Seven Month Old Fraternal Twins: Don't Give Up Hope

My sons are closing in on the eight-month mark. They are smiling, laughing, chatty little creatures who can crawl and roll and bring me more joy than I thought possible. They can also drive me nuts.
Case in point, they started waking up an hour earlier than usual.
Now, I want to get one thing clear. I understand some women have babies (or a baby) who don't sleep through the night for a long time. My sister complained her youngest didn't sleep through the night (I don't mean a five-hour stretch, I mean through the night) until she was a year old. Although I feel bad for parents who are still being woken up in the night, I have my own fish to fry. I have a hard time remembering things could be worse when I am tired and grouchy at 5 a.m. I don't see anything wrong with this. Over the past seven, almost eight, months I changed dramatically but that's one area I won't change.
My sons were sleeping from about 6:30-7 p.m. (sometimes 7:30) until 6 a.m. (we even had a 6:30 a.m. once!) I'd rather wake up naturally when my body decides I've rested long enough but I'll take the 6 a.m. because ... well ... I have to take it because it's my life. Over the past few days the boys started waking at 5 a.m. Nothing in their lives changed within the past few days.
Insert baby guessing game.
Instead of months ago when I was dealing with a colicy baby, the question moves from, "Why is my baby crying?" to "Why is my baby waking up earlier?" Growth spurt? Need more food? One baby is waking the other up? Karma for being a sarcastic smart ass? Why? Why? Why?
Thank God for sixth grade when I learned the scientific method. Before I freak out and give up let's take a moment and think. It's easy to react without thinking but I've learned when it comes to babies, it's smart to take a moment and think things through.
My children eat every three hours. When they wake up they're offered 8 ounces of formula and sometimes don't drink it all. Every three hours they are offered food, with a vegetable, fruit and oatmeal offered three times a day. How do I know this? I am a stay-at-home mom and am the one doing the offering. They go down for a nap in their cribs after being awake for two hours. Every night at 6 p.m. they are given a bath and their last food of the day before it's bedtime for Bonzo(s). Schedule, schedule, schedule!
So, I don't want to make a rookie mistake and change something dramatic right now. The only thing I can figure is they are hungry, hence the waking up earlier to feed. Instead of three spoonfuls of each food three times a day I am upping it to four. If that's too much then they won't eat as much formula. Now, my sister who I sometimes thinks believes she is Mother Nature in human form, advised me you don't really need to feed them baby food until they are a year old, breast is best. She don't have twins so me no care. My babies are off the charts for size and weight so they need more than formula and the food helps my spitter-upper not spit up so much.
We will see how it goes today and tomorrow morning with the extra food. All you can do is think things through and hope for the best!

Seven Month Old Twins: To Drink Or Not To Drink, That Is The Question

I am a stay-at-home mother of seven month old twins. After putting my babies to bed around 7-7:30, a drink sounds good. It sounds really good. Alas, I don't often partake because it doesn't help.
At the beginning of my pregnancy I missed alcohol. I was a bit of a weekend wino pre-baby and the thought of no alcohol for nine months was daunting. However, after a few months my cravings went from Pinot Noir to food, food, food. I was interested in eating and sleeping.
After giving birth to twins last October - I still find this hard to believe - I had a beer once after breastfeeding and it did not help my post partum depression, which I wasn't aware I was suffering from. After dealing with my issues, with the help of a supportive family and Zoloft, I was back sans anti-depressants but with a taste for Chardonnay. I had a glass or two every night. It was helpful for the hour or so I consumed them, especially after long days, but wasn't so helpful afterwards when my sleep was affected.
In an attempt to support my weight loss regime, I switched from wine to vodka tonics. I didn't think I could go without alcohol because being a mother of twins is the hardest thing I have ever done. Again, same scenario. Helped me relax for an hour or two but then it didn't help my sleep.
Now, here I sit in the land of Live-And-Learn-Twin-Parenting and I don't drink during the week. Yes, I'm still tired in the morning but I try to get out for a walk with the boys or a run solo to help my stress level. I know it's better for me and better for the boys. On the weekend I might have one or two drinks a night but that's about my limit. Sometimes I slip up and have a drink during the week but it isn't often.
The mix of drinking and parenting is similar to parenting itself. My children are different from your children and I need to find out, often the hard way, what works for them. Some mothers have a glass or two of booze a night and it helps them. That's great! I'm happy for all the good mamas out there getting time to relax because we deserve it! Some mothers don't partake. That's great too! To each their own but think about what's best for you and best for your child.
Yes, I could use a drink right now but instead I'm going to bed. The boys and I went for a 5-mile walk today and I feel pretty good. Do I feel great? No! I'm a stay-at-home mom of twin babies who are on the move. However, I feel OK and that works for me!
I'm sure in a few months or a year I will return to a glass of wine a night, when things aren't as stressful. Key word is as because it will always be stressful. However, right now the boys need my full and undivided attention and often need me during the night once or twice. It's hard to believe, and especially hard to remember, they are changing every day. They will one day, sooner than later, play together and not need me to constantly feed, burp, soothe and keep them from danger. Mind boggling.

Seven Month Old Fraternal Twin Boys: Blame Everything On Teething

I don't know how many weeks old my sons are and months are easier than weeks so ... they are between seven and eight months. Good enough? Better be because I'm tired. I go to bed before 10 p.m. and typically wake up around 6 a.m. with the help of Melatonin and Calms Forte (google it because it rocks) yet I am tired. Tired, tired, tired.
Taking care of twins is exhausting, no matter the age. Today they woke up at 7 a.m. but I still got up at 6-6:30ish (not a morning person so don't remember the time). I was restless until they arose because I knew they would get up soon and also wondered if they were dead because sleeping from 7:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. sounded too picture perfect to me. Alas they were asleep and I'm stressed out but I've learned it doesn't matter much how I'm feeling because two babies still need food, love, attention and structure.
So, downstairs we went for food, play, nap, repeat. They went to bed around 7 p.m. tonight after violently protesting me putting clothes on them after their bath. I don't know why but they don't like having clothes put on after their bath ... maybe because they know what's coming next (falling asleep on the bottle).
I noticed lately any time one of them fusses or seems tired or unhappy I blame it on teething. When I speak to my mother, my m-i-l or husband, they blame it on teething. Baby A has a temperature ... he's teething. Baby B is restless ... he's teething. Heaven forbid they actually have something else wrong with them because I will think it's teething!
It's comforting to believe it's teething because otherwise you'll go crazy trying to figure out what's wrong. The boys eat formula with pureed fruits, vegetables and oatmeal three times a day. They roll over and Baby B is trying to crawl. Instead of crawling he gets on all fours and hurls himself forward. Baby A is more Lieutenant Dan from "Goodwill Hunting" because he crawls forward as if his legs don't work.
Onward and upward!

Almost Seven Month Old Fraternal Twin Boys: Advice From Others, Do Your Thing Mama

My sons will be seven months old Thursday. It's been a wild ride and there's way off. Pessimistic? Probably. It's OK to not be happy-go-lucky June Cleaver-ish. I tried to be Super Homemaker and ended up partially insane but with a clean home and semi-happy babies. Now I'm going for a mix of June Cleaver and Peg Bundy (Katey Sagal never ages!). I will clean, make meals and take care of my children while enjoying the Bon Bons of the world from time to time. Some days the house will be cleaner than others and that's OK.
I love my boys. I can't describe the feeling when they see my face and smile, to watch them grow and learn new things (Baby B is attempting to crawl, aka hurl his body forward while on all fours), to listen to them babble as if I understood their sounds ... it's amazing and draining.
My last post brought criticism. It was suggested I eat well and sleep more because my health is more important than checking e-mails and writing updates. Whoa lady, back your truck up because I don't agree.
I eat healthy - I weigh my food and only eat lean protein, fruits, vegetables, nuts and grain. I have a couple cheat meals on the weekend. I get in bed around 8:30-9 p.m. every night after taking a Melatonin and my babies typically sleep until 6 a.m. I only have a couple drinks on the weekend. I drink 3-4 cups of coffee a day. I'm tired most of the time because twin childcare is exhausting.
However, all you mamas out there, listen up! It's important to sneak in time for yourself throughout the day. Do things you enjoy! I check my e-mail a few times, possibly Facebook, watch trashy TV (I watch "Days Of Our Lives"), and play Scramble With Friends. I write blog entries to help twin moms because I felt very alone while pregnant and during the first few months but also to vent my frustrations.
I know to many people I am and will be for many years to come Baby A and Baby B's mom but to my friends and family I am me. I handle stress the same way and enjoy the same things as before I have my boys. Am I supposed to ignore that and eat, sleep, breath twins? How is that healthy? It's important to have something to enjoy when the babies are napping or sleeping or are content. It keeps you sane.
I'm never going to be June Cleaver. My hobbies won't be needlepoint, cake decorating and arranging tea roses and I won't wear elegant outfits with perfect hair and makeup while serving my family extravagant dinners in a spotless dining room. I don't want to be her. I will make meals for my family and take care of the home but I won't let it consume my life. Happy mommy, happy babies!