First Vacation

I've been busy with summer school this week but meant to write a post about our first road trip with the babies. 

A couple of weeks ago we made a trek down to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas for a family reunion. It is about a 6.5 hour drive but it took us 7.5 hours.

I was really worried about the trip for multiple reasons:
1. 7.5 hours! How would we do this?
2. What if they won't sleep at our condo? They have only slept in their house for their whole lives.
3. A family reunion doesn't support their nap schedule very well.

However, they did AWESOME! I was so pleasantly surprised by how they did. Yes, there were some hiccups...but for the most part, it was such a great trip. We got to hang out with family that we rarely see. We got to get away from real life for a bit. We got to see a portion of the country we never have seen before.

We decided to leave right after feeding them breakfast. So we got out of the house around 8:30-8:45 by the time we dropped off our dog at the PetHotel and loaded the car. The babies stayed up for about an hour just looking out the window. (They have always been pretty good about riding in the car for short jaunts to my parents' house about 45 minutes away.) They fell asleep and slept for about an hour. When they woke up, we decided to stop and change them. We found a gas station and just used the front seats.

The next couple hours...they were awake! We had lots of snacks, sippys, bottles, and toys readily available. I think they might have ate half a can of Gerber Graduates Lil' Crunchers. They love those cheeto-like things! Around the time we entered Arkansas...they were done. Max wanted nothing to do with food, drink, or toys. So...we stopped for lunch. Good ole' Dennys!

They were able to get changed, eat, and  play around a bit. They got back in the car willingly and were happy. They sang songs, giggled, and talked. In order to get into Hot Springs, you must travel a long scenic by-way that is a steep mountainous road that winds around for an hour. Before we entered that highway, we stopped again to let them sit in the front seat and drink a bottle. (For the record, we started weaning from the bottles and now they only get them morning and night.)

They slept the rest of the way there (1-1.5 hours). When we arrived, they couldn't have been happier to see family, roam around, play with their toys, and explore the new digs.

We definitely were not on their normal schedules. We tried to nap when we knew the family was going to be hanging around our condos. My parents gave us their master bedroom and they took the guest room. It was so nice of them! We could fit both pack and plays and separate them so they couldn't disturb each other. I don't think they went to sleep until after 9pm every night which is SO not like them. The last night there was the only bad night. Harper did not want to sleep. I think she got so exhausted that she wouldn't sleep. She finally went to sleep around 2am. Seriously! Jeremy and I took turns holding her.

It was sad to leave but the babies were SO tired and we were too. The drive home was splendid!! We stopped twice. Once to eat lunch and change them. Another time to change them and give bottles. When we got home, they were ready to eat and sleep in their own beds. (Us too!)

I wish I had special tricks to share with you guys. But what worked for us was to stop and not rush to get there. Our car was packed as to where we had everything they needed easily accessible.

It was such a great time!!

(BTW...2 weeks until they are ONE!!! We just got their cakes ordered today. Crazy!)

Neither were thrilled of the water at first...

But they loved it after they got used to it!

Plus these floaties were amazing!

She loves lemons!

Bring all of their toys and cups are better entertainment

So many cousins to play with!

Downtown Hot Springs

One of the hot springs

I love this picture of Harps

Our car packed!!

One of our stops

My little family

-Lisa-

11 Month Update-One month to go

Holy cow! We have one more month before my babies are O-N-E!!

With each passing month, they just learn more and more things. We are in the stage that makes it incredibly difficult to keep them contained. We have rigged a pretty good system of blocking off our entire living room. But they somehow manage to find the smallest hole to climb through. They are SO fast! They are in the kitchen opening and closing drawers before we know it. The next thing on our list is finally baby proofing the kitchen so it isn't such a big deal that they escape there.

Our disaster of a living room trying to keep them contained

Instead of organizing the last month's events in a logical order, I am just going to do a random list of everything they have learned. My brain is disorganized and I have a total of 30 minutes before their nap is over!

• Max is OBSESSED with cell phones, laptops, tablets, and pretty much any tech device! We gave him an old cell phone of Jeremy's but after a few days, he was over it and wanted the real thing. Jeremy found him hiding out behind the couch with my phone. He cracks me up! He has called my mom, his Nonnie, and I heard her saying Hello over and over again. He also has taken a few selfies. Love this curious little man!

What apps to buy for Mom?

#Selfie

• They both love to blow kisses. It melts my heart. I dropped them off a daycare the other day and I said "Bye Bye" and blew them a kiss. They both started blowing them right back to me. Love!
• At a recent outing to the park, Max started getting scared of the swing. He has enjoyed it before but freaked. Harper loved it though!

• They also have started fighting over toys. It is sometimes funny but other times...good grief! I didn't know the brother/sister arguing would start so young.  Max is a biter. How do you stop this when he doesn't understand that it hurts?! He left a mark on Harper at daycare a couple weeks ago. I know this sounds awful...but at least it was his sister and not another kid. We have been trying to catch him doing it so we can enforce the no biting rule. He now tries to bite her and looks at us and stops. However, there have been other instances where he has got her! Argh!

• They are talking more and more. Hey, Hi, Hello, Bye-Bye-, Night-Night, Bella (our dog's name), Mama, Dada, No (only Harper does this one), and lots of other babbles. 
• They both stand for awhile without holding onto anything. Max has taken two whole steps by himself but nothing more. I really want them to walk before their first birthday so we have been practicing every night before bed!
• They eat all table food now. And they are such good eaters. They are really bottomless pits. Their favorite foods are grilled cheese, watermelon, pancakes, grilled chicken, ravioli, and cooked carrots. They love to eat but also love to make a mess and feed Bella. 

Occasionally, we nap in the highchairs.

• They are pretty good sleepers but always have been. They sleep about 10 hours at night. Max is still on a two nap a day schedule. Harper is down to one nap on most days. 
• They play hard. Sometimes wrestling each other (climbing up each other and then rolling around together. Super cute!). Sometimes racing. Throwing the ball back and forth. They love being outside in the wagon or going on walks/runs in the stroller. 
• They interact with each other all the time. Sometimes we find them holding hands as they eat in their highchairs. They are constantly laughing at each other or with each other. They team up to get into something they aren't supposed to. Usually Harper is the lookout. Ha!
•  Our hair is growing like crazy. Max is need of a haircut. My sister will do that VERY soon. Harper has upgraded to enough hair for a ponytail!

Look, I'm a big girl!

Crazy hair, dude!

• Their weights have kind of leveled off since last month. They weigh about the same. Max is 19 pounds and Harper is 20 pounds. 
• A lot of their weight issues may be attributed to their bout of ear infections. It all started back on April 24. We are still on antibiotics! Seriously. We have an appointment at the children's hospital here in KC to get tubes in their ears. I hate to see them go through any type of surgery but we need this done. Poor babies have ear infections that just won't go away. Once on antibiotics, their entire digestive system is thrown off. We use probiotics but they still have diarrhea. I will be so glad when they can feel better for good!
• Both are still in size 3 diapers. 
• We are almost all the way into 12 month clothing now. Max can occasionally fit into 9 month. They both still wear some 6-9 month too. 
• Harper has always been a super sweet and friendly little girl. She is still just the most loving baby. She loves everyone and melts everyone with her twinkling smile. 
• Max is getting much more used to people. He was always reserved and shy. He is definitely coming out of his shell now. I love that he is showing his fun loving, adventurous nature to everyone now. 
• Both of them now have 4 teeth. Harper finally caught up to Max.
• They are in love with our dog, Bella. They scream, squeal, call her, and just can't keep their hands off of her. Bella, who normally hates that stuff, is being so good with them. 
• Brushing their teeth has become one of their favorite activities. It is a fight to get the toothbrushes away from them. 

• Their first birthday party is coming up on July 13. We are doing it at a local park. The theme is Very Hungry Caterpillars. I have literally done nothing besides send out the invites. I have lots to do to get ready for the big day. 

Getting hugs from Uncle Curt

Cousins meet

Cool Dude.

Fun with friends!

Monthly pictures are becoming increasingly more difficult!

Best we could do!

-Lisa-

No More Babies. Sadface.

This is probably it.

My time with babies this exact age.

And it makes me sad.

Each milestone is so exciting. At the same time, I know that these are our last kids. We aren't willing to go through fertility treatments again. Our finances are awful because of fertility and caring for twins. I don't even think we could afford another baby.

But it is still sad. I am mourning the loss of babies that aren't even created.Sigh.

On another note...school is out for summer. Finally. I think my school was the only district in session this past week. I have a couple weeks off before I start summer school (Am I crazy, or what?). Then I start at my NEW district July 31. Not much of a summer break so going to make the most of my time off.

Max and Harper are 11 months old on Wednesday so will definitely post soon. Sorry for the long space between posts. My life has been crazy with the wrap up of the school year. 


-Lisa-

DOUBLE DIGITS!

It's that time of the month that I absolutely cannot believe that they are another month older. So I will skip over that and get straight into the month update.

Each month is met with more and more unique milestones and events. Max is walking all around the house as long as he can hold onto something. He may push the activity table as if it were a walker (sometimes with his poor little sister holding on for dear life!), he uses the laundry basket, coffee table, couch, and even us. Harper is more content standing and isn't really interested in walking but she is a crawling pro. No more wounded animal for that gal! She is having no problem keeping up with her brother.

Other milestones:

• Max picks up the phone and talks jibberish. He holds it like we do. Cutest thing. Check out the video I posted yesterday here. 

• Harper can wave hello and goodbye. I posted video on same post as above. She sometimes will say "Hi, Mama" or "Hi, Dada" or something that resembles that. 

• They are both clapping their hands. Max will say "Yay" as he does it sometimes. Harper has such an enthusiastic clap that sometimes she misses her hands but it is still downright adorable. 
•  They are only eating purees a couple times a week when daycare's menu items are too difficult for them. But for the most part, they are just eating what we eat. It is so great! However, I absolutely HATE cleaning the highchair. It is by far the most disgusting things ever. 
• They have a new found love for the dog's water and food dishes. So lovely for them to discover this! I haven't found them eating the food yet...I hope that never happens...but it will. And they will live.

• They love to wrestle before bedtime. It is our new ritual after story time. I just love seeing the excitement they have playing with each other and they also love each other so much.                                          

Max
He is about 19 pounds now. He wears some 6 month clothing (especially pants) but majority he is in 6-9 month and some 9 month. He wears size 3 diapers. He only has the same 4 teeth. He is a much better sleeper than he ever has been. He goes down quickly and sleeps even through some of Harper's middle of the night nightmares (yeah, she gets those).

Harper
She is around 20 pounds...at least by our scales here at home. She wears 6-9 month and 9 month clothing. She has very chunky legs so sweet girl's thighs eat her pants! She also wears size 3 diapers. She only has 2 teeth through but judging by her fussiness lately...she must finally be breaking those top two in. At least that is what I hope!

They are growing and changing everyday. Here are some pictures of my sweet babies.

Finding his first egg!

He loved those things!

Harper getting help from Daddy

My sweet egg hunters

And egg eaters

Most of my parent's grandkids

Max wasn't super happy during this photo shoot!

They look so old here! Sigh. In their Easter outfits

Harper's Selfie

Shopping with Mommy and Daddy

What is with Harper's expression here?

Love this

Seriously messy

Love their food!

Hi, Mom!

WE love our Nonnie

We love our Grampa

Trying cheesecake with our Uncle Curt and Aunt Carrie

Aunt Carrie is a big fan of ours!

First Mother's Day pictures

Sweet boy

Beautiful girl

Harper's evil eye to having Max's naked butt in her face. Priceless!



The 10 month outtakes...

10 month pictures

-Lisa-

To Max and Harper Love, Daddy

A LONG time ago...I wrote Max and Harper a letter from Mommy in their baby books. Here is my letter. I fill out their baby books every month. And every month, I ask Jeremy for his "From Daddy" letter. He keeps giving me the same response, "I am working on it." Well, today, I pulled out the baby books to work on tonight. I asked him the same question. But this time...HE DID IT!


Maxwell and Harper,

I know this is late, and your mother has been on me about getting this done for awhile now; but I had a plan, and it is finally time to sit down and write each of you a personal message-a message that hopefully resonates with you for a very long time.

You may not remember how things were when you were born, or anything about your initial journey through life. But there are plenty of pictures-and stories accompanying those pictures-that will help you understand exactly how you became, well, you. And more importantly, how much everyone loves you.

Your mother can attest that it was, indeed, love at first sight.

We knew we wanted to be parents, and to raise children of our own. We just hit a few hiccups along the way-hiccups that led us to you.

As you are naive to how your life is playing out right now, we, too, had no idea how our path to finally meeting you would unravel. But, as your mother would agree, we would do it over and over again knowing what we know now.

You may never understand what had to happen for your mother and I to welcome you into this world, but all the pain, agony, frustration, momentary loss of faith, financial struggles, etc., etc., are now just stepping stones-necessary moments and feelings that prepared us for the best thing that has ever happened in our lives.

The reason I waited to write this letter is because I wanted to get to know you first. I knew of you, I just didn't know you personally. Now that I do, I wanted to open my heart up a little.

Max,
Your smile is infectious. While I never know the motives behind it-whether you are just showing your pleasure for something, or trying to distract someone while doing something that you shouldn't be doing-your smile will always, in turn, make me smile back.

You are adventurous. While they may scare me at times, I want you to know that I have your back. I will let you learn the things that you think you need to learn on your own, but I will always be there to catch you if you fall.

I want to ask something of you, though. I want you to always be there for your sister, Harper, just like I promise to be there for you. She will frustrate you, bug you, and you will want nothing to do with her at times; but remember that she is your sister, and that she needs you more than either of you will ever admit.

Harper,
The way you look at me melts my heart. And that little smirk you give me will always tell me that you know how much I truly love you.

I will never get tired of holding you, even if it is bedtime or the middle of the night when everyone else in the house is sleeping. My arms will always be wide open for your cuddles.

I promise to always make you laugh. Right now you seem to get a kick out of everything that I do, but that will change. My goofy antics will not be as funny as you become older, but I will adapt and try my best to continue being the funniest person that you know-just ask your mother!!!


While this is from me, I just want you both to know how much your mother and I love you. We waited what seems like an eternity for the moment you entered this world, but please know that you were worth every second of it!

Love,

Daddy


Love him!
-Lisa-