HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope that everyone had a safe and fun celebration welcoming the new year 2007! It's hard to believe that we've entered a new year again. I remember this time last year, looking so forward to a new year - and sure enough, 2006 has proven to be one of our best years since we got married with the birth of our boys.

We are planning on welcoming in the new year with a feast fit for a king (wine, surf & turf, special appetizers and nutty buddy's for dessert), prepared by C., in between diaper changes and feedings. There is no place we would rather be.

I wish I could say that we were going to watch the "ball drop" in NYC, but sadly, I have yet to gain control of the remote in our house and there is no way that C. is going to settle for watching the crazies in times square. Not to mention, the good football that is on (although we're rooting AGAINST the Ravens). Oh well, some things never change. That is a battle I'll never win. Football is just fine with me anyway.

May you all find peace, happiness and good fortune in the coming year! Love and friendship to all.

Slumber Parties are the best!

Any chance to sleep on our belly is a great thing!

4 Months Old Today!

Here are a few photos from today - Cole & JD's 4 month birthday.

Mommy & her babies...

Another heart melting smile

Cole, the happy baby!

Podee...the "other Mom"

Well, occassionally, desperate times call for desperate measures. As a Mom of multiples, I purchased the Podee hands free bottles, "just in case" I needed them. Until recently, the boys have been very patient around feeding times. In fact, usually I could get one fed before the other one woke up hungry. Well, times are a changin'.

It would appear that JD has the patience from the Leach side of the family. For those of you not familiar with our lack of patience, it definitely runs in the family. That said, he went from happy baby to screaming baby in less than 3 seconds the other day. Podee to the rescue! I had taken the bottle out of the package a couple weeks ago just to try it out so if I needed it in emergency, I knew how it worked. Thank goodness I did. There was no time for "learning" at that point!

I was calmly feeding Cole and JD was fast asleep; he started to stir so I told Cole to step on it and get going because his brother was starting to wake up. Low and behold, it only took a few seconds for JD to let us know that he was hungry - RIGHT NOW.

Cole has the patience of a saint so I put him down in his seat and scurried off to the kitchen to load up the Podee, hands free jobby. I gave JD a bib and stuck the nipple in his mouth and off he went. He went to town on that bottle - and finished it before Cole finished the second half of his! The only drawback with these bottles is that they don't get burped through the whole thing. That can make for a miserable baby if you're not careful. But we're working through that...

Here's how it works. And it really does work!





Bottoms Up!


I can honestly say that to date, that might be my best purchase thus far. It will never be a good substitute for feeding the baby because that is my favorite time with the boys - but when meltdowns are emminent, we can't live without it!

The Day After...

Well, it's a melancholy day today - all of the anticipation for Christmas and it's all over now. What a wonderful holiday it was. They day after is always sort of a let down - and I just wander around sort of aimless. There was not a second that went by that I wasn't so thankful for all that we have this year. I cried - alot. Just a simple glance at one of the boys and I cried. All good tears, of course. I know that so many people have my same sentiments around holiday time. I thought so much about how far we have come in this last year - and gave so many thanks for our little miracles. On that note, I also thought so much about my other friends who don't have children yet - I've been in their shoes and know that Christmas is a tough time. I know I mentioned this before but I have not been able to get my girls off of my mind all weekend. Especially my friends who lost the twins. Although I know how strong and resilient they are, it had to be the hardest holiday ever. I know that they were strong and made it through just fine; but inside, it's heart wrenching. Girls, you were on my mind all weekend and I hope that you found some peace and hope for the new year.

The boys had a very special first Christmas. They were spoiled rotten! Here are a few pics from Christmas Eve. Isn't it funny how parents love to dress up their kids - they don't seem to think it's nearly as cute as we do. In fact, Cole & JD, as cute as they looked, hated having reindeer antlers in their mouths all the way to Gramma's. Oh well, it won't be long before I can't dress them in whatever I want anymore. They sucked it up for Mom!

Cole had a little bit better time with the antlers...


JD just plain old didn't like em'!

Back to the grind this week....it will probably be a somewhat quiet week, considering most people take vacation this week. Was half temped to go to the mall and check out the sales - then again, am I nuts? Between the parking, crowds and germs, I've elected to hunker down with the kids and enjoy them instead!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

We hope that you all have a blessed holiday; Remember the true meaning of Christmas as you spend time with your loved ones and friends. Here's wishing peace, love and happiness to you all!

Love,
K & the boys (all 3)

We're growing like weeds!

Well, I guess it's a good thing that JD is storing nuts for the winter - he seems to have taught his brother how to do the same! They are stocking up with quite an appetite! We went to the doctor yesterday for the boys 3rd synagis shot (that is the RSV vaccine) and they both shocked us all with their weights. Fully clothed, JD weighed in at 11 lb, 3 oz and Cole was 8lb, 12 oz. So, take off a few ounces for their clothing and diaper and it looks like JD is about 11 lb, and Cole about 8.5 lb. The doctor and nurses were amazed at their cheeks and were so happy with their progress.

At one month old (4 months corrected), they are doing quite well.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A FAT BABY!





JD is eating about 5 ounces per feed now (every 4 hours) and Cole is following closely behind at about 4 ounces per feed. Cole's reflux seems to be a bit better with the increased dose of medicine and the rice cereal added to his formula. Thank goodness he is a little bit more comfortable and seems to be able to sleep a little bit more peacefully.

We are letting them sleep through feeds as long as possible at night and so far, we're getting between 5-6 hours at a time. They are great sleepers and at night time, go right back to bed after they eat. I wonder how long this will last? Each morning I wake up, I'm thankful for another decent nights sleep. I have a feeling that their NICU experience prepped them well for scheduled feeds and sleep times. One positive thing I guess right?

Here are the two monkeys in their seats...

Smiles are the best!

Old Chilean Remedies

I love my nanny! For many reasons, but not the least of which are her "old Chilean Remedies" that she brings to us for simple things, like hiccups. The other day we were discussing how often the babies get the hiccups. The next day she arrived with the cure. See the photo below for a glimpse of how this works. You might think that Cole was practicing being from India; but no, he's just being patient with Mommy as she tries this ancient remedy. To our surprise, IT WORKS! It's been tested a few times on both babies and it never fails...



The idea is to cut a small circle out of newspaper (better if it has lots of writing on it) and then lick it and stick it on the baby's forehead. Apparently it works the best only if the Mommy is the licker. Call me crazy - and my kids will be so angry at me someday for making them look so stupid. But they will also thank me since it has spared them some painful hiccups!

Moms, give it a try - and report back to me; it really does work!