Abby's Sleepover at Gigi and Papas

Saturday, August 9th 

Abby hasn't had too many sleepovers lately at Gigi and Papas (not because they haven't begged me for her) but because we just can't get enough of our precious girl we are totally hogging her.  This past weekend Abby went over to Gigi and Papas and Auntie Mimi was in town from Austin so they had a very fun weekend. 

Friday night the gang went shoe shopping.  Abby had so much fun running around stride rite and trying on all different kinds of shoes until she found the perfect pair.  Sparkly pink princess tennis shoes---that's my girl!

Good Morning Mommy!  The sweet text I received Saturday morning. 

Helping Auntie Mimi wash her car.  

Gotta make sure I didn't miss a spot

All washed up and showing off her new shoes and dress

Can't help but think that my 2 year old looks SO much like my Mom (Gigi) when she was a kid.  Twins!  So cute =)

Growing, Growing, Growing!

Saturday, August 9th 


This morning as I was changing Katie into some new clothes for the day I was pleasantly surprised that our favorite little monkey PJs (gift from Aunt Martha) were a bit snug.  Katie was so uncomfortable as her arm wouldn't even go through the sleeve all the way that I had to quickly grab another set of PJs.  Sadly I didn't get a photo of our snug-fit PJs but was a great feeling to know that my girls are growing, growing, growing.  A week and a half after they were born they were moved from the more critical side of the NICU to the growing and feeding section.  As our girls didn't have any medical issues they were just small and needed to grow some more.  It makes me so happy to know that they are continuing to thrive and doing excellent with their feedings.  We are currently still giving the girls 2 oz bottles.  

Here is their "protein shake" as Mama calls it

-2 oz EBM (expressed breast milk)
- 1/4 tsp Similac Neosure 24 calorie formula (made especially for preemies)
- a drop of Enfamil's Pol-vi-sol with Iron (this stuff smells so bad, poor babes)

Our favorite preemie PJs by Carters that we have now outgrown.  Other brands of preemie clothes still fit us--such as Kissy Kissy, children's place and gap.  

A Pinterest-inspired idea that I love!  Saving all the favorite baby clothes and making into a quilt.  

In my case I'll be making 3 quilts, one per girl.  

This was most of our day today.  I just love my little girls, they are SO stinking cute!!

7 weeks old!

Thursday, August 7th 

These days, I often find myself looking around our nursery at our 2 healthy little babies and I just can't believe that I had twins 7 weeks ago!  They actually turned 37 weeks gestational age this past Sunday and were born 7 weeks ago today on June 19th.  Suddenly, the delivery seems like a dream and the time spent in the NICU like a daze.  Its been a week and half since we got to bring the girls home from the NICU and its been just wonderful having everyone at home.  I'm so grateful that God blessed us with these little miracle babies.  Last week at their doctors appointment they weighed 4 and a half pounds, they keep growing and growing.  I'm excited to see what they will weigh in at our next doctors appointment in a week and a half.  It's so crazy to think that I had 2 little babies inside of me not that long ago.  I didn't realize how big I had actually gotten until weeks after delivery looking at pictures. This was me pregnant with twins at 29 weeks.  

Well I've got lots of blog posts in the coming weeks.  There is so much to share, life with newborn preemie twins and a toddler, our photoshoot this past weekend and Abby's first day of school coming up!  It's incredible how fast the time flies.  Our little Abigail will be starting school twice a week for a few hours.  I'm so excited for Abby and her new little adventures that are about to start!

Love love love morning hair.  We also get to show off our lovely map of the US placemat by Tot Talk---never to early to start learning geography.   Future school of Foreign Service student!

This week we are loving our poster sling-style infant younger by Leachco.  Thanks to Aunt "Chelle" for letting us borrow Andrew's.  We may need to purchase our own since little Lauren was a huge fan of laying here. Lauren has been a bit gassy and having more spit-ups which is the reason we wanted to elevate her a bit.   

Katie loves to be swaddled tight like a little burrito.  She prefers to sleep on her right side.  

Stay tuned for more on the Duffy Girls.  

Mommy and Abby date

Before the girls were born Ed and I discussed how it was really important to us to make sure to give Abby a lot of attention when her sisters were born.  To best achieve this we have decided to have special Mommy and Abby dates as well as Daddy and Abby dates.  This week Abby and I went to Sweet frog to grab some frozen yogurt.  We also had other special activities just us two, baking banana bread, watching some Frozen, having a picnic.  She loved them all!

This weekend Ed's taking Abby to music class and then to do some shopping.  

New hats!

Friday, August 1st 

Our night nurse started this week and she actually gave me the idea of monogramming or personalized clothing for the girls.  It would make it so much easier for her in the middle of the night having an extra reminder of who's who.  I immediately got on Etsy and found these adorable hats that saying the girls names.  love them!  I may order some more =)  

Nails and Snuggles

Thursday, July 31st 

First Pedicure!
Our hospital ID bands were getting too small--makes sense since they put them on about 6 weeks ago when the girls were born.  Before we cut off the band we had to plan how we were going to tell the girls apart--because they are very identical.  No apparent birthmarks or other distinguishable features.    We decided to paint Katie's toe nails pink using kid-friendly nail polish that I got for Abby.

Only painted big toe--other toes are incredibly tiny 

My little peanuts all snuggled up after their morning baths and outfit changes 

Snuggles with Mama, Daddy was holding Lauren and she was a bit fussy I suggested handing her over to me and she immediately became the happiest girl--smiling because she gets to snuggle with Mama and sister

1st Dr. Appt

Wednesday, July 30th 

One of the Nicu nurses had scheduled our 1st doctors appointment well over a week and a half ago so I had an idea last week that they would definitely be home by Wednesday, though I was ecstatic when we got to bring our girls home Sunday!

First doctor's appt with Dr. W*lens went really well, he was very impressed.  He said that the girls are doing so great, gaining weight like little champs.  They gained 5 oz in the 2 days that they had been home.  They took all their stats-- Katie weighed 4 lbs, 10 oz and Lauren weighed 4 lbs, 9 oz.  

Follow up items--girls are starting a little multi vitamin added to their bottles, same 2 oz feeding per bottle like they have been doing, continue with Similac 24 calorie formula supplement.  Additionally, he told us to start tummy time with the girls, for like 20-30 sec.  Can't wait to putt out the tummy time mat.  

Proud Dad carrying both babies 

Katie 

Lauren