Tired Striker

You may have noticed that the boys don't look that much alike...or at least that it's fairly easy to tell them apart. Striker and I have been known to mix up a baby at 2 AM when half asleep. This becomes an issue for the purposes of our nursing/diapering log and general confusion for the other half asleep parent.

Tonight at only 8PM (when we were both wide awake), the following conversation occurred:

Me: Which side for Alex?
Striker: Alex is on the right.
Me: Ok. (Begins nursing)
Striker: (reviewing the log again) oops, I screwed up.
Me: (peering over at the log) Um, Babe? This is Alex, not Tony...did you write that on the wrong side?
Striker: Oh, we're good!
Me: (sigh) (laugh)
Striker: Blog?

At least he knew what was coming :)

Signs You're a New Parent

This may only apply to twin parents, at least in this severity...at least I hope.

Mom: I stink. When did I shower last?
Dad: Not today. I didn't either.
Mom: Hmm, was it yesterday some time?
Dad: Maybe.
Mom: Wait, what was yesterday?
Both (realizing yesterday was growth spurt/day of constant feeding/diapering): Nope!
Mom: Guess it was Saturday. Pretty sure it was at night at least.

This conversation may or may not have transpired between Striker and I while going to sleep at midnight tonight. ;) It probably shouldn't be shared publicly, but this is our life. We love every stinky moment of it. We do make the extra effort to shower before non family visits though...sorry family!

And in case you're wondering...I still haven't painted my toenails since removing the (very old, half worn off/grown out) polish on Christmas Eve. Striker commented then that it was the first time he'd seen my toenails naked in the almost 8 years he's known me.

Update on the boys: they are staying awake longer during the day and recognize Mommy and Daddy's voices. Pretty sure that they are about 7 (Alex) and 6(Tony) lbs each...both are about to move up to the next size in clothes (that'll be 0-3 for Alex and Newborn for Tony). They had a crazy growth spurt Sunday that included 21 diaper changes and 9.5 hours of feeding time. Yes, we're still tracking that stuff and are considering adding our showers to the log as well. We already record our vitamins and medications there ;). Oskar is a very good boy and now snuggles with the boys and worries about them when they cry. He's a good big brother!

First Official Mail

The boys received their first official mail (not counting cards and gifts) - their Social Security cards! Striker is already working on our 2009 taxes. ;)

Merry Christmas Eve!

We were in bed by 9, though Tony wasn't quite ready to sleep. Now that he's finally out (but still in my arms), Alex is starting to wake up. It's Striker's turn to sleep right now. I slept from 9-10.

Motherhood is the most challenging and rewarding thing I've ever done. I would face every single struggle all over again just to hold these little boys in my arms. I love being Alex and Tony's mom!

Bad Patient Service

There are 2 reasons that we'll be changing doctors for the boys. The main one is that I don't feel they are that supportive of breastfeeding and have been too quick to suggest supplementing both boys despite their both growing on pace. They don't ask very many questions which is necessary for proper diagnosis. I'd rather take them to the family practice physician who finally got my Chiari diagnosed.

The other is this note:
To Our Patients:
Please verify with your insurance company if the doctor you will see is under your plan. We don't have enough time to verify your eligibility. If the doctor is not covered, you will be responsible for the full amount.

To quote my mother in law (who works in an urgent care office), "that's their job!"

What A Difference 6 Months Makes!

You may recall about 6 months ago when I was sitting at Robbins Bros getting my wedding ring cleaned and had the revelation that the next time I did that, I'd likely have 2 babies at home. Actually I said with me. Well I took KT's advice and left the boys at home with Striker and their Oma and stopped by Robbins Bros after my doctor's appointment today. (Side note: it was really weird to not be pregnant at my OB's office. First time that I'd been there and not had to visit the restroom before I got weighed. All is well and I go back in 4 weeks...in the meantime I'm allowed to take walks and moderately use the stairs but nothing that counts as exercise.)

I was asked by both my mom and aunt if I missed the boys while I was out by myself. I actually missed the belly more, because I'm not used to taking the boys with me places outside of my body yet. I am used to driving while talking to the belly or playing with Tony when a good song was on the radio. I even drank lemonade (official beverage of making the belly dance) before the appointment out of habit. Of course I missed the boys, but hopefully someone will understand what I'm trying to say here.

Anyhow, I am becoming concerned about a few of the changes that momhood has brought to my life.

Exhibit A: While sitting in Robbins Bros waiting for my rings to come back to me all nice and sparkly, I see a young guy looking for an engagement ring (duh, I was in "the world's biggest engagement ring store") and think about how much my life has changed, that I have 2 little boys now, and that one day they will be engagement ring shopping. I feel a little weepy. I blame the hormones (by the way, how long can I legitimately get away with blaming hormones for unJennlike behavior? Ruth?).

Exhibit B: I'm never early places. Usually right on time or within 10 minutes late. For the 2nd time since officially being a mom I was EARLY today. I've made MANY trips to my OB over the last 6 months. I was 20 minutes early to my appointment today so I had time to go get a Peppermint Mocha (Christmas in a cup) and drink it before my appointment. I shared my concern with the Queen and she assured me that this was to be expected since I was overestimating the time to do everything right now and that at some point I'd stop doing that and return to my "normal" arrival time. Shared thought.

Exhibit C: I stopped at Babies R Us on the way back (which I have visited WAY more times than Target in the last few months...sigh...Exhibit D?) and purchased one of the stupid nursing cover up thingies that I swore I'd never buy. (This is NOT like the changing table issue. This you may mock me for.)It's not wide enough to cover tandem feeding twins, but I bought it with the intention of using it as a pattern to make a twin size version. (And I actually think that I will return it, along with the other items that I've been accumulating to return to various places. They are in bags with their receipts if I have them. If I actually return them, we'll have Exhibit E.) I had a feeling that there wouldn't be a good selection online for twins that were wide enough and long enough to actually cover up. There isn't. I may contact the nice people that make the greatest twin nursing pillow on the planet (also the only one) and see if they'll let me sell them my idea to make a fortune. I also have an idea for including a BlackBerry pocket and burp cloth/drool catcher. :) It's my million dollar idea...maybe I shouldn't have posted it here for the world to see? And yes, I just might try to make one in festive Christmas fabric before Friday...it'll be my prototype. This is Exhibit C not because I'm being crafty, but because I'm potentially creating and selling a mom product. Seriously? Who am I?! Ooh, maybe I can go on Shark Tank?! That chick with the elephant medicine dispenser is making some good dough!

Hmm

Filing this under things that make me go "hmm"...
Way back in the distance, that's a pink flocked tree. More salmon colored actually...YUCK!!