The Reason

We're doing pretty well, considering we recently brought home two new babies. Our house is clean. The laundry is done. We've been eating three (delicious) meals a day. Even though I have to wake up every few hours at night, I've been getting a nap every afternoon, which totally helps--and I've had help with the early morning feeding, which makes it go much more quickly, which means back to bed sooner for everyone. And the babies have been getting more attention and cuddling than they could ask for. For the last three weeks, all of these things have happened because my mom has been here. We are so sad that she left this weekend--but so grateful that she was able to be here and help us so much. Mom, what would we have done without you?!

We're excited that she, and many other family members, will be back to help us (and cuddle with the babies) over the next two months!

Grandma Kaye and the babies!

Dad and Addison cuddling and napping on the couch.

Look who's back?!

Well hello, ankles, it's been a while...but it's good to see you again!

Today would have looked different...

Today at 8 a.m., I was supposed to be admitted to Inova Alexandria Hospital. At 10 a.m., I was scheduled for a C-section to have our babies. What might Daniel and I have done this past weekend, our last weekend without kids? We probably would have taken Spud to the park, and maybe given him a bath (he needs one!). We would have done some final cleaning and preparing the house for the arrival of the babies. We probably would have had one last pre-babies date night--maybe out to dinner and a movie. I probably would have wanted to go to my favorite Thai restaurant--Daniel might have advocated for a steak from the Capitol Grille (babies, you'll see, he does that a lot). I would have asked for frozen custard after the movie, and even though it's totally out of our way, Daniel would have obliged (foolproof when pregnant). And we wanted to see The American with George Clooney (takes place in Italy--sigh).

Little did we know that these babies (and my body) had a plan of their own--since their early arrival, these past two and a half weeks have been wonderful. Exhausting, but really amazing. Life is so good--and I can't wait for all of the fun we're going to have together, little Addison and Jackson.

Here are some pictures from this morning--when you would have officially been 38 weeks gestation, and on your way into our lives if things had worked out a little bit differently.

No better way

I can't think of a better way to spend a birthday than with these little rascals...



Jackson had his first pediatrician's appointment today. His weight was up above his birth weight (he's actually gained an ounce since coming home), and the doctor was happy with everything else.

Then this evening, Daniel, my mom, and I had birthday Thai take out and a cherry cream cheese pie to celebrate (and Daniel got me a beautiful sapphire and diamond necklace as a combined birthday/push present, for our September babies--it is gorgeous). It was expensive and he's the best husband ever. He's so handsome, tall and generously proportioned. He's quite literally a God among men. It was a pretty wonderful birthday!

PS I'll let you guess which parts Daniel contributed to the above post...

Angels Are Singing

Angels sang today, on the day that you were born!

We are so excited to welcome the two new loves of our lives to our family, born the morning of September 3:

Addison Kaye Satterlee
4 lb 11 oz
18 inches
born at 10:08

and

Jackson Stevens Satterlee
5 lb 5 oz
18 inches
born at 10:09

Here's our little Addison, not long after delivery:




And here is our Jackson--after he was born and taken to the nursery, he had to be transferred to the NICU to help him with his breathing:

35 Weeks!

We had an appointment with our specialist this morning for an ultrasound, and the babies are still just growing and growing. They are SO big and mushed in there that it was nearly impossible to get their measurements, let alone any pictures of them--but from the measurements the doc was able to take, it looks like the babies each weigh 5 pounds, 6 ounces. From now on, we will be seeing both our doctor and our specialist every week, and starting next week we will have a weekly non-stress test for the babies (where they hook each up to a fetal heart monitor and watch them for 30 minutes, see if we're having contractions, etc). The doctor said to expect these babies to gain a half a pound per week or so from here on out (YIKES!).

Out of the blue, I got a call from my ob/gyn's office last Thursday--it was from one of the practice's administrative assistants, and she was just calling to schedule our C-section...what?! It was a totally random phone call to get on a Thursday morning--hey, what are you doing the week of September 21? Want to get lunch? Want to have babies? Which doctor would you like to deliver your babies? OK, we'll contact the hospital and see what we can get scheduled. YIKES! So, we have an appointment this Thursday with the ob/gyn, for a regular (now weekly) check up, and to finalize the details of our planned C-section--IF the babies decide to stay put that long!

On that note--I've thought for a while now that there really isn't any way the babies would stay put until 38 weeks...I've been very focused getting first to 34 weeks, then to 35 weeks, now to 36 weeks, and so on. But--I'd better start preparing myself, at least mentally, for the distinct possibility that these guys are going to stay right where they are. It's still totally up to the babies, who could come any time they'd like--but there really isn't any reason to think that they'd want to leave their cozy home before being evicted at 38 weeks. I'm going to be honest--another three weeks of being pregnant doesn't sound like that much fun--but, if it's best for the babies, (fine) I'll do it (geez). At least there's a light at the end of the tunnel!

Our Nursery

Our babies' nursery is finally coming together! It has taken months to transform this room from a guest room/library/junk closet/catch all/Spud's room to a nursery--but, with a new coat of paint, new furniture, and beautiful bedding made by my mom, aka Grandma Kaye, it is really looking fantastic and ready for the babies. We are so lucky that my mom is so talented, and that she used her love and her talents to make all of the bedding in this beautifully welcoming and comfortable room for her grandbabies.

A view from the doorway (and Spud has spent some time checking out the babies' new room):

Our little girl's crib and bedding (the pink material is minky dots, and is so amazingly soft--and there is so much detail in the bedding, from pleats to bows and ties):

Our little boy's crib and bedding (same with the blue material--so, so soft and sweet), and a Sleep Sheep (we also have a Gentle Giraffe for our little girl's crib):

The room, with their curtains up and pictures on the walls:

Their closet and their changing table, with all of the necessary changing supplies (the curtains are hiding boxes of diapers--we hear we're going to be needing a LOT of them!):

And I just love this cow, who sits on their dresser:

We have a few more small things to do in the room and a couple of things to finish up their bathroom (which is decorated in yellow duckies), but babies, we're more and more ready for you to come home!