Pumpkin Patch!

 We made our yearly trip to our local pumpkin patch - and the kids loved it! Macyn was able to paint her pumpkin and the twins found a set of twin boys :) We love having this afternoon trip be a yearly tradition. Always great times and great place to go!

Kamryn & Laityn: 17 Months

The girls keep growing up and doing new things every day it seems. One of the bigger milestones is that they are now both in toddler beds. Laityn decided it would be fun to crawl out of her crib. I figured it would be better for her to be in a toddler bed than to risk her falling 3-4 feet off that ground from her crib. So we got out her toddler bed. It only took one night with her in the "big girl bed," and then Kamryn started trying to climb out of her crib. So now they are both in toddler beds. So hard to believe since they seem way too little to be in them!

They have also increased their vocabulary - the newest word they can't get enough of is, "baby." They call every child they see a baby, and point to pictures and say, "baby." They love playing with their baby dolls (which are wearing their matching preemie clothes), and will try wrapping them up in blankets and feed them their sippy cups.

Other words they have discovered are, mama, daddy, football, ball, duck, uh oh, shoes, socks, brush, yea, pretty. They also understand pretty much everything you tell them. If you ask them to brush their teeth, they will run and get their toothbrush. Same with bath time - running to the bathroom. Or if you ask them to get their clothes, shoes, jammies, etc, they run straight to their room and try opening the closet door. Its amazing how well they communitcate despite having a limited vocabulary.

Kamryn has gotten into the habit of hitting and throwing things, and will get angry and hit her head on things. Laityn can also stomp her feet and throw one heck of a fit. They fight with each other and I actually put Kamryn in time out the other day ;)

They continue to sleep about 11 hours at night, and will sometimes nap one or two times. They love to eat and snack. One of their favorite foods is cheeseballs and granola bars.  They will eat usually anything we give them, and if they don't, they throw it off their high chairs.

Laityn has 14 teeth and Kamryn has 13. It will be a great day when they are finished teething! Laityn has also graduated from the caridiologist. We are oficially specialist free! A year-and-a-half in the making! Feels so good!

It seems like our house is more childproofed than ever. I never remember having to childproof this much with Macyn! They literally get into everything. They have broken door locks and have gotten into cabinets (and have even locked each other in them). They climb on everything - highchairs, shelves, beds, you name it. They are fearless! 

People still tell me, "I cannot imagine." I can't imagine life without them - this business is our normal and it doesn't even phase us anymore. We still get a lot of attention when we are out and about, but it is normal to us. Some days are harder than others, but at the end of the day, we are incredibly blessed.

Kamryn & Laityn: 16 Months

We have survived another busy month! The twins are still wearing size 4 diapers and size 12 month clothes. Their feet have seemed to grow quickly, as they grew out of their sandals and I had to order some new ones online. I felt sorry for their heels hanging off their shoes!

Speaking of shoes, that is one of Laityn's new words. She also jabbers and tries to talk all the time. They have both picked up, "Daddy" and once in a great while, Laityn will say, "mama." It melts my heart! They have also learned to give hugs, and Laityn has learned to give slobbery, open-mouthed kisses. They hug each other as well. Something about two little people hugging is just so dang cute!

They have also outgrown their infant carriers so they now sit in there convertible car seats. They seem to like it pretty well, and its a lot easier to put them in and out of our car. They still weigh about 21-23 lbs (Kamryn is heavier). They are also curious and like to get into trouble. They climb everything, and its getting quite difficult to child proof our house. They always use their high chairs as a step stool to climb on the couch, so we have resorted to putting them on the floor.

This didn't last very long either, since they like to rock in their chairs and knock them over. So now we have resorted to putting their high chairs away...behind a gate. Other milestones, Laityn can use a fork for the most part. Its still tricky, but she gets the idea. They both love rocking in their rocking chairs and playing outside. They have quite the personalities, but are so fun at the same time. Laityn is more the, "cry baby," and always acts shy. Once she warms up to you shes a complete goofball. Kamryn is independent and laid back. She's not shy, but she is quiet. Kamryn can also do summer saults.

They do so many new things each day, that it's hard to remember. Time goes by so quickly!!

Kamryn & Laityn: 15 Months

 Hard to believe another month has passed already. Time seems to be flying by and it seems like I keep on getting more busy!

Besides me being more busy, the twins are busier than ever! It's very hard for them to sit still or stay in a stroller if we go out in public. They just want to run everywhere. We have also gone to the park a few times this month and they just love the free reign to go wherever they want. They are definitely outdoors kids and will cry once you bring them inside.

The girls have added a new word to their vocabulary - "Hi!" They also babble and "read" books out loud. They like to have fun running around the house and laughing hysterically at each other by playing peek a boo, or playing with the baby doll stroller and pushing each other. They do this pretty much every night right before they crash and go to bed.

They don't nap as long as they usually do, but we are starting to slowly get them off their bottles. We finally have found sippy cups that they will use and we will give them one before they go to bed. They have also gotten some more teeth. Laityn has gotten all four molars and Kamryn has two.

Some of their favorite foods are cheeseballs (like cheetos), chicken tacos from the Mexican restaurant, pizza, hamburger, corn, rice, granola bars, graham crackers, veggie straws, and bananas. They love milk and we still go through about 16-17 gallons of milk a week. They aren't really a fan of anything cold, and will pucker their mouths if you let them try ice cream!

The girls also climb and get into everything. They can reach stuff on the table, climb onto the furniture, and get stuck in some pretty small places. They love to explore! They are the sweetest little trouble makers ever, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Kamryn & Laityn: 14 Months

The girls are another month old, and they like to RUN (instead of walk) and also enjoy running in opposite directions. They are go getters and will hardly sit still. We have begun to put them into nursery at church since they like to try and go under the pews. Once we pick them up from the nursery, they want to run in the sanctuary. People seem to get a kick out of it, but I end up sweating from chasing them all over! They have also learned how to climb on the couch, and have unfortunately fallen off or come close to it a few times.

They usually take a morning nap, and will sometimes nap twice a day. We go through about 17 gallons of milk per month. That's alot of milk, but its better than 1 can of formula per day!

They are also starting to babble and "talk" some more. They have tried to make more sounds and I think (especially Laityn) likes to say, "book." They also understand if you tell them to do something - go get a ball, go get a book, bring this to mommy, where is your blankie. They are so smart!

They learn a lot by watching us, such as knowing that the remote control turns the TV on, and swiping on my phone. (Not that I'm proud of any of these things). It just amazes me how smart they are!

Kamryn takes her helmet off constantly, and Laityn enjoys pushing toys and playing by herself. She LOVES books as well. Their hair is starting to grow and thicken up. It is still dark and they still have dark/hazel eyes. They wear size 4 diapers, size 3 shoes, and 12 month clothes.

They are still happy girls who like to fight. Sometimes they tackle each other, or hit each other in their heads. No matter which toy they have, they always want the same ones. They also like to eat eachother's food off their highchairs and they will often share bottles with each other (voluntarily). Its so fun to watch them grow and interact with each other.

I sometimes get sad they are growing so fast, but soooo grateful for all the hurdles they have overcome! They are such sweethearts and I love them so much!

Kamryn & Laityn: 13 Months

I have officially survived the first month with my two new toddlers! Somedays I think to myself, "this is supposed to get easier, not harder," and somedays I think this is a breeze! The girls have graduated off of formula and now drink whole milk. They go through 3-4 gallons per week, and love their juice as well.

Kamryn:

• Started walking! Even though she can't stand up in the middle of the room, she will pull up on furniture and take off walking around the house

• She is very curious and gets into everything. She loves pushing buttons on the DVR and blu ray player. She also likes to "share" her toys by handing them to us and then giving us a hug

• Loves baths

• Hates her helmet. He head hasn't grown this past month so the helmet isn't working too well yet.

• Weighs a whole pound more than Laityn

• She's a content, happy go lucky baby!

Laityn:

• Beginning to walk and will sometimes take 3-4 steps. She can stand up in the middle of the room, but can't quite take off yet

• She seems to be the more reserved twin and likes to cuddle and be held

• Learned to clap

• Began to use her words more. She will sometimes say "mama" and says "baba" for pretty much everything. Its so cute because she acts so proud :)

• Loves baths and swimming

• Shes just a little peanut - only about 15 percentile for her height

The girls play and entertain each other all the time. The follow each other and fight over toys. The LOVE being outside and will often throw a big fit when you bring them in. They love ritz crackers, cookies, corn, peas, mac n cheese, and hamburger. The are growing girls! Their hair is coming in thicker and still dark. Their eyes are still brown / hazel. Its so different having two dark babies after having Macyn being blonde hair, blue-eyed. They are each other's best friends' for sure. Even when they get up at 6:00 every morning (yes, every morning), they talk and play with each other while in their cribs. I LOVE listening to them!

Life is busy with them. I am still not used to stares and comments, but I guess that's just people's fascination with twins!

First Birthday Celebration

We had a very small party for the girls - more like a celebration and a little less commercialized. It was simple, it was small, and it was meaningful. This time around I didn't have anything really planned. I bought a cake the day of, created a video two days before, and decided if we would have food or not the day before. For anyone who knows me, they know I am a planner. After this past year, I have realized that planning can overwhelm, and things will happen whether or not you plan in advance. So I kept it simple, stress free, and fun! We even played a game called, "How well do you know your twins?"

The girls LOVED the cupcakes, and Macyn picked out the cake. I try and find ways to include her, so I let her pick out whatever she wanted. She ended up picking a cute giraffe. We had simple decorations of pictures and one of the preemie sleepers they wore in the NICU. Its crazy how small they were. It was just an all around good celebration of how far they have come. Here are some pictures:

 Happy First Birthday, Kamryn & Laityn! Love you soo much and so proud of how far you have come!