Going to daddy's soccer game

We all went to Independence Park to see daddy's first soccer game of the summer season. The team was very excited to meet the girls. We took them in their double car seat stroller. They did pretty well, I had brought some bottles of breastmilk so I wouldn't have to nurse them there. The weather wasn't so nice though, it was VERY windy the whole time, with thunder and lightening, no rain though. The game got stopped twice, and ended early. It may not have been the best day to bring them out, but it was nice to be out of the house, and see the team again. I'm planning on taking the girls to more of his soccer games, as long as the weather's nice. I want to try bringing the jogging stroller next time though, it's easier to push on grass, plus I can walk them around the field a bit if they get fussy. I just have to look through the manual to see how to collapse it, I don't remember!

Daddy holding Anjali

Daddy at the end of the game (notice the beer!)

Daddy on the field!

1 month visit at pediatrician

Mommy taking the girls and 3 dogs for a walk

Anjali sleeping peacefully

Sleeping Chaya

Out for lunch with the girls near LSU

Chaya making her little face

We took the babies to see their pediatrician for their 1 month visit.. with lots of questions regarding breastfeeding, sleeping, gas, spit-up, and Anjali's head. First of all, their weights! Our girls are growing, Chaya is now 8 pounds 2 ounces, and Anjali is 8 pounds 6 ounces! I guess I was worrying if they were drinking enough for nothing.. They are growing really well, and the doctor said to just keep doing what we're doing, with regards to breastfeeding. The girls usually feed for around 10 minutes, but sometimes it's less than that, and sometimes almost 20 minutes. I wasn't sure if this was normal, it is. If they feed for only 10 minutes and seem happy and full after, it just means that they are really good at breastfeeding and getting the milk to come out quickly. Since they are going through enough wet and dirty diapers, we know they are getting enough. I also asked the doctor about gas, spit-up and hiccups, which have all increased a LOT lately. The girls are always farting, they are throwing up pretty much at every feeding, and get the hiccups often. The doctor asked if they seemed in pain when any of these things were happening, if they were screaming for 30 minutes non-stop, or seemed really uncomfortable. Since they don't really seem to mind the gas and spitting-up, she concluded that it was probably nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to worry about. They might be drinking too fast.

Something that was definitely starting to worry me is Anjali's head. At our 2 week visit, the pediatrician told us to try to get her to lay on the right side of her head when sleeping or laying down, and to stretch out her neck muscles by gently moving her head towards the right, many times a day. This was because in the womb, she was on the right side, breech, and the doctor said she noticed her always putting her head that way. So we did this, and pretty soon, she was ALWAYS turning her head to the right when sleeping. Too much. It ended up flattening the back of her head on the right side, and was starting to affect the shape of her face. So now, we must stretch out her neck muscles the other way, and try to get her to lay her head the other way... which is easier said than done! She naturally wants to turn her head to the right, so we put a rolled up burp cloth or tiny pillow wedged under her head to try to make her turn the other way. I'm worried that we won't be able to make her head symmetrical. I don't want it to affect her beautiful face. I guess we can only try, and see what the doctor thinks at our 2 month visit.

Also asked about taking the babies out in public, and if it was safe to bring them to the grocery store, restaurants, and other indoor places like that. She said to go ahead and bring them places, and just use common sense. We probably wouldn't want to bring them to an infant's birthday party or anything like that, but we can for sure take them along for errands, and going places. Now if only there was a way for me to bring them both to the grocery store! Unfortunately, for now, I can only go grocery shopping while Prosanta is home. I would be able to bring just one baby with me though, which would be nice to take one out at a time, have some one on one time, and be able to show one baby off to people at the store! :)

On our own

My mom, aka grand-maman, left to go back to Montreal this morning. Prosanta drove her to the New Orleans airport. I was at home with the girlies, and decided to go on our very first solo walk around the neighborhood while they were gone. Loaded up the double jogging stroller, leashed the 3 dogs, and headed out into the mid-morning Louisiana heat. It was very sunny, but not too unbearably hot. The dogs did very well walking by the stroller, I wasn't sure how they would behave, especially whether or not Adina would be afraid of the stroller. But once again, the dogs were very well behaved, and really enjoyed our walk. Chaya and Anjali also enjoyed the walk, and slept the whole time. We ran into a neighbor who hadn't met the girls yet, he was happy to see them in person after seeing pictures online.

Now I guess I have to go back to my housewife role and get back into cooking all our meals, now that grand-maman is gone! She did all the cooking while she was here, which was such a huge help. Went grocery shopping this afternoon while daddy stayed home with the babies. Got lots of goodies, including stuff to make vegetarian tacos tonight! Going to have to plan my meals in advance I suppose to save time and effort, although planning things like that has never really been my strong suit. I guess with 2 babies at home, you have to become a little more organized and plan ahead, or you'll end up eating grilled cheese all the time!

With a LOT of help from grand-maman

My mom flew down almost a week before giving birth to the girls. We didn't know exactly when they would come, and I wanted her to be here while we were at the hospital, so I knew the dogs would be well taken care of. She's leaving in a few days, and boy will we miss having her here! She's been great, has helped us so much, doing pretty much all of the cooking, helping clean the house, running errands, helping take care of the dogs, and doing anything to help with the babies (helping me breastfeed both, changing diapers, waking them, dressing them, burping them),.. It has taken a BIG load off of us this whole month. Chaya and Anjali will surely miss having their grand-maman here! But good news is, my mom will be back in a few weeks, this time driving down here with my dad, and their dog. They will stay here for about 3 weeks, and do more traveling and visiting on their way down here, and back up north. We are looking forward to having them both here, my dad is very anxious and excited to see them in person! He's only seen them in photos and also when we spoke on Skype. MERCI BEAUCOUP grand-maman pour tout ton aide avec les petites!

Going out to dinner, 6 days before giving birth.

Delicious dinner cooked by my mom, few days before giving birth.

Yummy breakfast my mom made, day before giving birth.

At the hospital, morning of c-section.

Ready to go home with the babies!

Grand-maman with Anjali

Grand-Maman with her hands full!

Grand-Maman and sleeping Chaya

Grand-Maman trying to wake up Chaya by tickling her.

Walking with the babies in slings

Grand-Maman giving Chaya her first manicure

Mommy, Anjali, Grand-Maman and Chaya

Relaxing in the yard with the babies

Grand-Maman and Anjali after her bath

Of dogs and babies

Some people have asked how the dogs were doing since the babies have been home.. well, the very first day we came home from the hospital, it was a big party! Willi was SO excited, to see mommy again, and to see and smell those cute little baby girls! He was a little TOO excited, and had trouble controlling himself. He's always loved babies and kids, but we had to watch him at first, he wanted to nibble on them and lick them all over. Bessie was also quite intrigued, she wanted to see them and sniff them. Adina didn't really show much interest. After that first day though, Willi has calmed down a lot, and everyone is now very comfortable around the babies. Willi sometimes comes running when one of the girls cry, to make sure everything's ok. He also sneaks in a lick or two on the girls' feet or head when he walks by. Bessie also likes to lick them sometimes, she mostly just likes to watch them if she's close by. Adina pretty much ignores the girls, she sometimes sniffs them if we're all on the couch. The dogs have been great, we knew they would be after a short period of adjustment!

Willi in the babies' room, keeping a watchful eye on them

Willi guardian of the crib

Chaya sleeping on Bessie

Prosanta showing one baby to Bessie

Chaya being introduced to Bessie, happy Willi behind

Doggies on the day we came home from the hospital

Willi in the living room

Family walk around the neighborhood

Happy Willi in the backyard

Coming home from the hospital, giving the dogs some attention

Adina's not too sure about these baby thingies..

Chaya and Willi below

Even the dogs are tired!

Tired Adina

Walk around the neighborhood

Let there be sleep! (Well, a little more than before)

Went to our 2 week appointment at the pediatrician today. We were very anxious to find out Chaya and Anjali's current weights, hoping they had surpassed their birth weights. If so, we may not have to keep waking them every 2 hours to feed them anymore! It's been quite a challenge to keep up, very tiring to wake up so often, and work so hard to keep them awake while they feed!

GREAT NEWS, both girls now weigh more than their birth weights! Chaya weighed in at 6 pounds 9 ounces, and Anjali was 6 pounds 14 ounces! Still 5 ounces apart, both girls are growing very well, and do not need to feed as often anymore! YAHOOO!!!! You don't know how happy and excited that made mommy and daddy! Doctor says we can now let their feedings be up to 3 hours apart during the day, and up to 5 hours apart at night. She anticipates they will probably wake up every 2 to 3 hours for now, and eventually they may sleep a longer stretch of 4-5 hours towards the end of the night.

Anjali's mouth on Chaya's cheek

Bessie, daddy and the girls taking a nap.

Mommy resting with the baby girls.

Anjali having a happy baby dream.

Chaya falling asleep after feeding.

Anjali (left) and Chaya (right) sleeping.

Family outing at the Red Stick farmers market

Daddy, mommy and grand-maman decided to bring the girlies on their first ever trip to the Red Stick farmers market this saturday morning! We loaded up the CR-V, brought the baby slings and headed downtown Baton Rouge. It was a beautiful warm sunny day in Louisiana, we didn't dress the babies too warm, since they would be nice and cozy in the baby slings. Daddy carried Chaya, mommy had Anjali. Boy do twin baby girls ever get LOTS of attention in public places!!!? I'm not sure who got more attention, Willi as a tiny little puppy, or Chaya and Anjali. We proudly showed off our little bundles to all the little ladies who showed some interest. People were also amazed that daddy was carrying one too... well, of course, who else would carry the other one?! Prosanta went and bought a hot tea at one point, with Chaya still in the sling, and he was walking back to our table with his tea in one hand, and a grocery bag full of produce in another. Then he started joking, and was saying "Aww... look at that wonderful daddy, carrying a hot tea over his baby's head! What a great daddy!" We all had lunch at the market, and then headed back home with LOTS of delicious fruits and vegetables.

Grand-Maman, daddy and Chaya (in the sling!)

Chaya getting her lunch, after the grown-ups ate.

Daddy on the go feeding 2 people at once!

The family at the market!

"Yes, I am a great daddy!"

Mommy and Anjali