10 Months

I'm back tracking again.

I guess that's kinda the story of my life right now.

The little girls turned 10 months old over 2 months ago. I was determine to get their 10 and 11 month posts up before they turn 1! Fail. But that's ok.

By the way, I'm in denial that they just turned one! Maybe that's why I'm so far behind?

So...this is all about what our little girls were doing over 2 months ago, at 10 months. 11 month post to come. 12 month post to come too! 

At 10 months, our little girls really started moving!

Audrey Kate has been crawling since mid-February, and she decided pulling herself up and cruising around holding onto things would be her 10 month goal! Nothing is safe now!

Anne Perry can finally go from a laying to a sitting position, and she's decided crawling wasn't much of a priority up until now (remember, this is 10 months, not the present!). So she's taken off! She's started out almost sliding her knees across the floor instead of moving them though, which kinda creates a pretty cute little shake.

And verbally? Everyone comments how Anne Perry must be the more verbal one (and you know how I just love it when complete strangers compare the girls). But the truth is, Anne Perry is just flat out loud! She will be heard (over an entire table of people or an entire restaurant of people!). Audrey Kate speaks up when she has something to say, and there's inflection and stops and starts and new sounds daily.

Both girls love to say Mama and Dada; but despite my urging Anne Perry doesn't say Mama often.
Me: say Mama; Anne Perry: Dada...probably 95% of the time! But somehow she's remained a pretty big Mama's girl!

Both girls love to take objects out of and put objects back into containers. Anything and everything. Balls. Blocks. Little people.

Both girls have also really started to wave (at more appropriate times). Anne Perry waves primarily at herself while Audrey Kate is mastering her pageant girl/royal princess wave. Really.

I lost count of how many rounds of antibiotics, ear infections, and legitimate trips to the doctor we've had this month. I think between the two of them they've had 5-6 ear infections. Anne Perry has been on 5 rounds of antibiotics (two of which we had to discontinue because she was allergic to them...just like her mama) and finished three. Audrey Kate has been on two or three rounds...in a month people and that didn't even factor Addie in!
Both girls also love to snuggle. Audrey Kate will lay her head on my shoulder and just love on me. Anne Perry will bury her head in your chest to get her loving and loves to pat you on the arm or back. It's amazing how much they love and crave affection and can now reciprocate it. It simply melts my heart when they do this and makes me just hold my breath and take it all in for those brief moments.

So there is a quick recap of our girls at 10 months old. I had most of it recorded in my phone (since I cant keep up with lists on paper), so most of it is pretty on target for their age then.

What continues to amaze me are these pictures. Take a look at their one month picture and then jump to their 10 month picture! Oh how far too fast this first year flies! I wish I had been able to be more consistent with {how} these pictures were taken as much as {where} they were taken! But once again, sometimes I have to function in survival mode more than I'd like to admit!

Their personalities came out so much in these 10 month pictures!



Oh how we love these little girls. Their smiles and laughs just brighten your day!

As always! More to come!

7 (almost 8) Months

We interrupt this Christmas posting marathon to celebrate {only 3+ weeks late) 7 months of our sweet baby girls! Yes, in a mere 2 days, we will celebrate 8 months...but I've made it within that 7th month!

Disclaimer: please excuse the wildly different color of these pictures. 1.) they were taken inside, unlike all the others except the 1st month. 2.) i had to use a flash that i dont completely understand. and 3.) we have a wonderful barrel ceiling in our living room that caused said flash to bounce more wildly than usual. oh and 4.) i have a lot to learn about lightroom!

Not only do we have rollers and scooters, we have sitters! Sure, it didn't actually happen until 2 weeks into this 7 month, but none-the-less, we have sitters!

They love it. We love it. Addie loves it!

They love playing with toys, taking things from each other, and discovering anything they can get their sweet little hands on! 

This month has been full of change and a good amount of chaos in our house (due to our house), but these little girls have managed to maintain good nap schedules and, with the exception of when we've traveled, pretty good night time sleeping too!

Anne Perry

I don't know any other way to describe Anne Perry this month than a completely different child on new reflux meds. Completely.

I have finally admitted that I didn't know what I was going to do with her for the next few months if they were going to be anything like her 4th-6th months. She would never.let.me.put.her.down. Her pediatrician finally saw her spit up at their 6 month appointment and put them on generic Prilosec. Um. Miracle drug for these little girls. Totally personality altering for Anne Perry! And a tremendous blessing for our family!

Anne Perry is most often a/an:
happy girl!
jumpy jumping girl!
owner of two very sharp teeth!

excellent sitter!
mama's girl.
always observer.

lover of all things shakey.
stealer of her sister's toys.
raspberry spitter of baby food.

clap, clap, clapper!

Audrey Kate

This laid back little girl seems to have more of an opinion about things than we originally thought! She loves being right in the middle of things; and if that changes, she lets you know about it! Ninety-five percent of the time, she is happy go lucky; but that 5% when she's unhappy, she has a cry that will break your heart!

 

Audrey Kate is usually a/an:

happy girl.
awesome sitter.

 

knees rocker.

trying so hard to be a crawler.
stealer of her sister's toys.
focuser and can maintain amazing concentration.
fan of ritz crackers.
non fan of canned baby food!

 

another raspberry baby food spitting girl!
smiler. oh how this little girl's eye's light up when she smiles!

Both girls:

love them some cheerios and ritz crackers.
think blowing raspberries is a form of communication.

 

hate HATE hate sleeping in pack-in-plays.

are finally sleeping {much better} in separate cribs.
are huge fans of their lovies and sleep sacks.
sleep rolled to their side.
continue to adore their big sister.

pretty much have their mama and daddy wrapped around their little fingers!

and...

are completely unbelievable, joyful blessings!

Happy 7 (almost 8) months little girls!

6 Months

You know I'm behind when I'm over two weeks late doing the little girl's monthly post! But better late than never!

Yes, the little girls turned 6 months on November 4th. It truly is hard for me to believe it. I sorta feel like I've sat in the rocking chair either rocking or nursing for the last 6 months and just watched it fly by. Obviously that's not the case, as this blog can testify; but that doesn't lessen the fact that it's so hard to imagine that they are 6 months old, and Addie is 6 months older!

Joy. Exhaustion. 

Blessings. Challenges. 

Awe. Confusion. 

Happiness. Humor. 

Contentment. Busyness. 

Tears. Laughter.

Many times when I look at Anne Perry and Audrey Kate, I am reminded of where they were and what they went through. I think of them as daily reminders of God's grace and goodness. They are such a joy to watch as they explore and discover the world around them.


Anne Perry...

is still our little observer. She watches and takes things in.

She loves our jumpy exersaucer and loves to move when she's upright. She's not so much a fan of the floor. She's yet to roll from her back to her front, but she can sit on my hip and hold on like a little monkey. And that's her preferred location. Either on my hip or in a carrier snuggled up against me.

She loves to say dadadada and breaks your heart when she does that while crying! Her little disposition has gotten significantly more positive with much less crying now that we've started these new reflux meds. Oh what a blessing! I love seeing her little personality emerge, with sweet grins and jumpy legs. She's found a few favorite toys and plays with them intently.

Although probably a little more serious than her sister, this little girl's passion for whatever she might want (or not want) will serve her well in life! There's no doubt that she's got {demanding} determination and gusto for life!

Anne Perry's measurements:

weight:  17lbs 9.5oz/75th%ile (from 15 lbs 6 oz/90th%ile at 4 months)

length: 26.8 inches/75th-90th%ile (from 25.125 inches/75th%ile at 4 months)

head circumference:  44.2cm/90th%ile (from 42.4 cm/75th%ile at 4 months)

Audrey Kate...

is our little social butterfly. She loves to interact with people. She's just as much of an observer as Anne Perry but would much prefer to make eye contact and break into her little toothless grin.

She loves rolling around on the floor, and it doesn't take long for us to find her across the room from where she's started. She will be crawling before we know it! She, on the other hand, isn't so much a fan of the jumpy exersaucer. She's still pretty floppy on my hip but can tripod sit for a few seconds before toppling over.

She loves to say mamamama and also breaks your heart when she does that while crying! When she's sleepy, Audrey Kate can fall asleep in about any position in any location. It's precious to feel her little body relax and realize her little head is bobbing off to dreamland.

Although probably a little more laid back than her sister, Audrey Kate has a cry that lets you know exactly how she feels! It's not heard too often, but when it is, it makes you want to scoop her up and cuddle her immediately! And quite the cuddler she is!

While both girls adore their big sister, Audrey Kate thinks Addie is simply wonderful...even after quite a few incidents involving tears on her part and time out on big sisters part. Her pretty blue eyes are much bigger when she's looking up  than they appear otherwise (no, i did not enhance or saturate their color here! and yes...i know she got featured yesterday on the blog by herself and she has one more picture here than her sister...i will make up for it ;) I love how sweet and gentle this little girl is!

Audrey Kate's measurements:

weight:  16lbs 8.5oz/50th-75th%ile (from 14 lbs 9 oz/75th%ile at 4 month)

length:  27.2 inches/90th%ile (from 24.875 inches/75th%ile at 4 months)

head circumference:  42.5cm/50th%ile (from 41.4 cm/50-75th%ile at 4 months)

Neither girl seems interested in sitting up. I found Addie holding Audrey Kate's hands to make her sit up the other day. The minute I said, let's not do that, she dropped her. Thump. And Audrey Kate went right on playing. So in almost every room we have two baby spots: the floor, a bumbo, a little swing, a bouncy seat, or the jumpy jump.

Both girls almost always go to sleep on their own with their lovie and paci. We might have to replace the paci a few times, but there are hardly any tears and they most often drift off to sleep quickly. Anne Perry is still demanding (and I mean demanding) that night time feeding. Audrey Kate most often goes through the night without even waking up for a paci. 

Solid foods are another story. Anne Perry pretty much sucks down anything we put on a spoon. She's got the little open mouth baby bird thing down. She loves her rice cereal mixed with anything: sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, pears, bananas and even prunes! Audrey Kate on the other hand, has been a champion nurser since her first try in the recovery room! She could take or leave this solid food thing. She makes the worst faces when she takes that first bite! She doesn't much like anything, but she really dislikes peas! We found organic baby food on serious sale a few weeks ago. So we're pulling from that right now. With the kitchen about to be dismantled, I'm waiting to make any baby food this go round. It kinda makes me sad because I enjoyed that so much with Addie; but since we only currently have about 3 weeks worth of on sale baby food, I have a feeling I'll have a chance still to make some.

As I mentioned above, Dr. B changed the girls reflux meds (after she saw AP spit up at their 6 month visit). Amazing, amazing stuff. Anne Perry hasn't been hoarse or congested and Audrey Kate is spitting up significantly less and less often! Oh so thankful!

And I leave you with the ever intelligent random musings of two 6 month olds! (because I want to post these pictures :)

AK: {observing}
AP: look what i can do.
AK: hmmmm, yes, i see 
 
AP: oh look at daddy. why is he jumping around and making silly faces like that?
AK: i'm just getting comfortable here. want to come down here with me?

AK: mmmmm, yummy shoulder sis.

AP: oh look at our big sister! wow!
AK: well i'm going to look at that big round black thing in front of mommy's face.

I am so thankful for the two precious little girls God has given us. They are so different and yet so alike, and I love every ounce of each of them! We love you little girls!

On Being Two

*disclaimer: this is a long post. lots running around in my head. somewhat random. but important to record.

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I admit, being 2 has got to be tough.

I feel like I've written this post before.

Ok. Yeah. I have.

I think being two with twin baby sisters has got to be even tougher.

Because when they cry, we have to react.

When Addie asks for something, we can say hold on one minute or wait just a second because she can understand.

So maybe that's why she sometimes resorts to yelling. Or crying. Or screaming.

Or asking me the same question or saying my name 1,452 times before I even have time to answer!

I would, wouldn't you?

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A sad story: Paul was off work Friday, and we'd planned to go to the zoo. We finally got there, but I had to feed the girls first. That was it. It put her over the edge. Head banging. Warning. Feet kicking. Warning. Screaming yelling crying. Last warning. Threw her chic-fil-a chicken mini box at Daddy. That was it! I finished feeding AP, put her back in her car seat. And we.drove.away. She cried. I wanted to cry. But we kept going. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. I was ecstatic about spending it at the zoo with all 5 of us, but we knew we couldn't turn back.

We talked about it. She calmed down pretty quickly. And we had a delightful morning at the park. 

She immediately told RieRie about not being able to go to the zoo. When asked why, in perfect two year old logic, she said: Because I didn't get to see the animals? (We've got to work on why vs. consequences of the why.) When asked again, she said: Because I pitched a BIG fit and threw a box at Daddy. She got it. Whether she will remember next time or not, she got it.

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But sometimes, she's the sweetest, cuddliest, most loving, lovable little 2 year old ever.

And she's only two!

I often times, like just tonight, have to remind myself that she's only two and half.

TWO...

not 3 or 4.

I mentioned something about her being two to our general contractor (probably as she was standing at the kitchen door talking his ear off or asking him questions).

He said two? I thought she was at least 4 with how much she talks!

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A quick story: A few nights ago, we were getting ready for dinner. I brought her a cup and Paul a cup and sat them down on the table. She excitedly asked me if that was her cup. I assumed she was talking about her favorite purple cup and replied with a yes and walked out to grab plates (all of this is significantly more complicated because we have to walk around through the hall since the dining room/kitchen door is blocked off now). Anyway! Paul came in and sat down and grabbed his drink and she freaked out! You know, because she thought that was her drink! I calmly came back in and asked what was going on. She was distraught that he'd taken her cup, and they were going back and forth as to who's I said it was. I explained that that was Daddy's cup and the purple one was hers. She was so confused. Finally I realized we had been talking about two different cups when she'd asked if it was hers. Well...I said, I'm sorry I didn't understand what you were asking earlier, but that's your cup and this is Daddy's.

She very calmly looks up at me and says: It's ok Mommy. It's not your fault. It's Daddy's fault.

Clearly!

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We pretty much sing about everything around here. But it's all to the tune of Here we go Round the Mulberry Bush. Almost always.

Here we go to school today, school today, school today. 
Here we go to school today, on a Tuesday morning.

But now Addie makes up her own, and they're sometimes pretty funny. Often times they make sense. Sometimes they don't.

So on the way home from life group after she's already sang:  
Here we are at life group, life group, life group.
Here we are at life group, but not any more.

She busted out with this song. There are multiple verses, so bear with me here:
Cady is my best friend, best friend, best friend.
Cady is my best friend, a-at school.
...but she doesn't go to my school. 

She is my best friend...a-at her house.

She is a good cousin...to give hugs.
(although more like sisters, they aren't sisters OR cousins) 

She gives me kisses...a-and hugs.

(Here's where it gets confusing...)
But she doesn't come to it, come to it, come to it.
But she doesn't come to it, she drops me down-to-the-floor.

She doesn't let me go down, go down, go down.
She doesn't let me go down, go-o down.

When i come to gymnastics...I can see Cady.

Cady is my best friend, best friend, best friend.
Cady is my best friend, but she isnt.

??!!??!!??

By the middle we were laughing so hard that she could hear us, stopped and said: Don't laugh at me Daddy!!! ...and continued on.

I'm pretty sure they are as close to best friends as any two year olds can be...even when the song doesn't say so or even make sense!!!
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One last thing: I was picking up Addie from school one day and heard them practicing John 3:16. So I started reviewing it with her. She can almost say the whole thing by herself, even the neverlasting life part.

We started learning Mark 12:30...Love the Lord your God with all your heart (she points to her heart), with all your soul (to her chest), with all your mind (to her head), and with all your strength (and she makes fist and strong arms...her favorite part). She always concludes with where it's found: Mark twelve firty

I love my precious two year old.  

I love her willingness to share her thoughts with others. Her ability to convey what she wants/needs/feels or at least try. Her love of learning. Her love of others.

I love her passion for life.

What I love the most about all of these pictures is that she was pushing her baby sisters in the swings. Since this post is just about Addieboo, I didn't include those, but I promise to post them soon. Just another thing I love about our little girl!

Have patience. Have patience. Don't be in such a hurry.

When you get impatient, you only start to worry.

Remember. Remember.

That God is patient too. 

So think of all the times when others had to wait for you!  

Love is patient. Love is kind.

I Corinthians 13:4a

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

5 Months

Sweet smiles. Hilarious {expressions}. Loving bond.

Intense gazes. Focused looks.

and absolute {amazement} at God's goodness!

Five months people! Five months! I ask it every month...but where does the {time} go?

I went to stand up to put the girls back in the bed early one morning and could hardly muster the strength. It was like they had {grown} 5 pounds each during the night...and I wouldn't doubt it! I always know when they're growing because I usually get a crick in my neck and have aching arms. What an awesome reason to have to deal with aches and pains...{growing} growing babies!

I love how these little girls love their {big} sister. I love how they coo and talk to her. I love how they immediately grab onto each other's hands (or ears or arms) when they are near each other. I love how they've discovered their feet. I love how their {personalities} are evolving; and just as I think I've got them pegged, they reverse roles!

I've never seen so many smiles. So many tears. So many diapers. So many fall clothes. So many spit up covered objects! So many loads of baby laundry.

So much joy. So {much} happiness. So much love!

Anne Perry has obviously been battling some teeth eruption. They haven't made it through her gums yet, but they're almost there. She feels pretty much the same about her incoming teeth as she does about sitting for even 3.5 seconds in a poopy diaper: {intense displeasure}!

But something has happened over the last week. Utter happiness and relief. So many smiles. Silly noises with her tongue. Squeals and coos! She's at least {temporarily} reached the other side of this initial encounter with teething...I think?

What scares me about this little one is her ability to know when she's about to be put down. She will start wailing before her back hits the floor/bed/changing table except for when she's asleep. She would much prefer to be upright, sitting in her bouncy seat or bumbo, or held tightly on my hip!  

She wants to see what's going on, {take it in}, make sure it's all sorted out, and not miss a thing!

She's started this wonderful thing she does with her {tongue}.

And she looks so darn {cute} when she does it! Don't you think? ;)

She's also already preparing for a career in music...or ballet....or something {dramatic} with her arms/hands!

She's even picked up a little of her sister's Derek Zoolander face. Agree?

But it's this {smile} that I love seeing. It's more frequent and common every day. I'm so thankful for her bright eyes and little curls already growing. I'm so thankful for her desire to watch and observe her surroundings.

We are so {blessed} to have you little one!

Audrey Kate tends to be considered more {laid back}. She doesn't usually mind being soaking wet with spit up. She'll still play on the floor or in the bouncy seat for what seems like hours at least several minutes! She loves to gradually turn her body as she lays on the floor. While she's not the biggest fan of being on her tummy, she's learned to almost immediately prop her arms up, hold her head up high, and {roll} to her back!

Her little cry is now a tad hoarse from the reflux. And even though I know she's not calling my name, it breaks my heart when she cries and says {mamamama} at the same time.

I adore watching her interact with her big sister. Addie does the Audrey Kate dance and AK just coos and giggles at her. When Anne Perry is laying next to her, she automatically grabs for her, which can sometimes end their close play. But bottom lines, she loves people and loves {interacting}!

 

Unfortunately this little laid back girl has hit the {teething} stage as well. She can fit her entire fist in her mouth, but she is almost always chewing on a few fingers! She's the first to wake us up at night right now (which the teething has restarted), so I can't help but wonder if she's {growing} again!

and believe it or not, shes can put herself to sleep in her bed in an unswaddled sleepsack with a lovey and paci. my favorite thing is to look over the crib when she wakes up, catch her eye and watch her break into the cutest {grin}!

And I'm not sure you can see it here, but she's got this fabulous {fuzzy} hair. It's so soft, and I love rubbing my hand lightly over it!

and when she's sleepy she {rubs} her eyes and wants her paci!

Her little squinty smile makes her look so much like her {daddy}, and I simply adore seeing it!

I am so thankful for her fuzzy hair and hoarse cry. i am so thankful for her happy smile and social self.

God has really blessed us with two more precious little girls!

Psalm 46: 10-11

Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth."  

The LORD Almighty is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress.