21st Century mummy

I ain't gonna knock what works, but I do have to wince/laugh every time I look at Roman in his Swaddle Me blanket.



It's nice because he can't easily wiggle himself out of it. It has 2 Velcro straps that securely fasten. Yeah, kind of a baby strait jacket. And I say can't easily wiggle himself out because both Mom and Dad have found Roman with appendages coming out. When he's done with it, he's done with it. But the first several nights he slept all the way thru the night, not a peep to be heard. The last few nights he's woken up at 3 and Mom has made the pacifier trip a few times. Then I broke down and brought him to bed to cradle in my arms. I just wanted some sleep! And I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it a bit. kiss kiss. my little boy!

On an unrelated note I'm curious to see how that light streak of hair (I think that's what it is, I'm not sure) develops on the front of his head. You can see it on the black and white photo above, and in a bunch of other pictures we've posted here. I always think of my grade school music teacher who had dark curly hair and a white streak in about the same spot. She was born with it that way. I'm not convinced Roman's stripe will amount to anything or remain, but I do notice it...

Half a sandwich.

TGIF

What's important in life?

Family. (no matter the differences, they know you like no one else)
Friends. (family that you get to pick!)
Love. (it's the comfort to your ills)
Help. Support. (accept it when offered, offer it when it's needed)
Truth. Honesty (be honest with yourself, speak your truth, don't hide)

Sleep :)



It's not about stuff.

Although your dad and I may differ on that last point. He wants that new flat panel tv SO bad...Now I think we're both using the "it'll get all the electronics off the floor and out of R & Z's reach" excuse... Well you gotta have some stuff, but really what does it really mean in the end?

What I really want to do is build good memories for you guys. I often think about taking you to the Como Zoo because my family went their when I was little. I think about taking your picture at the Conservatory at Como Park. Same reason - my family had pictures taken there and I've seen my dad's family's pictures taken there. Tradition. We'll create our own too. I can't wait.

p.s. Happy Birthday Uncle Dave!

Polka Dot Princess

Pretty Polka Dot Princess


Pampered on plush pink....


A Petite Pout


Pooped!

4 months = joy + lessons

Someday she'll figure out she doesn't have to put most of her hand over her face to suck her thumb. Last night Dad went in and you had the thumb in the mouth but the hand over your eyes. Frankly I find this kind of charming, the lack of dexterity. At least for now.

You two are changing so fast now. You're definitely more interactive.

Yesterday I was trying to remember as much as I could about the day you two were born. It's not that long ago but it feels like an eternity. I remember walking into the hospital from the ramp, it was cloudy outside. It didn't seem real that you were going to be born that day. Even then, with a big belly highlighting your existence, it was hard to imagine you two. Now it's hard to imagine our life without you! You've brought so much joy and so many lessons about what's important in life.

We love you, Roman and Zoe, so much!

Just saying hello

and enjoying the view of the aminals.



I just read Roman a couple of books- a Monkey Among Us and Do Your Ears Hang Low (thanks aunt Shannon for the latter) and he actually started yawning. I put him in the crib and he just gave a few little cries. Then eyes shut. A new bedtime routine.


I love books. I love kids books. I worked in the Stillwater public library for 2 years when I was going to college and my favorite part was going thru the kids collection. I've got a few books that I purchased over the years because they were favorites, but I look forward to adding to the collection. The bargain hunter in me says to check the thrift shops and garage sales, but there's a few that I'll have to get fresh off the book store shelf...Plenty of time for that though! I might need to get a part time job at the bookstore to fund the book fund!

Zoe had her pre-requisiste crabbiness because she's tired and then fell asleep. One day she'll figure out she can just go to sleep, she doesn't need to be fussy about it. I can't believe how much she's sleeping though. I woke her up twice this past weekend just before 9. Last night she slept thru until 7:45 this morning. 12 hours! I didn't hear how she napped, but I'll find out tomorrow. It's my day home with the kids.
Ms Zoe is still sleeping in Dad's arms out in the living room. I asked him if he wanted me to put her in her crib. "No. I'm fine". Nothing wrong with holding a sleeping baby.

He sleeps!

Two nights in a row- Roman slept thru the night (well a few pacifier trips to the crib- plug 'em in..). The secret (again): swaddling.

Face off

We've got to make sure we're getting tummy time in, and here are the twins enjoying (for the moment) a little tummy time. Our doctor strongly suggested continuing to stretch Roman's neck by turning his head to the right and holding down his left shoulder. Even though his movement is more free he still prefers to look to the right and she could tell his neck muscles were still tight. She said a physical therapist would love to work with us but realized that might be difficult, so she said STRETCH THAT NECK!

Today's Theme: Feet

Roman got the full on photo shoot in the outfit that's not going to fit for much longer. I thought it might be a contrast to the last time he wore it, in early December.


Roman's new (everything's new on this little guy!) toes.
Daddy likes to make fun of your toes. Daddy likes to make fun of mama's toes. Well here, dear Roman, I proudly display your cute little dexterous toes.




Grandma Candy has provided us with shoes so far. The shoes that went with the Christmas outfits no longer fit! :(

We decided to venture out to Ikea and figured wearing a real outfit (not just a one piece pajama type outfit) was in order. A real outfit deserves shoes. Grandma Candy to the rescue. She brought over two pairs of matching tennis shoes a week or so ago.
We're on to the next size, a 2.
So here they are...

Zoe's new pink tennis shoes

Turn the other cheek...

Mom keeps thinking she's got to get a good shot of your little cheeks, Zoe. This is one good angle, but I'm not sure it does justice to them in person!

Quality Time with Dad

As much as Mom and Dad enjoy you two when you're awake, there's really nothing sweeter than you two asleep! You look so completely peaceful.
(except for the small squint below caused by the camera's red eye flash!)

Dad's dinner is ready but he doesn't want to move. You two are just way too comfortable!

The big weigh in - 4 months today!

We were off bright and early to the doctor's office for the twins 4 month check up.
The Grandmas Candy and Jane, Dad and I all put in guesses as to your weight. We all guessed Zoe weighed more than Roman, some of us by more than a pound.



Miss Zoe wasn't too happy with the scale and started crying as soon as she was placed on it. She's starting young with that! Roman looks on, not with eager anticipation.



Zoe, 14lbs 2 oz. That's it? We all suspected more. Mom guessed the closest, but I was still high at 14lbs 8.


Roman, a big surprise at 14lbs 1 oz. We all figured he'd be a good half pound or more behind his sister. But sure enough once again he's right there with his sister.
Who was closest in our little wager? Mom. I guessed 14lb 1 for Roman (only off by an ounce! No, wait dead on..) and 14lbs 8 for Zoe. Not too bad and it was a total stab in the dark!

4 months old!

Today's the day we get weighed, measured, poked and prodded.

Mom's been looking forward to the first two items for many weeks. Full report to follow...

Fountains of Youth

Achievement: Drool, and lots of it. In the last couple of weeks both Z & R have begun producing massive amounts of drool. Yeah, I know, it's gross. Even the word is gross. But it's something new and I think it has something to do with teeth (I'm too lazy to verify that). I think Zoe's hand sucking is tied into this too.

It's especially apparent at tummy time when they get to the point of being tired and frustrated and have their face to the floor or mat. I keep thinking they'll figure out that all they have to do is turn their head and rest it on the floor, but they don't seem to figure that out, even when I help them do it. Instead back to nose down position and a nice little pool of drool on the vinyl padded mat. Oh boy.

Feats, don't fail me now

Achievement: Little Miss Zoe is getting pretty darn good at putting her weight on her legs when we hold her up. I didn't really realize this was an achievement, but it is. Brother R.W. can't do it, I've tried.

Every time I'm holding her up though I think of how out of proportion her feet seem to the rest of her body. Such tiny feet for such chunky legs! Very, very cute though. Daddy's not making fun of her feet yet, although he's making fun of Roman's ("you've got mommy's toes...the claw"). Mean daddy. I'll let him elaborate on that one, although I don't know why I bring it up. ;)

Grandma K

Thanks for Grandma K!
A.k.a. G-Maw, Maw (to Daddy), Candy....I'll let daddy fill in any other nicknames I don't know about!

Grandma Candy had a hectic Christmas season (as always!) at work. In January she started to schedule her days off so that she could watch you one day a week. We're not too sure who's enjoying it more- you two or her!

Your mom is super thankful for Grandma Candy. She loves you, she dotes on you and she likes to tell Mom and Dad about the day she spent with you. It's fun to come home and hear about your day. She gets a kick out of you two and it comes across in her stories.

She brings you clothes all the time. She brought mom and dad several bags of easy to prepare dinners when you were just a month or two old. We could barely see straight, so it was a gesture appreciated by us both!

Thank you Grandma Candy!

On a related note, I have the feeling you'll be spoiled rotten by her!

A hand for Roman & Zoe please

The other day I pulled out a book - What to Expect in the First Year. Every time I do I tell myself I really shouldn't be reading it because Zo & Ro going to do what they're going to do when they do it. When they're ready. It's too easy to overreact if they aren't "measuring up", even though they are preemies and time based milestones get thrown out the window. But still I think we want to compare. Instead I say let us be blissfully unaware and rejoice in the triumphs as they happen.

I did however read about a couple of things that I really never thought about as achievements - but EVERYTHING is. It's really an amazing way we come into the world.

Achievement: Putting their hands together. I've notice Roman doing that, often when he sleeps, tiny hands clasped together. No, I guess he didn't do that a month ago, did he? They are both more aware of their hands but I don't think they realize yet that they belong to them. They don't sit and stare at them yet, but they are beginning to grasp items. I showed R how to swat at one of the musical toys in his crib and he kept on doing it. That day he also enjoyed the rattles on his little booties. That was pretty fun to see the little legs kicking away.

Sunday I tried to get Zoe to interact with her playmat toys. She's not too interested yet. But she will sit and study my face and smile, laugh or scrunch her nose when I try to get a reaction. She's also very interested in observing the world. Let me see what's going on mama!

A very curious girl indeed.

It's time to play some music..

Oh joyous ones.
Just got done giving both a bath, then feeding Zoe a bottle. She was a bit cranky before the bath and I thought it might cheer her up. They both like to splash! splash! splash! and kick! kick! kick! in their little tub. It's funny. They both slouch the same way and hang their right leg over the edge. So I keep pouring warm water over them and dunking their foot. Gotta keep warm.

I also sang to her - the Muppet Show theme. She liked that. Mom got a lot of grins from Zoe. We've been watching dvds of the Muppet Show. Several years ago I bought Daddy the Time-Life series for Christmas. He had asked for the Mark Hamill episode (imagine that- Star Wars!) and I figured we might as well have the set. Of course now Daddy wants to fill out the collection with the actual series collection...but that's another discussion for Mom & Dad! I digress...back to you two. After he got them he talked about watching them with our kids some day. The day is getting closer and we both are looking forward to it! In the meantime we watch in wonder. It's still a good show, although there are some things they couldn't get away with today (a smoking puppet?).

Sing along, won't you?


[Kermit] It's the Muppet Show with our Very Special Guest Star, ... (Zoe & Roman! yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!)

It's time to play the music
It's time to light the lights
t's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight.

It's time to put on makeup
It's time to dress up right
It's time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight.

Why do we always come here
I guess we'll never know
It's like a kind of torture
To have to watch the show

And now let's get things started
Why don't you get things started
It's time to get things started
On the most sensational inspirational celebrational Muppetational
This is what we call the Muppet Show!

(Gonzo blows his trumpet)

Almost 4 months

Another adventurous day - a family trip out to Target to check out the clearance clothes for next winter. And a stop at Kohls and Old Navy - just mom going in to see if there were any deals. Dad kept you company in the car. Lots and lots of 0-6 months and less bigger stuff. Again with the making mama sad because you'll be out of these clothes before we know it. Newborn clothes are just too darn cute.

I also keep thinking going to the store is a good opportunity for you two to experience a change of scenery, but Roman is asleep 99.99% of the time and Zoe 95.02% (Yeah, I calculated it. Okay, no, I did not ;) ). One of these days you'll be wide awake and pulling stuff into the cart or announcing your presence to the whole store I am sure. Mama treasures these serene trips :)

Although truly I can't wait until you're not lulled to sleep by the car or cart ride and the warm comfort of your winter clothes and car seat.

Rolling, Rolling Roman

This isn't exactly the way I want it, but you know what? It's good enough. I could spend hours working on getting a video exactly the way I want it, but I ain't got the time!

Tonight I had this song in my head. I asked daddy, "you don't have the Blues Brothers soundtrack, do you?". He does. After some digging in the basement, I found it. YEE HAW.

Behold!
Rolling, Rolling Roman (with a little Zoe thrown in for good measure). This would be the extended version (there is no short one..not yet at least).

:)

More smiling.
Mama never gets tired of it.

Not so little baby

It's sinking in. In the last few weeks I've had the opportunity to go shopping a few times. I always go check out what's on clearance for baby. What's on clearance more often than not seems to be 0-3 months.
0-3 months doesn't fit anymore. That makes me a little sad. My babies are getting big! Babies getting big -that makes me happy, especially since when we brought you home from the hospital it was a such a struggle. Wake you every 3 hours and try to keep you awake for the entire bottle. I pleaded with you "you have to eat this honey so you can get big and strong". I saw a preemie outfit on clearance this weekend at the MOA. It made me sigh a bit. You won't be the itty bitty babies anymore, and it's a surprise that I'm going to miss it. Very frequently I walk around thinking about how having you is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Or come from me.

Your smiles and giggles make all my worries and tiredness go away.



When I got pregnant with you two there was so much to anticipate. So much that I didn't know, so much I thought I should know. I was the baby of the family, with no younger cousins and no younger kids in the neighborhood. Until, SURPRISE!, a new baby brother when I was 13 1/2. So I had the chance to see a baby grow up. Today my baby brother is 23(happy birthday Uncle Andy!) From that time I remembered bits and pieces, and not a lot about newborns. I remember the day Andy came home and then I remember him crawling and beginning to walk. There's a lot in between there.

When you first came home you were so fragile, it was almost kind of scary. But after a few days or weeks (it's a blur and will only get to be more of one as time goes on!) both Daddy and Mommy became more comfortable. Which brings me to today. No more itty bitty baby clothes. And this only a MINOR transition in the collection of transitions you will have. But I thought I'd let you know how surprised I am at all of this. At how I'll miss you being little bitty babies. But that I'm enjoying it to the fullest now so that I'll have no regret. (except of course now daddy is cuddling with the fidgety Roman, and I should be there...)

At any rate... A few photos from the last week or so. Zoe after a bath, above. And Zoe's hand. She's doing a good job of gaining weight and we get a kick out of her little wrist, mainly because her hand and lower arm have ample padding surrounding it.



You two are getting good at the tummy time - heads up high.



Roman is becoming a master at flipping over, at least a few times before he gets tired. Zoe's only done it the one time that I've seen. I have a feeling she'll just amaze us at one point with her skill and not look back (pictures above and below are from tonight - note the "padded" forehead as well).



Next week is the 4 month checkup. I can't wait to see where they are weight and size-wise, and how they compare.

MOA for Ro and Zo!!!

Well yesterday(Saturday January 10th 2009) was a big milestone!!! Roman and Zoe's first trip to the Mall of America!!! Grandma K and Mommy and Daddy took Roman and Zoe with the twin stroller for the first time. It was quite the production, I tell you. But it twas fun none the less. Going into stores with twins is as close to being a famous celebrity as we'll ever get. Everyone comes and talks to you and the kids, its kinda fun. Well anyways, we did the quick run through, and the twins were loving it. Especially when we were moving. When the stroller stopped, they would get a little fussy, and when the stroller got going again, they were all happy! I guess they like the vibrations like the car. We have a CD with kids jazz songs, and one of the lyrics has a kid saying "Where's the Music?" It was kinda like that. As the stroller stopped, they would be like,"Why did we stop? Lets keep this train going!!!"

Next big trip like this will be to IKEA (that used to be Mommy's favorite store, till they finally put one here in Big Time Minneapolis, now she doesnt like going there as much. Even though the escalator there is the only one we kiss each other on. I will have to divulge that story in a new segment, Mommy and Daddy's History)

Roman, almost 16 weeks

Zoe, almost 16 weeks