Blessing day for the boys and Thanksgiving

The boys have hit the 9 lbs + mark. I can't believe how big they are getting! They make the cutest sounds and I just love kissing on their little double chins ;) We have had quite a few rough nights but we have survived. As frustrating as it is to wake up at night, it never fails that they always bring a smile to my face. Our patience has definitely been tested though ;) I am slowly learning how to feed them at the same time. Whether it be giving them each a bottle propped up or breastfeeding one and bottle feeding the other with my free hand, we make it work. I miss having our mother's here helping out. They are missed GREATLY!

Christmas can't come soon enough, we are Oregon bound. Woohoo!

Their new Christmas stockings (Luke on left, Jonah on right)
My brother in law, Zac has this wonderful mother who made these sweaters and hats for the boys. It actually got cold enough to wear them. Thank you Kerstin, you are amazing and they are beautiful!

Jonah on blessing day
Luke on blessing day
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7LcWMzi-bWKa9kVK1Zk5luw7g5fUf3PNIddhCcAA8EE2HjXfd3Xk1owty6roImDUdFYS_1Wyrz9_t2SLcosfHUwK60GXk0y_T9AymiA-jn_dAyEB60HeSsGG0MoJ8HYX8d1ZQrUnO3M/s1600/GEDC1821.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">The crew that was able to make it to the blessing. It was so nice to have such wonderful family and friends surrounding this special day. The boys did pretty good considering feeding time was right when sacrament started.





Showing off the boys. It was a really cold day and we had to keep the boys wrapped up in Grandma Newell and Grandma Waldeck's blankets.
My 28th birthday was one of the BEST birthdays I have had. I couldn't be more happy and blessed in my life. This time last year I would have never thought that I would've accomplished the things I have accomplished and have TWINS! I had my family to celebrate with and it was perfect!
Aunt JJ and the boys
Uncle Jeff holding the boys on Thanksgiving day. He is a natural :)
We were lucky to spend Thanksgiving with the Waldeck side of the family this year in Mesa. We had 3 sets of great grandparents there to help hold the boys and uncle Jeff.
Great grandparents: Wayne and EvelynWaldeck
Great grandpa: Tack Schumacher
Great grandpa: Marvin Hollingsworth This grandpa had a set of twin boys himself, so this picture is very special. It brought back a lot of memories.

The boys come home!

I can't believe the time has already come to bring the boys home! After a little over a month of going to the hospital everyday, we definitely were ready to have them home with us. It has been a long wait and we are so happy that the boys are doing so well! The night before they came home Aaron and I got a call from the charge nurse asking if we would like to stay at the hospital for the night and take care of the boys. It is called nesting and they put you in this room where there is a day bed and a little tiny roll out bed. It has a bathroom and everything but you stay there and they bring in the baby's crib to sleep with you. Well, it is already a small room and then to add 2 cribs was even more tight. The babies were practically sleeping at our heads. So you do all the feedings yourself and if you need help you just call the nurse to come in. I think it was a really good idea that we went and stayed there. It was really helpful to prepare us for them to come home. Of course we didn't get any sleep but I guess that is what our life is like now :) I must say, it didn't help that our babies make SO MUCH NOISE!! I know newborns make a lot of sounds but man, they sound like a mixture between horses, donkeys, goats and cats. It is pretty funny at times.

As difficult as it was to have them in the NICU, it was nice because it has gotten them into a routine and we just have to go with it. They eat at the same time and we are now able to let them wake us up instead of having us wake them up every three hours. They usually give us between 3- 31/2 hours of sleep in between feedings with the occasional 4 hour stretch. It has been so nice to have our mothers here to help out. I want to start crying just thinking about my mom leaving.

Between breastfeeding, bottle-feeding and pumping my milk, our day is pretty much filled up. :) They are now over 7 lbs and getting nice and plump. They will be 2 months old on Saturday and they are definitely growing into their own look. We do have times of confusing which kid is which but for the most part we figure it out. We usually just make sure to remember who is wearing what and which blanket they are in. They are fraternal but they sure do look identical at times.

The following are pictures from the last month..enjoy! There are lots of pictures!

First day home!

Julie did another great photo shoot with the boys, these are just a few but we are going to do another one when the boys are a little more photogenic :) The above picture is Luke on Grammy Waldeck's blanket that she made the boys.
Jonah getting a piggyback ride from his brother
During this picture, the boys were so hungry that they were trying to suck each other. Jonah got Luke's nose a few times. We all just stood back and laughed. haha
Luke (left) Jonah (right)
Luke in black and Jonah in brown
Luke
Jonah
One of the first late night feedings with the boys. I started out with a lot of energy in the middle of the night and would just pop up as soon as feeding time started. I couldn't wait to take care of them. Things have changed..I'm not quite so chipper ;)
Luke on left, and Jonah
Home from the circumcision. They hardly cried and were champs! Look at those amazing fuzzy blankets that my mom made. LOVE them!
Our dear friends, Derek and Amy. They are used to dogs not babies. So this picture was a must!
Jonah signing "I love you" during feeding time. (I know, I know it is one finger off but it is still really cute)
Aaron with Luke. This is a usual occurance :)
Jonah wide eyed. I think he looks like his cousin Tyler's baby picture here. He gets that double chin from my baby pictures.
Giving Aunt JJ love.
Alex doing an excellent job holding the boys. He is definitely ready for a baby brother or sister
Grandpa Newell and the twins. This picture is dear to me since I have the same picture of him holding Ashlee and I. So sweet!
Late night feedings with Grammy Waldeck. We love grammy!
Luke after bathtime

Jonah
Isabella loves "Wuke and Jonah"
Luke says hello. Look at that awesome towel, thank you Judy Harvey!
What!? Diapers don't stay on for bathtime? ;) Woops
Once again, love these towels!
2nd day home from hospital. Luke on left, Jonah on right
Cousin Anderson is 9 months old and that boy is SOLID! Hopefully they will be buddies :)
Saying goodbye to our favorite NICU nurse Trudee. It was sad to say good bye to her and bittersweet to leave the hospital. We were just so happy to have them come home finally!
The night of Nesting..
Jonah on left, Luke on right. They look so big here, I love it
I think they look alike here.