Chapter 48- Ho Ho Ho Holidays!

What a difference a year makes... 

Christmas 2011- Snow in Colorado, Durango Mountain Resort 

Christmas 2012- Snow in Dallas!! 

Christmas 2012 

Thank you Lord for gracing us with many wonderful blessings during this holiday season! We praise you in all we do and are thankful for your blessings.  In the past two weeks, Hadley and Layton have celebrated two holidays/birthdays; 
Jesus' and Daddy's Birthday (he's old... 30!)  

Over the Christmas holiday, the girls had a great time going from Grandparents house to Grandparents house. We enjoyed Church at Hope Fellowship, Christmas Eve at Gram and Grumps (Michael's parents) and then snow and Christmas Day at LaLa's and Popa's. (my parents) The snow was a perfect touch to the girls first Christmas!  

After Christmas, Aunt Melissa and Uncle Sean found out the sex of sweet baby Fox!
 *Due to arrive in May!*  

It's a..... GIRL!! 
Hadley and Layton are so excited. 
(so are their parents!) 

We also got a special, short treat- My Nanny's plane to Alexandria was delayed- I brought the girls over to my parents home for love and hugs before she had to head back! We love you Nanny! 

Our girls are great little travelers! 

We have two easy and happy baby girls.
 We don't take it for granted! 
...Blessed... 

Chapter 47: A Beautiful Blessing: Solomon Family

As a parent, you only want the best for your children.  When they're happy, you're happy. Sad or hurting, you're sad or hurting. The list goes on. All of these feelings are normal and as hard as these feelings can be at times, it is always comforting knowing that we aren't alone, that the Lord is with us.  He calms our fears and heals our pain. I know that in the middle of hard times, one may not feel the immediate calm or healing, but knowing and believing will guide us through these difficult times.  We are blessed to have a amazing God, who looks over us and protects us through this life that we are living.

A year ago, I hosted a baby shower in honor of our friends, Reid and Lacey Fisher, at our home. At the shower, I met many of Lacey's friends.  Many of the girls attend our church, Hope Fellowship in Frisco. 

As the shower came to an end, I remember talking with many of the ladies and came to find out that they too go to Hope Fellowship. The next Sunday at church, I saw one of the women, Elizabeth Solomon and her sweet baby girl in her car seat. This little angel was born with a heart defect called Transposition of the Great Arteries and has struggled to stay healthy in the year that she has been given.  I follow her Mom on Facebook and have enjoyed her pictures and posts of their family!  Recently, Elise was admitted into the hospital to remove her tonsils and adenoids.  Unfortunately, her sweet body hasn't been able to fight the many struggles her body is going through. (which is more then just her tonsils) After many discussions with their doctors, the family has decided to take Elise home to enjoy being a family.

Elise is a beautiful blessing to her sweet family. She is a blessing too so many friends and family members. Please follow her story and pray for her family by following the website below:
Amazing Mom and Dad: Elizabeth and Andy Solomon
Precious Big Sister: Ava
Sweet Baby Girl: Elise
Caring Bridge Website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elisesolomon

Lord, please pray for this precious little child and her family as they come home from the hospital.  Lord we ask that you heal Elise, that you come into her and take away her illness, pain, and any fear.  We beg you to spare this child of any suffering. Please, guide this family and lead them to feel your amazing grace as they walk through this hard time.
In your precious name,
Amen

As a new Mom, I can only pray that my girls will always live a healthy and happy life. But, only God knows if this will happen. Whether or not their life plays out that way, these two will have the support of Michael and I always.


(Hope Fellowship: Michael and I went on our Church hunt about 3 years ago and we fell in love with this Church. I have participated in many women's bible studies,  2 summers of vacation bible school, women's retreats, we joined a life group with other couples, and have participated in many Hope Fellowship church functions/ activities. I have enjoyed growing in my faith with Michael and friends in this wonderful church. I feel blessed to found such a great place to raise our sweet girls! Thank your Lord for blessing us with this wonderful church, Hope Fellowship! I truly believe that Hope has lead me to be a better person and pushed me to follow Christ in a more in-depth way.)

Chapter 46: 9 Week Report Card

Last Wednesday marked nine weeks for our twins! I truly can't believe it! As a teacher and now a Mom, I have always believed that the early years of a child's life are the most important years. I feel it's so important to talk to your children, hug your children, and read to your children even when they are babies. These things will help form, the person your child will be!
As the nine week mark arrived-

The teacher in me immediately thought:  

REPORT CARD! 

For the past five years, my work life was built around nine week groupings of lots of hugs from children, lesson plans, centers, songs, and assessments that lead to report cards! Each nine weeks, the children went home with report cards. I think it is only fitting that our girls receive one, too! 

--Hadley and Layton's first report card--

Date: 12/12/12

Grade Level: Infant 

Teacher: Mommy Tennison 

Hadley:

Sleep: AMAZING! We wake you when your sister wakes us! :) You would be an 8hr night baby for sure.

Eat: 4-5oz-You eat on average a ounce less then Layton.

Bath Enjoyment: You love the warm water! It soothes you.

Movement: You have very strong neck muscles and look both directions. You have awesome little leg muscles, too! When holding you, you'll push up to stand! You also have noticed your hands and love to hold our fingers when we feed you. 

Talking: You are very vocal.  I often wonder if you are about to cry, but no... it's just you talking!

Crying: You are more a pouter and don't cry long when you do.

Over all grade: A+

Layton:

Sleep: You wake up every 4 hours to eat.  It's amazing how your body keeps track of the time!

Food: 5oz at each feeding. You love to eat and you always finish your bottle.

Bath Enjoyment: You also love the warm water! You love kicking those sweet little legs!

Movement: You too have great head movement! You do great when laying on your belly and you do great following moving things that pass in front of you.  

Talking: You don't talk as much as your sister. You let her do all the talking. You have started to hum and use your vocal chords.

Crying: When you are hungry you cry (sometimes, scream!)  

Over all grade: A+

We sure love our happy, healthy twin girls! Parenting (and teaching) isn't an easy job, but it's one of the most rewarding things I'll ever do!

Chapter 45: Great Grandparents

One day I hope that I am fortunate enough to be blessed not only with grandchildren, but with great grandchildren as well.  This has been clear to me as I have been able to share our pregnancy with our Grandparents. I have many memories with my Grandparents and love that they are able to witness Michael and I grow as a family.  

We love our daughters so much and I now see and understand how hard it must have been for my Grandparents to say goodbye to our family as my Mom and Dad made the move from Alexandria, Louisiana to Dallas, Texas. **Hadley and Layton- I'm saying NO now... you can't leave when you grow older and start a family!   As hard as the move must have been, we weren't too far!

 I have been blessed to have Grandparents who live close! (Well... if you consider 5 hours away close...  Just a state away)

Michael's Grandparents are much closer. His Dad's family is right down the road in Beford and his Mom's near Austin in New Braunfels.  There were times when Denise and Steve moved away from family and I know it was just as hard for them to watch them go!

Each holiday Michael and I have been surrounded with love by our parents and grandparents. Mom and Dad- we promise to stay in the Dallas area as long as possible!! 

We are blessed and happy to share our girls with their 

Great Grandparents!  

Mammaw

Bonnie

Nanny 

Gram and Nanny

 Gram and Grandpa

 Gram

  Grandmother and Grandad

My Dad's Parents: Nanny (Nickie) and my Granddad (Ray)  

He's one of our girl's guardian angels in Heaven

My Mom's Mom and Step Dad: Gram (Noreen Diegelman) and Grandpa (Karl Diegelman) (I was never was able to meet my mom's dad as he passed away when my mom was young) 

Michael's Dad's Parents: Grandmother (Katherine) and Granddad (Jack)

Michael Mom's Parents: Mammaw (MaryBelle) and Papaw (Clarence)

He is also a guardian angel watching over our sweet girls

{To our Parents} 

Hadley and Layton's Grandparents

Lori and Lynn

Lala and Papa

Denise and Steve

Gram and Grumps

                             Grandparents

Author: Unknown

Few can bring the warmth
We can find in their embrace,
And little more is needed to bring love
Than the smile on their face.
They've a supply of precious stories,
Yet they've time to wipe a tear,
Or give us reasons to make us laugh,
They grow more precious through the years.
I believe that God sent us Grandparents
As our legacy from above,
To share the moments of our life,
As extra measures of His love.

Chapter 44: A Day in the Life of a Twin Mom!

How do I make it through the day?

{routine, routine, routine}

A Day in the life of a TWIN Mom-

-Wake up, wash face/brush teeth, and head to the kitchen

-Pour two bottles of milk and start to warm

-Wake one baby

-Feed, change, put in a swing or lay flat 

 REPEAT with baby # 2

-Make our bed/clean kitchen (pump milk for a later feeding)

- Start a load of laundry

 -Time to feed again!

-Grab a little one- Whomever is awake

-Repeat above feeding process

-Eat lunch

-Tummy time and play-mat time

-By this time it is around 2:00pm

-Go on a walk/run with the girls (Thank you Lord for this beautiful weather!)

-Clean bottles/pump and store milk

-Start to prepare dinner

-Feed Hondo and Sophie

-Fold laundry that was washed and dried that morning

-Wait patiently/eagerly for Michael to arrive home to help with bath time and night feedings!

The list above would be a perfect day with no sad babies who want Momma time! Add a bunch of shushing, humming, kissing, holding, rocking, and singing in the mix and you have one tired Momma. (Note: this was just our DAY routine :) )


We are loving the holidays with these two angels!
Merry Christmas!

Chapter 43- 2 Months Old

{Two Month Check Up }

Layton Aaron

12/10/12

Weight: 8lbs 2.5oz

Height: 20 1/2"

Head Cir: 14 1/2"
Vaccine: DTap, Hep B, IPV, PCV13
Feeding: Mom's milk 4-5oz during each feeding

Hadley McKee

12/10/12

Weight: 8lbs 3oz

Height: 21 1/4"

Head Cir: 14 1/2"
Vaccine: DTap, Hep B, IPV, PCV13

Feeding: Mom's milk 4-5oz during each feeding

Another month has come and gone! You are both putting on weight and sleeping great. (7 hours the last two nights!)

Hadley- You love to lay on your back wide awake and look around. You were talking up a storm tonight and Michael and I loved listening to you! We kept laughing at all of your sounds. It's amazing how alert you are during the day. You love to sit in your "chair" which is a "u" shaped boppy pillow. 

Layton- You still love your swing! You aren't in love with laying on your back as much as your sister. You have your own little personality and we love it. You are our cuddle bug! You also love your chair, but don't enjoy sitting in it very long. You are also more alert during the day.  This must be why you are both sleeping so well at night. 

I love watching you both sleep. I think it is the most precious thing EVER! God truly knew what he was doing when made the two of you. You are both are so different, yet so much alike. It is amazing! We are starting to give you a warm bath each night before bed time. (Your Mommy love baths, so I knew the two of you would love them, too.) We have started a 'dream feed' at 10pm and we think that is the reason for you both sleeping so well. What is a dream feed you may ask? We feed the girls at 8pm and then at 10pm feed them one or two ounces of milk, while they are sleeping.  It basically tops off/fills up their bellies to allow them to sleep longer due to being full. It works fabulous!! 

We love you! 
Happy 2 Months!