Fun with Toys

The girls love their new toys and this is a cute video of Evelyn jumping around -- I missed Sylvia but you can hear her squeals in the background.

Attack of the Babies

Evelyn is insane about reaching for things. She wanted this bird BAD!

Sylvia had a smackdown wrestling match with the purple Giraffe (Jeff).

Necks

I have an announcement to make -- our babies have necks! Yes, until now we thought they were just born without one, but we saw that they do indeed have necks!

Daddy was very busy at work this week and Mommy was solo 4 nights in a row. I bring them up to the packnplay around 6:00pm for some playtime and "naked time". They love it. Before stripping down, I sit them up in the corners of the packnplay (they are not yet able to sit up in their own, so they love this). I wave toys above their heads and that's when I saw their necks! Then, after we do that a while, I strip them naked and let them go wild on a towel. They really do go nuts. It's like they are liberated. Often we have a few messes, but it's no big deal. I read books to them, pull them up by their arms to standing (they LOVE this), carry them around doing little dances. I keep them busy until 6:30pm when bath time starts. Then, we dress them in normal sleepers (no more swaddles for either baby), take them upstairs for 8oz of milk and then they are typically asleep by 7:20. They are good little babies. But, it is hard doing it solo. I'm not super Mommy!

More Meal Time Messes

Sylvia is a champion at eating cereal. We didn't expect anything less from her. We've always called her our little chunkers. I actually think her cousin Alexis named her that. Evelyn does this hilarous "this is so gross" face everytime she starts eating cereal, but ultimately does ok. They are messy though, even though Mom tries her best to keep the girls clean.

Nap Time Update

The girls are getting better at napping, but they typically only nap about 35 minutes at a time. Evelyn has been crunching her abs for a long time -- lifting up her head and feet at the same time (she's one huge ball of muscle) and she does it when she's fighting sleep too. Her newest thing is rolling over onto her belly and getting stuck. Sometimes she will wake up crying because she's stuck (6 times the other night!), but most of the time she will just fall asleep on her belly with her face smooshed into the mattress. Yes, this did make us a little paranoid at first, but she definitely is able to let us know when she's stuck. Sylvia is typically really easy...the falls asleep after a few grunts and talks. Here they are during nap time this weekend. And yes, SIDS Advocates, the blankets are removed promptly when they girls fall asleep.

Swinging

Last weekend, we took the girls out on the porch in their swings and Evelyn took a little nap while we ate dinner. It was totally adorable how snuggled up she was cuddling with her froggy.

Evelyn the Piggy

My good friend, Megan, sent us pig and buckteeth pacis. Sylvia won't keep the buck teeth in for long, so here's a picture of Evelyn with a pig nose paci.

New Toys

The girls are enjoying their new toys -- the exersaucer and jumper.

Cute Pictures

Black Monday

Mommy returned to work this week and Daddy started his new job. Daddy's first job involved flying out to Los Angeles for two days, leaving Mom with the babies. An anxious feeling overwhelmed me for the first two days. Then, I started to feel better. It really helped that our nanny sent me several texts and entertained my calls! I told her if it wasn't for her, I could have very easily quit my job this week. It helps the girls love her so much and that I'm working a part-time (60%) schedule.

First County Fair

The girls enjoyed their first county fair this weekend. Although they couldn't enjoy all the junk food, they did see their share of fair goers, farm animals (although we didn't get too close for fear of cooties), and farm equipment. A good time was had by all.

Happy Birthday Clay

The girls went to their first birthday party for their friend Clay Morris. Their parents, Bob and Josie, are good friends of ours. A good time was had by all; too bad the girls didn't get to eat the cake!

Strolling In The Bob

Several months ago we bought the "Bob" stroller. It is one fancy double jogging stroller. It's super smooth and comfy for the girls. While it weighs a ton when folded it is a dream to push around the neighborhood. Our Nanny, Angela, discovered this week that if the girls don't nap much in the morning and they are crabby in the afternoon, a long stroll with get the babies to sleep. I have also started running with them (cleared by the doc) and they quickly float off to dreamland.

Cute 4 Month Shots of Sylvia

Sylvia has recently been described as "the poet." She is thoughtful and deliberate, you can just tell. She has been demonstrating this quality lately by pulling her pacifier out of her mouth and then trying very hard and carefully to reinsert it. She also takes great care in grabbing for toys. She will often be quiet for a long time and then will go into a long diatribe of baby talk, which we can hear from the basement to the third floor. She has the cutest open-mouth smile (Mommy calls it the "clown smile"). She is so happy almost all the time, when she cries you think something must be terribly wrong (but then you remember, babies just cry sometimes).

Cute 4 Month Shots of Evelyn

Evelyn is our wild child. She is very, very active. When she is tired she goes a bit crazy. If she is lying down, she will arch her back so far and howl. She's now rolling over from her back to her belly. Then, she gets stuck. It's funny. Well, it's funny when she's crazy and somewhat happy, but she also gets sooo tired and is unable to fall asleep. We have to be really careful to pick up on her cues before it's too late or she can be a challenge. She is very, very curious and loves to be out and about. She's been reaching for her feet for a while now, but she's finally able to grab them and pull them to her mouth. The other day, she had to take a nibble while taking a bath. She's such a cutie, especially with that spikey crew cut!

Tiny Hineys

What's not to love about tiny little baby butts!? Sylvia has the cutest little mole at the top of her hiney (top picture).

Honorary Grandparents

Our good friends, Richard and Julie, have been declared as the girls Honorary Grandparents. They have always been incredibly wonderful to us and now to the girls. We went to their lovely home on the water in Annapolis so the girls could meet them. We first celebrated the girls with fine champagne and opened way too many presents. They gave the girls adorable sweaters with flags and anchors on them (they are huge sailors!), then we dined on the best hash we've ever had (smoked salmon hash) and mine came with twin eggs (see picture). After brunch they took the girls on their first boat ride. It was so much fun and relaxing. We always enjoy every moment with Richard and Julie. We are returning soon to take them up on their offer to stay in the "creek" apartment, it's the first floor of their four story (or is it five?) home. It will be a perfect get-away with the girls and another opportunity for the girls to be loved on by their honorary grandparents.

Angela's First Day

This week our nanny started working. The girls really gave her a run for her money the first day. They didn't sleep very long for their first nap and they were really crabby the entire day. Mommy and Daddy felt really bad for Angela. But, she did a great job and they did nap for nearly an hour in the afternoon while out on a stroll. And, they didn't even notice we were gone. She's really incredible with the girls and has a ton of really great ideas. We are so lucky and very happy we decided to go with a nanny at the house instead of daycare. Angela is an absolute perfect for our family too!

The picture of David above is of his sad face before he left for the day.

Lots of Funny Stuff

The girls get a little wild before bedtime. This video proves it. Also, it's of Evelyn's first day of razzing. She did it all day. Totally adorable.

First Solids

We fed the girls their first solids--organic brown rice cereal. They both did great!

First Family Vacation

As you know, David and I love to travel! We typically take a big vacation once a year. Last year it was New Zealand and the year before that it was Africa. This year, we took a babymoon to Florida. While fun, it was not the same. We decided to go somewhere neither of us have never been -- Vermont and Montreal. We stayed in Stowe for 4 days and then went to Montreal for 2. It was great --the perfect mix of outdoors and big city. We loved the small, quaint feel of Vermont and the European vibe of Montreal. The girls were a DREAM to travel with. Evelyn slept on takeoff and Sylvia enjoyed her bottle (it was mealtime, we don't deviate from the schedule!). We stuck to their bedtime routine and the girls slept soundly for 12 hours while Mom and Dad enjoyed dinner in bed, reading books and reconnecting. It was a perfect first vacation with the girls. We definitely aren't scared to travel and are already planning trip number two! Here are a sample of pictures, click this link for more. http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1274244016/a=8289532_8289532/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

4 Months Old

It feels like yesterday I was writing up a 4 week blog entry. Now, the girls are 4 months old. They are incredibly healthy and growing like weeds. At their 4 month visit the doctor was very impressed with their sleep habits (they still sleep 12 hours at night -- we are enjoying this while it lasts because soon sleep will be disrupted by teething) and told us not to worry if they aren't good daytime nappers. However, they do nap a few times a day for about 40 minutes, just not 2-3 hours like many babies do at this age. They just don't need that much sleep during the day, so they give us a run for our money all day long. The doctor was more than impressed by their eating and said "these girls are ready for solids." They are not eating about 9oz per feeding about twice a day and 8-8.5oz the other two feedings. We are starting solids as soon as we return from vacation.

Here are their statistics--the doctor said what is important at this stage is that they are growing. It doesn't matter if they aren't totally proportional; it doesn't mean that Sylvia is always going to be rounder than she is taller or that Evelyn will always have a small head. [Daddy was worried about that.] What is interesting to me is that the girls are the same height, but Sylvia still looks much bigger. I think it's because of their head sizes. However, Evelyn is getting some mega chunk on her, especially her legs. And, she even has a fat roll under her butt! It's so funny and cute!

Evelyn*
Head: 15 3/8 in -- 10th percentile
Height: 23 1/4 in -- 25th percentile
Weight: 12lbs 13.2oz -- 25th percentile

*Interestingly, I was 24 inches and 12lbs 14oz when I was 4 months old. Because I was so small, my doctor advised to start rice cereal very early, just 40 days after my birth and my first food (squash) was fed to me at 2 days shy of 8 weeks.
Sylvia
Head: 16 in -- 45th percentile
Height: 23 1/4 -- 25th percentile
Weight: 14lbs even -- 55th percentile

Dancing With Mommy

I do this little dance thing to get Evelyn to laugh. She's really into it and will actually cry when I pick up her sister for her turn. Sylvia isn't so into it, but I can't dare leave her out!

Post Mealtime Funnytime

The girls are so funny after they eat. Often is huge burps, funny squeals, finger licking, or a slight coma.

Sylvia Razzes

Yesterday, Sylvia figured out how to "razz" or raspberry. Now it's all she does and it's incredibly cute.

Evelyn discovered her toes and reaches for them all the time, I need to capture that on video next.

Sharing Already

Our friend, Mike Boorestein, and his fiance, visited (he just returned from Iraq) and brought the girls very cool toys. They can't seem to get enough of the rings. Sylvia trys to eat them and Evelyn holds on tight. Here they are -- for the first time -- sharing a toy.

Daddy's Retirement

After 20 years in the Marine Corps, Daddy retired! Friday was his last day and he didn't want a huge retirement ceremony (mind you, Officers rate a full parade with band and everything!). After a small awards ceremony at the Pentagon, we went out for beers with his work collegues. His staff gave him some very thoughtful gifts -- a flag flown above Iwo Jima, a scrapbook with pictures and good-bye messages and they also had him named "National COMRELADANT" by the Marine Corps League. If you don't know the Marine Corps League is a group of old (typically chubby) former Marines who wear red hats and jackets. COMREL is the Community Relations office David was in charge of. ADADT is akin to Commandant (the head of the Marine Corps). So, it was a joke. Very funny joke.

It was a great time and the girls were very well behaved! Daddy even changed their diapers on this old desk!

Congratulations, Daddy! What an amazing career, which he most certainly will miss!

Evelyn Grabbing

Just recently the girls started grabbing things within their reach. Here's Evelyn grabbing her porcupine elephant (that's what David named it) on her activity mat.

Daddy Scaring Sylvia

This is a hoot--Sylvia scares easily and her eyes get real big. While she sits in this kick and play bouncey seat all the time, it scared her today. Evelyn is also discovering her new rainforest bouncey, which has a similar cause and effect thing going on, but the effect is caused by her touching little toys. The other is triggered by her feet. She understood how it worked only a few minutes after sitting in it. Very cute.

Evelyn's Laugh

David was getting Evelyn ready for her bath the other night and was humming the theme to the Pink Panther and Evelyn laughed! I tried it the next day and it worked again -- here it is captured on video. It's such a cute laugh!

Close-Ups

Second Cousins Visit

The girls' second cousins, Laura and RJ, came to visit this weekend from Philly. Meredith spent all her summers as a kid up in Michigan with Laura (her first cousin on her Mom's side). There were a lot of memories created together and we are so happy we were able to create a few with Laura and her husband this weekend. We went to the American History Museum, David then took us on a driving tour of DC, Arlington and Old Town, Alexandria, and then had dinner (actually made it at home!). They also brought with them adorable fall shirts and some neat-o bath toys.

More photos of their visit can be found here: http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1178525016/a=8289532_8289532/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/