Ode to Izzie

I still remember the day I called Jeremy and said "I know what I want for my birthday." She was about a pound when I called him. We named her Izzie and she has grown to about 5 pounds.
When she came to our home, she was just a little spoiled. I don't think her paws touched the ground too much. She was introduced as our daughter. We couldn't take enough "cute" pictures of her. She went to the groomer often and was never told "no" unless for some crazy reason she did something wrong.
When we found out we were expecting, we told her very delicately that things would change just a little. We introduced the different baby things to her. We laughed when she thought they were for her.When we brought Mason home she was curious and felt a little neglected at times. But Jeremy always gave her some one-on-one time. She started to get nervous when we brought Hagen home. We think she was afraid every time we came in the door we would have one of those!
I admit there are times she does get neglected. I am sure she is wondering just how far she has to push or paw her water bowl across the room before I discover she needs water :-(
She some how still knows how to steal the attention, though. I was folding the boys laundry and got up to get something from the kitchen. When I came back this is what I found. I think she just wanted to be on the blog. Sorry girl - here is your entry ;-)

One Lazy Saturday Afternoon

I promised footed pajamas pictures, so here they are. Hagen was ready to eat and Mason was ready to socialize. I am really not a morning person, at all. I am even more of a non-morning person when I haven't had very much sleep. But, if I tossed and turned all night long and didn't sleep much - all that goes away when I get the boys out of their beds in the mornings. They always have huge smiles for me. I absolutely love getting them up in the morning. Saturday must be Hat Day in the Johnson Household. I, personally, love Hat Day.... I don't have to fix my hair. (I didn't have any make-up on - so I opted out of the pics... maybe next Saturday ;-)

We have two exersaucers, so we tried Mason in the other one. He loves it! It was so funny because there is this sun cutout thing on it and he would keep staring at it. I was cracking up. Check out his expression in these pictures!!
Does he not look like he is flirting with it or something?? I think he is going to cause us alot of problems once he discovers girls don't have cooties!

Our Secret Language

My friend, Julie, that has the twin boys told me that when the boys were younger they would babble to each other. Hagen and Mason are starting to really watch each other more and more. Every now and then they start to babble to each other - short babble sessions. It is really hard to catch on camera... but today I caught a little of it.
Notice at the end, Hagen says something that to my ears sounds like "Mommmm"... You hear what you hear ---- but I definitely heard Mom!! :-)

Nap Time

I do not in any way shape or form condone babies sleeping in their parent's bed. Sorry for those of you that believe in it. But, I thought this was rather funny - I spent a good 30 minutes trying to get the boys to sleep in their crib for nap time. They both were crying, I couldn't pacify both of them... so after 30 minutes, I had a headache and was tired, too. I ended up giving up and putting them in their swings.
Fast forward one feeding later, I decided to do play time on my bed because it is easier for them to roll over and I thought the practice might do them good. Hagen fell asleep first, Mason followed suit... really?? I have heard it is the smell possibly ... but is it really this easy when they are on their parent's bed?? Anyway, had to get a picture!!!

Fall is Here....almost

Okay, it is not really fall weather yet, but we decided it was close enough. I can't wait for the cold weather... we have sooo many cute clothes for fall and winter. And you haven't seen a cute baby until you have seen mine in footed pajamas! I purposely turn the AC down at night so I can put them in footed pajamas! Jeremy doesn't complain so for about the past week they started wearing them. I need to get a picture.

We just got back from the pumpkin patch (Walmart). The boys each picked a pumpkin.

They were very excited to show them off. We had a bigger one picked out, but Mason said it was too heavy to hold in his lap. We couldn't fit it under the stroller. Hagen didn't get a full nap in and was letting everyone at the pumpkin patch (walmart) know that he was unhappy. I ended up carrying him, pushing the stroller, and trying to find a spot to put the pumpkin... all that to say we ended up with the small ones because the boys could handle putting these in their laps (well, next to them in the car seats)! I also found these fun striped ones. I plan to use these for decoration, but the boys insisted I take their picture with them, as well.

More Pictures

Mason is still a little small for the exersaucer but he really seems to like it. He is also doing great in his Bumbo seat. Hagen is doing good with tummy time, he gets tired after a little while. I love to make him laugh, though! It is getting easier and easier to make him smile and laugh for me.

What are they looking at? Izzie!! They always watch her now! It is funny to see their eyes move every where she goes!

Mason Sitting Up

Mason no longer likes laying down... he has to have his head up. It doesn't matter the position he is in - as long as his head is up, not resting on anything! I have some video... for some reason there is some annoying and loud voice in the background... we aren't sure where it came from - okay it is me, the microphone is close to me so my voice is the loudest - please ignore it. Turn your sound down :-)

More video --- again, please ignore the annoying voice in the background!! :-)

Habits

My name is Leslie and I have a security blanket. I still sleep with it. His name is blankey. I have to have him to sleep. Judge all you want. I know other people who have security blankets they still sleep with - I'm not naming any names - (LKD).

I decided the boys need a little security soooo I bought them their own security blankets - I didn't want to have the talk about 'this is Mommy's security blanket, and that is your security blanket'. Hagen's is blue and Mason's is yellow. They actually love them. They chew on them and hold them - okay so they would do this with any blanket -- but I know deep down they are starting to bond with them ;-)

When the boys were in the NICU, they were given Soothies. Soothies is a type of pacifier, looks like this...

Well, Hagen really liked his in the beginning. He isn't too fond of it anymore - I think he discovered it doesn't produce any milk. Mason didn't really care if he had it or not in the beginning, then he went through a stage where it 'soothed' him.

Let me share with you my opinion on pacifiers and thumbs... I prefer pacifiers because you can 'break' them --- when it is time to stop sucking on one, 'Oh no, it's broken... Mommy's sorry' ... I can't break their thumb?! Soooo, needless to say, I was ready for the obsession with the pacifier... I even got these cute ones... (the frog and dog)

Guess what?? Mason has decided his two fingers, no, not even his thumb folks - but his two fingers (the pointer and middle) are much more soothing than a pacifier with a frog attached or even a thumb. I guess I can't cut the tip off of his fingers one day, huh.

Comparison

I love doing comparison pictures...
check this out:
When Mason first got home from the hospital...

Mason, 6 months old... (can we tell that he loves his Daddy's chest??)

NICU Reunion

The boys had an appointment near Cook's yesterday. Jeremy took off the afternoon to help me with the appointment. We decided since we were so close, to go see our favorite nurses. We couldn't believe the luck... Samantha and Shirley were both there... they were soooo excited to see Mason! They couldn't believe how much he had grown! Once Samantha got him - she would not put him down! She took him all through the NICU and then we headed to Progressive.

We found Ginger. For those of you that remember, Ginger spoiled Hagen after Mason came home. I will never forget the day I came up to see Hagen and his bed was empty. Another nurse told me - 'Oh Ginger has him.' Apparently when she was there, he was never in his bed... ;-)
We spent so much time 'reunioning' the boys were too hungry to wait until we got home so we ended up feeding them in the lobby.

1/2 year!

I can't believe my tiny little precious babies are 6 months old!!! They are growing so fast... either they are growing or the bears are shrinking - ha ha!

Play Date

The boys had their first play date today! Gabriella is my friend, Julie's, baby. Julie has three (almost 4) year old twin boys. I call her alot for advice ;-)... The boys were definitely flirty and can't wait for the next play date!!!

The Tickle Monster

So, we found out Hagen is very ticklish! We got it on video - but it is very dark... so sorry. You can hear him though and keep watching because toward the end he turns his face toward the camera and you see his grin. When he smiles, his whole face lights up. His smiles are huge... no half smiles for Hagen!! Enjoy the video!

Angels

When the boys were first born, they were so early we couldn't hold them. They didn't want the boys to be over-stimulated. During this time, I knew the boys were being held by angels. I also know they talk to angels in their sleep. I know this because with all the smiling and laughing the boys do in their sleep someone has to be telling the boys alot of funny stories in their sleep!

My dad was the best storyteller ever. He would have you hanging on to his every last word. My favorite story of his was The Three Little Pigs. He would make me scared for the little pigs every time he told it to me. He also would tell me stories of his childhood.

Recently Jeremy and I ran into an old friend of my dad's. He told me he missed his own father, but my father was someone he thought of and missed just as much - he mentioned all the stories my dad told him, as well. I just know that Hagen and Mason already know the story of The Three Little Pigs, their Grand-Daddy Genz's version.

I think he tells them that story and then their Grand-Momma Genz sings them a lullaby. They have been doing it since they were in the NICU. See, I didn't spoil them... my parents did ;-)

(Happy Birthday Daddy and Momma.)

Aren't They Cute!

Couldn't resist this picture... love it!

Taking a Walk

So, Jeremy was working this morning and the boys and I woke up restless. They ate their bottles and told me they wanted to take a walk. It was great out, a little hot for the person pushing the stroller, but the breeze was great.
Needless to say, I accomplished my goal. I got some (little) exercise and the boys got some rest!

More Videos

We've been busy this week so I haven't had a chance to blog anything... Here are two videos. One is of Hagen and the other of Mason. Just to let you know - the boys have become mesmerized by the video camera!! They will both be cooing, smiling, looking totally cute --- I pull the video camera out and they stop to stare into the camera with their mouths gaped open! Soooo, we are trying to be sneaky. Anyway, enjoy!!

Daddy Strikes Again!

I always know Jeremy has been digging in their closet when he says "Don't look!" Well, sure enough... here is the result... but what can I say --- they all look so cute! I must say I have quite a handsome family :-)

Sleepy Time

I love watching them sleep and figured many of you were dying to see my snazzy new mobile :-)

If I'm Going Out, You're Going With Me!

Okay, let me set the stage. It is 9 pm, the boys are getting cranky. Jeremy takes Hagen and feeds him his "last" bottle. As Jeremy is doing this, I am in the boys' room feeding Mason his "last" bottle and rocking him to sleep. Hagen falls asleep toward the end of his bottle, and Jeremy puts him in his bed (yes, the swing... we will deal with this matter later!). Mason is out as well, so I put him in his bed (the wedge). Hagen discovers about the same time Mason does that they are no longer in the arms of Jeremy or me and they both jolt awake. Jeremy and I meet in the hallway, "Any luck?" "No, what about you?" "No..."
And, we go back, get a little more milk and begin the procedure again. At about 11 pm, we meet back in the hallway, "Good?" "Good!"
Thus began the process of possibly trying a cry it out session. I decided to try it during nap time instead of 11 pm at night, when all four of us would be tired and cranky -- not a good picture.
Soooo, I bought this snazzy new mobile for them to watch. I thought I could stick them in their crib and they would be so mesmerized by it, they would watch it until they got so sleepy, they would drift off to sleepy land - no problem, right? I know all you mothers out there are laughing at me right now, and that is okay...
Well, at about 10 am this morning, the boys were finishing their bottles, Mason was already falling asleep and Hagen had heavy eyelids. I put Hagen in the crib first, when I came back to get Mason, he was already asleep. I still moved him to the crib next to Hagen.
The moving caused Mason to wake up so both boys watched the mobile for approximately 15 minutes. Mason started to get sleepy (at this point I was pretty proud of myself). Hagen proceeded to get angry. Sleepy - but angry.
He was letting out a cry here and there. Mason grabbed his shirt. I thought this was rather funny --- I just knew Mason was thinking "Hey, if I have to sleep in here, you are too!" Hence the title "If I'm Going Out, You're Going out With Me!!!"
See Exhibit A:
Mason proceeded to drift to sleepy land. Hagen was having nothing of the sort. I tried what the "experts" say... go in, sooth him, talk in a gentle voice, tell him you are here, you are okay. Well, I will tell you folks, this does not in any shape or form work on Mr. Hagen. This only makes him more mad. Red face, throwing arms and legs (hitting Mason several times in the process), crying fit. So, I did what ALL the books tell you not to do - I picked him up. (I am sticking my tongue out at all the experts right now.) He would immediately stop crying - I know, I know. I would calm him down, he would start to get really sleepy and almost fall asleep in my arms... so I would put him in the crib. Of course, this would wake him up and he would get even more mad. I was persistent and on about the 4th try of picking him up, calming him down, getting him sleepy and putting him back in the crib. He started to open his mouth to cry and then he stopped and fell asleep. It was funny, but I did not laugh. I took a picture.
Exhibit B.

Don't ask me how we are getting them to sleep tonight.

Angel Pictures are In!!

Some of you know this story... When my "mom" first became a grandmother (gran) she took a picture of her first grandchild, Ruby, in angel wings. She surprised Travis and Leah with the picture. Since then, it has become a tradition. She secretly takes a picture of the child without the parents knowing and has it framed. She has done it with all her grandchildren.
Jeremy and I didn't know when Gran would strike. When she babysat, we always checked their diapers and the floor for feathers, but never found any. The boys were sworn to secrecy, so they weren't talkin'!
Sure enough, the other day Gran stopped by with a present!

My Big Helper

So Hagen helped me clean today instead of taking a nap! I loved the pictures... enjoy the slideshow. I couldn't read his mind, but figured if I could, that is what he was saying!!

Perfect Sayings

I was lucky enough to work on a wonderful team my last two years in the Keller ISD. I became very close to the other girls on my team... Lindsey, Spring, Courtney, and Amanda. While I was at Freedom Elementary, all four were pregnant during Jeremy and my struggle to get pregnant. Of course, when we got pregnant they celebrated with us so much, it was like they were pregnant with us. All this to say, the shower they threw me was very special and my favorite gifts were two onesies. They said "I was worth the wait" and "I am a miracle". These are soooo true!! Anyway, I have been waiting to take their pictures with these onesies and here they are!!! Needless to say, I love these pictures! (The one of Hagen is a little blurry, but I love his huge smile, so I don't care if it is blurry!)