Updates

Well, the girls had their 9-month checkup this week, and the pediatrician was very pleased with their progress. Clara is 24 1/2 inches long and weighs 12 lbs. 8 oz. Ellie is 23 3/4 inches long and weighs 12 lbs. 6 oz. We had believed that they were over 13 lbs, but they are close. We are starting them on baby food this weekend and they had carrots for the first time today. Elis says that they gave her quite a look when they had their first bite, I wish I had a picture to share. Anyway, we are very happy that they are doing so well and believe that they will have a big growth spurt over the coming weeks and months. The solids should help pack on the weight since it has more calories than the formula and rice cereal. I can't wait until they have real fruit for the first time!!!

Solid Food

The girls started eating a small amount of rice cereal this week, in addition to their bottles!! They seem to like the food, probably b/c we let them make a mess....

Family

I love my family.

Though this should be fairly obvious I sometimes feel like I need to express that more. It's amazing just how much having children forces you to change your priorities and challenge yourself to be the very best parent that you can be. I have always said that if I could be half the man my father was to me when I was growing up then I would feel good about the job that I am doing in raising my daughters. I am not the easiest person to live with, and my patient and long-suffering wife sometimes has to put up with my stressed-out and cantankerous self. I was thinking about Proverbs 12 verse 1 today when it says that 'A man who hates correction is stupid". I feel that there is much truth in this verse, and I feel convicted by it. I am not a person who handles criticism very well coming from family, but I am working on changing my attitude to be more in line with what God expects from me. I am truly a blessed man, and during this season when people gather with their loved ones to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ there is nowhere I would rather be than right here with mine!!

Bonus!!!

Here is a pic of Clara in her snazzy new specs!!

Decompression

Well today was quite a day for the girls. As I walked in the door from work I could see the relief in Elis's face as I strode into the kitchen. I have been thinking over the last few days about how stressful having 1 baby is, let alone 2. I really have been blessed with a wife who exhibits an extreme (and sometimes irritating) amount of patience. She is able to manage the chaos all day and still manages to allow me time to work out at night after a long day at the office. I was thinking how hard it must be when she left for a few minutes to run a couple of errands at my insistance. I just wanted her to be able to get away from the madness for a few, but I was unprepared for the meltdown that ensued. I know my girls love me, but sometimes I wonder whether or not they like me at all, since they decided soon after she left that they would test daddy's patience by having a synchronized fit. I ended up calling her, which I did NOT want to do, but it made me realize how much I depend on her as much, if not more, as the girls do. All ended well of course, when mom came and saved the day. I am still getting the hang of the whole daddy thing but I am enjoying the ride. Everyone says to enjoy this time now because they will be grown and gone before we know it so I am stealing all the kisses I can while they are unable to defend themselves. Still, I feel a little better knowing that I am getting more and more capable of taking care of them so that Elis can feel like an adult for a little while.

Sick

I have wondered from time to time how I would react if Elisabeth were to get sick and leave me to take care of the girls. Well today I found out. There appears to be a stomach bug going around that has made it's way into our home, affecting first Clara, and now both Liz and Ellie. I have expressed my appreciation to Liz for the way that she takes care of the girls on a daily basis, she is so good with them. She is a very patient person and just seems to have a way about her that calms them just by being there, which is not a gift that I posses. So now as I type these words while the family is napping I find myself praying that God will continue to transform me into the father that he wants me to be. I love my girls dearly and want them to know that daddy will always be there to care for them the best way that I can.

Home

My daughters are home. As I sit here typing these words I am filled with emotion thinking about how long it took to get to this place. Clara and Ellie have been here with us for almost two months and sometimes I still have trouble grasping the fact that they are here.

I don't even know how to begin to explain how blessed I feel when I look at their sweet faces or think about them when I am at work. I don't know how someone can not believe in God and his mercies after hearing about our girls. We even had a Pediatrician who saw them recently who said something to a similar effect. Clara and Ellie have a special calling on their lives and it is our great pleasure to watch them grow into the special women that God has called them to be. I am grateful that they are here.

First Post

This is my first blog, dedicated to my beautiful twins Clara and Ellie!