Friday videos and pictures

Just some cute video of Lexie waving and Josie making her new kissie noise.

Stephanie asked me to take video of mom and the girls...this was the result

This second video is a bit less successful, well, because the magic box (TV) is on, 

and they are both mesmerized. 

And some pictures from this morning...

My mom got the girls some Halloween PJs and they are just too cute.

"I love daddy"

Butterflies seem to be Alex's favorite, so these shorts from cousin Martine are perfect!

The window really is the perfect height for pulling 

themselves up and checking out the world outside

The girls still LOVE the kicky piano!

A quick Wednesday update!

The girls are trying eggs for the first time this morning. Yum, something new on their list!

They apparently made "yuck" faces but ate it all. In my experience (see chicken and broccoli) they make the yuck face then the next time totally love it and dive right in. 

sorry for the low quality videos - Brittany texted these to me this morning.

Alex crawled for real this morning! James held out a handful of puffs for her, and she darted over to them. We tried to recreate it the rest of the morning but it didn't happen. She went back to the scooting!

My mom is here and that is going well - its nice to have an extra set of hands getting some chores done around the house and having a home made cooked meal for dinner.

Swim class went fantastic on Saturday - the girls took a minute to figure out what was going on, but both were smiling and having fun a few minutes in. It was great to learn so many fun things to do together in the water. I love leaving the house and doing something with them, too, even though everything that needs to be considered, especially when the pool is involved, is a pain in the ass.

The Great Christmas Birthday Dilemma, Year 1

Physical entertainment used to be my go-to gift - like a movie, music, a book, or video game were great gifts to wrap up to give or to receive. Nowadays, with everything being digital, this is a sucky gift to give or get, like, thanks for the clutter. Which has made it a heck of a lot harder to shop for people.

I feel like I have a LOT of stuff, and I don't want more stuff. So a few years ago, I started asking for things that were more "experiences" than items to add to my stuff. Massages, gift cards to restaurants, movie money, disneyland passes, and ski passes, have all been excellent gifts. Clothing is always a good gift. Special kudos for my Keurig right before the girls were born - a very thoughtful gift that provided much needed instant caffeine at 3 a.m. many many times!

James and I have recently been discussing what to get the girls for Christmas and their First Birthday (side note: FML how are they turning 1 so soon?) We will be in Connecticut for Christmas so I will likely get them something small for actual Christmas day, if they even know how to open a gift anyway (doubt that), but something like a first bracelet that they can have as a keepsake, or along those lines. But then I want to get them something really cool for their first Birthday. This will be year 1 of the dilemma of satisfying totally separate and unique Christmas gifts, and then birthday gifts, for two separate people, and I want to make sure we get it right and make it special. (Though I doubt the girls will be too critical this year).

I feel like the girls already have a gazillion toys, and with 6 grandparents will likely be very spoiled with toys, so I have actually been trying to think of non-toy things, such as their own little chairs, a play table, or some riding toys. In the meantime, over the last year, I've been creating an Amazon wish list of stuff, as I think of it or hear of must have items, that the girls might like over the next few toddler years. (Some of the wish list includes coloring easels, driveway chalk, bath crayons, tea sets).

Well coincidentally, I came across a blog (link and pasted below) this morning about non-toy gifts, and thought I would add it to my blog for safe keeping. There are some really good ideas on here!! We'll see how we do this year, and frankly it shouldn't be too hard, because shopping for the girls is like, my #1 activity, and I do hope we will always be mindful of the girls not only sharing a birthday, but so close to Christmas, and make their birthdays as special as possible.

100 Specific Non-Toy Gift Ideas: 

Season Passes - 

Zoo -

Museum - 

Butterfly Conservatory - 

Aviary - 

Aquarium - 

Amusement Park 

One-Time Passes - 

Movies - 

Bowling - 

Swimming - 

Theatre Performance - 

Go see a sporting event - 

Disney On Ice - 

Circus - 

Ice Skating - 

Roller Skating - 

Mini Golf - 

Concert Experiences for Kids - 

Horse & Buggy Ride - 

Train Ride - 

Ice Cream Vouchers - 

Special dinner out - 

A Trip to the Fire Station - 

A Trip to Chuckie Cheese (buy the tokens ahead of time so you have something to wrap!) - 

Coupon book with "time" gifts (ie. an afternoon making cookies with mom) 

Older Kids or Grown-Ups - 

Hot Air Balloon Ride - 

Wine Tasting - 

Murder Mystery Evening -

 Zip Lining - 

Helicopter Ride - 

Trip to the Spa (Mani/Pedi, Massage, Facial, etc.) - 

Rock Climbing -

Trip to Arcade 

A Class or Season of Lessons - 

Swimming - 

Sports - 

Gymnastics - 

Dance - 

Karate - 

Musical Instrument - 

Pottery Class- or paint your own pottery - 

Art Class - 

Craft class (ie. knitting) - 

Horseback riding lessons 

Family Experiences - 

A night(s) away at a local hotel (with a pool) - 

A hotel with an indoor waterpark - 

Camping (depends where you live & how much you love Winter camping ;) - 

Road trip - 

Give them travel/camping gear needed for the experience you'll be gifting so that they have a physical item to unwrap 

Physical Gifts that aren't Toys - 

Books - 

Games - 

DVD - 

CDs of fun kids music - 

Craft kits - 

Science kit - 

New art supplies - 

Magazine Subscription - 

Monthly Craft Kit Subscription - 

Fun Bath Supplies (colour-changing water, crayons that write on walls, foamy soap, etc.) - 

A wagon to pull kids in when you go on walks - 

Stationary - 

Special Christmas Tree Ornament - 

Wrist watch - 

Piggy bank - 

Memory/Photo Book - 

Journal Fun "Needs" - 

Kid furniture - 

New bedding that they really like - 

Bedroom décor/Promise of a total room makeover - 

New hat, mitts, etc. - 

Bike - 

Scooter - 

Roller skates/blades - 

Basketball hoop - 

Trampoline - 

Swing set (for big ticket items like this, grandparents can pitch in) - 

An item they need, but they wanted a more expensive version than you would normally buy (ie. boots/clothes) - 

Colourful band aids - 

Sled/toboggan/other winter outdoor things - 

Sleeping bag - 

Flashlight - 

Toy box - 

Personal set of scriptures - 

Jewelry box Learning Tools - 

Telescope - 

Magnifying glass - 

Strong Magnet - 

Science Kit - 

Magic Kit - 

Cookbook & Apron/Chef Hat - 

Easel - 

Chalkboard - 

Gardening tools - 

Bug-catching tools (better if you don't live somewhere that's snowy ;) - 

Binoculars - 

Globe 

Others - 

Educational App they can play on your phone/ipod/tablet or Computer Game - 

Items they need for lessons (costume/instrument/etc.) - 

A new game for a game console - 

A refill for an easy bake oven or other toy requiring refills - 

A pet! (perhaps a "certificate" saying that you will go and pick one out together) - 

Pet Accessories/supplies - 

iTunes gift card

Happy Birthday Daddy! 40 Weeks and 9 month Check Up!!

The girls are 40 weeks old. This week, leading up to 40 weeks, I couldn't get my mind from thinking that we don't have newborn babies anymore. The girls are infants going on toddlers. The footed pajamas I was buying them don't go up any more sizes.

I've been thinking of additional activities we can do with babies (non-walkers), and realizing there aren't too many weeks left to have to fill - we will have little girls that want to run around in no time. I have plenty of those kinds of activities in mind and can't wait to go on those adventures.

The girls are crawling and standing up and cruising. They respond to us and try to make us laugh. They have very distinct personalities. They are eating cookies (baby cookies). They have teeth. And (some) hair. They say words, or at least they think they are saying words, and seem to be having full conversations with us and each other.

We had their 9 month check up yesterday. Thankfully they only had one shot (the flu shot) at that appointment. Josie was a total drama queen and cried like crazy while she was being checked out, like as if it was the worst thing that ever happened to her. Alex was typically shy as well and also cried but more because she doesn't love being poked and prodded and definitely not by strangers.

So here are their stats:

                   Alexandra 
                   weight 20 pounds, 4 ounces (75%)
                   height 27.5 inches (50%)

                   Josephine
                   weight 17 pounds, 7 ounces (25%)
                   height 27 inches (25%)

Today is Jamey's birthday, and we have a lot planned. We have, of course, our weekly pictures to take, then after that we will be heading to the girls' first swim lessons (baby bonding swim class, I don't think we will leave there with the girls knowing a breast stroke). James is going sailing with a friend as a birthday treat to himself, while I will be home baking a cake and getting the house ready for guests. Tonight, our nanny Brittany is coming to watch the girls because we are heading out to the haunted hay ride and then getting some Mexican food and margaritas. I am looking forward to all of it!

 

Tomorrow is a much more lazy day, I'll be recovering from all of the margaritas I have tonight, then at 3 p.m. I am picking my mom up from the airport. It will be really nice to have her here, I have saved a ton of house projects, especially those that involve climbing onto ladders in closets, for when she is here and can play with the girls. We have a few busy weeks ahead of us with Halloween then the Holidays but I am looking forward to it all!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Gordon!!

Hockey Butts!

Very serious, Josie

We did Sens and Red/Blacks colors for Grandpa G!

Alex tickling Josie's ear

sigh - Alex was all smiles until the photos started. 

Our Favorite! Happy Birthday Grandpa G!!!

Getting Tired...