First Lesson at School - "Friendship"

Today was an amazing day.

My teaching partner, Jakki, volunteered to bring her kids Tyler and MacKenzie to come to the school and help get my classroom ready.  This is the same person who arranged meals to be delivered to our family throughout the summer. 

Jakki, Tyler, MacKenzie, and the Long Term Sub of the Century (Julie), were at the school when I got there today and had already done a lot to get the ball rolling.  Thanks to their help, we were able to unpack ALL the boxes and get everything put away.  MacKenzie led the way with her babysitting services and Tyler along with many others pitched in to help with the babies.

I can't say enough about how much today meant to me.  And today is one of many times that I've been taken aback by people's selflessness and desire to show their friendship and love.

As I walked down the hallway to my classroom, I thought so much about how glad I am to work at Doby's Mill with so many great people.  They are my extended family and I wish everybody went to work at a place like I am blessed to.  Family.  Family.  I love it.

When the girls are old enough to understand, they will hear from me about how before, during and after their arrival, our friends went above and beyond to show us support.  Charles and I cannot get over the fact that we have been shown so much generosity and care during this amazing time in our lives.

Thank you to all of our friends and family - from every area of our lives - for continually teaching us lessons of friendship and love. 

We are better people and parents because of the amazing people who love us.  

2 Month Doctor's Visit

This week, Charles and I took the girls to see Dr. DuBose for their 2 month check up.  Charles predicted that Macy was going to weigh 10 pounds.  I was not ready for double digits.

Here's the results:
Molly - 9 lbs 5 oz   (she weighed 4 lbs 13 oz at birth!)
Macy - 9 lbs 15 oz (she weighed 5 lbs at birth!)

I guess I need to stop feeding them mac and cheese, huh?

Molly was 22 inches long (she was 17 inches at birth)
Macy was 22 3/4             (she was 18 1/2 at birth)

They also had to have 3 shots each.  SURE wish I coulda taken them for them instead.  But the good news is that they cry for a few minutes and then they're done.  It was hardest on me and Charles.  (Charles had it the worst.)  :)

Papa Mully Visits Macy and Molly

If you know Forest Mullinax, then you know our girls are blessed to have him as their Grandad/Papa.  He is so much like my Dad in many wonderful ways...such as, he puts everybody before himself.   He also adores these girls. 

That's him holding Molly on the left and feeding Macy to the right.

He came and spent the night with us last night and it was so nice to have him here!  He happily fed the babies bottles and bounced them around....and fed their parents at San Jose. 

His love for them is so sweet to see.  I hope he knows how much we love him. 

I guess the girls will graduate next week.

They're growing too fast.  Too fast!

This week, the girls are two months old....and they're starting to make cooing sounds that are so cute.  Macy has a strange and funny sound that she does sometimes that sounds like, "Alllarrrrr"....it cracks me up.

Charles and I had fun doing a 'photoshoot' in the girls room using these beautiful blankets that our friend, Trish, made....they're so soft and very special.  Thanks, Trish!

I took them to the doctor two days ago and Macy weighed 9 lbs 10 oz....and Molly weighed 9 lbs 5 oz......(Molly cheated a little by wearing clothes on the scale but Macy didn't).  In these outfits, you can tell their bellies are maxing out the newborn clothes.  We're movin' on up. 

Charles asked me the other day, "At what point do you stop saying '___ weeks' when people ask you how old they are?" because he wanted to stop saying 'weeks'.  I told him that now we should since they're two months.....As we got on the elevator at the doctor's office the other day, a lady said, "Awww they're so cute, how old are they?"  Guess what Charles said....."8 Weeks".  Ha!

The girls had their first non-family babysitter this week so that I could go to the grocery store without taking two babies and two car seats!  LeAnna and Tracy Elmore were fantastic at lovin' on the girls....feeding them and getting them to sleep.  When I came home, there were sleeping babies everywhere.  :)  Thanks so much to my Elmore friends. 

Our first babysitters!  :)

I hear some little girls stirring....better go for now.  Thanks for reading our blog!

Random Thoughts & Pictures

I'm waiting on the next feeding...and enjoying sharing pictures of the girls.  I know I should be sleeping but I'm a little wound up. 

Today goes on record as the first official really tough day.  Most days are predictable and great!  Today, Momma couldn't make nobody happy!  But, we still managed to get some fun pictures.  We had some nice company today and it was great to have folks here to help with the feeding.  That is the best kind of help that there is....it sounds simple, but I love it when someone is here with me at feeding time.  Hint, hint.  :) 

The girls are starting to be more and more alert and I can tell they are beginning to realize when we come near and they know we're gonna solve their problems.....i.e. feed 'em!  They also are making new sounds that are fun to hear.  It is fun to see them look at something like a ceiling fan....they seem to be 'studying' it and thinking so hard.  I  l-o-v-e it!

I'm on a mission to try to find a person to come and watch the girls here at our house once I have to go back to work in October.  I've put my feelers out in several arenas....if you know someone that may be interested, please give them my email address (arb@sc.rr.com)...it would be Tuesday - Friday from 8:30 - 4:30....with two cute little girls.   

Time's runnin' short...so I better add some pictures and sign off for now.  Thanks for stopping by. 

On the Eve of 2 Months

Y'all, I am thrilled and :( all at the same time.  How wonderful that the girls have been here for 7 weeks!  But, the time is slipping through my fingers....and I can't believe next Monday they will be 2 months old.  

They are doing very well and we all are reminded daily of how much support we have from friends and family.  We've had so many loving visitors, cards, phone calls, delicious meals, and generous gifts that I truly wish I had kept a better record to show the girls one day.

I wish you could hear what is coming through the baby monitor right now.....it is hilarious and sweet and hard to listen to all at the same time.  Molly is a grunter and doesn't enjoy being swaddled...but she doesn't go to sleep well otherwise.  

I think we're on the eve of something else, too!  The girls are sleeping longer between feedings.  Up until yesterday, they were like clockwork....waking themselves up every 3 hours to eat.  But, we had a 5 hour stretch night before last....a couple of 4 hour stretches.....and once I get used to it, I'll take advantage of it.  But what's funny is that I find myself worried that they're going past the 3 hour mark and feeling restless until they're up and ready.  They've gained weight really well, so I know it is alright for them to sleep a little longer at this point. 

Well, I'm sure you're all enthralled with these details!  Ha ha.....so, I'll sign off for now.  Thanks for reading our blog.  It is a fun way for me to journal what's going on....and I love it when someone tells me that they actually read it!

Have a great day :)

A Beautiful 4th of July & Updates

The weather tonight at the 4th of July cookout was really nice....a cool breeze....great food....sweet family....

This is Molly in the red plaid outfit...all tuckered out, even before the picnic.

Macy is looking over Daddy's shoulder at the BBQ.  S-w-e-e-t!

I took the girls to the doctor this past Friday and Macy weighed 8 lbs 2 ounces.....Molly weighed 7 lbs 11 ounces.  They're really growing!  All three of us have double chins...but somehow mine isn't nearly as cute as theirs!

Here are some pictures from the past week or so....the pretty blonde young lady is helping me this summer which has saved my sanity!  She is such a huge help to me and truly loves the girls.  I'm trying to get her to drop out of college and help us out full time, but for some reason she doesn't want to do that.  Dang! 

This picture makes me smile.....this was after a feeding during the late night....both of the girls have those spontaneous, fleeting smiles.  I love it!