Jude & Sloane | 3 Months

January 30, 2013

I may have breathed into a brown paper bag when I woke up and remembered our babies are 3-months old today.  I spend my days staring at their sweet faces, trying so hard to find what has changed from the day before.   Something always has.

So pardon me if I cry while writing this post.  I know you won't know if I do or not but I will and I find it 50% embarrassing and 50% wonderful.  We are so lucky.

EAT
Eating hasn't changed much in the past month.  When given bottles, Jude takes 5 oz and Sloane takes between 4.5 and 5 oz.  We try to give them their last bottle around 8:30 pm (Jude takes 6 or 6.5 oz and Sloane takes 5.5 oz) and then put them to bed for the night.  What has changed is breastfeeding.  They are both so big that they're getting a little large for the nursing pillow.  I also discovered how much I enjoy breastfeeding one at a time.  They both seem to do better solo as well.  When I'm feeding them at the same time I can't help but think it's a competition because they both end up choking.  I have NO IDEA where their competitive nature comes from.  Ahem.

The other night we weighed the babies the fancy way: step on scale with baby, step on scale without baby, subtract.  Sloane weighed 13 lbs and Jude weighed 15.5 lbs.  They've both doubled their birth weights, which is thrilling for us!  Unfortunately, we had to take Sloane to the ER the next day (more about that below, it was not a big deal) and they weighed her again, more accurately this time: 13 lbs 9 oz! 

PLAY
I've added this category because it is one of the biggest changes I've seen this month.  They love to play!  When we put them on the playmat they actually grab the little animals and smile.  They both found their hands this month and spend a lot of time with them in their mouths.  Jude strikes what I call a "cheerleader pose" with both hands out in front of him in a V formation.  If only one hand is up, it's always the left.  Something else I've noticed is how much more time they spend awake during the day!  I try to stick to the eat/play/sleep routine and it seems to be working really well.  They let me know when they're ready for bed by getting fussy.  I try to put them in their cribs for naps.  This works 90% of the time for Sloane and 50% of the time for Jude.  He loves taking naps in the MamaRoo and will sleep through anything so I don't worry about him being out in the open.  Sloane, poor girl, wakes up if you breathe too loudly... unless it is her brother screaming 2 inches from her face, then she sleeps just fine.  :)

SLEEP
Sleep has been fantastic the last week or so.  Before that it was hit or miss.  Moving them to their nursery turned out to be more difficult than we imagined.  They were sleeping beautifully in our room but the second we put them in their cribs they started waking up around 2 am ready to eat.  We spent the first week of month 3 sleeping in the guest bedroom next to the nursery but we've been in our room (downstairs) for the last three weeks.  They typically wake around 6 am to eat and then go back to sleep until 9 am.  Once they're awake at 9 am, they take one more nap in the morning and then three naps in the afternoon/evening.

At least once during the day one is awake while the other sleeps.  I LOVE this because I get to spend one-on-one time with each of them.  I was having a pretty severe case of mom guilt each evening because there was always one who didn't receive "enough" attention that day.  It will always stay with me but having this alone time with each of them has caused it to decrease dramatically.

TRAVEL
We traveled to Fort Smith again, this time for my friend Brandi's funeral.  Both she and her husband amazed everyone with their grace and faith throughout the last 18 months.  Heaven received one of its finest angels that day.

Dear Jude,
Darling boy.  You have gotten so strong this month!  On top of weighing more than the family cat, you're able to use your arms to hold your head, neck, and shoulders up for quite sometime, all with a huge grin on your face!  You love sucking on your hands (and occasionally thumb--sorry daddy) and love snuggling into our shoulders after you've finished eating.  While you love to be held, you also enjoy spending time on the playmat, quilt, and playing with Mr. Inchworm.  We put you in the bumbo a few times and you seemed quite content!  I also play a game with you when you're on my lap and it led to your first laugh!  You don't laugh often right now but when you do it comes from the bottom of your precious belly.

Buddy, you're a TALKER!  I'd pegged you to be our introvert but you babble more than your mom! It makes me happy, I'm glad to know you got something from me! :)  While I know you aren't really saying words, you do an awfully good "Hi!" impression.  Stops me in my tracks every time.  You wear size 2 diapers and mostly 3-6 month clothing.  Your hair (what is left of it) is getting lighter by the day and your eyes are a bright blue.  When you sleep your arms and legs are completely sprawled out, using every possible inch of your crib!  We're going to buy some breathable bumpers because you've started moving and we've woken up several mornings to your little feet stuck between the bars. It doesn't bother you but it sure bothers me!

While you love attention you don't mind alone time as well.  We've put you to bed multiple times, only to check on you 15 minutes later and see our wide-eyed boy looking around with a smile on his face.  It takes everything in my power not to scoop you up and hold you but I know if I'm patient you'll eventually drift to sleep.

One of the sweetest moments from this past month was you recognizing your sister.  While most assume twins are friends from day 1, they typically don't truly notice one another until four months.  If we put you two next to each other you are constantly holding hands or touching but never look in the other's direction.  On January 20, my mom and I were playing with you two on your quilt and we noticed you were looking right at Sloane, smiling, and talking to her.  I grabbed my phone and took several videos.  Poor baby, she gave you the cold shoulder but it won't be long before you're both chatting away. 

You have my heart, Jude.  I hope we'll always share this special bond and I pray it's always this easy to make you smile.

Dear Sloane,
You have blown me away this month!  Where is the little girl who couldn't be awake without her pacifier?  You are now so content!  You love to look at everything around you, especially people.  And your gaze is so sweet and piercing that those who make eye contact with you can't bare to look away.  You love to sit in our laps but the real fun is watching your legs and arms when you're lying on the quilt.  I have never seen a baby move quite like you!  You really enjoy being held high with your cheek touching mine.  I couldn't love anything more so I happily oblige. 

While your brother is a talker, you are (for the most part) very quiet.  I know you're taking in everything around you but I do enjoy the few babbles you make each day.  I hope this means you have a tender heart and will be a great listener.  The world could use more people like your daddy. 

You are smiling so much these days!  And when you do, it is adorable.  It's a very shy smile: your eyes crinkle, your mouth opens in a huge grin, and then you immediately turn your head to the side to avoid eye contact.  Pictures are virtually impossible because they're always blurry from your quick turn!

You are still wearing 0-3 month clothes but also fit into 3-6 months as well.  We're finishing up the size 1 diapers and then will bump you to size 2.  You don't particularly enjoy tummy time but can lift your head, neck, and shoulders up for a brief time before you decide it's ok to just rest on your belly.  You really enjoyed being in the bumbo so we will probably take advantage of that more in the future!

We had a bit of a scare this week.  You were running a slight temp (100.4) so we took you to your pediatrician who ran a flu test on you.  Since it came back negative and you were under 3 months she sent you to the ER so they could run more tests.  Mimi came over to watch Jude and we took you to Children's Hospital.  You were still smiling so we knew it couldn't be anything terrible.  The ER doc spent exactly 3 minutes looking at you and told us to go home.  Your temp went down and your demeanor went back to the Sloane we know.  We were so relieved!

I just adore you, Sloaney.  You have so many tricks up your sleeve and we all wait in anticipation to see what you'll do next.  Whatever it is, sweet girl, we know it will be magical.

I love you (two) more than I have ever found a way to say to you... (Ben Folds)
Love-Mommy

 (New tradition: Actually be IN a picture with the twins on their monthly birthdays!)

Life with twins...