A change is coming

Has it really been over 3 weeks since my last post??? I just don't know where my days go... As the girls get bigger and a little more alert, I find myself busier during the days. The laundry and bottle washing seem never ending... And I'm trying to make more trips out of the house (to cure the winter boredom) and then I also have to get ready to go back to work. I know things will only get crazier once I'm working again so I thought I better try to get a couple updates in before then.


The holidays were kind of quiet for us but that's OK. I know Christmas 2009 will be a totally different story. :) We spent Christmas day with the Clopton family, eating way too much, taking lots of pictures and exchanging gifts. Then a few days later the Reinkes and the Krups came down to Ohio and we spent the day doing much of the same - eating lots (thanks to Der Dutchman!!) and opening gifts. We are so thankful that we were able to celebrate with both of our families.


After Christmas and New Years, I decided it was time for me to start getting out more with the girls. I was so tired of just sitting in the house all day doing the same thing day after day. New Years Eve we took Amelia and Penelope with us on a shopping trip to Sams Club and then a few days later, feeling pretty confident in our ability to get around with 2 babies, we braved the mall. As long as we kept the stroller moving, they were quiet. In fact, I think they both slept through most of those outings. We couldn't ask for any better behavior! ;} We also had a little bit of a warm up in the weather that last week of December and I was able to finally get us all out for our first walk around the neighborhood. It felt great to actually get a little exercise! And all the bumps and shakes lulled the girls right to sleep. I don't think they opened their eyes once. Since then, I've also taken them with me on quick trips to Kroger, Babies R Us and Michaels. I'm definitely getting used to manuvering the car seats and stroller. I'm sure it's going to be second nature in no time.... Although the bigger they get, the harder it is for me to lift their car seats in and out of the car. I can't imagine carrying them around like that when they are close to 20lbs! I should have some pretty good arm muscles in a few more months.




It's hard to believe our tiny little babies will be 11 weeks old tomorrow! They are both growing like crazy (although Penelope has a firm hold on the lead). They had their 2 month check up a few days ago and Penelope is officially 12lbs 0oz and 22 inches long. She is now in the 80th percentile for her weight! You'd never know she was a preemie. :) Amelia is close behind at 10lbs 4oz and 20 1/4 inches and in the 45th percentile for weight.

It's pretty exciting to think that they've both doubled their weight before hitting the 3 month mark. And it makes me proud to know that I did that for them. Neither have had a drop of formula since leaving the hospital! Before they were born, my goal was to "give nursing a try" and stick with it for at least the first few months. Now I'm thinking that we can make it work until solids are introduced. And it would be so great to keep at it until they are close to a year old. Of course, I have yet to see how going back to work and pumping will play out, but I'm trying to keep a positive attitude about it.

I go back to work in 9 days (the 27th) and have pretty mixed feelings about the whole thing. I feel ready to do something different and not be focused on babies 24 hours a day, but I also can't imagine not being here with them. Grandma Clopton worked with them all last week on accepting a bottle and the better they get at it, the more I realize that they can survive without me around all the time. That makes me a little sad. And it's also hard to leave just as both girls are starting to socialize a little more and smile and grin and "talk". I hate to think that I might miss something big, like the first laugh or word or crawl or step. But I keep telling myself that lots of women go to work and leave their babies for the day and it's not the end of the world. I'm so grateful that we are able to have a family member watch them in our home and I know the situation could be much more difficult.

That's about all I have to talk about. It's been 2 days since I started this entry and I figure I should just hurry up and post it. Besides, it's time for Amelia's lunch. :D