the valentine nest: Owen & Anson at 1 month

Owen & Anson are a month old today! It is a wee bit strange to celebrate the one month mark when they have only been home for 6 days & I am still not to my official 40 week due date. Nonetheless, there is much to be celebrated!

My plan is to write separate entries for each lil' buckaroo from here on out but for now, one entry will do for this month : ) Eventually I would like to print a book for each child that has their "Growing Girl/Boy posts" & others that are special to them but since the twins will be used to sharing, I am sure they won't mind having their 1 month update together.

Owen

4 pounds 14 ounces

19 inches long

33cm head circumference

I am not sure what the percentiles are on his stats but I am guessing they are pretty low. At birth he was at about the 5th percentile...cute little guy! He is on the right track though he has some catching up to do if he ever wants to win at wrestling his bigger brother.

This handsome fella is going by the nicknames of Owee, Owee-O & Pokey O due to the length of time it takes for him to down a bottle. Eloise says "O-een" & Charlotte prefers to call him Owee-O.

He is content nearly all the time he is awake unless you are taking too long to get him his milk via Mommy or bottle. He is a very efficient eater & has no problem latching on to nurse even if it is in mid scream. He eats about 8 times a day going 3 hour stretches plus a 4 hour stretch mid day. He will nurse for about 20 minutes then follow up with another 1.5 oz in a bottle before passing out on the feeders shoulder. Owee-O is a snuggler & in the evening would much prefer to be held close rather than snooze in his crib. Although as I write this tonight Owen is sound asleep in his bed while I snuggle Anson. He likes to be swaddled with his hands up to his chin & is usually found with one arm out & up over his head when sleeping. Owen is usually the first to fall asleep once we lay them down & will sleep through his brother screaming right in his face. He has taken well to his paci which is new for the Valentine family but can't keep it in his mouth as well as his brother......not that it is a competition or anything ; ) He is gaining some control over his noggin as he practices lifting his head to look up at mommy & daddy or at whatever part of Eloise's body is coming at his face without warning.

He can clap with the help of his sissy...

and seems to enjoy a bit more wake time every day....

Anson

7 pounds 2 ounces

21 inches long

35cm head circumference

Although 7 pounds 2 ounces is an average sized baby, he looks (and feels) like a chunk compared to Owen especially if you hold him after holding the little guy : )

So far Anson has been called Handsome Anson & Antsy Pants. Dr. Alexander, the physician over seeing the boys care in the NICU called him Handsome Anson every visit. He earned himself the nickname Antsy Pants for the extreme lack of patience he has when it is time to eat. Eloise calls both babies O-een most of the time...we are working on correct identification.

He also is content most all the time...so thankful for that in this crazy transition! Anson likes to stay awake longer than his brother but only by about 10 minutes before he too is sleepy. As you can see by his cheeks, he enjoys his fair share of milk but struggles a bit with latching on well to nurse. He chugs his bottle like nobody's business while making sounds of pure enjoyment with every gulp. Has anyone seen What About Bob? It totally reminds us of the part where Bob is the unwanted dinner guest who just can't contain himself . Anyway, Anson is also in a great routine of waking to eat about every 3 hours with a 4 hour stretch in there. He is a noisy little guy making this certain sound when sleeping. Robby says he picked it up in the NICU from this creaking glider that was in their room, haha! He doesn't mind a warm bath & rub down with lotion. Anson really likes to have his arms & hands contained within his swaddle blanket & prefers his paci while falling asleep. He has been perfecting lifting his head in the last few days & is also a target of unwanted pokes from a certain sissy ; )