8 weeks, 4 days

Well, my maternity leave is almost over and I can't even believe how fast it went by. The girls go back to the pediatrician on Monday for their 2 month wellness check and second round of immunizations and so Tuesday will be my first official day back to work, which means they start daycare. They will be 9 weeks old, and I just can't believe it! I am really looking forward to see how much they have grown.
We still aren't sleeping through the night, but personalities are really starting to show and real smiles have begun! That has become one of my favorite past times...singing songs or saying silly phrases to get a smile out of each of them. They also make noise now intentionally, instead of just crying. That is fun to try to get them to "talk" to me, too.
They are awake more during the day now, too, which can be fun. They aren't just screaming when they wake up, like before. They enjoy the mobiles on the swings and Olivia will even sit in a bouncy seat, where Kate will have almost nothing to do with it. She would rather be held where she can stare at Daddy's black and white pictures on the red walls in the living room. She will just stare and stare at them.
Their cousin, Gavin, was also born this week to Brandon's brother Chet, and his wife Malissia. Monday evening he was brought into this world through an emergency c-section. Both he and mom are both healthy and home. He weighed in at 8lbs, 5oz and was 19 inches long. He has a full, I mean full, head of dark hair and is absolutely beautiful. He looks like a total mix of both his mom and his dad, at least I think so! Hopefully, they will email some pictures soon (once they start to acclimate themselves with life with a baby at home!) and I will post them for everyone to see.
My girlfriend, Melissa, also gave birth to her first child this week as well. It was another baby boy Aiden Elliot, born Tuesday morning. I only got to see him through the glass of the nursery and can't wait to get my hands on him soon. Both he, mom and dad are doing well and should be home now, too. Melissa was a real trooper with a very quick labor, she opted to deliver "au natural"...yes, no epidural, no pain medication! Yes, I knew she was a little nuts, but now I know just how much!!
My family and friends were very blessed these past few months with the arrival of so many healthy babies. I try to remember every day to take a minute to reflect and be thankful.