Yay! We had our 9 month check-up today. It went well. Everything is looking good. We received 2 shots a piece. Grace didn't even cry and Frances only wimpered for a second. :-) So proud!
Here are the stats:
Frances
Weight: 21 lbs. 3 oz. (90th percentile)
Height: 28 1/2 inches (75th percentile)
Head circumference: 46 cm (90th percentile)
Grace
Weight: 21 lbs. 4 oz. (90th percentile)
Height: 28 inches (60th percentile)
Head circumference: 46 cm (90th percentile)
So we are surprised that Grace weighs more than Frances, because Frances feels much heavier - and even looks heavier. Maybe Grace "helps" more when we are carrying her? And I guess they are looking more and more alike because we come across more and more people who wonder how we tell them apart. Who knows.
The girls also had their hearing screening today. They had one when they were born - and they passed it. BUT the state of Maryland requires follow up screenings for any babies that were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, because medications they received at the time could have effected the results. So we trudged to the audiologist's office. It went amazingly well. The girls didn't fuss - we didn't have to distract them or anything, they were very quiet! And they passed their hearing tests with flying colors!
After the hearing appointment we went to the mall so I could get more cleaning solution for their earrings. One of Frances' holes is a little irritated - probably due to her eczema. So the doctor said I could put a little neosporin on it and clean it a bit more frequently - like 2x a week instead of 1x. So since we were at the Piercing Pagoda anyway, I bought them some new earrings. Can't wait to try them on this weekend!
So we jaunted around the mall real quick to let them people watch. Mommy and daddy snacked on some yummy Wetzels Pretzels - we were famished! Then we left the mall and the girls conked out in the car. So we drove back to the house so daddy could run inside and get our blanket and some applesauce. We took the long way to the park so the girls could get a good 1/2 hour total of sleeping. Then we had a mini picnic. Took a stroll to watch the geese. And then headed home for a bath and night night.
Phew! A long day... and we all survived! We don't have our next pediatrician check-up until 1 year old! But we have to schedule our allergy test ASAP. Yay for more needles!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
9 Months Old!
Ahhh I'm so behind on posting. I missed their 7th and 8th month birthdays! Sooo much has changed. That I can't even remember it all. We have our two top and two bottom teeth and more on the way. Grace is an avid "military crawler." Frances is an expert roller. Grace likes to "walk" -- or do her best Godzilla destruction impression, with big sweeping steps. Frances does not really enjoy "walking." Frances is our "talker" and shouter. She says "babababa" but goes through days where she doesn't. Grace coos to herself occasionally but not much else - although recently she seems to learn how to shout from her sister. They both hold temper tantrums now - that's a fun experience (not!). Frances holds her bottle and cup. Grace refuses to hold either (and she was originally the first to hold her bottle).
We are eating our solids like champs so far. We switched to making baby food a couple weeks ago (maybe a month ago by now). It's saving us A LOT of money, but it does take us almost a whole day of tag-teaming child watching and food prep to make food just for one week (we have two hungry mouths to feed). They eat 3 times a day right now. To date, they are eating: squash, apples, pears, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, sweet potato, carrots, split peas, and chicken. We do different combos of the above. (Egg yolk was resoundly rejected - we'll try again later. And bananas were too constipating!). The other plus with making the food, is that we know exactly what they are eating. I bought a couple mesh feeders at the consignment sale and they love chomping on apples and pears. I haven't tried finger foods yet since they haven't mastered their "pincher" skills. The "books" recommend toasted bagels and bread - but unfortunately in perusing the shopping aisle - it is HARD to find either that is made without dairy or soy (or that are made in a plant that also processes those). So blah on that. We have their checkup next week so I'll ask the pediatrician. The girls LOVE apple juice. I try not to give them more than 2 ounces, once or twice a day. But they drink from their straw cups and get so excited when we bring them out! They are still drinking formula 5 times a day - 6-7 oz. per feeding if they finish it all.
We haven't had a consistent nap routine. Some days they would only nap for 45 minutes the WHOLE DAY! Which makes for a disaster in the evening. The past 5 days or so, the girls have started taking a late morning nap of 1 1/2 hours - but it still means they are awake from Noon/12:30 ish until bedtime at 7:30/8 o'clock. That can mean 8 hours sans sleep and therefore VERY cranky babies. Believe me we try and give them a nap in the afternoon but it's a no-go. They tend not to conk out until 6-6:30 ish which by that time is so close to bed we have to keep them awake. And if we let them "try" to sleep at that time they would not be "down for the night." So alas, we are happy that they take at least ONE nap now and that it's pretty long.
We are having stranger danger still. Play dates = disaster. I was alone with them on the last one. Oh man, I wanted to escape, but couldn't. I think until they get strong enough that I can safely carry them around on my own - Richard or the nanny will have to be there to help out. It's just so sad to leave them in a situation where they are in "terror" and not be able to console them or remove them temporarily to get them to calm down - because if you leave the room with one baby, the other is still left screaming with "the strangers" in total terror. Ahhhhhh.... twins.... At least with the nice weather we are trying to get out more. They seem fairly okay greeting people in their stroller now - but still have their moments. Richard and I always hold our breath when someone approaches - because we never know the outcome. I hope they are okay when Grandma and Grandpa come to visit again (they were oftly cranky last time - cross fingers!). I'm nervous at how they'll do when we visit family this coming Sunday - cross fingers - double time!
Well, in the past months Richard survived a weekend solo with the girls (thanks to help from Aunty Amy!) as I went to attend the wedding of Aunty Jenny and Uncle Mikey. My folks visited in March. Uncle Joe's mom visited with Aunty Amy and brought some fun St. Patrick's Day outfits. Richard's dad also visited with Uncle Sam's kids. At the end of March, Aunty Amy and Uncle Joe moved away - we are really feeling sad on that one! Whew! We've been busy.
AND... most important: My brother's girlfriend, Amber, is pregnant and due on October 18th (my dad's birthday!). So exciting to have a new baby cousin on the way!!!!
We are eating our solids like champs so far. We switched to making baby food a couple weeks ago (maybe a month ago by now). It's saving us A LOT of money, but it does take us almost a whole day of tag-teaming child watching and food prep to make food just for one week (we have two hungry mouths to feed). They eat 3 times a day right now. To date, they are eating: squash, apples, pears, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, sweet potato, carrots, split peas, and chicken. We do different combos of the above. (Egg yolk was resoundly rejected - we'll try again later. And bananas were too constipating!). The other plus with making the food, is that we know exactly what they are eating. I bought a couple mesh feeders at the consignment sale and they love chomping on apples and pears. I haven't tried finger foods yet since they haven't mastered their "pincher" skills. The "books" recommend toasted bagels and bread - but unfortunately in perusing the shopping aisle - it is HARD to find either that is made without dairy or soy (or that are made in a plant that also processes those). So blah on that. We have their checkup next week so I'll ask the pediatrician. The girls LOVE apple juice. I try not to give them more than 2 ounces, once or twice a day. But they drink from their straw cups and get so excited when we bring them out! They are still drinking formula 5 times a day - 6-7 oz. per feeding if they finish it all.
We haven't had a consistent nap routine. Some days they would only nap for 45 minutes the WHOLE DAY! Which makes for a disaster in the evening. The past 5 days or so, the girls have started taking a late morning nap of 1 1/2 hours - but it still means they are awake from Noon/12:30 ish until bedtime at 7:30/8 o'clock. That can mean 8 hours sans sleep and therefore VERY cranky babies. Believe me we try and give them a nap in the afternoon but it's a no-go. They tend not to conk out until 6-6:30 ish which by that time is so close to bed we have to keep them awake. And if we let them "try" to sleep at that time they would not be "down for the night." So alas, we are happy that they take at least ONE nap now and that it's pretty long.
We are having stranger danger still. Play dates = disaster. I was alone with them on the last one. Oh man, I wanted to escape, but couldn't. I think until they get strong enough that I can safely carry them around on my own - Richard or the nanny will have to be there to help out. It's just so sad to leave them in a situation where they are in "terror" and not be able to console them or remove them temporarily to get them to calm down - because if you leave the room with one baby, the other is still left screaming with "the strangers" in total terror. Ahhhhhh.... twins.... At least with the nice weather we are trying to get out more. They seem fairly okay greeting people in their stroller now - but still have their moments. Richard and I always hold our breath when someone approaches - because we never know the outcome. I hope they are okay when Grandma and Grandpa come to visit again (they were oftly cranky last time - cross fingers!). I'm nervous at how they'll do when we visit family this coming Sunday - cross fingers - double time!
Well, in the past months Richard survived a weekend solo with the girls (thanks to help from Aunty Amy!) as I went to attend the wedding of Aunty Jenny and Uncle Mikey. My folks visited in March. Uncle Joe's mom visited with Aunty Amy and brought some fun St. Patrick's Day outfits. Richard's dad also visited with Uncle Sam's kids. At the end of March, Aunty Amy and Uncle Joe moved away - we are really feeling sad on that one! Whew! We've been busy.
AND... most important: My brother's girlfriend, Amber, is pregnant and due on October 18th (my dad's birthday!). So exciting to have a new baby cousin on the way!!!!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
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