12 Weeks Old

Happy 12 weeks little ladies! And to celebrate, they decided to get some sleep! Josie is doing her usual sleeping through the night, and Alex just went from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.! Mommy and Daddy appreciate it!

with Josie

My sister Stephanie was here visiting this past week and it was super helpful - between her, her boyfriend Dave, my other sister Becky, James and I, and on occasion the nanny Brittany, we were a well oiled machine. Everyone was eating well, showering and getting projects done around the house. We even ventured out and had lunch a few times, with, and once without (thanks to Brittany), the girls. 

Stephanie with Josie

Stephanie and Josie

Stephanie and Josie

Alexandra!

This week the girls should be discovering their hands. They both have a head start here - Alexandra loves to put her hands in her mouth, and usually that means she is hungry, though she is doing it more and more now that she has started drooling. She always has a big grin, and between the big smiles, her sticking out her tongue and drool, she is really darn cute. She also loves to cuddle, I can't get over how she hugs you when you put her up to your shoulder.

Alexandra enjoying her elephant mobile and waiting for her photo shoot!

Daddy putting Josie into her photo shoot outfit!

Lexie having a great time!

Josie has also discovered her hands, and yesterday, I watched her as she spent the entire day trying to use her hand to put her pacifier in her mouth. She would get frustrated and need you to do it for her, but she is very close to figuring out this trick on her own. Its pretty amazing that she's figured this out. 

Josephine!

Josephine and her dinosaur! EEKE!!!

I'm just loving this stage - it has a lot to do with both the sleep and smiling. I really don't function well on little to no sleep, so getting enough hours in a row, and even getting some deep sleep, has really made the difference in facing the day's challenges each day. In the past 12 weeks, we've dropped from 20-24 total feedings a day to 10 - 12.  Also the girls' smiles, baby coos and reactions to their care takers makes the daily challenges and tasks feel less thankless than they did that first month.  I really look forward to "wake up time" each morning when we say good morning to the girls and they play on their play mat and kicky piano, it is when they smile the most and are so much fun! 

Josie playing kicky piano

Lexie looking longingly at kicky piano - they both get a turn!