Trying to get the perfect picture: A Photo Essay

For Valentines I wanted to get a cute shot of Max & Kate to send to my mom. Photographing two 5 month olds can prove problematic. They don't always look at the same time, they aren't impressed with my antics and there's a lot of slouching going on. Here is Max & Kate's take:

"Aw man, here she goes again. We just did a bunch of shots on the leather chair."


K: "Well, at least we get to be outside now, so here's a smile for ya mom!"


"A change of position but we're still not impressed."


K: "Just deadpan it Max, maybe she will give up."


K: "What! Still more?!"
M: "I have better things to do."


"Maybe if we both say something she'll get the hint."


K:"Ugh. That didn't work either."
M: "Seriously, look at her go, all that wasted energy on goofy faces, it's rather disturbing actually."


K: "Max, I am putting a stop to this! I will not take no for an answer!"


361 frames later, turns out the best shot was one of the first ones we took, best light, best skin tones, best everything. Go figure. Get used to it kids.

For the Record

February 17th, 2010
Jammies and nurse at 6:30pm.
Bottle of freezer milk at 9:30pm.
Not a peep until 2:30AM!!
Diapers and nurse until 3AM.
Wake at 6:15AM, diapers, nurse and play.
7:20AM first morning nap and out by 7:25AM.
Two happy babies and one very happy momma!

The night before this blessed event I was up every 2.5 hours to feed them and I was trashed. Seriously kids? You cannot possibly be that hungry! And I don't necessarily think they were. They would nurse actively for a few minutes and then get slower and slower as they dozed and suckled occasionally. I would try to pull away and they would then start up again. I suspect comfort nursing and that morning I told Phil I think it was time for a bit of crying it out to at least extend the feeds or even drop one.

This was a long time coming. I kept hoping and praying and adhering to a routine in hopes that they would sleep longer on their own. Every other baby seemed to be doing that and here I was feeding every 3 hours 24-7. I kept telling myself they were too little, if they were up to feed then they must need it, right? They may be 5 months old but really they are 3 months old... And on and on I would rationalize with myself and Phil when he would tell me to let them cry. I didn't think I would get to that point, it seems so sad. But enough sleep deprivation will get you there!

Happy to report that there was not one bit of crying last night. I am not naive enough to think this is the end of long nights or the beginning of bliss from here on out. But I am hoping this is the beginning of a trend and slowly easing our way to longer stretches of sleep at night for all of us.

Now they slept peacefully last night and I on the other hand was awake at 1am, 1:06am, 1:13am and so forth just waiting for them to get up since I am so used to it. Also my chest was waiting for them to get up too! Kate had one single shriek/scream at 2am and I was so happy! By the time I made it down the hall she had found her thumb and was back to sleep. Dang. I was actually disappointed and had to make myself walk away from the crib and get back in bed so I wouldn't pick them up for a dream feed. I even toyed with the idea of pumping since I am so paranoid about my supply. But I didn't and not a half hour later Max was fussing and I was happy with them sleeping from 7pm to 2:30am. Their dream feed bottle I am still counting as sleep since they were sleeping really and we were just about to turn in so it was good timing.

Max is now a member of the thumb club. He finds it and calms right down. We have ditched the boppys for about 2 weeks now. They sleep on their tummies, we don't rock to drowsy anymore, just swaddle, kisses and down to bed. They really don't protest, minor fussing as they get settled but they are asleep in under 5 minutes. Heaven! They were getting too big for me to rock together and it was taking longer for them to settle. I never thought the day would come when I could just put my kids in bed awake and walk away.



Max is the more mobile one, scooting his little self all around. I place them pretty far apart and they usually end up like this, bunched up together. I don't necessarily think it is a twin thing, just that Kate is his road block. Cute nonetheless.

Happy Valentines Day!

5 months old
still keep their mother up at night with room service requests every 3 hours
learning to sit
have found their voices (especially Kate who occasionally likes to shriek!)
love their hands
starting to discover each other
practically perfect in every way



Rare photo with Mom! Taken after I hunted down Phil and demanded a picture with my babes. Need to do this more often...

4 Months and Cruising!

Oh My! Where does the time fly? My babies are growing and growing. We are excited to see each new milestone, be on the receiving end of heart melting smiles and get to interact more with the kids. But at the same time I am sad that my babies aren't so little anymore! Silly but true.

Max & Kate had their 4 month check-up middle of January and at that time their stats were:

Max:

Height- 23.75 inches long (10% but 60% adjusted age)
Weight- 11 pounds (3% but 45% adjusted age)

Kate:

Height-22.75 inches long (8% but 50% adjusted age)
Weight- 9 pounds 7 ounces (less than 3% but 25% adjusted)

Seriously, the cutest kids EVER!

Today a nurse came out to our home for their 4 month follow-up. She came when they were 2 months old (their due date) and comes to assess their development. Today was our last visit since they are where they need to be according to the test such as grabbing toys, making eye contact, cooing, smiling, etc. She also weighed them. Good grief my kids are just growing! In just 3 weeks Kate has put on 1 pound! She is now 10 pounds 6.5 ounces. And here I was worried about her not eating enough since she doesn't nurse as long and eat as much as Max. I need to stop worrying. Max also gained almost 1 pound and he is now 11 pounds 14 ounces.

Nurse Joan told us to ditch the bouncers and instead put them in regular old cardboard boxes to help them work on sitting up and developing new skills. So here are our box babies. They are learning so fast. They can grab toys, hold on to them if placed in their hands and they love to eat their hands.



I need to be better about tummy time. It is hard when Max spits up all the time and Kate just downright hates it. We got in 5 minutes today during one playtime and even that had to be broken up in 2 increments. We will slowly work up to the target 40 minutes. Max is definitely stronger and will last longer and hold his head higher than Kate.



Things to remember at this age:

Max



Oh dear child. You are so scrumptious! I love your soft full cheeks and kiss them endlessly. You are still our relaxed child and are such a good boy, only fussing usually when you need to burp/spit up or just need some snuggles.

You still spit up. All the time. All over me, yourself and whatever surface you may be next too. But we deal. And do a lot of laundry and I don't get dressed in anything nice. You can soak your clothes and your bib after one feeding.

You are busting out of some of your newborn clothes and sadly I am starting to pack them away. I put you in a 3 month outfit and it fit! Gah! Quit growing! Your big belly is also starting to bust out of your diapers and it is probably time to move up to size 2.

You talk when you want to and love to interact with your dad and I. You have a game with your dad of sticking out your tongue in response to him sticking his tongue out at you. It is quite adorable and you get so excited about it that you spit up. All that leg kicking! Here is a blurry shot of you in action. Gosh, can you get any cuter? I think not.

Sleepwise we are still hit or miss with you. Last night you went 5 hours! Woohoo! Granted I was still up with Kate so it wasn't restful for me but progress is progress. Well done. Can you do it again? And again?



Kate

Ms. Personality! Kate you are gorgeous and so dainty. I love that about you. I love your firm little apple cheeks and your big blue eyes. Every morning when I unswaddle you you stretch your little body, throwing your arms over your head and extending your legs, like a starfish, you arch your back and flash your dimples. What a good morning welcome!



You consistently melt your daddy and we all fall under your powers. Who wouldn't under this sweet gaze?

We have pacifier issues. I say we, because you clearly love it and I frankly am getting quite tired of getting up multiple times in the night to insert it for you. You have a piercing cry that escalates the longer it goes on, but once you get what you want all is well in your world. Sigh. I know it is going to be rough when we take away your beloved friend to help all of us sleep better. I have tried but don't have the heart or the energy to deny it to you at night.

Perhaps offering a compromise you found your thumb. You are not consistent and your coordination is still lacking but you have been happy when you get it just right. I am not sure how I feel about it. I'll admit there are times I have taken it our and popped your paci in so as not to encourage it (the dental hygienist in me!).



You are a ham! So fun right now. We can get talking back and forth, you cooing away and offering the biggest grins. Many times I can't make eye contact with you while nursing since you stop, flirt with your eyes and smile while on the breast thus coming off. Occasionally you won't go back on, so I try not to engage you until you are finished.



I love your rubber band wrists, your squishy inner thighs that get bigger all the time, how your hair is starting to grow in and random long strands stick up. It is starting to resemble a dandelion, so precious.

You are both so loved. I stand by your crib at night and my heart just swells and tears come so easily as the love overflows.



(Don't be fooled, we are still using the boppy to prop each of them up, it keeps them nestled and secure though Max is strong enough to turn himself onto his back if on his side and then he gets stuck with his head over the pillow. And he certainly does not like that! This was a trial nap without them and needless to say we went back to them as arms were flailing around and they were waking each other up. We will try again later.)