Baths, Bottles & Sun Bathing........Oh My!

Last week, we got an update about the girls' height, weight, temperment & schedule to help us prepare in packing for them and for what they could be "like" when we meet them for the first time.  Here's some of the information we got:

**They are both a little over 2 feet long.
**They are both over 12 lbs.
**They are wearing 3-6 months clothing and probably size 2 diapers.

Here is their daily schedule:

o 6-6:30 AM: Wakes up, this is followed by a bottle
o 6:30 AM: Bath
o 8 AM: Bottle
o 8--9 AM: Nap
o 9 -11:40 AM: Outside playing/laying in the sun, massage, etc.
o 11:40 AM: The babies go inside for a nap and bottles in the living room/nursery
o 4:30 PM: Upstairs for a bath until 5:30 PM and pajamas.
o 6:30 PM: Bottle after bath and bedtime
o 10-11 PM: Wake up and bottle, diaper change, etc.
o Wakes up 3-4 times per night for diaper changes and for bottles.

Holy moly!!  Did you catch all that like we did?   Two baths a day?  Massage?  Laying in the sun?  Are they living in an orphanage or day spa?  Oh my word - I hope they are going to be happy in cold Oregon where their mommy and daddy will try hard to bathe them every other day and where the sun can disappear for days or weeks!!!!!!! 

Their schedule just makes Michael and me smile.  In addition to their schedule, we were also given this information about their personality:

Zinash is a content baby most of the time.
Zuriash is sweet and adorable.

Both babies are growing a hundred miles per hour. They love to always have the special mothers faces near them, talking to them and giving them attention. The are fun and strong willed, requiring a lot of energy to entertain them and carrying them around.

They sounds as if they are wonderful, happy, "normal" babies!!!!!  Strong willed - that's normal for us - they will fit right in with our Emma & Jakey.  :-)  We CANNOT WAIT to see for ourselves!!

Prior to getting this update from our agency, we also got an email from a woman that traveled to the orphanage over Thanksgiving.  Here is what she said about our girls:

"I was able to spend lots of time at Hannah's Hope with other children and I did meet your twin girls. They were very sweet, I can't remember exactly how old they were, 4 months ??? They seemed perfect to me, very responsive, they giggled and smiled when I interacted with them. I held both of them and they enjoyed being held and snuggled. Some of the babies were frightened by our white faces but yours didn't seem bothered at all. I can't quite remember if I fed either of them a bottle but I know that I was really impressed with the love and attention that all the babies were receiving and I did specifically talk to my friend about how well I thought your two were doing.  I think you are very lucky, they looked just beautiful."

What a blessing this email was!  And in the same week, a wonderful AGCI family sent us a cute little video of the girls so we could see them!!!!!!!!!  That was SO awesome to see!  They both looked so healthy and happy and I was so overwhelmed to see them alive and moving. 

Michael and I are doing pretty good in balancing the preparations to leave and trying to stay calm and relaxed to enjoy Christmastime with the kids.  I am really busy at work preparing to be on leave until May, Michael is working hard to keep his business in order while we're away, Emma's school is winding down and there seems to be an endless list of things to do/buy/pack/coordinate before we go.......there really are no free moments, other than we have blocked out this upcoming Saturday and Christmas Eve day and night for just the four of us.  Looking foward to having those days with Em & Jake.

7 short days until we leave and just 9 short days until we will hold the girls in our arms forever.

God....you are so good.