5 weeks 4 days

We're all alive & well! Sorry for the radio silence. Things are going really well, I'm just super busy tired.

Tim had almost a whole month off after Aedan was born. My mom was also here for a little over a week. It was great having the help, but I'm honestly glad to have my house back. Tim is a great help, but he gets stressed out so easily...ugh.

So it's been me & my boys during the week since last Monday...Pure Heaven! Everything feels "right". Aedan is a dream! He's a lazy eater (bottle or boob), but he's a good sleeper. He started rolling front to back at two weeks (I have video proof) and smiling at 3 weeks 6 days. Trip & Jack just adore him!

Big shoes to fill

Big Grin

Before needed haircut

#HOPE

Little grin

(((hugs)))

Brotherly love

 I'll update more when I get a chance!

I can't believe they're already 6 months

The boys had their 6 month check-up today and all went wonderfully!  We actually got to meet the pediatrician on base for the first time.  I LOVE him!  He's very pleased with how the boys look and act. 

It turns out that what I thought was an allergic reaction to carrots for Trip was actually just a flare up of eczema.  The doc did explain that with his skin already so sensitive and Tim's family history of food allergies we do need to keep an eye on him; eczema can be caused by food allergies.  He also said that the fact that Trip will only really eat squash or carrots might be his way of protecting himself from food allergies, but to keep trying new stuff (and retry ever couple of weeks).  He took the cream that the urgent care gave me for Trip's eczema and threw it away but gave me a new prescription for something safer for his face.  If the eczema gets worse or doesn't get better after a while he wants to send him to a dermatologist and allergist to see if we can figure out a cause.  He also said to not be concerned that Trip just rolled back to front for the first time 2 days ago and front to back 1 day ago, as long as he can do it and he's not behind anywhere else.

As far as Jack is concerned, there is zero concern.  Jack is a human garbage disposal.  Whether or not he likes the food you give him he usually keeps eating it.  It's so funny, though.  He makes this horrible face and shakes his head, swallows, then opens his mouth for another bite!  Crazy little guy.  He does seem to have a touch of eczema on his face, but we're only supposed to put Vaseline or something like it on it.

At 6 months:

Trip is 16.4 pounds, and that is
at the 21st percentile for weight.

Trip is 27 inches, and that is
at the 60th percentile for height.

Trip has a head circumference of 17.1 inches, and that is
at the 32nd percentile for head circumference.

 

At 6 months:

Jack is 16.8 pounds, and that is
at the 28th percentile for weight.

Jack is 28.5 inches, and that is
at the 41st percentile for height.

Jack has a head circumference of 17.7 inches, and that is
at the 75th percentile for head circumference.

2 months ago Trip was 20th% for height and weight; Jack was 8th% for height and 29th% for weight.  I’m so proud that they’re doing so well!  I'm also extremely happy that they’re in the middle range for height now instead of on the smaller side.  Tim is so excited at the thought that the boys might be “average” height (which is 6” taller than him).

Communication

How beautiful!

Jack wants so badly to communicate with his brother.  This is the second day in a row that I've witnessed the following series of events.

• Jack and Trip are both on their playmat.


• Jack stares at Trip.


• Trip "talks" to his toys above him.


• Jack grins and "talks" to Trip.


• Trip "talks" some more to his toys.


• Jack continues to grin and "talks" some more to Trip.

Today it got even better.  Trip looked at his brother and "talked" to him!  Right now they're on the playmat chatting.  Jack has the most loving grin on his face (I can't see Trip's face and don't want to get up for fear I'll distract them).

I'll have to say that this is one of the most beautiful things I've witnessed.  I cannot wait to see the bond that these two boys from as they're growing up.  I know the bond that my twin brother and I have is so very special.  My sister and I share a lot and are very close, but we can never have the bond that my brother and I have.

OK, so I finally got up and grabbed the camera.  Jack even began trying to roll towards Trip (for the record, he's rolled onto his left side a billion times, but never to his right).  I've got a little video of it, but no talking, I think.

 

To remember

I've read a few posts from other bloggers that are basically just things that they want to remember.  And I like the idea.

Jack.  My Baby Boy.  Happy-Jack.

• He hugs my shoulder when I pick him up.


• He loves to smile...at almost everything!


• He started laughing this weekend; he thought my Mom was hilarious.


• He shoves both of his hands against his nose and mouth when he starts falling asleep or when he begins to wake up.


• He loves his jumperoo.


• He loves grabbing the things hanging from his play gym and shoving them into his mouth.


• He sucks his fingers some times (but won't take a pacifier).


• He sleeps like his Daddy.  He's not easy to wake up and makes a lot of noise in his sleep.


• He loves "talking" to you and gets upset if you don't pay attention.  He also loves it when you talk to him.


• He is one of the happiest babies that I have ever seen.  Ever.


• He adores his Daddy!

Trip.  My Little Man.  Trip-Monster.

• He began laughing last week, but really got it going this weekend.  He also thought my Mom was hilarious.


• He doesn't smile for many people, but when he does they're in love.


• He bloomed this past weekend.  He is Mr. Personality, now!


• He loves to grab the things hanging from his play gym, but has no interest in sticking it in his mouth.


• He clasps his hands together all the time.


• He loves to stick his hands in his mouth.  Since said hands are usually clasped together he frequently tries to shove both hands in.  This always results in choking.


• He has coughed since he was born.  It's still cute (and due to the dry heat).


• His mood swings are crazy!  He will laugh then cry within the same few seconds.


• He's most ticklish on the outside of his ribs.


• He loves it when you hold his hands and he helps you pull himself up to a sitting position.


• He adores his Mommy and often won't pay attention to anyone else if he can see me.  :-)

*****************************************************

It's amazing how much they both blossomed this past weekend.  We all went to the mountains to see my family (and the husband's grandparents).  The boys loved spending time with my parents.  I think it was all the one-on-one time that they both received.  I've decided that even if it means I don't get anything done around the house, I'm going to make sure they get more one-on-one time with me.

Last night the boys slept sans-swaddles.  I've used these since they were born, but now they're really too small.  So since my choices are go buy the swaddles in a larger size or put them in sleep sacks, I opted for the sleep sacks.  They need to be able to move around more, anyway.  I know it's better for their development. 

The night was interesting.  Trip woke up some time around 5 am (it would have been earlier, but we got back from our trip very late) screaming his little head off.  His new found freedom had allowed him to scoot up to the top of his crib.  I can assure you he was not at all happy about having the top of his head pressed up against the bars of his crib.  I believe Trip's screaming woke up Jack because he wasn't very happy either.  I fed both of them (loved not having to unwrap them to feed them and the ease with which the diaper change went) and laid them back down without any further fuss.  This morning around 8:30 the husband and I walked in to one very happy Trip-monster and one still sleeping Jack-Jack.  Jack was even sleeping curled up on his side sucking on one hand.  This was quite a change from our typical morning routine which consists of being awakened by the screams of a very hungry and not-happy-to-be-swaddled Trip and a pretty happy but grunting-about-the-swaddle Jack. 

We'll see how tonight goes.  They went down without much of a fuss around 7:15.  I'm hoping they sleep to a decent hour in the morning.

I'm in total awe of how much these two little creatures have changed in the few months that they've been on the outside.  It's truly hard to wrap my mind around the fact that this time last year I was on CD2 of the cycle that created them.  It's even harder to wrap my mind around the fact that this time next year I'll have two 15 month old boys terrorizing my home.  Our home.  I am in awe.  :-)

Finally!

Trip finally began smiling in response to my smiles.   Since Saturday (I dated this for Saturday so I could remember the date, but it's actually Monday right now) he's been grinning like there's no tomorrow!  He started smiling a couple of weeks after his brother.  His brother also started smiling in response a couple of weeks ago.  I even caught it on video.  :-)

 

A month?

I can't believe the boys are already a month old.  Holy crap time flies!  They've got their one month appointment tomorrow.  I am so excited to see how much they've grown.

They've been growing and changing so quickly.  It's really amazing.

Jack began smiling the day he turned 4 weeks old.  He doesn't do it often, but when he does...melt!  He also grunts a whole lot and has begun some cooing noises.  He loves to be held in a sitting position so he can fully see everything around him.  He loves his bouncy seat and hates tummy time.  He's also a huge Daddy's boy.  Sometimes Mr. W is the only one that can calm him down.  Jack adores being cradled in his Daddy's arm while he's in the recliner watching TV.  He's a little spoiled.

Trip is on the verge of smiling (you can see it in his eyes).  He's usually very laid back, unless there's a real reason not to be (unlike Jack who cries because he wants to be held and because he's tired).  He's losing his baby hair so right now he really looks like a little old man.  It's so funny!  (forgive me for laughing at my baby's poor 1/2 bald head)  He screams like a banshee when he's hungry.

Well, I don't know what else to say really.  I just didn't want to leave my last post on top.  It was really only a moment and I usually feel great.  :-)

Some pictures!

 

 

[caption id="attachment_893" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Jack Smiling 4 weeks 1 day old"][/caption]

What's Trip looking at? (before his hair started falling out)

Jack & Trip