Happy Easter!

We enjoyed a laid back Easter holiday and celebrated with Grandma Lu. Justin made quiche for brunch (delicious!). The Easter Bunny brought Claire and Audrey books... we love that their library is always growing!

The girls wore dresses for the first time today. Now that they are older we've been having fun putting them it cute outfits versus wearing sleepers all day long. They already have a rather extensive wardrobe... it is a good thing that Claire still wears newborn sized clothes, because there are a few newborn tops that haven't been worn yet... that will be our project for this week!

nursery

I realized I haven't posted much on the nursery. I'm very happy with how it all came together. Our biggest splurge was the pottery barn bookshelf... but I'm loving it so far! It holds all sorts of books and toys.

What the changing station looks like... my mom made the basket

A woven basket hides in the corner and holds toys and blankets. It is nice to have a place to corral everything.

what a goofball

What Audrey looked like before I left her to change Claire's diaper and get her ready for nap time:

 

What she looked like when I came back: 

My friend told me that socks from Baby Gap worked the best on her son, so that is what I am trying next. At least Audrey is a good kicker... maybe she'll have a future playing soccer?

Amazon Mom, how I love thee

This probably seems obvious to the experienced moms out there, but I'm so glad we waited to sign up for Amazon Mom until after the girls arrived! I was tempted to sign up before they came so we could get a slightly better price on some diapers, but it was so worth it to wait- I had no idea how valuable 2 day shipping would be.

Justin and I are both annoyed with our local Target- some of the awesome baby stuff they had before the girls were here that we waited to buy is no longer in the store... it is so much easier to just have Amazon Mom, not worry about having to meet the $25 requirement to get free shipping (because it is almost always free... and sometimes you just want the perfect $8 set of socks that will stay on their feet), order exactly what you need, and have it at your doorstep in 2 days. We now understand that people in our neighborhood that get packages everyday are not addicted to online shopping, sometimes it is just much easier to have stuff delivered :)

I think I'll be a little sad when our trial is up, but at least at that point the girls will be big enough to be out around crowds and the weather will (hopefully) be nicer so we can actually take them places. 

2 week appointment update

On the 19th (which would have been their due date if the girls were singletons) the girls had their two week appointment. We got to meet their pediatrician and really liked her- picking a pediatrician is hard work... there was an awesome ped we met in the hospital, but she wasn't accepting new patients. Justin and I just randomly picked one and decided that if we hated her for whatever reason we would try someone new for the next appointment.

The girls got measured and we were able to see where they are on the growth chart. Claire was 5 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long- she isn't on the growth chart for weight yet and was in the 3rd percentile for height. The doctor said that at the next appointment we'll get a better idea of where she will end up on the growth chart. Audrey was 7 lbs 7 oz and 20.5 inches long (although Justin said the nurse didn't have her all the way up at the end, so she is getting more credit than she should for height) putting her in the 30th percentile for weight and 50th for height. It will be interesting to see where the girls end up- they don't have their next appointment until they are 8 weeks old. We need to keep waking the girls up every 3 hours to eat until then (Audrey usually wakes up to let us know when she is hungry- it is Claire we need to keep a closer eye on).

mom brain really does exist

things nobody told me about the birth experience (or if they did I was too stupid to listen)

1. Water breaking can be the first sign of labor... all of the books and classes said that the birth experience is nothing like the movies and that you will know you are in labor before your water breaks. I was confused and caught off guard when it happened, because I was convinced there would be contractions first (although I'm not really sure what I thought it was... it isn't like I had been experiencing incontinence).

2. You probably will panic a little bit when your water breaks. My doctor had told me that if my water broke at home to get to the hospital asap. We are about a 20 minute drive from the hospital and I was convinced I might have the babies in the car.

3. You will curse the driving skills of whoever is taking you to the hospital- Justin was at work, so my mom had the pleasure of driving me. The roads were a little icy, so she was only able to go 40 on the interstate. I kept on (politely) reminding her that the speed limit is 55.

4. I am a pretty perky person, but there was one nurse I absolutely hated until I had my epidural. She was super friendly and pleasant and asking me all of these important intake questions when all I wanted to do was be left alone. Thankfully I was able to keep my anger inside and was back to my normal self after the epidural.

5. Nurses are sneaky little creatures and will have you convinced that it is only one more push when in reality you have over 2 more hours to go.

6. Pushing really can take 3 hours- don't look at the clock.

7. Operating room tables are really uncomfortable- even with the sweet epidural.

8. With a twin delivery they call in all sorts of helpers- don't be alarmed if you see the person who was assisting with delivery stocking the supply closet the next day.

9. Mesh underwear are disgusting- everyone on the blogosphere raves about them, but I thought they were like wearing an adult diaper... so bring your own undies, preferably in both one and two sizes bigger than your pregnancy (yes pregnancy, not pre-pregnancy) size.

10. IV fluids, blood transfusions, and not being able to get out of bed for 14 hours after birth will make you look like crap... case in point:

Within an hour of Claire's birth... a bit disheveled, but looking pretty good

2 days after the girls were born. Thankfully the puffiness went away- my face looks normal again!

11. Let people take pictures of you- even if you look horrible. You'll want them for the baby book (and changing the color to black and white can hide a multitude of sins!)