Four Months Old

Four months have come and gone and I can honestly say every single day gets better and better. The babies are awake and more importantly happy to be awake more, beginning to laugh, play with a few toys and still continue to be the best snugglers and chilled out (most of the time) babies we could have ever asked for. The witching hour is still a thing, especially for our sweet little Low but we get through it with lots of hugs, kisses, walking and rocking. Here are my top 5 takeaways for month four!

When was the last time you had a snot cry fest?

The babies are officially out of our room and taking all naps and night time sleep in their nursery. I had a much more difficult time with this than I thought I would. I mean, don't get me wrong I knew I would be upset, sad and worry about them all night so far away from me (just upstairs, not down the street or anything come on Claire get it together). However, I was not prepared for how strong those emotions actually would be until we finally did it. I kept putting it off, coming up with excuse after excuse (which were all extremely valid in my mind)....

• I didn't want them sleeping in their room until it was finished being decorated. Since we didn't know genders I waited to finish decorating when they arrived and then of course that took almost 4 months to get accomplished.
• I wanted it to be on a night where the big kids didn't have school the next morning to make sure the new change in routine didn't disrupt our morning routine to get ready and out the door in a "timely" manner.
• I wanted it to be on a night where Matt didn't work the next morning so he would be able to see them first thing in the morning after their first big night. 
• I wanted to be home all evening the first night they were going to sleep in their room so I and they (like they have any idea) didn't feel rushed for this huge change. 
• I wanted their crib sheets to be freshly cleaned because I love clean sheets so much I'm sure they do too. 
• I wanted it on a bath night so they went to bed smelling and feeling great. 
• And I'm sure I threw out a few other excuses that I have since forgot but were equally as valid and important.

Finally, one night I was fresh out of excuses, every single thing on my check list was marked and it was time to make the move upstairs. They had been napping in their crib for quite some time before this, so initially putting them down wasn't all that bad. I was pretty pumped and thought I was going to get through the entire process tear free! And I did, until I went to bed. For the past 4 months we had to walk around like stealthily ninjas in our pitch black bedroom trying to find pajamas, the phone chord, closing the bathroom door without making a sound, getting ready for bed as quietly as possible and sliding under the covers without making a squeak. I was able to turn on the lights, TV, brush my teeth with the door open, see all of the possibilities of pajamas in the drawer, plug my phone in without a hassle and even jump in bed if I wanted to. However, that is when it hit me. The last time I was able to do any of that stuff in my bedroom was before they were officially here. I was super duper pregnant the last time I was able to go to bed without having to be so incredibly quiet. I became completely overwhelmed thinking how empty our room felt without them in there, how I had not been alone going to bed since before they arrived and how being pregnant with them seemed like years ago. All of my emotions came full speed at this point and there was no stopping. I sat and stared at the monitor, began a snot cry fest and willed myself to not go up and grab them and bring them back downstairs. Luckily, I had been texting with one of my best friends from college earlier in the evening and knew if I told her how much of a mess I was she would be able to reel me back in. Below are screenshots of a portion of our conversation and I can't thank her enough for being there for my snotty, teary eyed self. I pushed through and they stayed asleep in their cribs all night long until 7:30 the next morning. I did it. They did it. We did it. And we are not looking back, unless of course for those middle of the night must have snuggle sessions when they have a cold or fingers crossed we don't hit a sleep regression. But regardless, we made the transition and the twins have proven yet again to be absolute champs and that their mom needs to toughen up. 

Sleep is such a glorious thing, just ask my friend Merlin!

Can I get a high five for swaddles? I mean they make our sweet little babes oh so snuggly, cozy and warm in those first few months of transitioning from being in the womb to sleeping in a rocker, bassinet or some other super cool arrangement I haven't heard about. But what about when their arms begin to escape out, they resist being wrapped up or just are plain outgrowing those bad boys but aren't quite ready to be set free with just their pajamas in their crib? When Rhett was in this phase he was having a difficult time staying asleep because he would wake himself up because he would have the sleep startles, was cold in just his pajamas or would knock his pacifier away. I was told about this magical and yes it is magic not only because it's in its name but because it has worked wonders for us. The Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit was an absolute blessing when it came to helping our littles fall asleep and more importantly stay asleep. A friend from college (a different one than the one in number 5) told us about this sleepsuit that she used with her daughter and how magical it was. We of course went right to Google because we were just about willing to try anything to get Rhett to sleep and ordered one right away. Once it arrived and after the first initial laughter and talk about how much it reminded us of Randy from The Christmas Story...remember the part where he is bundled up to the point where he can't even put his arms down? Yeah, that is pretty much what Rhett and now what the twins look like when they wear it. BUT, with all of that aside it works people. Not only does it help with the sleep startles waking the babies up, but it keeps them warm without any risk of SIDS and still allows them to move a little, get their hands to their mouth and wiggle their toes out in the open. They recommend not putting the babies in heavy pajamas because the suit provides enough warmth and with Rhett we had him sleep in short sleeved onesies because he is just a super sweaty kid, but with the twins they are able to sleep in their normal pajamas inside the suit and are perfectly comfortable all night long. They are able to stay in the sleep suit until they are consistently rolling over on their tummy's while they sleep. The suit is meant for back sleeping only and is not to be used when they transition to sleeping on their tummy. We are hoping to have many, many more sleep filled nights thanks to our dear friend Magical Merlin.

Our abs are getting a workout!

The giggles have begun and we just can't get enough. The babies laugh when they are tickled, watching Rhett or Hattie be goofy and even just listening to a story or us talk in general. What I love about this early laughing stage is that you never know when you're actually going to get a laugh. Laughing is so new to them that the same thing doesn't always make them laugh and we could be trying for a few minutes and get a blank stare or within a second one or both of the babies let out the sweetest little giggle when we least suspected it. It is actually a fun game to not know when they will laugh because it always makes us laugh. The quote "laughter is contagious" has never been a truer statement when you are around two little babies learning to laugh. I can't help but get excited for the times they are really belly laughing in the near future. I have a feeling our house will be filled with a lot of goofiness, laughter and full blown tickle sessions. Who needs to workout when you have four kids who make your abs feel the burn on a daily basis? 

Feisty & Oh So Chilled

One of the fun things I have noticed about having twins is not necessarily comparing the two in a competitive way but noticing similarities and differences just as you would any two babies of the same age. I absolutely love how patient Ryne already is with his little (2 minutes younger) sister and how feisty Harlow has become. She has entered the phase of wanting to be held as much as she possibly can and Ryne has no problem chilling out on his own with some toys, in the Bumbo, in the Boppy or really wherever he is placed. If someone comes near him to talk and play he lights up and smiles and laughs and then can go right back to entertaining himself. Harlow on the other hand can play for a little while and then immediately rolls herself over, pops right up, looks around, occasionally spits up and then gets irritated. She wants to be held to see what is going on around, whether she sits in your lap, gets in the baby carrier or walks around with you...she just wants to be with you. I try my best to make sure even though Ryne is apparently relaxed and doesn't need me as much this month as Harlow does, I pick him up to get snuggles just for myself and I have no doubt he benefits from them as well.

Witching Hour 

(revisited) 

I have already talked about this lovely time of day in a previous monthly post, however it has changed a bit since then. Earlier during this fussy time of day the babies would give in and crash for a nap fairly easy and stay asleep for an evening nap to push through. Now, they seem to be wanting to fight going to sleep for an evening nap even though it is oh so obvious they still need it. They are yawning, rubbing their eyes, are awake for 2 plus hours (2 hours is the tops they are awake in a row at this point and happy about it), irritable and more. Up until this point they would fuss a bit but fall asleep in their rocker or swing if it was turned on and moving with their pacifier in place. Now, they continue to cry and fuss in the rocker or swing and want nothing to do with the pacifier. Working out these changes in routine comes with a bit of stress and confusion, not gonna lie. Once this change began we worked through it a few different ways and are finding that they are able to get through this time by falling asleep on one of us. We of course are not hating that this is happening because since they were born we didn't get a chance to just let them sleep on us all that often. We constantly have something that needs to be done or our older two children would like some attention too. Usually when the babies are ready to sleep, we put them down in their crib even if it is a quick nap and are available for other things. Having this change in the evening has thrown a tiny wrench into our routine. But just like anything else, it will pass and we will be on to the next phase soon. Until then, I am going to enjoy these fussy sleep snuggles because they will not last and I will wish for them again someday. 

Four months old has brought some exciting new changes and challenges and we have loved the ride. We look forward to the fun ahead in month 5! Below are Harlow and Ryne's 4 month old milestone pictures....until next time-enjoy!