Watch A&B Grow: 6 Months

Oh my goodness, suddenly it's like my babies have decided to grow up! I always heard that the 6-month mark was magical with twins, and in some ways it is.

We have a pretty good eating/sleeping routine going on now, and it's so much easier to plan a day. It's not nearly as overwhelming to take them out and about, even if we are gone for a long period of time. They are great about napping wherever we are, and we've got a handle on feeding wherever we may be. That being said, I LOVE having a mini-van. It makes a huge difference in being comfortable on the go, especially with two!

Both boys have been sick for about two weeks. In fact, we couldn't get their 6-month shots at their check-up because they had been running fever and throwing up! Thankfully we seem to be on the upside. 

The pediatrician was very impressed developmentally as to how the boys are doing. You would never know they were over three weeks early! They both are the happiest, most pleasent babies.

Archer 

You are my big boy! Weighing in at 16lbs 12oz and 26 1/4in long, you are built like a little line backer. You laugh all the time and have figured out that your feet and hands are awesome toys. You roll from tummy to back ALL THE TIME but pretty much refuse to roll from back to tummy. You can, but you'd rather not. You are starting to bear weight on those little legs and love your exersaucer. You play with toys and grab anything you can get your hands on. No teeth yet but it has to happen soon, because you are drooling like crazy. You love to eat. Breakfast is your favorite. I've yet to find anything you refuse! Oh, you figured out that if you hold your own bottle, you don't have to wait for brother! 

Beckett

You are such a mess! Boy, do you have a temper. But you laugh and smile all the time! Weighing in a little less than brother, you are 16lbs 1oz and 26 1/2in long. You roll around all over the place and are trying to raise up on your hands and knees. You now immediately roll to your belly to sleep - that is, when you do sleep. You are definitely not my sleeper. You love to stand and play in your exersaucer and despise laying down. You love breakfast but prefer savory over sweet. I think your teeth are coming soon. You are my snuggle buddy and love being cuddled up on the couch. I know that I can get you to sleep by putting your nose to mine and laying next to you. You will be running before walking if I had to guess!

I love you both, sweet boys!

Watch A & B Grow: 5 months

I can't even begin to say how much these little dudes mean to us! I mean, can you stand the cuteness?

Archer and Beckett - you are true joys. Month five has been full of excitement. You both are topping the scales around 16 pounds and are finally moving into 3-6 month clothing. We started solids this month and boy, you both LOVE your food. When you see your bowls you will kick your feet and squeal, because you know what's coming. Both of you rolled over from tummy to back within a day or so of each other, and Beckett will roll from back to tummy. You both will be sitting up before we even know it!

You have finally started to interact with each other and we love watching your relationship bloom. It's obvious you will be the best of friends.

Beckett, you are quite possibly the happiest baby I've ever met. You grin and smile from the second your eyes open in the morning until they close at night. You are so nosy and think everyone is talking to you. You never meet a stranger. You are also an early bird and a champion sleep fighter. You love peas and carrots. I could kiss your cheeks all day long.

Archer, you are a little ham. Your laugh is contagious. Sometimes, when we get you tickled, we can just look at you and you throw that little head back and cackle. You are a tough cookie to crack sometimes, though, and have a very inquisitive and pensive side. I believe you will be a Momma's boy for sure, and you already have a keen sense of stranger danger. You are my sleeper and there are mornings we have to wake you in order to get out the door in time. Those chubby little cheeks melt my heart.

You both are our miracles and we don't let a day go by without remembering that!

Picture Dump

iPhone picture dump to catch up!!

Our first Easter!!

My first Mother's Day.

My sweet Sam's 8th grade graduation.

Sitting in our bumbos.

Our first swim. Not really that impressed.

Ready to take a walk.

Poppin' that collar!

Watch A & B Grow: Month 3

I cannot even begin to believe you two perfect little boys have been on this Earth for three entire months (well - over three months, because Mom is a little slow at writing these updates)!

This month has been SO FUN. It is like overnight you woke up and suddenly have little personalities and interact and know what is going on around you.

Both of you have your first real sickness as I type this. A few days ago, Daddy called me at work and said you were both acting fussy, particularly Archer. By the next evening, Archer threw up and you were both gagging from all of the mucus draining down your throat. It was a long night, as neither of you wanted to sleep and were just pitiful. After a trip to the pediatrician, you were diagnosed with your first cold/sinus infection and given antibiotics. There just isn't a lot they can do for a three month old. Despite the moments of fussiness and even screaming (we think the antibiotic now hurts your little tummies), you are still the happiest babies! Even after throwing up, you will look up and smile these huge grins, as if to say "It's okay Mom and Dad. I feel so much better now!"

Beckett, you have suddenly turned into a talking machine! You coo and babble all the time. And oh, that smile - it can melt Mommy's heart. You went from being so serious and pensive, to always smiling and downright nosey. I am here to tell you, those eyes are wide open all. of. the. time. You are terrified you will miss something. You also LOVE the television. Mommy and Daddy aren't too thrilled about that, because we try to limit "screen time." But sometimes we have to mute the TV when you are taking a bottle because you will strain and move until you can see what is going on and forget to eat. You still aren't the best sleeper, waking at least once, if not more, times during the night to fuss around. However, Daddy has gotten you on a great schedule and you take a good afternoon nap in your crib. We also started swaddling you with your arms out, and you are doing a great job and seem much more content. Those big blue eyes and long eyelashes are gorgeous, and your hair is coming in so thick and dark! You will be a heart breaker for sure. You are in all 0-3 month clothing, and Mommy just switched out your pajamas to 3-6 because they were all too short for you. At the doctor's appointment you weighed 12lbs 7oz and were 23 3/4in long - almost a two footer. We love you, Mouse, more than you know.

Archer, you giggle constantly. You laugh out loud and it is the sweetest thing I have ever heard. You even laugh in your sleep, which is precious. You talk to Mommy and Daddy all the time, and mimic some of our sounds. You are a little more laid back than your brother and while still nosey, not quite as much as him. While you still like to sleep much more so than Beckett, you get really excited when it is time to play. You will kick those little legs and move those arms like no other. When music plays, we swear you will nod your head and pat your hand to the beat. Especially in your car seat. You are a great sleeper, and LOVE being unswaddled. When we put you down at night, you may grunt and root for a while, but once you are out you are out for the count. Most nights you sleep straight through for about 10 hours. You love to eat, and take a bottle in a flash. You rolled over once from your tummy to your back. We think it may have been an accident because you were having a fit and flung yourself over, but it counts! You have started to (finally) lose some of your newborn hair, and have a ring of baldness around the entire middle of your head. It is hilarious and we can't figure out how it happened. You have huge, crystal clear blue eyes and long eyelashes too. You will be a handsome man, no doubt. You are growing like a weed, and fill out your 0-3 month clothes no problem. In fact, I think you will be wearing some 3-6 soon. At the doctor's appointment you weighed 12lbs 13oz and were 23in long. We love you, Goose, to the moon and back!

Watch A & B Grow: 2 Months

Well, here I am writing their 2 month post at 3 months. No one could have warned me with how hectic life with twins is!

The boys are growing so super fast. I love it and hate it all at once. Watching them develop into little humans is amazing, but my tiny babies have disappeared. Both of you have moved into your 0-3 month clothing. It is a little big, but your newborn outfits were getting a little tight and definitely too short! We also moved you up to Size 1 diapers. They looked SO HUGE compared to the tiny little newborn diapers, but you fill them out quite nicely.

Archer, you are growing so fast little man. At your two month check-up, you passed brother up by just a few ounces. You did great with your shots and only cried for a few minutes. It broke Momma's heart. Thankfully your Coy went with us since Daddy had to work, and she cuddled you too. You ran a low grade temperature for the night afterwards, but a little dose of Tylenol made you all better. You are my good eater, taking down at least 6oz, sometimes more, at each feeding. Right now I'm still pumping, and you get about about 70% breast milk and 30% formula. You have weaned yourself from one night feeding, eating once in the night. It's amazing what 4-5 consecutive hours of sleep will do for a Momma & Daddy. You are a happy little guy, smiling and laughing and talking all the time. You are a good sleeper for the most part. You are a joy and delight in our lives. We love you Goose!

Beckett, you are the most serious little man. Your facial expressions crack us up. You are very pensive and studious, and take everything in. You are definitely more wakeful than your brother and don't care for sleep as much. We think you have your Momma's temperament. You did great at your two month check-up and screamed briefly when you got shots, and then you were over it after a snuggle from Momma. You are our little cuddle bug and love being held close, burying your face in the crook of our arm. You are starting to get attached to your "lovey," a little monkey Daddy picked you out for Easter. You aren't as big of an eater as brother, and also weaned yourself from one night feeding. However, you tend to wake more during the night to fuss briefly. You are our little old man, and fill our hearts with great happiness. We love you, Mouse!

On the Night You Were a Born

I don't remember a lot about the delivery. I was so sick from the magnesium I couldn't stay awake much. I remember being rolled into the operating room and the Neonatoligist stopping me and promising my babies would be taken care of. I remember panicking thinking I could feel everything and that I wasn't breathing (although I was fine).

I do remember, however, hearing my doctor say here comes A and the sweetest, most perfect little scream echoing throughout the room and someone saying to Justin, "Here he is Dad! Get pictures!" Only to be followed exactly one minute later by B's sweet, perfect little yelp and cries!

Welcome to the world, Archer!

Welcome to the world, Beckett!

Justin went to check on the babies as their two teams of doctors looked them over while I was finishing up. Once the babies were given the okay, they were wrapped up and brought over to me to see. I was so delirious but remember just staring at those sweet faces and feeling so relieved that they were finally here. Justin held them both for a few minutes while they finished sewing me up, and then they moved me to my regular hospital bed, placed one baby in each arm, and rolled me to my room.

Meeting Beckett.

Hi, Daddy!

Archer Robertson arrived at 12:18am Saturday, February 22 weighing 5lbs 13oz and 19 1/2 inches long followed by Beckett Tinsley at 12:19am weighing 6lbs 1oz and 19 1/2 inches long. We had our parents come in first for a few minutes to meet the boys, then the rest of our family. Those were some of the most precious moments, seeing our sweet babies being loved by so many people.

Beckett and Coy.

Coy, Poppy and Archer.

Daddy, Nana and Beckett.

PawPaw and Daddy.

Our little Beckett Boy.

Sweet baby Archer.

Archer and Beckett, the moments you entered the world will forever be stamped into your Daddy and my's hearts. We waited and prayed for so long to meet you, and it was worth every scary moment, every painful time, all the bedrest and hospital stays, and long tedious labor. I would do it again in a second to have you both here with me.

On The Night You Were Born: Part Two

Justin and I settled down for the evening on Wednesday and our parents went home. The plan was for them to come up that morning unless I progressed really quickly, which we doubted.

More than ready!

I tried to get some rest before the induction started, but that was impossible. First, I was super anxious. The biggest issue though was how uncomfortable I was. I ended up standing most of the night until my epidural because my hips hurt SO bad.

My nurse started pitocin at midnight after starting an IV. She was such an angel that night. I was so scared and in a LOT of pain but I wanted to hold out before the epidural. Also, I knew that once it started "active labor" and got the epidural, she would break my water and I would have to start magnesium. Because I was severely pre-eclampsic I had to be on a magnesium sulfate drip until 24 hours post delivery. More on that to come.

The pitocin was slowly increased and I began to have some fairly steady and strong contractions. My back and hips hurt already from the pressure of two large babies, and I started having back labor. I was in a lot of pain but wanted to tough it out before getting the epidural so I could stay off the magnesium as long as possible. I labored for a couple of hours on a birthing ball and standing. Finally, my angel of a nurse strongly encouraged me to go ahead and get the epidural so I could rest and she could break my water. About 4:00 am on February 21st, I decided to get the epidural and get things moving. IT WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAD EVER HAPPENED to that point. Ha! I felt amazing after the epidural, was dialated to 4cm and completely effaced, and able to rest. However, the magnesium drip began at that point.

And that is where things get hairy.

From about 8:00 am forward, I barely remember anything at all. Magnesium sulfate is a horrible, scary drug. I felt like I was burning from the inside out even though I had the chills. I could not keep my eyes open and had no energy or strength. My memories of the day include waking up long enough to ask Justin if "the button was green" on my epidural because that meant I could push it for more medicine and having the anesthesiologist come in twice to push a bolus of medication because I was in labor for so long the epidural began to wear off.

Waiting it out.

I am told people were in and out of the room and if I even woke up, all I would do was stare through them. Justin stayed in the room with me the entire time. I know he was scared and nervous. By 10:00 pm on February 21st, I had not dilated past 7cm even with the pitocin turned up on the maximum drip. My contractions had all but stopped and my body was too tired from the pregnancy and labor to move forward. Because my uterus was already SO stretched out from carrying two babies, even with medication, it would not contract.

I vaguely remember my doctor coming in, sitting down on the side of my bed around 11:00pm, and saying, "Claire, it is time to get these babies out. Now." Almost 24 hours after beginning to labor, my plan of a vaginal delivery was going straight out the window.