Six Months later.....

It's been six and half months since we've become a family of 5, since I've been a stay at home mum with newborn twins and a 2 year old. They say time flies when you're having fun and yes time has flown and it has been fun but not without its ups and downs.

I remember some of the early challenges we had when we bought the twins home.  Firstly, we had just moved into a new place one month before the twins were born so there was still unpacking and sorting to do (there still is as we are still looking for 'time' to finish it!) Secondly, Lucas was born with a right club foot (where the foot is turned inwards) so we had weekly hospital plaster appointments for the first 8 week weeks of of his life to straighten his foot and that was on top of helping Keira adjust to her new baby siblings as well as us trying to adjust the demands of two newborns ourselves.

The most difficult thing for me was when they were both crying I didn't know who to pick up first and when I held one, I felt like I was chosing one over the other even though I wasn't. The first few days were heartbreaking for me as all newborn babies deserve and demand a parents full and undivided attention - at least for the first weeks of their lives and our twins had to share ours. I tried to take turns or held the one I thought would be the hungriest etc. I always wished (and still do) that I had an extra pair of arms to hold all three of my babies. It was worst when Keira was crying too and sadly most times she ended up being the last one I tended too (unless it was an emergency). There were times when she was upset she'll just bypass me altogether and go to her father because she knew that most times when she came up to me I would be holding a baby or two in my arms. Yes - lots of adjusting for all of us! There were some days when they would just be a blur - it seemed like it was going slowly but by the end of it I felt like it went by so quickly yet nothing seemed to be done.

After a month, the twins started to adjust to their new world and us with them in ours. I was up a lot during the night - as I would feed one, put baby down, go to sleep and a few mins later the other baby would wake up wanting their feed.  Damo was up to holding the other crying baby or helping me with putting the two babies on me to nurse and then taking them off as they started to get heavier for me to do it. Sleep was a luxury. I really wanted to train the twins to sleep in their cot from day 1 but it only lasted a few weeks as in the end it was just easier for me to sleep in between both and turn to nurse on demand. It's not the ideal solution but I got more sleep, the twins were really happy to be fed straight away, they cried less as they both loved being close to me and overall a happier household. I know people advise against co - sleeping and it can be seen as the lazy way out to parenting but to be honest I really enjoyed it with Keira and I enjoy it with the twins.  I love the cuddliness and closeness of my babies. I love watching them fall asleep and even when they are asleep - I just love watching them, smelling them, kissing their beautiful little features and baby smooth skin, always marvelling at their perfection and that I am their mother. I'm fortunate that I am a light sleeper so I can do that but I am hoping that they will be happy to sleep in their own bedroom when I stop breastfeeding. It may seem like wishful thinking but I am an optimist!

Being an optimistic person is what made me get through the first six months. Yes, there were (many) tough days but luckily I would only be upset or stressed for a few hours after which I would assess the situation or life in general, look on the brighter side and get over it. That is one of my good traits - the ability to always be positive and move on when faced with challenges. I'm no where near the mother/ wife/ person I want to be. I have definitely learnt and grown up so much as a mother, a wife and a person. I still do everyday and always strive to be better and the best I can be.  

No matter how tough and challenging it was or it can be - I am always grateful because I think I had a pretty good first six months. I am so grateful that I had a trouble free pregnancy, a safe delivery of two healthy babies, plenty of breastmilk to nurse both twins, a loving husband/ father and plenty of support from our extended family.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't let my Heavenly Father know how grateful I am for the many blessings He has bestowed unto me and especially for entrusting me with these three precious babies.

Six and a half months on - we still don't have the perfect schedule, our days can still be hectic, chaotic and crazy, our home is still not fully sorted, the house is almost always messy and hard to keep clean, socks are always missing their pairs and Keira is starting to write on the walls but we are slowly adjusting to our little party of 5 and we all healthy and happy!

I thought the the first six months would be the hardest but thinking of the next phase of our lives which will include weaning, teething, solids, crawling, toilet training Keira and my return to work - it makes the first six months look easy when the babies just ate, slept and pooed! However, the ever optimistic person in me says Bring it on! (with a smile :) )

Our little family when the twins were 3 months - Gees we look tired but happy :)

Mother's Day 2012

This Mother's Day I am so grateful to be a Mother of 3 beautiful and healthy children. Last year I was a mummy to 1 and I love saying that I have children instead of a child as I've always wanted more than one and we were so blessed to add another two babies at the same time :)

I remember the first time I ever found out I was going to be a mum through a positive pregnancy test - I ran out the bathroom to Damien, and gave him a hug and just cried - tears of shock and absolute joy. I always try to remember that feeling when I experience the 'challenging' days when there are is non stop crying, tantrums and sore shoulders to remind me how much I wanted to be a mother.

I am also grateful to be able to share this day with my own beautiful mother who is the best mother anyone can ask for. She loves her children and grand children unconditionally and will do anything for us. There are times when I don't know what I'll do without my mother! She is such a great example to me and I wish that one day my children will feel and know how much I love them as much as I do with my own mother.

Mother's Day is a when you celebrate your mother (which I did) and seeing as my children are too young to spoil me with gifts and acts of love - I celebrated being their mother but then this when the husband steps in right? I'm grateful that he took us to a family dinner the night before to one of my fave buffets - Sizzlers followed by making a delicious breakfast on Mother's Day. I think he also mentioned taking me to a massage I really want (need) which I will eventually hold him to but until then I can't complain as I really had a blessed day :) xo

Family photo @ Sizzlers for our family Mother's Day dinner

Mother's Day breakfast of croissants, blueberry pancakes and fresh juice made by hubby :)

Choosing my new glasses

The picture below of my new Alex Perry glasses prompted me to write the story of how I got them.

A few weeks ago Damien had a day off on a Thursday so we all went late night shopping to get some new glasses and make the most of our health cover with Medibank. Spec Savers has a 2 for 1 offer which we got last year so we decided to go back there again. It's always a feat going out with all three kids especially if they need to be nappy changed or the babies need nursing so we always try to make our family shopping trip as short as possible so that it can be an 'enjoyable' family outing. We booked an appointment with Spec Savers for an hour's time and then we had dinner in the food court. It was then that I started to feel unwell with a looming headache. We went back to Spec Savers and I was alone with the three kids while Damien went to get his eyes re-tested. I didn't need to do mine as my last eye test one was done within a year. The kids were all well behaved and I went about looking for my pair of glasses. The sales assistant Leo kept on disapproving of my choices - they were too round , too heavy for my face or didn't sit on the bridge of nose properly etc etc. I know he was just doing his job and at first I liked his honest opinion but I just wanted it to be over with already when my headache started to pound a little more loudly. All of a sudden one of the twins started crying which set the other one off and Keira got bored of the iphone and started to touch things and my headache was getting worst by the minute. Damien came out and he started to look for his pair of glasses and after a few minutes of pain - my headache started to become unbearable and all I wanted to do was go home and lie down. So, I told Leo to choose which ever glasses he thought would suit me. He gave me 4, I tried them on, hardly looking in the mirror and told him to choose whichever 2 he thought looked best. 'We' chose two Alex Perry glasses - one for everyday wear and one with a bit of bling for going out. Poor Damien also ended up quickly choosing one with Leo's approval and just ordered the same kind but one as sunglasses for his second pair. We finally went home, I took a panadol and went straight to sleep with the babies.


A few days later Spec Savers called to say that our glasses were ready for pick up. I was a little nervous as I had little recollection of the glasses I had 'chosen' and I hoped that Leo had made the right decision on my behalf. When I saw them I was very pleasantly suprised that they both looked good and when I tried them on, I was relieved that they actually looked decent on me. Damien was also really happy with his new glasses as well. Phew! Thanks Leo! It's heartening to know that there are sales people out there who actually care about their customers and do a great job :)

When we became a family of 5

On 1 December 2011, our family became complete when our beautiful twins Montana Rose Boavida Asekona and Lucas Orlando Halo Boavida Asekona were born. With big sister Keira Olandina Boavida Asekona who had just turned 2 a few days before, we became a family of 5! Wow, what a blessing to have delievered two healthy twin babies and to have 3 beautiful children. They really are  a blessing and what a dream come true to have a little family of my own.

This is the twins announcement card with all the details of their birth. The card was designed by the photographer Nikki @ Virtual Memories Photography as a part of a newborn photoshoot Christmas present from Aunty Flavia, Aunty Tildy and Aunty Lia xo

Our first family picture as a family of 5. This was taken the day after I gave birth via c-section hence why I look a little dazed out. I'm holding  our newborn son Lucas. Daddy Damien looks really proud holding our newborn daughter Montana (there were 3 people taking photos of us) and Keira looks disinterested. That was her initial reaction to meeting the twins - she kind of ignored them until about Day 3 when she finally touched them.