B is for Babies

One question that I often get asked is "What was it like to find out you were having twins?" 

I can only say that it is the most indescribable and surreal feeling. Imagine feeling every single emotion flowing through your body at the same time. Thats what it feels like when you hear you're carrying two babies.

We found out when the babies were only 6 weeks, which is pretty early, but my husband was about to leave on a 3 month long tour and I wanted him to be there at least for the first ultrasound. That meant squeezing it in early.

During the appointment the Midwife was so quiet. Many of you moms probably remember that feeling of anticipation when you're just waiting for them to show you the screen and see that little heart flickering. I was sitting there and my nerves were building up and finally I said "Is everything okay? Is something wrong? Do you see something?" I couldn't take the silence.

Then in the calmest voice ever my midwife turned to me and said "Well, Im just a little distracted because there are TWO babies." Then she turned the screen and showed me both their hearts beating away.

My husband, Mother, and Mother-In-Law all came and I just looked at them in hysterics (the happy kind.) I was laughing and crying and giggling and in complete shock. I was looking at my husband to see what his reaction was. We were all so shocked and the whole room just burst out in a laughter. I dont remember if the mom's cried or not, but it was just incredible.

My belly a few weeks before they were born!

Fast forward and here we are with two 4.5mo old twins. They are amazing and brilliant. Of course!

I've also noticed that when you tell people you have twins, whether they are identical or not, they often assume they are "the same." That is 100% not true. Milo and Brody each have completely different personalities even at this age.

Milo in the NICU! 

Milo was born first and he had this shrill cry. Ear piercingly high pitched. It was so loud the nurses in the NICU made us keep the door shut. He's the more active and high energy of the two. He tends to go to bed after his brother and wake up before. I guess he'll be the one that will be up at 5am for Saturday morning cartoons? He is extra chatty first thing in the morning. Once he knows he's gotten me up and he's got my attention he's cooing and smiling and telling me all sorts of things in his little baby gibberish.

Brody when he was first born!

Brody is much more relaxed. Sometimes I even catch him pausing from crying as if he seems to think Milo has it under control and obviously I'll be getting whatever it is they need. He seems to be the more calm laid back of the two. He doesn't mind change like being held by someone new or going to a new place or those types of things. He is pretty okay with just about anything. He has a deeper voice. Not deep, but different than Milo's. Not as high pitched. He talks when he has something to say, but isn't as much of a chatterbox as Milo. He likes to observe things. I often watch him and something really grabs his attention and he can focus on it for a while just trying to take it all in. He has this funny laugh that barely comes out because his voice is so quiet. its so cute and makes me laugh every time.

Together when we stayed in the NICU.

So, they are not exactly the same. Though I'm sure as they grow they will be similar in many ways (besides just looks), but they are still individual people and they still have different personalities and I'm sure they'll like different things. One of the biggest reasons I like to dress them different most of the time is because I dont want them to wear the same outfits all the time and feel like they dont have their own identity someday or possibly look back at their baby pictures and scoff at how many times they were dressed alike.

And Finally home snuggling them!

I have dressed them the same a handful of times, but we hardly have any matching outfits in their wardrobe. We have similar outfits with different patterns, but not many that are the exact same and I like it that way. I'm hoping to get some family photos done when they are around 6 months old and I'm sure for some of our photos we'll dress them up the same, but that will probably be the extent of it.

I guess I'll end by saying that I couldn't imagine just having one because having two is so amazing and having two that are the same age is even more amazing. It's not easy. In fact, many days it's tiring and repetitive and there are certainly days where Im emotionally drained, but it's completely worth it at the end of the day.

A is for About OTL

I think it's only fair that we start the month off with an introduction, especially seeing as this blog has never had a proper introduction to it in the first place.

*stands up* Hi, My name is a Alissa and I am a twin mommy! I have lived in Seattle (and it's many suburbs) my entire life. I grew up in the city and always thought myself to be a "city girl", but along the way as my parents moved I ended up transforming into the type of person who much prefers the quiet country life to the busy city. I love quiet country back roads, farm houses, small family run businesses, the sense of community, and the peaceful calm that comes as the day ends. Im excited to raise my kids in the country and hope they will appreciate it's appeal someday as well.

My husband, Jon, is incredibly talented and amazing. I'm so incredibly lucky to have someone like him in my life and I am thankful for that every single day. He is not only amazing to me, but also would qualify for SUPERDAD status! I couldn't find enough words to describe the ways he amazes me daily, but I know how blessed I am. I love each day watching him interact with our babies and how much they light up when he walks into the room. They love their daddy so much and so do I.

I never ever imagined what it would be like to be a mom to twins, but I wouldn't change it for anything.  Originally I thought maybe someday I'd want one child and Jon always said he wanted two, so we always agreed that we'd see what happened after the first one. Well, life always has a funny way of planning things for you and life also always seems to give Jon is wishes. Seriously.... he always finds a way! So here we are with two beautiful baby boys and our family could not be more complete.

Milo and Brody are 4.5 months and growing so quickly. You know how parents always say "it goes so fast" when referring to their children growing up? Well, they aren't kidding. That statement is so true. I'm lucky to be able to stay home with them and to have a husband who makes that possible for us. I love waking up every day next to them. They wake up at ungodly hours and I'm typically beyond tired, but they see me and immediately grin making it impossible to be grumpy. They have been discovering their hands and how fun it is to try and shove an entire fist into their mouths. They love their jumperoo and when we sing songs. Sometimes I even read out loud the books I'm trying to read, just so I can get some reading in. I read excitedly and they love it. They don't know I'm reading the latest in parenting books and statistics about this or that. They are rolling over tummy to back, but not back to tummy yet!

Those are the basics and I suppose as time goes on you will learn more about Our Twin Life!

Here I am buried under a baby pile! 

Formula Drift Seattle: Will I survive a big event?

Tomorrow Jon and I are attending Round 5 of Formula D at Monroe Speedway. I bought tickets as a gift for his birthday which was on July 11th. I wanted to do something he would enjoy because our wedding is the same month and he worked his birthday, so we didn't have our normal celebration for him. Plus with the babies on the way I know that these aren't things we'll be doing for a few years after they arrive.

Even while purchasing tickets to the event I was thinking "What am I getting myself into?"

I will be 18 weeks pregnant on Monday and I already get easily tired and worn out. I swear Im already waddling, but I think it's just in my head. I can tell that things that would have been no big deal before are now becoming more of a struggle to accomplish.

My main concern being how much walking will we be doing or not doing. I can walk for a little while without too much issue, but after a while I do need to rest and sit or else my back begins to hurt and I get tired.

My second concern was obviously eating, as the event is from noon to 8pm (we'll be showing up around 2 or so.) I did find out thanks to some amazing friends that I can bring in outside food and drink as long as it's sealed and unopened. So I plan to grab some things to snack on in the morning to pack in our bag. I'll probably still buy food while there, but at least we wont spend a fortune eating food there all day, since I'll probably be starving the whole time.

I jokingly told Jon it would be really funny to take photos of me in fromt of cars in the car shows with my pregnant belly, like how they have the hot skinny chicks model around cars. HAHA. He thought it was funny, but Im not sure if he'll actually do it. I still want to because I think they'd make for some really funny pictures to remember the day. If he wont take them I'll rally one of our friends to do it for me. I know someone will. :-P I will definitely post some photos, since I haven't taken any since I was 16 weeks.

So, I'm really hoping I can enjoy the event, maintain my energy, and stick it out so that Jon can fully enjoy his birthday gift. He of course, is willing to leave if I need to go home and rest and is completely amazing in making sure that I'm getting whatever I need. But Im going to try and sit often and eat and drink often, so that hopefully we can enjoy the entire day.