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After lunch, we walked to the library to vote (Virginia has random election years) then to the grocery store to return a DVD and then over to the park to play in the leaves. The boys had so much fun and I got some cute fall pictures- win, win!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Leaves
Today was very productive for us (especially considering that most days I don't even step outside the apartment). Brandon went to work late today and then went straight to class so I left the boys with him and ran to Target and Trader Joe's this morning. I got some great deals at Target too! After Brandon left for work, I cooked some sweet potatoes and squash for the boys. We ate some of it for lunch along with some cheese and leftover chicken. I bet they wish I always fed them that good!
After lunch, we walked to the library to vote (Virginia has random election years) then to the grocery store to return a DVD and then over to the park to play in the leaves. The boys had so much fun and I got some cute fall pictures- win, win!
After lunch, we walked to the library to vote (Virginia has random election years) then to the grocery store to return a DVD and then over to the park to play in the leaves. The boys had so much fun and I got some cute fall pictures- win, win!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween!
From the two cutest little paperboys I've ever seen!
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get two 10 month olds to sit still with hats on their head for a picture?
Anybody else have an urge to watch Newsies???
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get two 10 month olds to sit still with hats on their head for a picture?
We got this bike for free a couple of weeks ago and they just LOVE it!!
Anybody else have an urge to watch Newsies???Friday, October 30, 2009
Hmmm...
Apparently, if you dress up like a burrito (or salad, burrito bowl, taco, etc.) , you can get a free burrito from Chipotle tomorrow.
I'm trying to decide if it's worth wrapping myself up in tinfoil.
I think yes.
I'm trying to decide if it's worth wrapping myself up in tinfoil.
I think yes.
BFF's
Our good friends the Lugbills who moved to Louisville this summer came back for a visit last week. We were so happy to see them again! Silas is only 3 months younger than Jack and Cullen and they're all the best of friends! We had Jessica and Silas over for a playdate and though my boys mainly pulled Silas' hair (they must have been jealous!) they seemed to have a great time playing together. The next time we see the Lugbills, all 3 boys will probably be running around. Crazy to think that's not too far off! Here are some pictures of the boys with their BFF Silas.
Jessica, I think this pic of Silas is just to die for! So cute!!!
Jessica, I think this pic of Silas is just to die for! So cute!!!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
10 Months!
*I would guess that they weigh around 19-20 pounds, but my scale's not really that reliable.
*They are still wearing 6-9 month clothes and some 6-12 month, depending on the brand. (The other day I tried a 3-6 month sweater from Janie and Jack on Cullen and it was HUGE, who comes up with these sizes anyways?)
*They are super speedy crawlers, especially Cullen. Once he got the hang of it, he started going as fast as he could.
*They love to pull up on everything, especially Jack. They get so proud of themselves for standing up on their own. I always catch them looking at me with a little smirk after they've just pulled themselves up as if to say, "Did you see that, Mom? Pretty cool, huh?!"
*Cullen spends most of his time chasing the cats around the house. He squeals and takes off after them. Once he gets within a foot of them, they get up and run away. Then he squeals again and follows them to their new spot.
*They are eating almost all finger foods now. I am working on using up most of our pureed food before they absolutely refuse to eat it any longer. Also, if it's something particularly messy (like blueberries) I mix it into cereal and spoon feed them. As long as I haven't given them any Cheerios or anything they'll usually eat the whole bowl.
*Jack's favorite food seems to be chicken, Cullen's is definitely cheese. He could have 99 cheerios on his plate but he'd find the one piece of cheese and gobble it up first. I often catch him reaching over to Jack's tray and stealing the cheese.
*Mealtime is SO messy!! Cullen's method of eating is to grasp as much food as he can in his two fists and then try to shove it into his mouth simultaneously. Usually only a piece or two will make it in there and the other dozen pieces will fall onto the tray (if I'm lucky) or onto his seat or the floor. Jack is much better about picking up only one or two pieces of food at a time and making sure they get into his mouth. But, whenever I spoon feed them, Jack likes to spit out most of his mouthful into his hands and then feed it back into his mouth himself. I can't win.
*They let me know they want more food by pounding on their trays and growling at me. Cullen sometimes does this if he just wants more cheese, even if his tray is full with other foods.
*Two of Cullen's teeth have broken through. A few days ago I felt a sharp tooth instead of just gums, now I can just barely see them.
*Jack's bald spot has all grown back in but poor Cullen still has his. It's almost gone though.
*Bath time is crazy nowadays. They are both trying to stand up and crawl all over the tub. I can't keep my hands on both of them constantly so bath time is very stressful to me. Plus, by the time it's over, I'm sometimes soaked from their splashing. We may have to go back to bathing them one at a time.
*They totally cry for attention now. I'm not sure if this is normal for other babies their age, but they never really did it before. Now, they'll crawl over to me, raise their arms and start crying. They also cry if I'm holding their brother, if their brother takes away a toy they're playing with or if you stop playing with them before they're ready. I guess this is their best way of expressing what they want, for a few more months at least.
*Jack loves to play peek-a-boo. And not just when Mommy hides, he loves to hide himself! He'll take a blanket, pull it over his face and then lower it quickly. When you yell 'peek-a-boo' and clap for him, he just falls to pieces laughing.
*A few nights ago, I pulled out two old cell phones and gave them to the boys as toys. They now carry them around the house and suck on them constantly. Yay, I love a free toy!
*They're usually very active but they've also become slightly more cuddly lately too. Especially Jack, sometimes he'll just sit with me in the rocking chair for a half hour. They also give me lots of hugs and squeezes and 'love pats' (ok, they're really just hitting me but that's what they do to show excitement). And when they're sleepy, they just cuddle up and nuzzle their faces into my shoulder. I just love it!
*As you could tell from that video I posted a few days ago, they love each other and interact all the time now. It's funny too, because they'll interact with each other but not really with other babies. I see them in the church nursery and they watch the other kids but never try to play with them. At home, they like to wrestle, stand up together, pull each other down, and steal toys. Sometimes they upset the other one, but most of the time they're laughing together and it just melts my heart!
*They are still wearing 6-9 month clothes and some 6-12 month, depending on the brand. (The other day I tried a 3-6 month sweater from Janie and Jack on Cullen and it was HUGE, who comes up with these sizes anyways?)
*They are super speedy crawlers, especially Cullen. Once he got the hang of it, he started going as fast as he could.
*They love to pull up on everything, especially Jack. They get so proud of themselves for standing up on their own. I always catch them looking at me with a little smirk after they've just pulled themselves up as if to say, "Did you see that, Mom? Pretty cool, huh?!"
*Cullen spends most of his time chasing the cats around the house. He squeals and takes off after them. Once he gets within a foot of them, they get up and run away. Then he squeals again and follows them to their new spot.
*They are eating almost all finger foods now. I am working on using up most of our pureed food before they absolutely refuse to eat it any longer. Also, if it's something particularly messy (like blueberries) I mix it into cereal and spoon feed them. As long as I haven't given them any Cheerios or anything they'll usually eat the whole bowl.
*Jack's favorite food seems to be chicken, Cullen's is definitely cheese. He could have 99 cheerios on his plate but he'd find the one piece of cheese and gobble it up first. I often catch him reaching over to Jack's tray and stealing the cheese.
*Mealtime is SO messy!! Cullen's method of eating is to grasp as much food as he can in his two fists and then try to shove it into his mouth simultaneously. Usually only a piece or two will make it in there and the other dozen pieces will fall onto the tray (if I'm lucky) or onto his seat or the floor. Jack is much better about picking up only one or two pieces of food at a time and making sure they get into his mouth. But, whenever I spoon feed them, Jack likes to spit out most of his mouthful into his hands and then feed it back into his mouth himself. I can't win.
*They let me know they want more food by pounding on their trays and growling at me. Cullen sometimes does this if he just wants more cheese, even if his tray is full with other foods.
*Two of Cullen's teeth have broken through. A few days ago I felt a sharp tooth instead of just gums, now I can just barely see them.
*Jack's bald spot has all grown back in but poor Cullen still has his. It's almost gone though.
*Bath time is crazy nowadays. They are both trying to stand up and crawl all over the tub. I can't keep my hands on both of them constantly so bath time is very stressful to me. Plus, by the time it's over, I'm sometimes soaked from their splashing. We may have to go back to bathing them one at a time.
*They totally cry for attention now. I'm not sure if this is normal for other babies their age, but they never really did it before. Now, they'll crawl over to me, raise their arms and start crying. They also cry if I'm holding their brother, if their brother takes away a toy they're playing with or if you stop playing with them before they're ready. I guess this is their best way of expressing what they want, for a few more months at least.
*Jack loves to play peek-a-boo. And not just when Mommy hides, he loves to hide himself! He'll take a blanket, pull it over his face and then lower it quickly. When you yell 'peek-a-boo' and clap for him, he just falls to pieces laughing.
*A few nights ago, I pulled out two old cell phones and gave them to the boys as toys. They now carry them around the house and suck on them constantly. Yay, I love a free toy!
*They're usually very active but they've also become slightly more cuddly lately too. Especially Jack, sometimes he'll just sit with me in the rocking chair for a half hour. They also give me lots of hugs and squeezes and 'love pats' (ok, they're really just hitting me but that's what they do to show excitement). And when they're sleepy, they just cuddle up and nuzzle their faces into my shoulder. I just love it!
*As you could tell from that video I posted a few days ago, they love each other and interact all the time now. It's funny too, because they'll interact with each other but not really with other babies. I see them in the church nursery and they watch the other kids but never try to play with them. At home, they like to wrestle, stand up together, pull each other down, and steal toys. Sometimes they upset the other one, but most of the time they're laughing together and it just melts my heart!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Prepare Yourselves Grandmas
Make sure you're sitting down before you watch this because you just might faint from all the cuteness!! I just LOVE watching Jack and Cullen interact more and more as they get older. This is the best part of my day!
Welcome to the World Beautiful Lillian!!
I would like to introduce all of you to my future daughter-in-law Lillian Joy Jacobs! Isn't she precious?! I won't get to meet her until Christmastime but I already love her!Shauna and Jon, we're all SO SO SO happy for you guys! May God bless you and your new daughter!
P.S. I showed her picture to Jack and Cullen, and they both think she's quite the looker! They were captivated instantly. I knew they would be! Please post more pictures so we can all adore little Lillian some more!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
This Week's Pictures
It's been a pretty low-key week. We've mainly been hanging out at home, the highlight of our day is when Brandon's home! I joined a new small group out here in Alexandria a few weeks ago which is much more convenient than driving all the way to the city and having to get someone to help me bring the boys inside the church. That's on Wednesday mornings so I can at least count on one outing during the week. And it's encouraging to meet with other ladies and have grown-up conversations. I'm so thankful for it already!
And there's no denying that fall is here! The leaves are changing and the weather is getting much colder. Today and yesterday were pretty warm but last week was freezing!! It's getting harder and harder to get outside but we've still gone on a couple walks this week.
And the boys are chugging right along, trying new foods and pulling up on everything! This week we tried chicken and they are LOVING it! Jack smacks his lips the whole time he's eating it, it's way cute! And last weekend, nearly 2 months after they first started rocking on their knees, they suddenly started legitimately crawling- like on their knees, putting one leg in front of the other and moving their arms. They seem to have realized that this is faster and easier than pulling themselves across the floor on their bellies. Cullen's new favorite destination is the bathroom and the cat's litter box. I try to keep the bathroom door closed during the day and we have a baby gate partially in front of the litter box, but I am constantly having to pull him away from it. I have racked my brain and can't think of a good way to keep the boys away from the litter box that still allows the cats to get in and out since they're relatively all the same size. Any suggestions?
Oh and Jack sometimes waves and claps and just today started participating in peek-a-boo! It was so fun, he would put a burp cloth over his head and pull it back down looking at me and waiting for me to shout peek-a-boo. Then he'd giggle and do it all over again, I loved it! I would love to get this on video but they seem to have a habit of freezing whenever they see a camera, I have to be sneaky about it ;-)
Anyways, here are some pictures:
After devouring a teething biscuit
Just chillin on the floor
Cullen playing his favorite game: taking books off the bookshelf and scattering them. Endless fun!
Cullen had a pretty tough time getting to sleep one day, I pretty much had to let him cry it out. Then I sneaked back in to make sure he was actually asleep and I found him like this.
And there's no denying that fall is here! The leaves are changing and the weather is getting much colder. Today and yesterday were pretty warm but last week was freezing!! It's getting harder and harder to get outside but we've still gone on a couple walks this week.
And the boys are chugging right along, trying new foods and pulling up on everything! This week we tried chicken and they are LOVING it! Jack smacks his lips the whole time he's eating it, it's way cute! And last weekend, nearly 2 months after they first started rocking on their knees, they suddenly started legitimately crawling- like on their knees, putting one leg in front of the other and moving their arms. They seem to have realized that this is faster and easier than pulling themselves across the floor on their bellies. Cullen's new favorite destination is the bathroom and the cat's litter box. I try to keep the bathroom door closed during the day and we have a baby gate partially in front of the litter box, but I am constantly having to pull him away from it. I have racked my brain and can't think of a good way to keep the boys away from the litter box that still allows the cats to get in and out since they're relatively all the same size. Any suggestions?
Oh and Jack sometimes waves and claps and just today started participating in peek-a-boo! It was so fun, he would put a burp cloth over his head and pull it back down looking at me and waiting for me to shout peek-a-boo. Then he'd giggle and do it all over again, I loved it! I would love to get this on video but they seem to have a habit of freezing whenever they see a camera, I have to be sneaky about it ;-)
Anyways, here are some pictures:
This is the first time Jack stood up in his crib, as you can see, he's pretty pleased with himself. (Needless to say, we moved the mattress down immediately.)
After devouring a teething biscuit
Just chillin on the floor
Cullen playing his favorite game: taking books off the bookshelf and scattering them. Endless fun!
Cullen had a pretty tough time getting to sleep one day, I pretty much had to let him cry it out. Then I sneaked back in to make sure he was actually asleep and I found him like this.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Dinner Time
Jack and Cullen have been really into feeding themselves lately. Sometimes they flat out refuse to eat when I try to spoon-feed them. They'll clench their mouths shut and swat the spoon away. So I go along with their newfound independence and let them eat mostly finger foods nowadays. This has been great, but it makes about 10x the mess. Usually I only let them eat non-messy foods but I figured I could only justify feeding them nothing but Cheerios for so long. They needed some actual nutrition. So... the boys tried some new foods this week, including Colby Jack cheese, banana chunks, blueberries, broccoli, and the now-infamous black beans! What a mess! Luckily, I had the foresight to strip them down before letting them eat the beans- but their seats, bodies and the floor were all completely covered in beans! They were so darn cute eating them, though, so I guess I didn't mind spending the next 45 minutes cleaning up :-/
P.S. Notice how Cullen wiggles his feet every time he gets a bite in his mouth! haha
P.P.S. These were taken last week while they were still a little sick, hence the yucky coughs. Also, we have the loudest dishwasher in existence.
P.S. Notice how Cullen wiggles his feet every time he gets a bite in his mouth! haha
P.P.S. These were taken last week while they were still a little sick, hence the yucky coughs. Also, we have the loudest dishwasher in existence.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
This Week's Pictures
We've had a rough couple of days. We were all pretty sick over the weekend. Both boys had a runny nose and cough and poor Jack had a fever and diarrhea to go with it. No more fevers or diarrhea, but we're still recovering. And (I realize I've said this like a dozen times before, but this time I'm sure of it) they actually are teething now, I can feel sharp little ridges below their gums. I have no idea how long it takes for the teeth to actually break through (hopefully quickly) but they're definitely on the way. They've been extra fussy lately due to that too. I'm talking full-blown meltdowns if they're put on the floor or bored or if anything else happens to set them off. I've been giving them Tylenol and teething gel, but they don't seem to want anything in their mouths at all. They will push out your finger (before, they used to love gnawing on fingers) and they don't like the teething rings or frozen washcloths I've been offering them. Last night, Jack did enjoy a teething biscuit but tonight wanted nothing to do with it. By the way, why did nobody tell me that those "teething biscuits" are like the messiest food out there? Jack was covered head to toe in sticky crumbs. Next time I'm going to strip him down and make him eat it in the bathtub. But at least he was happy for those 30 minutes that it took him to eat it. *Sigh* Wish I could say the same about tonight... Anyways, here are some pictures from this week:
This is their first try standing up all by themselves, they do it all the time now. They can even pull themselves up occasionally. During their nap today I suddenly heard Jack screaming at the top of his lungs. I ran in there and saw him standing up, clinging to the crib rails, facing the wall and wailing. I guess he had stood himself up and couldn't figure out how to get back down again!
Some naked pictures of Cullen, thankfully he didn't pee on the carpet :-)
Helping Mommy sort coupons. We have a pretty efficient system. I place the coupons in a neat pile on the coffee table. Cullen reaches up, pulls them all down and then he and Jack spend the next half hour scattering them all over the living room.
This is their first try standing up all by themselves, they do it all the time now. They can even pull themselves up occasionally. During their nap today I suddenly heard Jack screaming at the top of his lungs. I ran in there and saw him standing up, clinging to the crib rails, facing the wall and wailing. I guess he had stood himself up and couldn't figure out how to get back down again!
Some naked pictures of Cullen, thankfully he didn't pee on the carpet :-)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Fall Fun!
On Saturday we took a day trip up to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and we had a blast! It's only 2 hours away so it felt like a little getaway but we didn't have to spend all day in the car. This was the boys' longest road trip so far but they did great! Hardly any fussing! Once we got there, we stopped for diaper changes and to get some fresh air before heading out on a 3+ hour drive through Amish country! I just loved it up there, the rolling hills, everything is so green (it reminded me of Washington), the quaint little farms and countryside, not to mention the Amish people everywhere! We saw a few buggies driving along, some women hanging up their laundry outside, and some Amish kids playing in their yards. By far the coolest thing we saw though was two little Amish boys in straw hats (no more than 5 or 6 years old) driving along in a little cart pulled by a 'horse' the size of a golden retriever! (I didn't even know horses could be that small, Brandon told me they're called Shetland ponies). I freaked out and started shouting "Shut up! What was that? Did we really just see that?!" We tried to get a picture but by the time we could turn around and go back, the kids had disappeared. I suggested to Brandon that maybe we should become Amish, he told me I wouldn't last 5 minutes doing chores without modern appliances (probably true), so then I suggested that we at least buy a little pony and build a miniature cart for Jack and Cullen to ride around in. I can just see it now! They would love it! Here's a picture I found on Google to give you an idea of how cute this was, except the kids we saw were younger and their cart was a bit smaller.
Here's Jack, all ready for the drive!
A beautiful country road
One of the covered bridges we saw on our drive. They are all historically preserved now but you're still able to drive through them.
A young Amish couple driving into town.
After our drive, we got lunch at Olive Garden. The boys did so well in the restaurant, they just ate some cheese, bananas and breadsticks. And I think every single employee there came over to gush about how cute they were. They loved all the attention! After lunch, we drove over to a pumpkin patch and took some pictures of the boys. They were so adorable, Jack was a little infatuated with the scarecrow behind them and they both loved standing up next to the pumpkins.
I can't believe my big boys can stand up now!
We had such a fun day, I'm so glad we did it! The boys have been a little sick for the past few days, but I think the trip was actually good for them because they napped in the car much better than they normally do at home. We also stayed true with No-Spend Month as the only money we spent the entire day (aside from gas money) was $2 to buy pumpkins for the boys. I packed snacks for us and hot apple cider from home for the drive up there. We split a meal and had a gift certificate for Olive Garden that even covered the tip! Also, Brandon was able to take the day and make the trip because we listened to Contracts lectures the entire way there and during most our Amish country drive and I read him Torts flashcards on the way home. Studying while driving- killed two birds with one stone! We can't wait to take the boys back again next year!
Here's Jack, all ready for the drive!
A beautiful country road
One of the covered bridges we saw on our drive. They are all historically preserved now but you're still able to drive through them.
A young Amish couple driving into town.
After our drive, we got lunch at Olive Garden. The boys did so well in the restaurant, they just ate some cheese, bananas and breadsticks. And I think every single employee there came over to gush about how cute they were. They loved all the attention! After lunch, we drove over to a pumpkin patch and took some pictures of the boys. They were so adorable, Jack was a little infatuated with the scarecrow behind them and they both loved standing up next to the pumpkins.
I can't believe my big boys can stand up now!
We had such a fun day, I'm so glad we did it! The boys have been a little sick for the past few days, but I think the trip was actually good for them because they napped in the car much better than they normally do at home. We also stayed true with No-Spend Month as the only money we spent the entire day (aside from gas money) was $2 to buy pumpkins for the boys. I packed snacks for us and hot apple cider from home for the drive up there. We split a meal and had a gift certificate for Olive Garden that even covered the tip! Also, Brandon was able to take the day and make the trip because we listened to Contracts lectures the entire way there and during most our Amish country drive and I read him Torts flashcards on the way home. Studying while driving- killed two birds with one stone! We can't wait to take the boys back again next year!Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Auntie Kim
It has a nice ring to it doesn't it?!?!
I just found out that I'm going to be an aunt for the first time, whoop whoop! My sister Renee is pregnant and due at the end of May. Maybe I will get to share a birthday with my niece/nephew!
I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. Jack and Cullen are excited for the arrival of their first cousin! And Brandon will be an uncle for the first time too!
I am already getting girl vibes even though she's only about 6-8 weeks along. It might just be wishful thinking, but... I have been right about the last 6 babies I predicted. I hope I'm right about this too!
Yay, yay, yay!! Renee and Jon, you are going to be great parents! We're all praying for you!
Oh, and Shauna's due at the end of the month so I'll have a non-official "niece" in just a few weeks too! I just LOVE babies!! Keep em coming!
I just found out that I'm going to be an aunt for the first time, whoop whoop! My sister Renee is pregnant and due at the end of May. Maybe I will get to share a birthday with my niece/nephew!
I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. Jack and Cullen are excited for the arrival of their first cousin! And Brandon will be an uncle for the first time too!
I am already getting girl vibes even though she's only about 6-8 weeks along. It might just be wishful thinking, but... I have been right about the last 6 babies I predicted. I hope I'm right about this too!
Yay, yay, yay!! Renee and Jon, you are going to be great parents! We're all praying for you!
Oh, and Shauna's due at the end of the month so I'll have a non-official "niece" in just a few weeks too! I just LOVE babies!! Keep em coming!
Friday, October 2, 2009
9 Months!
Ok, these kids are officially getting too big, they really need to stop growing! Now! I love them just the way they are, right now! I always think that though and then the next day they get even better! Somebody once told me that babies are like unwrapping presents within presents, each time you get so excited and can't imagine it getting any better... and then it does! I waited until today to do their 9 month post because we had the doctor's visit today. Here's what they've been up to this month:
* Jack weighs 18 pounds, 3 ounces and is 29 inches long. He's in the 20th percentile for weight and the 75th percentile for height. Cullen is 18 pounds, 11 ounces and also 29 inches long. He is in the 25th percentile for weight and the same height percentile as Jack. She didn't write down what their heads measured but I remember that it was in the 25th percentile. So I guess my home method of weighing them isn't that reliable after all. I thought they weighed 18 pounds over a month ago! Or maybe they've just lost weight now that they're burning so many more calories lately!
* I think they may be a tad behind developmentally because the doctor asked me if they were doing a bunch of things and I answered no to almost all of them. They aren't waving hi or bye yet, they aren't clapping, they aren't pointing, they aren't pulling up to standing (they sure do try though), they aren't saying 'dada' or 'mama' discriminately yet and they're just barely crawling. I'm not worried at all because they're still within the range of normal but it's sometimes hard to not compare them to other kids their age. Oh well, I guess they'll just be late bloomers!
*They're wearing almost all 6-9 month clothing now but they still have a few things that are 3-6 months that fit just fine.
*Still no teeth! I obviously don't have the slightest clue how to tell if my kids are teething. I have given up thinking it's coming soon and will just be surprised when it finally does happen.
*Slightly more hair, though they're still little baldies. Their bald spot is a lot smaller in the back now that they spend most of their time sitting up and crawling around but hasn't fully grown back yet. At the rate these guys are going, they won't need a haircut until they're entering pre-school! :-)
*They aren't proficient crawlers but do a combination of an army crawl/frog hop that's pretty stinking hilarious. (I will post a video of this soon) They creep along the floor pulling themselves forward with their arms, then they get on their knees, rock back and forth a few times, do a little hop with both feet, then return to their tummies to pull themselves forward again. Sometimes they just do the army crawl but they're realizing that it's alot faster to be on their knees and use their legs.
*Although Cullen has been up on all fours rocking for about a month now, Jack has passed him up on the crawling department. I joke that he cheated by watching Cullen painstakingly figure out all the hard parts and then just jumped ahead to do it all himself. Cullen is the only one who can go from his hands and knees to sitting up again though.
*Both boys babble pretty much non-stop now. They're always yelling 'dadada', 'bababa', or some other jibberish. I wake up every morning to the sound of spit bubbles and 'badada ladada.' They talk to themselves sometimes for over a half hour before they start getting antsy to get out of their cribs.
*Speaking of cribs, we've finally had to separate them. I was much sadder about this than I ever thought I would be. The sweetest sight in the world was to watch them cuddled up next to each other sleeping. They would always rest their faces together and the cuteness was so overwhelming that I nearly died everytime. But about a week ago they decided that instead of going to sleep it would be much more fun to whack the other one in the face and steal each other's pacifiers and toss them out of the crib. They started waking each other up doing this so it finally had to be done. The past few days they've also decided that being in the crib is their favorite playtime because Mom's not around and they have free reign. Today I had to go in there 3 times during their morning nap because Cullen had crawled over to the side of the crib nearest Jack's crib and was hanging onto the bars talking and laughing to Jack. Poor Jack couldn't fall asleep with his brother making so much noise.
*I got a great deal on new Britax's on Craigslist last week so we switched over to convertible car seats. They still fit into their infant carriers fine, but were getting a little snug. They're still rear-facing for another few months but they already seem to be a little more comfortable in their new seats because they are able to sit up straighter. They do not like to lay down, they only like to sit up like big boys so they like their new seats a lot.
*Everything is new and and more fun lately. They have such bigger personalities than they had even a few weeks ago. They think everything is funnier and more exciting lately. Bathtime is a new favorite. They've always loved baths but now I think it may be their favorite thing to do. They laugh the whole time and splash so hard that they sometimes knock themselves over. I always have to be ready to catch them and they're usually stunned for a second, but then they go right back to splashing like there's no tomorrow.
*They've gotten much better at the pincer grasp (holding small things between their thumb and forefinger). A few weeks ago I started letting them eat small bites of bread. I tear a piece up and put all the pieces on the floor in front of them. They have been devouring the pile much faster now that they've got the hang of the pincer grasp.
*They've been eating new foods too including pureed meats, yogurt, cottage cheese, and the bread of course. I have stopped pureeing most of their foods too and usually just roughly mash it up. The other day I cut up a banana into small chunks and fed it to them. I also gave them waffles yesterday and they LOVED them! These are my kids for sure! They eat 3 meals a day, have 3 bottles a day as a snack and right before bed and sometimes have an extra snack or juice.
*I've been working on getting them to use their sippy cups but they still think of them more as toys than anything.
*They still adore their daddy and want to touch whatever he happens to have. So naturally their favorite things are keys, cell phones and the Mac ;-) Whenever we skype with our families they try to bang on the computer keys.
*Still absolutely zero separation anxiety. They don't like being left alone so they do throw little tantrums when I leave the room for even a second, but they couldn't care less as long as some adult's with them. I told Brandon last week that I secretly hope they develop severe separation anxiety so at least I'll know that they love us more than strangers! (I'm only half kidding!)
*They love to play hide & seek and peek-a-boo, they love being read to, and they love banging things together. Their new favorite toys are a set of sports balls I bought last week. Brandon freaked out when he realized we didn't have any balls in the house and said that they were already way behind in learning sports so I had to make an emergency Target run to get some balls ;-) Oh, boys! We roll the balls to them and they try to catch them, then they'll accidentally roll it away and have to go after it. They better turn out to be good athletes or else I'll be blamed for not getting any sports balls sooner, ha!
* Jack weighs 18 pounds, 3 ounces and is 29 inches long. He's in the 20th percentile for weight and the 75th percentile for height. Cullen is 18 pounds, 11 ounces and also 29 inches long. He is in the 25th percentile for weight and the same height percentile as Jack. She didn't write down what their heads measured but I remember that it was in the 25th percentile. So I guess my home method of weighing them isn't that reliable after all. I thought they weighed 18 pounds over a month ago! Or maybe they've just lost weight now that they're burning so many more calories lately!
* I think they may be a tad behind developmentally because the doctor asked me if they were doing a bunch of things and I answered no to almost all of them. They aren't waving hi or bye yet, they aren't clapping, they aren't pointing, they aren't pulling up to standing (they sure do try though), they aren't saying 'dada' or 'mama' discriminately yet and they're just barely crawling. I'm not worried at all because they're still within the range of normal but it's sometimes hard to not compare them to other kids their age. Oh well, I guess they'll just be late bloomers!
*They're wearing almost all 6-9 month clothing now but they still have a few things that are 3-6 months that fit just fine.
*Still no teeth! I obviously don't have the slightest clue how to tell if my kids are teething. I have given up thinking it's coming soon and will just be surprised when it finally does happen.
*Slightly more hair, though they're still little baldies. Their bald spot is a lot smaller in the back now that they spend most of their time sitting up and crawling around but hasn't fully grown back yet. At the rate these guys are going, they won't need a haircut until they're entering pre-school! :-)
*They aren't proficient crawlers but do a combination of an army crawl/frog hop that's pretty stinking hilarious. (I will post a video of this soon) They creep along the floor pulling themselves forward with their arms, then they get on their knees, rock back and forth a few times, do a little hop with both feet, then return to their tummies to pull themselves forward again. Sometimes they just do the army crawl but they're realizing that it's alot faster to be on their knees and use their legs.
*Although Cullen has been up on all fours rocking for about a month now, Jack has passed him up on the crawling department. I joke that he cheated by watching Cullen painstakingly figure out all the hard parts and then just jumped ahead to do it all himself. Cullen is the only one who can go from his hands and knees to sitting up again though.
*Both boys babble pretty much non-stop now. They're always yelling 'dadada', 'bababa', or some other jibberish. I wake up every morning to the sound of spit bubbles and 'badada ladada.' They talk to themselves sometimes for over a half hour before they start getting antsy to get out of their cribs.
*Speaking of cribs, we've finally had to separate them. I was much sadder about this than I ever thought I would be. The sweetest sight in the world was to watch them cuddled up next to each other sleeping. They would always rest their faces together and the cuteness was so overwhelming that I nearly died everytime. But about a week ago they decided that instead of going to sleep it would be much more fun to whack the other one in the face and steal each other's pacifiers and toss them out of the crib. They started waking each other up doing this so it finally had to be done. The past few days they've also decided that being in the crib is their favorite playtime because Mom's not around and they have free reign. Today I had to go in there 3 times during their morning nap because Cullen had crawled over to the side of the crib nearest Jack's crib and was hanging onto the bars talking and laughing to Jack. Poor Jack couldn't fall asleep with his brother making so much noise.
*I got a great deal on new Britax's on Craigslist last week so we switched over to convertible car seats. They still fit into their infant carriers fine, but were getting a little snug. They're still rear-facing for another few months but they already seem to be a little more comfortable in their new seats because they are able to sit up straighter. They do not like to lay down, they only like to sit up like big boys so they like their new seats a lot.
*Everything is new and and more fun lately. They have such bigger personalities than they had even a few weeks ago. They think everything is funnier and more exciting lately. Bathtime is a new favorite. They've always loved baths but now I think it may be their favorite thing to do. They laugh the whole time and splash so hard that they sometimes knock themselves over. I always have to be ready to catch them and they're usually stunned for a second, but then they go right back to splashing like there's no tomorrow.
*They've gotten much better at the pincer grasp (holding small things between their thumb and forefinger). A few weeks ago I started letting them eat small bites of bread. I tear a piece up and put all the pieces on the floor in front of them. They have been devouring the pile much faster now that they've got the hang of the pincer grasp.
*They've been eating new foods too including pureed meats, yogurt, cottage cheese, and the bread of course. I have stopped pureeing most of their foods too and usually just roughly mash it up. The other day I cut up a banana into small chunks and fed it to them. I also gave them waffles yesterday and they LOVED them! These are my kids for sure! They eat 3 meals a day, have 3 bottles a day as a snack and right before bed and sometimes have an extra snack or juice.
*I've been working on getting them to use their sippy cups but they still think of them more as toys than anything.
*They still adore their daddy and want to touch whatever he happens to have. So naturally their favorite things are keys, cell phones and the Mac ;-) Whenever we skype with our families they try to bang on the computer keys.
*Still absolutely zero separation anxiety. They don't like being left alone so they do throw little tantrums when I leave the room for even a second, but they couldn't care less as long as some adult's with them. I told Brandon last week that I secretly hope they develop severe separation anxiety so at least I'll know that they love us more than strangers! (I'm only half kidding!)
*They love to play hide & seek and peek-a-boo, they love being read to, and they love banging things together. Their new favorite toys are a set of sports balls I bought last week. Brandon freaked out when he realized we didn't have any balls in the house and said that they were already way behind in learning sports so I had to make an emergency Target run to get some balls ;-) Oh, boys! We roll the balls to them and they try to catch them, then they'll accidentally roll it away and have to go after it. They better turn out to be good athletes or else I'll be blamed for not getting any sports balls sooner, ha!
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