Growing like weeds!

Oh my, this weekend flew by!  Friday, Justin and I had a date night and Saturday and Sunday, spent time with my family from NY.
Claire and Max are doing new things every day!  This weekend when we were practicing sitting, they each sat for at least five minutes unsupported!  I am so proud of them :)  Their personalities come out more and more each day.  At church this morning, Claire kept eying the lady behind us and exchanging smiles.  It was so cute.  Max was playing peek a boo with her four year old.  He was getting so into it and laughing - next time they will be in the nursery :)  They are too busy to sit still now.
*picture overload*

Look! I can stand!!

This morning I made some vanilla bean cupcakes to take to my aunt's house for dessert.  They turned out pretty good.  I need to work on making the icing look prettier!

 Meeting their second cousins, Julia and Emma, for the first time!

Bad picture taking on my part, but look.at.those.CHEEKS!! <3

 practice makes perfect!

hanging with Daddy!

I love this!  (I think Justin is whistling)  It looks like Max is telling Claire a story!

You're still in your pajamas?

Yesterday morning the Duke Energy crew came knocking on our door at 9:15 asking me to move my car so they could get into our back yard (pole was leaning and had to be fixed).  As I was walking back up the driveway, one of the crew members said, "you're still in your pajamas?" um.. excuse me?! Why, yes I am.  As a matter of fact I am a mom of six month twins and there are plenty of days when I am still in my pjs at 5pm :)

This was taken this morning.  Yesterday I had on some high watered pink pants and an XL tshirt with crocs!  Usually you will find me wearing a pair of Justin's basketball shorts with an old holey tshirt or my pink pants and said tshirt.  I am a hot mess.  Especially today!  you could oil my car with my hair and my eyes could use a nap.
I woke up at 4:30am to pump thinking I would have at least 1.5 hrs before one of them woke up. WRONG.  Claire woke up at 5:00 kicking her legs in the crib - wide awake.  I brought her in our room hoping she would fall back asleep - WRONG. Close to six she started whining so I made her a little oatmeal thinking she would fall asleep - WRONG.  Then Max woke up and we started our day at 6am.  This momma is tired and needs a break :)  Justin and I have a date night tonight (so excited) and he said I could sleep in tomorrow and he would do the first feeding (angels singing!!)

I am looking forward to the next two weeks.  Tomorrow my aunt/uncle and cousins are coming and will be here until Wednesday then we leave for the beach next weekend!!  CAN'T wait! plus Mom is off Sat-Tuesday!!

Cheers for showers and real clothes :)

twofers

This little guy now has two bottom teeth.  I tried to get a picture, but it didn't work out so well!

yes, that is blue!  I tried it on one finger at Target today

 All Clean!

My buddy has been a bit fussy the past two days.  I am wandering if it has anything to do with that new tooth that showed up.  It's funny - Last week, Claire kept waking up early morning and early from naps.... this week Max has been waking up early and only napping for about 45 min. a time.  Claire is a lot easier to keep entertained.  It would be sooooo nice if they would sleep the same :)  We had to have lots of hot outings today.  We walked a little over 2 miles this morning, went to Target then went for an afternoon walk when they both woke early from their last nap.  I have to keep them busy so we can stay on our new four hour schedule... which we have maintained for the fourth day in a row!!

 

Eclectic

Justin went for a run this morning and when he came home to shower he asked if I wanted to go for a run. YES!  So, I headed up to the park for a 3.5 mile run.  I need music to get me through the runs, no matter how long or short they may be.  Today, in this order, I heard; Raffi, Rage against the machine, Jay-Z the Rascal Flats!!  Oh, I even passed by some Christmas music.  You think I need to update and make a play list?! ha!  Nothing like trying to get up a big hill and Baby Beluga comes on!

And because all posts are better with pictures:

Claire modeling her new outfit from zuilly

Max showing off his new shoes that were intended for the fall!

Claire 6 months

Our beau-ti-ful Claire Bear is six months old!!  My baby girl is growing to fast.  I wish I could bottle her up.  I mean, look at those cheeks!!  Seriously, the prettiest girl EVER!!

Sleep:  Claire usually goes to bed at 8 and wakes up at 6:30 (sometimes earlier :(, sometimes later :)  )  I think her gums have been giving her a hard time, or maybe she has extra gas from starting solids.  We are working on dropping to three naps a day.  I am lucky to get two good naps from the bear.  Even if she wakes up early, she wakes up happy and content.  If she wakes up early, she usually does chores with me - lucky her :)  She is so sweet when she sleeps.  I swear she is double jointed!  If she is on her side, her left arm is tucked under her back! Weird!  She has just started rolling over to her stomach and will stay like that all night.  I am starting to get used to it, although it made me nervous at first.

Clothes:  Bear still wears her 3-6 month clothes....some are still too big :)  She has the tiniest feet!  I bought the cutest eyelet sandals for her that were 3-6 mo and they are still too big for her. She is in a size 2 diaper.

Food:  She is eating 6.5 oz 5x a day, but we are working on dropping a feeding and adding solids!  She is a pretty good eater.  So far her favorites are pears, peaches, peas, sweet potatoes, and carrots.  We tried prunes, but they were both very cranky that day so I haven't given them to them again.

she grabs her feet ALL the time!

Play time:  Claire loves play time!  Her favorite right now is the exersaucer!  She usually just puts all the toys in her mouth, and can stay occupied for quite a while!  She likes most toys, but really likes ones she can grab with her hands!  recently, i have started putting them on a large blanket instead of their play mat.  She seems to love it!! especially since she can roll back and forth easily!  She is not crawling, but can do a 360! and move backward.  Justin and I need to start baby proofing yesterday!!

Milestones:   Bear can roll over both ways and does so often!  She can sit supported and is working on sitting by herself.  She follows voices and you can usually find her with a smile on her face!  great grip on her toys and can switch hands.  She is our wild woman and shows us by doing her wild woman scream/babble.  She blows raspberries non stop.  

Cheers for an awesome first six months, healthy babies and more fun in the future!!!

Love her!

Max 6 months!

not his best picture! I had just woken him up from his nap

My Max Man has gotten SO big!  Every time we go somewhere, people comment on how big he is.  I am really looking forward to our appointment on Aug. 3 so we can find out his percentage.

Sleep:  Max usually goes to bed around 8 and wakes up at 7.  He is now sleeping on his tummy.  We lay him down on his back at night, but he quickly flips.  Naps are pretty good.  He has been taking 4 naps a day, but we are in transition to 3.  One of my favorite things is when I go to check on him, I lean over the crib and he holds onto my hand or face and grips my hand so that I cannot leave!  He is the sweetest baby :)  We have recently been letting them sleep with their lovies.  We have like eight of them!!  I call them all bunny.  He likes to cuddle it or put it over his face.  It usually makes him start laughing though!

Clothes:  Most shorts are 9 months and shirts are closer to12 months.  He is really long, so 12 month pjs work best!  We just started our first box of size 3 diapers.

Food:  Right now he is eating 7.5 oz 5x a day, but we are working on dropping a feeding and adding solids!

so far he likes pears, sweet potatoes, carrots and bananas.  We have just started eating regularly and he does good most of the time

Play time:  Max's favorite activity is the exersaucer.  He goes to town jumping and playing with the toys on there.  They have almost outgrown the play mat.  I still put them on it in the mornings, but it doesn't last long.  We usually just put them on a blanket.  We also walk almost every day.  All three of us like getting some fresh air :)  I usually put in an einstein video once a day so I can pump.  Somehow, the kid already loves tv.  I have caught him laughing at the cartoons already!

Milestones:  

Max is able to roll over both ways and does so every chance he gets!  Not quite crawling, but moves backwards!  We are working on sitting.  He can sit well with support and for a few seconds by himself.  He follows us (especially me) by voice and when we walk in or out of the room.  His first tooth is coming in!  We are trying to eat baby food for breakfast and dinner, or twice a day.  He has his own form of talking.  He reaches for, and can usually get toys that are out of reach.

This big boy is so much fun!  Love to watch him and his sister together.  They are really starting to interact :)

Time to start planning their first birthday ;)

6 months down!

Can't believe our babies are six months old (yesterday).  Time has gone by WAY too fast.  I am loving every.single.minute with them. Each day they learn something new, get cuter and more funny!

They are in to everything and are busy all the time!

look at those legs!

 melts my heart!

Now that they are so curious, our photo shoots don't go as well as I would like.  I am lucky if they look at the camera!  I'm so proud of all they are accomplishing. (individual post to follow).  I'm also proud that I have made six months of breast feeding/pumping.  Originally, I thought I was going to quit at six months, but I am not ready.  I want to try to go as long as I am producing.... not to mention the cost of formula for two!!

We just started introducing baby food to their schedule.  They have been practicing since 4 months, but nothing consistent until now.

Their personalities are really starting to come through.  Claire is my miss independent, goes with the flow, doesn't like to miss what's going on and Max is sweet, smiley and likes his routine and doesn't do as well if it is messed up.

Love our little family :)

Wordless Wednesday

billy goat

Apparently Claire is half billy goat! Today's outing was to Target and when I was getting them out of the car, I noticed Claire had something in her mouth - my target receipt!  Ooops! I accidentally left it in her car seat and she must have been hungry :)

 We are finding new toys to play with. 

This tissue paper kept Claire busy for a few minutes.  She loved the crinkle sound it made!

My silly boy with bunny on his head!  He is so sweet!

Justin took off yesterday so I took advantage of him being home and went up to the pool for some quiet mommy time!  Of course, the minute I got there the sun hid behind these big, grey clouds!  It finally started coming out towards the end.  It sure was nice to have some "me" time.  I wish we could win the lottery so Justin could be with us every day.  We went for a family run, went to Costco (got some yummy Mahi Mahi burgers), Justin did the yard, I went to the pool and Claire went grocery shopping with me.

The minute we walked through the sliding doors, her head went left.  That means she was VERY tired!  Anytime we see her go left, we know there is a good nap in store!!

Not too much to say except my babies are growing up WAY TO FAST!!  They will be 6 months on Friday! I CAN'T believe it..... It kind of makes me sad.  They have grown up so much in the past two weeks.  So I don't forget when I do their 6 month post... Claire has been grabbing her feet :), both have been paying a LOT more attention to one another, Claire has been lifting her bottom in the air and kind of bringing a knee up...makes me think she is thinking about crawling, Max has a tooth that has broken skin! and I made their first homemade baby food today - sweet potatoes - and they loved it!

I put them in the same crib when they both wake up really early from a nap.  I heard them giggling and came back in to find Max with Bunny on his head!  He always has one of his bunnies covering his head!! lol

Justin was out of town this weekend on a golf trip with some of his old college buddies so Max, Claire and I had some family spend the night.  Friday, my youngest cousins came in town and stayed with us.  They all had the best time :)

Max and Claire loved spending time with them!

My Mom spent the night last night and this morning..She was huge help :)  We always have a good time!  I need to add we had a delicious french toast breakfast at Cracker Barrel! YUM!

We are glad Justin is home and taking Monday off to spend with us! and give this mommy some much needed relaxation time at the pool :)

OH..... and tomorrow we find out what my Brother is having.... if I haven't said before, he and his fiance are having twins too!!

I've got a problem

Let me just start by saying I am a cookie addict....there I said it, I have a problem - and admitted it.  I follow this blog and she does cookie time tuesdays....Recently I have been craving Oreos.  Not sure where that came from, but when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it.  Unfortunately, it was delicious.  I took the first batch to a friend who just had a baby minus 8 for us then made a second batch for Justin to take on his golf trip..... Problem is, I had two with my coffee this morning, one for dessert, after my ff frozen yogurt topped with 1 oreo dessert. oops!  I love cookies!!!!!!!!!!!

For the record, I have also started The 30 day shred again and have been doing that on top of running :) I'm having to do two a days to keep up with my cookie addiction :)

Anywho, here are some cute pics of the coolest kids around

This makes me laugh so hard!  Anytime something is near his face (blanket, lovey, bib, etc.) he covers his face and starts laughing and moving his arms up and down!! It's hilarious!

Baby girl modeling a new skirt!

 We have struggled with naps the past two days.  They used to go down so well and sleep for at least an hour, sometimes over two and recently, I'm struggling to get 30 min.  Claire is wanting to be rocked, or held to go to sleep and I just can't do that or get into that habit.  There is nothing I'd rather do than rock my babies to sleep, but I know that will lead to problems down the road x2.  Yesterday and today I have made them CIO for two of their naps and I hate it.

This next picture is right before they are getting swaddled for their last nap.

 can't get any sweeter :)

 

Bananas, Wild Woman and a Big Boy!

Today has been great.  Max and Claire took great naps and have been in a good mood all day.  Their first nap they woke up a little early so we took that time to walk to the cleaners and Earth Fare for some goodies.  It got up to 100 today so it was a good thing we got our walk in at 9:30 when it was only 84!
I was putting up some groceries and noticed an overripe banana and took this as an opportunity to make Max and Claire a little snack.  They LOVED it!  Max did the best I have seen him do :)After feeding them, Claire started "talking" like a wild woman!  It makes us laugh so hard when she does this. Sometimes she does this in her crib! ha!
Apparently, I need lessons on blogging.  I couldn't figure out how to upload the video here, so instead it is a separate post.  I need blogging help BAD!

I am so amazed every day at how big Max is!  He is growing up too fast!

look at those feet!

 They have also started this new thing of grabbing at my face.  When I lay them down for a nap or if we are rocking before bed, they either rub or grab at my face.  It's pretty cute until they grab my cheeks!  I thought adults were supposed to be the cheek pinchers!!  And they have been so smiley the past few days.... it melts my heart :)

Claire, aka, wild woman!

I love when....

..... people comment on twins.  For example, today I took the babies to TJ Maxx.  While checking out the clerk said, "I had two children 18 months apart.  That is harder than twins"  REALLY?!  This may be true sometimes, I don't doubt that for a minute, but I am tired of people saying that.  You don't know if it is easy or hard, just like I don't know how easy or hard it is to have two children 18 months apart.  Every baby/child is different.

I also love when people see you struggling to open a door, trying to push a double stroller through and not help.  Is it really hard to take an extra second to hold the door for someone?

That's it! just needed to get that off my chest.

Looking forward to girl's night :)

Family pool day!

Today was our first time going to the pool as a family!  I've been looking forward to this day for a while.  The pool was very crowded, but we found a little shaded spot, dropped off all of our stuff, and headed straight to the pool.  Max and Claire loved it!  In fact, Max didn't want to leave!  He played the whole time.  His favorite was to pretend to jump in - this kid was all smiles and giggles :)  Claire was a little tired and only played for about 15 minutes before she was ready for a nap.

Max went in for round three with Daddy!

sweetness :)

4 wonderful years!

So,  I'm a few days late.  Justin and I just celebrated our four year anniversary! and his birthday!

We went out for a nice dinner at 1618.  We had a delicious scallop appetizer then for dinner I tried sea bass for the first time and Justin had ahi tuna.  Mine was ok.  The sea bass came out fried and I don't remember the menu saying that.  It was a little to buttery flavored for me.

the presentation was nice!

Justin's tuna

I can't believe how fast four years has gone by.  He truly is amazing and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband and father for our children.  We have so much fun and although the past five months have been a bit tiring, they have been five of the best months we have had together and, of course, as a family!

The end to an amazing day and fantastic reception :)  we danced til the end!  Justin stepped on part of my train and it ripped so we had to tie it up in a bow to keep it off the floor!

Here's to another amazing year!