Things I Can't Live Without (at 5 Months)

#6 - Jumper
The boys are just starting to like this, but I can tell the boys are going to love it more and more as they grow. Love Adam's expression in this picture.















#5 - Bumbo
The boys LOVE sitting in this bumbo, but only if it is where the action is! (Like on top of the counter when I am cooking or doing dishes). Here is Matthew chewing on his Pooh toy while mommy does chores.

#4 - Walker with belt attachment

This has been a lifesiver!! The boys are too short to move the walker on their own, but with a belt attached to the top, it becomes a "mobile command chair" that can be easily wheeled around the tile. Both of the boys LOVE it. I put the other twin in the Moby wrap, and I can entertain two fussy babies without killing my back or my arms. It is wonderful!

#3 - Moby Wrap

Probably one of the best things ever invented. With a little practice, baby can be easily held hands free. I can get chores done with this thing, and I can't tell you how much the babies love it. I can also take walks with a baby (if there is another person to hold the other), or use it in the grocery store. The one huge limitation though, is that I can only hold one baby like this. (Often combined with the above walker). Here is Adam in the Moby Wrap, showing off one of his preemie outfits to show how much he has grown.

#2 = Exersaucer

This one only beats the Moby Wrap it is virtually parent free :) This is THE favorite hangout spot for both babies (aside from mommies arms of course). I have been using this and the bumbo in the kitchen so I can cook. (I had seriously been lacking in the cooking department before this)

And the #1 thing I can not live without - Grandparents!!

If I am ever overwhelmed, I can almost always call a grandparent over to help me out. Here is grandpa entertaining both babies. So sweet!

Also I would not be able to do this without my husband, but this post is about when he is at work :)

Tough Day

Children are a blessing, and I know I am blessed beyond belief that I have two healthy, thriving twin boys.

As much as I love my boys, there are times I get frustrated (as I am sure all parents do).

When both boys (or even just one boy) is happy/content, all is well in the household. But, when both babies are upset, it is hard on me (emotionally and physically) to calm them both down.

Yesterday was just such a day. The boys were on a nap strike (2 of their naps were only 20 minutes long), and thus they were cranky and wanting to be held much of the afternoon. Well you may have guessed from my tiny arms that my bench pressing max in my glory days was 45 pounds. My triceps are non existent, and the boys have already wrecked their destruction on my back. So... not a lot to work with as far as holding two squirming 13+ pound infants together. (My arms get tired very fast.) Then with the short naps, I didn't get much of a break either.

So, needless to say, I was a tad grumpy when Alan got home. Poor guy didn't even get in the house before I handed him a baby (Adam I believe).

Alan had 10 days off of work during the holidays, and it was so so nice having him around to help with the babies. (Again, poor guy. He didn't get much of a vacation. :P) But it also may have spoiled me just a bit, because yesterday it was hard to go back to just me.

So far this morning things have been going well though. Here is a picture of the little trouble makers, taken yesterday morning (before the nap strike). They are grabbing everything (and inserting into mouth when possible). Matthew is looking at the camera:

It's official

Adam & Matthew are IDENTICAL twins. (The official cheek swab results came in last week.)We are going to have our hands full :)


The boys are 4.5 months old and doing great. (Adam on left, Matthew on right in above picture.)At their 4 month check up Adam weighed 12 pounds, 8 ounces, 24 inches. Matthew weighed 12 pounds, 7 ounces, 24.25 inches. Both are in the 10th percentile for weight & length. (They weren't even on the chart when they were born, so this is good). We are still exclusively breastfeeding, and going strong. They eat about every 3 hours during the day. And every 4-6 hours or so at night (They have been waking up around 11:30pm and 4:30am, and I put them to sleep between 6pm and 7:30pm, depending on when their last nap was.) They take 3 - 4 naps a day. Their naps are usually 45 minutes to an hour. Occasionally the morning nap is a little longer, but sometimes the later naps are only 35-40 minutes.



They are learning new skills all of the time, and they are developing their own personalities. Adam is our reserved, calmer baby. Matthew is our wild child.. he gets more upset than Adam, but he also smiles & laughs more easily. Matthew is our good napper. When we put him in his crib, he almost immediately puts his thumb in his mouth and goes to sleep. Adam seems to forget about his thumb when he naps, so he usually fusses for a few minutes before he drifts off.

Above is one of their first tummy time sessions where they weren't completely upset about being on their tummies. (Adam on left, Matthew on right) They are also rolling from front to back like little acrobats :) They try to roll back, but they get halfway & get stuck.

Here is Adam sitting up for the second time. I'm not completely sure if this counts, because he is not very steady, and I positioned him, but he stayed long enough for a picture :) This was yesterday.

Matthew was able to pull it off as well :) I have such strong little boys!

I am loving the 4 month age range. Adam & Matthew are just so so sweet. And I can't get over how adorable they are. Sometimes I just can't kiss them enough, they are just so lovable.

Quick Update

• Adam & Matthew are napping together consistently... and not in my arms! Woohoo! I Can actually get stuff done :)
• The boys are now eating every 3 hours, occasionally going 3.5-4 hours.
• I read the book Babywise a couple weeks ago, and I have been using a lot of their suggestions. It has helped us a TON! I was so stressed and worn out trying to make sure the babies never cried (which didn't work anyway). They cry way less now that they are on a schedule (eat, play, nap, repeat) & I let them cry for a few minutes as they fall asleep. They also fall asleep faster, and they don't have to be held or rocked in a bouncy chair for 20 minutes or more. They are almost always asleep within 10 minutes. We are all a lot happier. (The babies get more rest, so they cry less & are happy/smile more). It has been so nice.
• The boys are sleeping longer at night, but still waking up every 3.5 - 4.5 hours. But they almost always go right back to sleep, so I have been getting MUCH better rest. (Almost starting to feel human again :P) They sometimes think morning is 4 or 5am though, and Mommy is not ok with that. ;)
• I am no longer swaddling the boys! My experience as a NICU nurse is officially moot for my "elderly babies" as I call them. :p
• I went back to work for the first time on Thanksgiving. It was hard to leave the boys, but they couldn't have been better taken care of. Their dad, both sets of grandparents and all of their aunts/uncles were here. (We had Thanksgiving at our house, but I didn't have to cook anything).
• I will probably only work a couple shifts a month since I am the first to be canceled when we are slow.
• The babies were fed pumped breastmilk while I was gone. 4 0z each every 3 hours. And I was able to pump enough at work so my net freezer supply only decreased by 8 oz. Not bad for a busy 12 hour shift. :)
• I have almost 100 ozs of pumped milk in the freezer now, so I am feeling better about using my milk for other things. In fact, tonight Alan and I are planning a date night while my parents watch the babies! This will be our first extended break from the babies together :) I am excited. We are doing dinner & a movie :)
• I am going to post Thanksgiving pics of the babies when I get a chance.
• Hope everone had a great Thankgiving weekend!

Conversation with Adam

Adam and I had a conversation this morning while I was holding him. It went like this.

Me: I love you Adam.

Adam: *Happy sigh/coo*

Me: I love you!

Adam: *Happy sigh/coo*

Me: *Happy sigh*

It was so sweet :) The boys are getting more and more precious every day.

Wow, 3 Months

Adam, Matthew on their 3 month birthday

When Adam & Matthew were newborns, 3 months seemed like an eternity away. In those days of feeding every 2 hours or less, around the clock, I didn't know if I would make it to two weeks. ;) But here we are.. 3 months already!

The boys are really starting to focus more on their environment. They have been smiling for a while now... but they are really starting to smile and laugh in response to specific things now. Like tickling their belly or making a funny face. When they were newborns they actually liked their bouncy chair more than being held. Those days are gone! There is nothing our boys like better than being held or played with. Sometimes I get up to do something while both boys are laying on a blanket... and I look back and two adorable little pairs of eyes are staring at me, like "why are you leaving us?" And they LOVE bathtime.

For almost a week the boys were eating every 3 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night. It was soo nice!! I tried not to get my hopes up that this would continue, because I didn't want to be disappointed/grumpy about it. Well, for the last week or so they are back to eating every 2-3 hours during the day and they take turns getting up multiple times at night. (every 3 hours or less to eat, and also getting up between feeds needing to be comforted). Sniff. I don't have a baby sleep book yet, but I will be buying one soon. I am looking into Sears/Healthy Sleep Habits/BabyWise. One thing being a NICU nurse does NOT teach you is how to put babies to sleep. Our babies are so premature that you have to fight to keep them awake long enough to eat.

Speaking of the NICU, I was scheduled to go back to work last week, one day a week. But, since I am going back PRN (or "as needed"), I am the first to be canceled if our census is low (unless someone wants to be canceled before me). So, I was canceled last week & again yesterday. I have officially been off of work for 16 weeks now. 2 weeks before giving birth, 12 weeks maternity leave, and now 2 weeks after maternity leave. My last paycheck was $27 (The last of my PTO). That's fine with me, the more time off the better while the boys are so young :) Going back to work is more of a trial though. If it doesn't work out I will just quit and try to get back in to nursing when the boys are older. I most likely won't be canceled next week since I am scheduled on Thanksgivng, and the cancelations work differently on holidays. So we'll see!

Both sets of grandparents have continued to be very helpful, and I am so grateful for that!

Happy 3 months Adam & Matthew! I love you both & I can't wait to see what the next 3 months will bring us!

You would be happy too...

...if you were this well fed: Look at all of those fat rolls! ;) Hard to believe that these are the same scrawny 5 pounders that I gave birth to only 2.5 months ago. I love when they are smiling like this. Recently they have started trying to laugh. I think in a few more weeks they will be giggling up a storm.

Sometimes I feel like there is not enough of me to go around for these two little guys. I am so thankful we have both sets of grandparents close by, so when I am really overwhelmed I can get help. And who doesn't want to play with an adorable baby?? I really don't know how people raise twins without help.. I know it's possible, but definitely easier if there is an extra set of hands around.

Next week I am scheduled to go back to work. (Just one shift a week.. but shift is 12 hours). I will keep you posted on how that works out.