A tubful of kids

Fun times at the Randalls

Our neighbors had a garage sale the other Saturday and was selling all their train stuff for a steal of a deal so we bought it. Parker and Penelope have been in train heaven!!





Then this past weekend when the temperature was rising we took to our backyard and had lots of fun with water:








In case you were wondering where Oliver was, don't worry he was out watching all the fun:

A half-birthday for Oliver

Guess who is 6-months old? My little Oliver just keeps growing, growing, growing!! We had his 6-month doctor's visit the other day. He did pretty well, he just didn't appreciate his shots!! Here are his vitals:

Height: 28.25 inches (90th percentile)
Weight: 19.5 lbs (75th percentile)

He's rolling over both ways front to back and back to front all the time. He's starting to push himself up into the crawling position as well. He can sit up with just a little support and will soon be sitting up on his own. He LOVES his mommy and is becoming more aware when others are holding him. Sometimes he tolerates it but not for very long. One of his favorite past times is watching Parker and Penelope play. He is enthralled by them. When they laugh (especially Penelope) he laughs. I know he is excited to grow up enough to play with them. He's also getting quite vocal, its pretty funny. I need to get it on video and post it.

The doctor also told me that Oliver definitely doesn't need to be fed at night which I know but I don't know if I'm ready to correct the problem. With the twins, it became essential for our well being that they 'sleep through the night' at about 5 months. (I did nurse them once a night at the same time, if one woke up we woke the other up, until they were about 9-10 months old.) But with Oliver, its not that big of a deal to wake up a few times a night and nurse him, although sleeping through the night does sound quite luxurious. I'll tackle that issue at some point but not tonight!!

I cannot believe we are already to the halfway point of Oliver's first year of life. Its going so fast and frankly, its been a lot better than I thought it might be with having 2-year old twins and a little baby. We are quite busy and tired a lot (Penelope was sick a couple times in the night last night so today is one of those "man, I'm tired" days) but we love our kids and, for the most part, we have such fun with them!!

Here's to another great 6-months Oliver!!

Solids

Look who is starting to eat solids:




He's such a good boy and loves solids. He's only had oatmeal but so far, he's a fan!!

A Visit to the Doctor

We took the twins to their two-year appointment and the twins looked so cute in their little gowns:

Tory started messing with the motion-sensor paper towel dispenser to entertain the kids and Parker thought it was a hoot. He was laughing so hard, it was hilarious. Penelope was having fun removing her gown.

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.