Jonathan & Jenelle » Seeing Double

Three Kids Two and Under: A Year in Review in Numbers

jenelle — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:21:46 +0000

Those who know me well, are very aware that I’m a numbers nerd. What better way to sum up the one-year birthday of Clara and Nicolyn than with a few solid numbers for posterity. Next post: a year in review in pictures (probably a little more interesting for the rest of you, but I had a great time putting this together).

Weight of twins at birth: 14 lbs. 7 oz. ( 7 lbs. 4 oz. and 7 lbs. 3 oz.)

Length of twins at birth: 42.25 inches (21.25 inches and 21 inches)

Weeks gestation at twins’ birth: 38 weeks

Number of months Jenelle was on nausea medication: 8.5 (including two weeks post-delivery)

Days of live-in help after twins were born: 40 (Jonathan’s mom, my mom, and my sister – I know blessings will be showered on you dear souls)

Number of days Jonathan worked from home for only four hours a day (to help transition me to full-time): 1 month

Contributions to landfills. Diapers purchased and used in 12 months for three children: approximately 5,438

Number of Costco formula cans used in 12 months: approximately 116 (about 1 can every 3 days; not including all the free sample cans people gave us or two months of pumping)

Number of bottles washed on average per day before the babies were 6 months old: 17

Number of bottles washed on average per day after the twins were 6 months old: 11

Number of Rick Steves travel videos watched while feeding twins: 80+

Number of DiGiorno’s pizzas eaten (Vance family equivalent of fast food): 36

Number of DiGiorno’s pizzas left in freezer yet to be eaten: 9

Age difference between Clara and Nicolyn: 18 minutes (Clara is older)

Age difference between Annika and twins: 22 months, 1 day

Number of months our family had three children ages 1 and younger: 2

Average number of hours of sleep Jenelle got during night hours the first couple of weeks: 1

Average number of hours of sleep Jenelle got after waking both babies up at the same time during the night: 4

Number of days twins slept in parents’ room: 0

Age Nicolyn and Clara moved to separate cribs: 4 months

Age Clara and Nicolyn crawled: 7.5 months

Age Clara and Nicolyn walked: 10.5 months

Number of car seats that fit in a Toyota Corolla: 3

Number of times Jenelle has gone out with all three kids by herself (you know something is an event if you can list numbers like this)–

Park: 5

Joann’s: 3

Costco: 1

Grocery store: 0

Doctor: 4

Library: 3

Number of times Jonathan has taken all three kids out by himself: 1

Number of times Jonathan watched all three kids by himself: many, many (ie. all the German classes, gym workouts, breakdown-need-time-to-myself evenings, etc.) I don’t want you to think there hasn’t been some equally yoked-ness going on around here.

Number of plane rides Jenelle, Annika, Clara, and Nicolyn have traveled on during the last 12 months: 4

Number of plane rides Jonathan has traveled on during the last 12 months: 17

Number of days Jonathan traveled away from home during last 12 months: 28

Number of doctor visits during last 12 months: 63

Number of adult evening German language classes Jenelle has attended: 23

Number of times Jenelle has said “Isn’t (insert cute kid action) so cute?”: Who knows? A lot. Then times that by three very cute kids.

Number of breakdowns Jenelle has had: Not as many as the “cute” number. But a fair number.

Amount spent on chocolate “therapy”: classified

Number of attempted sewing machine repairs (for sewing therapy): 5

Happy birthday Nicolyn and Clara! It has been a whirlwind of a year, but we hope that somewhere in there you’ve felt often how much we love you and are so happy you are part of our family!

On the Runway at Age One

jonathan — Sat, 22 May 2010 19:13:34 +0000

Clara and Nicolyn celebrated their first birthday in late April. The entire family is very relived to have reached this milestone with everyone’s sanity more-or-less intact. Among some very exciting birthday presents from Nana and Grandpa Dell was a large selection of dress-up clothes that any little girl would be excited to have (including a magic wand from Aunt Autumn). The girls quickly realized how to make the most of these.

Nana and Grandpa Dell in Oregon

jonathan — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:51:45 +0000

In late April the Vance family was fortunate enough to have as their guests Nana and Grandpa Dell — or, as Annika sometimes calls them, “Jonathan’s parents.” Grandpa Dell did all of the home repair projects that Jonathan had left undone. Nana brought wonderful birthday presents for the girls. Together, everyone went to the zoo on a beautiful Saturday.

To All Those People Who, Before the Babies Were Born, Told Us, “I’ve Always Wanted Twins”

jonathan — Sat, 22 May 2010 17:15:39 +0000

What were you smoking? Can I have some?

Bouncing Baby Clara

jonathan — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:36:34 +0000

Who says men can’t multi-task?

jenelle — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:03:23 +0000

Women get a lot of hype about being “Supermoms”, but I’m pretty sure I’m married to a “Superdad”. This is what I saw when I came back from cleaning up Annika’s bath paraphernalia. And yes, Jonathan was reading a story out loud to Annika, not just looking at the book with her. . .

Hail to the Chief

jonathan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:14:09 +0000

Sometimes people ask how Annika is handling her new role as Munchkin-in-Chief. The answer is, she has slowly become more comfortable. A few days after the babies came home from the hospital, this conversation occurred:

Jenelle: Annika, do you like the babies?

Annika: No. All done. Babies go home.

Since then, things have improved dramatically. Now, Annika gives the babies hugs and kisses, stands an inch from their faces and says hello, and is always eager to help. Sometimes her help is even helpful.

Hopefully, they can maintain this relationship for at least the next 17 years or so.

Synchronized Sleeping

jonathan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:21:54 +0000

This is not a posed photo. We don’t know how two non-speaking infants can coordinate like this, but they repeatedly do. Now if they would just coordinate their feeding times.

The twins are now just over one month old. If Jenelle and Jonathan can survive the next 17 years, 11 months, everything should be fine.

The New Arrivals

jonathan — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:36:08 +0000

This week the Vance family welcomed into the world Clara (formerly known as “Baby A”) and Nicolyn (formerly known as “Baby B”). The labor was easier than expected, and the babies are larger than expected (both over seven pounds).

Everyone is healthy (but we should note that “healthy” is different from “well rested”).