Twins at play

I sure hope Aaron and Andrew are friends when they get older.  Lately they seem to be at odds with each other more than not.  Although both are happy babies/boys they are about as different as two people could be.

 
Earlier today Aaron was peacefully playing with his favorite toy (he loves this thing- he could play with it for at least 15 min straight):

until Andrew walked (that's right!) over and wanted to join him. Andrew was in a very teasing mood but Aaron wanted nothing to do with him.  Aaron is not smiling or laughing along with him but is whining to him and trying to push him away.

Lately I have had to oversee their playtime a lot more because they usually play in the same area at the same time and want the same thing at the same time.  When they both want a toy at one of them will usually start whining, grunting, crying, or screaming since they don't speak words yet.  In the last week or so some defensive mechanisms have been learned, without being taught.  Aaron's favorite is pulling hair.  Andrew likes to push.  This afternoon they both wanted the same can at the same time even though there was another sitting nearby!  Since Aaron had possession of it at didn't want to let it go he pulled HARD on Andrew's hair when he approached.  Andrew doesn't usually cry when he gets hurt but he did this time.  Maybe he was still remembering this later when Aaron was sitting on the time kitchen floor and had a car Andrew wanted.  I didn't see what happened but I can only guess.  While I was trying to make dinner I sudden heard a knock on the floor and hard crying from Aaron.  When I hurried I saw Aaron laying flat on his back still holding the coveted car with Andrew sitting nearby with a familiar look, "I didn't do anything."  I think I already know who is going to be the trouble maker- and I'm sure Aaron won't be very far behind.

Playing with cans

Yesterday a friend returned this bouncy seat she had borrowed for her little twins.  Andrew loves it!  I've found him laying in it, jumping on it, standing by it, spinning the toys, and climbing on and off of it.  I rarely see Aaron playing with it but that's because Andrew has it and he doesn't want to deal with Andrew.

Every day Andrew is taking more and more steps than the day before.  I caught him walking all the way from the little car toy to where he's at.  In just 3 weeks he's gone from standing in one place and taking a step or two to taking about 15-20 steps at one time.  He walks from furniture to furniture and can stand up in the middle of the room without any support.  Aaron is making progress towards walking.  He'll walk across a room if he's holding on the a chair, or a push toy, and yesterday he let go of a table and stood for a second before sitting down.  I think I'm busy now just wait...

Troublemakers & Pics

Last Thursday was a long day with two little ones that didn't want to take an afternoon nap. Besides that, they were making meal time difficult by throwing all their food off their tray rather than putting it in their mouths.  By the time Steve got home from work I was having an emotional breakdown.  That doesn't happen often but add PMS to the picture and it's probably more common than I think. For four days I had been trying to run some errands but I never made it further than the garage.  Steve is the best husband and father!  He told me to go... do whatever I needed to get done.  "I'll feed them, bathe them, and put them to bed."  Okay!!  Sure. So while I went to make copies, stopped at the grocery store, and ran a couple of errands Steve took care of Aaron and Andrew.  When I returned home he had not only fed them, bathed them, and put them to bed, he had mopped the kitchen floor, cleaned the kitchen, and was switching our DVR & DVD players out of reach of the little ones.  When I left I was stressed out and crabby.  When I returned home and smelled a clean floor, saw a clean kitchen, and heard no babies up I was smiling ear to ear and totally rejuvenated.  

Since I was not in the mood to do anything productive I decided to waste some time online.  I'd heard of Facebook and had a general idea what it was but that night I decided to join.  So now I have a facebook account.  As though I have time to spend doing it.  But I have made contact with long lost friends from high school hat I haven't talked to for over 15 years.

Andrew is getting so close to walking.  He already takes several steps at a time, walks from furniture to furniture, and loves to walk while I hold just one hand.  Last Saturday we went to the outlet mall and got him two pairs of new shoes since the ones we had are too small.  Since Aaron is much smaller he didn't need any new ones yet.  Although Aaron won't be walking for a while he is slowly progressing but has yet to even stand without holding on to something.

Yesterday afternoon I was changing the laundry when I realized I may not have shut the gate at the bottom of the stairs.  When I went to check it (the gate WAS closed) things were a little too quiet.  Aaron was in the family room playing but Andrew was nowhere to be seen.  After looking around a little I found him in bathroom eating toilet paper.  He had a big wad in his mouth, some in his hands, and TP all over the floor.  If only I'd gotten a picture!  I couldn't help laughing.

Here are a few pictures...

Proud mommy with Aaron & Andrew

Andrew's girly hat

Aaron with favorite toy- spinning bowl

Andrew loves books and babbles while "reading" them.  

This is probably his favorite book.  Here he's making animal sounds.

Aaron's other favorite- hot wheels.  He loves dropping them 

on hard floors, tables, or in plastic tubs.

14 Months...Yesterday

Now it's been two days but that's pretty much my life now- always behind.  If I think I'm going to go crazy busy now just wait until I have two little ones who walk.  I'll be there pretty soon.  In the last month Andrew has gone from just standing for a few seconds to taking several steps.  He wants to walk SO bad and probably could once he gets more confidence and realizes that he can. Aaron hasn't shown much interested in walking but he does let us help him take steps rather than just curl up his feet.  And he can crawl pretty fast- especially when he's trying to get something before Andrew reaches it!

In the last month we've seen an increase- both Aaron and Andrew- of temper tantrums.  I promise I didn't teach this to them (Steve might disagree!) but when they get upset they'll stiffen up, throw themselves back, grunt & cry that makes their faces turn red.  What makes them so upset?  Usually it's when the other twin taking the toy they're playing with or being put into the stroller.

Several years ago I purchased a hair cutting kit with the hope that I would be able to cut Steve's hair but he wouldn't let me get NEAR his head with those clippers in hand.  After the first haircut we gave Aaron & Andrew a couple of weeks ago I can understand why!  I thought clippers were the same as scissors but Steve educated me on the instruments used to cut a guy's hair.  At least I can practice on Aaron and Andrew since they won't know a bad haircut from a good one.

There's have been several changes the last few weeks but sometimes it's so gradual we either hardly notice or we don't remember exactly when these changes occur.  Andrew now waves goodbye, blows kisses, and says "mama" (I think!), and loves to look at books while babbling. Aaron claps whenever we say 'clap' and understands the word 'no'.  They both have one or two more teeth and continue to grow bigger even though we tell them to stop growing!  Yesterday I went to a dollar store to buy several plastic bowls since all of ours were getting thrashed and filthy all the time.  Their favorite things to do is spin the bowls or push them across the floor while crawling.

I've had a difficult time taking pictures of them the last few weeks because they never hold still. And I'm not sure how accurate the measurements are but I figured I'd include what we had for their weight and length (which I still need to measure).  I think the difference in their weight is greater than that, especially when I'm holding them at the same time and one arm hurts worse than the other.  And because I now have more people asking me if they're twins since one of them is so much bigger.  They always ask how much older Andrew is.  As though two minutes older is going to make a huge difference!  Whatever.

AARON       19.4 lbs.

ANDREW  21.2  lbs.

My aunt Nancy was here a couple of weeks ago for a day on her way back to California.  It was wonderful to see her and only wish she'd been able to stay longer.  I don't play favorites but she if the best aunt.  We were having a very difficult time getting A & A to hold still but this is the best one that little or no blurriness.

Scary Moments

All parents experience scary moments- children choking, falling, getting lost, etc.- but three in one day in enough to make my hair fall out.  Now that Andrew and Aaron are busier  and more curious I have to really be on my toes. 

Scary Moment 1

Since they refused to take an afternoon nap- again- I decided to load them in the car for a quick drive to the store.  As we were returning home I heard a BANG and looked behind to me to see what was going on.  To my utter shock I didn't see Andrew in his car seat- he had leaned over his car seat to get something that had fallen out of his hand and he went tumbling too. Apparently in my hurry to buckle them up I got distracted and forgot the buckling part on Andrew.  Oops!! Andrew then stood up between the door and his seat.  He looked just as startled and shocked as I did!   Since we were just at the bottom of our street- and to avoid him pushing the button to open his door and fall out of the car- I reached over and grabbed him, setting him on my lap.  He thought that was the coolest thing!  Trust me Andrew, it's not going to happen again...I hope.  

Scary Moment 2

I have a suspicion that most scary times will involve Andrew since he has no fear.  This evening after we bathed them Steve and I were in the walk in closet in Aaron's room looking for some documents.  Aaron & Andrew were happily playing upstairs when we suddenly heard a cry of distress from Andrew.  If Andrew cries I know it's got to be bad since he has a very high pain tolerance. Steven got there first and shouted, "Oh my gosh!!!"  Andrew  had been playing with an extension chord that had his night light plugged in at the end and it had somehow become wrapped around his arm several times and his neck once.  It took a lot to get him untangled... how did he get it wrapped around him. Yikes!  And we thought we had our house well child proofed.  That extension chord is no longer there  and we will definitely be keeping an eye out for ANYthing that become a hazard.

Scary Moment 3

Tonight as I was feeding them dinner Aaron starting choking and gagging.  Just as I was about to pull him out of his chair and begin the Heimlich on him he threw up everything I had just struggled to feed him- applesauce, green beans, and mashed potatoes- all over his bib, the high chair and his shirt.  After that it was straight to the bath for both and then bed... and a break for me.

What a day!!!!  

Who Needs Toys?

For over a month I've been trying to finish this post but haven't got around to it.  Of course, there's lots of things I've been wanting to do and can't seem to find the time or energy. When we were at the doctor's office soon after these guys were born a mother of about 3-year old twins sat in the waiting area watching us.  Then she told me how everyone always told her things would always get easier.  "I am still waiting for it to get easier," she said.  So am I!! My energy is sapped by the end of the day. Lately, they don't seem to think they need an afternoon nap but their actions tell a different story.  Let's just say Aaron and Andrew have been keeping me busy and I'm sure once they're both walking I'll think it's even crazier.  

BUT, they are getting more and more fun.  Yesterday we purchased a camcorder because it's hard not to laugh and smile as we watch these boys and we'd like to share a part of that with family and friends.  Sometimes I wish we could keep the RECORD button on at all times in order to capture every waking moment.  Aaron and Andrew are little explorers and are curious about EVERYTHING.  They have lots of toys but most of their time is spent playing with bowls, plants, and anything but toys. 

Aaron is really into bowls- spinning them, throwing them, or pounding them.  

Sometimes Andrew joins in the fun.

Andrew loved opening & closing the steamer.  If I forget the close the cupboard door all the way it won't be long before Andrew is there to pull everything out.  We added latches to the doors after Andrew pulled out a glass pie pan and it shattered at his feet. Fortunately he got no cuts, I got Andrew & Aaron out of the room fast, and swept the mess up before either got hurt.  The next night latches were added to the doors.

"Go away, Andrew!"  Aaron prefers to play by himself because Andrew is stronger and tends 

to be somewhat aggressive.  But Andrew always likes whatever Aaron is doing.

Andrew & Aaron playing a duet

Andrew is curious about that vacuum and how it works.  

Aaron is more afraid of it, especially when it's on.

Aaron has a faddish with the fan remote.  He's known from Day 1 how to operate the fan and anytime we set him down upstairs he immediately crawls to my night stand where it's kept and grabs it from on top.  If anybody tries to take it from him he becomes INFURIATED!! 

Playing with diapers, clean ones that is, is a favorite past time of Aaron's.

Andrew was so proud of himself when he could first stand at the piano on his own.  Andrew is not walking yet and only stands for a few seconds at a time after letting go of furniture & other objects.  Occasionally he takes a step or two before falling. Today, however, he took FIVE steps.  He wants to walk sooo bad.  Aaron could care less.  He brings himself to standing position but when we try to hold his hands & walk he curls his legs and refuses.  Someday.  Yes, Andrew has no pants on.  At home they often crawl around without shorts or pants on.  If we leave the house I'll make sure they're fully dressed- usually.

This plant was full of rocks at its base.  It became Aaron's favorite place to be downstairs.  He would throw them from the plant one at a time until they were scattered ALL over the floor. After picking them numerous times we finally put the rocks in a ziploc bag until a future time. Besides that Andrew would often put them in his mouth.  While Andrew puts everything and anything in his mouth Aaron is much more hesitant- and this includes most foods.  Eating time with Aaron can be very frustrating and takes all my patience.  There's a reason he's much skinnier than Andrew and it's not because I'm depriving him the opportunity to eat.  I just noticed Andrew has one sock on and one sock off.  Not long after I put socks on him he takes them off.  Now I don't usually bother to even put them on.  Aaron's usually stay on all day.

Whenever I open the panty door in kitchen and there's a baby in sight they zip on over as fast as they can.  They've learned from sad experience that the door doesn't always stay open for long.

(Aaron) This is a picture when the plant was in 'full bloom'.  Now there's a few sparse leaves on the top.  At first when Aaron & Andrew would pull leaves off I'd put them back on.  Now I've just got a collection of leaves to be added back later.  I don't have much of a green thumb so plants in our house are all fake.