Mommy Wow I'm a Big Kid Now!

Well not really but they like to pretend. They wanted to show everyone how grown up they are sitting in their Bumbo's :-). Today marks 8 weeks since Evan and Taryn joined our family. I would like to say time has flown by and I suppose in a way it has but the past 8 weeks have been all about surviving. Anyone who has had a new born knows the challenges in the beginning...I probably should say we have loved every moment of it but I would be lying. Of course we cherish every moment that we have been able to spend with our two bundles but I will admit there have been times when they have gotten the best of me and I will cry right along w/ them...but their smiles are worth every second of it. The hardest moments are those when they are both crying at the same time and I am alone w/ them...it is like a juggling act trying to figure out who to tend to first...who to feed first...who to change first...well you get the picture :-). They really have been doing great and I know I really don't have anything to complain about they are easy to soothe, neither one of them has colic so by the respect they are very easy babies. Evan gave us 8 hours of sleep the other night...I wish I could say the same for Taryn she seems to be stuck at the 6 hour mark which is still great but 8 is better. The good news is that they will go back down as soon as we feed them for another 3-4 hours so overall they are sleeping between 11-12 hours at night. Now we just have to work on their naps...they are in that stage where the just want to take 20 min cat naps and then spend the rest of the day cranky because they are so tired. I spend most of my days trying to soothe them to sleep and I come up short more often then not but that doesn't stop me from trying. I guess the idea of 2 hours to myself is worth all the effort :-). Now for what you have all been waiting for their sweet faces :-)

They started the day today w/ some time in their play gym

Then it was off to relax in their Bumbo's and time for a short photo shoot

MMMMM...I wonder what's for breakfast :-)...Mommy's milk is always good.

7 Weeks and Growing

The babies continue to do well and are growing and changing more and more each day. There really isn't a whole lot to report but I do have some updated photos to share which I know is the only real reason people come to the blog in the first place LOL :-)
We found a cool new toy (courtesy of Gina, thanks for the tip by the way :-) ). They are called WubbaNubs...and well you can see below it is just a little animal that helps keep the paci in place. Before the WubbaNub Evan could take it or leave it when it came to his paci but now he absolutely loves George (that is what we named his monkey) and Taryns little horse is Clementine. She loves Clementine too but she has always loved her paci so this wasn't a surprise to us :-). I know paci's are one of those things that are controversial but trust me w/ twin anything that helps soothe them is a good thing and very necessary. Of course I don't want them to be walking around w/ them hanging out of their mouths when they are toddlers but for now they are necessary and very helpful :-)

I cant believe how red Taryn's hair looks in some of these pictures...in person it does not look so red.

My first smiling picture of Taryn :-)

The Few...The Proud....Grandparents of TWINS!

Evan and Taryn are definitely blessed by such wonderful grandparents. The love and care and attention they receive from their "elders" such an amazing gift in their lives. They truly will have awesome times and memories with their grandparents...which began which each of them visited in Apr and May...and then again during the upcoming trips to Helotes in Aug and Boise in Dec. They are among elitely unique and blessed grandparents being that they have twins...only 1 in 80 (about 1.5%) of grandparents are so for twins....and Evan and Taryn couldn't have picked better ones! (God had a great plan in place!!!!) We've captured some shots from their recent visits...oh the love! Here's to the grandparents...and blessing to our lives and truly a blessing to Evan and Taryn's.

6 Weeks Strong...and Growing

Evan and Taryn are doing great...and changing a little more each and every day. Taryn's socks aren't so big anymore and Evan has summoned the contents of his 0-3 month clothes drawer...putting all his outfits labeled "NB" on notice. Night feedings continue to be an adventure in clock and sleep management. Every good book tells you to sleep when they sleep...which is a complicated task with twins, being that they are not always on the same schedule. And even when they are, it's a notional skill for many parents to be able to fall asleep at a moment's notice. But God is awesome and he strengthens us all the time...and adds extra when He knows we need it most :-) They have been napping and sleeping in their cribs, which is a step up from the pack-n-play....and it's fun to watch them on the baby monitor! Smiles are still the norm and cooing is starting to be the new and "in" thing to do. They've also been making good use of their playard...and it's jungle theme holds their attention quite well. Nash and Teebo continue to investigate things here and there, particularly when Evan and Taryn are lower to the floor. They have adjusted well and seem interested...oh, we give it a few months and things will get really interesting when SweetPea and E-man are mobile. Indeed Nash and Teebo's days of lounging undisturbed in the middle of the room are numbered.

Next big event is Auntie Kallie arriving with Meemaw on the 30th. Then a doctors appointment on 5 Jun...for a weight update and first shots :-( (it probably will be more traumatic for us than it is for them.)

Overall, we're doing great....but if you happen to find any sleep-in-a-bottle at your local grocery or specialty foods store, send a case over :-)

Love you all and we send our best to you and your family.

In Him

The 4 Tutts in GA

Two Hands

Taryn loves to stretch and often will lift her arms as high as she can and stretch her legs out as far as she can...it is rather cute if I don't say so myself.
Chad deemed this new song "Two Hands" by Jars of Clay Taryn's song and it is too sweet. We listen to it a lot and dance around w/ her and Evan. This morning was my first morning completely alone all day...I have done a couple hours here and there alone but not a full day. So of course today would be a typical day where both twins want you at the same time. This morning while I was feeding Evan, Taryn was not a happy camper and she was crying pretty hard even though I had her in the bed w/ us laying right next to me. So I remembered reading that even if you cant sing well your babies don't care and you singing to them can help calm them so I started "trying" (and I say that loosely because anyone who knows me, knows I cant carry a tune to save my life) to sing "Two Hands" to Taryn...it got her attention (maybe it was my awful attempt) anyway, so I thought I can do better then this...I pulled out my iPhone and downloaded the song from iTunes and played the song for her and she immediately calmed down and eventually fell asleep...Thank You Jars of Clay :-). Who said you need lullabies :-). So in honor of Taryn below is the video for you all the enjoy and a sweet picture of Taryn (and Evan too) of lifting them high for Jesus.

Happy Mothers Day

I just wanted to drop a quick note to say "Happy Mothers Day" to all the Mom's out there and especially to my Mom's...thanks for being such a blessing to me :-). Thank you to everyone who has called, emailed, text, and posted messages to say "Happy Mothers Day" to me as well. This truly has been a special day for me. Chad went the extra mile to make sure it was special and it felt really nice to be celebrating this day in a whole new way. I am still in awe and disbelief that I am actually a mother...I think I must tell myself this a hundred times a day. One of these days I might actually believe it. The babies are just too cute and so sweet I feel so very Blessed to be their mother. Being a mom is a gift and one I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Our little ones are starting to smile and be more interactive...it is so fun to watch them grow and see how much they change each day. They are so wide eyed and curious about their new world. It is fun to watch them just search around w/ their eyes and take it all in. We took them to Sam's Club yesterday to do a little shopping...they did great and just took it all in. I am definitely going to have to get used to all the comments people make though...we got a ton of "Oh my they have twins" or "Oh look twins" or "Are they twins", "Are they both boys" I guess dressing Taryn in pink isn't enough of a sign that she is a girl LOL :-).

Unfortunately I don't have any new pictures to post...I know it should be against the law for me to post w/o adding pictures...but I promise there are more to come very soon.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Worth the WEIGHT

'Twas on the twangels’ 5-week birthday that we headed over to Dr. Stewart's office for the one month checkup. With their cheeks starting to puff out a bit and the good ‘ol fashioned "hold them in your arms and see how heavy they are" test saying Evan and Taryn were putting on healthy ounces, we figured that the 1 oz-a-day plan would have Evan just over seven and Taryn somewhere in the mid to high sixes. With the scale awaiting their presence, they were measured for height and both checked in at 19"...1.5" of growth in 27 days. Well, Taryn hit the scales first...and registered a petitely-healthy 6lbs 8oz. Not to be outdone by his rapidly gaining sister, and even after a big messy diaper prior to leaving the house for the doctors office AND a

sizeable spit up, Evan jumped on the scale and tipped the arrow at 6lbs 15.1 oz. His fussiness relayed his dissatisfaction with having failed to eclipse the 7lb mark…but we reminded him that he was only a feeding or two away. Their next appointment is in Jun and will be the first shot appointment….that anticipation is already building!

Overall, Evan and Taryn are doing awesome...more alert and attentive each passing day. Smiling is a normal occurrence and they enjoy spending time laying next to each other. The other day, it was a battle of who could keep their pacifier in longer...Taryn, with her pink satellite, took on Evan and his blue Dude-Boob in a see-saw affair...ultimately, Taryn reigned victorious in the end.

Meemaw Tuttle departed yesterday...sad to bid her farewell. It's just the four of us right now, until the 30th of May...when meemaw will return with Auntie Kallie...what a trip that will be...and Evan and Taryn sure are looking forward to meeting their Auntie Kallie for the first time.

We continue to be blessed be everyone's thoughts, prayers and love. Evan and Taryn truly are miracles and we praise God for the gift that they are...in our lives and to the lives of our friends and family.

Tomorrow is mother's day...and what a special meaning it will have this year! Evan and Taryn love their mommie dearly and will celebrate her for so many years to come. The amazement of parenting, and especially parenting twins, is so surreal. For so many years we hoped and prayed...and from hope came a blessed miracle.

Happy Mother's Day to all those who read and are moms...you truly are a blessed group and to you goes much honor, praise and thanks!

Until the next time...

Love in Him

Chad, Gena, Evan and Taryn

One-Month Birthday

April's "showers" of the Joy of birth sure have brought May "flowers" a-bloom in our home as our twangels reach the one-month milestone. Hard to believe that time passes so fast...but the wow-ness of our precious Evan and Taryn being a month old now is a bit mind-boggling. Each day brings new changes...more attentive; more feedings; longer feedings; filling out those little legs and arms and faces...and much of the same and normal baby things such as good ol fashioned sound checks (crying), light checks (eyes open and far from sleep), and system checks (wet and or soiled diapers.) The two of them are doing absolutely great. They sure have had a flood of prayers, love and support from both near and far. With Grandma and Grandpa from Boise and Memaw and Papaw from Helotes having made trips out to see them, they have been surrounded with awesome and genuine love. It's been great having family in town, and there is more on the way when their Auntie Kallie makes a trip out during the first week of June. Evan and Taryn have done a lot in their first month...multiple trips to the Dr. for the standard checkups...a trip out to Mossy Creek (in honor of their Aunt Megan)...a few photo shoots...they've been real sports and they experience life outside the liquid world they so loved before. Gena continues to do amazing...what a wonderful mom! ((((By this point, those that are reading this are either anxious for pictures or have already just scrolled to the bottom to cut to the chase...well, there's more to write so hang with us :-) )))
The bath has become a normal part of their routine with the umbilical cords long gone. Evan loves the bath time and Taryn is accepting but not elated (based on her cold tolerance compared to Evan, Taryn is likely to live along Interstate 10 while Evan might well venture to cold country around mom and dad Sutt someday.) Small things like bath time in make us look forward to their first time we take them swimming in the pool in the backyard and their first trip to Hilton Head, SC, to go to the beach. That'll be a blast!
Well, their next appointment is this Thursday...and the big news to discover will be their new weights. So if you've read this far and you think you've got it nailed, give us your guess in a comment as to what you think our little angels will weigh in at. To thee who is closest to the actual retail weight without going over...well, just wait and see what might show up in the mail to you....so take your best shot (and remember, Taryn can read this so use the due consideration when guessing a girl's weight...we guys know this can be a trouble area!! :-) )
Our love and prayers to you and your families. Thank you for the gift that you are to us and we pray that God blesses you in abundance. (Yes, pictures follow below :-) )

In Him,

The 4 Tutts


(I love you Aunt Gina...thank you for my dress! Love, Taryn)