Random thoughts

Before Aaron and Andrew were born I kept up on my (written) journal fairly well.  Since they've been born not a word has been added.  That why I try to keep up on my blog so I at least have an online journal (plus pictures).  However, it has become very difficult lately to even check my email, let alone add a post.  Anytime I try to do it when the boys (kids, twins, babies, whatever) I've got two little ones trying to climb up my leg so they can sit on my lap to play with the mouse and press keys.  In the evening after they're asleep I'm trying to catch up from all the things I didn't do during the day so there's been many nights lately where I don't even turn on the computer.  By the time I actually sit down to add something it seems I've got too many things I want to say since this is a time of daily progress and learning for them.  I never cease to be amazed at how much they have changed in just the last month or two and I'm sure the speed will continue to increase.

So I'll try to be brief on a few thoughts or changes I have at the moment.  I'd love to add more pictures but lately I rarely snap a picture that's not blurry since they are on the go CONSTANTLY.

A couple of recent pictures-

Andrew 'reads' books every day and makes sounds and says 'words'.  
This animal sound book is one of his favorite. 

Aaron LOVES hot wheels cars and is found throwing, 

dropping, rolling, or biting them all the time

1.  Aaron and Andrew are finally on a one nap schedule which I find to be much easier.  It took a while but when Aaron would NOT take an afternoon nap (Andrew would) for 3 weeks I decided it was time.  They seem to have adjusted fairly easily and I don't feel like all I do is put them down for a nap.  Plus, I have a bigger block of time when they're asleep.  They wake up between 6 and 6:30, their nap is about 10:45 and they sleep 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  Bedtime is 6:30 which is early but they're ready for it.  I'm sure that just when we get adjusted to this schedule it'll change. The next big change is moving Aaron back into Andrew's room (probably tomorrow) since now their schedule is pretty close to the same.

2.  A week ago we spent big bucks buying a bike for each of us and a trailer to pull the boys.  The trailer can also be used as a jogging stroller so I've used it on my daily morning walks and we've gone on a couple of rides.  The boys aren't too hot about the new trailer and they let us know they're hate the helmets but each ride seems to be a little better.  It's been a very purchase and I feel like I'm getting more exercise.  Hopefully the newness doesn't wear off.

3.  If I had to name an animal that Aaron is most like it would either be a dog or a lion.  The other day when I was only feeding Andrew (Aaron had woken up much earlier) and he kept dropping food off the side of the tray.  Aaron was helping me out by picking food up and eating it.  He also like to roll/throw a ball but rather than stay in one place he'll sit by me, roll/throw it, go fetch the ball, and return to me to do it all over again.  The other animal is a lion because he has a pretty vicious bite.  We've already had six incidents this week and I know from experience it doesn't feel good.  The other day he bit Andrew so hard on the arm that it pierced the skin. Aaron most often bites Andrew because Andrew always wants whatever Aaron has and will do anything he can to get it.  Even though I don't believe biting is a good thing and we've got to put an end to it as soon as we can, Andrew might deserve it- SOMEtimes.  Another reason Aaron can be a lion is he will growl when asked what a lion says.  While he still does it we need to get it on video.

4.  Andrew has been walking now for about two months and is into EVERYthing.  He is so much more fearless than Aaron.  The other day when I was at the park with the boys he crawled up the steps, headed for a slide, and proceeded to go down the slide face first.  I quickly grabbed a foot and slid down behind him while grabbing  Aaron (who was on the platform at the top) and brought him down with me.  Aaron is slowly making progress towards walking.  He has been seen to stand up for a second or two and he's taken a step here and there a couple of times. Part of me is anxious for him to walk but at the same time I realize that once I've got two walkers (climbing will be worse) I will be even busier.

5.  In the last two weeks both Aaron and Andrew have got their first molars with the rest of them almost visible.  Andrew now has two molars and Aaron has one along with a new incisor.  Unlike the other teeth he's gotten so far, Aaron hasn't been more fussy  or seemed to have any side affects.  Andrew, however, woke up crying or whining in the middle of the night for about a week.  Other teeth he's had have caused no reactions.

Big changes at 15 months

Okay, so it's taken me a couple of days to actually finish this... it's better late than never.  It's hard for me to believe that Aaron and Andrew are fifteen months already.  Time flier way too fast.  This last months has been busy (what's new?) and have seen them change by leaps and bounds.  

Two biggest changes this month- Aaron's first word and Andrew now walks!  Steve told me a week or so ago that Aaron could say, "Cheez-its".  Surely it was just a stretch of his imagination because Aaron hasn't even said 'Mommy' yet, which of course is all babies' first word.  But... to my surprise I actually heard Aaron say, 'Cheez-its' when I pulled out the box and handed one to him.  No secret what his favorite food is.

Andrew was officially walking about the last week of June/first week of July.  For about a month he would take a step or two but crawling was his preferred mode of transportation.  Now he walks all over the place.  Mommy is busier than ever.

The picture above and the two below are taken when we took Aaron and Andrew to the water park close to our house.  We were suprised to see Aaron loving the water and getting sprayed while Andrew was a little unsure.  Usually it's the opposite.

Getting wet at the water park (Andrew & Aaron)

Aaron wants to walk but he is taking his time.  For now he loves walking across the downstairs using push toys.  On occasion I've seen him take a step or stand for a second before sitting down but once he gains the confidence to walk he'll take off.  Aaron is a speedy crawler and can almost keep up with Andrew's walking.

My days have become busier and easier at the same time.  Aaron and Andrew now take only one nap each day.  Andrew has always been the better sleep, taking longer and more frequent naps.  One day Aaron decided he no longer needed to take afternoon naps so I began transitioning them to one nap each day.  It leaves me longer periods in the morning and afternoon to run errands, go to the park, spend time playing, and not feel so rushed.  Andrew's naps are usually 2 1/2 to 3 hours while Aaron sleeps anywhere from 1-2 1/2 hours.

Andrew was too exhausted to finish his lunch yesterday at noon after returning home from church. He stayed asleep while his face was cleaned, hands washed, diaper was changed, and drank milk

I discovered this morning that Andrew's first molars on each side on the bottom have broke through the surface.  That explains why he's been waking up every night for a week around midnight crying and upset.  In the last month Aaron has had two new teeth come in but without any extra fussiness or difficulty.

Andrew loves crunching leaves and eating them- if I don't catch him in time.

I had to put this picture in... Daddy was having too much fun when he put a little bowl in Aaron's pants.  We had a good laugh and couldn't resist sharing it with you.

Even though it wasn't Aaron and Andrew's first 4th of July they were just teeny tiny last year. Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures. :(  Our next door neighbors recently got an above ground pool and invited us and some other neighbors over for a swim and barbecue.  We had a lot of fun swimming with the babies for a short period and stuffing our faces. But Aaron had a runny nose and Andrew was quite sick- low fever, very stuffed up, cough, and sore throat.  He didn't stay long and both babies went to bed early. We watched the local firework show from our bathroom window... very memorable.   

Sibling Rivalry

This last weekend I made a depressing discovery- I have some gray hairs.  Steve wasn't very sympathetic (he's got a head full) and reminded me that it's part of getting old (thanks, Steve) since I recently turned a year older.  Rather than blaming it on old age I'd rather blame it on my role as a mother and dealing with unhappy children from time to time.  Already I'm occasionally dealing with sibling rivalry and they're not even quite fifteen months.  

Since Andrew can walk (Aaron can't yet) and is stronger, bigger, and can be a little aggressive he can seem like a bit of a bully.  But after what he's been through with surgeries, ultrasounds, esophagrams, and needles and tubes in about every hold in his body I think I'd be a little tough too.  I don't mean to make him out as the bad guy all the time (because he's not) but he can seem a little intimidating to Aaron.  Sometimes when Aaron sees him walking, or even crawling, towards him he assumes his toy will be taken away.  True, Andrew's favorite thing is whatever Aaron has in his hands but this isn't always the case.

Even though Aaron and Andrew will never know what it's like to be an only child they are starting to be a little jealous when I've got the other one in my arms.  Earlier today I was sitting on the floor reading a book with Andrew when Aaron looked over, started whining/crying, crawled over to me, and started to climb onto my lap.  Andrew wasn't pleased and began letting Aaron know how he felt. After a few minutes I put Aaron on my lap and let Andrew go.  Then it was Andrew's turn to become upset.

I just noticed how outdated the pictures are on our blog.  Maybe when they start kindergarten I'll have a little more time to post new ones.

Thank goodness Aaron and Andrew are both easygoing and very happy babies, but in different ways.  Sibling rivalry, unfortunately, occurs in all (normal) families and probably at all ages.  I think in the last 3 months they have both been learning so much and are gradually becoming toddlers and  no longer babies.  I love watching them grow and progress... even the 'rivalry'.