15 Months Old

In the tote

We are starting them young!

Things have been going very well these last few weeks.  The twins have been healthy and happy, despite a few bouts with teething.  They are both walking all over the place and starting to talk more and more.  Both babies say book, ball, momma, dada, bye bye, and baba (bottle).  Tayden tries to repeat everything we say - which is so funny.  Today he starting saying hey baby.  We have been practicing counting to 10 and they will try and repeat the numbers.  They still love books and our nightly storytime.  We celebrated my sister's 30th birthday last weekend with dinner and a trip to the park.  It was the first time for any of the three babies to go to the park.  They loved swinging and sliding.  Brooklyn walked up and down the sidewalk and thought it was great fun.  Tayden's occupational therapist came this week and was thrilled to see him walking and talking.  She said that he has definitely closed the developmental gap in many areas and is very close in the others.  He will have his formal, yearly evaluation next month that will give us specific information as to where he is at on the developmental scale.  She suggested we start teaching them some sign language and let them explore scribbling with crayons.  We are in need of a toy overhaul.  A lot of their toys are no longer holding their attention, so we need to get a few more age appropriate toys like big blocks.  Brooklyn figured out how to not only climb on top of the tote keeping them out of the kitchen, but when we took the lid off to keep her from climbing, she discovered that she could get in the tote.  We now have two totes stacked on top of each other and she will try to pick up the fence and slide past it into the kitchen.  They are definitely always on the move!  We are slowly transitioning to sippy cups.  It has been a real challenge to find one that they both like.  They still love to eat and are now almost always eating what we are eating at that meal.  Their sleep schedule is still great.  They nap for 2-3 hours each day and then sleep from about 10:30-9:30.  I am really looking forward to the summer and having time off to spend with them each day.  My best friend Lindsy has invited me to spend the night at her lake house in Granbury tomorrow night.  It will be my first Girl's Night Out / overnight trip away from the babies.  I know that I will miss them, but they will be in good hands with Tim.  I am really looking forward to catching up with Lindsy and seeing her beautiful new house.  I will post pictures soon.  Have a great weekend!

NICU Reunion at Nash Farms

Today we attended the 2nd Annual Baylor Grapevine NICU Reunion.  It was ironic that to register we had to put on an armband.  The last time Tim or I put on a band it signified the official beginning of our journey with premature twins.  What a difference 14 months makes!  We were blessed to see so many of the friends we made during our two month stay.  Several nurses were there including Janice, the nurse that placed the twins in my arms for the very first time.  Nurse Stephanie had to work, so she couldn't make it.  We saw the Peet family with their triplets who were already in the NICU when we arrived and the Simon family with their twins that arrived during our stay.  Both of these families meant a lot to us and we were so glad to catch up with them.  It is amazing to think that each family there had their own bumpy beginnings, but that today we were able to celebrate healthy, thriving babies!!!  Just another wonderful reminder of God's greatness!  Brooklyn and Tayden loved checking everyone out.  They got to see roosters and a cow up close and personal and they both rode a pony for the first time!  Neither one of them seemed scared at all and really loved it.  It was definitely a great time for all of us!

Brooklyn and Will

Tayden with Will and Alex

The Simon and Russell twins

Brooklyn's 1st Pony Ride

Tayden's 1st Pony Ride

Tara Peet and Adelaide

Farmer Tayden

The Peet triplets and Russell twins with Dr. Kappler

My beautiful Mother's Day Flowers

Two Walkers

Great book and print awareness!!!

Duct tape here we come!

Have you ever wondered how many wipes come in a box>

Wipes?  What wipes?  I don't see anything!

I am proud to announce that both babies are now walking!!!  Tayden had been taking a step here and there, but last night he walked a few steps.  There is no turning back now!  Tayden loves copying what we do and sounds that we make.  He has at least five teeth and still loves to eat.  He is a fairly neat eater, picking up small pieces of food and then transporting them to his mouth.  Tayden has starting standing up to his sister when she tries to take his pacifier or any toy that he is holding.  He almost always has the sweetest, most laid back disposition - always smiling.  He is a happy boy!   

Brooklyn continues to become a better, faster walker with each passing day.  She has mastered walking in shoes, and spends most evenings circling the living room to show off her skills.  She has also mastered the art of taking off her diaper in the blink of an eye.  Usually we catch her in time, but earlier this week she took off her diaper and tinkled in her bed.  We have discovered that if we keep pants or shorts on her she is less likely to pay attention to her diaper.  I am guessing that our next step will be duct tape!  She has three teeth and still loves to eat as well.  She is a very messy eater - she scoops her food by the handful and then when she starts to get tired she rubs her messy hands all over her eyes and face.  Brooklyn can be a little dramatic at times - what girl isn't?  She tries to grab the spoon when I am feeding her and wants to feed herself.  She has the most precious laugh that is infectious and heart warming.  She is such a sweet girl!

The twins both love to play with all of their plastic Easter eggs, pulling them apart and trying to fit them back together.  We have also discovered that they love Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You Do See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, what Do You Hear?  When we read them they are captivated and Brooklyn will even start crying when we have to put them away - that's my girl!

On Saturday we will be attending Baylor Grapevine's NICU reunion.  We are so excited to see many of the friends we made during the twins' two month hospital stay.  So many of the nurses became like family to us and we can't wait for them to see the babies.  We hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!