Walks

Part of the Capital Crescent Trail goes right behind our house and we've enjoyed taking advantage of the nice autumn days by going for walks along it.

 Something that cracks me up is the posted speed limit.  Yes, a speed limit on a trail!  

Well, in all fairness there are some pretty hard core bikers that ride the trail all the way into DC and I guess that's how they ensure walkers like us don't get run over.  People are usually pretty courteous and will call out when passing you, but with precious cargo like ours I'm glad the trail coalition isn't taking any chances :)

Blowout

The other day after taking off the changing table cover and laying Suzie down I had to grab the flip to document this for Dave, oh the joys of motherhood :o)  

And wait for it... the trifecta came not long after stopping the video and getting down to business - while cleaning off the poop Suzie decided it'd be a perfect time to pee and then just as I got her out of laying in a pool of her own pee the spit up came.  Oh yes, it was the trifecta of bodily functions.

I've heard other mothers say it and now I have a full grasp on just how wonderful Oxi Clean really is!  You can bet I'll be stocking up on it with my Costco coupon this week.

Church

It took lots of planning, organization and preparation, but we finally made it back to church yesterday.  Our first sacrament meeting with all four of us!  It is a pretty odd feeling going from being the couple that sits near the front and can fit between families on pews to sitting in the back taking up an entire pew with just our family.  The twins feeding time just happened to fall during the exact time of sacrament meeting, but we even managed that okay with having extra bottles on hand.  Dave and I ended up just staying in the pew and feeding them there.  It was Fast Sunday and I always enjoy hearing the testimonies, but I did get a glimpse of what our Sundays will be like from now on - hearing only bits and pieces of what is being said.  The focus seems to shift a bit when you become a mother :)

It was so nice to be back and feel such love from our ward family.  Everyone has been hearing about the twins and were excited to finally see them.  We arrived in Bethesda Ward at the beginning of August and ever since then so many people have gone out of their way to make us feel welcomed.  We look forward to creating some more major milestones for the Traxler Tribe with the remaining time we have here. 

Halloween

In past years Dave and I always go over to Dan & Anne's (my brother & SIL) house to see what Chase and Caroline will be dressed up as for Halloween.  This year was so fun because we kept telling them Ian and Suzie wanted to surprise them with what their costumes would be on Halloween night.  Anne was so sweet to prepare dinner for all of us and these are a few pictures we snapped before eating.  They loved seeing the twins dressed up as peas in a pod!

Cousins
(**disclaimer** Caroline wasn't in her costume yet.  She wanted to wait until after dinner to get ready)

Caroline really wanted to hold Suzie - you know the girls have to stick together!

Chase trying to make the same face Ian is

Mommy with her two peas in a pod

Dave and I stayed at the house for a bit while Anne went trick or treating with the Chase and Caroline around the neighborhood.  We got all the expected ohhhs and ahhhhs from kids and parents that stopped by.  Some kids even forgot to get candy because they just kept looking at our babies :)  Yes, it's true they are just that cute!

Proof that we decorated at our place too!

 There are so many BEAUTIFUL fall leaves around us here.  We don't have to go beyond our front porch to see some amazing autumn colors.

Mother & Daughter

Father & Son

Loving every moment of creating holiday memories with my little pumpkins!

One Month Old

Official Stats - 

Ian - 9 lbs 1 oz / 22 inches

Suzette - 9 lbs 2 oz /  21 inches

One month down, oh so many more to go!  Dave and I have had so much fun getting to know the newest members of our family these past four weeks.  The first two weeks of their life Dave was able to be with me 24/7 and once he went back to work my dad has been coming to help during the day.  As for my experience this first month - magical!  I've been getting plenty of sleep because of all the help from family which has made such a difference.  Our church ward has been amazing providing nearly 3 weeks worth of meals almost each night.  All of that adds up to mean I'm able to be fully present in each moment and absorb all the wonders these little guys have to teach me.  I am so thankful for each act of kindness that has been bestowed upon our Traxler Tribe.  I'm learning quickly that these moments go by all too fast and the opportunity to enjoy them to the fullest degree before they pass us by is priceless.

I can't seem to get enough of their sweet chubby cheeks or their softer than satin skin or the most adorable baby toes you've ever seen.  And when I'm in the middle of a 3 am feeding and this is the face I see it makes me think my heart may very well burst from loving Suzette and Ian SO MUCH!

Due Date

This was me at 37 weeks - a whole lot of belly!  Now you tell me how in the world I could have made it to 40 weeks today, having already had over 13 lbs. of baby in me at that point.  Yup, I agree - IMPOSSIBLE!  Thank goodness twins develop faster so they can come out sooner :)

As much as I loved being pregnant and carrying them around with me everywhere I went (we had some good conversations while in the shower a time or two) I enjoy looking at their sweet faces and smelling their intoxicating baby aroma even more.

2 weeks

Today, Monday, October 10th, 2011 Suzie and Ian are two weeks old.  Dave and I are smitten.  These two have stolen our hearts, for life.  I still have moments where I turn to Dave and say, "Are they really ours?  Do we really get to keep them, forever?!"  It all just feels too good to be true, but the best part is that it is true!  We spend hours just staring at their beautiful faces.

Suzie is feminine in every way from her petite nose and rosebud lips to her dainty squeals and squeeks.  She has beautiful eye lashes and perfect little hands and feet which she likes to keep curled up close to her body.  I have a feeling brother was keeping her in a very scrunched position for that past few months.

Ian is all boy - big head, round nose, furrowed brows and the most adorable little cleft chin you ever saw.  His baby noises are low tone grunts and oh so manly.  Ian loves to stretch out his arms and legs and will even do a little turtle action with his neck at times.

Today also marks another event in my life - thirteen years ago my brother, Nick, was killed in a car accident while serving in the Army at Fort Greely Alaska.  He was nineteen years old.  Being just four years older than me he was the brother I had the closest relationship to.  In the past 13 years a lot has happened, but I still think of him at least once every day.  I think I always will.  I usually like to remember and revisit fun memories of us together on his birthday, April 3rd, rather than his death day, but with my life changing so drastically recently with the addition of these two new lives in it I can't help but think about Nick today.  I hope I can teach Suzie and Ian what an amazing uncle they have who is anxiously waiting to meet them when our eternal family is reunited once again.  How thankful I am to have the knowledge of the gospel and know that it is true.


At times I sing to Suzie and Ian, "Brother and sister, together forever," as I walk around the house swaying them in my arms to help calm their cries.  Today I feel Nick is whispering the same thing to my heart and I feel calmer already.  Love you, big brother!

Family of Four

The pretty amazing thing about having twins first is that you walk into the hospital a couple and walk out having doubled your family size!  I cannot imagine life without either of them in it.  Suzette and Ian are perfect, precious and OURS!

First photo of our new family of four

Leaving the hospital on Friday, September 30th holding both babies in my arms - such a rush of happiness and joy it's almost too difficult to fully express how I felt at this moment in words.

Daddy with his first born children, so proud and content.  Life is good!

What did we do our first weekend at home?  Watch General Conference of course!

Well, maybe the kids slept while mommy and daddy watched ;-)

And as far as conference talks go I don't think I've ever cried more than I did when listening to this one.  Some things just take on a whole new meaning now that we've entered the world of parental responsibility.