75% of the way there

Yes, I'm the lame math teacher.  The boys are 75% of the way to 1 year old today.  As much as I enjoy watching them at each phase they've gone through already, I really really enjoyed watching them grow this month.  Here are some highlights:

• Some of their new foods include pureed black beans, pureed and small pieces of ground turkey, cheerios, pieces of kiwi, melon, and peaches.  We've tried giving them peas and carrots without pureeing it but they look at me like I'm crazy.  No, I take that back, they start screaming at me and if I don't put something more enticing on their tray, they will scream their bloody head off.  And if they are that wound up, they won't accept anything besides cheerios to calm them down.  I don't know if it is the texture or what because they LOVE pureed peas and carrots.  They also enjoy Gerber yogurt melts and mild cheddar lil' crunchies (aka cheese poofs).  

• At the beginning of the month, they enjoyed climbing all over anyone and could stand as long as they were holding onto something sturdy.  Well now they pull themselves up on anything that is taller than them, and will stand their confidently as long as they want to.  I'm even impressed that they can get back down without freaking out or going head first.  They are pretty careful with that transition, surprisingly. 

• They now enjoy standing in their cribs when they wake up from a nap, which is pretty cute if you ask me.  

• What is pretty scary though, is turning your head for maybe 15 seconds in the basement and looking back to see them climbing the stairs.  Okay, so they only made it to the second step, but that is still too many steps for a 9 month old if you ask me!

• Both boys have started crawling on all fours, although Ellis is more content army crawling because he is so fast with it.  

• Logan has started playing peek-a-boo - He absolutely loves the play silks he got for Christmas (thanks Aunt Nicole!!)

• Ellis waved, although I'm not sure if he really meant to do it.  He only did it once, so I'm not sure if it was just a fluke.

• Logan has gained 3 teeth this month for a total of 4, and Ellis has 3 so far confirmed.  Sometimes when he opens his mouth, it looks like he might have another on the bottom, but he hasn't allowed me to put my finger in his mouth to see if it has actually come through yet.

• They crack me up so much.  Between their laughs, snorts, wide gummy (with a few teeth poking through) smiles - they are just so funny.  I have yet to get a picture with their cute little teeth showing because they are still pretty short, but hopefully I'll get a chance to do that soon.

• Ellis likes to growl like a lion ever since Troy showed him a youtube video of lions.  I have been making animal sounds too and Logan has been making a piggy sound.  I don't know if he is copying me or if it is just ironic that he is making the oink/snorty sound.

• Ellis clearly and repeatedly says "da da da da" while Logan has just started saying "ma ma ma", but usually he does that when he is tired.  As Nicole said, why is it that when they say "dada" they are so excited, but when they say "mama" they sound so sad?!?  

Their 9 month appointment (with NO vaccinations!!) is next week, so I will have weight and length/height updates then.  

We have had an amazing 2011 and we are so excited to see what 2012 brings us.  Tonight we plan to stay in and visit with Val and Derek.  Neither Val nor I are sure we will make it until midnight, but hey, that's what motherhood brings, right?!?  Happy New Year everyone!

1 month scrapbooks

I have finally finished Ellis and Logan's 1 month scrapbooks that my mom prepped for me.  It's crazy to look back just 8 short months ago and see how much they have changed already.  Here are a few of my favorite layouts/pictures for each of them (feel free to click on any picture to enlarge it):

Ellis's album -- 

 Logan's album --

Thanks again mom for giving me these albums.  It was a big help for putting together such great memories of their first month.  Now that we are closing in on 9 months in the next 2 days, I must start looking at their 1st year album! I better get a move on it!

Music lover

Yesterday the boys went to Grandma's so I could have some "me" time.  I had a scrapbook project I've been wanting to get done, and one that I've been wanting to start, but I just haven't had the time to do either.  Finishing their 1 month scrapbook that my mom gave me back in May, was my goal (which I plan to take a few pictures of my favorite pages and blog them in the days to come).  One of the elements of the scrapbook was a note for me to write to each one of them, to put at the end of their scrapbook.  I was re-writing Logan's letter and it was interesting to see what I noticed about him after only one month.  I stated in it that I noticed that he was interested in music (Troy played his guitar around them quite a bit back then), and how much he calmed down when music was around.  Well, last night was proof that he still enjoys music.  While we were eating dinner, he was crawling by us and was a little fussy (probably because we wouldn't pick him up -- not easy to eat with a little one trying to grab your food!).  Troy grabbed my iPad and put on James Blunt and instantly he stopped fussing and he was 100% engaged in the video.  So crazy...

What a Christmas!

We had such a great first Christmas with the boys!  Christmas morning, the boys gave me my gift by sleeping in until 7:30am!  They used to sleep longer on the weekends, but after getting up so regularly around 6am during the week, they hadn't slept much longer than that on the weekends.  Needless to say, I was very thankful =).

After eating breakfast, the boys opened up a few gifts from us and a gift that Scott and Amy sent.

It took them a while to figure out what to do, and we helped them open 95% of it, but it was still fun.  

Around lunch time we headed to the Reaves house for Christmas with my side of the family.  Unfortunately we don't have a lot of photos (it is hard helping them open gifts and take pictures at the same time), but here are a few.

The boys were definitely spoiled this year with all the gifts they got.  I am actually taking Nicole's suggestion of putting a few of the toys away and rotating some in and some out, every so often.  This way they won't get bored with them as quickly.  Between all the toys, and the clothes, and even the snacks, the boys must have been VERY good little boys this year!  Troy and I made out pretty well too.  We do a Secret Santa exchange between my parents, Mark, and Nicole.  Troy got a knife, a book, and a winter hat.  I got a shirt, a sweater, and iTunes gift card, and a yummy smelling candle.  What a great time!!

Yesterday, we spent some time with Troy's siblings.  Shaun and Julie, who were in town from Seattle, as well as Sky, got together at Julie's moms house.  It was great seeing Shaun and Julie, since I hadn't seen them both in about a year.  They were in town in May, and got to meet the boys then, but I wasn't in town at the time. The boys were very well-behaved and were spoiled even more with some toys and clothes from their aunt and uncles!  And although Troy brought his camera, we forgot to get any pictures of us all  =(

Today we've just been playing around with all the new toys.  Logan started doing peek-a-boo the other day and loves the play silk from Nicole and Mark and was playing peek-a-boo with that.  So cute!

Logan has also found it funny to stand up in his crib.  I tried putting him down for his nap, then went to go get Ellis and by the time I came back upstairs, this is what I saw!  Once he saw me, he even started jumping up and down.  I guess he wasn't ready for a nap after all!

Although last week I was dreading working (most schools had last week off, although we have this week and next week off), I am very happy that this is just the beginning of my vacation.  I look forward to getting caught up on some things and spending time with the boys.  They are quite the ham-bones lately.  With the big smiles they have lately and the little snorts they are making when they get really excited, they are very entertaining to be around.  

I hope everyone had as good of a Christmas as we did!!  Enjoy the last week of 2011!

Artsy Fartsy

Last week's art activity that I finally got around to taking a picture of -

Week in Review

We had a pretty busy week around here.  Let's start from the beginning:

• Ellis and Logan had a few rough nights earlier in the week and one day actually woke up right when I needed to get ready for work.  Clearly I can not entertain them while I get ready, so they joined daddy in bed until I was done.

• The reason for the rough nights?  New teeth.  Ellis had two new teeth pop through this week.  His top right and bottom left tooth.  Any day now he should be getting his bottom right one.

• We had art night on Tuesday.  The boys finger painted Christmas trees (with much guidance).  I hope to add a little title to their art work and then I will take a picture of it and post it on here.  

• After the boys had their first taste of non-pureed fruit last weekend, we decided it was time to try some more.  We are currently trying peaches, which Ellis seems to prefer more and bananas, which they are both figuring out still.  Of course I was hoping it could be eaten as a finger food, but the peaches are just too slippery for that.  They also started Cheerios!  YUMMY!  They love their Cheerios and have no problem eating it all on their own!

• We took a long overdue trip up north so the boys could meet their Great Grandpa Frahm and Great Aunt Georgine.  It was a nice visit and the boys did really well the entire time.  They also did well with their dog, Kayla (I think Bella helped prep them), and didn't even mind the kisses she was giving them.  Although they had a much shorter nap than normal, it made for a very quiet drive home! 

• Today was cookie baking day.  In past years, my mom, Nicole, and I get together to make cookies before Christmas.  Unfortunately we waited too long to plan a specific date and Nicole's calendar filled up quickly.  So, it was just my mom and I this year (you were greatly missed, sis!).  We had a good time making 5 different cookies, named below.  

Clockwise, from the top:  No-bake butterscotch, Lemon poppy seed crisps,
 Triple Chocolate Bars, Russian Teaballs, and Coconut Biscuits.

• While we baked, Troy had baby-duty.  This morning, he serenaded the boys with his guitar and Ellis was ultra-interested in what he was playing.  

• The boys continue to enjoy standing up against things.  Logan even pulled himself to standing, in his crib earlier today, probably as a way of saying he didn't want to nap - ha!  Logan likes to do the downward dog (yoga pose) too.  They are just so funny to watch, as they learn different things to do.  

• Ellis is continuing to act like mommy -- this time by being chatty.  He is starting to babble even more and said "dadadadada" right when daddy was about to feed them.  So cute, but dang, why can't they ever say "mamamamama" first?   

That's all for now.  I am wishing everyone a very good last 7 days (well, 6 full days at this point) until Santa comes next weekend.  I am definitely looking forward to 2 weeks off....ahhh....

Brotherly Love

We have never actually used the pack and play for playing purposes -- mainly for napping purposes, but one day when they wouldn't stop climbing on each other and upsetting each other, we put Logan in there to separate them (and also see how he would react with playing in there).  He actually did quite well playing in there for a while.  The cutest part was when Ellis crawled over to him and put his hand up to the side of the pack and play.  Logan saw him and put his hand where Ellis's hand was, like they were trying to hold hands.  As much as they might already annoy the other one, they still love each other!

Dear Santa

Tis the season for some Santa and some "ho ho ho."  In order to prepare for our brunch with Santa this morning, Morgan was so kind to let the boys get used to this "strange" man, by letting them borrow her Santa toy.  Thank you very much for sharing your toy, Morgan. 

Unfortunately they didn't smile quite so easily today.  Perhaps it was the fact that Santa was SO much bigger than the doll, or because we handed them off to a strange man and appeared to walk away as we tried to get their picture.  Logan was the first one to let out a howl, but he sooned quieted down and smiled, but just in time for Ellis to start panicking.  Pretty typical response if you ask me.  It was a great time and the food was awesome.  Thanks to Pam and Marty for inviting us!

Wondering who the heck this guy was...

After checking this strange man out, Logan
 decided he was not okay with sitting on his lap.

Slightly okay - for a second

Now Ellis' turn to start to freak out

As for the rest of last week and yesterday, here is a recap:

• Ellis officially got his first tooth -- his top left one.  Unfortunately, it made for a rough Wednesday night, but again, those nights happen with little babies teething.  If you recall reading about a month ago that Ellis got his first tooth, please delete that from your memory.  Long story short, I must have had a delirious moment at 4am when I thought I felt one in his mouth.  
• They truly enjoy standing up, pushing themselves up on anything they can, and actually yesterday, as I was holding Logan up, he started picking his foot up and down as if he wanted to walk.  Slow down boys!
• Logan got his second tooth this morning -- his top left one.
• Yesterday was a fun-filled day too!  First, we celebrated the soon-to-be addition to the Chandler family, with a baby shower for Val.  She got a lot of great and necessary gifts for baby Delevan that will be arriving in 8 short weeks!  It was a nice afternoon out, and also a great time to be able to catch up with Nicole.  Sure, we have talked on the phone and emailed each other, but its just not the same as hanging out and really catching up.  Definitely something I wish we could do more often.  Afterwards, Derek and Val came out to our house, and Bryan, Erin, and Jim joined us to hang out for the evening.  It was a great night of chatting and relaxing.  Another thing I don't get much time to do lately, so I soaked up every minute that I could.  

Bathtub graduation

Today our big boys took their first bath together in the "big boy" tub!  Up until now, we had been giving them a bath in a countertop bathtub that fit between the sinks in my bathroom.  They were getting a bit big for it and it was quite a mess with them splashing around so much, so last night we got a non-skid mat to put on the bottom of my tub and let them try it out today.  At first they both were a little confused and scared (a little crying from both when they first went in), but then we showed them their toys and then they quickly got into it.  Logan even went from the sitting position to the crawling position to play closer with the toys.  All in all, it was a big hit -- and it was fun to allow them to play in the water too!

Logan showing off

Logan just laughs while Ellis plays with the octopus

Happy December and Happy 8 months!

Yet another month has flown by and boy are they growing fast. Here are some highlights of the past month:

• They confidently sit up on their own and are pretty good with transitioning to crawling from the seated position, all on their own.

• They love crawling over EVERYTHING and EVERYONE! If you are on the floor with them, they will crawl over to you and crawl on you until you have no choice but to pick them up or help them stand. Ellis also enjoys crawling over Logan and recently Logan paid him back with crawling on top of him. Ellis really likes to crawl through his fort on a daily basis too (aka kitchen table and chairs). Although they are still army crawling, they frequently get up on all fours and rock back and forth a lot. It's just a matter of time now.

• Logan is a pretty good show-off when it comes to drinking his bottle. He can now do it one handed!

• For our Secret Santa name exchange gathering a few weeks ago, it was so much fun to not only get together as a whole family, but to see the all the cousins interacting. Morgan was such a good big cousin and Parker did a lot of checking them out -- probably wondering "who are these babies and why are they playing with my toys?" Speaking of toys, they absolutely adored all the toys that Morgan and Parker had. They were content the entire time, playing with (and sucking on) all their toys! Just another reminder to myself that they would like some new toys =).

• Logan is getting a bit gutsy with moving onto different "levels". Mark and Nicole have a little step between their family room and dining room and he spent a considerable amount of time going up and down that pretty well. In our basement, he crawled over to the treadmill and tried to climb up it. Obviously that is a little harder and falling off that wouldn't be okay, so we had to barricade it with big pillows from our couch (which he was not happy about).

• While they enjoy climbing all over us lately, they have also progressed to climbing up us, to the point of standing. And they LOVE to stand. Then if/when we put them down to sit or crawl, they will come back and demand you do it again. They haven't yet completely pulled themselves up on their own yet, but with your little bit of help, they can stand up and as long as they have something to hold on to, they can stay up for quite a bit.
• On the eating side of things, they just love eating. They have been introduced to avocado (NOT fans of it -- they just let it sit in their mouth with a nasty look on their face), broccoli, peaches, green beans, and mango (all of which they liked!). Gerber puffs are practically like crack cocaine to them. When we show them the container their legs go a mile a minute in their high chair. They are really good with the pincer grasp and can pick up and eat the puffs rather easily. Hopefully once they get another tooth or two we can introduce more finger foods to them. A random side note - they use their left hand mostly to eat their puffs. I wonder if this means anything?!?

• The boys are both becoming a bit more verbal. Logan makes the most high-pitched, squeaking noise I've ever heard. My mom said that yesterday, he was trying to squeal so high that no sound came out. The look on his face, the scrunched up forehead, when he squeals is hilarious. Ellis is babbling a bit more. Whenever we hear him, we repeat it back to him and sometimes he'll even laugh at us as if we just said something funny. Boy I can't wait to see how they interact with each other and us, in the coming months.

• Quite often I have found myself just laughing at them this past month. Not laughing in a mean way, but just a very funny way. They just do things that crack me up. Then I start laughing and they laugh back, which just starts a vicious cycle of laughing. Ellis is very observant and watches when Logan squeals and if we squeal back at him, we can see Ellis out of the corner of our eye and he is smiling at us and thinks it is so funny too.

• They are definitely outgrowing their little bath tub that we use on the counter. Now that they are good at sitting up, we might try to give them their first joint bath in the bath tub. Perhaps this weekend?!?

• Their personalities have been changing a little bit this month. Logan used to be the laid-back one that would have no problem playing by himself, with Ellis needing more attention, but now that seems to have switched a bit. Logan is a little more clingy lately and Ellis is content all on his own for much longer periods of time, although Ellis has been waking up more in the middle of the night and he is NOT happy whatsoever. I don't know if it is the little cold that he has that is stuffing him up or if it is a teething pain. I can't say I mind the clinginess though -- I love cuddling my little boys. Having Ellis fall asleep in my arms one night last week was perfectly fine with me. I honestly can't remember how long it has been since that has happened. They don't do well when they are being held with their head by our shoulder because they are usually too antsy and squirming around too much to look at everything going on around them. But what a priceless moment when I went to soothe Ellis when he was fussing one night last week and I went to rock him and he just finally gave in and rested his head on my shoulder and fell asleep! Those are the moments!

I'm getting very excited to spend the holidays as a bigger family this year. This weekend I hope to put up our tree and do a bit of decorating. We are strategically placing the tree in the living room -- a room the boys don't play in because I really don't want to have to get them away from the tree every 2 seconds. Although we spend more time in the family room and in the basement, it just seems most practical to keep the tree out of either of those rooms.

Happy December everyone and happy 8 months to the best boys a mom could ask for. Love you both xoxoxoxo!