More pictures...

I know - just what you were thinking these boys needed....more pictures!

3 Peas Photography took some great pictures of the boys on 3/12/09 when the boys were about 5 weeks old. I met the photographer through my "mothers of multiples" support group. She herself has triplets and was wanting to expand her portfolio of multiples so offered us a free photo shoot and I couldn't turn her down. I can't believe how much bigger the boys look in these pictures than the ones that were taken just a few weeks earlier. I'm glad I have some from both "stages". It's amazing how much they are changing already...

Click on the "3 Peas Photography" link above to see the pictures.

Whether it is permanent or just a phase the boys are looking more and more alike these days. Or maybe it's just harder to tell the more and more sleep deprived I become...

Lazyboy

Mason and I in the lazyboy chair. Notice Gus in the background getting into trouble...

Yes these boys are lazy....but the topic of this post is actually lazyboy chairs...and more specifically my Grandma's lazyboy chair.

I officially take back everything bad I've ever said and thought about lazyboy chairs. It wasn't their comfort that I ever took into question but more importantly their sense of style. I have always thought...bedroom furniture is for sleeping - not livingroom furniture. If you're that tired why not just go to bed?

I now know the answer to that question. When I was pregnant and on bed rest my dad brought up my grandma's old forest green lazyboy chair. It is worn in, a little creaky, and may actually have some drool stains from when she would fall asleep watching Days of our Lives or a Danielle O'Donnell special taped on VHS.  I miss Grandma (sigh)...Nonetheless - the chair is very comfortable. It allowed me short 'vacations' from my bed because I could lie nearly flat in the chair. It is the sole reason Christmas 2008 wasn't spent in bed. 

After the boys were born the chair was quickly retired to another room in the house with all intentions to go back to Decorah asap. It was replaced by a much more stylish rocking chair and ottoman for feeding the boys. This "stylish" rocking chair does NOT recline and does not even lean back to allow for a few miracle minutes of shut-eye. Why wouldn't rocking chairs do that?!

About 3:00 am a few nights ago my Grandma's green chair was brought back into the livingroom and the stylish chair was pushed to the side. (If I had had the energy I would have pushed it off the deck). The lazyboy chair is now the most desired piece of furniture in the house. Even beats out the bed. The bed is almost like a tease - it is SO comfortable. But babies aren't allowed in the bed. I have had numerous dreams (keep your psychiatric comments to yourself) where I wake up and am paranoid that I brought one of the babies into bed and had fallen asleep and the baby was somewhere under the covers. Anyway - Grandma's chair now allows me to hold a baby that doesn't want to be in his crib and even rest my eyes.

Just like how comfort takes over for fashion in the second half of pregnancy the same holds true for maternity leave. Ben - I promise not to "let myself go"....except maybe as it relates to interior decorating.

PS - here are a few pictures of the boys with their pluggers. Prior is first...Mason second.

Accomplishment

I hope to use this blog to document all of the "firsts" related to the boys. Well, today I have to document one of my first accomplishments! Shocking, I know, but with the help of Julie and Jenny I did accomplish something today. I cleaned out both of our freezers and took "inventory" of what we have for frozen food and meals. So that list is now on the fridge for when I am trying to decide what we are going to eat. It feels so great to have accomplished something. Now I just need to clean out/organize every other closet, drawer, and cupboard in the house. That won't happen.

We've been busy since I last wrote. I said I was about to have my first two days alone last week. I got lucky. I was alone on Tuesday morning and the boys were a little fussy and both wanted to be held at the same time. Kristi came that afternoon and they were little angels from the time she arrived until she left. On Wednesday Malinda came for the entire day and even made us dinner that night. And then on Thursday aunt Angie arrived and stayed to help until Saturday afternoon. On Friday afternoon Julie and Jenny (college friends) came to visit and help out. They brought along SO much food and I ate SO much food! Julie and Jenny left this afternoon and aunt Cara arrives tomorrow.

They boys are doing really well - growing very fast. I would guestimate that they are around 7 1/2 pounds at this point. They LOVE to be held and if I thought it was possible to spoil a newborn I would definitely say they are spoiled! They are awake more and more each day but I still have not mastered the art of comforting two fussy babies at the same time with only two hands. If anyone has any advice I am open to it!! This afternoon Ben said he is surprised at how little he can get done when he's home (he's trying to get the basement finished). I just stared at him...

I'm slacking at the picture taking. I thought 700 pictures in 5 short weeks was a lot - but I managed to forget to take any pictures with any of the above visitors. I guess they will just have to come back soon. (The 700 is not an exaggeration).

I have to write this down so I don't forget it - I've decided one of my favorite sounds in the whole world is listening to the boys eat (which is drinking at this point) but I absolutely love the sounds they make.

Prior cuddled in the pack-n-play

Mason on the changing pad waiting for his turn in the bath.

Today Prior was looking at himself in the mirror for the first time on his rainforest activity mat. At first I thought it was so neat that he was looking at himself but then I realized he probably thought he was just looking over at his brother...

Our Due Date

March 10th is a special day...it is the official (40 week) due date of the boys. I remember last summer when March seemed like an eternity away...

Reality is upon us...

Today was a sad day...Grandma Barb and Auntie Gina left us. Gina came up on Saturday night to see the boys, help out and also to take Grandma Barb back home (she had been here for 10 days). We had so much fun and they were so much help! Last night I even got to sleep through my first feeding so that was exciting. I'm not sure I can say I feel any more 'rested' but it was very nice! The boys are also making it four hours in between feedings on occasion.

Help has only been gone a few hours and it seems like the boys are fussier at the same time now where they never were when we had help! Now it's about dinner time and Ben and I are looking at each other wondering who is going to make us dinner?! While we have lots of leftovers and frozen food it doesn't appear that it is going to warm itself up! On top of that...tomorrow will be my first full day alone. Reality is here (at least for two days). On Wednesday night aunt Angie is coming and on Monday aunt Cara is coming.

Today we went back to Dr. VanBeek with Mason for his weekly check-up on his leg. The doctor said it is improving and healing. Later this afternoon we had a home care nurse come to our house to give the boys their first shot of "Synagis" for RSV. RSV is a severe cold and is the number one reason for hospitalization for babies. RSV is serious for full term babies and even more serious for premature babies. Synagis is a very expensive antibody shot that is given to premature babies because their lungs and immune system are underdeveloped. The shots are given monthly during RSV season (October - April) so the boys got a shot today and they'll get another one in April. The nurse comes to the house so the boys don't have to go out and get exposed to germs! The nurse weighed the boys. Prior weighed in at 6 pounds 14 ounces and Mason weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounces. For the first time Prior out-weighed his younger brother! The boys did very well during the shots (and so did I)! At this point I am very comfortable around needles...

Here are the official "one month" pictures of the boys. We purchased some overalls for the boys in size 12 months and plan to take their picture in them each month until they grow into them. It was pretty funny to see them in the overalls now since they are so small! Thanks to Beth H. for the idea :)

Prior

Mason