Parker & Penelope Turned Two!!

This is what Parker and Penelope saw when they woke up from their nap on their 2nd birthday:


Here is Parker discovering his gifts:



Penelope jumped right on her new bike and took it for a spin:

Their Aunt Kirstin gave Parker a new shirt and Penelope a darling little dress so the twins were quite spiffy in their new clothes at church the next day (and while they continued to enjoy their new bikes):


We had some people over for cake and ice cream on Sunday. The kids are totally into Elmo so we tried to create an Elmo cake. Obviously we aren't meant for 'Ace of Cakes'

Both Parker and Penelope were completely freaked out by the candles and even after we took them off, Penelope wouldn't touch her cake but Parker got over his fear and thoroughly enjoyed his:
We also got them some sunglasses. Penelope loves to play with mine so I figured it was time for her to have her own. They come in handy here in Sunny San Diego. I walk each morning with the kids. Here we are the Monday after their birthday:


Happy 2nd Birthday Parker and Penelope!!

Remembering the Twins' Birth

Two years ago today we had our first full day at home with our newborn twins. Our world had been turned upside down by the birth of these two tiny babies. My due date was May 20th so we anticipated a birth around the end of April or the beginning of May due to the fact that twins usually come a little early. Well, April 2008 came and went and I was still big as ever.

Then much of May passed. Tory finished finals and graduated, all before the arrival of our twins. My doctor finally decided she would induce me on the 21st if I hadn't gone into labor. The morning of the 21st came and we 'checked in' to Newport Hospital. The day was spent trying to get comfortable with a million moniters hooked up to me while they continually upped the amount of Pitocin they were giving me. But no luck. Those babies were not interested in coming out. The next day they tried inducing me all day but again, I made no progress. So my doctor told me we were going to do a C-Section that evening. I was quite nervous and the anticipation was killing me. Finally they wheeled me in and started the surgery. Parker came out first, screaming, and they brought him over to let me see him. He was the spitting image of Tory.
Then they pulled Penelope out. She was quiet and quite little but her eyes were wide open and she stretched her legs and arms out, I think she was just excited to have some room.

Before their birth the doctor thought they were both just under 7 lbs. Well Parker was 7 lbs 11 oz. and Penelope was 5 lbs 7 oz. It was like a dream to finally see and hold our babies.
I look at this picture and think, wow, that was just the beginning. Little did we know what was in store for us. Now here we are two years later, living on the opposite coast, the twins walking, talking and growing up. And they now have a baby brother as well. Never in a million years could I have predicted this for my life and yet I wouldn't change it for anything.

Trying to Fill Dad's Shoes

Big Boy

We had Oliver's 4-month doctor visit the other day. Here are the stats:

Weight: 17 lbs. 7 oz. (90 percentile)
Height: 26.25 in. (90th percentile)

We are raising one big boy!! In honor of the day, Oliver decided to roll over from his back to his belly for the first time. I still am trying to capture it on film. He's been rolling from his belly to his back for a while.

Siblings

The twins love hanging out with Oliver, especially Penelope. Every time I put Oliver on his activity mat, someone joins him right away:




Penelope even likes to join him when he spends time in his bumbo:


Here's a pic of the twins just after waking up. I love Parker's hair sticking up in the back.


And I'm just throwing this one in because Oliver is so cute. This is how I found him after one of his naps, all nestled in the corner of his bed.