More Photos From The Vault: 4 Days Old

These photos are a little like our birth photos, a little bittersweet. I took them as I was dressing my babies before we left the hospital. It was the first time they'd worn anything other than a hospital issued gown or a snugly swaddle. I couldn't wait to take them home (which is the sweet part).

At the time, I didn't know we'd be readmitted 24 hours later.

This however is most definitely a story for another day. I'd rather dwell on the sweet tonight.

I want you to keep in mind that Seth was my big baby and weighed an impressive 6 lbs. 11 oz. Check out those "chubby" legs! 

He was also an impressively long baby for that weight at 20 1/2 inches. That newborn onesie he's wearing, while being all shades of baggy, has already got vertical pull-lines. But I didn't have much time to think about that because... 

Wait... what's going on here? Is Seth about to do what I think he's about to do? 

Yep, just as I suspected. He's striking a pose.

As early as April, I commented that, "the camera just loves Seth – honestly, it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture of him", but looking back I can see that's always been true. So really, no surprise that he's already got his moves down at 4 days old. He had them down pretty much at birth. You know, if Nate hadn't been stealing his face-time.

Nate, on the other hand, was not "loving the camera" so much here: 

His outfit isn't pulling quite as much as his brother's did. He was just over 20 inches long and not quite 6 lbs., so I thought I'd try him first in one of the preemie outfits I'd brought since he was definitely within the range weight-wise. Again, you will see it's all shades of baggy and even though newborns naturally keep their legs tucked up for the most part, he was already too long to stretch out in this sleeper and let me know straight up this wasn't cool: 

Either that, or it was just the first of many commentaries delivered in a similar fashion from both my boys on the fact that clothing in general constitutes a cruel and unusual punishment.

- L.

Photos From The Vault: 3 Days Old

Last week while I was sorting through my babies' birth photos, I came across a stash of other pictures from their first days earthside and wondered why I didn't post them last year. And then I realized what a ridiculous thing that was to wonder – I barely had time to remember my own name a year ago.

Some days it's still difficult since I mostly go by "mom-mom" now.

The title says it all really. Nate at 3 days old: 

It's hard to imagine now that my big boy was so tiny.

And Seth, already working the camera even in his sleep: 

I think he had almost as much hair when he was born as he does now (minus the sweet curl of course).

- L.

1 Year Ago: Birth Day

I've tried a hundred times to write our story. I wanted to tell it today, but I still can't find the words.

I never knew until my sons were born that it's possible for a heart to feel like it's bursting with joy and still be breaking at the same time, but mine did that day. In the minutes that felt like hours until I got to at least see them for the very first time – even though I could hear my babies and I knew they were OK – until that moment they both might as well have been at the other end of the earth because I was helpless to get to them. I still get a lump in my throat when I look at these photos for that reason.

•   •   •   •   •

My babies, minutes old (Nate is front and center, already cutting in on Seth's face-time with an outstretched palm):

Nate's debut: 

Seth finally getting some press, still covered in vernix (which is magical stuff btw):

My first moments with Seth, aka Baby B:

I had to double check this photo because he looks so much like his brother here, but the "B" on his swaddle confirms it's Seth: 

Come to think of it, they do resemble each other the most when they're crying, so I guess that it makes sense that I'd have to take a closer look. 

And then I got to finally see Nate (aka Baby A) for the first time. Not crying anymore, just a little grumpy:

And like his brother, absolutely perfect.

- L.