Monday, July 18, 2011

4 Months!

On June 27th the twins turned 4 months!  We were on our family vacation up north so I thought it would be fun to take their 4 month pictures on the beach chairs.  My sister took them with her camera for me.  Unfortunately, by the time we got the kids dressed and headed down to the lake it started to be close to nap time and Matthew was getting fussy.  Of course.  You can’t get moving as fast as you want with kids…their schedule, not yours anymore.  It was also sunny that morning which made it hard for the kiddos to open their eyes up.  Great thinking mom...you and those silly pictures!  I do think we got some cute ones through it all! :)






Katherine:





Weight: 14 lbs 3 oz (65 %tile)
Height: 24 inches (45 %tile)

Diaper size: Just finished the last of size 1 diapers and started wearing size 2's the middle of this month.
Clothes size: You are wearing some of your 3 months clothes still, but are starting to wear 3-6 months.  You are very long and your onesies fit better in the bigger size.

Sleeping: We usually feed you your last bottle around 11 p.m. or midnight and you will sleep anywhere until 7 or 8 a.m.  On a few rare occasions you have slept for 12 hours straight!  Thanks for allowing Daddy and I more sleep at one time!  You have been sleeping in your bouncy seat in our bedroom.  Yours is on my side.  We have you sleeping in the bouncy seat because of your reflux.

Eating: At the beginning of June, Dad and I started having you eat every 3 1/2 to 4 hours.  We let you tell us now when you're hungry instead of feeding you every 3 hours.  Mom has gotten really good at feeding you and your brother at the same time by propping up some blankets under your bottles while you sit in the bouncy seats.  You are eating 7 oz. four sometimes five times a day.


Dislikes: You don't like getting burped.  You start getting mad when we take the bottle away from you.  We have started giving you your paci right after we take away the bottle for while you burp.  You also aren't a fan of tummy time. 

Favorite Activities/Things you like to do: You LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your ocean sideways swing!!  You have loved it since 2 months old.  You don't like the other swing we have that only swings front to back.  We think you also like it because it makes lots of noise and you love when you have noise around you.  Many times you will fall asleep in your swing and can stay sleeping for a long time!  You also love mornings.  Daddy and I love "morning Katers."  You are very smiley and in such a great mood in the mornings.  You also have started this past month blowing bubbles with your mouth.  You think you're pretty funny and now laugh at yourself right after you do it.  You also like to copy mommy and daddy after they blow bubbles at you.

Nicknames: Katers, Kater-tot, Tater (from Grandpa D.), Morning Kate, Kater-toot (from Grandma Joyce), Miss Katers, Miss Katherine

Talking: You have been cooing a lot, especially in the morning, and when you watch the moving, chirping bird on the play mat.  You love having a conversation right after you eat your bottle.

New Adventures: You and Matthew went on your first family Dufel/Willms vacation at the end of June to Pequot Lakes. You both went to the Mall of America with Lindsay and Aunt Jenny.  At the beginning of June you went back to United Hospital and visited the nurses who took care of Mommy and you before you were born. 

New Skills: You have started sitting up on your own very well.  You no longer like to lay on our legs.  You want us to help you sit up on our lap.  Once you are sitting up you get your "swivel head" going, as we call it.  You're so curious looking around the room.  Blowing bubbles and then smiling/laughing has also become your new trick.


Matthew:







Weight: 12 lbs (7 %tile)
Height: 23 1/2 inches (30 %tile)

Diaper size: Just finished the last of size 1 diapers and started wearing size 2's the middle of this month.

Clothes size: You are wearing 0-3 or 3 month clothes.  It's the perfect size for you right now!
Sleeping: We usually feed you your last bottle around 11 p.m. or midnight and you will sleep anywhere until 7 or 8 a.m. On a few rare occasions you have slept for 12 hours straight! Thanks for allowing Daddy and I more sleep at one time! You have been sleeping in your bouncy seat in our bedroom. Yours is on daddy's side. We have you sleeping in the bouncy seat because of your reflux.

Eating: At the beginning of June, Dad and I started having you eat every 3 1/2 to 4 hours. We let you tell us more when you're hungry instead of feeding you every 3 hours. Mom has gotten really good at feeding you and your sister at the same time by propping up some blankets under your bottles while you sit in the bouncy seats. You are eating 7 oz. four sometimes five times a day.

Dislikes: Your reflux bothers you sometimes after you eat which makes you upset.  You seem to like about everything!  Such a happy little fella!
Favorite Activities/Things: Smiling, Smiling, and doing more smiling!  If anyone starts talking to you or even just looks at you you give a big ear to ear grin!  We absolutely love your smiles and seeing your cute dimples.  You like to sleep with your muslin blanket.  When it's time to sleep we give it to you and you bury your face in it.  You also like tummy time and are great at holding up your head.  Daddy says you love to kick his rips when you're laying on his lap.  You're such a mover and a groover!  Whatever you're doing it probably involves kicking your legs.  We'll be surprised if you're not a runner when you're in high school. :) 

Your new favorite activity which started about a week ago is watching T.V.  We call you the couch potato.  You will talk at the T.V. especially when you see little babies/kids.  No matter where you are in the living room you will turn your head or body to find the T.V.  It's cute to watch, but we do have to purposely move you so you can't turn and watch.

Nicknames: Matty, AutoMATic, Matt-Man (from Grandpa W.), Wiggles, Little Buddy, Mr. Matt
Talking: You have started cooing a lot this past month.  It's started to be more frequent and louder.  We love hearing your voice and having conversations with you. 
New Adventures: You and Katherine went on your first family Dufel/Willms vacation at the end of June to Pequot Lakes. You both went to the Mall of America with Lindsay and Aunt Jenny. At the beginning of June you went back to United Hospital and visited the nurses who took care of Mommy and you before you were born.

New Skills: Rolling over for the first time on July 8th!  Holding up your head while sitting up and during tummy time.  You are starting to try to grab onto the toys dangling from your play mat.  It's fun to see how excited you get when we make you stand and walk on our legs.

We can't wait to see the new skills you're going to learn this month!  You're doing great and staying on track with your milestones with being preemies!





Friday, July 15, 2011

Shake, Rattle, and ROLLing OVER!

The four of us headed back to Iowa last weekend (July 8-10).  While we were there, Matthew had one of his first! On Friday, he rolled from his tummy to his back!  I am with the twins all day, every day, and of course Matthew rolled over for the first time while I was having "me" time on a walk with my girlfriend, Casey.  Kevin and his family were there to witness.  I was glad Kevin was able to experience a first milestone.  When I got back from my walk Matthew did roll over once for mom to see.  It's so exciting to watch their "firsts"!  They are learning new things every day.  Well, I guess it's time to make sure Matthew is always buckled in to his bouncy seat and swing from now on!





Matthew is definitely our little mover.  No matter where you put him or what he's doing chances are he is probably kicking his legs.  Mainly his right leg which looks like he's starting his motorcycle. ;)  He has been working really hard on trying to roll over from his back to his tummy.  He has gotten so close, but just can't get his body to swing over.  He gets stuck half way.

He's trying to get his body over. So close, buddy!


Matthew doesn't seem to mind tummy time. He usually is smiling the whole time. I feel his smile is showing us how proud he is of himself for holding his head up so high. He's been great at supporting his head on tummy time and just trying to sit up in the Bumbo.  Such at strong little man for being in the 7th percentile for weight! :)



Great job Mr. M!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Clamshell Vacay 2011



The twins have survived their first family vacation! The last week of June, my family (the Dufel's) and Kevin's family headed up north to Pequot Lakes. Together we stayed at Clamshell Beach Resort. We have been taking this family vacation all together every other year since 2005. This year the Dufel's stayed in one cabin, Lakeside, and the Willms stayed in another, #7. Both cabins we right by each other which was nice. Unfortunately, we did not have air conditioning and by the end of the week it was HOT in our cabins!!

Our vacation adventure started out on Saturday, June 25th. Kevin's parents came up on Friday and stayed the night so they could help put some of our many baby items in their vehicle.

We had a great time enjoying a summer break all together with our families. It was fun to relax, but we kept ourselves busy fishing, swimming at the beach and pool, laying out, tubing, tennis, games, and kayaking. In the middle of the week, we all drove to Brainerd, MN. There we did went out to eat and our traditional mini-golfing at Pirate's Cove. This is an awesome mini-golf course! The twins did great at the restaurant and when we were golfing. The grandmas and grandpas golfed with Kevin and I with Katherine while Matthew went along with his aunts, uncles, and cousins group. FYI - I did score a hole in one! ;)

Thursday was a very, very hot day! We decided that would be a great day to take the twins on their first swimming experience. The baby pool was nice and warm from the sun heating it up every day. Kate and Matt enjoyed the water for awhile. It had to feel good and help to cool them down. Once they had enough in the water the grandmas took them poolside in the shade. It was just as warm in the shade as it was in our cabin. Kevin and I were able to do some swimming thanks to all of the help from our family watching the babies for us. Taking a summer lake trip is hard with 4 month babies. We were just so worried to have them out in the sun too much. Next summer will be much easier!

Thanks to both of our families for all of your help with Katherine and Matthew on vacation. Kevin and I appreciated the help so we were able to enjoy some outdoor activities. We couldn't have asked for better babies on vacation. They were great travelers and troupers for being out of their normal environment and routine. We are looking forward to more family vacation memories with Kate and Matt in the future!