Summer Fun with the Little Ladies

Another month has come and gone, and it was for sure a hot one! The girls are getting so big, and running all over the place. (A lot different than this time last year, when they weren't even rolling over yet!) Normally, I enjoy summer and flip flop weather, but this year it has been quite unbearable (108 degrees this week)! The girls and I all have cabin fever, which I used to think only happened in the winter. What's a Mom to do?

Our summer fun is limited to what I can do with the girls by myself. I would, of course, love to take them to the pool everyday...but that's just not a good idea by myself. Instead, we've been reading LOTS of books, playing with their ballpit, playing with blocks, and trying to learn new words. One of the cutest things that the girls have started doing this month is show each other affection! We say "give sissy hugs and kisses" or "give sissy love" and they will go to each other. Usually they end up trying to kiss or put their heads together (a sort of "baby hug"). It's adorable! They are also starting to share and trade toys...which is amazing! I worked at a daycare in high school and college, and never saw little ones this young share. What can I say, my kids are gifted! ;-)

We also broke out the baby pool again, which didn't go well the first time (Madi refused to get in). This time was MUCH more successful. They both LOVED it :-)

We also went to Little Monkey Business for the first time. We had never been there before, and I didn't really know what to expect. It was geared more towards bigger kids (maybe 3 or 4 and up), but they had a small play area for kids the girls' age. My little monkeys had lots of fun climbing into, onto, and around everything that was set up. I'm sure we will make another trip out there soon!

My babies are becoming little girls!

Lily and Madison at 13 Months Old

It's already been one month since the girls turned one, and they haven't slowed down one bit! Everyday they turn more and more into toddlers, and become less like babies. We took the girls for their 1 Year Check-Up the week after the girls' birthday. They are still very small for their age. They were both 27.5 inches long and 17lbs 8oz (Madison) 16lbs 12oz (Lily)....they started out at 5lbs 10oz and 4lbs 11oz, so they've certainly come a long way!

Let's take a sample of what my munchkins are like at 13 Months:

• Both girls are walking, nearly running (started just before they turned 11 months old)
• Both girls love to clap, high five, and wave
• They are very affectionate, and love to give kisses and hugs (which I LOVE)
• Girls can say a few words: Momma, Dada, Papa, Bye, Hi, Yea/Yes, Hi 
• I don't think the girls know that my name is Momma and that my husband's is Dada, but they're getting there. Lily's big words right now are hi and bye. Madison's likes saying Yes (which sort of sounds like a$$) and Papa (she also says something that sounds like "oh, sh!t"--don't know where she would have heard that)
• Eating table food (like yogurt, green beans, apples, sandwiches, peaches, all kinds of pasta)
• Sleep through the night, for the most part (from about 8:30pm to 6:30-7:30am)
• Take two naps a day (usually each nap is between 1.5 and 2 hours)
• Loves our dogs. Lily likes to drop balls in front of them, and watch Ginger (one of our dogs) get excited. Madison loves to pet Chewy (our other dog). Both girls give the dogs hugs and (try to give them) kisses
• Lily is our climber/adventurer. She immediately loved playing in the baby pool and in the ball pit. She also loves to climb into their toy box, even though she can't get out of it on her own.
• Madison is our mover and thinker. She was the first to roll, crawl, and walk, but she's a little timid when it comes to new things. She has to slowly be introduced to things, like the ball pit, but then she loves it! Basically, it has to be her idea.
• They love drinking water out of their sippy cups (they like the ones with the built in straws)
• The girls are also learning to share already, they will pick up a toy and give it to the other baby. Of course, they are also learning to take toys away, bit, and hit...all part of being 1, I guess!

Here's a stroll down memory lane--Lily and Madison, birth to 13 Months

Born 6/10/2010

3.5 Weeks Old

2 Months

3 Months

4 Months

5 Months

6 Months

 

 

7 Months

8 Months

9 Months

10 Months

11 Months

12 Months

Almost 13 Months

 

Loving every minute of it!

First Birthday, Staycation, and Much More!

June was a VERY busy month at the Hartig house, which I have a feeling will always be the case. Let's recap some of the highlights...

Of course, the month began with the girls' First Birthday (June 10)! We had a great time celebrating my little twin princesses. We had a small family get together on their birthday, and then a bigger party the next day at a local park. I was so relieved to have great weather, with lots of friends and family!

Birthday Girls!

 

Father's Day was the next weekend. The girls and I are very lucky to have Nate in our lives. He's really an amazing father and husband. I love seeing him in the floor playing with the girls, and he's been very involved from day 1. In fact, he changed the first diaper :-) We had a quiet morning at home, but went to my parent's house later in the day to celebrate...because nothing says Father's Day like a BBQ!! :-)

Father's Day

The next week marked Nate's last day at ATK. He turned in his resignation earlier in the month, because he got at great new job at BPU (local utility company). He decided to take a week off in between jobs. It was really nice to have him home all week, which I considered our staycation (of course, I REALLY want a real vacation next year!). We were able to take care of a lot of things around the house, and spend lots of time together. Nate started his new job this week, and I'm very happy to have him working closer to home!! Part of our staycation included dinner at Fritz's! We had never been there before, and the girls seemed to really like seeing the trains everywhere!

Me and the Girls

 Our staycation ended with the Fourth of July. The girls are still too young to understand the 4th, but we were able to go shopping and have fun at home.

Daddy and the Girls on the 4th of July! (love the hair clips!)

 And, now we're excited to see what else this summer has in store for our family!!

Lily and Madison are 1!!

One year ago, I was laying in a hospital bed. I was in pain and scared. I couldn't get comfortable and hadn't slept at all the night before. There were a million things racing through my head...Is it too early for the girls to be born? Will everything go smoothly? How will we take care of them? Will it hurt? Will I need a C-Section?  Will we be able to afford to pay for everything?

I went into the hospital the night before. The doctor decided to induce me, because I had started developing pre-eclampsia. The nurse gave me medicine that night to get my body ready for labor...which is a nice way of saying it caused horrible cramping. In the morning, they gave me medicine to start inducing my labor. The pain and discomfort was indescribable, so I won't even try. After a while, I got an epidural. I was as scared of this as I was anything else...Will they miss and hit my spine? Will I be paralyzed from this? Of course, it was fine. The relief was welcomed, but my discomfort soon came back.

My progress was slow, so at 4pm they decided to do a C-Section (after 9 hours of labor). The next few hours were really a blur...They wheeled me into the operating room and tested to make sure I was numb. Then, there was an intense pressure in my midsection. I could feel the babies being pulled out. First, Lily at 4:25pm then and then Madison at 4:26pm. We smiled and took a picture. They told me they were doing well, but needed to go to the NICU. Nate went with the babies and I went into recovery.

I was a blur of emotion...so happy that the girls were ok, but also in a lot of pain (my legs and arms were shaking uncontrollably, a reaction to the epidural and stress). I wasn't strong enough to get out of my bed to see the girls in the NICU. Luckily, Nate and the nurses brought the girls to me. I was able to hold them for the first time...it brings me to tears now, as I think about it. They are the greatest joy of my life, God's greatest gift!

It's hard to believe that it's been one year since the girls were born, it seems like it was just yesterday. On the other hand, it's hard for me to remember a time when the girls weren't here...they were meant to be in our family!!

Mommy and Daddy love you both very much! Happy Birthday, Madison and Lily!!

Family Portrait 6/10/10

Family Portrait -- 6/10/11

11 Months and Counting

It's hard to believe, but my little ladies are only 3 weeks away from their first birthday. I have mixed feelings about this upcoming birthday. On one hand, I'm so proud of how far my girls have come. They went from the NICU to walking in only 11 months, quite an accomplishment. They are growing and changing so much, it's really amazing to watch! They're just getting so big (a phrase I'm sure I will be saying for the next 20 years!). On the other hand, it makes me a little sad. Pretty soon they won't be babies anymore, but I guess time always marches on...

Here's my beauty queens:

Lily loves hanging out on the living room pillows

Big smile from Madison

Yawn!

Crazy hair!

Our living room is always a mess, but I wouldn't have it any other way

I've started planning the girls' birthday party...let's just say that the theme is "pretty in pink" :-) It will be a mix of handmade things and store bought decorations...I hope it all turns out well!

We took the girls' pictures for the party invites, and we got two of my all-time favorites:

They are just too beautiful for words!!