Pearls are Perfect

GiGi & JoJo, spoiler alert!

This past fall, a friend of mine started her own business, White Rock Pearl Co., an online pearl boutique. When I started thinking about what to get the Grandmothers for mother’s day this year, pearls seemed like a perfect idea.

I wanted to make the gift personalized in some way and thought it would be nice to include two sapphires, the September birthstone, to represent the twins. I considered necklaces, but a bracelet seemed like something they could wear more frequently on an everyday basis. Ultimately, they were able to make custom bracelets at a totally reasonable price.

They turned out so cute and I love, love, LOVE them!

At the risk of ruining the surprise for GiGi and JoJo, I wanted to share since there are so many gift-giving occasions in the spring. In addition to Mother’s Day, there are graduations and it’s wedding season. If you’re looking for a little something special in a gift consider pearls and check out my friend’s White Rock Pearl Co.

Day 1 of Connor’s Helmet

Yesterday Connor was fitted for his helmet. It’s actually called a DOC band, but I think most people recognize it as a helmet. I’ve enclosed some before and after shots.

I was emotional when we headed to his appointment and I cried when it was put on. I know he doesn’t care and I do want him to have a round head without the flat spot he currently has, but it still bothers me a little to see him in the helmet.

For the first few days we have to take it off every three hours to make sure it doesn’t cause skin irritation. After that he’ll wear it 23 hours a day. We’ll only take it off when it’s bath time so we can clean both the band and Connor. He may need to wear it 2-3 months, we check in with the therapist weekly. 

Room Revamp P3: Create a Charming Guest Room

So far we’ve been successful in moving furniture around and using space in our home more efficiently. Still need to come up with a solution for that red chair, but I feel good about what we've accomplished so far.

Now I need to create a warm and welcoming guest room. For some of my friends, this is the best part. They have talent and enthusiasm for decorating that’s reflected in the end result. My friend Angie remodeled her current home. She knocked down walls, remodeled the entire kitchen and ended up with a super chic home that reflects her personal style. Another friend, Heather, has a charming style that she applies to everything she touches from her new home to flyers promoting her yoga classes to cupcakes she created for a spring party. At my office there’s a young lady who has a blog all about decorating and style, in addition to all the cool design blogs she follows.

I’m not so ambitious to design the room, but I do hope I get somewhere between charming and comfortable. The room has grey carpet and light grey walls, so we have a pretty neutral pallet to start with. I’ve included some pictures so we can track the progress.

Weekend with the Swans

As you saw from my last posting, we’ve really been able to get out and enjoy the gorgeous weather. But we’re not always out and about, this weekend we did a couple of mundane things too.

After a morning of rice cereal, baby food bananas and sunscreen to protect us when walking around the lake, we need a bath to get fresh and clean. I have the hooded baby bath towels for the twins because some things you buy because it’s just too cute. Chloe is modeling her pink panda towel after bath time.

On the weekends we get a lot more play time with the twins and we figure out all the new things they’re learning. This weekend Connor started holding his bottle and putting it in his mouth. Sometimes he needs a little help getting it at the right angle to actually drink the formula, but I’m so proud of him for trying to hold it on his own. Those Swan boys are smart!

Babies at the Lake

It's such a beautiful day today, we packed up our new jogging stroller and headed for the little lake near our house. The jogging stroller is amazing, it's super light and has little panels on the top to peak in on the babies when you still want to keep them shaded. I'm sorry to say we didn't actually jog this time, but we did all enjoy the lake and the weather. I snapped a shot with a few sailboats in the background.

While we were winding our way around the lake, we noticed another mother with babies, cute baby ducks! I love springtime.

Room Revamp P2: Clear Out the Office

As we’re trying to use space more efficiently in our home, we’re moving the office furniture into the dog room so we can have a guest bedroom again.

We were worried the desk would be too big and too heavy to move out of the current office doorway without breaking it down, which could ultimately mean breaking the desk itself. As it turns out the Swans were more resourceful than we gave ourselves credit for.

Not only did we get it to fit through the doorway, we put down a beach towel and were able to easily slide it all the way to the new office (old dog room).

It looks great in the new office and the dogs are totally happy sharing their space with Carl, his desk and video games. I’m so pleased we have a whole other room in our home. I just don’t think I was using the space to it’s full capacity before.

The next challenge we face is first, getting the big red chair out of the old office. The chair folds out into a twin bed, so it’s bigger than a regular chair, but smaller than love seat, but also pretty heavy. When we ordered it, it was delivered and moved into the current room by movers. Carl remembers them having some trouble getting it into the room so I’m sure we’ll face the same getting it out.

Then I’ll need to figure out what to do with the big red chair that can also be an extra bed. Find a place for it in our home, but where? Or sell it at our upcoming neighborhood garage sale? Or if we’re successful with the Elliptical on Craig’s List, we can try it again for the big chair.

For Cousin Andrew Swan

Dear Andrew,

Not only do I try to chew on my Dad's iphone, but I'll chew on anything I can. See if you're folks will let you do the same.

Catch ya later,
Connor

Room Revamp P1: Clear Out the Dog Room

Carl’s mom, Betsy, aka JoJo, is coming in late May over Memorial Weekend and the following week. JoJo and my Mom, aka GiGi, are taking care of the twins for a week while Carl and I go on vacation. I know, our moms are amazing!

Before Betsy arrives, we want to turn the current office into a guest room. Eventually it will be either Chloe’s or Connor’s room when they each need to have their own room, but they’re just babies now, so don’t rush them.

To turn the office into a guest room we plan to turn the dog room/workout room into the office. The puppies are pretty lucky to even have their own room in the first place, but they don’t really need it anymore. Since Maria is home all day and loves our puppies as much as she loves our babies, Max and Leo get run of the house and don’t spend much time in their room.

So, long story longer, I need to clear everything out of the dog room, everything being a giant elliptical machine. We bought it shortly after we moved into the house. The idea was that we’d give up our gym memberships since we walked to the gym from our old apartment, and the savings from the gym membership would allow for investment in an Elliptical at home. I did use it, but probably not as much as I could and now that space is at a premium we need to clear it out.

So we moved it out this past weekend, took some pictures and Carl posted on Craig’s List. He’s already had a call on it, so hopefully we’ll get it out of the house and on to it’s new, happy owner soon.

Apple Love

When the iPhone first came out, Carl had a blackberry that his office paid for, so he bought me an iPhone as a gift. I loved it, but so did he.

Just recently his office started supporting the iPhone, so Carl got one as soon as he could. He’s completely obsessed with it. When Connor sees him on it, he starts to reach for it. Connor already wants his own iPhone too. I think all the Swan boys in the household are going to be tech geeks.

Next up for them: iPad

Breakfast This Morning

We are just now starting the transition to include solid food in the twins diet. This morning they tried a little rice cereal. 

Chloe isn't a big fan yet and pushes the cereal back out of her mouth not getting much down.

Connor seems to like it and eats quite a bit more than Chloe. He's just gets a little excited and messy in the process.

Insert Foot In Mouth

Chloe would be a total super star in my yoga class. She is incredibly limber.

Since she is teething, she’ll chew on anything. That combined with how limber she is, she’s taken to chewing on her own little foot. It’s crazy and amazing!

Digital Imaging of Connor’s Head

Today we had another appointment at Cranial Technologies for Connor to have Digital Surface Imaging®. This process takes digital pictures of Connor’s head from all angles to then go and create the band he’ll wear to help reshape his head.

To do the digital imaging, he had to wear a stocking over his head. This didn’t seem to bother him, but it did make me a little uncomfortable. He was pretty serious while the technicians positioned him and took his images, but he did a great job and got through it quickly. The digital imaging is a newer process and so much better than casting the shape of the head, which is how it was previously done. Connor may have been a champ for that too, but it may have been too much for me to watch.

I’ve included before, during, and after images so you’ll know he came through it just fine.

It will take two weeks for them to develop Connor’s customized band. We’ll go back the last week of April for a fitting and he’ll start wearing the band. We’re not sure how long he’ll need to wear it, but he must wear it 23 hours each day for about 2 to 3 months.

Baby Neck Pillows

As any parent knows, car rides make babies sleepy. When the twins fall asleep in their car seats, their little heads fall forward or to the side. Solution: Baby Neck Pillows.

Carl’s Aunt Denise got these adorable neck pillows for the twins. Not only are they practical, but Connor also looks hilarious in his. Two round stuffed animal heads on each side of his big round head, it makes me want to grab him and give him a big kiss.

Thanks Aunt Denise!

Wonderful Weekend

We did so much as a family this weekend it was wonderful. The only drawback is we all probably needed to nap just a little bit more.

On Saturday early evening we went out to dinner together. La Duni at NorthPark Mall turned out to be the perfect family friendly place. They have an outdoor area that overlooks a large green lawn between the two sides of the Mall. The weather was beautiful, kids were playing on the lawn, and we all had a great time.

I have a few shots of the babies in the stroller Aunt Marlene gave us. We have it currently set up for their car seats, but they can grow into the regular seats. It maneuvers so smoothly we love it.

On Sunday morning we gathered to support our friend Heather Smith who ran a ½ marathon with Team in Training. We put the babies in their Bjorn’s while we cheered on the runners. Connor is so social, he squealed and laughed whenever we cheered and clapped for the runners.

Sunday afternoon we headed down to the Bishop Arts District for the arts and craft fair. Once again the weather was beautiful. It was a little sunny, so we ended up buying cute little hats for the babies to give them a little extra shade. We had a nice time at the fair, but we may have pushed the babies a little too much. They got tired and a little fussy and fell right asleep when we got in the car to head home.

It was a very successful, fun weekend for the Swans. But now it’s Monday and I’m a little worn out.

Spring Outfits

Last July when I was pregnant, my Aunt Karen hosted a baby shower for us. At that shower I received super cute spring outfits for Connor and Chloe from my sister-in-law Jamie and my brother Brian.

This past weekend was the first chance the twins could sport their new looks. Chloe has a brightly colored sundress with matching coral bloomers. Not only was the color great on her, the cute pattern hides any drool. Jamie is holding Chloe in this picture.

The outfit Brian and Jamie got for Connor was khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. At the shower we really thought it was appropriate since that’s what my Dad wore most weekends when we’d get together to barbeque.

When I dressed Connor, I loved how adorable he looked, but I did get a little sad thinking about my Dad and how he can’t see the babies now, how big they’re getting and their little personalities developing. It will be up to all of us to let the twins know their Granddaddy loved them and help them understand the man he was.

Connor is really interested in Brian. I think he really likes his voice and he keeps grabbing his chin and nose. If Connor gets sleepy when Brian is holding him, he doesn’t want to be set down and poor Brian has to wait until Connor is completely asleep.

I’m glad it’s spring and I’m sure we’ll have more cute outfits for the babies. Sunglasses and hats coming soon.

Connor’s Initial Visit to Cranial Technologies

Having a flat spot, or plagiocephaly, is more and more common.  It’s caused from external forces on a soft infant skull. To lower the risk of infants suffocating in their cribs, now parents are asked to place babies on their backs to sleep. If a baby favors one side, they are more likely to end up with a flat spot.

We learned that being a twin may also contribute to the fact that Connor favors his left side, because he may have been more crowded and favored that side when I was carrying him.

The treatment is to wear a DOC band made specifically for Connor, shaped to allow his still developing skull to grow into a more rounded shape. It should only take a few weeks to a few months.

At yesterday’s visit they took pictures and measurements. Preliminarily we’ve heard his shape is moderate to mildly severe, but we’ll have to wait to hear a formal diagnosis and treatment plan.

Next steps will be going in for Digital Surface Imaging where they’ll determine the exact measurements for Connor’s head shape using digital cameras. From these images they’ll make a custom DOC band for Connor’s treatment.

I’m not excited about the treatment. However, Connor won’t really be bothered but ultimately we will be able to see a difference in his head shape when treatment is over. It will be worth it.

Visit to the Doctor’s Office

Recently we had our 6 month doctor visit for the twins.

 

Chloe’s height is 26 inches and she weights 16 lbs. She did great on the visit. She rolled around on the table and looked at herself in the mirror.

Connor’s height is 26 ¼   inches with a weight of 17 lbs 4oz. Even though we’ve tried to get Connor to sleep on the other side of his head with varying degrees of success, he’s still a little flat on one side. Dr. Neely recommended an appointment with Cranial Technologies to be fitted for a helmet, so we’re scheduled for that tomorrow. He should only have to wear the helmet for a few months, but since it’s cosmetic the $4,000 probably won’t be covered by insurance. That’s fine, we’ll still do it. I want Connor to have a nice round head. He has such a big head, I think it’s worth it to make sure it’s cute and round.

Also, last visit to the doctor’s office we had a video of Connor rolling around, so it’s only fair this time we have a video of Chloe.

We Did It!

We finally ate out at a restaurant with the kids, and it was great. We’ve been so worried about taking them out, and if they got fussy or were too loud for other guests, but it couldn’t have gone better.

We went to a local, casual Mexican restaurant that’s family friendly. They gave us a picnic table out on the patio and the twins were completely entertained. They just watched all the action around us while we enjoyed nachos (and a margarita, of course). We are confident we can all go out to dinner as a family again soon. Yea!

Chloe got a little fussy near the end but was completely content in Carl’s lap. Here's a shot of Carl holding Chloe. She’s wearing a cute little onsie that one of my artsy girlfriends made for her. I didn’t realize Carl and Chloe both had skulls on their shirts until he picked her up. Too cute!