Wear your sunscreen...and sunglasses!

So I've had this little white bump underneath my right eye for 6+ months now.  I first remember noticing it around Christmas and it has been slowly growing ever since.  It started irritating my eye while I was in the later stages of my pregnancy, but I had other things to worry about, so I didn't get around to dealing with it until now.  I made an appointment with a dermatologist to get it looked at.  I felt a bit silly for going straight to a dermatologist for what I expected to be a little sty or fluid filled cyst of some sort.  Turns out it is a good thing I went.  The doc took a look at it and said it's either a mole or...more than likely...a skin cancer.  Not fun to hear.  He then proceeded to explain how he couldn't know for sure until sending a sample away to be tested, and then explaining how the biopsy would go.  I am already freakishly freaked out about eyes, and when he started numbing my eye area with shots and putting stinging drops into my eye I went into a mild state of shock.  This all happened in under 10 minutes.  :)  I actually fainted when the whole thing was over.  I'm not usually that wimpy, and have only fainted one time in my life...immediately following my wisdom teeth removal when I was heavily sedated.  Anyway, asking for prayers for negative results on the skin cancer.  I should find out some time next week...but either way...WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN and WEAR SUNGLASSES.

In other news, the babies are doing well.  We weighed them in and Marlee is 8 pounds, 8 ounces.  She is still not on the charts yet for weight, but we believe she will catch up.  Parks is 13 pounds, 5 ounces and doing fine on the charts.  Big boy!  :)

I started back to work last week and it has been going pretty good so far.  Better than expected.  I have been busy when I start the day until 5:00 when I am done, but I am enjoying what I am doing (I am focusing on marketing only right now at 3 days per week instead of doing compliance and some other things I used to add to my normal duties).

Finally...the BIGGEST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DAY...I'm PREGNANT AGAIN!!! 

SIKE.  I'm just kidding.  I am definitely NOT pregnant.  Wouldn't that be insane?!?! 
The BIGGEST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DAY is actually that Parks and Marlee have slept from their 11pm feeding until 7:45am for the past two days in a row!!  It is unbelievable.  Seriously.  I love Baby Wise.  It has been the greatest tool and guide for me to know what to do.  It's hard at first, but seeing results is the best thing ever.  I definitely recommend it and am a believer for sure!

Oh my, how life has changed!!

I truly wish I had more time to blog about life these days.  It is changing so fast, and I want to remember all of these precious moments.  Parks and Marlee will be 12 weeks old on Saturday.  It is so hard to believe.  I go back to work next week for 3 days per week.  I'll be working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday...so hopefully I can handle that.  It's going to be hard being away from my little angels all day.

In the past two days they have both started smiling more and more.  It just warms my heart to see them look at me with those big gummy smiles.  I can't get enough.  My cheeks actually started to hurt today from smiling at them so much.  :)

Big milestone:  Parks rolled over today!!  It was totally out of nowhere.  I hadn't even thought it was coming soon and I put him on his tummy to practice holding his head up (they are both getting so good at this) and then he went for it.  I thought it might be a fluke, so I put him back on his tummy two more times and he flipped right over.  I was so proud.  Yay!!

Here are some pics of those big smiles I got today:

We went on a nice jog today, but it was HOTTTT:

Learning to feed two babies with one hand!!

Letters to Parks &Marlee (5/12/11 - 2:00pm)

Happy 2 month birthday to my little angels!

I really can't believe 2 months have already gone by. It's true wha they say about the days being long but the months flying by. We went in for your 2 month doctor visit today. You both did good. Parks, you are getting so big...10 pounds, 9 ounces today!! Marlee, you are still taking your time with weight gain but you are doing good still. You were 7 pounds, 1 ounce today. Also...Parks got discharged from the apnea monitor! Yay! No more monitors to carry around. Mommy and Daddy are soooo happy about that.

You had to get your immunization shots today. You each had 5 shots and mommy cried with you. It was so hard seeing you get stuck with those needles and screaming. I wish I couldve had the shots for you. The nurse said you will probably feel bad for 2 days now too...so I hate that for you...but I will try my best to keep you comfortable.

I love you both even more than yesterday! :)
All my love,
Mommy

Letters to Parks & Marlee (5/10/11 - 5:00pm)

Hi babies,
Today was a big day for us.  We started this morning with visitors (Mary Weaver, Grace Cannon and Grace's new baby Noah).  Then Jamie brought us lunch, and we left after that to go to Atlanta to meet everyone at mommy's office.  Busy busy.  You both did great at the office and slept most of the time.  I was worried you would cry or fuss and I wouldn't know what to do in the office, but you were little angels.  Right now we are at Uncle Patrick's apartment in Atlanta and mommy is pumping some milk for you while you hang out with Uncle Patrick and Grandma.
This weekend is going to be fun, and a little bit crazy.  We are going to the lake again, and daddy is going to run in a race called the "Warrior Dash" with Uncle T.  It should be really cool but it's a totally new experience doing outings like this with you two.  I hope we can manage!  We will figure it out I am sure.  Your 2 month doctor's visit is coming up this week, and I am so excited to see how you are progressing.  You've been doing great at home lately and I am so proud of how you are sleeping at night.  I hope we can keep up these good habits and that you both are great sleepers (that would be a great gift for mommy)!!
I love you both so much!
All my love,
Mommy

Letters to Parks & Marlee (5/8/11 - 11:00pm)

Happy Mother's Day to me...for the first time ever!!  Today was a very special day for me.  I got to celebrate my first mother's day with my family.  I remember going to church last year on Mother's Day and they were handing out flowers to all the moms.  They tried to hand one to me, and I felt sad wondering if I would ever be a mom.  This year I am so thankful that God blessed me with you two little angels.  You are amazing, and I couldn't ask for more.

You turned 8 weeks old yesterday.  Even though this has been the hardest thing I have ever experienced, it has been amazing too.  I really can't believe 8 weeks have already gone by.  You have grown and changed so much already.  Here are some things you are doing these days:

Parks:

- Watching toys and lights (we bought you a bouncy seat with toys that hang over the top and you look at them with crossed eyes in amazement)

- Sleeping during the night is going pretty well.  You wake up for your feedings and then go straight back to sleep until your next meal.  I am very thankful for this because I am starting to get a little bit of sleep too.

- You are holding your head up like crazy.  When somebody holds you on their chest, you will lift your head up for a long time and look around.  Also, when you have tummy time, you will lift your head and turn it from one side to the other.

- Your fingernails are getting a bit long, but mommy is terrified to cut them.  That's going to have to happen soon though.

- The doctor said on Saturday that we should be able to get rid of your monitor soon!!!!!  This is great news.  We are hoping that we can get it discontinued on Wednesday at your 2-month appointment.

Marlee:

- You smiled at mommy today. Twice.  It was the best Mother's Day present ever.

- You have a little eye infection and we took you to the doctor on Saturday to check it out.  They gave you some drops so it should clear up quickly.  Poor little girl with the gooey eye!

- It almost seems like you are trying to roll over.  I know it is early, but when you are laying on your back, you will push off with your legs and twist your body, and sometimes it seems like you are just about to flip.  Pretty exciting stuff.

- You are still having trouble with your feedings.  You will have a great feeding and eat your full meal (currently 70 ml for you and 110 ml for Parks), but then you will follow it with a feeding where you only eat about half and then start crying and refusing to finish.  It is hard because we don't like upsetting you, but we have to push you to finish each meal.  If only you enjoyed eating like your mommy does!  :)

- On Saturday you were weighed with your clothes and diaper on and you were right at 7 pounds, so we are hoping by your appointment on Wednesday that you might really be 7 pounds.  Keep your fingers crossed!

I am sure I am forgetting a thousand little details, but that's a little bit to remember.  You two have stolen my heart and I am so very happy to share this time with you.  I love you so much.

All my love,

Mommy

Letters to Parks & Marlee (4/27/11 - 10:00pm)

Hi sweet babies,
You are now just over 6 weeks old (I can't believe you've been here that long!) and you have completely changed my world.  You are both holding your head up for extended times when we hold you, and you can lift it and turn it from side to side easily.  Of course it is still a bit wobbly, but its very cute if you ask me.  I got the jungle play mat out yesterday and you both like it...but Marlee is more of a fan than Parks right now.  I love it when you are happy and content while awake...you are the sweetest babies ever.  After the 6-week date on Saturday, the doctor said mommy could start exercising again, so we have started a little tradition.  Every morning we wake up, have  breakfast, and then get in the jogger and go for a walk/jog.  You both seem to really enjoy it.  You look around and stay awake for the first little bit, and then take a nap for the rest of the run.  It is very funny because every time we hit a bump in the cart path, you both throw your arms up in the air instantly, but stay sound asleep.  Daddy calls it he "Jackie Chan" with how fast you move your hands in front of your face.  Today we jogged to Grandma Murray's tennis practice, so you got to meet some of her friends.  They all enjoyed meeting you.  :)
Tomorrow we go to visit the pediatrician again to do a weight check for Marlee (and we will weigh Parks too just to see how he is doing).  I am praying for big gains and growth.
Marlee, you had a rough few days with eating.   You were only finishing about 60% of your bottle and then you would just scream and cry and refuse any more.  We went to the doc on Saturday and they said it was likely gas, so we have been giving you Mylicon drops and it seems to help.  On Monday night we took you to our small group meeting, and you actually ate one and a half times your normal volume, and ever since then you have been doing much better.  I hope you have turned a corner and will keep this up.
Parks, you have a hernia.  Boo.  It's no big deal according to the doctor, but I still wish you didn't have it.  Your belly button pokes out so far.  Supposedly it will work itself out in the first year or two of your life or the doctor will do a small procedure to fix it.
Keep growing little angels.  I love you so much.
All my love,
Mommy

Letters to Parks & Marlee (4/16/11 - 5:45pm)

Hi sweet babies,
Your mommy is getting a little bit delirious.  You both decided to have a little party last night, so we didn't do much sleeping.  This morning I spent about 10 seconds trying to fit the box of cereal into the refrigerator before realizing that it is the MILK that goes in the fridge...and the cereal should go in the PANTRY.  :)  Ahh, the joys of no sleep.  Hopefully I will be able to laugh at it one day.  Ha!

Parks,
We are trying something new today.  Grandma Murray saw the lactation consultant this morning when she went to walk for the March of Dimes (by the way...we will get to do this walk next year!!).  The Lactation Consultant said that we should try to go 48 hours without a bottle.  I think we can do it buddy.  You will probably be mad about it, but it will be better in the long run if we can manage to get you full from nursing.  So far you have been doing good for about 10 minutes, but then we top you off with a bottle every time so you never learn to get full from just nursing.  Hopefully this 48 hours will make a change.  The LC thinks you are big enough and strong enough to do it at this point, so I am praying it works out and that you don't hate it.  We went out to eat last night with all 4 our your grandparents and your Aunt Erin and Uncle T.  We went to El Ranchero and had a good time.  You had a bottle during dinner and did very good.  You slept great after you ate...way to go.  When we came home, Aunt Erin and Uncle T came over to visit with you and spend some cuddle time.  You fell sound asleep on Uncle T's chest...but you were obviously ticked when he left (maybe that's why you partied all night?  we will have to have a talk with him about leaving you!!).  I love you sweet boy.
All my love,
Mommy

Marlee,
We have the cutest little dress from you from Tony and Claire, and I really want you to wear it for Easter.  You need to put on a little more weight, but I think you are close, so let's keep our fingers crossed.  You've been making some progress with nursing, although it is hard for mommy to remember that sometimes since it seems like the progress is so slow...and it is always two steps forward, one step back.  I was about 3 seconds from giving up on nursing this morning, but God keeps giving me little nudges and encouragement right when I get to my breaking point, and I am still trying.  I know that if it doesn't work out we will all be fine, but I also want it to work so bad that I don't want to quit before I have to.  I do believe breastfeeding is best for you, so I will do everything I can do keep trying!  You had fun with your Aunt Erin last night.  She held you after dinner and you were so happy.  You were wide awake and bright-eyed for a while, and then you snuggled in and took a nice nap with her.  I am sure you will get lots of those naps with Aunt Erin.  This summer we will get to spend time at the lake and I think you will love the warm sun and water...and most likely the boat engine will help soothe you to sleep too.  I can't wait to get you acquainted to all of that stuff mommy and daddy love to do.  Time for you to eat.  I love you!
All my love,
Mommy