Twintuition

Paul and I watched a show on Prime Time last night called Twintuition.  It was about identical twins and the way they think alike, act alike, and of course look alike even when they aren't together.  They did many different studies and it was just amazing at how alike two individual people can be.  For example, they had 10 sets of identical twins in this one high school and did a project where they would say "what food am I thinking of", "what color am I thinking of", "what number am I thinking of" and so on.  95% of identical twins knew what their twin was thinking while only 40% of fraternal twins knew.  There were so many examples of times when one identical twin was in a car accident, a sporting event accident, or felt pain in some other way and the other twin knew something had happened just by feeling the pain themselves.  This one twin was in the hospital for something and his brother was at home.  He woke up out of sleep and told his mom something was wrong with his brother.  They called the hospital and the doctors said they were just going to call because the brother was having some sort of terrible attack on his body.  It was really unreal to watch.  There were so many examples that all of them couldn't have just been coincidence. 

The reason these things happen with identical twins they say is because they come from one egg, one embryo, that splits.  Whereas fraternal twins are completely separate right from the beginning.  I don't believe in the telepathy or "sharing of a soul" that some say identical twins have, but there is some form of bond that I think is only possible through this rare relationship. 

Paul is worried that our twins will gang up on us and plot against us when they get older.  I'm sure this is true, as would probably be with any siblings to their parents.  I think it will be funny when they get old enough to play tricks on people that can't tell them apart.  I am pretty confident I will always be able to tell them apart...Paul on the other hand may be a different story.  :)

Hannah and Hailee are now 5 months old.  Even with the months that have gone by, I still cannot believe we have been blessed with identical twin girls.  It's one of those things that you just never imagine happening to you.  They were such little miracle babies from the moment they were born.  I'm sure that just like Ella, we will keep falling more and more in love with our baby girls every month that goes by. 

Hailee and Hannah

Hannah

Hailee

Our little twinnies <3

Splashpark

We went to the Dublin Splashpark this week with Ella's friends Owen and Emma and their mom. Ella was a bit apprehensive at first with the water shooting up from the ground. I'm sure she has never seen anything like it before since it was a first for me too! She got used to the fountains and we all had a great time! 

Summer Fun!

I have been trying to keep Ella busy with fun things this summer. Between our little "field trips", going to Kim's to play two half days per week, having friends over to play, and the family things that we do in the evenings and weekends this little girls doesn't have much time to be bored! Ella is constantly bringing me my shoes to go places all day long if we are just sitting around. She is an on the go girl...must get that from her mama :)

We went to the zoo last week one day (actually two days). Ella loves the new polar bear exhibit!. She rode the carousel. She was unsure of it at first but then cried when it was over!

Ella loves playing with her big pink ball. As soon as she spots it in the garage she keeps saying "ball, ball, ball" until we get it out for her to play with. It's the simple things that make her happy...usually :)

Ella's friends Owen and Emma came over the other day to play. She had so much fun with them!

Ella and I baked a cake for the first time together last week. Ella loved tasting the batter and frosting!

 

We spend a lot of time at different parks in the area.  It gives Ella time to run around and play, as well as me time to practice my photography with my best little subject.

Here a twin, there a twin

Everywhere I go, people want to ooh and aah at the twins.  They want to tell me how they know a set of twins, are a twin, have twins, just saw other twins in the same store, or how they've always wanted twins.  They always tell me how adorable Hannah and Hailee are and ask if they are identical.  While I love people telling me how cute they are (as any mom would) it takes us forever to get in and out of anywhere!  I must say though, the girls both love riding in the cart or stroller, so it is nice that they are usually good wherever we go!  I have met a few other twin mom's this way too.  I LOVE meeting other twin moms.  Especially if they have an older toodler too, I feel like I can relate so much to them and that I am not the only crazy one out there venturing around town with twinfants or twinfants plus a toddler in tow! 

Ella has been so loving with her little sisters lately.  I love that the twins are getting bigger and now smile and coo at big sister Ella!

I took Hannah to the doctor this morning because I thought she may have had an ear infection.  She has been screaming while eating sometimes the past few days and that's what Ella would do when she used to get ear infections as an infant.  Turns out she did not have one.  So, who knows what is going on with her.  Maybe she just likes me to have to stand up, bounce her, sing to her, and snuggle with only her so that she'll take the whole bottle.  Hopefully she snaps out of it and I can get back to feeding them both at once very soon!  The good part is, I got her weighed and she is now 10lbs 8oz.  That is over a pound bigger than at her 4 month appointment just 3 weeks ago!  She is trying ever so hard to catch up to her sissy!  Way to go little one!

It must be a twin thing!

Hannah and Hailee are becoming more and more alike.  In the past couple weeks, when one cries the other gets upset too, when one wakes up so does the other, when one is happy and playing normally the other one is too.  This can be a good or bad thing.  Besides the crying when the other one does, I love that they seem to care so much for one another!  I was worried that because they couldn't get much bonding time in the NICU that they wouldn't be as close as most twins are, at least at the beginning.  It's almost like they feel for each other.  It's just so cute. 

Hannah and Hailee both like sitting up (well, being propped up) much more than they used to.  Hailee often has so much fun that she just falls right asleep.  I just love when she falls asleep with her hands around her chubby belly.  :)

 Uncle Ryan recently moved down to Columbus.  He has been such a big help!  He is so good with the twins and Ella just adores him.  It is so nice having a family member down here!  We can't wait until the weather gets nice again and we can go swimming in the nice big pool at his complex!

Loving the Weather!

We are just loving this warm weather!  Even though some days it is hot and muggy, it is so much better than the cold Ohio weather we are used to!  I have got some good outdoor shots of Ella the past week or so. 

 I went to the Franklin Park Conservatory with my photography class for a field trip on Saturday.  Below are a couple of my favorite shots from the day.

Ella got a Cozy Coupe from Gammy and Grandpa this past weekend.  She loves it!  When you try to open the door to get her out if it, she just shuts the door again and won't come out!  :)