Harvick & Jarrett . 5 Weeks

5 Weeks Old
(Compare to Ryder at 5 Weeks)

Harvick and Jarrett are both doing great!  Their sleeping length will improve one night, and then decline the next; however, they are still averaging around 6 hours of sleep before waking to be fed.

Harvick, while still similar to Ryder in appearance, is starting to look less like Ryder and more like his own little self.  He is the whinier of the two, but quite the happy guy when he is fully awake.

Jarrett is definitely more mellow than Harvick, but when he gets mad - watch out!  He is content when he is awake - especially if he can look toward a window.

Taking a little nap together.
(Jarrett on the left, Harvick on the right)

Napping while "stacked".
(Jarrett on the left/top, Harvick on the right/bottom)

Wearing coordinating "Handsome like daddy" shirts.
(Harvick on the left, Jarrett on the right)

Napping solo.
(Jarrett)

(Harvick)

Harvick & Jarrett . (EVEN More) Newborn Pictures

Before I get accused of having Harvick and Jarrett's newborn pictures taken too much . . . these were FREE!!!  A photographer in Brigham (Simply Art Photography) offered to do a free session for the boys!  Her session even includes the pictures on a CD!

She only posted one picture to her blog, but it is super cute:

Newborn Pictures - Simply Art Photography

They look pretty identical (minus the hair difference) . . . what do you think?!

Dedication Invitation

Email or call me for the church address!

Today

When I was sending out emails, I didn't often record the daily life events.  When I go back to work, it will be harder to do, so for the next few weeks, I'm going to try to capture a few posts of just our daily life.

It's Monday, which means I have all 3 boys at home with me.  For the most part, we seem to do well during the day, but are all anxious for Patrick to come home by the afternoon.

While I was trying to get Ryder's lunch today, Harvick and Jarrett both thought they should be held.  I juggled trying to hold each of them, help Ryder eat, and eat my own lunch.  Finally, I tried putting Harvick and Jarrett together in one of the Nap Nannys.  It really isn't built for 2 babies, let alone 2 babies their size - but, I squished them in . . . and they became content!

(Jarrett on the left; Harvick on the right)

Check out the "Baby Legs"!  They keep their legs warm, but make it so I don't have to pull pants on/off every time I change their diaper.
(Jarrett on the left; Harvick on the right)

Of course, with my camera out, Ryder either likes to ignore it completely, or be a total cheese . . . today (luckily!), he chose to be a cheese . . .

Don't let his adorable little smile fool you, though - he is very much in the middle of learning to test his boundaries.  Approximately 37 seconds after taking these pictures, I returned (after putting my camera back in the Family Room) to find him COVERED in Whipped Cream (given to him to dip his raspberries in) - all over his hands, arms, and face . . . as if it was a great new moisturizer.

However, all was forgiven quickly - he offered up multiple hugs and kisses while being wiped off.  He knows he can usually avoid getting into too much trouble if he offers up a kiss!

Life with 3 boys is going to be interesting . . .

Harvick & Jarrett . 4 Weeks

4 weeks old

Harvick and Jarrett are doing great.  They seem to be doing well with their schedule, and are slowly sleeping a little more at night.  Currently, after eating, they go down about 10:00pm, and will sleep until 4:00ish.  Our goal is to have them sleep until 5:00am, at which point we will slowly start to move back their "bedtime" so that they finish eating by 9:00pm.

Napping together.
(Harvick on the left, Jarrett on the right)

Resting in the Nap Nanny after eating dinner.
(Harvick on the left, Jarrett on the right)

Both boys have incredibly strong necks!
(Harvick)

(Jarrett)

Spending awake time together (just before the "Brothers" photo)
(Jarrett on the left, Harvick on the right)

Just before going to bed - in their new "Swaddle Me" blankets.  Because of their size, both boys are able to easily break out of a normal blanket, but still sleep best when swaddled.  I had seen these at BabiesRUs before, but always thought they were gimmicky, until I decided to just try it out - turns out they are AMAZING!!!
(Jarrett on the left, Harvick on the right)

Both boys are consistently rolling from their stomachs to their backs.  Harvick did it back when he was 13 days old (Ryder could do it consistently from 5 days); but Harvick and Jarrett only started it consistently this past week.  According to several articles I've read, babies typically roll from stomach to back in their fifth month - I'm thinking that our boys all have size on their side, aiding them to do it more quickly.

Errands

No picture to include in this post.  I just wanted to mark down the date (today, 06/03/2011) I was brave enough to take all 3 boys on errands by MYSELF.

It was the first time that I did it - start to finish - with no help from Patrick or anyone else!

We first braved the boys' daycare provider's annual Garage Sale that benefits local charities.  Every year she takes donations and has a 2 day garage sale, with all proceeds being donated.  We were able to pick up a couple shirts/onesies for the boys, a few books, and some "breakfast in bed" trays that we will use for the boys to do art when sitting on the floor.

Next we stopped at Target!  I needed to pick up a gift for a co-worker's wedding.  Harvick rode in the basket of the cart, Jarrett was up on the seat (both in their carseats), and Ryder walked alongside me, holding on to the cart or my hand.  Now, it wasn't easy - and it took approximately 4 times longer than it would have if I was alone, BUT - I did it.

As much as we appreciate family and friends being willing to watch the boys (and we do appreciate it!), Patrick and I really do want to just incorporate them into every part of our lives.  Always getting someone to watch 1, 2, or all 3 of the boys doesn't allow them the opportunity to learn how to behave in a store.  And, I want to be able to run quick errands one day . . . so, I've got to start somewhere! 

So - June 3, 2011 - attempt #1 at errands with 3 boys, and no help.  Success!

Harvick & Jarrett . (More) Newborn Pictures

One of the women in our weekly Home Group approached me about taking Harvick & Jarrett's newborn pictures - Kristin is starting a photography business, and hasn't had the opportunity to take any newborn pictures yet.  So, while we already had Heather Mickey take their pictures, Kristin came over to our house to practice.

Kristin Mae Photography - Newborn Pictures

You can never have too many pictures, right?!

Brothers . May 2011

I've decided to make it a goal to take a picture of the 3 boys together at least once a month.  I'm sure there are some months it will happen more often, but I left it at just once to make it manageable for at least the next year.

For May, the day they all wore their "Big Brother" T-shirt/"Little Brother" onesies, we'd thought we would try to capture them all together.  Turns out that a 22 month old and 2 2-week olds do not all like to cooperate at the same time . . . if at all.

First . . . the Nap Nannys together, with Ryder reclining on the joined middle . . .

Grumpy (Jarrett), Confused (Ryder), and Sleepy (Harvick)

Squished (Jarrett), Annoyed (Ryder), and Mad (Harvick)

Next . . . maybe Ryder would like to sit/kneel/stand behind the twins . . .

Take the picture quick!

Too slow!

 SERIOUSLY . . . this next one is the BEST one.  And, you can be assured that I took a lot to get just this one.

Alone, Ryder was willing to cooperate.

Over the past weekend, we pulled out the matching jammies I bought for the boys when I found out I was pregnant with twins.  Seriously - all the boys in the SAME jammies.  So cute!

At first, we tried laying them down on the floor . . .

(Harvick, Ryder, and Jarret)

But, Ryder's patience only lasted 2 seconds . . .

FINALLY . . . I thought to put them all in the rocking chair.  It worked out okay . . .

(Harvick, Ryder, Jarrett)

THEN . . . we had the GENIOUS idea to have Ryder put his arms around his little brothers . . . and by some miracle, IT WORKED!!!



BROTHERS . May 2011
(Harvick, Ryder, and Jarrett)

Wow.  I would love to think that it will only get easier to do this, but somehow I think 2 boys who can crawl away, and an older brother, still a toddler, will be just as difficult . . . in a different way.

Wish me luck!

Harvick & Jarrett . 3 Weeks

3 Weeks; 10 pounds, 3 ounces (Harvick) and 9 pounds, 8 ounces (Jarrett)

Both boys are doing well.  They were weighed again this morning at their doctor's office, just to ensure that they are gaining weight (although, with twins, we are told it is common for them to take longer to gain back their birth weight).  Turns out both boys have hit that mark, with Jarrett increasing quite a bit!

Sleeping in their "Nap Nanny" - (Thanks Jim & Martha)
(Jarrett on the left, Harvick on the right)

Ryder also loves the Nap Nanny . . . peeking in on his brothers before bedtime.
(Jarrett on the left, Harvick on the right)



"Stacking" twins is actually a common way for them to be held together (at least, according to many articles/books on raising multiples).  Patrick carries the twins this way, and they both seem to like it . . . neither one minds being the one on the bottom.
(Harvick on top, Jarrett on bottom)



Patrick tried to "stack" Ryder with them - Ryder just thought it was funny!

Taking a bath with big brother.
(Harvick)

(Jarrett)

(Harvick)

(Jarrett)

Both boys are continuing to spend more time awake (and content).  Jarrett is still more frequent in his awake time, but Harvick is catching up.

As you can see from the pictures, both boys also enjoyed their first real bath this week . . . shared with Ryder.  Ryder didn't mind at all, and as long as Harvick and Jarrett had the warm water running over them, they were content as well.

Walking

Patrick and I started walking together nearly daily in November 2008 (when I was pregnant with Ryder).  Since that time we have continued walking most nights . . . but, now with 3 children, we knew it would be a bit more tricky.

We ventured out for the first time together last night (05/24).  I "wore" Harvick in a Moby Wrap, while Patrick "wore" Jarrett in the Eddie Bauer Sling we had bought when Ryder was born.  Ryder rode along in his stroller.

Eventually, we will take the plunge and buy the Foundations Triple Stroller, but for now, our current method is working out okay!

Kayleen, Ryder, and Harvick

Patrick and Jarrett