Stats!

This is just a really quick update with the stats from their 1 year appointment at the doctor (we still don't have our computer back yet, I had to borrow Doug's laptop!)

The girls are doing great, our little Lexi isn't so little any more. She has officially become the "bigger" sister! Alexa is 31 and 7/8 inches tall, weighs 23 lbs exactly and has a 46.2 centimeter head! She measures in the >95% for height, 75% for weight and the 80% for head circumference! Way to go big girl!! Isabel isn't too far behind, she came in at 31 and 1/4 inches tall, weighs 21 lbs. and 14 ounces, and her head is a whopping 47.4 centimeters around! She measures in the 95% for height, the 70% for weight, and the 95% for head circumference!! XL hats for her please!!!

We could not be more proud of our little girls. They are dramatic, and fun; adorable and impossible all at the same time, and we could not have ever imagined how much joy and happiness they would bring to our lives. We are ridiculously happy.

Here are few pictures from the last few months, and our trip to PA to see Grandma Q and Papa Bill!!! As soon as we get our desktop back up and running I will scan their 1 year photos!!!

Another month has passed...

Wow, it is so hard to believe another month has passed since my last post, and that was just a picture. The girls are so different, moving around like crazy, crawling and rolling, and just now starting to pull themselves up to their knees while holding onto someone or furniture. Isabel managed to get up into a bridge position a few times, and even managed to stand up while holding onto the sides of the play yard. I can't believe how much they have changed and I see them everyday. They are quickly blossoming into little girls, and shedding their baby attributes right before our eyes. It is sad, but so amazing at the same time. I am emotional to see my tiny little babies go, but so excited about the little girls they are becoming.

Recently they have started to show us their depth of understanding and learning capabilities. If you ask Isabel how big she is, she will raise both her hands above her head and wait for you to say "sooo big". She then smiles with the most sincere look of pride you have ever seen! She is also pretty good at doing the sign for milk, but of course I haven't been able to capture either of these accomplishments on video! Both girls are learning to put things where the belong. They both know that the balls for the busy ball bopper go inside that particular toy, and are able to start it by themselves now. They also recognize that the plastic shapes belong in the red bucket with the "sorter" top, but haven't quite figured out which shape goes in which hole, but they are working on it! They have also begun to favor certain toys, and yes, have begun to argue over them. I think we are entering into the phase of their life when they will begin to claim their "comfort" item. I wonder what they will end up choosing? Will it be a blanket, or a stuffed animal...I will keep you all posted!

The last year has been amazing, and the one about to start is going to be even better! I am still trying to get used to the fact that the girls are about to turn one. We are hoping to get some pictures taken, in pretty dresses, and with a big cake, but who knows if the vision will come to fruition!

P.S. Pictures and videos coming soon, I promise!

Baby Einstein?

The girls and their cousins

At the end of June, the girls and I traveled to Pennsylvania to spend a week with my sister Paula, her new baby, Reegan, her two and a half year old daughter, Riley, and my sister Kate, and her daughter, Kylie. I thought it would be really cute to try to get a picture of all the kids, and we got one with the moms too! Our girls weren't having their best day, but the pictures were pretty darn cute anyway!



More to come...

The Queen of "mine" has arrived!

Isabel is very good at declaring everything is hers, even though she cannot speak yet. It happens on a regular basis, I look over and see Alexa holding a toy, and soon Isabel reaches for the one Lexi is holding. Alexa, being the much more layed back and passive of the two girls, just finds something else to play with. Very often, Isabel will then switch the first item she took from Alexa to the hand furthest away from Lexi, and will then reach for the new item Lexi is holding with her other hand. At this point, Lexi very nicely just finds another toy, only to have Isabel place the second toy she took from Alexa in her lap and reach for yet the third toy Alexa was forced to choose! Here is a short video of Isabel making sure Alexa knows EVERYTHING is hers!! With love of course!

Fun Photos

9 Months Old Already!!

I can't believe my baby girls are 9 months old today. It seems like just yesterday I was breaking down in the waiting area outside the NICU while my mom sat there, holding Isabel, and listened, and comforted me and continued to support me like she has done all my life. She reassured me that everything was going to be fine, and Alexa would come around in her own time...

BOY, WAS SHE RIGHT! Talk about thriving; there are only 4 oz. that separate the two of them with Lexi weighing in at 19 lbs even, and Isabel still holding the lead at a whopping 19 lbs. and 4 oz. This puts both of them smack dab right in the middle at the 50th percentile for weight. I am not worried any more Mom!! Isabel is slightly taller, 28.25 inches in comparison to Alexa's 28 inches even (I think they are the same height, it was a measuring issue!) This month they have jumped up to the 75 percentile for height, maybe we will have tall girls, I would love it! Both of them have big heads, but Isabel has moved into the 95 percentile! I think it is that flat spot finally rounding out!

The girls are funnier than ever! They babble and babble to each other, pull each other's hair, lick each other's noses, and so much more. I am thrilled to be in this time of their life because so many fun things are happening, but I do find myself looking back and wondering where the last 9 months have gone. No more teeny tiny feet and itty bitty socks; long gone are the newborn clothes and the tiny cries. I was sure I was taking time to "smell the roses", but even when you think you are savoring the moments they disappear too quickly. We have moved on to newer and more exciting accomplishments now, like learning to clap, cutting 1st teeth and oh yes, their favorite, CHEERIOS!

The girls spend a lot of time in their high chairs these days, between feedings and learning to feed themselves finger food, it is a very time consuming process! So far, the girls are not fond of many foods, probably because of the texture. Avocado was a miss, same with watermelon, no luck with bananas yet either; pasta primavera was a big NO WAY, but we still keep trying! Cheerios seem to be the chosen food. We are going to try a few new foods next week: rice, plain pasta, cooked/mashed carrots and sweet potatoes, and maybe even some broccoli crowns, lunch meat, chicken and more! The doc suggested skipping the 3rd foods which have the puree with chunks in them (pasta primavera), if the girls are picky about texture. But she says it is important to keep trying more and more finger foods. We will also be trying to lose the bottle and instead use a sippy cup over the next few months also! So many changes so fast!

Alexa has her first tooth, it started to show through the gums on the last day of May! It feels like the bottom right one is ready to cut soon too. No teeth for Isabel yet, she is all gums and loves to show 'em off!

Clapping, slapping and banging...these are a few of Isabel's favorite things. She really likes the sounds of clapping and banging things together. Her coordination has improved so much in the last couple weeks that she is constantly banging different things together to see what sound they make. She usually hold them in each of her hands and bangs them together like cymbals! Hopefully this means she is musically inclined (she would get that from Dougie!).

The girls have almost mastered sitting up, but haven't quite made it to the point where they can move to a sitting position from a laying position on their own yet. Once this happens it is all over! They will be on the run and I will be forever on the move trying to chase them down! Good thing I have started back to the gym. The cribs are being lowered this week because pulling themselves up is just around the corner! Baby proofing has officially begun, and I know it will probably not end for years to come!

My ever-so-wise and beautiful sister Paula has told me more than once that at this age life will seem like someone hit the fast forward button, she was so right! I am going to make a very valliant effort over the next 3 months to soak it all in and really enjoy the remaining time in their incredible first year of life!

Jabberin' June!!

The girls are really starting to babble on a regular basis now, it almost seems like they have their own little language! It is incredible to watch, and brings so many smiles to our faces! I have so many videos to sort through, but I thought I would share this one; they are chatting over cheerios! These little miracles are a constant source of laughter, and the make us love like we have never thought possible!

More May Memories

At the end of May we all went to Kansas City to visit Deb's brother Bill, sister-in-law Lesley, and Grandpa Schwalje.




In addition Aunt Carol, Uncle Greg, Deb's cousin's Corey and Jeff were all there, as well as her parents.

Corey and Izzy

To add more to this motley crew, Deb's Aunt Theresa, Uncle Mike, and cousin Mark from her biological mother's side were there too!

Aunt Theresa and Isabel


Mark, Me, Aunt Theresa, Uncle Mike


Mark, Me, Aunt Theresa, Uncle Mike, Bill


It was such a fun time had by all. The girls experienced their first visit with their great grandfather, great uncles and great Aunts, cousins and more. They also made it through their first airplane ride with flying colors (well maybe not that well if you ask Doug!), and also their very first boat ride at Uncle Bill's!! It was definitely a memorial day weekend we will never forget!

Momentous Memories in May

May has arrived and with it my first Mother's Day. It was a great day, Doug and the girls and I spent all day together and the girls were so well behaved and I loved every minute of it. Many times throughout the day I thought about how lucky I feel to have such a great husband, and wonderful kids. I have decided I love Mother's Day and all the days I get to be a mom! Thank you to all who sent kind and loving wishes, the day was truly enjoyed.



The girls are still working on sitting independently, they are doing pretty well but aren't quite ready for me to leave them while attempting sitting because the occasional toppling over does still occur! Right now their favorite things are eachother, the Jumparoo, and their own voices! We have tried several times to capture the girls "going crazy" in the Jumparoo and Exersaucer but we never seem to get it. Here is a tiny glimpse into playtime...




Just a few cutie pie pics...

Lexi
Izzy
Lexi
Izzy
Bedtime

Most Recent "Professional" Picture of the Girls

We went to the Picture People when Doug's mom Bobbie was here, and this is the picture we ended up with! More to come...

April

Wow this past month has flown by! I feel as though I may be saying that a lot in the coming years! The girls are doing great and changing so much every day. We got out the scale and measuring tape to take their measurement for the calendars I keep for them and I was blown away by how much they have grown! They are only 10 oz. apart now and both weigh 17 lbs. and then some! BUT...what REALLY blew me away is that they measured 28 inches, which is a HUGE change in just one month. They grew over 3 inches, that is just crazy.






They are doing amazing things everyday. Both can now roll over in both directions, and Isabel has begun to use rolling as her way of getting around! The days of laying them on the couch and walking away to do something are OVER! They are transitioning from sleeping in their swings at nap time to sleeping in their cribs all the time! We have officially stopped swaddling them too; man it goes by so fast. I've heard people say that so many times, and you never appreciate it fully until it's past. The girls have moved onto 2ND foods (slightly thicker with tiny chunks in it, and combined flavors), are beginning to learn to spit food now too! Yeah, I was waiting for this!! :)

The girls really enjoyed April, they had their first Easter, visited Papa Bill and Grandma Q in PA with Uncle Rob, Aunt Kim, and Julia!







They even got their first chocolate bunnies from Papa Bill and Grandma Q!



Immediately following our trip to PA, Grandma Bobbie and Grandpa Jim came up to Maryland to visit. The girls loved spending time with them both, and learned a lot of new things from Grandma Bobbie. They also got their first sets of bunny ears and a great dancing bunny too!





Rounding out a very happy and eventful month was a fun visit from cousin Julia and Uncle Rob, and the girls first NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the NY Rangers!




Caps prevailed, and the girls were "rocking the hawk" to show what amazing fans they are already!!





We are currently working on sitting unassisted, Isabel is pretty much there, the topples are fewer and farther between every day! Lexi is a little less enthusiastic about sitting, but she is still tolerating me insisting she try!! They are both still ecstatic about the exersaucer, but thanks to Uncle Rob, Aunt Kim, and most of all Julia, the girls new favorite toy is the JUMPAROO!!! You have to see it to believe how crazy they are about it! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!