Happy I'm A Hansen: September 2012

Thursday, September 13, 2012

July

Alot happned in the twins 5th month from July to August. We had so much to do to get ready to build, so much to do to get Dallin registered for pre-school and so little time. It just flies by. Joe's back was steadily getting better, but he still couldn't lift more than 10 lbs, or bend over. So anything with the babies was a no go, besides feedings. He was able to start helping me with feedings again and that was a life saver!!! He helped me when he could before, but now he was able to wash the bottles and get them ready. You have no idea how much this little thing meant to me. He also started helping me pick up the house with his niffty picker upper thing. You know? Those tweezer like things with the long stick attachment you see every person over the age of 70 carrying around? Yeah, that thing rocks.

In July was pretty much hung out at home a lot and at the beginning of August dared to make a trip to Yellowstone for a week long Hansen family reunion. More on that later.

Blake

Matthew

The twins were just really coming out of their shell. Blake was rolling over sometimes and all smiles. Matthew was starting to really roll around like a ball and was super chunky! He was more mellow and cranky at times, where Blake was all smiles!! He is ultra happy baby.

They both were starting on soft foods. They didn't take a liking to oatmeal cereal or carrots. But slowly they are starting to like them. They are still learning to swallow it, without it all just coming out of their mouth first.

Dallin is changing so much everyday. He started Preschool about a month ago and just loves it. He is seriously so smart and so endearing. He loves to make his brothers laugh, loves to play on his slip n slide and loves to make jokes. Here he is puffing up his cheeks and smashing the air out really quick with his hands to make a funny noise. He could do this for hours and does (literally) some days.

At the beginning of August we made the brave trip up to Yellowstone. The 5 hours drive turned into 9 or 10 with twins and a hubby on the mend. But we made it, two bad blowouts and three melt downs later we arrived in Yellowstone. It was pretty, but I still love the Grand Tetons the most. Blake sitting up for the first time on this trip was a highlight for me:) He could stay in a sitting position without assistance for the first time on August 6th. He looked soooo big to me in this instance, almost made me cry.

Joe's mom and dad so graciously gave us their room in the cabin that had an extra little room connected to it for the twins to sleep in. I do not sleep well with them in my room and the other rooms were just too loud or too far away from us, so they let us have their room. It worked perfectly. I think the twins actually slept better there in that little dark room than they ever have! So nice of them to do this for us, especially since they really didn't have to.

Grandma Hansen with Matthew

Blake looking sad.... those eyes get me every time!

Dallin and his Daddy playing in the loft

Matthew showing off his "I'm Happy I'm a Hansen" Onesie. We all had matching shirts saying this. Even the twins:) It was super cool.

We went to a gorgeous river and bridge. It was breathtakingly green. Loved to hang out there after attending church with all of Joe's extended family. It was a great day filled with the Spirit and great views of nature. So pretty.

Smily babies.

The water was ice cold!!! I couldn't keep my feet in it for more than a second. Mostly because I am allergic, but most importantly because I am a wimp....LOL

We went to the Grizzly and Wolf Center and saw some awesome bears fighting. Here Dallin is with his grandpa's binocular's. He carried those around the entire day.

My muscly "men". Showing off their guns!

We also took a trip up to Mesa Falls. Gorgeous I tell you. Simply gorgeous! I couldn't believe how green and beautiful it was. It actually has it's own micro-climate containing plants and fungi that only grow in that one part of the state. Pretty cool. I felt like I was in Oregon, but in the middle of Idaho!

Daddy and Blake

The family. Minus Dallin's face, who is hiding behind daddy's leg.

My boys:)

It was a great trip, though at times extremely stressful for me, we got through it. We ended up heading home a day early because problems with our house getting funded were on the brink of making us go crazy and Joe's back was on the fritz. Nothing like a long trip and a bad back to make Joe really want to go home. Like a trooper though he made it back home without complaining even though I know his back was just killing him. As one who doubted just how much pain he was in for so long, witnessing what he has gone through and how much it must hurt, and yet he hardly ever mentions it, I know now that I was wrong about thinking he was ever exaggerating his pain. I know I could never endure what he has with his back and still have a smile on his face about it all.

This month was crazy and fun and so worth the work. We had so much fun watching the twins interact with their cousins and watching the cousins play with Dallin. We only wish family lived closer so we could see them more and so Dallin could see his "other brothers and sisters" as he calls them. :)

Great times.

The month of June...long overdue

so getting caught up a few months back didn't exactly happen. I haven't even blogged about the twins 4th through 6 months of life! Yikes!

So I'll start with the month of June.

The twins were super stars around 4 months. They didn't get sick once through the winter and spring was just about over and summer was starting. Things were hectic trying to get used to everything and Joe's surgery put him down and out. I remember feeling so overwhelmed, so utterly overwhelmed, but somehow with each new day, I was able to just do it. I was able to do the feedings by myself, do the late nights by myself, the cleaning, the changing, the washing, the baths, the cooking, the laundry, the shopping and everything else that goes into being a mom, wife and church member. I was so exhausted, but one thing I knew, was that I was very, extremely, over the top lucky. This is what got me through each and everyday. I had my health, I had my babies, I had my husband, a comfortable home, financial support, food to eat, water to drink. I couldn't have asked for more.

The last few months have just made me really evaluate my life and what is really important. Made me want to be a better me. Be less judgmental and more kind. Be less worried about getting everything done right that instant and be more patient and enjoy every moment with my kiddos. The last few months have been an eye opener for me.

That being said, lets talk about my cute squiddgers! (made up word):) The twinkies are doing fantastic. At four months they were so big.

Blake left, Matthew right

Blakey Blake

Chunky monkey Matthew

Matthew's 4 month stats:

Weight: 14 lbs 15 oz. 47th percentile
Height: 26.5 inches, 88th percentile

Blake's 4 month stats:
Weight: 14 lbs. 2 oz., 35th percentile
Height: 26.5 inches, 89th percentile

At 4 months Matthew was starting to teeth. I could feel the hard lumps coming through and he was not happy. His sleeping really took a turn for the worse. Blake was still not eating well, but by the end of this month, he was eating like a champ. He wasn't having any sucking issues, but he was still not eating enough, but the Doctor said his weight gain was fine, and to just keep giving him a high calorie bottle. It worked well as today he is still gaining weight fine:)

This is how I shower every morning. They stay pretty entertained watching Dallin goof around!

All my boys!

Blake

Matthew

Well Hello neck! It is starting to show!

Around this time the twins were super good at sleeping through the night. Even with Matthew teething, he was a champ at night. Naps were a different story. I pretty much had them on the same schedule and then teething happened. Matthew wanted to sleep when Blake did not. One would just cry for hours while the other slept and vise versa. It was so crazy! I feel bad for my poor neighbors sometimes, I just hope the walls are not too thin here!

During this month we also decided that we wanted to finally start building on our lot we bought in January. We got working on everything and finally got the ball rolling. We wouldn't break ground for a few months more, but it was exciting to start the process of designing and dreaming.

Dallin was such a trooper this whole time. He has been patient and so incredibly resilient. He just takes things in stride. He has his meltdowns for sure, but I feel so lucky to have been given such a happy and loving child. He loves his brothers very much.