Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Happy 2nd Birthday Alex & Tony!

Oh my big boys are TWO! Time flies when you're having fun!

In the last few months, and even in the last few weeks, they seem to have shed all traces of "babies" and grown into "kids". They are running and climbing everywhere now and are such boys! Their language has exploded in the last few weeks, and while Tony is the talker, Alex (in true Alex fashion) will say things that we didn't know he knew how to say. They've gone from learning "words" to just talking in phrases.


Alex is a fast runner like his daddy. He's got a strong throw, but needs to work on his accuracy (though I'll admit, I'm kind of happy he can't aim too well or his brother might be in trouble with the power he has).  He's a stereotypical first born, which I've always thought was silly when twins were born a minute apart, but nonetheless, he's orderly, and a rule follower (just like his mama). When something is out of place, he'll usually let me know with an "Uh oh!" This comes in rather handy, and has gotten a furry or his brother into trouble on several occasions. He's a big lover and will always give a kiss and a hug or a high five to anyone who asks...and sometimes even without being asked. He's a snuggler and wraps his arms around your neck to give you a hug and then pats you on the back. He's pretty much given up napping consistently and will now play quietly with his toys while Tony, and sometimes mommy, naps. He makes up for it by sleeping all night after going to bed easily and waking up happy. He had a phase of night terrors, but it was probably a result of a growth spurt since he seemed to grow an inch overnight. After being obsessed with Cars, he's now in love with Thomas and all choo choo trains, but still loves Cars. He also enjoys watching me in the kitchen, and since getting a play kitchen for his birthday, has been "cooking" for me often. He loves reading books and identifying things in them. Still "the thinker", he's more quiet than his brother, but doesn't miss a thing! Striker and I see him being the Scholar Athlete in high school...in other words, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. 

Tony, oh my Tony. People often say there is "something about Tony" and they're right. He's a little charmer. He's funny. He plays hard to get. He's opinionated. He's the artsy, musician type. This boy is going to break some hearts! He's very into drawing, coloring, music, dancing, and all of that stuff that can generally be said about lefties...and yes, he does most things left handed. He's also got a very accurate throw, and while he doesn't have the power behind it that his brother does, his daddy is very excited about having an accurately throwing lefty. He loves Cars and trains like his brother, but is recently very in love with Mickey Mouse too. He's a talker...boy does he like to talk! My favorites are when he wakes up, looks at me and says "Hi Mama!", and when either he gets hurt or his brother makes him mad, if you ask him what happened, he gives you a full report...most of it is impossible to understand at this point, but you're sure to catch an "ow" or "bad" in there. It's ADORABLE! He's going through a majorly clingy mama stage right now. I love and hate it at the same time. I love that he's so snuggly and loving. I hate that he wants mama, and only mama, all the time. I'm trying to just enjoy it, because soon enough, he'll be a teenager and think his mom is lame. While Alex loves the play kitchen most (after all things choo choo or cars), Tony loves their Jeep (because it plays rock music and he does his version of rocking out), and the "laptop" that teaches them letters and animals and music (pretty much his three favorite things). They both also love the Magna Doodle and playing pictionary with our terrible drawings...it does make Striker and I happy though when they can tell what our pathetic attempts are supposed to be. 

In an effort to spend some one on one time with each of them, and give them some undivided attention before Jill's upcoming arrival, Striker and Alex will be taking a parent and me introduction to soccer, basketball, and tee-ball class, and Tony and I will be taking a music class next month. We will switch kids and choose different activities for the next round. (For obvious reasons, I'm sitting out the sports class this time...)

#3 - Week 30

Disneyland Hotel Edition

You may notice Jill is riding a little lower this week...she decided to drop the night before the boys birthday party and before our week at Disneyland...you know, so she would be more comfortable. ;)




pregnancy #1, week 30:

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

#3 - Week 29

I'm a day late in posting, but I was in bed and in my jammies before I remembered that it was Tuesday last night...oops!



Had my last OB appointment with my second doctor today and will be meeting the third (and final...I hope) when I go back in 3 weeks. Passed the glucose test! So very happy. My significant eating over Thanksgiving weekend, and 5 pound weight gain in 3 weeks, was not mentioned by either my doctor or I. Ignorance is bliss! I am however once again, slightly anemic. So as if my low blood pressure wasn't enough to cause Striker to hate me, now I'm encouraged to eat more red meat. This also might explain why I've been more tired. I'm going to start taking an iron supplement again...yay.fun. My doctor did talk to me about kick counts...which I just laughed at. 10 kicks in a 2 hour period? Are you kidding me? She does that in under 5 minutes. She has pretty regular active times, and always from 9-10 PM. Should that change, I will be more concerned with actually keeping track of such activities.

And here is pregnancy #1, week 29:

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

#3 - Week 28


I haven't heard anything regarding my glucose test, which I'm interpreting to mean that everything was normal. I'm also not crazy enough to call before Thanksgiving. And I think my appointment is next week sometime anyhow, so we'll just assume all is well unless I hear otherwise. Ignorance is carb loaded bliss. 

The heartburn has started. Yuck! I'm not miserable pregnant yet, nor am I always tired yet. I walked around Disneyland last night at my multiples club's Mom's Night Out and wasn't miserable. I'm in better shape that I thought! Could be all of the lifting and pushing of my boys in their stroller. My doctor and I have been observing a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in regards to my lifting and activity levels. I figure if it's acceptable to continue normal activity without complications, and that one chick could run a marathon while 30-something weeks pregnant, than having cut back on carrying Alex and never carrying them both at the same time should be sufficient.

Here's pregnancy #1, week 28:

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

#3 - Week 27

Here's the traditional belly shot from today:

And for comparison from pregnancy #1, week 27:


And here is proof that I was insane the first time around, and even more so this time, for deciding to do naked belly pics this one and only time at week 27...

Jill:



Alex & Tony:



Observations:
Yep, safe to say that I'm no longer keeping up with belly size from the first time around. Thankfully I won't have to hear "big for one, are you sure it's not twins?" because I thought hearing "small for twins" all the time was annoying...

Yay, I still have a rear end. This makes me happy. :)

Look at all those stretch marks and my appendix scar...I think they're kinda cool...especially since once I am not pregnant anymore and my stomach returns to almost flat, you won't be able to see them anymore. I'm so lucky that my scars fade well.

I decided to go for it and let my twin skin/post c-section skin hang a bit in the side view and not use my jeans to cover it all. I mean it's there. We all have it. Whatever. It makes me laugh that even though the rest of my skin is all nice and tight and firm across the belly, that part continues to hang and sag. I totally get why people want tummy tucks...I'll just never do it. Unless I end up with a c-section with Jill and a doctor that wants to throw in a little "reconstruction"...

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

#3 - Week 26

I had another boring OB appointment this week. I go back in 3 weeks, then I get to start going every two weeks. Got the lab slip for my glucose test on Saturday (yay. fun.can hardly contain my excitement.). I thought that I'd had to fast before, but it turns out that I didn't. I will be super careful to avoid carbs this time since I've totally been slacking on the insulin resistant diet I followed religiously the first time. I do NOT want to have to suffer through the 3 hour test. I'd seriously lose my mind being trapped in the waiting room for 3 hours on a Saturday morning.

Jill is still doing flips and somersaults and cartwheels. So odd because by this point the boys were definitely in their final positions. Jill hung out head down for a day or two and just when I thought she might have settled, she spent the next 2 days ALL OVER the place. She's already kicked me really good a couple of times and has hit a few nerves causing shooting pain.

And of course, here's pregnancy #1, week 26:



I think that just in time for the third trimester, my belly is actually starting to grow more slowly than it did with the boys. Which is good. I do not want an 12 pound baby! Also, I'm starting to get more tired again...Can't believe that we're about 2/3 of the way through.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

#3 - Week 25


Only 2 more weeks until the dreaded 27 week, exposed belly picture. I might be slightly anxious over that milestone. Gulp.

On a positive note, I've realized that while I developed seasonal allergies during my first pregnancy, and then was lucky enough to suffer after I had the boys, Jill has cured me! Everyone has been getting allergy symptoms and I have not had a stuffy or runny nose once. Now, I've probably just jinxed myself, but this would be a lovely bonus!

For comparison, here's pregnancy #1, week 25: