Five-Month Checkup

The babies went to the pediatrician today for their five-month well visit. The little lady is 13lb14oz and 24 inches long. Her brother is a whopping 15lbs even and 26.25 inches long!

I can't believe he has 2.25 inches on her! I mean, I can tell he's taller but I didn't realize how much. Looks like he might be getting some of the height genes from my side of the family (my brother and father are a few inches over six feet and I am 5'8''). Plus Blue has a few tall relatives, although he doesn't quite break the six-foot barrier himself. So we'll see!

I can definitely tell Indigo is heavier than Periwinkle every time I lift them in their carriers. Using a stroller to pick them up at daycare is becoming a very real possibility.

Project Sheep Rescue Update

You  may have noticed I didn't post last week. That's because I gained 1.8lbs. Ugh. This week I didn't feel much better, but I'm down 1.4, for a net gain of 0.4. I'll take it. I'm still at about a pound a week for 2013 which is a nice, healthy pace.

On my way back to work from Weight Watchers I passed this dress in the window of NY&Co.

So cute! I tried it on and I'm not sure about it. I definitely want to try it on with a belt, like in the picture. I feel like I deserve something pretty, so maybe this will be my 10lb reward. I'm sick of feeling like a lump wearing the same six sweaters (since they are all that I own that fits).

Now that the babies are going to bed at 8pm I'm hoping to gather the energy to work out in the evenings, in addition to my weekly Zumba. We'll see...

Sleep Update

Well, something must have clicked for the babies in the past few days. First off, they seem to be napping better. That has led to better nightsleep.

Sunday night they resisted going to bed because they'd napped perhaps TOO much that day, but then slept until about 5:30am, when they got chatty.

Monday night Periwinkle was crying around 4am so I got bottles ready, by which point she'd fallen asleep again. Back to the fridge went the bottles.

And last night not a peep. I asked Blue if he'd taken care of a nightwaking that I slept through, but no. Just a little chattiness from Periwinkle around 5:30am, that was it. 

 

I gave her her pacifier before I headed to work, and I'm hoping she fell asleep so Blue could sleep another hour or so. (P.S. It was so great to see her smiley face before going to work!)

Here's hoping this is the new normal, because it feels amazing getting six hours of sleep at a shot!!

A Letter to Indigo at Five Months

Dear Indigo,

At five months old, you are just such a boy. I can already imagine the mayhem you are going to cause once you are on the move. And boy, are you trying. You haven't mastered rolling over yet, but you are an expert at getting your knees under you and scootching forward a few inches. One of these days I'm going to pick you up from daycare and you will be crawling, I swear.

Getting mobile

You are still my mellow man, though. Very few things seem to faze you. Once you are asleep, you can nap like a champ. You like to sit on the couch with us and watch the bright colors on the tv. Over the weekend you watched baseball with Grandpa and we couldn't get you to look away from the screen for a second (go Red Sox! Shhh, don't tell Daddy. He's a Yankees fan.)

Big boy on the couch

You got sick this month. The pediatrician sent you off to the baby ER, where you braved lots of tests and an IV. Daddy says you didn't even cry all that much. I'm so sorry you had to go through that, and I'm so glad you are better now. How about we don't do that again anytime soon?

At the hospital

You and your sister are getting to be friends. Although, when we put you on the couch together you tend to reach out and knock out her pacifier or hit her in the face. I think you are just trying to say, "Hey sis, how's it going?" but you need to work on your hand-eye coordination a bit more.

You resisted your new bedtime for a little while, but some sleep training has you doing a bit better. Some nights are good, some aren't so good. Last night I think you were still hungry, but you fell asleep after we gave you a 2oz bottle at 10pm, and you slept until nearly 6am! We're very happy with you for doing that.

Sometimes serious

I love your smile. Your entire face lights up and it makes me smile too. I can't wait until you are giggling. It's going to be so much fun making you and your sister laugh. Even now, when I'm taking a picture and call your name, you give me a big grin. Get used to it. I love to take pictures of you two.

Smiley boy

You do great in the jumperoo. You're often in one when I pick you up at daycare, and you get excited to see me and bounce up and down. Your tippy toes can touch the floor in the one at our house, but we usually put a pillow under you to help. You're starting to play with the toys a little bit, although you're still not quite sure what to do with them.

Jumperoo time!

One night at dinner I held a piece of pasta in front of you. You licked it like a lollipop. I think you'll make a decent Italian, although I think a bit of my Irish is showing up in your hair. Sometimes it looks a little red.

Hanging out with White Cat

I'm looking forward to what this next month will bring. You'll be rolling over within the next week, I'd say, and will be on the move soon after that. You're already wearing some six-month clothes as you continue to grow like crazy. And one of these days, the world will realize it's technically spring, and we'll be able to go play outside in the dirt together. I can't wait!

Love,
Mama

A Letter to Periwinke at Five Months

Dear Periwinkle,

Today you are five months old. You are such a different baby from the frail little thing we brought home from the hospital. You are strong and opinionated and seem to feel every emotion intensely. If you are happy, your smile is ecstatic. If you are upset, your cry expresses every tear. You've become very chatty and I could listen to you all day long as you work out vowel sounds and give hiccuping laughs.

Having a laugh with your daddy

So serious sometimes

Your biggest achievement this month is that you rolled over from front to back! I was so proud of you I clapped and cheered. You just looked confused at your altered worldview. You've gotten very close to doing it again, and we're going to keep working on it whenever we can. Soon you'll be rolling across the living room floor and there will be no stopping you.

You're also getting very close to sitting up on your own. You are excellent at hanging out on the couch and you can sit up in my lap with only a few fingers holding you up. We can see you trying to pull yourself up to sitting, working those abs and trying to find your balance. You'll get there soon.

Hanging out with mama on your sick day

You love the jumperoo exersaucer thingamabob we bought you guys. You sit in it, tentatively touching the various toys. You love the music most of all. One time you were happily enjoying the tunes, and the music stopped. Without missing a beat, you burst into tears. I couldn't help but laugh.

Exploring the new jumperoo

You've also started grabbing and holding onto things with more intent. I fear this also includes my hair. I'm beginning to understand why so many new moms chop their hair off, but I'm going to try to teach you that mommy's hair is a no-no.

Not feeling well

You were sick this month with some sort of upper respiratory virus. I think you saw your brother get sick and just wanted to follow his lead. You and I got to stay home together one day while you were getting better. It was one of my favorite days this month because we got some mommy-daughter time. I'm looking forward to spending this Friday with both of you, since daycare is closed for Good Friday. It's been marked on my calendar all month long. 

Playing hooky on a sick day

You and your brother are in separate cribs now, but you still look at each other. You're starting to really watch him and recognize him as your playmate, I think. Sometimes you two hold hands and it is just the sweetest thing ever. We wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of the two of you chatting away, alternating who is talking, as though you are carrying on a real conversation. I think you are. I really hope that you always remain friends. Brothers are great to have around.

Waking Blue up in the morning

I can't wait to see what this next month brings. Milestones are going to be happening even more quickly. Just keep trying to save them for me and daddy to see so we don't miss anything. You're growing up too fast as it is.

Love,
Mama

Morning Dropoff

Rocking Star Trek onesies last weekend. Day 73 of Project 365.

It's a good thing I don't usually do daycare dropoff in the morning, because I'd be really tempted on a daily basis to play hooky with these two goofballs. Blue is travelling for work this week so I've been in charge. They are usually so chipper in the morning! When I hand them over to the daycare teachers, Periwinkle inevitably gives one of her hiccuping laughs and a huge smile crosses her face. She's so happy to be there! This makes me both happy and sad. She probably doesn't even remember when I was home with them during my leave.

Moody babies. Day 75 of Project 365.

By the time I pick them up in the afternoon, she's a moody mess from not napping enough and cries all the way home. Then it's time to squeeze in one last nap, a final bottle, and then bed by 8pm. In fact, last night she finally conked out for that "nap" at 7 so I ended up dreamfeeding her in the swing and putting her to bed without waking her up. And she slept until 1:30am! Crazy!

Day 76 of Project 365. Happy Spring!

But where's the fun in that? I miss the interactions we get with them on the weekends. I rarely hear them attempt to talk during the week, since that is a daytime activity for them and by evening they are tired and less likely to "talk." They definitely spend more waking hours with daycare than with us. So, to them, are WE the temporary help, and daycare the all-the-time people? An interesting and sad thought.

Day 77 of Project 365

So, I'm glad it's almost the weekend. Of course, we're visiting family so I'll have to fight to hold them probably, but at least I'll be in the same room with them and can hear their giggles and see their smiles.

Day 78 of Project 365

Yeah, definitely good I don't drop them off every day. I get way too misty-eyed about this whole daycare thing.

Seven hours until I pick them up. I can't wait!

Relief in Sight

I think I love my new allergist. She was so nice and understanding and said she will find a way to help me. Then I can frolick through a meadow like this chick:

First up, repair my poor nose. She gave me a sample of a prescription nasal inhaler thingy along with a prescription, if I like it. It's new so I'm hoping my new (crappy) insurance will cover it. She did tell me it's not an instantaneous relief like the Afrin I've been using in recent weeks. She also told me to stop using the Afrin, pronto, because it's not for long-term use. Sad. I'm expecting a few days of misery before my new regimen kicks in.

She also prescribed me a new allergy med, so goodbye Zyrtec-D. Gee, I'm glad I stocked up on that while pregnant so I'd use up my FSA money... I guess I could always cook up some crystal meth (kidding, kidding). The new drug doesn't have decongestant, but, coupled with the inhaler, should give me relief.

In three weeks I go back for allergy testing. I haven't been tested since 2007 and I feel like they've gotten worse. After that, we'll discuss allergy shots. Yay! There is hope for my poor nose and sinuses!

I also need to replace the filter in my HEPA filter thingy more often. And dust my bedroom more than once every six months. That'll probably help a great deal...