"Newborn" Photos

So these pics may have been taken when they were almost 12 weeks old ... BUT they were the size of newborns - so I am calling them "Newborn photos".  Here are some of my favorite!

 Ella & Sadie

 Paige & Ella; Ryan & Sadie

 Ella & Sadie

 Ella's feet (and Ryan's hands) on the left. 

 Ella (upside down) & Sadie

 Ella & Sadie 

(I think this is my favorite of the two of them together)

Ella 

Sadie 

 Ella

Sadie

I really have no sarcastic comments to add... these AMAZING photos speak for themselves.  And they are saying, "clearly the most adorable children to grace this planet."  Yes, I am THAT parent.  :)

Also, another shout out to the photographer, Amy Slick: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Slick-Photography/147152275364298.  She is obviously fantastic!

#AnotherFail

Meet Ashley.  

Isn't she stunning?? 

I should also mention the talented photographer, Amy Slick! 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Slick-Photography/147152275364298

Ashley is a close friend who is expecting twin girls (Ella and Sadie are SO excited).  Ella, Sadie and I were so excited to have been invited to celebrate!  So we woke up Saturday morning (yesterday), the girls ate, we picked out some cute clothes, gave the girls a bath, packed the diaper bag, and headed to the car. That may sound simple... but that was easily 2 hours of prep time. 

On our way out to the shower, my GPS said I would be arriving 3 minutes late.  I fought the Starbucks urge and drove straight to the shower.  Unfortunately, my GPS led me to a random neighborhood.  I finally got online and looked up the address and realized I was about 7 miles east of where I needed to be.  So... we headed West.  

When I got to what I believed to be the correct address, I parked my car and as I was about to get out I realized that there were really not very many cars.  I didn't see Ashley's car or any of our other friends' cars.  Eventually the homeowner came to the front door and looked out - it did not appear that there was a baby shower at this house... so I called Ryan and asked him to look it up again. 

By now I am 30 minutes late, had been in the car for about an hour, the girls were starting to get restless, and I was very frustrated.  Ryan says that according to what he looked up, I am in the correct location.  I use some naughty language and leave - I know there is nothing going on at that house...  While stopped at a red light (seems like an insignificant detail - but I feel the need to clarify that I wasn't studying invitations while driving with two babies in the car) I checked the invitation for the 100th time to make sure I really did have the correct address.  I did.  Then I looked and saw where it said "Sunday, September 22nd".  Problem: yesterday was Saturday, September 21st.  #AnotherFail.

I called Ryan to explain.  Then felt the need to call Sarah (the poor hostess whose house I was creeping) and Ashley.  Mortifying.  The good news?  I now know where Sarah lives (so I won't be late TODAY) and the girls looked REALLY cute!

....

You know when you have to do something but life gets busy, so you put it off.  Then enough time has passed that the task seems overwhelming?  Then eventually, you just don't even know where to start.

That is where I am with this blog.  I thought I would stop after the girls came home (which, clearly, I have been successful in); however, I quickly realized this was a much more efficient way of keeping friends and family posted.  Also, when you've produced children as cute as mine, it is kind of fun to write about them and our daily adventures!! :) 

So what has happened since the eye exam on July 20?  A lot.  But we'll just start with our great escape from the Hotel Mercy...

On July 22nd, Ella took the liberty pulling out her feeding tube. Although certainly not the first time she had done this, we decided to leave it out and see if she could eat on her own this time.  Guess what!  She did!!  Five days later, she came home with us.  She has been eating well ever since...

Here is the very first pic of Ella, completely tube-free; this was her first attempt at removing her feeding tube!  It was out long enough for me to snap this photo.

THIS is July 22nd, her first tube-free day.  The first day of the rest of her life.

And here is what our little 3 pound baby looks like now... over 10 pounds!!

There's my little "lady".

Rocking tummy time.

On July 28th we tried a similar approach with Sadie.  Before making this call, Sadie would only eat about half of every meal by mouth.  One of our favorite nurses decided we should just pull the NG tube and see whether she would start to eat on her own, a method she jokingly (or not so much) called the "starvation method".  Guess what! From that point on, Sadie ate every single meal by mouth; she continues to do so.                            

"Yeah, I look REAL good sans tubes!"

 "To all of you naysayers..." 

(Sadie has quite the attitude)

A few days later (July 31st) Sadie joined us at home.   And here is what she looks like now...

Very smiley little girl!

 "Big" Sister Ella isn't the only one who can rock tummy time!

I've been trying to plan how I am going to update all of you on the last two months (since my last post).  I plan to first keep you posted on my recent events and when I can, I will post on events I've missed.  I hope you will continue to enjoy!