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?!?!