Dear Babies,
Congratulations, we have all made it to the six-month mark! Yay us.
Granted, there were many times when the theme of the day was screaming, crying, whining, complaining and an overall sense that the world was about to come to a horrible, tragic end at ANY MOMENT. And I'm talking about MYSELF, of course.
The fact that your Dad could go back east this last weekend and leave me all alone with the two of you is simply a testament to modern medicine and the miracles of pharmacology.
A couple of months ago I was fairly terrified to be alone with you, even for brief periods of time. And this is not a reflection on you. For the most part, you are both very good, happy babies. You never suffered from colic or spitting up or any other major maladies…besides the hunger strike that a certain baby boy who-will-remain-nameless conducted the first couple weeks of his life, that is. You really only cry when hungry or very tired, and in general are easy babies.
It was ME with the issues, clearly.
This weekend your God-Mother came to help with what we in the Watson household call The Dinner Rush and asked me if I was feeling more confident.
"I'm feeling more competent," I answered. "Wait, you realize I said CONFIDENT right?" she clarified. "Yes, I know that's what you said. But confident is a ways off for me — I'm just happy to feel slightly competent at this point!" I said.
I know that might sound weird to other new twin Moms. So many of them have been alone with their twins full time since they were born, taking care of two babies day in and day out for months, all by themselves.
To me, that is akin to sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge on a raft made from banana peels. Simply impossible! At least it was impossible, thanks to meds and a great deal of therapy, I am now somewhat able to cope with the care and feeding of the two of you all by myself. Just like a big girl!
Now you are eating rice cereal and veggies. We started with the orange vegetables and then moved on to green. Your current meal du jour is green beans. I'm happy to report that you're both pretty good eaters. Parker, you open your mouth wide when you see that spoon coming, just like a little baby birdie. And Jackson, you're getting more and more interested in food as times goes by.
Sometimes, at the start of The Dinner Rush when you're a little tired, hungry and cranky, we put you in your chairs. They are bright blue with tons of colorful stripes and they sort of recline back a little. We call them your Palm Beach Retirement Chairs because you honestly look like you should be dipping your feet in the surf and enjoying a tasty beverage. Preferably something fruity with an umbrella in it. When we attempt to hoist you into the chairs and attach your bibs, you often start shrieking bloody murder – both of you! The combination of being tired and hungry and then having us half-strangle you with these very unfashionable plastic bibs is just too much to bear, evidently.
When your Grandma comes over to help, she'll often look at me while witnessing this display and ask, "What is WRONG with them?? WHY ARE THEY CRYING?"
"How should I know??" I respond. "I just met them six months ago! I HARDLY KNOW THEM!"
This is endlessly frustrating for her. And endlessly amusing for me.
On the sleeping front, thank the Good Lord in Heaven, Jax you are FINALLY starting to sleep through the night. And just in time, little buddy, since Mommy was on the verge and the sleep deprivation was not helping. We had to do some sleep training and I am hesitant to explain what that is. For sure you will have plenty to speak to your therapist about one day and why would I add fuel to that fire? Suffice it to say, for a couple of weeks it was HELL ON EARTH for all involved and now, finally, it's getting better. You are learning how to what-they-call-in-the-sleep-books "self-soothe" and it's a blessing. Parker you get an A+ in the self-soothing department. We put you down at night in your little sleep sack and you flap your legs up and down a few times (looking just like a tiny little mermaid since both legs go up and down together because of the wearable blanket!) and you're out for a good 11-12 hours.
Besides the endlessly-traumatizing sleep training, other topics I will avoid in the post:
How the Australian psychic I saw asked if your father was 'autistic' and I almost answered, "Well, not so much autistic as maybe a little ADHD" before realizing she said ARTISTIC.
How your Daddy left you alone (sleeping) for five minutes to run across the street to pick up Chinese food while Mommy was at the first fricking movie she'd seen in MONTHS and how Mommy came THIS CLOSE to killing Daddy when she came home and found out.
These issues clearly do not reflect positively on either of us and could cause someone to summon C.P.S. and so for the good of all, I will not be discussing these matters. Nothing to see here people, please move along.
So me and my meds will be heading to Los Angeles this weekend to celebrate your cousin's first birthday, and you will be staying home with Daddy and your other Grandma, who's traveling all the way from Pennsylvania to help take care of you. And I'm already missing you desperately, but at the same time can't wait to get a few uninterrupted hours of sleep at night. And maybe enjoy the nice sunny weather in Southern California.
But do not fear, I will not be sporting anything resembling swimming attire. Because no one needs to witness THAT.
Two additional pieces of bidness:
1. Dunn Family: Where are you? I couldn't follow that link to your new blog, please e-mail me with your new deets!
2. And finally, because fellow twin Mom Erin threatened me with bodily harm asked so nicely, here are some recent pix of les bebes:
Jax and Baby P all suited up for the frigid weather, braving the chilly seventy degree Northern California climate!
While my brother amuses himself with various colorful objects, I ask you: Where the hell is my frosty beverage??
Really what more is there to say – don't these just say it all?
Six months? SIX months? Are you sure??? Somehow it just doesn’t seem possible that J&P are already six months old. I don’t know why I am finding this so mind boggling. I’m very glad though that you’re feeling more competent or confident or whatever. They certainly look like lovely, happy, (super cute!) content babies, so even if you’re still feeling a little shell-shocked, it’s clearly not having an effect on the two beauteous ones.
I had to laugh at the game you play with your mom, “I just met them”. It amuses me too!
Do your best to enjoy your evening / night away. DO take advantage of the sleep, for sure!!
Loving the photo-y goodness!! Keep them coming!
Oh! Unbearably cute! Glad to hear you’re feeling competent…confident will come in time.
Honestly, those babies are just too cute. They really are. And I pride myself on my own babies’ cuteness, so take it to heart!!
Sounds like everyone is getting on well!! 🙂
yea, glad the meds are working and you are feeling better- the kiddos are ADORABLE!
These are beautiful, handsome Gerber baby faces! How sweet!
So sorry to hear you’ve had a rough past few months. So glad you sought professional help. So many times you hear of people that go through this and are afraid to admit they need help. Give yourself a pat on the back for that!
Too cute for words.
You sound like you are doing much better. Glad to hear it. Have fun in LA.
Too cute for words.
You sound like you are doing much better. Glad to hear it. Have fun in LA.
sooo cute. My gawd they are adorable !!!
I can’t believe they are 6 months old already, just like I can’t believe my kiddos are 5 months old already.
You’re a GREAT Mom!! have a fantabulous time in LA and get some sleep. I KNOW how important that is.
*hugs sweets*
Your children are just beautiful. I mean, the complexion on P is just perfect. Hope you enjoy the weekend away and the SLEEP! Oh, I miss the sleep…
i know this is probably what everyone says but they are seriously cute.
you sound like you’re doing great…hope I do as well as you when the time comes and still keep a sense of humour too.
At the moment mine are squirming and kicking inside, I dont know where my belly ends and the outside world begins…putting on 10 000 kilograms (bloody skinny French women) and generally trying to conserve energy for the times to come…
its great reading your stories…keep them coming….
OMG..they are so unbelievable adorable!!!! I am so glad to hear you are feeling better. Enjoy your time in SoCal!!
they are precious.
i am sorry that your hormones have reeked such havok on you! blech! so too bad. depression is such a thief it just takes and takes and takes, no?
i am glad that you are moving to the other side. you’ll be there soon. soon you won’t hardly recognize yourself six months ago.
hey, MR called you crazy in the comments on my blog. hahahahahaha. i love MR. of course, i wholly disagree. you’re not crazy, just um, a little funny.
a few things:
• glad you’re doing better
• everyone SERIOUSLY underestimates the significance of lack of previous experience to us first- time -moms- who -happen -to -be -doing -the -first -time -mom -thing -with -TWO -BABIES -AT -ONCE. Seriously. Really. I just read a great post by Dutch at Sweet Juniper about the difference in the angst-level of the parent between children one and two, and it is huge. So there we all are, first-time parents, dealing with two infants. So you are not alone. You are great.
•lastly, I cannot BELIEVE that your husband did that running across the street insanity. Sounds like something mine would have tried. And then, why do they feel so smug and self-satisfied and so “look at me, I beat the odds!”. They are deranged. But my husband is still “the Hero” in terms of all that he has done in co-parenting our twins (who are now 7.) What can I say? Deranged AND the Hero. That’s my guy. Yours too, I imagine. Happy Dad’s Day. So glad you got away for a few days.
Boy did my threats work out! Those babies are too much. How can you stand it?
I can’t believe the trip for Chinese food. Has he recovered from the beating yet? Admittedly I have gone to switch the laundry while the kids sleep, but it’s in the same building and I brought the monitor with me. I also took a shower once. I didn’t enjoy it, though and now my personal hygiene is dependent on having someone around to watch the babies.
Happy 6 months! When are you coming up to visit?
I hate it when people ask me why the babies are crying. I think “Seriously, I know this WHY?”
//H (previously V)
I hope you get to meet confidence eventually!
Those are great pics!
yaaaaayyyyy!!!! i LOVE the pictures!! and also love that you amuse yourself with the how should i know, i barely know them. i’m going to have to put that one in my back pocket for the esp challenging moments!