our first overnight not at home

I had been wondering how hard a night someplace else would be. Jon was going to be gone all day and night this one Wednesday, so I arranged to go to my sisters up in PA. I only went for one night, so that however it turned out, I wasn't gone for long. On the way up things went well. I got all the way there without a stop. While up there we did well too! The babies were a little fussy to put down, but they slept through the night- the only thing I wanted to see if they did. But on top of that, we had a great time! Caed loves his cousins. And C and O did so well with the babies. The way home was another story. I had bad timing. And the babies started crying and they wouldn't nod off to sleep. So I had to stop and nurse them both! Do you know how that goes when you have to feed 2, separately? Burp two, change two diapers...and make sure you feed them both enough? I was thinking I was going to stretch the diaper situation and not change them, but then they both had poop diapers!! It was hysterical. (not really, I was mad at myself for the bad timing.)

Here are some pics of the cuties:

4 months

Not sure what's going on with the formatting here, but I am just going to write and post. It's kind of funky in the compose view.

The babies are now almost 5 months old, but this shall serve as their 4 month photo anyway... such cuties and everyday I look at Jon amazed we've got these three. I'm still kind of blown away that we had twins. Ah, I needed to be stretched this way.

Recently there has been a topic on a twins discussion board that I am part of about other's saying to families when they see the twins or multiples "you've got your hands full!". I've thought it was an interesting discussion and how if affects the older kids and the family when people say that- as if it's a 'burden' or it's nothing more then a blessing to have multiples- some have said that they say to people who say that "and we plan to have more!" or "what a blessing it is!". I love that. I do have my hands full of blessings, and it's tiring and takes extra thought on how to face certain situations (and a little more patience) but these little kids are so much fun. Starting to laugh at their big brother when he runs around acting crazy, and singing at the top of his lungs...trying to enjoy the days we're in and not waiting for the future...

Okay, stats. These babies come from families that don't have smallness in their genes.

Aldan 16 pds 8 oz. 27"

Theron 17 pds 11 oz. 27"

Yup, Theron (pronounced Theer-in, I do this because it looks like it should be pronounced with the 'o', but it's not) passed Aldan in weight. Theron is a little Caed...

(excuse anything that doesn't make sense, don't have time to read over, babies crying and C has a bug bite on his foot that apparently is chewing off his foot.)

Co

my mom's younger sister, our "other mother", Auntie Co came to help me for the last week of official help.

I lined up 3 months of help after the twins were born. The first three months after Caed was born was the hardest for me. Mentally my world was changing. I was no longer only responsible for myself. I couldn't just head out to dinner with a friend. Jon and I had to plan when we wanted to go out.....all the things that changed kind of took adjustment for me. I don't think I was depressed, but I was certainly unsure of myself and the decision to bring children into the world after that. Luckily, three months went by and life started sinking in and melding together. Adding Caed had given our family a great new dynamic. Well I was worried about what bringing in twins was going to do, so when it was recommended to get help, i quickly tried to line it up. Oh it was so good to have the help- someone to help do laundry, cook, empty the dishwasher and keep the days from feeling so lonely. The help initially was survival. Do you know that statistically parents of multiples have a higher divorce rate? That sits at the back of my mind during our more stressful times. It's important for Jon and I to keep communicating. Do you know how hard it is to communicate with newborns- let alone twin newborns? Man, it's hard! Anyway- we were given such a gift to keep a lot of stresses low for us the first three months for the most part. The yard and home were kept running, as well as keeping the schedule. The middle of the nights were kept stress free too. We were thankful!

So Auntie Co came the last week...and we had FUN! Trips to Trader Joe's, IKEA (while she fed one of the boys a bottle!!), the zoo, and an amazing afternoon out just the two of us. Jon came home early and I got to go get my haircut!! Woo-Hoo!! I didn't get anything drastic done like I was thinking about, but it was so nice to get a mini break and get a little pampered. Jon did a feeding here at home (see he never backs down from a challenge!) and while Co was getting her hair finished up, I got to go to the bookstore and have a coffee and read parts of books (about parenting twins, of course!). It was such a nice time. We really had a blast together. She played with caed, setting up a mini construction site, read stories to him and helped keep him in line too. I was so thankful to have co here. She is a special part of our life and she is missed!

A lot of people ask Co and my mom if they are twins they are together...seriously, a lot. I've been there when they are and it's so funny. But my mom and her sister, when they are together are a lot of fun!! They make you laugh your head off- tell the funniest stories and are up for whatever adventure lays ahead. And I know that Co took the week with us as an adventure. She walked everywhere with us, and we had lots of fun treats. My sister Heather even came for the day and hung out when Co was here, what fun to have us altogether! We met up with AJ on her lunch break too. Everyone loves to be around when Co's there! We love you Auntie Co!

photos...

I love photography. I have loved photos for a LONG time. I have a friend that I have known since the 4th grade. Debbie liked taking photos too. Early- and they were of everything, because as a kid you like to take pictures of your pool, your room and your cats, not necessarily things that you would put up in an art gallery. But I loved the idea of documenting life. I loved back then the anticipation of getting the images back on paper and looking through her photos. You remember you'd have to drop off your film and get them back 3-7 days later? I loved looking at pictures of our friends and the other random things she'd take pictures of. My older (not oldest) sister is 5 years older then me. When she was in High School she took a photography class and was able to develop her own black and white pictures. I remember this one cool picture that she took through the planks of our deck. The grain in the wood was so cool, and it just sticks out in my mind. When I got to High School, I took all the photography classes I could. I spent a lot of time in the dark room, developing my own pictures. I loved taking the film, loading it onto the reels- seeing the negatives develop and then loading them into negative sleeves and looking at them all, deciding what images might have turned out best. I loved buying the photo paper- and going into photo stores and trying different kinds of papers, and different sizes. Watching the images appear in the chemicals was magical. I created it. I could alter it. I LOVED it. I still miss that part of photography. If I could, I'd set up a darkroom in my house. We even have a boatload of darkroom supplies packed in boxes in my basement. If I could have it the way i want I'd go for it, but I have a family and put that on hold until it works. And for now I've been enjoying digital photography- but I was reluctant to use it. We went to France about 5 years ago and we took both my Minolta film camera, and the brand new Digital SLR we bought, because I couldn't imagine taking the photos completely on digital and not have negatives. enough about me.

Okay, all that to say. I wanted to contemplate taking my own photos of the boys for the announcement. I did. But I have a very talented friend, Jan, who offered to take her time to do it instead. Jan is professionally trained, so when she offered, I felt blessed. It's been so cool to see Jan's work develop since I've known her. She used to work on Capitol Hill and left her job to pursue her passion for photography full time. She's learned and developed so much- she does beautiful work. You can see blog here: http://www.janmichele.blogspot.com/ we spent two different attempts to get the photos, and it was stressful!! We used photos from when caed was 2-3 months old for his announcements so I was excited to get those newborn photos...but it was hard! We didn't get very many photos of just Aldan....he wouldn't sleep! When they are sleeping, you are supposed to be able to get them all pose-able...but that didn't happen...anyway- here are photos we didn't use for the announcement, I'll let her talent speak for itself...

Breaking the Law...

So today I took Caed (and Rado) to the playground after my "workout". (Long walk, that I did pick up a little speed on twice) and he wanted to play on the bouncy spring-y motorcycle thing. You know that you can rock back in forth in? anyway, he wanted me to be included in this playtime by talking to me on the phone. He found a phone (small stick) for me and then told me to hold on. He got up on his motorcycle and starting "going" and then picked up his "phone" (toy fighter jet). rocking back and forth "hi mommy" "oh hi caed" realizing he's acting out what he sees "you know you shouldn't be driving while holding on to the phone, the police could pull you over. You see mom do that sometimes too, huh?" Quiet. "well mommy better work on that, but we can continue to pretend" DC has a hand free law and well I guess I better start obeying the law. So I am sorry to all of you who call me on my cell and I answer with my blue tooth that no one can hear me on. It's safer for me and the three kids too.


how adorable are two happy babies sitting in bumbo seats looking and "talking" to each other? VERY! Loving watching them interact and amuse each other for 2 seconds that I don't need to. I have a friend who uses this quote and I think about it ALL the time these days. "the years are short but the days are long". So true. They are 4 months old!

coping mechanisms

so today I realized I have a little bit of a coping mechanism that I do.

My friend came over with her daughter, we took all the kids on a walk to the playground and then came home (it went well!!). Then I remembered I REALLY needed milk. I haven't done a grocery store trip with all three yet, and quite frankly it intimidates me. Jon and I went for the first time with all three this past weekend and it went okay- but doing it by myself is too much for me at this point. So luckily we do peapod and order our groceries online and have them delivered. Perfect for this mommy. Anyway. I really needed milk. I was thinking of the best way to have my friend help me. I offered for all of us to go there, park near each other and I run in with the kids in the car, and her watching them all. (my car doesn't fit more then my three kids, so we couldn't ride together) She offered to run there herself with her daughter, but I felt badly dragging her daughter into Safeway herself. So then I thought there's a 7-11 down the street, we can pay the premium one time- and so we agreed that me running down there without any kids was the best idea. So I ran to get the milk while she stayed back with all 4 kids. Now when I went into the 7-11 I grabbed the milk and quickly scanned the shop for anything else I might need. "Nope, we have bread and eggs- I don't need coffee....hmm, but I'll be "trapped" inside all day once I'm out of this store. What might I want later, when i can't leave. Chips? Yes! Chips! And how about a bottle of Coke? Yes! oh, do i want a chocolate bar too? No, I've got chocolate at home. Umm, how about a big bite? Maybe, but I don't think it's acceptable to walk back into my house with my friend watching my three kids, with a hot dog in hand. Unless, I came back with one for her......nah, I don't know if she likes hot dogs. Okay, milk, coke, and Doritos, check! Now I'll be happy with my afternoon when i want a treat."

See, my coping mechanism for not being able to get out easily is a junk food binge! I must promise to make my banana blueberry strawberry smoothie before I open the Doritos and coke!

Maybe I can resist them anyway.

Where we are at..

So for the boy's three month appointment Jon offered to take the twins. It was generous of him so I didn't need to stress out the whole morning in the waiting room and then trying to decide if I should nurse them and all the other things that go through my head at the doctor's appointment. (we go to a sole practitioner who's great but also tends to start later then her first appointment.) So I don't have any stats because Jon didn't know they should get them every time, and they didn't do it for some reason. Basically they got their shots, asked my three questions and left. Probably the shortest easiest appointment ever. Oh well. Either Jon will offer to do it again because it was a good appointment or because of all my "encouragement" to get weighed and measured at the next appointment he won't.


Aldan now likes tummy time. Likes it so much he turns on his tummy for every bedtime. I can't make him stay on his back, and he's gotten too big for the sleep positioner. He's also found his thumb. VERY helpful when he's upset, he just sticks his hand up and in a very rigid way gets his thumb into his mouth. We tried pacifiers for a long time and I guess waiting for a paci when he's always got his thumb- works better for him. I don't look forward to weaning him off his thumb! I have family members who sucked thumb/fingers for a long time. They will remain nameless. Theron has yet to like tummy time, but he's more verbal. He'll chat at anyone and anything. He's in competition with his older brother. If you have all of Theron's attention and talk with him and repeat basic sounds over again, he loves it.


Caedmon still will choose the name Theron first when you ask him which brother is which. I wonder if other siblings of multiples have the same issue. He's doing great though as far as his attitude with them. He's still not really nurturing, but he's looking forward to playing with them. I have a friend who always talks about how the siblings will be best friends- and so I use that as my encouragement to him. "Caed, they are going to be your BEST friend!" We also have a book from Jon's Aunt that he LOVES about being a big brother. Caed has been hysterical lately- making up all sorts of stories and saying all sorts of funny phrases. I wish I was writing them down more often! He is definitely growing in leaps and bounds.

I am still really pretty strict with the schedule and for now it's working for us. The babies are sleeping- I still go back and forth with the best method to get them down- and for nap time with all three I am always changing how I do it. Basically, if I am good about getting the babies down for their nap at 12:30, then getting Caed down by himself becomes possible. But I keep doing it different so I haven't settled on the best method. It's hard to feel okay with the way I do it when I'm leaving one baby crying at some point. For the last 5 weeks Jon has been going to a bible study on Wednesday nights and I've been doing the whole nighttime routine myself. It's quite the routine to juggle.

Jon did take this past Sunday night and did it all himself too. He even had to do the last feeding at night. He survived! I am so thankful for a husband willing to get his hands dirty.

I also took the kids up to my sister's in PA for one night. I wanted to see what travelling with them is like and see how we would do for one night someplace else. They did okay, it took a little longer to put the twins down, but they finally went down and slept through the night! It was really nice to get away...and I'm happy I did it.

We are going to attempt a camping trip labor day weekend (what are we NUTS?!) with old friends and a trip at the end of august to MB, which came up unexpectedly...I'll be back with a post about my last week of official help.

We go to the 4 month appointment next week already!

Uncle Andrew and Auntie Sally

We loved having Jon's brother and wife (that seems like a strange way to refer to a friend!) here for a whole week! We were so blessed by all their help. We had a great time celebrating Caed's 3rd Birthday when they were here too. Andrew and Sally made a great team. Uncle Andrew would play with Caed and hold the boys- and did stuff for Jon too- mowed the grass, weed whacked, and put out mulch around our yard, he fixed a nick in the wall that someone had recently caused- and I not only had him choose the wrong paint to begin with, but then no one caught he mistakenly painted the color around the corner too until much later! Oh man, that was a frustrating project. Anything that needed to be fixed around the house, he was willing to do. and it was a week "vacation" for him. Sally is a teacher and so she's got her summer's off. Rado got lots of good walks from Sally- and she helped bathe the babies, dress them, get them to sleep and help me stay on a routine. The biggest out of her comfort zone task she preformed? She changed her first (and many after) diaper. And not just wet ones, stinky poop ones! She was really a trooper, I was so thankful.

Whenever Andrew leaves, Caed always gives him such an honest good hug. He loves his Uncle. (and well his aunt too...!)

I know there is a lot more I could write about their help/visit, but as a mom of twin babies, my brain has turned to mush and this is what I got. thanks andrew and sally, we love you guys and miss you so much (and caed wantes to swim in your pool)

chinese manufacuring at its best

We got this little piano for Caed for Christmas but didn't give it to him then, and gave it to him for his birthday. Some of this didn't make any sense at all, who let it on the boat for the U.S.? Can you see how hysterical this is? We were cracking up reading all the bizarre sentences..still cracking up looking at these pictures...

so cute

today after i had nursed the twins, it was so adorable- I was holding Aldan upright for burping, and Theron was still laying on the nursing pillow- they started looking at each other and then Theron started smiling at Aldan. It was
a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e! I didn't get a picture of it, but wished i had. Then Theron started getting his fist in his mouth and Aldan started looking for his thumb (which he found the week Co was here- too cute too- although I'd rather he take a pacifier) it was like they were copying each other. Then Theron started his "talking" and Aldan made some sounds too! Aldan doesn't "talk" like Theron does, so I was really surprised. I love watching this interaction!