Now vs. Then

Recently DH and I are always saying how much easier the twins are and we are consistently saying "remember when?". So...thought it'd be fun to write some of these down. Maybe it'll help those still in the thick of things!

Now - Both boys are ALWAYS in bed by 6pm. DH and I now have our evenings back. We have dinner together and can read, watch TV or just chat. So, so nice!
Then - Daniel was always pretty good but BEN! Those first few months were horrible. He was routinely up til after midnight (very colicky) and sometimes wouldn't fall asleep til 2 am or even later. We hated that we had no time to ourselves and just kept saying "we want our evenings back!".

Now - My boys love their stroller and are very content for an hour or two (as long as we're moving and they have a toy to chew on.
Then - I couldn't even go to Target with them. After 10 minutes or so, they would both start crying. They just hated being in their infant carseats and I would have to "throw" them back in the car and go home.

Now - Daniel LOVES his bottle and is starting to try and hold it himself.
Then - Feeding time was at least an hour struggle to get Daniel to eat. And if I did manage to get a few ounces into him, he'd just throw it up and we'd have to start all over again. I think I cried every time.

OK...I think that's enough for me.

Cary

 

This is a great topic!

Now - It's pretty easy taking babies places .
Then - They would get fussy and cry many times when we took them places.

Now - Our babies have been going to bed at 7pm for months
Then - We had barely a minute to ourselves!

 

Great topic!

Now - DH and I are both home every night (when he's not on the night shift) - and both babies sleep 11 - 12.5 hours straight with no wake ups! And we appreciate the sleep SO MUCH!
Then - DH was in the police academy and had to live there during the week - I had to feed 2 babies every 3 hours around the clock, 6 am, 9 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, 6 pm, 9 pm, midnight, 3 am and 6 am. That was so hard!! I stayed at my parents house a lot or my mom would stay here with me but she couldn't wake up in the night b/c she had to work.

Now - we have a good regular but flexible routine down that we follow every day that gives me time for myself each day!
Then - we were constantly changing and just trying to make it through the day! Pretty much in survival mode.

Now - Babies are such a joy to be around, their individual personalities come out more and more every day and I know them so well that when they cry I usually know the reason.
Then - They were cute as can be, but it was a guessing game whenever they cried (and sometimes there just was no reason at all!)

Now - everyone wants to babysit and have the babies spend the night at their house! So I get even more time for myself! I feel like I have to limit the amount of times the girls can spend the night out each week b/c I actually don't sleep as well if they aren't in the house!
Then - I think everyone was scared to keep them at their house b/c they were so small and felt like they were out numbered by 2 babies in the event they both started to cry at the same time.

 

Then: The girls had little routine those first 3 months. What ever worked was my moto then.

Now: at 4 months on the girls are great sleepers, naps are great and mom is so much happier


Then: I held them all day long, it would seem my butt was part of the couch. I loved them but wow my butt got big.

Now: They play so well and I love watching them enjoy their toys. I miss holding them all the time.


Heather

 

Great topic:

Then: Luke could not tolerate sitting in a dirty diaper. It was instant meltdown.
Now: Luke wallows in his filth just like his sister does.

Then: Naps were 20 minutes
Now: Naps are at least an hour

Then: They were quiet
Now: They babble,screech, and giggle. I love it!

 

Then: I worried about them getting flat heads from lying around so much.
Now: I worry about what they'll be getting into next.

Then: I was a slave to the pump.
Now: I'm a slave to Similac powder which messes up my countertops!

Man I'm negative today! Let me try another one!

Then: The longest I slept was 3 hours.
Now: I can count on at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep(most night anyways).

 

QUOTE
Then: Luke could not tolerate sitting in a dirty diaper. It was instant meltdown.


Jake was the same way, as soon as he pooped he'd want it changed right away. Josh could care less.

Then: Waking up every 3 hours and trying to feed them by myself one at a time (ff).

Now: I am a pro with feeding both of them at the same time. Gotta love the boppy!!

Then: No schedule, just living for their next nap so I could nap.

Now: After reading HSHHC, they now get up at 6:30, nap at 8:30, 3 hour afternoon nap and in bed by 6:30. We have the entire night to ourselves. :a_smil09:

Then: Afraid to go out with them.

Now: I take them everywhere and can get them in and out of the car in seconds flat.

 

I like this topic!!

Now: we get all around town and if the babies are grumpy I take them out because they like it
Then: I used to run red lights because god forbid if the car stopped moving for a minute DD would scream her head off.

Now: each baby gets a snuggle and goodnight kiss and then babbles themselves to sleep.
Then: the bedtime routine took hours with lots of crying, rocking, and butt patting.

Now: we can stay in a flexible routine that adjusts to the days activities
Then: I was a slave to the schedule making sure we were home for every single nap.

but I have to throw this in:

Then: I got lots and lots of cuddles with a newborn that would nestle in as close as they could get
Now: I have two babies that are too busy for anything but the occasional hug and kiss.

 

QUOTE(SMiLeD @ Jul 2 2008, 09:13 AM) [snapback]856536[/snapback]
Then: I got lots and lots of cuddles with a newborn that would nestle in as close as they could get
Now: I have two babies that are too busy for anything but the occasional hug and kiss.


yep...same here. Hardly any cuddles anymore

 

Cute topic! Mine are a bit young to compare yet, but I enjoyed reading everyone elses stuff!

 

Then - I was happy if I got 2 hours of uninterrupted sleep
Now - I get cranky if I get less than 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Then - Everything was a blur, all the days kind of molded together.
Now - I see differences everyday.

Then - I stayed home with my babies, and loved being with them 24/7
Now - I work, and miss my babies terribly.

 

Now: I get to take a shower EVERY day!!
Then: Getting a shower was a luxury

Now: I am totally comfortable having both of them by myself alone for 48+ hours at a time
Then: I would get super anxious about being alone with both of them, even borderline panic attacks

Now: They play and laugh and have fun
Then: They would eat, sleep and poop and don't forget Cry!

Now: Bedtime is a breeze
Then: The bedtime battle would take hours, and often result in many tears on my end

Now: They LOVE Bathtime
Then: They Hated Bathtime

 

QUOTE(twinmuffin @ Jul 2 2008, 12:00 PM) [snapback]856771[/snapback]
Then - I was happy if I got 2 hours of uninterrupted sleep
Now - I get cranky if I get less than 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.


Isn't that the truth, funny how the definition of a GOOD night changes!

 

THEN: i was lucky if i got 3 hours of un-interrupted sleep
NOW: i know get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep (even gave up that nighttime pump)

THEN: "party time" from 8Pm - 4am we had no idea what was going on, but they'd just cry and fuss thru this whole time. we'd take them on drives at 2am to get them to sleep
NOW: that is long gone!

THEN: no schedule, eating all day, sometimes i would just sit in the same spot all day feeding babies
NOW: we are on schedule, and take 4 bottles a day, and my butt is not stuck to the floor hehe

THEN: i was TERRIFIED of being alone with them
NOW: i love my time with my girls.

THEN: they'd just lie there and stare at you like, "what now, mom? how are you going to try to entertain me now?"
NOW: they entertain themselves, and play and crawl and laugh and squeal and i love to watch them!"

THEN: i would think, "is this going to get better?"
NOW: i think, "wow, time flew, and things get better all the time!"

 

One month ago I was still in the 'dark period' as DH and I call it Now I have so much to share!!

Then: We didn't eat dinner together for months b/c we were soothing them sometimes past midnight
Now: We eat together, after they are in bed (by 7)

Then: My DS cried almost all his waking hours
Now: My DS does nothing but smile and laugh

Then: In their sleep log, I give -, +, ok, or ++ for how good their night was. Sleeping 4 2-hour blocks each night received a +!!!!!!
Now: They have STTN 3 times, and waking up once to eat gets a +

Then: I was nervous taking them on a walk because someone might start screaming
Now: I can take them all sorts of places and they're generally happy

Then: Day and night blurred into one, days blurred into weeks
Now: I know the day of the week and even make plans