14 months

I'm cutting it pretty close this month! I've tried to set a few minutes aside at work on several occasions to post, but something keeps coming up. I've been off work for the past week and it has been so nice! We've been sleeping in and I've accomplished so much. My Christmas shopping is done. The laundry is done... for at least the next 12 hours. And I even painted the foyer. I lost one day when Chris was home sick with the Char-Char flu (I'll get to that), so I told Crystal to stay home. Otherwise, I had three solid days to check things off my list. Score!

Well, the dreaded 24 hour stomach bug made it through the house last week and this. I think it actually started back at Thanksgiving with Ellie but varied slightly from what hit us recently. Charlotte woke up vomiting last Tuesday around 4 am. Chris and I took turns staying home and aside from vomiting and lack of appetite, she was in great spirits. Then late Weds night into Thurs morning, it hit me. Hard. I nearly asked Chris to take me to the ER for some IV fluids. The last time I felt that awful, I landed myself in the hospital with acute renal failure... aka. I was wicked dehydrated. So, I wised up this time and drank glass after glass of water chased with Gatorade. By about 5:00 PM, I was back in the land of the living. It took me the entire next day to recover and I didn't eat a full meal until about 4:00 PM on Friday, but I was on the mend. Next up... Christy & Brad. They were hit early Friday morning. And I know they were hurting because Christy couldn't even watch the girls.... Mark that date in history, folks! My parents were smooth sailing.... until Sunday morning. And again, I knew it was bad when my mom couldn't watch the girls as planned. Chris was the only sole-survivor (clearly the carrier... or so I thought). The poor guy woke up Tuesday morning with the bug in full effect. Which brings me back to my week off. Seriously, this week has been great. And I'm really lucky because I also get the entire week of Christmas off. Whoop.

So onto the kiddos...

How old are babies: 14.75 months

How much do they weigh: E ~23 lbs. C ~18 lbs.

How long are they: We really need to use our new awesome growth chart to find out!

Clothes: Char is still in 12 months; Ellie in 18

Diapers: Size 3 during the day; size 4 at night.

What are they eating: Ever since this bug swept through the house, meal time has been challenging. Perhaps it's a coincidence and they're really just becoming picky in general. Either way, I miss my easy eaters!

• 8:30 am breakfast: egg, waffle or pancake, banana, milk [we're realizing Charlotte doesn't like to eat first thing when she wakes up]
• 12:00 pm lunch: pasta w/ marinara, mac n cheese, cheese quesadilla
• 3:00 pm snack: cottage cheese, cheerios, apple, water
• 6:00 pm dinner: pasta w/ marinara, mac n cheese, cheese quesadilla
• 8:00 pm bedtime: milk (4-5 oz)

How are they sleeping: Bed time is still around 8:00 - 8:30. We take baths every other night and then drink bottles and head to bed. They've been sleeping to about 8:00 - 8:30 am, depending on when we wake up. They tend to stir or cry once a night- sometimes none- unless there's clearly something wrong, we just let them CIO.

Milestones: Well, ever since Chris' b-day, they've been walking like crazy! Ellie can even pick the pace and pseudo-run these days. They are such big girls and are so smart and hilarious. I can tell they understand what I'm saying now and it's so cool. I can say to Ellie "go find your sock" and she'll light up and take off on the hunt for her sock. Then she'll return with sock in hand. They can both say "get down" (with hand gestures) and say Momma, Dadda, and good girl (or some variation of that). If you show them a picture of me and Chris they can point out eat of us. They also know who "Sissy" is and give each other kisses... which sometimes leads to an un-intentional tackle, but hey- love hurts.

Major events: Chris celebrated the big 3-0 a few weeks ago. We kept things pretty low key for his big day. He really wanted to watch and OSU basketball game and see the new James Bond movie, so we really just had a long day/night date. It was so nice to have some quality 1:1. Thanksgiving came and went in a flash. We had a nice time with family but poor Ellie was sick. Now we're gearing up for Christmas. As much as I can't stand this holiday, the beautiful weather, online shopping, and anticipation of seeing the girls open their gifts makes me a tinge excited.

Appearances: I swear Ellie's hair grows an inch every night. She's become very accustomed to wearing a bow and rarely pulls it out anymore. They are both simply perfect and beautiful and I can't help but make out with them or squeeze their butts every chance I get!

Personalities: Ellie is clearly my nurturer. She is constantly sitting in your lap or carrying a baby doll or giving out hugs and kisses. Char is definitely the rough and tumble of the bunch. She just wants to climb and crawl and dive and fall. They are both hilarious and so unique from one another... perfect.

Mom and Dad update: Work has been busy. I find it hard to keep everything organized in my head sometimes. But I'm working through it. My boss gave me a few nice complements about the Sonoma trip, so that's an ego boost. I'm busy planning the Spring event and my boss actually wants me to go to Savannah for a couple days to check out properties. Can we say dream come true?! Twist my arm. If all works out, I'll fly into Savannah check out properties, stay the night and then take a rental car to Charleston, SC, rinse, repeat. Then I'll just head back to CMH from Charleston. I'm trying to convince Chris to join me. How fun would that be?! Additionally, I've got a couple other projects I'm focused on and am hopeful the next two weeks in the office are quiet so I can just keep my head down and work through them.

Next doctor visit: December 27

13 months

How old are babies: 13.5 months

How much do they weigh: E ~23 lbs. C ~20 lbs.

How long are they: ??
 
Clothes: Charlotte fits comfortably in 12-18 months but Ellie is definitely fitting better in the 18 month range.

Diapers: Size 3 during the day; size 4 at night.

What are they eating: We're officially done with formula. It's so strange to go to Target and not go down the formula aisle. I think the picky phase is beginning. They LOVE fruits, pasta, bread, and carbs in general. The don't really love veggies right now. I find myself hiding veggies in with other foods so they'll at least get some in their systems. I've been buying these frozen veggie/pasta meals that can be steamed in the microwave. The girls love them and they do have traces of veggies, so that's a positive. Breakfast is clearly their favorite meal of the day. Yesterday they ate: 1.5 eggs, a banana, cheerios, toast, cottage cheese, milk.... each. They also have milk with dinner and before bed and sip on water throughout the day. They use their Tommy Tippy sippy cups mostly, but like the straw sippies a lot too. Eating out is becoming more of a challenge. As long as they are fed constantly, they're usually pretty good. It's tough to keep everything out of their reach though. They are quite handsy these days. Typical day:

• 8:00 am breakfast: egg, waffle or pancake, banana, milk
• 12:00 pm lunch: turkey or chicken, steamed veggie, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, apple, water
• 3:00 pm snack: cottage cheese, cheerios, apple, water
• 6:00 pm dinner: turkey or chicken, pasta, veggie, bread, milk
• 8:00 pm bedtime: milk

How are they sleeping: Ever since we tried the CIO method, they've been sleeping like.... babies. They go down around 8:00 and sleep straight through the night. Charlotte is a bit more restless than Ellie and wakes up a couple times a night, but I think it's because she is cutting 3 molars at the moment. This poor baby and all her teeth! For those counting, this brings the toll up to 9 teeth and 3 more nearly broken through.

Milestones: My big girls are just days away from walking! They each take up to about 6-7steps on their own at a time. I actually think Ellie is a little more confident in her walking than Charlotte. They both love to fall into someone's arms. It's almost as if they're walking just so they can fall. I love it. I'm actually- surprisingly- okay with this milestone. I'm even a little excited by the prospect of them holding my hand and walking. I've had this image of walking with my girls, each holding one hand and it brings me such joy to think of it coming true soon.

Major events: Uncle Andy is officially home! I am so excited to see the girls interact with him. And I'm so excited for him to watch them grow. He arrived in Columbus last week and is staying with my parents until he closes on his new house in a couple weeks. I can't imagine how happy my mom must be right now! The girls went trick-or-treating for the first time! Which really meant we bundled them up in four layers of clothes, shoved them into their wagon with a giant blanket on top and an umbrella covering them, then we walked to one neighbor's house and went to my parents for dinner. The weather was seriously miserable. It was cold and rainy and just awful. Thankfully the weekend prior, we took the girls to a Halloween event at Nationwide so we were able to show off their costumes indoors. As if we didn't get enough attention having twins, but having twins dressed as a cookie and milk?! Uh yeah. Mental note: That's too much. We had random strangers coming up and taking their pictures. Every. single. person that walked by commented on their costumes. Don't get me wrong, I was very flattered by the positive response and proud of myself for their costumes, but it really was too much. I couldn't handle all the stares, and comments, and randomness. It put me on high-alert for weirdos, I'll tell you that much.
 

Appearances: Their hair continues to grow like crazy and Charlotte's is definitely of the curly variety. She loves to play with it while she eats to get it nice and crusty by the end of a meal. You can also tell when she's sleepy bc her new tell is to play with her little curls. Ellie's is so long you can almost tuck it all behind her ears. A bow is an absolutely necessity these days so you can see her beautiful blue eyes.
 
Personalities: I cannot believe how much they can do and how smart they are becoming. Both girls now say "get down" to the cats. Of course, they dont actually say those words, it sounds more like "ti tow" but you can certainly tell what they're trying to say! They both love to be chased and tickled and I actually have a physical reaction to the sound of their laughs.

Mom and Dad update: Work has been trying for us both lately. I just got back from a board meeting in Sonoma, CA. It was a ton of work and really still isn't over. Now that I'm home I need to work on the expense reports and reviewing the master account and it's already time to begin planning our Spring meeting. I really enjoy this sort of stuff, but sometimes wish it was my sole focus at work instead of splitting my time with other tasks. Chris just celebrated the big 3-0. We had a great day together and went to see a basketball game and the new James Bond movie. Then we went and grabbed some dinner. I love spending time together. It's so crazy to think that this is the 11th birthday we've spent together. Time really will not slow down...

Next doctor visit: unsure

ONE

So, against my wishes, the girls continue to age. I now have one-year olds and it freaks. me. out. How is this even possible? They went in for their one-year well check and are both happy and healthy. They're both still very small weighing in at the 5th percentile. But the doctor is not concerned as they're in line with what they've been since birth. I guess they're just petite babies! They had three shots yesterday (one was the flu) and handled them like champs. I'm so proud and amazed by them!

The girls' birthday was Thursday, so we got up (and let Daddy sleep in) and I cooked the girls pancakes, eggs and their usual banana and they ate every morsel. They were such good girls, they sat still and let me take pictures of them in ridiculous birthday hats. Once Chris finally woke up (le sigh), it was time for naps.

Later that day, we ran a couple errands and then took the girls to the zoo. It was actually the best zoo experience I can remember bc animals were actually out. One Polar Bear was playing in the water and tossing a ball in the air with his feet and catching it on his head. It was amazing. It also scared me to pieces thinking there was just a thin layer of plexi separating this giant animal from my family. We moved on to the Brown Bears who were also putting on a show for us- what can I say- the world loves C & E (wink). The two Brown Bears were actually playing and wrestling with one another. It was so cool to watch. Later that evening, the grandparents came home and had dinner with us and gave the girls their gifts. Then we gave the girls their cakes. It. was. epic. These girls are hilarious! Charlotte was taking cake by the fists full and couldn't get them to her mouth fast enough. Ellie wasn't far behind and eventually skipped the middle man (her hands) and went face first into the cake. Classic! It really was a perfect day.

The entire day (and following days), I sat reminiscing about the day they were born. I don't think there will ever be a day in my life I want to re-live more than that day. I actually ache for that day again. It was so incredible and perfect and such a dream. It's hard to think about it without getting emotional.

The big birthday bash was Saturday and could not have gone any better. The day was a bit of a whirlwind, so it's nice now to sit back and look at pictures... and just... sit back. The weather started out iffy. I was getting a bit nervous but knew we'd make it work. Then the clouds parted and the blue sky appeared and it was gorgeous. It was slightly windy so we kept the pavilion doors closed for the party, but it was just fine. So many wonderful friends and family came to celebrate with the girls. We are so lucky. The decorations turned out exactly as I'd hoped and the candy buffet seemed to be a hit. The park was perfect because there was a playground for the little ones and a giant grassy area for Frisbee and football throwing. The girls made out big time with all of their gifts, and the cakes turned out adorable! And once again, the girls were hysterical eating them. They had icing everywhere and had everyone in stitches. Great job, ladies!

To cap things off, Chris and I celebrated our six year wedding anniversary on Sunday. He's such an amazing dad, and husband, and person. How could I be so lucky?

All in all, it was a banner week. Life is good!

How old are babies: 12 months

How much do they weigh: E is 20 lbs, 13 oz; C is 17 lbs, 12 oz.

How long are they: E is 27 1/2 inches; C is 29 1/2 inches

Clothes: The 9 months clothes are making their exit. We're now in big-kid jammies (aka. two-piece sets). They look like grown ups in these PJs!

Diapers: Still size 3. They are getting a bit snug on Ellie though.

What are they eating: We got clearance from the pedi to finish up our formula and not buy any more. It doesn't even seem real. What will it be like to wash those bottles for the last time? What will it be like to put our drying racks away and get rid of the pink pail we wash them in?? I can't think about it.

How are they sleeping: We told the Dr. that they rarely sleep through the night, so she told us what I knew she'd tell us but dreaded hearing..... it's time to let them cry it out (CIO). So, we tried it last night. Ellie woke up first around 5:30, so we turned the monitor down and let her cry.........and cry.............and cry................and cry. Until finally...........she woke Charlotte who cried..............and cried...........and cried. It was my hell. I finally said, that's it, I'm throwing in the towel- my babies need me. I walked upstairs and put my hand on the door knob and heard.... nothing. It had worked, they'd fallen asleep. So, I lay back down and turn to Chris and say, what if they were strangled by their blankets and that's why I don't hear them (see post regarding my strange blanket paranoia). So Chris suggests I go and check on them. Need I say more? Okay, fine. I'll say more. So I head upstairs and open the door. They are both on their bellies, butts in the air, fast asleep. And then Charlotte lifts her head, spots me and begins wailing. So I get the hell out of dodge. Head back down to bed, curse Chris for his advice, and tell him to go get her. He tells me to calm down and give it a second, and then the crying stops, and she falls back to sleep. I lay back down for a solid 3.5 minutes, and have to get up to get ready for work. I'd call that a good start to our CIO transition.

Milestones: Both girls are masters at standing on their own and cruising around things. Ellie will even let go from time to time. They both have teeth galore. Charlotte is rocking four on top and four on bottom and Ellie just cut her two top ones in addition to the bottom two she already has. They both point at things and signal when they want picked up or held by someone else. And the most important milestone so far- more important than sitting, crawling, standing, first word.... any of them- they actually KISS each other now! We say "Give Sissy kisses" and each one leans in toward the other. Nothing makes my heart melt faster.

What they love: Right now they love their blocks. Specifically, they like to knock them down after we stand them up. They also love their two stuffed animals: Rico The Raccoon and Michael J. The Fox. They're just the right size to hold and carry around and they love sleeping with them under their arms.

Major events: Well, I think this answer is pretty obvious... They kiss each other now. Kidding. (kind of) They are big kids now and before long we'll be driving them to college (obviously by driving I mean flying in our car) and setting up their dorm room (and by setting up, I mean asking their robot to set it up- this is the future, people. Get used to it!)

Appearances: I look at my girls now and they look so grown up to me. I can only imagine how they'll look when they have a full head of long hair. They're so beautiful.

Personalities: It's so fun to watch them get smarter and funnier as they age. I can't believe how much like little people they are now. They are just amazing.

Mom and Dad update: Work is still busy. I'm coordinating a board meeting in Sonoma, CA for early November and kind of don't know what the heck I'm doing, so that's a bit stressful. I've also got several other projects in the works. Chris is nearing the end of budget season, so hopefully he'll gain a little more sanity in his day. Finally, our Key West trip is right around the corner and I don't feel prepared at all. I need to find out what the weather is like down there and figure out what to pack.

Next doctor visit: October 22nd for a booster flu shot.

I is for intervention...

I think I've mentioned it before, but I am seriously obsessed with this first birthday party. I mean.... seriously. I've been planning for a solid three months now and have five pages in my binder dedicated to plans. It doesn't help that I recently joined Pintrest and keep finding idea, after idea, after idea. So here's the breakdown. Pictures to come:

• Location- Wexner Community Park. Our guest list is crazy large and there was no way we'd fit in my house. The park's pavilion is very nice and very large. Plus there's a play ground area for the -count em- 22 kids I'm expecting.

• Theme- I'm going with a "how sweet it is" theme. Instead of goody bags, I'm setting up a candy buffet for kids (and parents) to enjoy. Everything is in the colors of bright blue, bright green, and bright pink. The favor bags are rugby striped in blue, pink and green. I found them on this adorable site and picked up a few other cute items while I was at it.

• Decorations- I'm lucky to have friends in high places and family who's always willing to help me. My good amazing friend, Lindsey, owns an Etsy shop and designed and printed my adorable invitations. It was so fun getting to customize them exactly how I wanted. She also created labels for each of the candy bags, is working on table signs, and offered to help me create temporary tattoos for each kid. I'm super stoked about those. Chris and I (emphasis on the "I" part) are working on adorable yarn balls I found on Pintrest. I'm working on those in pink, blue, green, and a melonish orange. They will hang in the entrance to the park pavilion at different heights. I'm hoping to make a total of 20 (12 down, 8 to go). Then, pretty much entirely on her own, my mom created the standard tissue paper puff balls. These too are in blue, pink, and green. I also created paper pinwheels for each of the table center pieces, paper pennant banners for in front of the food tables, and am working on a 12-month picture banner for in front of the pavilion's fireplace. 

• Candy buffet- I fully expect to be stoned to death by most of the parents in attendance for this candy buffet. On the lineup we have: Skittles (duh), Gummy Worms, Pixie Sticks, Candy Dots, flavored Tootsie Rolls, licorice, and candy bracelets. In addition, my mom and I have plans to make candy-covered marshmallows and Oreo Pops. And for the little ones who are too young to have any teeth to rot out, we found cute little pinwheels and I bought some organic baby granola bars. Each child will also receive their own, custom temporary tattoo (assuming Lindsey and I can figure it out this weekend). 

• Food- Remember how I said I'm lucky? Well, yeah, that again. My mom and MIL are pretty much doing it ALL. The only food I need to provide is mini corn dogs (pre-made, thankyouverymuch) and mini pinwheel things (again, no prep required). And as far as the all important cake... remember how I said I have friends in high places? Another wonderful friend of mine is working on the girls' smash cakes. Sorry folks, this part is a secret.      

So, that's really it. And I'm pretty much set. I just need to finish up a few loose ends and buy a few more small things and then we're good to go. Let's just all cross our fingers, and toes, and whatever else, for decent weather. I'm not even going to say "no rain." I've come to grips with my weather luck and a little rain would be manageable. I'm just going to hope for no torrential downpours... is that too much to ask?

Up next.... the breakdown post when I finally realize the reason I'm planning this is because my baby girls are turning ONE.      

11 months

Okay, I'm a little late, but not nearly as bad as I thought.

• How old are babies: 11 months, 1 week
• How much do they weigh: I am actually not sure... maybe 18 and 20 lbs.
• How long are they: Not sure...
• Clothes: We are solidly into 12 PJs and are inching toward 12-18 clothes (depending on store). Charlotte can fit into some 9 month clothes from Carter's but they're even snug on her. Ellie... no way.
• Diapers: Size 3 still, I may have to buy some size 4's for Ellie soon. Although, with her crawling now, I wonder if she'll start to slim down at all.
• What are they eating: The question is what aren't they eating?! These girls will eat anything you put in front of them.... anything. I just really, truly hope that keeps up as they get older. Ellie is clearly the bigger eater. She eats more and eats faster. I'm talking fists full of food going straight to the mouth. Charlotte is a little more delicate in her eating style. She'll gingerly pick up an item of food and gently place it in her mouth, chew and swallow. Ellie looks a little like Slimer in the original Ghostbuster's movie (Daddy is so proud). And I can't believe it, but they are officially drinking white cow's milk! We are slowly transitioning them so by around a year old, they'll be off of formula. They eat 2 oz of milk with every bottle, so that equals 10 oz. milk/day and 17 oz. formula/day. I was way nervous about starting milk bc of certain links to cow's milk and Crohn's Disease, but we checked with our Pedi first and they didn't seem concerned so we got the green light.  
• How are they sleeping: We've had a good stretch for the past couple of nights. They'll each wake up around 4:30-5:00, take a binkie and go right back to sleep. They're also good about hanging out in their cribs when they wake up in the morning. They just chatter and play with whatever toys they can reach. It makes getting ready for work in the morning much easier on Mommy. We are starting to ween them off their binkies, starting with only giving them theirs at naps and bedtime. Before they were around all day every day and became a toy. I'm hoping that if we can fully transition them off the binkies, we may be able to get a full night's rest.... what would that be like?! We also started putting them to bed with a blanket. It may seem like no big deal, but I've been ridiculously hypersensitive about SIDS and finally feel like they are old enough to have other things in the crib with them. But don't kid yourself, I still don't just open the blanket up flat... I fold it so it can't strangle them in any way. Hi, my name is Amie and I'm unbalanced.
  
• Milestones: As Daddy says, Ellie no longer does her Zombie crawl, she's an official two-legged crawler! And she's fast. She also pulls herself up on things now for short periods of time. Charlotte is on. the. go. She pulls herself up on things and cruises round them with ease. Meme and Grandpa gave her a little baby stroller that she can walk behind and, aside from veering to the side, she does a great job walking behind it. She's also just starting to let go of things for a split-second at a time. Won't be long now... (tear)
• What they love: They love to move and explore. The are beginning to play more with each other which just makes me melt. Ellie love, love, loves to hide things. She'll tuck things under the couch and reach under to grab them again. Charlotte loves to climb on things- pillows, people, you name it. She also loves to be covered up by a blanket and play peek-a-boo or "wheeeeere's Charlotte?" as we like to call it. And Charlotte loooooves books! She sits and reads to herself and it's seriously the cutest. thing. ever. You just hear her "blah, bluh, bleh." A-dorable.
• Major events: Hi, my name is Amie and I'm unbalanced..... and obsessive. Seriously, someone needs to stage an intervention over this b-day party. I'll write a dedicated b-day planning post bc it's quite involved, but basically, I'm as excited about this party as I was about my wedding... if not, more. I may be exaggerating a smidge, but really- worrying that the candy for the covered marshmallows isn't the right shade of pink?.... I need help.  
• Appearances: I'm sure every mom thinks this, but ohmygosh by girls are so beautiful. Their eyes, their hair, their skin, their butts... I can't handle it. I love that as their hair gets longer, I'm able to put cute bows in it. It's a shame as soon as they realize they have a bow in it gets ripped out. But it's cute while it lasts. Ellie's hair is long and wild. My mom keeps pressuring me to get it cut, but only big kids get their hair cut, not my wee little babies! Charlotte's may be a bit lighter than Ellie's actually and I swear it has some curl to it. The texture definitely feels different than Ellie's- a little coarser, maybe? 
• Personalities: These girls are so stinking hilarious! I mean, everything they do is hysterical. Everything. 
• Mom & Dad update: Chris and I are busy with work. He's in the middle of budget season, so he's feeling a little more pressure than usual. We're trying to do little things for the b-day party or around the house once the girls go to bed. And we're gearing up for our big trip to Key West in October. It'll be here in no time. I recently joined Pintrest so I'm finding lots of cute things to work on. Also for a follow-up post- I'm working on a height chart out of a large 1x6 piece of wood. I'm trying to make it look like a giant ruler and so far, so good. I'll post the finished product later. 
• Next doctor visit: September 24th

10 months

I feel like I'm actually ahead of my blogging schedule for once! Clearly this means their 11 month post won't happen until they're 7 years old. Sigh. Anyway, we've been busy as usual working and playing and loving life. Chris and I actually took the afternoon together yesterday and went to Zoombezi Bay, just the two of us. It was a blast and I was proud of myself for riding multiple scary rides. I just said to myself- if that 5 year old can handle it, so can you. Having a beer beforehand didn't hurt things either.

As far as the girls, they're growing bigger, stronger, and smarter each day:

• How old are babies: 10 months
• How much do they weigh: If my scale is accurate, I think Ellie is over 20 lbs now! I haven't weighed Charlotte, but she's itty bitty, so I'd guess she's still hanging around the 17 lb mark.
• How long are they: I'm not sure, but man do they look tall these days!
• Clothes: The 12-month PJs fit really well! They are awful to put on, but they fit! Why on earth would they make the arm and leg holes so ungodly small on PJs sized for children who are at their wiggliest age?! Good lord! As far as other clothes, they're fitting in 6-12 months pretty well now. 
• Diapers: Size 3 still, I prefer Baby Dry over Cruisers. I feel like they have more stretch to them.
• What are they eating: They eat about 25 ounces of formula a day. They still have a Banana each morning and a veggie or two throughout the day. We tried Turkey and Chicken recently and they had pancakes for the first time this weekend! They LOVED them! At one point, Charlotte grabbed an entire pancake off my plate and tried to shove the whole thing into her mouth.
• How are they sleeping: Poor Ellie has really been struggling with sleep lately. For three nights straight she woke up at 11 pm wide awake just sitting in her crib. The first night it happened, I tried everything: feeding, changing, using Orajel, rocking, laying on the couch, laying on the bed. Finally after 1 am, she fell back to sleep in our bed. That was a rough one. Last night I gave her some Ibuprofen before bed and that worked miracles! She didn't make a peep all night! Now, if only I could get Charlotte to sleep past 6 am, we'd be golden!
  
• Milestones: Charlotte is getting so fast with her crawling and with pulling herself up on things! She's even figured out how to climb stairs (dun dun duuuun). She'll also walk when you hold her hands. She walks a little like a Clydesdale, stomping around, but she'll get there! Ellie is still a master (or lieutenant?) army crawler. Except she only uses her right leg, so she actually looks like a wounded soldier dragging her dead leg around. It's ridiculously funny. Charlotte is working on her EIGHTH tooth right now! She has 4 on the bottom, 3 on top, and a 4th one on top ready to break through. Ellie has TWO on the bottom coming in! 
• What they love: They're still water babies through and through. Ellie has a new trick of hiding items behind pillows. She loves to tuck things away where she can't see them and then pull them back out. Charlotte is on. the. go. She loves to chase after the cats and squeal as she does. She also loves to pick at textures and fuzz and anything else she grab a hold of. I think she's close to the biting phase- not because she wants to hurt you, but because she just has the urge to bite things with all her teeth! Ellie is great at waving and giving high fives. And I swear she says "hi" after you say it to her. They're both such happy, beautiful, amazing babies!
• Major events: Birthday party planning is in full effect in the Bland house. I've been picking up supplies as I come across them and have been obsessing over Pintrest for ideas! We finally bought a Zoo membership and took the girls for the first time a couple weekends ago. They did great! I can't say they had a great time, bc, well they're 10 months old, but they didn't fuss until the bitter end after being in the hot, 90+ degree heat for several hours. Megan came into town and we got to visit with her and Ed. She hasn't seen the girls since last November! It was so great to see her!
• Appearances: Their  hair just keeps growing like crazy. I swear I feel like Charlotte's has some curl to it, but maybe not. And Ellie's just gets crazier by the minute. I probably need to cut it, but that seems like something you do for big kids, not for bitty babies! 
• Personalities: They clearly have their own, distinct personalities and I love that! Ellie is much better about playing by herself and likes her space. Charlotte wants to be involved in everything and doesn't want to miss a beat. Ellie takes a minute to warm up to you and likes to look you up and down before she decides how she feels. Charlotte is all smiles. The one thing they do have in common is their kissing abilities! They give the biggest, slobberyist, best kisses ever! 
• Mom & Dad update: Chris and I have been keeping busy lately. We installed a new back splash in the kitchen after wanting one for almost a year. We kept asking each other- what took us so long to just do this?! We've been hanging out with friends here and there and he recently finished Softball for the season and took up Volleyball (eye roll). All in all, we're doing great.  
• Next doctor visit: September 24th

9.5 months

Another blink of an eye, another month has gone by. Last month was a bit of whirlwind. We've pretty much just been working, going to the pool on occasion and traveling! We celebrated the girl's first Fourth of July this week. They saw their first parade and watched their first fireworks! Charlotte wasn't too impressed with the fireworks, but Ellie seemed to enjoy them.

• How old are babies: 9.5 months
• How much do they weigh: Ellie is 18 lbs. 6 oz. Charlotte is 16 lbs. 7 oz. It's amazing how two babies who eat the exact same amount can differ so greatly in weight! Clearly Charlotte is burning more calories from crawling all over town. 
• How long are they: Ellie is 28 inches, Charlotte is 27 inches.
  
• Clothes: We're inching toward 12 month PJs! Gasp! The rest of their clothes are 6-12 or 9 months at Carters.
• Diapers: Size 3 (however, they are starting to fit snug on Ellie)
• What are they eating: I am beginning to transition them off of formula. The doc said as long as they have at least 24 ounces of formula a day, we're good. I'm going to take them back to 5 oz. each feeding except the first and last of the day and increase their table food instead. I gave them scrambled eggs for the very first time yesterday and they LOVED them. The doc said I can also introduce meat, so I may start with chicken and go from there. They still eat a banana every morning and then have a veggie or two throughout the day. I pretty much give them whatever I have that doesn't have cheese, butter, or spices on it. I really haven't come across anything they won't eat. Hopefully that sticks with them forever and they don't end up like their Daddy who only eats cheese and bacon.
• How are they sleeping: They are still sleeping really well. I'd say Ellie is a little better than Charlotte through the night. Naps are a completely different story though! Holy crap they don't want to nap (at least not for me). I talked to the doc and she suggested just putting them in their cribs and walking away. I'm nervous that they won't sleep and then I'm stuck with sleepy, fussy babies all day. But, with how much they fight me on naps, I may just have to bite the bullet and go that route.
  
• Milestones: Charlotte is crawling all over the place- and fast! She's also pulling herself up on things and walking around them. She also raises her arms out when I come near her to pick her up. She now has 4 teeth on the bottom, 1 on top and another on top about to break through! She's been such a champ with teething that I barely know she's working on one. Ellie still isn't crawling but she sure gets where she needs to go! She scoots or rolls all over the place to get the toy (or binkie) she so desires. She's also doing great at clapping and putting a ball in a hole. She's all smiles these days although I think she's teething too bc she has her fussy moments. Uncle Andy came in town this week so he got to see the girls for the first time since Christmas. I'm sure they've changed so much. Ellie was completely fine but Charlotte took a minute to warm up. I think she's going through the "separation anxiety" phase.
• What they love: They still LOVE the water. We've taken them to the pool a few times now and they just smile and laugh and splash and kick. It's unbelievably adorable. They also love to steal each others toys. Whatever one has, the other wants. It's pretty funny. The most coveted item are their pacifiers. They take them out of the others mouth and put it in theirs and then trade. back and forth. back and forth.
• Major events: Our new nanny, Crystal started a couple weeks ago. She seems to be doing really well and is taking great care of the girls. She's also a great fit within our family and I feel very comfortable around her.We booked a park for the girls' birthday party! I'm really hoping and praying the weather holds out. I'm not sure where else to have it.
• Appearances: I have little blondies now. Their hair just gets lighter and lighter. It's so pretty. They are really looking like grown up girls these days. I can't believe it.
• Personalities: They are both such happy, sweet babies. And so easy going. I couldn't feel luckier. Ellie is definitely the more independent one and is completely content playing by herself. Charlotte likes to be near the action and tends to fuss if I walk away. Of course I'm okay with that if it means she wants her Mommy...  
• Mom & Dad update: Chris and I just got back from a fantastic trip to Vegas. I went out for work on Monday the 25th and he came out the next day. We really did everything we wanted to (and then some) while there. We drank too much, stayed out too late, danced, swam, ate, went to a show and just  had a great time. I missed my girls like crazy but was distracted enough that I made it through. And I knew they were in the best hands possible so that made things easier. Our next long trip away from the girls isn't scheduled until October when we head to Key West for a wedding. I'm glad to have the rest of the summer with them. We're even tossing the idea of the 4 of us taking a family vacation somewhere. I'm just not sure where we'd go that isn't too long of a drive. 
• Next doctor visit: Our next appt is scheduled for September 24th when they'll be A YEAR OLD. How the hell did that happen?!?!

37/3

Something terrible has happened......................... at exactly 5:10 pm, today, my babies have officially been outside babies longer than they were inside babies!!! This is an outrage! That's it, I am hitting the pause button. They are simply NOT allowed to grow anymore.

I just don't see how it's possible that 37 weeks, 3 days ago I was getting prepped to deliver my miracles. How does it all seem so clear and fresh in my mind still?! How has this time gone by so quickly?! AND WHY ISN'T THIS PAUSE BUTTON WORKING?!

• How old are babies: 37 weeks, 3 days (8.5 months)
• How much do they weigh: I'm not quite sure, but Ellie has to be in the 16 lbs. + range.
• How long are they: Not sure...
  
• Clothes: They are officially out of 6 months clothes. We're solidly in 9 months PJs and 6-12 most other places.
• Diapers: Size 3
• What are they eating: They eat 6-7 oz. of formula at 8, 11, 2, 5 & 8. They have a banana nearly every morning and then a veggie or two throughout the day. I don't really puree anything anymore- I just cut it into bite-sized pieces. Sweet Potatoes are still their favorites, but they'll eat just about anything. They've had the following purees; yellow squash, butternut squash, peas, bananas, carrots, green beans, pears, sweet potatoes, zucchini, apples, asparagus, and white potatoes. And now the following finger foods: bananas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, watermelon, avocado, red potatoes, green beans, and of course their beloved Puffs! 
  I am officially done breast feeding. My last day was Friday, May 18th- two days before their 8 month birthday. I feel like it's okay if round up to say I breastfed for 8 months... Call me a liar if you will, but I've come to terms with that. It's been very bittersweet for me. On one hand, I absolutely LOVE going straight to bed without pumping, and getting ready in the morning without pumping. And not cleaning pump supplies, and not cleaning milk-storage bottles, and not packing up the pump to take to work. On the other hand.... I miss everything I just wrote. And I miss feeling proud of myself, and I miss the cost savings. If I had to guess, I'd say we saved at least $1,000 by pumping. That's just crazy! I feel so lucky that my body cooperated for so long. Many women struggle to have enough supply for 8 days, let alone 8 months... and for twins! I'm darn lucky.
• How are they sleeping: They are still sleeping like champs! There are some nights when they don't wake at all and others when they need their binkies once or twice and go right back to sleep. I just read that some moms throw a bunch of pacifiers in the crib so the baby can find one in their sleep and put themselves back to sleep... I may have to test this theory out.
  
• Milestones: Charlotte is a crawling machine!! She is lightning fast and wants to explore every square inch! She also has two teeth (bottom, center) and holds her own bottle now! Ellie isn't close to crawling, but she is a champ in the jumparoo and is a little dancing queen! As soon as you turn on music, she bobs up and down! Charlotte is clearly going to be a music conductor bc she twists her little wrists and moves her arms to the music! Both are great at giving mommy kisses- french kisses to be exact. I lean forward with my lips pursed and they lean back, mouth fully open- Ellie with her tongue out. God, I love them! We also went to the outside pool for the very first time Memorial Day weekend. They loved it! Ellie just sat contently in her raft while Charlotte wanted out! Now that she has this new-found freedom with crawling, she hates to be confined! We also bought a little blow-up pool for our backyard. That's good for when we dont want to take a crap load of supplies to the pool. Finally, since they're both so strong at sitting, we have been bathing them in the big bath tub, together. They love it! They squeal and chatter and play together. It's adorable!
• What they love: Water! Baths, their baby pool, the big pool. They still love walks and wind in their hair. Ellie loves to play with balls. She throws them, kicks them, and hits them together. Charlotte loves textures, she'll sit and play with a rouge thread on the ottoman forever! It's hilarious.
• Major events: We think we've found a new nanny. Her name is Crystal and her first day is the 19th. She came and hung out with me earlier this week to get a feel for how my day goes. She is very sweet and I think she'll be a good fit with our family. Fingers crossed it all works out! 
• Appearances: Ellie's hair continues to grow! I can pin it back pretty easily with a barrette now. Charlotte's isn't growing as quickly, but it's definitely filling in.
• Personalities: They are both happy, smiley babies and I love it! Charlotte is being to out-talk Ellie these days and man is she on the go! Ellie is very good about playing quietly by herself. 
• Mom & Dad update: Chris is heading to Phoenix for work this weekend and most of next week. It's going to suck having him gone for so long, but I'm sure I'll keep busy. My job is still sort of in limbo. A new position in my old department opened up, and I need to decide if I want to try for it. I spoke to my manager about it and really need to decide what is best for my career long-term. Our Vegas trip is right around the corner. I'm very excited, but then I stop and think about how long we'll be gone from the girls and it makes me sad. I hope we can relax and enjoy ourselves. Chris leased a new car earlier this week. He traded in his Acura CL for a four-door Acura TL. It was time for a bigger car with more space for the girls. He loves it and he finally drives a car I can also drive!
• Next doctor visit: Our next appt is scheduled for the first week in July right when we get back from Vegas. 

7 months

Chris is sick with strep throat, and the girls have both been pretty congested lately, so I took them in for a checkup. All is well- lungs are clear, ears are fine, no temps. It's likely just a cold. We're to keep an eye on the girls and go from there.

Last night was quite the adventure as a result of these "colds." It's rare that I feel like a MoM (mom of multiples) because my ladies are so good to us. But last night, last night I felt like a MoM. I stayed up far too late and didn't lay down until midnight. What can I say, I was catching up on a rousing episode of G&B! So there I lay peacefully until 4:00 am. when Charlie Bear awakens. I go upstairs for my normal- here's your binkie, fall back asleep- task. Then I lean in for a kiss and hear my poor baby struggling to breathe through her nose. The poor thing was more than congested and simply couldn't breathe. So I grab the lovely 'ol ball nose sucker and attempt- half asleep an in the pitch black- to aim at her teeny tiny nostril and suck out some phlegm. Charlotte was none too pleased with this attempt! So I pull her out of her crib, sit in the chair and try from a different angle... no dice. At this point, she's wailing and it wakes Chris. He comes in and I have him go hunt down the Nose Frieda (crazy straw-looking contraption that you use to suck the snot out). He finds the Nose Frieda and holds Charlotte's head still while I try with all my might to get the snot out. We pause for a second and listen and she sounds a bit better. Ahh, success........... sike. She takes the next breath and there it is again, a congested, struggled breath. At this point, we're a half hour in and risking waking Ellie, so I take Charlotte with me to our room. I kick Chris out, because he really shouldn't be around the girls until he's not contagious any longer, and lay down with Chuckles. At this point, she's tired, angry and uncomfortable. She can't use her binkie bc she can only breathe through her mouth. And she can't sleep without her binkie. So I lay with her and comfort her and as soon as we start to drift off, here comes the subtle sound through the monitor of a baby waking up. Oye.

Up I go to check on Ellie and find her awake and ready for Dance Party USA. So I say, what the hell, you're coming with me kid, and off we go to our bedroom. I lay her next to her sister and then the kicking and flailing begins. Now, Charlotte is wide awake, Ellie wants to practice her crumping skills, Chris is snoring on the couch, and I'm dizzy from exhaustion.

Finally, around 5:30 ish, we all settle down and fall asleep Charlotte nestled in my chest, my head resting on hers (me drooling on her head), Ellie sprawled out next to Charlotte, and Chris on the couch....snoring. And then at 6:00 (which is actually 5:50 bc I'm one of "those people"), my alarm goes off. Yaaaaaayyyy. 

The positive part of this story (besides the fact that I got a hilarious story out of it), is that the girls were weighed at the dr yesterday, so I have an accurate update for once:

• How old are babies: 7 and a half months
• How much do they weigh: E: 15 lbs, 10 oz! C: 14 lbs, 12 oz!
• How long are they: I didn't ask
  
• Clothes: Gap 3-6 is a bit snug. We're inching toward the 6-12 range. Carter's is a solid 9 months.
• Diapers: I used my very last Size 2 diaper yesterday and almost cried while doing so. My girls are so big and amazing. Why can't I just push pause?!
• What are they eating: They eat 6 oz. of breast milk twice a day, 6 oz. of formula twice a day, and 7 oz of formula before bed. They still love bananas and Puffs and sweet potatoes are their favorites. So far they've had the following purees; yellow squash, butternut squash, peas, bananas, carrots, green beans, pears, sweet potatoes, zucchini, apples, asparagus, and white potatoes.
  I'm still exclusively pumping. I recently dropped a pump session and am down to two now (when I wake up and in the evening around 8:00 or so). My supply has dropped pretty significantly and I'm barely making enough for their 2 meals a day. I'm wrapping my mind around quitting entirely. I've had a very good stretch and am pretty pleased with my body.
• How are they sleeping: Aside from the comedy of errors last night, they sleep great! They go down around 8:00-8:30 and sleep soundly until 4:00 or 5:00 when they just need a binkie and go right back to sleep. Even this binkie request only occurs a few times a week and not every night. They nap 3-4 times a day around 10:00, 12:00, 3:30, and 6:30. Their longest naps are at 10:00 and 12:00.
  
• Milestones: We have sitting babies! They wobble just slightly from time to time, but they get stronger each day. Charlotte is days away from crawling. She can get in position and even put one knee forward, but then she stops and goes into the splits, knees bent. It doesn't slow her down though. If she wants something, she'll find a way. Oh yes, she'll find a way. Ellie, on the other hand. Prefers to roll her way to things.And damn does she look cute doing it. Charlotte has her first tooth (bottom right). It happened all at once. I happened to feel around for one and there it was- sharpened to razor perfection! I think Ellie is working on one bc she drools like a bull dog, puts everything in her mouth and has been a bit fussy lately.
• What they love: They love swim lessons, bath time, their Jumparoo, sitting upright, eating Puffs, and going for walks.
  
• Major events: Nanny Kim turned in her notice. She'll be leaving us at the end of the month to help out with her new grandbaby set to arrive in June. We're now on the hunt for a new sitter and it sucks. We were so spoiled with Kim. She came to us, took amazing care of the girls, did all my laundry, did my dishes and put up with our seriously annoying cats. It's going to be darn near impossible to replace her.
• Appearances: Charlotte's hair growth is at a stand still. It's still a dirty blonde color but is a shade darker than Ellie's. Ellie's hair is getting so long, it's almost caught up with "the tuft." Our swim instructor says she looks like a dandelion and it's so true. She's the cutest dandelion I've ever seen! How I was blessed with two babies as beautiful as mine, I'll never know.
• Personalities: Charlotte is all smiles these days. You simply glance in her direction and she smiles. Such a little love bug. Charlotte LOVES music. She'll even try and hum to some songs now! Hilarious! And she doesn't ever stop moving. She's such the wiggle worm and is so curious. Ellie is still a little chatter box and likes to squeal- to hear herself, I think. And she loves her jumparoo so much, I'm worried she's going to give herself shakin baby syndrome! They're both so full of life and personality and it amazes me more and more each day.
• Mom & Dad update: Obviously, Chris is sick. I'm struggling with my allergies, but otherwise am doing well. I was approached about a potential new job opportunity. I'm not sure what will happen with it and if it's the right career move, so I have some thinking to do. Everything happens for a reason, so we'll see. We're headed to Vegas in late June. Me for work and Chris for fun. We're going to stay a couple days extra and hang out with some friends. I know it will be a blast, but it will also be the longest stretch I've been away from the girls. I forsee plenty of FaceTime and Skype in my future!
• Next doctor visit: Our next appt is scheduled for the first week in July when they'll be 9 months old.

6+ months!

• How old are babies: 6 and a half months old! (I gave up on counting weeks)
• How much do they weigh: They had their 6 month checkup on the 2nd and were both around 13.5 lbs (10% for weight)
  
• How long are they: I forget!
  
• Clothes: They are still in size 3-6 months at Gap and are between 6 months and 9 months at Carter's. The 6 months pants are a little short and the 9 months PJs are a little big.
  
• Diapers: Still Size 2 of Pamper's Swaddlers.
  
• What are they eating: They eat 6 oz. of breast milk at 11 am, 2 pm, and 5 pm. They also eat 6 oz. of formula at 8 am and before bed. We just started feeding them finger foods in addition to their purees, so pieces of bananas in the am and Puffs throughout the day. So far they've had the following purees; yellow squash, butternut squash, peas, bananas, carrots, green beans, pears, sweet potatoes and they are trying zucchini this week.
  I'm still exclusively pumping. I recently dropped a pump session and am down to three now (when I wake up, around 3:00 pm and then before bed- usually around 11:30). My supply is starting to drop and I'm barely making enough for their 3 meals a day. I'm still pretty nervous about quitting prematurely. But, at the same time, I'm starting to want to quit. I'm just so tired at night and the last thing I want to do is pump. I'd rather just go to sleep! We'll see. The health benefits, cost savings, and weight loss are really keeping me going.
  
• How are they sleeping: We just started transitioning them to their room again. Monday night was amazing and they slept in their beds from 8:30 pm to 6:00 am without stirring once! Last night, however, was a different story... I'm sure they'll get there. It'll just take time. Charlotte recently started sleeping on her belly. I try to get her to sleep on her back, and she usually falls asleep that way, but throughout the night, she'll kick her little legs and end up on her belly. I think she wants to be a side-sleeper but just kicks a little too hard and ends up on her belly. I'm really not sure if there's anything I can do, but I get comfort in the fact that she is very strong and can lift her head with ease- she also sleeps with her head to the side instead of completely face down. So there's that.... Little Ellie sleeps on her back with her hands behind her head. She tends to put herself to sleep by lifting her legs and banging them down on the bed repeatedly.
  
• Milestones: Both girls are so close to sitting up on their own! Charlotte more than Ellie. They both roll over like crazy. Ellie says Mamama and dadada. Charlotte is a little quieter and kind of mumbles to herself. Ellie is definitely the vocal one and Charlotte is the more mobile one. They started swim lessons a few weeks ago and love it! Their little legs don't stop moving! Poor Charlotte was cold last week and got pretty upset toward the end, but as soon as I put a towel around her, she perked right up!
  
• What they love: They love bath time, their Jumparoo, sitting upright, eating Puffs, and going for walks.
  
• Major events: The Easter Bunny visited and brought each girl a book, a stuffed bunny, a pool toy, and a watering can. They seemed to like everything.
  
• Appearances: Charlotte's hair continues to grow longer. It's still a dirty blonde color but is a shade darker than Ellie's. Ellie's hair gets crazier by the day! It looks like a mad scientist most days. Chris likes to treat Ellie like a cat and lick his hand then smooth out her hair. Both become a little more beautiful every day! I am so amazed!
  
• Personalities: It's fun to see their little personalities forming already. Both are such good, laid back babies! I'm so lucky! Ellie is definitely the chatter box and Charlotte the gymnast. Charlotte is ticklish on her belly and laughs when you tickle her. Ellie laughs out of no where. They both like to cough for no reason. They think it's funny. Ellie has become a little pacifier snatcher and I can't help but crack up. If she's laying next to Charlotte, she'll pull Charlotte's binkie right out of her mouth. And she would put it in her own mouth, except her own binkie is already there! It's so funny. Sweet little Charlotte doesn't even care.
  
• Mom & Dad update: I'm fully transitioned into my new job and had to travel for work at the end of March. I went to Jacksonville, FL from Tues through Friday for a board meeting. It went surprisingly well. I "Face Timed" with my dad and Chris so I could see the girls. I only cried when I left on Tuesday, once Thursday and of course when I got home Friday night. They are just so amazing. Chris has still been busy with work. Luckily he's been getting home at a more reasonable hour lately. Hopefully that'll keep up.
  
• Next doctor visit: Our next appt is scheduled for the first week in July when they'll be 9 months old. Gasp! No shots next visit (yay), just a finger stick to check their hemoglobin (boo).

It's hard to believe my little miracles are almost 7 months old! Oh, how I wish I could go re-live every moment.

5.75 months and counting...

• How old are babies: 24 weeks!
• How much do they weigh: I would guess they're about 14 lbs now.
  
• How long are they: I'm not sure...
  
• Clothes: They are still in size 3-6 months at Gap and 6 months at Carter's; however, the Carter's pants seem to be getting a little short.
  
• Diapers: They are in Size 2 of Pamper's Swaddlers. Size 2 of Pamper's Baby Dry are almost too snug.
  
• What are they eating: They eat 6 oz. of breast milk at 8 am, 11 am, 2 pm, and 5 pm. So far they've had; yellow squash, butternut squash, peas, and bananas. Charlotte is a fantastic eater! She opens up for the spoon and seems to love whatever she tries. Ellie is a little more difficult. As soon as she spots her bottle, she wants nothing to do with the spoon. The next items on the list are; carrots, green beans, and apples.
  I'm still exclusively pumping. I recently dropped a pump session and am down to three now (when I wake up, around 3:00 pm and then before bed- usually around 11:30). I typically get around 16 oz. per session. My original goal was 6 months but since I'm so close to that already, I'm going to try and extend it to 7 months. I'm really terrified of quitting and then regretting it. Once I stop, that's it- there's no going back.
  
• How are they sleeping: They still sleep in our room, but those days are numbered now. We transitioned Charlotte into the co-sleeper and bought a pack in play for Ellie. There is a bassinet on the top of the pack in play that she sleeps in, but the weight limit on it is 15 pounds, so it's time to move her into her crib. The weather is starting to warm up a bit, so they may not get cold in their room at this point. I'd say in the next week or so we'll start our transition into cribs.
  
• Milestones: Both girls are super smiley all the time. They play with their toys now and LOVE their Sophies! The reach out for things held in front of them. I think they are getting closer to sitting up on their own. The girls had their first sleep over without mommy and daddy. Or should I say Mommy and Daddy had their first night without their girls? The girls spent the night at Grammy and Pappy's while we went out for my birthday. We both, surprisingly, did okay without them. I'm just not interested in making a habit of it just yet.
  
• What they love: They still love their baths and their Violets. They also love to sit in their bumbo chairs and trow their toys off their trays.
  
• Major events: The girls start swim lessons next week! We'll go every Thursday night for 8 weeks. I can't wait to see how they react to the water!
  
• Appearances: Charlotte's hair continues to grow longer. It's still a dirty blonde color but is a shade darker than Ellie's. Ellie's hair is finally filling in. She still has some crazy tufts but they aren't as noticeable anymore. Both have beautiful blue eyes and gorgeous, long eye lashes!
  
• Personalities: Ellie seems to be more of the dare devil. She likes to be wrestled with and tipped upside down. The only time Ellie gets really upset is when she is hungry. Charlotte still pretty laid back and chill. The only time she gets upset is when she is tired. If she gets too far gone, it's hard to calm her down.
  
• Mom & Dad update: I started a new job last week. It's a good career move and I'm very excited. I'm also nervous though for the extra stress and the occasional travel it requires. My first trip is at the end of the month to FL for 4 days. I just hope the days go by quickly.
  
• Next doctor visit: Our next appt is scheduled for the first week in April when they'll be a little over 6 months old. My how the time flies.
  

20 weeks old!

I can't believe it, my babies are already 20 weeks old! Here's an update:

• How old are babies: 20 weeks, today!
  
• How much do they weigh: Last time they were at the dr. Charlotte was 11 lbs, 12 oz. and Ellie was 11 lbs, 7 oz. (10th percentile)
  
• How long are they: C = 23 inches; E = 23 1/2 inches (50th and 60th percentiles)
• Clothes: They are in size 3-6 months at Gap and 6 months at Carter's
  
• Diapers: They are in Size 2 of Pamper's Swaddlers. Size 2 of Pamper's Baby Dry are almost too snug.
  
• What are they eating: They eat 6 oz. of breast milk at 8 am, 11 am, 2 pm, and 5 pm. We started rice cereal a couple weeks ago.They eat the cereal with their 8 pm feeding of 3 oz milk/3 oz. formula. They sort of hate cereal. They'll start out okay with it but as soon as they spot their bottle, they want nothing to do with it. Squash is next on my list. I'm going to try making and freezing it this week so they can start eating it next week.
  I'm still exclusively pumping. I pump 4 times a day for about 15 minutes and typically get between 13-20 oz each time. I pump when I first wake up in the morning and get the largest quantity then. I would like to try to make it to at least 6 months, if my supply holds out. I just keep pushing myself in the hope that breast milk will keep them from getting Crohn's. Plus, many women would kill for the supply I have and I'd feel awfully selfish for quitting just because I'm lazy.
  
• How are they sleeping: As long as they are in our bedroom, they'll sleep from 8 pm - 7:30 am. They'll wake up once around 5 am, take their binkie and then go straight back to sleep. Ellie still sleeps in the co-sleeper and Charlotte sleeps in the Rock and Play, though I think she's outgrowing it. We tried them in their room for a couple of weeks, but I think they got cold and would wake up every half an hour from about 2 am on. On those nights, it felt like we were sleep walking up to their room to give them their pacifier. Now that we're getting a solid night's sleep though, it's nearly impossible to get up in the morning! I guess sleep really does promote sleep- even in adults.
  
• Milestones: Both girls roll from front to back, but not consistently. They also both smile very easily and giggle when tickled. They both have fantastic head control and, I think, are even close to sitting up on their own. If I set them on the floor in a tri-pod position, they sit up for a couple seconds before falling to one side. Of course, mommy is proud! They sit for extended periods of time in their bumbos. In fact, we set them in those to feed them their cereal at night. Ellie has great hand-eye coordination. She'll hold her binkie and can even get it back in her mouth. Charlotte never stops kicking. She is a wiggle worm!
  
• What they love: They love bath time! They splash and kick- I adore it! Bath time is a lot of work, so we only bathe them every other day. We've gotten into the habit where I'll make up the bathwater for one, bathe her and put her in my lap to dry. While she's in my lap, I'll get the bath water ready for the next babe and then Chris will bathe her while I'm lotioning/dressing the first baby. It's working out really well. They also love their Violet dogs! Their little faces light up when they see her! "Me and my friend [name]. We like to do everything together. Let's jump up and down, jump, jump, jump. Let's wag our tails wiggle, wiggle, waggle. Let's snuggle up, snuggle, snuggle, snuggle. Me and my pal [name]. We're the best of friends!"
  
• Major events: The girls were baptized on January 29th. One year to the day from the date of my first beta! Charlotte's God parents are Amber and Ryan and Ellie's are Andrea and Mark. Ryan flew in for the baptism. The day went perfectly. Charlotte was pretty fussy during the ceremony but otherwise it went great. Everyone came back to our place for lunch afterwards and surprisingly all fit in our house! And the weather was great.
  
• Appearances: Charlotte's hair is all grown in. She has the typical bald spot on the back of her head from laying on her back. Her hair is a dirty blonde and her eyes are a beautiful slate blue color like her Mimi's. Ellie's hair is crazy! She has these crazy long tufts in random places. It's hilarious. It's super blonde and her eyes are a beautiful true-blue color like her Uncle Andy's.
  
• Personalities: Their little personalities are starting to form and I love it! I'd say Ellie is our more mischievous one. She just has the same ornery look to her that her Pappy has. She is so smiley and giggly and does this thing where she'll look at you and smile and then look away like she's shy. She's quite a talker! Ellie does NOT like to burp. She'll cry crocodile tears when you burp her. Charlotte is very laid back- except if she's tired. She gets very, very upset if she hasn't gotten enough sleep. She kicks and squirms all the time and just recently really started talking and smiling. She's a little smile-bug now. She also loves blinking lights and looking in the mirror. She will also try to open-mouth kiss me when I lean in for a kiss. I love it!
  
• Mom & Dad update: Chris had his cholesterol checked and it's ridiculously high. He's on Lipitor. I am on the mend from my crazy sting of illnesses. My only issues now are hair-loss- it's coming out in clumps- and cavities. I went to the dentist and have 3 cavities. I don't think I've had a cavity in like 10 years. He said it's pretty common postpartum because of hormones and changes to your saliva. Sigh.
  
• Next doctor visit: The girls go back at 6 months for another round of shots (I think) and a check up. It's crazy to think they're already 4 and a half months old. Where has the time gone?!