asking their pediatrician about this at their 2 month appointment. So, after we feed them at 10:00 pm (or around then), we give them their baths, dress them in cozy sleepers, and then put them in the pack n play. I have to say that although it's only been a couple of nights, I think we are actually doing something right! Josh had to actually wake them up for their middle of the night feeding and their early morning feeding, but they both took their whole bottles both times. He clocked out at 6:00 am and my shift began with Lyla being super awake in her bouncy seat but not crying. Lexi was back out like a light of course. This is a running joke in our house because Lyla is always awake and crying for me, while Lexi does the same for her Daddy. Can you understand why we call Lyla, Daddy's baby, and Lexi, Mama's baby? Anyway, a small success for the Jones girls.

And now some pictures from the past couple of nights of the girls after their baths and in the pack n play (Lexi on the left and Lyla on the right in all of these):

Too cute

I'd be lying if I said things were always perfect around here. There are obvious stressors to having twins: Double the crying, double the feedings, double the bills, double the poopy diapers. The list could go on and on.

But look at these pictures. We also get double the CUTENESS. And double the cuddling, double the grins, and double the love.

So life may not be perfect, but to their Mama and Daddy, Lexi and Lyla are perfect!

Our First Babies

Before Lexi and Lyla entered our world, we had two other little girls: Casey and Piper! We love them so much and they have been so good with their new little sisters.


Casey Jones was born on December 5, 2001 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Josh got her for me for our first Valentine's Day together in 2002. It wasn't long after we got her that Josh moved in with me...he just couldn't stay away from his girls! We named her after the Tennessee quarterback at that time, Casey Clausen, and she loves her Vols! Casey is not your typical Jack Russell Terrier. While she does get hyper at times, this girl would much rather curl up next to you and sleep. She loves to play and she loves to beg for food. We love our first born so much!


Piper Jones was born on November 27th, 2004 in Germantown, Tennessee. Piper was also a Valentine's Day gift but we gave her to each other this time! We waited until we had bought our first house with a backyard before getting a Border Collie since they love to run so much. Piper is named after a Phish song that we both really like. Piper is such a sweet dog and loves to please us which is a common trait in the breed. She is very protective of Lexi and Lyla and paces whenever they cry! We love our sweet girl!

Happy One Month Lexi and Lyla!

Lyla (purple) and Lexi (pink) on their 1 month birthday

Our baby girls are now 1 month old! It's very strange to think that if they had made it to their due date (very uncommon with multiples) they would be 1 week old today! I'll say it for the rest of their lives....I'm so grateful for the extra 24 days I've had with them! Here's some tidbits about each girl:

Alexa Isabella:
Nicknames: Lexi, Lexi Belle, Lexi Lou, Lex, Chunky Monkey
Likes: Her Mama, bouncy seats, looking at the lights and fans, eating, tummy time, being held, and getting attention
Dislikes: Getting changed, being alone
Other: Lexi is getting really good at tummy time. She is able to turn her head from side to side easily and is very good at holding her head up. She is also starting to take notice of the mobile above her swing and she reaches for the teddy bears that are on it. We catch grins from her a lot but we are eagerly awaiting a real smile.
Eating: 3-4 ounces every 3-4 hours
Sleeping: It varies! But she definitely does not want to sleep at night yet!

Lexi

Close up! Why does my hair always look red in pictures?

Lyla Julianne:
Nicknames: Lyla J, Lyla Lou, Froggy, Sweet baby, Little bit
Likes: Her Daddy, bouncy seats, tummy time, the lights and fans
Dislikes: Getting changed, being upstairs
Other: Lyla is so much more easy going than her big sister. She is able to calm herself down unlike Lexi who needs to be held. Lyla is also able to turn her head from side to side and is holding her head up well. She is starting to make eye contact a lot more and grins as well.
Eating: About 3 ounces every 3-4 hours. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
Sleeping: Same as big sis!

Lyla is not feeling picture time today

Oh Mama! Give it up!

Your Mama and Daddy love you both so much! No matter how tired or stressed we are, the past month has been wonderful having you in our lives! We look forward to TWO lifetimes of joy and love.Take 1: Aren't twins supposed to like each other?

Take 2: Slightly better but still not good enough!

Take 3: Uh oh. Now nobody's happy!

Take 4: Maybe it's these outfits. Let's do a wardrobe change!Mama. Let's just try again some other time. We're not going anywhere and neither is your camera.