A Whole New World

My hat is officially off to all mommy bloggers, everywhere.  Seriously, HOW do you do it??  I've been writing posts in my head for days now, and never seem to find the time to actually write them out.  During the time that I don't have babies attached to my boobs, I'm not elbow deep in diapers, and I'm semi-conscious, all I want to do is sit on the couch and stare at the tv.  Or the wall.  I'm not too picky.

Taken at about a week old.  They already look so different to me now. (Annabelle left, Charlotte right)

So, our babies are almost two weeks old.  Two weeks.  That's already half of a month!  They're gonna be FORTY!  The days are just flying by in a big blur.  I have no idea where the time goes, one minute it's the middle of the night and I'm trying to get a baby to eat. the next thing I know it's night time again. My days revolve entirely around feeding babies.

I am pretty proud of myself, because we're getting the hang of simultaneous feeding and so far, my supply has been excellent.  I was able to get a hospital grade pump on loan from my hospital, and we're hoping to start bottles soon so that I can get a break from the round the clock feeding marathons.  It'll still require pumping at feeding time, but I can pump, then go to bed and get some sleep before the next feeding.

Cuddly Charlotte

The girls are absolutely amazing.  They're still in the sleepy phase, in part due to being born a few weeks early, so they're pretty zonked out most of the time, but they're starting to be a bit more alert and taking in more of the world around them.  Night time has been something of a challenge, but so far not nearly the nightmarish experience I've heard from a lot of my friends.

The many faces of Anna-B

Annabelle is the most placid baby I have ever seen.  She is quiet as a little mouse--even her fussing is barely audible.  She can sleep through her sister's screaming fits like there is nothing going on.  Charlotte is my spicy baby.  She makes sounds like a baby velociraptor, grunts and whimpers in her sleep, snorts, and when she's upset, her temper flares up and she screams with the rage of a Banshee queen.  But she's only had a couple of marathon screaming sessions, and for the most part, she'll calm down within a few minutes.  The hard part is that she really just wants to be held and cuddled 24/7, which is really a problem at 1 am.  And 2 am.  And 3 am...

We actually had to move the girls out of our room and into their nursery at night their third day home with us, when they were only five days old.  Charlotte is just too noisy, even in her sleep.  I'm such a light sleeper, and it's already so hard for me to fall asleep with the perfect conditions, I couldn't fall asleep between feedings and came this close to a total breakdown.  I had my very first experience with an anxiety attack.  I felt like I was going to throw up, like I couldn't breathe, like I had no control over my body.  It was horrible.  I'm still having trouble sleeping at night, but overall, I think we're all doing much better with the current set up.
We're going in tomorrow for their two week appointment and to do a weight check, but I think that they've been gaining pretty well.  At last week's weight check, the doctor was concerned about Charlotte's weight gain.  Annabelle had been gaining about 60 grams per day, but Charlotte was only at 25 grams per day and the minimum they want to see is 20.  So, even though she's meeting the minimum, the doctor, in his blunt English Second Language way informed me that her weight gain was "no good... it is lousy".  So, of course, I spent the next hour crying and feeling like a total failure.  I'm optimistic about better results tomorrow.  It kills me how tiny they still are in their clothes though.  They're still swimming in a lot of their newborn stuff, but they are starting to fill it out a bit better.  SOB!!

I still can't believe I have babies...

Comments

[Casey]

First of all...I totally started singing Aladdin in my head just after reading your post title. Secondly, your baby girl's are seriously precious! I'm so happy everything is going so well...minus the usual tiredness and sorting out this whole new parent thing. Looks like you're doing great! GO MAMA! :)

[To the Nth]

They are darling! Also, you totally kick bloggin' behind for taking a few of your precious free moments to update all of us readers on the first couple weeks of your twins' lives. Mad props. :-)

[Ashley]

Angela! They are so precious! Congratulations :)

[Elizabeth]

They are amazing.

I was amazed by how loud Hannah could be sleeping, and I'm deaf! I'm sorry about the anxiety, but so glad you're finding something that's working for all of you.

[Anne]

I totally remember feeling like I spent my whole day feeding babies or dreaming about feeding babies and I only had one! I can only imagine how crazy it must be. You are doing great that you could get online and post at all - I was barely conscious the first 3 weeks so I applaud you. :))

[Solange]

So true!!!

[Solange]

They are beautiful! I'm sorry about the nervous breakdown thing...but I am SO impressed by the way you are handling twins. Twins! TWO babies at the same time. I am tired and I only have one baby right now. I am seriously bowing down to you right now! :)
Also, that doctor is a meanie. There are tactful and much more gentle words than "lousy".
Just remember that you are doing the absolute best you can for your girls. No one can dispute that.

[Solange]

LOL...me too. I have the song stuck in my head now.

[Miriam]

They are just so beautiful Angela. You say you don't know how we do it? I could barely manage one at some points and you're doing a GREAT job with two! Just amazing!

[Melissa]

Glad you're getting at least a little more sleep! With the girls in their room. :) They are beautiful & am happy for you!!! :)

[Hotpotatokate]

They are gorgeous, just lovely. Charlotte sounds a little like my Chip! I can't even begin to imagine two- you are just amazing!

[Kate P]

They look as if they are growing like crazy to me! (And growing in cuteness.) I hope you are able to get a little bit more rest in now with your new strategies in place.

[erin - heart in ireland]

they are just so adorable! and that is awesome that charlotte can sleep through her sister's noises! hope their doctors appointment goes well! that picture of them on the blanket is just so cute!

[ellesees.blogspot.com]

precious! loving the updates! my friend had her baby girl twins on thursday! they'll hopefully go home on t.giving.

[Brittany]

I can't believe how absolutely adorable they are! You are so blessed! A whole new world indeed.

[Ashley // Our Little Apartment]

How do mommy bloggers do it? How do YOU do it? TWO BABIES. TWO NEWBORN BABIES!

They are adorable and I'm beyond delighted for you guys. (Especially the no NICU part! And that your boobs are making milk! Go boobs!) (Are you taking a moment to revel in having bigger boobs? Cause I did. Haa.)

Thanks for the update!

[Jessica]

They are beautiful. OMG the two of them together in the green blanket is the cutest thing ever! Congrats on your new, adorable family!

[katelin]

eeee they are just the cutest!! hope the check up went well and you guys are getting some sleep! xoxo

[Sara]

Whew, I need to catch up on my blog friends!

Oh my goodness they're so adorable :) I agree with the other gals, how do YOU do it, you have TWO. I can't imagine even with just one but the fact that you even put up posts since they came along is amazing. I love the two of them together all cuddled up, precious.

And awwh the outfit I sent :) Looks like they'll get more use out of them to grow into! Hang in there girly---we're thinking about you and sending smiles!

[Lynn]

Oh my WORD, they are precious! Keep it up - I know you're doing great!

[erin]

They are so bautiful. Congrats, and I am sure you are doing great!

[jen]

I am late, but just wanted to say a big Congratulations!!! They are beautiful girls.