Baby B's Daddy Time....

Daddy has to admit that as little as Baby B was at birth holding her was a little scary. At the same time a little fascinating because of how perfect everything was though it was just a little smaller.

Today, B was really awake in the morning so Daddy took a little Baby B time.

Puffy Cheeks on Baby B

And a little double chin as well.

It really is refreshing to see how she is filling out. At birth B's arms and legs were so skinny but today, 22 days in, they are fill out nicely.

Just for comparison B's hand and Daddy's thumb.

Stretch the fingers.

Grab the thumb.

It's the third week so tummy time begins but first tummy on daddy's tummy time.

Just like a bear skin rug

This is the life

B's toes were perfect.

B's feet/toes versus Daddy's hand

Běnmìng Nián - I hear horses...

Běnmìng Nián or "Year of Birth"

You were born on March 7, 2014 in the Chinese year of the Wood Horse.

From Travel China Guide the Horse is described as:

The spirit of the horse is recognized to be the Chinese people's ethos – making unremitting efforts to improve themselves. It is energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able. Ancient people liked to designate an able person as 'Qianli Ma', a horse that covers a thousand li a day (one li equals 500 meters).

Daddy is a Metal Ox and mommy is an Earth Rooster

The Ox is described as:

Ranked as the second zodiac, the ox is huge. In life, people often used it to indicate something big in size or large in number. It is persistent, simple, honest, and straightforward.

While the Rooster is:

The rooster is almost the epitome of fidelity and punctuality. For ancestors who had no alarm clocks, the rooster's crowing was significant, as it could awaken people to get up and start to work. Another symbolic meaning this creature carries is exorcising evil spirits. People used to worship ancestors and believed in fortune telling for a long time.

In Chinese Astrology the Horse and Ox are not compatible since the Horse is a big fast animal and the Ox is a big slow one. However, daddy likes that you two are supposed to run fast and far. The Horse and Rooster are neutral in compatibility but since the description of the Rooster above is only half true about mommy (she isn't punctual), though mommy is motivated, daddy sees mommy motivating you and then daddy telling you to run with it.

The Wu Xing or Five Elements show how people interact with each other.

Each element generates another element, for example Earth bears Metal, which means mommy is mothering to daddy. Metal generates Water which nourishes Wood, so indirectly daddy generates and nourishes you. Wood feeds Fire which creates Earth so in effect, you indirectly create or give mommy the reason to bloom and live.

The elements also overcome other elements. Metal chops Wood and Wood breaks up Earth. Overcome can mean "to destroy" but it also means "have dominion over". This means that daddy will rule over you but mommy will probably give in.

What does this all mean?

Listen to daddy, he is always right.  (Especially if you want a horse).

Babies Day 18

Day - 12 (Last Week)

It was pediatrician day for both babies.

Their doctor is a Monty Python and old school Woody Allen fan. :)

A you were up to 5 pounds, 8 ounces and are an inch taller, while B you were up to 4 pounds, 4 ounces and are a 1/2 inch taller.

A, good and bad news for you, you are under going your first hormonal changes (good news) and you are developing a little baby acne (bad news, we all know what girls think about acne). Daddy is sorry about the acne but that will clear up in about a month. The doctor explained that these hormonal changes are the kick-starters to the changes that will happen later in your life, if they don't happen now neither will the later ones.

Day 18 -

Since daddy wrote that on Day 12, the routine is getting better. Mommy and daddy are finding out that somethings the hospital did worked well there but not at home with two babies at the same time. Meanwhile Baby A you are turning into a night person, you like to stay up for a few hours every night at some time between 2 and 6 AM. Full of energy, eyes wide open, and afraid of the dark. Your sister, Baby B, mixes it up by being a day person.

Mommy is an amazing trooper through all of this and while you can tell she is adjusting to a 2-hour sleep cycle and she still is beautiful half asleep.

Feeding A on two hours of sleep.

The amazing this is how much you two have grown and how your personality is changing. Your day 1 photo and your day 16 photos show much bigger and more active girls.

Baby A - Day 1 

Baby A - Day 16

Baby B - Day 1

Baby B - Day 16

In the hospital, the nurses were happy when either one of you ate 20 ml (or 2/3 ounces) of formula. Daddy is mixing up 150 ml and 100 ml for Baby A and Baby B, respectively, now.

Daddy is going to have the time of his life on his hands.

Letters from Grandma Lǎolǎo and Grandpa Lǎoye

In the country where your mommy is from your Grandpa Lǎoye, Grandma Lǎolǎo  Aunt G, Uncle W, and Cousin Z all celebrated your arrival. They sent you photos from your birthday party and Grandma Lǎolǎo sent mommy and daddy a lovely handwritten letter (which daddy can't read) welcoming you and giving mommy and daddy some advice.

Aunt G and Uncle W - with celebration cake.

Cousin Z and Uncle W

Grandpa Lǎoye

Grandma Lǎolǎo

While I can only read a few words, I love the hand writing and will be saving all the letters from Grandma Lǎolǎo

Letter from Grandma Lǎolǎo

Aunt MM comes to town....

This past week Aunt MM came to town to help mommy and daddy and meet Marvel and Max. Aunt MM is one of many relatives you two have.

There is Uncle G/Aunt D, Aunt MR/Uncle J, Aunt MM/Uncle R, Uncle J/Aunt L, Uncle D/Aunt C and Aunt A all on daddy's side of the family and on mommy's side Aunt G/Uncle W. However, Aunties and Uncles are another blog entry all together.

Aunt MM got to feed you, hold you, change you and even made mommy and daddy dinner and helped around the house.

Aunt MM and Baby B

Aunt MM and Baby B - Dinner time is any time.

Aunt MM also brought gifts of nuts, yes nuts Almonds and Walnuts, and a nice rocker that Baby A has enjoyed.

Baby B and Baby A in shower gifts.

However, between all the help Aunt MM got to enjoy some of the local food.

Aunt MM enjoy a Cuban Sandwich. 

Aunt MR asked Aunt MM to take a picture of daddy holding both babies, and Aunt MM got in the act as well.

Daddy's tired look holding Baby A and Baby B just after their dinner time

Aunt MM with Baby B and Baby A

And when Aunt MM left she left you a present from your Cousin K, one of the many cousins you have as well.

Giving Thanks...

The two week anniversary of your arrival is upon us and daddy is thinking of all the wonderful help already received.

Starting with Mr. E., daddy's best man, who did an awesome unspoken favor when mommy was in need of some help.

Passing through mommy's colleagues D and Y who threw an awesome baby shower. And daddy's colleagues who threw a baby shower for him as well.

Then there is Mr. Y, another of daddy's colleagues who makes his job a little easier.

Aunt M, who visited, held, comforted, and fed you.

And the neighbors who took care of Marvel and Max while mommy and daddy were in the hospital, and the neighbors who gave us diapers.

Daddy's former students with twins who sent you even more clothing.

Mommy's post-doc who brought us some Chinese comfort food on a regular basis.

All the doctor's and nurses who helped with the first 11 days. Our pastor who blessed both of you at the hospital.

The countless number of people in prayer chains lead by your aunts who prayed for mommy while she was going through various types of morning sickness, and for you to get strong and healthy.

Mommy's family and friends for their wonderful gifts and prayers.

And I know I forgot many including cousin K, who will be arriving soon to help take care of you.

To all of you and many more, Daddy and Mommy both thank you.

Home Part 2

Baby B came home today and for the first time got to sleep together for little while.

The sister meet up once again.

Last night in the hospital we found out that B is a demanding one. When she wants to eat she let's everyone know it.

As daddy write this they are both laying in front of him, A is quietly sleeping and B is full of energy with arms and legs in a nonstop motion. B was fully awake the first time daddy saw her and mommy mentioned that in the early evening, like it is right now, someone was always kicking inside of her, we now know for sure that B is the traveler.

So a few videos, the light is a little low but here they are....




And we can all tell the B will be picking on her bigger sister.




And the really great news is that B weighs a little more than  4 pounds 1 ounce. First trip to pediatrician tomorrow morning.

Quick Update

Both A and B are doing very well.

A is waking up every 2.5 to 3 hours for food and is more alert every day.

B passed her hearing test, her car seat test, and latest official weight was 3 pounds, 15.3 ounces. She is coming home on Tuesday.

We decided to use the cheaper car seats the hospital gave us for free because they fit the little ones better. When they get a couple more pounds we will use the "fancy" ones we bought.

Daddy found a place we can rent the hospital model of the Medela Symphony breast pump for $65 a month. Even though the ACA (Affordable Care Act) got us a breast pump for free the $65 a month is money well spent.

Our church sent over this nice bouquet of flowers today.

Max smelling the flowers

Baby B - Some favorite photos.

So Baby B is coming home on Tuesday, even though you still weigh less than 4 pounds, and since you were in a big blue box for the first week of your life it was hard to get a lot of really good photos.

However, B you are living up to your name, you are wide eyed and alert, you are a fighter, you are stronger, and you are a bringer of joy. Your name means a voyager through life and even at this point in your young life, daddy sees you on top of mountains and scuba diving with whales. So B, these are for you...

Daddy loves the peaceful smile.

Who is this strange man holding me?

I love to sleep, especially on daddy

This is the life

YouTube site...

My good friend and blogging contributor, Keyloy Alawzhou, set up a "YouTube" page for my videos.

So if you prefer to view on YouTube a better resolution of the videos just click on the name: Keyloy Alawzhou

All the videos posted in the blog will end up there and as well as others that I don't want to fill the blog with.

The immediate family will understand where Keyloy came from. :)

Visiting B and she is coming home (soon)....

Mommy, daddy, and A packed up and headed to the hospital. A little bluegrass on the radio and a comfy carseat and A crashed for the ride.

B is out of the big blue box and looking great.

B napping on daddy's arm

She has eye lashes all the other girls will be jealous of...

B's eye-lashes

And she likes kitties, actually, look at those eyes!

We were told to make an appointment with our pediatrician for B for Tuesday because she is coming home on Monday. However, we asked if we could delay that till Tuesday noon since mommy has an appointment that morning at the same hospital. So B is coming home Tuesday afternoon.

Baby Monitor, who needs one...

...yes who needs a Baby Monitor when you have a Max? As the video shows...

...Max is a nurse dog.

Happy Dog

When Baby A is out of our room we know it and whenever she cries we know it. Max has finally settled down enough that he doesn't cry the entire night because we don't let sleep in the same room as us. The first night every time she cried we knew from the dog alarm on the other side of the house.

Caring Dog

Oh Marvel, the other dog, he is out hunting squirrels. He does pay some interest but responds very little to her activities and sounds. Daddies first thought was that they would be aggressive, not this nurse maid response Max is showing.

isee3dtoo's photostream

isee3dtoo's photostream on Flickr.

Just another way of sharing photos.

The 7th Day Part II

"The one you love is closer than you think."

Chinese Fortune Cookie

Baby A you are sleeping better and getting bigger. Every time you make a sound Max comes over to see what is happening and will be your protector.

A, getting ready to go to sleep.

A, a little more swaddling.

Mommy and daddy are working hard on getting your sister more and more food from mommy. Today daddy delivered B the largest dinner from mommy so far. The air temperature in B's blue box is now at 28 C, B's goal temperature. In 24 hours mommy and daddy hope to see B out of the blue box in a bassinet. B, you are one ounce above your birthweight and another day close to home.

The 7th Day Part I

The 7th Day - Part I

"Nothing is impossible to a willing heart"

Chinese Fortune Cookie

Babies today is your 7th day out...

Mommy and daddy took a baby CPR class yesterday and all three of us stopped by to visit Baby B. The air temperature in B's big blue box was lowered to 29.5 and daddy saw that her weight was over her birthweight.

Road Trip

We met this nice old Dutch lady who was feeding B for us and she just fell in love with both of your names. Since the girls are so small it is really hard for B and her sister to breast feed properly. When daddy mentioned this to the old Dutch lady she said we needed a "nipple shield" and went and got us a couple. Mommy and daddy have talked with nurse after nurse and lactation expert after expert but the wisdom of a little old Dutch lady ruled over them all.

Another dinner for Baby B

Baby A you paid the at-home pediatrician your first visit today and you did great. Your weight was 4 pounds 14 ounces and you have gained 2 ounces over your birthweight. We got your height measured at 19 inches. (Daddy thinks Baby B was 17 inches tall but the numbers were never written down for us at the hospital.)

Max is going crazy over Baby A...  (a future blog entry)

The 7th Day - Part II

Home Part 1

Mommy and Daddy spent the first half of the day in the hospital getting ready to take Baby A home. Both of us wanted to get home just to sleep but we were sad to leave Baby B behind. Mommy worked on getting pumping down so B would have real food and both mommy and daddy have to go back to the hospital tomorrow for baby CPR and preemie health care classes.

First daddy, changed Baby A and after feeding time closed his eyes in a little skin on skin contact time. Amazingly you can't really go to sleep because you have the constant fear of letting baby slide off. You can't see daddy's hands but they are not far away, in fact, one is touching.

Skin on skin with Baby A

Daddy asked a nurse to take the below picture when he realized how cute it was.

Baby A, my little football.

Before we left we all played a visit to Baby B in the NICU. One time of feeding and time for sisters to say hello. We found out you are doing great B and are back to birth weight.

Baby B and Baby A.

Sister Time

Two little footballs.

Sister Time

On the drive home, A, you got your first taste of classic bluegrass for the entire ride home and you seemed to enjoy it.

And when we got home Max became the guardian, he so much wants to visit your bedroom. We let Max and Marvel both have a long doggy sniff and Max got so excited, he tried to climb into the crib.

Max guarding the door.