Early Thursday

[cheshie6]

I'm up! L is awake on DH chest wanting to be snuggled. My preemptive attack last night failed. I should be asleep letting DH deal with stuff but I can't seem to turn off my brain!

[ClassyMrsA]

I'm up. I hope not for too long. Lilah was sooo fussy going to bed. She just cried and cried. I'm sure it was gas pain or something, but she's literally never cried that much. It was weird. DH finally took her around 10 and she fell asleep on him almost instantly. I fell asleep then, too. Woke up at 12 to him just getting ready for bed and her still asleep. Moved her to the pnp and went back to sleep. Just woke up at 3:30 and nursed one side. She's grunting away next to me so I assume we'll be doing the other side soon.

My mom is spending the day with us today. I'm excited at the possibility of a nap. Haven't had one the last 2 days and I need the sleep. I'm just exhausted all the time and it's manifesting as headaches and such now.

[goldenlove3]

Hi, I'm here now. I actually got decent sleep last night since H took the midnight shift. He must have had "fun" with C based on the fact that he's wearing a new outfit.

He only drank about an ounce than passed out so we're just cuddling right now. I can't believe how much he's grown. The last few of our NB diapers are downstairs in the diaper caddy so I put him in a size 1. It's still a little big but fits better than NB. And the outfit he's in was huge on him when we first came home and now it fits nicely.

[dashook]

We're on D's second wakeup. Normally she eats and falls right back asleep but not today. I'm trying to ignore/not engage her with her wide eyes and just rock her, hoping she'll get the hint.

[cheshie6]

Up again! I honestly don't know how much breast milk L is getting considering it seems like half my supply ends up on his clothes. He's currently quiet and calm in a wet onesie (just left sleeve) on my chest. He gets so worked up changing that for me, it's not worth it at this time. I'm just going to have to nap later today!

Anybody else have flat or inverted nipples?

[hangry]

Morning all!
I'm happy that E slept in her bassinet for one of her 3 hour stretches. She had a cold last week and was choking on congestion when she laid down flat. That lead to co-sleeping and we never left it. She would just grunt, whine, or cry when I laid her down. Hoping to work back to the bassinet so I can get more comfy.

And I am now officially on my own for the next 3 days. But I have it easy bc O is in daycare today and tomorrow.

[kleigh]

Wow so we were all up huh.

Alec got fussy around midnight and H couldn't quiet him. Every time I'd grab him from H he immediately stopped screaming and would just look up at me calmly. But everytime I handed him back to H he'd start screaming again. This led to a fight between H and I bc naturally he was feeling bad about it. He's the one that has taken care of Alec 24/7 since birth, I've maybe done ten hours worth of work with him so I have no clue why he's doing this. Like I'm shocked as shit he even "knows" me.

Then Adeline woke up to eat so no sleep for mommy.

Does anyone else's baby cry when they fart, poop, or pee? I have no clue what Alecs deal is with that.

[LizInFL]

Morning! I was up, but I just don't have the energy or cohesion of thought to post overnight. Y'all would probably think I'm drunk

Rough-ish night here, too...no 4-hour stretches for me! Of course guess who is sleeping quite soundly in the swing at the moment. Fortunately B slept great; poor kid has a cold and was exhausted last night.

I have a hair appointment this morning while B is at preschool, and then I think we'll have a playdate this afternoon with a friend and her kiddos.

[dashook]

That second wakeup lasted a good hour and then afterwards she was super noisy and grunty so I really couldn't sleep. I ended up waking H at like 7:20 and asking him to please take her so I could sleep a few quiet minutes before DS would be up.

Well I just woke up and it's 8:50 and apparently he has been downstairs with both kids this whole time, letting me sleep! I'm shocked and impressed and grateful.

[ClassyMrsA]

hangry We've already started cosleeping sometimes, too. Mostly just the 2nd half of the night or early morning, but I just am so tired I don't want to stay up until she's super passed out and ready to go back in the pnp.

kleigh I've read a lot that your voice is the first sound they learn to recognize while you're pregnant. So maybe even if your H has been taking care of him, Alec still thinks of you as the safest place. Plus, I feel like babies tend to have a draw towards their mothers somehow anyway just because they were literally attached to us for 9 months. My DH has had similar feelings with both girls when they won't settle for him, but then it'll switch and they only settle for him...like last night.

We just had the one real wake up at 3:30. So despite the rough start, I got a lot of good sleep. Just trying to wake up and find the motivation to get up. It's ridiculously cold here today (by Texas standards) and I don't want to. Lillian is quietly watching cartoons in the living room. She's so adorable. She's sitting on her pink chair and has a blanket over her legs. Lilah is sound asleep next to me. But I know I need to get up, get dressed, dress them, and feed Lillian. I really just want to go back to sleep.

[aggiebug]

Morning. DS is pretty consistent at night with 2 wake ups but the lack of a solid block of sleep is finally taking its toll on me. I asked H to give a bottle at 10 tonight so I plan in going to bed not long after Dd goes to bed and sleeping through till the 2 am wake up. Thinking about how 'easy' ds is makes me overwhelmed and in awe of you twin moms.

[hangry]

kleigh are you bottle feeding Alec your BM? If so, your smell will always be a comfort to him. I remind my H of this all the time to make him feel better. It's just the boobs/milk.

I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way, but have you guys thought about trying short bouts of "switching" child responsibilities? I know Adeline is difficult, but it's a great skill for dad to learn how to comfort her and for you to learn how to let someone else do it. Now might not be the right time as we are still just surviving, but something to consider for the future.

[tallblonde]

Morning. N gave me a longer stretch last night..I'm really hoping she's past her birth weight so I don't have to wake her. I'm kind of assuming she has, hence not waking her.

Her 2 week appt is in a few hours, otherwise low key day, yesterday we were pretty busy and I'm exhausted. My shoulders are tired from 4+ hours of walking between walking to lunch and around zoolights with the k'tan.

[kleigh]

Dec 8, 2016 9:18:54 GMT -5 hangry said:

kleigh are you bottle feeding Alec your BM? If so, your smell will always be a comfort to him. I remind my H of this all the time to make him feel better. It's just the boobs/milk.

I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way, but have you guys thought about trying short bouts of "switching" child responsibilities? I know Adeline is difficult, but it's a great skill for dad to learn how to comfort her and for you to learn how to let someone else do it. Now might not be the right time as we are still just surviving, but something to consider for the future.

I am no longer BFing at all, very sad but for the best - I wasn't able to BF, pump, bottle feed to supplement, plus keep my sanity. But obviously he was BFd for a little bit.

It definitely doesn't come off the wrong way. Little by little I've been having him feed Adeline. She is still choking when he feeds her which ticks me off because Ive been able to mostly avoid it with my technique (and I've tried teaching him but he doesn't follow through with it - so irritating) so to watch her regress with him is frustrating but at least I trust that it's under control, it's hard for him too I know to watch her choke and to handle her. She's so tiny compared to Alec that it's "scary" to hold her bc she feels so fragile and she's so sensitive at the moment (hopefully she'll outgrow that).

But also after last nights issues with Alec he took Adeline through this morning and did really well, again she choked at every feeding but.. I can't possibly feed her every single time. So I need to let him take her more and I am starting to be more comfortable with it.

[shedreamsincolor]

Oh man ladies. I spanked DS1 for the first time today. He was thrashing all over on his changing table and I just lost it. Sleep deprivation plus a toddler that is pushing all his limits is not a good combo. I feel so shitty right now.

ETA: In fairness this was more like a swat on his bottom over both a diaper and PJs but still. Parenting is no joke.

[tjanca22]

Morning. Not the greatest night since L decided to cluster feed from 8-11, then was up at 12:30 and again at 2,3, 5 and DS woke up at 6:30. I'm tired and coffee isn't helping. It's cold out and I plan on spending the day on the couch under a blanket with a warm snuggly baby.

kleigh, I agree with hangry, the smell of you will comfort Alex . DH used to get frustrated that he couldn't console DS, it's the boobs/milk/smell. Without those, I'd have no skills either.

[tjanca22]

Dec 8, 2016 10:07:01 GMT -5 shedreamsincolor said:

Oh man ladies. I spanked DS1 for the first time today. He was thrashing all over on his changing table and I just lost it. Sleep deprivation plus a toddler that is pushing all his limits is not a good combo. I feel so shitty right now.

ETA: In fairness this was more like a swat on his bottom over both a diaper and PJs but still. Parenting is no joke.

Hugs, mom guilt sucks. Try not to feel too bad about it. This parenting is a moment by moment job and no one will fault you for that.

[ClassyMrsA]

shedreamsincolor LT for solidarity. I have swatted Lillian like that a few times. It always makes me feel really bad so I actively try to use other methods of dealing with her when I feel myself getting angry with her. It's really hard with the poor sleep and adjusting.

[goldenlove3]

It's snowing out. Glad I don't have to leave the house today. I do have to find time pretty soon to make a crock pot roast. I was supposed to make it yesterday but completely forgot about it with trying to get ready for my appt. Luckily my parents brought us Chinese food that was enough for a late lunch and dinner yesterday.

C is current sleeping on me and I'm sure he'd stay sleeping if I put him down but I really don't want to. This whole going back to work thing is hitting me harder than I expected it would. I just need to remind myself that it's literally only 5 days total that I'll be away, then we have 13 weeks straight.

[hangry]

kleigh hope you're not stressing about using formula, a fed baby is a happy baby. And I give you so much credit for managing twins at all. I can't imagine two infants at the same time. You deserve a pat on the back for how well both you and H are doing with these two!

shedreamsincolor I feel you with toddler issues. I lost my cool the other day and used my "strength" against DS in a way I wasn't comfortable with afterwards. We all do the best we can at any given moment and hopefully learn from the regrettable moments.

[kleigh]

Thank you so much hangry Yes I'm very much bothered that I'm not BFing anymore. No ones made me feel that way but it's just that *I* wanted to - I miss the bonding the most and that's hard. But the stress of doing it (as a FTM with no family/friends for support - no one I'm close with has done it) exceeded the stress of giving it up - I know this is a healthy choice for all of us esp so H can help (and I NEED that help), but I will forever miss it I think.

vinolove I tried telling him, there is just something inherently more nurturing from a mom - I noticed even if we're holding them in the same exact position you see their body language is more relaxed when I'm holding and I think it's mostly just a function of motherly energy/gentleness/calmness etc. Still I feel bad..

[goldenlove3]

Dec 8, 2016 12:13:20 GMT -5 vinolove said:

Ok folks, I'm sitting down to watch This is Us. I dont have any kleenex but I've got 3 burp cloths and an A&A swaddle blanket if it gets rough. I'm ready for a good cry....

I'm right behind you!!

[cheshie6]

danib, L doesn't seem to spitting up. I was thinking that wearing the nipple shield was causing some leakage. I'm struggling with latching on and keeping him on.

kleigh, L cries before he pees, poos, and farts, as well as while he's doing them as well! Maybe it's a boy thing!?!

shedreamsincolor, I'm only on day 6 and I was crying/yelling at my mom today! The kitchen was a mess and both my mom and DH had said they were going to clean it up last night. I just couldn't handle it this morning! The kitchen sink was full of dishes (the dishwasher was empty and ready to be filled) and the thought of adding to the mess was just too much.

[kleigh]

Dec 8, 2016 12:30:42 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

Dec 8, 2016 12:13:20 GMT -5 vinolove said:

Ok folks, I'm sitting down to watch This is Us. I dont have any kleenex but I've got 3 burp cloths and an A&A swaddle blanket if it gets rough. I'm ready for a good cry....

I'm right behind you!!

+1

[tallblonde]

Just got back from the 2 week appt and she's a growing machine! Averaging an ounce a day and 6oz past her birth weight. Phew! Also met newest doctor at our practice and she's nice, so glad I love all 4...since we were regulars there for the first 2 years with J.

Just need to pick up vitamin D drops and get going on tummy time since her cord fell off, granted she had her do it at the office and it started bleeding again, boo.

[kleigh]

Dec 8, 2016 13:14:50 GMT -5 vinolove said:

This is Us was good! It's such a range of emotions, the emotions and situations aren't to over the top that you can relate to them.

GDI how dare they leave me hanging like that!!!! This was quite a roller coaster.

[kleigh]

tallblonde Yay for a good appt!! I didn't realize we are supposed to do tummy time already, I really need to be on some blog or email alerts for baby development. Does it count if you lay them tummy down on your chest and they practice that way?

[shedreamsincolor]

Thanks for the support this morning. Definitely NOT my finest hour. I came to my sisters and she is helping me with the boys today. DH is gone until Saturday so that's part of the issue is I'm single parenting and it's cold as hell so we've been stuck inside (with DS1 being sick) since Saturday.

Re: This Is Us. Love, love, love this show. I can't wait until January!!!

[tallblonde]

Dec 8, 2016 13:24:50 GMT -5 kleigh said:

tallblonde Yay for a good appt!! I didn't realize we are supposed to do tummy time already, I really need to be on some blog or email alerts for baby development. Does it count if you lay them tummy down on your chest and they practice that way?

I think on chest counts as well as if worn in a carrier counts as well because they have to work on neck muscles. Anywhere when they lift their head seems like it'd work!

[LizInFL]

Dec 8, 2016 10:07:01 GMT -5 shedreamsincolor said:

Oh man ladies. I spanked DS1 for the first time today. He was thrashing all over on his changing table and I just lost it. Sleep deprivation plus a toddler that is pushing all his limits is not a good combo. I feel so shitty right now.

ETA: In fairness this was more like a swat on his bottom over both a diaper and PJs but still. Parenting is no joke.

It's tough, all my sympathies (and a glass of wine for good measure). I spanked B the other day for the first time (or like you said, more of a swat). He is normally so good and cooperative but was being a little you-know-what, for lack of a better term. I think it surprised him more than anything but he shaped up. I still felt bad, bc spanking isn't something I want to rely on heavily, but I don't think any permanent damage was done. I hope