Go Canada!

(Hi Dad!)

A couple of hockey fans getting excited for the olympic showdown between USA and Canada. The good thing is...these fans are dual citizens!

Thank you Cathy, Mark, Anika & Erin for the fabulous Olympic gear!

Mom's Know Best...

Last night we had an incredible wind and rain storm here in Maine. In fact, winds reached 60 mph and many roads flooded throughout the evening. With every gust of wind, the house shook. Even the water in the toilet bowl shivered.

Before bedtime, Mom ran around the house putting flashlights and camping lanterns in each room. She even cranked the heat so that 'just in case' the power went out, we would be warm for a bit longer. I couldn't help but to chuckle, thinking that this was all overkill. Having lived in NYC for many years and NEVER losing power, the thought did not cross my mind that we would be stuck without power.

Even though the boys have started to figure out nursing, I still have to pump regularly to make sure both boys get enough breastmilk...and to prevent my own pain! For some reason, something told me around 10pm, to get on the breastpump. Sure enough, during the last minute of the pump session, the lights went out. As I sat in darkness hooked up to the pump, I looked over and saw the flashlight that mom left out and laughed out loud.

The boys had their first camping experience as our middle of the night feedings were done in lantern light. I shared with them many stories from Rich and my camping adventures...even the trip in which Rich proposed after a 7 day canoe camping adventure.

After I put them to bed swaddled in fleece and hats on their heads, I thought to myself, 'Mom's Know Best' as I turned the lantern light off.

Camping in La Verendrye Canada

Finally...

...some finished slippers.

Keeping the post partum blues away...one slipper at a time.

February 24th, 2010

Today was my due date.

Despite arriving a month and a half early, the boys are healthy and thriving. They both are gaining weight well and seem to be doing all the things that newborns should be doing.

Next week, the boys are going to be evaluated to see if they are truly six weeks old developmentally. Preemies are often developmentally delayed depending on when they were born and the issues they had. Laird and Dylan only spent two weeks in the NICU, and are extremely healthy. After thinking about this evaluation, I couldn't help but to wonder if it is truly necessary. Does it matter if these boys talk, crawl, or walk a little later than they are 'supposed to'? Sure, it may make a mother worry if there are these delays...and I suppose it would be nice to know where they are at especially if there is some sort of 'delay'.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that most babies will often smile at their parents during their first month of life, which could happen at any time with Laird and Dylan.

I think that when it happens, my heart will melt.


This is a pic of the boys eating in the middle of the night.

And then a half hour later...

A Present for Me

And a little prezzy for myself from an artist on Etsy. I removed the pearl to keep it simple. It's on a 20" chain.

I love it.

Jailbirds

Yes, it's true. A 5 week old infant is required to have a passport and picture to travel abroad to Africa. I find it hilarious as these passports are good for several years... So, mom,the boys, and I ventured out to find a photo store that could take an infant passport photo properly.

The boys were fast asleep for the photo shoot; I held them up trying to hide my hand and fingers behind their heads which was difficult to do considering my hands are bigger than their heads.

The only mistake I made was dressing the boys in stripes. It seems that these pics have more of a 'mugshot' appearance than a passport photo!

Africa here we come!

Thank Goodness for the Bouncy Seats

Yikes!

Sweet Dylan Gundars

'Little Buddha' Laird

And this is how I double bottle feed during the day. When it's burp time, burp cloths act as a second set of hands.

Thank you Lyndsay for the Boppy Seats!

Dear Dad,

A little photoshoot from afar. We miss you and will be home soon.

Love,

Laird and Dylan

xo

Greek Stew

In anticipation of a snowstorm last week, I excitedly got out the crock pot. I'm not sure what it is, but if there is a chance of snow or a rainstorm I MUST have the house smelling good with a slow cooked meal. I love the idea of hunkering down and embracing the cozy indoor mood. I suppose in Africa, this mood will be hard to capture!

My mother in law, Sandra, made a wonderful slow cooked meal while I was staying with her that I had to make. It's a Greek Stew, is very simple, and tastes delicious.

Greek Stew:
3 lbs stew meat cut into 1" pieces
1 jar boiling onions
1 or 2 6 oz cans tomato paste
1 cup red wine
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 cloves minced garlic
1 small cinnamon stick or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp cumin (Sandra leaves this out)
1 cup raisins or currants

In a crock pot, add all ingredients except the 1 jar of boiling onions. Cook all day on low or until meat is cooked throughout. Stir occasionally. Add more wine and/or the 2nd can of tomato paste if you would like it more saucy. 1/2 hour before serving, add the jar of onions.

Serve with a nice salad and good crusty bread. Mmmmmmm.

I Can Do This

And just as our new family of four found ourselves in a routine, Rich had to go back to Africa on Sunday.

The day was very emotional as we were both in denial. Maybe I should say all four of us were in denial, because as we watched Rich enter the airport, Laird began to hysterically cry... one of the few times I have ever heard him cry.

Sunday I had a pit in my stomach all day and couldn't stop the repetitive question in my mind, 'can I do this without Rich around?' I had to fight the anxiety away... Somehow I was able to find bits of confidence in being a mom...which is hard to do when you have never been a mom before.

But yesterday was a good day. Laird, Dylan, and I survived our first night together. As tough as was, there is something incredibly wonderful about waking up to four little eyeballs looking at you needing your love and attention.

In the morning we went to the pediatrician for their 2 week 'home from the hospital' visit. Both boys have gained weight and are doing great. The doctor, who I adore, also made me feel as if I were the best mother in the world. He was comforting, complimentary, supportive, and simply caring.

I walked out of the office with a huge smile on my face and my head held high. As people in the elevator and halls stopped to say hello to the twins, I couldn't help but to say to myself, 'I can do this. I am going to be a good mom'.

3 Weeks and Growing Strong

Happy 3 week birthday to us. Hard to believe we are just 37 weeks old!

Morning Bed Yoga

Four Little Feets

Back to Africa....

Well, our journey will return to Africa sooner than expected.

The boys had their first outpatient doctors appointment yesterday and it seems that we are doing something right. Both boys have gained weight, and in fact, are on the percentile charts against full termers. Sweet Dylan is in the .5% for weight, and Laird is in the 4%!

After speaking at length with the pediatrician, we made the decision to return to Africa with the boys mid-march, after their 2 month vaccinations. Rich will be returning to Africa this Sunday.

The adventures will continue...