Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers

Lilypie Second Birthday tickers

Lilypie Second Birthday tickers

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Babies Update

It's been a while since I posted pictures so there are a lot, but I know you'll enjoy them. Before we get to the pictures, here's an update on what has been brewing in the Lantz household lately.

We are finally starting to get over this cold thing. George still has a pretty bad cough, but I'm feeling much better and the girls do not sound as congested. I really think their Synagis shot which they got for RSV every month, lessened the effects of their cold. I know they say not to panic over the new swine flu, but it makes me not want to take them out in public since hearing about the 23 month old that just died. Yes, I know we can not all live in our houses until this passes, and, No, I am not going to hole up. Anyway...back to good stuff.

Hannah is just as sweet and happy as she always is. Other than her once daily ritual of throwing up all of her bottle and solids all over me, she has finally gotten this solid food thing down the last couple of weeks. She opens her mouth now instead of having to force the spoon in her mouth. She definitely loves her fruit, too. It's usually the vegetables (like the peas from last night), which get rejected and ejected. Hannah can sit up but would rather be rolling around on the floor. She needs a little support still. She also loves to smile at her sister.






I finally broke out both high chairs this morning. We have 2 exersaucers, 2 high chairs, 2 swings, 2 bumbo seats, 1 bouncy seat, 1 activity mat, and a basket of toys all within the confines of our family room/dining room. And George so observantly says to me, "I think we need a bigger house."
"Maybe if I take her toy real slowly, she won't notice."

Grandpa's Little Princesses love their toes!
Kate even loves Hannah's toes and leg!
All aboard the Hannah and Kate train!
Choo Choo!

Kate is growing, growing, growing. Did I mention that she is also growing a tooth?! I discovered it yesterday when I thought I saw something in her mouth. She wouldn't let me look so I stuck a very clean finger in there and sure enough felt a tooth. It's her bottom left tooth. Doesn't she look so sweet sporting a teething ring? She actually has been taking it quite well, or I've just attributed her fussiness to her being a little sick. The last time I weighed her a couple of weeks ago she was about 16 lbs. (Hannah was about 13.2 lbs.) She sits quite well on her own. She's still wobbly and needs a pillow just in case she falls, but she can support herself. I'm hoping that now we are in the sitting up stage, the spitting up stage will start to lessen.


This is what happens when Mommy jumps in the shower and leaves them under Daddy's watchful eye. He lets poor Kate fall asleep on the floor with a dirty blanket.

Look at me sit like a big girl!

We both are really noticing Bella more. Sometime we even get a hold of her and pull on her skin, but she doesn't seem to mind too much.


Hannah's Bathtime
Kate's Bathtime

Saturday, April 25, 2009

March of Dimes Walk

Yeah...we did it! We walked 5 miles today for the March of Dimes walk and we did it in an hour and a half. For those of you familiar with the Tampa Bay area, we started at the University of Tampa and walked along Bayshore Blvd. back to UT. It was a beautiful walk with beautiful weather. Our day started really early this morning...I haven't been up at 5:30 in at least 3 months now (thank you, Hannah and Kate). We were out the door by 6:45. Everything went great minus one short run in with a jogger who seemed rather angry that his normal Bayshore jogging route was now filled with thousands of people walking to raise money for premature babies. Satan has to put his foot in somewhere, right?
I can't wait to make a tradition out of this and be able to explain to the girls why we do this every year. THANK YOU so much to everyone who participated (walkers & financial supporters). Here are some pictures of the day: (if you actually click on the pictures you can see them better if you want a closer view)

T-shirt front

T-shirt back

Hannah & Aunt Amy

Kate & Aunt Erin
Mommy & Hannah, Daddy & Kate

Nanny Krista & Grampie MacEachern (proof that they really did walk)
Marching Multiple Miracles
(Erin, Krista, Angus, Amy, Katie, Hannah, Esther, George, Kate, Hannah, Cindy, Steve, Lauren)

Katie, Hannah, & Esther


Our view as we walked along Bayshore

The team before we started
Kate getting dressed before the walk
**Update to the previous prayer request. Baby Michael is doing well. He is off of oxygen and taking feedings by tube. Baby Benjamin is with Jesus and funeral preparations are being made. Thank you for praying for the Dence family. I know they appreciate it!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Prayer Request

To all of my wonderful prayer warriors out there:

There is a family at our church who just had 29 1/2 week old twins two days ago. One of the twins did not survive. The other twin is in the NICU and weighs about 2 lbs. I don't know much of the details other than that. Please just be in prayer for this family (Brian & Monica & their 3 older children). Thanks guys! I hear that story and cannot help but THANK GOD for how healthy Hannah and Kate are. It could have so easily been us and I don't even want to go there.

Also, we will be walking in the 5 mile March of Dimes walk tomorrow with some family and friends. I'm really excited! The colds have pretty much subsided, except for George. He is in the thick of it right now. I'll post pictures of the walk when I get a chance.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Sick, Sick, Sick...

The title has three sicks in it because I am sick, Hannah is sick, and Kate is sick. Blah, Blah, Blah...fortunately at this point, we all just have colds. But I feel like crap and I'm sure the girls feel the same way. Kate woke up early from her morning nap, which doesn't usually happen, screaming her head off and wouldn't go back to sleep. I feel bad because while I am allowed to take cold medicine (which I'm not sure actually works), they just have to tough it out. Hopefully, they get something through my breastmilk. Anyway, just pray for a quick recovery and that I will have the patience and strength to tend to two sick babies and take care of myself. Thanks!

Also, Stellan is having surgery right now. If you haven't checked out his story on the right hand side, the quick synopsis is that he is having heart surgery which is very risky on a a 5 month old. Please be in prayer for his family too.

P.S. Thanks to those of you who played along with my little guessing game and humored me. The correct answer was Kate. So many people tell me that they really don't look alike, but it depends on which angle you catch them at. Congratulations, Gina!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Don't Mess with Mama Bear

I'm going to warn you that I am about to get a on a quick rant. I usually take Hannah, Kate, and Bella on a walk at least once a day. Our walks are very enjoyable. However, this morning, I had a chow and a german shepherd come charging at me with no owner in sight. I scooped Bella up because I figured that is who they would go after first and I yelled at the top of my lungs, "HEY" to get anyone's attention to come help. Well, a couple of seconds after they are around me, a mid-elderly woman rounds the corner in her nightgown and yells at them to come. Fortunately, they did not hurt us. The chow sniffed Kate's feet, but I was still ticked off. I turned around and yelled, "Thanks a lot." at the woman and we continued on our walk. That was the first of 3 incidents with dogs on our walk this morning. The other two incidents were with small dogs and were too scared to go too close. My issue with dogs not being on leashes is the fact that maybe you know your dog to be nice and gentle, but how in the world was I going to defend myself with two babies and a dog against two big dogs (breeds that are known to be aggressive). Keep your dog on a leash people (yes, I know that means that I am speaking to some people that I love dearly). It's really for the protection of your dog as much as it is for the person that is walking. My "animalistic" instinct to protect my babies (all 3 of them) at all costs was in full alert so had they dogs even showed the slightest hint of opening their mouths, I would have been all over kicking and screaming and possibly with my hands around a neck or two. Don't mess with a mama and her babies. What angers me even more about the situations was that not one owner bothered to apologize. HELLO...what happened to common courtesy and respect. Okay...I'm done. Enjoy the pictures and video!
Kate "holding" her bottle-they can both hold their bottle, just not up
Hannah-she grabbed her toes for the first time on Wednesday
Hannah-trying out the jumparoo

Hannah-right before I took this picture she had fallen asleep in the Exersaucer...she woke up when I turned my camera on to get a picture

Hannah
Daddy's girls
Hannah trying to eat Kate's toes-Kate loves her toes and finally got them in her mouth on Wednesday...look at those rolls on the backside of her legs...she's the cutest chunky baby ever

Hannah & Kate-getting ready for bed
Getting ready for bed-that time is so precious to me

Matching PJ's
Who do you think this is? Leave a comment if you'd like to guess.

Kate
Kate



Kate's giggles-if this video doesn't make you laugh...

Monday, April 13, 2009

Babies' First Easter

We had a jam-packed, fun-filled Easter. Here are pictures of the girls in their Easter dresses. Kate after sitting up by herself

Kate sitting all by herself

Hannah, Kate, Rachel -Kate had just pulled the bow out of Rachel's hair Kate-"Hmmm...what's this new toy in baby Rachel's hair?" Kate already beating up on Rachel Hannah, Kate, Rachel

Kate kept trying to sit up during the picture