Our First Month

What a whirlwind!  I can't believe the girls are already one month old.  In some ways it seemed to fly by, and in other ways it seemed to take eight months to get here!  We have had our moments, but for the most part I think we have completely lucked out with the best little girls we could ever ask for.  They are so good! (And yes, I am simultaneously knocking on wood as I say that!)

 

It is so much fun to be raising two totally different siblings at the exact same time.  They are both so unique and different from each other.  It's so hard to believe that at this early age, they each have their personalities, likes, and dislikes.  They both have a mind of their own!!

In this month we have learned............

Addie makes so many funny faces and sometimes looks like a little grumpy old man, so we nicknamed her "Miss Magoo".
Ella looked like a tiny baby monkey when she was born so we nicknamed her "Monkey".
Addie loves her pacifier, Ella could take it or leave it.

Both girls love being swaddled but Ella hates it if she gets her hands out, Addie doesn't mind it.

Ella has sensitive skin just like mommy, Addie does not.

Addie has her Daddy's nasal passages.  She wheezes, snores, and snorts a lot! 

Ella likes having a bath more than Addie does.

Addie is a major spitter-upper, Ella almost never spits up.  

Ella is a great burper, Addie....not so much.

Both girls hate having their clothes changed, especially when it goes over their head.

Ella is a bigger fan of tummy time, Addie sometimes gets fussy.

Addie (lately) has been able to fall asleep more quickly, Ella likes to stay up and party at night.  (Although it used to be the other way around, so I think this is something that will keep changing).

Both girls have sensitive tummies and mommy has to watch what she eats otherwise she will pay for it later! 

Addie takes the bottle right away.  Ella sort of plays around with it for a while to make sure you're not trying to put the pacifier in her mouth.  Once she's sure it's milk, she goes for it! 

Addie startles easily with loud noises.

Both girls are very vocal and make tons of noises.  

Ella is very regular with her "business", Addie likes to save up for something special!  

Addie will let you know when she is pissed, she means it!  Ella is a bit more subtle about it. 

Learning about all of their similarities and differences over this past month has been so interesting and challenging.  We are constantly trying to figure out what each one wants when it may be something different than what worked for the other.  

At this time, both girls are eating 70ml (about 2 1/2 ounces) of half breast milk/half Similac Neosure preemie formula.  They eat every three hours during the day and we let them sleep four to five hours at night.  Because they are preemies and need to keep gaining weight, we have to wake them for each feeding.  Even if they are sleeping like angels!  It's hard sometimes but we want them to plump up so we know we have to.  They are doing so well and gaining weight like champs!  Everyone says they are tiny but we think they are getting SO BIG!!!  

                       Addie's weight gain......                                   Ella's weight gain.......

                       Birth weight: 4lbs 9oz                                       Birth weight: 3lbs 12oz

                       Left hospital at: 4lbs 6oz                                    Left hospital at: 3lbs 8oz

                      1st Dr. visit: 4lbs 10oz                                        1st Dr. visit: 4lbs 1oz

                      2nd Dr. visit: 5lbs                                               2nd Dr. visit: 4lbs 10oz

                      3rd Dr. visit: 5lbs 12oz                                       3rd Dr. visit: not weighed (Addie's app)

                      4th Dr. visit: 6lbs 3oz                                          4th Dr. visit: 5lbs 12oz 

Both of the girls have tried the Ergo carrier and loved it!  

We have FINALLY finished the nursery.  It took us until the girls were three weeks old, but we did it! We thought we had at least another week before the girls came to get everything done!  Whoopsies! 

 

             

             

Mommy and Daddy got to go out to dinner to celebrate their 4th wedding anniversary while Grandma and Grandpa Gould babysat!  We had a really nice dinner at Chop and even had a champagne toast!  

The girls had so many visitors this month!  

They loved meeting some of their family and friends!! 

Mommy got out of the house and took the girls on their first shopping trip to the mall.  The first of many mall trips!!!  The girls are GREAT shoppers!  

We had a photographer, Julie Berset, come to take the girls' newborn photos.  Addie was very cooperative and slept the entire time.  Ella had a really upset tummy that day and was pretty fussy.  She made Julie work for the pictures!  But, we are sure she got some great ones.  We can't wait to see them!

Some pictures from this month