Play Group

We went to our first playgroup yesterday and had a great time. Blair, one of the moms who I met at My Gym organized the group. I have been wanting to do something in addition to My Gym to increase the twins' chances for socialization with other kids but am not the organizer/leader type. Five moms, including me, met for lunch and then went to Blair's house so the kids could play. Elizabeth and Thomas had a great time and loved Mily's toys. The grown-ups had a good time as well. I was afraid Thomas would be the only boy, but there were two others. We are going to meet again next week.

It is so bittersweet watching T and E grow. I watch proudly as they play independently and alongside other children, and then they come to me with hugs or pats as if to say " ah, there you are" and are off again. I want my children to grow into little independent people ready to take on the world all the while knowing they have me as a safety net.

Thomas pulled up today!

I am sad to say that I did not see him do it, but Thomas pulled up to stand in his pack and play. I was in the bathroom getting dressed and heard him talking very loudly and happily. I peaked in and he was standing up smiling at me! He has been trying very hard to pull himself up...what a work ethic my boy has. All that hard work paid off today.

Smiles from Twinland :)

13 Months Old

Happy Birthday Elizabeth and Thomas! They turned 13 months old yesterday. My how things have changed in one month. The only baby food they eat now is the fruits and the cereal. They love deli meat, cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, scrambled eggs, yogurt, green beans, stewed carrots, new potatoes, tortellini with red sauce, graham crackers, and bagel (whole wheat and blueberry). They also love fresh banana, peaches, and plum. Thomas likes cantaloupe and pineapple, but Elizabeth does not. It is so funny watching them feed themselves. They will look at the table to see what their other choices are and definitely let me know when they are not happy with whatever food I have picked up for them. They are down to one bottle a day, and it is at bedtime. T and E are doing much better with cow's milk, thank goodness. I have started giving them a cup of water when they wake up from their afternoon nap. They are usually pretty thirsty. They still take two naps a day. Every time I think they are about to fade their morning nap out they fool me. It makes no difference to me. I figure they will let me know when they don't need that morning nap anymore.

T and E went to a birthday party last Friday and had a great time. They ate cupcake for the first time. They were homemade and delicious...or at least Thomas and I thought so. Elizabeth did not like them. I can't believe I have a child who won't eat a cupcake. I'm sure it is a passing phase :) They had Capri Sun in their cups and sucked it down! The three of us had a good time. It was a great way to get the weekend started.

Elizabeth is cruising around the furniture now and walking behind a push toy completely by herself. I'm guessing she will be walking by Thanksgiving. Thomas loves to walk behind the push toy too but is not as steady on his feet. We have a baby gate for their bedroom door but need some for the kitchen. I need some way to keep them better contained....for their safety.

The more they move the busier I get.

Thomas is mobile!

Yes, you correctly read the title....Thomas is mobile! He has been so frustrated lately watching his sister move all over the place, but he has finally found his own way of crawling. Until today we weren't sure how he was moving. We would put him in one area of a room and a few minutes later would see him in a totally different area. Don't think we leave him unattended...For example, while I was bathing Elizabeth I left Thomas in their room (door gated) by the bookshelf. When Elizabeth and I returned to the nursery he was by the door. This evening when David got home we saw Thomas' version of crawling. He sort of moves like a crab....he moves by getting on both hands, one knee, and one foot and then sits and then repeats the whole sequence. Make sense? We are going to try to get it on video. I was almost in tears tonight when he moved himself from the kitchen to the living room -- the first time he has ever been able to get to another room without assistance. He was SO proud of himself.

Yay Thomas!

Feeling Brand New

I went to a Moms of Twins Club meeting last night and feel like a brand new woman. I spent two hours with women! I had an uninterruped dinner, yummy dessert, and lots of conversation. I joined a few committees and am looking forward to our upcoming consignment sale. I am determined to be an active participant this year because I need the socialization, and the twins need time with someone other than me. I left the twins with David, and Thomas was screaming when I walked out the door...not because I was leaving. We weren't sure why he was so mad, but he got over it quickly I was told. David had leftovers in the frig for supper and had good play time with the twins before giving them their bottles and putting them to bed. When I got home all was quiet. I'll bet David enjoyed the night as much as I did.

Opinions are like.....

b---holes...Everybody has one and most of them stink. That is what I wanted to tell a lady at Wal-Mart yesterday. The twins and I were doing our grocery shopping when a lady noticed that T and E had pacifiers in their mouths. It's no secret...our babies are attached to their pacifiers. They LOVE them. I challenge anyone to get them to sleep without one. The lady was quick to let me know that she took the pacifier away from her children once they turned one ---"but your twins can't be one yet. They are so small." I answered, "They are small for their age, but they were preemies." Once she found out my babies were one she began her lecture of the whens, whys, and hows of getting rid of the pacifier. When I say lecture I am not using the term loosely. This stranger was giving me "a talking to" about how I really needed to take the pacifiers away. I was very polite and said several times, "I am just not ready to take on that challenge."

Why do strangers feel the need to give their opinions concerning children and how to raise them?

Lifesavers of the First Year

Now that the birthday party has come and gone along with all the company I have had moments here and there to reflect on the twins' first year of life. I have gone back and read twinchronicles from the beginning and been so happy David decided we start our own blog. While it hasn't been the greatest blog -- I'm not a gifted writer -- it has served its purpose in keeping our family members up to date on the twins and their continuous development. As I have looked back I have tried to come up with a list of things that "saved our lives" this first year. They may not work for all new parents and some may not agree with them, but they worked for us. Take them or leave them:

1. On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam
This book was recommended by some good friends of ours while I was pregnant, and it saved our lives in terms of getting the twins on a good eating/sleeping schedule. I have found more bad reviews of "Babywise" on the internet than good, but it worked for us. I have found most moms who belong to the Moms of Twins Club recommend this book and its principles as well.

2. Jennifer from grad school
A mother of two small children herself she answered every "HELP!" email I sent. She was so supportive and non-judgemental when T and E were screaming rather than napping, and her advice helped tremendously. I can hear her saying "consistency is key." No matter how stupid my questions were from letting the twins cry to what to feed them and when Jennifer was always ready to help.

3. My huge nursing pillow from Aunt Peggy
Being able to nurse my twins at the same time was a huge lifesaver in terms of time management and sleep for both me and David. I don't know what I would have done without that thing. David has asked if we still need it....I'm not ready to let go of it (haha). I loved nursing T and E!!

4. Breastfeeding Class
I took this class while I was pregnant and am so thankful I did. Most of what I thought I knew about breastfeeding was wrong. Taking the class was extremely helpful and lessened the stress once the twins were born.

5. The Lactation Center
Every single lactation specialist I came into contact with was wonderful. They came to my room when the twins were born.....there was one present the first time I tried to nurse each of the twins in the NICU....one came to see me before Thomas was discharged and before Elizabeth was discharged....I have called the Warm Line (help hotline) numerous times and been called back every single time....they fit me for good nursing bras ( my boobs were HUGE and my Target bra was not getting the job done.), weighed the babies for free....let me nurse the twins in the Lactation Boutique....the list goes on and on.

6. Baby Swings
Before we bought the swings David and I never got to eat supper at the same time or without one of the twins screaming in the background. We bought swings that sit low to the ground, play music, and have a "light show". Thomas and Elizabeth loved them from the start. We have used them for so many different activities....they drank their bottles in the swings, watched Baby Einstein (while David and I ate supper) in their swings, had juice time on the porch, etc. As of this week they have outgrown their swings. They now have their cups in their booster seats and watch Baby Einstein while sitting on the floor.

*** If there is one regret I have in terms of using area resources for help it would be joining the Moms of Twins Club earlier. I didn't join until January of this year and haven't been able to be as involved as I would have liked to be. If I could do it over I would have joined while I was pregnant. The club is so helpful to those on bed rest or those with babies in the NICU. I wish I would have had access to this wonderful group of ladies before the twins were born. I would definitely recommend to any woman pregnant with multiples to find an area Moms of Twins or Moms of Multiples group. Whenever I have questions about the twins I can email the group and get tons of answers and differing opinions. It is a great resource. I plan on becoming more active with the group now that the twins are older. I need the friends, and the twins need "Daddy Time".

Of course, our family members and friends have been great as well, but these "top six" are tips that anybody could use (except the Jennifer one....not going to post her email address).

I hope this post helps anyone out there who might be expecting more than one miracle.