Two Year Update

Before the chaos set in last week, Addison and Mackenzie went to the doctor for their two-year checkup.  We got a good report, and Mackenzie's sight actually showed some improvement so the pediatrician said we could skip the optometrist for now (there had been some concern last year and he referred us to a specialist, but we kept putting it off...I mean, obviously she can see, so it didn't seem too pressing). 

Mackenzie has a bit of a skin issue on the back of her knee that we are trying to stop before it spreads any more, and the doctor suggested we stop bathing the girls together and "take the time" to bathe each on separately.  Now, I love our pediatrician and have been totally happy with his care, but I very nearly laughed out loud at that suggestion.  (Marcia, I know you do it...I don't see how!)  Of course, the main problem is that it's just me home at night during the week.  What am I supposed to have the other child do while I am bathing her sister?  Do I expect her to sit quietly and not get soaking wet?  HA!

Otherwise, the girls are still itty-bitty, but we expected that.  I mean, Jeremy and I aren't exactly first-string basketball players.  Addison is 32 inches tall and weighs 22 lbs., 3 oz.  Mackenzie is 32 3/4 inches tall and weighs 22 lbs., 7 oz.  When they stand together, I can tell Mackenzie is slightly taller, so I was a little surprised it was less than an inch difference. 

Developmentally, the girls are right on track, as we felt pretty confident they were.  They actually talked a bit to the nurses and doctor this time, which was a change from the screaming they have done the last few times we were there!  I kept saying we were going to let the doctor "see how big you are", and that put them a little more at ease.  They let the nurses weigh and measure them without complaint, and though Addison burst into tears when Dr. K first walked in the room, both girls stayed calm and let him examine them.  When he was feeling of their tummies, I said he was tickling them.  A day or so later, Mackenzie said out of the blue, "Dr. K tickled me!"  Their little memories are constantly amazing me.  My big girls didn't cry when the nurse took blood from their toes, and Mackenzie even took her shot without a whimper.  Drama-free doctor visits are definitely awesome. 

Some things I want to remember about the girls at age two, which I am sure I will expand on in the coming weeks...
---Their language is developing so quickly.  All of a sudden, both girls are beginning to put together sentences. 

---Mackenzie's first real sentence (that I took note of, anyway) was Mama come outside with us.  Addison's was I'll do it, which continues to be heard approximately 50 or so times every day.  Variations include I'll hold it; I'll take it; I'll get it, etc.

---The Toy Story love is still going strong.  That is literally the ONLY thing A & M want to watch on tv right now.  We alternate between the original on DVR and "new one", as the girls call it (Toy Story 3) on Netflix Instant.  The current bedtime routine includes a half hour or so of Toy Story every night.

---The only store the girls know anything about is Wal Mart, and they will tell you that anything and everything came from "mal-mart", especially their favorite pink Nikes.  I don't know where the obsession came from, as they only go to the store once every other week or so, but they sure do love to talk about it!

---I am constantly amazed by the little things A & M pick up on.  Sunday morning, our power had finally come back on, but nothing was on except the ceiling fan.  Addison and I were snuggling on the couch and she pointed to the tv, asking me to turn it on.  Not wanting to get up and break the silence, I told her it still wasn't working.  She calmly pointed to the whirling ceiling fan and said, "Light, working.  Power!".  I looked at Jeremy to make sure he understood that she was processing the idea that the power was back on because the fan was working.  I told her again that the tv wasn't working; she again pointed to the fan and said, "Working!".  How can I argue with that two-year-old logic?

Though at times I am a little scared by my girls' strong wills and incessant chatter, it also guarantees some interesting times in store for us over the next few years!  : )

Lady Luck

I am starting to think Jeremy and I need to make a trip over the Mississippi line to the casinos in Tunica while we are in Memphis next month... I have won prizes in THREE online giveaways in the past week!  I won the new Tinkerbell movie from the Multiples and More blog party, then I won a necklace from Lani's giveaways.  In addition to those, I won a free photography session from a college friend who has started her own business.  (I am ridiculously excited about letting the girls watch Tinkerbell, by the way.  Every time it comes on, they point to the tv and grin.)

If only my girls weren't suffering from their first ear infections, I might say this was my luckiest week ever.  The poor things had runny noses over the weekend, then have had a couple of rough days this week.  Yesterday, Mackenzie had a fever and just really was not herself at all, so we went to the doctor.  She has infection in both ears, and Addison has it in one.  They got a prescription for antibiotics and numbing drops, and after a battle with the pharmacy and the insurance company, we headed home for a night of suprisingly good rest for all of us.  (WHY is it so hard to understand that yes, my two children have the same birthdate...it's called TWINS, people!)  After spending the previous two nights holding Addison all night long, sleep was much needed.  Addison was well enough to go to school today, but Mackenzie stayed home to rest another day.  Addison was excited to get to school and gave her teacher "love", while Mackenzie was mad that she had to stay home.  Jeremy reported that she was carrying her lunchbox around the house this morning.  It makes me so happy that they love their school...even if it did lead to their first ear infections.  Seventeen and a half months without one was pretty good, I think.

In other kid news, Mackenzie has begun telling us when she is using the bathroom.  We have been teaching her to say "pee-pee" and "poo-poo" (yes, because it's funny...I never said we were mature), and she is catching on to the concept.  Twice on Sunday, she came over and said "poo-poo" just before filling her diaper.  Now, if we can get that warning to come more than five seconds before she starts doing the deed, we might be ready to talk about the potty.  Which, oh Lord, I really don't even want to think about right now.  Addison doesn't say the words, but she has definitely started letting us know also.  She will grab at her diaper and start toward her bedroom when she's wet.  I am in no rush to potty-train AT ALL, but I do find it encouraging that they are picking up on the concept and showing a little interest.  Has anyone had any luck with early training?  Actually, I would prefer an easy potty-training experience over an early one, hands down.

Oh, and hey!  Now that y'all guessed Jeremy and I are going to Memphis in a couple of weeks, I need restaurant recommendations.  I have the Rendevous on my list, but what else do I need to check out while I'm there?  After all, food is the most important part of any vacation, at least in my book.  I've seen Memphis barbecue mentioned on the Food Network, so we will probably find at least one restaurant along those lines.  Other than that, I'm pretty clueless about Memphis.  I have only been to there once before, despite having an aunt who lived in a nearby suburb, and all I remember is the pyramid and the zoo.  Help me out!

Nine Months

As usual, the last month has flown by and has been even more fun than the ones before it.  It was a big month for all of us-we moved for the first time as a family of four, with another move coming up soon.  It is wonderful to be back in Scottsboro, where I am 5 minutes from work in the mornings, rather than 45.  My mom and lots more familiy are only minutes away as well, which is convenient when I need to run to the grocery store or when I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown.  : )  The babies adjusted amazingly well to all the changes.  We had a couple of nights of rough bedtimes, but they were back to normal after just a few days and are now as happy as ever! 


Speaking of bedtime, it has gotten earlier and earlier over the last several weeks.  Bedtime used to be around 7:30...we would have a bottle beginning at 7:00, then go to bed after that.  For the last two weeks or so, bedtime has become as early as 6:00 on some nights!  Thankfully, both Addison and Mackenzie still sleep until 6:00-6:45 in the morning.  I guess they are just needing more sleep these days.  I'm okay with it-I have a little more time to myself in the evenings and can still get to bed early myself.



Both girls are doing great and growing right on schedule!  They are eating LOTS of different foods now and even had their first grilled cheese when we went out to eat on Sunday.  They both liked it, and Mackenzie ate an entire half...minus the crust!  Bottles are suddenly the less-preferred method of nourishment around here, although the pediatrician wants to keep them taking in 20-24 ounces a day.  Their measurements looked good at the checkup this month...both are between the 19th and 23rd percentiles for height and weight, based on actual age.  Addison weighs 17 lbs, 5 oz and is 26 inches long.  Mackenzie weighs 17 lbs even and is 26 1/4 inches long.  Such big girls!



I'm working on a post for each baby individually, detailing her personality and things going on in her life at 9 months, so hopefully I will get those finished soon.  I'm also beginning to think about their birthday party coming up in only three months!!  Have you seen any cute parties or themes lately??  I'm on the lookout for ideas.

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!

Four Months

Finally, the four-month post! Everyone says how quickly time will fly and the infant stage will be gone. I realize now exactly how true that statement is! It seems like a blur sometimes... I am trying my best to write down everything I can, because I know now how quickly things change. I am keeping a book of letters to the girls each month (trying to anyway!), and I thought I would post the four-month letter here....

Dear Addison & Mackenzie,

This week you turned four months old. I say it every month, but it's so true...it's really hard to believe it has been four months since you came into our lives! These past four months have had their share of hard times (particularly the first month), but they have also been full of more love, laughter, and pure joy than I have ever known before. Watching you grow has been so much fun, and we rejoice with each new milestone you reach. At times, I'm sad to see you move on to new things, because it reminds me how quickly the time is passing. Then you do something incredibly cool or funny, and I remember that you are getting more and more fun every day. Your daddy is so happy you will finally laugh at his silly faces and noises. It's like you finally know who we are, that we are the ones who love you most in this world.

This month, you have become such happy, smiley babies. You can finally entertain yourselves for a little bit (which takes a little pressure off me and daddy!). You love to lay in your bed and watch your mobile, and tv time seems to be one of your favorite treats. This morning, I listened to you giggle and squeal watching Baby Einstein. It was truly one of the sweetest things I've heard. We separated you for the first time this month, so you now sleep in separate beds. It seems you both rest a little more peacefully that way, and I for one am loving the extra sleep! You are sleeping about 9 hours a night, and sometimes taking two 2-hour naps or more during the day. I think your Jen-Jen will have you on a nap schedule soon! You have tried cereal from a spoon this month, and although you aren't really sure what to do with it, I'm sure it won't take you long to figure it out. I'm also working on making you some yummy vegetables to try soon!

Four months is an amazing time to be your mama, sweet girls. You are such a blast to be around, and you get more fun every day. Instead of being sad when the next stage gets here, I will try to remember that it will probably bring even more fun things than this one has. : ) Your daddy and I love you so, so much, and we feel incredibly blessed to call you ours.

Love, Mama

Because I'm late on this post, I have the four-month health stats also:

Addison: 12lbs, 2oz., 23 1/4 inches (just about average for her adjusted age)

Mackenzie: 13lbs. even, also 23 1/4 inches (just above the 50th percentile for adjusted age)

We have to continue trying to keep Addison from laying down flat too much, because her head is just a little on the flat side. It's a common problem for multiples, and the dr. said there's a good chance it may work out on it's own. If not, we may have to do a cranial band (baby helmet) for a little while. We're going to try hard to keep her off that head!

Everything else looks good, and we have the official go-ahead to experiment with food as we feel they're ready. That should provide some good entertainment!

It is getting increasingly hard to get the girls to sit still for a picture together. The official four-month picture up top is the best I could do at the time! Then they both got interested in staring at Mackenzie's pajamas, and Addison decided to love on Mackenzie a little. I love these girls!

(I apologize if this post looks like one long, run-on paragraph...it's not recognizing my line breaks, and I'm not technical enough to know what to do about it!) : )

No one told me about this part...

Well, okay, maybe they kinda did...but this worrying is unbelievable. I could not have even imagined this feeling before I had the girls. It consumes me sometimes, the fear that something bad will happen to my babies.

I don't mean worry that they aren't sleeping enough, or eating enough, or that their hair will never grow (I only worry about that when I'm feeling extra superficial). I mean real worry, a fear that something will happen to one, or even BOTH, of my children. The blog world is full of heartbreaking, tragic stories of parents surviving the nightmare of losing a child (or two). Before April 2, I ached when I read these stories, and sometimes shed tears for their pain. Since April 2, I can't help but picture my child, our family in those situations. It's absolutely heart-wrenching. I feel the pain with these parents now, and it's terrifying and exhausting. This week, little Matteo's story has really taken a toll on me. Before, I might have said I can't even imagine that kind of pain. Now, I can imagine, and that fear is more horrible than anyone can adequately describe.

I may seriously consider banning myself from watching Mystery Diagnosis, Dr G: Medical Examiner, or pretty much anything else on Discovery Health. And these heartbreaking blogs are killing me! Yet I still can't stop reading.

To explain a little further why all these thoughts are weighing so heavily on me this week, Mackenzie has a small knot on the side of her neck, just below her ear. We had an ultrasound done yesterday to determine what exactly it is, and we are going nuts waiting for the results. The doctor listed several things that it could possibly be, most of which are no big deal, so that helped a little. But oh my goodness, when it's your child, suddenly EVERY LITTLE THING is absolutely terrifying! Seriously, why didn't someone warn me??

When I was pregnant, I clung to the words of Matthew 6:34: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." But it is so, so much harder to give it up when it's not me I'm worried about, but her. I realize this is but the first of many trials I will have as a mom attempting to surrender control. After all, I'm NOT in control, not of anything really...He is.

Please pray with me that Mackenzie's knot truly is "no big deal."