MAMA!!!!

Hello friends! It's been awhile! So it looks like this blog is going to be a once a year thing, but oh well...we're attempting it again!

Update - kiddos are now 16.5 months old - walking, some talking, getting into everything! Most days, I feel on top of it (although my house doesn't look neat ever!); somedays, I am not. That is how I am figuring motherhood goes. You never feel ahead or organized but its so joyful. We have lots of laughs and it is so. much. fun. living through your children's eyes.

The other day we went to the Austin Children's museum for their 'free night'. Because Rudy has been traveling and we were just the three of us, I thought it would be a 15 minute excursion and someone would melt down and we would have to leave as soon as we got there. The opposite happened and the kids were so well-behaved and had a blast! We met up with our friend Adrienne (from Camp High Rocks days) and her two little guys, Grover and Gram.

At the museum, Max loved this board that you put pegs into and they are lit from behind (sort of like the 70's light bright toy). He took it so seriously that he even corrected me when I put a peg in the wrong hole. It was like his job and he was the supervisor correcting the employee. Too funny.

And the reward for me being on my own for the past week and a half.....Vivi did it! She FINALLY said 'Mama' and is using it all of the time now (which I know will get annoying, but its not yet!). Up to this point, when we would ask her to say Daddy, she would smile lovingly at Rudy and say 'dada' which I didn't want to point out but sounds very much her version of 'Doggy' - but whatever. We would ask her to say 'Mommy' and she would shake her head 'no' and smile. She knew it was driving me nuts. Well, finally the other day I was standing at the stove cooking and she screamed it out so loud so I would pick her up and show her what I was cooking. (I always show the kids what is for dinner and explain the veggies and spices, etc. Sometimes we even pull up their high chair so that they can look on.) I loved it. If only Rudy was there to hear it. We miss you Bo! See you tomorrow.

Here's a picture of my Valentines! It was alot easier to get a picture that was creative when they were little blobs....;)

We're still alive!

Ahhh, having twins is fun but tough. Trying to find the time to do everything you want like update blogs (7 months ago), write letters and/or visit with friends/relatives, and in general sitting down to read a magazine or book is almost impossible. But, I have to say, most days I love it.

Max and Vivi are now a few days shy of 10 months and are doing so well. They are pulling up and 'cruising' around the room from the couch to the chair back to me, etc. Right now we are sequestered to the rug on the floor in the living room due to the sea of concrete flooring surrounding us (rookie mistake for two people who love modern design but have no clue what having babies is like). At the end of the week, we will be moving into our more family friendly apartment just a little south of where we are now. And by the looks of it, we are getting out just in the nick of time.

Rudy thinks we will have walkers by their birthday (10/5). Either way, walking or not, we'll be busy running after our two crazy almost to be toddlers.

We're in love.....

Aunt Emily visits Austin

We've been so lucky to have my parents come visit over Thanksgiving for a week. We definitely need to get some of those photos up!

This week, Aunt Emily came to visit. She's had so much fun with "her twin" aka Baby A Dunlap aka Max. Emily is also a twin (in case you didn't know - Rudy's sisters Emily and Rachel are twins) and they have each 'adopted' the twin that corresponds with their birth order. I.e, Emily was baby A and her twin is Max who is also baby A. We'll have to get Rachel to taken pics with her twin when we meet up for Christmas.

This week things have changed significantly with the babes - they are MUCH more awake and alert. They both smile ALOT. Max, who was Mr. fussy pants and had colic, is now as chill as could be and so happy. Vivi has officially found her 'voice' and talks and yells at us in a cute way to tell us what she likes and doesn't. Vivi has officially slept through the night (1 time from 10:30pm until 6:30am)! Other than that, they are only getting up once per night so we are getting at least 5 hours of sleep a night (up from 1-2) and we feel like rockstars!

Here are some shots from our week:

enjoying the farmer's market with the babies

Max sleeping with Aunt Emily amongst the laundry

Vivi wearing the hat Aunt Emily made

Vivi's sleeping style

Max is in love with Aunt Emily

Max and Vivi (L-R) singing angry Christmas carols

We're twins ya know....

Baby Bender

Rudy and I were running around the other day looking for pacifiers - two babies and no pacifiers. Are you kidding?!? WHERE were they? Under the bed of course....

Naptime and Pacifiers

Back in September I was napping with the little ones in my belly. We would take two naps a day - one on my lunch break and the other as soon as we got home from work.

I couldn't help myself today to take them both and snuggle like old times. They both slept longer and more soundly than usual. I wonder if being back together had something to do with it. Note, Max and his pacifier and Vivi sucking on her hand. I love learning who they are and their differences.

Somethings this week - Vivi mimicked Rudy raising her arms up in the air several times in a row. So cool. And she also slept 8.5 hours through the night without waking. Max is learning to calm himself down and not relying on us as much to do that for him. He gets EXTREMELY upset when hungry and will have a little freak out. We've notice that subside a bit this week. He also is full of smiles for Mommy. That, my friends, makes this all worth it.

Weight Update: Max is now 10.3 lbs and Vivi is 9 even! Officially, they are off the preemie scale and now are between the 10 and 25th percentile for weight. Their height is still on the preemie scale.

We've come up with creative ways to hold Max's paci in. And no, we don't leave the room with him like this but it comes in handy not having to place it back in his mouth every 2 seconds.

Want to babysit?

Rudy and I woke up to this....is it bad that we laughed? I guess we would be joining them if not for the laughter. Have a relaxing Saturday and think of us!

Making up for lost time!

Since Vivi has come home, its been chaos. We love it though. Wouldn't have it any other way!

Here are some shots of her and her brother....

our little babushka

she sleeps with her arms in the air for an hour sometimes.

Looks like she is putting a curse on us.

Another shot...

Reading a book with Daddy

sharing a bed with brother...

sharing Mommy with brother

doing pullups

Sally Struthers called and wants to know how much per day a cup of coffee is now.

Vivi breaks out of the big house

Today while Rudy went to work, Oma and Opa Dunlap and I and Max had a rendevous with Ms. Vivi to get her out of the big house. Here are a few shots of our breakout....

First time holding her without wires!

Opa riding in back to make sure all was well....

Ok, we laughed at this one....three things on her head and no socks?

Waiting on their ride...

Cheeks Dunlap wins the prize

We are so very proud of our Vivi! She officially has become the largest baby in the NICU (we're kidding)! Weighing in at a whopping 6lbs. 6 oz! She eats 100 ml (3.25 oz) now at her feedings which is shocking since we began with 5 ml just 3 weeks ago. We always knew she was a winner....now to enter her in pageants.

Rudy's parents are back visiting and we are crossing our fingers that she is released while they are here. She may want to stick around for the 7lb. mark - but we hope not! Here are some shots from the past two days....

sideline burping NICU style

eating groceries

relaxing with Opa

Gossiping

"you have to get me out of here..."

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Back at the home front....Max is enjoying his last few days as an only child...

Oma and Opa

Happy Birthday to Aunt Emily & Aunt Rachel!

Max and Vivi asked us to pass along these birthday wishes.

Hope you each had a nice birthday Aunt Emily & Aunt Rachel.

Come visit soon!

And we were three....

YEAH! We brought Max home on 10-2o-10. The hospital NICU staff recommended a 'sleep-in' or a night where we stayed at the hospital with Max and they would monitor us taking care of him. They want all parents of preemies to do this if possible.

Max also went on his first trip to see the pediatrician, Dr. Norton. All went well and was complete with peeing on the attendant when we first arrived. Max weighed in at 5 lbs, 5 oz but we are pretty sure he's grown some even since Friday!

Our first feeding without wires and monitors. So nice...

Mr. Max (cheeks a bit chunkier)

DD and Max get their rest

First car ride (going home!)

The pacifier is as big as he is!

AAHHHH...in my own bed....

Vivi is still working on breathing while she eats. She likes to chug, chug, chug and then cannot breathe. We hope soon she can join us three at home. The doctors say this is just an immaturity issue and will go away with age. Its been really hard to have her @ the hospital while he is here at home. We all miss her so much. We just knew she wasn't ready to come out. We'll give her the time she needs....we love you Vivi! She's up to 5lbs, 10 oz!

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Rudy's co-worker, our great friend, Aunt Amanda and her boyfriend Joe came on Sunday to visit with Max. Amanda is in love.

Making Progress

After a long day in College Station, it was nice to be back with the kiddos today. We visited Max and Vivi for their 11am and 2pm feedings today with a short break in between for some work.

They both consumed 40 ml. from the bottle at 11am--way to go! They're now being fed via the feeding tube on every third feeding instead of every other, so we're making progress. Vivi is up to 4 lbs 13.6 oz and Max slid back a little to 4 lbs 11 oz, probably due to having to regulate more of his own temp.

Goofy shot of Vivi - note that is the tape from the feeding tube and not boogers.

Note that Mr. Max likes to sleep with his arms up, just like his Daddy.

Got some great pics today, including ones of the whole family and M & V together. Enjoy.

Rudy and Vivi

DD and Vivi

L-R: Max, Vivi

Max and Vivi - reunited and it feels so good. First shot ever together since womb.