We haven't felt like the girls have been eating well at all the past week. Yesterday was their weigh-in day, but I was busy being lazy with my birthday. I thought about weighing them today, then decided not to since I didn't want to get all upset. I figured weighing or not weighing doesn't actually change their weight and since we are doing all we can any way, I didn't see a point in getting upset.
But, then Lindssy, our new Speech Therapist arrived and asked about our weights. I figured we might as well see. So glad we did! Abby weighed in at 16.5lbs - up 5.5 oz. Natalie was 15.8.5lbs - up 3.5 oz. I was pretty surprised. It really seems to me that they have been drinking much less formula than usual. But, they have been eating lots of yogurt - which is highly caloric, so maybe it makes a difference.
In any case - for today at least, the scale is our friend.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
We haven't got proof, but there were witnesses!
Abby has officially taken her first steps! Today at Ya-Yai and Grandpa's house she moved TWO feet! One and then the other - and that's walking in my book.
It's absolutely amazing to watch. I thought she's be walking before their one year adjusted birthday (Aug 20), but I can't actually believe it is happening. We will try to capture video tomorrow.
Natalie is catching up fast, too. She is standing more and more. Her first steps are just around the corner.
It's absolutely amazing to watch. I thought she's be walking before their one year adjusted birthday (Aug 20), but I can't actually believe it is happening. We will try to capture video tomorrow.
Natalie is catching up fast, too. She is standing more and more. Her first steps are just around the corner.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Marvelous, Magnificent Multiples
Abby and Natalie are just amazing. One of the best things about children is watching them discover the world around them and conquer it with delight. When I look at Natalie and Abby, it's just amazing to think that 6 months ago, they were barely sitting up. Now, they are eating solids, babbling and standing. Soon, they will be walking and talking and reading and writing. It's remarkable.
One of the ways Abby has been practicing her standing is to push off of you when you are lying on the ground. Before today, she was just playing around and it would happen accidentally. Today, however, she realized what she was doing and was absolutely thrilled with herself. She would push off again and again and clap and laugh when she was standing. She was so pleased with herself. After she realized what she could do, she would do it over and over from pieces of furniture for the rest of the day.
Abby is just days away from trying some steps. You can see her thinking about it. Sometimes, if she's hanging on to one thing and reaching for another, you can see her thinking about letting go first and then grabbing the next thing. She is also showing more interest in the walker (little car that converts to push walker) and actually tries to push it now. It's really a very exciting time. I'm just hoping she will wait and try those first steps when Ben is home. Oh - not related, but still exciting - Abby has added M's to her vocabulary. So, now it's mamamamamama or mmmmmmmm. Just like with dada, she's not assigning the sounds to me, but at least she has the sounds.
Natalie has skills too! She is letting go more often and standing for longer periods of time. She seems to run a few days behind Abby so she doesn't seem to have figured out exactly what she's doing yet. I'm sure she will any day now. She is walking much better when we hold her hands - picking up her feet and moving forward. Her favorite thing is clapping. She claps all the time. In fact, she can ask her to clap and she will - most of the time. But, she responds enough to the word that she does seem to understand it. She also seems to understand "ball", which is one of her favorite toys. She has one she especially likes and I've seen her rummage through the tent of toys to find just that one. A few times we have asked her to get her ball and she will do it. Both girls understand "no" and will react to it. Sometimes it's enough to stop their behavior, but sometimes they'll look at us and try it again just to see what we will do. They also both understand "hi" and "bye" and will wave accordingly. Today, I was calling people and getting only voice mails. I was telling the girls to "say hi" and they both started waving at the phone instead. Babbling on cue is not yet one of their tricks:-)
Above all else, what I love most about our girls is how incredibly happy they are. They laugh and play and clap and are just delighted by everything they do. They love each other too. They will touch each other and laugh and smile. Sometimes they climb on each other and plant big, wet, slobbery kisses on each other. They do have their moments and sharing will certainly be a much needed skill. Yesterday, Natalie had something Abby wanted. Nat kept crawling away with it, and Abby would chase after her whining. When she couldn't get it away from her, Abby would stop, sit and flail her arms and cry. Basically - a little tantrum. It was pretty funny though. Abby is generally the more aggressive and tends to swipe toys more. But, Natalie is learning how to evade and defend her toys and even swipe a few herself. She started off much more meek and mild, and it's been neat watching her become more assertive in response to Abby. It's so fun watching their personalities emerge and develop and adjust to each other. They have their own minds and know what they want. It always amazing me to watch them dig through the pile of toys to find just the one they want.
Natalie and Abby are really amazing. Joyful, fun, adventurous, happy, thoughtful, and the loves of our lives.
One of the ways Abby has been practicing her standing is to push off of you when you are lying on the ground. Before today, she was just playing around and it would happen accidentally. Today, however, she realized what she was doing and was absolutely thrilled with herself. She would push off again and again and clap and laugh when she was standing. She was so pleased with herself. After she realized what she could do, she would do it over and over from pieces of furniture for the rest of the day.
Abby is just days away from trying some steps. You can see her thinking about it. Sometimes, if she's hanging on to one thing and reaching for another, you can see her thinking about letting go first and then grabbing the next thing. She is also showing more interest in the walker (little car that converts to push walker) and actually tries to push it now. It's really a very exciting time. I'm just hoping she will wait and try those first steps when Ben is home. Oh - not related, but still exciting - Abby has added M's to her vocabulary. So, now it's mamamamamama or mmmmmmmm. Just like with dada, she's not assigning the sounds to me, but at least she has the sounds.
Natalie has skills too! She is letting go more often and standing for longer periods of time. She seems to run a few days behind Abby so she doesn't seem to have figured out exactly what she's doing yet. I'm sure she will any day now. She is walking much better when we hold her hands - picking up her feet and moving forward. Her favorite thing is clapping. She claps all the time. In fact, she can ask her to clap and she will - most of the time. But, she responds enough to the word that she does seem to understand it. She also seems to understand "ball", which is one of her favorite toys. She has one she especially likes and I've seen her rummage through the tent of toys to find just that one. A few times we have asked her to get her ball and she will do it. Both girls understand "no" and will react to it. Sometimes it's enough to stop their behavior, but sometimes they'll look at us and try it again just to see what we will do. They also both understand "hi" and "bye" and will wave accordingly. Today, I was calling people and getting only voice mails. I was telling the girls to "say hi" and they both started waving at the phone instead. Babbling on cue is not yet one of their tricks:-)
Above all else, what I love most about our girls is how incredibly happy they are. They laugh and play and clap and are just delighted by everything they do. They love each other too. They will touch each other and laugh and smile. Sometimes they climb on each other and plant big, wet, slobbery kisses on each other. They do have their moments and sharing will certainly be a much needed skill. Yesterday, Natalie had something Abby wanted. Nat kept crawling away with it, and Abby would chase after her whining. When she couldn't get it away from her, Abby would stop, sit and flail her arms and cry. Basically - a little tantrum. It was pretty funny though. Abby is generally the more aggressive and tends to swipe toys more. But, Natalie is learning how to evade and defend her toys and even swipe a few herself. She started off much more meek and mild, and it's been neat watching her become more assertive in response to Abby. It's so fun watching their personalities emerge and develop and adjust to each other. They have their own minds and know what they want. It always amazing me to watch them dig through the pile of toys to find just the one they want.
Natalie and Abby are really amazing. Joyful, fun, adventurous, happy, thoughtful, and the loves of our lives.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Natalie and Abigail - 14 months old
Natalie
AbigailYesterday was the girls' 14 month birthday. Yes, I'm still taking the monthly pictures. I'll stop one day.
This month, Natalie and Abigail are sporting "big girl" outfits supplied by Aunt Kimmy. The pink, flowered collar onesie is accented by a brown and paisley ruffled skirt/bloomer combo. Interested parties should contact Aunt Kimmy for purchasing info.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Weight and Teeth
So, we panicked a little yesterday. I'm still not happy about the weight loss and zero weight gain for Natalie, but we've decided to do what all good parents do - blame it on teething. Ben did a little research and it turns out that loss of appetite can be a teething side effect. Somewhere in my head, I'd heard this, but in the panic of the moment, I forgot. Of course, I'm not sure what that means for babies who will continue to get teeth for the next year and yet desperately need to eat as much as possible.
I did stay up a 2am bottle in addition to the 11pm bottle. They ate both very well, so I guess we will keep doing it. Whatever it takes.
One funny follow-up: I mentioned the girls really like holes now - ears, holes in shirts, the paci...That also includes noses. Natalie and Abby are now nose-pickers. At least they aren't trying to eat the buggers yet.
I did stay up a 2am bottle in addition to the 11pm bottle. They ate both very well, so I guess we will keep doing it. Whatever it takes.
One funny follow-up: I mentioned the girls really like holes now - ears, holes in shirts, the paci...That also includes noses. Natalie and Abby are now nose-pickers. At least they aren't trying to eat the buggers yet.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday weigh in
So, guess what happens if you are a baby and you don't eat well all week? Nothing good.
Tonight's weigh-in (moments ago) has left us in a severely depressed mood. For the first time EVER, Abby has lost weight. Last week she weighed in at 16lbs 2oz. This week, 15# 15.5 oz. Natalie remained exactly the same at 15# 5oz. At least she didn't lose any weight.
I'd just decided that I wasn't going to worry about them. They were wearing little outfits today that showed their thighs, and truthfully, they have pretty chunky thighs for babies who are supposed to be wasting away. I had decided that Natalie and Abigail seem to know what their bodies need and we'd just have to trust that they were drinking what they needed. Well. I'm throwing that theory right back out the window.
So, back to worrying, back to obsessing, back to trying to squeeze in every possible feed and every possible calorie. I'm not really sure what else to do. If we feed more solids, they seem to stop drinking formula...I guess I can try to fit in an extra bottle. Maybe I'll start doing an 11pm bottle and then staying up and doing a 1:30 bottle.
It's so sad. The babies don't seem to know they are dangerously close to malnutrition. They are currently on the floor beside me playing with envelopes. They are the kind with the plastic windows so they are nice and crinkly. They are laughing at each other. And, just now, Natalie let go and stood along for about 10 seconds - her record so far. Yet another developmental milestone on its way to being conquered. Not too shabby for starving babies.
But, man, I really hated seeing that weight go down.
Tonight's weigh-in (moments ago) has left us in a severely depressed mood. For the first time EVER, Abby has lost weight. Last week she weighed in at 16lbs 2oz. This week, 15# 15.5 oz. Natalie remained exactly the same at 15# 5oz. At least she didn't lose any weight.
I'd just decided that I wasn't going to worry about them. They were wearing little outfits today that showed their thighs, and truthfully, they have pretty chunky thighs for babies who are supposed to be wasting away. I had decided that Natalie and Abigail seem to know what their bodies need and we'd just have to trust that they were drinking what they needed. Well. I'm throwing that theory right back out the window.
So, back to worrying, back to obsessing, back to trying to squeeze in every possible feed and every possible calorie. I'm not really sure what else to do. If we feed more solids, they seem to stop drinking formula...I guess I can try to fit in an extra bottle. Maybe I'll start doing an 11pm bottle and then staying up and doing a 1:30 bottle.
It's so sad. The babies don't seem to know they are dangerously close to malnutrition. They are currently on the floor beside me playing with envelopes. They are the kind with the plastic windows so they are nice and crinkly. They are laughing at each other. And, just now, Natalie let go and stood along for about 10 seconds - her record so far. Yet another developmental milestone on its way to being conquered. Not too shabby for starving babies.
But, man, I really hated seeing that weight go down.
Look Out Tooth Fairy!!
FINALLY!!!! Our babies won't attend kindergarten with dentures! Well, at least Abby won't. A few weeks ago, on the way back from Ohio, we noticed what appeared to be teeth just under the gums. So, we waited and waited and waited. Every day or so, we'd rub their gums to see if we felt anything. Nope.
Leave it to Aunt Kimmy to find the teeth. Today, she said, "I think Abby has teeth!". Sure enough, you can feel little tiny teeth on the bottom. They definately weren't here two days ago. We are very excited. The best part is that it doesn't seem to have bothered her at all. There has been no unusual crying or whining or chewing on things. No apparent fevers or rashes or anything teeth-myth related. It's amazing. My girls just keep getting better.
I'm sure Natalie's teeth are just below the surface waiting to emerge. Maybe she wanted to see how Abby handled it first before deciding if she wanted teeth. Hopefully, Abby has told her how cool it is and Natalie will give her teeth the go-ahead.
Leave it to Aunt Kimmy to find the teeth. Today, she said, "I think Abby has teeth!". Sure enough, you can feel little tiny teeth on the bottom. They definately weren't here two days ago. We are very excited. The best part is that it doesn't seem to have bothered her at all. There has been no unusual crying or whining or chewing on things. No apparent fevers or rashes or anything teeth-myth related. It's amazing. My girls just keep getting better.
I'm sure Natalie's teeth are just below the surface waiting to emerge. Maybe she wanted to see how Abby handled it first before deciding if she wanted teeth. Hopefully, Abby has told her how cool it is and Natalie will give her teeth the go-ahead.
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