Sunday, February 27, 2011

Eight months old...

Really, can it be true...are these babies of mine...EIGHT months old?  YEP!  They sure are!!!











So let's recap the past month...(in a baby book or lack there of sort of fashion)

Vivian, my older (by 2 minutes) little lady...

Vivian is changing so much, everyday!  Vivian is weighing in at 15 pounds!  She is still eating 4 bottles per day taking 16 - 20 ounces most days (rarely less, occasionally more...as much as 23 ounces).  She is wearing mostly size 6 month clothes but can still fit into some 3 month clothing (depending on the brand).  She is still wearing size 2 diapers and a size 3 diaper at night.  She is eating baby food 2 times per day, once at "lunch" and once at "dinner".  I still believe she prefers veggies over fruits but some days surprises me.  She has tried saltine and ritz crackers but will drop both if I put Puff's out on her tray.  Her fine motor skills are pretty darn good, she can get those little guys in her mouth at a rapid pace!  In the past month Vivian has really started to enjoy her pacifier at nap time and bed time.  Bedtime is around 7:30 and she wakes up happily around 7ish (not needing anything all night long!)  I see her on the video monitor chewing on her pacifier and taking it in and out of her mouth like a big, big girl!  Vivian is a very independent little lady, who doesn't mind waiting her turn.   Although, sometimes she wants nothing more then to be held and loved on.  She giggles often and smiles her gummy grin, which hides her 2 bottom teeth.  Last week Vivian started physical therapy in addition to her occupational therapy through First Steps.  We originally start occupational therapy to help with her eating.  Now that we have her feedings "under control" they are working with her to strengthen her core and help her with flexing as she prefers to extend.  She still isn't rolling from her back to her tummy, which is her only gross motor skill that's "behind" at this point.  She sits independently very well.  Basically, these therapist come into our home twice a week for an hour each and stretch her and work with her to promote her developmental skills.  During this time I usually sit with Oliver and "work" with him.  He doesn't technical "qualify" for these services but why not take advantage of these therapies for both babies?!   Vivian is a back sleeper, however I put her on her side after she goes to bed to keep her little head beautiful and round :)

Oliver, my younger yet bigger boy...

Oliver is a growing, changing, happy boy.  Oliver is weighing in at 20 pounds!  Oliver is still eating 4 bottles per day taking upwards of 32 ounces yet this past week a little as 25 ounces with his sniffles.  Oliver is wearing 9 month clothing and has been since approximately 3 months old!  He is wearing size 3 diapers and a size 4 diaper at night.  He is eating baby food 2 times per day, once at "lunch" and once at "dinner".  He eats anything offered to him and has yet to turn away a spoon full of yummy goodness!  Oliver will shove an entire Ritz cracker in his mouth and gobble it down in the blink of an eye!  He still enjoys MumMums and has also tried saltine crackers.  I don't see that he prefers one food over another but enjoys nibbling away at what ever I offer.  He too likes Puff's but I tend to find more stuck to his clothes and tossed over for the dogs then I see actually go in his mouth.  Oliver usually gets what he wants first for the mere fact that he is louder then Vivian.  So, if both babies are fussing at the same time, Oliver usually gets tended to first because he can be so loud and demanding!  Oliver can grab his pacifier and put it in his mouth all by himself.  Bedtime is around 7:30 and I usually end up waking him up around 7 or 7:15 so he can join his sister for a simultaneous nap around 9.  Oliver is a snuggler and likes to be held.  He sometimes "forgets" that he's a twin and can't be the only one in Mommy's arms all day long!  He is a back sleeper and is now occasionally found sleeping on his left side.  Oliver is a chatty little guy with a wide mouth grin that displays his two bottom teeth with pride!

This week both babies got their first cold.  I put them to bed Sunday night, healthy and happy.  Monday they woke up with runny noses, watery eyes, and sneezing.  Eight months without sickness is pretty lucky so we'll take this cold head on and be thankful that this is our first!   Both babies are still taking 3 naps per day and cannot seem to survive on less.  Morning nap around 9...lasting about 1 - 1:30 minutes, afternoon nap around 1pm...lasting 1 - 2 hours and then a 30 minute cat nap between 4 and 5 (depending how nap #2 went).  We made our first trip through the car wash and that did not, I repeat DID NOT, go well.  Oliver screamed like he was being harmed through the.entire.two.minute.car.wash and could not regain composure until we got home and he was safely out of the car.  Vivian cried out a little bit during the actual car wash, possibly over the shear panic coming from Oliver, but over all she did ok.  Let's just say we won't be doing that again any time soon!  Every day is different, every day they teach me something new and as soon as I say this is our "routine", life changes...I get it...that's part of growing babies.  Both babies are very ticklish.  Vivian is ticklish on her hips and on the bottom of her feet.  Oliver is ticklish on his back and under his chin.  Vivian is patient and soft spoken, Oliver is a talker and a toy stealer.  Today I caught them giggling, giggling, giggling at each other sitting in their high chairs...melted my heart...got a little on video...I'll have Matt put that on the blog when he gets a chance!  I am so enjoying this stage and my babies as their personalities change and grow minute by minute, day by day!

***Update as of 2/27/11 Miss V is rolling from her back to her tummy!  Better late then never, huh!??!  I got her up from her 1st nap of the day and went to get Oliver and when I looked down she was on her tummy, no enticing, no luring...she just did it on her own.  Truth be told, she gets it's honestly, she will do things on her own time, when she wants.  I couldn't have been more proud!  There is no stopping her now, she get's it and she off....a rolling fool!

Friday, February 25, 2011

MORE photos

Auntie A and her favorite niece and nephew... looks like they like her too!

This is the big purple ball he LOVES.  He likes to hold it, watch it be thrown in the air, and have it rolled to him!

The Grannies came to watch the babies while I...
1. got my hair cut for the 2nd time in 8 months
2. got the last of my EIGHT cavities filled...yep you read that right, EIGHT cavities!!  (I'm broadcasting this more for my own memory to read back on later in life because I am definitely NOT proud to say I had EIGHT cavities.  In 30 years...I've never even had EIGHT cavities!  Now, I'm not ashamed to say I may have missed a brushing *or two* here or there in the past eight months due to sleep deprivation and not knowing when the day started and when it ended....but I'd like to think my oral hygiene has not changed that much!  Regardless, I have "kicked it up a notch", to say the least, so I never have to go through that again!...did I mention 2 of those cavities turned into crowns...  I asked the dental office if they had a "frequent flyer discount"...they laughed, I was serious...


 Granny Pam snuggling the babies!

Piggies!

Talking to Daddy on Skype

Oliver talking to Daddy...

Vivian and Daddy having a "chat"...

Aren't those baby blues adorable?!?!

ummmm...Josephine....I think that's Oliver's paci!

Giggling with delight (under the paci)

Let me brush your hair Oliver...

He's not really loving his comb-over...

Best buds

stay turned tomorrow the babies turn EIGHT months old....

Monday, February 21, 2011

play date fun!


 We've been trying to be more "fun" and having more play dates and getting out and about a little more often even though the weather is back to crummy around here (we had a week of weather in the 50-60s!).  We had a few play dates this past week that were sometimes more ciaos and craziness then not but that's what's fun, right?!?!  

 Silly Josephine!

You know I love the "mad" face.  Truly, they are few and far between so when I can catch them on camera...even better!

Oliver decided to eat the entire pacifier (that's a soothie pacifer for those who can't identify what that actually is in his mouth)!  Maybe that's how he got those wrist rolls?  I love those rolls!

Let me grab your face Grandpa Hursh!

Omer teaches Oliver how to play the drums...oh boy!

Vivian is all dressed up to go shopping with her mama!

A smiley, happy girl!

Play date with Brooks...Vivian's potential boyfriend #1

Harrison, potential boyfriend #2 (older yet in 30 years when she's allowed to date a 2 year age difference won't matter!) The dogs were a big fan of his yogurt snacks!

Noah and Oliver, best buds (Vivian's potential boyfriend #3).  Noah is 2 months younger then the babies but these boys both weigh about 20 pounds...Oliver is about 2 inches shorter!

Oliver smiling around the ever present pacifier!

Why's that dog barking over there?

We turned on Sesame Street for the first time today...I think they liked it! 

We are tuning 8 months old this week so stay tuned for a 8 month update!  Every day the babies are changing and learning new things...I can barely keep up with their ever growing list of new skills!  We are in a really good stage right now and if I haven't said it before I'd like to freeze time right now and keep these babies right where they are at for a little bit....not forever, just long enough to enjoy each and every moment because life is moving so quickly!

Because we haven't shared what we are thankful for recently here's a little list...
  • bouncy balls...the babies both love to hold a mini soccer ball and a huge purple bouncy ball...pictures to come!
  • a consistent full nights sleep for all 4 of us
  • play dates
  • napping in the car seat at target
  • hand me down clothes for Oliver from our friends Harrison and Brooks
  • consistent napping schedule!
  • baby bath time!
  • evening walk with warm weather
  • dinner with work friends and adult conversation
  • McCalister's iced tea
  • our first cleaning lady...my house has never been cleaner, money well spent to help this mama get caught up!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Photos, Photos, Photos....

Another pacifer bandit strikes!   

JoJo came over for a "playdate" and she's munching on some dinner in her new favorite Elmo gear from Granny!

Vivian can finally sit up and play along side her brother!

Uncle Mark and Omer came over to play! 



This is what Vivian would look like if her hair didn't stand on end :) 

We've moved our play space to our dining room so we can spread out! 


Aunt Amy reads to Oliver and Josephine. 

Vivian playing in the Exersaucer! 

Josephine is checking Bella out! 

Bella is very tolerant of all the babies!

 Two girls just hanging out....

Bath time is our favorite! 

She loves to splash and giggle! 

Oliver is such a big big boy!  Who wouldn't want to just squeeze him?!?! 

Doesn't she look so sweet?!?! 



It's been super cold here but Mommy needed to get out of the house so we headed to Target today!  This is the babies in the "limo" stroller at Target!

They don't mind the carseats at all, in fact they enjoy a nap on the go from time to time!

After our Target trip we went to Aunt Amy's.  This is Vivian trying out Josephine's chair....she approves and in fact she told me she'd like one.  

Playing with a new batch of toys in Josephine's room...such fun!