2 months and a visit from Grandad

I know I am a bit behind.. but here are the ABC twins at 2 months :)  Feb. 27th, 2013

I'm biased.. but aren't they so cute????  Alton was looking when I took this picture but looked away right as it took the picture.  He's a silly little boy.

A little before 2 months we started getting worried about Ashlyn's eating.  She was taking forever to eat and she wasn't eating close to what Alton was eating.  I had many calls to the doctor's office where I spoke with a nurse.  They told me, "She's a girl.  She will eat less than Alton."  So, I figured that was that.  Then the spit up started.  Then the crying whenever she saw the bottle started, kicking, shaking head... this poor girl just didn't want to eat.  She fell from the 3% to the 2nd percentile.  Our doctor told us that she thought that Ashlyn might have an underdeveloped larynx (Laryngomalacia).  This meant that the cartilage of her voice box was very soft and it collapses while she breathes and eats.  This explained all her weird noises she makes!  She also has some reflux.  The doctor decided to put her on Zantac to help with that (we have since taken her off of it... that will come in a different post).  Oh.My.Disgusting! We had to give it to her 3x/day by a small syringe in her mouth.  It smelled so awful.  She hated it!  So did we. 

At their two month appointment they had to get shots! Boo!  Jon was able to come with me for that.  Ashlyn cried a ton (I might've had to fight back my own tears...) and Alton took his shots like a champ.  He hardly cried.  He's such a good boy!

Here is Ashlyn after her shots:

Here is Alton after his shots- he got a Batman sticker haha :)

Alton's Stats:

• Weight: 9lbs 7oz
• Height: 20.75"  - I really think this was wrong.  The nurse who did it was turrible... yes, you read that right: turrible.  Alton didn't stretch out very far either. 
• Head: 14.76"

Ashlyn's Stats

• Weight: 8lbs   
• Height: 20.5"
• Head: 14.45"

After this appointment we took Ashlyn to the ENT to check out her throat.  They had to stick a scope down her nose. Saddest.Thing.Ever.  Jon went in with her while I stayed with Alton. She was three rooms down and I could hear her like she was in the same room because she was just screaming.  Poor thing. They confirmed that she has Laryngomalacia.  It is pretty mild and will most likely heal itself and go away over time.  So... this mixed with her little bit of reflux makes her life really hard every feeding.  I have to keep telling myself, "I am strong and tough and I can get through this with her."  Especially during the feedings where she throws up and I have no idea how much she actually ate.

During this time, my dad (aka: "Grandad") came out for a visit!  We were so excited to have him here!  He was a little nervous to hold the babies, but he got used to them pretty quickly.  His first morning with us was a little funny.  I will never forget the look on his face when I told him, "It's time for them to eat again" and he was like "What? Really? Are you feeding them too much??".  The look on his face was priceless.  We didn't do a whole lot, but it was nice to visit with him and for him to meet his grandkids- #12 and #13 for him!  Thanks for coming, Dad!  We love and miss you and hope you come back soon!

 I loved having his help during the day.  It's so hard to feed both the babies at once.  Especially because Ashlyn puts up a fight and no longer likes to be fed on the boppy pillow.  Since her hatred for the boppy pillow has come, I am feeding them one at a time when I'm by myself.  Ugh.  So, I always need and love help at feedings.  It makes my life A LOT less stressful.  A lot less tears from Ashlyn... and mommy. 

One last thing that developed between 2-3mo:  They started holding their heads better!  Alton is getting really good at it too!  He will just look around and he is so strong.  Ashlyn still has to work on holding her head up.  It's hard to do tummy time with all this reflux.  All her food comes out when she's on her tummy.  So, for now, she is our bobble head :)  Alton loves being on his tummy.  It's his favorite position to be in.  He is our little meatloaf!

A day in the Criddle house

Our schedule is a little crazy and I am hoping that we can change this schedule up soon so we can get the babies to bed a little earlier!

6:40-7am:  Get up, prepare bottles, give Ashlyn meds, get boppy pillows ready with burp cloths

7-7:45am:  Feeding #1 (sometimes this goes a full hour- so the feedings below are written as a full hour)

7:45-8:30am:  Lay on activity mat, play with toys, tummy time, change diapers

8:30-10am: Lay babies down for nap.  Alton always gets up about a half hour before the next feeding time... so he usually ends up in the swing for a little while.  Laundry usually gets started here too.

10-11am:  Feeding #2

11-11:30:  Activity mat, tummy time, diapers

11:30-1pm: nap, lunch, chores

1-2pm:  Ashlyn meds.  Feeding #3

2-2:30: play time and diapers.  this is the time we go on walks if we do

2:30-3:30: nap... both babies are always up by 3:30.  I try to read, do the budget, make important calls

4-5pm: feeding #4 (I usually have help during this feeding from my in-laws)

5-5:30pm:  play on mat, sing songs, look at picture books, diapers

5:30-7pm: nap... well.. at least quiet time. Get dinner ready

6pm- Alton screams... time for swing

6:45-7:10pm: Jon gets home and we try to eat dinner- give Ashlyn meds.

7pm: feeding #5

7:45-815pm: bath time, change diapers and clothes

8:30pm: put babies down

8:30-10pm: wash bottles, get formula ready for the next few feedings, try to unwind and watch a show or something.  Put things away.. any other chores.

10pm: feeding #6

10:30-10:45pm: put babies down for night... sometimes Ashlyn is closer to 11pm because she takes forever.

11pm- get ourselves ready for bed, set out everything for 2:30am feeding for Ashlyn, set alarm, go to sleep.

2:30am: get up and wake Ashlyn up to feed her and hopefully get back to bed by 3-3:15am

Baby Blessings

The babies just hit 11 weeks on Thursday.  Time is flying!  I have so much to catch up on on the blog!  For now, I'll talk about their blessings :)

Our friends Amber & Cody and Nate & Jess came out from San Antonio and Austin with their children.  It was so nice to see all of them!  We had a great time hanging out on the Saturday before the blessing.

Cody, Amber, Jess, Crystal, Ashlyn, Alton, Jon, Nate and Jane

The blessing was on February 10th.  

Those who participated in the blessing:

Jon - aka: daddy

Clyde (Grandpa)

Cody

Nate

Stuart W.

Shaun S.

Jason Q.

Bishop Brown

Alton & Ashlyn

Jon was really nervous about it.  He kept saying "I've never been so vested in the blessing recipient.  I want to bless them with things like 'I bless you to be handsom or have hoards of money'."  

We got to church that morning and I was surprised because one of the nurses, June, from my fertility doctor's office came.  We found out she was a member of the church after going through IVF.  It was nice to have her there and I really appreciated it.  

Jon's mom and dad came along with Beth and her kids Jakson and Storey.  Zak couldn't make it because he was visiting his parents in Utah.  

Jon did a great job on the blessings.  I am so fortunate to have him as my husband.  He is a wonderful man, husband and father.

Mom and Dad with their babies

After the blessing, we all went to Jon's parents house for a nice lunch.  We had chicken salad sandwiches, spinach balls, fruit, rolls and amazing cookies.  We all had a nice time visiting and celebrating the babies.  We weren't able to get any pictures really of Alton on the actual blessing day because he leaked through his diaper in the car on the way to my in-laws house.  Oh well haha.  It happens.  

When we did take pictures it was before feeding time and both Ashlyn and Alton were crying.  We decided that we would take pictures of the babies on another day at the church to make up for it :)  Ashlyn was a little grumpy when we took the pictures a week later, but we did get a few really good ones!

Ashlyn and her Grandpa Criddle

Alton and Grandma Criddle

Blessings:

Alton:

Our father in heaven, by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold, we hold this baby in our arms and present him to give him a name and a blessing.  The name which he shall be known by in the church is Alton Blair Criddle.

Alton, at this time we would like to give you a special blessing.  We bless you that you will continue to grow and develop.  You will to gain physical strength and mental strength as well as you learn about the world around you.  We bless you that you will have a testimony of this gospel and that you will have a love for your savior.  We bless you, Alton, that you will have a desire to share that testimony with others.  You will have opportunities act to as a missionary for the church and can share your feelings so that you can help others to know the things which you have a testimony of.  I bless you that you will be able to overcome any challenges that you face.  You will have the strength and support so that any hurdle that may come in your life, you will be able to overcome.  We bless you that you will feel loved, that you will know that you are special to your father in heaven and also to your parents who love you very much.  We bless you with these things and all others that our Heavenly Father has for you as this time in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Ashlyn:

Our Father in Heaven.  By the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood we hold this baby in our arms to give her a name and a blessing.  The name by which she shall be known is Ashlyn Bella Criddle.

Ashlyn, we hold you in our arms and we bless you that you will be a very happy girl.  We bless you that you will grow, that you will develop, that you will be smart, and you will be blessed.  We bless you that you will have a special love for others.  We bless you that you will see the good in others around you.  You will find ways to befriend them and show love to them.  We bless you, Ashlyn, that you will have the desire to have children of your own, to show them love as you have been shown, and to raise them in the gospel as you will be.  We bless you, Ashlyn, that you will be strong, you will be healthy, and you will grow and develop as our Heavenly Father would desire for you.  You will face the experiences in life that he has in store with the support that he will give you.  I close this blessing and any others that Heavenly Father wants for you at this time in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.