Flying

This past week the babies started flying - meaning I lie on my back, lift my knees up, and balance them on their bellies on my legs.  They are now strong enough to hold their heads up so I assumed that they were ready to fly.  I was right! 

Forgive me for the dark pics of Livy.  It was in the evening and the flash hurts her eyes, so I disabled it.

Photo Bomb Dec 2011/Jan 2012: Twins

And....to continue the photo bombing...pics of Olivia and Carter together.

This is the last night they shared the bassinet.  We had to move them out because it was just too tight.  I didn't use the flash because they were sleeping. 

 Carter was straining to watch the TV in this pic.  Olivia had been too, but her gaze drifted right as I took the pic.  I think they were watching quality programming like "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"

 I love that Carter looks like a chunky monkey in this pic.  They are both growing so fast!

Photo Bomb Dec 2011/Jan 2012: Carter

These are the pics I've collected of Carter - all taken in December 2011 and January 2012.

Photo Bomb Dec 2011/Jan 2012: Olivia

These are of Olivia, taken randomly in December of 2011 and January of 2012. 

Doing laundry at the lake house.  Of note, she is wrapped in a blanket that Uncle Bart and Aunt Jenny gave to Liah when she was born.

 I love her smiles.  For some reason, she is harder to photograph than Carter.  However, I was pleased as punch to get this beautiful pic of her smiling.  She takes my breath away.

The box from Ann Elizabeth

As dictated to me by Olivia:

Dear Ann E,

I got your package yesterday and I loved it!  Thank you so much for all of the clothes.  You have excellent taste and I can't wait to wear these.  In fact, I'm going to wear one of them today (if my mom will ever get around to changing me out of my jammas).  My mom took this pic of the loot in the box.  Also, there's one of the note you wrote.

Thanks for mentioning that you had already washed the clothes without the tags - my mom won't rewash them because she's lazy  she knows you already did a good job doing it.

I love the clothes.  I'm so glad to have a friend like you who opens her closet to me.  I can't wait to see you again.  Perhaps this summer we'll be old enough to play together.  I'll share my toys with you.

Love,
Livy

P.S. The sweater shrug is my favorite. 

Your song

Dear Liv and Carter,

When your cousin, Morgan was born, Liah heard the song "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis on the drive home from the hospital.  Ever since then, she has thought of that as Morgan's song.  You also have songs.

Carter - Your song is "Good Life" by OneRepublic.  You stayed in the NICU for 8 days before you came home to us (your "forever home" as I like to think of it, but we all know that's not really true, it's your home "for now").  On Day 7, the NICU nurses told us that you'd be released the next day so we would do a "room in" with you that night.  So, Dad and I packed our overnight bags and checked in to the hospital to spend the night with you in a hospital room.  The night went pretty well and the next morning we just waited for the nurses to send us all home.  While we were waiting, I held you and watched TV.  There was a commercial for Disney World vacations and the music in that commercial was "Good Life".  The song was pretty popular the month you were born, and hearing the words at that moment while holding you in my arms brought tears to my eyes.  I knew then and there that every time I heard that song I would think of you and the good life you had ahead of you.

Olivia - Your song is "Stereo Hearts" by Gym Class Heroes.  You came home from the hospital two days after Carter did.  After I had found Carter's song, I was on the hunt for yours too.  I told Aunt Ellie about Carter's song and about how I was looking for one for you.  She called me back later that day saying she had found it - Stereo Hearts.  It's a funny song and was very popular the month you were born.  The lyrics are pretty lighthearted but I found them to be appropriate to my feelings for you.  Also, there's a part in the chorus where they sing "O, O, O, O, O, O, O" which is the first letter of your name, so that became your song.  Although Carter's song makes me cry, your song makes me smile and laugh. 

Here are the chorus lyrics to your songs.  I know these songs are uncool to you now, which is ok.  I love them and always will because, to me, they are your songs.

Good Life by OneRepublic
Oh, this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life

I say, "Oh, got this feeling that you can't fight"
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life, a good, good life

Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes
My heart's a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every note

Make me your radio
Turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
So sing along to my stereo

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh, to my stereo
Oh oh oh oh, so sing along to my stereo