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.

Drum Roll Please.....

We had our 16 week ultrasound and check up. It was my second (of many) anatomy scans, as I have come to find out. Anatomy scans with twins last about 90 minutes, but thankfully I no longer need to have a full bladder because 90 minutes is a long time to hold back for a pregnant woman.

Our scan went amazing. Both babies weighing in at a normal 6oz right now. Wiggling and moving and getting cranky during the ultrasound. I've noticed that Baby B in particular seems to have the latter quality in particular. B really does not like to be poked and prodded and sometimes he even rolls over and faces away from us mid-way through. It's kind of comical and I like to tease his father that they will  probably be a lot alike with that personality trait.

In any case, those two looming questions from a few weeks ago can finally be answered.

These two babies are....

BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and they are IDENTICAL! 

(although we only got one really decent profile shot.... the other ones do look very similar. Im sure we'll be able to tell more as they get bigger.) 

So, we are having two Identical twin boys! We are so excited. I always imagined that I would have a boy when I had my first child or I guess when I imagined my family it always was a family with a son and even though I had that vision I mostly wanted them to be healthy regardless of gender. Of course my fiance really wanted to have boys, but would have been excited to have girls as well. I think it's just perfect. I never imagined myself having two babies at one time, so that's certainly a surprise, but Im looking forward to the challenge and all the fun and exciting moments, even through the sleepless nights and delirious days.