Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas! What a great Christmas it was..We were able to spend 2 weeks at home between Alamo and Cedar and it was awesome. We have such great families and although we like it here in Arizona, we are reminded everytime we leave that we definately want to end up around family! I think it's crazy how much Will and Evvie look alike in the picture above..

My babies are now 5 months old.. I'm a bit depressed. I cannot believe how fast this is all going!! I was reading in a baby book the other day that if a 150 lb person were to grow as much as a baby in one year, they would end up being 450-500 lbs by the end of the year!!! Crazy right? That explains why Lance and I swear they grow over night! This is Will above. They have now figured out that they can put their hands and anything else they grab into their mouths, so needless to say we have a lot of slobbery shirts around here.

Our Pretty Girl.. I think my kids are so dang cute.. My parents always say, "Every mother's baby crow is the blackest." I guess it's true! Will and Evvie loved Christmas. They loved the lights and all the music and things to look at. They were even lucky enough to sit on Santa's lap 2 times!!! Maybe I will get around to posting those sometime..

Thank you Pinterest for the pose idea above.. Isn't Pinterest just great??

Our little guy is so funny! I get comments all the time from people about how they think he pulls the funniest faces. It's so true. He is always doing something different with his facial expressions! His eyebrows are so expressive.. if thats possible!! He has officially rolled over both ways as of tonight.. He finally got from his back to his belly, although he did get a bit high centered on his arm during the process!

They are both holding thier heads up so good now! They have just started noticing each other and I love it! They are always so happy in the mornings, so I always lay them on their side facing each other.. They spend a good 5-10 minutes babbling and taking turns sucking on each others fingers. It is so fun to watch! Sometimes they will be crying and I will turn them towards each other and they will immediately stop and start cooing at each other. Gosh it's so cute. They are so lucky to have a built in best friend!! I hope they are always close.

My sweet Evvie decided to roll over onto her back on New Years Eve! It was a great day for her because it means no more tummy time for her! Man she hated it! And I hated it even more.. I even stopped doing it for a while until friends and my doctor made me feel as if I would ruin their whole lives if I didn't continue doing it! She is still sweet as ever, and starting to love her Mom and Dad! It's so fun that they are starting to recognize us and get happy to see us.

Classic example of play time.. Notice how Will doesn't seem bothered one bit! They don't mind at all that someone else is sticking their fingers in their mouth and occasionally making them dry heave. It seems as if Evvie is always on a mission to find something in his mouth..

We have officially started baby food around here! Will INHALES it, and Evvie is very polite and has great manners while eating. It's so funny to see the difference between these two. Notice how they are holding hands.. That is my favorite thing lately.. They are so good at grabbing things now that they will grab each others hands. They do it while their eating, playing and falling asleep. Sometimes I swear Will is playing "Uncle" with Evvie and bending her fingers backwards on purpose. She screams and I have to intervene and break it up! I love it!

Things Evvie is doing-

-Being the happiest baby possible

-Laughing when we tickle her neck or when we blow in her face.. odd thing to laugh about so cute though. When she laughs it a cute, low and gruff noise. SO CUTE!

-Getting longer every day, she takes after her mother I suppose

-Talking seriously to us occasionally. Hard to explain, but it's as if she has something very serious to say and she is trying so hard to tell us something.

-Just barely found her toes, and likes to suck on them. Will could never get close to doing that! His belly is too large.

-Growing some great hair up top!!!

-Loving toys and putting them in her mouth!

-Loves her binky and a soft blanket she has. Whenever her face hits that softness she is out for the count! Great sleeping tools. She also likes to hold Lances finger whenever she falls alseep. (that's what he says anyways) wether she does or not I think it's pretty cute. One night I woke up and didn't know where Lance was. I found him laying on the floor asleep next to Evvie while she was holding his finger. Hahah, cute right?

-So patient. Poor Evvie gets taken advantage of. If it comes down to them both needing something at the same time it seems like Will is always first. That's because we know he will blow up if it doesn't happen soon! So poor Evvie just waits patiently. I guess it will be good for her in the long run!

Will just can't get enough of Evvie.. He is so much more solid than her! We are really starting to notice a big difference between them! I'm glad it's Will who is larger, not the other way around! At least for now.. Who knows what the future will bring!

Waiting for Dad to come home.

The Dr. is in!!! Lance is now helping at the Clinic once a week. He loves it and likes the change it has brought to his schedule. He is swamped with material. I feel so bad, but am so proud of him. I could never dedicate myself like he has! No joke he is studying or going to school for 12-15 hours a day!! We have found ourselves completely exhausted in different ways.. He is mentally fried, and I am sleep deprived!!! We will surive though! :)

Cute toes..

What Will is up to-

-Like I said, rolling over both ways

-Laughing and squeeling a lot

-Being a happy baby

-Loving to eat, eat and EAT!

-LOVES to bounce in his jumper toy. My brother and SIL gave it to us and man is it a life saver!! it will entertain him for a good 30 minutes! It is so fun to watch him jump like crazy!! Evvie isn't so much into the extreme sports like her brother is.. she doesn't like it one bit!

-Still in love with Elmo and the book that has Elmo in it..

-Loving baby food and playing in the sink cleaning off after he eats it!

Being a twin mom is starting to get crazier! I used to have things down, but as they are getting older and doing more things I feel like it is an amazing day if I can just manage to give them baths, get myself ready, clean the house AND cook dinner. Unfortunately that really never happens too often!! I am constantly reminding myself that all that matters is that they are alive and happy, and to enjoy every second! They are so much work, but I am LOVING be their mom!!!

Previews!

Well, over Thanksgiving I took several people's pictures. I had a lot of fun doing it, and some have been asking for some sneak peaks.. So, here are a few of my favorites. I finally finished editing all of them. I have found it takes a lot longer to get things done with two babies around!

My adorable nephew Kobe.

My sister in law Angie's boys. She is amazing. She also has twins. When they were born Daxton wasn't even 2 years old yet! That's why I think she is amazing. I can't imagine having another little person to worry about right now!

This family needs to find a career as family modeling or something! They are such a good looking family right?

I thought this tree was awesome.

Love this picture with the awesome red shoes!

My other awesome sister in law with her adorable family!

I think this is my favorite picture of all! Isn't she beautiful?

Update

I have decided Christmas cards require too much work to get in envelopes this year.. So consider this picture our Christmas card. Everyone I would have sent them to reads this blog anyways, so why bother right?? Maybe next year. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

This past year has been very eventful and so fun. Lance is busy enduring the hardest semester of his life, and I am busy enjoying the many challenges that come with taking care of two babies all by my lonesome! I have said this over and over, but thank goodness they are good babies because I don't know how I would do it if they weren't! Lance and I are completely exhausted each night as we go to bed, but although we have never been so tired in our lives (yes, even more tired then when we were playing college basketball and dating, staying up until 4 each night and then waking up the next morning for practice or weights) we have honestly never been so happy. It's amazing how happy two little human beings can make you! Merry Christmas!

That was the easiest Christmas card we have ever done. I think I will start doing it this way from now on.

They are 4 months old now. Can you believe it? I hate how fast they are changing, but loving it at the same time. It is so fun watching them learn and figure out how to do things.

Will is still cuter than ever, and always smiling with his whole face. See example above. I love how his eyes get that cute little squint. He is also becoming quite the yeller. He has found his voice and loves to use it. When he gets mad he lets us know by throwing a "Higbee Tantrum" as Lance likes to call it. Lance says Will has some fire to him like his sisters!

Our sweet Evvie Jane. (By the way.. I have had several people ask how to pronounce her name. I will explain. It is prounounced Eh-Vee. Not to be confused with Eve-ee.) Does that make sense? Poor girl, we set her up for lifelong confusion. But, we love the name, and we knew she was an Evvie when we first saw her!

We can't get enough of her. She has laughed several times now, and is the easiest baby. I always feel bad when I say one good thing about one baby, because I feel as if by saying that, I am in a way saying that the other baby is bad or something.. Which I am definately not.. That was confusing sorry.. Moving on.... Evvie is so sweet. She could babble for hours and makes the cutest noises. She is always so pleasant and loves to stare at Will. Today she actually reached out and took his binky right out of his mouth. She is getting good with her hands!

I often find them doing the exact same thing as shown above. Must be a twin thing right?

Evvie rocking her leapord leggings and painted nails. I swear, if I would only take care of myself as good as I take care of our kids I would be looking good! Baths everyday, dressed everyday, painted nails.. Someday I might get to that point.
I love that Lance is in normal clothes!! I love when he is in normal clothes because that means we are doing something fun. Scrubs or a shirt and tie = studying or school.

They are loving to read nowadays, and thanks to Brittany, their favorite book is "Bubbles, Bubbles." Will always smiles when he see's Elmo. Crazy how he can pick him out every time.

Will has the bluest eyes you ever did see. He is becoming quite particular with things we are finding. When he wants to eat, it better happen fast or we will hear about it. When he needs to burp, act fast or else! And when he is ready for a nap he needs a nap! But, the good thing is we can read him pretty well, and predict what he is going to want next. As long as we are on the same page as him he is a very happy boy. He makes the cutest noises, and squeels way more like a girl than Evvie.

Our pretty girl.

On another note, Halloween was great. Yes, I know that was a long time ago.. But I had to show off how cute they were! I don't know why I thought a cow and pig would be great while thinking up what they should be for Halloween, but I threw it together, and I think it turned out so cute! Unfortunately we didn't get much candy.. They weren't too good at the trick or treating thing yet. We're hoping next year they pull their weight and bring in some good stuff. Lance and I were farmers to go along with their costumes.

There are those hands again.. Always so proper and lady like.
Will's face is awesome in this!

3 months!

3 Months!!

Time is flying by, and I find it so fun but so sad at the same time! It seems like just yesterday my babies were little preemies in the NICU, and now they are chunks who are smiling and being "real people" instead of just sleeping, eating and pooping!..(although a lot of that is still going on.. :) )

Will- He is our happy boy! Here are a few things about him..

-He has rolled over 3 times!! He rolled over at 1 month.. crazy.. but he just barely did it again two times in a row.. Lance was a very proud dad..

-He is "wirey" as Lance likes to proudly call it.. He is always so stiff and trying to stand or do something..

-He is SOO happy! At nights I will be closing my eyes trying to burp him and whenver I open them there he is giving me a big gummy smile! Whenever he locks eyes with someone he smiles so big.

-Speaking of his smile.. it's the cutest smile! He smiles with his whole face..

-Has started sleeping through the night!!! About a week ago he slept 9 whole hours!!! I didn't know what to do with myself. And what makes it even better is that Evvie did too!!! I haven't gotten that much sleep since June!!! I feel like a whole new woman!!

- Loves, Loves, LOVES to eat!!! As soon as he is up I better act fast because within a matter of seconds he is letting me know he is starving!! Such a good change from his past NICU days with a feeding tube in his nose!

-Likes to tell us "stories." We think he really thinks he is talking to us..

-Likes looking at his sister when they lay down by each other.. cutest thing ever.

-Has just recently started doing a pouty lip. I love it!

-Gets furious whenever he gets the hiccups.

-Is so close to laughing.. but instead does a fake laugh/chuckle.

-So happy in the mornings! But only for a short period of time.. then it's on to food!

Evvie Jane

-Our long skinney girl!

-Is so sweet and has become quite a cuddly baby.. which I love!

-Is ALWAYS moving her hands so cute.. hard to explain.. but she is so dainty with her hands and is always touching her face softly with them. She has also recently discovered them and likes to stare at them every now and then.

-Such a patient baby, thank goodness since Will has a very strict agenda!!

-SOO happy! When she wakes up in the mornings she never cries. I always wake up to her kicking and squeeling and smiling! It is the best way to wake up!

-Sleeps 8-9 hours straight every night for about 2 weeks now!!! WOOT WOOT!! Like I said, I feel like a whole new woman!

-Hates it when Will hits her in the face.

-Loves her baths.

-Falls asleep on her own all the time. When she wakes up at 6 I feed her, lay her under her toys to kick, then go back to bed. She plays for about 20 minutes then falls back asleep on her own. Bless her... ;)

-Loves to kick and squeel. Sometimes she sucks in and squeels so loud and hard it makes her cough! It is so funny.

-Has the sweetest little smile

-Is starting to get the cutest fuzzy hair that I can put into somewhat of a mo-hawk!

-Still loves to snuggle up with Will. She goes right to sleep with him by her. Which I love.

-Such a sweet little girl!

Lance has 2 more weeks of intense school and finals and then we are off for 2 weeks for Thanksgiving!! There have been a few long days where It's just me and the babies from 7 am to 8 pm with a break in the middle for lunch, but we are all surviving! I go out all the time during their naps because it seems like they nap better when they are moving in their carseats. I am getting used to the attention having twins brings, and have found the number one thing that gets said to a mother of twins is, "Looks like you've got your hands full!" Seriously, no joke.. I swear that's what I hear 90% of the time.. I also hear, "A boy and a girl?? How lucky!! ARE THEY IDENTICAL??" I am amazed about how much people don't know about twins.. but for all you readers out there that don't know.. A BOY AND A GIRL CAN'T BE IDENTICAL!! hahaha... I find that question so funny. I will usually try to explain this reasoning, and one time a girl said, "Ya, but they look a lot a like.. So they could be right?" I just laughed and pretended like she had a good point. Pretty funny.

Life is so good.

As of Lately..

Life is good... My babies are almost 2 1/2 months and I can't believe it! It seems like these past 2 months have gone by SOOO fast and no it is just one big blur. I am trying so hard to soak in every moment and enjoy every second of these two. So far so good.. Thank goodness my babies are good babies. Evvie is an angel baby, and once Will gets all of his gas out then he is an angel baby as well! :) They are so much fun, and are starting to be real human beings by smiling and interacting with us!


Will has the cutest lips..

My beautiful Evvie Jane..

2 month check up stats-

Evvie- 11 lbs 7 oz >97% for length! >97% for weight

Will- 11 lbs 5 oz >97% for length! >97% for weight

We were pretty pumped about that... Our little preemie's aren't so little anymore! It makes us so happy to see that they are already tall.. hopefully that continues to be a trend.. I don't see how it couldn't.

Things I have learned being a mother of twins-

-I have suddenly become the worlds best multi-tasker.. and I am always planning ahead for what my next move will be. I honestly wish sometimes people could see me sometimes.. The other day I was nursing one baby, pumping on the other side, and holding and feeding the other baby a bottle! I mean come on!! that is impressive right? Too bad no one gets to ever witness it.. probably a good thing I guess.

-I am constantly amazed that a human being can function on so little sleep for so long. I mean seriously.. It started at 7 months pregnant.. And now ever since their birth, the longest stretch of time I have slept is 5 hours.. and that was only one time!! Right now I am averaging about 3 hours of sleep a night. But weirdly enough I think my body is getting used to it.. I'm sure it will all catch up to me sooner or later.

-It's true what they all say... You really do feel like a milk cow.

-It's ok if babies cry.. Or at least that's what I have to tell myself when they both need me and I can't help them both.

-I have become really good at handling and holding a baby with just one arm/hand.

-Taking pictures has never been so much fun..

-Traveling is crazy!! I mean it seriously took us 4 hours to pack for our first trip.. it was nuts! Our little car was packed to the brim with stuff!

-I am completely in love with these two little babies.

I am loving every aspect of being a mom right now. We have waited a long time for this and it has been worth every second! We can't get enough of them!

They're Here!!

This post is a long time coming.. But it is hard to find time to do much of anything around here if it doesn't consist of feeding, changing or burping a baby!!


Our sweet babies decided to suprise us a bit earlier than planned! On July 25th Lance and I were at home enjoying the evening and trying to decide what we wanted to do the rest of the night... I got up from the couch to go get a drink of water.. and WATER is what happened!! I was in the kitchen when all of the sudden something just did not feel right, and we heard a big splash on the floor! My water had broke! I yelled to Lance in a worried tone and he immediately sprung into action!! So many thoughts started rushing through my head!! My biggest concern was that it was too soon. I was 34 weeks and 5 days along with the babies and I knew there was definately a chance they would need a lot of help after they were born.


Lance was hillarious. I have never seen him move so fast!! Within 2 minutes our bags were packed, toothbrushes loaded, baby outfits packed, and we were on our way to the hospital! Man was it an odd experience walking around after your water has just broke! I was soon hooked up to all sorts of monitors and they started running different tests on me. We figured out it was the baby girls sack that had broke. They then took a sample of amniotic fluid to see if the baby girls lungs were developed. Thankfully the test showed that they were.. That was a huge relief!! The only problem was we didn't know if the baby boys would be developed yet. But odds were pretty good that they would be.


Anyways.. fast forward a bit.. they had me labor through the night and in the morning we met with our doctor. Soon we were schedule for a C-section at 11:00 am! It all happened so fast!


Lance and I were so excited to finally meet our little ones.. They had me walk down to the OR and soon I was numb from my chest down and they were cutting into my belly! Lance took pictures of the whole thing.. I must admit.. He just might have passed me up with his photography skills! He took some awesome pictures! First came our sweet girl Evvie Jane! She screamed and screamed right from the start. She was so ready to get out of that cramped space! Next was William Lance. He on the other hand did not scream. I was so nervous, and it made it so much worse because I couldn't see anything that was going on. I kept asking why I couldn't hear 2 babies crying.. after about 1 minute of working him over he let out a very relieving scream!! Afterwards the nurses told me they were seconds away from intubating him. He had bruises all over his back afterwards because they were rubbing him so hard trying to get him to breath.

Hope you don't mind pictures like this.. I thought they were pretty amazing!

Evvie Jane Higbee 6lbs 19 inches 11:13 am


William Lance 5 lbs 13 oz, 18 3/4 inches long 11:14 am

Finally Will is breathing!!! He is the one closest to the camera.
Evvie Jane all hooked up to cords and wires.. We HATED all those things!!

Will right after birth.. Upset his sister broke out early.. He wasn't quite ready to come!!



First time holding both babies. In the NICU. Lance is already such a good dad. It is so fun seeing him with our babies.

Both of our babies were taken to the NICU to get checked out and looked over. We were SO BLESSED to not have any serious problems. All the nurses couldn't believe how big our babies were for being that early. We were very blessed that way as well.. Hopefully that means they both have the tall gene!! Will and Evvie checked out completly healthy. No breathing problems or anything! The only problem was Will hadn't quite mastered the "suck, swallow, breath" reflex yet, so he had to stay in the NICU for 2 long weeks until we could bring him home. Evvie was a great eater right from the start so she got to come home 5 days later. The first 2 weeks were exhausting as we tried to juggle having one baby at home, and one baby at the hospital. I hated having them apart for such a long time. It was so fun to bring home Will and just lay them by each other again!

They had to put a feeding tube through Will's nose to help him get the nutrition he needed. Whatever he didn't eat they would put through his tube. As he got better at eating they started tubing less and less until one WONDERFUL day they took the tube out and he drank the whole bottle by himself!! He has already been through so much and is such a tough little guy. We HATED seeing him in there with so many tubes and IV's. But we're so thankful he didn't have serious problems.

Sweet baby girl..



Brain washing Will already to play ball.

Will's first day home from the NICU!! YAHOO! As you can tell he is pumped!!

Life is so good. We are completly in love with these two little people. My mom has been a LIFESAVER these past few weeks. So far taking care of twins is a piece of cake!! Lance, my Mom and I have a great routine down. I know I will be thinking a lot differently when Lance goes back to school and my Mom leaves in a few days!! I will then be flying solo and out numbered 2 to 1!! It will be a CRAZY next few months, but I am excited for it and just happy to have these babies here!

Thanks for your prayers and support throughout all of this! We are so blessed to have such great family and friends in our lives!