Our babies are turning in to big kids! I looked at a picture this month and realized that they don't look like babies anymore, which made for one sad mamma. On the up side, things are getting (dare I say) easier. I think back on a year ago; we had three month old babies who depended on mommy and daddy for EVERYTHING. A part of me misses that. Well, I miss them staying in one spot and wanting to be held and cuddled with... however, I don't miss the sleepless nights, crying and not knowing why, or just learning how to be a mom. I really feel like I've got that down, being a mom, though these two little monkey's teach me something new every day. They keep me on my toes that's for sure!
We started this month off with taking a trip to San Diego to celebrate Nate's god son's, Nathan James Elsea, second birthday. We were really nervous about the car ride, but the kids were amazing. We took lots of snacks, they took a couple naps, played with some toys... and were perfect, no crying at all! We had a great time celebrating a very special little boy, and hanging out with our best friends. The three kids got along so well. Nathan actually kissed Brawny; she turned around and pushed him! Daddy was proud. Thanks James and Molly for being such awesome hosts. Love you three!
We opened the wagon that grammy and grandpa got them for their birthday; we can't keep them out of that thing. They know that it's in the garage and when we ask them if they want to go for a walk in the wagon, they go running for the garage door. They love it!
Bronwyn got sick this month, again. She ran a fever and wouldn't eat anything but fruit for four days. It was rough. Keaton, once again, didn't catch it! Knock on wood.
Both kids are trying to talk and communicate so much more. They both say ugh oh, no no, shoes, bananas (nana's), dog, woof woof, and Brawny says football and Keat (for Keaton). They seem to understand simple commands too.... it's crazy to see them turning in to little people. We've tried a lot of new foods this month. They LOVE smoothies, chicken nuggets with ketchup, peas, corn, and lunch meat sandwiches. This month we also started brushing their teeth in the morning. I'm not sure how much good it is really doing, but they seem to like it. They also started to learn how to eat with a fork. They LOVE phones and pretending to talk on them, and like wearing their sunglasses in the house. They enjoy anything that makes them feel like big kids. If mommy and daddy do it, they want to do it. It's really cute.
They have become more affectionate this month. They give kisses now; mouths wide open, slobber and all. I'll take those kisses any day. During a bath one night they were giving each other kisses. They are just so sweet, it melts me. At the end of the month Bronwyn started to blow goodbye kisses. I know, our kids are just too cute!
On a down side.... We found out that our dining room table is no longer baby proofed. Nate was somewhere and thought I was in with the kids, and I was in Keaton's room and thought that Nate was in eating breakfast. Well, when I came out of Keaton's room Bronwyn was standing on one of the chairs and had dumped out a bowl of cereal, and Keaton was on top of the table and had dumped out an entire glass of orange juice. Wow! Just when you think you've baby proofed everything, they prove you wrong.
Keaton, Bronwyn,and I love having daddy home most of the day with us. So many families don't get to have this luxury. I cherish all the time that we are able to spend as a family, and am so thankful that Nate got this new job. It couldn't have come at a better time.
See you all next month....
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Month #15
It feels like a life time has passed since I have written a blog. We have been so busy this month; still getting the house organized, having a pool put in, Nate getting in the flow of his new job, oh.... and keeping up with 15 month old twins! Our life is anything but dull. Our days are full of excitement and new adventures every day.
The kids are non-stop action... busy, busy, busy! Our days begin at 7 am and don't slow down until the kids are in bed for the night at 7 pm. They are so much fun. They copy each other all the time. If one of them gets a reaction out of us, then the other is doing the same thing a few seconds later. We are slowly getting away from baby food. Keaton's favorite food is canned green beans and Bronwyn's is pasta. Some new foods this month have been ravioli, chicken quesadilla, corn, bbq chicken, and peach. They love every kind of fruit, even watermelon! When they are done they throw their food. This is something we are trying to teach them not to do. Both love the telephone, real or play. They pick one up, put it to their ear, and talk.
This month they graduated from their infant car seats to "big kid" car seats. They think they are so big and really cool being able to face forward. Putting them in these was a little emotional. They look so big, and having them in these made me realize that they aren't little babies any more.
With Daddy starting his new job this month, which is going great by the way, the kids wanted to do something nice for him. So they painted their very first picture for him... with chocolate pudding. Keaton loved it. He squished the pudding between his fingers, and did a great job painting all on his own. Bronwyn didn't like it so much. She got a tiny bit on her hands and didn't want much to do with it. But I wasn't having that, so I helped her a little bit. I framed their art and now it sits on Daddy's desk in his office.
They like to wrestle. This is hilarious. It is usually Bronwyn who instigates it, and Keaton who would like it to end sooner than Brawny is ready for. But they roll around and tackle each other, giggling and squealing the whole time.
We had a sickness go through the house this month. I got a cold first, and then about a week later Bronwyn woke up with a fever. She had a really stuffy nose for about 10 days, and then she was as good as new. Keaton never had the fever, just the stuffy nose. Nate, well, he was the lucky one... He never got it! I also ended up with strep throat after every one was finally healthy again, but took care of it with antibiotics. No one else has gotten that, thank God! This was our second sickness with the kids in 15 months! That's pretty good.
Keaton has continued to grow and develop in to a very active, sometimes sensitive, smiling, happy little boy. He giggles at him self all the time, he thinks that he is pretty darn funny (so do we). He loves to play with anything that has a cord. One day this month he found a power strip, and no joke, played with it for forty-five minutes until I took it away. Last month I left out a milestone that he had met... He got his top two teeth! Now he has four and is working on more as we speak. He loves to bang things and throw toys on the floor. The more sound he can make the better.
Bronwyn is a crack up. She loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and will stop whatever she is doing to dance to the music on the show. I think we have a tiny dancer on our hands. She is talking more. Her two new words are shoes and ugh oh. It's crazy to hear her actually say words and know what they mean. She has found her nostriles and now realizes that her finger fits perfectly in them... great. For the record, we are doing our best to break this habbit. Being the daughter of two teachers, we will not have a child who picks their nose! It's pretty funny though. This week she found a new toy in the bathtub that Keaton found a few months ago. We knew that this was inevitable, but when it happened we couldn't help but just laugh. Kids are so innocent and unpredictable.
As I've said so many times, life with twins is hard. Every stage is a different kind of hard, but I couldn't imagine life with just one. Seeing these two grow together, I know that they will have a best friend for life. That makes me smile. I love my family so much and thank God for blessing me in so many ways. I'm one lucky girl.
Enjoy the pictures.... I apologize in advance for the lack in number, but our camera broke this month. So I did the best I could. I promise to have more next month. As always, thanks for checking in with us. Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
The kids are non-stop action... busy, busy, busy! Our days begin at 7 am and don't slow down until the kids are in bed for the night at 7 pm. They are so much fun. They copy each other all the time. If one of them gets a reaction out of us, then the other is doing the same thing a few seconds later. We are slowly getting away from baby food. Keaton's favorite food is canned green beans and Bronwyn's is pasta. Some new foods this month have been ravioli, chicken quesadilla, corn, bbq chicken, and peach. They love every kind of fruit, even watermelon! When they are done they throw their food. This is something we are trying to teach them not to do. Both love the telephone, real or play. They pick one up, put it to their ear, and talk.
This month they graduated from their infant car seats to "big kid" car seats. They think they are so big and really cool being able to face forward. Putting them in these was a little emotional. They look so big, and having them in these made me realize that they aren't little babies any more.
With Daddy starting his new job this month, which is going great by the way, the kids wanted to do something nice for him. So they painted their very first picture for him... with chocolate pudding. Keaton loved it. He squished the pudding between his fingers, and did a great job painting all on his own. Bronwyn didn't like it so much. She got a tiny bit on her hands and didn't want much to do with it. But I wasn't having that, so I helped her a little bit. I framed their art and now it sits on Daddy's desk in his office.
They like to wrestle. This is hilarious. It is usually Bronwyn who instigates it, and Keaton who would like it to end sooner than Brawny is ready for. But they roll around and tackle each other, giggling and squealing the whole time.
We had a sickness go through the house this month. I got a cold first, and then about a week later Bronwyn woke up with a fever. She had a really stuffy nose for about 10 days, and then she was as good as new. Keaton never had the fever, just the stuffy nose. Nate, well, he was the lucky one... He never got it! I also ended up with strep throat after every one was finally healthy again, but took care of it with antibiotics. No one else has gotten that, thank God! This was our second sickness with the kids in 15 months! That's pretty good.
Keaton has continued to grow and develop in to a very active, sometimes sensitive, smiling, happy little boy. He giggles at him self all the time, he thinks that he is pretty darn funny (so do we). He loves to play with anything that has a cord. One day this month he found a power strip, and no joke, played with it for forty-five minutes until I took it away. Last month I left out a milestone that he had met... He got his top two teeth! Now he has four and is working on more as we speak. He loves to bang things and throw toys on the floor. The more sound he can make the better.
Bronwyn is a crack up. She loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and will stop whatever she is doing to dance to the music on the show. I think we have a tiny dancer on our hands. She is talking more. Her two new words are shoes and ugh oh. It's crazy to hear her actually say words and know what they mean. She has found her nostriles and now realizes that her finger fits perfectly in them... great. For the record, we are doing our best to break this habbit. Being the daughter of two teachers, we will not have a child who picks their nose! It's pretty funny though. This week she found a new toy in the bathtub that Keaton found a few months ago. We knew that this was inevitable, but when it happened we couldn't help but just laugh. Kids are so innocent and unpredictable.
As I've said so many times, life with twins is hard. Every stage is a different kind of hard, but I couldn't imagine life with just one. Seeing these two grow together, I know that they will have a best friend for life. That makes me smile. I love my family so much and thank God for blessing me in so many ways. I'm one lucky girl.
Enjoy the pictures.... I apologize in advance for the lack in number, but our camera broke this month. So I did the best I could. I promise to have more next month. As always, thanks for checking in with us. Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Month #14
This month has been a whirl wind of adventures for us. We started the month off by taking a week long vacation to our favorite beach town, Cayucos! We went with both sets of grandparents, Uncle Aaron and Auntie Jennifer, Uncle Johnny and Aunt Britney, and Great Aunt Debbie and Great Uncle Dale. The weather was absolutely perfect every day. The kids did great on the car ride over, and truly loved the change of scenery. When we took them to the beach for the first time during the trip Keaton was in heaven. He LOVED the sand, water, sea weed, dogs, and people... He loved everything about the beach. Even though the water was freezing, he would crawl right out to it and would cry when we tried to take him away. Watching him love the beach just as much as his mommy and daddy do made us smile. I'm sure Nate will have him boogie boarding soon! Bronwyn on the other hand was pretty much a drama queen. She did not like it at first. We tried everything, but she was only happy sitting in her beach chair with not one part of her body touching the sand. Each day got a little bit better, and by the end of the trip she was walking with us and even sitting playing in the sand. It took her the entire week to warm up to it, but she liked it and as she gets older will learn to love it too. We took them to the 4th of July parade in town. They loved the music and all the people. Cayucos was the perfect place to vacation for the fourth of July. It will be a yearly tradition for us!
Later in the month we took them to the Zoo again, this time with grandma, grammy, and grandpa bill. They enjoyed it much more this time. We fed the giraffes, Keaton giggled while feeding them, and Brawny was a little hesitant. They also got to go in to sting ray bay. We tried to get a sting ray close enough to us for them to feel it, but their little arms were just too short. They enjoyed soft serve ice cream that grandpa bought mommy and daddy. It was a fun afternoon with family and the animals.
When we got back in town from our trip we were supposed to move in to our new house.... but that was pushed back three times! After packing and un-packing we finally moved!!! We LOVE our new home, and the kids are really enjoying all the space. They have spent the last week and a half exploring their new home. They especially like to climb in to cabinet spaces under the TV unit. When we moved we separated them and they are now sleeping in their own rooms. We thought that this was going to be rough, but they have done great! Their first nap wasn't great, but after that they have both done awesome! It kind of makes me sad knowing that they are all alone, but I'm sure they are just fine. It's only a matter of time before they will be in toddler beds and going in to each others rooms!
At the end of the month we took them to Todd Beamer park. It has a little water area that kids can play in. Keaton loved it and Bronwyn liked it. It was a great place to take them on a hot Fresno day. We will be spending more time there for sure!
Keaton has had a very busy month. He started off the month by standing on his own, not quite sure what to do from there. Now, within just a few days he is full on walking! He thinks he is pretty darn cool (so do we!). He is talking (baby talk and babble) all the time. He loves the bath and anything to do with water. Keaton is such a happy, sweet boy. He is always busy and is very independent. It has been so much fun seeing him grow in to the little boy he is becoming.
Bronwyn is a walking machine. She now would rather walk than crawl. She carries her blanket around and when it is nap time or bedtime takes the corner of the blanket and rubs her nose gently until she falls asleep. It soothes her, and it is really cute to watch. She is a girly girl and at times a drama queen. We love her so much.
It is so cute to see them becoming more and more close. They actually play together now, "talk" to each other, mimic one another, and giggle together all the time. Twins are awesome, hard, but awesome! They found the dryer this month and decided to climb right in and help me. Bronwyn has always liked to help me with the laundry, but this time Keaton was the instigator. He climbed right in and Brawny followed. I couldn't help but laugh.
Now that July is over I'm a little sad because that means that Nate will be going back to work soon, at his new job as a junior college professor! Though this new job means that he will have more time at home with us, it still means that he goes back to work; which equals to less time at home than the last two months. Having the summer off as a family has been something I truly cherish. Though this summer has been stressful with getting this new job and moving, I love having him home and I know that the kids love having their daddy around all the time. I hope he knows just how much I appreciate all of his love and support as a husband and father. Me, Keaton, and Bronwyn are so lucky to have him.
Thanks again to all of you who check in on us every month. Enjoy the pictures. Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Later in the month we took them to the Zoo again, this time with grandma, grammy, and grandpa bill. They enjoyed it much more this time. We fed the giraffes, Keaton giggled while feeding them, and Brawny was a little hesitant. They also got to go in to sting ray bay. We tried to get a sting ray close enough to us for them to feel it, but their little arms were just too short. They enjoyed soft serve ice cream that grandpa bought mommy and daddy. It was a fun afternoon with family and the animals.
When we got back in town from our trip we were supposed to move in to our new house.... but that was pushed back three times! After packing and un-packing we finally moved!!! We LOVE our new home, and the kids are really enjoying all the space. They have spent the last week and a half exploring their new home. They especially like to climb in to cabinet spaces under the TV unit. When we moved we separated them and they are now sleeping in their own rooms. We thought that this was going to be rough, but they have done great! Their first nap wasn't great, but after that they have both done awesome! It kind of makes me sad knowing that they are all alone, but I'm sure they are just fine. It's only a matter of time before they will be in toddler beds and going in to each others rooms!
At the end of the month we took them to Todd Beamer park. It has a little water area that kids can play in. Keaton loved it and Bronwyn liked it. It was a great place to take them on a hot Fresno day. We will be spending more time there for sure!
Keaton has had a very busy month. He started off the month by standing on his own, not quite sure what to do from there. Now, within just a few days he is full on walking! He thinks he is pretty darn cool (so do we!). He is talking (baby talk and babble) all the time. He loves the bath and anything to do with water. Keaton is such a happy, sweet boy. He is always busy and is very independent. It has been so much fun seeing him grow in to the little boy he is becoming.
Bronwyn is a walking machine. She now would rather walk than crawl. She carries her blanket around and when it is nap time or bedtime takes the corner of the blanket and rubs her nose gently until she falls asleep. It soothes her, and it is really cute to watch. She is a girly girl and at times a drama queen. We love her so much.
It is so cute to see them becoming more and more close. They actually play together now, "talk" to each other, mimic one another, and giggle together all the time. Twins are awesome, hard, but awesome! They found the dryer this month and decided to climb right in and help me. Bronwyn has always liked to help me with the laundry, but this time Keaton was the instigator. He climbed right in and Brawny followed. I couldn't help but laugh.
Now that July is over I'm a little sad because that means that Nate will be going back to work soon, at his new job as a junior college professor! Though this new job means that he will have more time at home with us, it still means that he goes back to work; which equals to less time at home than the last two months. Having the summer off as a family has been something I truly cherish. Though this summer has been stressful with getting this new job and moving, I love having him home and I know that the kids love having their daddy around all the time. I hope he knows just how much I appreciate all of his love and support as a husband and father. Me, Keaton, and Bronwyn are so lucky to have him.
Thanks again to all of you who check in on us every month. Enjoy the pictures. Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Month #13
Well, we are now the proud parents of one year old twins! Wow, I still can't believe our babies are a year old. Their birthday party was a success, despite the rain. Of course, we planned their beach bash party at a park figuring that we should have it around 11 to dodge the heat.... think again! It rained all day, but we still had tons of fun. Their Great Aunt Marsha made individual beach ball cakes for them to dig in to. They weren't too sure about it, and even gagged on the frosting, which sent both of them in to a crying episode. That made for some funny pictures. Thanks to all the family and friends who came out in the wet weather to celebrate their first birthday. It was truly memorable.
This month was full of parties, theirs being the first of three birthday's that we went to. Their friend Allie Johnson had her first birthday as well, just six days after Keaton and Bronwyn's. A week later we celebrated Chase Whisenhunt's second birthday. Both were lots of fun and the twins had a blast playing with their friends. We also celebrated Uncle Shane graduating from chiropractic school. We are all so proud of him and this HUGE accomplishment. The four of us are so excited to have them home for good. Now we don't have to worry about seeing Uncle Shane and Auntie Jacqui once a month, we can see them whenever we want!
On the hottest day of the year thus far, our air conditioning went out, right around bed time. 105 degrees with TWO babies ready for bath and bed was not an ideal situation. So, we packed them up and went to Grammy and Grandpa's for the night, while my parents took the dogs for us. The kids didn't even notice, went right to sleep, and slept all night. We have such good kids. With the weather being so warm we got out their kiddie pool and they had their first experience with that in the backyard. Keaton LOVED it, Brawny... not so much (at first). Keaton jumped right in there, splashing and playing, crawling in and out. Bronwyn had to warm up to this new experience, but once she got use to the water and realized just how much fun she could have, she loved it too. We also took them to their Great Grandma Betty's for their first time swimming in a real pool. Again, Keaton instantly loved it and had a huge smile on his face the whole time. Bronwyn liked it, but still wasn't too sure. Later this month we took them to their Great Aunt Debbie's pool and Auntie Marnie's pool. We found out that Keaton is a water baby and could care less if the water is cold. Bronwyn cries, the whole time, if the water is even the least bit chilly. Their first experience touching ocean water should be very interesting this coming month!
Grandma bought them a new tent, they destroyed their last one. They were so happy to have a new one and with some of their birthday money we bought them plastic balls to put inside. They LOVE it! They play in their together all the time; giggling at each other, rolling around, throwing the balls in the air, and tipping the tent over so the balls roll all over them. Seeing them interact is so much fun. We also played with bubbles for the first time this month. Let's just say that I think mommy and daddy had more fun than the kids.
Bronwyn has had a busy month! She has learned how to climb up the couches. She gets up there and just smiles, thrilled at her new accomplishment. You can tell she feels like such a big girl. The problem with this was the getting down part. Daddy helped her realize that she can't go head first. It only took her a few times to learn to swing her feet off the edge and get down that way. She is very smart. She is also saying Hi, Wow, and Dog. It is so cute when she waves and says hi with a huge grin on her face. My daughter is absolutely darling. She also has taken her first steps. She is not "walking" yet, but she has taken about eight steps. She stands up, takes a few steps, falls on her bum and then crawls to her destination. She is so fast at crawling that I think walking right now just takes too long for her. I'm sure she'll be running around the house soon. I am not so proud to say that my adorable little girl has started to bully Keaton. She pulls him down, pushes him over, and smacks his head. Keaton, being the sweet boy that he is, just takes it, cries, or crawls away. This has been extremely challenging for Nate and I, because how do you discipline a one year old? Every once in a while Keaton will fight back, but not often. I hope that this phase doesn't last long with her.
Keaton, I think, is going to be our child who tests us to see just how far he can go until he gets in to trouble. He loves playing with the blinds and tv equipment, which he knows he is not supposed to do. He'll look at me with his sweet face and big blue eyes, and then jets off to do something that he shouldn't be doing. He'll stop when I say his name, look at me again, but then just turn around to complete his plan of action. He loves to take anything to the tile and bang it on the floor. The louder the noise, the better. He is all BOY! He loves to give hugs and cuddle. When Nate is on the floor, Keaton always crawls over to him and gives his daddy some love.He is so sweet.
They are almost on whole milk exclusively now. Thank goodness! I am almost done with pumping. I began weaning at the end of May, but they were having a reaction to the milk, so we had to take it extra slow. Now, their little systems are more ready for that transition. As far as food goes they have tried pasta, fudge pops, toast, blueberry eggos, macaroni and cheese, and quesadillas. Their favorite foods are toast, yogurt, and anything with cheese. Bronwyn now has eight teeth, and Keaton still only has two.
The best part about this month is that it was the beginning of summer, which means Daddy is home! Having him here is the absolute best! The kids adore him and watching the three of them together just makes me smile. I am so thankful to have a husband that is so involved and dedicated to his family. Being together as a family every day is something that many families don't get the luxury of experiencing. I thank God every day for this amazing blessing.
We're off to the beach for a week! Happy fourth of July everyone. Thanks for checking in and as always, enjoy the pictures. Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
This month was full of parties, theirs being the first of three birthday's that we went to. Their friend Allie Johnson had her first birthday as well, just six days after Keaton and Bronwyn's. A week later we celebrated Chase Whisenhunt's second birthday. Both were lots of fun and the twins had a blast playing with their friends. We also celebrated Uncle Shane graduating from chiropractic school. We are all so proud of him and this HUGE accomplishment. The four of us are so excited to have them home for good. Now we don't have to worry about seeing Uncle Shane and Auntie Jacqui once a month, we can see them whenever we want!
On the hottest day of the year thus far, our air conditioning went out, right around bed time. 105 degrees with TWO babies ready for bath and bed was not an ideal situation. So, we packed them up and went to Grammy and Grandpa's for the night, while my parents took the dogs for us. The kids didn't even notice, went right to sleep, and slept all night. We have such good kids. With the weather being so warm we got out their kiddie pool and they had their first experience with that in the backyard. Keaton LOVED it, Brawny... not so much (at first). Keaton jumped right in there, splashing and playing, crawling in and out. Bronwyn had to warm up to this new experience, but once she got use to the water and realized just how much fun she could have, she loved it too. We also took them to their Great Grandma Betty's for their first time swimming in a real pool. Again, Keaton instantly loved it and had a huge smile on his face the whole time. Bronwyn liked it, but still wasn't too sure. Later this month we took them to their Great Aunt Debbie's pool and Auntie Marnie's pool. We found out that Keaton is a water baby and could care less if the water is cold. Bronwyn cries, the whole time, if the water is even the least bit chilly. Their first experience touching ocean water should be very interesting this coming month!
Grandma bought them a new tent, they destroyed their last one. They were so happy to have a new one and with some of their birthday money we bought them plastic balls to put inside. They LOVE it! They play in their together all the time; giggling at each other, rolling around, throwing the balls in the air, and tipping the tent over so the balls roll all over them. Seeing them interact is so much fun. We also played with bubbles for the first time this month. Let's just say that I think mommy and daddy had more fun than the kids.
Bronwyn has had a busy month! She has learned how to climb up the couches. She gets up there and just smiles, thrilled at her new accomplishment. You can tell she feels like such a big girl. The problem with this was the getting down part. Daddy helped her realize that she can't go head first. It only took her a few times to learn to swing her feet off the edge and get down that way. She is very smart. She is also saying Hi, Wow, and Dog. It is so cute when she waves and says hi with a huge grin on her face. My daughter is absolutely darling. She also has taken her first steps. She is not "walking" yet, but she has taken about eight steps. She stands up, takes a few steps, falls on her bum and then crawls to her destination. She is so fast at crawling that I think walking right now just takes too long for her. I'm sure she'll be running around the house soon. I am not so proud to say that my adorable little girl has started to bully Keaton. She pulls him down, pushes him over, and smacks his head. Keaton, being the sweet boy that he is, just takes it, cries, or crawls away. This has been extremely challenging for Nate and I, because how do you discipline a one year old? Every once in a while Keaton will fight back, but not often. I hope that this phase doesn't last long with her.
Keaton, I think, is going to be our child who tests us to see just how far he can go until he gets in to trouble. He loves playing with the blinds and tv equipment, which he knows he is not supposed to do. He'll look at me with his sweet face and big blue eyes, and then jets off to do something that he shouldn't be doing. He'll stop when I say his name, look at me again, but then just turn around to complete his plan of action. He loves to take anything to the tile and bang it on the floor. The louder the noise, the better. He is all BOY! He loves to give hugs and cuddle. When Nate is on the floor, Keaton always crawls over to him and gives his daddy some love.He is so sweet.
They are almost on whole milk exclusively now. Thank goodness! I am almost done with pumping. I began weaning at the end of May, but they were having a reaction to the milk, so we had to take it extra slow. Now, their little systems are more ready for that transition. As far as food goes they have tried pasta, fudge pops, toast, blueberry eggos, macaroni and cheese, and quesadillas. Their favorite foods are toast, yogurt, and anything with cheese. Bronwyn now has eight teeth, and Keaton still only has two.
The best part about this month is that it was the beginning of summer, which means Daddy is home! Having him here is the absolute best! The kids adore him and watching the three of them together just makes me smile. I am so thankful to have a husband that is so involved and dedicated to his family. Being together as a family every day is something that many families don't get the luxury of experiencing. I thank God every day for this amazing blessing.
We're off to the beach for a week! Happy fourth of July everyone. Thanks for checking in and as always, enjoy the pictures. Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Month #12
I have sat here looking at the blank computer screen for a while, wondering just how I start this blog, thinking of what I should write, and crying. Tears of happiness remembering all that has happened this year and the joy that Keaton and Bronwyn have brought to our lives, but also tears of sadness; my babies are a YEAR old! After high school the years started to go by faster, but when you have kids it seems as if you blink your eyes and a year has gone by. That makes me sad. I've just sat and watched them alot this month. They are becoming more independent by the second. This too makes me sad. But I see them growing in to happy, healthy, beautiful children. That makes me happy. I marvel at just how amazing they are, I love them so much.
About a month ago Ryan Jones (Uncle Ryan), who is by far the most talented photographer that I know and is the man who documented the twins day of birth, did a family photo session of the Allen four. It was hot and the kids weren't in the best mood, but Ryan worked his magic and he got some amazing pictures. Thank you so much Uncle Ryan for all that you have done for us. We love you so much!
We have been to the park a lot this month. They like to go on the swings, Keaton more so than Bronwyn. We lay a big blanket down in the shade and watch them as Keaton ventures off into the grass and Bronwyn crawls all over the blanket, not wanting to touch the grass. The last time we went to the park she finally realized that the grass is not going to hurt her, and went off the blanket. We love spending time outside, the weather has been perfect!
Keaton and Bronwyn have taken after their mommy and daddy... They love music and dancing! We play music a lot in the house and they really enjoy it. They are both cruising along the furniture. I'm sure walking is right around the corner. Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dale got them an activity walker for their birthday. They walk all around the house with it, looking so proud that they are so big. They are really starting to play with each other. The tent is a great place to hide. Keaton chases Brawny around the room and she hides in the tent. He always finds her and they giggle and scream at each other, so thrilled to have one another. It is really cute. They both stand at the windows looking in to the backyard and yell at the dogs when they bark. We're pretty sure they have learned this from us. It's hilarious. We started giving them their baths out of their seats, so they are free to play and splash with each other. It's a little scary for us, but they seem to enjoy it. At the end of the month we started noticing that when Keaton does something and gets are reaction from one of us, Bronwyn will copy him to get the same reaction. Our Brawny girl is very observant.
Bronwyn is turning in to such a big girl. She will stand on her own now. No steps have been taken yet, thank goodness, I'm not ready for that yet. She loves playing in the car seats. She climbs in and out, from one to the other. I watch her and wonder to myself, "What is she thinking about or pretending to be?". I think she is going to have an amazing imagination. She has really started talking a lot this month. Not any words just yet, but she is getting close. She points at everything and loves looking at pictures and reading books. She likes to cuddle, on her terms of course, and loves pillows.
Keaton is growing in to such a big boy. He loves playing with doors and door stoppers. He has gotten himself stuck in rooms a few times because he shuts the door and can't get it open. He will walk while holding on to someones hands. Playing in the kitchen is his favorite thing to do. They found the Tupperware cabinet, that is only one we don't have a lock on, and they pull everything out and play with it on the tile. Keaton scoots, throws, and bangs the Tupperware on the floor. He might spend all day in there if I let him. Keaton gives hugs and sometimes kisses if you ask him, but he is all boy!
My first official mother's day was awesome. Nate surprised me with the new white Iphone. Now we can face chat during they day on his lunch hour. The kids get a kick out of it, and love seeing their daddy even though he isn't really at home. Bronwyn smiles and giggles and Keaton crinkles his nose and smiles too. Technology is awesome, especially this. Seeing his face is so much better than just hearing his voice (though that's good too). They love their daddy, and so do I.
Well, the next blog will be after their first birthday party. I still cannot think about it and not get teary eyed. A year ago our lives changed for the better. We left the house a family of two and came home as a new family of four. I know many of you are wondering if we will make it a family of five.... Not any time soon (if ever). Right now, our life is perfect, just the four of us. I can't imagine my life without these two amazing miracles, and I can't remember life without them; except for getting more sleep, working, having more time to myself and with Nate, and dreaming of the day that my life would be exactly what it is now. My dreams have come true; I married the man that God made just for me and I have the two most amazing children that a mommy could ever ask for. I am one lucky girl.
Happy First Birthday to our wonderful children. Mommy and Daddy love you so much! As always, thanks for checking in on our little family. That's it for now, enjoy the TWO slideshows for this month!
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
About a month ago Ryan Jones (Uncle Ryan), who is by far the most talented photographer that I know and is the man who documented the twins day of birth, did a family photo session of the Allen four. It was hot and the kids weren't in the best mood, but Ryan worked his magic and he got some amazing pictures. Thank you so much Uncle Ryan for all that you have done for us. We love you so much!
We have been to the park a lot this month. They like to go on the swings, Keaton more so than Bronwyn. We lay a big blanket down in the shade and watch them as Keaton ventures off into the grass and Bronwyn crawls all over the blanket, not wanting to touch the grass. The last time we went to the park she finally realized that the grass is not going to hurt her, and went off the blanket. We love spending time outside, the weather has been perfect!
Keaton and Bronwyn have taken after their mommy and daddy... They love music and dancing! We play music a lot in the house and they really enjoy it. They are both cruising along the furniture. I'm sure walking is right around the corner. Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dale got them an activity walker for their birthday. They walk all around the house with it, looking so proud that they are so big. They are really starting to play with each other. The tent is a great place to hide. Keaton chases Brawny around the room and she hides in the tent. He always finds her and they giggle and scream at each other, so thrilled to have one another. It is really cute. They both stand at the windows looking in to the backyard and yell at the dogs when they bark. We're pretty sure they have learned this from us. It's hilarious. We started giving them their baths out of their seats, so they are free to play and splash with each other. It's a little scary for us, but they seem to enjoy it. At the end of the month we started noticing that when Keaton does something and gets are reaction from one of us, Bronwyn will copy him to get the same reaction. Our Brawny girl is very observant.
Bronwyn is turning in to such a big girl. She will stand on her own now. No steps have been taken yet, thank goodness, I'm not ready for that yet. She loves playing in the car seats. She climbs in and out, from one to the other. I watch her and wonder to myself, "What is she thinking about or pretending to be?". I think she is going to have an amazing imagination. She has really started talking a lot this month. Not any words just yet, but she is getting close. She points at everything and loves looking at pictures and reading books. She likes to cuddle, on her terms of course, and loves pillows.
Keaton is growing in to such a big boy. He loves playing with doors and door stoppers. He has gotten himself stuck in rooms a few times because he shuts the door and can't get it open. He will walk while holding on to someones hands. Playing in the kitchen is his favorite thing to do. They found the Tupperware cabinet, that is only one we don't have a lock on, and they pull everything out and play with it on the tile. Keaton scoots, throws, and bangs the Tupperware on the floor. He might spend all day in there if I let him. Keaton gives hugs and sometimes kisses if you ask him, but he is all boy!
My first official mother's day was awesome. Nate surprised me with the new white Iphone. Now we can face chat during they day on his lunch hour. The kids get a kick out of it, and love seeing their daddy even though he isn't really at home. Bronwyn smiles and giggles and Keaton crinkles his nose and smiles too. Technology is awesome, especially this. Seeing his face is so much better than just hearing his voice (though that's good too). They love their daddy, and so do I.
Well, the next blog will be after their first birthday party. I still cannot think about it and not get teary eyed. A year ago our lives changed for the better. We left the house a family of two and came home as a new family of four. I know many of you are wondering if we will make it a family of five.... Not any time soon (if ever). Right now, our life is perfect, just the four of us. I can't imagine my life without these two amazing miracles, and I can't remember life without them; except for getting more sleep, working, having more time to myself and with Nate, and dreaming of the day that my life would be exactly what it is now. My dreams have come true; I married the man that God made just for me and I have the two most amazing children that a mommy could ever ask for. I am one lucky girl.
Happy First Birthday to our wonderful children. Mommy and Daddy love you so much! As always, thanks for checking in on our little family. That's it for now, enjoy the TWO slideshows for this month!
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Month #11
11.... Nate's favorite number, but not when we are talking about the age of our kids. One more month and Keaton and Bronwyn will be an entire year old. It's funny to think what we were doing a year ago. I was on bed rest, washing clothes, sanitizing everything, getting the nursery ready, sleeping in, taking naps... WOW! How life has changed. I don't remember the last time we slept in, or took a really good nap. Though I do miss those things, I wouldn't want go back to what my life was a year ago. Children change you; for the better. Sleeping in doesn't compare to the moment every morning when we get to go in and see our sweet babies for the first time that day. We look forward to this time each and every day. Walking in to be greeted by a big smile and burst of excitement just to see us. And we are so lucky because we not only get this feeling of so much love once, but twice! Keaton and Bronwyn make us utterly happy!!!
This month was FULL of new adventures, milestones, and memories. So much went on that I will let the pictures do most of the talking. To start the month off I took them to daddy's work, it was TWINS day, so taking them to visit seemed very appropriate. His students gawked at how darling they both were in their matching navy blue outfits. I also took them to big hat days with both grandma's and Auntie Jennifer. It was hot, but lot's of fun.
This month we had Daddy home for a whole week! I treasure this time as a family, and it makes me look forward to summer so much. Having him home just puts a smile on my face. During our break we went to the Zoo for the very first time. They liked it as much as 10 month old babies could like the Zoo. Truthfully, they were more of an attraction than the animals. They loved the elephants and Giraffes. They also had their first Easter. The Easter bunny left baskets full of fun things for them; toys, books, snacks, and clothes. Dressed in their Easter outfits, we had brunch with Nate's family, and that afternoon they participated in their first Easter egg hunt with my family. The Easter bunny filled their eggs with puffs and yogurt bites. Yum!
Keaton has had a very big month! He is crawling (forward), pulling up on everything, and wants anything that he shouldn't have. He now stands in his crib and "talks" back and forth to his sister. He loves standing and holding on to my hands and walking. His first tooth appeared on the first of the month. He has just the one, but I am sure number two will come through soon. When we feed him he slaps the spoon, which is full of food, out of our hand. So, we have to hold his hands while we feed him now, or we will end up with sweet potato down the front of us. He is a BOY! Now that he is mobile, he is so much happier... he always has a smile on his sweet little face. We love him.
Bronwyn is our busy little bee. She started off the month with getting sick. It was so pitiful. She just sat with me all day. Thank goodness she was only down and out for one day, Keaton really missed her company. She has started clapping. It is so cute. Once someone says, "YAY!!!" she claps and has a huge smile on her face. Speaking of smiles, she now has six teeth, which she has used on her crib. I went in their room after a nap and her face and jammies were black. She had been gnawing on her crib. Great! She loves looking out every window in the house, and if you come over you will probably be greeted by a smiling Brawny face in the window. She enjoys batting beach balls all around the house. This keeps her busy for a little while. She is BUSY, and becoming more independent every day. We love her.
Keaton and Bronwyn both wave bye-bye now. Again, so darn cute! They love reading books, music, and dancing. They enjoy exploring the house together. The dog door is fascinating, crawling under the kitchen table chairs is an adventure, and pushing toys around the house is pretty fun too. They have tried all sorts of new foods; cheese, zucchini, yogurt, and ice cream just to name a few. They have really started playing with each other. Sometimes not so nicely, but they are best buds. They really do love each other, and we love them so much. Our lives are non-stop and hectic, but I enjoy every moment!
Like I said before, I'll let the many pictures do most of the talking this month. So I hope you enjoy them. As always, thanks for checking in with the Allen four! Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
This month was FULL of new adventures, milestones, and memories. So much went on that I will let the pictures do most of the talking. To start the month off I took them to daddy's work, it was TWINS day, so taking them to visit seemed very appropriate. His students gawked at how darling they both were in their matching navy blue outfits. I also took them to big hat days with both grandma's and Auntie Jennifer. It was hot, but lot's of fun.
This month we had Daddy home for a whole week! I treasure this time as a family, and it makes me look forward to summer so much. Having him home just puts a smile on my face. During our break we went to the Zoo for the very first time. They liked it as much as 10 month old babies could like the Zoo. Truthfully, they were more of an attraction than the animals. They loved the elephants and Giraffes. They also had their first Easter. The Easter bunny left baskets full of fun things for them; toys, books, snacks, and clothes. Dressed in their Easter outfits, we had brunch with Nate's family, and that afternoon they participated in their first Easter egg hunt with my family. The Easter bunny filled their eggs with puffs and yogurt bites. Yum!
Keaton has had a very big month! He is crawling (forward), pulling up on everything, and wants anything that he shouldn't have. He now stands in his crib and "talks" back and forth to his sister. He loves standing and holding on to my hands and walking. His first tooth appeared on the first of the month. He has just the one, but I am sure number two will come through soon. When we feed him he slaps the spoon, which is full of food, out of our hand. So, we have to hold his hands while we feed him now, or we will end up with sweet potato down the front of us. He is a BOY! Now that he is mobile, he is so much happier... he always has a smile on his sweet little face. We love him.
Bronwyn is our busy little bee. She started off the month with getting sick. It was so pitiful. She just sat with me all day. Thank goodness she was only down and out for one day, Keaton really missed her company. She has started clapping. It is so cute. Once someone says, "YAY!!!" she claps and has a huge smile on her face. Speaking of smiles, she now has six teeth, which she has used on her crib. I went in their room after a nap and her face and jammies were black. She had been gnawing on her crib. Great! She loves looking out every window in the house, and if you come over you will probably be greeted by a smiling Brawny face in the window. She enjoys batting beach balls all around the house. This keeps her busy for a little while. She is BUSY, and becoming more independent every day. We love her.
Keaton and Bronwyn both wave bye-bye now. Again, so darn cute! They love reading books, music, and dancing. They enjoy exploring the house together. The dog door is fascinating, crawling under the kitchen table chairs is an adventure, and pushing toys around the house is pretty fun too. They have tried all sorts of new foods; cheese, zucchini, yogurt, and ice cream just to name a few. They have really started playing with each other. Sometimes not so nicely, but they are best buds. They really do love each other, and we love them so much. Our lives are non-stop and hectic, but I enjoy every moment!
Like I said before, I'll let the many pictures do most of the talking this month. So I hope you enjoy them. As always, thanks for checking in with the Allen four! Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Month #10
We've reached double digits! 10 months old... WHAT? Our teeny, tiny babies are just two short months away from their first birthday. Thinking of that makes me want to cry. Where has the time gone? I know... it's gone way too fast. I was going through clothes and pictures this month. I completely forgot just how tiny they were. Then I started thinking about the sleepless nights, the hour long feedings, the months that they would just stay still.... aw, the days where we could put them down and leave the room without worrying what they were going to get in to or when I could sit and relax just watching them. Those were the days. Now our days are spent mostly on our feet, chasing Bronwyn down or making sure Keaton hasn't backed himself into a corner. Who needs exercise when you are a mommy of twins right?
Let me start off this month with their stats:
Bronwyn is 15lbs 7oz
Keaton is 15lbs 7oz
Ha! They're the exact same...... we expected Keaton to weigh more for sure, but boy were we wrong. Keaton feels heavier and looks bigger; Bronwyn is so petite. Go figure. However, Keaton does have 2 centimeters on Brawny when it comes to head circumference. That was a given though.
This month Bronwyn has continued to amaze us. She is crawling everywhere, gets into everything, pulls up on anything possible, and wants whatever she is not supposed to have. She has found "the baby" in the fire place, dishwasher, oven, and various mirrors around the house. That poor baby is trapped in the most peculiar places. Little does she know that it is her own reflection, but finding the baby does keep her busy. She now has four teeth. Her top two broke through this month. Now she will try to chew snacks with her four front teeth, it's pretty funny. Binki tricks and blowing bubbles are extremely entertaining, for her and us. Bronwyn is something else; she cracks us up and keeps us on our toes.
I know you are all wondering if sweet Keaton has started crawling. Well, the answer is YES... backwards. He scoots all around the living room backwards and gets extremely frustrated when he backs up into a wall or the couch. So, he figured out how to turn himself around and just go the other way. He gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth. He is so close to figuring out how to go forward, and once that happens, our lives are going to become even more difficult. Two babies exploring the world, most likely in opposite directions, is going to be challenging. He shakes his head "no" to various questions that you ask him. It is hilarious, and because we all laugh he does it all the time. He continues to blow raspberries, but now can make different noises while doing it. He pulls up on things as long as someone is there to help him out a little bit. Keaton is full of personality, sometimes he can be very serious and other times he is full of giggles. His laugh warms our hearts.
We took them to the park for the first time this month. We went hoping to put them on the swings, but they were under construction. So we went to an elementary school and took them down the slide. I think we enjoyed it more that they did, but it made for some cute pictures.
We started to have snack time during the day. They have have been introduced to a variety foods this month. They have had real banana, mango, kiwi, canned pears, and cheese. We make sure that new foods and textures are given to them on an empty stomach so that if gagging occurs, there won't be anything that follows. They like drinking water out of their new sippie cups that have straws. Keaton mastered this quickly. Bronwyn, however, just lets the water run out of her mouth leaving the front of her soaking wet. She's getting the hang of it though.
Grandma Myrna and Grandpa Russ bought them a tunnel and tent. They love it. Brawny goes in and out of the tunnel, and the dogs follow her. Keaton loves to look in the tunnel and someday soon will be able to go in and out on his own.
At the end of the month we went out of town without the kids. Nate went to San Diego for a Bachelor party, and I went to San Luis for a Bachelorette party. Though it was only for a weekend we enjoyed our time off. Both sets of grandparents split the weekend up and watched them for us. It is so much easier leaving knowing that they will be well taken care of. Thank you so much to our families for watching them for us, we appreciate it more than you know. Being away for just a weekend made Nate and I both realize just how much we love our little family of four. Though we both had so much fun away, we couldn't wait to get back to each other and our kids. We are so blessed.
One thing that we won't every get tired of is when they both babble, scream, laugh, and play footsie with one another. Seeing them interact with each other is something that I cherish. There is something about twins that is just so amazing, and we are so lucky to witness these two together every day. I see them and am comforted knowing that they will always have each other, no matter what. They are a blessing from above. Many times I ask myself, "How did I get so lucky"? I have an amazing husband and wonderful kids who are all happy and healthy. What more could I want out of life? The answer... nothing.
Thanks, once again, for checking in with us! Enjoy the pictures. We love you all! Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Let me start off this month with their stats:
Bronwyn is 15lbs 7oz
Keaton is 15lbs 7oz
Ha! They're the exact same...... we expected Keaton to weigh more for sure, but boy were we wrong. Keaton feels heavier and looks bigger; Bronwyn is so petite. Go figure. However, Keaton does have 2 centimeters on Brawny when it comes to head circumference. That was a given though.
This month Bronwyn has continued to amaze us. She is crawling everywhere, gets into everything, pulls up on anything possible, and wants whatever she is not supposed to have. She has found "the baby" in the fire place, dishwasher, oven, and various mirrors around the house. That poor baby is trapped in the most peculiar places. Little does she know that it is her own reflection, but finding the baby does keep her busy. She now has four teeth. Her top two broke through this month. Now she will try to chew snacks with her four front teeth, it's pretty funny. Binki tricks and blowing bubbles are extremely entertaining, for her and us. Bronwyn is something else; she cracks us up and keeps us on our toes.
I know you are all wondering if sweet Keaton has started crawling. Well, the answer is YES... backwards. He scoots all around the living room backwards and gets extremely frustrated when he backs up into a wall or the couch. So, he figured out how to turn himself around and just go the other way. He gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth. He is so close to figuring out how to go forward, and once that happens, our lives are going to become even more difficult. Two babies exploring the world, most likely in opposite directions, is going to be challenging. He shakes his head "no" to various questions that you ask him. It is hilarious, and because we all laugh he does it all the time. He continues to blow raspberries, but now can make different noises while doing it. He pulls up on things as long as someone is there to help him out a little bit. Keaton is full of personality, sometimes he can be very serious and other times he is full of giggles. His laugh warms our hearts.
We took them to the park for the first time this month. We went hoping to put them on the swings, but they were under construction. So we went to an elementary school and took them down the slide. I think we enjoyed it more that they did, but it made for some cute pictures.
We started to have snack time during the day. They have have been introduced to a variety foods this month. They have had real banana, mango, kiwi, canned pears, and cheese. We make sure that new foods and textures are given to them on an empty stomach so that if gagging occurs, there won't be anything that follows. They like drinking water out of their new sippie cups that have straws. Keaton mastered this quickly. Bronwyn, however, just lets the water run out of her mouth leaving the front of her soaking wet. She's getting the hang of it though.
Grandma Myrna and Grandpa Russ bought them a tunnel and tent. They love it. Brawny goes in and out of the tunnel, and the dogs follow her. Keaton loves to look in the tunnel and someday soon will be able to go in and out on his own.
At the end of the month we went out of town without the kids. Nate went to San Diego for a Bachelor party, and I went to San Luis for a Bachelorette party. Though it was only for a weekend we enjoyed our time off. Both sets of grandparents split the weekend up and watched them for us. It is so much easier leaving knowing that they will be well taken care of. Thank you so much to our families for watching them for us, we appreciate it more than you know. Being away for just a weekend made Nate and I both realize just how much we love our little family of four. Though we both had so much fun away, we couldn't wait to get back to each other and our kids. We are so blessed.
One thing that we won't every get tired of is when they both babble, scream, laugh, and play footsie with one another. Seeing them interact with each other is something that I cherish. There is something about twins that is just so amazing, and we are so lucky to witness these two together every day. I see them and am comforted knowing that they will always have each other, no matter what. They are a blessing from above. Many times I ask myself, "How did I get so lucky"? I have an amazing husband and wonderful kids who are all happy and healthy. What more could I want out of life? The answer... nothing.
Thanks, once again, for checking in with us! Enjoy the pictures. We love you all! Until next month...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
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