Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Jude & Sloane | 9 Months

Nine months.  As of last week they have been in the real world longer than they were inside of me.  I don't have to tell you which nine months went by faster.  The other night I read their birth story and cried all over again.  When people say, "I don't remember what life was like before kids," I have to disagree.  I remember it quite well--it was wonderful.  But now?  Now it is so much better.

We went to the pediatrician today for their nine month check-up!  It went well and both babies got glowing reports.  They did a finger prick to test for iron levels and poor Jude had to get pricked three times (on three different fingers) due to not producing enough blood.  Neither baby cried and Jude watched the entire time. He was mesmerized!  Jude's weight has slowed down a little while Sloane's weight has slowed down quite a bit.  Both are still rather tall with huge heads. 

Jude's stats at 9 months:
Weight: 23 lbs 10 oz (90%)
Height: 29 1/2 in (85%)
Head: 18 1/4 in (80%)

Sloane's stats at 9 months:
Weight: 18 lbs 14 oz (55%)
Height: 28 1/2 in (80%)
Head: 18 in (90%)

EAT
Things are about to change in this area (I can hear you breathing a sigh of relief--hooray for new content!) but this past month was about the same.  They nurse five times a day, eat solids twice a day (oatmeal in the morning, fruit or vegetable in the evening), and have two snacks.  The snacks were new this month - puffs and mum mums.  I think we tried them a few times in month eight, but their tiny hands and mouths refused them.  We would give them a puff and they made a sour face and spit it out immediately.  Now they actually pick up the puff and put it in their mouth on purpose.  Woohoo!  I was really afraid I'd be pureeing their food until they left for college. 

Jude's hands are almost always sticky--he is all boy.  All he has to do is hover his hand over a puff and it sticks to his hand, which is downright confusing for a baby.  He also has the strength of Superman, which means he carefully holds the puff and it breaks into three pieces.  Meanwhile, Sloane is a hoarder.  I'll give her four puffs and within seconds they are all gone. As I'm cheering for her I realize she is holding onto all of them and hasn't eaten a single one.  She eventually decides to eat them but only after she has collected Jude's as well.

New foods this month included peas (hated them), blueberries (Sloane liked them, Jude tolerated them), and peaches (both adored them).  They LOVE mealtime and get really excited when we put them in their high chairs.  Sippy cups are still pretty much a joke--they know how to use them but prefer to throw them.  The other day I gave Sloane a sip from my (large) glass of water and she drank quite a bit.  I was surprised at how successful she was so I did the same thing with Jude and he loved it as well.  They both got upset when I stopped giving them sips.  So perhaps we'll skip the sippy cup all together.

SLEEP
They wake up at 8:00, go down for a nap at 10a and 2p.  Both naps last anywhere from an hour to two hours.  We dropped their third nap, though I sometimes put them in their cribs at 5p and they play quietly while I take a mental health break for 15-20 minutes.  Is that bad?  That's bad.  Don't tell.

PLAY
Jude and Sloane still love to play together. Their favorite toys are top-of-the-line items that cost a fortune.  They include the following: empty water bottles, empty wipe containers, boxes, and newspapers.  Christmas is going to be easy this year, I will just head to the recycling bin and pull out a few gems.

I've recently noticed they get frustrated when one takes a toy from the other.  This used to be a fun game but can now be a source of frustration.  It's hard to teach babies how to share but I'm determined to try.

They are both babbling all of the time and mimic each other and us quite a bit.  Other times, however, it's like they look right through each other and don't even notice their sibling is sitting right next to them.

SICK
The three of us came down with another cold this month (Michael lucked out).  It's crazy how long they hold onto these colds.  Mine lasted three days--theirs lasted almost two weeks.  Jude HATES to have his nose wiped and throws a fit if you get near him with a kleenex.  I was so proud of myself for "tricking" him the other day.  I gave him a huge hug, put his face on my shirt, and acted like I was swinging him back and forth.  In doing so, I was able to wipe his nose.  I thought, "HA, I win!"  And then I realized "winning" meant I had my child's snot all over my shirt.  Not sure it could be considered a true victory.

TRAVEL/CELEBRATIONS
We celebrated the 4th of July by attending the Coppell parade with Mimi and Papa.  Both babies ignored the parade completely and watched the neighborhood dogs.  Neither of them were scared but very curious.  I guess we'll try again next year.

We traveled to North Little Rock so Michael and the twins could (finally) meet the Besancon side of the family!  We also got to meet little Aiden, who was an absolute doll.  After spending a few hours at Aunt Carolyn's house, we drove to Fort Smith for the evening before returning home the next day.  It was a whirlwind trip but I was so glad we were all able to get together.

We also had our first official twin play date! Amber wrote all about it so visit her blog for a full recap and pictures!  It was so great to finally meet Parker, Jolie, Harper, Keegan, and their sweet parents.  Six parents with six babies--it was hilarious!

WHAT'S NEW?
This was a big month for Jude--he started crawling! It's a belly crawl (aka army crawl) and it was slow going at first, but he has some powerful legs and can now get anywhere fairly quickly.  Sloane, on the other hand, has perfected her crawl and is speedy.  She uses those long legs and arms to cover distances quickly.  Jude is content with a fun toy in front of him but Sloane gets bored quickly and wants to explore.  She found our printer this month and has printed five documents.  Ask me how to print something and I will direct you to our 9-month-old because I haven't a clue.

Jude has always been bigger than Sloane but the difference has never been more apparent than this past month.  Not only does he weigh quite a bit more, but his face is more mature, he has eight teeth (vs. her two), and his hair now lays down.  I used to roll my eyes at the "Are they twins?" comment but now people just assume they aren't.  A man at the grocery store guessed they were 4 months and 14 months.  Crazy!

IMPORTANT DATES FOR JUDE
July 4 - Rocked on all fours
July 9 - Army crawled for the first time
July 20 - Sat up on his own - all of us (including both sets of grandparents) saw!
July 21 - 7th tooth: Bottom right lateral incisor
July 27 - 8th tooth: Bottom left lateral incisor
July 31 - Lowered crib

IMPORTANT DATES FOR SLOANE
July 26 - Pulled to a stand
July 30 - Cruised around the coffee table
July 31 - Lowered crib

Dear Jude,
This letter will be the most I've talked (written) without being interrupted by your sweet voice.  Bubby, you are a TALKER!  You are the first thing I hear each morning and you keep it up throughout the day.  I can't decide if you are narrating your day, telling me about your dream, talking about your sister, or just discussing the weather.  Your face and arms are always expressive so I can tell it's good stuff!

Another favorite of yours is bath time.  We put you in the tub and everything within a three foot radius gets soaked.  You would kick and splash for 30 minutes if we let you.  I really think you're going to be an excellent swimmer one day.

You are still sensitive and require lots of attention. When you get upset you will put your face all the way to the floor (while sitting) and then lift up your head with the saddest eyes.  As soon as one of us picks you up the tears are long gone.  You love playing with Sloane but are happy to play independently as well.  You like to pick up two of the same thing (balls, rings, etc.) and hit them together, which is what I always do when I sing the clapping song (written and performed by me).

I feel like you have become a complete sponge, soaking in everything around you and showing us you're no longer a little baby.  You are, however, very ticklish so when things start to get too serious for me I simply tickle you or give you Eskimo kisses so I can hear your sweet belly laugh. 

We are so blessed to be your parents, sweet Jude.  I know we may not understand one another quite yet, but surely the phrase, "I love you" is starting to sink in because I say it 1000 times a day.  I love you!










Dear Sloane,
I'm not sure you'll read this entire letter because you have so many other things you need to do!  You, my dear, are everywhere at once!  I will never need a gym membership because I spend all of my time chasing you.  I love watching you explore your surroundings, even if most of those surroundings are not kid friendly.  You get frustrated when I pick you up and move you, but please understand I have your best interest at heart.

Being an explorer isn't for the meek.  You bump your head daily.  You usually let out a short cry and then you've already moved on to the next big thing. 

I believe you are going to be all girl.  For your nine month pictures I put you in a pink dress and (in my eyes) giant bow and you absolutely LOVED it.  You were a complete ham in front of the camera and couldn't stop playing with your frilly dress.  You also love when I wear jewelry.  As soon as I pick you up you get a grip on my necklace and the laughing commences.

Speaking of laughing, you laugh all of the time now!  You've been a happy baby for quite a while but never really laughed until recently.  It's music to our ears!  If I want to get a good laugh all I have to do is smile at you.  That sounds cheesy but it's because (for some strange reason) you love to touch my teeth--you think they're so funny!  Along with laughing, you are talking quite a bit more.  Still not as much as your brother, but much more than past months.  We're seeing traces of the "twin language" we've heard so much about.  It is so fun to sit back and watch.

You are so much fun, Sloaney.  I have to get my hugs in when I can because a second later you're gone.  Just know I'm always behind you if you need me.













Love you two!! Love-Mom



 










Monday, July 29, 2013

Thank You!

Thank you so much for responding to my last post--you came up with some great questions!  I'm so glad I did this because there were a few items I've considered writing about but thought no one would care.  But you DO! 

My goal is to write two blog posts a week (much better than my recent average of two a month) and get back into the swing of things.  Most of the questions revolve around the twins or our marriage, so perhaps I'll do Marriage Monday and Twin Thursday.  I just made that up.  And I also just realized today is Monday and I have nothing prepared, so alliteration gets the boot.  I love when I get ahead of myself.

Thanks again for taking the time to do this.  I know it was narcissism at its finest, but I also know that, at its core, narcissism is the very definition of a blog. 

Guess who turns nine months tomorrow?!






Thursday, July 25, 2013

Help!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I swore I'd never do one of these posts.  Just like I swore I'd never give my kids pacifiers.  Oops.

Here's the deal.  I love this blog.  I miss this blog.  But I feel like I've had the worst case of writer's block for oh.... 8 months, three weeks, and three days.  I will give you one guess how old the twins are.

I've been staring at a blank page for 15 minutes and can't think of a thing to write about.  So I'm asking you to help out.  Ask me a question.  It can be about anything and I will do my best to answer it. My hope is it will awaken the part of my brain that has been on sabbatical for all of 2013.  I typed 2012 and had to delete it and try again.  That's how bad it's gotten.  Sheesh.

And if no one asks anything, I will be forced to re-live the social anxiety of junior high, which was quite possibly the most painful time of my life.  Even worse than being 38 weeks pregnant with twins.

Ready?  Pretty please? And... go!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Baby & Mom Items for Sale - One New Item!

In a super intelligent move, I accidentally deleted this entire post.  Ahem.

There are only a few items left for sale, which I'd like to keep on the blog in case anyone happens to be searching the world wide web.  There is also one new item: the moby wrap!

SOLD Brown Moby Wrap
$20 ($25 shipped)
Retail Price: $48 
I believe I used this three times - near perfect condition!


$25 for both
Retail Price: $30 for Boppy and $25 for Organic Slipcover

Designed to fit the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio, Maxi Cosi Mico & Prezi, Graco SnugRide, Chicco KeyFit and Evenflo Infant Car Seats
$25 each or $45 for both
Retail Price: $60 each

 Please email me at meredithsclothes@gmail.com or comment below if you're interested!


Thursday, July 4, 2013

Jude & Sloane | 8 Months

Sometimes I feel like I copy/paste the opening of Jude & Sloane's monthly updates because it's always the same idea: Time is flying, I am crying, they are growing, we are glowing.  And so on.  However, I can honestly say that this past month did not fly as fast as the others, which is 100% due to the fact that these two were sick a good chunk of it.  They both handle sickness far better than their parents, but it's still heartbreaking to see.  There were a few times I noticed I was praying for time to speed up... just enough for them to get healthy.

Nonetheless, lots of great things happened this month!

EAT
Quite a bit has changed this month in regards to food.  When the twins were sick they did not want a bottle.  I'm still not sure if it was because their throats hurt (hand/foot/mouth) or they just wanted the comfort of nursing, but we no longer give them a bottle at the end of the day.  A part of me is relieved (no more pumping!) but I always loved the last meal of the day.  Michael and I would sit next to one another and each give a babe a bottle.  I think it was a special bonding time for all of us and we've unintentionally robbed Michael of it.  On top of their five nursing sessions, they've been eating rice cereal for breakfast (around 9:30a) and a fruit/vegetable for dinner (around 6p).  They tried several new foods this month: sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, pears and apples.  Neither seemed to care for the apples, both seemed to really enjoy the bananas and pears, and the rest were "meh."  They'd eat the food but without much gusto.  I still enjoy making their food and have become BFF with our blender (the blender that we owned for almost six years without using once). 

We've started giving them sippy cups with a few ounces of water.  They tend to look at the sippy cup as a toy and haven't quite figured it out.  Since their only bottle was in the evening when they were exhausted, we always held the bottles for them.  I think we assisted a little too much, which has made the sippy cup transition very foreign to them.  Hoping it improves quickly! 

SLEEP
Sleep is about the same.  They still wake up around 5:30 or 6 to nurse (reeeeeeally ready for this to stop) then back down again until 8 or 8:30.  Naptime is at 10a (strict) and then anytime between 1:30-2:30 in the afternoon, depending on what we're doing/how they're feeling that day.  The third nap is very hit or miss.  Jude definitely needs it more than Sloane but oftentimes both just play quietly in their cribs.  They're still taking pacifiers when they go to sleep but we almost always leave them in the cribs once they're awake (we're hoping neither grow too attached to them).  

PLAY
These two love to play!  This has been a great month to sit back and watch them interact with one another.  Several times Michael and I have gotten on the floor to be with them and they look at us like we're interrupting.  They make each other laugh and play very well together.  They like to take toys from one another but right now it's a fun game and doesn't cause tears.  I realize that won't always be the case.

Jude still adores the exersaucer and jumping on people's laps. He is so strong!  Sloane is into absolutely everything--I say, "Sloane, you're going to hurt yourself" at least 100 times a day.  Half of the time she does, cries for two seconds and then moves on.  She's a tough one.  I fight back the urge to hover too much because I think it's important for her to learn that certain decisions have less-than-stellar consequences, but I also realize she's 8 months and very new to all of this. 

I read to them a few times each day and while I incorporate one or two new books, there are a few I read almost every day.  I've noticed that when I start reading the first page of a familiar book they both break into huge grins.  I love to see the recognition on their faces!

Due to them moving more and more, we lowered their cribs this month.  It makes getting them in and out more of a challenge but it was definitely necessary!

TRAVEL
The twins and I traveled to Fort Smith to visit Julie, Leslie and my parents! We went in the middle of the week so Michael wasn't able to join us. This was his first time away from the babies! I know he missed them but I also know the extra sleep was nice too.  :)  

WHAT'S NEW?
This past month Jude & Sloane both had a cough, a mild case of hand/foot/mouth, stomach bug, cold, and teething.  They are (finally) healthy and we couldn't be happier!

We took the babies to the pool for the first time!  They both seem to enjoy the water for very different reasons.  We put Sloane in the floaty and she kicked back and relaxed (my kind of girl).  Jude, on the other hand, wanted to splash and kick as much as possible.  I really think he could be the next Michael Phelps.  ;)

Sloaney started crawling!  More on that below!

IMPORTANT DATES FOR JUDE
May 31 - Upper left central tooth
June 9 - Lowered crib
June 13 - Upper right central tooth
June 18 - Upper right lateral tooth
June 22 - Upper left lateral tooth

IMPORTANT DATES FOR SLOANE
June 1 - Started to rock back and forth
June 2 - Lower right and left central teeth
June 6 - Sat up by herself
June 9 - Lowered crib
June 20 - Crawled!  And we both saw her do it!

Dear Jude,
Bubby, this has been a tough month for you.  You were sick for a good chunk of it and when you're not feeling well you want to be held all of the time.  I try my best to appease you but I also have your sister to watch during the day so I'm not always able to hold you as much as you'd like.  You cut four teeth in three weeks--I couldn't believe it!  So far you have handled teething like a pro, I'm amazed by you!

You have a new smile that is absolutely precious.  You lift your shoulders and scrunch your nose and I could be having the worst day ever and it's all forgotten.  It is a full body smile and I hope it lasts a long, long time.  One thing I've noticed is how quickly things change for you two.  I have in my notes that you spend a lot of time staring at your hands in amazement and now I realize you no longer do that.  It was so cute while it lasted!

You talk all the time but the most common sound we hear is "Ah."  You typically throw your hands to the floor whenever you say it as if you're trying to get everyone's attention.  We say "Ah" back and forth to each other dozens of times and it always makes you smile.  I wonder what (you think) we're talking about?

Your hair is getting long enough that it no longer stands up everywhere.  I will confess, this breaks my heart.  You've always had a mature look to you but the crazy hair made you look like a baby.  This new 'do makes you look like a little boy.  It's still so soft and getting lighter by the day.  Speaking of light, your skin is so fair.  I think we will be using spf 50 on you for the next 18 years (and then I will pack some for you when you leave for college).

You're now wearing size 4 diapers (!!!), 6-12 or 12 month clothing and weigh 23.5 pounds on our scale at home.  My arms actually have a bit of muscle these days and I have you to thank!

You give the best hugs and are just the sweetest.  I love squeezing your chubby legs and tickling you under the arms just to hear you laugh.  My only request is that you stop changing so quickly--my heart and tear ducts can't take it.  However, I know that's a silly thing to ask of you so I will simply say this: you just keep getting better and better.


 










Dear Sloaney,
This has been a big month for you! At the beginning of the month you started showing early signs of crawling and now you are unstoppable.  You have always been so observant and with this new skill you have touched, chewed, kicked, and drooled on everything within your reach.  You still spend plenty of time playing with Jude but you also love to explore.  You have a huge obsession with the baby gate next to the stairs, which is both adorable and a little frightening. 

Before you started crawling you had a unique way of getting from point A to point B that made everyone laugh.  You would roll a few times, sit up, switch directions if necessary, roll again, take a few steps, repeat. Michael said it looked like special ops.  I was always amazed at how you were able to put all of these techniques together to get to your desired location.  While crawling is much quicker, I do miss your tricks!

Sloane, you are so happy and have become one of the most laidback babies I know.  You are constantly smiling (or shrieking if you're really happy) and have such a fun disposition.  You handled being sick so well--the only way I knew you weren't feeling well was your smile seemed a little forced when you woke up from a nap.

You still wear size 3 diapers, 6-12 month clothing, and weigh 19 pounds on our scale at home.  Your eczema came back this month and was the worst it's ever been.  :(  We were so hoping it was gone for good.

You're talking quite a bit and something you say quite often sounds like "kitty."  I will whisper it several times back to you and you break into a huge grin. While you're happy to let anyone hold you, you do get upset if you think we've forgotten you (when I take Jude out to the car first or to another room to change his diaper).  I always scoop you up and tell you I will never leave you. Though I know you don't understand what I'm saying, it's important to me that you hear it. 

I have always tried to be that mom who doesn't brag (too much) about her babies in public, but this is my letter to you, sweet Sloane, and I want you to know I think you are the silliest, sweetest, and most beautiful little baby girl.  And to know that you are mine?  My heart absolutely bursts with pride.





 









Love you both so, so much.
Love-Mom










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