schedule

I was reading over at And baby makes three as she was describing her schedule for her darling little boy. It started on here comes the sun , and several bloggy mommys are posting the schedule they have for their little babies. Here's what we do.

between 7 and 8 am: Get up for the day and eat a morning bottle. Usually daddy does this feed alone to let me sleep, and they end up in disposable diapers. Then they play for about 30 minutes on the play mat. And then it's to the swings for nap numero uno.

12 wake up from nap and eat again.  Have naked time for about 20 minutes. Get dressed in a cloth diaper and outfit. Play some more.

1:30 nap in the swings again (or if you're Xander sit awake and stare at things)

between 3 and 3:30 Daddy leaves for work and mommy gets them up to eat. Eat the usual 5-6 ounces and play some more. Belly and bumbo time, and maybe even some more naked time if they have messed up an outfit. They usually poop and mommy gets to wash out diapers around this time.

5 nap or quiet time in swings

Between 6 and 7 pm. Wake up to eat, and play on the mat with toys, books or just sit and talk to mommy.

8pm go back to swings or snuggle on the couch with mommy (often if they don't sleep they get out of their swings and end up cuddling with me)

Between 9 and 10 pm take turns taking baths (either just a wet wipe down or a tub bath depending on the day) Eat a big extra thick bottle (6-8 ozs) listen to a story or two, pray and get bundled up for bed by 11 pm

11pm-12:30 am: The boys fall asleep usually by 11:15 and I clean the floors, put the diapers in the wash, wash bottles and make the next days formula.

12:30 am. Daddy comes home and helps mommy finish whatever she has left while she showers or whatever

Between 1 and 3 am fall into bed for a few hours sleep before it all starts over again.

Usually the boys sleep without waking until 5 or six. Sometimes they don't wake up at all, but if they do they go right back to sleep until it's time to get up. Someone tonight told me I was lucky that they slept that much at night, and sometimes I feel I am, but sometimes I feel like it was a buttload of work getting them on this schedule and I am reaping the benefits of lots of hard work and sleepless nights. They are 14 weeks old, and very healthy and happy. Life is good.

A big fat picture update

So it's been a while since I've posted some twin yumminess, so here they are- my little loves.

Max and Xander in their big boy outfits

sweet smiles from Max

talking Xander

sleeping little angels

my little darlings

Alexander, Mr Personality

Reading clifford  to one sleepy boy and one who's wide-awake

Bunny Hats from Aunt Donna

Bunny Xander

Bunny Xander, lol

Max, my grumpy chubby bunny

Max Bunny

Max looks gigantic compared to Alexander here

I just love the look on Xan-man's face!

Mommy and sweet boys

sweet brothers

Max

Xander

Xander

Tada!

my twins

adorable brothers

Max

Max

How much is too much or too little?

I've never had a baby before these two, and I don't really remember much about what we  did with my little sister around this age. Also, I'm not that into the parenting books that I've bought, because they either seem very into attachment parenting (which is near impossible with twins- as it's based on meeting baby's needs as soon as they are expressed- twins need to learn patience from a very young age) or completely against it, suggesting that babies are on a strict schedule. I kind of do an in between method, scheduling them, but allowing for variation if they seem to need it, i.e. earlier waking times, bigger bottles, more naps. So far my babies seem fairly happy and well adjusted. Very social and thrilled to be around each other and adults, but also able to have down time alone in their swings or cribs. They're even pretty good about being taken places and eating/sleeping places other than at home. They go to bed awake, I say goodnight, and they go to sleep at night. I feel like they are eating enough, rarely have diaper rash and a generally happy babies. I say all of this to make the point that for the most part I'm pretty comfortable with the parenting job DJ and I are doing. But there are lots of things I'm not sure about too. Do they have too much down time? Should I stop swaddling them even though they seem to still need it? Should I take them out more or stay home more? Is 10 minutes of tummy time per day too little, even though they don't like it. Should I read to them at night, or should I wait until they are older and understand better? Is it too early to pray with them and tell them Bible stories? Will already talking about ABC's and shapes and things create odd little nerds? Is reinforcing cooing and trying simple imitation with them too much for this early age. Should I take them outside more, or is the sunlight bad for their little skin? I guess all parents think and worry about these things, but with two I feel like I have the chance to mess up two times as badly. What do or did you do with your 13 week old? They are only 7 weeks adjusted, and I'm not even sure of which age to go with.  Comments?

Friends from the IF community:

After the boys were born my doctor put me on lovenox to prevent clotting. I tired of my hubby poking me in the belly and quit reminding him to do it after we skipped a few days and I did not die from a blood clot. So I have probably 15 syringes worth of lovenox sitting around not being used. And I know this is an expensive and important med for many people's ttc protocols. So my question for you dear IF community friends- How can I legally get this med to someone who needs it? Is it possible to donate it either locally or over the internets? Thank you for your help.

13 weeks, the sun is coming out from behind the clouds

Little boys I love you. You are 13 weeks old today. It turns out that the 23 weeks mommy was on bedrest, the 23 nights she spent in the hospital, the traumatic events of her 29 hour labor and your birth, along with your following 9 days in the NICU left her quite unsettled. After some counseling, and a month on antidepressants  she is feeling better though, and is finally able to really enjoy every moment with you. She loves loves loves enjoying you two, and doesn't like to share :-) You are both growing into such little personalities, talking and smiling and discovering the world. You love each other and daddy and I and we love you. You are doing quite well in your own room. Xander you rolled over again this week. Max, Last Sunday morning at 5 am we heard music coming from your room. You had scooted and turned yourself so that you could kick a musical toy mommy has hanging on your crib. It woke your brother up and you were rather proud of yourself. Mommy still cloth diapers you and it is still going well for us. Your hineys seem happy. We set up a bigger play place in the living room since your cribs take up your whole room now and you like it. You like when mommy rattles rattles and reads you books. You still love your swings and going for walks. You both love bath time and cry when it's over. You eat close to 6 ounces 5 times per day now. And you sleep from 11-6:30 consistently. Sometimes mommy and daddy talk you into going back to sleep until 8 with a pat and a pacifier. I love you my little boys, being your mommy is the best thing in the world. Happy 13 weeks my darlings!

11-12 week update

tandem bottle feeding at 11 weeks

I have been a very bad blogger lately, but thing have been super duper busy here. Alexander and Max are both double their birth weights, starting to outgrow their newborn clothes and smiling like crazy. They really watch faces and some toys now, it's so cool. And usually , when I talk to them, they grin and coo back at me. Makes a mama's heart melt. My mom got me a balloon for my birthday last Friday and they love it. Max just stares at it from his swing. They have increased their feeds from 4 oz 5 times per day (which we were at for about 5 weeks) to 5-6 oz 5 times per day. Their bedtime is 11 pm. I know it's late, but since DJ and I are such night owls, they just won't go down for the night any earlier. I try to start baths and bedtime routine before 10 though so that they are actually asleep by 11:15. And then, after that feed, they go until between 7 and 9. Sometimes one of them will wake up because of spitting up and they will cry for 10-15 minutes, but they go back to sleep. And speaking of bed, on Sunday they moved into their nursery!!! They were getting to big to fit into the same bed, so we moved them to their own beds (only about 1 and 1/2 feet from each other) in their own room. And they seem to really like the bedtime routine and sleeping in their own room. They go down after story and prayer time without a fuss. When I watch them on the video monitor I see them look around for a while and then go to sleep within 15 minutes. I have been lucky enough to have help from family. When DJ is at work (which he is a lot)  either his mom or my mom or dad come over. Some nights my mom and dad come over and bring my little sister. The boys love their grandmas, grandpa johnny, and aunt Allyson. But they love mommy and daddy the most!! They still enjoy swinging, going for walks in the stroller, and laying naked on the play mat. I still love cloth diapering, although with formula the diapers are a lot stinkier. Stopping pumping was really hard physically and emotionally for me, but now I so appreciate the extra time I get to spend with my little boys. Last weekend and this weekend DJ has off, which has been super-wonderful. The boys are happiest when he is around (probably because I am happiest when he is around) And speaking of happy, I am. Happy. Happy that God has blessed my life with the three best boys in the world. I am so blessed to have my boys with me.