Linguadefenestration: When your words go out the window.

Everybody uses baby talk at some point. Whether they know it or not, everybody goes from normal adult human being to "is hims a widduh poopy?"
I didn't think I would be affected by that. I thought "I'm a linguaphile, I want my kids to grow up and have a healthy appreciation for all the wonderful words our language has to offer. I'm not going to lower their chances by babbling at them. (soapbox creaks)"
Well...
I did.
And I'm OK with that.
Sometimes I don't come anywhere near English. I'll drop into some bizarre voice and utter a stream of entirely nonsensical gibberish, punctuated by raspberries blown on a baby's tummy.
I even came up with their cute baby nicknames - AND their cute crying baby nicknames!
When the babies are crying for whatever reason, they cease to be Wesley and Evan, and they become Fusslyburger and Dr. McScreamy.
Fusslyburger kind of evolved from Wesley's other nickname, Wesleyburger. I have no idea where that came from. Evan, as it turns out, is hard to make up rhyming nicknames for. So he's Mr. Evanhead normally, and Dr. McScreamy when he's fussy.

In other news, both boys broke 8 pounds as of their last weigh-in! My little linebackers!

You don't use beans in a napkin fight.

These babies are amazing. It's hard to believe they are preemies. Medically, their so - called "corrected age" is 4 days now (rather than almost 6 weeks), and they are right up there with full term 6 week old singletons as far as their milestones already. They are holding their heads up well and are becoming very interactive and are a lot more alert. They have great appetites too. They haven't had a weigh in in about 2 weeks now, but at the last one, our pediatrician said that their weight gain is excellent and that he is very pleased. Yay babies! We are aware of the art of sleeping when the babies sleep, but we just aren't too good at that, so we're pretty sleep deprived (Feedings every 3 hours will do that to you!), but we're hanging in there. I think that around the time they start sleeping through the night is about the time we figure out that trick!

Good thing we don't need a lot of sleep!

P.S.. It makes me very happy, after seeing the latest issue of People magazine, to know that my twins are cuter than J Lo's, and I have another phrase to add to the list of things that I never thought I'd say: "You don't use beans in a napkin fight".

Incubator out.

We are blessed- Please say a prayer for a mom I "know"

First of all, we are so blessed that our babies are healthy and thriving and growing so well. It's especially a blessing with them being preemies and doing so well.

That said, there is a mom I "know" who is not having such good luck right now. She is on one of the multiples message boards I read when I was pregnant. Her babies were born in the 37 week range at about the same weight ours were. They are 3 weeks old- almost as old as our babies- and they have lost over 2 pounds each since birth. No matter how much or how often they are fed, they continue to lose weight. Nobody knows why, but I'm really concerned for them, so please keep this family in your prayers. They are still in the hospital and obviously will be for probably a long time.

3/4 of my heart

Notes from the trenches

It's really not that bad, actually. We don't sleep much, but these babies are a dream and are very calm and happy babies. That helps. A lot.

I have been meaning to edit the post announcing the birth, because some of the details were not accurate, and for some reason I can't edit it, so here is the corrected info:

Wesley Michael Amanti, born 9:59 PM, 2-11-08. 5 pounds, 13.5 ounces, 19.3 inches long

Evan Gabriel Amanti, born 10:01 PM, 2-11-08. 5 pounds, 14.5 ounces, 19.3 inches long.

Born at 34 weeks, 6 days. NO NICU TIME! HOORAY!

The boys are healthy as horses, it appears. They are weighing in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces (Wesley) and 6 pounds, 3 ounces (Evan), after weight gains of 12 and 11 ounces, respectively, in one week. They lost weight at first because they, like most preemies, are sleepy feeders, but they are doing great and really wolfing it down now.

I have a feeling the breast pump is going to fuse to my body. The boys are still having difficulty getting a good latch due to their tiny little mouths, but we are still working on it. Until then, it's the pump and the bottle.

I am so in love with these babies... I haven't felt such peace and love since I had Joshua 7 1/2 years ago.

Speaking of Joshua. he is an AMAZING big brother. Seriously. When I'm holding one baby and the other cries, he lovingly brings him to me or changes his diaper. He is so tender and gentle the way he handles them. He loves to kiss them and tickle their feet. We are so blessed in EVERY way.