Six Weeks!

Maggie and Ben are six weeks old today...and we are six weeks worth of exhausted!

They had a weight check on Thursday and they're now both officially over 7 lbs. Maggie weighed in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. and Ben at 7 lbs. 14 oz. (He's pretty consistently been 10 oz. heavier than his sister at every weight check). They've now surpassed Gabby's birth weight of 6 lbs. 13 oz. but are not yet near Ellie's chubby birth weight of 8 lbs. 5 oz. Because of their successful weight gain, we've finally been released from waking them up every three hours to eat, and can now feed them on demand. The first night on the new program they taunted us by waking up every 2.5 hours to feed, but last night they did much better and graced us with a couple of 4 hour stretches, which means we got to sleep for close to 3 consecutive hours for the first time in 6 weeks. Woo hoo!

Aside from the weight checks we can tell they're growing well because of the clothes they're going through. We've already packed away all the preemie outfits, and Ben's now starting to outgrow the newborn sizes in length (although there's still plenty of room in girth), so we're now on to 0-3 month outfits in Ben sizes, and I imagine Maggie will be close behind in another week or so.

The one thing that I didn't expect is that although it has officially been the hottest July on record here in Austin, we've really got to keep these little munchkins bundled up. On doctor's orders, they're always in full on sleepers and hats, and we usually have them swaddled up as well (unless, of course, they're actually outside in the 100 degree weather, which only happens for very short stints between air conditioned comfort). As soon as we unswaddle them, their hands and noses get cold. I guess that's what happens when you don't yet have any fat to keep you warm! So much for all the adorable newborn summer outfits I have that were never worn!!!

In other news, "Babci," my mom has been in town this week. My sister Marta has been helping us out all summer, but this week she's on vacation, so my mom came to help out instead. She's been a great help with all four kids, and her own twin experience (my little sisters are fraternal twins, for any readers who were unaware) has been helpful. She will be missed (especially in the late evening hours when she's been helping with the babies and in the early morning hours when she's been helping with Gabby and Ellie)!!!

On Thursday we celebrated Joe's birthday, and I'll need to post a picture of his new T-shirt which proclaims him "World's Best Daddy according to Gabby, Ellie, Maggie, Ben!"

That's all for now. Pictures to follow as soon as we can get around to uploading them!