Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Things I Love: Thirteen Months

{April 28. 2014}

Things I love.

I am completely in love with their smiley eyes, dimples, and giggles.
{I}             {B}

I love that we get comments on how blonde they are everywhere we go.
No I'm not entirely sure where it came from.
I was lighter when I was young and Jesse was blonde for a few years, but who knows.
All I know is that I love it!
{B}           {I}
 

I love taking pictures of them, but oh boy is it hard to take pictures of them together. 
Most of the pictures I take look something like this. 

And this is what happens when I tell them to sit together.


But every now and again, with hubby's help, we capture a moment of cuteness. 
{B}                {I}

They try nearly every food I give them. A couple of ones we tried recently were fajitas and Navajo tacos. Both were big hits. They are also completely obsessed with berries.

I still love bath time. It's very predictable They always come crawling in as fast as they can when I turn on the water, stick their leg up on the side of the tub and try to crawl in while I try to strip them down fast enough, they play with the water out of the faucet, and then they take turns holding on to the soap holder and dancing. I can't help but smile during the entire process.

They have really started trying to mimic sounds and faces we make. 

I love when they sit on their feet.
{B}

{Seriously, isn't this the cutest?}

I love how quickly they are picking up new tricks. It just seems like they do more adorable things every day.


They fold their arms for prayers. So darn cute.
{I}


I love when they play the piano. It seriously warms my heart to see the two of them standing there plunking out notes. 
{And thanks Mimi for the extra stool! It's been wonderful.}

{Sometimes the stools even get used for more purposes than just talent development.} 




We finally set up the camera we bought before they were born and our new favorite pass time is watching them roll around in their cribs while they go to sleep.

Speaking of sleep, they're pretty consistent with sleeping through the night, but they've started refusing their afternoon nap some days. I still always put them in their beds for an afternoon nap, but sometimes they just play in their cribs for the whole nap time while I get things done. I don't know when you transition to one nap, but I still feel like they need two. Plus I need the time alone.

I love the places they get themselves. The smaller the better.

Yes that is where the drawer of their dresser used to be.
I pulled it out because it was off the track but by the time I tried to put it back in, they were already crawling around in there. 





They quit saying mama and chant "dada" all day. I try not to take it personally.




------------------------------------------------

Ian



Finally has five teeth. And possibly two more on the way. It's hard to catch too long of a peek. But this new one already looks crooked to me! What the heck? We'll have to see how it fills in.

Still wearing size 3 diapers and 12-18 mo clothes.

Likes his binky at nap time and bed time, but he instantly spits it out when I get him up.

Loves to climb.
Especially likes climbing on top of toys and finding things that make him a few inches taller so he can climb onto the couch.



He crawled up there and got himself stuck.

Folds his arms periodically throughout the day, but when I say it's prayer time and to fold his arms it's hit or miss. Sometimes all he needs is for me to start moving one of his arms and then he gets it the rest of the way.

Makes sounds that resemble "cracker" "cheese" and "hi." And we're working on animal sounds. He knows "Moooo" and says "Tweet Tweet"

Loves being tickled

He can click his tongue, blow kisses, and can repeat "mmmmmuah" when I ask him what mama says.

Is totally into somersaults. I find his booty up in the air several times a day just waiting for me to roll him over

He doesn't like his milk to be straight from the fridge. He likes it better when it's had a little time to warm up.

Absolutely loves bananas, raspberries, blue berries, black berries and raisins.


Likes pulling down the shade on the stroller and propping up his legs.

A little fascinated with shoes


Loves the park. Especially the swings.

He just started trying to walk places without extreme persuasion yesterday {April 29.} Up to this point he was completely content to crawl everywhere and a lot of times refused to practice walking.

He's a little snuggle bug. He will just rest his cheek or head against your head and it's the sweetest thing ever.

We sat like this for probably a good five minutes.




Briggs


Has four teeth, with three more trying to poke through

Wears size 3 diapers and 12-18 mo clothes

Still takes a binky a lot of times at night and with naps. I don't know when I should break that habit.

Loves brushing his teeth

We found a mole on the back of his left leg.

Loves watermelon.

Does not mimic as much as Ian, but I swear he understands every word I say

Learned the greatest trick ever.

Sometimes he gets lazy when I hold out a snack for him and he just eats it right out of my hand without bothering to pick it up with his fingers.

Loves this book inside a book, book. He flips through it a few times a day


Immediately starts dancing to Super Why when it comes on.

Loves going places. When I'm getting him out of the car wherever we are, he kicks his legs, shakes his arms, and grins from ear to ear.

Enjoys kicking his legs out through the bars on his crib. He gets stuck quite often.

Loves his pillow. He snuggles that thing all the time

Knows where his belly button is.


Loves riding in the wagon. 

He is also a climber but it seems like a little different climbing. 
Like more dangerous than just getting on the couch. 
He's usually climbing up into the fridge, or holding onto the top drawer of his dresser and stepping up the other ones, or climbing up bookshelves.
I may have left them alone in their closet for a few minutes and of course I heard a giant thud and a cry while I was gone. I'm not entirely sure what happened but the portable heater that had been up on a top shelf was on the floor and Briggs had a red bump on his head. My best guess is the cord must have been hanging down a little ways and he climbed up a pile of stuff and grabbed the cord and pulled it down on his head. I promise I'm usually a better mom than that! I just can't take my eyes off him.

He's about 50/50 on his walking and crawling. He does try walking first everywhere he goes and has been for about the last week but he's still a little wobbly and falls a lot so then he goes ahead and just finishes up by crawling.

He loves my water bottle and it cracks me up when he tries to hold it, drink, and walk at the same time.
{Oh and don't mind the big red spot on his forehead, that was from trying to walk and drink a minute before. Apparently when the water bottle is as big as you it's easy to tip over and hit your head on it.}


We love these little guys so much and can't imagine any other life for us. They really are some of the happiest and funniest babies I know. How did we get so lucky?

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Parenthood Changes Your Life

Everyone tells you that having kids is a HUGE life change. And I can imagine it's an even greater change when your baby is a surprise or a little earlier than you would have planned. We thankfully waited several years before trying our hand at parenthood and because of that, felt like we were ready for this change of which people spoke. I just didn't realize exactly what they meant until now.

I originally assumed it was getting up at all hours of the night, not being able to go out whenever we want, and living the glamorous life of diaper changing, bottle making, baby bathing, and laundry doing, which of course it is, but it is also so much more.

You now have approximately 2 1/2 minutes of alone time in the bathroom before they come for you and stick their little hands under the door looking for you. (This is assuming they didn't actually see you sneak away.) This may also be accompanied by a loud scream if they are particularly upset that you abandoned them.

A good chunk of your workout may consist of helping your children do somersaults as they stick their little booties in the air next to you, as well as modifying the workout to accommodate a baby clinging to your legs or crawling across your crunching wanna-be abs. Note to self, do workouts during nap time.


At work, you feel like you should ask your patients if they would like a recitation of  "Mr Brown Can Moo" or "Is Your Mama A Lama" to go with their request for more water, pain pills, and extra pillows. I probably need to get into pediatrics...

Your internal radio play songs such as, The Wheels on the Bus, 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, and all the songs from Super Why.

Speaking of Super Why, you now critique it's writing, know all the songs, like to guess what the "Super Story Answer" is going to be with as few letters as possible, and have to see how it ends so you're not left hanging.

You used to take for granted being showered, clad in unstained clothes, and wearing makeup on any given day. Now that is saved for special occasions.

You can somehow direct any conversation to how cute your children are, completed with a picture of course.


You get jealous of things like strollers, carseats, and diaper bags. Seriously, there are cool baby things out there. And I want them all.

You tear up at any commercial, TV show, or movie that includes a clip of a baby. That is completely normal, right?

Shopping for yourself is a thing of the past. Now it's all about onesies, cute plaid shorts, little shoes, tiny sweater vests, and for us, anything that matches. If one tiny sweater vest wasn't cute enough, two is even better.

Browsing for something to eat in the fridge is a thing of the past. You better know exactly what you want and where it is or else this happens.

Oh and you better hope you don't need anything out of the dishwasher either.



Meal planning and early preparation is a must. Kiddos are the loudest, saddest, and clingiest at dinner time which makes for a rough time cooking. Instead you make dinner at 2:30pm when the kids nap and voila, you get dinner at a normal time and without crying babies on your hip and leg.

Wearing clothes does not guarantee modesty. Little hands grab anything as they clamber up and down, using me as a ladder. I apologize to anyone who has seen garments, bra straps, or worse...

But you have never known more love than when you welcome a child into your life. It truly is an amazing experience and your life will never be the same.



Friday, April 25, 2014

SIX.

Six.

I have been married to this man for six years.

When did we get so old?

I am pretty sure I hit the jackpot when it comes to husbands. 
I knew I loved him when we got married, but I had no idea how much my love would grow. 
He is the best person for me to grow old with.

He always puts my needs first, even though my attention has flipped to our children. 
{I still love you, it's just that our children wouldn't last as long as you if I don't feed them. Don't take it personally.}

He can still make me laugh.

And occasionally I can get a chuckle out of him as well. 

We are always up for an adventure.

We love being goofy together.  Heck, we just love being together.




We've learned to communicate through our words. 

But we also speak the language of love. 

Some days we have to fake it til we make it.
{I don't remember what the problem was, but I remember I was mad at him for something this day. He was probably mad at me too because I'm sure I did something dumb.}
But he is wonderful at saying "I'm sorry" first or not letting things bother him in the first place.


He tolerates my need to document everything that happens in our life.
And now finds himself thanking me for being a crazy picture taking lady!

He kills nasty bugs for me. 

He works hard for our family. 
{Flash back to his balloon chasing days!} 


He tolerates my lack of cooking skills. 

He plays along when I make him do silly things with me.


He treats me like a princess. I don't open a door, pull out a chair, or ever be told it's not ok to get the most expensive dish on the menu when I'm with him. 

He loves me for who I am. 
He doesn't judge, rarely tries to fix me, and keeps his sense of humor intact.


 

He may joke about being Superman.
But he really is my superman.

And here we are, six years later.

We've lived in 5 different apartments.
Traveled a few places.
Moved to Texas.
Got real jobs.
Had two of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen.
And are honestly madly in love.

I am so incredibly blessed. 





And I'm sure I share this picture every year, but we do plan to live happily ever after. 
Six years down. Eternity to go!