All about Madelyn: 5.5 weeks

I've spent the last 5.5 weeks learning about my baby girls... their likes, preferences, and dislikes. 

I want to remember each stage. Because every stage is special. 

Every week they change. They grow. They reveal new aspects of their personality.
And Maddie and Rachel are really different! I love learning their similarities and differences...
what makes each of them unique!

So what are a few things I have learned about Maddie Joy so far?

She talks with her hands!

She is quite the stretcher! Yawns, stretches, and many sounds when she sleeps and when she wakes up. Seriously the cutest thing ever!! She's been doing this since she was born and I love it. She loves her space.

She makes incredible eye contact. She loves to watch me and have conversation with her eyes. She tracks so well and looks toward you when you talk to her.

She smiled at Daddy for the first official time this week! (Thursday morning May 8th) 

She loves her daddy. [she then smiled at Grandma later in the day!). She's definitely getting more purposeful with when she smiles. And she has a beautiful little smile!

She loves to be awake and hates to miss out on anything. She's my little hang out buddy. I wonder if she will continue to hang out with me as she gets bigger.

She gets overstimulated easily when she's tired. Sometimes she just needs to be held close.

She has such a curious, relaxed, and sweet little spirit. 

She likes walks, being outside, her sister, bath time, and being able to see and hear me.

I love watching her grow and love learning about her each day!
I love Maddie so much!!

39 Days

Thirty nine days of being a mommy to Maddie and Rachel.

Thirty nine days of sleeping less than three hours at a time... always.

Thirty nine days of tears, laughs, hugs, exhaustion, and pure joy.

Thirty nine days of feeding babies, pumping milk, washing bottles, changing diapers.

Thirty nine days of cycling through every emotion that exists within a matter of minutes at times.

Thirty nine days of falling in love with my husband in a whole new way as we take on the 

immense blessing and challenge of parenting together.

Thirty nine of the best and hardest days of my life.

I can't believe it's only been thirty nine days.

I can't believe it's already been thirty nine days.

I have learned that I can function on far less sleep than I ever thought possible. 

[being a night nurse, I thought I already did this. well, now I reallllllllly do this.]

I have learned that anything and everything has the potential to make me cry.

[the thought of them getting one day older, trying to feed them, Maddie's puckered lip when she cries and Rachel's hoarse high pitched whimper, their snuggles, anyone doing anything for me, sweet texts, cards, verses of encouragement... you name it.]

I have learned that being a mommy is the hardest thing I have ever done. 

Harder than I ever thought possible.

I have learned that being a mommy is the greatest joy I have ever experienced. 

Greater than I ever thought possible.

I have learned that each day is made of moments, and living in this moment is the best way to live. Thank you Mom for this best piece of advice and encouragement you could have given.

I have learned that my Savior's love for me is deeper than I ever really understood.

I have learned He truly is my strength when I am weak.

I am SO thankful for the blessing of being a mommy.

Madelyn Joy and Rachel Claire are the biggest gifts I could have ever received.

Thank you Lord for these moments.

The Hospital

I still can't believe our little ones stayed in my tummy until 38 weeks!

We had a c-section at 38+0 to welcome our babies into the world. 

Good thing we did because they were very cozy in there
and who knows when they would have made their entrance! :)

It was kind of surreal to get ready in the morning to come to the hospital to have a baby.

And so exciting!

I loved J's OR get-up. Such an amazing morning!

Mom and Carly were there early to give hugs before we went back!

My incredible NICU friend made the day amazing for me.
Maddie and Rachel even had name tags in the operating room!

Maddie's weight!

Rachel's weight!

My friends welcoming my babies into the world.
NICU nurses are the best. Especially these Advanced Life Support nurses.

first family photo!

Maddie is baby A on the right. Rachel is baby B on the left.

Grandparents and Auntie meet Maddie and Rachel

Great Grandma Carol came too!

and my best friend, Auntie Ali

We got some beautiful flower arrangements, oh, and these strawberries.
Best strawberries I've ever had. Thank you Mom!

our first field trip down the hall to our discharge class :)

Our family of four is going home!

Introducing...

Madelyn Joy

born April 1, 2014 at 8:12am

7lb 2oz

19.7in

Rachel Claire

born April 1, 2014 at 8:14am

6lb 8oz

19.1in

 We are in love. 

[and have been for the last four weeks!]

As I get a grasp of being a twin mommy to these sweethearts, I'll try to update more on here.

Growing Growing {37 weeks}

I've grown a bit since the last photos I shared on here...

This past Tuesday, we hit 37 weeks, which is officially considered "FULL TERM." 

Thank you Lord!!

At this point, J and I are really excited to meet them and are encouraging them to make their debut anytime. 

Our fridge/freezer is [slightly] stocked, 

our house is [sort of] clean, 

our bags are [mostly] packed, 

and their nursery is [pretty much] ready! 

Carly came over and took a few pictures this week of me and the girlies, so I thought I'd share a few. 

Our canine kids joined in, so I'm calling these the "big brother big sister" photos. ;)

  

Baker was especially cooperative and even bowed to pray for them at one point.

We are beyond excited to meet our princesses we've been feeling, praying for, and falling in love with!

Letter to my Husband

Dear J,

Today you:

asked about the twinsies' movement, 

cleaned up the entire kitchen, 

vacuumed and mopped all the floors, 

cleaned up the back patio and swept the driveway after our wild storm that made such a mess, 

straightened up the house in general,

supported me taking a cat nap,

picked up dinner for us, 

organized the office, 

brainstormed in the nursery with me and moved the heavy items around to my liking, 

encouraged me through my meltdown, 

and put together our minnie mouse swing/bouncer {which was complicated but is so cute!}. 

All with the best attitude ever. 

Have I told you how much I love you? 

You're gonna be the best daddy in the world.

I love being on your team.

Love, me

Promises from our King

The Lord showed me this scripture a couple months ago, 

and it has been such encouragement to me for my little girls growing inside me.

"The Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

[Zephaniah 3:17]

It's going on the wall in our twinsies' room.

Lord, may my daughters know you are with them and for them from an early age. 

May they understand your delight in them and the depth of your love for them. 

May you be the Love of their lives.

Give J and I wisdom to demonstrate this to them, 

and may we not get in the way of your mighty hand.

Amen.

[our twinsies at our last ultrasound... little A above... little B below]