Getting to Know You

When we weren't entertaining visitors or being poked and prodded (Jim excluded), Jim and I spent the days that we spent in the hospital getting to know our little bundles of joy as we cradled, fed, and doted on them.  Even as we each held a baby in our arms, though, it still seemed surreal that they were our babies.  We had spent months preparing for them, but in just a matter of minutes, they were brought into the world, changing our lives forever. 

As we spent those precious moments with our little ones, we came to know each of them as individuals.  Maddie quickly attempted to assert herself as the twin to pave the way:  Not only was she the first one to be pulled out of the womb, but she was also the first to take to feedings.  She was also quick to wrap daddy around her finger; Maddie definitely knows the way to daddy's heart (and his arms) is by way of a sad pout and even sadder cry.  Will, our second twin, entered the world attempting to communicate with others through the use of his hands, facial expressions, and squeaks.  It seems as though he so badly wants to tell us something when he starts flailing his arms and hands around and wrinkling his forehead!  Will didn't take to feeding as quickly as his sister did, but once he got it, he really got it!  Will is our self-soother; while his sister might need to be rocked or held before drifting off to sleep, he puts himself to sleep after wearing himself out with all of his squeaking and arm flapping! 

As we got to know them, we couldn't resist allowing them to get to know each other once again.  We found that if one of the twins became fussy, laying them beside each other calmed him or her.  In fact, the two seemed to snuggle up against each other - probably as they had done in the womb.  As we snapped photo after photo of them next to each other, we wondered what recollections they had of each other.  We also wondered about how they will feel when they, as teenagers, look back at the pictures of themselves sharing a bed with each other!

April 17, 2012:  A day that changed our lives forever

A doting daddy

Sweet Will studies his sister as she sleeps

Our beautiful boy

Daddy to twins!
 (Sidenote:  Jim and I predict that when we look back at this picture in 20 years, we'll laugh at the giant phone device on his lap because we'll all have computer/telephone chips implanted in our brains by then!)

Our happy family!

Me and my girl

Our sweet girl

So it begins...we have a daddy's girl on our hands!

Twin love :)