Weekend of One on One

This weekend, I got to do some really fun things with each of my kids.

Friday evening, I took Nicholas to the library with me to drop off books, then we played at the playground there for a while. Then I took him shopping (that wasn't really fun but it was still one on one time). He enjoyed spending his time in the sand pit (something he would do again at a different park on Sunday).

Saturday

Saturday morning, we took the kids to their swim lessons. Thankfully, Benjamin got in the pool this time! They seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Nicholas, on the other hand, defintely enjoyed himself. He was doing a little doggie paddling in the pool. This time, instead of being in the pool with him, Jon went in so I could watch (and so I wouldn't need to wash my hair again before going to my next social event).

In the afternoon, I went to a friend's baby shower while Jon took the kids blueberry picking. They also got to look at some farm animals - they told me how they had fed the goat.

When they got home, I took Ella to the movie theater for her to see her first movie in a theater. We went to go see Kung Fu Panda 2. Most of the time, she was telling me she wanted to go home (probably because she was tired and not because of the movie). She did enjoy the popcorn though.

Then on Sunday, we went to church, then out to a picnic lunch with a couple friends and their almost 20 month old son. Nicholas liked the sand pit. Ella and Benjamin did too, though Benjamin also seemed to like just hanging on the blanket too.

Then that afternoon, I took Benjamin to see the Everett Aquasox game (the Mariners are too expensive when they play popular teams). I think he enjoyed it at lot. He watched the game, ate a hot dog, then went on an inflatable slide, ate some ice cream that came in a cute little baseball cap and then got to run around the bases after the game. I tried to get Benjamin to run on the bases by himself but he wasn't doing it so I ran with him (of course, I didn't mind that at all - though it isn't quite the same as when you are at Safeco Field).

A very busy weekend but it was definitely fun. I didn't get a lot of chores done, but we had a lot of fun. And an extra bonus is that one of the ladies at the church gave us some size 6 clothes for Ella and Ella was really enjoying the fairy costume. There are some really cute dresses in there too that I am so jealous of Ella's wardrobe!

Well, that's it for now. This coming weekend, we are going to a 40th birthday party of a friend of Jon's from high school that promises to have a bouncy house for the kids. We haven't seen this friend since we were going through IVF so it will be his first meeting our kids and our first meeting his son. Also, I plan to take Benjamin to a movie in the future and Ella to a baseball game because they both want to and well, so do I!

Harry Potter & Blech

Last night around 9 p.m., my body decided that it didn't agree with something I ate and revolted. So I really didn't go to bed until about 2 and even then I was up every hour. Things seemed to finally quieting down this morning around 8 or 9. I still feel kinda gross but at least I was able to eat a little something and I am able to hold down some liquids.

Thankfully, I was feeling better since I had tickets to go the Harry Potter exhibit at the Pacific Science Center. It was an interesting exhibit. Seeing costumes worn by the actors and props from the movie. On the signs showing the proclamation of things banned had at the very bottom "blah blah blahblah blahablaha" etc. I pointed that out to Kelly who seemed amused by it, as was I. It was then pointed out to people nearby us. It was kinda funny seeing costumes worn during the first or second movies compared to later on - seeing how much the actors have grown over the years.

Soon, I hope to go see the movie.

Now I must go to bed since I had very little sleep last night and I am about to pass out.

before I forget and while I have time

Last Thursday (04/30/09), Nicholas rolled over from his tummy to his back. He's done it twice now! Yay, Nicholas! Nicholas likes to sleep in someone's arms or nearby someone - he does not like to wake up and find you are not near him. He screams out and gets bright red if he wakes up and he's in the bouncy seat or his cosleeper bed. Trying to do chores with him in a bjorn is rather tiring rather quickly.

A new word for both Benjamin and Ella - duck. And apparently, since chicks are yellow like the ducks they see in their books, chicks are also ducks.

Whenever they leave a room, they like to say "bye bye, see you". They don't like it when Jon leaves without them in the morning because usually when Jon gets ready to go, it's time to go to a park and play outside! Though it was pouring rain this morning, so I don't think it would have been that much fun, but then again, they didn't seem to mind it the other day.

I will be making attempt #2 tomorrow to see a movie with Nicholas for the mom & me movie time - last time, it didn't work so well since traffic to the other side of the lake was horrible (at least on 520).

That's all for now.

Toddler Updates

Yesterday, I get to the daycare and notice that Benjamin has a bite mark on his arm. The daycare told me that another toddler (younger than Ben & Ella) bit him on his arm. Benjamin screamed out and they consoled him. Ella saw Benjamin crying and figured out what had gone on, I guess, because she went over to the other kid and yelled at him. She was actually scolding the other kid (she likes to yell stop to our kitties because we yell stop at them when they scratch the couch), then she went over to Benjamin and pet his head to comfort him. What a good sister, she is.

Then they were telling me that Ella is better at sticking up for herself and will take back toys taken from her, but Benjamin won't. And I'm like, huh? And they clarified that Benjamin will stick up to Ella but not to other little kids (I was going to say, he fights with Ella all the time). If a toy is taken from him by another little kid (though he is the biggest one in the under 2 age group), he will just go get another toy - unless it's Ella that takes the toy, then he'll just take it back.

In other developments, Benjamin is more and more repeating words that I say. Last night, I said, "where are your eyes?" and he said "eyes" with a huge grin on his face. Ella pointed to her eyes. I haven't really heard Ella repeat words that I say though I know she understands them.

We got them balls the other night and Ella likes to yell "whoa!" every time she throws a ball. It is so incredibly cute. Benjamin actually yelled "whee!" last night when throwing a ball.

This weekend, they are having their Santa pictures taken here at my office. I'm a little anxious about how they will react - especially Ella. I hope that if she sees us, it will be o.k. We'll see this Saturday! Then Sunday, we were invited to a pre-Thanksgiving Day dinner. Yum! Thanksgiving dinner two times in one week! I'm looking forward to it!

Twilight comes out this weekend too - it's not looking like I'll be seeing it this weekend (though I would - I just don't want to go by myself), but maybe next weekend? Maybe?

Questions & Answers & Cute Stories

To answer Faith's question, I think the first finger food we gave them were the Gerber puffs and then later, the Zwieback toast. We actually just gave them those mesh bags the other day for the first time. I had completely forgotten about them. We put a huge piece of watermelon in there, and they were like "what in the world? Can we just have the watermelon by itself?". I do like those though and will probably use them in the future for other things.

I have a question for those with older babies - how did you transition to using no bottles at all? When did you stop giving them formula? Did you transition to milk and only sippy cups all at the same time? Our 1 year checkup isn't until July 1, so I'll be giving them formula until then when I hope the doctor will say - yep, you can start giving them milk now.

What type of foods do you give your 1 year old? Ella still only has 2 teeth and Benjamin still doesn't have any.

And now onto cute stories:

Ella has started to point to things and talk about whatever she's pointing at (at least, I'm assuming that's what she's doing - I don't quite understand all of her words right now). She has become quite the talker lately. The words I do understand is "keh" for kitty, "ma" for mom, "dada", "uh oh". And, of course, I can't think of the others right now. She's really cute though with her talking. The cutest thing the other day was when I dropped something and she said "uh oh ma". :-D

Benjamin, ever since I can remember, has been a little singer. He will sing when he is getting his diaper changed or about a toy.

Lately, both of them have become fascinated with our ceiling fan in the dining area. We turned it on for the first time since last summer the other day, and it is just so interesting. If you need Benjamin to hang out while you go fix a bottle or feed the kitties, just sit him down underneath the fan and let him stare. Ella pointed at it the other day and we think she was telling us about the fan (which wasn't on at the time).

The other day, Ella said something to Benjamin and started to crawl away and he went crawling after her. I just can't even describe how cute it was to see both of them crawling together down the hallway. Just cute!

Ella has stood on her own a few times, but hasn't tried walking since last Saturday. Benjamin has gotten a lot better at pulling himself up, but hasn't quite mastered it. Once he does get himself up, he does a great job of cruising around the furniture. I thought for sure he was going to go from one end of the livingroom to the other using one couch, to the coffee table to the other couch, but he stopped midway through the coffee table.

I've been reading a book called Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner (a sequel to Good in Bed), and after watching Dan in Real Life and reading this book, I have to say I'm not looking forward to the teenage years.

That's about it for now.

Movie News

I don't know if anyone has read The Memory Keeper's Daughter, but if you have or are interested in the story, Lifetime made a movie out of it and it will air on April 12.

Almost Friday

Yesterday, I wrote that I was expecting to find Ella sleeping on her belly any day now. Well, that day was this morning. I walked into their room to get some bibs for the daycare and found Ella sleeping on her belly. She heard me (that girl is a light sleeper) and got up on her hands and knees and smiled at me. So cute.

Benjamin heard me too, but he kept on sleeping. He tossed and turned a bit - probably deciding if he should wake up or not. He decided to sleep just a little bit longer - not too much though. I got to see both of them awake before I left for the bus. Yay! Unfortunately, I didn't get to hang out with them for too long. They were not happy with me putting them down to play while Jon fixed their bottles and I got my coat on to leave. :-(

To answer Alli's question from yesterday - Spiderwick was good, I thought. Sure, they left some things out from the books, but I still enjoyed it. It was nice to go out on a real date - who knows when we'll be able to do so again!

Babies

Hmm, it's been nearly a week since I last wrote something.

Ella is more and more getting up on her hands and her feet (and sometimes her knees). There have been a few times that we put her to bed for the night or for a nap for her to wake up with a frustrated cry she has because she's trying to get on her tummy then to her hands and knees/feet but the crib is in the way. Sometimes, she has got there successfully but can't get past the rocking motion or she goes backwards. I'm expecting any day now to find her sleeping on her belly. It's very cute that when she's on her back to sleep, she puts her hands behind her head.

Benjamin likes to sleep with his arms extended in some fashion. Last night, it looked like he was doing the John Travolta - Saturday Night Fever pose. Cute! Benjamin hasn't really seemed interested in attempting to crawl yet, but she tells some great stories!


Hmm, what else. We took the babies to a birthday party for a 2 year old this past weekend. Benjamin slept through a good deal of the party. Ella slept for a little bit. They came to visit me at work on Monday since I had to work and Jon didn't. Everyone oohed and aahed at them and how big they have gotten since the last time they saw them (in person) on Halloween. A coworker of mine made big hooded towels for the babies with this cute little ribbon on them. Adorable! She also offered to babysit with her 14 year old daughter. My boss and her 20-something daughter came over on Saturday so Jon and I could go out on a date. We went out to lunch and saw The Spiderwick Chronicles. I'm looking forward to bringing my children to movies and see them get all excited about it. My nephew loved the movie so much, he now wants to read the books (I read them a while ago). I'm looking forward to my children being excited about books too - I hope they will be - I'm trying to start to read to them more than I had before so I hope that will encourage excitement in books!

Documentary

A while back in one of my posts, I wrote about a website that was all about natural childbirth - including childbirth at the home. Then a member of one of the multiple groups I'm involved in mentioned a movie called "The Business of Being Born" produced by Ricki Lake. I went to go look into it to see and apparently, it is the film version of the website I mention above. I probably will want to see this at some point just to see for myself though.

If anyone sees it, let me know how it is.

Almost 10 weeks!

To answer Kerry Lynn, I did get that picture from South Park studio. I also have a Simpsons me and an M&M me, but I like the South Park one the best. :-D

Well, today was a good day - I am so grateful for those good days. Babies were mostly good until the evening - why do they get so fussy in the evening? Today, I got Benjamin to sleep in his crib for his two naps today! He can be such an easy baby most of the time. Right now, he's talking to something downstairs - maybe to Jon right now. Ella didn't want to stay in her crib for too long, so I let her sleep in our room. She will definitely be the challenge in getting to sleep in the other room as she is the one who needs to be held. She did seem interested in the mobile though - but only for so long.

Ella still spits up a lot and because of that fusses a lot - I thought by switching to this new formula that has probiotics in it (as the pediatrician's office suggested) that would help, but no. Of course, she spits up breast milk so why would the new formula help? I'm giving the formula a few more days, then I'll call them again. A friend suggested I try a soy formula - I have a sample that was sent to me so we should just try it. I also got her a little foam mattress thing that will elevate her when she's sleeping in the co-sleeper or in the crib, if she'll sleep in there.

Yesterday, the four of us went to an indoor picnic with those from our multiples class - we had a good time chatting with everyone and seeing everyone's twins. I think we're planning on a Christmas get-together. However, some of us will probably continue to get together at Greenlake or at each other's homes or brave the movies again.

Oh, speaking of which, my boss came over yesterday with her daughter (she's in her early 20s) to watch Ben & Ella. Jon and I went to go see Ratatouille - it was a cute movie - not the best Pixar movie, but I liked it. I am so grateful for them coming over - we needed a "date". We're going to go again - this time to dinner - on the 29th for our 9th wedding anniversary. A friend is going to watch them.

Well, that's about it from here. Oh, on Saturday, Benjamin was about halfway flipped over - it must have been a fluke because he hasn't done it again. I was getting all excited about him flipping over! Tomorrow they will be 10 weeks old - amazing!

Firsts

The hospital pictures that I ordered of Ben & Ella arrived today. Were they ever that little? Ben is such the little chunky baby - so cute! And Ella is gaining weight too. This Sunday they will be 2 months old! So hard to believe that 2 months ago I was about to deliver these cuties!

This week was a week of firsts for the babies. Yesterday, we went over to Lincoln Square in Bellevue to see "The Bourne Ultimatum". This theater offers a 10 a.m. showing of 3 different movies for parents with infants and older children each Thursday. They also give you a menu to order from and they bring the food to you, which is nice.

I met up with 2 other twin moms to see this movie. I missed a good chunk of it to go change some diapers and to quiet down 2 fussy babies, but it seemed like a good movie. I'll need to see it again later to catch the parts I missed. For a little bit, one of the other twin moms helped me out while here babies were sleeping and she held Ella. So thankful for that. However, after we came back from the restroom, I put Ella into the Bjorn and held Benjamin off to the side for a while - my arm is so tired as is my back, but it helped soothe them. I don't think I'll go see another action movie with them though - all the loud noises startled them, especially Ella. The other twin moms agree. I will probably go back sometime though. It would be easier with someone else there though.

Speaking of movies, I watched "Shut Up and Sing" the other day, and the part where one of the ladies has her twins (she and her sister conceived through IVF) and they play "Lullaby" just teared me up (love that song)! It was an interesting documentary.

As for today, the babies had their first out of the womb ultrasound. Their pediatrician wanted to do an ultrasound on their hips since they were born via c-section. Apparently, going through the birth canal helps with pushing the hips into place. The ultrasound guy didn't say anything was wrong, but we'll know for sure on Monday when the twins have their 2 month checkup.

After the ultrasound, Jon and I got some lunch, then we took Jon back to work and we went back home. I fed the babies then I let them play for a bit (so cute - Benjamin was talking and laughing to the bear or the rings hanging from the mat), then we took a nap on the couch. It was so nice to snuggle with them. Ella kept moving all around to get a comfy position on my chest and Benjamin, it seemed to me, looked at her as if he was telling her to stop moving already and just relax and sleep.

After that, we got up and went back to Jon's work as he wanted to show off the twins at their department's happy hour. Yep, the twins have gone to their first happy hour. It wasn't at a bar, but rather in one of the rooms in their building, but there was alcohol present. Neither I nor the twins had any. ;-D

Well, that's about it for now. I am going to try to remember to take a picture of the twins on Sunday for their 2 month birthday. They have gotten so big! We'll find out on Monday exactly what they weigh! Well, it's time for bed. I hope everyone is doing well!

I Want A Nap So Badly

I am having the hardest time staying awake today at work. I just want to go home and take a big long nap. And it’s only 10:50 a.m.. I really, really hope that my employer lets us leave early today because I don’t know if I can make it until 4:30.

After work, I need to go to the library. I wasn’t able to take this DVD back to the library last night (I watched Pride & Prejudice the other night – the new version – it was alright – not as good as the BBC version with Colin Firth), so I need to go tonight since it’s due today. Plus, there is a Snow Patrol CD on hold for me that I wanted to pick up and listen to on the way to and from work today – I guess I’ll listen to it on the way to and from work on Friday (or maybe to our Thanksgiving dinner destination if my husband will agree to listen to it).

I’ve had a bit of nausea this morning, but not too bad. To answer my mom’s comment in my last post, I usually feel alright in the morning, but today officially marks 6 weeks, so maybe I’ll start feeling it more in the morning and all day long. That’s when vanpool girl said she started to feel some morning sickness.

Well, I hope Nickie gets some great news at her ultrasound today! I’m looking forward to hearing the news. I can’t wait until the 27th either so Alli and I can go in for our ultrasounds! Only 5 more days!

Various Things

That positive pregnancy test is the best sight – at least up until I see the baby or babies on the ultrasound and also, hear the heartbeats.

I had a little scare yesterday. I went to go see “Stranger than Fiction” and during the movie, I kept feeling cramps. For some reason, I keep having cramps starting toward the late afternoon. After the movie, I got up and I thought I felt something wet. That combined with the cramping scared me. I went into the restroom and thankfully, everything was o.k. Why do I keep having cramps like AF is going to arrive at any moment?

I went to a friend’s house on Saturday night, and I looked through her pregnancy book that she had. I am just hungry for information. I put a few books on hold at the library and hopefully, they’ll be there soon. I also used one of my amazon gift certs for some other books that I hope will show up tomorrow.

Tonight, I’m going over to vanpool girl’s house to meet her baby (unless she cancels on me). That should be interesting and also fun. Now that I’m pregnant (still can’t believe I’m saying that in reference to myself), hearing her stories won’t be so bad!

I just got an e-mail from Sophie Kinsella, the author of the Shopaholic series, saying that she has a new book coming out called Shopaholic & Baby. I don’t think I could have read that book before now (those books are such guilty pleasures for me). I had forgotten until now that at the end of the last one, it appeared that the main character was pregnant without even trying.

***

I just got back from lunch. I just tried to eat a chicken quesadilla and that just made me want to throw up – it looked so good, but my tummy didn’t agree with me. Then I went to go get a baked potato – that was better, but I still feel icky. I don’t know why I always feel nauseous after eating.

Congratulations to Alli – it is looking like she got a BFP!!! I am so happy for you!

4dp5dt

In an effort to keep myself occupied and keep my mind off the whole - "will it be positive and thus, we will be so incredibly happy, or will it be negative and thus, we will be so incredibly devasatated?" question - I'm going to go see a movie tonight at the Crest with a support group buddy. I am so happy she said she would go see the movie with me because, like I said, I need to keep myself occupied and distracted. We're going to see Talladega Nights. She is the one that actually found a comedy at a theatre to go see - and it's at the "cheap" theatre!

And we ended up getting 16 kids last night. A low for us in the 3 years we've been in our house. Perhaps it was too cold?

I just got back from buying some printer paper and a pack of notebooks and I had to carry it from the store over to my van and well, I'm out of shape and I was wearing a heavy coat because I thought things were getting colder, so it was not pleasant to carry those things around the store then to my van. I really, really hope that this doesn't cause a problem with our embryos sticking around for a while. I don't know why I did what I just did - I just knew I needed these things, so I went and bought them. As you some of you can relate to, I'm afraid one little movement is going cause a positive to turn to a negative! Gah - why did I just do that?

Movies & Update

This weekend I got around to seeing a couple movies (the weather in Seattle was crappy, so the movie theatre seemed like a good place to go). I went to go see X-Men 3 on Saturday and The Da Vinci Code on Sunday. X-Men 3 was kinda on the boring side - it was o.k., but not great. The Da Vinci Code was good - though, as usual, they changed some things that happened in the book.

Also, on Sunday, I went to the RE's office for a CD13 ultrasound. And, of course, this month,the dominant follicle is on the right side with 2 smaller follicles nearby. The left ovary didn't feel like working, apparently, because there was nothing on that side - and that's the side I need working! So we're not doing anything this cycle - which I'm o.k. with because I'll have enough stress at work the next couple weeks, I don't need to also be sitting in the 2ww wondering if this time it will work.

Next cycle, the RE said that she suggested we try the Mayo protocol, which I think I may have mentioned before. With this protocol, I would have an ultrasound on CD 2 or 3 to check to make sure there are no cysts; then on CD 3-7, I would be on 100 mg of Clomid; on CD 8-10, I would inject one of the following: Repronex/Bravelle/Follistim; then on CD12, I would have another ultrasound to see what, if anything, is going on and if my left ovary decides to work next cycle, then we'll do the HCG trigger shot with an IUI. I am so not looking forward to all the shots, but hopefully, it will be all worth it.

After my doctor appointment, I went over to a bead store to purchase some beads for the beading party that my support group is having this week on Tuesday. We're going to make each other bracelets with beads that we picked out to represent ourselves, so that when all of us are going through cycles, we'll have this to remind us of the support we give each other. It is a really great idea. I'm looking forward to this!

Well, that's all for this weekend. Today, I haven't really doing much. I went and walked around a school track for 1/2 hour while my husband ran (he's training for a half marathon), then we came back and completed some chores. I am very much not looking forward to going back to the stress of work tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I may not be able to read too many blogs this week, but hopefully, I'm wrong and things at work will go smoothly!