Surviving the Week

I just had to put that post title up after all of the talk of "Surviving" this week! Surviving the earthquake, surviving the hurricane and surviving a weekend without Ryan. ha! Yes, we felt the earthquake...but it hit right during feeding time for the twins. I noticed their bowl shaking and moving across our glass table...but thought it was the rock quarry we live near, then it didn't stop so I thought it was the garbage truck for trash day...it still didn't stop but by then, the twins were screaming for food so I didn't care what it was! Then the information world exploded with news of the Earthquake.

Then, we had lots of hype around Hurricane Irene. Of COURSE, this is the weekend that Ryan is scheduled to go out of town to Kentucky. It's funny when you are used to dealing with infant twins what does NOT concern you anymore. ha! The only thing I was uneasy about was the potential to be stuck inside all weekend due to crummy weather. Well, I'm happy to report that we faced Irene with fearless confidence! haha We actually had a wonderful weekend...it was full of moments I'll remember for a long time.

We started with a fun playdate with our bud Maddox. He was born right around the twins' 40 week due date, so they are a month apart. We had the best time playing with his toys and trying out his new jumper! Too bad neither mommy got any pictures :( Then we had a bit of a rough afternoon with both twins wanting to be held all afternoon. I have no idea what that was about! They had a super fun night playing with toys in nothing but their diapers! For some reason, the twins loved it and giggled and chuckled much more than usual. Caden would look down at his bare, white belly and pat it with his hand then look up and laugh. I made some Nutella Cookies while they played. They took their bottles great and went right down on Friday night. I got alot done for the big 1st Birthday Party, then I stayed up a bit just for a chance to watch the news and see the latest on Irene and what to expect overnight. Seemed to be no biggie so I jumped in bed ready for a good nights sleep! Well, imagine my elation when I looked at the clock and it was 8:30 am!!!and the twins were still asleep! oh my....what a gift! I ended up going in and waking them up at 9am where we started our stormy day. It was just drizzly and windy so I put the baby gate up and we watched the trees move from the wind on the front porch! They loved it! You know how Caden gets in his outdoor trances so he was in Heaven!

Yes, love Jenna's rockin' outfit. I had to put shoes on her so she didn't scuff her little toes!

Snuggle wanted to watch the wind with us too!

Caden was way overstimulated with all of the movement outside! And yes, the wind kept blowing over the babygate so I just gave up on it.

We played with our new wagon from Cousin Jamie and took turns wheeling around and around the downstairs. This picture and video is for you, Cousin Jamie!

Caden in the Wagon from Casey Little on Vimeo.

We went to our friends' open house (they live right down the road from us) so that was a good break to get out of the house and let other people hold the twins. Then Nana, Papa, Uncle Brent and Aunt Courtney came over and the party began! After their night bottle, Jenna magically turns into a snuggler which allowed me to get these sweet shots with Aunt Courtney and Uncle Brent. Caden was getting loved on by Papa and Nana in another corner.




We survived our time without Ryan no problem! (That doesn't meant we didn't miss Daddy!) The twins are in such a good rhythm that our days are really quite enjoyable and fun. Dare I tempt fate and say we have declared victory over reflux!? We are on day 2 of no medicine! We can see such a difference in Caden's personality and contentment. Thank you Lord for the victory! whew! All in all, another great weekend in the books!

A Fun Weekend

We had such a fun weekend that it deserves its own post! The twins' 10 month post is too intimidating for me right now so I'll just put it off. ha.

It started with a fun Friday-Outing with Aunt Robin. We went to a new local park near our house, Strickland Road Park, and decided to introduce the twins to SWINGS. Folks...they loved it. It is now my mission to find a way to get them swings at our house in our backyard someway! They giggled and squealed the entire time...it was awesome.

Outside + Swinging = a Happy Caden

Hey Brother, isn't this awesome!? I see you!

Woop Woop, this is crazy fun!

I told Ryan part of the reason I like seeing them swing is because they look so little to me again. Love it!

We even got a little crazy and decided to try out the slides. Turns out you dont go as fast and curve as easily when your wider than a 12 yr old. ha!



Then, thanks to our awesome friends, Liz and Matt, we were able to go out on a....gasp, date. We went to Papa Mojo's in Durham (fantastic!) and then we went to go see a movie...The Help (fantastic as well!). A great night! No pictures since I left my camera, again. I promise we have gone out on a date, I just have no proof to show for it. I forget my camera every time. :(

Saturday the kids slept til 8 am...thank you Lord! We had so much fun the day before, and I was talking about it so much, that we decided to take Daddy to the park. So back we went and again they squealed and had the best time! That night, we went over to see Mema, Pape and Aunt Jenny. The twins went bonkers for about 5 minutes at first: new place? new faces? Whatever the reason, they calmed down and played and smiled and posed for the cameras the right of the night. We had such a good time and got some adorable, sweet pictures!









Sunday was a great day at Church. The kids looked too cute for me to pass up a picture and my Lantana in our flower bed is HUGE! It looks like it should be entered in the state fair competition. I tried to get a picture in front of it with my babies, but gave up quickly. All the kids wanted to do was look at Snuggle, and Ryan was sweating profusely. :) We had lunch out on the deck and enjoyed a lazy day that ended with some spontaneous deliciousness! Nutella Cupcakes thanks to my new favorite me-time activity: Pinterest. (Thanks Tara!). YYYUUUUUMMMMM








Now it is Monday morning and as of 8:30, I've changed 4 poop diapers. Happy Monday!

Melts My Heart!

My heart is goo...absolute goo. Some of you need to sit down before you read any further. I doubt some of you will be able to handle what is below. The other day the twins were eerily quiet. I came downstairs to find them like this:


Caden had managed to get right beside Jenna and fallen over to land right in her lap. Rather than cry that Brother was laying on top of her legs, she just sat right there and rubbed his ear! Caden, who doesn't sit still for anything on earth, just laid there and let her rub his ear for a solid 10 minutes. He looked like he was in Heaven. SO PRECIOUS! LOVE!LOVE!LOVE!

Little Facts: Caden

And today is Caden's spotlight day! I've tried to write his following the same outline as Jenna's post partly so I can remember everything and mostly so you can see how different the twins are! Here is Jenna's post if you haven't read it yet. To my favorite sub-20-pound man on earth:

Caden...(deep exhale)...you are something else. There is no dull moment with you around, this I know for sure. You have an adorable smile that involves you opening your mouth wide open instead of side to side :)


And you have a very mischievous smirk that you give with your eyes when your playing games with people.

You are very observant and love to look all around at new things when we go new places. You warm up to people quickly and easily, unlike your sister who takes in the scenery for a while before opening up. You LOVE looking up at lights, fans and balloons. You also have some crazy obsession with the outdoors. (As if you weren't just like your Daddy already). If you are having a tough day, all we have to do is go sit outside on the porch or go for a walk in the stroller. It works every.single.time.



Your eyes are definitely blue. You got them from your Daddy...Mom can take absolutely no credit for them.


You like to play on the floor with your toys...for a limited time...not endless hours like your sister. You definitely get bored more often and want to change the scenery often.

You are finally starting to notice and interact with your sister. And while she used to take your toys and steal your paci...you have recently started fighting back and snatching your paci right back from her! You both like to settle and trade paci's. Many many times a day, I walk in and find you with a pink pony in your mouth and a green frog in Jenna's!

I'm going to go ahead and claim that you are a bit of a mama's boy currently. I have no problem with this :)


Besides, we spent maaaany loooong days and nights together when we were trying to help you defeat your reflux. Speaking of reflux, it really did a number on you! You completely changed personalities on us for a few months! We are so glad to have you back now :) You are very happy and like to flirt with strangers. When people stop us in the store, you are the one that laughs and smiles back at them while Jenna stares at them like they are nuts.


You have very particular and funny tendencies. For instance, you will only drink your bottle empty if you are in a slightly reclined position, on the floor, with your milk steaming hot and someone rubbing your tummy. Yes, son, all of that! The most you will drink is 5 oz. You easily drool out 5 ounces an hour so mommy worries about your hydration. You seriously drool more than any other baby I know. Mommy asks her friends about it and no one seems to be able to soak their outfits and bibs as fast as you. You completely soak a bib, to the point of soaking your outfit underneath the bib, every hour. You act as though you could care less for your bottle most of the time, and become quite impatient until we get solid food in your mouth! You could eat 3 or 4 jars by yourself every meal if I let you.



You love to beat on things like a drum. Anything you can "clang" together or beat on to make noise makes you happy :) You are also obsessed with buckles/straps in between your legs! If you are fussy for some reason, and we un-snap your arms, you immediately start playing with the buckle from your carseat or high chair and grin ear to ear:)

You hate to be on your stomach. Let me repeat, HATE it. Mommy and Daddy have been trying to work with you for weeks to roll over on your stomach and as soon as you do, you immediately keep rolling to the other side. Your Doctor wants us to take you to a Physical Therapy session to work with you. You are strong as an ox and have the strength to do it...you just hate the pressure on your tummy. Your poor intestinal track is just not normal. Mommy thinks it wasn't quite right and completely developed when you were born. You have always had tummy troubles. 24 hours a day you have gas or burps. So no wonder you dont want any added pressure on your little tummy! As a result, you are no where near being mobile like your sister. You sit right where I put you:) You are my snuggler...you LOVE being held and cuddled.


I'm so glad my good sleeper Caden has come back. You are doing great now that we have the right combination of meds for your reflux! We lay you down at 7:30 pm and you may cry out once or twice thru the night, but you always soothe yourself back down now. You are the FIRST one up...every morning in between 7:00 and 7:30am. When you wake up, your ready to get up! No fun playing with toys or laughing for you. You might turn a little bit in your crib, but for the most part, you are just like we left you: on your side :)

You fall asleep every.single.time. we go for a ride in the car. Whether it is 3 hours to the beach or 10 minutes to the store. Something about the car just does it to you, bud!

You like to do things your own way on your own timing. You fought mommy when she tried to teach you how to put puffs in your mouth. 2 weeks later, you decided you were ready and now you are a pro:) You are a man of many faces. We called you "Old Man Krinkle" when you were born and even still you are so animated in your facial expressions!Here are a few:






On a side note, you were the most adorable, most handsome, best dressed man in the audience at Aunt Robin's Wedding (Sorry Brad!)



Your trying to figure out if you like the water or not. Jenna splashes you the whole time you are in the tub so you dont know what to think. :)


You are so white, boy! Your skin is so fair. Esp when Mommy or Daddy hold you. :)


Next to your light colored skin and your blue eyes...you are such a handsome young man! You have two lightly colored birth marks: one under your left eye and one right above your right knee. They are hard to see. You have finally grown hair on the top of your head...it is a very light brown / sometimes blond in the light! If you got one thing from your momma it is her hair texture. (sorry). It is so rough, frizzy and course! Mommy secretly hopes it will be curly like hers since Jenna appears to have stick straight hair like Daddy.

You have incredible posture when you sit up! It is because you are so very strong and have so many muscles!


We have certainly traveled some bumpy roads already in your short 9 months, but you have taught us how to be better, more patient, more understanding parents. We are so thankful for those lessons and for you! We love you Caden!