6th Month Part 2

Andrew and Ethan have been around for 6 months now. They are approximately 16 pounds and love to sit up with support and roll side to side though not completely over yet. They are becoming bored with their old toys so I have to work harder to entertain them. Andrew, pictured first, still loves his pacifier and can't sleep without it.

The highchair is a new experience for them. They have both spent a small amount of time in it watching me in the kitchen in preparation for their first food on Thanksgiving day. This is such an animated picture of Ethan.

Now that they weigh more, baths have moved from the shower to the tub. Ethan, in the brown towel, seems to really enjoy it and splashes with his feet. Andrew didn't like getting his face wet in the shower so is still a bit timid about baths in the tub. I hope he will quickly learn to feel comfortable in water. Thats all for now. My next post will have pictures of their first rice cereal.

6th Month Part 1

Andrew and Ethan are almost 6 months old. Time is going by quickly. They are at a stage right now that is very fun yet still slow paced. Andrew loves to be held during his naps. This first picture shows how I was able to transfer him to the boppy to continue sleeping after Ethan woke up and wanted to eat. They want to help hold their bottle though they are more hindrance than help.





They love to grin, giggle and interact with adults and children. Since, they can't move around on their own, they go where I want them to. I know this will change soon so I'm enjoying the peace right now. Andrew is on the left.









Andrew still likes to use his feet a lot of the time and discovered yesterday that he can hold onto his feet with his hands. They like the toys that play music or light up when they touch them. Early efforts to control their surroundings.









I go walking almost every morning in Collegedale with a few other moms. Andrew is on the left again. Now that it has turned cold, I have to bundle up the boys with hats and gloves (socks on the hands) and then put a big blanket over them. They are toasty warm so they sleep during most of the walk. I'm thankful that I can move the infant car seats to the stroller and don't have to wake them up to strap them in the stroller. I hope they will fit in these carriers until their first birthday.

I'm adding a video of Andrew's babbles and bubbles. Enjoy.

5th Month part 2

It is hard to believe that Andrew and Ethan are 5 months old already. They share this crib but it is now a bit crowded. We turn them at an angle or they will hit each other. Later this week, I'll look for a second crib at a consignment sale.


On October 13 the boys attended their Sabbath School for the first time. No, Andrew can not sit up yet! Maybe in a couple months. They enjoyed the singing and the clouds hanging from the ceiling.


Papa loves to play with the boys. Ethan's shirt says "Too cute for words" which of course I think is true.





David, Nana, Papa, and I attended the PUC alumni dinner on October 17 at Provino's. Though the boys stayed home to go to bed early, we enjoyed passing around this picture.

Below is a video clip that shows the boys excitement with their new toy. Listen for Ethan's happy noises.

Dedication October 6

Andrew and Ethan were dedicated at church on October 6. Unfortunately, I don't remember a lot of what was said during the service because Ethan decided to cry right before we went onto the platform and increased his volume during the prayer while the pastor held him. As the prayer ended, Ethan quieted down but then Andrew started to cry a bit. Oh well, I should have just relaxed because I know I can't control everything.

I hope you enjoy these pictures of all the family. The second photo is with the paternal grandparents and great grandparents.

The third photo is with the maternal grandparents. We're sad that great grandpa and great grandma McCoy could not attend.


Cousin Diana and Ethan share a moment right before he surprised her with spit up that ran down her dress and hit the floor. I could not believe how much food they lost. I hope no clothes were damaged.

5th Month part 1

September 22 we joined our Sabbath School class at Fall Creek Falls State Park for the day. We had church and a great haystack lunch. The weather was just about perfect and the boys loved looking at the clouds and trees. It was difficult for them to nap because they thought they would miss out on something. Ethan took a walk with Daddy to the creek and wore the baseball cap to keep the sun off his head.


Unfortunately, Andrew did not wear his sunscreen and received his first sunburn even though he stayed in the shade all day. He peeled on Monday and by Thursday you couldn't tell he had been burned. It is amazing how fast they heal. His pale skin definitely comes from his mother.

This is the last time we'll put them in the laundry basket. When we first brought them home this made a good bed and carrier. Take a look at the blog "week 1" to see how much they have grown.

4th Month

Here are two of the best close ups of first Ethan and then Andrew. Ethan has darker skin and hair while Andrew has some blond hair. Andrew has become the more talkative of the two. He giggles and coos a lot while Ethan is a bit more selective when he makes his happy noises.






This month has brought quite a few changes. They like to play with toys. Though they try to reach for an item, they haven't mastered eye-hand coordination. They have learned that the toy makes a noise if they hit or kick it. They can finally control a part of their world. There is a video at the bottom of this post of Ethan in the bouncy seat. He can grasp the rings and make the bird spin. One thing has stayed the same, Andrew's favorite thing is still the ceiling fan. It doesn't matter if its still or moving.


The boys met Uncle Mark & Aunt Apryle & their cousin Madelynn for the first time this month. Ethan can't quite understand why Maddy likes the swimming pool. It's too cold! Andrew disliked it even more than Ethan. We'll just have to wait for next summer to try swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's place.



Visiting the TN Aquarium was quite an adventure. The twins were awake and fascinated by the displays, of course it probably was with the lights and not the fish.

It sure takes longer to get from car to building and we need to take breaks for eating and diaper changes. Thanks family for being patient as you wait for us.

Labor Day Week

Today we went to see Grandma and Grandpa's apartment for the first time. We napped on their floor and then had picture time with Mr. Purdy. I'm sure it won't be long before they want to ride on Mr. Purdy's back. Andrew is on the left.

Grandpa Dewayne sure has his hands full. Ethan is on the left.

Today Ethan slept through the night for the first time. Yippee! Andrew has been doing that since he was 9 weeks old and finally Ethan decided he could do it too. Ethan is modeling next years swim trunks. He has a bit of growing to do before next summer.

Enjoy this video of the boys playing. Andrew especially loves to lay on the floor and pretend he's running. Ethan usually prefers the bouncy seat.

3rd Month part 4

Here are a few close up pictures. The first of Andrew is his big smile on Daddy's birthday. We both have this picture on our phone screen.

Today the boys turned 3 months and we brought out the bouncy seat. Ethan sure loves kicking and waving his arms which makes the seat bounce. Soon we can add the toys for him to pull and listen to them make noise.

Andrew kept blowing bubbles tonight, but he sure looks cute. You can see their different features well in these two pictures. The last picture of the boys together is just in case you want one of them together. Nana and I tried for a long time to take a picture with both smiling at the same time but it just didn't happen. Let me know if you want a picture in a larger format. Enjoy.

3rd Month part 3

Andrew sure loves his pacifier. He doesn't always have to have it but it sure helps when he's struggling with gas bubbles. He has such big eyes.

The boys visited Grandpa and Nana's house for the first time on Sunday, August 19. Ethan and Grandpa were so relaxed they even napped together. We are so thankful that we have family near by. Nana comes over every Tuesday and Wednesday evening and most Sundays. Thank you for the help. It's nice to have two sets of arms to care for two babies.

Here is Aunt Lezlee with Andrew. She comes over every Monday and Thursday evening. Thank you!!! Ethan loves to drool on her arm.

We are starting to get out of the house now. We had a special lunch with Eddie and David, co-workers from Campus Safety days, at the City Cafe. The boys slept through the whole meal but woke up just in time for David and I to give them their bottles before he had to return to work.

3rd Month part 2

We try to have tummy time each day. However, Ethan usually spits up and Andrew just lays there. Oh well, their necks are getting stronger anyway.


Ethan is wearing his favorite newborn sleeper with the frog that Nana gave him. He is now often alert without crying or being fussy. He enjoys looking around especially at ceiling fans and picture frames.

Ethan (on left) and Andrew sure have a lot of growing to do to fit into Daddy's shorts.


We have gone to church several times now. The boys are so well behaved, quiet and sociable. They only make excessive noise when they drink their bottles. Ethan honks like a goose and Andrew starts grunting. Ethan fell asleep in my arms during church. He is wearing a 0-3 month outfit but the overalls are still too big for him.

3rd Month part 1

Look at the proud father with his two sons. Ethan is on the left and Andrew on the right. They can finally wear newborn size clothes. The preemie clothes were too short, however, the newborn clothes are usually too big around.

Ethan sure loves to make faces. This look like a grin but we're not sure if its a true "social smile." We'll just have to wait and see.

Great-grandma, June Zumstein, sure loves the boys. She is so patient and loves to sing and tell them stories. We spent a pleasant evening at Grandpa and Grandma Crawford's dock though it was a bit warm.





Several have asked about how the boys sleep. Here is an example of nap time in the pack-n-play. Just a minute before this picture, Andrew (on left) had his arm across Ethan's chest. They sleep in the same crib but we do roll up a blanket to create a buffer between flailing arms. They appear to be used to hearing each other cry so it doesn't wake one if the other is crying.