13 Months

Since Aaron and Andrew were born I've been keeping a baby book for each of them that includes a month by month update.  However, after the first birthday it continues by year rather than month.  I feel that there is too much learning and growth- at least from 1 to 2- that I'll forget a lot by their next birthday.  Besides, there won't be room.  Soooo I'm going to TRY to update their book each month on our blog.  I'm already behind because they were 13 months yesterday. 

LENGTH  Aaron:   30 inches   Andrew: 31 inches

WEIGHT  Aaron:   19.4 lbs.     Andrew: 21.8 lbs.

PHYSICAL CHANGES: This month Aaron got another tooth for a total of 5, but it looks like 2 or 3 will soon appear.  Andrew now has 7 teeth with more to soon come in.  Both of them are looking less and less like babies and more and more like little boys or toddlers.

EATING & SLEEPING HABITS: About 2 months ago I started making ALL their food- yogurt, breakfast stuff, and meats with vegetables.  It's taken A LOT of time but is sooo much cheaper and way healthier.  Both A & A have been more regular since having homemade food.  I'm trying to transition them to do more self-feeding/finger foods rather than be spoon fed.  They're probably a little behind but I've been very nervous about them choking for two reasons:  Andrew's TEF and being a first time mom.

Aaron:  Is somewhat picky- he'll usually eat finger foods as long as it's fruit, string cheese, or Cheerios.  When it comes to vegetables he sometimes will unless it's mixed in with other foods.  His favorites are strawberries, bananas and string cheese.  Aaron still takes two naps although there's some days where he thinks he only needs one.  Those days he's more cranky and very ready for bed at night (so am I!).  Lately he's been waking us up bright and early at around 5;30-6 with an increasingly louder whiny cry that has short pauses every so often to see if he's been heard.  It definitely wakes us up.  Most of the time he wakes up fussy and crying which hasn't always been the case.  (Speaking of that- I he's now awake and crying...)

Say "Cheese".  Aaron makes this face all the time when we're feeding him.

Andrew:  Eats  ANYthing.   I have yet to see him refuse food.  His favorite is strawberries.  He is a VERY eater.  Andrew is also still taking two naps and is usually a very good sleeper.  He always fall asleep and wakes up happy and cheerful.  Ever since he learned to sit up, kneel, and stand he can take anywhere from 5 min. to 1 hour playing and jabbering.  Ever since they were about 7 months we have had Aaron and Andrew in separate bedrooms. Aaron almost always woke up first and would immediately wake Andrew up earlier than he'd want.  For a while we tried making adjustments but we finally decided to make it easier on ourselves (and them).  Eventually we'll transition them back into the same bedroom.  

NEW SKILLS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS & TALENTS:  We've seen a lot of progress from 12 to 13 months!  The physical therapy must have helped- now he's the one that climbed stairs first and will soon be walking.  I'm not comparing, just stating a fact.  Most of it is personality because Aaron has the strength to climb stair and almost walk too.  He's simply MUCH more cautious.  Now that they're moving around, crawling, and standing Aaron & Andrew get banged up more.  Usually we don't know about Andrew's scratches, bruises, and welts until after the fact.  If he cries it's short and quick and sometimes he'll even laugh.  Aaron, on the other hand, is MUCH more dramatic and sensitive.  Sometimes he'll cry for several minutes over the smallest bang or even looking at him wrong when he's tired can get him going.  Even though they're twins they are SOOO different.  We love them both so much and feel grateful each and every day for them.

Aaron:  Probably the biggest thing for him is he no longer does the army crawl- now he can zoom from one end of the room to the other.  Aaron can now throw things and knows how to make a HUGE mess on the floor (along with the help of Andrew). He pulls himself up to standing position and side steps around his crib, coffee table or pretty much anything he's holding on to.  Oh, and he's figured out how to turn the fan and light on in our room using the remote.  And he now knows how to turn the light on and off.  I think it was in the last month that he finally learned that sippy cups are more than just a toy to bang on the high chair.  Andrew still wants whatever toy Aaron is playing with so Aaron has learned to take a toy and turn or crawl away.  Andrew does the same thing when he's got something Aaron might want.

Andrew:  Before too long Andrew will soon be walking.  He'll stand for several seconds at a time and sometimes has even clapped his hands while balancing.  Occasionally he's tried taking a step but we can tell he's sure thinking about.  He walks across the room using a push toy- sometimes with Aaron in it.  He no longer does the army crawl- which he did FORever- and crawls very fast.  He's great at climbing the stairs but hasn't learned yet how to safely go down. Andrew has also learned how to do Peek-a-boo and clap his hands.  Another new skill he has (I'm not sure I'd consider it a talent) is throwing a temper tantrum.  When he doesn't get his way or something he wants he'll throw himself flat on the floor and let out the most dramatic, fake cry and then looks at us to see if it got our attention.  I almost have to laugh.  

Andrew is clapping his hands

When Andrew climbs stairs he'll usually turn around every 

couple of steps before continuing on his way to the top.

NEW PLACES VISITED & NEW EXPERIENCES:  Most of the time we do pretty much the same thing day to day. However, this month we went on a trip to Salt Lake City (where we all got colds) and visited Temple Square and went to the Hogal Zoo with our friends, the Higby's,who used to live here in Las Vegas. We stayed a night with my aunt in downtown SL and two nights with one of my sisters, Julie. On our way home we stopped for a couple of hours at my parents.  Vacations are still nice but when you get home you need another vacation!

FAVORITE THINGS & ACTIVITIES

Aaron: Spinning tupperware bowls upside down on the kitchen floor; dropping everything & anything on the floor to see if it makes noise; taking a bath; using the fan remote; crawling into our downstairs bathroom and taking all the magazines out of the basket and putting their shoes onto the floor; taking a bath (cries when it's over); go for a walk each morning with our Nicholas and his mom; gets excited when Daddy comes home; riding in the car 'stroller' to get the mail or go to the neighbor's; taking all the rocks out of the planter or pulling all the books off of the shelf. Basically, loves to make a mess.

Andrew:  Loves to crawl and stand everywhere; unload books onto the floor and turn the pages; climb the stairs; taking a bath (cries when it's over); speed crawling to the refrigerator/ freezer/pantry whenever he sees it open; gibbering CONSTANTLY; using push toys to walk across the room; gets excited when Daddy comes home; bang on the piano.  Andrew teams up very well with Aaron to make big messes.  Last Saturday while I was running errands Steve said it was a little quiet and after checking on them he found them in the downstairs bathroom with the toilet paper unraveled and magazines ALL over the floor.  They are learning young.

This is the mess A & A made in the bathroom.  

Andrew is on the go too much to get in pictures most of the time.