Anyone have twins? UPDATE Today is their 2nd Birthday

[SnDvls]

I might need some help/advice on it if you do.

My wife and I found our we are expecting...well her 1st Dr.'s apt. was yesterday and this Dr. likes to to an ultrasound on the first visit to make sure the expected size/date of conception match up and well to our shock we're having twins!

The Dr. is pretty sure they are fraternal as he feels it would be way too early for an egg to split this soon.

We have a 2-year old (3 in December) so it's not a totally new experience being parents, but I'm sure two are a ton different than one.

We're both a little overwhelmed with the news, but also excited. It's going to take a few days to settle in and then the adjustments to what is to come ahead will have to start being made.

Any help/advice is appriciated.

[Subby]

First off - congratulations!

My wife and I have fraternal twins (boys) and they turn 5 in a little over a week. Jakey and Ryan have two older brothers aged 7 and 9.

Probably the biggest challenge for my wife was breast feeding them - she made it a whole year, but the late night feedings were brutal and I think it just sapped a lot of energy out of her. I know the sleep deprivation killed me and I didn't have to do a whole lot.

I would recommend keeping them in your room in the crib so it is easier to get them and put them back down at night.

Fraternal twins are the greatest two for one deal going. The next year should be pretty difficult, particularly since you have another young one. Once you make it through - it really does get easier and easier.

Biggest point of pride for us is that we made it through that first year without the aids of night nurses or nannies or any of the other stuff that seems to be more and more popular these days.

[Alan T]

Congrats Sndvls on the news!

[henry296]

We had twin girls born three weeks ago (Gracie and Claire), so we can provide some advice.

First make sure your wife takes care of herself. My wife was able to make it to almost 38 weeks and they were each nearly 5 pounds when born.

I can echo the sleep deprvivation. Right now they are eating every three hours. We are formula feeding so we both wake up every three years and each take one for the feeding.

Having a second pair of hands is always helpful. Right now I'm home on paternity leave, but we will have some help in the afternoons a couple of days a week to help my wife out when I go back to work.

Feel free to PM if you have any more questions.

[MIJB#19]

I can echo the sleep deprvivation. Right now they are eating every three hours. We are formula feeding so we both wake up every three years and each take one for the feeding.Note to self, never get twins, hours will feel like years... ;)

Sorry I got nothing constructive to add. Aside from a congrats to SnDvls and henry296.

[CamEdwards]

We have 2 1/2 year old boy/girl twins, and I'll echo what Subby said. The first year is by far the most difficult. The fact that you already have one will help though... just imagine the first one x2.

I think my wife was able to breastfeed for six months, but it was hard. James and Catherine were 7 pounds 5 oz and 8 pounds when they were born, so they required a LOT of food.

We also didn't need a night nurse or additional help, but I started working evenings shortly after they were born, which made it easier for Elaine.

Good luck, and if you need any help/advice, feel free to ask.

[korme]

I'm glad to see all three of you shied away from the rhyming names.

[SnDvls]

Okay the wife has some questions for the people w/ twins

did you put them in the same room after birth in the crib stage?

[henry296]

Yes, we keep ours together in the Pack N Play during the day and in a cradle in our room at night. They are so used to being together, that they are happy. We've heard that as long as they don't wake each other up, that is best.

[B & B]

http://www.adrants.com/images/coortwins237235027323.jpgOne time I had twins


but to be honest



they didnt look like this

[EagleFan]

We are formula feeding so we both wake up every three years and each take one for the feeding.


What's the number for DYFS? :)

[Subby]

Okay the wife has some questions for the people w/ twins

did you put them in the same room after birth in the crib stage?

Yeah absolutely. They'll get split up enough down the road. I think it is actually good for their development to be together early on.

[henry296]

Note to self, never get twins, hours will feel like years... ;)

Sorry I got nothing constructive to add. Aside from a congrats to SnDvls and henry296.

These types of mistakes happen when you are sleep deprived ;)

[Thomkal]

Congrats!

Well I don't have twins, but I am one (identical), so does that count? :) Not a parent though so can't offer any advice in that department. You are in for a fun (and exhausting it sounds like) experience though. The bond between most twins is something to cherish and encourage, but yet be sure to treat them as individuals too.

My mother was a member of the Twins Mother's Club back when we lived in New York and it was a tremendous help according to her. I believe its still around, or other organizations like it will be. I would recommend getting information of them and joining one or two.

[CamEdwards]

When they were very little, James and Catherine ended up sleeping in our bed with Elaine, while I moved into the guest room for a few months. Since she was breastfeeding and they were eating about every two and a half hours, it was just far easier that way.

At four months they moved into their cribs, where they've stayed ever since. Well, we let them out during the day, but you know what I mean. They're sharing a room right now and wouldn't have it any other way. It does help that their bedroom isn't where they play, it's just where they sleep.

[CamEdwards]

Dola:

To echo what Thomkal said, be sure to check out the local Mothers of Multiples group. Elaine ended up not going to the meetings but still volunteers at the annual consignment sale so we can score cheap clothes for the twins.

[SnDvls]

guess I should have bumped this 2 weeks ago when we found out

we're having one boy and one girl

a problem we have already run into...unless you like Pooh Bear you have very little to choose from that is gender neutral for bedding.

our first child (3-year old daughter ) is named Mckinley (it was my wife's grandfather's middle name and we loved it...it would have been his 1st great grand child had he lived to see her :( so we thought it was fitting and loved the name)

we're looking at continuing the "president" theme, but not on purpose

Jackson for the boy and Kennedy for the girl

[hoopsguy]

Missed this the first time around - congratulations on the news. We have two sets of friends that have twins (both fraternal, both sets of girls). One of them was in a similar boat to you, as they had a two year old when the twins arrived. Needless to say, Mom didn't sleep much that first year after the twins arrived.

[oliegirl]

Again, congrats :) I love the names! My FI is rolling his eyes at me right now, baby fever has set in and I've been oohing and aahing over little ones for a couple of weeks...I keep throwing names out and he keeps saying "how about we wait til we're actually pregnant", but I like to be prepared ;)

Keep us posted...and of course, lots of pics once they arrive!

See ya in WW!

[DaddyTorgo]

dude...CONGRATS

I predict once the two pop your WW-time will dramatically decrease.

[korme]

I have Liriano in my keeper league.

[Logan]

Like the names. Congrats.

[CamEdwards]

Gotta love Kennedy for a girl... makes me think of the former MTV VJ.

The gender specific bedding is annoying. James and Catherine's bedroom is divided right down in half... girly stuff on her side and all kinds of superheroes on his side. At some point James will move in with his older brother Andrew, but for now they're still in the same room.

And can I just say that potty-training two at once... almost as hard as the first year of their life. Oy.

[johnnyshaka]

No twins here (although one of my grandfathers is a twin as is one of my wife's grandfathers...so, we are pretty good candidates!) but the Mothers Group my wife participates in contains two mothers that do have twins. They both are a part of a Multiples Mothers Group and swear by it as a great support.

Congrats and have fun!!!

[Breeze]

I have boy/girl twins...they are now 5. Their older brother was 20 months when they were born, so we were in a similar position age wise to your family.

Congratulations...

[SnDvls]

getting down to nitty gritty time.

the wife has a c-section scheduled for the 9th if she doesn't go into labor before then (we pretty sure she'll make the 9th).

I just keep doing as may honey do's as I can.

once they come I'll be sure to post pictures.

[johnnyshaka]

Good luck!!!

My wife is due a couple of days after yours but we're only having one. Curious to see how our 2 year old deals with the new addition.

[CamEdwards]

Awesome!

[Alan T]

getting down to nitty gritty time.

the wife has a c-section scheduled for the 9th if she doesn't go into labor before then (we pretty sure she'll make the 9th).

I just keep doing as may honey do's as I can.

once they come I'll be sure to post pictures.

Good luck with everything SnDvls, hope it all goes smoothly!

Grats to JohnnyShaka too on yours and best wishes there as well!

[Celeval]

Congrats, and best of luck!

[Subby]

Glad everything has gone smoothly up til now.

That will change after they are born, so enjoy the calm ;)

[henry296]

Good luck... My wife made it all the way to her scheduled C-section at 38 weeks. The girls just didn't want to come out.

[King of New York]

Good luck!

Hearing you son's or daughter's voice for the first time, letting out that first newborn "wtf is going on here???" wail, is one of the most memorable experiences in life. Instant tears for mom and dad.

[wade moore]

How did I miss this thread?

For what it's worth I am a twin. My identical twin brother is lordscarlet on this board.

If you ever have questions from the other side of the fence, let me know.

[lordscarlet]

I assumed you had already posted here so I stayed quiet. :)

[lordscarlet]

dola: Do not, I repeat do not name your kids rhyming names or names that start with the same letter.

[Coffee Warlord]

Good luck!

And I hope your 2 year old is potty trained. That'd be a lottttt of diapers otherwise. :)

[wade moore]

dola: Do not, I repeat do not name your kids rhyming names or names that start with the same letter.

Names are above:

Jackson - Boy
Kennedy - Girl

[lordscarlet]

good work.

[lordscarlet]

dola: It is still a good cautionary tale for others.

[SnDvls]

How did I miss this thread?

For what it's worth I am a twin. My identical twin brother is lordscarlet on this board.

If you ever have questions from the other side of the fence, let me know.

thanks I'll keep you both in mind...I had seen or read somewhere that you two were twins.


Good luck!

And I hope your 2 year old is potty trained. That'd be a lottttt of diapers otherwise. :)

she's 3 now and yes very potty trained and a great little helper too.


dola: It is still a good cautionary tale for others.

ya we went with the unintended "presidential" theme...My wife really liked Kennedy & Jackson and our 3-year old daughter is Mckinley (after my wife's grandfather who passed away before her birth)


Dr's apt. was today and all is still the same so Monday it is.

thanks again all.

[jeheinz72]

Congrats SnDvls, try and get some Z's while you still can man...

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

For what it's worth I am a twin. My identical twin brother is lordscarlet on this board.


Pixplskthx.

[lordscarlet]

Pixplskthx.

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[Lorena]

Good luck and grats SnDvls!

[oliegirl]

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So which one is which????

[SnDvls]

All babies and mom are just great.

[Dr. Sak]

Congrats SnDvls!

[CleBrownsfan]

Congrats!!! Big boys for being twins....

[Neon_Chaos]

CONGRATS!

VOTE KENNEDY

VOTE JACKSON

[Lorena]

My goodness nice size babies! That's awesome SnDvls, congrats!!!! :)

[Lathum]

congrats!

[oliegirl]

Congrats! You and your wife make beautiful kids! Keep posting pics for us please :)

[henry296]

Congrats!!! Enjoy every minute.

[DaddyTorgo]

awesome news! congrats SnDvls (and congrats to your wife too!)

[jeheinz72]

Congrats SnDvls!

[Kodos]

Congratulations! But what's with the presidential names?! ;)

[SnDvls]

Congratulations! But what's with the presidential names?! ;)


the 3-year old is named after my wifes grandfather
the other two, my wife is a teacher and really liked the names

unintended, but it makes signing cards easy. just write from the "presidents" :D

[SnDvls]

here's a picture my dad took of me and them yesterday.

The boy, Jackson, has my hair line (poor kid will be losing his hair by 30 too) he's in my right arm.

And Kennedy already has her own spikey hair do going in my left arm

[path12]

Well done. Congrats!

[MikeVic]

Grats!

[lordscarlet]

I will be monitoring your twin parenting skills closely. :) (Congrats!)

[Lorena]

here's a picture my dad took of me and them yesterday.

The boy, Jackson, has my hair line (poor kid will be losing his hair by 30 too) he's in my right arm.

And Kennedy already has her own spikey hair do going in my left arm

http://members.cox.net/giveemhelldevils/proud%20dad.jpg

Luv this pic! BTW, you look different than what I had in mind.

[johnnyshaka]

Congrats!!!

[RomaGoth]

A big congratulations to you and your wife! Your children are beautiful. Good luck with the sleep thing, as in there won't be much of it for awhile. Also, I love all three names, very unique yet not weird.

[RomaGoth]

Also, is this the thread that I post the news of my impending vasectomy? We found out that my wife is pregnant and due in January. She is worried it could be twins (runs in her family, she has triplet uncles). We already have a 7 year old boy, 3 year old girl (in August), and an 11 month old girl.

Twins? Yikes. :eek:

[oliegirl]

Awwww! Too sweet...and you look elated!

BTW - every time I see RomaGoth's name in a post, I think of the Sims. I wonder if he walks around with a little light above his head waiting for someone to tell him what to do :D

[oliegirl]

Also, is this the thread that I post the news of my impending vasectomy? We found out that my wife is pregnant and due in January. She is worried it could be twins (runs in her family, she has triplet uncles). We already have a 7 year old boy, 3 year old girl (in August), and an 11 month old girl.

Twins? Yikes. :eek:

More babies!!! Yay! Congrats to you and your wife :)

I think you should allow FOFC to name your baby!

[RomaGoth]

Awwww! Too sweet...and you look elated!

BTW - every time I see RomaGoth's name in a post, I think of the Sims. I wonder if he walks around with a little light above his head waiting for someone to tell him what to do :D

Hah, my wife would say that this is a great idea.

[Kodos]

I still read your username as "Snail Davis", even though I realize it is short for Sun Devils.

[BigDPW]

Congrats!!!

[SnDvls]

Well they are 6 months old today. Man how times flies.

Both babies are doing well and mom and dad are getting a little sleep each night :)

Jackson is rolling over both ways from belly to back and soon will be sitting up on his own. He is probally ready to crawl soon too as he does the rocking thing on his hands and knees all the time.

Kennedy's heart murmer has gone away and the Dr's gave her a clean slate with no issues, thank God. She is just now rolling from her back to her belly. She is the happy go lucky one of the two always giving you a morning smile and then babbling to you through the day. She's not fond of being on her tummy, but she's getting used to it. She also is almost sitting up on her own. It's amazing how different the two of them really are.

Big sister Mckinley will turn 4 next Monday and is still adjusting little by little each day, but we try to spend some special one on one time with her each day. She is such a great helper.

I'll post a picture tonight after we take one.

[DaddyTorgo]

awesome SnDvls!! Glad to hear it's working out about as good as could be hoped!

[CleBrownsfan]

nice update... good to hear there are doing well - and you and the wifey are getting "some" sleep ;)

[MikeVic]

Hey CleBrownsfan, if that name in your signature is supposed to be the former Steelers' coach... it's Cowher, not Cower.

[revrew]

I missed this first and second time around, but at last I can chime in and say congrats! BTW, we have one set of twins in the clan, fraternal boys, age 4.

[SnDvls]

as promised

http://members.cox.net/giveemhelldevils/IMG_260211.jpg

[DaddyTorgo]

awwww - now that's just frikkin adorable!!!

[Lorena]

as promised

http://members.cox.net/giveemhelldevils/IMG_260211.jpg

Awwwww, great pic!!

[sterlingice]

That's a great pic :)

SI

[SnDvls]

That's a great pic :)

SI

Thanks,

we've been taking one every month the same way to track their growth/changes

[SnDvls]

I need to upload a new picture, but today they are 1.

We made it through the 1st year. :)

[CleBrownsfan]

I need to upload a new picture, but today they are 1.

We made it through the 1st year. :)

Congrats... getting easier? ;)

[albionmoonlight]

congrats

[DaddyTorgo]

woo!

[flere-imsaho]

Many congratulations. I can't believe I missed this the first time around!

Yeah absolutely. They'll get split up enough down the road. I think it is actually good for their development to be together early on.

I'll bet good money it also decreases the risk of SIDS, too.

[SnDvls]

Congrats... getting easier? ;)

yes it is, but I sure wish I had another set of arms and hands :)

[SnDvls]

here's a facebook album of their changes over the year if you are interested

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17622&id=1543070338&l=d3b2b00068

[SnDvls]

....and Today they turn 2

it's been a challenge and a lot of hard work, but I would never trade it for anything in the world. The terrible twos have already hit and we're doing some basic potty training, but I'm sure the fun is just begining.

[JediKooter]

Man, they will be driving before you know it. ;)

Happy birthday to the twins!

[Lathum]

Happy birthday!!

[spleen1015]

That is so awesome.

Happy Birthday!

[DaddyTorgo]

cool!

[Dodgerchick]

2 already? Daang got here fast. Happy birthday!

[Dodgerchick]

dola,

I clicked on the Facebook link you have a few posts up and saw pictures of the "Watch us Grow Up" album. What an awesome idea... love what you're doing with the pictures and how you can actually see changes from the moment they left the hospital, up until they're 1. Still taking pictures with the same poses? It'd be interesting to see changes for years to come.