11 weeks old....July 2011

These boys are getting so big....so big infact that Mommy hadd to have a little surgery today to repair her busted belly button.  Right now TJ and Matthew are cooing a lot and they are smiling.  TJ is not a big fan of Matthew and gets very jealouse if I hold Matthew. 

We celebrated the 4th of July by cooking out, going for a nice long walk in the neighborhood, and all four of us taking some serious naps.  All in all a great holiday.

11 Weeks old...getting really big!   Matthew on the left and TJ on the right.

 

What the boys have been up to.....

I began this post on July 15th....and I thought I posted it.  Sleep deprived..perhaps.

Since I last wrote the boys have done A LOT!!!  They have traveled to South Carolina, been Christened, been swimming just to name a few.  Mostly though, they have grown...tons!  As of today Matthew is 14lbs 8 oz and TJ is 14 lbs.  They have outgrown all of their 3 month clothes and fit comfortable in 6 and 6-9 month outfits.  I am amazed at the rate at which they are growing.  It is insane.

5am...first Road Trip - off to Myrtle Beach to visit Uncle Paul, Aunt Alli, and Decky!

Hanging out with Aunt Alli

Breast feeding....
Let me start by saying that I am not one of those people that is on a crusade to get everyone they know to breastfeed exclusively.  I have tried my best to just do breast milk, but as much as we are on the go, there is no way I could breast feed for every feeding.  Perhaps if there was just one of them...but with two...it is a sight to see me with the two boys trying to nurse.  It is certainly doable at the house, but there is no chance I will ever attempt that feat in public, especially since they are getting huge!!  Anyway, I love breast feeding..yes, it does but a damper on things sometimes, like when TJ refuses to eat and basically goes on a hunger strike if I can't nurse him...he will actually miss a feeding or two...talk about stubborn. Trust me, there are times when I have wanted to pull the car over and nurse him on the spot, but it is just not possible.
When I first decided to do the breast feeding thing my thoughts were based on how incredibly good the breast milk is for the baby.  The financial aspect didn't hurt either.  At $25 a jar for formula, multiplied by two babies.....we would be broke!  I never expected to have a rewarding feeling with each feeding.  Even in the middle of the night, while I HATE waking up, I love the quality time I spend with my boys. 
I love that the three of us spend quiet time in the middle of the night and I see expressions on their faces that melt my heart.  When Matthew is flipping out and then the instant he realizes what is about to happen, a sudden calm washes over him and he settles in for a good feeding.  TJ will often look up into my eyes and give me the biggest smile I have ever seen...as if he is saying "Thanks Mommy".  I will treasure these moments forever.  I look forward to doing this for a few more months so that I can hopefully provide these boys with a good, healthy start to their lives.  Additionally, I had no idea how amazing the breast feeding thing was for losing baby weight...so ladies that are pregnant...if you are on the fence, I would encourage you to try the breast feeding for a least a few weeks.....it could change your life...I know it has mine. I have never felt better and I feel that there is a connection with my sons that is just between us.

Long Time…

Long Time…

So it has been over a month since I have posted anything….I guess busy does not describe the months of June and July.  I had great plans to update the blog every week….guess I dropped the ball.

June was pretty crazy. We started with planning the Christening for TJ and Matthew.  Since I had a party at the house after the church, I had LOTS to do to get ready.  First we had to clean the house….that was a huge task.  Mom and I spent several days doing a serious cleaning…amazing what happens when you are too tired and fat in the final months of pregnancy to do much cleaning.  Then, we had to tackle the yard.  One morning my  parents came over and pulled weeds and trimmed the hedges and basically made the outside of the house look presentable.  Again, I kind of slacked on the gardens in the last few months.  Thankfully my parents are here to help out with anything we need done…and they are such great, and cheap labor..lol.  After the cleaning was done, we then had the task of shopping.  Mom and I spent the better part of a week shopping…for Christening outfits for the boys and for me, as well as for food (since I was doing all of the cooking), and for other supplies.  It was hectic, but I feel it was worth it.  The party was nice, the food was pretty good, and the Christening was great!  I am pretty certain that none of it would have been possible had my parents not been able to pitch in and help out with everything.  I am so fortunate that they are both willing and able to be involved and help me out whenever necessary.

Wow...big boys

As of 5/25/11:
During the past week or so I have noticed that the appetite on T.J. and Matthew has really increased...a lot!  Last week, T.J. wanted to eat every hour and a half to two hours...since he nurses for about 45 minutes at a time, that means that I have about 45 minutes to an hour to get anything accomplished before he freaks out again, and that is if he is calm after eating.  The following day, Matthew went through the same thing.  I read that it is a sign of a possible growth spurt.
Yesterday we went to the doctor for their 1 month appointment.  Everything is fine and normal with both of them.  However, boy did they grow!!
T.J. is now 21 1/2 inches long and 9 lb 10 oz - so he has grown almost 2 inches and gained nearly 3 lbs since leaving the hospital (he lost some weight in the hospital).
Matthew is now 21 inches (up 1 inch) and 9 lb 5 oz - again 2 1/2 lbs heavier.

I am sure glad I am nursing these kids and not using just formula...not sure that I could afford to feed them.  They just want to eat non-stop.  The only break I get is at night when they can sleep up to 4 hours or so before they wake up hungry.

So the honeymoon is over....

Sort of....its still all lovey here, but these boys are starting to really voice their opinions these past few days.  This morning Matthew awoke around 6:30am (no problem with that), but he definitely woke up on the wrong side of the crib.  He was hysterical and there was no real reason for it.  He was dry, clean, and he ate an hour earlier.  He just would not settle down.  Once he did, his brother lost HIS mind.  It went on like this until about noon when I finally got myself finished showering and drying the hair, fed them for the 5th time this morning, and changed T.J.'s 7th diaper of the morning...yes, 7. T.J. thinks it is hilarious to blow through the college savings by refusing to poop in an already dirty or wet diaper.  He will poop, scream, get changed, and 30 seconds later, poop again.  I may be starting to see things, but I swear he is smiling when he is pooping again. 
Anyway, I finally got them in their car seats, and the second I did, they both passed out.  I got them in the car and just drove for about 30 minutes and then headed to my mother's house, where they slept in the car seats until 3:30.  They were exhausted from 5 hours of screaming! 
While today was frustrating and draining, I have to keep reminding myself that a year ago I was praying for this.....ask and you shall receive I guess.  And I couldn't be happier to change 2 dozen diapers in a day, nurse every 2 hours, and not get the chance to brush my teeth until noon... It is a blessing, but I just wish they could tone down the cries...especially since now I am starting to see the actual tears....breaks my heart every time.

Out and About

So I have been trying to get the boys out of the house as much as possible..for a walk, to Nana's, the doctor, shopping, or lunch....I have found that getting them out makes them (and Mommy) much happier throughout the day.  It is difficult to get out,  but once we are in the car....they are at peace and life is good....then they love to nap in the car seats...works great for me.
Today we had our first play date....with Hunter Ann Kirk...I think the boys may be fighting over her in a few years!  We all went to the Downtown Canton Arts Festival and Farmers Market.  It was a beautiful day, until the heat came...but still really nice.  TJ was asleep the entire time...Matthew woke up and wanted to eat, and eat, and eat some more.  Hunter was good too...she was much more alert than these guys, but she is 2 months older.  We failed to get any pictures...not sure how that happened, but we had a fun day nonetheless.  It was great to hang out with Carey and Alicia and Hunter...I hope we can do this  more often.

Before we left, we thought of allowing Roger to babysit...he appears to be very good at it...(see pics below).

What I know I know..

So, I am pretty new at this mother thing...but here is what I know that I know at this moment in time:
1.  I love my sons more than I ever thought possible.
2.  My two sons look nothing alike to me...they may to others, but I have studied every square inch of them and I see the beauty in their differences.
3.  At this moment in time, Thomas is the quiet one, very relaxed, has his father's personality.
4.  Matthew is a little more needy, loves to be held by his Mommy and has a bit of my personality...a little demanding and quite stubborn.
5.  My husband is an amazing father....he loves his boys, loves his wife, and would do anything for the three of us.
6.  Roger (the dog), has no idea what is going on in his world, but is adapting pretty well...he is just very curious about these two little noise makers.
7.  Matthew does not like to be naked, does not want to wait to eat, and LOVES his pacifier.
8.  T.J. will sit in a dirty diaper for as long as possible, goes with the flow, and only takes his pacifier if he is    hungry.
9.   Matthew has a big round face, chubby belly, and big feet and hands.
10. T.J. has a narrow face, is a major eater, and he too has big hands and feet.
11.  Every day I learn a little bit more about being a mom and about my babies.
12.  T.J. has very delicate features, so he appears to be much smaller than his brother, although he now surpasses Matthew in weight.
13.  Having twins is so incredibly difficult, but the rewards are so great.
14.  It would be impossible for me to get through these early days without my husband and my mother.
15.  Sleep is a beautiful thing and that I am fortunate that at this moment, my boys LOVE sleeping....although they are starting to be alert longer and longer each day....and night.
16.  I want to cry when I think that my sons could be in some sort of pain.
17.  I am so in love with these two babies that I would do anything to protect them.
18.  I don't want them to grow up...I love this stage....they are so dependent on me and I love that feeling.
19.  I can't wait for them to grow up so I can see all of the other stages they will go through.
20.  Scott and I have been blessed with some pretty awesome babies......
21.  My love for my family and friends has deepend because my heart has been completely opened.
22.  My children, my husband, and my family are the most important things in the world and I would go to the ends of the earth to protect them.
23.  Being a mother is what I was put on this earth to do....it is who I am and who I have wanted to be for most of my life.
24.  My husband has been so thoughtful and loving and misses his boys when he is at work.
25.  These babies LOVE being in the car and pass out as soon as we buckle them in.
26.  Fresh air seems to solve fussy boys almost instantly....at least that is true as of this moment.
27.  Watching Scott become a father has been awesome....he went from nervous to an expert diaper changer, swaddler, and Daddy in no time at all.
28.  I love when the boys fall asleep on my chest..it seems that they get their best sleep that way, and I get quality one-on-one time when they do.
29.  Nursing the babies is difficult..time consuming, no spicy foods, pumping after, etc...but I love the quiet time we all share together, the nutrients it provides them, and the actual ease of doing it.
30. These have been the best four weeks of my life!