Back to Two in Diapers!

When you find out your having twins, 1.3 million things run through your mind. Feeding two babies, diapering two babies, comforting two babies teething, two kids in college, and, yes, potty training TWO babies...at the same time. Oh how the mind can wander. Anyway, due to our transient living this summer, potty training was delayed multiple times. Moving, vacation, sickness....all kept giving me reasons to push it off! If you know my Jenna, you know she has a fiercely independent personality. I knew this would either make things like potty training very easy or very hard. And Caden...remember the sippy cup fiasco? The boy does NOTHING until his mind determines it is time to do so.

In times like these , I go to my fellow twin mama's who have walked the road before me. The more I talked to them and read their suggested reading (Pottywise) the more I realized I was not going to be training Jenna and Caden at the same time. Jenna was showing signs of readiness while Caden was not showing one.single.sign.

So, the reading occurred, the crates and crates of Capri Suns were purchased, stickers were presented, new Elmo potty was displayed and big girl underwear was picked out and purchased. My parents were gracious enough to take Caden on a big 3 day adventure so I could truly concentrate on Jenna. And, lets be honest - the twins have way too much fun together, there is no way Jenna would sit down longer than 10 seconds if her best buddy was in the house NOT having to sit on the potty. This was Caden's first "sleepover" by himself. (The only other time the twins have been separated overnight was when we went on our secret Ohio scout trip.They were 15 months old so too little to remember). He doesn't look sad to leave at all, does he?? :)

I let her pick out her big girl underwear (she picked out Minnie Mouse?) and after a tearful goodbye to her buddy, a quick M&M treat brought our focus back. I used the suggestions in Pottywise and we went to town "teaching" our teddy bear how to use the potty. She literally did not know what to do with all of the Capri Sun drinks I was giving her. And boy, was she tanking them.

We sat on the potty, sang songs, played "I Spy", put together lots of puzzles and voila! success in the potty. Her face was priceless - so excited. I of course jumped out of my skin excited for her, taught her how to flush, wash hands, put the bathroom back in order and we went about our day. I had waterproof blankets all over the place which made things interesting, but she was in LOVE with big girl underwear :) I still had to take care of Easton and wouldn't you know it - the two times I had to change his diaper or put him down for nap - we had an accident each time. I mean, we were going to the potty to try every 15 minutes after all of the drinks she was drinking! By nap time on the first day, our count was equal - 2 successes, 2 accidents. By the end of the day, we had #1 AND #2 successes all afternoon. I was astonished to say how great the day had gone. It was hard...very hard don't get me wrong, but I was so proud of Jenna and felt the timing was right and we were going to be successful.

 

Day 2 was very hard. Nothing but accidents all morning. She begged me not to make her drink anything. OOps...might have overdone it on Day 1! What in the world? Then we went outside all afternoon and she held it...ALL afternoon and only had one accident after dinner.

Day 3 - boom. It clicked. No accidents even going out and playing with friends. We sent her to church with no pull up - am and pm - no accidents! The rest is history. Any accident she has had (probably only 3 times? and mostly at Nana's (???)) is because I forgot to make her stop playing and go potty and once or twice during nap. I know the nighttime training will come but being back to only two in diapers - whew! yea! We have it made! haha. That is a twin parent statement if I have ever heard one. She can stop playing and go to the potty now or she holds it from like 10:30 - 4:30 -yes, seriously. She nap trained quickly and now only wears a diaper or pull up at night.

So now, it is just the boys - in the same size diapers. haha Caden wants nothing to do with using the potty...he has however asked multiple times to SIT on the potty in exchange for a treat that Jenna gets. I told him no...what a mean mama...because Ryan is out of town this week - sorry bud, no potty training this week, just survival. ;)

Jenna is SOOO proud of herself - the independence kicked in and helped make potty training easy. So proud of her! My keys to success are as follows:

1-a cool M&M dispenser (leave it to Gigi to find something like this)

 

2- The PBS app - life saver!

 

 

 

 

 

Easton: 7 months



Easton, time is flying! Half of your first year is GONE. Life is the definition of insanity for us right now or else I would probably be much more sappy on the subject. May was a fun month: we went to the beach, went to your first Relay For Life, had a special baby dedication at our church, celebrated your part in my Mother's Day this year and excitingly, we found and bought the house you will grow up in. We have had some ups and downs this month - mostly due to our state of life right now, but still you remain the sweetest, most content, precious gift of a baby. I mean really, no matter how long the night or early the morning, how could I stay frustrated with this face looking up at me? Goo. Absolute goo.

So, a TON of things happened this month! Mommy is so glad she wrote them down - no way I could keep up with it all! You started the adorable babble and talk stage of babyhood. And I LOVE it. Could talk to you all day. You remind me of Jenna so much - you have an adorable high coo that you sing all day - over and over.

 

 

Another not-so-fun first was your first throw-up incident. Coincidentally, it was the SAME night the twins first threw up - Mother's Day night. Weird huh? You were making lots of noise - not crying, not moaning, just unsettled noise so Daddy went to go check on you and found you and your crib covered in throw up. We pick you up and what do you do? You coo and smile. Yes - that is who you are buddy. It was such a reflection of your personality that I took a picture of you instead of quickly working to get your vomit off of you.

You started sitting up briefly, but by the end of the month - when you were almost 7 months old - you had it down. So much earlier than your siblings! I think I may be saying that a lot in the coming months :) I love it when a baby learns to sit up. You are so happy to be "up" watching what is going on. Being upright, you found out those feet are always connected to you! You love holding them and playing with them while your sitting up.

 

 

Somehow over the month, you moved to a 4 hr schedule. I don't remember doing it deliberately, it is probably just the times I remembered it was time to feed you! I nurse you 4 times a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner then bedtime (usually 7, 11, 3, 7pm). This schedule combined with your baby food has turned out to be quite the growing formula! You officially joined your brother and sister in the same size diaper: 4. So, Mommy buys mega boxes of size 4 diapers. It is wonderful not having to look at what size diaper I have when I need to change one of you! It is also fun to be able to change any of you at any changing table! ha! Nursing you is my sanity check throughout the day. It is nice to be able to go in a quiet room since Gigi and Papa T can watch your siblings. You are so sweet; and, in the morning especially, you fall asleep afterward. Sometimes I let you sleep a little bit while I close my eyes too! shhhhh, our secret. :)

 



 

The reason Mommy needs to close her eyes is because you are in a CRAZY phase of waking up around 5:30 each morning. It is usually right around the time Daddy goes to take a shower or leaves for work and I think you hear it, see all the light in the room and think it is time to get up. Well, it is NOT. You have worn mama out with the early mornings - so much so that I have done something I NEVER did with the twins. Sometimes I bring you in the bed with me and we go back to sleep for another hour or so. Third child privileges I guess :) Anyway, I have the hindsight luxury of knowing it was a phase to pass through now, 3 months later, but at the time I was getting a little short with you and others from lack of sleep. As usual though, after 10 minutes of being up, you would flash this look and I would forget being irritated. You have some serious power there, pal!

 



 

You were quite the stud muffin in your Baby Dedication outfit. More on that later though....

 

 

Thank you for being you, Easton! You are teaching Mommy a lot in the days and nights of babyland.  

Easton: 6 months

Sweet Boy! You are 6 months old today (no comments from the peanut gallery. I know it is September, but I'm trying to keep things consistent as they would have been if I were more on top of things.) Your fifth month (April) was more transition - some good, some not so good, but all so sweet since it was with YOU! You are such a round ball of wonderful - I love this age although I do not love some of the transitions that come with the 5th month.

 

Now, for the numbers: at your 6 month appointment you were: 19 lb 3oz and 27 inches long. I don't have the percentages, but just know you were at the top, big boy! You got a clean bill of health - perfect as can be. Thank you, Lord. 

 

 

You still have that adorable smile. Anytime someone walks in the room, whether they are talking to you or not, your eyes light up and you flash that whole-face-smile. I know for a fact I kiss you 356 times a day. It is something I started when you were born and I have no plans to stop. :) 

 

You L.O.V.E. the exersaucer. Thank you Rachel for letting us borrow it! You are in that thing all the time and you love it! Sometimes I think it might crumble from the weight of your intense jumping, but all is well so far.

You have turned into such a big boy! Wearing clothes your brother didn't wear for another few months! I've never had a child wear sized clothes that matched their age or older! You have just turned 6 months yet you have been wearing 6 month and 6-9 month clothing since we moved to NC! Mommy doesn't know what to do with that. And the rolls....oh, the rolls! I love them. Never had a child with those either!

 

 

Your eczema flared up again this month. It looks like it hurts so bad! Sometimes you act like it does when we lay you down - you don't want to lay on your ear. The doctor gave us some cream for you and it looks like it will clear it right up.

Sleep... oh my goodness - you are precious! Aren't all babies, though? You pop that thumb in your mouth and drift right off to sleep. Mommy does NOT take that for granted, I promise. You have learned your sleep cue now - if we hand you your paci, you pull it up to your face but stick your thumb in and know it is time to go to sleep. So funny! Your favorite position is on my right shoulder with your thumb in - that is the money spot! You will calm down if you are upset or fall asleep if you are tired in that position. It is so snuggly, I love it.

As far as night sleep, you are still sleeping thru the night, but your situational circumstances have put some hardships on this area. You are sleeping in an open room at the top of the stairs at Gigi and Papa T's house so there is alot of noise to disturb you. When we open the door upstairs, when we walk to the bathroom, take a shower etc...you are RIGHT THERE and stir alot. Also, I think you may have made your noises all thru the night before but mommy and daddy were not right outside your room to hear them....sooooo mommy isn't sleeping well at all. We had a tough month of getting up with you alot during the night when you made your noises so you wouldn't wake up Caden, Jenna, Gigi or Papa T!

 

 

 

How can I not kiss this face 256 times a day? I was a little sad it was getting warm since that means I can't put you in cute winter hats you wore all the time in No-hio.

Big news and transition this month was food! Doctor said you were ready at 4 months, but I waited til 5. You are a big boy and really do need a few extra calories a day so to the table you went! Your ease continues into eating - took to it right away. You eat anything I give you with one exception: green peas. You do NOT enjoy them - alone or mixed with anything. One food is allowed buddy so we stear clear of them :) The picture below was your very first taste of food: carrots. You had this face for 5 seconds and ever since it has been one of more!more!more! You nurse every 3 hours during the day in addition to your 3 meal times at the table with us.

One reason  I waited to give you food was my fear of reflux. Around this age is when your brother went into the deep-end of reflux and eating issues. Well, you love food and take it well, but the reflux bear did creep in. I got you some medicine today to knock it out before it gets out of control. What is it with my boys and eating and reflux!?

 

It is so fun to watch you discover our world each day. You love playing with toys and people. You still do not roll over, crazy boy! You are more than capable, but I guess you are just content to do without?! You found your feet this month and have enjoyed trying to catch them while you wiggle around on your back. You may be getting spoiled a little...or a lot. Gigi and Papa T LOVE having you live in their house - they get to hold you and play with you and watch you grow into a big boy. Nana and Papa got to see you alot this month too since we lived with them for a few weeks. Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled......:)

 

 

 

And buddy, your brother and sister LOVE you. Every single time I bring you downstairs, Caden especially will run up and say "hey Easton!" "Hey big boy!" Caden and Jenna have a very tight bond, but I think you will be one of the only ones they let in their circle! The picture below makes me chuckle...You are going to catch up with Caden VERY quickly.

I love you, Easton! I sure can't imagine our family without you!

Back Blog: Easter

And now there will be a series entitled "Back Blog" for me to catch up on life!

So Easter Sunday was an epic fail as far as Easter pictures go. Kids - aka twins - would NOT have it. So fast forward to a nice Sunday in April and ridiculous Mama Bear here dressed the kids in the outfits they wore for Easter and tried for another mini session. Hey, they got to wear the outfits again, right? Since Easton cooperated on Easter Sunday, he was excused from this follow up. Anyway, with the promises of treats and the permission to hold rocks, we got the following :)

 

Jenna with a smile....

Now Caden with a smile...

Eureka. Both kids with a smile/pleasant face. Session done. :)

Gasp. A new post.

That's right....I remembered how to sign in and type in this little box. I have a seemingly impossible amount of life to catch up blogging about. But, now that we are a) not having a baby, b) not moving 3x in a year, c) settled into our house with our stuff and our computer and our pictures and d) have the internet.....the blogging is about to explode. You've been warned. That is, if there are any of "you" left following this blog. :)

The Big Birthday

Back in April, I had the big birthday....3-0. It was ill timing to be leaving the 20's and going into the "three's" while feeling ick about this post partum baby body, being in a constant state of grogginess from our moves, different sleeping arrangements, etc...but Ryan went out of his way to make it special for me. When I look back and stop being selfish, I can see how blessed I am and all God has done for me - especially in my 20's. I feel as though I've learned a lifetime of lessons just in these past 10 years so I'm eager and thankful for what God has in store for me the next 10.

Ryan put on his sneaky sneak hat and pulled off a surprise birthday party for me! It was perfect to have a big bash with so many freinds whom I have missed SO much the past year! I was thankful to be surrounded by them this birthday :)

A big shout-out to my girlies Caitlin, Jenn, MB and Jessica for helping Ryan pull it off and misleading me in our plans for the evening! :) It was perfect with red velvet cake, ice cream, and horribly embarrassing pictures of my youth hanging up everywhere.