Should I still take my turn?

I love this picture because these were supposed to be the boys "coming home hats" that finally now fit them as summer is beginning. At least we can say we got to use them on a cold day at the end of May!!! Don't they look like cone heads :) ?(Aiden - L, Chris - R)

Chris looking relaxed and enjoying the dog days of summer.

Aiden with an innocent glow.

Although Mike technically took care of my regular mid-week post, it wouldn't feel right to skip a posting myself so I will keep it brief but write anyways :)

It must be getting old to hear me say that week after week we have had a great time, but it really holds true. In my post on Sunday night, I neglected to mention one VERY important landmark.... Friday night the boys went 6 hours between a nightly feeding and Saturday they went 7 1/2!!! It was short lived and we are back on a regular schedule of about 4 hours between feedings but what a treat that was! After 6 solid hours of sleep, I felt on top of the world and was able to start the day after our 4:45 am feeding and felt rested no less! We still remain on a 2 1/2 - 3 hour feeding schedule during the day but I finally feel like I am slowly beginning to get my life back as I am not feeding and pumping around the clock anymore. I am so thankful that I am still able to give the boys 100% breast milk. In all honesty, since the boys were given bottles and tube fed in the NICU, I was never able to nurse 100% of the time. They both got lazy after about 15 minutes of nursing so we always had to follow each session with a bottle of pumped milk... it was a round the clock job, or so it felt! Lately I have been nursing less and pumping more but it has given me so much flexibility and the boys are still getting the health benefits so I don't have to feel too guilty. I do try to sneak in a few nursing sessions each day but mostly for my own benefit of having some cuddle time! Pretty soon we will be able to start rice cereal.. well by "soon" I mean 2 months but with the way time is flying, I am confident it will feel like a matter of days.

Mike and I have been on a mission to try to beat the 7-9 pm witching hour for the boy. We are proud to say that we have been successful for the past 3 nights! For the past 2 nights we took the boys on a hour walk starting at 7 pm. It did us all a lot of good and the change of scenery seemed to coast us through the 7-8 pm hour. Tonight we rocked on our back porch, did baths and managed to distract with other activities until they were sleepy enough to be willing to lie down until they feel asleep... success! We are hopeful that this will only get better in time.

Yesterday the boys and I went to visit Leeanne for an early Bday surprise. The boys love their trips to Umass. We then headed to Belchertown for a cleaning appointment for myself. Dziadz watched the boys and had a great time. He is one proud grampa and after "showing" the boys off, he took them for a walk until I was done. We then headed back to their house for a feeding and a quick visit with GG Mimi. The boys were extremely talkative and smiley which is always a lot of fun. Later in the day, we went for a walk with Aunt Lynda through the center of town. The boys loved the fresh air and slept most of the time.

Today the boys met their friend Will Matthews for the first time. Our friend Jess was in the area visiting and came over to meet the boys. We had a great time and really enjoyed catching up.

That's it for now! So much for keeping it brief :)