Last time I wrote that the twins had both slept through the night on Sunday and the news is not as good today. The last two nights they have been awake for a small feeding around 4am. I did not think it would be sleeping through the night every night, but hopefully we can get back on track for that.
Other things have happened however since Monday morning. On Monday, I was playing with Isabel on the floor, giving her some much needed tummy time and when I left the room to get some books for us, I returned to a surprise. She was on her back!! I could not believe she had rolled over...and I missed it. Just to be certain the dog didn't push her over, I put her on her tummy again and grabbed the camera. Sure enough, she rolled right onto her back and of course, I did not have the camera ready. Once I was finally ready with the camera, she has decided not to do it again...for two days. Sadie says I have no proof, therefore, is not sure of the validity of the story, but trust me, she did it! Everett still has not done it as he is pretty relaxed most of the time, just hanging out.
The other big news is that Everett has eaten some rice cereal. He has been eating large amounts of formula or breast milk, so we decided to get him started on rice cereal. Yesterday, mom made him a small amount to see if he knew what to do, and he does. She said he slowly figured out how to work it back into his mouth. I missed this milestone as I was with my 7th grade football team, preparing for our last game. We will continue to give him some cereal and I'm sure Isabel won't be far behind. The competition starts at an early age!
Today, I turned in my football coaching binder and keys. It was my first year coaching 7th graders and for most of them, it was their first year of tackle football. It was fun to see kids progress from Day One and know that you were a part of that progression. It was not fun, however, to go 0-5. I absolutely hate losing, but at this age, it is more about teaching the kids the correct way to play and to play hard. Did I mention I don't like to lose though? The family is heading to Des Moines, Iowa tonight after Sadie gets home from work. We are going to visit Sadie's brother, David, and his family, Jessie, Lucas, and Carter. It will be about a 7 hour drive, but we are going to break it up and stay somewhere tonight, getting to Des Moines tomorrow morning. It is a day-long, two-person event to pack for two 3-month old babies. All the items that two 12-pound humans require is amazing. I may not have a report until we return, but don't worry, the kids will be in good hands all weekend with aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas. Maybe a break for mom and dad???
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Long Weekend Gone Well
It is Monday morning at 8:15am and I have already had waffles and sausage for breakfast, fed Everett, and checked my fantasy football score. Yes, I am winning 79-74.
Last night was the best night the twins have slept (one is still sleeping), but I will get to that later. Friday night was pretty good as Everett and I watched baseball while Isabel slept a lot. Once again, they woke in the middle of the night for a feeding around 1:30am and both mom and I got up. Sadie went to work at 7:30am Saturday morning, starting my almost 14 hours alone with the kids. It actually went quicker than I thought. The kids did get heavy doses of college football all day, which I know they liked, but they also got lots of playtime and I read them books all day. They are continually starting to be alert and follow items, such as books, lights, and movement. Isabel is quite the laugher, while Everett is rather stingy with his grins. He is all business, just asking for food when he needs it. I loaded the kids up for one small road trip Saturday to go see mom at work and that went really well. I think they like the new, soft blankets in their carseats, that we put in for the winter. Everett slept the whole time, while Isabel was happy to see mom...and I'm pretty sure mom was happy too. The kids went to bed pretty early Saturday night, which I did not like, and woke again at 2:30am. I took care of both of them at that time to let Sadie sleep, and Everett was up for good at 6am, while Isabel slept til 8am. Better, but not good enough yet.
Sunday morning was a good start. Sadie arranged for a friend, Tammy, to watch the kids from about 11am til 4:30pm so I could watch the Packers game in peace. They were good kids for me until I dropped them off at 11. This house was so quiet during the game. I kept thinking I was hearing babies squeek, cry, moan, etc., but nothing. It was just me, Molly, and a Packers 26-0 win. It was also rather boring. Kind of makes you wonder what you did before you had kids at home.
I picked up the kids around 4:30pm and as soon as we got home, I had two very crabby and very hungry kids. The most difficult time staying home with these kids is when they are hungry at the same time. It happens more times than I would like, but you just adjust. It is very difficult to let one or two just cry while you are making bottles, but it must be done. They both ate at 5pm and then relaxed on the floor, playing with each other, waiting four more hours for mom to get home. It happened again around 8pm that both kids were hungry and I fed two at a time again. This time, we all chilled on the couch, watching more football of course until mom got home, after the meal.
Isabel needed a bath, which Sadie gave her once she got home and Everett went straight to bed about 9:30pm. Once Isabel had her bath and some snuggle time with mom, she went to bed at 10pm. Here is the big news!...she is still asleep (8:30am) and he slept until 7am. It was the best night yet for sleeping and I hope it is a sign of things to come. The trick may be that we put them to bed awake, but calm, last night. Most nights, we always snuggle them to sleep and then put them in their crib and maybe they don't like the abandonment. We will, of course, try the same routine tonight, hoping for the same result.
Last day for the babysitter while I'm at football practice as our last game is tomorrow night. Starting tomorrow, no more daily breaks for dad...except the occasional 10-minute nap.
Last night was the best night the twins have slept (one is still sleeping), but I will get to that later. Friday night was pretty good as Everett and I watched baseball while Isabel slept a lot. Once again, they woke in the middle of the night for a feeding around 1:30am and both mom and I got up. Sadie went to work at 7:30am Saturday morning, starting my almost 14 hours alone with the kids. It actually went quicker than I thought. The kids did get heavy doses of college football all day, which I know they liked, but they also got lots of playtime and I read them books all day. They are continually starting to be alert and follow items, such as books, lights, and movement. Isabel is quite the laugher, while Everett is rather stingy with his grins. He is all business, just asking for food when he needs it. I loaded the kids up for one small road trip Saturday to go see mom at work and that went really well. I think they like the new, soft blankets in their carseats, that we put in for the winter. Everett slept the whole time, while Isabel was happy to see mom...and I'm pretty sure mom was happy too. The kids went to bed pretty early Saturday night, which I did not like, and woke again at 2:30am. I took care of both of them at that time to let Sadie sleep, and Everett was up for good at 6am, while Isabel slept til 8am. Better, but not good enough yet.
Sunday morning was a good start. Sadie arranged for a friend, Tammy, to watch the kids from about 11am til 4:30pm so I could watch the Packers game in peace. They were good kids for me until I dropped them off at 11. This house was so quiet during the game. I kept thinking I was hearing babies squeek, cry, moan, etc., but nothing. It was just me, Molly, and a Packers 26-0 win. It was also rather boring. Kind of makes you wonder what you did before you had kids at home.
I picked up the kids around 4:30pm and as soon as we got home, I had two very crabby and very hungry kids. The most difficult time staying home with these kids is when they are hungry at the same time. It happens more times than I would like, but you just adjust. It is very difficult to let one or two just cry while you are making bottles, but it must be done. They both ate at 5pm and then relaxed on the floor, playing with each other, waiting four more hours for mom to get home. It happened again around 8pm that both kids were hungry and I fed two at a time again. This time, we all chilled on the couch, watching more football of course until mom got home, after the meal.
Isabel needed a bath, which Sadie gave her once she got home and Everett went straight to bed about 9:30pm. Once Isabel had her bath and some snuggle time with mom, she went to bed at 10pm. Here is the big news!...she is still asleep (8:30am) and he slept until 7am. It was the best night yet for sleeping and I hope it is a sign of things to come. The trick may be that we put them to bed awake, but calm, last night. Most nights, we always snuggle them to sleep and then put them in their crib and maybe they don't like the abandonment. We will, of course, try the same routine tonight, hoping for the same result.
Last day for the babysitter while I'm at football practice as our last game is tomorrow night. Starting tomorrow, no more daily breaks for dad...except the occasional 10-minute nap.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tuesday Morning
As some of you know, we got our first snow yesterday here in Northeast Wisconsin. It was kind of pretty to watch the huge flakes fall from the sky so slowly. I tried to show the kids, but they seemed rather disinterested. Might be the fact that they cannot see that far....not sure. Football practice was rather wet and cold for the kids and it was mildly disappointing that the snow stopped during practice. Who doesn't love to play football in the snow?
Last night, the twins slept pretty good. Everett did not wake up once from 10pm until 6am, while Isabel was awake at 2:30am and again at 6am. I purchased a new cd over the weekend that is supposed to make them sleeper longer and sounder. Guess what? It works!! It is a 60-minute cd with various sounds that we put on 'repeat' each night. Our electric bill may go up a little, but that is a small price to pay for some sleep at this point.
Isabel is napping in her glider chair and Everett is in the swing thinking about waking up, with some grunts and squawks. Isabel was just fed and is dressed for the day. It's hard dressing them in winter clothes, but it had to come sometime. Once again, I ate Lucky Charms in quiet and it seemed as if Isabel knew that. Once I was done, she was hungry and she let me know it. She also has developed an annoying habit while eating. She likes to stick both of her fists and her bib in her mouth while I am trying to get a bottle in there. Makes for a lot of fun trying to pin her arms down just to feed her. Everett on the other hand, is relaxed as can be during feedings. As long you have food ready, ALL DAY, he is okay. He seems to eat continuously, really.
Sadie is sleeping and I will get a nap once she wakes up. Football practice this afternoon again and the sun is shining this morning. Looks like a great day in Titletown.
Last night, the twins slept pretty good. Everett did not wake up once from 10pm until 6am, while Isabel was awake at 2:30am and again at 6am. I purchased a new cd over the weekend that is supposed to make them sleeper longer and sounder. Guess what? It works!! It is a 60-minute cd with various sounds that we put on 'repeat' each night. Our electric bill may go up a little, but that is a small price to pay for some sleep at this point.
Isabel is napping in her glider chair and Everett is in the swing thinking about waking up, with some grunts and squawks. Isabel was just fed and is dressed for the day. It's hard dressing them in winter clothes, but it had to come sometime. Once again, I ate Lucky Charms in quiet and it seemed as if Isabel knew that. Once I was done, she was hungry and she let me know it. She also has developed an annoying habit while eating. She likes to stick both of her fists and her bib in her mouth while I am trying to get a bottle in there. Makes for a lot of fun trying to pin her arms down just to feed her. Everett on the other hand, is relaxed as can be during feedings. As long you have food ready, ALL DAY, he is okay. He seems to eat continuously, really.
Sadie is sleeping and I will get a nap once she wakes up. Football practice this afternoon again and the sun is shining this morning. Looks like a great day in Titletown.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday Morning
So far this week as started off pretty good. Sadie is in her fourth straight day off from work, which has allowed us to get a lot of things done around the house this weekend, before winter comes. Everett is relaxing in the new swing we purchased on Friday, while Isabel is sleeping in the original swing. My new bestfriend since staying at home as been the Fisher-Price Cradle-N-Swing, but we only had one. Since swinging is their favorite thing to do, and dad's biggest help, we got another one. Everett is in the blue swing and Isabel in the white one.
I let Sadie sleep in this morning and I took advantage of the relaxed kids. There is a third load of laundry going currently and the dishes have been cleaned. The kids are all dressed and fed, and I didn't have to shovel my food in like it was my last meal this morning. I could actually enjoy my Lucky Charms in peace. I did see a few flurries of snow while eating, which means the kids days outside are pretty numbered at this point.
Football practice this afternoon at 3pm and then another relaxing night at home with the family.
A new week
This is the first posting to my new blog. As the description of the blog says, I will be posting about being a stay-at-home dad with newborn twins. The twins, Everett and Isabel, were born July 14, 2009, thus making my last day of "work", July 13th. I did not go solo at home until September 21st, since Sadie (my wife) was off from work until then. We thought that time would allow us to get the kids into a schedule to make things easier once I was on my own. Needless to say, that did not happen.
An obvious quick recap of the past three weeks would be that some days are better than others, but I will say that each day is a blessing that I get to spend with the kids. They keep me busy with feedings, diapers, and playtime. I have also been coaching a local 7th grade middle school football team since late August in the afternoons, which gives me a nice break in the day, but that ends October 20th.
From now on, I will chronicle the daily activities and growth of Isabel and Everett, along with some photos and videos. I will also detail my day as a dad with two infants at home. I hope you enjoy the site.
An obvious quick recap of the past three weeks would be that some days are better than others, but I will say that each day is a blessing that I get to spend with the kids. They keep me busy with feedings, diapers, and playtime. I have also been coaching a local 7th grade middle school football team since late August in the afternoons, which gives me a nice break in the day, but that ends October 20th.
From now on, I will chronicle the daily activities and growth of Isabel and Everett, along with some photos and videos. I will also detail my day as a dad with two infants at home. I hope you enjoy the site.
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