Two Months Old

Official Stats-

Suzie - 12 lbs. 11 oz. / 23 inches

Ian - 12 lbs. 8 oz. / 23 3/4 inches 

Look who turned 2 months old on Saturday the 26th

This past month was filled with lots of holiday fun and seemed to go by so fast.  We didn't get a single picture to capture the twins first Thanksgiving, but rest assured we know they throughly enjoyed it.  How do we know that?  Because they spent the day in Grandma and Pop-pop Traxler's arms!  I guess they think Ian and Suzie are pretty cute too.  Each day we see more and more of their personalities.  Suzie is a sweetie pie who likes to nuzzle into your neck and make sweet girly whimpers.  Then goes from 0 to 60 and lets out a scream that will leave your eardrum ringing to let you know she is hungry and she wants food NOW!  Then once she get what she's after she becomes the sweet little chunker again.  She is a pretty good self soother and will usually calm herself after one round of "crying it out" when put down for naps or bedtime.  Her hair is growing and no doubt about it she'll be our beautiful brunette.  Suzie also has lovely long eyelashes.  Her social skills are heart warming seeing as they consist of smiles and cooing babble talk.  She even smiles for daddy when he leaves for work in the morning.  How can a day start off any better than that?!Ian is my little buddy.  I already find myself talking in a lower tone to him than I do to Suzie.  You know, because he is so manly.  Most of the time Ian is passive and even when upset his cries are like a low bass line compared to Suzie's loud wails.  He is very good at tracking and has fun just observing the coming and goings of people around.  He often will be entertained for upwards of half and hour watching mommy do her workout routine.  He started about a week after Suzie, but now Ian is also smiling.  Not so much in response to our smiles, but more so our voices.  His blonde fuzz is getting longer and is the softest thing I've ever touched in this world.  I could stroke his head all day.  Ian's big blue eyes are ones that melt my heart every time.  Especially when accompanied by his furrowed brow.  Like when I feed him and tell him stories about how great he is and all the awesome things he'll do in his life and he just looks up with those big blue eyes and brings his eyebrows together almost saying, "Mom, I'm just a baby.  Don't get a head of yourself."  Ahh, love my little buddy to pieces.

  

Thankful

On this Thanksgiving day I give thanks to my Father in Heaven for allowing Suzette and Ian to make the choice to join our eternal family and make me a mother and Dave a father.  Way to go guys, I'm thrilled you decided to take the plunge and choose us!

Blessing Day

This morning while holding Suzie and telling her how she is the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world she looked up at me with her big blue eyes and gave me the widest, gummiest smile and my heart melted.  I'd like to think my sweet girl knew something special was going to happen. 

Friends and family gathered together to celebrate Ian Grant and Suzette Yvonne being given a name and a blessing by their father at church this morning.  Both of our fathers, Dave's brother Sam and good friend Brent all participated in the blessing circle.  We went in birth order, first Suzie then Ian.  The blessings were beautiful and our friend, Eme, even jotted some notes of what was said:

Suzette Yvonne Traxler:

• Blessed that the Spirit will be a powerful influence in her life to guide her and help her to be a positive influence to others, to allow her to help the down trodden.
• Blessed to prepare for and serve a mission.  Blessed with a temple marriage.
• A final emphasis that the Spirit will be a guide to her throughout her life

Ian Grant Traxler:

• "...Like his sister," Ian was blessed that "the Spirit would smile upon" him and love and encourage him throughout his life and be an aide to him during his life.  
• Blessed to be an ardent seminary student.
• Blessed that he would be able to see the power of the Atonement work in his life and that of others.
• Blessed with health and strength during his life
• Blessed to serve a mission
• Blessed to choose an elect lady and marry her in the temple
• Blessed to be an example to his parents

Since the blessings are done in the front of the chapel, but on the floor level, not on the stage, I had told Dave not to forget to hold each of them up after their blessings.  Suzie was a quite as could be during hers (my dad told me her eyes were wide open just looking around and listening) and Dave gently lifted her up when the blessing was done.  She was 100% adorable and I'm not being biased at all ;-)  Poor Ian wasn't taken out of his car seat until right before his so he was a bit fussier.  After his was over Dave held him close to his chest and I thought he may not hold him up and just comfort him, but I was wrong.  He fliped him over and held him up so high even those on the back row of the chapel we sure to see our cute little man.  I loved seeing how proud Dave was in that moment :)  


It totally reminded me of the moment in The Lion King when Simba was held up on pride rock after being born.  

Have I mentioned what a wonderful father he is?  No?  Okay, let me tell you this - I really think he was born to be the father of twins.  He has handled them and me with such ease, excitement, wonder and grace.  He has helped me ease into the transition of being a twin mom in ways I never would have expected, but always appreciate.  How neat is it to be able to bless 2 of your children at once?!  Today he made me proud to be his wife and mother of his (I know it's really our) children.

my handsome little man in his first suit, a special white satin suit

a little blurry, but had to get a picture w/out the flash to capture the full cuteness of the bow tie!

I grew up with a copy of the painting and poem My Three White Dresses on my wall as a little girl and young woman.  Seeing my daughter dressed in her first white dress today made my heart overflow with joy knowing the blessing that will come from the covenants and promises she makes as she continues on her white dress journey through baptism and marriage.

my princess in her first white dress

The song What Heaven Sees In You by Doug Walker was also on my mind today.  The words get me every time, but today as a new mom they take on a whole new meaning. 

 Pure and holy in a little white dress.  You were held in a circle and you were blessed.  And the Father looked down and the angles surrounded that place.  They knew the truth, all that you could do and you will too if you have eyes to see what heaven sees in you.

I have no doubt that my grandmother was one of those 'angles surrounding that place' today.

Hellie Grandparents

Traxler Grandparents

We are FAM-I-LY!

Spending time with our friends on family on this beautiful November Sunday enjoying each other, laughing together and being reminded of the most important things in life made for the perfect day.  

Ian and Suzette may have been the once receiving their blessings today, but my heart feels full knowing how blessed we are to have the love and support of our dear friends and wonderful family and that Ian and Suzie and now a part of it.

Changes

Diapers.  Our life is filled with them.  Before babies I had no clue about diaper brands, trends or sizes.  Now I feel we've had our crash course in diapering 101.  We went up to a size one what seems like not that long ago, but I kid you not - we may need to make another change to size 2 sooner than later.  Crazy, I know!  In less than two months we will have gone from...

Preemie 

(What happens when your OB says you've started to dilate at 33 weeks?  You dash to the nearest Target after the appt. and pick up a pack of these!  We used them the day we came home from the hospital - a pack of 30 only lasted us that first day and night!)

Newborn

Size 1

The diaper progression

And why go to a size 2?  Our little chunk (aka Suzie) is a whopping 12 pounds!!!  Yup, thats right.  The package for size one says up to 14 lbs., but that's not working out so well for her.  It's just too tight around her plump belly.  We only have a few packages left of size 1 and at the rate we use diapers we'll be testing out size 2 in no time.  Wish us luck!

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!