Champs!

So, the girls are two weeks old! Well, 16 days now. But we've made it two weeks, and everyone is still healthy. We've had a few appointments for the girls (and I've had a few, too). Although there have been some concerns (like Adriana's tongue tie and Isabella's slightly yellow skin colour - both fine), we're doing really well all things considered. According to some of the midwives, we're doing an amazing job. It's been funny - although I've felt like I've been struggling and not really doing things right, the midwives seem to disagree. They've said that George and I look like naturals, that it looks like we've been doing this for years. And they've been so impressed that we're already breastfeeding exclusively (one of the ladies keeps calling us her 'star pupils').

The funniest bit about the midwives being impressed is that it seems we've somehow become models for the NHS. When we went into one clinic, some ladies from the intensive care unit for babies came over to watch me feed the girls. And then I was used to show another lady how to hand express. And a few days later, we went for a checkup and the midwife asked if she could introduce us to a breastfeeding class. So we stood up in front of the class and said a bit about ourselves and how breastfeeding was going for us. And then it happened again today! I just popped in to fill out some paperwork, and there was another class going on. So I was asked again if I could stand up in front of the class. We've been joking that I'm going to start asking for a salary from the NHS. :)

We have formula for emergencies, but I've been trying to express more often so that we always have some. Especially since the girls eat like champs! But when I can, I like to be here to feed them. Isabella started out as out as our stronger eater - she once ate for 50 minutes and still wanted a snack. But Adriana is, thankfully, catching up. Although it makes it a bit harder on my body, it's great to see them growing. They're both above their birth weights (Isabella was 5lbs 15oz and Adriana was 5lbs 8oz approx). And Isabella is still eating lots. She was cuddling with Daddy the other day and started to do the boob crawl (if you've never heard of this or seen it, it's hilarious). She started turning herself around and was getting ready to crawl across Daddy's legs to get to me - she was hungry! We couldn't make her do all of that work for a meal, though, and picked her up - but it was so impressive!

The girls are getting so much stronger and bigger. Adriana can hold her head up quite well, and it's hilarious to see them when they grab on to their bottles. It's impressive that they've been able to hold their bottles up on their own. And when Adriana stretches her head up, it's the cutest thing ever! She elongates her neck quite a bit and puckers her lips, like she's ready for a kiss. Too. Stinkin'. Cute!

We'll try to update again soon, but things are generally busy around here. Although it's been good to get the praise and encouragement, I'm still struggling with feeling like I don't quite have it under control. But we're getting there! Now if we could just get the girls to sleep through the night ...

Lots of love,
Erin, George, Isabella and Adriana