Benson's Upon Us!

The Benson's came to DC! It was a BIG deal for both of Mommy's brothers (Uncle Gage and Uncle Shane) to come visit, along with Grandpa and Grandma Debi. What good fun! We went to the Capitol, Pentagon, and a few museums. We even spilt up one day. It was sooo easy to have one of the girls in a single stroller. How life would be so different!

Sylvia

Just a cute one of Sylvia in the car taken by Uncle Gage this weekend. More on that visit later.

Brunch with the kids

While my Mom was here, my friend Julia (Miss Ju Ju) suggested we get our Mom's and the kids together for brunch and playing. It was good fun. Everyone came over and ate like they didn't have breakfast (these kids can chow!). The girls' adore Wyatt's little brother Gresham. Miss Ju Ju was bold and let Evelyn "hold" him. She was so gentle. They are both so sweet with him.

Gram's Visit

Daddy went away for a week and Gram came to visit. She's a huge help and the girls adore their "dam". We also celebrated Gram's birthday with a homemade chocolate birthday cake. We did lots of fun stuff too -- went to the Baltimore Children's museum, gymnastics class, national aquarium, play group, and played with their new favorite toy -- Mr. Potato Head. I even had to borrow an extra from a friend (Miss Julia -- girls call her Ju Ju) because they are OBSESSED.,

More outside play

Sylvia hates bugs. Evelyn loves them.

Playing Outside

The girls have so much fun in our yard. We have a great new fence, which helps keep them contained, and their big playset (which conveyed with the new house). They have lots of fun and are super silly! I know, way too many videos, but they are cute and I don't have time to sort through them and figure out the best one!

Baltimore Children's Museum

Tons of fun (although Evelyn was NOT a fan of the long car ride up). She was fine on the way home because she was eating lunch. I have a hard time bribing my kids to be good with food only for them not to eat a good lunch or dinner later. I'm such a meany!

New Big Bows

The girls love to put bows in their hair and get new hair accessories. It's a must because their hair is so long, but sometimes it is a bit silly how one bow-bow can cause a lot of toddler drama. "broke bow bow" "lost bow bow." These are some very cute HUGE bows that our friend Dori gave the girls.

23 Months!!!

Evelyn and Sylvia are nearly 2!!! Hard to believe. They are amazing little talkers. I read somewhere a 3 year old should have 500 words. I'd like to believe they know just about that many. It's so cute to have conversations with them and have them express their opinions (they have many), preferences, likes and dislikes. They are also incredibly affectionate (when they aren't fighting) and are very good at sharing (they have a lot of practice). They are still sleeping solidly 7am to 7pm and most days have a 2 hour nap. I just know their stall tactics so book reading starts at 6:30pm and in the crib at 6:50pm because I think I tuck Evelyn in and kiss her puppies about 6 times. It's very cute. They also know how to put on their coats! Big accomplishment. They are also getting very good at putting on their shoes. They are best at putting on their crocs (it's what they play in the yard in). I'm so impressed. They are still very good eaters -- lots of veggies and healthy stuff. They do not eat processed or foods with preservatives/artificial stuff (unless they have it at a friend's which is rare). We are lucky because I know some tots that have goldfish for dinner! I'm not saying there aren't days they refuse to eat what's on their plate, but they know that's all they are getting, so usually they eat it. If not, they eat a really good breakfast. The girls are far from starving! We switched from whole to 2% milk recently and will probably switch to skim after their birthday, if the doctor recommends it. They also get milk at their snack (after naps around 3pm) and we're cutting that out. I read 2 year olds should get 16-22oz of milk. They get about 24oz now. I know Sylvia will not like reducing that milk; she chugs it like she's never had it before. Silly girl. Evelyn is still smaller than Sylvia and often mistaken for the younger sibling (a year apart). She has a tiny head, just like her Mommy. But, they are only about 1-2lbs apart. I think Sylvia is close to 26.5lbs and Evelyn 25. Yes, they are heavy when I'm carrying them both around. You'd think I'd be ultra buff! We are gearing up for a fun second birthday party on May 7th -- a backyard barbeque bash. I've invited 11 of their friends and so far all but 2 can make it. Add in parents and siblings and we have quiet the party! Stay tuned for more!

Snow

It snowed, hopefully for the last time, on March 27th!

Alternative to Walking

I just thought this was bizarre...like Evelyn deciding to scoot/crawl backwards through the whole house one morning.

Goofing Off

Daddy loves to rough house with the girls...throw them on the bed, up the in the air, and whiz them around in a laundry basket. They love it!

New Toys

While at a consignment sale a few weeks ago, I spied a vacuum for $2. Of course, I had to buy it. Seriously, they love to "clean" so this was perfect training for all the chores they will have to do in a few years. Ha! For about 2 weeks, it's all they played with, and fought over. They'd often refuse to turn it off. I dreamt with that vacuum noise in the background. Yes, my own darn fault, but they love it. I also bought them tinker toys (in the retro can!), chutes and ladders, and Mr Potato head.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The girls have a good bit of Irish in them--I think 25% from David's side and some from my side, I think. Anyway, I couldn't find a single piece of green clothing in their closet today, but they celebrated at the library and made Princess crowns. Sylvia wore hers until it was time for nap (they are still very into hats!). Aren't they cute? [Picture courtesy of Angela]

Climber

Well, Sylvia is not only jumping, she's climbing. On Sunday, she decided to CLIMB OUT OF HER CRIB. She was very upset about taking a nap on Sunday that she climbed out of her crib -- TWICE. Thank goodness she didn't hurt herself. I've done some reading and experts say it's not necessary to immediately change her to a big girl bed, so I'm hoping that she won't repeat this. We've told her she hurt herself and she seems to get the message. That just might change the next time she doesn't want to take a nap. Might just have to try a crib tent before moving her to a big girl bed. I don't think she's ready; and Mommy is DEFINITELY NOT READY!

Growing!

Evelyn and Sylvia are 2 months shy of 2!!! They are nearly the same height at about 33.5 inches.

We have a Jumper!

A very important upcoming gross motor milestone is JUMPING! This is a 2.5 year milestone! I had some bubble wrap from a box and tore it in half (side note -- lost one of my diamond earrings--my "push" gift from the David...got insurance check and new earring!). I put the bubble wrap on the floor and told the girls they should walk on it. Sylvia LOVED it! She started jumping and successfully got BOTH feet off the ground several times. Go Sylvia! Evelyn has an incredibly strong core, so I'm sure she's already done it, we just haven't seen it. We are also practicing standing on one foot, which they are getting better at too.


In other fun news, they can take off their diapers. The other day we stripped them down for "na na" time only to find them runing all over the house in the nude. I told David that we know what Evelyn does after dinner and we needed to get them back in their diapers ASAP. Well, sure enough, while we weren't looking, Evelyn went #2 on my bathroom rug! Then, she ran into her sisters room and went #1. Now they know they aren't supposed to take off their diapers unless they are in their bathroom! Crazy babes!

Lots of Teeth

FINALLY, Sylvia's upper canines emerged! And, her left lower is in too. She has all but her lower right canine and 2 year molars. Evelyn also just got another tooth, her lower right caninet. So, she only has her lower left and her 2 year molars. So strange how they all come in at nearly the exact same time!!!

Recent pictures

Don't you love how they have to have hats, sunglasses and necklackes on when they play outside? You'll notice Sylvia's nose where she fell down playing outside on the driveway (poor girl!) and all of the eating pictures...they love to eat! We already switched to 2% milk because they were looking chunky and they love to chug milk (we try to limit to 24 oz a day, as recommended by their doc, but I think that will reduce once they turn 2).

Hilarious Videos

The girls love to ride their bike (Sylvia), eat blueberries and feed eachother, try to snatch a donut or muffin and run, and gobble down peanut butter by the spoonful. They are a hoot!

Mommy's Trip to Florida

Mommy doesn't get many breaks...a trip to the grocery store, a day at work, that's about it. For the first time since 2006 Mommy had a girls weekend! Our good friends, Jason and Kelly, were getting married in Fort Lauderdale. We wrestled with the idea of making it a family trip, but decided I should go alone. It came together with 3 of my closest girlfriends (Melissa, Lynn and Tanya) were coming solo too (from DC, Chicago, and Madison). It was a great time and a much needed break!

Silly Girls

Hats and Playgroup

Because their friend Finn was wearing a hat at playgroup, Sylvia really wanted to wear one too. Then, everyone wanted to wear one. That evening, Sylvia even wanted to wear her hat upstairs to bed and threw a fit when Evelyn didn't want to do the same. Girls!

Valentine's Day

I made the girls and Daddy pink, heart shaped pancakes for Valentines' Day.

Just Cute Pictures and Silly Videos

The girls are getting SO BIG.

Weekend Fun

This weekend was great except Sylvia's decision not to nap either day. She must be so excited to spend time with Mommy and Daddy, there's no time for sleep!

We caught up with friends we hadn't seen for a while. Went to the zoo with the Morris family (their children are nearly 2.5 and almost 5 months) on Saturday morning. The girls played downstairs with the big kids and they had a blast. It was funny how the girls begged for the banana I had in my bag while in the Ape House.

On Sunday the Jones' visited with their kids -- 6, 4.5, and 2.5. It was a blast! Their girls organized a music show for us! See video.