Boo!

Happy Halloween!

The girls first Halloween and what better way to spend it than to go to the doctor's office and get some shots....NOT! The girls went for their 2 month appointment and got three shots each and a dose of some oral medicine. I almost cried when I saw them getting the shots, but I still ended up watching. I was surprised how big the needles were!!! Hannah was a trooper, but Sophie kicked and screamed at the doctor who was dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, which probably didn't help hahahah!

Hannah was super hungry, so I got the green light from the doctor to feed her in the office, half way through the bottle she got sick and threw everything up on me. Strangely this new role of motherhood has really set in and the spit up/vomit did not bother me one bit which is the weirdest thing to me because prior to this I used to think how do mothers deal with not changing their shirts after their baby spit up all over them. I found it very gross, but I think what happens is that the little ones are counting on you and looking good matters less than taking care of your babies (of course there's no time for you to look that great anyway). Little things that bothered me before become so trivial, like those stains from spit up on your shirt.

We get to go back to the doc's on New Year's Eve to get the same shots all over again, so sad. I find it annoying to go on holidays, because I'm trying to beat the traffic back home...oh well...

Latest Twin Stats:

Hannah - 10 lbs 2 oz and 20" in length
Sophie - 11 lbs 13 oz and 21.5" in length

The twins visit both mommy and daddy's workplace today. Lunch was taken to daddy's work and the babies disrupted the workplace (Almost everyone in Der's office stopped by to say, "Hi!" to the babies, how sweet!). Before heading home, the twins and I stopped by my office to see what my group was up to. The babies got to look around one of buildings we work in (actually I haven't worked in that building yet) and proceeded to disrupt there as well. My boss said, "the babies are chick magnets". I agree, but not to the same affect as say a cute puppy hahahah!

No dressing up for the twins this year :( The girls were fussy tonight from all of the shots, so we gave them some grape tylenol which didn't really help. Poor babies! Tonight Der and I took turns handing out candy to the trick-o-treaters and taking care of the twins. Hopefully next year we'll dress them up :) I remember last year we went to Disneyland and had a grand ole time trick-o-treating there (yeah we're big kids). I can't wait to take the babies to Disneyland, although I know they will not be able to fully enjoy Disneyland until they're maybe 5 yrs old.

Sophie with ducky. Thank you uncle Chris and cousin Jayden for the new friend!

Hannah and her own ducky.

Fun in the pen.

Kissing babies is fun! Mommy kissing Smiley a.k.a Hannah.

Smiley not so smiley after those nasty shots.

Mommy kissing the hurt away for Soph.

Sophie feeling better after some hugs and kisses.

5.6 on the Richter scale...Welcome to California

Today was an exciting day. First on the agenda was a visit from Uncle Hsin and Aunty Sonya. They got also a visit from Eric and Lauren. The twins were happy to see everyone :)

Later the girls, Emi, and I took a walk with Aunty Liz and Lauren around the block. I recently bought a single stroller/pram off of craigslist because I'm lazy to take the huge twin stroller out of my minivan. Anyone with twins will know my pain to get the babies into the car seats and drag that heavy stroller out of a car just to get anywhere. Instead I opted to put one baby in the bjorn and have the other in the pram. This is just to take some afternoon walks around the neighborhood, so we can get some fresh air, walk the dog, and lose some of that baby fat!

Also the girls had their first earthquake experience tonight at 8:04 p.m. Like always the duration was in seconds, but it was still scary!!! The house shook like someone obese was jumping up and down upstairs (that's my colorful description of the event). Hannah cried out and Sophie was sound asleep. Emi barked after the fact and Kiki was no where in sight. Had it been a worse earthquake I think Der and I would be like deer in headlights because we both just sat there wondering if it was an earthquake or a big truck driving by.

The girls are going through a spitting and coughing phase. We are going to the doctor tomorrow to see if everything is okay. Also it's their 2 month appointment, so I best be ready for the shots. I'm feeling a lot of anxiety as it hurts me more to see them in pain. Every time both babies cry out to eat and I have to finish one of them at a time, it makes me so sad to watch the left out baby cry. It's heartbreaking to watch the little tears run down their precious faces.


Hsin with Sophie and Sonya with Hannah.

Hannah saying, "Hey, pick me up!!!"

Sophie saying, "Yeah, pick me up too!!!"

The aerial shot of the crib, friends to the right of me, friends to the left of me, and friends up in the air.

Watching mommy blogging from the bed. Hannah close up and Sophie in the background.

Happy Two Months

The babies are 2 months old, my how time flies! Both babies have more control over lifting their heads, although Sophie has a much stronger neck Hannah isn't too far behind. Hannah is still miss smiley and I've rightfully re-named her nickname to Smiley. They've also been "talking" more which is extremely cute. Hannah has really feminine coos and Sophie is just funny with the gurgles and grunts.

Hannah snoozing in her papasan swing.

Hannah sitting on the bouncer digesting her food.

Friends coming to visit (Liz and Lauren).

Sophie filling daddy in on her day.

Sophie displaying her great neck muscles to mommy :)

Sophie staring at mommy.

A Handful

Last night we decided to copy my dad (Grandpa Kage) and hold both babies in our arms before they got too big to do so. Don't mind the haggard pic of me , these days I don't know what make-up or dressing up means anymore and sleep what is that???

Hannah, mommy, and Sophie.


Hannah, daddy, and Sophie.

Just when we thought things were getting into a routine, yesterday the twins had a never ending binge session. Hannah and Sophie were eating almost every 1 1/2 - 2 hrs which is really uncommon for them. By the time Der got home from work I thought for sure with all that eating both girls would be knocked out, but of course my assumption was wrong. During the late night feeding both girls downed quite a bit of milk (Hannah 6 1/2 oz and Sophie 7 oz, normally it is 3 1/2 oz for Hannah and 4 oz for Sophie). After all that crying and eating both girls slept through the night and woke up at 7:30 a.m. Hannah slept and didn't eat for 5 hrs and Sophie for almost 8 hrs that is just amazing to me.

Tonari no Lauren

Title translated to English: My neighbor Lauren

The twins have been great, not much to report on other than Sophie is growing really fast she's already fitting snug in the newborn clothing. Hannah on the other hand is still relatively small next to Sophie. Both girls have been having a little problem with spitting up lately, but we've been burping them more and keeping them up right for longer periods of time which seems to help most of the time.

Who's that up there? Darn mommy flashing us with that camera again.

Sophie and Hannah enjoying the play time.

Sophie and Hannah sitting on the couch.

Eric and Lauren visiting. I was trying to get a pic of Lauren smiling at me (she was smiling at me the whole time, but I wasn't quick enough to capture it), but here she sticks the tongue out at me :P

How many babies can Liz hold? Hannah on the shoulder and Lauren in the bjorn.

Sophie lends Hannah a hand and Hannah sucks on it HAHahahaha!

Hannah and Sophie in the long onesies that Grandma and Grandpa Kage bought for them. Sheep and butterflies awwwww.

Tummy Time

Today was a productive day for the babies they did tummy time early this morning, for lunch they took turns with mommy singing songs off the ipod. When daddy got home they had time on the play mat to play with their friends and took baths.

Sophie tummy time.

Hannah tummy time.

Sophie and Hannah keeping mommy company during the day.

Ch-ch-changes

Time may change me
But I can't trace time

Hannah has been fussy the past week. She's going through a phase where she wants to be held. Early on it was Sophie who was like that, but the roles have been changed. Sophie still is the "loud one", but she's ok hanging out on her own these days. Give Soph a binky and a swing and she's a happy camper. Hannah will not be so easily consoled that way, strange how they change.

Hannah on the left and Sophie on the right hanging out with mommy today.

Emi gets some attention, but apparently she didn't want it from the cat bus.

Oh those critters again! Sophie napping with some friends.

Hannah's friends are visiting her while she naps too.

Sophie catching the cat bus.

Ok, so I am goofy and took some silly pics, but at least I didn't torture the babies while they were awake (with the exception of Emi).

Day two of being solo with the kids was a little harder than day one, but I'm sure we'll work it out. Today was a little more difficult because Hannah was hungrier before the 3 hour mark throwing off the timing. We're on the "on demand" schedule, but when you throw in work and the daily chores on demand kind of messes things up. Thus mommy didn't get a lot of things done other than washing some bottles and making some formula. Emi and Kiki looked sad as they watched me scurry to and from the rooms. I did manage to set up the baby monitor so I could do some work and what not without being stuck to where the babies were.

On a final note I feel the babies getting heavier each day, my arms will be muscular before next year I'm sure of it hahahaha!

Flying Solo

Today Grandma and Grandpa Kage left and now the house is empty. It's just the babies and me now, okay well there's Emi and Kiki too. I am quite melancholy about it all maybe it's the hormones... I also think about how the grandparents and relatives from both sides will miss out on the babies growing and maturing into toddlers, adolescents, etc. Sure they'll see them, but in chunks of time, and my personal experience of growing up in Hawaii, I know I never got to see my "mainland" cousins that often and was never really that close to them. Pictures online, hard copy pictures, phone calls, email, etc are not a substitute for actual in-person time. I've come to realize that after spending time with my parents and Der's parents, how truly important it is to have that type of interaction with family. Both Der and I are so grateful for the help we received and we could not be thankful enough.

Another thing is the babies will not truly know the culture of Hawaii and what it really means to be a "local girl".

The pics I posted below were from Anna's baby shower, courtesy of Benson's camera since I had a blond moment and packed the camera, but forgot the battery.

Sophie in her car seat as mommy tightens up the slack.

Hannah laid back as daddy puts her in her car seat. Thanks to uncle Chris for the cute matching bunny friends.

Growing out of premies

I pulled out a premie outfit today and realized how teeny tiny they were when they were born. It also shocks me how fast babies grow. People used to tell me that they grow fast, but you truly understand the meaning of that statement when you witness it yourself. In just a month and a half the babies moved up a size to newborn. Soph (our nickname for Sophie) is snug in the sizing and Hannah Banana (our nickname for Hannah) is still swimming, still they both can't really wear a premie outfit anymore :( My babies are growing up so fast.

Sophie in the papasan chair getting sleepy with her bunny friend above.

This time Hannah is out like a light and Sophie is busily looking at her friend Mr. Elephant.

Hannah and Sophie from the aerial view of their playmat. Both of the twins like tracking the animal friends of theirs and touching/hitting them.

Tag Team

Today we went to my 6 week appointment with my OB and she was commenting on how great the babies were since they were napping through the entire time we were there (My OB had twins too and said her babies weren't that easy going). Next we stopped by my dietitian's office and everyone there commented on how nice and quiet they were too. Boy did they jinx me!!!

As soon as we got home the twins decided to play tag team with me and wouldn't let me put either of them down. Grandma Kage tried to help, but apparently they wanted mommy. I salute all parents that have twins and multiples! Like how the heck does Jon and Kate plus eight do it??? I guess I should watch that show more often when it comes on. For those of you who do not know what I'm talking about check it out:

Jon and Kate plus eight


Sophie and Hannah sleeping like angels yesterday.

Today's pic of Hannah telling mommy she wants to be held.

Sophie wanting mommy, but waiting for her turn.

Ok, I need to try to get some shut eye in before I lose consciousness, good night.

Can you tell who I am?

So most people cannot tell which twin is which. To Derek and I it's totally obvious, however the older the twins get the more they're looking like each other. As most of you know they are not identical twins, but fraternal.

Test your skills, do you know who is who in this pic below? Sure they're not facing the camera, but that shouldn't matter hahahhaha!

Today Hannah was on a roll for staying up all morning and all day. I'm exhausted as she wouldn't let me put her down. Hannah is the most loving easy going baby, so it makes me concerned to see her this way. As I write this entry Sophie is up and awake pacified and I'm past the point of being pooped.

Sophie is easily entertained by a pacifier or swing. She doesn't care too much about kisses and tends to turn away if you give her one. She doesn't mind tummy time and downs her milk as if she hadn't ate in a long time. She tracks things when she feels like it and smiles only when she's sleepy. She also likes to "talk" making funny noises which to Der and I are so darn cute. If you hold her when she's fussy she will wave her angry hands at you and probably grab you really hard. To sum it up Sophie is a feisty little one, we'll have to watch this one in the future.

Hannah is not entertained easily with swings, pacifiers, or what not she likes being picked up and held. She loves kisses and will probably smile at you when she's awake. She doesn't like tummy time and will cry (which she hardly does unless she's hungry). Hannah tracks objects you put in front of her and she will follow you and your voice. She too talks sometimes, but not as often as Sophie. She mostly sighs or yawn in the most cutest high pitch noise, makes me always go, "Awwww". She's mostly angry in the morning if you don't give her her milk quickly and she too packs a wallop with her punches and kicks. All in all she is a laid back easy going baby.

Ok, I'm past my second wind time for my sleepy time.

Oh and Sophie is on the left and Hannah is on the right ;)

Tonari no Totoro

Thanks Uncle Tak!!! We love the little critters! See them play with the babies...

Hey those aren't hats! Sophie and Hannah.

We're surrounded and can't escape good thing they're so darn cute. Cat bus, Sophie, tiny totoro, Hannah, medium totoro, and BIG totoro in front.

Hungry, tired, and ....

Am I talking about the twins or us? It's hard to tell these days as I find myself forgetting to eat some meals and I'm so tired I forget what the date is, time is, and what the heck I was doing 2 seconds ago. Derek is tired too. I speak for him on this as I watched him sleep while feeding the babies in one of those early morning feedings. Despite our lack of sleep we can't really complain as the babies are doing great! They're awake for longer periods of time and they're starting to notice their surroundings, track with their eyes, lift their heads, etc. The one thing I wish I had is a pic of those smiles I get every so often from Sophie and Hannah! Every time I see it, it melts my heart!

Sophie hanging out in the papasan swing, all wrapped up.

Grandma Kage and Hannah.

Mommy, Uncle Jim, Uncle Jason, and Uncle Tak with twins in stroller at Uncle Granty and Aunty Hai's wedding reception at the San Jose Art Museum.

Grandpa Kage and da girlz (Emi next to Grandpa, Hannah in pink, and Sophie in blue).

Grandma Kage and Sophie.

Grandpa Kage spoiling Emi and Emi loving every bit of it.

Stick 'em up!!! Hannah on left and Sophie on the right taken today on their morning nap in the playpen. Thank you grandpa Kage for the warm onesies!

The weather has been unpredictable, so there are days where it is really stuffy and hot and other days where it's cold (at least for us Hawaii peeps). I didn't buy any winter baby clothes as it wasn't in season when I was out and about, so yes I have an excuse to go out sometime and do some shopping! :)