I recently came upon a letter I had written to the good people at the hospital that helped bring Beth and Joshua into this world. It brought back such memories of what our lives used to be like with two babies and a toddler. I miss those days! I was delighted to read the way I described both of them. For one I felt pride that I was able to think of so many differences in the sleep deprived state that I must’ve been when I wrote the letter. Secondly, I could still describe them in very similar ways (tho Beth’s cheeks have mostly disappeared). My only regret is that I did not write a letter like that every few months. How fun it would’ve been to look back on those and share them with the kids when they’re older. I guess I could start now ..

But here it is, for you to read. It is dated December 31st, 2008

Happy New Year!
I know I promised an update of the babies by the end of the year ..just didn’t think I’d be cutting this close. Nevertheless I’m sure you’re happy to hear that they’re doing great. I can’t believe they’re already 4 months! It seems like time goes by so much faster the second time around you have a baby ..or maybe I’m just busier this time around and don’t have the opportunity to focus on their every accomplishment?
Joshua is a great sleeper!! I was totally prepared not to sleep well for the first 6 months (since that’s how it was with Nathan) but he was about 2.5months when he started sleeping 6hrs/night. Now he often times sleeps for 8hrs without eating (and I have one engorged breast in the morning). He loves to linger on the breast for as long as possible. And every single time (no matter how long it has been) he’s heartbroken when he has to unlatch. Beth on the other hand is very efficient and quick feeder. She also likes to nurse during night at least twice. She used to be the one who easily slept in until 9am while Joshua got up early and watched Nathan and I play. 2 weeks ago they switched parts. They also seem to have gone from being on a similar awake/sleep rhythm to completely opposite during last week. While I enjoy having more time with them individually I hope they get back on track soon. I usually tandem nurse them once or twice a day to try to set them ‘right’ but sometimes it doesn’t work. ..Joshua’s heart murmur is gone. Beth spits up SO much, all the time. Joshua is very relaxed and easy going. He smiles so big it makes us cry. He’s absolutely adorable (and we still consider him our most beautiful child). Beth is more social and seems happiest when she is part of ‘something’. She likes to be held facing the action, being carried around and being played with. Joshua is the opposite. He loves to curl up in a tiny ball in our arms and make him self ‘invisible’ in the hopes that we’ll ‘forget’ about him and never put him down. In the morning when we pick Beth up she immediately starts babbling and gesturing with her hands like she’s wanting to catch up from where we left off the night before. Just adorable! Her smile comes easily and is super cute, partly because her mouth is so tiny and she’s got big cheeks!
I think they are developing just fine even if they seem to be behind Nathan by quite a few weeks. And Joshua seems younger than Beth in many regards. But they are adorable!! And they are a lot of work!! Sometimes we’re not sure in which order!! We ‘specially love the times when they seem to cry for no apparent reason ☺ They feed off of each other. And it’s even more fun when Nathan freaks out and starts crying too. There have been couple times when I join them. But mostly they are a lot of fun.
My carpal tunnel is still bothering me and I seem to have muscle atrophy from it. I’ll be seeing a doctor about it in January. Completely suck ☹ but it could be much worse, at least I can change diapers now without loosing all the feeling in them … the endless amounts that we go through every day! So that’s about it. Thank you for the roles you played in getting the babies safely to this world. We are trying to do our very best in raising them.
Wishing you a wonderful year of 2009!

What kind of memories do you have from when the babies were young? Did you write down their milestones or is it all a blur? (I recently had to fill out paperwork about their development and drew a complete blank on too many questions .. felt like an awesome mom).

Hanna and her husband live around Boston with their still ‘adorable and lot of work’ 4 yr old twins and 5 yr old big brother. And they still think they’re mostly fun!