#37. Giving Thanks

It may come as no surprise that Chris and I are extremely thankful for everything that has happened to us this past year (withstanding our survival of a military coup, of course!). Nonetheless, Thanksgiving will always come with special meaning for our family.  One Thanksgiving ago (not quite to the date, but to the exact holiday), Chris and I received an email from our surrogacy agent, Kim (via Thailand), showing us images (scanned and placed into a pdf file) of the two embryos placed into our surrogate on Thanksgiving Day.  

Luke and Clare at 5 days!

We hoped this would be a good omen, and it has proven to be nothing but that. While all of this is in some ways was good luck with modern science, the embryos in the picture above eventually became Luke and Clare.  We couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome...

Luke and Clare one year later saying Happy Turkey Day!!

As it is Thanksgiving, the point of this post is to voice gratitude to the multitude of people that have been so wonderful to us this past year.  Those that were able to attend baby showers, send us gifts, support us when things got difficult in Thailand, visit us when we returned home, help watch our beloved dog Trig while we were away for seven weeks, and those that continue to show up on our doorstep to offer help and support...THANK YOU all so much.  The last year has been an incredible journey that we look forward to sharing with Clare and Luke someday, and we definitely will not forget to tell them how blessed we were to be surrounded by so many great people.  We hope that we can be as supportive for all of you someday in the same way that you have been for us.

They say 'it takes a village', and we are THANKFUL that our village is filled with so many amazing people.  Happy Thanksgiving!

#36. The Witching Hour

For those that enjoyed post #21...'The Crying Game'...

It's that time of day...

Let the 'Witching Hour' begin...

We were recently paid a visit by friends who also have boy/girl twins and were asked when the most difficult part of the day typically occurs.  Without hesitation, we all agreed that the hours of 4:00-6:00 PM are when things get CRAZY.  Apparently with twins, you get everything in two's, and that includes two hours of trouble during the 'witching hour'.

Twins that typically frolic on the Play Pad...

are now having fits on the floor.

The once popular Boppy pillows...

are suddenly filled with rocks.

                                          

The good 'ole Bumbo...

becomes a big bummer.

Even the latest play fad, the 'Jumparoo'...

can't satisfy either twin at this time of day.

As a stay at home dad, the 'witching hour'(s) often proves to be a disastrous finish to what might have otherwise been a stress-free day with two infants.

Is it over yet???

Trig wonders the same thing while hiding in the stairwell!

\

Finally!!

Alas, 6:00 finally arrives, and it's time to turn those frowns upside down.  In only a matter of seconds, literally, those screams of terror change

into the beautiful sound of silence.

                                         

Why didn't you just feed me earlier??

                                          

Schedule Schmedule!

Can't wait to start sleep training this week!!

*******************************************************************************

In other news, I would like to acknowledge that Clare and Luke are now 4 months old.  Somehow, another month has FLOWN by.  We took the twins to their 4 month check up this past week.  Both are healthy and doing very well.

Luke's up to 14 lbs 11 oz and 24.75 inches long...

...and Clare's grown to 11 lbs 13 oz and 24.25 inches long

So, Clare gained about 2.5 pounds and Luke gained 3.5 pounds in the last two months.  We have definitely noticed their gains (especially carrying around Luke's car seat!).

At the 2 month checkup...

...and at this week's 4 month checkup

While this pair of photos may not make things appear drastically different, Chris recently compared two photos of the twins with their Boppy pillows that amazed both of us.

THEN...more Boppy than baby

NOW...more baby than Boppy

We won't see the pediatrician (we hope!) again until our 6 month visit.  We left our appointment feeling great about the twins growth and with some good ideas for our next big task, sleep training (expect a blog post to come!).

#35. What the He$$ Happened to Our Living Room?!?

What you are about to view is only a harbinger of things to come.

Look at all that room!!

What was once the roomy living space for a couple of DINKS (dual income no kids) has quickly converted into a playground for two emerging play fiends.

Insert screeching horror soundbite...

Ok, I did it for us:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vfthzU3V4zo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Take a quick scan of the 'new' living area of our townhouse: (say 'Hi' to Trig, and enjoy one last political ad from the season).

Close up of the carnage

Yes, the twins have decided that time has come to stray from their rock n' play sleepers and find alternative forms of entertainment other than sleeping.

Did you say play time??  Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

First, we have the Boppy pillows.  (Be sure to turn up the volume and notice what Papa Chris is doing in the background of this video!!)

We can sit with Daddy and Papa on the couch in these!

Sister loves her owl covered Boppy

Brother likes his jungle Boppy

Boppys help make holding twins more comfortable for Daddy

Even Trig takes her turn with the Boppy!

Next, we have the Bumbo, which Luke demonstrates below.

He seems to sneeze every time he is in the thing!

The Bumbo is great for showing off big smiles...

Happy, but for how long?!?

and for watching Cardinals games!

The beginning of the end for the Cards this year

The play mat is also a big hit.

Twins who play together, stay together!  

Things are looking up for Luke!

We're starting to learn (this may have been forced!) to like each other!

Play pad and Bumbo combine forces

We also have swings...

This has proven to be a hit-or-miss play option

which, sadly, Luke has already outgrown (it won't swing when we place him in it!).  Thankfully, he has discovered a form of entertainment attached to his arm.

It's entertainment that's always there!

Surely all of this looks like it would keep two little people entertained for hours.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  In a matter of minutes, 'play' time can change into 'cry' time.

Thankfully, all play items can also be used to help us through those moments!

Luke surrenders thanks to the Boppy!

In other news, the twins paid visits to both of their dads workplaces.

Proud Papa introduces twins to cubicle life

Clare was fascinated by the fluorescent classroom lights overhead...

while Luke strained himself solving equations

They also met Papa Chris' longtime friend and mom from Wisconsin,

We love visitors!!

and Grandma Knapp paid another visit.

Who wore who out?

Finally, the twins survived (as in daddies get to play dress up) their first Halloween.  This year's theme...baby cartoon characters.

Stewie Griffin and Maggie Simpson weren't too happy at first!

They eventually forgave me!

We're looking forward to celebrating the upcoming holiday season as a family for the first time. Papa has (of course) already purchased Christmas trees for each of the twins!

#34. Three Months and Still Rolling Along!

Clare and Luke turned 3 months old on October 19.  Unfortunately, that morning, we woke up to some very sad news.  My Grandpa Snyder, Clare and Luke's Great Grandpa who they met in Eureka at the end of September, passed away the night before.  Grandpa and Grandma (who left us in 2005) were wonderful people and I will never forget how enriched my childhood was growing up with such amazing grandparents.  I am so happy Grandpa had the chance to meet the twins and that we have photos of my Grandpa with the twins.  Someday, I will tell the twins all about their Great Grandparents. Grandparents are special people and I am so happy that Luke and Clare are growing up with two wonderful, loving sets of grandparents.

Rest in peace Grandpa, we're going to miss you...

We didn't think we'd be back so soon, but another trip to Eureka did mean more love for Luke and Clare from family and friends...

Grandma and Grandpa Knapp with Clare

Clare helps put her Grandpa to sleep

Two of the twins biggest fans...Great Uncle Teats

and Great Aunt Tricia

Aunt Leia finally gets her hands on the twins!

Keira continues to love her twin cousins

Thanks to the Bowmans for babysitting the twins!!

Snyder Great Grandchildren...Sam holds Luke and Keira has Clare

Family photo in the living room where I grew up

I'm still not sure whether the first three months for Luke and Clare have been the longest or shortest in our lives, though they have certainly been the most exciting, stressful, happy, and tired moments. We have experienced so much in the last 100 days.  As I have been scanning through all of the photos and videos since the twins were born, it is absolutely amazing to see how far they have come.  I thought I would use part of this post to show their progression from starting as preemies to the big little boy and girl they are now!

They each have also changed a lot individually, both in appearance (see below) and in personality (come visit to see this for yourself!).  Clare is absolutely precious.  She's becoming more and more happy and adorable (those eyelashes are crazy!) each day.  She's still our little Peanut and we enjoy seeing all of her smiles, listening to all of her coos, and feeling how strong she is when we hold her.

Luke continues to grow exponentially.  He is also becoming one handsome little guy.  His smiles may be less than his sister, but he warms your heart when he grins.  Bubba still loves to have his tongue out while he's looking around, inspecting the world around him.  We love this little guy!!

I dug up videos of Clare and Luke's first week to compare to some more recent videos.  They have grown and changed so much in 3 months!

Clare...in the beginnning

Clare...now

                                          

Luke...in the beginning

Luke...now

                                         

The best part about reaching 3 months has definitely been the beginning of sleeping through the night!  We weren't expecting this to happen with BOTH this soon, but Luke and Clare have been (mostly) consistently making it about seven hours.

I think my brain is coming back!!

Overall, it's been an awesome three months and we are looking forward to watching them grow even more over the next three.  Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this with us and for all of your support!