Bye Bye Binky (for real this time)

I waited to post this until it was for sure. It's been a week since Preston bit a hole in his beloved binky so I told him we had to throw it away. He gave it a kiss, said bye bye and put it in the trash. I admit I did tear up a little. I mean he has been best friends with binky since birth. Binky made many appearances in the first year but once Preston was a year old we only let him have it at bedtime. Preston knew when he got out of bed Binky had to stay behind. He always perched him up on the rail of the crib by the wall to wait until it was time to sleep again. Binky was a world traveller, always going on the airplane with his bff. Just recently when we went to Florida Preston was holding Binky up to the window and saying "you see it, Binky, you see the airplane" Seriously the cutest thing ever. The Binky Preston had, well we had 3, the duck, the horse and the dog. We just cute the pacifier off and now he has Binky dog.

As we leave tomorrow for our flight I hope Preston is happy with just the dog.

So long Binky we will miss you!

Toddler beds

Since we got back from Florida Preston and Lily have been climbing out of their cribs. It's been mostly at nap time I think because it's more light in their room. At night they can't see a thing in there. So all week it's been a fight trying to get them to stay in their cribs long enough to fall alseep. I have been paranoid about them climbing out and getting stuck and hurting themselves. So Aaron and I decided today we would take the front off the crib and make it more of a day bed. We stuck to our same bedtime routine of bath, book, bed then tucked them in and said goodnight. We first heard the door open, laughter, then crying. I think they just thought we were going to give them free reign on the whole house. We put a gate up at their door and when they saw that they started yelling "mommy" I went upstairs put them back in the bed without saying a word (just like Supernanny says) and came back downstairs. Repeat about 6 times but then ........... 45 mins later they were sleeping. Really that's it, it was so easy *knock on wood*. Now I face the challenge of naps. One of my friends told me they may be done with naps *hold on while I scream* What do you mean done with naps? I have lots to do during the 2 hours that they sleep, don't theses kids know it's Christmas and we leave for Texas in 2 weeks?! ?! Oh god if they are done with naps it's going to be a looooooong winter.

If I sound like I have no idea what I am doing it's because I don't. I should mention that Ashley didn't come out of her crib until she was almost 3 and by then she pretty much knew what stay in your bed means. People say the first year is the hardest they obviously don't remember 2.

Trust me I will keep you up to date on the toddler bed transition. Any advice on this transition is greatly appreciated and needed.

Birthday party weekend

We have already had quit a weekend and it's only Saturday. Last night we took Ashley, her 2 best friends and their daters out for her 15th birthday dinner. Even though her birthday is on the 29th it's much easier to celebrate the weekend before since it's so close to Halloween. Ashley had a great time. Aaron and I decided to get her a cell phone for her birthday. No not a new cell phone, a cell phone. She must be the only 15 year old without one. At the restaurant Aaron and I sat at a different table than the Ashley and her friends, because parents are SOOOOOO EMBARASSING. Anyway I had our waiter deliver her present over to her table and while she was opening it I called her phone so it would ring the happy birthday tune I previously downloaded. She was so surprised and happy. I sure hope I don't live to regret getting her a cell phone. I have heard some pretty scarey stories (high bills) from people with teenagers that have them. Here is a picture of the girls ALL DRESSED UP:

Ashley, Sheena, Randi

This morning we had the twins 2nd birthday party. Since their birthday is on Halloween I have a feeling that the next 18 years we will always have their birthday the weekend before. We had so much fun this morning. Even though I kind of lost track of time and when our guests started to arrive my kids were still in their pj's. We started off with each of the kids picking out a small pumpkin to decorate. I got some pipe cleaners, googly eyes, puffy balls, and felt stickers. I opted out of the glitter, kids and glitter scares me. After our pumpkin craft we had a visit with NL Jungle and their animals. They are a company that brings small animals, for the kids to love and rub on while learning a little about each one. Lily had NO FEAR! She laid down and looked into the face of each animal. Even the snake and lizard she loved them all. Preston would touch them but not nearly as much as Lily. She is such an animal lover. We ended the party with cake and presents. I opened my freezer a moment ago to 3 boxes of ice cream cups I forgot about. Oh well. I guess I know what my mom and I will be snacking on while she is here visiting.

ALL pictures of the party here.

Happy 19 months!

Today the babies are 19 months old. Can you believe it? They are learning so much and really starting to talk....... alot. Lily is really into animal sounds, she does the cutest meow and quack quack. Preston is also trying to repeat everything. I posted a video yesterday of him saying waffles, so cute. He also says trash and they both want to throw everything away. They are both eager to help Lily loves to wipe her mouth and the floor with a towel.  This morning Preston took his cup and turned it over and banged it on the table until milk started spilling out. I gave him a damp paper towel and asked him to clean up and he did. He wiped it all up, I then put him down so he could throw it in the trash. Such a big boy! 

They are pretty quick on their feet learning to run and jump. They can't quit get off the ground but if you say jump they bounce up and down. They are eating just about everything. Lily has 11 teeth and is missing one molar in the back.  Preston has 10 teeth but is missing the 2 eye teeth on the bottom.  Now that they have their molars they can chomp on anything. 

I hear the babies waking up so we are headed outside to take some video. Maybe I can get Lily to meow. That's if the construction next door doesn't scare them. It's really loud over here. I can't let that stop me though it's 72 degrees and we must get outside and enjoy it while it lasts. 

We are counting down the days until Nana and Mama Jean come visit. I have been showing the babies pictures of them so they recognize them when they get here.  

Silent Sunday!!

18 months

She is turning into such a little helper. Pardon the crappy picture. I really should learn to use our fancy camera.  

So 18 months has come and gone. I have been wanting to blog this for a few weeks and just haven't gotten around to it. Whoever said the first year is the hardest must have forgotten about 18 months!  I don't think the first year is harder just different. With 18 months they are just learning so much and wanting to go go go. Before now they would pretty much sit and play now they are learning they can open doors, push buttons, climb stairs and they also know they can get their way if they scream loud enough!!  Wow these kids are all over the place.  Not only are they starting to know exactly what they want but they will do anything possible to get it. ANYTHING from kicking, screaming and crying.  They have turned into demanding little toddlers.  Don't even think about putting Lily in her chair unless you have some food ON the table.  Not on the counter being cut up, not in the microwave being heated up.......... ON the table ready for her to come to the food, not the food come to her.  Preston is still pretty laid back in that area.  They both are using forks full time.  It's going well until Preston decides he wants to bang his fork pointy side down on the table.  Then Lily decides she can do it better and louder so it turns into a little competition.  We taught them to put their fork and cup on top of their plate and push it away when they are done. That is going well too, and thank god because turning your plate over and launching it onto the floor is not my idea of a fun after dinner activity.  Let me see what else is going on at the funny farm?  We turned Lily's car seat around. I finally feel like she has reached the weight and height requirement.  She loves it, her and Preston hold hands and pass snatch their toys back and forth. 

Cute story: The other day at the grocery store the babies were in the cart (which is a double so they it side by side) when a little old lady came up and asked if they were a twin.  I replied yes then we went through the usual questions, how old, your hands are full, is it hard.  Just as she said they are so cute, Lily laid her head on Preston shoulder and Preston gave Lily a hug and patted her back. It melted my heart. She asked if they were always this sweet and I smiled and said yes! 

Here is a picture taken the other day from my camera phone: 

We have made the move

To forward facing car seat for Preston. HE LOVES IT!!!!! I am still nervous. I think I just read way to much stuff on the internet. He has finally made it to 23 pounds and I feel comfortable enough to turn him around. Now LITTLE LILY on the other hand won't be making the move, she is such a petite girl. She weighs in at only 20 pounds. It's crazy though because she eats as much if not more than Preston. I am sure it will catch up to her when she is 30 and doesn't understand why she can't just lose those last 10 pounds.

some what normal

Starting on Sunday the babies woke up about an hour after they went down for a nap. I thought it was just because everyone was home and there was more noise during nap than usual. So on Monday I put them down and the same thing happened. Except after nap I didn't have anyone there to help me with the aftermath of a short nap. Anytime the babies have problems with their naps I immediately think something has GOT to be wrong. It makes for a very long and interesting day when they wake up at 1 instead of 2:30 and don't go back to bed until 7.
So we move into Tuesday and I think things will be better I have a new outlook on the day that whatever was bothering them has passed. HA! It was the same thing but an hour and half instead of an hour. I go to feel around in their mouths and both babies have more teeth coming in. That would explain the puddle of drool that seep through my socks. I kept thinking someone needs to stop spilling water all over the floor. As soon as I get good at something some teeth or a growth spurt throws a kink in my chain. Today I really tired them out and made sure to give Tylenol before nap time.
Hello 3 hour nap where have you been in the past 3 days this tired momma has missed you dearly!!!!!!

Copy cat kids

The babies have started something really funny & cute, well cuter than normal. They have started to copy things other people do. This morning at breakfast Aaron and I were done eating but we were still at the table talking. Aaron stretched his arms out and put them behind his head. He said "look at them" both babies were sitting there with their arms behind their head just like daddy. It was hilarious!! It's so funny how just one day they started copying. They must see me put the child lock on the cabinet 10 times a day because now when it's off both babies will go over and try to put it on. Preston and Lily are really cued into things being out of place they will put the magnet toys on the fridge, put the balls back in the ball pit and even put shoes back where they go. I think they might be a little ocd like their momma! Lily is into trying to repeat what you say these days. Yesterday Aaron was reading a book and he got to a sheep and said "baa baa" Lily looked at him and said it loud and proud, "baa baa" Just when you think they are too small to listen or pay attention they surprise you. Now we really have to watch what we say and do. Next thing I know they will be dropping a 4 letter word in the middle of playgroup. No maybe not but you see what I'm saying!

Cute videos of our walkers

I knew this day would come

Along with our eating out days, my grocery shopping days are coming to an end. I am going to have to strategically plan each and every grocery shop trip from now on. I will make sure that it is after breakfast but before lunch but not before morning nap, afternoon nap or dinner. So that leaves me with about a 2 hour window where the babies are not eating or sleeping. Today I left the house bright and early around 10:30, hey that's bright and early around here lately we have been sleeping until 8 or 8:30 since getting back from Houston. Ok so bright and early here we go to Toys R Us to spend our gift cards, then to the grocery store. Toys R Us was great we got a new sled, a gate for the stairs and a ball pit to keep the wee ones entertained while we hibernate for the winter. We get to the grocery store and all is smooth sailing until the bag of Apple Crisps runs out. Apple Crisps are my kids new favorite thing since being at Aunt Michelle's, thankfully our Costco here sells them. Any who I brought one bag to the grocery store and Preston wiped them out. He was so pissed when they were gone. He was screaming and throwing a fit he pushed the half gallon of milk out of the cart onto the floor where it busted open and leaked everywhere. Once I got him settled down we went to look for pork sausage while in front of the meat dept Lily turned the bag of goldfish, that was keeping Preston occupied, up side down. So I had a clean up on the Christmas aisle from the milk and a clean up in front of the meat from the goldfish. I think it's safe to say the grocery store won't miss us. At least they fell asleep on the way home so I could unload the car and put the groceries away.
Maybe they were just having a bad day........... there is always next week!

bye bye bottle

It's official the bottle is gone!!!!! By gone I mean in a box in the basement so not easy to access. I thought it would be difficult to get rid of the night time bottle but it was no problem at all. I give them their cup of milk in their play room or bed room while we read then to bed. I can feel the baby stage slowly drifting further away.

Also it's worth mentioning that I think they have started to speak where we can actually understand them. I have started teaching a new item each week or every few weeks. We started with duck, next we will do ball. It has worked because they both now know duck and can say it. We were at a store and Lily looked at some baby pajamas and said "duh" there was a duck on them, I got so excited!!

So far they have said: duck (du), daddy, momma (momomo), Ash (Ah)
Lily says: that (dat) and points
Preston says: thank you (day do)

I promise there will be more pictures. I have been slacking lately.

Why so tired baby boy!

This poor boy fell asleep in about 2 seconds while I was giving Lily her bite at lunch. The past 2 days have been horrible as far as sleep goes. I am hoping it's a growth spurt, milestone or whatever. My sister in law told me that when babies are about to hit a milestone they will start eating or sleeping differently.
Let's start with Wednesday. We had a playgroup so the babies didn't go down at their usual 10 am time. I fed them lunch around 11:30 since they were both fading fast. After lunch they went to bed and napped for TWO HOURS!! They were fine the rest of the day and I thought for sure bed time would be normal since it was 5 hours in between sleeps. NOT!!! So we put them down at their regular 7 pm time. They cried and giggled and blabbed until 7:45. I stayed up until midnight working on Christmas cards, Aaron played guitar. Why oh why don't I go to bed earlier? Around 5 am Preston started crying, not a whimper, an all out cry fest. I rushed in before he woke the almighty princess Lily. After a bottle, orajel, teething tabs I thought for sure he would go back to sleep. No way Jose it was party time. I put him in bed with us which we never do and now I know why. He jumped around, laughed, patted daddy's head. Around 6 am I put him back in bed and he went out like a light.
Thursday was a normal morning. The babies did not want to go down at 10 so I held off and fed them lunch then put them to bed. Once again long nap only an hour and a half. Bedtime, same thing did not want to go to bed. It was Lily's turn this time, she woke up at 4 am and I did the same exact thing I did for Preston the night before. She fell back asleep around 5 am. First I would like to say I don't know why I thought putting them in bed with us would work. They partied like it was 1999 and I can't help but laugh when Lily is lunging towards Aaron and laughing then looking at me wondering why he doesn't respond, it's called sleep sweetheart.
So today I made sure we stuck to our schedule of 2 naps. They did wake up a little earlier than normal so that was a great start. When I put them down at 10 I put Preston in the pack and play in the guest room and Lily in her crib. They slept so much better. We were on the road at 2 but they slept for about 45 mins. Let me just tell you they were begging me to let them go to bed tonight at 7. Hopefully they will not wake up. If they do it will be ok though because.....

I will miss these days once they are gone.

What a difference a year makes!

These are some of my favorite pictures from the early days. They look so different.

Preston just a few hours old.

Lily just a few hours old.

Finally together in their bed at home.

Preston holding daddy's finger

Yup that's both of them in the swing. Just goes to show you how tiny they were. 2 weeks old

2 1/2 months old

3 months old

Bottle brigade

Before we left for our trip the babies were only taking a bottle at night. Well that all changed when we were on the airplane, Lily got sick and well I didn't stick with it. So while we were in Texas I caved because...........it's so easy.
So I am back on the bottle band wagon and trying to only do bottle at night. The rest of the time it's sippy cup with formula/milk in their high chair during meals. I don't want the babies to associate whole milk with bottle so I probably won't get rid of the bottle totally until we do all milk. Every thing else as far as meals is great. They are on complete table food. Preston still refuses to feed him self. Lily does great but Preston will just look at his food and push it around. I have seen him feed himself so I am sure that he can do it. He is just a lazy boy I guess.

Silly babies

Look at that silly girl

What am I going to do with her? She scares me.

I finally got some small bands to put her hair up with.

I was in the kitchen and heard some laughing so I grabbed the camera to see what they were up too. They are so silly.