Biking with the Babies

We recently have had the advantage of going for a couple of bike rides. It has literately been 2 years since Mike and I have been on our bikes. We didn't think it would be possible with our girls, but thanks to a friend of ours, Robin, she bought the girls a bike trailer. At first, it took awhile to get it set up, but when we did the girls had a great ride. They were a little unsure about it, but eventually Olivia fell asleep.

 

 Mama and Olivia (Juliana in car seat)

Me and Mike

In the bike trailer.

Olivia sleeping

Other new skills the girls have developed are grabbing their feet when changing their diapers and rolling over both ways. One evening, the girls were sharing a boppie pillow on the floor and Mike was laying next to them. Olivia decided she didn't want to share anymore and rolled right off onto the floor next to Mike. It was quite cute. There has been several times I have checked on the girls and they were on their tummies in their crib. Pretty soon these babies are going to be on the move!

 Juliana and Olivia

Olivia and Daddy

Laughing Olivia.

I see you Mama!

Another fun thing we introduced to J&O was the "Jenny Jump Up". They love it! With the exception of it being a huge chew toy, they are getting great exercise pushing up on their legs! We love to see them smile and laugh when it bounces them. So so cute.

Olivia enjoys her book while Juliana jumps!

Around the same time that we introduced the bike trailer to the girls, we introduced them to the running stroller. Thanks to my Aunt Ruthie and cousin Tina, I am able to keep up my running and involve my girls. We did happen to take the girls out for a walk right around bed time and Olivia cried the whole time. The second time we took them out, the girls loved it. In fact, they were talking to each other on their ride. We have been so blessed with family and friends that care for our girls. 

Olivia not happy.

Juliana not sure about the whole thing.

5 Months Old!

We have had a very eventful past two weeks. Last week, on September 3rd, the girls turned 5 months old. I can't believe how much they have grown. I remember when we could hold both girls in one arm. What beauty God has given us. They were once so tiny and now weigh 13 3/4 pounds each and 24 inches long. In the girls' check-up with the doctor last week, he said we can start solids next week. The doctor said they are really healthy girls and he was impressed with how well natured they were. We really do have happy babies and everyday they remind me of how happy I am to have them in my life. I never knew my life could be filled with such happiness and love.

 Olivia's Smile!

For Labor Day weekend, we were very excited to share it with Uncle Doug, Aunt Nik, McMillen and McKinnon. The girls got to meet them all for the first time. What a blast we had. Juliana and Olivia spent an afternoon with them as Mike and I went to a wedding. That evening, the whole family went out to Ryan's Restaurant and then to the school. There Mick and Kinnon had a chance to play with Mike and Uncle Doug, while Anika and I caught up on past times. After the school we went back home where it was time to put the girls to bed. Anika fed Juliana and I, Olivia. We needed to make sure that they had plenty of rest for the next day. I was racing in a 5K!

 Greg and I before the race.

Just starting the race

Dawn and Anika with the girls

Who knew that 5 months after having my beautiful twin girls I would be running a 5K? The last one I ran in was in high school, 10 years ago. On race day, I woke up at 5:45AM to get dressed, feed the girls, and get them dressed and out the door by 7:00AM. We were at Fender's Farm at 7:15AM. Mike and a friend, Dawn Schrader, held the girls while Greg Schrader and I did a warm up lap. By the time we were back from our warm up, Doug, Anika, Mick and Kinnon were there to be my cheer team! I have never felt so loved and supported! They were all awesome, not to forget everyone on facebook, and those who called me to encourage me for the race. This was a really important event for me and what better way to experience it, than with my friends, and family, especially having my girls there. During the race, the girls were taken care of by Anika and Dawn, while Doug and Mike took pictures. They were such great babies. When I finished my race, I was greeted by my sleeping Olivia and my sleepy Juliana. Next year, Mick wants to run with his Aunt Jeni, well, maybe ahead of Aunt Jeni. :)

McKinnon and Doug

Juliana

When it was all said and done, we had an awesome time and so many memories were made. I hope one day it will be me and my girls crossing that finish line together.

McKinnon, Me, and McMillen

Proud Parents 2

The last time I blogged about being proud parents, Juliana was rolling over. Since then she has mastered that technique. Today, we are proud parents of Olivia Judith Colburn. She has done really well with trying to stand. When we hold her hands, she pushes her legs to a standing position. She might be graduating to a Jenny Jump Up! This is great exercise for our little one and hopefully it will strengthen her to crawl. So, congratulations Livi! Mama and Daddy are proud of you and love you very much.

Olivia Judith Colburn

Smiles and Giggles

In the past two weeks, the girls have really grown. We have managed to produce more spit, outgrow our pajamas, and grab at colorful objects about 6 inches from our face (Well Daddy and Mama don't have any of these adventures). The wonderful thing that has blossomed with our little ones is their smiling and laughing. Oh the joy of hearing my girls laugh in delight as they see my face or their daddy's face. It thrills me that these little ones love us so much that they get excited in our presence. I am truly blessed.

 We are growing so fast!

Juliana and Olivia have become early age school kids. Since school will be starting soon, Mike and I have been busy doing what we can to make sure school is ready to open. With that said, the girls have been coming with us. We have set up a pack-n-play in the office for them to play and sleep. They have been such great babies. They entertain themselves most of the day and only cry to be fed. This makes for a productive day. I love hearing my little ones "talk" to one another and laugh. I can't wait for the day their personalities really take off.

~We love to talk and laugh at each other~

Also for the past two weeks we were able to get J and O to Sabbath school. The first time was kind of a joke. They both fell asleep and missed the whole thing. The second week, Juliana stayed with Daddy in the young adult Sabbath school, since she was sleeping and Olivia came with me. She watched all the little kids run around and sing, she also had a chance to wear a crown and look in a mirror.  This was very exciting for a baby who is starting to experience everything around her. She managed to make it though SS and then through church. We did run into the occasional...leave church because the baby is too loud. It wasn't because of crying but because of laughing. I would love to sit and listen to them if I could, but it wouldn't be too reverent and quite a bit distracting to those around. I am sure God would have delighted with me.

 Olivia Judith

 Juliana Grace

My Angels

Who knew that one day I would be sitting here looking into the eyes of my beautiful little girls. I just want to take in every moment I have with them. All the smiles, coos, cries, and leg pumping makes me realize that God gave me the best gifts I could ever ask for. Right now, as I am typing this blog, I have Olivia sitting on my lap rocking. She is content and so am I. Life can't get any better than being able to spend cozy time with my girls.

Earlier I was folding laundry and had the girls laying on the bed. I was imagining my little girls being teenagers and we were all hanging out in my bedroom discussing our days. I long for that relationship with them. The same one I had with my mom when I was a teen.



The girls are four months now. They are holding their heads up, sucking their thumbs, and talking! Well, talking in their own language. They like to hear themselves more than anything. We have now moved into 3 month clothes and weigh 13 pounds each. We had to adjust the car seats to fit them. Nap time is interesting as well. We can not put both girls in the same bed due to active movements. One usually sleeps in her crib and the other is put in her pack-n-play on the other side of the house. This gives me lots of exercise trying to keep up with them. Which brings me to my next topic: Mama Time.

Having two little ones the same age can surely wear you out. I was needing some "me" time. I have taken up running. I decided to train for a 5K and then eventually get to my half marathon. My first race is on Labor Day. I have been running for 3 weeks now. On my runs I have time to reflect on my day and what I still need to accomplish, which is a lot. I love this time and thanks to my wonderful husband, I am able to have this time everyday. I can't wait until Juliana and Olivia can go with me. I already have my running stroller, they just need to be a little bigger.

Daddy just got home from a meeting and now it is time for dinner, got to go get the bibs out!


Just a couple of pictures from after bath time-

Juliana

Olivia sneezing.

Summer Adventures of 2010

This summer the girls have had the opportunity to bask in the sun with their Mama and Daddy. They have also spent many hours at Daddy's school helping Mama keep busy. The past two days, Juliana and Olivia had a fantastic treat. Oma and Opa came to visit and help Mama take care of them while Daddy went away to meetings in Georgia. Although we missed Daddy very much, we had a blast spending the time with Oma and Opa.

 We missed our Daddy!

The day started with waking Mama at 7Am. After J and O's feedings, we took a quick nap and then off to the swimming pool. We wished Daddy could have joined us, but our girls couldn't help but to smile and coo at anyone who would pay attention to them. Once we arrived to the pool, Oma and Opa swam with us.

 We love our Oma!

Olivia and Opa!

Opa feeding Olivia at the pool.

Our fun in the sun soon ended when Olivia started crying to go home. Once home, the girls nursed a little and fell asleep. Olivia was put in her bed and Juliana took her nap with Mama and Precious. Our nap lasted all of 30 minutes. Which means actually 15 minutes of sleep time for Mama. Mama has not been sleeping very well since Daddy is gone, and the girls had upset tummies.


For our bedtime routine, Mama starts by giving one of the girls a bath and then passes her to Daddy, but in this case, Oma. She then fed one and rocked her to sleep while Mama bathed the other girl. Once she was done Mama reads a story and the girls fall asleep by the second book. 5-7 ounces later, the girls are down in bed sleeping for the night. This routine has been going on since the girls turned 3 months.

Mama reading Juliana a book.

Oma rocking at Olivia while Mama reads a story.

The girls are near 4 months now and Juliana weighs 12 1/4 pounds and Olivia weighs 12 1/2 pounds. They are beautifully made and given to us by God. What special angels we are blessed with.

Beautiful Girls and Beautiful Sleep!

We have been blessed the past two days with beautiful sleep. Our beautiful girls have slept through the night the past two days. The first night, we thought the girls were just overly tired from not napping all day. We fed them and put them down at 9:30PM and they didn't wake until 5:30AM. When this happened, I woke at 5AM, thinking the girls had just slept through the night! Wait! "Are they alright?" So I crept into their room and peeked over their crib, they were sound asleep and beautiful little angels. Both Mike and I felt energized after being able to sleep for so long.


Yesterday, we decided as a family to visit some friends and swim in their pool. This was very exciting for our girls, as this was their first time in a swimming pool. After we put their sun block on we decided to get in. As soon as their little feet hit the water, they started crying. It was a heated pool, but obviously it wasn't bath water. Daddy had Juliana and her entry was not as graceful as Olivia's. Juliana was dipped in and Olivia was eased in with Mama.

 Daddy with Juliana after her dip in the pool.

Eventually, Olivia was used to the water and I could help her float around the pool. I put her in front of a pool jet, where it was warm. When, I did this, Olivia's diaper expanded way beyond the normal size. Needless to say, we need some swim diapers. After the girls were done swimming they took a nice nap in the shade. A few errands and a walk later it was time to go to bed.

 Mama with Olivia

I drew a bath for Juliana, who was wide awake, put her in the tub and washed all of the sun block off. Once she was dressed, we sat down in the glider with a bottle and book. By the time we had read the first book, Juliana downed 4 ounces and was out. Mike finished rocking her as I proceeded to wake Olivia. She had been sleeping for about 30 minutes in her swing. Once I had the bath drawn, my sweet baby had fallen asleep again on her changing pad. I picked her up and set her in the tub. She woke up for about a minute and then her eyes got droopy and my baby was sleeping again in the tub. We decided to skip the book for the night and just feed her what we could. She took down 4 1/2 ounces and fell into a deep sleep. I put her in the crib with Juliana and looked at the clock. It was 10:00PM. The next time I saw our little ones was at 6:00AM this morning. I walked into their room and peeked in the crib, Olivia was awake. I looked at her and said "hi". She greeted me with a huge smile and a coo. What an awesome feeling. My baby was excited to see her Mama.

 Olivia sleeping in the tub.

Now, we will see if they will continue to sleep through the night. God has not only blessed us with beautiful girls, but has blessed us with beautiful sleep as well. Hallelujah!

Our family having fun in the sun!