When we found out we were having twins I knew we were going to be spending a lot of money to prepare for the babies. So I spent a lot of time looking for deals on baby items and I got quite a few deals. I was also very fortunate because I was given quite a few hand me down baby items that have come in quite handy, such as one of our swings, the bouncy seat & boppy covers. One thing I made a decision not to buy or register for was mobiles. Everywhere I looked they ranged from 50-60 dollars. I just could not justify spending that much money for something that will only be on their cribs for 6 months and they wouldn't be able to see for the first 2. Yesterday we were at the Gap Clearance Center because Gap has a 30% off coupon for all of their stores and I wanted to get a couple new sweaters in preparation for the fall and winter. If you've never been to the Gap Clearance Center it is pretty nifty. This is the place where all of the returns, defects, overstock, etc for the Gap brands are clearanced out. You have to be cautious about what you buy there because some stuff has holes in it or stains on it but I found some great deals on maternity clothes there when I was pregnant and we've been back a couple times since the girls arrived as well.
When we first arrived I was surprised to see they had their winter coats out already and I immediately looked for some for the girls. I was in luck! They had winter coats and they were $14.99. There were two in the girls sizes so I grabbed them and took them over to Greg to have him give them the once over. They must have been overstock because they were in great condition. Check, one thing off my list. I'd already been thinking about how I had to get them winter coats and where I could get a deal on them. After I shopped around for awhile and picked up a few things we headed back over to the baby section to see if there were any clothes we wanted to pick up for the girls. They start daycare this week and we have to bring 2 back up outfits each for them for accidents. That is half their 3-6 wardrobe!!! While we were over there we saw these mobiles. The boxes were all beat up so we took them out and tested them and they worked. They weren't priced but the original price was $60! So we took them up front and figured we would find out what they cost and decide if we wanted to get them. We got up front and found out they were $20 bucks each. Plus, we had the 30% off coupon so they came out to $14!! Also the coats we got came up at $6.99 instead of $14.99 so they were only $5 after the discount. We brought them home and immediately put the mobiles on their cribs and they LOVE them!! Here are some pictures:
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Sunday, August 29, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Baby & Daddy's First Diaper Change
So after the babies were born they inevitably had to be changed. Since Melissa had just had a c-section I was on deck! The nurse came to the room and was checking on Melissa and the babies and I mentioned to her that Leah had pooped. She said, "Ok, I'll change her this time and you'll watch, and then next time you'll do it on your own." I said ok and watched her change Leah. Any new parent knows that the first couple of poops are filled with what is called meconium which is a thick, black, tar-like substance. The nurse finished changing Leah and left the room. About 2 hours later guess what Leah did again! I called the nurse and she looked at me and said, "Ok, your on your own with this one. I'll watch but you're going to change her." I said ok and started changing Leah. I opened the diaper and she had in fact pooped, as evident by the pile of meconium in her diaper. I proceeded to clean Leah up when it happened, out meconium started to come! I looked at the nurse and she said, "It's ok, just clean it up." I did this and then started to get flustered because Leah continued to poop and poop and poop. I said, "She won't stop, ahhhh!" Melissa and the nurse lost it and laughed uncontrollably. So I can happily say that I have a very good, first diaper changing story to add to my collection of stories to tell.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
So Happy Together
As you may remember the girls shared a bassinet in the hospital and slept well together. However, when we arrived home we didn't have much luck sleeping them together and it was difficult because they need to sleep at an angle and they don't make positioners for twins. As a result the girls have not slept together more than a few times. However, when we moved them to their own cribs we left the pack n play in our bedroom and it has a bassinet they can both sleep in. Often if we have a hard time getting one back down we will put her in the bassinet and leave her in the bedroom so we can get to her quickly if she does not fall right to sleep. We also use it after 5 am because Greg is getting up for work and I'm usually trying to grab an extra 20 minutes of sleep. The past few mornings I've woken up to find both girls in the pack n play and they are usually snuggled up near each other. This is funny since when they sleep in their cribs they don't move. It's as if they can sense the other's presence and they try to get closer!!! Too cute!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
April
One of the questions we are most frequently asked is "how is April doing with the girls?" Overall, she is doing well. While pregnant I read a lot about how to prepare your dog for the impending arrival and one big change we needed to make was to give her less attention. This way when the girls arrived she would not attribute the loss of attention to them and get jealous. We were not very good at this initially mostly because it was just us and her. However, while I was in the hospital on bedrest this changed because Greg was working and spending the evenings with me and I believe it made the transition for all of us easier. I was home on bedrest with her for the month before the girls arrived but I spent most days working on the couch and only took her out at lunchtime so she did not get much additional attention.
She has adapted quite well. During the day she sits next to me as I play with the girls on the floor and still maintains her position in the window watching the world go by. She is still a lunatic when we have guests and ends up in the crate but it's ok because she knows her crate is her safe place and she won't get in trouble there. Usually once the newness of the arrival wears off we can let her out and she will behave. Greg and I cannot wait until the girls are big enough to play with her. We know they will all be great friends.
She has adapted quite well. During the day she sits next to me as I play with the girls on the floor and still maintains her position in the window watching the world go by. She is still a lunatic when we have guests and ends up in the crate but it's ok because she knows her crate is her safe place and she won't get in trouble there. Usually once the newness of the arrival wears off we can let her out and she will behave. Greg and I cannot wait until the girls are big enough to play with her. We know they will all be great friends.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Two Month Update
Both girls -
- You are both smiling now and when you break out those beautiful toothless grins they make my heart melt! These smiles have solidified the fact that you have Daddy wrapped around your fingers. He is so in love with both of you as am I!
- You are both sleeping for longer stretches at night, usually about 4-5 hours at a time. That has made life much more bearable and Mommy and Daddy much less cranky!
- You got to hang out with your uncle Nick for a couple weeks. I don't think he wants babies anytime soon! You were also visited by your aunt Jennifer, cousin Bridget, a friend from mommy's job and her daughter who is only 2 weeks younger than you guys & Mommy's friend Brit-Brit!
- You are really starting to take in your surroundings.
- You love your Baby Einstein play mat. It has a star above it that plays music and you lay under their and smile and laugh.
- You have become such a huge part of our lives that now we can no longer imagine living life without you!
- Weighed 11 lb 7 oz at your two month pedi appointment and were 22 inches long
- You are definitely a morning person. You are very perky in the morning and get cranky as the day goes by!
- You came with Mommy to the grocery store by yourself for the first time! You did really well until the end when you melted down and we bought what we had and went home.
Natalie -
- Weighed 8 lb 15 oz at your two month pedi appointment and were 21 inches long
- You HATE tummy time so much that you managed to roll yourself over twice from your belly to back last week. You haven't done it since!
- You are beginning to really like bathtime and after you have your bath Daddy sits you in the tub indian style and you just take everything in.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
We're Big Girls!
Anyone who knows Melissa and me knows that we have had a couple of rough nights as of late. The girls have been sleeping in our room in a bassinet and Graco Pack 'n Play Playard With Bassinet which has worked out so far but one night Natalie slept 5 hours so we decided to try out their cribs in their room. It has been a couple of days and I must say that it has gone pretty well. They both slept for 5-6 hours last night, much to the delight of mommy and daddy. This weekend I followed up their good nights sleep with having breakfast out on the porch with each of them, one a day.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
World Breastfeeding Week
This week is World Breastfeeding Week. While I only actually breastfed both girls briefly (we had issues latching and when Greg went back to work I had to make a choice for my sanity), I have successfully pumped and given them breast milk for almost two months now. I've said I'm going to quit 3 or 4 or 10 times now but haven't had the heart to do it. I'm able to produce enough milk that the girls only usually have one to two formula bottles a day, which I'm proud of. At this point I'm going to continue until I return to work in three and a half weeks and we will see what happens from there.
Benefits of breastfeeding for babies:
* Because of the protective substances in human milk, breastfed children are less likely to have ear infections, allergies, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, wheezing & meningitis.
* Research also suggests that breastfeeding may help to protect against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
* It is easier for babies to digest.
* It does not need to be prepared.
* It costs nothing to make and is always in supply.
There are also many health benefits for mom because breastfeeding does the following:
* Burns more calories and helps return to prepregnancy weight more quickly.
* Reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and, in premenopausal women, breast cancer.
* Builds bone strength to protect against bone fractures in older age.
* Helps the uterus return to its regular size quickly.
Benefits of breastfeeding for babies:
* Because of the protective substances in human milk, breastfed children are less likely to have ear infections, allergies, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, wheezing & meningitis.
* Research also suggests that breastfeeding may help to protect against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
* It is easier for babies to digest.
* It does not need to be prepared.
* It costs nothing to make and is always in supply.
There are also many health benefits for mom because breastfeeding does the following:
* Burns more calories and helps return to prepregnancy weight more quickly.
* Reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and, in premenopausal women, breast cancer.
* Builds bone strength to protect against bone fractures in older age.
* Helps the uterus return to its regular size quickly.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Moby Wrap
We got a Moby Wrap so we can carry the girls around and do housework. These are a bit harder to use than the standard baby carrier, however, we can bend over with a baby and not feel like she is going to fall out. It is pretty nifty and now Greg knows what it is like to carry a baby on his belly :)
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