Routines Rock!

Houston, we have a sleep routine.  It's not perfect and it's not always pretty, but it is predictable.  That's a score in my book.

I posted few weeks ago about out nap/bedtime failures, but I am pleased to report that we've made a fair bit of progress.  It's 11pm and I am watching the babies sleep on the video monitor.  To celebrate this small victory, I'll let you peek in on a typical day at our house:

7ish am-  Wake up, get dressed and start the day with the breakfast of (baby) champions.  Bottle time!  After eating, we spit up, play, have tummy time and spit up some more. 

8:30 am- Down for our first nap.  Molly in her bouncer and Jack in the MamaRoo.  Jack generally needs to be swaddled, and Molly is about 50:50 on needing to be wrapped for this nap.  We're using SwaddleDesigns blankets during their daytime naps.  I love, love, love these blankets!

9:15-10:30 am- Awake again.  Depending on how long this nap runs, we might read or play until it's time to eat again.

10:30ish am- Eat, then play and catnap!

2 pm- Yep, you guessed it.  Another bottle.

2:30-3 pm-  Make baby burritos and lay them down for a nap in their cribs.  They usually sleep 2-2.5 hours in the afternoon.  This is my chunk of time to wash dishes, fold laundry and make bottles.  If I'm lucky, I might get a nap, too!

5 pm- Stretch, coo and smile!  We play in the nursery for a few minutes while their bottles are heating up, then it's time for more milk.  After this feeding, we play and fuss in equal measures.  One minute we are all happy on the floor and before you can get comfortable, it's time to pace and shush because they are screaming.  Definitely the toughest part of the day!

8 pm- Start our bedtime routine:  Bathe the babies, get into our pajamas, and eat again.  Molly is zipped into her Woombie and Jack slips into a sleep sack or gets swaddled with his arms out.  Finally, it's time for bed.  Around 8:45 or 9pm, we read a book or sing lullabies, say our prayers and go to sleep!

3-4 am-  One of the babies (generally Molly) wakes up to eat, so they both get changed and fed before going back to sleep.

7 am- Start the whole shebang all over again!

Now that we've started paying attention to these patterns, the babies' moods make so much more sense!  A lot of their daytime fussy spells were caused by being terribly overtired.  I was completely missing their sleep cues.  Jack still fights sleep, but once he is wrapped he is down for the count.  Molly has adjusted well to a few longer naps instead of catnapping constantly.  We are all happier when we know what to expect from the day.  Routines rock.

I Need Rehab

I've fallen of the "Thankful" wagon. Please forgive me! Today, I'm grateful for second (and third, and fourth...) chances. I will try harder to post everyday. Happy Thursday!

Day 5 (and a half)

Day 5.5- I am so thankful that I live in a country that prides itself on freedom of mind. Regardless of which candidate you vote for today, please exercise your right!

Day 4

Day 4-  Today,  I am thankful for my amazing husband.  He shares equally in the care of Molly and Jack, and is the best middle-of-the-night feeding partner in the world.  There were never two people more made for each other, and I am so glad that I decided to make him mine. 

Day 3

Day 3- Today, I'm thankful for date night.  Since the twins were about a month old, Paul and I have had a standing date every other Saturday.  Our moms take turns watching the babies so that we can have a few hours away from the chaos at our house.  It is amazing how these dates help us recharge and reset, and we actually get to talk about something other than feeding/sleeping/pooping schedules!

Day 2!

Day 2- Today, I am thankful for two healthy babies. We were blessed with a relatively uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery, and took home two near-term twins. Tonight, I am working in the pediatric ICU and I am reminded that not every family is so lucky.


Sleepy Things



30 Days of Thankfulness

I'm not normally one to jump on the bandwagon of these things, but I really love the idea of 30 Days of Thankfulness.  There are so many blessings in my life, but like many people, I tend to take them for granted.  During the next month, I will make a concerted effort each day to post for which I am thankful.  Perhaps you'll be inspired to do the same!


 Day 1- Today I am thankful for two amazing families- one that I was born into and one I chose to marry into. Without them, the past 3 months would have been nearly impossible.  Whether lending an extra set of hands, or just listening to my endless worries, they have been such an incredible blessing!