Growin' Boys and More............

Hi All-
Things here are good, but busy as usual! The boys had their big 4 month checkup last Monday and it went very well. We were smart this time and gave them Tylenol before the shots and that made for a much more pleasant evening than last time!

Blakey Boy weighed 10 lbs, 8 ozs and Nicolas weighed 12 lbs, 14 ozs. What was interesting was that their heights were only different by about half an inch. So we think Nicolas is going to have a body like Grandpa Jim (Jeff's dad) and Blake is going to have a body like Grandpa Bob (my dad). They are both now wearing 3-6 months clothes which makes my life much easier when doing laundry and putting away clothes!!

Dr. Pecht was happy with their weight gain and the development of the age appropriate milestones. They are doing everything that a baby born full term at 4 months should be doing with the exception of grabbing for things. We are working on that skill and the are now just starting to grab things and hold on to them.

The doctor was extremely impressed with their verbal skills and actually said the way in which they are talking is what he would expect from a 5 or 6 month old..............I can see days of nonstop chitter chatter in our future!

On another note, last weekend we enjoyed a very nice Meet the Babies shower hosted by Nancy and Jim. We had great fun introducing the boys to new members of the family and new friends. Uncle Dave took pictures but of course they are in a format that makes it impossible for me to open......I have to wait for Jeff to do it!! I'll post some as soon as I can. The boys did great as they got passed around from person to person. It was a special day for us!

The next couple of weeks will be exciting for us as my dad and stepmom are visiting from Oregon for a while. Today we had a big outing to the local roller skating rink to watch my nephew in his roller skating class. It was then off to lunch and Barnes and Noble. We are looking forward to spending the 4th of July with the family. ( my sister will be coming out from Arizona with the kids) We will have some big outings with all of the cousins and the boys might even get to have their first trip to the zoo.....Stay tuned for pictures!

Hope you are all well!
Love, Rebeca

Best Dad in the World

Dear Dad,

We know this letter is a bit late but we wanted to tell you that you are the best dad in the world! We are so lucky to be your sons and we will grow up to be great men thanks to you!

We would like to thank you for many things: changing our diapers (especially the poopy ones), feeding us in the middle of the night, helping mommy feed us when one of us is screaming (we aren't perfect, sorry!), working so hard to keep this roof over our heads and milk in our mouths, snuggling with us to help us fall back asleep, making us smile with your silly stories, taking us for walks and so much more!

We can't wait until we are bigger and you can teach us how to pitch a ball and shoot a hoop! We love you so much and it won't be long until we can tell you that!

Hugs and slobbery kisses,
Nicolas Riley and Blake Taylor

Daddy, Nico and Blake

(I don't normally dress them the same but loved the "My Daddy Rocks" shirts!

**Mommy says she will update everyone on our big Dr's appt in the next post!

Exciting Day of Dates

If you are a parent of young children then I'm sure the word "playdate" is a common one in your household. When I found out that I was pregnant with twins our friends (and also parents of twins) Kris and Bri advised us to seek the support of a local Mothers of Mulitples group. Now that I am a bit more mobile I have gotten more involved with this group. Today was their monthly "playdate" event where mothers and their wee ones are invited to gather and "play" at someone's house. (a very brave "someone"!) I hadn't participated in this event in prior months because how much can a newborn really "play" with other twins? What I didn't realize, but know now, that these "playdates" are really more for the moms than the kids. (but yes, the older kids do have fun!) As I entered Kate's house (the hostess), there were numerous sets of twins running here and there with their moms chasing after them. The final count was 11 sets of twins and one set of triplets (all between the ages of 8 weeks and 3 years old). Now add in the 12 moms, 3 older siblings and one grandma and you got one very full and busy house! It was really wonderful for me to sit and chat with other moms who totally understand the stresses (and joys) of raising multiples. The moms all help each other and when I was feeding Blake and Nico needed to be changed I didn't even have to ask and someone was already getting the diaper out of the bag to go and change him. I really need to take my camera next time as it is quite a sight to see! I had so much fun and am looking forward to the next one already. It was so nice to see others who have gone through the infant years and are alive and willing to share their tidbits of how to survive them!

Tonight our good friend Jennifer offered to come over with one of her friends and babysit so that Jeff and I could have our own "playdate". So exciting! We had a hard time deciding how to spend the time. We realized that it had been over a year since we had seen a movie, so we hit the theater. We then went to dinner and headed over to Target for some fun shopping time. It was great strolling down the aisles at our leisure, not having to hurry and finish "before the baby wakes up".

Part of the reason we were at Target was to prepare for the big weekend that we have ahead of us. Jim and Nancy are hosting a "Meet the Babies" shower at their house on Saturday so we will be taking the boys out for their first weekend away from home. We are really excited so see many dear friends and family but the task of packing and preparing for a trip away is quite daunting. I have my list and we will start packing the car tomorrow night in hopes that we can get out of here as early as possible on Friday. The last thing anyone wants is to get stuck in LA traffic on a Friday afternoon, especially with two babies in the backseat.

The boys are getting so big and have really discovered their voices. They "talk" to us all of the time now and it is sooooo cute! We'll have to capture some video footage (with sound!) this weekend and post it next week. They have their 4 month checkup on Monday so we'll have some fun stats to share then!

Hope you are all well!
Hugs- Rebeca

Where does the time go?

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted............sorry! Check out these pictures to see what we've been up to lately!

Much to our relief, we discovered the boys are Dodger fans. We put them on their favorite play mat and instead of fixating their eyes on the singing sun they watched James Loney hit a home run! True Blue fans!

"I can fly!" says a happy Nico.

Blake chillin' on the boppy. He loves to be naked and yes, he is also getting a double chin! Way to grow Blakey!

Guapo watching over the boys! Good dog!

Can they get much cuter than that??

Happy Play Time

I recently discovered that my old camera has a video function. I wish I would have realized that a long time ago! Unfortunately it does not have sound, but here you can see the boys groovin' to the tunes of Mr. Sun. It's so sad there is no sound because Blake was chattering away and Nico let out a major "Walter" (as my dad likes to call them) at the end.

The last few weeks the boys have been keeping us laughing! Blake goes from protesting not being held to telling you thank you once you pick him up. Nico is going to be our soccer player as you can see in the video, he likes to kick!

I'll have to post more later as I can barely keep my eyes open right now. Nico likes to wake mommy up around the 4:30/5:00 mark...............which isn't too long from now!

I hope you are all well!

Love, Rebeca

You know you are a mom when............

• When shopping at the grocery store you rock the cart back and forth even though there is no baby with you.
• You take the long way home to avoid red lights just to keep the babies sleeping.
• Hearing other babies crying makes you want to run the other direction.

Okay, I know there are several more, but that's what I've come up with for this week.

Life here is the same- the days all blend together and the only way I know what day it is is if I am writing a check or if Jeff has a shoot. The boys are getting big and eating ALL the time! Nico has moved into a big boy bottle. I am still pumping for them so they get about half breast milk and half formula. I also nurse from time to time.

Blake had a big trip to see Dr. Pecht last week. He has been quite fussy for a while and we were at our wit's end. He has been officially diagnosed as "colicky". Jeff has been intending to write a post dedicated to this topic as he finds it amusing. I'll leave it at that for now!

Off to enjoy my four hours of sleep (fingers crossed I get that many!)- enjoy the pictures from our Mother's Day shoot.

Nicolas Riley

Blake Taylor

Our Two Beautiful Boys

Love to all- Rebeca

Showered with Love

Mother, Mom, Mama, mommy, mum: The best title in the world. Yes, it really is the hardest job and it's underpaid, underappreciated, etc, etc........ My first Mother's Day was not too out of the ordinary. I washed bottles, did dishes, laundry, tried to appease crying babies...yada, yada. I started to get upset that this day wasn't more exciting or special. Then I took a step back and realized what a special gift I have been given- two beautiful baby boys. I have dreamed of being a mom forever and because of them, I GET to celebrate this day.

We did manage to take a nice, long walk with the dogs and Jeff made me a delicious french toast breakfast. I also got lots of Blakey and Nico smiles, cuddles and coos. We pulled off a photo shoot in the family room. From start to finish it lasted 20 minutes before we had screaming babies. Jeff is working on those pictures so these will have to do for now.............

"Can't you see I am trying to sleep?"

Usually it's Blake with his hands by his face. This time it was Nico.

"I love my ocean bouncy seat....and I love my mommy!"

Thanks Nico, I love you too!

Dad on double duty........OMG, he is multitasking!!

Can't you two cooperate for the camera?

"Mom, did you have to show off my bald head?!"

Sorry Blakey, you looked too cute sleeping away! I couldn't resist!

"I LOVE going for walks!"

Big Boy Blakey in his carseat.

The Showering of Love Continues..........

A HUGE thank you to my sister Teresa and my mom for throwing me a beautiful shower. It was so nice to officially welcome the boys to the family. Also, a big thank you to Jennifer, Margarita and Paris for contributing.........

Paris, who was the belly dancer at our wedding and my Labor and Delivery nurse, made the cakes for the shower. (yes, she is mutlitalented!)

We are looking forward to more baby celebrations in the coming months!

Hugs and Kisses to all- especially all of the moms out there. We are one tough breed!

Love, Rebeca

My First Mother's Day

Hello Family and Friends-
Things over here continue to be busy and all of a sudden my first Mother's Day is upon me. Sad but true, the only thing I really want is to get some sleep!!

I had a "first time mom" moment the other day that I thought I would share with you all. I can laugh now and I hope you all get a chuckle out of it as well.

It was time for the weekly trip to Trader Joe's so I courageously buckled up Nico in his car seat and off we went. This was the first time that I was attempting a trip to the grocery store with a baby. As I parked the car, I began to realize that I wasn't quite sure how to place the car seat in the shopping cart. Nico was being a good boy and had fallen asleep but I knew that if we didn't keep moving he would wake up. So I got him out of the car and found a cart that was close by. I set the car seat into the cart. I had seen plenty of moms shopping peacefully with their babies before so I figured the placement of the car seat would be so simple. WRONG! I couldn't figure out how to securely set the seat into the cart. As I am struggling to figure it out, I begin to feel like a complete idiot. Nico, of course, is starting to wake up. Okay, I need help, quick. I get out my cell phone and call Tami. It's 5 of 5. Call Tami at work. Voicemail. Call Tami on cell phone. Voicemail. Call Tami at home............You guessed it, voicemail. So there I am, in the middle of the parking lot, vigorously rocking Nicolas back and forth with one hand and desperately calling for help with the other hand. I look up and realize that there is a man on his cell phone right in front of me laughing and giggling. Not only that but some lady thinks it would be okay to try and pull into the spot that I was occupying with my cart and car seat. Hello. Can't you see I have a baby and I'm having issues??She apparently didn't care and was annoyed at me for getting in her way.......meanwhile there were several vacant parking spots nearby.

Anyways, I never figured out how to securely place the car seat on the cart so I abandoned it. Feeling totally humiliated, I contemplated turning around and going home. No, can't do that.........need food! So I took out the good ol' double stroller. As I walked into Trader Joe's I wondered how in the world I would fit a week's worth of groceries into a little basket and my 2 reusable bags. Miraculously, I got almost everything on the list and my biceps got a really good workout! I happened to run into a lady who had successfully placed her baby's car seat on the cart. (or so I thought) I swallowed my pride and asked her how she did it. As she answered, I could tell she had been under quite a bit of stress with this task as well! She wasn't even a first time mom! She had three little ones with her and she admitted she still couldn't figure out how to do it! Man, did I feel better after talking to that lady......Thank you, lady at Trader Joe's with three adorable boys!

On a side note, Nico loved being at the store. He sucked on his paci with his eyes open wide taking in all of the new sights and sounds. He behaved himself until we got to the checkout line, which was fairly long. He began to cry and it was quite amusing watching the lady behind me try to make silly faces at him as I ran to get some 2 Buck Chuck.

As I walked out of the store with almost all of the food I had come for I realized that I gained all of the confidence back that I had left in the parking lot!

A friend emailed me this video............I got a good laugh out of it...........I'll take all the props I can get at this point!

http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=apNguXw4GN7OhCVcagpNzzUyMzk2OTQ-&referred_by=15465307-srb1Yyx&p=moveon

Hugs and more pictures to come soon-
Rebeca