I just reread my post from March 5th; right before the boys were born. In it I wrote, "Speaking of expectations... Jason and I are trying not to have any expectations about anything the next several months. I've read many books, have ideas on how we want to do things, but realize that each baby is different as is each family. We will take one day at a time and figure out what works best for Gavin, Wyatt, Dad and Mom. Without having expectations, we free ourselves to enjoy each stage without becoming disappointed or irritable at how things are or are not going."
What great words I needed to hear and to refocus on right now! No expectations on sleeping, eating, moods, etc. I need to keep focusing on each day at a time (actually more like every wake period). I need not be afraid to try new things, even if it doesn't work for our two boys. One thing that I do many times throughout the day is to ask my self 'What is God wanting me to teach or do for His children right now?'. This helps me get myself out of the equation and remember I am God's instrument for Gavin and Wyatt's lives. I so often keep trying to put myself back in the equation by thinking about rest, chores, etc.; which is why I say I ask myself this question many times throughout each day.
My focus for this week... Zero Expectations! Thank You God for these reminders and Your unfailing love and grace!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
'Inching' Forward Quickly
This past week has been huge in development for both boys! I am amazed at how much has occurred these past several days. Here is a glimpse as well as some other things I want to record about the boys:
- As I mentioned in my last post, Gavin and Wyatt have discovered that they have a brother to laugh and smile at. They have also discovered that their brother always has the 'cooler' toy! Both boys reach for the toy the other one is playing with; both boys have actually taken the toys from each other at times. I'm lucky though, there are no tears yet.
Gavin's hair is much lighter than when he was first born; it's' almost the same color as Wyatt's right now.
Gavin is no longer showing signs of a temper that I mentioned a couple of posts back. Wyatt has become more 'clingy' and 'wiggly' this past week. He's also become a lot more vocal. He is exploring just how high pitched his voice can get. Trust me, he can get pretty high! I'm hoping this doesn't last too long.- The boys have been belly laughing so much these days. They get truly 'tickled' and are just so joyful. It warms my heart to see and hear such joy from them!
Both boys love story time. Gavin gets so excited and often begins to talk and laugh!
Gavin and Wyatt started to kick their legs and wiggle a lot when on their tummies. On Jul 22, 2011 Wyatt moved about 6 inches towards a toy by doing the 'worm'; or modified army crawl. He did it again later that day, the next and now wiggles all the time! He won't stay on his back. Rolls on his tummy back and forth, and honestly, just LOVES to move ALL the time. He even moves all the time when he sleeps. He turns 180 degrees one way, then back, then 360, then 360 the other way. He then scoots his butt up against the crib and falls asleep with his legs up in the air against the rails. He then scoots and sleeps on his tummy. If you get what I'm trying to get at, he moves ALL the time now. As far as 'crawling' is concerned, he is getting great at the leg motion, but not quite there with the arms yet. He's still moving across the floor though. Gavin on the other hand is doing excellent pushing up with his arms and moving himself around in a circle while on his tummy (and back). He's really enjoying tummy time too. Both boys reach for toys, pull them towards them or scoot towards them and plays while on their tummy. If you combined Gavin's arm movements with Wyatt's leg motions, you'd have a crawling 4.5 month old! I can just see the fun they will start to have once they are in motion (and continual motion I believe it will be).- The boys love peek-a-boo now. They belly laugh continuously as we play; even for about 5-10 minutes sometimes.
- Gavin still loves cereal; rice is great but he loves oatmeal the best you can tell. Wyatt has really been enjoying it again the past few days! If Wyatt continues to enjoy it and eat more the next couple of weeks, we'll start introducing real foods! Veggies first and then fruits.
- The boys were sleeping through the night very well for about a week. They started waking up once a night though several days ago. Some nights they'll sleep through the whole night, others they will wake up and cry for 30 minutes then back to bed; other nights it can be 1-2+ hours. They are back in the same room now 100% of the time, so we've had many nights of back and forth yelling. They eventually ignore the other one though and stay asleep. Last night they slept all night though, so we know they are heading in the right direction. Honestly, I think the 'set back' is the fact that they are developing so much so fast this past week or so. They love to be awake and play. When they wake up at night, they aren't hungry, but you can tell just want to play.
- Anyways, because of the huge variance in sleep patterns their 'first morning meal' has been somewhat more of a variant than normal. We used to eat between 7 and 7:30 am, but now it's anywhere from 6:15 - 7:45 it seems. I feel it's okay for now because it seems necessary depending on the day/night. I am 'saddened' however because it seems like both boys (Wyatt more so) are early birds and like to wake up on average about 6am... Sigh. Once they sleep consistently all through the night though, 6 am will not be a big problem. We will see how the next couple of weeks go.
- Naps are still variant. They take 3 naps a day; ranging in time from about 30 min to 2 hours. As long as they have one 1.5 hour nap a day I'm very pleased; this doesn't always happen though. Gavin is a 'better napper', but neither boys have a 'pattern' yet. If one does not develop in the next month once nights become more regular, then I will start to sleep train them for naps too. My hope is that this occurs naturally this next month though as it often does in 5-6 month olds. All in all though, our boys seem to sleep about 10 hours at night and 3-4 hours during the day.
- Gavin's tooth still hasn't poked out further; I guess it's stuck (jk!). Wyatt has two new white dots on the top of his gums, but you can't feel anything yet. Both boys have their fingers or toys in their mouth about 90% of the time it seems. Wyatt actually 'gums' very aggressively. He's actually sucked/gummed blister like caluses on 4 of his fingers (two on each hand).
- The boys seem to show frustration when toys aren't doing what they want them to do. If they can't get a toy to their mouth correctly or moving the way they want, they seem to become agitated.
- Gavin and Wyatt love to be moving all the time. They typically only like their bouncers now right before nap time when I read them stories, or a random play time for about 10 minutes. Other than that they are on the floor playing (Wyatt on his tummy most of the time), in the jump-a-roos which they LOVE and BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE in, or in the activity centers upstairs. They love to sit up; mostly in your lap or using you to help balance them a little, but the Bumbo seats are good too. My days are getting a little more interesting as I'm learning to balance both boys activity and needs. Loving it though and so very thankful!!!
Anyways, I think I captured most of what I wanted to for now.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
'I Have a Brother!' - Learning to 'Parent' Twins
Gavin and Wyatt are four and a half months now; and up until this past week, I really haven’t seen me as ‘mothering’ twins. Perhaps it’s because they really haven’t interacted with each other until recently. (This is so beautiful to watch!! They are starting to touch, laugh, smile and talk to each other a lot more these days!) Please do not misunderstand what I mean by 'mothering'! I remember seeing the ultrasound for the first time and crying with such excitement and love. I remember what it felt like carrying two very healthy and big boys not too long ago! I remember the first time I saw them and held them in my arms!! I remember all the beautiful times we’ve shared the past several months as they’ve grown. And yes… I remember all the extra ‘work’ involved with having two versus one. When you have twins, your parenting doesn’t increase by one, but rather exponentially. Simple tasks such as wanting to sit outside takes about 5-10 minutes of prep work before you can actually get out there and by that time, they are ready for bed! Feedings, sleeping, and just about every activity takes a lot of planning and organization. Just these past couple of weeks I have become elated that I can now go to the grocery store with the boys ‘all by myself’! So yes, I have ‘noticed’ that we have two wonderful blessings from God, but up until this past week, I really haven’t understood what ‘parenting’ them together will be like.
When you have one baby, ‘everything’ is about them. They get what they want, when they want it, etc. Yes, even if you teach your children life doesn’t ‘revolve around them’ as many of us try to do, they still never have to adjust to another tiny individual who demands everything they do at the same time that they do! The difference I’ve seen this week is found in Gavin’s and Wyatt’s different personalities and abilities developing very quickly. One week, Gavin will be more clingy and high strung, the other week, Wyatt will take his turn. Some times they both need my complete attention at the same time; and yet others they are both completely content in entertaining themselves and exploring the world. This was easier before they were ‘as mobile’ as they are now. Even though they aren’t crawling yet, they are still moving around and are very very active! (Even the pediatrician said they are very active and strong 4 month olds!)
Gavin is really enjoying cereal where as Wyatt is not as enthusiastic right now. This has made meal times even more challenging (as if it wasn’t already!). I now have mastered feeding Wyatt the bottle with my left hand while spoon feeding Gavin with my right (all in high chairs now). And mom of course isn’t fast enough when they both use the spoon or when I have to burp one.
Just this past week, they have discovered that their brother always has the ‘cooler toy’. No matter what toy they have at the moment, they eye their brother’s toy and begin to reach for it. Gavin has actually taken the toys out of Wyatt’s hands. I’m lucky now though, because Wyatt just laughs.
So my thoughts this week have been more about ‘parenting’ twins instead of just the ‘logistics of two’. What many parents face a couple of years after their first is born, we’ll soon be facing ourselves. We’ll have to teach Gavin and Wyatt patience, sharing, love, forgiveness, etc; all at a very early age. I pray that God provides the right words and direction each step of the way. I pray Gavin and Wyatt develop a very special bond that will keep them close their whole lives. I pray God is the center of their relationship; as we as parents try to make sure He is the center of our house and lives.
With all this said, I want to reiterate just how thankful I am for our two blessings God has entrusted us with. I am forever thankful for such beautiful little boys; beautiful on the outside yes, but so fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator!!! I am so excited to watch as they begin to reveal who God made them to be. May we help them to learn who they are, Whose they are, and how He wants to use them. Thank You God for our twins!!! Please help us be the parents You call us to be.
When you have one baby, ‘everything’ is about them. They get what they want, when they want it, etc. Yes, even if you teach your children life doesn’t ‘revolve around them’ as many of us try to do, they still never have to adjust to another tiny individual who demands everything they do at the same time that they do! The difference I’ve seen this week is found in Gavin’s and Wyatt’s different personalities and abilities developing very quickly. One week, Gavin will be more clingy and high strung, the other week, Wyatt will take his turn. Some times they both need my complete attention at the same time; and yet others they are both completely content in entertaining themselves and exploring the world. This was easier before they were ‘as mobile’ as they are now. Even though they aren’t crawling yet, they are still moving around and are very very active! (Even the pediatrician said they are very active and strong 4 month olds!)
Gavin is really enjoying cereal where as Wyatt is not as enthusiastic right now. This has made meal times even more challenging (as if it wasn’t already!). I now have mastered feeding Wyatt the bottle with my left hand while spoon feeding Gavin with my right (all in high chairs now). And mom of course isn’t fast enough when they both use the spoon or when I have to burp one.
Just this past week, they have discovered that their brother always has the ‘cooler toy’. No matter what toy they have at the moment, they eye their brother’s toy and begin to reach for it. Gavin has actually taken the toys out of Wyatt’s hands. I’m lucky now though, because Wyatt just laughs.
So my thoughts this week have been more about ‘parenting’ twins instead of just the ‘logistics of two’. What many parents face a couple of years after their first is born, we’ll soon be facing ourselves. We’ll have to teach Gavin and Wyatt patience, sharing, love, forgiveness, etc; all at a very early age. I pray that God provides the right words and direction each step of the way. I pray Gavin and Wyatt develop a very special bond that will keep them close their whole lives. I pray God is the center of their relationship; as we as parents try to make sure He is the center of our house and lives.
With all this said, I want to reiterate just how thankful I am for our two blessings God has entrusted us with. I am forever thankful for such beautiful little boys; beautiful on the outside yes, but so fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator!!! I am so excited to watch as they begin to reveal who God made them to be. May we help them to learn who they are, Whose they are, and how He wants to use them. Thank You God for our twins!!! Please help us be the parents You call us to be.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
4 Month Update and More
I have so much to write about to catch this blog up to date; I just know that I’m going to forget half of the things I want to capture from this past month or so. The boys have grown drastically; physically, developmentally and emotionally.
The beginning of June we went to El Paso for my sister’s high school graduation. The boys and I were able to stay two weeks; which gave my mom and grandma more time to spend with our boys! The trip went great.
• We spilt the 12 hour drive into 2 days; stopping and spending the night in Senora (the half way point). This worked out great by really allowing the boys (and us) to stay on some type of routine and get a good night’s rest.
• It was wonderful watching my little sister graduate… all grown up now. It’s hard to imagine she is 18 now and getting ready to spread her wings. It seems like just yesterday I was able to hold her for the first time at the hospital when she was born. At one point we watched old home videos… tears came to my eyes as I watched my baby sister explore the world as a baby while holding my two baby boys. Wow… Needless to say, I am very proud of her and excited to have her here in Houston now!
• We brought our pack and play for the boys to use as a bed while we were there. Little did we know that they would begin to wiggle around and move from side to side while we were there. Between that and their ever growing size, we ended up having to borrow another pack and play from some friends of friends so we could have one for each of them. This worked out much better.
• The boys were great troupers on the car ride down there which was 2 days for them. Then the next day we had a graduation party for my sister and cousin in which the boys did great with all the new people. The next day we took them to my mom’s work and they did great. The next day was Selina’s graduation and they did excellent. Needless to say… they needed a break after all of that. We tried to keep as much of a routine as possible while we were there which really helped.
• The boys developed a lot while we were there with their awareness and ability to begin playing with toys. They were using the jump-a-roo right before we left and began to love it more while we were there. (They now LOVE it and interact with all the toys, but I’ll share more about that in a minute.)
Since we have been back home, the boys continue to amaze me with their quick development…
• Wyatt rolled over for the first time at 15 weeks from his back to his tummy. He then learned how to roll over from his tummy to his back. Now when he wants he just rolls back and forth. He does roll both to the right and to the left which is great to see.
• Gavin rolled over for the first time this past weekend at 4 months from his tummy to his back. He’s so close to rolling from his back to his tummy, but he leads with his head too much to actually flip over. He actually is moving all over the floor now by rolling on his side and pushing off with his feet and leaning his head way back. He’s contorting his body, but learning he can move somewhere that way.
• Both boys are sitting up so well these days. We of course still have to be there for balance or let them use a seat, but they pull themselves up into a sitting position when in our laps and are learning to balance well.
• The boys love the jump-a-roo as I mentioned before. These days they love to jump, jump, jump… and play with all the toys along the seat.
• Their ability to play with toys now is amazing. They reach for what they want and are becoming very coordinated. Just the other day, Gavin pulled out his pacifier with two fingers, studied it a while and then placed it back in his mouth! (Now if only they could always do that…!)
• The boys are really taking an interest in Pickles and Noodles these days! They will reach out to touch them and then love to touch their noses and fur as the dogs lick on them! Gavin grabbed and pulled on Pickles’ fur the other day though, so we will have to some how start teaching them how to be gentle… Pickles of course didn’t do anything… she sometimes lies on her back so ‘they can’ rub her tummy!
• Gavin cut his first two at 3.5 months. We noticed he was fussy for a few days and during one of his crying fits, I noticed he had ‘fuzz’ on his gums. I went to wipe it away, and it was a little tooth starting to poke through! It hasn’t poked out any further yet though. He’s feeling much better these days. Both boys drool like crazy (Gavin more so) and LOVE their fingers. It is hard to get Wyatt to get his fingers out of his mouth these days; he’s even developed small blister looking marks on this thumb and pointer fingers on both hands.
• Gavin had developed what I can only describe as a ‘temper’. He is always very animated in both his facial expressions and talking. But there are times he stiffens up and screams when he is ‘frustrated’ or things aren’t going his way. He is a very very sweet boy though! He just is learning his likes and dislikes and how to express it. He actually hasn’t done this in about a week, but just the past few days, it seems as though Wyatt is learning he can do similar things. Perhaps it is just another way of them exploring the sounds and motions they can make.
• The boys are daily learning new sounds they can make. They try screaming (happy) and they try different ways to move their tongue and mouth at the same time. Just the other day Gavin learned to spit (great fun during meal times) and Wyatt has learned to talk and make bubbles at the same time. Their voices are different, but both so wonderfully sweet! This past week Gavin has learned to make the G and H sounds and has developed a ‘new laugh’. I love watching them explore their abilities!
• I have to mention about the way they feel in my arms. I describe Gavin as melting into my body and Wyatt as my snuggle bug. They are both so sweet and cuddly… I thank God for entrusting us with them so that we may love on them dearly!
• Gavin has what we call ‘a little crooked smile’! It’s so cute and can almost look mischievous, flirty or shy at times! Wyatt’s whole face and body light up when he smiles! He pulls his arms and legs up to his face. Oh, these boys melt my heart and have me in the palm of their hands!
• They just had their 4 month check up and they are doing great. Both boys weight 15 ½ - 16 lbs (different by only 2 oz). Gavin is 26 inches and Wyatt is 25 ¼ inches. They are right where they should be in all measurements. I thank God for great health.
• Gavin and Wyatt are wonderfully happy boys. It brings me such joy seeing them smile and laugh on a regular basis. Sure they have rough days when they aren’t feeling or sleeping well, but most days they seem to really enjoy themselves and those around them. They love interacting with people too.
• The boys started to eat rice cereal a week ago at 17 weeks. For three days we just fed them a tiny bit (less than a teaspoon full) in the mornings. Then for two days I fed them twice a day. Then increased it to 3 as well as the quantity they eat. Wyatt seemed to enjoy and figure out the spoon very quickly. Both boys were really starting to seem to enjoy it more though. Then about a week ago, Wyatt stopped opening his mouth fully and kept putting his tongue in the way, all while Gavin has begun to love it and eat like a pro. Not sure why Wyatt regressed in this area, but I’ve decided to keep feeding Gavin cereal, but focus Wyatt on the bottle right now. I’ll keep giving him some cereal when I give it to Gavin, but not try to force it on him. He will let me know when he is ready. But in the mean time, I don’t want to deny Gavin what he is ready for and excited about. So here is what I do right now: I start them off with a bottle, feed them cereal and then finish up with a bottle if need be. As soon as they get fussy, I know it’s time to stop cereal time… I want to focus on keeping meal time a joyful time. Our plan right now is to keep them on cereals for about a month, or until they have ‘mastered’ eating from a spoon. We’ll let them try other types of cereal here in the next week or so. After that, we will start them off with veggies and then fruits. I still plan on making our own baby food and am very excited about it!
• Gavin and Wyatt were baptized this past Sunday; 07/10/11. Josh and Selina are their sponsors! It was such a special day and the boys were in a great mood and feeling great that day. I pray that they may truly know, love, and follow Christ and that He may be glorified through their lives. Thank You God for entrusting us with your precious sons and for sending your Son to die for our sins that we may be forgiven. Praise His glorious and Holy name!
• At their 4 month visit, the doctor confirmed that they had a mild case of Eczema. She recommended using a different lotion, along with hydrocortisone. A couple of days later it was bright red and so much worse; we weren’t sure if it was the shots making it worse, or if they had a reaction to the lotion. I took them back to the doctor and it turns out they did have a reaction to the lotion… and it looks like I was too on my arms. Since then I’ve stopped all lotions and just put on Cortisone twice a day for two weeks. Their skin is so much better!!! I am so thankful it is no longer red, irritated and the Eczema is clearing up too!!
• At the doctor visit, we were told that the boys did not need their nightly feedings of 6-9 oz… that it was just a habit now. So we started to wean them to only eat between 1.5-3 oz and then this past Thursday we started to teach them to sleep through the night. The first night Wyatt slept all night and Gavin cried the first time for about and hour and the second time for about 30 min. The second night both boys cried for about two hours off and on; they kept waking each other up after settling down. The past few nights they have slept all night (we’ve had to put the pacifier in their mouth only a few times, but they quickly fall back to sleep). The boys are getting great at soothing themselves back to sleep. We’ve been letting them sleep in separate rooms right now while they learn to sleep through the night. We’ll get them back in the same room within the next week or so though so they get used to each other’s noises again.
• Naps are still sporadic… They usually fall to sleep close to the same time for naps, but the length of each nap varies. One might sleep 1.5 hrs and one might sleep 30 min. The next nap they might switch or it will be the same. Sometimes neither of them sleep. Rarely do both sleep good naps at the same time. I haven’t noticed a patter yet to the better sleeper… perhaps Gavin enjoys slightly longer naps more consistently though. They still take about 3 naps a day; their first two are the main ones (although those can be real short still) with the third one being more of a power nap.
• I’ve been getting better and more used to getting out and about with the boys. I recently bought a new baby wear carrier; the Gemini. I love it! It is just what I needed. The Baby Hawks just aren’t working for us yet. They are too wide at the base as are most of the carriers. But the Gemini has the ability to narrow at the base which fits their legs much better. I can now carrier one and keep the other in the stroller. I then use the other unused part of the stroller (without the carseat) as a basket at the store. Some day I’ll be able to put them both in the shopping cart, but until they can sit up on their own, this is the best I can do. And I’m so excited I found something that works. It gives me a since of freedom being able to run errands on my own with the boys.
I know I am forgetting many things I want to keep track of, so I’ll just have to update as I remember. Here are a few pictures of the past month… I have so many good ones, but not enough room to post them all. Enjoy.
The beginning of June we went to El Paso for my sister’s high school graduation. The boys and I were able to stay two weeks; which gave my mom and grandma more time to spend with our boys! The trip went great.
• We spilt the 12 hour drive into 2 days; stopping and spending the night in Senora (the half way point). This worked out great by really allowing the boys (and us) to stay on some type of routine and get a good night’s rest.
• It was wonderful watching my little sister graduate… all grown up now. It’s hard to imagine she is 18 now and getting ready to spread her wings. It seems like just yesterday I was able to hold her for the first time at the hospital when she was born. At one point we watched old home videos… tears came to my eyes as I watched my baby sister explore the world as a baby while holding my two baby boys. Wow… Needless to say, I am very proud of her and excited to have her here in Houston now!
• We brought our pack and play for the boys to use as a bed while we were there. Little did we know that they would begin to wiggle around and move from side to side while we were there. Between that and their ever growing size, we ended up having to borrow another pack and play from some friends of friends so we could have one for each of them. This worked out much better.
• The boys were great troupers on the car ride down there which was 2 days for them. Then the next day we had a graduation party for my sister and cousin in which the boys did great with all the new people. The next day we took them to my mom’s work and they did great. The next day was Selina’s graduation and they did excellent. Needless to say… they needed a break after all of that. We tried to keep as much of a routine as possible while we were there which really helped.
• The boys developed a lot while we were there with their awareness and ability to begin playing with toys. They were using the jump-a-roo right before we left and began to love it more while we were there. (They now LOVE it and interact with all the toys, but I’ll share more about that in a minute.)
Since we have been back home, the boys continue to amaze me with their quick development…
• Wyatt rolled over for the first time at 15 weeks from his back to his tummy. He then learned how to roll over from his tummy to his back. Now when he wants he just rolls back and forth. He does roll both to the right and to the left which is great to see.
• Gavin rolled over for the first time this past weekend at 4 months from his tummy to his back. He’s so close to rolling from his back to his tummy, but he leads with his head too much to actually flip over. He actually is moving all over the floor now by rolling on his side and pushing off with his feet and leaning his head way back. He’s contorting his body, but learning he can move somewhere that way.
• Both boys are sitting up so well these days. We of course still have to be there for balance or let them use a seat, but they pull themselves up into a sitting position when in our laps and are learning to balance well.
• The boys love the jump-a-roo as I mentioned before. These days they love to jump, jump, jump… and play with all the toys along the seat.
• Their ability to play with toys now is amazing. They reach for what they want and are becoming very coordinated. Just the other day, Gavin pulled out his pacifier with two fingers, studied it a while and then placed it back in his mouth! (Now if only they could always do that…!)
• The boys are really taking an interest in Pickles and Noodles these days! They will reach out to touch them and then love to touch their noses and fur as the dogs lick on them! Gavin grabbed and pulled on Pickles’ fur the other day though, so we will have to some how start teaching them how to be gentle… Pickles of course didn’t do anything… she sometimes lies on her back so ‘they can’ rub her tummy!
• Gavin cut his first two at 3.5 months. We noticed he was fussy for a few days and during one of his crying fits, I noticed he had ‘fuzz’ on his gums. I went to wipe it away, and it was a little tooth starting to poke through! It hasn’t poked out any further yet though. He’s feeling much better these days. Both boys drool like crazy (Gavin more so) and LOVE their fingers. It is hard to get Wyatt to get his fingers out of his mouth these days; he’s even developed small blister looking marks on this thumb and pointer fingers on both hands.
• Gavin had developed what I can only describe as a ‘temper’. He is always very animated in both his facial expressions and talking. But there are times he stiffens up and screams when he is ‘frustrated’ or things aren’t going his way. He is a very very sweet boy though! He just is learning his likes and dislikes and how to express it. He actually hasn’t done this in about a week, but just the past few days, it seems as though Wyatt is learning he can do similar things. Perhaps it is just another way of them exploring the sounds and motions they can make.
• The boys are daily learning new sounds they can make. They try screaming (happy) and they try different ways to move their tongue and mouth at the same time. Just the other day Gavin learned to spit (great fun during meal times) and Wyatt has learned to talk and make bubbles at the same time. Their voices are different, but both so wonderfully sweet! This past week Gavin has learned to make the G and H sounds and has developed a ‘new laugh’. I love watching them explore their abilities!
• I have to mention about the way they feel in my arms. I describe Gavin as melting into my body and Wyatt as my snuggle bug. They are both so sweet and cuddly… I thank God for entrusting us with them so that we may love on them dearly!
• Gavin has what we call ‘a little crooked smile’! It’s so cute and can almost look mischievous, flirty or shy at times! Wyatt’s whole face and body light up when he smiles! He pulls his arms and legs up to his face. Oh, these boys melt my heart and have me in the palm of their hands!
• They just had their 4 month check up and they are doing great. Both boys weight 15 ½ - 16 lbs (different by only 2 oz). Gavin is 26 inches and Wyatt is 25 ¼ inches. They are right where they should be in all measurements. I thank God for great health.
• Gavin and Wyatt are wonderfully happy boys. It brings me such joy seeing them smile and laugh on a regular basis. Sure they have rough days when they aren’t feeling or sleeping well, but most days they seem to really enjoy themselves and those around them. They love interacting with people too.
• The boys started to eat rice cereal a week ago at 17 weeks. For three days we just fed them a tiny bit (less than a teaspoon full) in the mornings. Then for two days I fed them twice a day. Then increased it to 3 as well as the quantity they eat. Wyatt seemed to enjoy and figure out the spoon very quickly. Both boys were really starting to seem to enjoy it more though. Then about a week ago, Wyatt stopped opening his mouth fully and kept putting his tongue in the way, all while Gavin has begun to love it and eat like a pro. Not sure why Wyatt regressed in this area, but I’ve decided to keep feeding Gavin cereal, but focus Wyatt on the bottle right now. I’ll keep giving him some cereal when I give it to Gavin, but not try to force it on him. He will let me know when he is ready. But in the mean time, I don’t want to deny Gavin what he is ready for and excited about. So here is what I do right now: I start them off with a bottle, feed them cereal and then finish up with a bottle if need be. As soon as they get fussy, I know it’s time to stop cereal time… I want to focus on keeping meal time a joyful time. Our plan right now is to keep them on cereals for about a month, or until they have ‘mastered’ eating from a spoon. We’ll let them try other types of cereal here in the next week or so. After that, we will start them off with veggies and then fruits. I still plan on making our own baby food and am very excited about it!
• Gavin and Wyatt were baptized this past Sunday; 07/10/11. Josh and Selina are their sponsors! It was such a special day and the boys were in a great mood and feeling great that day. I pray that they may truly know, love, and follow Christ and that He may be glorified through their lives. Thank You God for entrusting us with your precious sons and for sending your Son to die for our sins that we may be forgiven. Praise His glorious and Holy name!
• At their 4 month visit, the doctor confirmed that they had a mild case of Eczema. She recommended using a different lotion, along with hydrocortisone. A couple of days later it was bright red and so much worse; we weren’t sure if it was the shots making it worse, or if they had a reaction to the lotion. I took them back to the doctor and it turns out they did have a reaction to the lotion… and it looks like I was too on my arms. Since then I’ve stopped all lotions and just put on Cortisone twice a day for two weeks. Their skin is so much better!!! I am so thankful it is no longer red, irritated and the Eczema is clearing up too!!
• At the doctor visit, we were told that the boys did not need their nightly feedings of 6-9 oz… that it was just a habit now. So we started to wean them to only eat between 1.5-3 oz and then this past Thursday we started to teach them to sleep through the night. The first night Wyatt slept all night and Gavin cried the first time for about and hour and the second time for about 30 min. The second night both boys cried for about two hours off and on; they kept waking each other up after settling down. The past few nights they have slept all night (we’ve had to put the pacifier in their mouth only a few times, but they quickly fall back to sleep). The boys are getting great at soothing themselves back to sleep. We’ve been letting them sleep in separate rooms right now while they learn to sleep through the night. We’ll get them back in the same room within the next week or so though so they get used to each other’s noises again.
• Naps are still sporadic… They usually fall to sleep close to the same time for naps, but the length of each nap varies. One might sleep 1.5 hrs and one might sleep 30 min. The next nap they might switch or it will be the same. Sometimes neither of them sleep. Rarely do both sleep good naps at the same time. I haven’t noticed a patter yet to the better sleeper… perhaps Gavin enjoys slightly longer naps more consistently though. They still take about 3 naps a day; their first two are the main ones (although those can be real short still) with the third one being more of a power nap.
• I’ve been getting better and more used to getting out and about with the boys. I recently bought a new baby wear carrier; the Gemini. I love it! It is just what I needed. The Baby Hawks just aren’t working for us yet. They are too wide at the base as are most of the carriers. But the Gemini has the ability to narrow at the base which fits their legs much better. I can now carrier one and keep the other in the stroller. I then use the other unused part of the stroller (without the carseat) as a basket at the store. Some day I’ll be able to put them both in the shopping cart, but until they can sit up on their own, this is the best I can do. And I’m so excited I found something that works. It gives me a since of freedom being able to run errands on my own with the boys.
I know I am forgetting many things I want to keep track of, so I’ll just have to update as I remember. Here are a few pictures of the past month… I have so many good ones, but not enough room to post them all. Enjoy.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
12 Week Update
I've just recently looked back at the videos of our boys their first couple of weeks. I knew our boys have grown and changed, but wow... I just really didn't realize how much until I saw the videos. Their cries are so different, they are so much bigger, and their awareness and interaction is drastically different. I am so thankful to have all the little video clips I do of our boys at each stage. You think you'll always remember, but because I am with them every day, I really haven't seen the drastic change after just 12 short weeks!
Here is what has been going on the past few weeks:
I know there are more great things to talk about, but I have to run and tend to mommy duties. I'll be posting more and adding photos when I get back from my trip to El Paso which we are very excited about!
Here is what has been going on the past few weeks:
- The boys have learned they can put their hands and fingers in their mouths and have had great fun doing so all the time now! They have discovered their legs as well... They spend a lot of time kicking and stomping them intentionally now. This also keeps them widely amused. It's also made time in the bouncer even more fun for them now as they bounce themselves.
- The boys are doing great at learning to sit up these days. Wyatt LOVES to sit up and perhaps I should word it the other way saying that he hates to be reclined. So often he's not happy unless he's sitting at 90 degrees. He'll be reclined in our arms or the Boppy and won't just lay back (which makes feedings difficult these days); he's constantly doing what looks like crunches as he tries to pull himself into the sitting position. Just yesterday, he actually did pull himself up a couple of times when he was in his daddy's arms.
- Because they've been doing so great learning to sit up, the past couple of weeks we've let them play in the activity saucer which they seem to really enjoy. This past week we let them try out the jumparoos and wow... they really do love it. They jump a lot and really enjoy the movement and activity.
I'm happy to announce that our boys have been sleeping very well the past few weeks! It's by no means perfect, but they are doing great. They wake up once at night for a feeding; some time between 12:30 and 2:30. They then wake up again sometime between 6 and 7. We typically don't start our morning feeding though until 7. Wyatt seems to be the early riser where as Gavin seems to be able to sleep a little later. Their naps are going well too for the most part. They usually get in at least one good nap in a day, along with other shorter naps. They are eating somewhere between every 2.5 - 4 hours and eating somewhere between 3-7.5 oz each feeding. We start our bath time at 7pm at night they are in bed by 8. I'm getting the hang of not having the hang of everything each day. I'm learning that each day will be different and to learn to adjust. I've also learned that having zero expectations helps.
The boys' looks are starting to change again. Just the other day, Gavin looked just like his Daddy as I was feeding him. It was so strange (and great) to feel like you're feeding your husband from 27 years ago! - They boys have learned this past week that they can 'scream' even when they aren't unhappy. I guess you can say they are discovering their voice more these days.
- The past couple of days they have discovered their hands as well. They'll extend their arms and stare at their hands for a little while; almost as if they are saying... huh... look at that!
- The boys LOVE to laugh, smile and talk when they are awake!
- Gavin and Wyatt 'noticed' each other for the first time last week. They laid there and stared at each other, smiled, talked to each other and touched each other. I just sat their and smiled and cried. It was so precious. They don't do it all the time, but they have done it more since then. It will be great fun watching them become best buddies!
- The past couple of weeks I've been able to go for walks with them without them having a complete meltdown when we get back. I've learned to go first thing in the morning after their feeding and changing. They then get to enjoy the walk a little, then fall asleep. The longer I stay out the longer nap they get in. So we are gone about an hour. They wake up as soon as we get home. We then play for about 30 min and then feed, play for a short while and then they settle into a real nap in their rooms. It seems to work pretty well. I've enjoyed being able to get out too. It's been hard to jog with our stroller though, so we just bought a jogging stroller. It comes in next week and I'm so excited to try it out!
- I just brought out the 3-6 months clothes for the boys. The other week Wyatt was 14 lbs and Gavin was 13.5 lbs. They are growing so fast it's crazy.
I know there are more great things to talk about, but I have to run and tend to mommy duties. I'll be posting more and adding photos when I get back from my trip to El Paso which we are very excited about!
Friday, May 13, 2011
2 Months Update and More
As I mentioned in my last post, I meant to have an 8 week update, but here I am at almost a 10 week update and just getting around to posting something. So much has happened this past month though; it's going to be impossible to capture everything. Gavin and Wyatt's little personalities have really started to blossom the past couple of weeks. In my usual bullet format these days (I am looking forward to the days when my mind has a chance to frolic through it's old paths of leisurely thoughts that lead to writings that sound like an educated individual older than say 4th grade, wrote them! Right now all I can seem to produce are short thoughts as seen below or run-on sentences like the one above. Boo... yes, I said boo... and that is mama talk in which I am a casual user of 24/7 now! I wouldn't trade it for anything though!) here is what has been happening:
- During the boys eighth week they started to change their cries. They now have an additional cry that I can only describe as an 'irritated cry'. They no longer think the world is ending when they don't get food the split second they realize they are hungry, but they become 'irritated' when they cannot eat right away. The additional cry was really cute at first, but now they tend to showcase their new pitches when we have to take a 'burp break', and let's remember, there are two of them, so they have to 'wait their turn' more than they want!
Between their 7th ad 8th week, they boys began to wrap their arm around my arm when I hold them upright against my chest. They then begin to squeeze into me and pat my arm. Oh, it melts my heart; I just love this new interaction!!
These past couple of weeks, the boys have been so responsive. I love to watch them giggle, laugh, and play a whole lot more. During breakfast, the boys are always happy, and finish with lots of smiles and laughs. It often takes Gavin a while to eat in the morning because he's too busy talking and smiling! I just love this first feedings. After not 'talking' much during our night feeding(s), sharing the start of our day together is great joy. We talk, sing, laugh and begin to plan our day together.- As I mentioned in my previous post, sleep has been all kinds of crazy lately. Some days the boys will be on a great nap schedule, some nights they will wake up only once, some days it's great altogether. Other days the boys won't sleep much at all, or they can be up every 3 hours at night. Some days the boys have similar sleeping patterns and others they are complete opposites. We put the boys down drowsy, but awake, they then either 1) fall asleep and then wake up shortly after refusing to be 'soothed back to sleep', but with very heavy eyes (spoiled) or 2) refuse to go to sleep even though they have heavy eyes. (They do sleep well also though, it's just there is no consistency or patterns to their sleep these past 6 weeks.) It makes no sense. Before delivering, I thought I had this whole 'sleep routine' figured out based on all the books I have read. It all sounds simple enough. I now realize I will never have it figured out. I realize no mother does either really. And those that say they 'do' really are just lucky and have children who love to sleep. Trust me, I'm doing all that Baby Wise and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Twins has to say! All I can do is the best each day... for each day brings new things to the table. My boys will learn to like sleep consistently, but until then, I've realized to stop expecting the 'magical 6-8 week' mark and enjoy each stage and learn from it! The time will come on it's on; I'm just going to keep doing what I can to give them the best sleep health possible. (I'll also be saying some prayers along the way too!)
- Because the boys are beginning to play more and their sleep patterns can be pretty opposite some days, we decided to go ahead and switch them to using their own cribs upstairs. Last night was the first night, so I can't say how it is going, but I do see it being helpful when one is more awake than the other.
- The boys had their 2 month shots this week; 3 shots and 1 oral dose. Oh how my heart broke; I've never heard them cry like that before. I remembered to bring the pillow we use for feedings with me to the doctor's, so I was able to comfort both boys at the same time real well. They stopped crying as soon as they handed them to me. I wanted to take away as much pain as I could. They were running a fever for the next few days and just didn't feel very well. You could tell they wanted to be happy though because smiles kept shinning through at times. They were still on the same feeding schedule, but happened to be on opposite 'awake/sleep' schedules. This worked out great though because I was able to spend a lot of time comforting each one while the other was sleeping. No down time or chore time for me, but lots of loving which made this mama happy.
- The boys' health is great. Thank you Lord. They weigh 12 lbs 10 oz and 12 lbs 11 oz at 9 weeks. Gavin was 23 1/4 inches and Wyatt was 22 3/4 inches. They are growing fast. I keep having to retire outfits because they are becoming too short for them!
- They love to snuggle their 'snuggle bear' and 'wabanubs'; especially Wyatt. He just holds on tight and wraps his arms around them ever so cutely! They play with the toys on the mobile a lot now and really get a kick out of it sometimes! They also like looking at the dogs who love to give them kisses! Both boys are starting to put their hands in their mouth theses days as well as their snuggle bear or burp cloths. They are also starting to drool a lot too.
- Their feeding patterns are all over the place just like their sleep patterns (and those two aren't related either!). They tend to drink anywhere from 2-7.5 oz each feeding. Yeah, I know... huge range!
The boys and I have been 'getting out' more these days by ourselves! I've made trips to the store with the boys, and have even had lunch with friends at restaurants; using the stroller and even just carrying both car seats! It's great know we can get out 'easily' when we need to or just want to! I like to know that 'I can'...
This Mama's Thoughts - This was our first Mother's Day! I kept thinking back to last Mother's Day and the sadness I felt after being hospitalized twice just a month before which delayed the transfer date. I knew then that all things would work out perfectly on God's time, but it still hurt. I was able to hold our blessings this year though, and oh what an amazing feeling I'll never be able to put into words. I won't even try to start here because I don't have enough time to really try to give it justice. Let's just say, it was a great day to celebrate our blessings and God's goodness and faithfulness!
- Jason and I had a 'date night' the Saturday before Easter. We went dancing just outside of Thorndale as his mom watched the boys for a few hours. It was great fun getting out for the first time. I had no worries about the boys either (although they were on my mind)!
- This past weekend though, Jason and I celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary! Wow, how time flies! We drove out to the farm that morning with the boys. Jason's mom and grandma then watched the boys over night for us so we could drive out to College Station and go dancing! Let me tell you this in two stages... 1) It was sooooo hard to leave the boys overnight. I was so thankful they were in such good hands and would be loved on, but seriously... I haven't been away from my boys since the beginning of July when they were just itty bitty boys just starting to grwo in my tummy. But it was so important to the two of us to get some time to be husband and wife and enjoy one of the things we love to do together... dance... and haven't been able to do in forever. So away we went. 2) Jason and I had such a wonderful time! We spent time visiting at the hotel over some champagne. Then we headed to North Gate. Ate at FreeBirds (we didn't want to get too full before dancing) and then to The Chicken to grab a beer for ol' times sake. We then headed back to the hotel, grabbed a cab and went to Harry's! We were the first ones there which was fun. It was great 'cutting a rug' like old times sake. ... On a side note, the boys were great for their grandma and great-grandma! Mama was sooooo happy to see them the following morning too!! I am so thankful for my husband; my best friend! Happy Anniversary Babe!!
- I've learned a lot this past month about motherhood. I've realized that I will never have many of the answers to the questions parenthood throws our way. As I was on a walk with the boys one afternoon, I was talking with God and asking Him questions. It then hit me, that I'll always be asking God how to parent... each stage the boys are in will bring about new questions and challenges; all of which I will not have the answers to. Wow... this was a big eye opener for someone who likes to plan ahead and figure things out before ever crossing the bridge. I realize now that parenthood is a daily journey covered in prayer. No other way will be fruitful for me or my boys, or my marriage at that. I thank God for being with us each step of the way, even when we seem to be lost or going the wrong direction. I am thankful my boys are forgiving and learn as I learn. We'll get through this life learning together... all four of us!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Dear Authors
It's 1in the morning and I am sitting here as my boys drift back to sleep. You see, I have started a blog post for their 8 week update, but never finished it. I was then going to write a 2 month post, which was to include the latest photo shoot. While this latter post is still coming, this one must come first!
You see, I nave a big bone to pick with all the authors out there who have written children development books. All books, magazines, etc. have talked about this 'magic' 6-8 weeks in which babies begin to sleep through the night. Perhaps it's because my boys are so gassy. Perhaps it's because there are two of them, and thus two different clocks trying to be turned into one. Perhaps it's because they are 9 weeks birth and not 'gestational' age. Whatever the 'perhaps' is, this 'magic age' should NOT be mentioned in books of any kind. A sleep deprived parent can easily get their hopes up; and when this 'magic age' doesn't happen... great sadness occurs; which if not kept an eye on, can lead to insanity!
All I am saying is there Should be zero expectation concerning sleep. False hope is not appreciated!
You see, I nave a big bone to pick with all the authors out there who have written children development books. All books, magazines, etc. have talked about this 'magic' 6-8 weeks in which babies begin to sleep through the night. Perhaps it's because my boys are so gassy. Perhaps it's because there are two of them, and thus two different clocks trying to be turned into one. Perhaps it's because they are 9 weeks birth and not 'gestational' age. Whatever the 'perhaps' is, this 'magic age' should NOT be mentioned in books of any kind. A sleep deprived parent can easily get their hopes up; and when this 'magic age' doesn't happen... great sadness occurs; which if not kept an eye on, can lead to insanity!
All I am saying is there Should be zero expectation concerning sleep. False hope is not appreciated!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
_edited-1.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
