A new approach to nap time...

Eli has recently decided that napping in his crib is among the most offensive things I can do to him. If I lay him down and cover him up he immediately throws a fit and starts screaming. It doesn't seem to matter how tired he is. So my new strategy is to sit him up in his crib with a few toys so he thinks it's play time. Then after awhile he literally seems to drop in place and go to sleep. He often ends up in some incredibly bizarre positions but so far it seems to be working. Apparently he just wants to assert some independence and nap when he decides and not when I lay him down. Whatever works for the boy at this point is fine with me.

(P.S. his dad dressed him in this outfit). It's among one of my favorite things to see the outfits Marcus puts together. The other day Emerson had on jeans that were way to small for her and t-shirt that was a little tight so her little belly was hanging out. On this particular day matching didn't seem to be a priority. The shirt has a snowman and pants are brown with an orange string (with a matching shirt I might add hanging in the closet). It cracks me up. The background to this is Marcus can't ever tell if his own clothes match he asks me every single day before going to work if everything matches. 

To Follow up on my really awful night...

I'm going to have another one, this one of the academic variety. For some reason I thought my final paper for a class was due on Thursday so I thought I still had a little bit of time. A quick refresher glance at the syllabus informed me that the paper is due tomorrow, all 12-15 pages of it. Pages I haven't even started.

In my pre-twin days writing a 12 page paper the day before it was due would be no problem. However, I can no longer function like that, especially not following a night like last night. Dear lord help me this is not going to be good.

Ready, set, here I go. (Mostly I'm trying not to cry).

And I realize this is all my own fault. I wrote the date down wrong the first week of the semester and never bothered to double check until about 30 minutes ago.

A really awful night...

We had one of the worst nights we've had in a long time. Both babies went to bed at 7 without an issue and all was well until midnight when Eli woke up whining in his crib. Since he wasn't full out crying we didn't get him in hopes that he would go back to sleep. He didn't, the whining turned to crying, and then Emerson decided to join the party and she woke up screaming hysterically and wouldn't calm down.

After awhile we calmed them and they fell asleep in our arms and we attempted to put them back in their cribs. Then it started all over again. Finally around 2am I put Emerson in the swing because she was so exhausted but every-time I put her in the crib she screamed.

The weirdest and somewhat scariest part of the whole evening is when I woke up on the couch at 4 am with a baby in my arms. I had no idea which baby it was (turns out I had Eli), and I had no memory of how Eli and I ended up on the couch, and I was so disoriented as I laid there trying to remember what had happened.

Since my arm was asleep from the weight of Eli I slowly tried to get up and put him in his crib. Which didn't work and instead turned into another screaming fit. So I removed Emerson from the swing, put her back in the crib, and put Eli into the swing. Then I crawled into my own bed and asked Marcus how the heck I ended up asleep with Eli on the couch.

According to Marcus, Eli woke up at 2 and I was already asleep on the couch (where I had been since putting Emerson in the swing) and when Marcus came into the living room apparently I put my arms out for Eli, and then Eli & I promptly fell asleep together on the couch until I woke up 2 hours later. I have no memory of any of this which is incredibly creepy and I'm glad Eli didn't end up falling off the couch or something since I literally had no idea that he was there with me.

Now this morning both babies are happy as clams as though nothing happened, and Marcus and I can barely function. Fun times.

March of Dimes Walk 2010...

It rained like crazy this morning but we decided to brave the weather for a little bit anyways to go to the March of Dimes walk. Even though we didn't really get to walk, we got to turn in the funds we raised, talk to others (including a couple who have boy/girl twins also born at 32 weeks). Listen to some stories of ambassador families, see some of the nurses from the hospital and NICU where the babies stayed. Eli and Emerson also seemed to love all the music and excitement and they were both just over the top excited basically jumping out of the stroller and our arms.

One of the most humbling aspects of the walk each year are the shirts and teams that are walking in memory of their precious babies lost due to prematurity. It's a reminder of just how luck we are when we look at Eli & Emerson and how well they are doing. I know that this is a cause that will be part of our family for a very long time. It's so important to Marcus and I, and is another part of our long difficult journey to parenthood. 

Early in the morning. Not totally aware of what's going on yet.

Marcus with the babies.

A Family Picture. Before the start of the walk.

Our team shirt (Wet from the rain)

Eli excited by all the activity.

Another family picture.

Back at home. Showing off their shirts.

Emerson & Eli post walk.

Emmy's First Pig Tails...

Job Offer...

I received my very first "real" job offer today!! The job where I've been interviewing called my references and it seems they all had great things to say (which is a little obvious since I can't imagine one would pick people without positive things to share). The offer is pretty generous considering it's my first job, but there are still many many things to consider.

1.) The location of the job (which is still thousands of miles from home) we always envisioned moving back across the country after graduation.
2.) Insurance costs. The job pays for mine but I still need to know how much it will cost me to add the family.
3) Marcus and his job options.

We're discussing, looking at housing options, waiting for more info. from the position, and hoping we can make the right decision for our family.

Aside from the practical things it feels amazing to get a job offer, in my field, before I've even graduated.  Somebody out there thinks I'm ready and qualified (even if I'm not so sure).

It's never a good sign...

when a text message from your husband asks, "Are you in a good mood?"

Me: Yes why?

Marcus: Well you know how Eli reaches up for things on the table?

Me: Yeah

Marcus: Well I had a drink up there and went to the kitchen and when I came back um...

Me: What?

Marcus: Well he knocked is over and it fell all over the couch.

Me: What was the drink?

Marcus: It was Dr. Pepper and I did clean it up and it's drying and hoping it doesn't stain.

****
Babies who can pull themselves up are fun. Opps, we need to be much more aware of where we leave things.