Leah, Emma and Claire (and Jen and John)

Our family vacation is quickly coming to an end. We are all dreading next week and I am hoping the girls aren’t too used to having their every need catered to right away!

We finally broke down and got a Costco membership. They definitely have the cheapest diapers but I have been holding off knowing that avoiding impulse buying is almost impossible. Sure enough John saw a spice rack not 5 feet from the entrance so we are now the proud owners of a fancy new spice rack. After that it was to the diaper section and out!
We drove by the house yesterday and our foundation has been poured! Of course I didn’t have the camera. They are still only working on our lot and the one behind us - not too sure why but I’m glad it’s ours. The weather has been very warm (9C today) and all the lovely snow has turned to muck.

John’s parents bought the girls their next stroller for Christmas and I have been test driving it around the building. It is a side by side and I think it might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. As John put it “We are so dead when we go out”. They won’t need it until they grow out of their infant carriers but I will definitely use it to go down and check the mail or go to the condo library.

Tonight we are getting together with our University friends for New Years. It will be nice to see everyone. Last year on the stroke of midnight we were pulled over on the side of the 401 and I was puking. Everyone passing by thought I was drunk and I was wishing I was!

For the first time in my life I am a bit sad to see a year come to an end. This year has been a big one for our family. We knew going into the year that we were going to have a baby but everything changed in January when we found out we’d be having two! I had to stop work, be pushed around in a wheelchair and cart around that gigantic belly. The girls were born premature and we spent 3 weeks of the year in the NICU. When we brought them home we had to adapt to having two newborns (I can’t even remember the Olympics it’s such a blur!). Each passing week has brought something new with the girls and it has been a very exciting time. We bought a house and got everything picked so now all that’s left is to watch it go up.

We have lots to look forward to in 2005. This year our girls will sit, crawl, stand, walk, talk and hopefully continue their good behaviour! Our house will be built and we will have to sell and leave the condo. We will welcome lots of new babies into the world and my maternity leave will come to an end (file that under the not looking forward to category!).
We wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Reading Christmas Story with Nana

The new stroller

Monkeys

We had a very nice Christmas and we are all ready to do nothing for a couple of days. Travelling with two babies is an adventure!

After 3 hours of getting ready we arrived in Oshawa on Christmas Eve. John's Grandpa's Birthday is Christmas Eve so the whole family has dinner at his Aunt Bonnie's. We arrived first which gave the girls some time to adjust. There were alot of people but they both did very well and let everyone hold them and play with them.

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas night at John's Grandpa's. We brought the playpen. They hadn't been in there together since October and you could really see how much they've grown. We play the girls daily eating/napping schedule by ear but their bedtime is firm at 10pm. We didn't make any exceptions and they slept until 9 Christmas morning (probably the last time we get to sleep in that late Christmas morning for a few years!) and 10am on Boxing Day. They are good little sleepers.

The girls first Christmas was very nice. They were spoiled by everyone and they got wonderful gifts. They are both teething now and we were a bit worried that they would be bad tempered but with the help of Mr. Ambesol they were very good with everyone. Leah's bottom two teeth are completely through now and you can see them when she smiles. I'll have to get a picture. Emma cut her first tooth a couple days before Christmas but it's not obvious yet.

We ate very well over the holidays. John's Grandpa did all the baking and then cooked up a 25 pound turkey. I think at 92 he has more energy than me. He cooked the turkey, set the table and then after dinner didn't sit down until everything was cleaned up and put away.

Yesterday we went to the Edgars for a visit. Nancy Edgar could give Martha Stewart a run for her money. They live in an old house and it was beautifully decorated…oh and the food…it was delicious. Last year I was so sick with the babies for our visit that I didn't enjoy the food. I more than made up for it this year!

Today we have been lying around the condo enjoying some quiet time (I am still in my pjs - it's after 4!). We will spend the next few days relaxing and visiting with friends.

Christmas Eve with Dad

Kim, Emma, Aunt Bonnie, Steph, Papa, Nana, Leah and Drew

Happy 92nd Birthday Great Grandpa!

Emma and Nana

Our first Christmas - the monkeys wouldn't look at the camera!

Leah and Uncle Drew

me and Emma

Papa and Leah

Santa Emma and Santa Leah

Great Grandpa and his girls

We’ve had a busy few days but now we’re ready for Christmas. This afternoon we will head off to Oshawa to spend Christmas with John’s family. My parents are in Florida missing out on all the snow.

Wednesday we had our last appointment with the builder to finalize our colour selections. We are both very pleased it is done. I find it quite stressful looking at tiles and trying to envision if it will look good. Luckily John likes decorating. John’s parents came down to watch the girls while we were at our appointment and stayed the night. We finally got a good snow storm - I don’t know the exact amount but I would guess about 20cm. It definitely looks like Christmas now! We loaded the girls into their stroller and took them for a walk before it got too deep. They look so funny in snow suits - like little marshmallows.

That’s all for now. We have to get everything ready to go - no small feat with two babies. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I promise to take lots of pictures of the girls first Christmas (was there any doubt!).

Emma and John at the computer

Papa, Nana and the girls in the snow

Merry Christmas

“If you live in Southern Ontario, prepare for an extremely slow, difficult drive on Thursday no matter if you’re heading into work or travelling for the Christmas holidays. A major winter storm approaching the Lower Great Lakes basin from the southwest will cross the Lower Great Lakes south of Toronto moving into the Ottawa area Thursday afternoon.” www.theweathernetwork.ca

John is on vacation til the New Year! We are all very excited and I am really looking forward to having help with the girls for 16 straight days. I'm going to have to try and not get to used to it or January is going to be very tough. We don't have anything planned (besides Christmas!) except cleaning out the condo and getting it ready to put on the market in January.

Yesterday we went to Sears and bought all the appliances for the house. You hear of all these new houses that come with 5 appliances but we quickly learned those incentives aren't necessary to sell homes in Oakville. What can you do. On the plus side we will soon be the proud owners of a front loader washing machine and dryer, an extra quiet dishwasher, a fridge with the freezer on the bottom, a pretty nice stove and an over the range microwave. We were at Sears for 2 hours picking it up and the girls were very good. They put up with everybody looking at them!

After appliances, we decided to drive over to the house site. We had been there on Wednesday but I didn't mention it because there was absolutely no progress. Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised to find that they had dug the hole for our foundation!! We are the first ones. We were both very excited. I didn't bring the camera but I'll make sure to bring it next week.
One of the great things about condo living is indoor parking. You never have to scrape the ice or snow and the car isn't freezing. The downside is you have no idea just how cold it is til you reach your destination. Today we needed groceries so the four of us headed out. When we got out of the car we were blasted with -20 degree celcius. Emma was sleeping when we took her out of the car but she quickly woke up when the cold hit her face. The face she made was priceless - she looked so confused/disgusted but very cute!

Even though it is sooo cold we still have no snow. There is a bit in the forecast so maybe we'll have a white Christmas. I'm not overly impressed with the snow situation in southern Ontario. Growing up in Ottawa we always had snow for Christmas and it stayed on the ground until spring. Snow makes the dark winter nights brighter and makes December feel like Christmas. Twenty below with grass is just depressing!

The girls are doing well. They tried peas tonight. Emma tolerated them and Leah ate them up with her usual enthusiasm. They are so much fun now. They play with their toys and each other. They are both rolling from back to tummy all the time. Leah has figured out how to get back over but Emma seems to have forgotten! I'm sure it won't be long. They both seem to enjoy being on their tummies and they are gradually getting stronger. I commented to John that since all Jumperoos/Exersaucers have been banned it will be interesting to see how the girls develop. I'm pretty sure it's not very often a baby doesn't get to use them - every baby book I've ever read has encouraged them. Oh well - we can be the case study. At least they can amuse each other.

Leah

Emma

I like this picture

This weekend John and I got a dose of life before babies. Yesterday Coby and Carrie came over to watch the girls while John and I went to the Umbra warehouse sale. Originally, all six of us were going to go but Coby and Carrie offered to stay and watch the girls which in the end turned out well since John and I waited for 1.5 hours outside to get in. The sale was huge and there were a ton of people but we got some really nice stuff which made the whole ordeal worthwhile. If we go next year, we will get there before it opens.

The girls were good - Emma played a bit strange at the beginning but she quickly got over it. Leah was full of smiles. Coby and Carrie stayed for dinner and then we rented Bourne Supremacy.

A few weeks ago, Drew was given tickets for the Raptors game today. He offered up the tickets and babysitting and John and I were more than happy to take him up on it. Vince Carter wasn't playing (but he managed to show up - don't get me started…) and the Raptors lost but the game was pretty close and the seats were fantastic. The highlight was that they were playing Miami and we got to see Shaq. Television doesn't do him justice - he is enormous. The girls had fun watching football with Uncle Drew and they both behaved.

Kieran called tonight to tell us that Aby and Sandra came home from the hospital today. They are all doing well and seem to be adjusting well to their new family. It's nice that they got to stay in the hospital for 5 days - I think the Irish have it right. If all had been well with the girls when they were born I would have had 48 hours - MAX!

This is John's last week of work for the year. When the girls were born he took 3 weeks vacation. His company has since decided to give new dads a week of parental leave and they were nice enough to make it retroactive. He had to use it before the end of the year so we decided to have an extra long Christmas break. I can't wait. We have our pediatrician appt on Wednesday so I'll post an update after that. The girls are getting long and heavy!

Both are doing very well and are slowly catching up to full term babies. Leah is 25 1/4 inches long and weighs in at 13 lbs 1 oz. Emma is 24 3/4 inches and 14 lbs 5 oz. In Emma’s defense Leah had two dirty diapers today and Emma had none! I have updated the growth progress page.

John took the day off work and came with us. He hasn’t experienced the needle yet so I prepared him for the screaming. Leah went first and she did very well. She only did the whiny cry and I was able to calm her down before she got started. Emma on the other hand took Dr. Govan strange and by the time the needle came she was inconsolable for about 5 minutes. When she gets really upset she has this high pitched squeal noise and I’m a horrible mother because I think it’s so cute!

I asked Dr. Govan about their eyes and he still thinks they are going to stay blue. They are so pretty. John and I both have hazel eyes but John’s mom and my dad have blue eyes. I’m not convinced quite yet that they won’t change but I will admit that I’m hoping they don’t!

Blue eyed Emma

Blue eyed Leah

Happy Birthday Abigale Louise O’Brien!! My cousin Kieran and his wife Sandra had their baby girl Aby this morning. She was 6lbs 15ozs and both Sandra and Aby are doing well. Kieran called to tell me the news - he is one proud dad! Once I get pictues I will post them. I was thinking I should start a page for all the friends the girls are going to have in the coming months.

The girls are 6 months old (4.5 months corrected) today. It sure goes by quickly. We have been stuck in the condo this week. Yesterday it snowed and today there is freezing rain. It’s awful outside.

Leah has a tooth! Both girls have been drooling a bit lately and I’ve been watching for other signs of teething. Today I just happened to feel inside Leah’s mouth and she has a sharp tooth that must have cut since yesterday. She’s not fussing or anything. Could we be lucky enough to have good teethers???!

Why I won’t miss the condo reason #2: Fire Alarm Testing. They have been testing the fire alarm since yesterday. When I was working, I used to see the notice and never really thought anything of it. On those days, we would come home to a frazzled cat - now I know why. Each unit in the building is equipped with a button that silences the fire alarm in their living space. Testing of the fire alarm system involves going into each condo (all 250+) and making sure this button works. In order to do this, the alarm is on throughout the ENTIRE building. It has been a noisy couple of days. Surprisingly the girls have been able to nap through it. They are good little sleepers.

Now the month in review. The girls are doing very well. This month they celebrated their 4 month corrected age and their visit to the NICU follow up clinic went very well. They are both very happy babies and they don’t cry very much at all. They started eating solids this month and so far they have had rice cereal, barley, oatmeal and their first vegetable, carrots. They are starting to go longer between feeds and we just recently cut one bottle out so now they get four a day. They get their last bottle at 10pm and they sleep until around 8am. Both girls (and mom and dad!) LOVE Baby Einstein. If they are fussy they will calm down immediately when you turn it on. They have also started interacting with each other and they are already keeping each other amused. They love to touch each other’s faces and smile and talk. They are both rolling but have yet to figure out that they can use it as a way to get places.

Emma is a very happy baby. We get big smiles and lots of laughs all day long. She loves to be tickled and told stories. She started to play strange this month and now we know to give her some time to adjust to new situations. She loves her bottle and is definitely showing signs of being able to hold it herself. She’s not overly fussed on carrots but she loves cereal. Emma is a wonderful sleeper. We don’t need to watch her for naps…if she’s tired she’ll just sleep wherever she is. Emma recently figured out how to blow raspberries and it’s her new favourite thing.
Leah is also a very happy baby (we’re so lucky to have two!). She is more social than Emma and so far a lot less shy. She loves to look around and see what’s going on. Leah is not a good napper unless she has no distractions so she usually has her naps in their crib. She is a good sleeper at night but she is very sensitive to temperature. If she’s cold she’ll wake up. She is eating well and seems to really like carrots. Leah loves to “talk” especially now that she has realized that lump sitting beside her all these months is her sister! She still loves her soother but she only really needs it for naps.

I would also like to add that today marks 6 months of me pumping. I always said I wanted to go 6 months but somedays I never thought I would make it! I am now pumping 4 times a day. The girls get about 2/3 breastmilk and 1/3 formula depending on the day. I have fantasized about being done but I’m not quite ready to give it up. It is a huge pain but the fact that our preemie babies have had one stuffy nose in 6 months inspires me to keep it up. Ideally I would like to get them through the winter but for now I’ll just take it one month at a time.

Babies first blizzard (well 5cm but it’s Toronto…)

Leah the licker

Silly girls

Dad likes this picture

“We’re over here….”

Getting old

6 months

Having babies has made John and I realize just how little we used to accomplish on the weekends. Now that we have the girls we do more in one weekend than we used to do in three!
Although we had no official plans for this weekend, it was still busy. Yesterday we made our weekly visit to the site. It is official - we have a streetlight and no green box! They appear to have graded the dirt and I (remember I am completely ignorant on this subject) can't see any reason why they shouldn't be digging.

After the Jumperoo ban, I sent an email to ToysRUs asking if we could get a refund even though we didn't have the box. They emailed me back and told me to go talk to the Store Manager. So yesterday we brought in the evaluation from the therapist and they took it back! We were so pleased - one less thing in the condo!

The girls started vegetables yesterday. After much consideration, we decided to start with carrots. My logic was that John for the most part is not partial to veggies. He likes to sample the baby food (he has this idea in his head that baby food is delicious…) and I figured I would start them off with one that he likes so he wouldn't make a face. John was so excited to feed them a new thing that I don't think he really cared what we decided. Leah loves carrots. It's the first time we've seen her really want to eat her food. Emma is not convinced. I'm trying to stay calm and not freak out because she might not like veggies

Group hug

Story time

FOOD! FOOD! FOOD!

Dad is a messy feeder…

Not much new to report. It's getting colder and colder every day and hopefully it will snow soon. There has been bad weather all around us but no snow yet. It's so dark outside we need some snow to brighten things up.

I don't think we mentioned that we put up the Christmas tree last week. The condo is looking very festive. This time last year, I was feeling terrible because of the babies. It's crazy to think next week they'll be 6 months old.

We have absolutely nothing planned for the weekend! I'm sure something will come up but as of now we plan to relax.

Still sharing a crib

Jackson's new thing - she'll even sleep like this

Big smile Leah

The soother duel