13 weeks old!
Sleep! It went better this week! We started paying close attention to how long the girls have been awake throughout the day, making it easier to catch their naps. They seem to get tired every hour and a half, and will usually fall asleep fairly easily if they don't get over tired. Their naps last anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours, depending of where they are sleeping. Most of the time they sleep for about 45 minutes, but not necessarily at the same time. I think the daytime napping has paid off because this week was one of our best for night time sleep, too. Both girls have gotten a consistent 6-7 hour stretch (!!) in the first part of the night. After a feeding around 2 a.m., they are back to sleep again until about 5:30 or 6! We are still tired, and we feel like all we do in the evenings are get the girls to sleep and then go to bed ourselves, still, this is progress in the right direction and I hope it lasts!
Jenny cuddling a sleeping Maya before putting her down for a nap.
On Wednesday, the girls had one of their happiest days to date. They were smiley, content and just a pleasure to be around all day long. It was a nice way to start off the week and hopefully we can look forward to many more happy days to come.
Ella thinks I'm so funny!
I just love this picture.
This one is pretty great, too.
Ella, especially, has been very "talkative" lately. She has a lot to say. One of her favorite activities is being held while standing on our knees and looking into our eyes. She will babble away the whole time and try to imitate our sounds (or maybe we are imitating hers... either way, it's fun!) She LOVES when we pay attention just to her.
Ella's hair is starting to look more like a mad scientist's hairdo as the days go by.
Maya is quieter, but still tells wonderful stories when given the attention. Her favorite song is the ABC's, and she really follows our hands when we sign the letters along with words as we sing. She will listen quietly the whole time and smile with a delighted squeal at the end.
Thinking about reaching for toys occupies a lot of Maya's time these days.
Something different this week was splitting the twins up on two different occasions: one with me, the other with Brett. The first time was a car ride to Springfield and back for Brett and Ella, while Maya and I walked around downtown doing some shopping. The second time, I took Ella out to the grocery store (and to the voting booth because it was Election day) while Brett and Maya stayed at home. Both times I found incredibly relaxing! I felt strange about splitting them up before we did it, but after trying it, I really liked it. It is a weird feeling to be out in the world with just one baby. People still stop me to ogle over whichever girl I have with me, but we don't get stopped nearly as often and when we do, they have no idea that I have another baby at home who is just as cute.
In the beginning of the week, there was still some snow left on the ground from the Halloween storm. We took a lot of early morning walks this week because we made a pact with each other that we wouldn't go on the computer (even to check email) before walking around the block, at least once, first. It's been a great goal and it has felt great to get outside so much.
Frosty leaves.
Another walk with our pram stroller. We got this used from someone on Craiglist. Both girls fit in it still, but won't for much longer.
A neighbor came over this week with a huge box full of 3-9 month clothes that she was finished with. We both had fun sorting through them and Jenny had fun dressing the babies up in new outfits.
A story before bed: Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Out doing errands the girls take a break to rest in a chair at the bank.
I love these faces.
A race for purple doggy!
Some tummy time together on the bed.
Napping in the same positions.
15 weeks old!
We were proud of our ability to travel so light: two carry-on bags each, and two babies!
No need to turn on the heat this week! We enjoyed warm days and pleasantly cool evenings all week long.
No need to turn on the heat this week! We enjoyed warm days and pleasantly cool evenings all week long.
Looking across the lake from the beach.
Baby blue eyes.
Brett thinks that Ella's eyes are going to change from blue to some other color, but that Maya's will stay blue.
Ella's first swim!
Maya's first swim!
All four of us.
Maya and Ella's cousin Atom shows the girls how it's done! Atom is two and a half years old and he LOVES to swim. He's like a little fish in the water.
Papa with both grandbabies.
A walk around the lake.
Toby and his girlfriend Sabrina, playing with the girls.
We went to the Winter Garden farmer's market. While we were there, we ran into another set of twins with their parents. It was fun to chat with them about all things twin.
Maya and I enjoy a ride in the rowboat. Mama did the rowing and took the pictures.
Maya in the sun.
Ella balancing on Papa's hands!
We had a couple good nights for sleep while we were in Florida and a couple not so good nights. We experimented with leaving the girls unswaddled at night a few times. Sometimes it worked and they were able to sleep without waking themselves and sometimes it didn't. We haven't noticed much of a pattern for what helps them sleep better. It seems random when we have a good night.
Amber, Atom and Scott + Brett, Ella, Jenny and Maya.
The whole family together.
