0 To 1 Month: Mommy's a Moo Cow

October 12, 2013

Dear Alice & Evan

We survived the first month and boy it went fast! The day you turned one month old we took our first outing (Outside!) to walk on the ridge. It was a beautiful fall day. We planned your feedings accordingly but by the time we got home (half an hour later) you were hungry again.

THE FOOD SITUATION: You guys are always hungry and it feels like all we do is feed you. Sometimes I let you nurse for over an hour because I am so nervous about you not eating enough. Sometimes it's because I end up falling asleep and you do too! Some days you even want to eat every 2 hours, instead of 3, and then Mommy spends an hour on one of you, switches to the next, and spends all day just going back and forth. Evan, you are the better eater and a lot quicker. You are also the loud, impatient one and I hate to say it but you were often the first one to eat because your sister was so patient. Alice, you liked to take your time and really enjoy the breast shield because you don't like Mommy's let down. 

THE SLEEP SITUATION: After you eat you sleep, and sleep, and sleep. Alice loves to sleep and cuddle the most. Evan is our independent little guy. You are sharing a crib right now and sleep on squishy pillows on the floor during the day. The swaddling thing worked for just a couple weeks but both of you just wanted so badly to have your arms free we quickly gave up with the burrito wrapping. 

The best times are when we get a couple minutes where you are awake and quietly observing the world. Evan loves to look around the most, even from day one he was this way, and he mostly loves to look up. Everyone is shocked by how far back your head can bend! Alice is the best at working through a million facial expressions in the least amount of time. It is thrilling and amazing to all of us!

You guys are both very good babies, easy to soothe and please. Between tag team feedings at night Mommy and Daddy can allow each other almost 6 full hours most nights. There have been a couple nights of no sleep at all, but they are few and far between so we don't mind. You guys are definitely learning patience right away! Although you are both easy to soothe sometimes we just can't get to you right away. Sometimes one of you cries the entire time we are feeding your sibling. Mommy and Daddy have a stash of earplugs in the nursery for such an occasion. I still am not brave enough to try dual feeding as you guys are so small and hard to keep latched on, but maybe I will with the next set of twins. Kidding! All in all, with the help of amazing grandparents we have survived the first month. Daddy is counting on the crying to peak at 6 weeks so we will see how things remain. I remember thinking it was going to be harder... Still, there are days when it is hard, but you guys are worth the trouble! Besides, these bad days have a way of slipping quickly from my memory.

We had lots of doctor appointments this month. Too many!! You know the story of the first week but things remained fairly busy. We saw public health nurses, physiotherapists, and Dr Wong. We were concerned about jaundice for a few days, hip displasia from breech presentation, latching problems, head shapes (and still are), crossed eyes, blocked tear ducts, and being on the very low end of the growth percentile chart. 

You had lots of grandparent time and met Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Dave, amongst other visitors! Everybody wanted to see you. You will never know the extent of all the people in our lives who were so excited for your arrival! You were both so tiny during his time some people thought they would break you, especially Evan. We even had to borrow some preemie clothes as most of the newborn outfits drowned you. Alice, you did ok with the newborn size of clothing, and you looked really cute in yellow. Evan looked great in blue. Mommy and Daddy like dressing you in sleepers the best as they are easy on and off. Zippered ones are even better!

Nana and I did a couple of photo shoots with you guys this month. Probably not enough, retrospectively. Often you would not cooperate as one of you was always hungry or tired and the other one was being perfect. You liked to switch these roles up each time. Still, we managed some good shots. And a couple laughs at the awkwardness of posing floppy babies.

The month has been a rollercoaster! We were terrified bringing Alice home in the car when we couldn't see her in the car seat and learned how to do it better when it was Evan's turn. We were over the moon when we finally got both of you home, together. We were exhausted but never weary of caring for you. We oohed and awed a lot, you were both so cute. We marvelled at all the ways you were different. We called Evan Nosferatu and Voldemort because you slept stiff and went pale white. We called Alice marshmallow baby because you were so squishy and cuddly compared to Evan. We love you both and cant wait for the next month and milestone.

Weights: Evan 6.8lbs Alice  7.9lbs