Wednesday, December 7, 2016

One Month Update + Favorites.

My, how time flies when you're having fun...or raising newborns.

So that this post doesn't get too lengthy, but still with enough detail that I can look back and remember these things, an update via bullet points:
  • At one month old, Travis surpassed his "older" brother in weight by a whole ounce! Travis weighed 7lbs5oz and Reid weighed 7lbs4oz.
  • The easiest way for people to tell them apart is by looking at their hair and mouths. Reid's hair is lighter in color and his tongue is sticking out the majority of the time.
  • They are still in newborn diapers, which we go through about 20 a day!
  • They are also still in newborn clothes. And 99% of the time it's pajamas.
  • I have met with a lactation consultant (who I highly recommend if you are in the Charleston area! Shoot me an email if you want her contact information!!) twice now, which has been a lifesaver. We discovered that the boys were only getting an ounce of breastmilk from me per nursing session, when they needed atleast two ounces based on their weights. Therefore, I'm having to breastfeed them, then give them a bottle of an extra ounce and a half of milk, then pump so I have milk for the next nursing session. Atleast an hour to complete all three steps. Whew. (I switch back and forth between the Brest Friend Twin Pillow and the Twin Z Pillow for any of you soon-to-be twin mommas out there. I like both for different reasons.)
  • They eat every 3 hours during the day and every 3-4 hours at night. The pediatrician gave me the "ok" to let them wake me when they are hungry in the middle of the night, rather than me waking them up to eat. Yes, I feed them at the same time and yes, I wake the other one up to eat if he is sleeping. I get those two questions a lot. :)
  • Speaking of sleeping, for the first few weeks they slept in Dock a Tots inside bassinets next to our bed. Anyone who has a kid knows how noisy they are as infants when they are trying to go to sleep, so last week we decided to move them to their cribs (still in their Dock a Tots though) and keep an eye on them with a monitor. They've done really well with this and we're not waking to check on them with every little peep they make!
  • Their personalities are so similar to what they were like in my belly, it's crazy! Reid (Baby A) kicked constantly inside my belly, and outside my belly he is super feisty and does NOT like to wait a second too long to eat. He gets hangry just like his daddy. I could rarely feel Travis (Baby B) move in my belly, which sometimes worried me. Turns out, he is just a chill baby! Definitely think he's going to be the mama's boy, which I am totally ok with.
  • Gus has surprised us and does really well around them! When it is just us at home he is calm(ish), but he does get super excited when people come to visit so we have to put him in the crate. We're working on trying to find time to give him attention and exercise, too! Gus loves to lay in their nursery at night between their cribs.
  • We have ventured out of the house quite a bit recently. Thanksgiving at Dee Dee and Grandy's (my parents), hung out at the James Island Yacht Club with friends, lunch at Mellow Mushroom just the four of us, a solo trip to the grocery store and TJMaxx/Marshall's, got their first picture with Santa, attended their first birthday party (Jack's 1st Birthday), and a lunch date with my sister and her friend Kaitlin, who had twin boys the day before ours were born! Kaitlin and I have been chatting since about the middle of our pregnancies and it has been so nice to ask each other questions and provide support for each other!




  • I used Minted to make their birth announcements and, as always, was very happy with how they turned out! Also loved the fact that I already had all of my addresses uploaded to their website from last year's Christmas cards, and Minted addressed the cards for me! Huge time saver!! (Use this link to get $25 off of your first Minted order!)

ONE MONTH FAVORITES

-The Ollie Swaddle was given to me as a shower gift by my friend, Savannah. I had never heard of it before and thought to myself, "what could be so special about this swaddle?" Well, I'm here to tell you it's very special. It's made of polyester and spandex, which makes it super stretchy for that extra tight fit. It has an opening at the bottom, which makes nighttime diaper changes easy without unswaddling the babe.

-The Dock a Tot is a portable pod that can be used for multiple functions. It provides a snug environment that re-creates the womb. It's lightweight and easily portable whether it be from room to room, or to grandma and grandpa's house. It's also made out of lightweight air permeable fabric that facilitates for easy breathing if the nose/mouth gets a little too close to the sides. Although they don't really suggest using it for sleeping throughout the night, this is what we currently use it for.

-The Snuza Hero monitor is one of the few reasons we are comfortable with the boys sleeping in the Dock a Tot. It is a portable breathing monitor that clips on to the babies diaper. If there is less than eight breaths per minute and/or no breathing after 15 seconds, the monitor vibrates in an effort to jar the baby and remind him to breathe. If no breathing is still detected after three efforts of vibrating, an audible alarm will sound notifying you. Luckily, we have not heard this scary alarm yet and hope to never hear it!

-Zip up pajamas are key for quick and easy nighttime (or anytime, really) diaper changes!

-To get around, we also love the Joovy Twin Roo+ stroller! The frame is lightweight and their car seats easily snap in.
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Monday, November 21, 2016

They're Here!

November 2, 2016
Travis Robert & Reid Carlton
5 lbs 14oz, 19 inches / 6 lbs 3 oz, 19.25 inches

Our hearts are exploding with love!

Reid (left), Travis (right)




More to come...


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Friday, October 28, 2016

Friday Five [Beautycounter Edition]

Morning! Bet you didn't expect to see a post from me today, did you? Well, thanks to pregnancy insomnia, here I am writing a post at 3:30am. 

I'm sure you've all heard of Beautycounter by now and you probably know atleast one person who is a consultant of the brand. Earlier in the year when we started our fertility treatments, and after reading about how the majority of my beauty products had hormone disrupting ingredients in them (you can read more about that here), I decided to start switching my products for better ones. Not all at once (because $$$$) and I'm not claiming that 100% of the products I use don't include atleast one of the "bad" ingredients, but I've made the switch to the majority of my products. I can tell a huge difference in my skin!  

One of my oldest friends, Heidi, became a Beautycounter consultant a few months ago and we finally got up with each other so she could drop off a basket of samples for me to try. I'm not going to act like Beautycounter products are inexpensive, because they're not. Not for my budget anyway. BUT the products last a long time, and it makes me feel better that I know I'm not putting harmful ingredients on my skin. Additionally, my face is really sensitive and will turn red if I use a product that it doesn't like. Beautycounter products are gentle enough that I don't have to worry about this problem. So when Heidi offered to let me try her products before purchasing them, I didn't hesitate. There's nothing I dislike more than buying a product, bringing it home to try it, and hating it.   




Prior to Heidi dropping off her beauty bin, I was already a huge fan of the Beautycounter bronzer, hand cream in citrus mimosa, the everyday body wash, the enlightening treatment pads, and the nourishing cream cleanser

Following a few days with the basket and sampling the products, these 5 items are now on my wishlist:
Having combination skin, more towards the oily side especially in the summer, the last thing that I thought I would like was this hydrating face oil. However, once I applied it and it quickly absorbed into my skin, I was amazed at how soft my face was. I'm sure I would love it even more in the winter!

I love putting on a mask on a Sunday night while I'm winding down watching tv, and this one did not disappoint. The charcoal mask draws out impurities in your skin and minimizes pores. Not to mention makes your skin super soft, and not dried out! 

Back to the oily skin in the summer, this matte finishing powder would do wonders setting my makeup and keeping it there all day long, as well as absorbing any extra shine and minimizing pores/fine lines. It doesn't leave a white residue or any evidence that you've got it on. 

[four] Lip Sheer in Twig

I'm usually not a fan of lipstick because I feel like they dry out my lips, but these lip sheers are super moisturizing and stayed on my lips for hours! The twig color is the perfect barely there color. 


A good foundation brush can make all of the difference when applying make up. It's one of those things that you think people are crazy for spending a lot of money on, but after you find a really good one, you understand. This brush creates an even, airbrushed look, and the retractable feature makes it easily portable. 

If you'd like to contact Heidi to learn more about Beautycounter, you can visit her Facebook page, or contact her directly from the Beautycounter website

PS - She also creates one of a kind art and home decor products! Be sure to check out her design Facebook page, as well! She is one busy, talented mama! 

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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Twin Tuesday [Morris Family Baby Shower]

Some of the ladies on Cameron's side of the family were sweet enough to throw me a baby shower last month. Just the women alone on his side of the family is enough to have a decent sized shower! It was held at his aunt and uncle's house on Johns Island and the menu consisted of delicious Hamby tea sandwiches (you Charlestonians know what I'm talking about), she crab soup, caprese salad, and dessert. His cousin's wife is super crafty and she made the sign below, which is so sweet, as well as all of the monogrammed onesies, burp clothes, and bibs! 


Dress is from Le Tote
 











The wonderful Morris crew

My adorable nieces!
They are so excited to meet their new cousins! 

My beautiful sisters-in-law (missing the third!)



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Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Twin Tuesday [Maternity Photos + Updates]

After having to reschedule my maternity photos three times due to weather, we finally had sunny skies last week! Not going to lie, I had a very busy day the day the pictures were scheduled and I started questioning if I should even still do them. Well, I am so glad I did! Who knows if this is going to be my only pregnancy? Aside from my Iphone pics, I wanted documentation of this wild ride and my ever expanding belly! 

Kelly of Kelly Conley Photography was so easy to work with and made me feel so relaxed. It was just like hanging out with an old friend! After discussing the style of pictures that I liked and the atmosphere I was interested in, we decided on Daniel Island. Which actually worked great because Cameron's office is on DI. 





  






33 Week Update

-I've started going to weekly appointments, and last week was my first NST (non-stress test). It took them forever to get Baby B to cooperate and find his heartbeat (I wasn't worried because I had just seen him on an ultrasound). 

-During the ultrasound, Baby A measured 4lbs5oz and Baby B measured 4lbs1oz. Can't believe I'm basically carrying around a full size baby at this point! Actually, I can. They are heavy! 

-My csection is scheduled for November 11, if they don't come on their own before that! The 5 week count down is on!!! 

-My hospital bag is packed and the car seats are installed. Talk about a surreal feeling looking in my rear view mirror and seeing two car seats! 

-I'm waiting on the glider to come in before I share photos of the nursery and it's been 12 weeks since I ordered it, so hopefully it will be here soon! 

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Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Twin Tuesday [Babies First Football Game]

Another great weekend in the books and one week closer to meeting our little guys! 

Saturday morning, Cameron and I made the trip to Columbia for the South Carolina / ECU football game. Yes, you read that correctly. Cameron went to a USC football game. (For those that do not know, he is a Clemson grad and a die hard fan). The only way I got him to go to the game is because he put his foot in his own mouth by saying he'd only go to a USC game if he sat in a box. Well, my Uncle Jay has great connections and called Wednesday saying he got box seats! Cameron really had no choice at that point. :)

I will say though, I think he had a pretty good time. How could he not have? We had an awesome tailgate spot near nice, air conditioned, clean bathrooms (vs. nasty porta pottys), we rode up to our box with George Rogers (USC's Heisman award winner), saw Darius Rucker (sadly, didn't get to talk to him), and we sat in a box with our own bathroom (can you tell bathrooms are really important to me these days? haha), a catered meal, and all the booze one could drink! 

Aunt, Sister, Me, Mom

Cameron, Dad, Sister's BF, Uncle
He fits right in!
Cocky and his parents during the Gamecock Walk

Me with Big George! 


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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Twin Tuesday [30 Weeks]


-I'm 30 weeks today!! And TOTALLY feeling it. As I type I'm sitting on my couch with a heating pad on my back and rib pain that I can't shake. HOWEVER, I'm willing to do whatever it takes so that these babies continue to grow and be healthy! 

-At my 28 week ultrasound, both babies were head down. Baby A weighed 2lbs11oz and Baby B weighed 2lbs10oz. The doctors like to see them as close in weight as possible, so this was a great report! Also at 28 weeks, my belly measured 33 weeks! 

-Babies are still moving like crazy! I probably feel them more often than not. 

-I packed the majority of my hospital bag over the weekend. You just never know when they will decide to show their sweet faces!

-Maternity pics were scheduled for yesterday evening, but got rained out. :( My makeup was looking really good, too! Will try again later this week. 

-I found out last weekend that one of my pledge sisters in my sorority is due with twins in February! She doesn't know their genders yet, but already has two boys! Can't.even.imagine. 

-On Sunday we took Gus to a local waterpark that lets dogs come play at the end of the summer once the park is closed and before they drain all of the water. My mom also brought her dog, Buddy. They had an absolute blast! I'd guess their favorite part was the lazy river by the way they would run circles around it. 



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