Four times two

The kids turned four last Sunday and we had a nice long weekend in the city (so much good food), save Marielle struggling with a cold.  She fell asleep at our Santa brunch, poor thing, but it was our fourth visit with the big man, so no big deal.

 

We took them to the pediatrician for their annual visit and all is good.  There were lots of shots (their last for years), and Mari decided to get her ears pierced, even though she'd previously been very set on waiting until she turned five (like I did).  She's going to be blowing a lot of my benchmarks out of the water I think. 

 

Dr. Dan said Alistair has "generous tonsils", so while he doesn't seem to be having issues, we'll be taking him to see a pediatric ENT to see if he is.

 

They are each 36 pounds (just above average for their age, though not for their height) and almost identical in height (according to their measure, though I think he has a slightly bigger jump on her which you can see when they stand together).  He is officially 42.5" and she is 42.25", both in the 90+ %ile (their first time since 15 mos.)

She passed out early birthday evening, so Alistair got to celebrate solo with his Sprinkles cupcake.  My sweet little man.

Smiling through tears, our girl's new bling.

Feeling much better the day after

Cupcake time!

She's decided she wants to grow out her hair and now with her earrings, it seems like she's added more than a year.  Time flies!

Merry Christmas!

Turning Three

The kids had an amazing birthday week (plus) between their schools celebrating the holidays, their birthdays, and then we spent a long weekend in the city.  They are really just getting so big.  It seems like a long three (four, six) years, but when you think about it...  They are already a sixth of the way to college and though I will likely return to work, already halfway to not being ours full time.



Making organic sugar snowflake cookies

(thanks Honest Company for the mix and cutter!)

Preschool party #17

Celebrating at home the night before THREE!

Balloon Love!

 

Not everyone gets their b-day gifts under the tree, but we do!

 

 Celebrating the third anni of their arrival (at 5:06 and 5:07pm) at The Rainforest Café.

My goofy girl...

We took the kids to the pedi for their now annual check-up while we were in the city.  Everything is A-OK and they've added the requisite couple inches (pushing 40!) and pounds (now 30+, finally!) since we were there last. 

They've been in 4T clothes for months, so it didn't surprise me that they are actually climbing in the height percentiles (now 91% for A and 87% for M).  Their weights are also on a pretty consistent curve at 45% for him and 44% for her (that's up slightly for her, now if we could just pork him up a bit).  Their BMIs are both at 14 (which is 2% for him and 5% for her).  They are totally my little clones...  Happy Birthday kiddos!! :)

Two and a Half Years

The kids' half birthday was last Friday, but we just went to the pedi today, hence the tardy update.  They are both rocking and rolling skinny giants (3% BMIs for them both), and have each added exactly an inch and a half in height and nearly four pounds since our last visit in December.  While they are officially "underweight" (less than 5 BMI %ile), the pedi is unconcerned since they are healthy eaters and children overall, and we are both tall and thin.

They are both talking (and singing, counting, spelling) like mad, she's telling elaborate stories, and are in the midst of the twos and their challenges.  She is very mature for her age and knows what she wants and he is mostly having trouble with transitions (leaving somewhere he is having fun, etc.).  She is eagerly potty training and he is just starting to get excited about it now.  They are loving camp and swimming and playing outside (when it's not raining).

They have been awesome sleepers from the get go, but the last few weeks have been like infant redux, so we are all still recovering.  I'm not sure the cause, since milestones and teething (they have all their two yrs already, and a great dentist report as of this week) have never phased them.  They loved seeing their auntie Jennie and we had a nice albeit brief little getaway.  Counting down until our next trip together...

Alistair
30 months: 29.2 lbs., 37.25", head: 50.75cm. (45th & 83rd %ile, resp.)
24 months: 25 lbs. 6 ozs., 35.75", head: 50 cm.
18 months: 23 lbs. 12 ozs., 33.5", head: 49.25 cm.
15 months: 21 lbs. 12 ozs., 32.75", head: 48.5 cm.
12 months: 20 lbs. 10 ozs., 31"
Nine months: 19 lbs. 5 ozs., 29 1/2", head: 46.1 cm.
Six months: 16 lbs. 15.5 ozs, 27 3/4", head: 44.7 cm.
Four months: 14 lbs., 25", head: 42.2 cm.
Two months: 10 lbs. 2 ozs., 22 1/2", head: 39.5 cm.
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 9 ozs.
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 15 ozs. (he surpasses her for the 1st time)
One week: 5 lbs. 6 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 2 ozs.
Birth @ 36w4d (breech/IUGR?): 5 lbs. 7 ozs. (5%), 18.25" (10%)

Marielle
30 months: 27.4 lbs., 37", head: 49.25cm. (33rd & 85th %ile, resp.)
24 months: 24 lbs. 12 ozs., 35.5", head: 49 cm.
18 months: 22 lbs. 2 ozs., 33", head: 49 cm.
15 months: 20 lbs. 1 oz., 32", head: 49 cm.
12 months: 18 lbs. 8 ozs., 29 1/2"
Nine months: 16 lbs. 11 ozs., 28", head: 44.9 cm.
Six months: 14 lbs. 10 ozs.,26 1/4", head: 43 cm.
Four months: 12 lbs. 7 ozs., 24 1/2", head: 41.2 cm.
Two months: 9 lbs. 9 ozs., 21 3/4", head: 38.7 cm.
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 7 ozs. (finally surpasses BW)
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 12 ozs.
One week: 5 lbs. 7 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 3 ozs. (unexplained 14% weight loss, day one)
Birth @ 36w4d: 6 lbs. 1 oz., 19" (25%)

On their half birthday, at the market/town pond watching the brand new baby ducks

There was one family with six babies and this one w/nine (head spinning)

 

Nap + dinner = horns

 

My big girl enjoying a picnic lunch and concert at Ravinia

 

Getting serious about her grilled corn

 

Their new favorite thing...

And mine...

PB market in cool Emerson stripes

 

Happy Summer!

The Twins are Two Years Old

Merry Christmas!!  Hope you are having a restful holiday.

The twins turned two on the 20th, and we spent the day celebrating at home, then visiting the pedi and having lunch out in the city, and driving up to WI (nearly seven hours) to see the fam, and then celebrating with all of them. It was a good long busy day.

The advantage to having their birthday during Christmas week is not buying them less than if they weren't near each other (of course), it is just buying a bunch of presents at once and then choosing a handful for their birthday. Terribly creative, I know. They were a hit too. Mari's favorite is her first "baby", a doll that I chose since I thought it looked a lot like her with brown hair/eyes, though she is "supposed" to look Hispanic.  Alistair loves everything, my easy going boy, especially his shape sorter (which always seems to be on the Spanish setting).

Our pedi visit was uneventful (no issues, no shots) especially since everyone is walking and talking since our last well child visit six months ago. They have both changed so much in the last few months, which is why we decided it was time for them to go to school. We also had their hearing checked recently and it seems they just ignore me on purpose. They are both just hairs shy of 3' tall (OMG) and they weigh what seems like a lot, though it is only about 25 lbs. Their heights (and heads) are in the 90th percentiles, and their weights are 30-40%, which puts them in the 5th %ile relative to each other.

They eat a lot (and very well), especially Mari, and are still on whole milk (since they don't have a weight issue, which is what gets littles on low fat), since the fat is good for their brain development and calcium absorption. So they must have inherited whatever metabolic issue I can claim as one of my key life advantages.

The complete two year rundown:

Alistair
24 months: 25 lbs. 6 ozs., 35.75", head: 50 cm.
18 months: 23 lbs. 12 ozs., 33.5", head: 49.25 cm.
15 months: 21 lbs. 12 ozs., 32.75", head: 48.5 cm.
12 months: 20 lbs. 10 ozs., 31"
Nine months: 19 lbs. 5 ozs., 29 1/2", head: 46.1 cm.
Six months: 16 lbs. 15.5 ozs, 27 3/4", head: 44.7 cm.
Four months: 14 lbs., 25", head: 42.2 cm.
Two months: 10 lbs. 2 ozs., 22 1/2", head: 39.5 cm.
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 9 ozs.
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 15 ozs. (he surpasses her for the 1st time)
One week: 5 lbs. 6 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 2 ozs.
Birth @ 36w4d (breech/IUGR?): 5 lbs. 7 ozs. (5%), 18.25" (10%)

Marielle
24 months: 24 lbs. 12 ozs., 35.5", head: 49 cm.
18 months: 22 lbs. 2 ozs., 33", head: 49 cm.
15 months: 20 lbs. 1 oz., 32", head: 49 cm.
12 months: 18 lbs. 8 ozs., 29 1/2"
Nine months: 16 lbs. 11 ozs., 28", head: 44.9 cm.
Six months: 14 lbs. 10 ozs.,26 1/4", head: 43 cm.
Four months: 12 lbs. 7 ozs., 24 1/2", head: 41.2 cm.
Two months: 9 lbs. 9 ozs., 21 3/4", head: 38.7 cm.
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 7 ozs. (finally surpasses BW)
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 12 ozs.
One week: 5 lbs. 7 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 3 ozs. (unexplained 14% weight loss, day one)
Birth @ 36w4d: 6 lbs. 1 oz., 19" (25%)

So no big party like last year, thank goodness, it'll be awhile before we go back there (kicking and screaming).  Big parties for little kids are for adults (as we know), so I decided not to go there with all we had going on this season and instead focused on what they do like: balloons, cupcakes, and their cousins.

I got them big gold "2" balloons  (among others) from Party City, and since they are learning their numbers and how to talk, they can say "two" and it is the cutest.

I made cupcakes from a mix (the horror) from Whole Foods, which was AMAZING.  It is called European Gourmet Bakery mix and we had both the vanilla and chocolate (cake and frosting).  Again AMAZING.  And organic (cuz I'm a freak like that).  Add organic eggs, milk and butter and enjoy.

Decorations (which amounted to cupcake liners (big and mini) and décor (picks and pinwheels)) from Meri Meri (like last year) from Sur la Table in Toot Sweet, which is the most adorable design.

They are really expert gift openers now and had so much fun celebrating turning two (and Christmas) with their cousins.  Happy Birthday kiddos!!

*The kids' shirts are from Old Navy



18 months (& 500th post)

The kids are 18 months old as of Thursday, and it is finally Summer (officially). Yay!

We went to the pediatrician for their check-up on Saturday and all is well, though he suggested getting some physical therapy exercises from an orthopaedist to help try to speed up Alistair's walking progress (while he is aggressively pulling up, climbing and cruising, he is not yet walking independently).  They are both in the exact same percentiles for height and weight for their gender, which is kind of wild.  85% for height and 44% for weight, which is a little bit of a leveling off from their more recent extremes.

Alistair
18 months: 23 lbs. 12 ozs., 33.5", head: 49.25 cm.
15 months: 21 lbs. 12 ozs., 32.75", head: 48.5 cm.
12 months: 20 lbs. 10 ozs., 31"
Nine months: 19 lbs. 5 ozs., 29 1/2", head: 46.1 cm.
Six months: 16 lbs. 15.5 ozs, 27 3/4", head: 44.7 cm.
Four months: 14 lbs., 25", head: 42.2 cm.
Two months: 10 lbs. 2 ozs., 22 1/2", head: 39.5 cm
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 9 ozs.
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 15 ozs. (he surpasses her for the 1st time)
One week: 5 lbs. 6 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 2 ozs.
Birth @ 36w4d (breech/IUGR?): 5 lbs. 7 ozs. (5%), 18.25" (10%)

Marielle
18 months: 22 lbs. 2 ozs., 33", head: 49 cm.
15 months: 20 lbs. 1 oz., 32", head: 49 cm.
12 months: 18 lbs. 8 ozs., 29 1/2"
Nine months: 16 lbs. 11 ozs., 28", head: 44.9 cm.
Six months: 14 lbs. 10 ozs.,26 1/4", head: 43 cm.
Four months: 12 lbs. 7 ozs., 24 1/2", head: 41.2 cm.
Two months: 9 lbs. 9 ozs., 21 3/4", head: 38.7 cm.
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 7 ozs. (finally surpasses BW)
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 12 ozs.
One week: 5 lbs. 7 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 3 ozs. (unexplained 14% weight loss, day one)
Birth @ 36w4d: 6 lbs. 1 oz., 19" (25%)

I lost the post that I had put together for my update, so that'll be it for now.  Happy Summer to you! (and don't forget to check out the super moon, biggest/brightest of the year, tonight!)

12 month stats and Chicago at Christmas

The kids had their twelve month check up today, so we made the trip in to their pedi's new office, well the temporary one as his other floor is being built out.

Nice view, huh?

(minus the mediocre iphone pics)

Dr. Weissbluth (the Junior) just started his own practice and since we like him and we've been seeing him since the twins were in the hospital, we made the move with him.  I think he's a bit younger than us and single (how I have no idea) which he randomly mentioned today after asking us how we met.  Must think of someone to set him up with. 

He's gone all digital, so we no longer get the little slip with the kids' stats like at the old practice, which we didn't realize until after the appt., though we went through all of it together.  Their growth curves are very consistent, weights are still in the ~35th percentiles and heads in the 85th.  I think her height was about 65%.  He is crazy long, up to the 95%ile now, making me wonder if he'd be even taller had he not been so disadvantaged in utero, resulting in his disproportionately tiny size at birth.

Alistair:
12 months: 20 lbs. 10 ozs., 31"
Nine months: 19 lbs. 5 ozs., 29 1/2", head: 46.1 cm.
Six months: 16 lbs. 15.5 ozs, 27 3/4", head: 44.7 cm.
Four months: 14 lbs., 25", head: 42.2 cm.
Two months: 10 lbs. 2 ozs., 22 1/2", head: 39.5 cm
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 9 ozs.
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 15 ozs. (he surpasses her for the 1st time)
One week: 5 lbs. 6 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 2 ozs.
Birth @ 36w4d (breech/IUGR?): 5 lbs. 7 ozs. (5%), 18.25" (10%)

Marielle:
12 months: 18 lbs. 8 ozs., 29 1/2"
Nine months: 16 lbs. 11 ozs., 28", head: 44.9 cm.
Six months: 14 lbs. 10 ozs.,26 1/4", head: 43 cm.
Four months: 12 lbs. 7 ozs., 24 1/2", head: 41.2 cm.
Two months: 9 lbs. 9 ozs., 21 3/4", head: 38.7 cm.
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 7 ozs. (finally surpasses BW)
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 12 ozs.
One week: 5 lbs. 7 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 3 ozs. (unexplained 14% weight loss, day one)
Birth @ 36w4d: 6 lbs. 1 ozs., 19" (25%)

They did pretty well with their shots, thankfully, and we followed it up with a great lunch at Iberico (the best Tapas in the city), and a quick visit from Santa as we passed by The Peninsula to get mommy some of the best hot chocolate anywhere outside of France.

He gave them each Santa bears from his bag, which is funny because we got "paged" walking down Michigan Avenue last week, so they already had one Santa bear and one Peninsula Mini Cooper.

 

I have no idea why I posed in front of their foo dog.  I think foo dogs are super creepy, but they are an Asian chain, so I guess it makes sense they have them out front.

 

A little more Chicago for you...

A wreathed lion at the Art Institute

 

Love this city...

Nine months old

The kids turned nine months old on Thursday, and for the first time we didn't make their Dr. appt. for their birthday, since even back in June DH had the foresight to make it a four day weekend for us.

They are both rocking up on their knees as of a week ago, though he more enthusiastically, so our lives are about to change and soon.  Both are taking to finger foods like champs, and are complete omnivores so far.

Alistair is up to 19 lbs. and 5 ozs. (25-50%) and is 29 1/2" long (90%), and his head is 46.1 cm (75%).  He is still up 6-0 on his sister in the tooth race and he is delighting everyone with his completely random bouts of giggles.

Marielle is up to 16 lbs. and 11 ozs. (25%) and is 28" long (75%) and her head is 44.9 cm (75%).  Her favorite activities include spinning herself around/doing tummy donuts on the bare floor, doing what appear to be advanced yoga poses and clapping.

They continue to be on all breastmilk (plus solids) for now, so their weights will likely remain on the low end as to grow taller, as breastfed babies tend to have a lighter weight curve than formula fed babies.

They got their first flu shot today and will get the second of the series in three months.  They also got hemoglobin/iron tests (normal) and lead exposure (TBD, but hopefully negative)

They still sleep about 11 hours at night, ~7p-6a, (and have for the last five months or so) and about another three more cumulatively during the day in now two 1-2 hour naps.  They (almost always) love their schedule, which we take pretty seriously, since it keeps them very happy.  If we were deciding our family size based on these two, we'd have another ten.  Though I don't think I could love anyone more.

 I'm not a big fan of hair bows, but I do adore her in it (and she seems to like it too)

Kicking back in his big boy chair 

 Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!
Thanks for bringing us along, now we are going to eat your tapas (and they did!) 

 Calm between cries

Pumping some Boppy iron
 

My younger sister came to visit us from NYC over Labor Day weekend, so my next older sister and all the cousins came down to visit too. 

The "strap chewers" watching the big kids play at the playground...

You know what is a bigger freak show gets more stares than twins in a double stroller?  Twins plus four under five in a quad stroller.  We were quite a sight at the zoo and the mall and the pool...  Happy first weekend of autumn! 

Six months old!

I simply can't believe the twins are halfway to one, but here we are.  (sniff, sniff...)  I've been wishing them bigger for months now and now they are like little people rather than babies.  It is kind of fun how major milestones with them fall on the season changes, they ushered in winter and now it is finally summer.

This morning before their shots got the best of them

We had their check-up today and Alistair is up to 16 lbs. and 15 (and a half!) ozs (let's just call it 17, shall we?).  He is 27 3/4" long and his head is 44.7 cm.  His weight is still in the 50th %ile, but his height is now in the 90th.

Where we've been:
Four months: 14 lbs.,  25", head:  42.2 cm.
Two months: 10 lbs. 2 ozs., 22 1/2", head: 39.5 cm
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 9 ozs.
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 15 ozs. (he surpasses her for the 1st time)
One week: 5 lbs. 6 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 2 ozs.
Birth @ 36w4d (breech): 5 lbs. 7 ozs. (5%), 18.25" (10%)

Marielle is up to 14 lbs. and 10 ozs.  She is 26 1/4" long and her head is 43 cm.  She is in the 50-75% range, except her weight is still 25%ile.

Four months: 12 lbs. 7 ozs., 24 1/2", head: 41.2 cm
Two months: 9 lbs. 9 ozs., 21 3/4", head: 38.7 cm
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 7 ozs. (finally surpasses BW)
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 12 ozs.
One week: 5 lbs. 7 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 3 ozs. (unexplained 14% weight loss, day one) (<5%)
Birth @ 36w4d: 6 lbs. 1 ozs., 19"

My how far they've come...

What else is new?

Alistair is teething.  His two lowers are just beginning to emerge, so he is not as happy as usual.  I feel so bad for him, poor little guy.

We all survived MIL returning to India and then DH traveling there and back in ten days for his brother's wedding.  It is not nearly as bad as I thought it might be on my own.  I was exhausted, but that is just SOP with multiples.

Thankfully we upgraded to convertible car seats before our road trips last week, after he shed too many tears on the previous two, and it solved the problem.  They sleep like angels in them, so clearly I should have moved them sooner even though their seats were rated to 30/30.  I didn't have any trouble selling our old ones and the DSNG, thank goodness.  We got Britax Boulevards which thankfully also fit next to each other in my car, while still leaving a little room for me when DH drives.

The kids are rolling fools, but really love to sit (and stand!), though they still need some help to stay upright.

They are out of all of their six months clothes and on to (and he through) nine, which is crazy...

They seem to enjoy most of what I try to feed them, though they had a hard time with mangoes.  Someone will need tell them at some point that they are half Indian and mangoes are not optional... ;)  We are just trying all the stage one organic foods from Ella's Kitchen, Happy Baby, and Plum to see what they like.  The Dr. told us we should start feeding them twice a day and can even have them try things like yogurt, cottage cheese and water now.

We have moved them each to their own rooms and have moved the extra bed out of his, so they are sleeping on their own and we are back in ours (w/our two monitors). :)

Their hair is growing like mad.  She is all curls, which I'm not sure what to do with, so I just let them loose.  She's has her whole life to tame them.  He still looks like he is vying for the Jim Carrey role in the sequel to Dumb and Dumber (one of my all time faves), though DH is always trying to brush it to the side.  Oh and he also has this noise down pat, so he's got it for sure...

We attempted to take some pics yesterday, with varying levels of success...  He rarely takes his hands out of his mouth and she is tough to get to smile for the camera.  They usually dish up the shot I wanted, the minute I put down my camera.

Giggle fits...

Four month well baby

We took the kids in for their four month check-up last Friday. Everything was great and our pediatrician is very happy with their growth. The rough guideline is to double birth weight by four months, which the twins exceeded, he by several pounds. They are more in line with where they would have been had they gestated those extra three weeks.

Alistair is up to 14 pounds and measured 25 inches in length. His head is 42.2 cm in circumference.
Two months: 10 lbs. 2 ozs., 22 1/2", head: 39.5 cm
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 9 ozs.
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 15 ozs. (he surpasses her for the 1st time)
One week: 5 lbs. 6 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 2 ozs.
Birth @ 36w4d (breech): 5 lbs. 7 ozs., 18.25"

Marielle is up to 12 pounds and 7 ounces and measures 24 1/2 inches. Her head is 41.2 cm around.
Two months: 9 lbs. 9 ozs., 21 3/4", head: 38.7 cm
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 7 ozs. (finally surpasses BW)
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 12 ozs.
One week: 5 lbs. 7 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 3 ozs. (unexplained 14% weight loss, day one)
Birth @ 36w4d: 6 lbs. 1 ozs., 19"

All are in the 50th percentile range, save her weight and head, which are closer to 25th and 75th, respectively.

They are not yet rolling, but move a lot by scooting, and the pedi is not concerned. We also got the green light to start introducing solids, which should be entertaining, and we plan to do this in the coming week.

We spent the weekend in WI for my niece's baptism and the twins were a huge hit. It was great to have the extended family finally get to meet them, as only my mom, dad, and step-mom have been down since they were born, as I was trying to minimize their exposure during the winter. It was also their first road trip, which went pretty well especially considering they had just gotten their shots. He really doesn't like being in his car seat for extended periods of time, but we managed to limit our stops and keep them relatively content. It took us six hours each way, when we could make it alone in 4 1/2 before, which is about what I figured it would take. Besides worrying about how they would do, I was also concerned about the logistics of our trip. Knowing that their sleep and feeding "schedule" would be upset, I was apprehensive about taking our admittedly complicated feeding regime (pumping, bottle feeding, and formula supplementing) on the road. It worked out fine, though I ended spending more time managing this than actually visiting with family.

My dad lent us his Thule car top carrier, which will be nice for future trips. We'll need the extra room to bring any of our large double strollers, as the back of the SUV fills up quickly with two pack and plays and all the other stuff we now require. Good thing we don't have a dog... ;)

Baby Power!  (how/why he sleeps like this, I have no idea, but it's too cute...)

And speaking of cute...

Two month well baby/nine weeks old (on Mardi Gras!)

After going to the pediatrician at one, two, and three weeks old (when Mari finally surpassed her birth weight), it's been quite awhile now since we've been to see Dr. Dan (son of Marc Weissbluth (of the Healthy Sleep, Happy Baby books), they share a practice with six other MDs) in the city.  It was a great visit, and the kids both checked out "perfect" (his words, not mine).

Alistair is up to 10 lbs. and 2 ozs. and is 22 1/2 inches long.  His head measures 39.5 cm.
Marielle is up to 9 lbs. and 9 ozs. and is 21 3/4 inches long.  Her head measures 38.7 cm.

Nearly all measures are 25-50 percentiles, though they are not adjusted for their birth at 36 1/2 weeks gestation (so they are really closer to one month babies than two) which makes a big difference in their size now, but as time goes by will obviously become increasingly less so.  And as he reminded us today, none of these are indicative of their likely adult size.  That is more likely to be driven by ours.  They have nearly doubled their weights since their release from the hospital on Dec. 24th, when he was 5-2 and she was 5-3, so we are very happy with their growth. :)

They also received all their immunization rounds for two months: Hep B (#2), DTaP, Hib, Polio, Pneumococcal, and Rotavirus.  This practice of one of the first (and now one of many) which does not allow children who do not follow the recommended immunization schedule of the AAP (which is based here) and the CDC in their practice, which continues to stir some controversy apparently.  I didn't realize this when we chose them, though I'm a huge proponent of vaccines, as we just picked them off a list of recommended practices from our OB, as we were not able to interview pediatricians as we planned due to my bed rest. 

They did very well with their immunizations, and fortunately their appointment fell at a feeding time, so we were able to feed them out of the initial pain, get them down and enjoy a nice lunch at the sushi place in the building.  We are set now until their four month in April, hopefully.

They've done a great job meeting their "milestones", smiling, cooing, head control, tracking movements, etc.  They are now sleeping up to 5-6 hours in stretches at night, though I am still not sleeping more than a few hours at a time.  Dr. Dan wants us to get them on a "bedtime" (between 6 and 8pm) to set things up for when they start sleeping through the night and organizing their daytime sleep into naps in the coming weeks and months.

I have to applaud the amount of postpartum depression screening they do now (at the hospital, OB, Pedi, my insurance pg mgmt program, seemingly everywhere), but it is almost comical for me (not that there is anything funny about PPD) as beside some very early nights when I would sit in the nursery holding them and cry at the thought of our good fortune of being entrusted with these amazing little people, I have honestly never been more content than in the last two months.

Since the twins are getting mostly breastmilk, now that they are two months old, we are to start giving them vitamin D supplements, which we will start this week.  Alistair's hip ultrasound that we had done at six weeks came back normal, thank goodness.  They are now officially out of their newborn clothes an on to their three months as of this week. 

Now that we have ordered and received the twins' birth certificates and social security numbers, we have set off on getting them established as real people in the world.  They now have 529s in their names, rather than just in mine, bank accounts for all those gifts, and we will get them passports soon.  I think we may end up going to India for their first birthdays.

Thoughts and prayers for my sister Emily, as she is now been hospitalized with severe mastitis after giving birth less than two weeks ago.  Baby Abby and her husband Joe are with her there and my mother is watching her three older kids.  Hopefully she will be able to go home soon, as they are pumping her full of antibiotics given her WBC count is crazy high.  She needs to avoid going septic, which is nothing to mess around with.  Her 39th birthday is this Friday.

Three weeks old

My oh my, how the time does fly... I can't believe the twins are three weeks old already and clearly I'm not going to be much of a mommy blogger (heavy on the mommy, easy on the blogger, sorry guys). We are settling into a routine at home, even though we still continue to fine tune as we figure them out.

At their three week appt. today, they are now up to 6-9 (Alistair) and 6-7 (Marielle). 
At two weeks, they were 5-15 (A) and 5-12 (M), which had him surpassing her for the first time. 
At one week, they were 5-6 (A) and 5-7 (M)
At discharge @ 4 days old: they were 5-2 (A) and 5-3 (M) (Mari's dramatic 14% unexplained weight loss in day one is why I have been pumping and supplementing since the hospital- never say never, right?).
At birth:  they were 5-7 (A) and 6-1 (M)

We and our awesome pediatrician (which we go all the way to the city to see each week, call us crazy) are happy with their weight gains.  They absolutely love to eat, especially little Alistair.  It was so nice out after our appt. today that they got to take their first walk along the Lake.  They slept through it, but it sure was nice to get outside.  One more day of 50-something weather until winter sets in for real.

We are pretty sure his size and weight (not to mention his general comfort) was compromised by being breech for the last ten plus weeks of their gestation, as he had been measuring ahead until then. Poor little guy. This also gets him a ticket to Children's for a routine hip u/s @ 6 wks, though they say he is fine. Hip dysplasia from being breech is a more common issue for girls apparently. They either both stopped growing in utero, or less likely our u/s estimates up to and including 35 wks were way off. Both that he was just an ounce under the cut off for LBW and her weight loss obviously concerned us, but they are both very healthy so far, which is what is important. Small, but mighty they are.

When I first started trying to feed them at the breast, our little guy would work so hard, but pretty much just ended up nibbling on my nips. Not so great. Mari had a little better latch, since she had a bigger mouth, but she'd just fall asleep. Our little sleeping beauty.  But then all bets were off when we needed to make sure they were both getting enough to eat, since my colostrum apparently wasn't cutting it and my milk came in on day 3.  Thankfully, I've been able to produce the vast majority of what they are now eating.  I think most of the remaining ten pounds (of ~50 by the end) I'm carrying around is in my boobs.

My mother has been here helping off and on since they arrived (albeit with limited helpfulness), and she will go again as my dad and step-mother are coming this weekend.  MIL arrives from India on the 22nd and will likely stay until summer.  As challenging as it is to have house guests now, I've bought into the "don't turn down free help" mantra, which sadly is needed given the fact that I am still far from 100% now.  I'm feeling much better now, but a CS recovery is pretty stark, which I guess makes sense when you realize they've cut you right where almost all movement starts from.  It takes a few weeks to feel anything more than completely useless.  DH is starting to go back to the office now for meetings, but he will work from home until his mom comes.

I have also ironically developed a nasty case of carpal tunnel post-pregnancy, for which I'm seeing a hand doctor next week.  Since I've already been icing, wearing braces, and taking anti-inflammatories to no avail, and my thumb and first two fingers on both hands are numb, I'll be potentially looking at cortizone injections, but we'll see what he has to say.  It's another one of those things that when you hear about someone having seems like not such a big deal (kinda like bed rest), but let me tell you it's not cool to have something like this that makes it so much more difficult and painful to take care of your children.

Mari is so very animated, she puts on little shows with all her faces and like I said she absolutely loves to sleep.  She is more alert now that they are outgrowing their pre-termness (their EDD is later this week), but I think she will be a sleeper like her mom.  We sometimes have to wake her to eat. Alistair is our not so little anymore guy, though he still has that scared look on his face, even though I always talk to him and tell him that he doesn't need to worry.  The kid has a furrowed brow already.  Guess who got my anxiety?  They both love being read to and do lots of neck exercising and hold up their little heads and are getting more used to tummy time.  They are pretty tolerant of bath time and we've also introduced pacifiers, which is very helpful for him especially.  They are now next door in their nursery in their own cribs instead of in the PNP.

Showing off their matching outfits...

They are now out of preemie diapers, since their cord stumps are long gone and are working their way into larger newborn clothes.  My mom went out and bought them smaller ones, since the ones we had they were absolutely swimming in at first.

Our announcements are coming tomorrow and I can't wait to see them and get them sent out.  The proof was perfect, I am so happy with how they turned out.

I know I still need to post on their nursery, which is finally done, but now in full use.  Hope to get the pics up soon.  We are both loving our new life and I've never been happier.  Life is good.  :)