The Twins Are Here (and other musings)

Well, well, well...
Where do I start?

Lots has happened in the last 3 months.

First and foremost, we welcomed our two little loves into the world.
Luca Charles & James Sullivan were born on February 3rd, at 38wks.
Luca weighed 7lbs 4oz, and was 21" long.
James arrived 11 minutes after his brother, weighing 6lbs 7oz and 20.25" long.

I won't be sharing their birth story, not because I don't love you all, but instead because I just think it's something I want to keep private. I will tell you that they were born naturally, and came much quicker than their older brother. I did end up going into labor all on my own (hooray!) and made it to the hospital just before one of February's biggest snowstorms.

These two little boys have filled my heart with so much love. It's true what they say - your love is not lessened for your first, it just doubles (or triples!) when you meet your newest family members. Luca & James have completed our family in a way I didn't know was possible, and I am forever grateful that they were big & healthy and were able to come home with us after a 2-day stay in the hospital.

A is doing great with them. I'm truly in awe of how much a two-and-a-half year old can comprehend, and process, about his growing family. Anthony didn't bat an eye when we left for the hospital bright and early one morning. And when my parents showed him a picture of his new brothers after they were born, he quietly asked "Babies came out of momma's belly?", and continued sledding. I did not believe that he understood that there would be TWO babies coming home (even though he would tell everyone there were two babies in Momma's belly), but as soon as he met them, he loved them, and hasn't stopped. He is a wonderful age to really "help" me - getting a diaper, or pacifier, or finding the sock I managed to drop from the nursery to the living room. Every morning he greets them with smiles and kisses, sings them songs when they're sad, and more recently, tries to get them to smile. Nothing makes me tear-up more than seeing the 3 of them interact...

And I'm choked up just typing that.

January was filled with a lot of waiting around, a few false alarms and subsequent trips to Labor & Delivery. I cleaned the house from top to bottom, willing labor to start on it's own, but these boys were on their own schedule. I spent a lot of quality time with A - loving on him, spoiling him and making sure he knew how much we loved him. I was angst-ridden at the thought of ruining his life by bringing his siblings home (I know - it was the pregnancy hormones - but I'm being honest here). All of my friends came to the rescue and told me that it would all go away the second I laid eyes on the twins. And it did.

taken the day before Luca & James were born

I never would have made it through my pregnancy, or the last 2 months, without my "village". I am forever grateful to my parents, my in-laws and my friends for constantly encouraging me, loving me and picking up the missing pieces when I needed it the most. And of course, Craig. He was eternally patient, loving and level-headed during the craziest of times. Now, watching him with his 3 boys makes me love him even more than I did before. I am blessed beyond words.

I have been home for almost 5 months now, and cannot believe my maternity leave is coming to an end. I'm sad to go back, but also know that it's the right decision for my family. Maybe one day it won't be, but today it is. I hope to be posting more than I have been, but to be perfectly honest, there's not a lot of time in the day. Our days are filled with giggles & tears (from the twins and from A... and sometimes from me), lots of eating and snuggles, and a desperate attempt to get these boys to sleep better than their older brother. Life is crazy right now, but it is also fleeting, and I'm trying to soak it all in.

Hope to be back soon with a few more pictures & updates!

Linking up with Twin Talk Blog for Multiples Awareness Month!