10.27.2009

100th Post=FAIL! (how about a cute picture instead?)

So, yeah, I totally failed at something creative for my 100th post.  We're at the beach, though, so that makes it somewhat special, right?

I love the beach this time of year.  At first, I was a little disappointed that our conference was held in October instead of the middle of summer like some of the others.  Now I see the beauty of it...great weather (75-85 degrees all week), no wait at any restaurants, and absolutely no crowds anywhere.  It may not be the best weather for lying on the beach all day, but let's get real, Addison and Mackenzie aren't going to let that happen!  That's not really our thing anyway...we enjoy the beach and the pool, but we like to get out and go too, which suits the babies just fine.

So far, we've done a lot of eating and a good bit of shopping at the nearby outlets.  (Carter's, The Children's Place, Gymboree, Hartstrings...I'm in baby clothing heaven!)  Tomorrow is supposed to be pretty, so I'm hoping to get some beach pictures.  For now, I'm going to enjoy the view from our balconies...we lucked up and got a corner unit with amazing views in every direction!

A few random pictures:

Game faces
Game Faces

Mackenzie
Mackenzie is finally rolling!

playing
Playing together


watching tv
Watching tv on vacation

10.19.2009

My Favorite Things-Baby Edition



So I'm a day late, but this is a post I've been wanting to do for awhile, so I'm playing along.  The Question of the Week at Multiples and More is -What are the top 5 items that every parent of multiples needs?-

Here are my recommendations:


Boppies---This has probably been the #1 most-used item in our house.  At six months, my girls still use the Boppy every day.  They have been used for breastfeeding, lounging, naps, bottle-feeding, and now, for cushion while learning to sit.  I use one each night when I'm feeding both babies together before bed.  I recommend getting two or more Boppies...definitely one for each baby, and maybe an extra!



Swaddle Blankets--These were a MUST for nighttime use during the first four months.  We got a lesson in swaddling at the hospital, but after a couple of weeks we bought the Halo version, and never looked back!  The velcro makes it so much easier to get a nice, tight swaddle.  Bonus:  if your baby outgrows the swaddle too quickly, you can remove that part and still use the sleepsack.  (Which reminds me...I need to get some fleece sleepsacks for winter!  Little toes get cold.)  Definitely get at least two per child, because they WILL eventually spit up or pee through one, especially in the first couple of months.

A Good Stroller--I love my Combi Twin Sport stroller, but a lot of people really like the Graco Double Snap n' Go at first.  When they were tiny, we did use our Eddie Bauer stroller that the carseats snap into, but it was a beast to load and unload.  I really did not feel comfortable going anywhere by myself with that stroller...at 50 lbs. and a tight fit in my trunk, I was not able to get it in and out easily.  The Combi is a mililon times better!  The seats recline all the way, so I was able to use it pretty early (I think we got it around 4 months).  It weighs less than 15 lbs., fits in the trunk with room to spare, and fits through standard doorways without a problem (one of my concerns about a side-by-side stroller).  Whatever kind of stroller you choose, make sure it's something you're comfortable with.  After a long day, just a walk around the block can work wonders for you AND for your babies!

Microwave Sterilizer--Especially if you use bottles, a microwave sterilizer is one of the most handy items to have around in the first several weeks.  I don't know if everyone else was as obsessive as we were, but for the first few weeks, we sterilized everything.  After each washing, we sterilized all the bottles and nipples, which I now only do every couple of weeks for a "deep cleaning."  We do, however, still use it on basically a weekly basis for sterilizing pacifiers, new toys, etc.  (Do be careful though, I did melt a set of rings a couple of weeks ago!)  The Avent was super easy to use...just pop everything in, add a little water, and microwave for 4 minutes.

Lastly, the single piece of advice that has come in MOST handy for me in adjusting to life with multiples...
Schedule!  Even more important (for us, anyway), the SAME schedule.  Your multiples will likely come home from the hospital on a 3-hour feeding schedule, and I recommend sticking to it.  Feed the babies at the same time whenever possible.  I never let ours go more than an hour apart.  My babies don't necessarily nap at the same time (still don't), but they eat and go down at night at the same time.  Speaking of nighttime, until you know one baby is capable of sleeping through the night, wake the other when one wakes to eat.  I know it sounds crazy to wake a sleeping baby, but trust me...the other baby will most likely be up 5 minutes after your head hits the pillow.  For us, the schedule was absolutely a life saver.  We know what to expect, the babies know what to expect, and if we need to do something different, they are fine with it, as long as we stick to the same basic routine.

A few other things worth mentioning:  burp cloths (we used a TON in the first few months when they couldn't suck fast enough to keep up with their bottles), bouncy seats (essential for getting a shower some days!), and a womb bear or other comforting sound (we found our babies love the rainforest crib attachment by Fisher Price).  Also, add a babysitter (family or otherwise) to your list, because a night out once a month or so is AMAZING...even if you can't wait to get home and kiss your babies.

So that's my list!  I hope someone finds something on it helpful.  In other news, my next post will be my 100th.  It seems like it should be something special, but I don't have any ideas right now!  If I don't post for the rest of the week, it may be because I'm frozen under the pressure.  : )

10.16.2009

Our Week

It's Friday night, my babies are sound asleep in their beds, and I am about to catch up on tv shows I missed this week.  It's a good way to end what has been a pretty good week.  Some highlights:

--My girls all of a sudden want to sit up-ALL. THE. TIME.  They are getting pretty good at it, too.  I am continually amazed at how they learn new things seemingly overnight.  Seriously, just a day or two ago they could only sit for a few seconds at a time.  Now, they are actually beginning to sit and play with toys for a couple of minutes at a time.  They are wobbly, but definite progress has been made.  I am hoping they continue to improve over the next week or so...we are going to the beach in a week and a half, and I would love to get some pictures of them sitting in the sand!

Addison 10/15/09

Addison practicing for pictures.

--Speaking of the beach, I booked our condo today (yay!).  We get to head off on vacation for 5 days, and it's the best kind of vacation...FREE!  (I will be attending a conference for work.)  I plan to spend lots of time-and probably lots of money-at the nearby outlets, stocking up on fall and winter clothes for the girls (and me).  Any tips for traveling with 6-month old twins??

--I seem to forget how much I absolutely love this time of year until it rolls around again.  The weather is turning cool this weekend, and I am so ready to drag out the boots and jackets.  Tonight, I have the heat on in the house for the first time this season, and I'm soaking up that smell of the heat kicking on...you know the one, right?  I also broke out the new (to me) afghan I found at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago.  Jeremy says it looks like an old lady's afghan (maybe it was at one time?), but I am in love with it for some reason!

Afghan

--Mackenzie and Addison are discovering each other more and more every day.  More aptly, they are beginning to discover when the other one has a toy they want!  Addison is especially good at noticing Mackenzie, and has several times leaned over and pulled the paci right out of her sister's mouth.  Oh, the fun we will have with these two as they get better and better at annoying each other!

sharing?


First fight
Can you tell Mackenzie is whining because Addison stole her paci??

Happy weekend, everyone!

Remembering

Yesterday was National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.  My thoughts were with the many, many families suffering the loss of their babies, however new or old the loss may be.

Many of my thoughts turned toward one person whose story has had a big impact on me during the past year.  I "met" Heather on an online message board for monochorionic/monoamniotic pregnancies.  Some of you may know that we were originally diagnosed with this rare, extremely high-risk type of twin pregnancy.  Heather lives in the same area that I do, and was about 13 weeks along in her pregnancy when we began corresponding.  I don't know if she knows how comforting it was to find someone so nearby who was experiencing the same emotions and fear that Jeremy and I were during that time.

Blessedly, at a later ultrasound, a membrane was found separating our babies, meaning they only shared the chorionic sac.  Heather never got that great news.  Almost exactly one year ago her precious baby boys, Joshua and Jake, were born still at 19 weeks, due to cord entanglement (the main risk of a mono/mono pregnancy).

So many times throughout the rest of my pregnancy and during these first months with Addison and Mackenzie I have thought of Heather and her family.  I can't imagine the pain they felt when they had to let go of their sweet boys, and I know they would give anything to have them here in their arms now.  It's just cruel for a mother to have to bury her child, that's the best word I can find for it.  Yet so many have to do it, and somehow, they find the strength to keep living.  I spent yesterday saying many prayers for families who have experienced this pain, that they may somehow find peace.  I also held my babies tight and thanked the Lord for allowing me this time with them.  If you know someone who has experienced a loss, tell them you're thinking of them and their child; I'm sure they would appreciate it.

10.14.2009

Time for a Change

I'm making some changes to the layout of the blog, so bear with me for a few days.

In case anyone is interested, I found the code to change to a 3-column layout here. I don't really have a clue what I'm doing with HTML; it's just trial and error!

10.12.2009

Mommy Confessions and Six Month Checkup


I'm playing along with Jennifer for Mommy Confession Monday, and since we had the girls' six-month checkup today, my confessions are doctor-themed.
Today, I must confess that:
1) I actually look forward to well-baby checkups. I like to see how much the girls have grown, and I like talking about new issues and development with the doctor. Our nurse also has twins (now grown), so it's always fun to see her too!
2) This is the crazy one, but I sort of don't mind shots too much. No, it's not fun, but shots are a necessary evil (for my family anyway). I don't particularly enjoy the fussiness, but I do like having an excuse to hold and cuddle my babies all evening. We always try to make our appointments on Mondays so Jeremy is off. We have pretty much developed a routine for doctor days: we pick up lunch on the way home from the doctor, then come home and pick a baby to snuggle for the rest of the afternoon. With twins, snuggle time with one baby at a time is hard to come by, so we take it when we can get it! : )
As for the 6-month checkup, it went well. We were surprised to see that little Miss Addison is currently 2 ounces up on her sister...the first time that has happened since birth! Mackenzie weighed 15 lbs., 3 oz., and Addison weighed 15 lbs., 5 oz. Mackenzie is 24 1/2 inches, and Addison is 24 3/4 inches. Such big girls!
Everything else looks good, and we were encouraged to keep adding more foods and up the solid intake a little. He mentioned meats, which I have not done yet. I am still making all their food, but meat scares me a little. If anyone has any tips, they are certainly welcome!
6 mo. visit (pre-shots)
6-mo. doctor

10.06.2009

Pictures

We had the girls' six-month pictures made this past Sunday. I haven't seen them all yet, but you can get a preview on the photographer's website. We did the shoot outdoors, on one of the chilliest afternoons we have had so far (naturally!), in a little bit of drizzle. The girls did really well most of the time, until Addison got so sleepy she could not stand it anymore! What I've seen so far has turned out great, and I can't wait to see the rest.

A couple of my favorites:



10.05.2009

Happy Half-Birthday!

Six Months!

Dear Sweet Baby Girls,
It seems we have somehow survived half of our first year together. I won't lie-in those first few weeks we wondered if we would make it to this point. Six months seemed like such a long time back then...we couldn't imagine that you would ever do more than cry, sleep, eat, and poop. And yet, here we are. At six months you are smiling, laughing, "talking," yelling, rolling (Addison), reaching, grabbing, and almost sitting!

Everyone tells you to enjoy every moment, because they go by way too fast. We had no idea how true that really is until you girls came into our lives. Even now, it's a little hard to remember exactly what those newborn days were like. We have come so far and you have both changed so much in just six months. You are halfway to ONE YEAR OLD already...how is that possible??

As fast as it is going by, it is so much fun to watch you discover new things every single day. You never fail to amaze us with the way you learn new tricks seemingly overnight. And the food...I am having so much fun with your food. I never imagined I would be making your baby food myself, but I love doing it! I think it's pretty safe to say your favorite food this month is peaches mixed with bananas. Mackenzie, we laughed so hard at you yelling between each bite, and Addison, you would open your mouth as wide as it could go. Watching you eat and try new foods is really the highlight of my day.

The song of the month is most certainly "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider." Every time I sing it, you stop what you're doing to listen-both of you! Addison, you especially like to watch the hand motions, and you grin so big when I do the "rain." I've discovered that this song can calm you both when you are upset...at least for this week. I sang it for 15 minutes straight on our way home the other night, until you finally fell asleep.

I say it every month, but girls, life just gets better and better! Your daddy and I love you SO VERY MUCH, and we can't wait to see what next month holds.

Mackenzie's hand is better
DSC00274
Addison at the fair
Mackenzie
Mackenzie after bath

10.03.2009

Six Word Saturday

Think she grew?

See how much I have grown?
(poor Mackenzie needs a new Bama hat!)

I'm playing along with Six Word Saturday, hosted on this blog. (I tried to add the button, but it was not cooperating!) Head on over and see what others had to say!

10.01.2009

Busy, Busy, Busy

Last weekend was a busy one, and I'm just now getting caught up from it all. The big high school reunion went well. My best friend Kelly and I rode in the homecoming parade on Friday afternoon, and it was HOT. After the parade, we had to choose between going out to eat or going to take showers and refresh ourselves before the football game. Being the sensible, classy ladies we are, we made the obvious choice: FOOD, of course! It turned out to be the right decision, since the first half of the game was just as hot and sticky. The heat and humidity are evident by the size of my hair:

Homecoming 2009

After the game, we gathered at a local restaurant, and Jeremy and I stayed out until after 11:00!! I know, we're crazy. We were all spending the night at my mom's, in addition to my sister and her friend who had come in from Mobile for the weekend. My sweet, adaptable babies were asleep when we got there, just as they had been since 8:00. I like knowing that it doesn't get them all out of sorts when we are somewhere other than home. As long as they have their bath and bottle, they pretty much don't seem to care!

Saturday was a family picnic, moved inside because of the rain. It was fun to see everyone's children and families, and we did a little more catching up. We did not go to the party Saturday night...one late night out was enough for us for awhile!

Saturday afternoon, we went to eat with my family. Mackenzie was so worn out from her exciting weekend, she fell asleep sitting up.

Auntie LJ & Mack

Addison dirtied her diaper and her outfit, so she got an entire wardrobe change during lunch. (Don't worry, we were the only people out on the screened-in porch!)

Addie

(I've been playing with my pictures on Picnik, by the way. I'm a pretty bad photographer, so I have to make them a little more creative when I can!)

Saturday night, we went to dinner to clebrate my sister's 21st birthday. Hard to believe it's been 21 years since my parents brought home that tiny, squirmy bundle that turned my life upside down! : ) Happy Birthday again, Auntie LJ! You've become an amazing young lady, and I'm proud to be your sister.

Legal!!

Naturally, she had to have the obligatory 21st birthday drink!

So that was our weekend. We skipped church to recover from all the activity of Friday and Saturday. I was so proud of Addison and Mackenzie for being so good all weekend. I love my girls!