2-3 Months

     The past month has been a fun one!  The boys are becoming very expressive and love to smile at us:)  It has been fun watching them smile and recognize us when we talk to them.  They also enjoy smiling at ceiling fans and lights.  They are incredibly entertained by them.  We have practiced tummy time a lot in the last month and the boys are getting stronger and stronger at lifting their heads up.  We have gone for several strolls on the greenway near our home since the weather has gotten cooler and more comfortable. 

 

 

     We left the boys in the nursery at church for the first time on Sunday, September 29th.  They enjoyed snuggle time with the sweet elderly women.  I think it was harder on mom and dad:)

We also started the boys in their cribs in their room for the first time.  Saturday, October 12th, they took their first naps in their cribs.  Carson took a 30 minute nap and Cole took a 15 minute nap.  It was a good start!  Sunday, October 13th we tried Carson and Cole in their cribs overnight.  Needless to say, that night was spent up and down trying to get them to sleep for a while.  After a few days and nights, the boys became quite comfortable in their cribs and seemed to enjoy the ambiance of their room.

 

 

 

     Unfortunately, we noticed that the boys were still struggling with reflux during this time.  We took them back to the doctor on October 7th.  The doctor instructed us to continue the Zantac we give them twice a day and add a few teaspoons of rice cereal to each bottle they drink.  At this time, the boys are drinking 5oz every 3-3 1/2 hours.  So, we bought the variable flow nipples and moved up to the big bottles!  At this doctor visit, Carson weighed 12lbs 10oz. and Cole weighed 12lbs 7oz.

     Before the boys were born, a coworker of Brad's dad got the boys their own Loveys.  Carson has a "Moo Cow" with his name on it and Cole has "Lovey Dog" with his name on it. They love to have these loveys with them to hold onto and snuggle with.

 

 

 

CARSON

 

*sleeps 3-4 hours at night

*loves to grip and hold objects

*loves his monkey wubbanub

*smiles a lot and loves to "talk" to us

 

COLE

*sleeps 4-5 hours at night

*trying to suck his thumb

*loves his lion wubbanub

*smiles and laughs at us

 

BROTHERS

 

 

Our second book from Imagination Library came this month!

 

We love our Wubbanubs!!













1-2 months

    

    

     During the first and second months the boys have really become more alert and more focused on objects and people.  First, we noticed that the boys were watching their mobiles on their swings.  They would stare for long periods of time at the mobiles above their heads.  Then, we noticed, towards the end of the first month, that they could focus more on our faces.  They began to smile at us towards the end of the first month as well :)  It has been fun to interact with them a little more!

 

 Carson

Cole

 

     Although there were smiles during this time, there were also fussy days

:(  At this time we noticed that the boys were having a lot of issues of spitting up and gas.  We were so concerned that we took Cole, who seemed to be struggling the most, to the pediatrician on August, 27th.  He determined that the boys were suffering from reflux.  So, the boys were prescribed Zantac liquid twice a day as well as a new formula.  Since birth, they had been drinking Enfamil.  The doctor had us switch to Enfamil GentleEase.  There did not seem to be any change, so then he switched them to Similac Alimentum.  This did not stay down at all for the boys!!  So, we decided to try them on Similac Sensitive.  Finally! A formula they could keep down and actually seem to enjoy eating!  They have been on this formula ever since and are now eating 4-5oz. every 3 hours.

     The boys also both experienced their first stuffy noses:(  For about a week and a half we had to use the "big blue monster" aspirator to help them clear their noses.  Needless to say, this was not a happy time! 

     Happy times were also a part of this stage in their lives.  At the end of August, they got to meet their great-granny (Herndon).  Carson and Cole also visited with great- Grandpa and Grandma Alsup.  The boys had many visitors from grandparents, aunts/uncles, to friends, to new acquaintances.  A few of the moms in my MOMs group were kind enough to bring meals or help out with a feeding or two.  

 Spending time with Grandpa

 Carson is dressed up and ready to meet great-granny Herndon.

 Cole is a sharp dressed man.

Cole studying Grandpa's face:)

     During this stage, the boys started holding their head up longer and started doing "tummy time" more.  Wake time was also introduced since they were becoming more and more observant.  Wake time consisted of reading a book, singing or talking to them, tummy time or swinging in their swings.  By the end of the two months, the boys were sleeping 4-4 1/2 hours at night.  It took a while to get to this point, though! We enjoyed snuggle time with the boys as well.  Lastly, Carson moved up to size 1 diapers at 6 weeks.  Cole followed soon after, at 7 weeks.  They are getting to be such big boys!! 



Tummy Time!

 Hello!

Peek-a-boo!



    

 

 

     I finally figured out the best and easiest way to feed Carson & Cole at the same time when I am by myself.  I set them each in their own high chairs and sit between them in another chair. This does not hurt my back!! And they are elevated up enough that the amount of spit up is greatly reduced! So I am happy and they are happy:) They enjoy sitting in their high chairs in the kitchen next to me while I wash dishes or cook as well.  They have even fallen asleep in their high chairs! Sweet boys!!

 Carson

 Cole



 So stylish!

    

CARSON

At the 2 month check up I weigh 11lb. 14oz. and am 21 1/2 inches long.

My first smile was on September 17th.

I still love to snuggle and prefer to be held!

 

 

COLE

At the 2 month check up I weigh 11lb. 10oz. and am 22 inches long.

My first smile was on September14th.

I am still more independent and love to study faces and smile!

 

OTHER SWEET MOMENTS

 love <3

 sweetness

My Men

This is the first book the boys received from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program,



 



 

  

 

Birth to 1 Month

    

 

     Today, August 22, 2013, Carson and Cole are one month old!  They have already changed so much in this time period.  It is so hard to believe it has already been one whole month since our "Sweet Peas" made their entrances into this big world.  Here are some memories of the boys over the past month.

     While in the hospital, many family members came to visit us.  Grandpa and Nana Herndon, Pa and Nana Alsup and Uncle Josh & Aunt Erin were present when the boys were born and made a few other visits to see us during the four days we stayed in the hospital.  Great grandparents, Uncle Chris and cousins Alexis & Drake also came to visit along with a few other family members.  We enjoyed our visits with everyone and enjoyed seeing their smiles when they saw and held the boys. 

Nana Herndon holding the boys.

 Nana Alsup enjoying time with the boys.

Great Grandpa and Grandma Alsup came to visit with the boys.

 

     Friday, July 26th we were discharged from the hospital.  What an exciting yet nervous car ride home that was!  The dogs were so happy to see us since we had been gone since the Sunday before.  They were excited to smell and meet Carson and Cole.  The first few nights at home were hard, but we were lucky to have help from our moms.  They each stayed overnight with us the first several nights to help us get adjusted to feeding and caring for the boys.  It didn't take us long to learn a schedule for feeding and sleeping. 

 

Loaded up and ready to head home!

 Daddy loving on the boys.





Mom enjoying snuggle time.

 

 

     Since being home, we have enjoyed many outings with Carson and Cole.  The boys have made trips to the grocery store, shopped for clothes, visited family and co-workers, and witnessed daddy eating the burger challenge at Cheeburger Cheeburger.  Carson and Cole enjoy swinging in their swings, lounging together in the Boppy Loungers, being read to, listening to daddy play piano, watching baseball, and most of all snuggling on mom and dad's shoulders.  They have experienced bath time several times.  During the first bath, Carson didn't seem to mind it too much, however, he did pee all over the kitchen sink, counter and himself!  Cole, on the other hand, spent the entire first bath time crying.  Subsequent bath times have been more tolerable for the boys:)

 

 All my men snuggling together for an afternoon nap.

 Carson's first bath.

 Cole not enjoying himself :(

 Carson

 Cole



 We love snuggling together!

 

 

     At the end of the one month mark the boys are each eating 4oz. at each feeding about every 3 1/2-4 hours.  They have tried out "tummy time" a few times and can hold their heads up about 5 seconds.  They are definitely becoming more alert and focus on our faces more when we talk to them.

 Trying out "tummy time".

 Cole

 

Carson

 

     Here's a little about each of our men...

 

Carson Wade Alsup was born at 7:02PM July 22nd, 2013.  He weighed 5lb. 10oz. and was 17.75 inches at birth.  When we left he hospital he dropped to 5lb. 2oz.  At the first visit with the pediatrician (July 29, 2013) Carson weighed 5lb. 5oz. and 5lb. 11oz. by the second visit.  At his one month appointment on August 19th Carson weighed in at 7lb. 11oz.  He is our little "chunky monkey".  Carson definitely has a big personality!  He will let you know if he is not happy with something by giving you the Carson "grunt".  At times, he is a fussier baby than his brother and eats quite a bit faster than Cole.  Carson's favorite place to be is snuggled up on your shoulder.  Lastly, Carson has a sweet head full of hair that we can't get enough of.

 

Cole Warner Alsup was born at 7:03PM July 22nd, 2013.  At birth he weighed 5lb. 5oz. and was 18 inches long.  Upon discharge from the hospital, he weighed 5lb. 1oz.  He went up to 5lb. 2oz. at his one week pediatrician appointment and 5lb. 9oz. at the second appointment.  On August 19th, at the one month appointment, Cole weighed 7lb. 6oz.  While his brother loves to gulp down his milk, Cole is a slower, more methodical eater (like his mom).  From the first day of his life we have lovingly called him "Cole Man".  For some reason it just rolls off your tongue:).  Cole is definitely a more independent, self-soothing baby.  He loves to snuggle up in your arms with his pacifier.  We enjoy watching Cole's funny faces when he is falling asleep.

 

     This first month has been so much fun for us.  We have easily learned how to tell the boys apart.  Although the boys are still so young, their personalities are already becoming evident.  They seem to have grown so big already in the month that they have been in our world.  We are excited to see what the next month holds for the boys!