Eleven months!

I keep telling Aaron and Andrew to stop growing but they don't listen- especially Andrew.  It's hard to believe they're now 11 months old and in a matter of four short weeks they'll turn ONE! Everyone has told me how fast the first year goes by but I didn't think it would go THIS fast!

Everyday they get cuter and cuter and more and more fun.  Andrew has now learned to pull books off the bottom shelf and pulls himself onto his knees in his crib.  He is so proud of himself because he can sit himself up that before falling asleep he has to play for up to an hour. Gone are the days where I can lay them down and they simply close their eyes and go to sleep. That actually ended a while ago but now they're more active before falling asleep.  I don't get it: if I had the chance to take two naps each day and sleep about 12 hours each night I wouldn't waste my time playing around.

Last week at Andrew's therapy appointment I fed them their bottle while they were in the stroller.  When the therapist (who happens to have two sets of twins- age 5 and 7 months) saw me holding the bottles she exclaimed to the babies, "Your mother is spoiling you!"  So at their next feeding they had to begin working for their food.  Aaron has caught on quick but Andrew prefers to play with his bottle after drinking a couple of ounces.

Aaron has now learned to go from a sitting position to a crawling position but he's in no hurry to crawl on his hands and knees.  Anytime I start working with him on crawling he gets mad and begins to scream.  When Aaron is upset he lets us know by crying or screaming.  This usually happens because Andrew has taken a toy he's playing with or starts charging toward him to come take it away.  I only hope this isn't the beginning of sibling rivalry.  Aaron has a very fun personality- always happy, giggly, and very responsive.  He is VERY ticklish (while it's impossible to get Andrew to even flinch when we try tickling him.)

Bath time is one of their favorite activities.  You can really see how pudgy Andrew is and how skinny Aaron is.

I try to go to the library a couple of times each month.  They love looking at books- and sucking on them too.

A thoughtful neighbor brought this by for us that another neighbor was giving away.  They LOVE this car (and so do I- trips to the mailbox or to visit the neighbors are much easier.  Yeah, going to the mailbox is a big deal.  That's how much I don't get out). 

Andrew can be found all over the place and under chairs, tables, the Exersaucer, and anything else he fits under.  He's on the go constantly.  But this is only the beginning...

ADORABLE FACES

It would be impossible to write about all the progress Aaron and Andrew have made just in the last month.  There are so many fun moments and firsts that everyday seems to be something new.  I LOVE this age but, to be honest, I've loved every age since the day they were born. They are more mobile, more interactive, more busy, and even more fun.  Andrew's and Aaron's personalities have become even more apparent in the last couple of months. Parents of twins have told us that the personalities flip flop- more than once.  We've already seen it happen once.  

Several months ago Aaron appeared to be more aggressive and busy while Andrew seemed more laid back and watched Aaron.  Aaron would roll over and kick Andrew in his sleep and he was the first to roll, sit up, and do the army crawl.  Andrew, however, is now the more aggressive, faster, stronger, and much busier baby.  When Andrew sees something out of his reach that he wants (basically anything in Aaron's hands) he will do WHATEVER is takes to get it.  Before he knew how to transition from sitting to (army) crawling he'd simply face plant onto the floor to begin moving.  Aaron, however, is now the more submissive, laid back (sort of), and cautious baby. When I sit him down he will stay in that position either until I come get him, he falls down, or Andrew pushes him over.  Toys purposely placed out of his reach- in the hopes that he'll reach for them- just make him mad.  But Aaron is more social, more expressive, and more interactive. His favorite activity now is to roll a ball back and forth with one of us. Andrew can't sit still long enough to roll it more than twice! 

I have so much fun taking pictures of Aaron and Andrew.  The ones below of Aaron were all taken within seconds of each other.  I tried having a similar 'photo shoot' of Andrew but they all turned out blurry so we picked other ones that we also liked.

AARON

I've seen Aaron make this face a couple of times and it cracks me up.  

You can see the four teeth he now has.

Aaron is a drooler and has been since day 1.

Aaron being very expressive.

ANDREW

This is the only time I could get Andrew to sit still long enough for 

so I could get a decent pictures.

Andrew is a very messy eater.

Both Andrew & Aaron love making noise- with anything.  Andrew is showing one way they found to accomplish that- banging cups together.  Oh, and notice the one sock he's wearing.  That's how it usually is.  He loves pulling his socks off.

Sick babies, tired parents

Aaron and Andrew have had the sniffles in the past, but NOTHING like the last week.  For the past week both babies have been sick with the flu and have been really cranky and fussy every day.

It started with Aaron and within two days Andrew had it full force too.  For four days they both had a fever, coughing, totally plugged noses, and very little appetite...and lots of crying.  We've just about reached the limits to how much mucus we have suction out of them.  They've probably done more crying in the last 5 days than they have in the last 5 months!  

Aaron had wheezing from bronchitis and last week we were sent home from the Pediatrician with a nebulizer and enough medication for what seems like a year's worth.  That's a good thing because when I could finally take Andrew in to the Doctor (thanks to a 3-day weekend) he had the same thing.  That was no surprise!  So the extra medication has really helped.   And if you've ever done these breathing treatments, they take FOREVER- just for one baby.  Then double that and it feels like that's about all I've been doing the last two days. Unfortunately they just won't sit there and breathe it in, they either have to play with the nebulizer or get really cranky because they are tired of it stuck in their face. 

Each night we've had to get up at least once with each baby.  When I started feeling sorry for myself I realized I'm a little spoiled now.   It's like deja vu all over again.  In the first 4 or 5 months we had to get up EVERY night to feed them once or twice.  I think I've forgotten how nice it is that they have been sleeping 11-12 hours through the night.

It's not easy to see your kids suffer.  Not that I enjoy being sick, but I'd rather it be me than them.   Of course, I had it before them and passed it on.  It'd been a while since I've had the flu/cold that bad and it was miserable.  I learned firsthand that Moms can't get sick, and if you do there's no break. However today they have begun to start feeling better and their runny noses are beginning to slow to just a drip.

"Aaron sporting a very red and sore nose"

"Andrew not much in the mood to do anything"

Two little monkeys crawling on the bed...

...One fell off and bumped his head.  This morning was the first time one of the babies fell off the bed, and I'm sure it won't be the last.  Steve was on the bed with Aaron and Andrew, but while Aaron went one direction Andrew quickly crawled off the other way and THUD!, down he went.  I think it scared us more than it did him. 

Andrew's pretty tough compared to Aaron.  He cried for a minute but was quickly smiling again.  Whenever Aaron is sitting up and falls back he starts crying. Andrew simply laughs and starts crawling to the nearest toy.  After what Andrew's been through (TEF and kidney surgeries) little bang ups are no big deal.  We're learning Aaron is the sensitive one. Another way of putting it- he's a big time Mama's boy! And I love it- at least for now.

Now that they're becoming more mobile* we're becoming more watchful.  One of their favorite things right now are door stoppers.  It'll keep them entertained for what seems like hours (it's probably only a few minutes, but that's a long time for 10 monthers). After catching Aaron pulling off the rubber end of one of the stoppers and putting it in his mouth, we've had to pull the ends off of most.  Everyday as they discover new things we're having to move things up or hide them from view.  One mother of 3-year old twins told me she eventually had to bungee chord the kitchen chairs together to prevent them from accessing cupboards and causing chaos.  Oh, we can't wait.

* Note:  Aaron & Andrew are ALMOST crawling.  But they're getting pretty fast at the commando/army crawl.

"It's so much more fun UNDER the Exersaucer than in it."

"Same with the jumper.  And wherever my brother goes, I follow."

Changes

Andrew

Aaron

One of the reasons I haven't added to our blog for almost four weeks is because I don't know where to begin. I have loved every age so far, but right now is my favorite!  (And I'm sure each one will continue to be my favorite) Each day they are learning  SO much as they explore and try new things.  It's hard for me to believe Aaron and Andrew are more than 9 months already! I can't put into words how much I love them and I feel so blessed to have such wonderful babies.  And I'm not just saying that because I'm their mother- they truly are such good babies. Very seldom are they fussy or cranky.  Andrew and Aaron are both our little miracles.

In the last 4 weeks they have changed SO much that they're almost different babies!  Here are a few things:

• Teeth- In the last week Aaron's two top teeth came in and his increased mood and decreased eating let us know they were coming.  Andrew's two top teeth are on their way out.
• Exploring- They are curious about EVERYthing.  A few days ago Aaron was on our bedroom floor while I was getting ready (Andrew was still in bed) and within about 10 minutes he'd pulled on the curtain, flipped the door stopper back and forth, and flip the handles up and down, and played with all the toys I'd put on the floor for him.  Andrew is doing the same thing.
• Crawling- Not quite, but almost.  They both do the army, or commando, crawl.  They both get up on their hands and knees and rock back and forth.  Very soon they'll be crawling.
• Dropping- In the last couple of weeks Aaron learned that if he lets go of something in his hand it'll drop.  He'll drop his binki, toys, Puffs (bite size flavored food), and anything in his hands OVER and OVER again as he watches them drop.
• Bullies- Their favorite toy is the whatever the other baby currently has.  Andrew (and sometimes Aaron) will do whatever it takes to get Aaron's toy.  But Aaron is learning- the other day, after Andrew repeatedly tried to grab his toy, he switched it to the other hand, dropped it out of Andrew's view and played with something else.  Andrew left him alone.  I've even seen Aaron push Andrew away.  This morning, Andrew snuck up on Aaron and grabbed a toy out of his hand while he was distracted with something else in his other hand.  Then, when Aaron rolled over, Andrew took his other toy!  You'd better watch out for Andrew!
• Physical therapy- Since November we've taken Andrew to physical therapy because of his weak stomach muscles due to his surgery shortly back in June.  His motor skills have accelerated now to catch up with, and maybe even surpass, Aaron's.  Since starting therapy he's learned to roll over, sit down, reach for things more, and army crawl.
• Separation Anxiety- Just in the last week  they have started crying when someone else holds them. It doesn't happen all the time, and it's usually Aaron that cries. They're turning into Mama's boys!
• Babbling- They love to try different sounds with their voice.
• Head shaking and hand eating- I promise I didn't teach Aaron to go around shaking his head!  But he seems to enjoy doing it.  Andrew has always loved putting his hands in his mouth but lately it appears to bring him a lot of satisfaction. When he's excited, happy, and when he's eating (makes eating time VERY messy).
• Hello!- Both Aaron and Andrew love it when we wave their arm and say, "Hello (or goodbye).  But Aaron will now wave on his own- just one little wave but it's SO cute.

Giggle Fest 1

We have some of the happiest babies and we have the video to prove it.

Thanksgiving to New Year's in a Nutshell

There have been several posts I wanted to add since Thanksgiving but never got around to it. Let's just say it has been a wonderful holiday season!  It makes such a difference to be parents and enjoy Christmas with two beautiful babies. The year 2008 has been one we'll never forget as we have witnessed blessing after blessing and the miracle of Andrew and Aaron in our lives.  We look forward to 2009 and watching as Aaron and Andrew make new discoveries.   Here are a few things from the last month:

FIRST SWIM

Thanksgiving morning at our hotel in Payson, UT with cousin Lexi. They LOVED swimming in the pool.  We'd forgotten their swim suits so regular diapers and sweat bottoms had to suffice.

FIRST THANKSGIVING

We spent Turkey Day in Santaquin, UT at my brother, Steven's house. There were 13 kids ages 8 months to 9 years old (10 of them were boys).  It was crazy, loud, and lots of fun.

TEMPLE LIGHTING IN ST. GEORGE

Steve with my dad and Andrew (L) and Aaron (R) the day after Thanksgiving

ANDREW STARTS PHYSICAL THERAPY

The week after Thanksgiving Andrew began physical therapy once a week.  Until a couple of weeks ago Andrew wasn't even rolling over, he HATED being on his stomach and whenever they would sit in Bumbo seats Andrew would tilt to one side and try desperately to get out.  This was because his stomach muscles are weakened due to the kidney surgeries he had last June and July. Within a week of starting therapy he began rolling ALL over and he's getting closer to sitting on his own.  The plan is to continue therapy until he's walking.

TWO HIGH CHAIRS- FINALLY!

Until a couple of weeks ago we would feed one in the high chair (the only one we had) and the other would sit in the swing.  They have officially graduated from the swing and moved on to an Exersaucer and a jumper.

AARON SITS UP!

A week or two before Christmas Aaron began sitting on his own- long enough to take a picture. He's now sitting for longer and longer before falling over.

AARON NOW READS

Aaron is a very fast learner.  At this rate he'll be reading college textbooks he's age 5.

FIRST CHRISTMAS

This was the best Christmas yet!  Very different than last year when we thought Andrew wasn't going to live.  Not a day goes by that we aren't grateful he (& Aaron, or course) is so healthy and happy- and SUCH a good baby.  Even though they were more interested in boxes and wrapping paper- and cared more about bottles & naps- we had a good time playing with them and their toys.  We took the tree and all the decorations down on New Year's Day and said good by to another-WONDERFUL- year.  The boys loved laying under the Christmas tree and playing with the branches and admiring the lights.  I'm sure next year's tree will be set up a little different- no ornaments on the bottom 1/4 and no presents until Christmas Day (that won't much different than this year now that I think about it).

ANDREW'S FIRST TEETH

The Sunday before Christmas Andrew's two bottom teeth decided to come out of hiding but are not yet visible on camera. Aaron's two bottom teeth are getting longer and his two top ones look like they'll be showing  themselves any day.

Happy 2009 to all of you!!  I can't believe 2008 is already gone. It flew by but will have so many unforgettable memories for us.  I rang in the new year while feeding a baby (Andrew) that thought it would be nice to wake up shortly before midnight and have some fun rolling all over his crib, "talking" to nobody and doing anything but sleeping.