18 Months 08-27-12

18 Months

What a month we have had and in fact probably our most interesting to date. Where to begin?!?!? I was put in a walking boot as the result of a stress fracture, so no workouts for mama. No workouts means a grumpy irritable mama too. We attended three birthday parties, all of which were a blast with great themes. Mama got a weekend away with college friends and found out real quick my body can't handle  the late nights. We took the kids to a long awaited ENT appointment and literally two days later Dax was getting tubes in his ears. Oh and lastly we began the end of the crack addiction by going cold turkey on the pacifiers.

Thunder Girl Birthday Party

Dax Man: 25 pounds 1 ounce in the 63rd percentile, length 31 and 3/4inches in the 26 percentile and 18in head circumference in the 10th percentile

Since his tubes were put in the little guy has become more vocal repeating more words and even taking steps. His equal librium has been off creating issues with his walking and balance. His new favorite word is NO. His personality has changed quite a bit meaning he is now a toddler pressing limits and throwing himself on the ground like a fish out of water flopping around. Time outs have increased and the screaming has escalated to no end. My sweet little boy does come out and loves to give his mama lots of hugs and kisses. He will even blow me kisses at daycare when I leave. 

Little Miss Blake: 20 pounds in the 15th percentile, length 29 1/2inches in the 2nd percentile, and 17 1/2in head circumference in the 9th percentile

Fortunately Blake did not need tubes in her ears so we will do a follow up soon. She began walking and loves to giggle to herself when she finds something interesting or funny. Time outs mean nothing to her and when she does go she just laughs. She is doing great at signing and continues to get into any and everything. 

18 month apt:

I learned I had no control over the two little boogers. Something I have been concerned with considering my stress levels have been beyond the point of concentration. After learning a few tweeks to the discipline we have seen some changes. The tantrums do not last as long and the time outs seem to be making more of an impact. I feel more in control and they seem to be learning that screaming at mama will get them nowhere. Past mama behavior is the constant pick up stop what I'm doing and to drop everything. I was advised they were controlling me and if I didn't get it in check at age 2 I was going to have my work cut out

Boomer Sooner

Taking a break from feeding the ducks on campus

Playing Dress Up

Our new cousin Zach

We did a tire mini session with Angel Porch Photography. I'm simply addicted to her talent. Enjoy some of my favorites.

06-27-2012-16-17 months

Testing mom's nerves with the steps-little dare devil

16 months:


This month flew by as they all seem to do right now. We took our first trip away from the kids since they were born. It was a much needed vacay to Chicago where we celebrated our 6th anniversary, father's day, and hanging out with our besties Josh and Paige. The kids on the other hand didn't do so hot. They caught hand, foot, and mouth. Poor babies were so sick while mom and dad were both away. I gotta give a big kuddos to our wonderful nanny who pretty much did not sleep the whole weekend and to grandpa for giving her a break during the madness. With that being said since then we have travelled to the lake which they absolutely love. Life jackets not so much but the pool and the new atmosphere is a plus for them.


 Both are making strides with their little personalities. Dax is a more outspoken little guy who is easily frustrated while Blake is more calm and goes with the flow. This month we are experiencing lots of hitting, biting, and taunting. When Blake gets in trouble she gives you this squinted eye grunt with her lips puckered and Dax throws a smile back at you like whatever dude. Dax has become Daxasaurus and Blake is now Blakeasaurus because they have been learning about dinosaurs so whenever you call them by name they will growl at you as if they are a dinosaur. I think it's hillarious. They both high five, clap when singing happy and you know it, hugs and kisses for Bella are daily must, and throwing their food on the floor is still the funniest thing ever. I tend to blow on their hot food and say it's hot and typically think nothing of it till the other day I said it's hot while holding Dax. All of a sudden he started blowing on me. 


We put them in floaties in the pool which I know they are not 3 but thought lets try this after some persuasion. Both absolutely love their floaties and kick like little fish. It's so fun to see how these tiny beings have become little personalities that are sponges for information. They really do know what you are saying now whether they choose to listen that's another story. 


Both are doing their sign language for more and eat. This has really helped us with the frustration factor. I'm now reading the Secrets of the baby Whisperer for Toddlers. I do feel it's helping me to not be so frustrated with the changes and fits we are experiencing these days so I strongly recommend it.

I love the lake

This pic below of Dax is literally my head turned for two seconds when he found the wipes. I figured as many as he had out what the hell and got my camera out instead.

Fear the beard

17 months:


This month we caught the flu. Started out with Richard and I and then the kids. A baby with the flu is not nearly as bad as a baby with hand, foot, and mouth. So all these illnesses have kept me busy and away from the blog. First of all I'm not a hot dog lover so cleaning up hot dog chunks is probably worst most disgusting thing to date. I will take the smelliest nastiest shitty diaper over hot dog chunks. My dog nose that I have been blessed with can't handle that one. I clogged up the laundry room sink cleaning the sheets as well as the washer. I swear the return of the hot dog keeps creeping me on a regular basis.


Both are climbing on everything and everywhere. They love to climb on the patio furniture and give me a near heart attack because I'm afraid they are going to go over the edge. We had to do some rearranging which doesn't look the best but it's all about the kids these days. They love peanut butter sandwiches again something I said I would never do but hell you gots to get by and this seems to work. It's either the fight of throwing everything in the floor or just feeding them something you know they will eat. I must admit I do resort to the pb sandwich quite a bit. 


July 21st Blake officially became a walker (more than 3 steps) she is still a little nervous and prefers assistance but we are gambling she should have this down within the week. It reminds me of my back handspring days of being able to do it but requiring a spot to hold onto my t-shirt. Blake does the same; the girl can do it but just wants that extra safety. July 25th, she officially won the walker award and walked all day long. Again a little tribute to our wonderful nanny who walked them all day. The following Friday she fell hard and has a huge shiner on her right eye. Baby girl had a little hold back due to it. 


Dax officially took 3 steps unassisted on July 30th. We are so proud of our "big guy". He too likes the additional support and prefers some assistance. Predictions for him are about two weeks. Fingers crossed my Daxman. 


We took them to their first "fancy" restaurant. Both of us went into this a little nervous but really wanted to try it out. The kids started out a little grumpy because we had a big day at the pool so our nerves were really going. When we got there to our surprise both did extremely well. They had their first mac and cheese out of a "fancy" bowl with a white table cloth. Again very impressed by the behavior and at the same time again impressed that we managed this one, something I never thought I would ever do in my life time. 


On a regular occurrence people ask how I do it, oh it must be hard, oh wow, two?, oh your hands are full. So with that being said you kind of become accustomed to it and a majority of the time you get that extra door held open for you or people go out of their way to make sure you are good.  I must admit the "stupid" questions of "are they identical" are still annoying but to have doors opened is very nice. Now that I'm fully aware I do notice the people that let a door slam in your face as you are pushing a bus of a stroller or holding a child in each arm, keys in your mouth, and sippy cups hanging from your pockets. Yes this is my life and yes this does happen. My mission in sharing this is so that the next time you see someone with twins, an elderly pushing a walker, a mom pushing a stroller, someone assisting another or whatever it is. Pass it on and open that door for that individual. That small kindness goes so far. Enjoy our two months!


The Fosters

Fun day at the pool with Riley

Dax surprised us the other day as well. As Claire was leaving he gave the most southern hill billy bye and waived her on. I was dying laughing so the little guy now says bye in his most southern hospitality voice. 

15 Months 05-27-2012

This month has flown by and seems like each month goes by quicker. As everyone has warned enjoy it because it goes by fast. Well that is true. We have played outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather everyday this month. They are both pushing their push toys, riding on them, climbing on everything and doing new things daily. Dax man loves to give open mouth kisses and hugs, high fives, hits his sister, and has started biting. He loves Bella dog and even gives her open mouth kisses and hugs. Blake loves to climb on everything, high fives, and loves the push walkers. She goes very fast straight into the wall and turns around upset. One of the walkers is a shopping cart. She loves to put the toys in it and then take everything out. They went to the park almost every day during the month of May with the exception of rainy days. Both are starting to become more independent in so many ways. Everything from not liking the food they loved the day before to squriming on the changing table to little fits. We have officially begun the time outs or at least my version of trying to figure them out myself. Blake has so many teeth for a total of four on top, four on bottom, and a back mollar. She does not like her teeth to be cleaned so we challenge this nightly but seem to found that daddy can zurburt her while I pry my finger in for the cleaning. We get more lock jaw smiles more often then open mouthed smiles. She has it down and tries her hardest not to laugh because she knows I'm going to get in there with my finger toothbrush. Dax on the other hand does not mind it at all. He actually opens up and loves the taste of the toothpaste.


On one of the colder days we had I stepped outside of my comfort zone and took the kids to the mall play area. A small panic attack later, some bullies, and getting to the point I could not handle it anymore we left. The kids were kicking them off the toys, petting them, and running all over the place. I could not handle it so of course there was some major hand sanitizing 15 minutes after entering the play zone. 

We went to their friend Elle's birthday at Gymboree and they had an absolute blast. They climbed on everything and had so much fun. The slides were their favorites as we repeated them over and over again.


Mother's Day was a special day as it was my second ever. It was literally the least "shitty" day I have had in an entire year. Why is that you ask? Every shitty diaper was assigned to the papa in fact every diaper for the day. I found lots of entertainment in this and when you have two babies you literally have changed a total of at least 4 of these things by 10am. 


Memorial day weekend we took the kids to the lake and they had a blast. It was a weekend of firsts. They had orange juice, pizza, waffles, calamari, and their first boat ride. The boat ride lasted a total of maybe 100 yards so we headed back to the pool where they enjoyed their floats. Dax man enjoyed the Willie Nelson music  by dancing and turing the volume up and down. He was drawn to the beauty of Mr. Nelson's voice. As previously stated this child really has a passion for music and it's so fun to see it develop further. They opened every cabinet door, crawled all over the place and even screamed at the top of their lungs because they got a reaction from other dinner guests at the restaurants. This little funny phase we are hoping will pass very quickly. Blake would scream as loud as she could at such high decimals get a reaction and flash a grin at her observers. Seriously so embarrassing. 


We had their 15 month check up and little Miss Blake is just that, still little. She weighs 18 pounds 5 ounces in the 11th percentile, 29 inches long in the 8th percentile, and 17 1/4in. head in the 9th percentile. Predictions are anywhere between 5.1 to 5.3. Dax man is 23 pounds 5 ounces in the 43rd percentile, 31 inches long in the 42 percentile, and 18 inches head in the 20th percentile. Predictions are anywhere from 6 foot to 6.3 as an adult. 


Below are the pics by the ever so talented Angel Porch. She had her work cut out for her considering both of my children chose to make it as difficult as possible and then their mother chose to do the set up in an area that would require flash. My complete bad and this was something I knew, I've learned, and of course did not think of it till it was to late. 

 

 

This pretty much sums it up which truly proves Angel's talent. 

 

Cheeeeeeeeese!

Your cake is much better than mine.

Party guests

Dax's smash cake that both loved.

Blake's smash cake, she preferred Dax's green one. 

Thanks for celebrating the big UNO with us. 

Happy boy on his birthday!

Mother's Day 2012: As stated before a beautiful day celebrating being a mother. The love a mother feels for her child is indescribable. Any pain your child feels you feel and wish you could take it away. Little offspring that you put your all and everything you know just to teach them to become successful happy beings who live a life of integrity. This love is not something you learn it comes from within and I feel so lucky to have these two in my life. They are my light, my joy, my everything as I watch them grow and explore this thing we call life. 

I find this pic below so beautiful as it is my mother sharing her love of flowers with my daughter who seems to be drawn to flowers as well. 

 Playing tag, chase, duck duck goose around the ottoman a new favorite game. I lead the way on all fours as the quacking mama duck and my little ducklings follow. Keeps them entertained and makes my knees sore. 

Cousins enjoying a day at the pool (May 28th the day that Riley learned to swim for reals ya'll)

Spit those begonias out little missy