Claire - 6 months

Half a year. Already.

Hair:
Still light brown with a lot of copper in it. It’s filling in a bit. Her new stuff is pretty straight but my mom reminded me that L and E’s hair was once like that.

Eyes:
All the blue is gone but they are not done changing. I think they will settle into hazel like mine and John’s. 

Teeth:
Still just the two bottom ones.

Eating:
I seemed to have worked out my supply issues by taking fenugreek, blessed thistle and eating oatmeal. I’ve also had formula on hand for the times she won’t settle. She is doing much better which is a relief because I’m not ready to give up breastfeeding quite yet. I also started her on solids a couple of weeks ago. She’s only had rice cereal and oatmeal so far. I need to get my act together about feedings - I really don’t enjoy spoon feeding. It’s a completely different experience with just one baby. I know exzctly how much she eats and how painfully slow she is! With the girls one would “chew” while I fed the other and there was no waiting around. One positive is that the girls have already lost interest in helping feed their sister.

Size:
Her appt and shots are next week. I will update then.

 Sleep:
She did much better this month but is still no sleeping star. She consistently naps for at least 30 mins in the morning. I try and get her to nap with the girls in the afternoon. Somedays are better than others. She’ll sleep by herself but she usually stirs a couple of times and has to be comforted back to sleep. If you miss the comfort window it is hard to settle her again.

Bedtimes are still a bit all over the place but lately she seems to be asleep by 9 for the night. She can also be hard to settle at night but once she gets into her deep sleep she’s fine. She sleeps anywhere between 4 and 6 hours for the first stretch then is up every 3 hours after that. She’s never up for long in the night.

My friend Rachelle said that her daughter Adelle suffers from what they call FOMO (fear of missing out). Claire has the same problem and with two very active sisters there always seems to be something better to do than sleep. She gets really cranky when she’s tired - pretty obvious sleep cues

Things she’s doing this month:
The rolling from belly to back still seems to stump her. She will flip over and play happily on her belly going around in circles but then yells when she’s done. Every once in awhile we find her rolled over but it’s not something she does whenever she feels like it yet.

She is getting very good at sitting. We were given a bumbo seat and I think it really helps them learn to sit. She can sit independently now for long periods of time. You still have to watch her though because she hasn’t figured out how to balance herself and she’ll just fall over or backwards when she’s done.

She loves her bouncer and can turn herself around in it. Her favourite toy is a wind up giraffe that John got her. She giggles and squeals whenever she sees it.

She knows her name.

She will pick everything up, inspect it, chew it, bang it and then throw it.

Her attention span is getting longer. She will sit and listen when Leah and Emma read her stories.

Personality: 
Claire is very social and likes to be part of the action. She is happiest when she can see what’s going on. She likes to yell and talk and she starts to laugh when she gets your attention. She is starting to say mmmmm.

She is very ticklish.

She has never liked to be held face in right from when she was a newborn. She prefers being cradled so she can see what’s going on. The only time she’ll tolerate facing in is when she’s eating and even then she has to check out whats going on a few times a meal.

She could watch her sisters all day long. She sits in the bumbo and watches them eat. She’s happy as can be at the park if she can watch them. She loves being outside.

She loves people and will go to anyone. She’s starting to do the playful smile and pretend shy dive into my neck but she’s back for more right away.

All in all Claire continues to be a very easy going baby. Gone are the days of the newborn lump, but the curious and happy baby that has replaced the lump is still pretty easy to live with. She’s still easy to take places and rarely causes us any trouble.

Leah and Emma continue to enjoy being big sisters. They are good about being quiet when Claire is sleeping or entetaining her when I need a moment to do something. They also enjoy helping (in a useful way) with everything Claire needs. They get protective of her when strange kids try to look at her at the park and have been known to tell random people not to touch their baby sister. They let Claire pull their hair and they are just really sweet with her. One of the sweeter sounds is when we are in the car and they try to get her to laugh. The three of them will laugh and laugh and laugh and it is so cute. Maybe they’ll always be like that!

 

3 Years Old

This is very long. I have been writing it in spurts when I have a moment. I still can’t believe they are no longer babies or toddlers.

Hair
Emma’s hair is still quite fair and has a tight curl. My mom cut it last month to tidy it up and it is quite short with the curl. Her eyelashes are getting darker so her hair might follow. Leah’s hair is light brown but has some red in it. It has a loose curl which I find
hard to manage. I put anti frizz stuff in both their hair which amuses John. I never have clips etc in their hair but I tolerate it when our moms are around. I will probably have to take the plunge in the coming year and let their hair grow. It’s just so easy when it’s short!

Eyes
Both their eyes got a little lighter this year.

3 Year Checkup
They were at the doctor last week. They are both 27lbs which is in the 5th percentile - that’s the curve they’ve been following now since they got on it and the doctor is not concerned. Leah is just under 36 inches and Emma is just over (25th percentile). Emma is noticeably taller now.

Emma has a heart murmur that they are going to check out with an Echo on July 3rd. The doctor was not concerned but he wanted it checked.

Eating:
They are not the greatest eaters but there is usually something I can find that they will like. Leah could exist on peanut butter and toast. They are getting better at trying things and I don’t give them a hard time if they don’t like something as long as they try it. Emma is much more adventurous and likes a fair number of fruits and vegetables.
Leah will eat bananas and all the meat and bread she can get. She loves tuna.They still only get juice for a treat and they still love milk. They are both now fully aware of the vast array of junk food that is available. They love potato chips and chocolate. They are not
so crazy about sugary candy.

The toilet
We had some pretty intense moments with Leah over the past 6 months after she started holding her poop. I don’t think John or I will ever forget how awful things got. It took 5 months for her to be back to normal and I am very relieved she got over it.

In other more exciting news both girls started intense potty training at the end of March. I decided to do Emma first and leave Leah (who was still having poop issues). It took one morning, five outfits and one broken washing machine for Emma to get it. She never looked back. Much to my surprise Leah took Emma’s lead and within a week we were in full time undies.

They are both really good about going and have just recently started being very interested in public washrooms. They would visit 4 times if you let them just to check it out. We only use the handicap stalls so they haven’t figured out there is a whole row of stalls quite yet - give it time! I also have the potty in the car in case of emergencies - we’ve only had to use it once. Both of them had to go. In 35C heat. My mom and John tried to convince me to throw it in the gas station garbage bin but I thought that was gross and decided to drive home with it. Never again!

Sleep
Night time sleeping is good as long as you are ok with getting up early. They get up early and itt doesn’t seem to matter what time they go to bed at. Emma needs more sleep than Leah but lack of sleep doesn’t mess up her day. Leah needs more sleep than she gets and can be a handful if she’s tired. Leah goes to sleep last and wakes up first pretty much every day.

I had nearly given up on napping when pregnant brain finally lifted and I started separating them right from the start of the nap. Emma sleeps in the guest room every day now and Leah in her bed. They are fine with it and they read quietly until they go to sleep. Sometimes I even get Claire to sleep at the same time and I don’t even know what to do with myself it’s so exciting (guess why I have time to write this!).

Since they miss out on the old two hours of mid afternoon partying they are pretty excited when it comes to their alone time at bedtime. They usually have to get a few ‘adventures’ out of their system before they settle down and read their books. They get along much better at bedtime and when they’re tired they go to sleep rather than fighting.

We don’t really have an involved bedtime routine but there are a few key points that can’t be forgotten or you will be called back upstairs. With the arrival of Claire John found out that Little Bear is on every night at 7:30. For most of the past 6 months they have watched Little Bear before bed or had a bath. After they are in their jammies (as they call them) they brush their teeth then hide under the blankets while we pretend we can’t find them. Once they are found John gives them their super hero medicine (water), their monkey juice (sippy cup) and then they ‘kiss the animals’ which involves you flying them around their room and them kissing all the pictures in their room. After that it’s playtime until they call you up to put their blankets on.

Big Sisters
The girls became big sisters this year. They have both accepted Claire right from the start. When she was a newborn they were gentle but not very interested. As she has developed they have become much more interactive with her. Emma was always a little mommy right from the start and was very interested in helping. Leah has come around now that she can make Claire giggle and hold her hands.

In the 5 months Claire has been around we have had no issues with jealousy or resentment. They have never put up a fuss about anything Claire related and I can leave the three of them alone in a room and know they’ll look out for her not beat her up! Looking back I am really surprised at how well they adjusted without it being a big deal. Twin benefit I guess!

Language
All focus has shifted from what they say to what we say. I have had to cut so much out of my vocabulary. I’m really careful (anal) about what I want them exposed to. School is coming quickly and the innocence will soon be gone. They don’t know the words fat or stupid or anything else really derogatory. I wish it could always be like that but I know it will come and I don’t want it coming from us. I never realized how many times I called myself fat until I had daughters!

Getting Around
They can do pretty much anything they want now. Leah is still lacking in lower body strength but she can for the most part keep up with Emma. John jokes that Emma is pound for pound the strongest person he knows. She can carry milk, a bag of potatoes or 12 cans of corn with minimal effort.

They can both pedal their bikes now and spend many hours going up and down the driveway. It’s still early in the summer but they are still whiners about cold water. They pretty much have no interest in the fancy splash pad that is 3 mins from our house. They are a bit better in the sprinkler at home but it takes a ton of coaxing.

Independence
They are both pretty much independent now. I officially retired their feeding chairs for the bday party so now they sit in boosters up at the table. They still don’t get down unless someone lifts them which works out well for keeping the house a little less dirty! They can both dress themselves but Leah still likes you to help her. Now that it’s summer I can tell them to get their hat and shoes on and wait by the door and they are ready to go without me lifting a finger! 

They are both really into helping. We hear “Can I help?” about 50 times a day. So far I’ve got them making their beds, tidying up their room, doing laundry, helping unload the dishwasher and vacuuming up their crumbs with the dustbuster. They can also change a diaper with supervision.

Personalities
Leah is highly emotional. She’s usually a very happy little girl who loves to sing and talk about her day. Leah will just randomly tell you how much she loves you. I have talked about her spirit before and it’s hard to put in words but those who know her know what I’m talking about. She’s just super sweet - when she’s in a good mood. THe other side of Leah can be hard to deal with. She’s quick tempered and can whine with the best of them. In recent months we have seen less and less of bad mood Leah. Her vocabulary has expanded and just the other day she said to John “Sometimes I get frustrated and I cry. I’m a big girl now and I need to use my words not cry’. The message is getting through! We have also noticed a big improvement in her attention span (for things other than tv - Leah loves tv) and her patience. She will now sit and do a puzzle to completion whereas before she would get annoyed and give up.

Emma is more devious than Leah. She watches everything and takes it all in. She is testing us a lot more these days and sometimes she can be very defiant. You always know when Emma is being ‘bad’ because she half closes her eyes when she talks to you. Emma can also whine with the best of them but she is much more persistent. Where Leah will just start screaming Emma will repeat “please share Leah” over and over and over and over again. WHen she finally does get upset it is not something she gets over quickly. Emma is a great little helper and likes to be involved in everything we are doing. While she isn’t as openly affectionate she still has her moments when she’s very sweet. Emma is a really good little girl for the most part. She listens well and will follow most rules without being reminded. She likes to do things herself and she is very proud of her accomplishments.

Both girls love John. They are definitely Daddy girls. And to his credit it’s not because he’s soft on them. He’s just super fun and has a ton of patience with them. To my credit when we ask if I should go to work they are both adamant that I have to stay home with them…that they would miss me…and most importantly “You can’t go to work Mommy, you don’t have work shoes”.

While all the kids around them are fascinated with there being two of them, they still don’t get the twin thing. They just recently found out that Dora has twin siblings (I have a lot of apologizing to do to Dora…and Diego) but they don’t make the connection. We also don’t talk about it very much. I still call them the girls rather than the twins. I think to us they are just so different and I would prefer everyone else saw it rather than just lumping them in as the twins.

Playing/Sharing
Over the past 6 months the girls haven’t really played with any particular toys. They have been too busy making up games and playing with each other. The pretend to be random pairs of people - the favourite since their bday party is Leah as cousin Stevie and Emma as cousin Tommy. It’s really funny watching and listening to the stuff they come up with while on their adventures.

They enjoy crafts and puzzles and will sit and patiently work at both. They are up to 48 piece puzzles now. The big thing that has finally happened is that they’ve stopped hoarding. This has been a huge deal because it used to drive me insane that nothing stayed together. It also made playing things with them tough because the stuff was scattered all over the place in random bags/purses or even wrapped up in kleenex…

Somedays they play well together and other days they are at each other all day long. I am convinced that 99.9% of the crying can be blamed on there being 2 of them. The bad days are becoming less frequent (especially with the return on the nap). They are slowly learning to take turns and be nice to each other.

They are also pretty good with other kids. The neighbour runs a daycare and we see them at the park a few times a week. The girls just jump in with their ‘friends’ and play away. They are both very social and like other kids - especially the older ones.

They both love to sing and they know a ton of songs. We are currently working on Oh Canada which they started to sing while watching Sens games.

The are also getting good at their letters and can each draw a few letters as well as shapes…and also random scribbles that according to them are cats, dogs, elephants…

Leah’s favourite colour is still yellow and Emma’s is still pink. It is a bit obsessive. For their birthday we got them each a pictures frame, a plate and a bowl in their favourite colour. They thought it was the greatest gift… 

They are getting more sensitive and you can now hurt their feelings. If someone other than myself or John is stern with them they will usually cry.

I could really write about them all day but I think I’ve got the important things down. I might add some more as I think of them. I am really starting to appreciate writing down all this stuff about them every so often. They’ve changed so much in just a year. This coming year they will start preschool and grow even more independent. I can’t even imagine what they will be like when they’re 4 but I know it will seem like the blink of an eye before I’m writing about it!

 

Claire - 5 months

Claire was 5 months on Friday.

Hair:
She still has one little patch at the back of her head down by her neck. The rest of it is fuzzy new hair. Still quite a bit of red. It’s not straight. She has very distinct eyebrows and her eyelashes are getting thick and long like her sisters.

Eyes:
Claire’s eyes are always changing. Somedays I am convinced they are going brown and then they’ll catch the light and they are very blue. I think they are going to change - I’m just not sure what the final colour will be.

Teeth:
She got her first bottom tooth early on this month and then her second bottom tooth just this past week. You can actually see them now when she smiles. She is doing really well with teething so far. She has a hard time sleeping and is a bit fussier but she’s not in any apparent discomfort beyond that.

Eating:
The teeth have me a little worried but so far breastfeeding is still going well for Claire. I’ve had some issues keeping my supply up and I’m not sure if it was the heat or maybe she hasn’t been eating as much with the teething. I really have no idea how much she eats which is interesting when it comes time to give her bottles. I still haven’t caved in and given her cereal - I enjoy the convenience of the all milk diet…and I am also anticipating lots of offers of ‘help’ once she moves to spoon feeding.

Claire had her first taste of formula this week. With the supply issues and the “Leah and Emma birthday week extravaganza”, I hadn’t done enough pumping and was all set for a night out. I had some in the freezer but I wasn’t sure if it was enough. I wanted to be around in case she reacted (I still have a bit of paranoid mother left in me) so we gave her a bottle of some stuff that promised to make her smart. She gobbled it up. Even whimpered for more when the first 4ozs was gone - she has never wanted more than 4ozs of breastmilk…

Sleep:
The teething has put her off a bit this last couple of weeks. She has been terrible at napping during the day and only has the odd cat nap. She gets pretty tired when she doesn’t nap and she just starts screaming. It can be hard to settle her when she’s like that but she usually passes out once you swaddler her and walk around. At night she settles well but wakes up frequently. When she’s on her game she usually has two good independent naps in the day and gets up twice in the night after she goes to bed around 9pm. She is spending more time in her cosleeper but still sleeps with me.

She didn’t set any sleeping records this month…if anything she’s regressing.

Schedule:
ha ha ha ha ha. Twin mom Jen would think Claire’s mom Jen was a baaaaad parent who was setting herself up for all sorts of fun.  

Things she did this month:
She is now a star at rolling onto her belly. After she figured it out she pretty much refused to stay on her back. She likes looking around while on her tummy but she eventually gets fed up. She doesn’t seem to remember she can roll belly to back so she starts to yell and then cry if you don’t come help her.

She is very curious and likes to touch and chew anything she can get her hands on. She can selectively grab things now and pass things from hand to hand. The odd time she has even picked up her soother and managed to get it in her mouth.  She has also started chewing her feet. She is actually pretty obsessed with her feet these days.

She is very aware of when people are around and watches everything we do. Most of the times she’s happy enough on her own but she has started to cry if we leave her for a second.

She can stand up on her own as long as she has help with balance. The same with sitting. She is a little more interested in her bumbo but I think I’m going to have to get the tray attachement because she is constantly reaching forward and isn’t strong enough to get back up.

Even though she’s right on track, she still seems young to us to be doing all these things. Mobility is coming quickly and it will be an adjustment for everyone once Claire doesn’t stay where we put her.

Personality:
She’s still a very happy baby. She’s extremely easy going and accomodating to whatever we want to do. She’s started to get a bit more irritable when she’s tired or hungry but it’s manageable. She still very rarely screams for more than a couple of minutes and we can always settle her. She loves getting into the action and would prefer to shop in the Bjorn rather than in her stroller. She really gets a kick out of Leah and Emma and they just have to look at her and she’s smiling and giggling away. The only thing that I can think of that she really doesn’t like is getting her nose wiped. She hates that and will even take it so far as to cry because you’ve hurt her feelings.

 

Claire is 3 months

Hair/Eyes:
It seems to be thinning out a bit to me. It also seems more brown. It is still pretty straight but I have already accepted it will be curly! Her eyes are still blue but not as light as the girls were at her age. They don’t look like they’re going to go brown but it’s still to early to call it.

Size:
She doesn’t have an appt this month but I’d guess she’s around 13.5lbs by now. She’s tracking on the 75th percentile for weight for breast fed babies. She’s got chubby little legs and a few chins. She’s actually thinned out a bit this month and I think she lost a couple chins. She seems very long (especially in the torso) and I’ve noticed that she’s growing out of shirts on the length rather than the girth. I pulled out the girls 3-6 month stuff and there is stuff that fits her pretty well already.

Sleeping:
Still co-sleeping so it’s still going well. When she’s feeling well she only gets up once a night and she is usually good for a good 6 hour chunk. She naps whenever she feels like it - there is no routine or schedule yet. Her sisters fell into their schedule so I am just going to let Claire do the same. She is pretty independent about falling asleep during the day and at night she sleeps beside me, not on me. She has taken to her soother this month and it helps her get to sleep.

Eating:
Still on demand. She is going much longer between feeds this month. I try not to let her go more than four hours. If she’s distracted while we’re out and about she still doesn’t seem to get hungry. At home, on a normal day, she eats every 3 hours or so. She is getting very efficient but sometimes she still gets in the zone where she wants to take her time.

Personality:
Claire is a really sweet baby. She’s full of smiles and loves to coo. She definitely knows John and the girls but she’s still willing to smile at anyone who so much as looks at her. She started laughing this month and it is really cute. She rarely cries or fusses unless there is something she needs. She is very curious and likes to look around. She sits in her bouncer chair during the day and just watches everything that’s going on around her. She’s a lot more vocal now and will yell for attention and then smile when she gets it.

This month Claire got her first cold. It didn’t seem to phase her for the first week but then she got really sick. She cried all night and I ended up taking her to the doctor to make sure she didn’t have an ear infection like her big sister Leah. She was pretty needy for a couple of days but settled right back into normal Claire once she felt better.

Claire really enjoys her playmat. She’s started to reach for things but her favourite thing is talking to herself in the mirror. She loves watching Baby Einsteins. She likes to kick her legs and wave her arms and just this morning she very nearly rolled onto her belly. She’s also started moving around a bit more when she sleeps. The other night she managed to get herself horizontal on our bed.

The girls are still good with her. Emma likes to get her soother or tell me Claire is hungry. They make up all sorts of stuff about her - their favourite is that Swiper (from Dora) is trying to swipe Claire and they have to stop him. They have decided that Claire’s favourite colour is green and they will tell you all the limitations there are when you’re a baby.

 

Claire is 2 months old

Ah…the usual…time is going by too quickly, she is growing up too fast blah blah blah. John hears it pretty much everyday…I won’t bore everybody else.

Hair/Eyes:
Her hair is thinning out a bit. It’s still brown with lots of red in it. It’s lighter than Leah’s but darker than Emma’s. You can see bits of fair when the sun hits it. Her eyes are still blue. I keep on thinking they’ll go brown but nothing happening on that front. If anything they are getting lighter.

Size:
She goes for her 2 month appt (and shots) next Monday. I’ll update with specifics then. I think she is around 12lbs. She seems so big compared to the girls and she is growing so quickly. She is still in the 0-3mth sleepers but I think I’m pushing the limits on a couple of them. She has chubby little cheeks and rolls on her legs. I call her my little porkchop. She is very strong and is more like Emma in that she will stand up and take her weight. Her neck is pretty strong too. She outgrew the rubbermaid we were bathing her in and she now has baths in the baby tub. She loves having a bath.

Sleep:
Since we are co-sleeping sleep isn’t really an issue at all. She was eating probably twice a night at the start of month two, but now it’s usually only once and it’s creeping later and later. Last night she fed at 10:30pm and then didn’t wake up until 6:15am. She naps throughout the day whenever she feels like it. I keep her downstairs with us so she usually naps in her bouncer chair or in the bassinet of the playpen. Her alert time is definitely in the evenings. She’s pretty relaxed all day but she gets fidgety just right about when the girls go to bed at 8pm. I sometimes have a hard time settling her into sleep but once she goes she doesn’t wake up. She’s not overly interested in the soother during the day but it works wonders to keep her happy when she’s all wound up and not hungry at night.

Eating:
She is still eating strictly on demand. She was going pretty much every two hours during the day but in the last week she is going longer. If we’re out in the car and shopping she can go a long time. She’s a pretty efficient eater and is still open to taking bottles. I’m not all that into pumping so she gets a bottle about once or twice a week. She’s still puking but it’s nowhere near as much. I am really happy with breastfeeding. I think it is a really good deal once you get over the first few weeks. Nights are a breeze and going out involves little preparation because I really don’t care where I feed her. She is also going longer between dirty diapers and only goes every couple of days.

Personality:
Claire started smiling this month. She smiles at the girls the most. I’m not sure if it’s their little cartoon like voices or the way they stick their face right up close. She’s also started cooing in the past couple of days. She likes to lay on her playmat and smile and make noises at her reflection. She is tracking things well and can see across the room. She really enjoys her mobile and will lay in her crib (yes, she does get in her crib sometimes!) and watch it intently. She is a pretty relaxed baby. Loud noises don’t bother her and she doesn’t seem to get anxious about anything. She is pretty independent through the day and is content to be held only when she’s eating. At night she gets a bit needier and once the girls are in bed she is held pretty much until we go to bed. She isn’t particular about who holds her unless she is hungry. I don’t see that she is overly attached to me but that will come I’m sure. She has found her fingers and likes to suck them.

I am still shocked at how well we have all adjusted to having her around. I had myself prepared for a very rough time. I’m not sure if it’s because we had twins first or because we haven’t given up our swinging single life, but it’s really been easy. Claire just fits in fine and we are happy to have her. I’m sure the fun will start once she can move…and talk…and whine… I love infants

Claire - 2 months

 

Claire is 1 month old

Claire was one month old yesterday. I was really happy I disproved my theory about being wound up during pregnancy. I have managed to stay relatively relaxed this past month and I have a relatively relaxed baby to show for it. She has her moments but there is always a reason.

She’s still pretty much a newborn so really there’s not much to tell. She’s started to be much more alert this past week and can now follow her mobile and turn her head when she hears our voices. She has a very strong neck and has been known to pitch herself backwards. While she isn’t deliberately putting her hands in her mouth if she happens to come across her fist she will give it a few licks and a good suck. She started smiling yesterday but it’s not consistent yet - I am pretty sure these aren’t gas smiles. She’s has also unfurled and now likes to kick her feet and wave her arms. The arms make me laugh - she looks like she’s a spastic rapper when she really gets going.

She is doing extremely well on the feeding front. She’s got a little belly and is starting to look chubby. The only issue we’ve had is that she can be a bit barfy and tends to spit up quite a bit. I’ve had myself convinced a couple of times that she has reflux (the girls were on meds for this) and I plan to talk to the doctor about it next week. I think feeding was my biggest concern going into our second newborn experience and I am really relieved it is going well. I probably should be pumping more in preparation for trying out a bottle with her but I’m really not in any rush to use the pump again. She is also pooping well. She pooped pretty much every diaper change for the first couple weeks but now she’s settled in to about once every day. I moved her up to size 1 diapers yesterday. She could probably stay in newborn but it is amazing how slowly you go through diapers with just one baby!

Sleep was my second biggest concern going in. Thankfully she is also sleeping well - as well as I expected anyways. When she first came home we bought a remote control heater and put it by my chair at the end of our bed so I could feed her without freezing. I then started feeding her in bed with the boppy and then finally when my parents were just about to leave I learned how to feed her while lying down. While she has gone 4 and 5 hour stretches she is going 3 hours these days. I am tired but I drink one cup of coffee in the morning and it is manageable. I will have to get her sleeping in her crib at some point but at this point we are in survival mode and doing what works best for our family.

I know it’s early but her eyes are still blue. It wil be very weird if John and I have three blue eyed daughters. Her hair is thinning out a bit and is brown with red highlights. Apparently she looks just like I did when I was a baby - I will have to dig out some pictures. She doesn’t really look like either of the girls but some of the stuff she does reminds me of them. She has this scrunched up worried look that is all Emma and sometimes when she’s sleeping she’s just like Leah.

Having her around has been an easy adjustment for all of us. The girls are loving but not overbearing. The only major thing they’ve had to give up is their position in the car and they didn’t care at all. John is enjoying his sleep as there isn’t much he can do to help me out at night. I have recovered just fine from the section and life with the girls coupled with the last trimester of pregnancy prepared me for functioning on minimal sleep.

Here are some pics I took yesterday. I forgot how easy it was to photograph something that hardly moves!

Relaxing on her bouncer seat - the bouncer doubles as a sling shot when you have toddlers around. Thankfully we figured that one out with a doll and not Claire!

Looking around

One thing that sucks about winter babies is that it is too cold to hang out in their diaper.

 

Two and a half

This has been in the works for a while and is insanely long. It’s more for them and the grandparents than for you casual readers who are only here to see if Baby C came during Rocky! 

Wow it’s hard to believe we are over halfway through the twos. We’ve definitely had a few terrible moments but it hasn’t been all that bad. Of course now I hear people say the “trying threes”…

Teeth

The girls had their first visit to the dentist since the last update. They sat on John’s lap and opened up wide to show the hygenist their teeth. They both really enjoyed the visit and every night one of us pretends to be the dentist and gives their teeth a good brush. They think it’s funny when we tell them everything they’ve eaten as we brush. They both have all their baby teeth now.

Hair

Leah is on her second hair cut and Emma just had her first professional haircut. They both love getting their hair cut and sit up on the chair by themselves and listen intently to the hairdresser. Leah still has darker hair and her curls aren’t as tight. Emma’s hair grows much slower and she has tighter curls. She’s still quite fair.

Sleep

The girls sleep very well at night unless they are sick. Their bedtime is 8 o’clock and they get up anywhere between 6:30 and 7:30 (usually closer to to 6:30). We are getting to the age now where it’s like they are having a sleepover party every night - they rarely go right to sleep but instead have long conversations about their day and make up games to play with each other. Napping is not going so well anymore and is hit or miss with much more missing. I can usually get them to go if I put Leah in the guest room but not without some tears. I am not ready to give up on their naps quite yet and if it has to be a little “quiet” time in their rooms then that’s ok. They don’t come out of their rooms at all which still amuses me. John says it’s because they know their mom would come roaring for them to get back in…yeah he’s right.

Getting around

Not much different than the last update. They have both been up and walking for a year now - time sure flies. The stroller is rarely used as they both prefer to walk. Back when it was still warm enough to go the park I used to bring the wagon - they both preferred pulling it rather than sitting in it. Needless to say our walks are much shorter these days. Even at the grocery store and at the mall we will let them walk as long as they behave and listen. We’ve had a pretty strict no nonsense policy about running off or not holding our hand when they’re supposed to and thankfully it has paid off. I don’t foresee any major issues getting out with Baby C and the two of them.

Food

Still pretty much the same story. Not very adventurous with Leah being less open to new things than Emma. They both could eat carbs all day long - they absolutely love wheat thins and peanut butter and toast. Vegetables and fruit are still a big challenge but we do our best. A few of the classes I took at the Early Years centre were geared towards food and toddlers and I found them really interesting. When I actually saw what a serving size was for a toddler I realized we weren’t doing so badly after all.

Potty

This is something that I have let slide with Baby C nearly here. We still have them on the potty a few times a day but we haven’t yet forced the issue. Leah is now right there with Emma peeing in the morning, during the day and before bed. They still don’t seem to get the sensation. I put them in training pants and they peed right through them and then told me they were wet. John’s mom got me some cool sensation pullups and they didn’t even bat an eye. I don’t know, I think I could maybe train them but really I’m in no rush right now. Maybe my mom and dad can take it on while they’re here helping out after Baby C is born.

Talking/Playing

Due to the lack of napping and the resulting daily party we have noticed a huge difference in their vocabulary/conversational skills. They talk to each other all day long and have really started to play together happily for very long periods of time(FINALLY!!!!). Their current favourite is sitting at my old table from when I was little and cooking each other meals in their kitchen. It can be amusing the stuff they have - sometimes they sit down to a hearty meal of chicken, cake and coffee. They also enjoy packing every single piece of toy into their shopping carts. They are real bag ladies. We have given up trying to keep their toys organized - thankfully all their toys are in the basement now so it really doesn’t matter. They are both really imaginative and it’s really entertaining to see and listen to the stuff they come up with.

They are both talking in proper sentences now. They still really enjoy books and puzzles and playing on the computer. They don’t have a ton of computer time lately as it usually involves them sitting on my lap to avoid fighting and with my belly it just doesn’t work. They really enjoy crafts especially drawing with their markers and playing with stickers and playdoh. They liked glue and paint at the Early Years centre but I rarely get that stuff out at home.

Speaking of the Early Years they had a lot of school time these past few months. They both absolutely loved it and I am a bit sad it is over. We took this session off for Baby C’s arrival but next session I hope to have them in some more programs. For 3 months they went to preschool room twice a week by themselves. They had no issues leaving me and there was nothing but positives. In October/November we took a class called enjoying your toddlers which was essentially the same as when they were by themselves (play time, crafts, circle time) but I was in there with them. It was really fun seeing all that they had learned and how they followed all the little rules. The tidy up song was my personal favourite - that and when they wash their hands they roll up their sleeves and exclaim “that’s my elbow” - its’ pretty cute.

They also met their first friend at school and we started doing playdates. It has been a real sanity saver for both the girls and myself. We see quite a bit of Tara, Grace (and now Patrick!) and it’s really nice having someone who is in the exact same situation that we are in. The girls play very well with Grace and the three of them seem to get along as well as can be expected from 2.5 year olds. I was a bit worried the girls would gang up on Grace but they don’t at all. The three of them are very good to each other but comfortable enough now that they have no issues having heated debates.

Personalities

They are both doing well with listening and the playpen is used more these days as a shield to the sharp dining room table corners than as a time out spot. They are definitely getting more defiant but at the same time they are also easier to reason with. The only time they are true monsters is if they are very tired.

Teasing is also on the rise which could drive you insane. John and I both have little patience for it so hopefully it’s a phase that will pass quickly.

Their ability to share is entirely based on their mood. Somedays there is a big freak out if they so much as touch the others possession of the day but other times they will pass it back and forth saying please and thank you to each other. While we let some screaming go when things get really heated we have started making them count to 10 and then switch. They will now start counting on their own.

The teasing and the sharing issues are all things that we are faced with on a daily basis because there are two of them. The fighting and screaming is what pushes my buttons the most because I konw if they would just let each other be for a day then they would be so much happier. As I mentioned above they are starting to play more together which has improved things a ton. The finished basement has been a lifesaver - they are always asking to go downstairs and play in the basement and if things are running smoothly I  can go upstairs and cook dinner or just sit and read my book without issues.

Thankfully there are also lots of pros to them having each other. They still aren’t overly affectionate but if they are apart they do miss each other. They are starting to do funny things like hold hands when we drive and insist that the other takes off their boots and coat when we come inside. They also stick up for each other by telling us to stop it when their sister is getting in trouble. It can be hard not to laugh sometimes. Our parenting goal is to have them united with each other against us and not against each other - that sounds silly but what I’m trying to say is that we want to make sure we encourage them to be friends and look out for each other rather than resent or compete with each other because of how we treat them.

On to them each as individuals…

Emma is still the same Emma. She’s getting a bit more defiant but for the most part she’ll do whatever you ask without it being a production. She likes to answer first and we have to tell her that it’s Leah’s turn to answer the question sometimes. While Emma’s temper is slow to come when it does she can go on and on and on. She usually just gets a little bit upset and can be easily reasoned with. I think Emma is going to be pretty organized. She always remembers where she leaves things and enjoys looking for things and putting them back in their place.

Leah is also still the same Leah. Thankfully these past few months her disposition has evened out a bit. Leah has a little spark to her that I hope she never loses - it’s hard to describe but it’s things like her getting so excited by such funny things. Like when we tell her we’re going to Ikea she starts dancing and laughing and screams “I LOVE IKEA”. Totally random silly Leah. Leah has a very quick temper and she is difficult to reason with. Lots of people have commented that Leah knows how to push my buttons and it is definitely something I need to watch. She can just be so frustrating because you know in 5 mins she’s going to be dancing and singing and happy as can be but you just have no idea how to get her there - she has to get there on her own terms. Yes, Leah is stubborn. Leah is not organized. She is constantly losing stuff and asking Emma to help her find it - Leah has definitely figured out how useful Emma can be

 

27 Month Update

It’s been a long week. John has poker tonight so I didn’t get a break all day. I just put the girls to bed 30 mins early…this whole 8:30pm bedtime is too late now that it’s dark early again. I also figure their schedule will be gone soon enough since we hope to get their room with beds set up this weekend. Originally I had planned to set the cribs up in Baby C’s room for backup but now I’ve decided against that. We are doing this and there is no looking back…yeah we’ll see, I know - I learned that parenting lesson a long time ago.

John ended up taking Monday off work because he decided I was too sick to be pregnant and running after the girls. I was very thankful because I had one day to get better before the girls got sick as well. All three of us haven’t been well all week but Emma is by far the most congested. Hopefully it will clear up this weekend. They were still pretty good and able to run around as usual. I took them to “school” on Tuesday and Thursday and they absolutely love it.

I think the monthly updates are a bit of an overkill now so I’m moving to quarterly. The girls were 27 months on Sept 7 (while I was a sloth in Vegas) so I’m a bit late on this one.

Teeth
They both love brushing their teeth which makes things a lot easier. We have moved up to the toddler toothbrushes. I still haven’t had them to the dentist. It’s on my list. 

Hair
Leah had her first professional haircut this past Tuesday. It was getting a bit unmanageable and I think we’ll wait until it thickens up before we attempt to grow it out. He hair has quite the curl/frizz to it and I think it might be time we move to some hair product that conditions a bit more. They both DETEST having their hair washed so I’m a bit hesitant to move away from the eye friendly stuff for now…I’ve been using anti frizz stuff on it which John teases me relentlessly about…”I can’t believe you of all people are putting product in your 2 year old’s hair…”. Emma’s hair is still very blonde and her curls are much tighter so she doesn’t look so disheveled. 

Sleep
This week will hopefully end their time in cribs. If Baby C wasn’t coming I think I would leave them a lot longer. They don’t climb out and they roll around so much that it’s nice to know they are contained. We put them to bed with a ton of books and they like to read until they fall asleep. They are going to bed at 8:30 and get up anywhere from 6:30 - 8am but usually at 7ish. They are still napping in the afternoon from 1pm til anywhere between 3 and 4pm. They are usually pretty good about naps and bed but Emma did go through a phase where she started crying no bed right before bed. Thankfully that passed. Now they say goodnight to us as we leave.

Getting around:
They can get anywhere they want…and they’re quick. They can kick a soccer ball, catch a ball (sometimes), throw a ball, play “catch” with each other and enjoy all the fun things at the park on their own. Leah can finally jump (her flat feet weren’t helping!). Emma has started doing summersaults which I try not to encourage because she doesn’t map out her path very well sometimes and I fear for her neck! They can both pedal their tricycle for a short distance but they prefer to scoot with their feet. They are both excellent about putting their helmet on if they go on their tricycles and they know not to go on the road. They even tell the neighbour kids “no road”. They are getting better at looking for cars when we cross the road and they now know they have to hold my hand for road crossing. I let them run free on the sidewalks now that they listen.

Food:
They are eating well. Still not the most adventurous eaters but they eat a pretty well balanced diet which is all I care about at this point. Emma is way more open to trying new things than Leah. They now recognize restaurants we’ve been to when we drive by and start asking for pasta, french fries, pizza and apple juice. They are very well behaved when we take them out and it can even be relaxing and fun. The thing they ask for the most these days is apple juice because they get it at nursery and when we go out to eat. Leah goes crazy hyper with apple juice - it’s actually kind of funny. I still don’t give it to them at home - it would drive me insane.

In terms of table manners they can eat up at the table (but we still lock them up for our sanity), use their utensils pretty effectively and drink out of a cup. I still give them sippies at meal time just to avoid the mess.

Potty:
Leah shows little interest in using the potty and I’m not forcing it. I ask her and she usually says no but every once in awhile she’ll say yes and pee. She gets very excited when Emma pees so she’s not completely disinterested.

Emma is doing well at the potty but she doesn’t seem to get when she has to pee and I want her to figure that out on her own rather than having pee all over the house. She pees in the potty when she wakes up, before nap and then before bed. Sometimes she asks to go but most of the time it’s me asking. When she goes she sits and concentrates so she gets peeing but the couple of times I’ve left her bare bummed for 30 mins before bath she’s peed her pants and not even noticed.

Talking:
They are both doing really well in this department. Sometimes during the day I wonder if the running commentary will ever stop! It’s just amazing how quickly they pick things up these days and what they are able to express. There have been quite a few times when John and I have looked at each other and asked if she really just said that.

Leah is doing very well. She’s still not as clear as Emma but her vocabulary and the things that come out of her mouth are for the most part at the same level. She is still inclined to whine but we are being firm about her using her words and she is getting much better at telling us what she wants. I have waited so long for that child to be able to stop whining and tell me what she wanted and it is happy times! She can speak in sentences, ask questions and put all sorts of words together. She still uses me instead of I.

Emma never shuts up. She is constantly asking “what are you doin’?” in quite an authetic New Yorker accent. She likes to comment on whatever we are doing and then will tell you again all day long. She is on to complex sentences/concepts and uses I instead of me more often now.

One of the major benefits to their language is that they are now able to talk to each other. While it’s extremely cute to listen to it’s also pretty useful because they can argue with each other and work stuff out without crying. I’m not saying they still don’t cry but there’s a lot more “ok, it’s your turn” than there ever was before.

They both love singing. They know all sorts of songs and they love to dance. They can both count to the high teens now, we hear abcs 30 times a day, they know all their colours, some basic shapes and some letters and numbers. If we read them a story and then give them to the book to read on their own they flip the pages and give the highlights of the story.

I can’t think of all they can do right now. They are learning so quickly and they are really fun to be around these days.

Personalities:
They are still very different. They both have developed a strong attachment to John these past months. When he gets home they forget about me. Actually if anyone is around they forget about me…which works just fine for me. They don’t want me changing their bums or feeding them or bathing them. They even don’t want me when they cry. It’s perfect. But seriously, we are very lucky that they are independent and comfortable with lots of people and places. We can go out for dinner or to Las Vegas and not have to worry that they’re sad and missing us. It’s quite comforting and not at all what I expected from toddlers.

We are doing pretty well with discipline but they still have their moments. The corner thing wasn’t working for us so I set up the playpen in the living room and that’s where they go when they’re naughty or need to calm down. I’ve learned to just calmly remove them from the situation (rather than getting upset with them which was not working as demonstrated by Emma’s baby John firing into the corner!) so now I just pick them up and put them in the playpen and calmly tell them why they’re there and what they need to do before they can get out. It helps me, it helps them and I’d say it’s working. They can be extremely frustrating sometimes because at the end of the day they are both two and pretty self centered. My mom has pointed out to me that they are both very good little girls, it’s just that there are two of them and they get each other going. She’s very right. Somedays I think if they were only children they would never cry because they only get upset when the other one comes and messes with their stuff or annoys them. We’ve even had arguments when they’re on my lap about how their feet are touching…ah yes, we are all slowly learning patience together. For all the times they are mean to each other they really do look out for each other. They aren’t super affectionate to each other so when they do hug/kiss or whatever you know they mean it.

Emma is still a mommy pleaser. For the most part she listens well and follows direction. She can be shy around strangers but adapts well to new situations as long as she is comfortable. She walks right into the nursery when we go and doesn’t look back or care that I have left her. Once she warms up she likes to perform. She has added some dramatic pauses to her abcs,lingers  on the last note then when she’s done yells “Yeah Emma!” and claps for herself. She is still very detemined and if you tell her you will do something with her later she will not forget. She is also very stubborn and if she decides she’s going to throw a fit watch out. It can take awhile to calm her down. Emma still loves her chickie and her books.

Leah is still very emotional. We are constantly trying to figure out what sets her off. She definitely likes her schedule and will self destruct if she’s tired or hungry but that’s manageable. She has a quick temper but gets over it quckly. She is not very patient but yet she’s good at things that require fine motor skills and concentration. She still loves her soother and she gets it in bed…I don’t see that going away anytime soon and we’re not worried about it. She also has a strong attachment to her hippo and frog blankets. Leah is also very stubborn and could care less if I’m mad at her. Sometimes she listens well but other times she pretends like she’s deaf and stupid…or she just sits back and lets Emma do whatever I’ve asked - she’s definitely not stupid!

So that’s the very long quarterly update. I’m sure I’m forgetting a ton of stuff but that’s them in a nutshell. They are growing up very quickly but we are taking the time to enjoy them so I guess that’s ok. Part of me can’t wait until I can have rational conversations with them and they can play nicely for hours but the other part of me (and my mom) tells me not to rush it, to just enjoy what we have and not take for granted how lucky we are to have them. Focus on the good stuff because in 14 years we’ll have twin 16 year old girls and I’ll be begging to be able to toss them in the playpen when they’re driving us insane.

 

21 months and our weekend

The Update
The girls were 21 months on the 7th. Their hair and teeth are unchanged. They’re still sleeping 12 hours at night (in bed at 7:30pm) and having a 2 hour nap at 1pm. No change on the potty front except that they seem to be aware of when they pee now (used to only be poop they were concerned with). Although they are still pretty picky, the do eat well with the foods they like. We actually got them to eat chunky hamburger soup (John’s dad’s recipe) which was a first for them. They’ve never taken chunky smushy food off a spoon - ever. They have no problems using forks but they don’t eat as much when they get the forks so we’re not pushing it. Spoons are way too messy and I’m fully prepared to wait on that one. I can only clean the floor so many times a day!

Their vocabulary is expanding daily. Emma is a little parrot and will attempt to repeat anything you say. Leah is not a performer but when she’s in the mood she can say everything Emma can. I’ve been using the speech workshop techniques and Emma uses 3 words quite a bit. Leah is using 2 words for the most part. Of course when we have visitors they use zero words - little monkeys. They both really enjoy singing and they are quickly picking up the gestures I add to the songs. They yell for more when I sing. It can get a little intense.

They are really enjoying the Sesame Street characters. They seem to like Elmo, Big Bird and Ernie the best although they can name them all. They are completely entranced by the TV when Sesame Street is on and I have to be careful because they would watch it all day long.

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before but if we take them up to the mirror and ask them who it is they will both say each other’s name. Same thing with pictures. It must have something to do with seeing another little person and assuming it is the other.

We turned the carseats around this month because they were getting too long. They were 22.4 pounds on the scale on Friday. They have finally outgrown the shoes we got them in October. We got them runners on Saturday. They are both a size 6. They still wear 18 month clothes but some of the pants are getting too short so they are in some 24 month stuff. The fit really varies by the brand.

Our weekend
Saturday we got up early and headed to Sherway to look for shoes for the girls. I’ve been hunting for running shoes for some time now but I refused to get them any “I am a little princess” themed pink shoes. Selection is limited when you don’t want pink! Alicia suggested Olly Shoes and we were pleasantly surprised to find nice runners at a reasonable price. We ended up getting them the same pair because we liked them so much.

Today John had to get a haircut and I decided to take the girls to Walmart while we waited. We forgot the stroller and I’m sure I’m going to pay for letting them both ride in the main part of the shopping cart (Walmart doesn’t have shopping carts that fit two kids). The girls loved it and I eventually gave up trying to get them to sit down. They held on tight and didn’t fall. I made the mistake of walking through the toy section with them - with all the screams of “up mama, WALK!!!” I was in and out in under 1 minute.

This afternoon John’s cousin Christine came for a visit. She arrived while the girls were napping so we had time for some adult conversation before the girls figured out there was a new book reading candidate in the house. After Christine left we did the webcam with John’s parents and then put the girls to bed. We then had chocolate chip bran muffins for dinner - there are some perks to being an adult!

 

20 months

I keep on thinking I’m done with this but then I realize how much fun it is to look back and see where they were at in one place.

They were 20 months on Tuesday. We missed the 18 month NICU follow up visit when we were in Florida but I think it’s safe to say that they have caught up to their actual age. We’re still supposed to correct (18 months) until they’re 2.

Teeth:
I don’t know. They bite.

Hair:
Leah’s is getting quite long in the back and it is now a true mullet. There is talk about cutting it. We’ll see. It’s got a slight wave to it so it doesn’t look too bad, just messy. Emma’s is still really curly but hers is also getting longer.

Sleep:
They are finally sleeping through the night again. We’ve had three bad nights in the past three weeks. One night Emma took of her diaper and proceeded to wet herself and the bed. The other two nights Leah has woken up awake and played a little too loudly and woken Emma up. We haven’t (and won’t) given them a bottle in the night since we got back from Florida. They are going to bed at 7:30 but they usually play til after 8. They’ve been getting up around 8am. I’ve managed to get them to give up napping in the morning and they now nap after lunch. Somedays they nap for an hour, somedays I wake them up because I won’t let them sleep more than 2.5 hours.

Getting around:
They both started their obsession with climbing this month. They are both surprisingly sure footed and they have yet to really fall. We set up the slide on their play house and although they really enjoy it, any chair is still their favourite. They can both run and Emma has started jumping which is pretty funny. They like to dance and chase each other around. Emma is starting to walk up the stairs rather than crawl. Leah can walk as well but she prefers crawling.

Food:
They are eating better these days. Emma is very open to trying new things and she will eat most of the things we give her. Leah is still throwing new foods (unless it’s a bread product) on the floor without even trying it. Their favourites are pasta and pizza. They still get their bedtime bottle - now that they’re sleeping again I have a whole new excuse not to take it away. Emma had some constipation issues in Florida but she didn’t eat well for the first couple of days. She’s been fine since.

This month I’m going to start them on utensils. Yes I know I should have done this months ago but as I’ve said 100 times by now they are not good eaters. I don’t care if they eat with their hands til they’re 3 but we’re going to give it a try.

I weighed them the other day…well actually I told them to stand still on the scale. They are both 21lbs exactly (our scale goes to 0.1lb).

Potty:
No change. They are not all that interested now that the novelty has worn off. They do come running seconds after they poop to let me know though. I’ve started changing them on the floor downstairs and whoever isn’t getting changed likes to try and wipe her sister’s bum with a wipe…

Talking:
They are doing really well. They learn new words every day and they are constantly pointing out things and telling us what it is. Emma has really started speaking in two word phrases. She is contantly telling us who an object belongs to. It’s no longer book, it’s mama’s book or Leah’s shoe. Leah uses two words but only on special occasions like “no Emma”.

I got a call for the second workshop with the Speech and Language people. I have to go at the end of the month. I don’t think they need it anymore but I know if I say that they’ll just think I’m one of those moms that thinks her kids are perfect.

Personalities:
Leah has really mellowed the past few weeks. She is loving and will come for hugs and kisses throughout the day. This is a big change for the girl that used to hate being cuddled. She is much more patient and easy going. I think it might have something to do with her expanding vocabulary. She can now tell us when she’s hungry, tired or upset. She is really good about sharing with Emma and if I give her a cookie she will give it to Emma and then come back for hers. Emma won’t give Leah one until she has two and even then sometimes she tries to keep the two for herself!

Emma on the other hand is not as loving as she once was. At the beginning of the month there were times when only I could hold her. She wanted Mama mama mama mama mama. It got to the point where she wouldn’t let John push the shopping cart if I was there. The past couple of weeks she’s been a lot more independent which is good because she was getting a bit clingy. She’s even much more friendly with strangers. Emma is a hoarder. She will accumulate a pile of blocks and scream “Leah Leah Leah” when Leah tries to take one. Sometimes I think she’s very lucky Leah is easy going when it comes to toys. Emma has also started taking off her clothes, the dolls clothes and tonight she took the sheet off her bed. Sleepers with buttons are no longer safe and I think the zippered ones days are numbered. We’re going to have to put them on backwards soon! Leah has unbuttoned her sleeper once but thankfully she didn’t take off her diaper.

They’ve both started running to me saying the others name when something has happened. John and I are both pretty set on letting them figure things out on their own and it seems to be working.

When they get hurt they’ll stop crying to tell you what hurts.

For the most part they get along well. They are never far from each other and sometimes you can catch them giggling over some secret. The two of them can get pretty silly and they just feed off each other. They like to dance and yesterday they were holding hands going around in a circle. It was very cute. They still talk and laugh in their cribs which is nice to hear now that it’s not at 3am.

It’s good we got two buckets of blocks.

“Look at us mom, we can handle the ceramics”

Emma on the slide

Plotting in the coat closet