Exploring, Talking, Teething, and Cleaning

The girls are talking up a storm. Alex was babbling away last week and now is actually saying words and phrases - I heard her twice say "here you go" to Josie, when handing her something. She also clearly said "help" and also said "Aunt Becky" and "Star Wars." Josie is now babbling a ton herself, and all weekend was saying something that sounded like "baddy" and then "appy" - still trying to figure out what it is? Considering how quickly Alex went from babbling to phrases, I am sure Josie is not too far behind with a few words herself. 

Josie was really clingy this weekend and just didn't seem herself. While playing I noticed she had a molar coming in, and upon further inspection, noticed she had FOUR molars coming in - one on each side. Yikes poor girl! Well the good news is that she is getting it all out at once, I guess? After some advil on Saturday she seemed way more like herself. Alex is still working on just the one molar, that is almost fully in. 

Alex got herself stuck. As responsible parents, we took a photo before saving her.

Then everyone went for fun box rides. 

The girls' personalities really continue to develop. This weekend we were playing outside, and Alex loves to investigate the garden, look around, and collect things she finds - she brought James, one by one, little wood chips and pieces of branch and plants. The next day, she brought Becky a variety of leaves and petals, also one by one. Josie has been enjoying putting things away - we were at Toys R Us and whenever we would come across a toy on the ground, she would pick it up and put it on the shelf! At home, while Alex was emptying shoes from the basket, Josie was putting them away. 

Not to say Alex isn't into cleaning - if I arm them each with a paper towel, and spray windex for them, they will clean the windows! And even protest when I stop spraying lol. They also like to help me put clothes in the washer and dryer. Genius. 

We had the girls' passport photos taken Saturday, then went to Ikea for lunch as a treat!

The egg shape is a crayon - perfect for coloring at this age!

With her four molars coming in, I am letting Josie have her paci more than just at naps.

Alex LOVES to dip - fries, chicken fingers, green beans...you name it.

I was recently chatting with a mom friend of mine, who has a 9 month old and a 2 year old, about the saying "sleep when the baby sleeps" which I am a huge proponent of: I like to take naps during the girls' afternoon nap, and I get really groggy when I miss that nap. Well my friend made an excellent point, while this is good advice, even better advice is to learn to do what you need to do while the kids are awake. That way when they are napping, you too can relax. 

I have often found myself feeling guilty for cleaning the kitchen after breakfast while the girls are playing. Like I should be down on the floor playing with them. Of course I do take time every day to play with them, and read with them, and hold them, but some self directed alone play time is perfectly acceptable, and necessary, in their development. And seeing me doing chores is helping them learn how a household works - that its not like a magical castle that cleans itself while you nap. (Um - why isn't our house a magical castle that cleans itself while you nap?!?!) And when its nap time at 9:30 a.m. and the kitchen is already clean and I can take a moment to close my eyes or watch a little tv, its a lovely situation. 

Here's a video of Alex on Saturday morning having some breakfast on dad's lap and investigating everything. Nothing very exciting, but a glimpse into what we are seeing lately.  

Caleb and the Girls

My alumni board friend has a 9 month old baby - its crazy we haven't met him sooner, but to be fair, leaving the house is not easy! Anyhow, we finally planned a play date two weekends ago, and he sent over some of the photos and videos. 

Alex was super cute with Caleb - she is always so kind to friends who are visiting, but she seemed extra taken with Caleb. They were smiling like crazy at each other when it was time to say goodbye! Love at first sight. 

Please disregard the conversation that is totally unrelated to the babies lol

This one starts off sideways then works itself out

Weekend Recap in Photos

So last weekend I noticed Josie had a tooth coming in behind her front top teeth. What the heck? So off to the dentist we went. It turns out, its just her next tooth over that is coming in in an overlapping way, and totally normal, and wont affect her adult teeth at all. So glad I spent my time, and $60, to have the dentist look into her mouth for 60 seconds and tell me its "normal." But boy did she look cute in the dentist chair!

Alexandra had a great time playing with the balloon Josie got at the dentist.
Still not worth $60.

Stop looking so grown up!

Jamey was a groomsman in a wedding (Luke and Liz!) this past weekend, so I was with him for most of the wedding related adventures. The photo of the girls eating dinner was taken by Tom, who watched them Friday night with Becky :) It warms my heart knowing that so many people love my girls! 

James and I at the rehearsal dinner :) 

All dressed up and ready for the wedding!

The happy couple exchange vows!

The Groom's crew

Beautiful first dance

The groomsmen in order of height!

A photo of us at the wedding dinner

Sunday we participated in the wedding brunch - a newer send-off tradition for those from out of town, and those who participated in the wedding - it was at a gorgeous cafe and the food was unbelievably amazing! I think this was one of the most fun groups of people we have had the privilege of participating in a wedding with! Kudos to the bride and groom!

As lovely as it all was, I was pretty excited to get home, throw my heels off, wash my make up off, and change into sweat pants and relax with the girls for mother's day. The girls treated me to a lovely gift of new dishtowels (yay!), we had a dance party, we watched some hockey, and we shared a dunkin donuts "mothers day" donut. Delicious!!! 

Josie "I don't take small bites" Crocket 

Alex somehow got a handful of donut and ran off while Josie finished the rest.
I guess this is like, the PERFECT metaphor for motherhood?

Dance party with special guest: Annoying Musical Zebra!!!

And finally, we got this video of Alex talking away. She is just non stop jabbering now, I swear she thinks she is saying words. Its totally funny/heartbreaking when she goes on for a few sentences then ends like a question and looks at  you for an answer. Oh boy. Enjoy!!

Have I not shared this one yet? A good one of Josie playing ball on the coffee table, taken last Friday.

21 Reasons Kid Free Friends are The Best!

Thank you, kid-less friends:

1 - Thank you for reminding me to get a life, and that I, Roxanne, have to remain interesting and fun as an individual.

2 - Thank you for coming over and loving my kids almost as much as I do, for playing with them, and reading them countless stories - the kids love being read to and I am so over our limited reading materials!

3 - Thank you for happily having game nights at my house, so we don't have to get a sitter! And being cool with me leaving for 15 minutes while I get the kids settled in bed.

4 - Thank you for keeping me updated on what is cool - what music is out, cool night spots and restaurants for our rare date nights, best new cocktails and wines, new must see movies that I will add to my Netflix queue, and what I should be wearing. I have had yoga pants tunnel vision for too long!

5 - Thank you for making adjustments for us. I know our plans used to be late and loud, but when you invite us over for dinner at 4pm so we can bring the girls and not worry about a sitter, it gives me all of the warm fuzzies.

6 - Thank you for liking the 1000th picture of my kid that I just posted on facebook, twitter AND instagram. You are a saint for liking my posts on all 3 mediums. That said, thank you for not unfollowing me at the first sign of non-stop baby photos and baby related status updates.

7 - Thank you for taking pictures of us as a family.

8 - Thank you for facetimes, skype calls, visits and phone calls from 3000 miles away.

9 - Thank you for asking how all of us are doing, and not just asking about the babies.

10 - Thank you for helping me wrangle my children at our mutual friends' parties. I know I should have them more under control, but they sure do like to run in opposite directions, and this place is not as baby proofed as my totally emptied out house. I promise we wont stay too long!

11 - Thank you for letting me text you all night when I can't leave my house! I know its not the same as a real face to face conversation, but I do have a glass of wine in front of me and the babies are in bed, so you have my undivided boozy attention :D

12 - Thank you for nudging me to do things I am scared to do - if you had my morning, you would not have this enthusiasm to leave the house and go on a walk, out to eat, or to the zoo/mall/park with the kids, but I should do those things with the kids and need that injection of energy and verve! Your company on those outings doesn't hurt, either!

13 - Thank you for being just like extended family, while mine is so far away! And thank you for understanding my week long disappearances when my extended family is visiting!

14 - Thank you for coming and holding newborn babies and helping with bottles when I was just so exhausted I had forgotten what sleep for longer than 2 hours was like. Especially thank you for the few times you insisted I go take a nap!

15 - When we all had the stomach flu? Thank you for dropping all of your plans to come over and take care of us. Even though it meant you got that same flu a few days later.

16 - Thank you for pushing my comfort zone. As a new mom, I have been terrified to leave my babies. Your encouragement to join you for coffee, a movie, a sporting event and even an all day wine tour have all been exactly what I needed. I worry leading up to the event, but then have a great time and have learned to totally trust that whoever is with the kids, probably has it under control.

17 - Thank you for helping me with the kids when my husband has to go out of town for work.

18 - Thank you for telling me I look good. I need to hear that sometimes, and I hold you kid-less people in high regard, so it means a lot to me!

19 - Thank you for being cool with me being a bit of a shut in these past 16 months. It is a bit hard to leave the house with babies. Sometimes I am just too exhausted to after a busy week balancing kids, errands and a full time job. Sometimes I just want to soak in my new family, and hang with the littles who wont stay little for long.

20 - Thank you for understanding that I can't do all of the fun things I used to do, yet still want to hang out with me anyway. Thanks for not totally forgetting about me, and keeping me in mind for plans, even if I have said no a few more times in a row than I should have.  And thank you for being so understanding when I have to cancel our get togethers last minute. And thank you for giving me advance notice, so I can arrange for a sitter or make sure my husband is home.

21 - Thank you for bringing me food and supplies, especially when the babies were new. This generosity will never be forgotten. Thank you for putting up with me constantly feeding newborn babies without the boob cover, and not having much to offer to the conversation.


*I am writing this post in response to all of the ugly blog entries written by moms about their childless friends who "don't get it." Guess what? Its good to have multiple perspectives on life. And you shouldn't be so nasty to your friends! 

Ring Around the Rosie and some other fun videos

Best video EVER 

And one of the girls playing in the yard

And Josie cheering for Ottawa!

And Josie hanging out with me while I had the stomach flu

This week in Pictures!

Busy work week this week, but I did get to spend some time with the girls on Wednesday while my nanny was at a dentist appointment :) We ate mac n cheese, played in the yard, and blew a lot of bubbles. Josie can actually dip the bubble wand and wave it around to make bubbles - its very impressive, but no matter how long she does it for, its never enough. Wednesday was a solid 45 minutes. 

They put their hats on in the hopes of going "os-eye?"

Cuddles before bed

Smiling Josie in her Story Time outfit!

Plastic Orange and Green Shape
Also ready for Story Time

The girls have had little attitudes lately. It has been a slow progression but its here in full force now. There are definitely things they don't like and don't want to do. Alex is very up front with her dislike and will push you away or throw her food or throw a toy or complain loudly. Josie always resorts to crying. If her faker cry doesn't work, she now has a new faker cry that sounds like the injury cry. Good times. 

James's coworker went to Marakesh and brought back these ADORABLE
silk baby Pajamas - they are a bit big, but perfect for this recent heat wave!

I love Alex in these two photos - she was born the part!

 

Thank goodness, though, they are GREAT in public - we went out to eat on Saturday last weekend and they were totally cool for over an hour. OK there were still sippy cups dropped and protests and wanting to get out and run, but, they were far from the loudest kids in the restaurant, and overall well behaved. Can you blame them for wanting to try new stuff and discovery new things? 

Are you hiding your shapes, Alex?

The "Face Book" we made for the girls is a HIT!

Where's grandmere?

Where's daddy?

James and I are good - both working hard, but getting ready to participate in our friends' wedding next week, so that will be some nice couple time together. We have plans with friends this weekend too. After the last few weeks of tummy viruses and work and separate guy and girl get togethers, we are looking forward to some couple time with friends. 

In their adorable Carter's Playclothes. I overshot what size
the girls would be in and these are way too big, but we
have summer until October here, so they need to last!

I am enjoying keeping an eye on the Stanley Cup playoffs, I wish they were a tad bit later in the day so I could see the East coast games! I am still working towards some diet goals - a slow and steady progress, but I seem to have a bit more conviction now - the "I just had a baby" excuse is getting ridiculous now that the girls will be 16 months old. And we are working on the final details of our trip to Ottawa in October for my dad's 70th birthday, and Canadian Thanksgiving, and so that we can get all of the cousin babies together. :) 

I have a million pictures of the girls eating - its just so easy to photograph
them when they are strapped down lol. This is while I was in Temecula, wine tasting
with friends. James made these beautiful lunches for the girls :) He's such a wonderful dad!