I’m beyond excited to introduce you to the two newest members of our family and share my boy girl twins birth story!
Please meet Frederick Edgar born at 8:50am weighing 7lbs 10oz, 19 inches long and Franziska Eleonora born at 8:51am weighing 6lbs 12oz, 19.5 inches long.
Freddie and Frankie for short.
Freddie (boy twin) has blond/reddish hair and these big expressive eyes and makes the funniest little faces. Frankie (girl twin) has darker blond/brown hair and is feminine and looks a little like Ben did as a baby! Both are so beautiful and sweet!
Something pretty neat that we could not have planned – ALL THREE of my children share the same birthday!!
Both babies were breach, meaning feet down, so they had to be born via c-section. The experience was completely different than with Ben. It all happened very quickly and was a more peaceful/chill experience. I didn’t know if I’d feel that visceral bond like I had with Ben (after 19 hours of labor lol) but the second they held up each twin and I laid eyes on them, it happened, an instant feeling of love. I teared up and just felt such relief that they were delivered healthy. The doctors kept commenting on how big they were for twins!
When I introduced my son Benedikt and shared about the first week home with a newborn I didn’t really touch on how hard it all was. Briefly – Ben was in the NICU for a week right after he was born, so he was never in the hospital room with me/us. I was a few hours post giving birth and having to hobble over to the NICU and then I was over there and got discharged so I went and stayed in the NICU – where they had a little couch that turned into a ‘bed’ but didn’t have a bathroom so I had to walk out of the NICU and down the hall to the family restroom…not exactly ideal right after you’ve given birth. Then when we got home, oh my goodness, there was just issue after issue – finding the right bottles, finding the right formula, learning how things worked … just everything with a newborn.
With the twins, oh my goodness, it has been a completely different experience in a good way. After delivering the twins, they came with us to my room on the mother and baby unit. They stayed with us the entire time and it was just a much more peaceful experience. I wouldn’t use the word ‘relaxing’ lol, but I’d say more ‘chill’. I got to hold them and it was so nice!
Ever since announcing I was having twins I wondered how Ben, their older brother would react. He came to the hospital and my heart absolutely melted. We introduced them to the twins and ever since that moment, he’s been the best older brother!
He knew to be gentle with them and when we went home and put the babies in the car seats (Ben’s car seat is in the middle of theirs) he holds on to each of their car seats.
Now that we’ve been home, he continues to amaze me with his kindness and sweetness. Whenever one of the babies cries, he points to their bassinets and gets one of us, he ‘helps’ with feedings by holding the bottle or reading a book to one of the twins. When we’re done, he says ‘all gone’ and takes the bottle and throws it in the sink. It’s so sweet.
It’s been a month now and life is so full of love – and babies! I definitely feel calmer this time around, even though there’s two of them, they’re very sweet and for newborn twins, they’re actually pretty good babies. Frankie (girl twin) is a little more vocal then Freddie (boy twin), but it’s nothing unmanageable.
I’ve been using ALL of the items on my list of baby products I actually use.
Having boy girl twins and a toddler is still so surreal to me! It’s amazing! It’s a lot! I feel so incredibly lucky and blessed, and I’m not just saying that, I truly feel it to my core! I’ll be sharing more updates in the coming months.
Pictures from the hospital/daily life taken by me, family/newborn pictures taken by my talented friend and photographer Ren of Studio 29 Photography.
Alexis Barry says
Hi I am also having boy/girl twins and I am scheduled for a c section if my first baby (baby boy) doesn’t flip to head first. My due date is the end of the month. It sounded like your experience was pleasant. Im very nervous thinking of having a csection and the risks/potential for the spinal not working. Is there anything you recommend to feel more prepared/lessen my anxiety? It seems overwhelming to birth two babies either route! Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated 🙂
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for commenting. CONGRATULATIONS! That’s so amazing that you’re having twins. I think what lessened my anxiety is that I asked the anesthesiologist to please speak me through the process, and that really helped. Nothing seemed like a ‘surprise’ because I felt informed the whole time. My doctor was also there, and I had asked her about what would happen like 10 times, and she also walked me through it verbally. Also also, I told myself and my husband and I talked that if something were to go wrong, by being in the hospital I’d be surrounded by the best team, and would be exactly where I needed to be. You will be great, and congrats congrats congrats!!!!!
Emily Taylor says
Congratulations mama! They are both so beautiful. I am expecting boy girl twins in January. Can I ask how you got your photos? Did you do them yourself or pay someone to take them? I am a blogger too and really want to capture the whole thing but am not wanting another person in our home when I first bring them home 🙂
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for you kind words! And Congratulations!! I completely hear where you’re coming from about the pictures. I am in a unique situation in that I am friends with a photographer who does our family photos, so I feel totally comfortable around her. But the truth is with my first son (before I knew my current photographer) I hired a photographer I didn’t know and had her come in to our house to do photos. She totally put us at ease and I love that I have those pictures in our home so I didn’t have to take him anywhere. So I’d just say I’d recommend finding a photographer that does in home newborn photo sessions because it’s so special.
Mary says
God bless your sweet family. They are all precious and what an unusual joy that they all share the same birthday!! I see BIG birthday parties in your future.
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for commenting – I cannot wait to see how their birthdays play out in the years to come. Big parties for sure!!
Inger @ Art of Natural Living says
I love birth stories. Ben is so cute with his little siblings. My oldest was in the NICU (of a different hospital even) for 10 days (group b strep before they tested for it) and that is so disconcerting. So happy you had a more traditional experience this time and congrats again!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Inger. It was definitely a difficult experience with Ben in the NICU, so this time with the twins when we didn’t have to go there, it felt like we were almost getting away with something lol! I still can’t believe how BIG the twins were!!!
Bonnie B Waters says
Congratulations!! My boys twins were born 31 years ago – joining their 2 year old brother. Having twins is the most fun you will ever have – unless you are lucky enough to BE a twin! Best wishes to you and your beautiful family.
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Bonnie! I cannot wait to watch them grow up together.
Cathy "Trina" Cormia says
They are beautiful…Such a beautiful family. You have been truly blessed. Hoping to meet them soon.
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for commenting Trina! Cannot wait for you to meet them (hopefully soon, we’ll have to bring them over!)
Kelly says
Congrats! My boy/girl twins are 12 now, and were also big, so that is good they were able to come home so soon! We did the opposite and had the singleton 2 years after the twins, and she was so close to being born on their birthday…her birthday is 6 days after theirs!
Enjoy the cuteness! And if you haven’t already found a Mothers of Multiples group, I highly recommend it!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for commenting and sharing!! That’s so sweet that your daughters birthday is so close the twins’! I have been meaning to find a Mothers of Multiples group and keep forgetting when I have a free moment lol (mom brain! I used to hate that term but it’s so true now!) thank you for the reminder!
Monica M says
Cogratulations!!! All three of your kids are adorable. Sounds like Ben is enjoying being a big brother. 🙂
Sweetphi says
I still can’t believe there are three of them 🙂 It’s really so incredibly sweet to see how Ben is being so nice around them, he gives them each a hug before bed now too and it just melts my heart!
Sabela González Panizo says
Congrats!!! ?
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much!!
Helen Becerra says
Oh. My. Gosh. Congratulations!! Beautiful photos, beautiful babies, beautiful family!! And Ben is so cute! So happy for you ?
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and congratulations, much appreciated 🙂