Twin Update...8 months!

Age: The twins are 8 months old today! (adjusted - 6 months and a bit) I can't believe they have been with us for 8 whole months already. They are developing more quickly and each day now brings something new, with a different sound, a new discovery, a new movement...so special to watch. And I miss so much, working. Just thinking about it makes me sad. Weekends are so precious and I treasure the two full days we get to spend with these little cuties.

Height/Weight: We weighed them on our last babyclinic visit on 23 April and Finn was 8.2kg and Rebecca just over 7kg...we will only weigh them again at 9 months when they have to go for another round of innoculations. We have decided to do the minimum amount of innoculations as recommended, but no uneccessary ones.  Must still decide whether or not to do the MMR one. The TB shot they got when still in NICU has been active under their skin to this day - Rebecca's mark has almost healed but Finn's is still an angry red lesion. While I support immunisations on a level, I still have a strong sense that it may not be the best thing for the baby. My strong physical response to them actually getting the shot is almost unbearable - I hate subjecting them to the shock and pain of getting an injection, I hate seeing them cry in fright and pain. How can this be right? Our paediatrician assures us that it is best especially for preterm babies who naturally are more susceptible to viral infections. They both seem tall, already wearing some 12-18 month pants for length.

Developmental notes: It is incredible how quickly they are growing and changing everyday. Both are rolling over and getting up on all fours, rocking back and forth. Rebecca actually almost crawls and shifts herself backwards and is almost ready to grasp how to go forward properly.  To go forward now, she lifts herself up and then pushes forward and slumps down a little ahead. They can pass ojects from one hand to another. They pick up objects and recognise toys. They have started seeing the animals and laugh at them. They explore faces, pull hair, pat cheeks, grab skin. The interaction between the two of them is becoming more regular and they laugh at each other and chat and take toys from each other. They like to stand supported but are yet to sit completely unsupported. Rebecca has four teeth! Two On top, two on the bottom. Finn only has two bottom teeth but his hair is growing faster. Rebecca reaches for any food I am eating and likes to drink water from a glass when I do - I have to give her little sips. Finn doesn't do either.

Eating: We dropped the 10pm bottle on Freedom Day and haven't looked back! They are eating three meals a day - cereal and fruit in the morning, veggies, protein for lunch and then veggies or fruit and cereal for supper.  We also give them stewed prunes and yoghurt twice a day.  We are still struggling to get them to drink the recommended 600mls of milk a day - somedays they only drink 400mls or even less. This worries me but surely they would drink more if they needed it? I do worry they don't get enough liquids, but we haven't had any really bad constipation issues again... We are giving them eggs for the first time this weekend!  I also want to try start making more "real" meals for them, but it is so easy just getting fresh woolies baby food.  But I will do one nice dish a weekend and freeze portions.  We can also start with fish now.

Sleep: Despite a few difficult restless nights which I am sure were due to teething and the fact that they both had bad colds and coughs, they have generally been sleeping through the night with no problems from 7pm to about 5/6am. It is absolute bliss when they sleep through peacefully and you wake up without having stressed about nightime cries, coughs and moans. We actually worry when we don't hear them and I find myself waking up anyway and sneaking in to check they are okay.

Favourite Things: The new favourite thing is our Ridgeback, Mala. They love her and when she licks them (eeeugh not on the face!) they laugh and laugh! They also like to grab the kitten.

Dislikes: They are not fond of apricots or peaches - maybe the sourness?

Looking forward to: Everything!

Mommy musings: They seem to be starting to bond really nicely with our au pair, which is wonderful and definitely something we want, as we really see her as an extension of us. I know this is natural and normal and important, but the other morning, Rebecca got so excited to see her when she arrived for work and she never gets like that when I get home from work and she sees me.  It made me realise that this is the sacrifice of being a working mother and while I am sure she will love me no less, I am going to have to prepare for this happening more and more. Silly mommy.