Who do they look like???

The boys ventured out today to meet the Easter Bunny at the Oakwood Mall. I cannot help but get anxious about getting a "good" picture of the boys. It's hard enough to not have a single child crying or looking away from the camera... let alone two! But, all pictures have a story and this cute Easter Bunny Picture. ;) This was our first trip to the mall and I bet 90% of the people who passed us commented about the "twins". Either they stopped to talk to us about them, made comments in passing, or comments to each other (which we heard). We are not used to this yet as we haven't been out in public a whole lot with them!

Once we got home, Ashton wanted to put on his bunny ears...

But.... Aiden DID NOT. The boys wore shirts that say "I believe in the Easter Bunny." This picture cracks me up. NOT flattering of either one...

Izzie didn't want to miss out on the Easter Bunny action... although she chases bunnies out of our yard!

I am guessing the boys are pushing 9 pounds... as I am feeling that they are getting too big to snuggle on my chest together. However, I have room on my lap and both LOVE to rock in the rocking chair!

WHO DO THE BOYS LOOK LIKE???

I see both Aiden and Ashton in this picture of Adam.

I think of Aiden when I look at this picture of Adam!

And I thought I drank too much caffeine... I think Aiden gets his big eyes from Adam! So Cute!!!

Can Ashton have CrAzY blonde hair like his mama???

I see a little bit of Ashton in this picture of me. Looking back on some very early pictures of Ashton in the NICU... before his face got more full.

Is this Ashton as a little Indian? Nope. It's me.

It's hard to say who they really look like. A little of both maybe??? As both of their faces get more full, they are actually looking more and more alike. They have the same noses and BRIGHT blue eyes. They are changing each day!

This week is my last week of maternity leave and we are busy! We will be meeting with the pastor for their baptism in May, heading to doctor appointments at Children's, meeting with the babysitter that is covering the next seven weeks, and I am going to work for an afternoon to "shadow" my sub to see where she is at with my classes! I am excited to get back and see what my other 20 kiddos have been up to, but it will be hard to leave my favorite 2 kiddos each morning.

Busy Bees

Since the last post, we have been very busy... however I feel that the pictures are a bit random! To start out talking about me... It was my BiRtHdAy the last week of March and I was SPOILED! I woke up to the boys giving me a card. Inside the card was a schedule for the day. With both Gramma and Nana were on hand to watch the boys and I was treated to a day of pampering... Adam scheduled a hair appointment for me to get a cut and a color. After that we had lunch at my favorite place, Panera. To sit and enjoy lunch was a treat in it's self! After lunch, Adam and I did a little bit of shopping and with the help of some others in the form of gift cards... I treated myself to some goodies from the mall! Then we were off to Lotus Spa so Adam and I could both be pampered with massages. The day was just what I needed, thanks to all who helped. I am a very lucky girl. We are starting to go on more and more adventures with the boys as the weather is continuing to get nicer... but we still had a doctor appointment as well. The boys got their second (and hopefully last) RSV shot.

Aiden was so good he got a "Happy Easter" sticker... but he wasn't very happy about it! Look at that little pout face... He weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz.

Neither pictures are good ones of the boys as Ashton was just waking up from a nap... but he also got a sticker! Ashton weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz.

Both boys continue to get stronger and stronger! We spend some of our day playing on their tummies...

And hanging from our tummies!!! Adam's parents got us a carrier and we liked it soo much... we borrowed another one from a friend. Now we have two so we both can "strap up" and not have to adjust it every time...

They are soo nice, we can actually get some work done!

And go for walks...

Adam and I are very fortunate to have MANY helping hands. My aunt Debbie helps a lot during the week, and the little girl that she babysits loves to hold the boys! Notice how Izzie wants to be involved and she is basically hanging on to the edge of the chair!

We ventured to Elle's house a couple times since the last post. The first time, Aiden wanted to cuddle with Elle's doll. ;)

Elle checked out the boys' diaper bag to make sure they weren't hiding any treats or holding out on any cool toys.

The second trip to Elle's house was all about playing outside and enjoying the 76 degree weather!

Elle walks behind her Dinosaur! It is sooo cute... Look at those little Piggy Tails!!!

We broke out the stroller for the first time and took the boys on the Maiden Voyage. We bought the stroller last fall, so we were quite excited to try it out with the boys (they slept the entire time...)

Ashton all ready to go for a cruise!

Aiden probably wanted to keep going faster...

While we were playing outside, Izzie was at Petco getting her haircut... and when we returned Elle wanted to say "HI".

That pretty much sums up the activities of the past two weeks. We are having fun leaving the house a little more often even though it takes us MUCH longer to get ready and actually leave the house. The routine needs to start about 2 1/2 hours before we actually need to be out the door in order to be on time! but it is worth getting out of the house, enjoying other's company, and doing things with the boys!

Until Next week... A to the 4th power & Izzie.

Life in the FAST Lane!

Everything we do, we try to do it fast. As I am reflecting on the week, the words I think of are quick, hurry, and fast. We are quickly trying to change one boy so we can get to the other that is crying. We are quick to get one crying baby out of the room before he wakes his brother. I am hurrying to burp one while the other has his bottle propped, and soon he will need to be burped. I am speeding through town because I am late for something... as I was trying to hurry out of the house. I find myself rushing through eating because I don't know how long I will get to eat and when the next time I will get to eat. I now shower in record time as it never fails that they are content UNTIL I get the shampoo in my hair... shaving and leaving my conditioner in for a little amount of time is only a luxury! Make-up and styling my hair is becoming non-existent and saved for special occasions. I am sure I am missing other instances that we are flying by the seats of our pants, but once again... I am hurrying to finish this blog post (which I did indeed start on Sunday)! On Saturday I played in the Menomonie Alumni Volleyball tournament. We didn't do so well, but we had a blast. It is so nice getting together with old friends and catching up with everyone. This mama was out-of-shape! This was my first physical activity in a LONG time! I was not the only new mama on the team either! Of the five players, four of us had babies in the past year and our sixth player didn't play but brought her newborn to visit... play dates are in order! Maybe we would have done better if we played as hard as we chatted and shared pictures ;) Cannot wait until next year! The boys had another appointment this week. They had their regular two month check-up with Dr. Walker. He is very pleased by their growth! Both gained exactly a pound since the last visit.

Ashton: So close to eight pounds!!! 7 pounds 15 ounces

21 1/4 inches long

head: 14 1/4

Aiden: 7 pounds 6 ounces

19 1/2 inches long

head: 14 1/4

It seems that the only time we leave the house is for appointments. Nana bought them some adorable little buntings, which are a bit big... but we put them on the boys anyway because they will soon be out of season!!! Welcome SpRiNg!!!!

Ashton

Aiden

When we aren't going to appointments... we are PLAYING!!!! It's fun to see the boys awake for longer chunks of time and they are really starting to look around (across the room). They love the light of the windows... maybe their longing to be outside like Izzie and I are! Ashton is right on the verge of cooing. You can tell he wants to and once he was watching his mobile in his swing and let out a sound. It wasn't a cry... I think he was trying to talk to it but the sound he made surprised him and scared him a bit. He is getting more smiley (not just gas smiles) each day!

Both boys are getting stronger and stronger. Aiden has a little more patience with being on his stomach and can really hold his head high!

Peek-a-boo! Or is he trying to be a pirate?

Then he gets tired, but still has his big blue eyes!

Friday night we had some visitors! Harper, Cindy, and Chris stopped over and brought us some supper. Harper is 7 months old and a little ham. He is full of smiles and really wanted to touch the boys. Once we were getting the boys ready for bead, we noticed they were matching!

For once in pictures, Aiden is the one sleeping. He just got done with his bath and his belly was full - it's bedtime!

Harper has his arm around Ashton ;)

We are looking forward to the boys being best of friends as Cindy and I have been great friends since 4th grade.

The boys continue to LOVE snuggle time. They still fit on Adam's chest, but are out-growing mine!

It wasn't planned, but even Daddy is dressed like the boys...

Ashton Alan

Aiden James

As the weather continues to get nicer and the days get longer, I cannot say it enough... We are ready to go for walks and leave the house more often!!! Bring on the nice weather, bye-bye snow, and hello SPRING!

Until next week!

~A to the 4th power and Izzie

2 Months Old!!!

Life at the Wamboldt's is busier than we could have ever imagined it to be! The story of our new life, "Where does all the time go?" Finding the time to do ANYTHING is difficult as one with kiddos would know... So... what have we been doing these past two weeks?

The Boys turned two months this past Sunday, March 2oth. This also marks the actual day they were due! Although they are indeed two months old, developmentally we need continue to use their due date (corrected age) and not their birth date when looking at developmental milestones.

I like this picture because it captures their two DIFFERENT little personalities. Aiden does not miss a beat of what is going on around him. He has been spending more and more time awake during the day (and night :o) while Ashton remains chill and asleep more of the time. Both are still in newborn diapers and their newborn clothes are finally starting to fit them nicely.

Sorry to say this Aiden... but sometimes it looks as though your eyes are going to pop out of your head sometimes! Maybe I need to drink less caffeine?!?! ;)

Ashton can sleep through anything and goes for longer chunks of time at night.

I also include this picture on the post so when their newborn pictures are shared... you can appreciate the fact we did indeed get both boys sleeping and settled in with the help and patience of the photographer!

We had two doctor appointments since my last post. The first was an appointment for a weight check and just to make sure the boys are continuing to move in the right direction. Since the first appointment, I realized that convenience takes over cuteness! One piece clothing and zippers are a must over cute, multi-layered outfit.

ASHTON: 6 pounds 15 ounces

19 3/4 inches long

AIDEN: 6 pounds 6 ounces

19 1/2 inches long

Again, Ashton barely woke up for the check up and Aiden ScReAmEd (or maybe it's more of a squeal)!!!

For the next appointment, we headed back to Children's in St. Paul for a follow up with the pediatric urologist. Upon discharge from the NICU, both of the boys' kidneys were still larger than they should be. Ashton had one more so than the other. The urologist asked to see Ashton in 4 weeks and a follow up with Aiden in 3 months. So this appointment was all about Ashton.

We started out the morning with an ultrasound of both of his kidneys. He looks like such a big boys laying on the bed!

After the ultrasound we met with the urologist. Everything seems to be okay. The best way he said it was that they are still a bit larger than "normal" but they are not getting worse. We have another follow up appointment on April 21st to continue to keep an eye on both boys. At that point we will see if things are the same or better. In that case we will just continue to keep an eye on them. However, if they are worse, we will look at more tests and a possible surgery down the road to take out a possible blockage. There still is the chance that after their "due date" they will correct themselves. Another possibility is that they just have large kidneys...

When we aren't leaving the house to go to doctor appointments, we are hanging at home avoiding the flu and all other little germs!

Spending so much time at home, the boys are adjusting and becoming very comfortable! Aiden likes laying propped on the couch...

While Ashton likes running the remote.

The boys are now getting nightly baths. At first they were a screaming match... but now they are really starting to enjoy them.

(Ashton studying daddy)

We do lots of snuggle time...

Melts my heart.

The boys are beginning to interact more with some toys. We spend some of our day on the play mat.

Even though there are toys hanging right over their heads... they both look in the direction of the window.

Izzie is a very involved little puppy that I have to mention this week. As we are interacting more and more with the boys, Izzie is not too far behind wanting to be in on the action!

She also likes being involved in the bath time. I think she just likes knowing that she isn't the one going into the sink. The first night we let her see the boys in the tub, she kept going to the kitchen and barking at the counter where the tub sat. It doesn't hurt that she was quite curious about the yellow duckie that the boys have!

And as good as she has been with the boys and their toys... she continue to wait patiently for the weather to get a bit warmer so we can go on walks. The boys and I are patiently waiting also ;)

As we continue to wait out the flu season and for nicer weather... we can't sit in the house ALL day - EVERY day... so last Saturday we met Nana, Mikalya, and Uncle Nate at Perkins for some breakfast. This was their first real outing in public besides doctor appointments and their newborn pictures.

They didn't even know they were at Perkins... not a peep out of either one of them or even as much as opening their eyes while we were there.

A huge thanks to many people who have been helping out with the boys the last 4 weeks! I cannot say that we could do everything by ourselves. Finding the time to complete a blog post, shower, nap, have a nice meal prepared and have some 'me' time are all things that are made possible with the help of others. We are grateful and very lucky to have the families that we do!