Halloween: A Year Ago

Here are my two pumpkins from last year.

Happy 17 Months!

Happy 17 Months!

Not too much new. Kaylie & Ryan have had colds all week. :(

One On One Time

I was reading on a blog called How Do You Do it? Moms of Multiples Tell It Like It Is, when this particular entry Delighting In Your Children caught my attention. It's worth a read especially if you are a M.O.M.

About halfway through the entry when the author discusses having one-on-one time with your children is what hit home. I have to say that I want to start doing this more and more. After only taking Kaylie to that party this weekend it made me feel exactly how the writer describes. I was a different mom that day. I was more relaxed and could focus on her and not have my attention split. Reading about running a simple thing as an errand with one child in tow made me realize this. They have such a different experience alone than if they are together. I want that for my children. I want them to learn to hold my hand and walk into a store--experience freedom from the stroller. I want them to know that they have ALL of Mommy's attention. It would be a great way to form OUR bond--just the two of us. I have read before about having one on one time with each child but in the day to day hustle it tends to easily get forgotten. Usually whoever gets up from nap first is the one who gets those precious MINUTES with me alone. I'm going to change that and make more of an effort to take them out alone.

Anyway, just thought I would share my newest revelation on this journey.

Moving Forward

We were finally able to turn Kaylie around in her carseat. She was ecstatic about it! She was going wild in her new position. A whole new world opened up for her.

And here's Ryan saying "What's the big deal? I've been like this for months."

Like a Faucet

Today we had the first birthday party of our friends, Amelia & Sal. It was a costume party. Unfortunately I had to leave Ryan home due to a runny nose. It was running like a faucet but he was still in good spirits. It was strange to be with only one, but I enjoyed some one on one time with Kaylie. I didn't really take many pictures. This one was an attempt at a group shot of the costumes. I love the look Kaylie has on her face as she looks at the boy who is crying next to her--kinda hard to see. As an added bonus, you get to see what they are going to be for Halloween.... Pebbles & Bam-Bam!

Blog Award

I have been tagged and given my first blog award by Toni, AKA my MIL. Visit her at Raising Eden. It's called the Kreativ Blogger Award, but I'm not so sure I've been too creative lately.

The rules for the Kreativ Blogger Award -Mention the blog that gave it to you, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know that you have posted your award.

Share six values that are important to you, and share six things that you do not support, then grant the prize to six people.

Here goes:Six important values (in no particular order):

1. Spirituality

2. Integrity

3. Freedom

4. Perserverence

5. Gratitude

Six things I do not support:

1. Vanity

2. Cruelty to animals

3. Violence

4. Waste

5. Theft

6. Higher taxes

Watercolor Portrait Giveaway

Here's a giveaway not to be missed!

Zana at Sitting Pretty Studio will paint a free portrait of one child from a photograph that you submit to her. Zana has over 7 years experience painting portraits, and the portrait prize will measure 9.5" x 11". Visit her blog to enter, you won't want to miss out on this one!

I will have a dilemma if I win though!

Happy Birthday Aunt Amy

Happy Birthday to Amy!

Amy is Bob's sister and Ryan's Godmother.

Enjoy your day!

Party Gym

We met up with Taylor and her mommy at a place called Party Gym. It's a great place for kids. They have climbers, ball pits, bouncing thing with tunnels, ride on toys, play kitchens--basically all kinds of things for kids to play with. Ryan & Kaylie loved it. I only got a few pics before I was running in two directions. Ry discovering he can climb on things--is the couch next?!?!

Even little Miss Kaylie got right into the action. She didn't need to do her usual warm up routine.

The pictures don't do the place justice. We will definitely be going back. It will be a great place to go in the winter months. I do dread the germs there however. Purell anyone?

Favorite Pastime

These days Ryan and Kaylie love to walk around with anything on their heads. It's pretty funny to watch. They like blankets, towels, mommy's shirts, and even their trick or treat bags. Whatever it is doesn't stay on for long so that means Mommy has to keep putting it on. Hey, whatever works.

Weaning Update

I hope I'm not jinxing anything but last night was the first night we didn't give them their night bottle. We switched that last bottle to the straw cup. They did well. They just sat and sipped their "milky" (as I call it) on our laps. Hopefully this continues and we will be bottle free!! I'll have so much extra space on my counter top, from getting rid of the bottle drying rack, I won't know what to do. We also will ditch the Boppies. I must have the world record for longest use of those things. They like to lay in them and drink what can I say?

Overall, they did great with the transition from bottle to straw cup. A milestone that I was both dreading (hearing horror stories of other's weanings going awry) and looking forward to (no more buying liners and washing nipples). It took a good week for Ryan to take to the straw cup in place of his morning bottle. He pushed that cup away quite a bit. Both of them are still hit or miss with that first morning milky. They don't just sit and drink it. They take a few sips, put it down and then come back to it. I have found that (sometimes) Ryan prefers to eat breakfast and then drink his milk. All trial and error.

Ok, so fingers are crossed that tonight goes just as smoothly.

Pumpkins and a Party

We had a busy and beautiful weekend here. On Saturday, we went to a 2nd birthday party for my cousin's daughter, Briana. They spent the day outside playing, visiting family, and walking around touching plants. Kaylie is a real nature lover. She is fascinated with bushes and plants of any kind. I have a few wreaths hanging in the house and she wants to touch them ALL. THE. TIME. Following the party, we had a sleepover at Grandma's house. On Sunday we went to get mums, and pumpkins at a farm. Bob stayed home to make some headway on the basement--still SLOW going.

Here we were this time last year.

Now, my sweet babies don't want to be held for a picture. (They look thrilled right?)
They have a small maze for toddlers that Kaylie & Ryan enjoyed walking around in. Ryan tried to pick up the pumpkins and I must say there were some pretty BIG pumpkins there. Kaylie enjoyed touching the pumpkins.I love this picture. I call it "Attack of the Pumpkins." Next year, we'll look forward to taking a hay ride and sipping apple cider.

Kaylie Walking Video

****OK apparently it takes a minute or so for the video to show up. It's a large file that I am trying to fix.

Here's a little video of Kaylie walking. It's from tonight, so it's not the original night she started walking, but still cute to see her toddle around. She walks with one hand held up in the air almost like the Statue of Liberty and even gets a up a little speed at the end. Enjoy!

How About Them Apples?

Our local grocery store sells apples for kids. They are small kid sized Macintosh apples. The other day I gave the whole apples to Ryan & Kaylie to see what they would do. Usually I peel and dice them. They loved them. (Yeah, yeah, I know their bibs are switched but hey they are wearing them aren't they?)

Kaylie is Walking!!

We got home from dinner at the mall tonight and I was getting them dressed in their pajamas. I dressed Kaylie and then was dressing Ryan. Kaylie gets up on her own and just starts walking. Like something just clicked and she could do it. It was precious to watch. Now she's been taking steps here and there for a couple of weeks but only between Bob & myself. This was actual walking. She wanted to keep getting up and up over and over. I'm just so excited over this!! I just asked Bob this morning when he thinks she will walk. Of course Bob says it's the end for us. We are in real trouble now. Go baby girl!!!

Video to come...

Happy Birthday!

Today is Bob's birthday! Happy Birthday to a great father and husband. We love you!