Obviously this is long over due… I've had this blog written for quite some time in my head, but it turns out with all the technology today you still have to sit down and take time to type it out yourself.
The twins are 6 months old now, they will be 7 months on Sep. 5th! We are blessed to announce that they have been equally healthy as their older brother and looking like they are going to start crawling this month at the same age their older brother did too! I've been meaning to write this for several months so I apologize in advance that some of the info no longer applies but I'll still share it. --
While pregnant and looking like… this…
I thought, ok if I can just have these babies I will be able to go out in public again without being a spectacle… WHY did I think that. Why did I not realize that carrying 2 newborns and a 1 1/2 year old into a public place would not draw a crowd. A crowd that includes some of the same people that seem to think I'm still wearing a sign, only this time it says (it's socially acceptable to comment or ask me anything because I have twins) :) - There are two categories of comments I get now. well, ok, maybe three.
1. The FAQ's - these I don't really mind at all. because I realize that 95% of the population has never had nor has ever sat down and thought about what it would be like to have twins... until they saw me. And they are questions that I would expect all friends and family to ask and don't mind answering. Therefore… I will answer them here for you (like I said, I intended to post this after the twins were first born… but that was like yesterday in my time… :)
- Are they twins?
- :)-- nope, they were just having a BOGO sale at the hospital… here's your sign…! SRY! I just had too! I know that people only ask this as a way to start a conversation with me, so that they can ask the rest of these!
- Are they fraternal or identical
- Fraternal - (2 eggs) they had two separate everything in there, just happened to be in there at the same time. They share genes just like they do with Landon, but do not have the same DNA. they are just brothers that were born together.
- Did you have a c-section/epidural/drugs…etc.(bc if you have twins, your gynecological history is strangers' business. - again, i realize the curiosity).
- no.
- How did you walk??? (they are obviously picturing me enormously pregnant at this point in the conversation; which is pretty fair, because I was enormous.)
- I usually just smile and say something generic to this question but I am always thinking in my head "um.. one foot in front of the other? is there another way?" ;)
- Are you nursing? (this one is a little awkward coming from strangers sometimes, and is usually asked like this "You're not Breastfeeding are you?????!!!"
- yes. both babies, exclusively breastfed (and started baby food at 5 months)
- Do you feed them at the same time? and HOW??? (also sometimes a weird one if you're in public talking to a perfect stranger, BUT… obviously peoples modesty is overcome by their curiosity! they just gotta know!
- Yes, (and no) I nursed them at the same time until they were 4 1/2 months old. by then, they were too big to fit on the special twins nursing pillow i had AND were also much more fast and efficient eaters by then so I just feed them back to back (still on the same schedule) which brings me to…
- Are they on the same schedule
- YES! they just have to be, and have been since day one.
- Do they sleep in the same crib
- again yes, (and no). they slept in the same crib until they were about 5 1/2 months and now sleep in the same room in two different cribs due to their size and the fact that they can crawl on top of each other… and like to try to "pick up" each other's eyes…
- Do they have different personalities
- Yes and yes… always have. and they're too complex to explain because it can't be summed up in "the quiet one" or the "the sensitive one" because it changes, but they are just two different kids.
- Are you done having kids?
- We just simply don't have to make this decision right now so it's kinda pointless to say… are we leaning one way or the other? perhaps, but at 26, I don't think we have to make a definitive statement. ;)
- How do you go grocery shopping?
- I don't. Hubby does. yes, he loves me. Some husbands have said that something drastic would have to happen for them to go with a massive list to the grocery store every two weeks… and I say to them… having 3 under 2 is drastic enough.
2. The comments of PITY - this is the second type of conversation I get a lot from strangers. and it is my least favorite by FAR!!! things like
- "Oh you poor thing"
- "Oh bless you dear" (you can picture the tone of voice)
- "You have your hands full" sometimes said in a completely friendly way, but usually in a half laughing and tone that is like I am glad I am not you! - this is also the most FREQUENT. If i had a dollar for every time I've heard this, we could retire.
- "how do you do it"
- "Better you than me"
- "Can you imagine the chaos when they get mobile" … thank you… for that…
You get the idea. Well I don't like these for obvious reasons. Because nobody likes to be pitied… BUT they especially don't like to be pitied when they don't feel a reason for the pity! We love our life and never said it wasn't hard work, but the most worth while things are hard work and we wouldn't change a thing!! -- but we just smile. Because I've come to realize why people don't understand. It's the same reason I don't understand runners… I have a friend who is an avid runner. Runs everyday. for fun!! MIles and miles! I cannot run very far before quitting. I would say I really really don't like it. non-runners do not understand runners. I could go very far with this analogy, but you get the point. So I understand the pity comments. they just don't understand I love "to run"...
3. The third and favorite kind of comments I've received from strangers are from those (usually older) adults who understand what a blessing children are recognize us as blessed as we feel. They sincerely say "oh what a blessing" and other encouraging things.
Disclaimer: As you know, all of the previous does not phase or offend us, so if you have said any or asked any, you are among the masses and that is why I went ahead and answered questions. Close friends and family can say and ask whatever they want because we know they do it out of love. :)
