Luke's first tooth!

After many months of waiting, Luke's first tooth finally broke through his sore little gums yesterday! We were extra excited because Dan really wanted to be here to see his first tooth emerge before he left for Japan. Yay =)

Round 2...29 days this time

It seems like Dan just got home from Japan yesterday, and now it is time for his second trip-this time for a very long 4 weeks. He left this morning on the same flight he took last time, and he will return home on November 19th, the Friday before Thanksgiving. I can't believe that by the time he returns, Luke and Olivia will be turning 1 a week and a half later.

I don't have as much planned this time as I did last time on purpose. I'm going to just see how things go and try to have something fun planned for the babies every couple of days. Tomorrow we are going hiking again with Oma and Opa, and Sunday we are going to a reunion with MauMau and PawPaw. I also want to take them to the new Discovery Place for babies that is opening this weekend. I may also have some friends visit from Atlanta, depending on how schedules work out.

I would LOVE to go back to Atlanta for Anderson's first birthday, but I need to stay here so I can also take care of Heidi. Her pelvis is mending well, but her foot is still in a cast and splint and she isn't supposed to leave the crate too much. She is getting more agile by the day, and liking her confinement less each day. Sometimes she just cries because she wants to be outside. So not only do I have Luke and Olivia to take care of, I have Heidi as well! It seems as if I am always feeding or changing someone! =)

We hope Dan's time away goes by quickly, but unfortunately we know how long the last trip seemed. I really hope none of us gets sick like last time. I got my flu shot this week, and the babies will get theirs next week. For now, we'll just take it a day at a time.

Dan with Luke and Olivia at bedtime the night before he left:

Now it's my turn

This past weekend was my first time away from Luke and Olivia for more than 1/2 a day or so. I went to Lubbock, TX for the weekend to visit my good friend Lara and her sweet baby girl Marianne (about 2 1/2 mths old). I left early Friday morning (about 6am) and returned late Sunday afternoon (about 5pm), which left Dan taking care of the babies for about 2 1/2 days.

We knew it would be good for me to have a mini-break before Dan leaves Friday for Japan again, and for Dan to see what it's like to take care of Luke and Olivia for an extended period of time. While it was SO hard to be away (thank goodness for Skype!) and I missed everyone like crazy, I knew Dan would be taking great care of our babies. He even managed to do a load of laundry, make some baby food, and have dinner ready for Sunday night. What a lucky girl I am!!!

I really enjoyed helping Lara with Marianne, who is just an adorable little girl! I was surprised at how little she seemed (about 12 pounds) compared to my babies, and they were that size just a few months ago! Time really is going by so quickly, and I look forward to them slowing down their growth rate just a little bit in the coming year.

Lara, Marianne, and me
Marianne and me

Airport Reunion

Pumpkin Patch and Petting Zoo

Even though it's 85 degrees in the middle of October, we decided we would head out to the pumpkin patch and petting zoo today. I recently joined the Mom's of Multiples Club, and their annual fall social was at Hunter Farms in Weddington, NC. Luckily we went early in the morning when it was still pretty cool outside.

What a wonderful family day we had! It was great to see so many other families with multiples-even one couple with 7 week old newborn boys. It took us back to when Luke and Olivia were that tiny-and that immobile! We also saw 2 sets of triplets, and thanked our lucky stars it wasn't us! The longest part of the day was waiting in line for the tractor to take us on the hayride and petting zoo, but once we got on, Luke and Olivia were loving every minute! We were able to feed the goats and sheep, and saw chickens, pigs, ducks, rabbits and a donkey. It was a pretty small petting zoo, but that was ok because the babies were taking in every bit of it.

After the hayride and petting zoo, we were off to the pumpkin patch to take lots of pictures and pick out their pumpkins. They had lots of fun playing on the haystacks and in the field of pumpkins, but I think they most loved playing in the grass! They were real troopers the entire morning, but it was getting to be past their naptime, so we decided to feed them a little early so they could take a nap.

The CMOM club had some tables reserved, and it was a perfect place to feed the babies and meet some of the other families with multiples. Once Luke and Olivia ate, we put them in their carseats on the stroller and did a quick lap around the farm. Lights out! Then Dan and I enjoyed a picnic lunch of PB&J sandwiches and chatted with some of the other parents.

It was a perfect family day and one I have been looking forward to for a very long time. We took lots of pictures; hope you enjoy a few of our favorites!

Happy Anniversary...and some recent pictures

Today Dan and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary. It's hard to believe we have been married that long, and together for almost 10 years. We've lived in 3 houses, been through 2 moves, and most importantly, have 2 beautiful children together...not to mention the countless other memories we have made together as a couple. I know we will have many, many more!

Unfortunately, I accidentally ran over our outside kitty, Heidi, on Sunday, and I spent the day at the emergency clinic. She had very expensive surgery today to repair her broken pelvis and foot, but the vet is optimistic she will have a great recovery. Here is a picture of our new bionic kitty:



Now we have a "save Heidi" fund =) and decided to have dinner at home instead of going out for our anniversary! We sat in our pj's after the babies went to bed and had some homemade red velvet cake and toasted our anniversary with some wine. What more could we need, anyway?

Here are some recent pictures taken while Dan was in Japan. Luke and Olivia have such little personalities now!

Luke checking out his carseat from the other side

Olivia making a mess eating
Luke and Olivia's friends in Atlanta-Charlotte, Anderson and Ethan (Maddox was napping)
Cutie-pie Luke

In their overalls before the end of summer

Olivia and her "diva" face



Playing outside

Luke on the teeter-totter


Olivia enjoying the swing

Olivia posing for the camera

Home at last!

We survived!!! Over 260 feedings, even more diaper changes, the stomach bug that wouldn't leave-we made it 22 days without Dan. Today he finally came home, thus ending his first round of work in Japan. I don't even want to think about him leaving again in just 3 short weeks.

We were so excited all day Friday time just couldn't move fast enough. Dan was supposed to land around 7pm, so I fed Luke and Olivia dinner and gave them a bath early. I put them in their pj's and headed off to the airport. Dan ended up landing a little early, but we still made it to the gate just in time to see Dan coming through the terminal. What a happy homecoming! A few tears of happiness were shed and lots of hugs and kisses all around.

Here are some pics from our reunion. Just look at those smiles =)

The best laid plans

This past weekend, I decided to venture to Atlanta to visit some friends and their babies and help pass the time until Dan gets home. Little did I know what adventures were ahead of us.

Thursday night my sister in law and my nieces came over to watch Luke and Olivia for a little bit while I got the car loaded. It wasn't until that moment that I realized I had never taken down the pack-n-plays before! That was always Dan's job, along with doing all of the heavy lifting. I was able to get major things loaded (2 pack n plays, 3 bags for the babies, & 1 bag for me), leaving room for the last minute stuff to put in the car Friday morning (highchairs, food, the cooler, a bag of toys...). I wanted to stick to their schedule as much as possible, so I decided I would leave after they ate breakfast, which would be around 9:00am. I managed to get myself and them ready in time, and we were on the road by 9:30am. They usually don't nap until around 10:30-11am, but they immediately fell asleep in the car. Uh oh! I thought it would be a long trip once they woke up because they don't like being in the carseats. Luke woke around 11:30am, and I just started tossing toys to him in his carseat to keep him occupied.

I stopped around 12:30pm to use the restroom (which meant I had to get both babies out of the car just for one quick stop) and gave them their bottles. I got to Atlanta around 1:30pm and I have to say, all in all, it was a pretty good drive. I survived the first leg. Yay!

We had a fun afternoon visiting with Joni and her little girl, Charlotte. Our friends, Lisa, Dan and their son Anderson came over for dinner and it was wonderful to see all of our babies interacting with one another. It was a true playdate, no longer just a sit and drool date! Once all the babies got their last bottle, we headed to Lisa's house, which is where we were staying for the weekend. We got the car unloaded and the babies to bed without any problems at all.

Saturday was a big day! Jen and Marica came over with their twin boys, Ethan and Maddox. Joni and Charlotte joined us as well-6 babies all within 1 1/2 months of age and 6 parents. It was funny to see all our little people interacting and seeing the different personalities come to light. This day made me happy and sad at the same time because I really miss being in Atlanta with all my mom friends. But since I made the trip myself, I know I can do it again. And of course it will be lots easier to visit once Dan gets home, too! We plan on visiting lots!

Sunday we headed to my Grandma's house in Gainesville, GA. It was a short drive (only about 1 1/2 hours), and aside from a 20 minute detour, we arrived with no problems. My mom arrived a short time later. Olivia and Luke immediately took to Grandma, and it warmed my heart to see them together. We were having a great visit until we tried to feed them around 6pm. Then everything went downhill.

Luke started throwing up first, and then Olivia. I was feeling queasy myself. A few phone calls from my friends I saw on Sat, and we concluded we had picked up a stomach bug. Dan and Lisa went to an urgent care Sunday night, Joni to the hospital, and Maddox was throwing up as well. Since the babies were also sick, we knew it couldn't be food poisoning. A long night was ahead of me...

Mom went to Publix to get some pedialyte at 10pm, and I gave the babies a bath. What a waste of time that was because 5 outfit changes and many towels later they were still throwing up! I ran out of clothes for them and we had to do a load of laundry. Olivia finally drifted off to sleep and I laid down with Luke. Around 1am, he woke up throwing up and then I started throwing up. We laid down again and around 3:30am we were both up one more time. I managed to get him to drink some pedialyte and we dozed until about 6am. Then we all woke up and I tried to get more fluids in them. I wasn't having much luck and I decided I was going to head home and get them in their comforts of home.

Luke and Olivia slept for 3 solid hours during the car ride home, and when I got home around 2pm I tried to feed them a bottle. Olivia immediately threw up, so I called the doctor and she asked to see us. Luckily Dr. Colyer said they looked ok and to stick to the pedialyte regimen since they both had somewhat wet diapers. I did that most of the night, and we managed to get a little bit of sleep. Luckily Dan's parents came over for a bit last evening and I was able to take an hour nap since I had been up most of the previous night and had not been able to eat in over 24 hrs. Thank goodness for family!

Today has been ok, although neither of them still feel very well. They will take some of their formula and a little pedialyte, but no solids-not even their favorite: banana! Olivia also has diarrhea and had to get a "bonus bath" today as she had poo all over herself and her clothes. The fun never stop!

I am going to give them a bottle for dinner instead of solids in the hopes that they (and me) will be on the mend by tomorrow. Dan gets home Friday, and that day can't come soon enough for many reasons! We miss him so much, and he hates being so far away when none of us are feeling well. So much for a relaxing weekend visiting old friends!!!

T-10 Days

Dan will be home in about 10 days, and it can't get here soon enough! We are missing him like crazy, and I know he is very homesick. Since he has been gone, Olivia has started "dancing" and will turn her head to the side when I turn my head to the side. She will also clap and cheer for herself. Luke will crawl to me and hand me his baseball and laugh like crazy when I chase after him crawling. I know this doesn't seem like a lot, but these are the little things that I treasure so much. We can't wait for daddy to come home!

Another tooth for Olive

Olivia's second tooth is just beginning to surface on her lower gums next to her first tooth. Her first tooth is not even half-way in yet-it sure is taking its sweet time to arrive!

Luke has still yet to get any teeth. I think we'll just have to get him some dentures instead. =)

Link to 9 Month Pics

Here is the link for Luke and Olivia's 9 month pics. She was able to get some cute pics, but not as many as usual. Luke and Olivia were very busy taking in the outside scenery and could not be bothered to sit still for long! We took the pics at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, where Dan and I got married almost 7 years ago. They are sitting on my wedding dress, and that was why Luke and Olivia were so dressed up. Enjoy!

www.boldimpressionsphotography.com

code: bartlett3

It takes a village

I have always heard the saying "it takes a village to raise a child," and now I truly know what it meant by that statement. I am humbled by how wonderful my family and friends (new and not-so-new) have been while Dan is thousands of miles away. A neighbor brought me dinner the other night, and a friend from college that is happily moving in just a few miles away went shopping with me yesterday and then helped me get the babies ready for bed. Oma and Opa are coming over tomorrow to cook dinner and spend some time with Luke and Olivia, and PawPaw will be here this afternoon to help with their afternoon feeding. Even just an hour of help allows me to recharge some to get through the next couple of weeks, and I'm so grateful for everyone in my life! Thanks!!!

Dan is adjusting to Japan, and he said the guys he is working with are great. Hopefully he can get out and explore the city and surrounding areas during the weekends. Skype and the webcam have been wonderful-how did people communicate before all this wonderful technology? =) I think Luke recognizes Dan on the computer and cries when I put it away (partly because he misses daddy and partly because I took something away from him!) Olivia is too busy being Olivia to sit still and actually look at daddy, but she can still hear his voice, which is good. I miss our "family time" immensely, but will treasure it all the more once Dan is finally home.

I also discovered a playground in a nearby neighborhood with infant swings, and I hope to take Luke and Olivia swinging again tomorrow morning before it gets so hot. By the way, is it really over 90 degrees in the middle of September? I hope they enjoy the swings as much as they did last time. They are still growing too fast, but learning so much along the way. I have recently started teaching them to crawl up and down stairs, and they are getting brave and trying to stand on their own for a few seconds. I can only imagine how crazy it will be once they finally do start walking!

Just a swingin'

Today Luke, Olivia and I went with MauMau and PawPaw to a family reunion. My niece, Paige, also came and man, was she a big help! Unfortunately the rain put a damper on the day's activities, but we were able to get Luke and Olivia into the swings for their first time before things got too wet. Luke had THE BIGGEST smile on his face the entire time, and Olivia just laughed and laughed. I think they would have stayed in the swings for hours. Well, probably more like 20 minutes but for 9 mth olds, that's a long time!



A great time was had by all, and there is absolutely no better sound in the world than my babies laughter.