January 2012

New Year's Eve when you have three kiddos 2 and under means something very different than it used to!  This year Marc and I were not even sure if we were going to be able to make it until midnight!!  We decided to spend the evening on our respective computers doing our own thing... and it was perfect!!  We watched the clock and when it turned to midnight we gave each other a kiss, said Happy New Year and went and got ready for bed.  I was asleep by 12:03 am!! 
Life has changed so much but I am absolutely LOVING this phase even if New Year's isn't this huge celebration like it used to be!  One thing that I love about a new year is that it gives me a chance to look back at the previous year and evaluate where I want to be at the end of this year.  I am thankful for a time to reflect and evaluate :)

Instead of doing resolutions, Marc and I made predictions for the upcoming year.  We guessed how many kids we were going to have (or be pregnant with), certain milestones for the kids and where we'd be living.

Here are our predictions.  In 2012...
Our family size will be:
Marc- 6
Reci- 5

Shiloh will/will not be using Suzy:
Marc- will
Reci- will

McKenzie will be walking:
Marc- Yes
Reci- Yes

McKinley will have x words:
Marc- 25
Reci- 10

We will be living in TX:
Marc- no
Reci- "I really don't know.  Marc will not like my answer, but I honestly have no idea.  I am, however, excited to see what the Lord has in store for us."

Favorite moment of 2011:
Marc- getting to know Shiloh's personality
Reci- meeting McKenzie and McKinley for the first time

What are you looking forward to in 2012:
Marc- watching the twins begin to crawl and walk
Reci- growing as a family of five, watching Marc father 3 girls and watching the sisters (all 3) relationships develop

Here are some fun pictures from January:

Walking with our fun neighbors Jon, Sami & Evie

McKinley & McKenzie

Tummy time

McKenzie & McKinley

For my birthday, we had a girls night at Patriazo's

Melissa, Becca, Jackie & Sami

Tiffany, Abby, Andrea & Susan

All the girls!!  These girls gave me are amazing women of the Lord!! Thank you so much for the wonderful gift of friendship!  For my birthday, Jackie made a scrap book in which all the girls wrote sweet little notes or bible verses that made them think of me.  I felt SO loved!

Yep, it was warm enough in January to go to the zoo!!  Here are Marc, Shiloh and a giraffe :)

Life with twins!

Daddy teaching Shiloh to cook potatoes

Sweet sisters; McKenzie & McKinley

Having a twin moment- McKenzie & McKinley

Lunch in a big box- this upgraded me from a cool mom to the coolest mom :)

The Dallas Zoo with Nino!!  We had a GREAT time!

Post bath time :) McKenzie on top & McKinley on bottom

At On the Border after church- Shiloh loves going to restaurants

Connie holding McKenzie and playing with McKinley so Marc and I could have a date day

Marc and I celebrating my 27th birthday!

One morning all three girls were in a great mood so I snapped pictures :)

 McKinley

 McKenzie

 Shiloh's first driving lesson

 Shiloh wanted to wear her princess dress to go on a walk with daddy

 McKinley & McKenzie at the Dr. office for their 4 month check up

 McKinley waiting for the Dr. to see her

McKenzie while the Dr. was checking her out... clean bill of health for both girls :)

After Shiloh saw me put her sisters in the double stroller, she has decided that she likes to ride in it.  To go on walks, I usually wear one M and push Shiloh and the other M.

Ready for church one Sunday; McKenzie & McKinley

 One morning Shiloh let me straighten her hair!  It looked so cute :)

Cooking with all 3 girls (McKenzie in the high chair)

January Milestones:
me- I am so excited that I have been able to nurse the twins for 5 months (I'm typing this in February)!!  In January, I had a little hiccup, and I had to supplement about 3 feedings with some formula after nursing M&M.  I was so disappointed that nursing the girls might be coming to an end because my goal is to nurse them 6 months and ideally a year.  I begin to take fenugreek, an herbal supplement that is supposed to help with nursing, and I have been trying to intake some more calories daily.  Both of these things have helped and it looks like I will be able to keep nursing the girls!!  I've got ONE MORE month to reach my big goal!!! 

Shiloh: Her comprehension level astounds Marc and me. 
She can:
- count to 12
- identify almost all of the letters from the alphabet
- identify the numbers 0-9
- recognize her name when she sees it spelled out

McKenzie:
- At her 4 month check up McKenzie weighed 10 pounds 10 ounces and was 24 1/2 inches, which was a great growth rate.  She is still in the 3-5 %
- On January 25 she rolled over from back to front.  In December she rolled from front to back, so now she can do both!
- She loves to smile and laugh at us!!
- She loves to look in the mirror and use her hands to grab things

McKinley:
- At her 4 month check up McKinley weighed 10 pounds 10 ounces and was 24 1/2 inches, which was a great growth rate. She is still in the 3-5 % (She caught up to McKenzie and now they weigh the exact same and are the same length... SUPER IDENTICAL)
- On January 9, she rolled over from back to front.  In December she rolled from front to back, so now she can do both!
- She loves to smile and laugh at us!!
- She loves to look in the mirror and use her hands to grab things

In M&M, we've noticed a few differences!!  It seems like McKinley likes to roll around, coo and talk a little bit more and McKenzie likes to smile, giggle and look around a little bit more.