3 Month Birthday!

We celebrated the babies' 3 month birthday yesterday!  It's a good thing we started off the day by taking their pictures, because the rest of the day was a battle of fussy babies vs. parents.  We think they probably weren't feeling very good.

Rylee has puked at least once per day 7 out of the last 8 days, sometimes 2 or 3 times per day.  Saturday was puke free, so we thought we were finally moving past the puke fest, but right as we were starting the pictures yesterday she emptied the contents of her stomach.  Lucky me, I even got some in the face!  I was trying to keep her upright, catching it all in a burp cloth, but also had some of it spit into my face.  My hands were full so I couldn't even wipe it off.  Good times.  Good times.  I got her changed into dry clothes and we went about the picture taking business.  Thankfully, she wasn't too fussy at this point.  That came later, and was probably due to her sore bottom.

Ayden spent the day with several spit up episodes, definitely more than normal.  He went through a record number of clothing changes yesterday himself.  He was also pretty lethargic throughout the day, very sleepy. He didn't have a temperature.  He just slept a lot.

We did manage to get these cute pictures though!  Our only camera is on our iPhones, so the quality isn't very good, but they are cute anyway!

Poor Rylee has had a rough start in life.  Her bottom is still ulcerated, but at her last dermatology appointment, they thought it was looking better.  We are now using Duo Derm bandages to cover the hemangioma.  The bandaging starts out okay, but it's difficult to keep it sticking on the inside part of her butt cheek, thus making it difficult to keep the poopy out.  It works great for about half a day, but then the bandage starts to peel up.  One might think, okay, just change the bandaging.  I did that once.  Never again. The bandage might not stick as well on the inside portion, but it sticks very well on the outer side of her bottom.  When I took it off before the recommended time, it also peeled off some of her skin and made the ulcer bleed more than it ever had before.  That was not a happy day for anyone.  Poor baby girl.

The next time, I timed the bandage change with her bath.  Made it so much easier to take off.  You might think, well why don't you do that every time?  Because this girl hates baths.  HATES them with a fiery passion.  Seriously.  She doesn't just scream bloody murder.  She screams as if she belongs in The Exorcist. It's a little scary.  So she only gets a bath about once per week.

So, little Miss Rylee hates diaper changes (who could blame her with her sore bottom), she hates baths, she has trouble eating without gagging, when she does eat you never know if she will keep it down, she dislikes tummy time, and she also hates having her clothes changed.  She used to scream her head off when you put a onsie on and off, but that is actually getting better.  Now she only screams when you put pants on her.

Sigh.  I really, really, super duper hope that she eventually becomes a happy baby.

There are some things she does like, despite all the other things that make her miserable.  She LOVES it when you talk to her (as long as she's in the mood to listen).  She will sit there and stare at you forever if you keep talking to her.  Talking to her is what makes her smile, and making her smile is like winning the lottery. Rylee loves the swing.  I think it's her most favorite place.  She can watch her little friends on the mobile for what seems like hours.  If her tummy is settled, Rylee also enjoys spending some time on the play mat.

Just this past week we had to move her up to size 1 diapers.  She had 8 newborn diapers left and I was trying hard to use them up, but I just couldn't squeeze her into them any more.  She has outgrown some of her newborn clothes, but still fits in most.  We have begun making the transition to 0-3 month size.  At her last weight check a week and a half ago, she was 9 lbs, 10 oz.  I'm sure she's probably hit about 10 lbs now.

The longest stretch Rylee has slept at night is 4 hours, 40 minutes.  They are both still sleeping in their Rock n' Plays, but Rylee has taken one 41 minute nap in her crib.  Yes, I timed it.  I use the handy dandy iBabyLog app on my iPhone to keep track of feedings, sleep, and diaper changes.

She has started cooing.  Not a lot, but she definitely is starting to talk to us.  She is great at making a smacking sound with her tongue.  Speaking of which, she does like to stick her tongue out, too.

Rylee may be small, but she is mighty.  She may have a temper, but we still think she is so amazingly cute and love her so much.

Now for Ayden.  He is a tank.  At his last weigh in he was 12 lbs, 6.5 oz.  That was almost a month ago, so I'm sure he's well over 13 lbs now.  He is wearing 0-3 month and 3 month clothing.  He's still in size 1 diapers.

Ayden is a pretty calm baby, except for when he thinks he's starving.  If you don't get to him fast enough, his world is coming to an end.  While Rylee is pure temper and flat out scream cries, Ayden breaks your heart when he cries.  He gets the most sad, pathetic look on his face.  He knows how to make us feel bad already!

Ayden smiles easily and is not stingy in sharing those smiles.  One of the cutest things I've ever seen and heard is listening to him literally laugh out loud in his sleep.  It makes me smile and laugh out loud myself.

He enjoys spending time in his little bouncer chair and talking to his friend the penguin.  He coos and talks to us quite a bit.  His little baby noises are adorable.  He is only entertained on the play mat for a few minutes at a time. Tummy time is not his favorite, but he doesn't mind it as much when he's on the Boppy.  He tolerates bath time, but doesn't really think too highly of it.  He will chew/suck on anything that gets near his mouth - his fist, his clothing, my finger, a teething toy...  But he has trouble keeping a pacifier in his mouth.  We've tried several different kinds, but he eventually loses it, which he finds very frustrating.

Ayden frequently sleeps for 5 hour stretches at night, but has gone as long as 7 hours!  Now if only Rylee and him would sync their sleeping schedules.... I did purchase a couple sleep training books last week so that maybe we can learn a few tricks.  I haven't put him down in his crib yet to try sleeping.  I don't think we would be successful at this point.  He startles himself easily and doesn't get even remotely tired when laying on the floor on his back.  I've tried swaddling him but that just makes him mad.

Yesterday he was down for tummy time without the Boppy and he was trying SOOOoooo hard to roll over.  He almost got it too!  Instead, he just kicked his way around so he was turning in a circle on the blanket.

It's only been 3 months, but yet these two are our entire world now.  3 months doesn't seem like very long, but yet it also feels like we've had them forever.  Wouldn't change a thing.  People ask me if I miss coaching softball.  Yes, I miss the girls.  I miss being on the field.  I miss the competitiveness of the games.  But I wouldn't change a thing.  I don't miss getting the field ready and dealing with the Oregon weather.  I don't miss the two hour bus rides.  I would much rather be watching the games on the sidelines now with my two little ones.  .

And now for more pictures...

She enjoys sleeping in her car seat when we go for walks

Looking cool in his shades

All bundled up to watch their first softball game

He slept through the entire game!

My little ducklings