Our Little Pumpkins

Claire and Lucy, our Summer Babies, are having a tough time falling into Autumn! They weren't quite sure what to do with their jackets and hats.... in the end, they decided that chewing on them was a good option. They were both sick with colds this week which allowed them (and their parents) to play hookie from school and work. Thank goodness for Grandma who also came to help!

Since they were feeling better, we decided to take them on an adventure to the pumpkin patch, in search of an adorable Autumnal picture. While they didn't share our enthusiasm, they were ultimately good sports and allowed us to get the photo that we set out to achieve. Oh yeah, we bought some pumpkins too! Here is the result of our quest, along with some rather humorous efforts!

Luck of the Irish

Judd and I are living under the notion that our girls came into this world not only bringing us more happiness than we could ever imagine but also enough luck to bring ND a winning football season! We opened the season by taking the girls out for their first tailgate. Although they slept through the entire four hour tour of campus, we know that they had visions of leprechauns dancing in their heads! Daddy said that they needed new outfits for the occasion so we braved the Notre Dame bookstore on the night before the season opener (yes, they slept through that excursion as well!). Hopefully Claire and Lucy will keep the luck alive again tomorrow. Just in case, their Fighting Irish outfits are washed and ready to go. We can't tempt fate by wearing different game day apparel after a big win, now can we!?

A Very Busy August

The girls had a very big August, meeting lots of friends and spending time with family. We rounded out the month with their first smiles and first baths in the bathtub (not coming simultaneously, mind you, as they absolutely shrieked during bath time. You could actually probably document bath time as their first official temper-tantrums).

They are getting so big and developing such personalities. Lucy, while losing her red hair to a strange male-pattern baldness, is ironically gaining her feistiness. She wants what she wants, when she wants it….. Daddy and I typically have no problems giving it to her either J Claire, while also sporting a bald head as well, has developed a much calmer demeanor and has actually slept for five straight hours the last TWO nights! We don’t know if we are more proud or relieved, perhaps there is an end in sight!!

During all of these milestones and changes, we are also getting the girls out and about much more. They started the month by meeting their Uncle Jake, Aunt Leah and cousins Oscar and Raizel. They had a great time and can’t wait to see Raizel and Oscar again! The whole McNally clan was together for the weekend and had a wonderful time. Uncle Bernie, Aunt Jessie (AKA Muffy) and cousin Amy also made a trip out to visit.

On the Duman side, we celebrated both Grandma’s and Granddad’s birthdays and also made a trip up to Fernwood to enjoy the last few official days of summer (although it was a chilly 65 degrees and the paranoid parents had them bundled up like it was winter!).

They have also had the first of many great times with new friends. The park is our new favorite place. We walk there quite a bit and have played with Ella and Henry Smoker, Sarah Noto and Sean and Violet Kinnucan. Violet also made a visit to the house. Playtime didn’t last long though, as Violet was very tired and had to take a nap in the girls’ crib!

We were also VERY lucky to meet Ava last week! Ava, Laura’s friend Katie’s little girl, was born the day before the girls. They live in Chicago but made the trip to South Bend. She is quite a beautiful girl and much like their mommies, the three musketeers are SURE to have many wonderful memories in the making!

With such a wonderful August, how will September ever top it? Have no fear, ND football is here!

The Lazy Days of Summer

Four Weeks Old ….. phew, I think that I need a nap! As you can see by the pictures, the girls celebrated their four week birthday in style…… This is the typical afternoon for the McNally twins; sleep, eat, cry, sleep, eat, cry.

They are getting bigger and cuter everyday! We go to the doctor tomorrow so we will see how much they have grown. Daddy is out taking the girls for a walk around the neighborhood so I thought that I would take the chance to create my inaugural blog.

Speaking of Daddy, it is time that he gets some applause! Having twins has made me realize two things;

1. I have married the most patient person on the earth and

2. He is not only an amazing husband but an even more amazing father.

Judd is a natural and I love him more each time I watch him with the girls. OK, I promised that I wouldn’t get all sappy but I just had to say a few words.

Claire and Lucy want to say hello to all our family and friends out there!! Thank you for all the warm wishes, calls, visits, dinners, presents, cards, etc. It is important times like these when we are reminded how lucky and blessed we are. These girls are surrounded by love. Thank you everyone, from the bottom of our hearts!

Almost 4 Weeks

It is hard to believe Claire and Lucy will be 4-weeks old tomorrow! The time is flying by.

There have been a lot jokes flying around about our blogging, or lack there of. We had better intentions when the blog began, but finding time to post pictures of the addition going up was a heck of a lot easier than finding time to post pictures of the girls has been. Don't get me wrong, Claire and Lucy are really very good girls, but when they eat every three hours, and then are awake for an hour or so after that- let's just say that the two hour stretches seem to fly by!

Despite spending almost all of her waking hours feeding, pumping, changing diapers or rocking - Laura is doing great. Grandma Duman comes over to help out during the day sometimes, but often it's just Laura. I'm not sure how she does it, but she does. On Thursday, she even took the girls on their first trip to the playground to meet up with their friends - Henry and Ella Smoker and the Sarah Noto.

Today, Lucy had her first big trip to the grocery store with daddy, while mommy and Claire spent a little quality time together. Right now they are both sound asleep, but that 3:00 pm feeding is getting close...

Happy Birthday Claire and Lucy

We are very happy to introduce Claire Elizabeth and Lucille (Lucy) Charlotte! Claire was born at 1:13 and weighed 6 lbs and 4 oz. Lucy was born at 1:15 and weighed 5 lbs 8 oz. Both of the girl are perfect and are beautiful. That is Claire on the left and Lucy on the right in the picture. They both have a good head of hair. Lucy's is lighter and we think may be a tad red while Claire's is very thick and very dark.

Laura, the reason the girls are so beautiful, is doing really well.

I couldn't be more proud!

Big Reveal

Click here to view these pictures larger