Another Month has Passed

It's amazing what happens in a month; developmentally, physically, emotionally.  The boys are becoming very receptive to both their mommy and daddy and themselves.  They've grown fatter (in Enzo's case) and taller (in Mace's case) with a lot more hair.  And they are much more able to articulate their feelings - now with sound!  Lots of grunting, shouting, laughing, cringing, crying.  Mommy has been making the boys a lot of new foods to try - acorn squash, peas, sweet potatoes, avocados, pears, peaches, nectarines, and bananas.  The good news is they eat everything even if they don't like it (that's the cringing part).  We have taken a couple trips over the last month; finally getting back to Asheville after a year and then heading down to FLA to see Poppi and Yaya and to get the boy's feet wet.  Asheville was great.  We miss the slow, humble pace of the small town mountians, plus the weather; it was gorgeous.  The boys had a helluva time with their cousin Dylan who is well on her way to becoming a nanny.  It was also fun to hang out with some of the old gang - they rented a cabin in Fairview for Ashley's birthday.  We had more kids than adults at the "party" - we're getting old.  A couple weeks later we headed to Florida.  We decided to drive down; my work schedule, the amount of stuff we needed for the boys, and the fact that we wanted to stop in Amelia Island drove that decision.  I was in Philly for the first part of the week so Tina took off early and headed for AI.  Sean, Crystal, and Dylan also stopped there on their way down.  Tina and Nan hung out with the kids at the beach, the restaurant, and Nan's house (Nan and Scotty, you guys are so awesome!).  I flew into Jacksonville and we headed down to Boca the next morning.  We had a blast!  The boys loved hangin with their grandparents and their uncles and playing in the pool and at the beach.  We drove straight through on the drive back; the boys did very well all things considered.  Till next time...




Maceo attempting to satisfy his hunger

 

the boys gettin' clean



Maceo and Dylan fixated



the boys and their cousin



Dylan taking care of Enzo



the boys and Triple P (peter pan poppi)

Maceo loves his Yaya



Enzo maxin



Maceo loves the pool



the boys with their Uncle Kyle



the fam's first trip to the beach



Perfect example of life at the moment!

Growing Like Weeds

I apologize for the duration without a post.  I have been writing a case study for a class I was unable to complete last fall since the boys came early.  A lot has happened in the last month.  We made a visit to Knoxville for the boys' first Easter.   Here are some pics from the weekend...

Mommy, Boys, Uncle Pug, Aunt Alli, Cousins Gracyn & Skylyn

Boys, Cousins Gracy & Sky, Nana & Grampa

Mace with Nanny

The Fam @ Grammy's House

Our 1st Easter

Besides travelling, we've continued our neighborhood walks.  A few pics to see what it's really like.  When the neighbors see me, they must think I'm crazy pushing the limo stroller w/ 2 babies and walking 2 dogs.  For those of you that don't know it, Mommy is an avid four-leaf clover scavenger.  Notice that the boys both have one.  Hopefully they will bring them good luck!



Look at Mommy... Going Up the Driveway to go on a Walk... A true Caravan



Enzo

Maceo

On the walk...Check out the hill Mommy just had to push our limo stroller up!  Pull doggies pull!



Enzo has started teething.  I can see both bottom front teeth.  Oh what fun!  He's been chewing on frozen wash cloths for the last 2 weeks.

This teething thing sucks!

Mace is our little apple turnover.  He steamrolls across the floor all day!  And now he does it in the middle of the night in his sleep sack...no more sleep sack for Mace as I found him face down in the crib the other night.

Getting Ready to have Dinner w/ Mommy & Daddy on the deck

Riding in the Walker Together



In the walker together



Silly Mace

Helping Daddy wash the Cars

You missed a spot Daddy!

And we've started with solids... a real mess!  And extremely difficult!  Enzo pretty much loves everything we give him.  Carrots, bananas, pears, and sweet potatoes are what we've tried so far.  Mommy is making all of their food...really quite easy, just steam and put in the food processor and add a little water.  Here's Enzo enjoying some bananas...

Welcome to Hotlanta!

This past weekend was full of fun!  The boys' grandparents came on Thursday night.  Friday we ran a few errands and had fish cakes for dinner as my mom reminded me that "it IS Lent" and we should eat fish.  Saturday we tackled the yard, which Mommy got poison ivy in last weekend.  The boys played on the front porch while we weeded the flower beds, planted ferns, and blew leaves.  Saturday evening Daddy & Mommy got to go out to eat @ Holeman & Finch while Nana & Grampa watched the boys.  Then to Wayne's World... the Lil' Wayne concert that is.  Great entertainment for sure, not only the artists but the attendees too!  Sunday we made a family outing to watch the Braves take on the Phillies.  The boys first major league baseball game and the temp was in the high 80's...not good!  But to my surprise, the boys handled the event excellently.  Thankfully, we ended up in the shade.  My biggest worry was that game time was nap time, but the boys took their naps on their grandparents.  Thanks to great defense the game went quickly.  After the game The Avett Brothers played, but the sound was way too loud for the boys, so we headed home.

Enzo says "Go Braves!"



Enzo pumped for the game

Hot Stuff Maceo

The weather the last few days has been nice though, so I've taken the boys on a walk to the lake and back 2 days in a row since it will be 90-100 freakin degrees all summer.  As I have been walking with the boys, I have been dreaming of this

It's a jogger stroller, bike trailer, and regular stroller.  I've suggested to Daddy that it would make a nice Mommy's Day present.  And if he wants me to be in the ultimate shape, this would help.  Speaking of ultimate shape,my goal is to run in a 5k with the boys sometime in the Fall.  Yet another reason to purchase this.  Plus, Daddy can put it on his bike when the boys get a little bigger.  Daddy, are you listening?

And here are a couple of videos of the boys checking each other out and talking to each other a little bit...

And, a few photos...

Enzo

Enzo on the new rug in their nursery



Maceo on the new nursery rug





Maceo



Spring Break!

Lucky for Mommy & Daddy, Aunt Alli came to visit on her spring break last week.  I really felt like I could finally relax, at least a little, for almost a week...thank you sista!  The boys were able to enjoy 2 hikes on the trails around the lake near the house with Aunt Alli, Me, Indi & Suro.  The boys absolutely loved it!  At one point I tried to turn Maceo around in the baby bjorn to face me because he was tired, but he screamed at me.  He enjoyed the views so much that when I faced him out again, he was happy and fell right to sleep.  We also made a visit to Aunt Margaret's and had a play date with cousin Deizel.  In addition, we had our 4 month visit to the doctor and all is well.  Enzo weighed in at 13lbs 10 oz and Maceo weighed in at 12lbs 15 oz.  Both have made it into the 25 percentile, which I think is quite good for 5 1/2 week early preemies!  Overall, an excellent week!



Maceo with Cousin Jamie



Maceo asleep on Cousin Jamie



We've actually had a pretty steady flow of welcome visitors since the boys were born.  Extra hands are always appreciated here!  We've had the boys' Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, & Good Friends all lend their hands and we thank you all and can't wait until you come back! 

Happy Sleeper Maceo

Enzo

Maceo Mommy & Enzo

Maceo Mommy & Enzo

Maceo Mommy & Enzo

Daddy Mommy Maceo & Enzo

Maceo Aunt Alli & Enzo

Enzo is now a wild child in the rainforest jumperoo... here's a video but this is after he has been jumping for a while and is a little tuckered out:

Maceo is not far behind though, everday getting more and more wild too.  I pulled out the jumping johnny the other day.  I put one in the jumperoo and one in the jumping johnny and face them towards each other and they laugh and jump like wild little animals.  It's hilarious and super cute! 

In addition, the boys both rolled over for the first time this week...Enzo on Monday and Maceo on Thursday.  Oh My!
 
The boys seem so much happier when we stick to a routine.  So due to my own selfishness and desire to sleep a little later in the morning we have been working on a new routine for bedtime, sleeping through the night, and daytime naps.  We have had many successes so far.  A later daytime nap that actually lasts 2 hours, staying up slightly later for bedtime, no early morning nap but rather a late morning nap that lasts about an hour, and WE OFFICIALLY MADE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH NO ROCKING BACK TO SLEEP LAST NIGHT!  I am quite surprised at how easy it was to get them both on this new routine.  I'm probably speaking too soon though.  

Enzo