Crazy!

I can't believe how fast these girls are growing....

Hannah in the boppy at just under 4 weeks. While the next picture is Hannah and Hailey in the same boppy tonight at 9 weeks and 1 day.

I can't believe it! There is such a difference in just 5 short weeks...I can't wait to see how much they have grown in a month.

2 months

It has now been two months and four days since Hannah and Hailey entered our life. I have no idea where the past 2 months have gone! Actually I do...millions of diaper changes, bottles, wardrobe changes, and so on. Best part of the past 2 months...the hugs. The kisses. Watching these two girls grow every day into the amazing beautiful little girls they have become.

Hailey has gone from the sleepy little girl who would not sit still to the sleepy little girl who still will not sit still. She is going to be our athlete we think. She is awake more and more and is a very happy girl after filling her diaper. Hailey rolled herself over at 5 weeks! And continues to do so when we make her mad making her do tummy time. From the day Hailey was born she had tummy issues, not liking what it feels like when her tummy does what it should after eating. Sometimes it would mean screaming at the top of her lungs after eating. Those days are not completely behind us, but the are very few and far between. (I am knocking on wood right now.) She is such a happy baby now.

Above is Hailey, 11 days old.

Hailey at 7 1/2 weeks.

From the very beginning, Hannah has been our quite one. Just sitting back and watching everyone and everything. She is the same way today. But she has started to express herself. She lets us know when she wants something...to be picked up, food, and especially a diaper change. We still don't mind hearing her cry, it isn't the high pitched cry like Hailey's. Its more, I don't know, cute cry. Over the past few weeks, Hannah has figured out how to hold her head up and would much rather be facing people then looking over someones shoulder. And when Hannah smiles...it melts my heart. She even has little dimples in her chubby cheeks :O)

Above is Hannah at 11 days old.

Hannah, holding up her head, at 7 1/2 weeks.

Both girls have grown so much. I just can't believe they have gone from their under 6 pounds to (according to our scale) over 11 pounds in 2 short months. They have also started to sleep better at night. Going from an hour or so between feedings to up to 5 hours at a time. Hannah is loosing her hair, and Hailey's is growing back.

I absolutely love watching them grow each and every day. I can't wait to help them continue to grow.

Mommy loves you Hannah and Hailey!

Daddy and his little girls

Jake is such an amazing Daddy to these little girls! These pictures melt this Mommy's heart!

Thank you Jennifer for capturing these wonderful moments between Daddy had his little girls!

P.S. If you need pictures taken, contact Jennifer Ecker at her facebook page or her website. You wont be disappointed! We absolutely LOVE all the pictures she has taken of our family!

Twins

Hearts entwined

Twenty fingers, twenty toes,

two sweet babies with cheeks of rose.

Born on the same day,

two gifts from above,

lives entwined, two babies to love.

~Author Unknown

Its amazing how completely you can love someone within moments of meeting them. And its even more amazing how there is room in your heart to love them even more each day.

The best Mom and Grandmother ever

I'm pretty sure that says it all. I have always know, even if at times I wouldn't admit it, that my mom was amazing. She was there for both my brother and I from the day we were born. And now, now that I have children of my own, it is even more apparent to me how amazing she is.

She has been here. In Burlington. Living with us. Cooking for us. Cleaning for us. Doing laundry for us. Changing diapers for us. Cleaning up spit-up for us. Making bottles for us. Feeding for us. Shopping for us. This list could go on and on and on. From the day the girls were born she was there for us.

I am so grateful for her and everything she has done for us over the past 8 weeks. (Yes, I can't believe Hannah and Hailey are already 8 weeks and 3 days old.) I am really not sure what I would do without all her help and knowledge.

Tonight, she made her nightly phone call to my dad who is back in Spokane/Coeur d'Alene. And after I asked her how he was doing. I think my dad is getting really tired of eating out, alone. He is also working on the kitchen at the lake and I think he is just getting tired. Tired of all the work he has to do, alone. It makes me sad to think that because we live so far away, with my mom being over here to help he is all alone. It actually makes me very sad. It breaks my heart.

From the tone of my mom's voice when she was talking about dad, I really can't tell if she wants to stay any more. I mean, I know she wants to help me with the girls. But...at the same time I am pretty sure she wants to be home.

I don't know what to do. Do I not say anything? Or do I ask her if she wants to go home? Do I lie and tell her we don't need her here any more so she will go home?

I'm really not sure what we are going to do when she does go home. Even if it is 2 months, after basketball. At least then Jake will not be working such long days and will be able to help with the middle of the night feedings. My fingers are crossed the girls will be sleeping longer at night than they are now, but I'm not sure they will be. But if my mom leaves before basketball season is over, besides the night feedings, I will be alone for 13hours some days with the girls.

I knew being a parent wasn't going to be easy. Especially with twins. And I don't want my mom to feel like she has to stay. Especially if she doesn't want to.

Maybe she could go home to Spokane/Coeur d'Alene for a week or so "vacation" and then come back and help me. That might work. Kinda ease me into being alone all day every day, and having to get up by myself to feed both girls.

Either way, what ever happens, she is an amazing mom and an even more amazing Grandmother! I can't imagine day to day without you. Love you mom!

Bath time (part 2)

A few weeks ago I posted about bath time in the Martyn house. I am happy to say tears have become a part of the bath time routine. Not sad tears because we have to get into the bath tub...

But tears we have to get OUT OF the bath tub.

Yep, you read that right. Our girls can be so upset and when we put them into the bath tub they become the happiest little girls in the world. I have started putting little ducks in the bath with them and they seem to love kicking them around.

Once they are out of the water and into the towel...the crying begins. Never fails. Each night the same thing. Happy little campers until they have to get out of the tub. (Some day down the road I will post proof of this phenomenon.) I really hope this continues when they get older. I am not looking forward to having to fight with them to take a bath at night like I've heard a lot of parents have to.

Fingers crossed to that. And happy bathing everyone :O)

I can't help it

I should be sleeping right now but I can't help it.

The girls should be waking up shortly for yet another feeding but I can't help it.

I am sitting in the dark living room with country music playing softly on the radio and I can't help it.

There is snow outside our house for the first time this year and I can't help it.

I can't help looking in on our little girls. Our little miracles.

I still can't believe they are here. And so happy and healthy.

I am so 100% in love with these little girls I can't help it.

Hannah and Hailey are the loves of my life and I can't help it.

Mommy and Hailey
Mommy and Hannah

Miss Hannah

Miss Hailey

My beautiful little girls.
I love them with all my heart and I can't help it.

Sick sick sick

I can't even remember the last time I was sick. A cold, usually once a year. Those things are so hard to get away from when you and your husband both work with the public. But something more serious then that? I seriously can't remember. That is, up until last night. Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry gets sick in a bakery and ruins his no vomit streak for some crazy amount of years. (And yes honey, I did just reference Seinfeld :O)

Not that you want details, and I don't want to share them either. Lets just say that during a wonderful meal cooked by my mommy I started to feel hot and dizzy. Almost like the 1/3 or the beer I had just consumed was actually 5 or 6 beers. One thing after another and I was in the bathroom. Ugh.

So much for not getting sick. Ever. But it did mean that I got to go to sleep and didn't have to wake up with the girls. Thank you to my wonderful husband and very understanding mother. I just hope that the girls haven't gotten whatever that tummy bug was. They had been a little more fussy than normal and have been spitting up after every other feeding yesterday. Fingers crossed it was just some 24 hour thing.

I am happy to report that as of 6:30 am I am feeling much better. I even had some toast due to my tummy talking very loudly. My good mood my have something to do with the inch or so of snow that is on the ground too. So excited for snow!!!

This mommy is going to go crawl back into bed while my little miracles sleep for another hour or so. Fingers crossed I don't get sick again.

Parents prayer

I found this between the 11pm and 2am feeding. I think it is a little more than perfect...

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my sanity to keep.
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.
I pray I find a little quiet
Far from the daily family riot

May I lie back--not have to think
about what they're stuffing down the sink,
or who they're with, or where they're at
and what they're doing to the cat.
I pray for time all to myself
(did something just fall off a shelf?)

To cuddle in my nice, soft bed
(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)
Some silent moments for goodness sake
(Did I just hear a window break?)
And that I need not cook or clean--
(well heck, I've got the right to dream)

Yes now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my wits about me keep,
But as I look around I know--
I must have lost them long ago!
~Author Unknown

I know we haven't experienced a lot of these things, such as the dead goldfish or the cats being tortured, but I can totally relate to the lack of sleep. And I can only imagine what it is going to be like when Hannah and Hailey get older, especially if we throw a little brother or sister in the mix a few years down the road.

Cheesey Chicken Spaghetti

Now that my mom is not here cooking for us for a few more days...I have to cook. It is only fair that I do the cooking with Jake being gone coaching practice or games, but I still don't like to cook. So I have turned to pintrest.com for inspiration. (Please know recipes are not the only thing I look for, and yes I am quite addicted to this website.)

I found an easy croc pot recipe that even Jake thought looked good. With it being a game night, and it only taking a few hours to cook (but so much longer to get in the croc pot with two little girls that don't want to sleep when I want them to) we decided we should try it.

Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
Serves 12 ( one cup each)

16 oz. dry spaghetti, cooked
1 lb. Velveeta Light (2%)Cheese
12.5 oz can chicken breast, drained & flaked
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
10 oz. can diced tomatoes
4 oz can mushroom stems & pieces, drained
1/2 cup water1 small onion,
diced1 med. green pepper, diced
salt & pepper to taste

Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and stir to mix well. Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours. Stir again just before serving.

So far, after getting it all in the croc pot, it looks delicious! I am very excited to try it when Jake gets home from their game.

Looking back over 2011

Our year at a glance...

January:
*Basketball leads to Districts, Regionals, and eventually to State.

February:
*Breakdown for the millionth time that our attempts to get pregnant didn't work. We decide to make the next big step and do Invetro.
*BE Tigers win 5th place in the State Tournament

March:
*Eggs harvested, fertilized and 2 implanted on the 29th.

April:
*On the 12th of April we found out we were going to be parents!
* TWINS! We find out we are having not one but two miracles

May:
*Trip to Forks for the weekend. (And yes, we got a picture of me by the "Welcome to Forks" sign)
*Jake is going to be the head coach for the Tiger boys basketball team starting in the 2011-2012 season.

June:
*Bring on the baby planning...room, furniture, ect.
*Summer BE Blaze basketball is in full swing.
*Jake's family visit for a weekend.

July:
*To lake Coeur d'Alene for the 4th.
*Invitations go out to friends and family for the surprise 40th Wedding Anniversary Party for my parents.
* Girls! We are having twin girls! Hannah and Hailey
*I become the God Mother to one of the most wonderful and amazing little girls Alex.

August:
*Jake and I celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary on the 11th.
*Jake turns the big 30 and we have a party for him with friends and family out at the lake.
*Spend hours at the fabric store with my mom picking out material for the girls room.
*Family visit, for some reason all the same week. (See next line for reason...)
*Surprise party for my parents. 40 happy years! (both mom and dad had NO idea!)
*Start planning the baby shower for our girls with my best friend Ami and my Mommy

September:
*Start getting the girls room put together. (Ordered cribs and changing table. Got butterflies up all over the room. Ect.)
*School starts for Jake
*Continue stocking up on baby supplies (especially diapers :0)

October:
*God Daughter turns 1 year old
* Baby shower in Spokane with all our friends and family
*Put together crib.
*Wash a seemingly endless amount of baby clothes.
*Wonder how much longer until I am not able to work...
*Have baby shower in Burlington with girls from work and a few of my friends (Thanks Katina!)
*Visit Ikia for the first time while Jake goes to the Cougar game in Seattle with my dad and brother.
*Baby shower in Bellevue with family from Seattle and Portland
*Starting to feel ready for the girls to be born.

November:
*Put on part time at work due to high blood pressure.
*Tiger basketball season starts.
*Done working again due to high bp
*November 22nd put on strict bed rest until appointment on the 23rd again due to high (160 something/115) bp.
*Call mom and dad the 22nd and tell them to come over a day early...we will probably meet these girls the next day.
*23rd, 1pm appointment. Bp still really high and not going down. Doctor worried about long weekend...we go to the hospital that day.
*3pm we meet my parents and brother in the parking lot at the hospital and get checked it.
*5pm the Doctor is ready to deliver the girls.
*5:39pm Hannah is born.
*5:41pm Hailey is born.
*Our lives are changed forever in those few minuets.
*We entered the hospital a family of 2, and on the 27th we leave a family of 4.

December:
*Getting use to life with two little babies. (Constant feedings and no sleep)
*Forever grateful for my mom staying and helping us.
*Stephen (my little brother) asked Caitlin to be his wife!
*BE Tigers win their first 6 games of the season!
*Jake gets a few full nights sleep before he joins the girls and I in Spokane for Christmas.
*The girs meet their Great Grandma, aka GG, and cousins, my best firend, my God daughter Alex, and lots of other people.
*Christmas at my parents house.
*Back home and on our own for the first time.
*Hailey, at 5 1/2 weeks rolls from her tummy to her back...over and over. (I'm not ready for that)
*Jake and I celebrate the end of the best year of our life sitting on the couch, watching the ball drop in New York on the tv, with a glass of wine (that froze) listening to the noises of our little girls while they sleep on the monitor.

2011 brought a ton of challenges and miracles. We are so grateful for the past year and the new members of our family. I can't wait to see what the year 2012 brings the Martyn family!!

Meeting our Great Grandma

When we found out we were pregnant last April, one of my biggest fears was that our baby/babies wouldn't get to meet Jake's Grandma. The entire pregnancy she was in and out of the hospital for one thing or another. I was afraid something would happen and she would pass away before the girls were born.

Thankfully that didn't happen!

On our trip back to Spokane for Christmas we got to introduce Hannah and Hailey to her for the first time! At first I didn't really understand why Jake wanted me to wait for him to be there but when we walked in the door and I saw both of their expressions...I knew. He was so proud to show them off to her.

Below Dolly, aka GG, is holding Hailey for the first time.

And here she is holding Hannah for the first time.

I know Christmas in everyone's family is crazy, especially if there are kids involved. Our Christmas Eve at Jake's sisters house was no different. With the kids running around, opening packages, screaming with delight...it was crazy to say the least. But we did make sure we stopped at took a few family pictures at the end of the night. (That reminds me, I need to email my mother-in-law these pictures :O)

The picture below is one of my favorite pictures from our whole trip. Its of Dolly (GG) with her daughter Chiere (my mother-in-law). Along with Jake and Trena, Dolly's Grandchildren. And then we have Noah, Nathan, Faith, Hannah and Hailey; Dolly's 5 GREAT Grandchildren. 4 generations in one picture. I love it!
So here is to family. Be thankful for them and never take family for granted.