Life Since August

Life has been treating us well. My sister is coming to visit for a long layover early next week which I'm very excited about. The boys had surgery which you can read about at the bottom. They're both doing well and getting so big. Carter weighs just over 16 pounds and Weston weighs 17.5 pounds. They can both sit up for a little while when they're leaning over on their hands and they need to be eating solids but they're not yet. They won't open their mouths which makes it kind of difficult, and feeding two babies with spoons takes FOREVER. Weston sticks his tongue out a lot and his hair is growing long. He is getting a sweet double chin, Mr. Fatty Cakes! Carter cracks up when you dance for him or fake a sneeze or when we do pretty much anything silly. Basically, he makes us feel like comedians, which we are. We're pretty hilarious. I read the Percy Jackson series in about a week which kept me busy. It was entertaining but only for someone to read when they've got a fair amount of time on their hands. I did P90x for a solid month then got burnt out for a week or two. I've started back up again though and it's good to be exercising again. I think I'll only do it three or four days a week instead of six. It just was taking up a ton of time. Ryan got second in his state bagging competition which was so fun to go to. He's planning to win it next year! He'll be reffing high school basketball starting in a few months and I'll start coaching club at about the same time. We'll be busy! Picture time? I think so...

Just sitting out on the lawn. (Weston left, Carter right)

I came home to my son looking like this. Hobo, rockstar, gentleman, or Daddy's little all-star? (Weston)

He didn't like the glasses so much. 

Weston left, Carter right. 

Just laying on our bed after waking up. (Carter then Weston)

We tried to have Ryan's mom take some photos for us, but taking photos with babies sure isn't easy. So we have one with Carter smiling. 

And one with Weston smiling. 

With Grandma and Grandpa! 

Carter can hold his head up now!

Carter then Weston. Love these boys! 

They like each other. (Carter left)

I was changing Weston and Carter got hold of his brother's shorts. Tasty. 

Carter told Ryan he wanted shorts on his head. We sure do miss Chief Red Face. Wait...that resulted in his hernias. So no, we don't. 

We went to Cafe Rio with Terra a few weeks ago. We're so glad she got an awesome job with Walmart but so sad she'll be leaving us! 

Weston loves playing with his cousin, Bella. 

Weston loves football.

Weston acted like he knew what he was doing with this cup of water. But he grabs everything and shoves it in his mouth so that's not too surprising. 

Our boys had some pretty minor surgery this week. Both of them were circumcised and Carter had a hernia to be fixed. My three favorite boys.

Carter with Daddy. 

Weston's surgery was first and it took him over an hour to come out of the anesthesia. Carter went in after and they told us they gave him more anesthesia so it would take him longer to wake up. We tried to wake him but the poor kid was zonked.

Thanks for reading! 

Weston missed the hospital, so we went for a visit.

So both of our boys have reflux. The usually projectile their whole bottle about every other day. We end up just feeding them again, and when you're trying to go somewhere, it can complicate things. Carter is perfectly content as he does it and usually gives us a huge smile when he's done. You'd think he knows he just got us good. Weston struggles. He gets really sad, scared, arches his back, and can't eat for a while after because his stomach is upset. We started him in on reflux medication earlier last week and it sure didn't seem to be working!

Friday was rough. Carter started out the morning by throwing up (surprise, right?) Well then Weston threw up. Then he threw up again. We went to Five Guys for lunch where he totally pooped all over Ryan. Icky, gooey, liquid poop. Yep. He kept throwing up and kept having diarrhea. We went over to Ryan's parents that evening and started playing a game and it was no fun because both boys were so sad. Weston pooped on Bree, then Carter threw up on me, then Weston threw up on Ryan. By this time, Weston had thrown up seven times that day and Carter had thrown up three.

After the last time Weston threw up he was really pale and just acting totally out of it. He wasn't focusing on anything and his fontanelle was really sunken in. So we headed to the emergency room. Carter stayed with the grandparents and we took Weston up to Primary's. We decided he must have missed that place because he's spent more time there than at home in his 5 1/2 months of life! He got an IV and we stayed the night to make sure he had all the fluids he needed and was at least able to keep Pedialyte down. I stayed the night with Weston and Ryan picked up Carter from his parents' at 5 am and slept at home. We checked out around noon the next day. It turns out they just got some kind of stomach bug and Weston's weak system can't handle much after losing so much of his gut with NEC. We have to feed Weston just a little at a time to allow his system to start working like it should again. 

Now everyone seems to be on the mend. Ryan got sick too, so we had a day full of vomiting and diarrhea and feeding every few hours. I didn't have to help Ryan too much though :) Poor boys! 

Finally zonked! This is his favorite way to sleep at home too. 

I always saw the little babies at Primary's in these gowns and just thought they were adorable. And when your own boy is in them? Even cuter...

Fun with Momma!

Here are a ton more pictures of the boys. My mom is here to visit and it has been so fun!

My mom's first time seeing the boys in a few months. She's not excited, is she? And don't you love Weston's grin? Poor boy won't be able to find shoes when he's twelve! 

This is how we found Weston one night after putting them to bed.  Maybe he feels our parenting style is too oppressive?  

Superhero outfits from Aunt Jenny! So cute...

Weston fell asleep on his tummy and then curled his knees up under him. He may or may not be wearing a Christmas outfit. Don't elves have to work all year round anyway? And he's sleeping on the job!!

My three boys. (Carter then Weston. Oh, and Ryan) 

I need more pictures with my boys. 

Weston says, "Hey, check out my scars!" You can barely see the third one to the upper right and parallel to the bigger one.  

After bath time. (Weston) 

So solemn. (Carter)

Horrible picture but cute baby, right? (Weston) 

Playing with Daddy today at the International Peace Gardens.  (Weston)

In Other News

I don't have much experience with babies but I think my boys are pretty good at it. Being babies, that is. I wish they would both stop throwing up and they do cry every once in a while for apparently no reason, but generally, they're pretty good. It's so different every time but they normally sleep from 7-12 hours every night. Weston has been such a spaz the last few days. He will sit in his swing, perfectly content, and kick his legs and throw his arms around for an hour. Silly boy. Carter gets these huge open mouthed grins that just crack me up. And he likes to do it when his bottle is still in his mouth so he spills all over his chin. And it looks like he has a white beard. 

I need to be eating better and working out more. But when I don't work out, I don't feel like eating well. And then when I don't work out I feel worse which makes me not want to work out. Sound familiar, anyone? 


I've been trying to make dinner more because it's better for us and saves us money. I enjoy it too. Also, Ryan would rather feed a baby than make dinner and since I have been feeding babies all day, I'd rather make dinner. 


I found a website a little while ago. I think it's fascinating. He's a college student and has written a ton of articles and a few books. I don't agree with everything he's written but I found an article I liked about vertical and lateral types of learning. You can find it here. Vertical progress is about goals and accomplishing things. Lateral learning is about finding the value in life, about being spontaneous, spiritually minded, creative, and is "the expansion of experience." Everyone needs a balance of both. Before I got pregnant, my life was so centered on vertical growth. School and volleyball were such a huge part of my life. Now, I am no longer competing in every direction I turn. I am still working on school and still have goals, but in general, my life is much more about the experiences I have, rather than studying for an accounting test or improving my armswing and passing technique. 


In church today, the talks were about keeping a journal. It seems like printing out my blog is a good way to do more of that. Has anyone made a book from their blog? And do you get it done professionally or do it yourself? I love to go back and look through what I've written before. It gives me perspective with whatever I'm dealing with now. I was just looking at my friend Allie's blog and she posted the cutest idea for a journal right here. And if you're looking for her awesome blog, you can find it here. Thanks Allie! 


In other news, my mom will be here in a few weeks and I'M EXCITED! She's so fun. I know you all agree. 

Here's a video of my crazy Weston. 

Just So Fun

Weston lounging.

My sister in law, Sarah came over and brought her eight month old son, Magnus. He weighs more than Carter and Weston combined and is so fun and cute! 

Doll sized.

Carter.

Fourth of July!

Carter and his cousin Laylah who is getting baptized here in Utah in about a week.  

My cute niece Alauna.

Playing with the kids.

Naked Carter.

Fail.
If you enlarge the picture you can see Weston is cross-eyed :)

In other news, Carter is off his oxygen which makes us so happy! People already seem to have a harder time telling them apart, so good luck! Weston is still longer and has a longer face. Carter also has a few birth marks I can point out  if you're interested but to me they look totally different!
They had their four month checkups a few weeks ago.
Weston weighs 11 lb 9 oz and is 24.5 inches long. He's in the 2nd percentile for weight and the 42nd for height.
Carter weighs 10 lb 5 oz and is 21.5 inches long. He's in the 0th percentile for height and weight.
They're both in the 5th percentile for head size.
Keep in mind these are their percentiles for all four month olds, when they're just supposed to be about two months.
Both boys are smiling tons which is so fun. Weston rolled over for the first time yesterday so we'll see how long it takes him to do it again. Carter is really good about holding his head up when you hold him but on his tummy he still struggles a lot. Weston is more floppy when you hold him but better on his tummy.
Here's to the beginning of these boys being compared for the rest of their lives!! Who's the crabby one? Who's the sweet one? Who's taller? Who's fatter? Have fun with that boys! :)

Pictures of Us

Carter

Carter

Carter

Weston coming home from the hospital.

They're together!!

First night together. Weston came home still pretty yellow because his liver wasn't functioning well. It's basically a different type of bilirubin that can't be fixed with lights. He was on medicine for a while and now his liver is perfect again!

We wrapped them in one blanket. They loved it...?

Silly boys.

We stuffed them in the swing together.

Visit to the park. Ryan wishes he were swaddled too. 

First family photo.

Carter then Weston.

The boys with Grandma Hibbert.

I just love him. Ryan thinks its a little vain for him to wear a shirt with a picture of himself on it.

Weston then Carter.

Struggling.

So serrrious.

So things are going well! It gets a little crazy when they both get hungry at the same time and there's only one of us home. They usually wake up at about the same time and are starting to go six or seven hours at night and about four during the day. So great.