October

On our way to the Halloween party.

Ethan the Cow. He loved wearing it.

Chase wasn't loving his monkey costume at first. He was supposed to be a chicken, but the costume was too big and Ethan kept pulling his tail. Maybe next year.

The climbing thing is getting ridiculous. They both want to climb everything these days, but Ethan is out of control. We have had to redecorate our house for safety purposes. They both are covered in bruises. Since Will broke his arm when he was a kid thinking he was Superman and believing he could fly, I shouldn't be surprised.

Ready to go...Anywhere.

Weekend at the Lake

Will surprised me with a weekend at the lake (just the two of us!). We had such a great time and enjoyed being outdoors and hanging out. We are hooked (pun intended) and can't wait to do it again.

The weather did not cooperate, so we had our rain gear on...I looked like a big ole redneck. Will was in a bright blue jumpsuit all day. Not the cutest but since we were the only fools fishing in the rain, it really didn't matter.

Will showing off his fish...

This sucker was huge!! 12.5 pounder.

Chase's Surgery

Chase had hernia surgery this morning at Children's hospital. It has been a very long day, and we are very glad the surgery went well and is behind us. Mom and Dad kept Ethan for us, and it was the first time the twins have been apart. Also, I must say that getting out of the house with one child is a breeze as compared to twins.
Chase was a trooper! He had to go most of the day without anything to eat or drink and really didn't get too upset. We were released mid afternoon, and he is doing great. We appreciate all of the prayers.

Chase heading to the hospital this morning. He woke up in a great mood.

Having a blast at the hospital before the surgery....

He got a few laughs b/c he had his shoes on with his hospital gown...but we had to keep him moving, so he forget about being hungry.

Not having fun anymore...

This was after the surgery. He was pretty out of it due to all of the pain meds.

A very relieved and tired mama. Will and I were both pretty nervous, so we were drained after the surgery.

Family Reunion

We had the Annual Estess Family Reunion this past weekend. We always have it the weekend of the MSU/Auburn game. We stayed in the cabins at Callaway Gardens, which is so much fun b/c each family has their own cabin and the kids get to run wild. The boys LOVED IT!! They played hard all weekend. It was great getting to see the family and catching up with everyone.

Chase and Ethan playing in the rocks and dirt. They wanted to do this all weekend.

Sweet little Charlie... I will always have a soft spot for him. He puts a smile on my face.

Ethan upset because he was not allowed to go swimming in the lake with the ducks. The boys loved watching the ducks.

I liked this picture of Nyssa playing by the lake.

Random pic... When we got home from the reunion, Chase got to ride on Allie King's Barbie 4-wheeler. He doesn't discriminate against Barbie or the color pink at this point.

All they want to do now is play outside. This past Thursday, Diana said that Ethan grabbed her hand, took her to the front door, and then knocked on the door to let her know he wanted to go outside.

Girl pic... Olivia, Laura Lyle, Hannah, and Nyssa. After this picture, they all changed into their cheerleading outfits and watched Hannah Montana. Crazy.

Most of the kids...I am missing Lucas in this picture.

Diane holding our new pride and joy, EJ, Hannah, Charlie, Nyssa, twins, and Charlie.

Playing

Looking for trouble...our hands are full with this guy.

Playing at the park

Ethan got jealous watching Sam in the swing, so he got a turn. The "Bubblegum Playland" the boys got for their birthday from their Aunt Courtney and Uncle Trip. Oh my gosh, they love this thing. Huge Success!!

Playing at ZaZa and Buddy's House

Will left for a camping trip this weekend, so the boys and I packed up and spent the weekend at my parent's house. The boys enjoyed the new scenery and the new toys. I enjoyed the help! Ethan took his first steps a couple of weeks ago, and he is now obsessed with walking everywhere. Chase should be on his feet any day now.

Trip to Mississippi

The boys had a blast on their trip to Clarksdale last weekend. They got to play with their cousins and enjoy the catfish fry at Aunt Amy and Uncle David's house. It was nice to have the whole Estess Clan together, and we had fun catching up.

Beach Trip

The girls took a trip to the beach in early June. It was so much fun!! I swear my stomach was sore from laughing so hard all weekend. It was a much needed getaway, and we made the most of it. These were the only pictures I took all weekend, and they are not very good. We were way too busy for pictures. A BIG thanks to Charlie and Diane for helping Will with the boys, so I could go.

Micah's 2nd Birthday!!

Work Family

My other family... One of the reason I love my job so much is due to this group.
Jill, Ashley, Me, Lauren, and Martina.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Will. People always make comments about how hard it must be having twins and a full time job. It's not, because I have such a wonderful husband. I hope the boys will understand one day how fortunate they are to have such an amazing dad. We love you, and couldn't (wouldn't want to) do it without you.

Ethan trying to ship off his brother.

It is amazing what entertains them...The boxes kept them busy most of the morning. Poor E was having a hard time with his teeth. Chase was fed up and pushed Ethan over...You can see E's little foot and his mouth through the box holes.

The boys LOVE water. We take them to the pool on the weekends, but the kiddie pool helps get them through the week. Ethan is hoarding all of the water toys, so Chase can't get them. Yes, we are already starting the "it's all mine" phase.

Boys in their "Cove". They love to crawl in this nook for some reason. The boys have grown 6 teeth in a week, so you can tell in a lot of these pics that Ethan was suffering. Who knew growing teeth was such work.

The boys trying Jello.

Anniversary

Will and I celebrated our 6th year wedding anniversary on June 14th. It has gone by so fast! We had a great day. It was the first time the boys stayed at my parents overnight without us there. We went to a yummy restaurant downtown and hung out talking and relaxing for hours. The twins loved hanging out at ZaZa and Buddy's.
Ethan charming his way into someone's lap.

Chase looking for trouble.

I think it is time to baby proof...

Will and I were on our way to dinner... We were looking and feeling a bit worn. We got to sleep in the next morning which helped! Thank you mom and dad.

E and C watching it rain... It is all so new to them.

Knox Comes to Birmingham

Chase, Todd, and Knox came to Birmingham the last weekend of May for a visit. It was a fun weekend. Ethan and Chase had a playdate with Knox, Micah, Sam, and Allie on Friday night. Yes, that was six kids two or under. It was wild. On Saturday, Chase, Courtney, and I took Micah and Knox to the zoo. Diana kept the boys that day and then came back to babysit Sat. night, so we could go out. We had a great time.


Will and Knox at the creek skipping rocks.

Micah and Knox brushing the goats. The petting zoo was the best part.

Knox helping me with some cleaning.

Allie hanging with the boys. She found Knox's boots. I thought they went well with her cute PJs.

The boys fighting to get the best view. We have since had to move the TV, after we caught Ethan licking the screen.

Boys looking innocent...

Ethan did not like being dressed in his church clothes.

Ethan and Sam hanging out.

Crawfish Boil

Mom and the boys- Micah, Sam, Chase and Ethan on Mother's Day.
Chase chewing on his baseball.

A very tired Ethan ready for bed.

Chase showing off his first two teeth. We should see one of Ethan's any day now.

They may not look alike, but they tend to do the exact same things at the same time.

We had bad weather in Bham yesterday, and the tornado alarms continuously went off throughout the day. We hung out downstairs on the sofa watching the weather on the news. The boys didn't seem to mind. Ethan ready for his nap.

The boys at the swimming pool. They could stay in water all day.

Chase took this picture of himself.

We went to Will's grandmother's 80th birthday party this weekend. It was a very fast trip but definitely worth the drive, so the boys could hang out with their great-grandmother. The boys did so well and really just went with the flow. They enjoyed getting to meet all of their family.

Ethan and Will's cousin Patrick hanging out.

Easter

We joke that Ethan has a hinged jaw. He always has his mouth wide open when he his happy.

We are going to have our hands full with Chase... He is always up to something.

We took the boys on their first swim this weekend. Once they got accustomed to the water, they loved it.

Chase couldn't keep his eyes open, while he was eating his dinner. He would just open his mouth with his eyes closed until finally he crashed.

Ethan in a fake timeout....

Hanging out in the yard with Haley, Allie, and the boys...We didn't realize that Ethan was allergic to grass and by the time we figured it out the poor kid was a mess.Chase and Ethan are now at the age where they are curious about everything. Chase was examing my face and everything he could get his sweet hands on all afternoon.

Allie checking out the scene. We had so much fun watching her do her thing. She is adorable and so smart.

Baptism

We had the boy's baptism this past weekend. It was so much fun. Thanks to all of you who shared their special day especially Robin, Nyssa, and Charlie who flew in from Florida. It was a very exciting and full weekend. We had the baptism, and then we had lunch afterwards. The boys did great and enjoyed the day.

The boys at the altar during the ceremony.

Sweet Charlie fell asleep watching cartoons. I love this picture, he is so cute!

Nyssa playing at lunch in her pretty dress.

Chase crashed after we finished all of the festivities.

Aunt Robin and Ethan hanging out.

It wouldn't have been right without Diana. She keeps our boys everyday, and we couldn't do it without her.

Diane, Charlie, little Charlie, Nyssa, and Robin...Thank you for traveling to share the day.

Mom and Dad were nice enough to let us host the lunch at their house. Thank you!

All of the boys...Micah, Sam, Trip and Court

Haley, Wes, and Allie King - Thank you.

Let It Snow

I promise we do get some food in his mouth. Will and Chase had a fight with the spoon, and you can tell who won.
The boys getting ready for dinner.

Sam

Welcome Sam!! We are so excited he is finally here!
Sorry, I couldn't get this pic to rotate. This was his first day at home. He is such as sweet baby.
The boys LOVE taking baths. They could stay in there forever just splashing around.

Ethan does not like peas at all.

Uncle Trip and Ethan hanging out.

Chase enjoying his photo shoot.

At ZaZa and Buddy's after church and enjoying the attention.

I am still praying the boys will be book worms like me... One of my favorite things is reading to them.

The cute jackets Haley gave the boys. Chase wasn't feeling it.

Ok, so this is a bit rigged....He does love to stand, but Will was a step away so he wouldn't fall.

Chase is such a happy kid. He usually has two speeds....laughing or crying. Their smiles are all the reward I need for getting up every night. Yep, they are 4+ months and still not sleeping through the night. We are hopeful that it will happen soon.

Will took these while they were waiting for me to get ready to go shopping. They are learning at a very early age that they will probably always have to wait on girls.

So Chase caught the stomach virus after one long night in the E.R (he will be fine/it is a long story) and 3 consecutive doctor visits. He then shared the lovely virus with his brother. So Will and I had two weeks of very sick babies. This was Ethan at Will's parents feeling pretty rotten. Poor Guys.

Chase enjoying being naked and trying to see what his dad is up to....

There is a very good reason why toys have ages on the side of the box. This bead set (make your own necklace sorta of thing) was for ages 6+. Nyssa and Hannah (age 4) loved the idea of it all, but they do not quite have the patience to thread numerous small beads together. We tried but as you can see it was difficult to keep them focused. Will's dad and I ended up making the necklaces.

Ethan's laugh is more of a scream. We sometimes call him the bird. It is hilarious.

Estess family photo. It was pouring outside, so it ended up being an indoor shot. We look calm but in between shots (we had the camera timer on) it got very noisy.

They want everything in their mouths especially each others hands and arms. Ethan was not in the mood to be Chase's pacificer.

This was taken on Christmas morning. It was a wonderful Christmas. We woke up and went to my parents house to open gifts. The day was so relaxing and fun. Micah and the twins made it so special.

Micah is so CUTE! He is hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing after he got tape stuck in his hair. He was fired up unwrapping all of his presents. He definitely kept us all entertained.

We have been trying to get a pic of all of the boys. We will continue trying.... We may just need to wait on Sam to get here. It will only be 4-6 more weeks!!

Worn out.

Trip and Micah opening his bowling set. He just wanted the bowling ball. Micah is obsessed with balls... He is all boy.

Thanksgiving

Playing

The boys are growing and changing everyday. We are having so much fun. They are so much more interactive. They have starting "talking" to us and enjoy checking out their surroundings. They LOVE their activity mat. The boys will honestly play on it for hours each day. They usually end up crashing as you can see from the pictures.

Back at Work

I officially went back to work this past week. As much as I missed my job, it has been tough leaving the boys. I was kept very busy which helped.. Everyone tells me that it gets easier. The girls decorated my office and took me to my favorite restaurant in town to welcome me back. I am lucky to have them.

Baby Einstein is a Success

Fall

Fall has become my favorite season since moving to Bham. It has been so pretty here the last few weeks. Will and I took the boys to the Botanical Gardens, and we had a great time looking at all of the colorful trees. Chase slept through the stroll,but Ethan was wide eyed the whole time.

First Fight

My Sweet Boys

Halloween Pics

The boys in their Halloween costumes and some cute outfits Haley K. got the boys.

Micah the Duck and The Boys 1st Halloween

We went over to Trip and Courtney's house to see Micah Trick or Treat. He was a duck for Halloween and SO Cute! We couldn't stop laughing. The boys were two peas in a pod. My boss suggested we tape their noses up to be two pigs in a blanket. I wasn't sure the boys would enjoy that very much.

Hannah and Our Trip to Clarksdale

The boys got to go to Clarksdale and finally meet their cousin Hannah, Aunt Amy, and Uncle David. It was so nice to get out of town and get a good visit in with everyone. Hannah took her role very seriously and helped us all weekend take care of the twins. She was so funny, and truly fed, burped, and helped change diapers. She even read them their bedtime story. We love you Hannah and miss you already. We can't wait to see you in Bham at Thanksgiving.

The Boys Get a Babysitter (besides my mom)

Will and I got to have night out and went to the Bone Bash Costume Party. We had fun, and the boys got to officially meet DeAnna. DeAnna will be coming over to keep the boys everyday when I go back to work. They seemed to hit it off just fine. It was nice for us to have a night off. I would like to thank Nearly Nu and the SAE's 1998 Patty Murphey for the flapper dress. When people asked me where I got my dress, it was a bit hard to explain. All we needed was a wig and a 'stache for Will.

Jan, Chase, and Knox Come to Bham

We were so excited that Jan, Chase, and Knox came to see us in Birmingham. We had a lot of fun catching up. Jan and Mom were nice enough to get up with the boys two nights in a row. I am not sure if they will ever volunteer to do that again :). I think Ethan got a few extra bottles one night due to twin confusion. I am sure he didn't mind. Knox has gotten so big and is so sweet. The visits are a bit different than in the old days due to having the little ones, but we enjoyed every minute.

Little Glow Worms

Micah and the Twins

Courtney brought Micah over to hang out with his cousins. He wasn't too sure what to think, but he was so adorable. We enjoyed their visit, and I am sure Micah is ready for the twins to get bigger so they can really play.

Game Day with the Boys

Will and the boys watching football. The beer in the boppy was a nice touch...

Church

The boys got all dressed up for their first church service. This is the only place I will let them wear their pretty monogrammed bibs (Thanks Andrea). They slept through the whole thing. We sat in the crying room which was very loud... I now understand why people prefer the main sanctuary or the nursery.

Poor Pups

I didn't believe it when everyone told me that I wouldn't have time for my dogs once the twins arrived. I mean I LOVE my Mollie and Watson. We have had Mollie for eight years and Watson will turn four this month.... Unfortunately, they are starting to feel neglected, and I think they may be losing it. Poor pups.

Middle Eastern Festival

Will and I took the boys to check out the Middle Eastern Festival downtown this weekend. We went because we were curious, and b/c we heard the food was amazing. It was really neat and a bit crazy. They had a live arabic band, belly dancers, and tons of lebanese food. Yum! I was trying to get pics of the children dancers, but they didn't turn out very well. The boys loved the fresh air and got lots of attention. We had a great time.

The girls from the office met me and the boys for lunch on Brio's patio. We had a great time catching up and enjoyed the beautiful day. I miss them!

Smart Allie

We had Jenni, Haley, Wes, and Allie over for dinner, and Allie stole the show. She was so much fun to watch, and she is quite the multi-tasker. She is definitely smarter than the rest of us.

Papa and DeeDee's Visit

Will's parents (Charlie and Diane) came to Birmingham for a visit this past weekend. We really enjoyed their company and their help!! They took the night feedings on Friday and Sunday night! I can't begin to thank them enough for the sleep. We went out for dinner on Friday (the boys can go to restaurants if there is outdoor seating). On Saturday, I got a much needed haircut, and then they kept the babies while Will and I went to lunch and hung out together for a much needed few hours. On Saturday afternoon, we all went to Aldridge Gardens for a photo shoot. I put the above slideshow together from the pics Charlie took. The boys were not very happy due to being very hungry, but I am proud of the pictures we got from the day. The whole weekend was very relaxing, and Will and I feel like we had a chance to recharge. Thank you Diane and Charlie for the sleep and a fun weekend. We really appreciate it!

Hanging With the Twins.....Alone

Will went back to work two weeks ago, and I have been pretty busy with the little guys. I will go ahead and apologize to those I haven't had a chance to call back. I promise I will do better once everything slows down a bit. The boys have been eating every two hours. It takes me about a hour to get them feed, burped, diapers changed (outfits changed depending...), and back to sleep. Then once I pump and get bottles ready for the next feeding, I have about 20 minutes before we start over again.
It feels like so much has happened in the past few weeks even though we still can't take them out in public. The twins look completely different to everyone but me. I guess b/c I see them so often, but they have put on some needed weight. We went in for our two week checkup on 9/9. Ethan weighed 5pds 8oz and Chase weighed 6pds 6oz. They had gained 10oz in a week. All was well at our checkup with the exception of our Dr. noticing that Chase has a slight heart murmur. He referred us to a Cardiologist, and we had our appt. on 9/17. Chase has a 4mm hole in his sweet heart. It sounds bad, but actually it is very common. The dr. said he was not worried about it at all and wants to see us in a year to make sure it has closed on its own. Whew...It was def. a relief.
I am loving getting to know them. They already have such different personalities and are so much fun to observe and take care of these days. We get bored so we go to the park daily for a stroll, and Will comes home everyday for lunch which is wonderful. We had a very fun week with friends coming by to see the twins. It really helps me to have grown-up time each evening. A very big thanks to Matt, Ginger, Weston and Whitney Hodges, Robert, Lizzie, and Egan Ferguson, Jason and Ashley Garrison, Jenni Parker, David and Jenny McPhail, and Haley King (who checks on me daily) for the conversation and keeping us feed.

Here are few things that we love and use daily.
*The Double Snap and Go Stroller- It was inexpensive, and it is very light which gives me the freedom to grab the twins and go to the park everyday.
*The Bon-BeBe Sleep Sacks- Will's mom and sister Robin hooked us up with about 15 of these wonderful gowns. It eliminates the need for socks or hand mittens. They wear them every night to sleep in and we love them!!
*The Pee Pee Tee-Pees for the Sprinkling Wee Wees- Thank you Libby! We don't change diapers without them.
*The Belly Time Lily Pads- We play on these everyday. They are small enough for Ethan and Chase to have their own. The sooner they get their neck and arm strength the better for everybody.
*Arbonne Diaper Rash Creme- It works wonders.

*Dekor Diaper Hamper- It is hands free and large enough to hold a bunch of stinky dirty diapers.

*The Happiest Baby on the Block - This book makes s lot of sense.

We are attempting to teach independe-nce at a very early age.

Chugging...

Feeling good...

Officially drunk off of milk and very content...

Ethan is the size of Will's flip flop on the left side of the picture.

Mollie guarding the babies' dirty clothes. She is adjusting well until one of the boys cries and then she gets upset.

The Twin's 1st Bath

This was the boy's first bath (more of a spit bath). Ethan went first (bless him), and Will and I tried to figure it out. I wonder how many times they will have to pee on me, before I remember to be on alert. Will ended up taking over the process (he was better at it), and I grabbed the camera. Despite the above pictures, they seemed to actually enjoy the process. I loved being able to use my baby smelling lotion. I wouldn't put them down b/c they seemed so good.

The guys are a bit camera shy. Ethan is on the left weighing in at a whopping 4lbs10ozs and Chase on the right is currently weighing 5lbs11ozs. They had just returned from the doctor who was pleased they haven't lost more weight. The BFeeding is working!!

Chase holding Chase. She surprised me in the hospital to visit her Godsons.

The "Beginning"

We sleep whenever possible.....

The first few days of parenthood have been interesting. Since the boys are preemies, we are doing everything possible to plump them up (many night feedings). They also are both jaundice which adds a few extra steps....they have sunbathing sessions during the day. Chase is a sleeper and is so laid back. Ethan is calm, until he gets hungry. They are so funny and such a joy.

The Proud Grandparents

We are very fortunate to have so much support from our parents. Will and I can't thank you enough for all of your help. Mom and Dad have officially moved in with us, until we can get our arms wrapped around caring for two little boys. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We love you all.

Aunt Courtney snuck back to my hospital room before the surgery to hold my hand. They wouldn't let anyone but Will back there with me, so Court used her scrubs to her advantage.

The boys were in the NICU for a few hours. Will couldn't help himself from showing them off through the window. The boys already have him wrapped around their tiny little fingers.

Chase and Ethan's Birthday!!

Will and I are proud to announce that Charles Ethan and William Chase made their arrival on Monday, August 25th at 4:12 pm. Chase weighed 5lbs 13ozs and Ethan weighed 4lbs and 13ozs. We were discharged from the hospital on Friday afternoon. The boys are doing so well, and we are having fun figuring out how to take care of twins. Will and I truly appreciate all of the calls, food, happies, and love we have received since their birth. We will keep you updated.