2 Months and a Memory

Caitlyn & Madelyn 9weeks old

Well, the girls are 2 months old. I can hardly believe it! Wednesday they had their check ups and shots :( Madelyn took it well but Caitlyn was very weepy, she was a momma's girl after that. Caitlyn weighed 8 lbs 9 oz and Madelyn topped her at 9 lbs and 10 oz.

Can you tell which one is which? Who's the chunky monkey?

I've been thinking about their delivery a little bit in that it was a truly horrible experience for me, before, during and after. Before: it just went so fast and I was so hungry because I had not had anything real to eat or drink since the night before (almost 24 hrs!). During: I was sick, and NO ONE was paying any attention to me or listening when I told them I was getting sick. I threw up, but it was horrible. because my diaphram had nothing to press against I couldn't even throw up! It was worse than dry heaving, yuk! Then Afterwards: they gave me pain pills...on an empty stomach so OF COURSE I threw up again. Then when I was begging for something to eat (popcicle to get at least some sugar in my system - I remember them saying the the girls' sugar was low too) they wouldn't give me anything because they thought I would throw up again!!!! I was like HELLO, I threw up because I my stomach is empty and you just gave me pain pills on an empty stomach!

OK, ENOUGH of my complaining. Who can complain when you have these two cute faces to look at?

Look at those cute chins!

The girls really have grown so much and gotten so big! I was looking at Caitlyn today and thinking, "where is the time going? You can't be this big yet, I need you to stay little for just a little longer." Then while I was holding Madelyn today, I SWEAR she smiled at me several times, responding to my cooing and smiles. I could be wrong but, SHE REALLY DID IT! (and I'm the mother - I should know!)

I just want this time to stand still...I feel like I'm missing their infancy because there is so much going on. They have already out grown newborn sizes, at least they are still in 0-3 months.

They still sleep most of the time. They have gone as long as 6 hours at night - what a blessing!

All our monkeys...dirty faces and all :)

Seriously...TOO FUNNY!

My friend has this on her blog and it made me laugh, hard, out loud. So, I thought you might like to do the same.

I do have a 2 month post about the girls in the works...I just haven't finished it yet. Stay tuned!

Our Week by the numbers

I was going to title this post 6 for Saturday taking a post out of Diana's blog, but as you will see there are more than 6 and 9, in case you haven't noticed, doesn't start with an S! So here's our week by the numbers:

1. Jackson and Abygail decided to be powder sugar ghosts. This seems to be the trend when the jar is left on the table...my bad, I should have put it away but, I had other crying babies/priorities to attend to. Jackson got quite the photo shoot out of it, here are a couple.



2. Speaking of photo shoots, Jason did one of his own. He was quite proud of himself this week. I think there were 13 shots of this screen. Check it out!


3. We have another champ in our house now. Abygail is a champ at opening doors now. She even opens the ones we don't want her to. She's found out that it's not so scary to go downstairs to the basement by yourself if there are super cool prizes to be found. Some of the things she's gotten this week: paints to make her own paintings, popsicles for her and Jack, ice cream for her and Jack and various other cool toys (old music tapes that unravel, little hand bags etc). We'll have to put a lock or latch on that door immediately!

4. Speaking of Paints, while Jackson and I were at the store Abygail got to use those paints for making her own pictures. They haven't gotten to paint for awhile and they really love it so it was a good day for her. She looked so cute, Jason had put one of his t-shirts on her and clothes-pinned it in the back so it didn't fall off. She looked like a little Picasso and there was not too much of a mess - at least I'm not the one that cleaned it up so it wasn't too much of a mess for me :)

5. Speaking of messes, I had some super coupons for another deal at CVS where their Fiber One chocolate chewy granola bars were on sale. I bought several and we gobbled them up - I think they are one of our new food loves. We had some down sides to them, we found that you can't eat more than one a day unless you want to spend your day in the bathroom and changing poopy diapers! Our children (especially Jackson) are regular enough so the bars are now off limits to them ;)

6. Not only has Aby been finding things on her own but she's been lying about it. Yesterday afternoon I was on the phone and holding a baby when I walked into the kitchen at the exact time she was coming upstairs from the dungeon. Very clearly in her hand I could see 2 Klondike bars (left over from my pregnancy cravings). I asked her "Did you go downstairs?" Her answer, "No". I ask "where did you get those ice creams?" Her answer, "I don't have any ice creams". To be honest I believe this is my fault. I've been not the best of moms when handling these situations. I usually tell her no and just take them away. Lately with the new additions I've been learning some patience and negotiation skills. I no longer get upset or berate her but explain why she can't have it, then stick to my guns and then coach her into handing over whatever it is. I hope this method will work, along with the 'lectures' on why we don't lie to mommy. It's tough keeping everything out of reach of 4 little hands!

7. Speaking of keeping things out...I got to go to playgroup for the first time in months. Although Aby and Jack have been I have not. This week was Jason's spring break so he stayed home with the girls while the rest of us went to play/socialize. A fun time was had by all.

8. Other news about getting out, with the amazing coupons this week and Diapers.Com deal I wound up purchasing 20, yup 20 packs of diapers! I'll give you my dollar total on the other website. I started this other site to keep my deals on and keep my shopping lists on to make it easier for myself but then my vision broadened to encompass any deal in Buffalo (The Buff) including what to do to entertain ourselves. Hopefully my Thrifty Friend will have some engrossing posts to add to it!

9. The best part of this week? NO ONE DIED!

And there you have it, a week in the life of our slice!

Jumping on the Love Train/Chain

A few of my friends have jumped on the love train/chain, and I've decided to do it as well. Here's how it works:

They made a post about giving service, kindness and love to others and the first five commenters to that post would receive a homemade goodness from her.....but.... in return they have to offer the same incentive on their own blog. And so on and so forth....

Well, somehow I was lucky enough to be one of Rozannah's first five, but missed the cut off for Diana's. So...now it is my turn to put a few chinks in the chain. My only stipulation is that you won't receive your awesome homemade something until you have posted your Love Chain/Train message, and further more I have until 2010 to deliver it to you! (Hey, I'm busy!)

DISCLAIMER: I'm not crafty so I reserve the right to do an act of service, make something edible or do something crafty with the understanding from you that it might not be perfect or even good/edible/usable - but it will be done with my two hands and with love!

*Yes, I copied Rozannah's post and put it here with a few modifications.
Why is that song "On The Chain Gang" now in my head?

SHAMELESS/Another Fabulous Diaper Deal

NO, I'M NOT CHANGING OUR BLOG TO A DEAL BLOG, BUT I DO LIKE PASSING ON FABULOUS FINDS!

I know this has already been sent around here in Buffalo but I wanted to send it around again, and make sure it gets to anyone that hasn't already seen it! If you haven't already done this...DO IT! I've changed a few things...I changed the $10 off code to my referral code which gives me $5.00 for each of you that make a purchase and then $1.00 each time you make an additional purchase AND I've added the website where you can send your receipt in and get an additional $0.75 refund for each package of Huggies diapers you buy (this refund is good where ever you buy your diapers - not just diapers.com)!

If you don't buy diapers but you know someone who does, PLEASE send this on!

Diaper deal!

Okay, for all of you ladies out there using diapers, I found a pretty good deal online for you, especially if you are into Luvs, Huggies, or Pampers. If you have never used Diapers.com, then this is the deal for you. Here are a couple of scenarios:
One example of the great deals:
Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers Extra Large Case, Size 4, 150 diapers $38.99
Huggies Snug and Dry Diaper - Jumbo Pack, Size 4, 34 diapers $10.99
= $49.98
- $10 off $49 code (type the code SRVY7855) (this is my referral code so that you and I both get $ off!)
+ Free Shipping
= $39.98 shipped
- $14.97 refund for Parenting Magazine
= $25.01 after rebate divided by 184 diapers ~ $.14 per diaper


Anyway, I just thought you might be interested. I actually ordered the size 1 and I'm getting 284 diapers for that price which makes them $0.09 a diaper! And, you don't have to rush the crowds at your favorite diaper purchasing place!
Just so you know, any name-brand diaper that you can get around .15 cents a diaper is a killer deal, and of course, the smaller the size, the better the deal! Oh yeah, and you get them in 2 business days! It's a one-time deal, here's the link to the mail-in-rebate: http://www.diapers.com/helpcenter/parenting.htm . So, you will front around 38.00-42.00 at first, but then send in the rebate and in 6-8 weeks you'll be reimbursed 14.97.

Additionally you can get $0.75 rebate on each package of diapers you buy through this website:

http://caregiversmarketplace.com/FrameSetup.asp

Forward this to all your friends that purchase diapers too. Make sure and change the $10 off code to your referral code - or if you don't need the $ than leave mine there!

(yes, i sent out an email too...just want to make sure you get the info. thanks to Natalie and Kandis for making sure I was aware of this deal in the first place!)

AMAZING DIAPER DEAL

If you use diapers - especially if you use them like I do - than you will appreciate this information.

First go here and print off the Huggies coupons for $5.00 and $3.00 off 1 sized package of diapers. Then go in to Walgreens and

Scenario 1: buy 3 packages to get $10.00 in store dollars to spend during your next store visit. Then go to this website and fill out the cash back form for $0.75 back for each package of diapers bought. Total spent on 3 packages of diapers (if you have 3 $5 coupons like I do) is $2.75. This amount includes the $10 to spend during your next Walgreens visit (you do have to get their special Register Rewards card for this to work).

Additional websites with this information: http://www.frugalinvirginia.com/2009/03/hot-walgreens-diaper-deal.html

Or Scenario 2: http://www.frugalcouponmom.com/2009/03/5-huggies-coupon-moneymaker.html

If you don't have any need to buy diapers, but would like to print these coupons and send them to me (because I've reached the limit and it won't let me print any more:)...I'd love you forever and like you for always!

Just Pictures

Who says you have to be twins to match?

Potty Charts

Mommy's lipstick (and mascara on those lips too)

all the kiddie-kins

two peas in a pod

"hey sister, what cha doin'"

Hello

Just having fun (most hair to least hair - mommy wins with the most hair and caitlyn wins with the least)

No Time To Blog

(pictures soon to come, when i get another free moment and I change the batteries on the camera, we are sadly devoid of pictures from aunt melissa's visit!)

Well, it's been 6 weeks! Yup, the girls are 6 weeks old, yesterday was their due date! I can't believe how much things have changed but also how much it seems like this has always been our family.

Our last round of visitors (really helpers) left on Thursday and they have been sorely missed. I still have to keep up with everything though, why? Because when you have 2 that you are bottle feeding 6 bottles doesn't last very long at all! Also, during the round of helpers our washer died, yup, died - never to be resurrected. We got an estimate on repair and it was $1,200.00. I told the nice man, thanks but no thanks! So that evening Jason and I went and purchased a new set of machines...we got the large capacity - because we are now considered a large family, and you can't just get a large capacity washer and then split it up into 3 loads for the dryer...so we got the dryer to go with it. It's my favorite toy now. It does my laundry in 1/3 of the time and 3xs the amount at once and it saves money on electricity and water and to top it all off, it sings to me. Yup, it sings a happy clothes washing song to me that makes me happy to go down and take care of the mountain of laundry! It's a great mood lifter, I highly recommend it to anyone who is in need of a mood boost ;)

So, I was checking out the girls yesterday and couldn't believe how big they've gotten. At their 3 week Dr visit (3 weeks ago) Caitlyn was 5 lbs 2 oz and Madelyn was 6lbs 2 oz. Sometimes we look at Cait now and think, "wait - who am I holding?" because she's got cheeks now. Madelyn we can still difinetively peg but Caitlyn gives us cause for pause sometimes. Madelyn is still a screamer but it's not so urgent or highpiched...or maybe I'm just used to it now. Madelyn is also a poop machine the last several days! They both take 2ozs or more at each feeding, closer to 3 ozs now but occasionally they chug 4 ozs (Madelyn more than Caitlyn). They wake up at 1am and 5am which is nice for catching some zzzzzs.

Speaking of Zs, Jackson has once again started sleeping all the way through the night! Ya! One down, three to go :)