Jack and Clare: Two Months!

Alright, for the sake of trying to be good about writing during their first year, I found a little template for their monthly updates to fill in. Because just sitting down with a cup of coffee to mull over what I should write is a thing of the past! (ok...I do have coffee in front of me, but it's more out of necessity now than enjoyment)

First up, Mr. Number One himself...JACKIE BOY!

Weight: 10.6 lbs, what a chunkster!
Length: 23 inches
Diaper size: Size 1
Clothing size: 0-3, although in Carter's he's in 3 months. Carter's runs smaller than most, which was great for newborn stuff. But he's still a bit small for 3 months, even in Carter's and too big for newborn. He's only in the 10th percentile in weight, so it's no surprise!

Nicknames: The latest have been Jacques, Jacques Cousteau, Bud, Bubsy, Baby Bunch, Turkey

Health: Perfectly healthy! He did great with his 2 month shots...cried a bit but then spent the next two days sleeping it off :) He still spits up, but always has a huge smile when he does, like he's saying "I made that for you, Mom!" 
David and I were a bit worried because his head always seems to want to fall to his right side, and I've read about babies having issues with their neck and head shape if they heavily prefer one side to the other (thanks again Google for freaking me out) But the doctor did some basic tests and said he was totally fine, babies typically prefer one side to the other, just like we do (go figure..they're like real people! ;) So we just have to dangle toys on his left side, and try adjusting him when he sleeps. Luckily, he's the happiest baby around, so it's all been no problemo :)

Sleep: Ok, sleep is good. I need to keep reminding myself of this, because I still wake up between 2-3 times in the middle of the night to feed them (I have to include Clare in this one a bit, because they eat at the same time, so they typically sleep at the same time...phew!) But he falls asleep really easily at night, whether in the crib or in a swing...just depending on how much I had to wake him up (i.e. if he made goo and I really had to wipe that booty) During the day it depends...sometimes he needs lots of snuggles, other times I lay him down and he'll just nod off on his own. His (and Clare's) witching hours are between 7-10pm, when usually they both just want to be held and moved about 

Diet: Milk! Neither him or Clare go longer than 3 hours during the day without eating...sometimes I have to wake both of them up, but Jack never seems to have a problem with it. I don't even have to try to wake him up to eat anymore...he knows what to do haha 
Doc wants me to give them Vitamin D drops, buuuut I'm thinking I'll skip that. 

Milestones: He's great at tummy time, and enjoys it at short intervals. He's been opening and closing his hands on my shirt or skin (ouch), so working on his grasp. The doctor thinks he'll be rolling over any day now, eep :O
Speech: Makes coo sounds pretty often, but likes to make little screech sounds more. 

And now for Little Miss Clare!

Weight: 9.2 lbs. She's in the 4th percentile, the little thing!
Length: 22 inches
Diaper size: Size 1
Clothing size: 0-3 is a bit big on her, but she's a bit big for most newborn stuff. 3 months is way too big, but I stick her in some of that too haha

Nicknames: Little Miss, Sweet Miss, Turkey. I have been calling her Clare Marie a bit, but it's just her full name, so I'm not sure if it counts as a nickname? haha

Health: Perfectly healthy! Did even better than Jack with her shots...barely cried, and then when right to sleep haha. We were expecting the worst from her! 

Sleep: She wakes up to eat a bit more than Jack in the middle of the night, but again...goes right back to sleep after. They definitely know daytime from nighttime now! She has gotten in the habit though of crying hysterically if she's tired at the end of the day. She'll get all frantic when she's eating, start screaming until I rock her for literally 2 minutes and she passes out. A friend told me that she thinks babies need to cry like that sometimes to expel extra energy. I dunno....Clare must have lots of extra energy.

Diet: Milk! Again, never longer than 3 hours without eating during the day and she seems to want to eat more often at night than Jack, but I think it's because she's still so itty bitty

Milestones: She loves being on her tummy, and has awesome neck/head control. When she's doing tummy time, she'll kick her legs like mad, and grab at whatever she's laying on to help her scoot her little body across the floor. It gives me a heart attack...I swear, she's going to be crawling by 4 months :O
Speech: She loves talking. She'll just sit and coo to herself for a good 15 minutes. She also always laughs in her sleep. That girl has to have the funniest dreams :)


Baby Gear Love:
-Swings
-Any and all kinds of baby carriers. I want more! :P
-My Breast Friend pillow, still. Dunno what I'd do without it

Other things of note about month 2: 

This month has definitely been better than the 1st. They know day from night now and have lots of "happy" awake time, rather than just fussy get-me-back-to-sleep awake time. We've also mastered tandem breast feeding, and I know when their heads are more stable, it'll get easier since I won't need to depend on my giant pillow every time (i.e. in the middle of the night when I want to lay back and keep sleeping....)
They like to be rocked a lot, so we've really been loving depending on swings. But usually what happens during the day is one baby is ok to be in a swing, while the other needs to be held. Which is fine, since rocking/holding both is still so tricky.
They both love walks and being outside. We don't really use toys or playmats yet, since they seem totally fascinated by the ceiling fan, our faces and the outdoors. They still don't like their car seats, and typically will cry when we're at any stopping point when driving. Clare will still spit out her pacifier, and then cry because she wants it back. Jack will sort of let it fall out (less purposeful than Clare) and then cry because he wants it back. Silly babes.
They both smile tons, especially when David or I are talking to them. Jack more so than Clare, and Jack is especially smiley when getting his diaper changed. 

I'm getting more used to having people oggle them when we go out, but I've also gotten better about brushing people off when they want to just stand and chat with me about twin crap. Sounds harsh, but since we're still working off of a 3 hour eating window, I ain't got time to hear about your 30 year old friend who's a twin or tell you all the stats about mine! #sorrynotsorry ;)

And if this post couldn't be any longer, baby pics! <3

Jack and Clare: One Month!

We made it! The little Bunch Beans are a month old! (as of 3 days ago...) I shouldn't say "we made it" like it was really terrible, but it really has been the best month of my life. Better than [obviously] all of college, better than my time in DC, better than my time in London, better than Paris, better than my wedding (sorry my sweet love), better than chocolate. Ok, no maybe not better than chocolate. I couldn't have made it through this month without chocolate. Because although it has been DA BEST month ever, it truly has been the hardest. 
David and I have been blessed with really great babes. They aren't fussy...usually if they are crying and they've eaten, been changed, and burped, they just want cuddles. I mean...how can we get mad about that? But I'm still up at all hours of the night since they ate every 2 hours in the beginning (and in the beginning, I was feeding them separately so it was literally like I'd start nursing and by the time I was done with 2nd one, the other would be rearing up to eat again! Tandem feeding is the ONLY saving grace!) and now every 3 hours, and sometimes a blessed 4 hour stretch. So in my sleep deprived state, I've definitely had a meltdown.
A I-can't-handle-this-anymore meltdown. But the funny thing was, that in the middle of my inconsolable crying and thoughts about how I'm pretty sure I've never felt more of a failure or more broken, I was still thinking about how much I love them. Postpartum hormones...this is why they are needed.

Anyway, here are some things I've learned in my short but sweet one month as a parent:

-Parenting with your husband isn't something that just comes naturally. A lot of communication is needed, otherwise expectations turn into fights
-Seeing your husband sing and coo and snuggle with your baby while you hold your other baby is for sure the best part of having twins
-Swaddling is not to be underestimated. We LOVE the Swaddle Pods by Summer Infant. They are a fraction of the price of Woombie (which admittedly we haven't tried) and zip up from the top AND the bottom, which makes middle of the night diaper changes much more bearable for everyone

-Diapers.com is seriously the best website. Free next day shipping for $49 orders is aaaaahmazing
-Always have the new diaper ready to put on that baby bottom! You think they are done making goo but then they shotgun some out
-Spit up is apparently totally normal as long as baby is gaining weight and isn't bothered by the huge stream of milk gushing out of their mouth. 
-At least one daytime nap is necessary for whichever parent is up more at night. The mom. The mom needs the daytime nap.
-Sticking with breastfeeding is SO SO worth it. It's painful and horrible and frustrating. Until it isn't. One day or one night it turns really magical. Because the smiles and cooing and fake giggles all happen right after you nurse, and it's the best feeling knowing you made those happen.
-Walks are awesome
-Baths are awesome

Ok, there's more I'm sure but for now, here's some [ok...a lot] of my favorite pics of my littles :) See if you can tell who is who! It's a game I play in the middle of the night hehe

First headband :) not the biggest fan of them. Me, not her. She didnt care

Hehehe he outgrew preemie size real fast

First bath! Jack loved, Clare not so much. But Jack had just eaten, to be fair.
She loves them now :)

First dress! And our fave Clare face

Ok, I can't remember whose feet these are...

First time I caught both of them smiling on camera

I love her dimples!!!!

This swaddle was a bit too much hahaha

First time they are in the exact same outfit. Jack is a full pound heavier than her here (9/21/14)
When we last weighed them (on 9/19), Jack was 8lbs 3oz and Clare was 7lbs 8oz. Chunky monkeys!!
Or getting there at least ;D