A day in the life of a twin mom

I realize that up until this point I have never talked about my day to day life with the twins. I've never shared what my schedule is like...never shared my tips for moms...and I've never shared what life is REALLY like. Mostly because I didn't want to come across as if I have it all together or that I know exactly what I'm doing, it's more...I really have had no clue what I'm doing! I thought if I shared what life was really like up until now...I might have freaked out a few soon-to-be moms....especially those soon-to be-moms who are having twins.

Up until about 5 months of age the boys didn't really have a set schedule that they followed. Sure I tried to put them into one, but I quickly realized they are going to do what they wanna do. Life since they have decided to follow a schedule has been pretty great! Here is what my day looks like...

6:30/7:00 am - Wake Up!

(change diapers, check clothes/sheets for peepee leakage, remove said peepee clothes/sheets if dirty, let dogs out, make coffee, make bottles, feed dogs)

 

7:30 am - Feeding Time

(feed and burp boys, try to drink coffee and watch news)

 

8:00 am - Play Time

(boys play, take empty bottles to kitchen, re-heat coffee, make breakfast, gather laundry to be washed, tidy nursery, try to finish coffee, eat breakfast and watch news)

 

8:30/9:00 am - Nap Time

(This part of the day should be easy, but most days Caleb fights naps and Christian sleeps for 30 min. leaving me with little to no time alone)

 

10:30 am - Feeding

(food is added to this feeding time so we eat in high chairs in the kitchen)

 

11:00 am - Play Time

(Whatever needs to be done that I haven't previously had time for, tries to get done, empty bottles to kitchen and playing with the boys on the floor)

 

12:00/12:30ish - Nap Time

(shower...maybe, eat lunch, clean, laundry, catch up on a show, make phone calls or check email)

 

1:30 pm - Feeding

 

2:00 pm - Play

(afternoon walk)

 

3:00ish - Nap

 

4:30 pm - Feeding

(cereal with this feeding-eating in high chairs in kitchen)

 

5:00 pm - Play

(tv time while mommy cleans in the kitchen and sometimes cooks dinner, get clothes and other things ready for bedtime, count down minutes til daddy arrives)

 

6:30 Bath/Feeding Time

(bathe, diaper, dress, feed)

 

7:00/7:15 - BED TIME

(breathe a sigh of relief)

 



 

I'd be lying if I said that every single day is like the one above. That's just what an average day looks like...it doesn't take into account the days that the boys wake up at 5:30 am, days when they are hungry before the 3 hour mark, the days when they decide they don't want to take 3 naps a day, doctor appointments, or play dates with friends. Such events cause a "re-work" to the daily schedule.

 

Being a mom to twins is hard work...It's exhausting emotionally and physically, it's frustrating, irritating, stressful...and makes you question yourself everyday. Am I a good mother? Am I doing the best for my boys? Are they going to grow up to be messed up because of something I did wrong? Being a mom is hard work no matter how many children you have, but the joy they bring makes it all worth it. When I look at my boys playing I have such happiness...I cannot believe the miracle that they are and that I was responsible for it. Well...partly responsible :) I imagine that's what God thinks and feels when he looks down on us. Having babies has made God's love for me so much more clear, so much more real...I have a reference point now and can understand a little bit more. Our God is a GREAT great God!

My Loves



Christian

Caleb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Oooooooooooooooooooh April!

Let's just say I'm really ready for the month of April to be over. This month has been really hard! The boys had their first REAL sickness....the dreaded stomach bug. For the first time since becoming a mom I really felt so helpless, there was absolutely nothing I could do to make my babies feel better. I've realized that seeing your child sick when there is nothing you can do is the WORST ever! I think it might even be worse for a control freak like myself...LOL!  Thankfully...the bug lasted a week and they are both back to normal. Well...they are feeling better but Caleb has been waking up around 2 or 3 every night. I feel like I am back in the newborn phase...one sleepless and exhausting phase I did not want to go back to...ever.

Helmets! They boys picked up their super stylish helmets this month. I was worried that they would be bothered by them or that sleeping with them would become a problem, but they wear them like champs! Truth is, I think they really don't even realize they are there...Good enough for me! I think I'm the one more bothered by them. I'm not quite use to the strange looks they get from strangers...most time I want to look at them and say "Nothing is wrong with them! They are just fixing their flats!" I also hate how hard it is to cuddle them. So far I've gotten one busted lip and a smack to the eye socket...OUCH! I am hoping to get them wrapped next month, I figure if they are gonna wear a helmet they are gonna look good doing it!


Christian                             Caleb

Eric accepted a new job this month with USAA, this is very exciting and brings new opportunities for him as well as for our family. The downside is that he will have to travel a few times this year for training. My first experience with this was last week. I was really nervous thinking about how I would handle being home with the boys 24/7 and not having Eric come home at 5 to help. I also was not looking forward to having to do the boys bath time routine by myself.  Bath time was quite comical and a little harder than I had planned for....BUT, I survived! His trip made me realize just how grateful I am to have him and all of the help he gives. Props to those single moms who don't have an extra set of helping hands!

Two good things did happen this month and April wasn't a total waste :) The boys were baptized AND they had their first twin play date. My mom was able to do the boys baptism and it was so special. The boys LOVED seeing their Nana and as a result really put on a show for the congregation. Such lil flirts I tell ya! Their first play date was also a success! We called it "Muffins with Moms of Multiples"...I'm pretty sure the play date was more for us than the kids. The boys had a really good time and they just love their new friends

 

The Clark's and The Cassidy's



Muffins with Moms of Multiples

Easter Sunday

 

Happy Easter from The Cassidy's

 

6 Months, a lil Good Luck...and Faith!

6 Months Old...I can hardly believe it! In the beginning people told me that time would fly by. I didn't quite believe them because time seemed to be at a stand still. But now? Oh yes...I most certainly believe them and agree.

The boys had their 6 months check up and it went very well. Both weighed in at 20 lbs 1 oz and they are both 28 inches long. We definitely have some BIG boys on our hands! The only bummer about the appt was that we were told that both boys need a DOC Band...aka helmet. Their poor lil heads are just so flat...something that seems to be common among twins. They have their first appointment tomorrow...I just pray that our insurance covers them, fingers crossed!

As far as their accomplishments, they can now hold their bottles with very little assistance, they can sit up (although both are very wobbly), both are rolling around like crazy, AND....they are sleeping through the night...EVERY NIGHT! GLORY!!!

We have continued introducing new foods and I have to admit, the greatest thing about people food is watching the hilarious faces they make when trying a new food. Christian hates peas and Caleb hates carrots...I found this out after they both gaged and barfed...not only on day one but day two as well. LOL! I know, its mean to laugh but it was a lil funny. Needless to say I have not given them those two foods again. Maybe in a few months.  :)

 

 

St. Patty's Day was this month and the boys dressed for the occasion (they are half Irish after all). I bought them such cute lil outfits and could not wait to dress them. What I wasn't expecting was for them to be in such bad moods pretty much all day long. I was doubting that I would get any cute pictures at all, BUT...they surprised me! I'd have to say that these sweet lil boys of mine are my good luck charms. They bring me such happiness and joy...some days I can't even remember what my life was like without them. Life has definitely been sweeter with them in it.

In other non Cassidy news,  my dear sweet friend Susan gave birth to her first baby, FAITH! I cannot begin to express how excited and happy I am for her and her husband. They are going to be great parents and I cannot wait to meet their sweet lil one. I have to admit...It brought me back to the day the boys were born and the first month of their life. While their birth was the best day of my life, that first month was freakin' hard!! I look back and really don't know how I survived...I actually can't remember most of it...I was exhausted and in survival mode. All I can say is that I'm glad I made it through the first few months of their life, Eric and the boys included!

LOVE is in the air

I cannot believe the month of February is almost over. It seems as the boys get older the months get shorter...or at least it feels that way. This month the boys' had their first Valentine's Day, they both learned how to roll over, they ate people food, and are now 5 months old.

For Valentine's Day this year I wanted to do something special and the boys told me they wanted to so something sweet for Daddy. My original plan was to have them dressed in cute lil Valentine's outfits and have a nice dinner cooked by the time Eric got home. I think I set my expectations a lil too high...or at least I forgot to take into consideration the fact that I have twins boys that need my constant attention. Plan A didn't quite work out...so I came up with Plan B. A homemade card from the boys and some yummy Amish friendship bread from me.



Picture that was on Daddy's homemade card

 

The boys had thrww great accomplishments this month...The first was that they can now both roll over. From back to front and from front to back. The first few times this occurred I totally missed it! I was either on my phone or watching TV...Darn you technology! I was a little worried that I would never be able to catch this monumental event on camera but...once they got the hang of it, I couldn't stop them from rolling. This month the boys tried people food for the very first time. We steamed some carrots, mashed them a little and then let them go to town. They played more than they ate and neither really seemed to care for the taste. We will give it a try again and if they don't like it we will try another veggie. Last but not least...The boys have been sleeping through the night! Well...Not every night, but they do manage to sleep from 7 pm - 7 am a few nights before going back to their old routine. The first few nights this happened I woke up in a panic, I quickly went into their room to check for breathing...and of course, both were breathing just fine. I am so excited about the thought of getting back to a normal sleep routine, I miss my sleep a lot!

Each and everyday I seem to fall more in love with my little men. I never quite knew it was possible to love someone so much. Yes, I love my husband, parents, siblings and friends...but the love you have for your child is something that's far deeper than anything I've ever experienced. Everyday I think God for the tiny miracles he has given me...They truly are blessings and I'm so lucky that I have been given the opportunity to be their mom.

Four Months!

FOUR MONTHS!

Caleb

Christian

The boys are officially 4 months old! They had their check up yesterday and they aced it with flying colors. Christian is 16 lbs 2 oz and 25.3 inchs long. Caleb is 17 lbs 3 oz and 25.5 inches long. Eric and I were both WAY off when guessing how much they would weigh. I had no idea they would be lil chunkers. The Doctor said they have met all of their milestones and that they can start cereal now. I have been waiting for this day. The boys are ALWAYS hungry and never seem to get full. So, with cereal I'm praying that it not only help fill them up but will also help them sleep longer at night. Momma needs some sleep!

So, we ended up trying cereal for the first time yesterday and will be trying it again today. It was the funniest thing! The boys had absoultely no idea what to do with it and it got everywhere. I loved seeing the faces they made once the food hit their mouth. At first they weren't quite sure they liked it but then once they tasted it they rather liked it. The cereal didn't help their sleeping last night, but I know its going to take some time. I'm actually ok with their sleeping pattern right now. We have been bathing them at 6:30 then dressing, feeding and to bed by 7/7:15. They have been waking up around 3:00 for a feed and then will sleep again til about 7. Its nice to know that they will wake up once every night. I'd much rather  have no night feedings but I'll take one feeding over multiple anyday.





















Jumpers...Pretty much the best invention of baby toys ever. Now that the boys can hold their heads up and are pretty sturdy they can play in their jumpers. This is great news for me as it gives my arms a lil break...I can get some stuff done around the house! It's great for the boys too. They LOVE being in them.  The first few times of being in the jumper they didn't know what to do and would just sit there. But they eventually got the hang of it and are jumping fools! The only downfall is that they take up so much room! This just means I need to finish the upstairs loft area so we can move all baby toys up stairs. Lots of room to play up there...And I can have my house back :)

Jumpies!

So long 2012...Hello 2013!

December turned out to be a pretty great month. What a great way to end 2012...a year that proved to be pretty awesome. In 2012 I got pregnant, moved back home to Texas, gave birth to the most amazing boys ever and made several really great new friends. I'm excited to see what 2013 brings!

The boys are three months now and oh so cute! They are finally turning into tiny lil people. This months accomplishments include finding their hands and laughing. They seem to really LOVE their hands...they are always in their mouth! The laughing is the best accomplishment since their birth. Hearing their sweet lil sounds brings me such delight. There really is nothing better than a baby laughing.



Christian

Caleb

This was the boys 1st Christmas and it was pretty fun. We decided to send out Birth Announcements/Christmas Cards. We posed the boys in a giant Christmas Gift in front of the tree. I'm surprised I was able to get a few good shots as neither of the boys were happy about being placed in a box. The cards turned out really cute...It's exciting to know that each year now I can send out a family Christmas Card.


Christian

Caleb

At this point the boys were pretty much done with being in a box LOL!

The boys have their 4 month check up in a few weeks and I cannot wait to see how much they weigh. They are eating so much these days and growing so freakin' fast. It's been fun to see each lil accomplishment as they come. I cannot even imagine the day when they will be walking and talking.