The Vaughn Woelfel Family: October 2008

Wow! Time flies when you are a new parent! In so many ways! Times flies each day when we look into the faces of our beautiful baby boys and see how much and how fast they are growing! Time flies when we are realizing that it has been almost a month since our last post! Wow! I do apologize for taking so long, so I hope to provide many pictures of Austin & Aiden since we have taken soooo many since the last time.

And I also want to mention that twins are definitely a double blessing. We always wanted twins, but there is never a guarantee that the surrogacy process will be successful in the exact way that you plan. (Does planning for parenthood ever work out exactly as you plan it?) So you can imagine our joy when we found out the surrogate was pregnant with twins and then even more so when two beautiful, healthy baby boys arrived on August 9th!

We are often asked if the boys are on the same schedule, if the boys both eat and sleep at the same time, and if the boys both cry at the same time and if so, what do you do? Well, the answer is yes and no. Their schedules often are "in sync", but other times, one can be fast asleep while the other is screaming at the top of his lungs or eating heartily while nursing his bottle. Sometimes, it is easier to be able to focus on just one child while the other is sleeping. Sometimes, it is just as easy to feed both of them at the same time so that you get a bigger break between feedings.

Basically, I think it all boils down to your approach. The only way you can really get frustrated and angry while raising kids is if you try to do too many other things while taking care of your children. Children take up almost all of your attention and energy when they are awake. So, in order to prevent taking out any frustration and anger on your precious little ones, put that "to do list" off until they are asleep or until you can have someone help you watch/hold/feed them. It is not easy, but it is necessary. And it is amazing how quickly their moods or needs can change. They can be smiling and almost laughing one minute, but the next they can be screaming because they are hungry or need to be changed or are fighting the need to go to sleep or just want to be held.

And yes, the boys are smiling now. Aiden smiles so much! It almost doesn't matter what mood he is in, if you start talking to or singing to or smiling at him, he'll stop, look at you and then smile brightly back. And he does this often! Austin doesn't smile as often, but when he does, his mouth opens wide, he closes his eyes, and he almost laughs! He smiles with his entire face! I tell you, no matter how frustrated or tired you are with them when they are crying or hungry, one look into their beautiful smiling faces will make you forget all of the tense moments and cause your heart to melt. It happens to us over and over again! And I know it is somewhat cliche', but there is no better feeling than when these boys fall asleep in your arms, resting on your chest or across your stomach, trusting you fully for care, comfort, love and life. Fatherhood is truly amazing!

So here are some of our recent favorites. We hope you enjoy them!

Aiden & Austin: