I have come to realize that a stay-at-home mom has the most difficult job. I regretfully admit I have been one of those people that has questioned what a mom "does do" at home with her kids - it can't be that hard... But I will be the one to tell you it is! Even my most difficult day in Corporate America does not compare to some of the days at home. I have an awesome opportunity that I thank God (and Troy) for every day. I wouldn't trade it for the world but I have said more prayers for patience the last 8 weeks than in my previous years of my life! I think the reason for that is in a corporate job you are invested physically and mentally but being a mom you are physically, mentally and emotionally involved. The emotional involvement is the most rewarding but can also be the most difficult. I am struggling to balance out the care of the twins and Allison. She is occassionally regressing with potty training or other forms of being naughty to get my attention. I hope to balance my time better and give her more individual attention. I am going to start this morning by taking her to the library for some books.
Bennett and Delaney had their 8 week well check up yesterday. They were given a clean bill of health. Bennett was 11 lbs 9 oz and Delaney was 10 lbs 9 oz. Bennett is in the 80th percentile for his height - no wonder he looks like he is wearing capris in one piece outfits. I think we better stick with shirt and pants outfits. Delaney is right around 50% for all her measurements. I think she will be a petite little gal - not like her big sister Allison, who is off the charts. I have to say the immunization shots were very hard on mom. Thank goodness for Ms. Lisa (their nurse) who consoled Bennett after his shots while I got Delaney ready for hers. Allison was hiding behind the examine table from their cries. My internal struggle was on who to console, hold, talk to, etc. during the process. I swear they give you the look like, "Mom, why are you letting them hurt me?" Bennett was pretty sleepy once he settled down but Delaney had a very sad day. She would be very sad if I wasn't holding her and if I would move even a small muscle she would wake with a start and cry again. They both seem to be doing better this morning. On Monday night they slept for 7 1/2 hours!!! I hope we can continue down that road and we will be sleeping through the night in a short time.
Many things have transpired since I wrote last. We had our pictures taken and boy was that an experience! It was a challenge getting 5 of us to look, smile, and pull pacifiers before the picture is snapped - all without breaking out in a sweat... They turned out well. You can view them at: www.kiddiekandids.com Sitting Number: 591009588 Sitting Code: 2493DBC
Troy and I have spent many, many hours discussing what is best for our family. We have decided for many reasons (financial, emotional,etc.) that it is best for me to change my career to a full-time stay-at-home mommy. I am very excited to be home and have been truly enjoying the babies and Allison. This is been a big change for all of us. I am going to deeply miss my collegues and friends at Target that I have made over the years. But I hope we can still stay in contact. I had a wonderful group I was working in and had a great team that I was supervising. I have had to say goodbye to make wonderful people that I saw and worked with on a regular basis. I hope to someday get back into the working world but right now my babies need me more. My babies are only babies once but Corporate America will always be there waiting for me. This is honestly what I have wanted since I had Allison and didn't think it was possible. Thank you Troy from the bottom of my heart for making it possible and being willing to put in the extra hours and hard work so I can be with our babies each day.
We spent a long weekend at my parent's farm and Troy went turkey hunting. He shot his turkey on Saturday morning and he weighed in at 20 lbs. Allison didn't understand why the turkey didn't move that daddy brought how and how come "daddy got deaded the turkey" with his gun. Then it was even more tramatic when he cut the poor thing's head off. But she is bound and determined to go hunting with daddy next year. Allison spent nearly every waking moment outside on the farm. She and grandpa planted flowers and did the chores. Allison and grandma made cookies. She even got to ride on grandma's "funny thing" - interpretation - the riding lawn mower.
The babies are doing well. My dad has a baby scale on the farm for his rabbits so of course the babies had to be weighed. That is has been the million dollar question - how much do they weigh? Bennett weighed in at 11 lbs and Delaney was 10 lbs! And isn't it by 6 months they should double their birth weight? I think they are well on their way at 8 weeks old. They are starting to longer and longer between feedings so we hope we can round the corner of sleeping through the night soon. Where does the time go? They are already 8 weeks old??? They have both started to give you a random smile and man does that melt mommy's heart.
Wow - I really have been tardy at writing on here. Sorry everyone. The babies are growing like weeds. They are both getting really chubby cheeks and filling out. I didn't think I would be packing away clothes they have outgrown already, but I am... I am so curious to know how much they weigh now. They are still eating every 3 to 4 hours but we have figured out a good system to be efficient at it during the day and for both of us to get some sleep at night.
Delaney has been in to the doctor several times for her belly button. Her umbilical cord fell off really early but then started bleeding and oozing again. They were worried about it not being "sealed" on the inside or infection. She had to have blood drawn and I wasn't excited to hear about that. Then to add insult to injury they needed to draw it from the inside of her elbow with a butterfly needle. I don't know who cried harder - her or me. Then the vein quit bleeding out so they had to stick her in the other arm too! When they were done the put a bandaid on it and they could wrap it all the way around her little arm. She was on an antibiotic which seemed to help clear everything up.
Bennett has discovered his little lungs and that if he cries he gets something :) Now he can compete quite easily with his sister to let you know he is hungry and NOW. We think he looks like Troy and his baby pictures. He still has the "old man" look but not as much as when he was first born.
We had them baptized on April 19 and it was a beautiful ceremony - despite the weather outside. I am not sure what it is with our family, but we seem to have rain on all our important dates - this one was no different. We are honored to have the god parents we do for the babies and thank God for you and your support daily. My mom machine knit the beautiful gowns and I will cherish them forever and pass them down to their families. Allison is always able to tell the babies apart by they wearing pink or blue but when they both had the gowns on she was really confused who was who.
We went to visit Troy's office last week and Allison was a total riot. She stood by the stroller and every person that walked by she would announce the names of her babies and tell them to come and look. She isn't shy - just like her daddy. She is so proud of her babies and being the big sister. She is very generous with the hugs and kisses and helps mommy try to calm them down if they cry.
We will be going into mommy's work tomorrow 5/5 to visit all her co-workers. I am excited to catch up with everyone again. We will be going to be our first professional pictures taken as a family of 5 this weekend before the babies get too big.
Allison is enjoying the spring weather and can't wait to be able to play outside everyday.
Troy and I are celebrating our 7 year anniversary today. Wow - where did that time go and who would have thought life would be the way it is today. I wouldn't change it for the world.
Pictures:
Laundry baskets - my way of having them lay on their backs but protect them from the dog and a big sister who sometimes forgets to watch out for them. Isn't it ingenius?
Boppy pillows - our feeding system if there is only one parent to both babies.
