We don't like this cold weather!

Ella enjoying bath time

Ella getting ready to go away

Where are we going?

can you see how big we are getting!

What a cold weekend! We did venture out to downtown Holland with the babes and did some shopping for a jogger stroller. We are excited to get Ella and Nathan outside and Tim and I are excited to get back into running again! We had a nice weekend and the babies are doing great. The nights are going as good as we can expect and I am hoping this Monday will go good when Tim goes to work. Not a lot new, especially when you don't get out much! We continue to get visitors who want to meet Ella and Nathan and we still are feasting on delicious meals that people have graciously brought us. We are so thankful to everyone!

Reality Check for the mother of twins

Ella and Nathan

I finally had time to get some pictures and note up on the blog. I think I had a reality check yesterday with being a mother of twins. They were up more during the night and then were quite needy during day. I would get Ella sleeping and lay her down and pick up Nathan and 5 minutes later Ella would cry and that cycle continued most of the morning. Tim thankfully came home for lunch and I took a bath and regrouped. Today, Tim's parents came for a couple of hours and I was able to take a nap. I feel much more on top of things and hopefully tonight will be better than last night. They continue to grow and grunt! We have had lots of company and friends from our running group and other friend have brought us meals every night this week. We are going to forget how to cook after all of you have spoiled us.

Where did grandpa and grandma go?

Nathan looks so peaceful

Ella snoozing

Grandpa's chest is a perfect place to nap

Grandma and Ella

How many diapers did we go through today?

Grandpa playing with Ella

Brother and sister "bonding"

Today Grandpa and Grandma Beckering left for Minnesota. It was a difficult send off since we have become pretty attached to them and don't quite no how we are going to do it without the extra hands. It was hard for them too and we are so thankful for the 2 weeks of bonding that Ella and Nathan had with their grandparents. I know I am really going to have to keep up this blog because my mom will be looking at it all the time!!!! As you see from the pictures above, our little babes are getting a lot bigger. Amazing how quickly they can change in 2 1/2 weeks and already we are starting to see their personalities come through. Ella is our "little miss piggy." She loves to grunt and grunt and grunt. Often times we walk into her room thinking she is awake, but she is grunting in her sleep. Nathan is our low key guy. If he is fed and diapered, life is good. He does occasional grunting, but I think he sounds more like a goat!

Our first stroller ride

We had to be bundled up tight to go outside!

Here we go for a ride!

Nathan rests after his first stroller ride!

Ella "bear"

Thanks aunt Laura for the outfits. They are a little big yet, but they worked great for our first stroller ride.

Dad decided the babies should get some fresh air so out came the double stroller and away we went. We didn't go very far, but it did feel good to get out and it made me excited for spring and summer when I can take long walks with Ella and Nathan. We had a pediatrician visit and they are growing like weeds. Ella has exceeded her brother in weight. She weighed 7 lbs 2 ounces and Nathan weighed 6lbs 14 ounces. Ella managed to pee twice on the scale and Nathan pooped on the examining table. Proud moments for their parents!!! We are slowing preparing for the departure of my parents this coming Saturday. We are really going to miss them and decided that a team of 4 adults is the perfect way to take care of twins. We'll see what happens next week with me on my own during the day and Tim and I alone at nights.

Can you see were gaining weight

We went to the Lactation consultant on Saturday and we were pleasantly surprised with how much weight they are gaining. Nathan weighed 6 lbs 10 ounces and Ella was not far behind at 6lbs 8 ounces. They totally exceeded their birth weight and more. The nurse couldn't give me any advice, but to keep up the good work. We can see in their faces that they are starting to fill out and they also can wear more of their newborn outfits. We have a Pediatrician appointment this Wednesday and so we'll see if they gained even more! Seems like life is one big feeding frenzy and the washing machine hasn't stopped since we arrived home. Lately each diaper change has required two outfit changes because they pee right after they get their wet diapers removed. We went to Scott and Barb last night and we actually ran out of clothes and diapers, resulting in Barb putting their outfits in the drier and putting a large diaper (from Barb's daycare stash) on Ella to just make it home. Tim used his engineering skills to get the diaper to fit quite snuggly. We continue to learn new things and hopefully will be experts soon(yeah right!)

Our clothes don't fit

Nathan and Ella like their pacifiers

Nathan loves to sleep

Ella is sunbathing

Our "GAP" babies

Ella not enjoying her first real bath

We gave Ella and Nathan their first tub baths and they were not too excited about it, but they did relax quickly after they got their clothes on. We are finding it challenging to get clothes that fit them. Most of their clothes that do fit them were in the wash so we resorted to some oversize onsies, but they do the job.

The latest updates

Here are the latest updates of Ella and Nathan. They continue to be very content babies. Only crying when the necessities of their lives are not being met.......feeding, changing, burping, and rocking. Grandma Beckering has been a huge help and I know it is going to be hard to see her leave. She probably is feeling the same way. We had some unexpected sad news this past Sunday. My Grandma Sophie (my dad's mom) passed away. We know she is in a better place and all her earthly sufferings have ceased, but we will still miss her. My dad ended up flying home and is coming back this coming Sunday. My parents are spending the next week with us too. It has been so nice to have help with making meals, cleaning, and of course helping with the twins. My dad is also enjoying helping Tim finish up the pole barn by Eric. We are starting to get into a slight routine. They are eating about every 3 hours and each feeding can take around an hour. We plan to get them weighed on Saturday and as good as they seem to be eating, I cannot imagine they are not gaining weight! The nights have not been too bad. We have had two rough nights. They tend to have some of their wake time around 12am -1am and one morning, Nathan decided to stay awake till the 2:30am feeding. By the time I fed him put him down, it was Ella's turn. I think I got to bed for the first time around 4am. Oh well, luckily that has only happened once. I do enjoy seeing them awake and alert, but wish it was 12pm! We had our first outing to Grandpa and Grandma Stuive on New Year's day. We had a great meal and I think Ella and Nathan enjoyed themselves too. Our New Year's was pretty quiet. We did manage to stay up till 12, but instead of partying, we were nursing. Oh how our world has changed. I still look in awe everyday at them and cannot believe the incredible gifts God has given us.

Day 5: Baby Updates

Ella and Nathan enjoying tummy time

Nathan and Ella sporting the only sleepers that actually fit them!


Ella and Nathan appear to enjoy their bouncy seats!

Mom giving Nathan his first bath at home! He loves it!

I know everyone wishes for daily updates and pictures so I had some downtime (even though I should be napping) to give a quick update. We had a good night last night. They were up every 3 hours, but went back to sleep easily after each feeding. They even gave their parents a full 2 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Dan and Laura left this morning to go back to Minnesota. We loved having them here and cannot wait for Caleb, Bennet, and Kylie to meet their new cousins. We also know Darin, Tricia, Brayden, and "Baby To Come" are eagerly waiting their first visit. Tim and I still are amazed that we are parents of two babies. We feel blessed by God for receiving such wonderful gifts and thank Him daily.

The latest pictures

Ella shows off her beautiful eyes!


Nathan checking out Grandma!


Proud Grandparents and mamma


New Family of Four


Nathan sleeps soundly (but of course it is day time......... to check out his eyes join us around
4 am!)

Day #4 in the life of Ella and Nathan! Today was their first outing to the Pediatrician. They are growing good. Nathan is 5lb 13oz and Ella is 5lbs 9oz. They have not lost any weight since leaving the hospital so we are happy for that. They seem to be very content, but possibly have their days and nights switched around (to the fatigue of their parents)! All in all, we are thoroughly enjoying our new Christmas blessings. Alissa's parents and her brother Dan and Laura came up on Thursday to meet the twins. It has been wonderful to have more hands to hold, burp, diaper change, swaddle, comfort, and spoil. We are enjoying having meals made for us by Laura and we know Mom Beckering will continue this for us in the next two weeks. We attempted our first time with cloth diapers today. It is a two person job to get them on right now and at this time the disposables will definitely be used at night!

"First Cries" Nathan begins and Ella chimes in!

Mom with Nathan

Hi Ella.
Open your eyes Nathan.
Stocking Stuffers (2007)

Introducing Nathan Dean and Ella Shermae born at 4:09 and 4:11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 24. Nathan's is 6 lbs. 2 oz. and 19 inches, while Ella is 5 lbs. 15 oz. and 19.5 inches long. Mom and babies are doing great! The delivery went as well as we could have hoped! Thank God for epidurals. From water breaking to delivery was only 6 hours. We arrived home on Wed., Dec. 26 and we now realize that banking sleep hours doesn't work, but waking during the night to stare at their beautiful faces makes it all worth while. We thank you all for your prayers and support during our pregnancy and delivery and now we covet your prayers during this new adventure of parenthood.

They don't want to come out yet!

I had another doctor appointment and ultrasound today. I remain 3cm dilated. Even though we were hoping for more, I guess these little guys want to stay in for Christmas! My doctor commented that she suspects that I could go till the 28th, so today, I am mentally preparing for 10 more days of incubation. My ultrasound results were positive that both heads are down. Their heartbeats are around 142 and 146 and they are weighing in around 6.13 and 6.24 lbs. So if you do the math I have 12 lbs of baby in me now, plus 2 placentas and I still have 10 more days to go. Are you feeling sorry for me yet! Truthfully, we are delighted that they are going to be healthy, good size babies. Now I just have to find things to keep me occupied until then. I know both sides of the family are anxiously awaiting phone calls and also my parents are on standby as to when they should make the trip up to Michigan. These babies like the control I think! We'll keep you posted and I'll send some pictures out soon.