Archive for the ‘Posted by Bekki’ Category
“I Claim This Mouth in the Name of Incisor”
Ok, ok, I know. I said they were teething, like, I don’t know, two months ago. And still no teeth. However, two days ago, one broke ground in Andy’s mouth. And when I say “broke ground,” that’s exactly what I mean. There’s like a little crevasse that feels wicked sharp when you rub his gums, but I can’t see an actual tooth. That may have more to do with the fact that the boys love to stick their tongues out, and looking at their lower gums is pretty much impossible. I hope that little tooth pops out soon, because hell hath no fury like a teething infant. Or two.
Also, we have a long list of things the boys love:
1) Food. Most food. Especially foods mixed together (like peaches and avocado)
2) Toys that make noise. Especially the Oball Rattle. They fight over that one. Full on tug of war, if you can believe it
3) Feet. Their own feet in particular, but brother’s feet work almost as well. Feet that have little animals on them are most appealing. See Also: Pulling socks off feet
4) Drooling. Well, I assume they like it because they do it constantly. We’re talking 4 bibs a day, and that doesn’t include the sheet changes at nap time
5) Pulling mom’s hair
6) Drooling in mom’s hair, or if she’s not careful, drooling in mom’s eye
7) Flying. See above
8) Rowing a boat, gently and in a stream. They don’t go very far, but it’s a good workout
9) Party in My Tummy (Watch at your own risk. The boys haven’t actually seen this, but they love the song. Banana wants to go to the party in their tummies, but not so much applesauce).
10) Looking wildly around for something to stick in their mouth, but then acting surprised that it’s there
As you can see, 6 month olds are complex and misunderstood creatures. Or something.
4488 Hours Old
We had our 6 month appointment today (a week late, but whatever). Babies are in fine shape and hitting all of their milestones right on time. Shots were fast and only elicited a 10 second cry. We gave them a little Tylenol before leaving, so between the fact they’re drugged and the appointment was right when they should have been napping, they are now totally conked out.
Stats:
Andy–17 lbs 15 oz (50-75%) and 26.75 inches (50-75%) and incidentally has one of the roundest heads the doctor has ever seen. His head size is 45 cm (75-90%)
Will–19 lbs 4.5 oz (75-90%) and 27.5 inches (75-90%). Head size is 45.2 cm (75-90%)
Adam asked if they were eating a lot and developed a pig nose, if that meant they had caught the swine flu. The doctor laughed. But it sounds like the general population has lost it’s mind, and the the doctor says they’ve been just overrun with freaked out parents, and the hospital keeps sending emails to the various offices, pleading them to NOT send any more patients to the emergency room. I’m constantly reminded how much the 24 news stations are possibly ruining this country.
…And One Fell Out
No, no worries. No falling around here. It’s from a nursery rhyme that I was desperately trying to remember the words too, because what kind of stupid nursery rhyme would it be if the only words were:
There were ten in a bed and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
Except those ARE the only words. Well, I mean you keep repeating until you get down to one. I felt better that actually remembered the right ones, but again…what a stupid song. It makes no sense. Ten whats?
Anyway, a couple of “milestones,” one actually related. Andy is now a rolling machine and as of yesterday can roll from back to front as well as front to back. He looks quite proud of himself whilst doing it too. He hasn’t actually linked rolls together, but once he figures out he can move around doing that, I’m sure we’ll be in heaps of trouble.
Will is becoming a pro at the sippy cup. He can hold it and drink, for at least a minute or two, all on his own. Andy hasn’t had as much practice, as the sippy cup is the fun toy Will plays with while Andy takes his sweet time finishing his bottle.
Both are also sitting up, pretty much unassisted for short periods. If I put them on the changing pad (which has inclined edges), they both can sit and play with toys for a couple of minutes. The floor is a tad harder, because they sort of list to one side and then fall over. Until they get tired, and all they want to do is kick out, which sends them flying backwards. They’ve been testing my reflexes!
Their 6 month appointment is on Friday, so I’m looking forward to hearing the stats. I may have to be buying some pricey car seats sooner that I had hoped.
Nostalgia
I took the boys to Babies R Us yesterday to pick up some things, namely diapers (Sorry Planet Earth, not such a good Earth Day present…). We walked thorough the clothing area on the way to check out, and walked right past the display of premie clothes. I did a double take as we passed by.
There is just no way, no way at all that these two boys ever fit into those little, tiny pajamas. And not only fit into them, actually swam in them, to the point where I questioned if the tag was even accurate. These two moose sized children who sit up and roll over and eat squash, that they were once so tiny, they fit in doll clothes, it makes my heart hurt a little. They were too small for their car seats and we had to prop them up with a probably unsafe number of hospital blankets. And now, they are dangerously close to needing big boy car seats—the ones that fit up to 65 pounds.
I was looking through the pictures from their first two weeks. I scarcely recognized them. They look so small, so fragile. Their faces seemed so, I don’t know, gaunt. Their skin looks thin and their fingers so tiny. And yet, they’re in there. I look closely, and it is their eyes, their noses, their little dimples. You can see what they have now become, they just needed to fill in, to stretch out.
But that scares me, because I look at them now, and I cannot see 6 more months down the road. It is totally beyond my imagination to think of them waving…..standing……talking. I know that little boys are hiding in these baby boys. I’m just having a hard time letting go of what they are now.
Mommy Abuse
We had a one piece PJ that was green, had a dino on it and said “Little Stompers.” For the past couple of weeks, this is our new nickname for Will. The kid kicks like crazy. It started in his crib. We had put them to bed and were sitting on the couch, when there was a huge thumping noise that literally shook the whole house. I thought something had fallen off a shelf or something, but it turns out it was just Will putting his feet up in the air and then slamming them down as hard as he could. Now it’s turned into more like a bicycle kick, one leg at a time. And when he really gets going, it looks like he’s dancing. Hopefully we’ll get video soon, because it’s hilarious.
We’ve had some just gorgeous weather here since Friday (although it’s turning to crap this afternoon), so I busted out a pair of shorts yesterday. It was kind of weird, I have like 3-5 little quarter size bruises on the inside of my ankle. What a weird place to get bruises?
Until I realized this morning that when I play with the kids on the play mat, or getting them lotioned up/dressed after a bath, the inside of my ankle is right in the strike path of Will’s little feet. And funny enough, the bruises aren’t actually the size of quarters, they’re the size of a 5.5 month old’s heels. I must be more careful around that one.
In other news, we attempted a visit to the zoo on Monday. Yeah….nice weather+spring break=100’s of people in line to get in. So, we bailed and hung out at Cathy’s house. Her kids were so very entertaining to the boys, especially when 2 year old Joey kept trying to give them things like a giant plastic carrot or a sippy cup. It was so cute, but I think he was kind of confused why Will and Andy weren’t very grateful.
Products
I’m not sure what kind of boys we’re raising around here. All I know is they use way more skin care products than I do! Of course, they don’t really have control over that, and frankly, they’re not huge fans of getting lotion rubbed on their face, but it’s a total necessity. Their skin thanks me.
Run down of the daily stuff:
1) Aquaphor–They get coated in it at least twice a day. It is a greasy mess, but it works. I think. I hope so, or else I’m washing a lot of sheets for no good reason.
2) Hydrocortisone cream–Will gets this 2-3 times a day in the trouble spots (arms, legs and scalp), Andy only gets it on his scalp
3) A&D ointment–This is diaper rash stuff. Dry skin=sensitive skin. Not fun.
4) Calendula Cream–Newest (and I’ll mention $$$) product. Smells very spa like, and so far seems to be helping the scalp in particular. NOT a greasy mess, so win there.
Other stuff:
1) Cetaphil–Good cleanser for sensitive skin, and actually helps moisturize if you don’t rinse it off. Which is a GREAT call when you’re giving two babies a bath at the same time. Face and necks get this every day, the rest a couple times a week.
2) Lanolin–When they get chapped lips, this stuff is wonderful. Does not smell good, and it’s super sticky, which means I’m glad it’s not an every day product.
3) Aveda Eczema wash–Once a week, to make a bubble bath.
I guess all I can be thankful for is they’re not old enough for Axe body spray. That might just put me over the edge.
Daily Funny
Short, but hilarious.
After the afternoon meal, Andy was sitting up in the Boppy (it was resting against the couch arm). Will was sitting on my lap facing Andy. Will was looking around the room, not really focusing on anything. Poor Andy would do a little 1/2 smile every time Will looked at him. I could tell that Andy was trying to make “contact,” but Will was having none of it.
Suddenly, Will burped. Andy just about jumped out of his skin and then started hysterically crying.
Poor kid, I was laughing so hard, Adam came running out of his office. And then he started laughing. Andy was so upset, it took forever to calm him down. Ah, kids. Scared for life. Forget college, we better start saving for therapy!
Swedish Meatballs
I struggle with what to do with the boys between their afternoon and evening feedings (roughly 3 pm and 6:15 pm). They need a small catnap, but they won’t do it in their cribs. The bouncy seats have lost all of their appeal, so sleep is a no go there. I’ve been trying to use that time for errands or walks, because the kidlets sleep a bit in the car or the stroller* and I get things done.
Yesterday we took a BIG trip down to Ikea. We’re on the brink of starting solids, and Ikea has a ton of cheap, plastic bowls and plates perfect for the babies. Plus it’s huge and indoors, big pluses in the rainy Pacific Northwest. Trip was good with a couple of exceptions–
1) I’m SO smart, I knew exactly where the baby goods were. Right in the Marketplace, so I don’t have to wander though acres of “Showrooms.” I can take the shortcuts, and get what I need. Until 20 minutes of searching go by and I finally ask where to find the stuff…..Oh, it’s in the Showrooms? Where I KNEW it wasn’t. And now I have to fight my way upstream with a double stroller on crowded Saturday? Epic Win there.
2) And due to the aforementioned detour, Will pretty much had had it up to here with being out an about as we made our way back through the Marketplace (items in hand thank goodness) to try and find the checkout. And so he was one loud, unhappy child working through the maze that is Ikea.
3) Although he quieted down after some stroller swivels, the line at the cafe was kind of long, and I wasn’t about to chance it. No Swedish snacks for me.
In spite of the harder parts, we did get what we needed AND MORE! Finger puppets, anyone? The cuteness abounds. And we got a ton of “Oh, cute, twins” comments. One mom said I was brave. I think I’m just stupid.
* And we have a new, ginormous stroller. I give you The Bob (not the one I took to Ikea, since long and narrow is far easier to deal with in stores. This baby is for off-roading!)
Splish Splash
One of the more annoying things about bathtime, well, the only annoying thing really, is figuring out what to do with the other one not being bathed. Nothing really holds their attention long enough, and even Baby Einstein isn’t always enough of a draw. Cranky babies are not easily entertained.
So, today, I tried to bathe them together. And it worked! Total win! Procedure as follows:
-Start the space heater to get the bathroom super warm
-Lay down towels on the floor
-Lay a towel in the bathtub
-Fill the tub with a couple inches of warmish water
-Babies go in side by side
-Washing commences
-A good rinse with the handheld shower head, as the tub is draining
-Babies are whisked out and wrapped in towels
-A good coating of Aquaphor, diapers and PJs and we’re done
Will loved it because he’s totally into kicking his legs right now, and I think he liked the splashing. Andy was a little more reserved (I think he’s suspicious by nature), but was smiling by the end. And I was super happy that it cut bathtime down by half. Because of this, I think we can finally use baths as part of the bedtime routine. The doctor suggested a daily water only bath, followed by loads of lotion would be good for their skin, but it was SO much work, I couldn’t bear to do it. Now, I think it’s possible.
The downside? The heavy, wet towel. What the heck am I supposed to do with that? I need to find some other sort of soft liner for the tub. Hopefully something that doesn’t absorb so much water–or at least is easier to dry. Maybe a giant ShamWow?
Boogeyman
Apparently we’re raising the sort of boys who relish in horror movies and haunted houses. Their favorite game is something I call (because I’m so clever and witty) “I’m Coming To Get You!”
It involves them laying on their play mat, or on a blanket, and me standing over them. As I bend down, getting closer and closer, I repeat, in an increasingly excited and high pitched voice, “I’m coming to get you!” When I get close enough, I tickle them and laugh.
This NEVER fails to get them smiling. In fact, they get these cute wide-eyed smiles as soon as I start bending down. As I get closer, their little hands start waving around. And when I get to the tickle? They start rolling around and snorting like it’s the funniest thing in the world.
But today…..today, Andy laughed. An honest to goodness laugh. It was awesome. And then Will laughed, complete with a snort (Although it was with Adam playing the game), and it was doubly awesome.
Next thing you’ll know, they’ll be checking out the Killer Zombies Part 4 DVD, heading to the downstairs living room with sodas and chips and laughing their butts off at the poor cheerleader being chased through the woods. “Ha Ha, you bet they’re coming to get you!”