A look back to D-day...
I love that I'm still wearing my tank and cardigan under my hospital gown. I was completely convinced that I was going in for a quick check, then out for dessert. Because even I wouldn't bring a 2 year old and a 5 year old to the hospital to give birth:) I love the sweet look on Dawson's face, what an angel baby. And notice Ella's expression and that she has swiped the nurse call button.
It looks like an alien is in my belly, I think it's all the monitors.
Mitchy's BIRTHday!
Charlie's BIRTHday!
A couple hours old, snuggling with Mom
1st BiRtHdAy!!
The plan was to celebrate their birthday at the Oregon coast since we were leaving just 2 days later. But we had to have a mini-celebration on their real birthday. It was simple but sweet.
They were both very alarmed by the fire. Quickly followed by poor decision making when alarmed by fire: Mitchy tried to put his mouth on the candle {he acted like he thought it was a straw} and Charlie pinched his and burned his finger. Luckily we had ice cream to dip it in. If you look at the bottom left of the picture, you can see Dawson's hand holding on to Mitchy.. He was so sweet and was trying to keep him from touching the hot candle.
Mitchy is mesmerized by the smoke, Charlie is wondering why the heck his parents didn't prevent him from burning himself, on his birthday of all days;)
How old are you Charlie?!
BiRtHdAy hugs xoxo
I LOVE this picture
How old are you Mitchy?
So it's obvious that twins = 2 babies, but it doesn't make sense unless you've had two babies at once. Todd and I still talk about how amazing it was that I was pregnant with TWO babies, and any Mom that has experienced a pregnancy knows how miraculous {and uncomfortable at times} one baby is. But to have 2 babies in your belly, kicking, rolling, punching, doing back-flips on your cervix, now that's something else:) Especially at the end when you have 2 full-sized babes in there, along with all the other goodies like 2 placentas, 2 bags of water...And then you finally make it to D-day, thank the Lord above. And for me all the mental preparation in the world wasn't enough to prepare me for that. I had a fast labor which shocked me to begin with, our doula had me prepared for the worst. And after a bit of pushing and a lot of whining, my sweet Mitchy was placed in my arms. The only thing is those treasured moments were way too short lived, because a few minutes later I hand to hand over my precious newborn when I started contracting, again, and had to push out ANOTHER BABY! It was surreal. Then that feeling of "holy cow, this is crazy!" just becomes your life. I would nurse one baby, but then there was another. Change one baby, then there was another, and another {Dawson}. Bathe one baby, burp one baby, rock one baby to sleep, put one baby in the car...and there was always one more to go. And to top it off, I brought home TWO babies to a needy, clingy 2 year old and a rambunctious, feisty 5 year old. Night times were an out of body experience. And even though I tried to do what the books said and when one baby woke up, I'd wake the other, feed, change, rock...supposedly trying to get them on the same schedule. It just didn't work. And my philosophy on twins is this: they are 2 separate people, you can't force them to become like each other. Sometimes I would finish nursing, change that baby's diaper, rock one to sleep, and then 20 minutes after I hit the pillow the next baby was up. And I just don't make good sleepers, Charlie was 14 months the 1st time he slept through the night. Their sleep schedules were just completely different, and knowing how opposite they are now, it makes sense. They were a full year before they would nap at the same time, and I thanked my lucky stars for that, at least I have some time each day with only 2 instead of 3 little people awake! And I know I'm whining a lot, and it sounds like I'm complaining, I'm not trying to. It goes without saying how much I love and longed for motherhood. But it was hard and I guess I need a little validation sometimes;) The past 24 months have been the most isolating, challenging, humbling, emotionally charged, physically draining and completely magical years of my life. I have been up to my eyeballs in diapers, but saturated with love. I have had my lowest lows, and my highest highs. Some days the minutes just drag on like hours, but as I look back, I can't believe how quickly the years have passed. As they've gotten older, it's gotten easier, and harder ~ I guess it depends on what exactly you're talking about. They are busier, but they sleep most nights. I don't have to carry 2 infant seats into the pediatrician's office with Dawson attached to my skirt, I can roll one in the umbrella stroller, hold the other, and Dawson and Ella can walk alongside me safely. Their meals aren't contained in a neat little package called the boob, they are messy and time consuming. But I can go to the park and pack snacks and not hide under a blanket trying to nurse. They don't lay in bed with me at night to nurse, now they climb into my bed and snuggle with me and tackle me. Instead of sitting in a bouncy seat in the bathroom while I shower, they dump my earrings, and lotions, and shoes, and make-up {or in Charlie's case, wear my make-up} But now they giggle, and talk, and sing, and dance, and French kiss, and hold on to me tight with their arms wrapped around my neck. They say Mama, and rub my face, and offer me bites of their cookies. It is exhausting, and it is pure bliss. And no matter how hard it is at times, I wouldn't change a thing. Because I am the first face they see when they open their eyes every morning, and the last one they see every night before they fall asleep. And that is worth everything to me.
