Sometimes the boys play so nicely together! (Dex on left, Jax on right) 
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Triumph!
I am VERY happy to report that we have found the pediatrician of my dreams! A few months ago, I met another mother of twins (always a treat!) who is a nurse at a pediatrician's office. Her twins see a pediatrician at that practice and she told me that several of the doctors that work there are parents of twins, themselves. Based on her recommendation, I gave it a shot.
The doctor we saw has twins and joked about cornering the market on twin patients. The boys were his third set of twins that day! He took over an hour and a half to see the boys, which just completely blew me away. I so frequently felt rushed through appointments with our last doctor. When I thanked him for taking so much time with us, he said, "Trust me, as a parent of twins, I know that everything takes a little bit more time!" I really feel like the medical care the boys will be receiving will be specifically tailored to fit their unique needs. In addition, the parenting tips (regarding sleep, feeding, behavior, etc.) that I received was also specific to raising twins. This is something that never happened with our previous pediatrician.
So, at six months, the boys continue to grow and grow! Jaxon weighed in at 15 lbs 8 oz and Dexter was at 15 lbs 5 oz. This puts them both at about the 10th percentile for weight. As far as length goes, they're two little shorties and 24 1/2 " and 25" (this is the first time Jax has measured longer than Dex). That's about 5th percentile for length. As always, their noggins are on the big side! Jax is 95th percentile (18 1/4") and Dex is 75th percentile (17 3/4").
I just can't believe how quickly the past six months have flown by!
The doctor we saw has twins and joked about cornering the market on twin patients. The boys were his third set of twins that day! He took over an hour and a half to see the boys, which just completely blew me away. I so frequently felt rushed through appointments with our last doctor. When I thanked him for taking so much time with us, he said, "Trust me, as a parent of twins, I know that everything takes a little bit more time!" I really feel like the medical care the boys will be receiving will be specifically tailored to fit their unique needs. In addition, the parenting tips (regarding sleep, feeding, behavior, etc.) that I received was also specific to raising twins. This is something that never happened with our previous pediatrician.
So, at six months, the boys continue to grow and grow! Jaxon weighed in at 15 lbs 8 oz and Dexter was at 15 lbs 5 oz. This puts them both at about the 10th percentile for weight. As far as length goes, they're two little shorties and 24 1/2 " and 25" (this is the first time Jax has measured longer than Dex). That's about 5th percentile for length. As always, their noggins are on the big side! Jax is 95th percentile (18 1/4") and Dex is 75th percentile (17 3/4").
I just can't believe how quickly the past six months have flown by!
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
Did it have to go SO fast?
The babies will be six months old next week. Unbelievable.
As D.R. was given a luxurious day off yesterday, we celebrated by taking our little family out for coffee. As D.R. sat with Dex on his lap, reading the paper, and I sat with Jax in my arms.... I thought, "Where did these babies come from and when did this become our life?" It was a moment I wanted to freeze in time and hold onto... never to forget. Throughout the day, I had multiples moments like this.
Dex had trouble falling asleep for his morning nap, so I scooped him up in the blanket my mother-in-law made for him and rocked him in my arms. After a minute or two of curiously looking around the room for something else more exciting, he resigned himself to resting his soft little head in the warmth of my neck and my heart nearly broke. No one prepares you for the emotional pull of a such a little boys breathing softly on your neck.
Later that evening, D.R. and I found ourselves, once again, with a baby in each of our arms. They are starting to become aware of each other and will tug with intrigue at the other's ears, nose and fingers. I love watching this and being able to share these moments with D.R.
And then this morning, I snuck into the boys' room to check on them while they were sleeping. I tucked them into their little blankets, thinking how grown up they looked at the ripe old age of six months (almost). Then, with perfect timing, they both started sucking their tongues. This is something they used to do all the time as newborns... absolutely adorable and completely Dex and Jax. It hit me how quickly they change and grow... and how easy it is to forget the endearing mannerisms that make babies so special. Yes, it goes by way too fast. All the more reason I feel SO lucky to be able to share so many special moments with them each and every day.
As D.R. was given a luxurious day off yesterday, we celebrated by taking our little family out for coffee. As D.R. sat with Dex on his lap, reading the paper, and I sat with Jax in my arms.... I thought, "Where did these babies come from and when did this become our life?" It was a moment I wanted to freeze in time and hold onto... never to forget. Throughout the day, I had multiples moments like this.
Dex had trouble falling asleep for his morning nap, so I scooped him up in the blanket my mother-in-law made for him and rocked him in my arms. After a minute or two of curiously looking around the room for something else more exciting, he resigned himself to resting his soft little head in the warmth of my neck and my heart nearly broke. No one prepares you for the emotional pull of a such a little boys breathing softly on your neck.
Later that evening, D.R. and I found ourselves, once again, with a baby in each of our arms. They are starting to become aware of each other and will tug with intrigue at the other's ears, nose and fingers. I love watching this and being able to share these moments with D.R.
And then this morning, I snuck into the boys' room to check on them while they were sleeping. I tucked them into their little blankets, thinking how grown up they looked at the ripe old age of six months (almost). Then, with perfect timing, they both started sucking their tongues. This is something they used to do all the time as newborns... absolutely adorable and completely Dex and Jax. It hit me how quickly they change and grow... and how easy it is to forget the endearing mannerisms that make babies so special. Yes, it goes by way too fast. All the more reason I feel SO lucky to be able to share so many special moments with them each and every day.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
To bumper or not to bumper...
Everyone seems to have an opinion on whether or not crib bumpers should be used these days. The AAP says they're a SIDS risk, grandparents think they're a must-have. What to do, what to do!
When the babies were smaller, we swaddled them for bed each night. In addition to helping them sleep more soundly, it also prevented them from rolling into the dangerous cushioning of the crib bumpers. Not at all worried about the babies suffocating themselves in the middle of the night, we left the cute little bumpers up.
When the babies started becoming more active at night, we removed the bumpers. One group of moms that I talk with regularly informed me that this was the only responsible thing to do. However, I regularly found the boys awake and crying after ramming their poor little heads against the sides of their cribs during their nighttime repositionings, or with arms and/or legs hanging out the crib slats... trapped in their own beds. At that point, I decided that the bumpers had to go back up.
Now, we're faced with a new trick the boys have learned. It involves lifting up the bumper and sticking their heads between the bumper and the sides of the crib. It's all fun and games until they realize they're stuck... and then it's Mom and Dad to the rescue. I suspect if we remove them, we will have much more head clunking to deal with. However, if we leave them up, the boys will continue to entrap themselves in the oddest positions!
Hmmm.... suggestions are welcome.
When the babies were smaller, we swaddled them for bed each night. In addition to helping them sleep more soundly, it also prevented them from rolling into the dangerous cushioning of the crib bumpers. Not at all worried about the babies suffocating themselves in the middle of the night, we left the cute little bumpers up.
When the babies started becoming more active at night, we removed the bumpers. One group of moms that I talk with regularly informed me that this was the only responsible thing to do. However, I regularly found the boys awake and crying after ramming their poor little heads against the sides of their cribs during their nighttime repositionings, or with arms and/or legs hanging out the crib slats... trapped in their own beds. At that point, I decided that the bumpers had to go back up.
Now, we're faced with a new trick the boys have learned. It involves lifting up the bumper and sticking their heads between the bumper and the sides of the crib. It's all fun and games until they realize they're stuck... and then it's Mom and Dad to the rescue. I suspect if we remove them, we will have much more head clunking to deal with. However, if we leave them up, the boys will continue to entrap themselves in the oddest positions!
Hmmm.... suggestions are welcome.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Oh, those tongues!!!
I tried and tried to get some good photos of the babies in a set of sweaters I made for them, but they had other plans!! Here is Dex, very proud of his ability to stick out his tongue at Mama!
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Five Month Photo
Yes, I'm a little behind on my posting... I took this photo a few weeks ago when the boys turned five months old. One of my favorite things in the world is when I'll look over at the boys and see two sets of eyes following my every move. This photo makes me think of those moments. Dex is on the left and Jax is on the right.
Friday, January 20, 2006
The School of Sleep
At the ripe old age of five months, the boys were enrolled in our own little School of Sleep. Lessons began promptly on the second day of January and, though the boys were a bit hesitant to begin classes, they both came through with flying colors. Yes, we have two amazing little sleepers!
For the first few months of their lives, we relied on a routine of nursing, swaddling, rocking & music to get the boys to fall asleep. Yes, the routine worked well, but it meant a good 30-60 minutes preceded every bedtime and naptime. After much discussion, we decided that five months was a good age to teach the boys to fall asleep (and stay asleep… fingers crossed) in their cribs.
With D.R.’s schedule, I am often the only one putting the boys down for naps, bedtime, etc. Since I have two babies but only one set of arms, I often relied on the swings (yes, it was a love/hate relationship) to help in the rocking. This meant that wherever the babies and I went, the swings went also. Yikes!! Recent holiday visits with extended family (and two baby swings!)sealed the deal.
After only two days of lessons, I am SO happy to say that our little munchkins sleep for TWELVE hours at night, waking once or twice to quickly nurse and then go back to sleep. They take 2-3 LOVELY naps during the day and are SO much happier, as a result (and so am I!). It’s as easy as placing them in their cribs, kissing them good-night, and watching them close their little eyes. Yes, I still rock them… my arms would ache if I didn’t… but they don’t rely on it to fall asleep… it’s something nice we do in the quiet of the afternoon, or while listening to our favorite songs, or when they’re in need of soothing (or when I’m in need of soothing!).
Now, if I could just get them to more consistently nap/wake/etc. at the same time!! That would be a miracle!
For the first few months of their lives, we relied on a routine of nursing, swaddling, rocking & music to get the boys to fall asleep. Yes, the routine worked well, but it meant a good 30-60 minutes preceded every bedtime and naptime. After much discussion, we decided that five months was a good age to teach the boys to fall asleep (and stay asleep… fingers crossed) in their cribs.
With D.R.’s schedule, I am often the only one putting the boys down for naps, bedtime, etc. Since I have two babies but only one set of arms, I often relied on the swings (yes, it was a love/hate relationship) to help in the rocking. This meant that wherever the babies and I went, the swings went also. Yikes!! Recent holiday visits with extended family (and two baby swings!)sealed the deal.
After only two days of lessons, I am SO happy to say that our little munchkins sleep for TWELVE hours at night, waking once or twice to quickly nurse and then go back to sleep. They take 2-3 LOVELY naps during the day and are SO much happier, as a result (and so am I!). It’s as easy as placing them in their cribs, kissing them good-night, and watching them close their little eyes. Yes, I still rock them… my arms would ache if I didn’t… but they don’t rely on it to fall asleep… it’s something nice we do in the quiet of the afternoon, or while listening to our favorite songs, or when they’re in need of soothing (or when I’m in need of soothing!).
Now, if I could just get them to more consistently nap/wake/etc. at the same time!! That would be a miracle!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Things I want to remember
It seems like the boys are changing more and more quickly these days. Everyone morning when I go to lift them out of their cribs, it's always a new surprise... new tricks, new expressions, new sounds... and it's going so fast. Sometimes I still can't believe I have two babies! When did that happen?
Dexter is rolling over ALL the time, now. It's his favorite past-time. He only goes in one direction... to the right... and Jax is not at all amused when he's an obstacle in Dex's rolling course. It's pretty cute. Jax is less motivated to move around and more content to play with his Mama. Dex is much more easy going and plays so well by himself... it's easy to place him on the floor and watch him go to town. Jaxon seems to require more interaction... songs, games, silly faces... he loves them all! Last night, he was particularly amused with silly faces. Sticking my tongue out at him brought on a series of high-pitched giggles that were pretty contagious. Dex and I caught the bug... and the three of us had a good round of laughs. These moments are so magical...I don't want to forget them.
Dex recently learned how to blow raspberries and likes to share these bubbly noise makers with me at the funniest moments. I'll be changing his diaper in the quiet of the night, completely convinced that he's all but asleep, when all of a sudden, he'll look up at me, smile broadly, and start his funny noise-making! It's like he's saying, "hee hee... you thought I was alseep! Let's play!" I love it.
Both boys have developed the mannerism of playing with each other's fingers while they're nursing. It's a contest to see who can grab the other's fingers first. Once you've grabbed them, you have to hold on as long as you can... then the game begins again. Sometimes, the game will end, and they'll just lay there holding on to each other. It's the most precious thing. Often, they'll fall asleep like that and I'll have to break the sweet hand-holding to put them to bed. Sometimes, it brings tears to my eyes.
There are so many other things that make my days with the boys so fulfilling. Both babies have fully discovered their toes and can't get enough of them. What great toys toes are! They both kick and open their mouths as wide as they can when they get excited. I love this. They continue to squeal and squeak in the most adorable way... and their nighttime conversations are hysterical. They love looking at themselves in the mirror, but get incredibly shy. :) Once they lock eyes with their own reflection, they'll smile sweetly, lift their shoulders up to their cheeks and quickly turn away. After a few moments, they'll discreetly turn back to see if the cute reflection is still there... and the cycle repeats. These are things I don't want to forget.
Dexter is rolling over ALL the time, now. It's his favorite past-time. He only goes in one direction... to the right... and Jax is not at all amused when he's an obstacle in Dex's rolling course. It's pretty cute. Jax is less motivated to move around and more content to play with his Mama. Dex is much more easy going and plays so well by himself... it's easy to place him on the floor and watch him go to town. Jaxon seems to require more interaction... songs, games, silly faces... he loves them all! Last night, he was particularly amused with silly faces. Sticking my tongue out at him brought on a series of high-pitched giggles that were pretty contagious. Dex and I caught the bug... and the three of us had a good round of laughs. These moments are so magical...I don't want to forget them.
Dex recently learned how to blow raspberries and likes to share these bubbly noise makers with me at the funniest moments. I'll be changing his diaper in the quiet of the night, completely convinced that he's all but asleep, when all of a sudden, he'll look up at me, smile broadly, and start his funny noise-making! It's like he's saying, "hee hee... you thought I was alseep! Let's play!" I love it.
Both boys have developed the mannerism of playing with each other's fingers while they're nursing. It's a contest to see who can grab the other's fingers first. Once you've grabbed them, you have to hold on as long as you can... then the game begins again. Sometimes, the game will end, and they'll just lay there holding on to each other. It's the most precious thing. Often, they'll fall asleep like that and I'll have to break the sweet hand-holding to put them to bed. Sometimes, it brings tears to my eyes.
There are so many other things that make my days with the boys so fulfilling. Both babies have fully discovered their toes and can't get enough of them. What great toys toes are! They both kick and open their mouths as wide as they can when they get excited. I love this. They continue to squeal and squeak in the most adorable way... and their nighttime conversations are hysterical. They love looking at themselves in the mirror, but get incredibly shy. :) Once they lock eyes with their own reflection, they'll smile sweetly, lift their shoulders up to their cheeks and quickly turn away. After a few moments, they'll discreetly turn back to see if the cute reflection is still there... and the cycle repeats. These are things I don't want to forget.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Shopping for a new hairstyle
Dex seemed just as interested in flipping through hairstyle magazines as Sarah did! Maybe he's getting tired of the near-bald look (cute as it is).
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Just the four of us!
Yes, we achieved the near-impossible... a family photo with both boys grinning. Now, if we could just get them to look at the camera!!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
I'm posting a few photos of the boys' first Christmas with my side of the family... and with the Baraboo crew. I know this photo doesn't have the babies in it, but it's one of the first photos in a long time that I've had with all my siblings. It was great to have an afternoon for the whole family to be together.
Strange, but true. Both boys ADORE being held with their heads tipped upside down. SERIOUSLY. It's the funniest thing ever. They would stay this way until their faces turned blue if you didn't force them up after a few moments.... and even then, they're usually clamoring to stretch again! Here's Jax, showing off his new trick for Grandpa.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
What cuddle bugs!
This photo just cracks me up! I had just fed the boys and was getting them ready to walk next door to visit a neighbor. They just looked so cute, I couldn't help but snap a few photos. I love it when I get double giggles. Dexter is on the left, Jax is on the right.
Apology
Maybe I need to apologize for the tone of the last post. I meant it to be light-hearted... but maybe it didn't come across that way. Seriously, I truly enjoy taking the boys out. It's a lot of fun. D.R. and I get such a kick out of the reactions we get when people notice that we have two babies that look a lot alike. And, I LOVE sharing my babies with friends and family. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a loved one playing with one of the boys and sharing in that great feeling of holding a cuddly little baby. I guess the hardest thing for me is thinking of strangers, with dirty hands, touching the babies near their mouths, or on their fingers or hands (which spend a lot of time in their mouths). It's not that I don't want to share the babies, it's just that I want to protect them. Hopefully, that clarifies my last post.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Hands off the merchandise!
While Christmas shopping with the boys (yes, I actually made a few VERY brave ventures to the crowded shopping centers with the babes), I made some interesting discoveries. I really don't know if parents of single chidren experience what I experienced, but I found it pretty frustrating. Let me explain...
I understand that seeing two babies in a train-like double stroller can be quite a site (especially when they're super cute!). D.R. and I have gotten used to, and to be quite honest, really enjoy the oohs and aahs, as well as the fun comments we get about having two babies. This has been a fun element of having twins and makes the adventure (sometimes with a good ending, sometimes with a bad one) of taking them out in public all the more exciting. HOWEVER, just because I'm out in public with two babies does not give every Joe Schmoe the right to come and touch my babies! I am just amazed at how bold people can be.
Okay, honestly, does it bother me if you say the babies are cute? No! Does it bother me if you want to stop me and ask me questions about having twin babies? Absolutely not! Would it even bother me if you wanted to wiggle a cute little toe or pat a little baby head? No, that I can certainly allow. But, I have had stranger after stranger come and touch the boys on their faces, hands, take hats off their heads, even try to stick their fingers in my babies' mouths!! It got to the point, where I found myself racing through the mall just so I would not be stopped by curious shoppers who felt like sticking their fingers all over the babies. Am I overreacting? I hope not... is there a solution? Perhaps the three of us could wear T-shirts when we go out:
"Look, but don't touch."
"Questions are free, but it's $5 to touch a baby."
"Yes, they're twins. No, I don't know if they're identical. Yes, they're a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too. No, you can't take their hats off. No, you can't stick your fingers in their mouths. Yes, you can wiggle a toe... that's fine. Compliments welcome."
or... one I'm sure shoppers are all familiar with:
"Hands off the merchandise."
(Seriously... going out is a lot of fun... just no fingers in the mouth, okay?)
I understand that seeing two babies in a train-like double stroller can be quite a site (especially when they're super cute!). D.R. and I have gotten used to, and to be quite honest, really enjoy the oohs and aahs, as well as the fun comments we get about having two babies. This has been a fun element of having twins and makes the adventure (sometimes with a good ending, sometimes with a bad one) of taking them out in public all the more exciting. HOWEVER, just because I'm out in public with two babies does not give every Joe Schmoe the right to come and touch my babies! I am just amazed at how bold people can be.
Okay, honestly, does it bother me if you say the babies are cute? No! Does it bother me if you want to stop me and ask me questions about having twin babies? Absolutely not! Would it even bother me if you wanted to wiggle a cute little toe or pat a little baby head? No, that I can certainly allow. But, I have had stranger after stranger come and touch the boys on their faces, hands, take hats off their heads, even try to stick their fingers in my babies' mouths!! It got to the point, where I found myself racing through the mall just so I would not be stopped by curious shoppers who felt like sticking their fingers all over the babies. Am I overreacting? I hope not... is there a solution? Perhaps the three of us could wear T-shirts when we go out:
"Look, but don't touch."
"Questions are free, but it's $5 to touch a baby."
"Yes, they're twins. No, I don't know if they're identical. Yes, they're a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too. No, you can't take their hats off. No, you can't stick your fingers in their mouths. Yes, you can wiggle a toe... that's fine. Compliments welcome."
or... one I'm sure shoppers are all familiar with:
"Hands off the merchandise."
(Seriously... going out is a lot of fun... just no fingers in the mouth, okay?)
Monday, January 02, 2006
What happened to my babies?
Here is Jax, looking so sweet, but so wise beyond his years...um... months.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
New Year's.... Kickin' it Baby Style
I couldn't have asked for a better New Year's celebration. Did we go out and live it up? Did we have an intimate evening with friends? Did we just stay up together to ring in the New Year? No, no and no. Once again, we were way too exhausted to treat this night like any other. D.R. had come off of 36+ hours with absolutely no sleep and I was in my perpetual state of sleepiness. :)
So, how did we celebrate? We went back to the hospital where the boys were born to visit some dear friends of ours who welcomed a new baby girl into their life this week. As we were driving back to the hospital, all the memories came flooding back. The last few days of pregnancy, the physical discomfort, the anticipation... (I was convinved these babies were never coming out!), the drawn-out labor, pitocin drip, post-partum hemorrhaging, feeling my non-contracting uterus being hand-pumped for a long 15 minutes (sounds pleasant, right?)... and, then, that fantastic moment when I heard Dexter cry. Unbelievable. Followed by an equally stunning moment when little Jaxon made his presence known. All of those doubts, fears, anticipations completely wiped away in one moment. Then I look in the back seat of our mini-van to see these two sets of eyes looking at me and I wonder how we've made it this far. The chubby little faces smiling at me hardly resemble the pink little newborns we brought home from the hospital. Somehow five months of sleep deprivation, night feedings, daily triumphs and milestones have flown by in the blink of an eye, which leaves me looking at these two little munchkins wondering where they came from and how I could never imagine my life without them.
A few minutes later, we arrived at the hospital to see this tiny little 7 1/2 pound baby girl and our boys look SO big! Since New Year's Eve tends to be a day of retrospection, I feel this was a great way for us to ring in 2006. We were led down the hallways of our memory, through the most monumental days/weeks/months of 2005.
When we arrived home, around 7:00, we began our bedtime routine with all four heads hitting the pillows about an hour later. A part of me was regretting the fact that this would be the first New Year's Eve in years that I wouldn't be awake to whisper Happy New Year to a loved one...
As if on cue, a few hour later, I was awoken by two hungry little boys. I sleepily trudged to their room and carried them downstairs to the couch. As I began feeding them, I switched on the television to hear, "Four, three, two, one..." Here it was, 11:59, and I was holding the two most precious little boys in the world. How perfect is that?
So, how did we celebrate? We went back to the hospital where the boys were born to visit some dear friends of ours who welcomed a new baby girl into their life this week. As we were driving back to the hospital, all the memories came flooding back. The last few days of pregnancy, the physical discomfort, the anticipation... (I was convinved these babies were never coming out!), the drawn-out labor, pitocin drip, post-partum hemorrhaging, feeling my non-contracting uterus being hand-pumped for a long 15 minutes (sounds pleasant, right?)... and, then, that fantastic moment when I heard Dexter cry. Unbelievable. Followed by an equally stunning moment when little Jaxon made his presence known. All of those doubts, fears, anticipations completely wiped away in one moment. Then I look in the back seat of our mini-van to see these two sets of eyes looking at me and I wonder how we've made it this far. The chubby little faces smiling at me hardly resemble the pink little newborns we brought home from the hospital. Somehow five months of sleep deprivation, night feedings, daily triumphs and milestones have flown by in the blink of an eye, which leaves me looking at these two little munchkins wondering where they came from and how I could never imagine my life without them.
A few minutes later, we arrived at the hospital to see this tiny little 7 1/2 pound baby girl and our boys look SO big! Since New Year's Eve tends to be a day of retrospection, I feel this was a great way for us to ring in 2006. We were led down the hallways of our memory, through the most monumental days/weeks/months of 2005.
When we arrived home, around 7:00, we began our bedtime routine with all four heads hitting the pillows about an hour later. A part of me was regretting the fact that this would be the first New Year's Eve in years that I wouldn't be awake to whisper Happy New Year to a loved one...
As if on cue, a few hour later, I was awoken by two hungry little boys. I sleepily trudged to their room and carried them downstairs to the couch. As I began feeding them, I switched on the television to hear, "Four, three, two, one..." Here it was, 11:59, and I was holding the two most precious little boys in the world. How perfect is that?
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