Wow, I have definitely become one of those bloggers that stops posting after the babies arrive! I have a goal of posting once a week- I am only on month one of their baby books (oops) so I need to document the happenings somewhere so I don't forget!
Here is what we have been up to lately... the major events deserve their own posts, but those might come later:
-The girls and I had a fabulous shower hosted by Amanda and Denise- they really went all out with food and decorations! The cake was fabulous and they had lots of cute little touches. You are just going to have to believe me when I say it was great because I forgot to take pictures!
-Audrey and Claire were baptized on Mother's Day- lots of family came to celebrate. It was a really special day because all of the grandmas and great-grandmas were there. Claire and Audrey got to meet Great Grandma Marilyn and Great Grandma Verna for the first time. They also got to meet a lot of Church friends that had only seen pictures.
-Audrey and Claire have started to sleep through the night! It isn't consistent yet, but they have slept from 8 pm to 6 am. Last night they woke up at 4 am for a bottle and then again at 8 am, but I was able to put them back in their cribs so I could shower (and blog). Claire is awake and talking now, but she sounds happy... so I will keep updating as long as I can!
-In March I was hospitalized for postpartum psychosis- my unsolicited advice for any moms to be is to know the symptoms of postpartum depression (you might not actually feel depressed, I never did) and share the list with family members. It was a scary experience, but Justin and I like to look at the positive... and there were definitely a few good things that came out of the whole ordeal.
-Audrey and Claire love the stroller! We go on walks as often as possible- usually at least once a day. It feels good to get fresh air and gives Justin and I a break because the girls usually fall asleep in the stroller.
-Claire and Audrey love to shop! (Ok, maybe they just really love their stroller....) My mom and I went to the mall and had about a 3.5 hour shopping expedition- the girls hardly made a peep. They received many compliments on what nice shoppers they were... I am sure there will be wild days ahead of us, but I enjoy how portable the girls are now!
-Justin's sister and cousin both graduated the Saturday before Mother's Day, so the babes got to meet Aunt Katelyn and their paternal great aunts and uncles. We went out to eat twice on Saturday (their first times in a restaurant) and they did great- it probably helped that there were lots of people wanting to hold them!
-Audrey and Claire have started to use the exersaucer and bumbo and love them both. It is so fun to watch them bat at the toys on the exersaucer. They don't have excellent head control yet, so play time is limited to about 10 minutes or so, but it will be fun when they are big enough to play longer.
-Claire and Audrey are both little snuggle bugs. Claire is a little bit more cuddly than Audrey, but both girls are very content to be held. I try hold them as often as possible, because soon they will be running around!
-The girls have outgrown most of their newborn clothes (sniffle). I can still fit Claire in a few newborn tops, but for the most part they are in 0-3 months. It is a good thing we love to shop! A few weeks ago the Mothers of Multiples club I belong to had a rummage sale and I was able to pick up quite a few pretty things for the girlies.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
baby gear hits and misses
Now that the girls are 3 months (!) old, I figured it would be time to review some of the baby gear that I obsessively researched purchased. With baby gear, you name it... we probably have it. My philosophy was if it might be helpful, we should go ahead and buy it... and thankfully that has worked for the most part- we have had more hits than misses.
Hit List:
Chicco Keyfit Car Seat
This car seat was one of our first major purchases for the girls. We have been very pleased with them- they are incredibly user friendly... all you have to do is secure the base, and then the seat snaps right in. They must be fairly comfy too, because Audrey and Claire are always happy in their car seats.
Baby Trend Snap and Go Stroller:
Baby trend has been awesome. The car seats sits right on the stroller- it is so simple to use. Some reviews mentioned that the Chicco Isn't compatible but we have not had any problems.
Baby Bjorn babysitter
This bouncer is awesome we have a older model than what is pictured, but it works great. Ours has a toy bar that Audrey loves to play wirh
Baby Bjorn Carrier
Being able to carry one of the girls hands free has been a lifesaver. If only there was a twin version available.
Ergo Baby Carrier:
What this carrier lacks in beauty it makes up for in functionality. It is super comfortable, and the baby can be worn in a front, hip, or back carry. Sure, it looks like I'm wearing a fat suit, but a small price to pay for happy babies.
Rock and Play Sleeper
This is one of our most used items... if you are expecting it should definitely be on your must have list! The girls nap in this all the time- we have even used it as an extra set of hands during feedings. We have a bassinet that we love and find useful, but if you are short on space the RNP could most definitely replace the bassinet.
Snugabunny Swing
This swing is magic- whenever Claire or Audrey seem a bit fussy we put them in the swing and it puts them in a trance...they usually just fall asleep. Plus this is one of the few swings on the market that doesn't require batteries.
Misses:
Bright Starts Swing
The girls only tolerate this swing on rare occasion. Plus it just seems down right dinky compared to the Snugabunny.
Aprica Play yard.
The play yard definitely has a lot going for it- it is attractive, and very easy to set up. However, those features came with a hefty price tag. We ended up buying a second Graco pack n play for about $50- in hindsight we would have been better of skipping the spendy Aprica and going right to two Gracos.
Little Lamb Infant Seat
This received rave reviews and was on the must have list of many blogs, however the girls hate it. All it does is vibrate and play music, so it is very boring in comparison to our bouncers (yes, I have 3 others) that actually bounce.
Hit List:
Chicco Keyfit Car Seat
Baby Trend Snap and Go Stroller:
Baby trend has been awesome. The car seats sits right on the stroller- it is so simple to use. Some reviews mentioned that the Chicco Isn't compatible but we have not had any problems.
Baby Bjorn babysitter
This bouncer is awesome we have a older model than what is pictured, but it works great. Ours has a toy bar that Audrey loves to play wirh
Baby Bjorn Carrier
Being able to carry one of the girls hands free has been a lifesaver. If only there was a twin version available.
What this carrier lacks in beauty it makes up for in functionality. It is super comfortable, and the baby can be worn in a front, hip, or back carry. Sure, it looks like I'm wearing a fat suit, but a small price to pay for happy babies.
This is one of our most used items... if you are expecting it should definitely be on your must have list! The girls nap in this all the time- we have even used it as an extra set of hands during feedings. We have a bassinet that we love and find useful, but if you are short on space the RNP could most definitely replace the bassinet.
Snugabunny Swing
This swing is magic- whenever Claire or Audrey seem a bit fussy we put them in the swing and it puts them in a trance...they usually just fall asleep. Plus this is one of the few swings on the market that doesn't require batteries.
Misses:
Bright Starts Swing
The girls only tolerate this swing on rare occasion. Plus it just seems down right dinky compared to the Snugabunny.
Aprica Play yard.
The play yard definitely has a lot going for it- it is attractive, and very easy to set up. However, those features came with a hefty price tag. We ended up buying a second Graco pack n play for about $50- in hindsight we would have been better of skipping the spendy Aprica and going right to two Gracos.
Little Lamb Infant Seat
This received rave reviews and was on the must have list of many blogs, however the girls hate it. All it does is vibrate and play music, so it is very boring in comparison to our bouncers (yes, I have 3 others) that actually bounce.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
first day back at work
The only bad part of my first day at work was Claire's outfit:
It was a lot of fun to be back at work- I am so fortunate to work for a family-friendly company. My best advice for having a successful first day of work is to approach it with a positive attitude (having a job you love and are excited to go back to helps too).
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
a day in the life
Now that the girls are two months old and we have a routine down I figured it would be time to post about a day in our life. Thankfully we have lots of helpers- life wouldn't go as smoothly without the extra help!
7:30 am- Claire is up and talking. I go in and get her ready for her feeding. Audrey is asleep, so I contemplate doing the feeding by myself, but my brother Andrew heard that we were awake and came upstairs to help.
8:00 am- Try make waffles for breakfast, but realize I drank the last of the milk. Whoops. Decide on scrambled eggs instead. Andrew goes to change Audrey while I'm making breakfast and discovers that she has a poopy diaper- he does everything except for poop, so I abandon the eggs, change Audrey, and give her a quick bath. After that is taken care of, I go back to the eggs. Since I'm going for the wife of the year award, I bring Justin breakfast in bed... but he decides he would rather sleep than eat.
9:00 am- Shower and get ready for the day. Andrew is on baby duty. Go downstairs and discover that one of the dogs had an accident... oh well, I'm a pro at poop clean up these days, so it is only a minor annoyance.
10:00 am- Tummy time for Audrey and Claire. Andrew gets ready to go home, Justin wakes up.
10:15 am- Feeding time again. I tackle this feeding on my own, because Justin needs to get some coffee before he is fully functional.
10:45 am- Diapers are changed and it is time for naps. Audrey naps in her bouncer, Claire is a little fussy so she goes in the Baby Bjorn. Justin and I take the opportunity to do some cleaning and finish up our taxes. I bitterly write our checks to the US Treasury and State of North Dakota... oh well, next year our tax situation will be much better.
1:00 pm- Feeding time. Afterwards Audrey hangs out in the Baby Bjorn and Claire naps in the bassinet. Justin runs to the grocery store.
3:30 pm- Feed the girls once again. Then load them up in their car seats for our outing to get my new iphone (yay!). The girls do great on their outing- Audrey is a little fussy on the car ride there, but settles down and sleeps the whole time we are in the store.
5:00 pm- Have supper (pizza bread... which is so yummy!) and hang out with the girls.
6:00 pm- Leave for my Moms of Multiples meeting. Arrive at the mall a bit early, so I have time to stop at The Limited (I have a coupon for $20 off a purchase). Find an awesome pair of pants and sweater on the clearance rack, so I score big and get the ensemble for $14! Justin feeds the girls when I am gone.
9:00 pm- Arrive home from meeting just in time for the girls' next feeding. Get the girls bundled in their sleep sacks, read them a story, and say goodnight.
9:30 pm- Bedtime for everyone.
2:30 am- Claire and Audrey wake up for a feeding- Justin and I are impressed that they made it over 5 hours
5:30 am- Time for another feeding. Everyone is back in bed by 6:00 am.
8:00 am- Girls wake up and Claire is super hungry and crabby. We quick get her a bottle and she is once again our happy little girl. Audrey is a little bit more patient and even allows Justin to stop mid feeding and get some coffee.
7:30 am- Claire is up and talking. I go in and get her ready for her feeding. Audrey is asleep, so I contemplate doing the feeding by myself, but my brother Andrew heard that we were awake and came upstairs to help.
8:00 am- Try make waffles for breakfast, but realize I drank the last of the milk. Whoops. Decide on scrambled eggs instead. Andrew goes to change Audrey while I'm making breakfast and discovers that she has a poopy diaper- he does everything except for poop, so I abandon the eggs, change Audrey, and give her a quick bath. After that is taken care of, I go back to the eggs. Since I'm going for the wife of the year award, I bring Justin breakfast in bed... but he decides he would rather sleep than eat.
9:00 am- Shower and get ready for the day. Andrew is on baby duty. Go downstairs and discover that one of the dogs had an accident... oh well, I'm a pro at poop clean up these days, so it is only a minor annoyance.
10:00 am- Tummy time for Audrey and Claire. Andrew gets ready to go home, Justin wakes up.
10:15 am- Feeding time again. I tackle this feeding on my own, because Justin needs to get some coffee before he is fully functional.
10:45 am- Diapers are changed and it is time for naps. Audrey naps in her bouncer, Claire is a little fussy so she goes in the Baby Bjorn. Justin and I take the opportunity to do some cleaning and finish up our taxes. I bitterly write our checks to the US Treasury and State of North Dakota... oh well, next year our tax situation will be much better.
1:00 pm- Feeding time. Afterwards Audrey hangs out in the Baby Bjorn and Claire naps in the bassinet. Justin runs to the grocery store.
3:30 pm- Feed the girls once again. Then load them up in their car seats for our outing to get my new iphone (yay!). The girls do great on their outing- Audrey is a little fussy on the car ride there, but settles down and sleeps the whole time we are in the store.
5:00 pm- Have supper (pizza bread... which is so yummy!) and hang out with the girls.
6:00 pm- Leave for my Moms of Multiples meeting. Arrive at the mall a bit early, so I have time to stop at The Limited (I have a coupon for $20 off a purchase). Find an awesome pair of pants and sweater on the clearance rack, so I score big and get the ensemble for $14! Justin feeds the girls when I am gone.
9:00 pm- Arrive home from meeting just in time for the girls' next feeding. Get the girls bundled in their sleep sacks, read them a story, and say goodnight.
9:30 pm- Bedtime for everyone.
2:30 am- Claire and Audrey wake up for a feeding- Justin and I are impressed that they made it over 5 hours
5:30 am- Time for another feeding. Everyone is back in bed by 6:00 am.
8:00 am- Girls wake up and Claire is super hungry and crabby. We quick get her a bottle and she is once again our happy little girl. Audrey is a little bit more patient and even allows Justin to stop mid feeding and get some coffee.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
well-baby visit
Claire and Audrey had their 2 month well-baby visit today. They did great- both are growing appropriately. Claire was 8 lbs 9 oz and 20 inches long (she was around the 3rd percentile for both height and weight). Audrey weighed in at 9 lbs 13 oz (13th percentile) and 21.5 inches long (11th percentile).
Both girls received their immunizations and did great! The nurse said that they were the most content 2 month olds she had given shots to- both girls let out a bit of a scream after the first shot, but then settled down right away. The doctor warned us that shots are always worse for the parents, but there were no tears from us... hopefully we can set the stage and make doctor appointments a pleasant experience. We are lucky that we have a great pediatrician- Justin and I definitely clicked with her, she is very easy to talk to and answers all of our crazy questions without making us feel silly.
Both girls received their immunizations and did great! The nurse said that they were the most content 2 month olds she had given shots to- both girls let out a bit of a scream after the first shot, but then settled down right away. The doctor warned us that shots are always worse for the parents, but there were no tears from us... hopefully we can set the stage and make doctor appointments a pleasant experience. We are lucky that we have a great pediatrician- Justin and I definitely clicked with her, she is very easy to talk to and answers all of our crazy questions without making us feel silly.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
two months
It is hard to believe that Audrey and Claire are already two months old- time certainly flies by. The girls have well baby checks later this week- we are excited to see how much they have grown. I predict that Claire is around 8 pounds and Audrey around 10 (Justin thinks they are 9lbs and 11lbs...we'll see who has the closer guess).
Sunday, March 31, 2013
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!
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!
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