We love airplanes

I took the kids to the local airport a few weeks ago. Colter is obsessed with airplanes (and trucks, and buses, and cars, and trains...). They were amazed to see the planes taking off and landing. It made me wish they could go for a ride with my Uncle Jeff.

Aren't they the cutest little pilots?

A note about the matching hats: I bought these a while ago thinking they would look so cute wearing matching hats. And they do. Little did I know that Riley would become obsessed with hats. Hats are her second love (after pup-pup). Not only does she want to wear one at all times, but she wants everyone else to wear one too. We now have a whole box of crazy hats. Papa Jim is wearing one in the video below. If you listen closely at the end, you'll hear Riley talking about her hats.

I am loving this age!!!

OK, so this is going to be a random update. Just wanted to put some pictures and videos out there.

We've been going to the local playgrounds quite a bit.

We are learning about sharing. Not doing so well in this photo, but the kids are improving. Riley will happily hand something to Colter when you ask her to share. Once she soaks up the praise for doing the right thing she has been known to snatch it right back.

A good toy is something you can either climb into or push around the kitchen floor. Luckily a diaper box fits both requirements!

Isn't Colter so handsome?!!!

Don't mind the outfit (long story). Riley can light up the whole room!

My dad actually made this table for me when I was little. The kids love having snack outside on the porch. Notice the blue puppy (also known as "pup-pup"). We are now the proud owners of a whole litter (7) of puppies. I try to limit the kids to 3 puppies out and about at one time (Riley usually wants one in each arm) with 4 in reserve.

Riley and Colter are cracking me up these days. I love seeing their little personalities. They both love to dance, but Colter has some especially smooth dance moves. He must have gotten them from Jeff because I am a terrible dancer!

Everybody loves Governor. He is such a good sport. Lately the kids have been offering their toys to him only to snatch them away, laugh and run off. Gov gets very excited. It's hard to blame him when he finally snags one and sneaks into the other room. Of course at this point Riley and Colter are upset with him. Poor dog can't win.

Just a normal morning around here... Who said tissues need to go in boxes and wagons are for toys?

Especially for Grandma

My mom sent the kids a singing duck for Easter. Since she couldn't see their reaction for herself, I wanted to be sure and post a video.

Riley immediately fell in love with the duck. Colter, not so much. Actually, he really enjoys it now.

If you look closely you can see Governor jumping up and down like a rabbit outside the window.

3 months later...

They'll be 14 months old next week. Hard to believe. Things are crazy around here, but we're having a blast.

In case you're wondering: they're both cruising and pulling up on everything, Colter says "Gu" (sometimes this means Governor) and "Daddy." Riley doesn't say any words we understand yet, but I'm thinking she may bust out with a whole paragraph at the rate she is babbling - so expressive! Governor is much more interested in them (and in eating the occasional bath toy). Jeff loves wrestling with them, pulling them around the kitchen in the wagon that's actually designed for legos, and generally any rough housing they can get away with. They get so excited to play with their dad. They're finally eating a lot of what Jeff and I are having at meals, so that's been helpful as far as planning and getting dinner on the table. They love looking out the window, swinging at the park, going for walks in the stroller, and generally any outside activity except playing with their toys in the pack-n-play while I try and help Jeff get the yard under control. They would have none of that. Outside will be more fun when they can walk. And more exhausting. :) We changed our gym membership to the YMCA. I'm only averaging taking them once or twice a week so far, but we're getting into more of a groove. Colter still cries when I leave, but he stops before I even get to the stairs. They love being around other kids and I love a break here and there.

Our pediatrician basically told us last week that Colter has asthma. We've been doing breathing treatments since December. We do them twice a day (more if he gets a cold). I'm taking him to a specialist later this month to see what else we can be doing. The doctor told us that the better we control it now, the more likely (although no guarantee - when do they ever give you a guarantee in medicine!) he'll outgrow it. That's what we're hoping for.

Jeff and I are both stressed at work. He stresses while at work; I stress about going to work. I think it always stinks to be the new girl, no matter how old you get. My old job really felt like home and I miss that a lot. Believe me, I've tried to make working a couple days a week at PHOC make sense financially. No luck yet. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things I like about my job. I'm honored to take care of these kids. I just hate leaving my family in the evenings and they hate that I'm leaving. But, you gotta do what you gotta do and I'm very grateful to have a job!

Don't worry, we did celebrate Riley and Colter's birthdays. I'll post more later.

Movie update

Riley started pulling up last week!

So I started this post exactly one week ago. I didn't anticipate it taking me a week to finish, but that's how things go around here sometimes. Since last week both babies got sick again with fevers, coughs, and icky noses. Yuck. Come on, Spring!!! Good news is that I found out yesterday I'll be working every Sunday and Monday night starting at the end of February. This is exactly the schedule I wanted, so I am very thankful. God really took care of us. It is such a relief to look forward to some consistency. I've already gotten to know a lot of the Sunday night nurses and am thankful to have a great group of coworkers again.

Santa gave us a Flip Video camera for Christmas. It's super easy to use and almost as small as my camera, so we've taken a fair number of videos. Here are some of my favorites. For some reason the video won't load on blogger, so I'm making do with a youtube link for now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMJ96cZQ8C8

Other than that, here's a random run-down of what's going on with the twins...

Colter now has 6 teeth - hard to believe! Riley's still making do with 2, but it doesn't slow her down in the eating department. We've pretty much moved to 1 nap a day, as long as they don't get up too early. They usually go down between 12:30 and 1pm and sleep anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hours. (Riley is my 3 hour girl!) 7:30am is there average wake-up time these days. I can deal with that. We've started moving Riley into the pack-n-play in the other room when we go to bed so they don't wake each other up in the morning. They used to babble to each other first thing in the morning, but that stopped working a few weeks ago. Now they babble to themselves. Whatever works. They are taking a sippy cup at least once every day. I actually timed them yesterday because it seeemed like they had finished their milk especially quickly - try 3 minutes! Most of the time, Colter will clap his hands when you ask. Both of them turn to find Governor when you ask them where he is. I keep thinking I hear Colter saying "Gu, gu," but there's no way of telling. Jeff thinks he may have said Dada. Jeff taught Riley which button makes the songs play on their mini piano. We've started the weaning process. They love drinking from their sippy cups, so I think they'll transition without a problem. As Mom has said, "I think they're ready, Leslie." Well, I'm finally ready too. I get plenty of snuggles during story times and when they wake up from their naps. One of my favorite times is reading them their bedtime stories. I zip them in their sleep sacks, sit them on our bed with their backs to the edge, kneel behind them, and hold the book in front with my arms circling them so they don't lean back and fall. All three of our heads are together and I give them a little kiss on the cheek when we get to "Goodnight to the old lady whispering, 'hush.'" What is it that's so calming about the book Goodnight Moon? Riley currently has the runny nose of the house. Today I went in the playroom and found Colter's hair standing on end. Turns out that snot (Riley's) has better hold than any of the hairsprays from the 80s. I know, very gross. Colter has started throwing little fits when he doesn't think lunch is coming fast enough or doesn't want to wait to get his diaper changed. It's all I can do not to laugh when he makes his whole body thrash around. Riley insists on having a toy in each hand at all times (even while changing clothes). Colter is constantly stealing toys from Riley, who steals them right back. Governor doesn't know what to do with himself now that the babies are on the move. Not true - he knows to get up and move when they're making a lunge for his tail or feet. Even he'd have to admit he's enjoying all the Cheerios he finds on the floor and in their booster seats.

We really are still out here!

OK, so the combo of sick babies, sick husband, and working nights is kicking my butt (sorry, Mom!). Thankfully, Jeff's tooth is better, Riley is completely well, and Colter's antibiotics are working. As for the night shifts...that will work out too.

I will do a bigger update (promises, promises), but at least wanted to post my latest favorite picture. I LOVE my pudgy babies!!!!

Where do the days go?

No time for pictures tonight, but I at least wanted to get something out there.
We are enjoying sharing the Christmas season with Riley and Colter. We took them to the Christmas program at church on Sunday and had a blast! They loved all the music. I couldn't believe they made it through the whole thing, but they did. Colter flirted with the people behind us and Riley made friends with one of the trumpet players (we were sitting in the first row). It was so much fun to see everything through their eyes.
They were quite the little troopers yesterday. I took them out to run errands yesterday after they woke up from their afternoon nap. I knew it would take a long time (traffic!!!) so I packed a picnic dinner and fed them in the car between going to the mall and the post office. We could have gone home in between, but it's such a production to get them both upstairs into the house, unbundle them, feed them, rebundle them, carry them downstairs, etc. It turns out they would have been miserable if I'd tried to make it home to feed them because it took forever to get back from the mall. They were not happy with me. But, we got our packages mailed and I think they actually enjoyed visiting the post office. Go figure.
A few days ago we discovered Colter has his third tooth. Thank goodness there is a reason for all the fussing he's been doing. He's also learned to push himself up into a sitting position. He still prefers rolling as his mode of transportation, but he's giving us some signs that he's interested in this whole crawling thing. Riley is crawling more and more. She gets the funniest look of concentration on her face whenever she does it.
I worked today, so I haven't seen them since last night. It's time to go sneak into their room and take a peak at my little cuties.

Playdate with Caroline

Our little friend Caroline came over for a little while today.

They played,

jumped,

ate,

and performed their very own Cirqu du Soleil Baby.

For those who are curious, we are surviving the whole going back to work thing. I've always wondered how working moms did it, but I now have an even better understanding of how hard it is! Thank goodness I'm only working twice a week. We have two nannies, so even though my schedule won't be consistent, we should be able to line one of them up to care for the babies. They both are very sweet and affectionate. Jeff has now experienced caring for both of them for an entire day. He did great - especially when you consider they both weren't feeling well (yucky colds). Work is stressful but manageable. I think I'm really going to like it once I get through the "being new" phase. I've met some great people and my patients are amazing! I miss my old coworkers though. I don't start working night shift for a couple weeks, so we'll see how that goes. I'm looking forward to not missing an entire day of being with Riley and Colter. It stinks to leave before they're awake and get home after they're asleep. It sure does make me appreciate the days I have at home!

Ready for the cold

Don't we look cute in our hats?

"If you're not going to eat this string, then I'll take it!"

Thanksgiving 2008

We had a great Thanksgiving with my brother and his family. It was pretty low key and not very stressful (which is amazing, considering we had 3 babies under 10 months).

It was strange to be doing Thanksgiving dinner without any parents. I had to keep reminding myself that WE are parents now!

Nicole had a great turkey recipe and helped me get the bird in the oven. She took charge of the gravy making. Since I've never made gravy in my life, this was a good thing!

Jeff and Matt handled the carving. Alan served as our table decoration.

Riley and Colter debated on pulling the whole meal off the table. And Governor was elected for clean-up crew.

I'm so glad we finally got Riley and Colter together with their youngest cousin.

After many weeks of doing yoga moves across the room...

Riley can finally crawl!

The motivating factor was a book I had left on the floor. I'm so proud!!!

We had a big day today. Besides Riley's new skill, the three of us met a bunch of friends at the mall downtown to ride the Pink Pig. This is an Atlanta Christmas tradition. Turns out the ride used to go around the toy store (above the toys!), but now it's in a big tent on the parking deck. Not quite the same, but still fun.

I was really bummed when we got in line to buy tickets and found that each baby has to ride with an adult and each seat only holds two people. Ugh. Thank goodness for friends! I rode twice - once with Riley and once with Colter. Thanks to Julie and Tressa for holding a baby! I think Riley enjoyed the ride more than Colter. Maybe it was all the pink.

I'll post Thanksgiving pictures soon. We had a great time with Uncle Matt, Aunt Nicole, and cousin Alan!

Quick note

It's too crazy around here to post some pictures, but I wanted to at least say that we're home from N.C. We had a great visit! It's back to the real world now. I started orientation today. Riley and Colter did well. I sure do appreciate all the extra work that working mothers do to get their kids ready for the next day. Yikes! Since Thanksgiving is on its way, I thought I'd list a few things we're especially grateful for right now:
2 good little travelers (It's amazing!)
safe travels
a new job for me
we think we have childcare figured out
good friends who are willing to keep the kids this week
wonderful families
healthy children (this job definitely won't let me take this for granted)

That's all for now.

Gotcha!

Jeff and I are constantly finding Colter with his sock in his mouth. I could care less except a soggy sock makes for a cold foot. I thought I'd caught him at it again, but this time it was Riley who had his sock! Why should she let her feet get cold?Riley and Colter love sitting on the floor and taking toys out of the toybox. I enjoy watching them paying attention to what the other one is playing with.

Governor is usually close at hand to see if there's anything he'd like to snag. We lost a little wrist rattle the other day. I still think he's doing well though, considering he's only ruined three little toys so far.Gigi and Papa Jim stopped by tonight to say goodbye to the babies. I'm taking them to N.C. tomorrow to see the Raleigh side of their family before I start my new job. We'll be back on Thursday!

A House Divided

Our family has voted. Too bad we only have pictures of the three Democrats in the family.

Look how excited they are! FYI, this is not our yard. Jeff and I try not to get into politics with each other too often. It never ends up being much fun.
Of course they'll be making their own decisions about politics when they grow up. However, I did enjoy walking to the polls with them and having them be a part of things.

They even got their own Georgia Voter stickers.

Happy Halloween!

Aren't these the cutest, plumpest chickens you've ever seen??

My mom found these costumes at a great consignment sale in North Carolina. The twins looked adorable! We weren't sure if they'd tolerate wearing them for very long, but they made it more than an hour. It helped that we were outside the whole time. It's chilly enough that all that chicken fluff kept them warm. This was the second year our cul-de-sac had a Halloween party. We set up a bunch of tables and chairs and had dinner together before passing out candy to the trick-or-treaters. It was so much more fun than running back and forth to answer the door. Plus, the kids really like it because they get to just walk down the line where we're sitting and collect their candy. I even heard a skeleton say, "This is the best Halloween ever!" Jeff and I didn't do much decorating this year. In fact, we went to get pumpkins for the kids at four o'clock this afternoon! We started a new family tradition and walked with Riley and Colter down the street (1/2 mile) to a local church that sets up a pumpkin patch each year. While the kids were more interested in eating the hay, I think we all had fun. Jeff and I laughed when we imagined us in the future, dragging a couple of teenagers down the street to the pumpkin patch to keep up the tradition.

We've got a praise to share - I got the job at the Children's hospital!! I am so excited. I start orientation on November 17th. It will be hard to be away from Riley and Colter during orientation, but the long term plan is for me to just work one or two nights a week. Now I need to get to work on figuring out a plan for childcare.