Back home again in Indiana...and now back in MA

Wow...it's been a really long time since I've updated this. Sorry, followers! We had a crazy few weeks of traveling to Indiana, going on a ski trip, and general everyday life! And coming up for the next month, we have Aunt Christine, Mamaw, Grandpa Nemo, and Aunt Amanda visiting!

Liv and Will made their first plane trip a success! Marie and I were very exhausted by the time we made it to Greenfield, but the babies were very well behaved. They adjusted to the new environment very well. They met so many family members (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents) and friends. Such social calendars these babies have! They missed their daddy, though!

They are now just over 5 months old. Will weights ~ 14 lbs, and Live ~12.5 lbs. They had their 4 month check the day before we went to Indiana. Both are doing really well! They are starting to close the gap (slowly) on their prematurity, no longer coming in at 0 percentile, but ~20% for height and 5% for weight. Way to go, babies!

The best news is that they are consistently sleeping through the night. It's been 5-6 weeks now. They go to bed around 8pm, and typically sleep until 6am. It's wonderful! We're trying to work on a nap schedule, with moderate success.

They have both been working hard at strengthening their necks, and I promised them they get big boy / big girl food if they continued to do well...so, we tried rice cereal for the first time yesterday. Didn't go all that well, although Will was a bit more interested in it today. We'll keep trying.

They really "talk" all the time now, as well as smile and even laugh! It's so fun to have that interaction with them.

Misc. pictures below!

Woo hoo!!!!

Each night, they have been sleeping just a little bit longer. Last night, they went to bed around 7:45pm, wide awake, cooing and looking around for quite awhile, and eventually put themselves to sleep. They did not wake up until 6:15am!!! THEY BOTH SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! We're not expecting this to happen every night quite yet, but for now, we will celebrate!

I still have to get up in the night to pump because I get too uncomfortable otherwise, and have a really hard time getting back to sleep. If only I could turn off my brain! Until then, I'm getting about 6.5 hours of sleep at night, and I'll take that!

Back to work

I started back to work last week! It's really weird, working from home with the babies just in the other room, having to ignore them when they cry! I have a very understanding manager, so still able to nurse them during the day, which is nice. They seem to be adjusting just fine... :)

They are down to eating 6 times per day now. They take their bottle around 7 or 7:30pm, and typically in bed around 8pm. They are getting up around 2 or 3am to eat, then back to sleep until 6 or 7am (actually went to 8am this morning!). We're loving this schedule! Now, if we can just eliminate the 2/3am feeding, we'll be in heaven! Will now weighs 12 lbs 4 oz, and Liv weighs in at 10 lb 13.5 oz. Each day, they seem to be a little less fussy and a bit more interactive. It's so much fun when they "talk" to us!

Oma and Papa chatting it up with Will.

Aren't they the cutest babies you've ever seen?!?!

Liv, with her "determined look".

Daddy spending some QT with Will and Liv.

We love bathtime!

Sleep!

I think it's happening. Everyone please knock on wood. They are getting closer to sleeping through the night. We're down to getting up only once in the night. It might take awhile to get rid of that one, but it's much better than the 3 times per night we used to have! It took a couple of weeks of trying a new schedule with them, and it seems to be working. I go to bed early and take the early morning feedings, and Brent stays up later to do a bottle late night and then can sleep in a bit. I'm so thankful for Brent doing that late feeding...I'm finally sleeping, and feeling like a human again!

They are down to eating 7 times per day, although I think it might move to 6 very soon because they are not seeming as hungry for the next feeding as they used to. Will is now up to 11 lb 8 oz, and Liv is 10 lb 3.5 oz.

Will is starting to spend a few minutes a day in his bumbo seat. Early Intervention said he was big enough to start short sessions to strengthen his neck. Liv still has a little growing to do, but she'll get there!

They are both cooing and smiling just a little more each day. I still feel like a lot of the day is about preventing/calming a fussy baby, but that's getting less and less all the time. It feels like they should be further along by now, but I have to keep reminding myself that even though they are 3.5 months old, they're really just about 5.5 weeks adjusted age.

Marie can handle it all!

First walk of 2010!

3 month update

Will is now 11 lb 2 oz, and Liv is 9 lb 13.5 oz. She has not been eating as well as she used to, but I think she's starting to get a bit back to normal. Will is just destined to be a defensive tackle, I think. They turned 3 months old on Jan 6th, but just 4.5 weeks adjusted age.

They are just starting to smile and coo. It's not a regular thing yet, but we are so excited when it happens. I think in a couple more weeks, it should be the norm. It's so fun to see this, rather than just fussing all the time! Remember, with the adjusted age thing, I've been dealing with newborns for a lot longer than most people do, so it's seemed like an eternity to get to this point.

The au pair, Marie, started January 1st. She's adjusting to US living, and doing really well with Liv and Will. I feel confident they will be in good hands when I return to work, which is coming up quick...Jan 25th! I will be working from home, so it will be a nice transition. I'm not sure how I'll do it after a night of little or no sleep, but millions of people manage it...I'm sure I can too!

We'll be heading to Indiana for half of February...very excited about this! I'm lucky to be able to work from anywhere, and I'll be bringing Marie with us to watch the babes during the day. For those of you out that way...looking forward to seeing you all and for Liv and Will to meet you!

Will in a milk coma!

The dogs think they should do tummy time with Liv.

Christmas is over :(

We had the best week with my family in town! It was so wonderful! I can't thank them enough for all the help with calming crying babies, feeding, burping, diaper changes, help around the house...the list goes on. I'm incredibly sad to see them leave today! Papaw (Melissa's step-father) had amazing calming abilities for Liv. Amanda and Christine (Melissa's sisters) were complete naturals with them - they will both be wonderful mothers someday. Amanda's boyfriend Justin was a huge help with various projects around the house. We missed our brother Matt and his wife Maggie - wish they could have been here too!

Liv and Will are 12 weeks old now. They are really growing! Will is 9 lb 12.5 oz, and Liv is 9 lb 1.5 oz. They are both becoming much more aware of their surroundings, especially Liv...you can talk to her for a long time with her listening quite intently. She especially like listening to Mamaw (Melissa's mom). Will is proving to be a bit of an easier baby, but time will tell, I'm sure.

Bathtime...Will decided I needed to get a little wet too.

Liv and Will enjoying the quilts made by their Mamaw Edwards.

Is she adorable or what?

How many chins do you have Will?

Christmas is near...

Liv and Will are 10 weeks old now. They are past their due date, so I've told them in no uncertain terms that they have no preemie excuses anymore...time to think about sleeping longer at night! I'm not asking for all night, just waking up once instead of 2 or 3 would be a great Christmas gift. I'm not going to hold my breath though. :)

We no longer have the nurses coming to the house, as they do not qualify for continued home care since they are doing so well! That's a good thing, but I miss having them weighed and checked so frequently. We went for the 2 month pediatrician visit last Friday, which went very well...he said they were perfect, which I already knew. At that time, Liv was 7 lbs 13 oz, and Will was 8 lbs 3 oz. They seem to be gaining about 1.5 oz per day, so I'm sure they are well on their way to 9 lbs by now!

They are really starting to act like newborns now. It's pretty amazing how it just switches. They are really focusing on our faces, especially when I'm feeding them, and make the cutest faces! I love this one from this morning...it's just like me and Brent in the mornings. I wake up happy, and Brent takes awhile to get going.

We've started doing tummy time and getting them to focus on small toys. Early Intervention officially starts Friday, so they will be getting their "training" on strengthening their necks and tracking objects. Fun!

My family arrives next week to visit for awhile over Christmas...we're so excited to have them here! Brent and I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas (we probably won't post again until after)!

Love to all!