2 months old

Our 2 month mark has come and gone, and while my computer got a refresh (thanks Dad!)... these pictures are just now getting caught up.  Things have already changed so much, but at two months these two were still eating every three hours around the clock and really wearing us out, in the most wonderful of ways, of course.


annalise 2 mo

Both girls have been sleeping in their cribs at night since the first week home (but now at 11 weeks, we're trying new sleeping arrangements).  It's a cozy little spot in our house that operation twin care takes place.  Our doctor visit has them weighing in at 8lb13oz (alivia) and 8lb15oz (annalise).  If measured against the growth curve of a 2 month old, both girls are in the low single digit percentiles - but when compared to their adjusted age (2 weeks) they're right up in the 70th on all accounts.  We're right on track! They're bursting out of newborn diapers, but I bought such a giant box of them... I refuse to let them go to waste. 

annalise 2 mo

As the weights keep going up, it's more and more clear that Annalise has a rounder head than Alivia, and the stork bites on their foreheads are still clearly present and uniquely each their own.  I've been listening to see if I can tell one cry from the other, but those are still indistinguishable. 

alivia 2 mo

We've been trying to come up with a number as to how much more work we think twins are over singletons.  It's not double when you consider you're doing most of the work already.  We think it's 1.something, but it's definitely not double - and thus having two to love is over the moon amazing, unless it's 3 am and I'm going on zero sleep.  Then, of course, everything seems magnified 10x! 

alivia 2 mo

And it's not that they're difficult babies - they're not! They're really easy going and still sleep quite a bit... but in terms of simple time management, it gets overwhelming washing bottles, clothes and changing diapers on what seems to be an endless cycle.  Not to mention having a 4 yr old to entertain too! Finding time for myself has never been more important than now. I'm so thankful to have my mom living so close and even staying the night with me once in a while.  Without that, I'd really be a cabin fever mess! 

Josie is a great big sister, but we really need to look into getting her volume button fixed.  There's loud, and then there's JOSIE LOUD, just.to.be.loud. The babies tend to sleep right through the noise, thanfully! It's me that needs some quiet once in a while.

Going into our 3rd month, Ed and I have started a divide and conquer method for the nights (one baby upstairs with me and one downstairs with dad) - and without jinxing myself, the last few nights our sleep has exponentially grown.  Be it a factor of keeping them separate as to not wake each other, or merely eating more during the day... we're not sure yet.  But when you go from 3 hours between feeding to 4 and 5... that's like winning the lottery!  As the parent, when you're only listening for one baby to wake, vs two... it's a much more restful and relaxed sleep. 

8 weeks

Playing photo catchup - we're now 11 weeks old, so these are from a few weeks ago. We've been a little busy!

alivia 8 weeks

alivia 8 weeks

annalise 8 weeks

annalise

 

annalise

annalise & alivia

She's Four!

This face, it fools everyone!  Maybe it's the anticipation of the birthday, the craziness of having two new babies in the house, or the thought of cake - but this one has been bonkers lately!  Just when I thought 4 was going to be the year of calm, collected, and maturity.  ;)

Even through all the crabbing and tantruming, we celebrated the 4th year like we have every year prior.  Apple picking at our favorite orchard.  We got there bright and early...

This had been a bad year for apples. The early Spring frost left much of the orchard with little to pick.  Usually the trees are exploding with apple this time of year, but I think the orchard prepicked what they did have, and have it ready to sell in the store. 

 

There were apples on the trees, but at the very tip tops. Luckily dad has some long arms and we were able to fill our bags with just enough to take home for applesauce and or pie.

And while Mimi took good care of the sisters, we cruised around and stopped for lunch.  Naps were needed by all, and the anticipation of THE CAKE was high... 

It was my best yet, and still lots of room for improvement.  But it tasted good and came through for our traditional cupcake cake birthday ceremony! 



Cousins

Our annual family picnic, a blast.  If it wasn't for all the bees and strong winds, they day would have been perfect!

First time at the pinata with a blindfold, she's lumped in with the big kids now!

a month

An entire month has gone by since the day these two joined our family.  It's hardly believable that much time has passed. After all, they've been home less than two weeks and are still only 38 weekers, not even a "newborn" yet, at least in terms of clothing sizes. Having spent their first few weeks in the NICU, and the blur of how our home and lives have had to adjust to this new life - here we are.  One month old.



Annalise, one month old

At one month, we continue our round the clock feedings every three hours.  The efforts well worth the zombie walks in the middle of the night, both girlies are superbly gaining weight and will maybe even fit into newborn clothes very soon! We're making do with N clothes, but they still swim in them. 5lb5oz for Alivia and 5lb10oz for Annalise.  



Annalise, one month old

 Sleep, for the girls, is easy.  They eat, and right back to sleep, around the clock.  I presume as they near their due date (September 19th), they'll start to behave more newbornish and be awake more often.  And with that, I anticipate I'm in trouble ;) but for now I savour their sweet velvety heads, their soft cheeks, and warm cuddly bodies as they rest and grow. 

Alivia, one month

 While they're near identical in most things still, and while we wait for their personalities to emerge, we know for certain Alivia is our pokey eater, and tends to spit-up on a regular basis.  All normal, we know, just never had that with Josie.  And today was our first day home alone while Dad headed back to work.  A house full of 4 girls, and I think I did a fine job of holding down the fort.


Alivia, one month

And on their one month birthday, the new stroller arrives and I'm looking forward to getting back out there, if not running yet, at least putting some miles walking and getting back into shape.  If they keep up this nice sleep/eat schedule, I foresee lots of miles being put on the new stroller this fall.  

Randomly Silly

Determined to get outside today and get some fresh air.  The weekend is slated to be rainy and dreary, so even if I got to sneak out for only 10 minutes...

totally worth it. 

Probably because I spent a good portion of Summer at the hospital, it seems like it has slipped right past us.  Before I checked into the hospital, I had just bought J some new bathing suits and coverups - and they never got used.  Today was plenty hot, dad to the rescue with the pool idea.

Random silliness that I love :)

The Sun Shines

Day 4 of being home, 3 nights of learning.  All things one could anticipate being complicated with twins, indeed is.  They eat, usually at the same time.  One wakes and stirs while the other is seemingly out cold... only to find a moment later #2 has the same idea. 

And here's my system for knowing who is who... Alivia is always on the left and Annalise is always on the right.  Their cribs, Alivia left, Annalise right.  In the swings, in their bassinets, in their car seats.  I can tell them apart, but it takes a moment of assessment.  And if all else fails, their hospital bands are still on.  Luckily, I haven't had to refer to them yet.  It remains to be seen when I'll snip them off.  For now, they stay.

And day 4 will likely be a repeat of the previous 3.  Although today is a school day for Josie, so even more casual than yesterday. Naps, eating, washing baby clothes, editing pictures, cuddling, cuddling and more cuddling. Ed's been working on lots of long neglected house projects while he's off this week, in between diapers and feedings, of course. The real test will come next week when he's back at work.  Here's hoping my mom doesn't decide to take a vacation any time soon!

Family of 5

We left this place for the last time on Sunday, bringing home Annalise.  Our family complete and home. So great.

A lot happened here, a place that was comforting and safe while I waited for their arrival, caring people that changed my life and my family forever.  It was bittersweet to say goodbye to a place that was such a huge part of our lives for 40 days.  But we knew the biggest adventure of our lives was waiting for us at home, and were were excited to jump in feet first!

Our last moments in the NICU before packing up, the last minutes of being connected to monitors!  A freeing moment to hold our baby and walk around with her.   We packed her up tight in the car seat, just like we did with Alivia a few days prior... and said goodbye.

Ed, so proud and happy to snap her in and drive off.  I made sure to stop and grab my ritualistic hibiscus ginger ale and blueberry muffin at my favorite tea place as a final adios, and we hit the road. 

We've now survived two nights of twins. It's a drastic adjustment, a steep learning curve, but I think we might just be good at this.  True, we're both home and I have my amazing mom to help, AND they sleep 90% of the day... but it's better than I imagined.  So good. Josie's a great big sister and proving to be a great helper.  It's good to be home.



Hooray for Home

Official news we were headed home came this week. Alivia is a few days ahead of her sister. While sad Annalise wasn't equally as ready to come home, we know she is only a few days behind and will be making the same journey home soon. Having been home a few days now, we are glad we had this slow transition home and into the world of twindom!

Alivia, day 14

We were discharged from the hospital on Thursday, and got to hold and love Alivia for the first time without any monitors connected to her.  It made us nervous to detach from the reassurance all the monitoring gave us, but now that we've been home a few days watching her every adorable move and listening to her coo, we are more relaxed.

Alivia ready for home

She gets swallowed up in the carseat (and this is even one of the smaller models!), and I of course rode home in the back seat with her.  As any baby would do, she slept the entire ride home. 

And yet the nursery isn't quite finished yet, but getting close.  I have art to hang and arranging to do.  I never thought the day would come that I'd have them home to fill the cribs.  I can't wait to see them both here.  Soon!

Upgraded

This past weekend brought some exciting changes.  We moved from the 80s to the 60s (series of rooms), and in NICU speak, that means we moved to the other side of the NICU where we transition to home!  

Alivia, day 13

 With that great news, we spend our days at the hospital doing things much like we would do at home.  We feed them on a schedule, we cuddle, we do diapers, we cuddle more.  The feeding tubes are coming out very soon, they're still there only as a precaution in case one of the girls poops out during a feeding.  To keep their weights increasing, they must take every drop of milk at every feeding. 

Alivia (left), Annalise (right)

Their new room even has a window.  This weekend was the Chicago Air and Water Show which we had a million dollar view of.  We cuddled and sat by the window all weekend.  Ah, and last but not least, they're in open cribs and out of the isolettes.  That means they've mastered maintaining their own body temps.  Just like all the nurses told us, they are strong and won't be there long.  With each passed day we can tell they're stronger and getting closer to coming home! 

Just Us

Being that this may be the last week of just the three of us (woohoo!), I see it fit to spend a little extra time with this goober as we count down the days until 2 new babes join our home.

It had been quite a while since I sat down and just snapped away at this smiley face, and I'm glad I did.  Even at the end of an exhausted day, I didn't even brush her hair or take off her dirty clothes.  And low and behold, my most favorite pictures in a long time.

I have a day this week set aside for just her.  I won't be going to the NICU that day, she won't be going to school, it'll be just us.  I think that means a day of whatever she wants.  Her pick of parks to play at, maybe even ice cream instead of something practical for lunch.  I think I'll take a nap with her and play any and all of the games she wants. 

It was almost 4 years ago we fell in love for the first time with this one, and we can't wait to do it all over again.  She taught us so much that we *almost* feel ready for the chaos that lies ahead.