Feeding the Ducks

A few weeks ago {yes, it's inevitable that I'm behind}, I took the girls to feed the ducks and have a picnic at the park. The weather was gorgeous, and I {bravely} brought my camera along.

When people comment on the little girls behavior {one being the mean one or one being the loud one or one pitching more fits or one being more laid back}, I've started to respond with only one thing: they are about as different as their hair. Because they are, and there are very few people {really just the people who live with them 24/7} that have any room to compare them, especially framing one of them in a negative light.

But feeding the ducks brought out their differences {of the day}. I never know who's going to be shy in situations and who's going to be shy with other people. I never know who's going to be more cautious and who's going to be daring.

Because it literally changes all.the.time!

As you may remember from this post, one was feeling a little more daring than the other that day...

And it carried right over into feeding the ducks.

Anne Perry would have attempted to walk on that water had I let her get that far. There wasn't a hissing goose or a jumping duck that deterred her!

Audrey Kate, on the other hand, stayed right about here. Can you see her wrapped securely between my legs with Addie's hand sweetly resting on her head?

Addie was being so brave, but a duck (or goose) came up behind her and nipped at her hand...

...and she came undone!

So I led my little ducks back to the car, and we headed to the park for picnic!

This little one continued to be less adventurous and tended to sit or crawl on the playground rather than run around.

But this little one {quite determinedly} went head on into things.

I love how different our little girls can be. I love how similar they can be. I love who each of them is individually...and how perfectly wonderful they are all together!

Perfectly wonderful...not perfect! ;)

Happy Monday (or Tuesday as it is now!)!

Flashback Friday

After almost losing {all} of my digital pictures, I've had to go back through and reorganize things from the recovery.

When I click on 2010, one of the first sets of pictures that pop up are those last few weeks of {belly pictures}.

This time last year, I was very, very, very pregnant with the little girls.

There was very limited {sleep}.

Many {aches} and pains.

But without a shadow of a doubt, we knew we were incredibly {blessed} to be where we were...only days away from being 38 weeks.

Not much has changed. 

There are still sleepless {interrupted} nights, although much fewer and farther between.

My arms and back {ache} at the end of the day from carrying around over 40lbs between the two little girls, but I've certainly developed some arm muscles.

And we are still, without a shadow of a doubt, incredibly {blessed} to be exactly where we are.

But what has changed is this:

(that was almost 13 lbs of baby right there almost a year ago to the day...holy wow I was huge!)

And what joy and happiness this brings me to see these sweet {serious} little faces staring back at me!

(thank you Lori for this great picture you took for us at Thomas' party!)

Almost a year later.

Then again, maybe a {whole lot} really has changed!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

Psalm 139:13-14

9 Months

As of about a week and a half ago, the babies are now officially 10 months old.

That doesn't mean I've managed to do their 8 or 9 month posts though.

I posted the fewest times in the month of February since I started this blog when Addie was born. 

That says a lot about our month.

So I'm going to combine them.

Nine {and eight} months people.

I know I say it each month, but it's flying by!

These past 2 months:

Anne Perry

Anne Perry has decided clapping and giving high-fives are the best things ever and loves to put things on/over her head! She's great at "saying" more and is finally eating solid foods as well as she was eating baby food! Her fine motor skills are rather extraordinary (to me at least :).

 

After her bout with the flu, she managed to develop not one but two ear infections; and the second antibiotic did not agree with her! She had quite the intense reaction to a cousin of penicillin but is finally back to her happy, laughing self!

 

Her two teeth still remain her only teeth. Not crawling hasn't bothered her until recently. She could bend at the waste and reach so far that she never needed to move from her little spot in the middle of all the toys.

 

That is until now. She gets so frustrated when Audrey Kate crawls away and doesn't hesitate to let us know it! She's just started flopping over to her belly and swimming by kicking her legs and waving her arms. The up on all fours rocking has just started too. I have a feeling this girl will be crawling before we know it!

She is typically all smiles and lots of (loud) talking. When we're out, she loves to make eye contact with people and breaks into a huge grin when they acknowledge her. She much prefers to be in Mommy's arms, especially when I'm holding someone else, and lets me know with a big poked out bottom lip! I love her passionate disposition and strong reactions to her surroundings. It's become more and more apparent to me why she was one (of three) survivors last October. We are so thankful that God has blessed us with this little girl!

 

Anne Perry has managed to almost keep up with her big sister's head size. It doesn't look to be on the large size, but I can certainly tell a difference when I try to put clothes over it! Her weight and length seem to have evened out in the 50th%ile for now. But even with that, carrying the two little ones is the equivalent of carrying one Addie (very near 40 lbs)!

weight: 19lbs 6 oz/50th%ile     (from 17lbs 9.5oz/75th%ile at 6 months)

length: 28cm/50th%ile     (from 26.8 inches/75th-90th%ile at 6 months)
head circumference: 46.7cm/90th%ile     (from 44.2cm/90th%ile at 6 months)

Audrey Kate

 

Audrey Kate is on.the.move! She pretty much took off on February 5th! There is no keeping this girl in one place.

 

By the end of the day, the little tops of her feet are red from crawling, but she is not a fan of socks. She is excellent at pulling herself up to her knees but has just now started sticking her leg out to balance on a foot. She isn't pulling up yet; but when you stand her up, she will stay steady holding onto something, especially the side of her crib.  Her gross motor skills are rather extraordinary (to me at least!).

She has finally convinced me that jarred baby food (or any baby food for that matter) is yucky and that an entire diet of table food is completely appropriate for her (at 8 months!). She eats and eats and eats and hardly spills anything! I think her sweet little cheeks are proof of that!

We've discovered a more, let's say, determine side of Audrey Kate. Surprisingly, she's got some pretty significant stranger anxiety and will tear up if she isn't sure of someone or doesn't like a loud noise. She just wants to be near the familiar or to be able to reach out and hold your hand for that reassuring touch.

Audrey Kate is such a happy baby! She adores her big sister and loves to be kissed on! It has also become more apparent to me why this little girl is also a surviver. Her go-with-the-flow self will usually adjust and adapt to her surroundings, as long as Mommy or Daddy are near. One of my favorite things about Audrey Kate is that when I pick her up, she wraps her little arms around my neck and holds on. What a precious blessing she is to our family!

While Audrey Kate's head seems to be getting larger by the numbers, it's still smaller than her sisters; but most people would guess that her's is the larger of the two. I'm pretty sure her sweet squishy cheeks play a role in that. She's managed to stay right about average in weight and height (but just enough ahead of her twin sister in weight to see a difference).

weight:  19 lbs 10.5 oz/50th %ile      (from 16lbs 8.5oz/50th-75th%ile at 6 months

length: 27.375 inches/50th%ile     (from 27.2 inches/90th%ile at 6 months...I think this was over measured then)

head circumference:  44.6cm/75th%ile    (from 42.5cm/50th%ile at 6 months)

Between the two of them, we managed to visit the doctor 4 (legitimate too) times in only 8 days due to so much yuckiness! We love our Dr. B, but that's a little excessive. Spring and summer, where art thou?

These sweet baby girls are now in big girl convertible car seats and love having more room! Addie sits in between them and is a huge help replacing paci's and handing off toys. Of course, she never takes anything from them or gets frustrated when they bother her or grab her arm! They are attending Kindermusik each week with me, and we all three love it! Their newest foods are cheese and yogurt, and they love both! Their new favorite is a sundried tomato or spinach tortilla "sandwich" spread with cream cheese.

It's been so much fun to start seeing the little girls interact with each other and with Addie more. I learned quickly not to sit them too close to each other when toys are involved. Riding in the Publix cart proved to be a little challenging because there was always one who wanted what the other had (yes, I'm seeing a trend here already). Addie loves to make them laugh, but I'm afraid she loves to hear them scream too. Much of the time she's super sweet and helpful.

I know I've already posted the pictures below, but I think they sum up our little girls nicely! As unique and different at they are, there is a sweet bond there, more than sisters...more like twins.

We love you Anne Perry and Audrey Kate. We pray daily for your sweet hearts and continue to be amazed and honored to be your parents!

We love because he first loved us.

I John 4:19

Double What?

Ok. So I admit. I'm getting a little weary of random strangers commenting on our baby girls.

The most commonly asked question: Are they twins?

My kind response: Yes {smile}, knowing they are just trying to make conversation. And I usually add, and this is their wonderful big sister. (who then promptly yells at them that they can't have her baby sisters!)

My honest thoughts: Really? No, I just carry around two babies under one and dress them alike just for fun! Don't you?

Top 4 Things NOT to Say to the Mom of Twins: (no, I couldn't think of 5 nor could i narrow it to 3 :)

4.) Double Trouble: Double the work? Yes, try triple or quadruple the work. But Double Trouble? Does that mean since you have 2 children that you have double the trouble? Just because they are the same age doesn't mean they are more trouble! They are my children, not any trouble! Double.the.Blessing. Thank.you.very.much!

3.) You can just put one in my cart and I'll take her home: (this is when Addie goes postal!) Um. No. Don't even joke about that. They are all mine. God has given every one of them to Paul and me. What a huge responsibility and what a huge blessing. Would you give away one of your kids just because you have three? NO! So don't joke with me about taking one of mine!

2.) Oh, she smiles more. She must be the happy baby: No, you're just not standing two inches from her nose like you are her sister who's got a terrified look on her face because you are invading her personal space! Get.out.of.my.babies.face. Don't.touch.their.hands. Don't.touch.their.cheeks! You have germs, and I don't want them! Take a step back please!

1.) Which one's the bad one? Ok now really people. The bad one? How about just say, which one's your favorite. Because what I want to say is: oh, this one's the bad one. We just tolerate her! Want to take her home?

We love each of our girls for their uniqueness and already evolving individuality! They are all 3 so different and yet so similar at the same time! It's one thing to discuss what one child is doing or another child is doing, but there's just no need to classify or compare them! Having twins means having two individual children...as Paul says, not a two headed multi-pooping monster! ;)

And since this post is chalk full of sarcasm, I have to include some pictures of our current bad twin. She's a crawler and has discovered something I never dreamed she would get into! With all the construction we've had going on in our house, it's even somewhat ironic!

And because really, she's my favorite! {wink, wink} ;)

4 Months

I don't know why it's taken me so long to write this post. Well, maybe I do; but I've at least had the pictures ready since the beginning of September!

4 months. 

Four months.

1/3 of a year.

So much change!

 

Consistent naps are slowly but surely developing. 

Night time joyfully looks more like sleep-ful nights instead of sleepless ones! 

Love their hands, 

love to kick their little legs, 

love to drum their little tummies with their excited arms. 

Heads held high on strong little necks, 

backs arch stiffly, 

feet stand firmly, 

legs bounce rhythmically.

Sweet priceless smiles, 

little tiny giggles, 

screeching squeals.

Clicking tongues,

raspberry noises.

Adore their big sister!

2 months *** 4 months

Anne Perry continues to watch and observe others.
Gets this awful red ring in the folds of her neck.
Loves playing with toys in her bouncy seat.
Passionate about not staying in her poppy diapers!

weight: 15 lbs 6 oz/90th%ile (from 11 lbs 10 oz/75th%ile at 2 months)

length: 25.125/75th%ile (from 23.5 inches/90th%ile at 2 months)

head circumference: 42.4 cm/75th%ile (from 39.4 cm/50th%ile at 2 months)






Audrey Kate almost immediately smiles and talks to people.
Gives a warning burp before soaking anything and everything around her.
Had her toe bitten...by one-sister-who-will-remain-nameless.
Is completely fascinated with her hands and great at holding toys!

weight: 14 lbs 9 oz/75th%ile (from 11 lbs 12 oz/75th%ile at 2 month)
length: 24.875 inches/75th%ile (from 23.25 inches/90th%ile at 2 months)
head circumference: 41.4 cm/50-75th%ile (from 38.5 cm/25-50th%ile at 2 months)

And lest you think we actually managed to capture both girls smiling at exactly the same time...I present to you the first of many head transplanted pictures! ;)

Precious

priceless

prayed for

angels!

Flashback Friday: Thankful

I decided I'd wait to post until

I missed it

I started writing new posts in my bl@ckberry again

I remembered how much I enjoyed it

I was, as a friend said, less "over" everything:

OVER whelmed

OVER housed

OVER it

And here I am, missing it and wanting to share

The house is bad and getting worse.

One baby step forward

Two giant steps back.

What did me in?

We found out our AC unit, installed a mere 2 years ago, was installed without a permit and has major code violations that could harm our family, not to mention our house.

Mama bear kicked in.

I am thankful for

a house to have problems with

a family to love and be loved by

a general contractor who knows what he's talking about,

and the fact that i can write in phrases and end 4 thoughts with prepositions and not lose points for it.

Flashback Friday:

1 Month

4 Months

Yeah...pretty much 

melts 

my 

heart

♥

Diapers

We've gone through a LOT of diapers over the past 2+ months.

Like 1,500!

So as the girls have gotten bigger, we've gotten braver.

I started primarily using cloth diapers with Addie when she was 6 months old.

Why would I do such a crazy, insane thing?

1.) attempting to avoid the chemicals found in and created by disposables
2.) the extreme amount of waste we were producing
3.) expense

Why have I already started using them with Anne Perry and Audrey Kate?

1.) expense!

No matter what incredible sales you find or what coupons you stockpile, there is no getting around that diapers are expensive!!!

We have been so blessed by friends and family to only have to buy a very small portion of the disposables we've used, but we have about 10 days left of size 1 disposables.

So we took the plunge. And aren't they cute?

!

These are gdiapers. I have 6 smalls. They are a little different than our bumGenius diapers we will eventually use full time. I kind of feel like I'm cheating. These have biodegradable (and chlorine free) liners that look like ginormous maxi-pads that you insert into the diaper liner. The diapers rarely get soiled because of the plastic liner inside them, so very little washing!

The downside? Unlike the bumGenius we use, these are size specific. The upside? They are perfect for tiny little 2 month old bottoms!

Wordless Wednesday: Sweet Hands

Because I Can...

...and nothing lasts forever.

So I'll get multiples of this one shot...

...just because I can!

RieRie Love

Oh how I love my mom.

There are a lot of people who have helped us over the past 9 months, and we are SO thankful; but there's no denying that there's just something about having your mama there for you. I am so thankful she is off for the summer and has been able to help me make this transition from one to three! She's patient, consistent, helpful and kind and loving with her words. She's got stuffing cloth diapers down, loves to give Addie her bath, and has folded more of our laundry than I have over the past 6 weeks. She knows when to make suggestions and knows when it's best to let me figure it out on my own. She's my mom.

And she can even juggle TWO babies!

This is how I burp the girls after I feed them, but then they need to be upright for at least 20 minutes...and sometimes I need to get up to care for Addie or do the dishes or take a shower! And I am so thankful that she can juggle the girls too! It takes some serious practice!

So I plopped the girls down on RieRie's shoulders, propped everyone up, and accomplished something. I just can't recall what it was!?!

As I was taking pictures, Addie yelled "Take my picture MOMMY!" alternated by "DON'T TAKE my PICTURE Mommy!" You can imagine what she was yelling here...

(sorry for the blur. I was across the room and she was JUMPING up and down! not ideal picture taking circumstances.) 

Sweet Audrey Kate

Sweet Anne Perry

Thank you Mom for being there for us and making such a huge sacrifice of your time to serve others! We love you RieRie!

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;...

...Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:26-30