Happy "Half" Birthday - 2 1/2 years already!

Can you believe Giovanni is 2 1/2 years old already!  He's a pretty typical 2 year old.   He loves Thomas the Train, Cars and Toy Story and to make daddy proud he'll bust a move to the Eurocup theme song. Some of his favorite activities are playing with the stones at grandmas, watering flowers this summer with mommy, bathtime, and he's enjoying the of the new "Wiggleworms" play and music class he started recently.

He's a hearty eater and some of his favorites are any kind of fruit, pasta, tomatoes, hot dogs, prosciutto, cheeseburgers, and meatballs.  He's not the chunky baby that he once was.  He's sprouted up and is a lean lil man.  He's hit 30lbs and is 36 inches tall.

Giovanni is a smart cookie.  He's got a great vocabulary and is very chatty.  Mom says he's got his numbers 1-10 down and will recite his alphabet but sometimes get stuck on "g" and "p".  He also knows his colors and most of the shapes.

He's recently decided he doesn't want to sleep in a crib so the transition to a "big boy bed" is in progress.  I'm interested to hear from mama how that's going.  He's not a fan of "timeout" but let's be honest, what kid is?

We've got some plans in the works to see one another again but they've been dealing with some home renovations and with our upcoming move ... not quite sure what we plan to do.  Oh did you catch that?  We are moving!  We're pretty excited and can't wait to get settled and enjoy the holiday in our new space.

So that's the update.  I don't have any new pictures but hope to have some to share soon so stay tuned.

1 Month Old Surro Cuties

The surro cuties are a month old today!!  I got to love on them for a couple of hours while momma was in town getting their birth certificates from the courthouse.  Mason (right) is growing like a weed and chunking up.  Ryan, although the "big" brother is still the lil guy.  Aren't they just the cutest?!?!

My heart is full.

photo by momma K

How am I really. (4 Wks Postpartum)

Our official due date has now come and gone.  Although January when the two lil embryos that would become Ryan and Mason were transferred seems so long ago - the last 40 weeks went by so fast!  I can't believe the boys have been here nearly a month already.

The weeks following the birth of a surrobabe are very different from when you deliver your own child.  I'm having to remind myself constantly that I just gave birth to two babies - by c-section nonetheless.  It's hard to not jump right back into life since I'm not preoccupied with an infant but, I'm still recuperating from major surgery and need to remember to take things slow.  The healing has been delayed due to an infection at the incision site - I'm not 100% back to myself just yet.  Then there is the extra weight to deal with.  I gained only the "allowed" 40 lbs this pregnancy and have shed all but 8 lbs of it but, I'm still feeling rather fluffy.  I have no cute lil baby/ies in tow to take the attention off my extra thick middle and expanded backside so I'm becoming more self conscious about it as the weeks go by.  Hopefully soon, after I've given myself a bit more time to heal, I'll have the motivation to get into a gym routine again.  At least I have a nice set of D-cup boobs thanks to pumping - to bad they are "off limits" along with the rest of me.  My poor husband has been very patiently waiting for some physical attention since well ...  early July.

Emotionally I'm totally fine with the babies being home with mom and dad - that's the goal of the entire process and it's an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and pride to know that I helped create a family!!  Very similar to my first experience, the only tears I've shed are ones of joy.  However, it is an adjustment to go from being very pregnant with twins, gaining the attention of curious strangers and the like and sharing your "story" multiples times in a day, to just being boring ole me again.  I miss it all but, it makes me so happy to know that K&S are being showered with attention from friends and family and I feel so lucky that they continue to include me and frequently reach out to say HI and let me know how they are doing.  I think of them often so it's nice to still have that connection and keep in touch - not all surros I know have been as fortunate.

K shared more pics with friends and family last week and I've uploaded a few of them to the Photo Album (upper right margin).  I just can't get enough of these adorable faces!!!

Two Peas in a Pod

K&S and the boys came out for a lil visit last night.  The lil guys arrived hungry so after getting them fed and catching up on how we've all be doing over the last week we welcomed local photographer (Sincerely Me/Erica H.) to do a newborn photo shoot with the babes, part of the baby shower gift I gave K.  We got the boys all stripped down and snuggled them into a lil knitted peapod I had also gifted to IM (SophieChic).  So cute!!!  The boys were fairly cooperative - we got through it all with minimal fussiness and considering the amount of nakedness, the props almost all stayed clean. ;-)  Here is a lil preview.  I can't wait to see what other images she got.

(click to enlarge)

On another note, I had a two week postpartum check yesterday and my stupid c-section incision is infected in one area. Sorry if this is oversharing but, I'd noticed an odor a couple days ago and it was kinda pink but didn't think infection.  I'd also noticed there was a hard spot in one area.  My OB checked it out and it's basically a  pocket of fluid. She took a culture to rule out MRSA, really hoping that comes back negative. Yikes!  I'm supposed to drain it a couple times a day, keep it dry and covered and she put me on an antibiotic.  I'm hoping this one does the trick because she said if it doesn't she'll have to go with a stronger one and, I'd have to pump and dump while on it.  :-(

Still pumping like crazy but stretching it out to every 4-5 hrs now that I'm busy and away from the house more often.  The boys are piggys and doing well switching between breast milk and formula.  Their official due date is still a week away and despite being "preemies" (born prior to 37 weeks) they are doing great and growing like weeds!

I'd also like to share a link from my agency blog announcing the arrival of these sweet lil guys.  Family Source Consultants Blog