Raising Them Right

Jackson and Harper are our little Chi Omega cutie hootie and Beta bro! 

First Mother's Day

I could not have asked for a better first Mother’s Day!  I woke up to Jackson and Harper’s smiling faces, Maddie and Bailey’s wagging tails and of course the most perfect hubby!  The Mother’s Day celebrations started on Friday with “Muffins with Mom” at daycare.  They were busy crafting all week at school for the special day.  My Sunday consisted of family time (“bagels with babies”), a much needed pedicure and a baseball game.  Sounds like the perfect day!  Mother’s Day was even more special this year since Mimi and Nana were in town.

Celebrating Mother’s Day was the finale to our busy weekend.  The Hageman’s flew in from California and my parents came into town to celebrate Amanda’s graduation from OU.  I can’t believe she has been here 4 years!  We love having Amanda in Oklahoma and we are so excited she has decided to stay even longer!  That just means more Oklahoma trips for my favorite aunt and uncle J  Jackson and Harper loved their QT with the Hageman’s.  I wish I had taken some pictures but of course I didn't have my camera around.  Here is one I snapped with my iphone of the twins with their auntie Amanda and auntie Laura.

We also had Tyler’s grandpa’s 80^th birthday dinner Saturday night.  You would never guess that Jack is now 80.  He is more active than the majority of people my age!

The twins loved getting all dressed up for graduation and bday dinners.  This is one of my favorite pics of them!

We definitely did a lot of celebrating this weekend!  Lets just say the Millers were exhausted Sunday evening.  The twins slept a solid 9 hours Sunday night!!!!!!!! 

4 Months

I can’t believe my little babies are 4 months old!  I guess I can no longer say “little” because they are getting bigger and bigger by the day.  The twins are at such a fun age and have become so active and alert.  Tyler and I are soaking in every minute with our little bundles of joy.  

Jackson

It’s amazing how many nicknames I have for you, little man, bubba, bubsters and the list goes on.  You are such a happy baby!  Your smile and giggles are so infectious.  Some days you are too busy smiling to eat your bottle.  You recently found your voice and are now chatting or squealing all the time.  Now don’t get me wrong, you still throw your fair share of fits but what baby doesn’t.  You can go from being extremely smiley to crying in a heartbeat and vice versa.  You have mastered rolling from your tummy to your back.  The instant I set you on the floor for tummy time you automatically rollover.  Every day you amaze me with your developments.  Daddy and I absolutely adore you!

Weight:           13 lbs 6 oz (13%)

Height:            24 inches (10%)

Head:               16 3/4 inches (81%)

Clothes:           Transitioning to 3-6 months

Diapers:           Size 1

Food:               loves oatmeal, typically eats 4 ounces a bottle

Likes:              bath time, outside, fans, books, TV, TV, TV (you become glued to it especially when the Thunder are on), mirrors, your caterpillar toy, balls, your paci

 

Harper 

Little Miss you are my princess/diva.  You have really started to mellow out this past week.  But like your brother, you have mastered having a meltdown.  You and I have a special connection.  I always feel like you are on the verge of telling me a great story.  I look forward to our late night chats as you get older!  Unlike your chatty bubba, you are so soft spoken with your cooing.  I am sure that is bound to change.  When you are being held you always have to face where you can see everyone. Heaven forbid you miss out on anything (you probably take after me on that).  You are a much better sleeper than your brother, mommy and daddy thank you for that!!!  You have just started to notice Maddie and Bailey.  So far you only stare at them but they are waiting for the day when you begin to chase them around.  Miss Harper, we love you and your sassy attitude so much!

Weight:           13 lbs (28%)

Height:            23 ¼ inches (10%)

Head:               16 inches (56%)

Clothes:           Transitioning to 3-6 months

Diapers:           Size 1

Food:               loves oatmeal, we are lucky if we can get you to eat 2-3 ozs a bottle

Likes:              bath time, outside, fans, lights, TV, books, the swing (always cures a major meltdown), mirrors, sitting up, the dogs

* Little Miss was not in the picture taking mood on her 4 month bday therefore we have no pictures of the two of them together :(  Tyler blames it on the bow!

Typical

This sequence of pictures is so typical of Jackson and Harper! 

Jackson's hands are always (a) by his face or . . .

(b) flailing around causing my pictures to be blurry 

So I try to hold his hands down and quickly snap a picture before he starts moving :)

And this is so typical of Harper - fingers in her mouth and trying to dominate brother.

Need I say more

And as always they are looking absolutely adorable and melting our hearts!

Yummy

Tonight was a night of firsts in the Miller household.  The twins ate their first somewhat solid with a spoon.  So exciting!  I have been waiting for this milestone for months.  We started them on oatmeal with apple juice as the mixer.  Our pediatrician thought oatmeal was the best starter for the twins with their bowel issues since it has more fiber than rice cereal.  And the apple juice is also to stimulate more regular number 2's!  Bring it on :) 

It definitely didn't go as smoothly as I had anticipated but it will get better.  I think our biggest issue was the bumbo, sometimes the twins like it and sometimes they despise it.  Tonight was the latter.  Jackson did really well with the spoon and seemed to catch on quickly.  He hardly spit out any of the oatmeal.  Harper, on the other hand, was not so happy about the situation in general.  Instead of focusing on eating she decided to grab the bowl of oatmeal and dump it everywhere!  Parent fail number 1 leaving the bowl in reach of an almost 4 month old!  Nightly baths are now even more important.

I was able to snap a few pictures of their first bites.  I'm sure I will be posting many more throughout the next two weeks!

Before picture, Jackson was calm just long enough for me to snap this picture

And Harper was calm for just as long . . .

Not sure what to think about this mom!

Jackson was a champ!

Hands

Jackson and Harper have found their hands and they are in love!  They would rather suck their fingers/hands than eat their bottle.  It's becoming quite the challenge during feedings!  Jackson usually is sucking his thumb while Harper is trying to stick both fists in her mouth at once.  You would think we have covered their fingers in chocolate!

BOB

The BOB stroller is now in full use!  Why not give it a shot with this beautiful weather we have had the past week?!?  The twins are a little small for the BOB but the straps keep them nice and snug.  We have had a sense of urgency to test the BOB with our upcoming trip to Breckenridge.  We would much rather push the BOB up and down the mountains than the snap and go stroller that we were using.  The snap and go definitely served its purpose with its ease of use but its not so smooth to push.  After two nights of cruising the neighborhood with the BOB I'm convinced it's the most amazing stroller.

The twins LOVE being outdoors and since they are cooped up all day at daycare we try to take them on a walk every evening (plus we need the dogs to burn off some of their crazy energy).  They both seem to really like their new ride!  Harper can get a little fussy but if I go a faster she is calm again.  I think she is trying to get her momma whipped into shape!  No complaints here because I need a little motivation.

They are looking so grown up!

Family walk

On another note, Harper has her first battle wound on her wrist.  I guess she was fighting her swaddle at daycare and one of her nails got the best of her.  Needless to say, I did some nail clipping this evening (my least favorite thing to do).  We have also asked daycare to gradually stop swaddling at naptime.  I'm not brave enough to stop swaddling at night quite yet.

Looking adorable after daycare.  Harper's signature pose is with her hand behind her head.

This picture cracks me up!  Harper has discovered her nose :)