15 - 20 month pictures of the twins

Life has been a bit crazy hectic. I just noticed that I hadn't posted monthly (birthday) pictures of the twins since 14 months. So, here we go, starting with 15 months:

15 months:

2013-1-1

16 months:

2013-2-1

17 months:

Let me say that getting decent photographs of the two of them together is becoming increasingly difficult as they get older.

2013-3-1

2013-3-1

18 months:

2013-4-1

19 months:

2013-5-1

20 months:

Now we're caught up to date, well at least on the monthly photographs (which for the other two, I did every month, on the anniversary of their birth, until they turned two years old).

2013-6-1

Potty training twins at 18 months!!

2013-4-23

The twins took longer to start talking than my oldest two did, who started say short, comprehensible, real words by 12 months of age. The twins are taking their sweet time in standing and walking, especially my son. All four of my children chooses to stand and walk late; it was about caution and fear of falling, not lack of muscle tone or coordination.

Anyways, yesterday, Christine communicated to me she really wanted to use the potty and kept pointing at the toddler potty until I sat her on it. Mind you, this was no trial run, keeping diaper and panties on and merely getting acquainted with the potty. This was serious get-stuff-done time.

The second time she sat on the potty, she pooped and peed on the potty, in the same sitting. I was so surprised. She's only 18 months old, and the other two children chose not to potty train until they were 3 1/2 and 3 years old. While twin girl was on the potty, her twin brother had this worried/jealous look and grunt. He, too, wanted to sit on the potty, like his twin sister. Unfortunately, I had only one potty, yesterday; so, he had to wait. But, numerous people had warned me that boys take longer to reach milestones; so, I didn't expect anything to happen. But, when it came his turned, he peed on the potty. Surprise, surprise!!

The twins have still continued to use the potty since then, including another bowel movement from Christine today. I purchased another toddler potty this morning. Good thing I did, because they have gone at the same time.

I am beyond excited the twins are potty training at 1 & 1/2 years of age. Hooray, hooray!!

Clogged ducts, now?!

Yesterday evening, I was getting ready to pump (not for the twins and even though I swore off pumping after pumping so much when my first born was a baby) and discovered some clogged ducts on the upper side of my right breast. Really?! Now??? When the twins are over 17 months old? I was shocked and scared. I even started to panic, recalling very vividly that unchecked clogged ducts that stay clogged, at least for me personally,very easily progress (or digress) into mastitis. Unfortunately, I have had mastitis when nursing every one of my children.

When I finished pumping, the hard part of my breast didn't seem to have softened much. Then I tried massaging it and manually expressing milk from that breast; nothing came out. Finally, out of desperation (have you experienced mastitis? it is so very painful), I woke the twins up, hoping they could help clear the problem. Though the would nurse simultaneously, it was Christine's turn to nurse on that side. Some 30-40 minutes later (I think I fell asleep for a few moments), I laid them down in their bed and any sign of the clogged ducts was gone. Thank you, thank you, Christine for doing your job (nursing) and for helping your mommy tremendously.

Literal interpretations at the preschool age

This morning, the four kids and I had a breakfast date at Starbucks. I'm frugal. So, this date involved packing our breakfasts, bringing them, and eating what we brought there. Anyways, while I was in line to buy some coffee, a gal was chatting up the oldest two, asking who was the oldest. When asked whether Isabella (my 6 year old) was the oldest, my four and a half year old (Victoria) replied: "Mama is the oldest."

Literally, Victoria is correct. Made me laugh.

But, amongst (her) siblings, Isabella is the oldest.

My babies at 14 months

My babies turned 14 months Saturday. Such sweetness. Fourteen months have flown by.

 2012-12-1

 

2012-12-1

2012-12-1

2012-12-1

2012-12-1

2012-12-1

Pampers wipes, not a Black Friday deal, but good enough for me!

I didn't go Black Friday shopping; no I did not. But, a few days ago, I did some shopping that was close enough for me.

King Sooper's individual boxes of Pampers wipes were on sale $1.99. But, they were also doing a greater sale, 4 for $.99 each.

See the paper on the right there? The coupons? Well, there were/are these $1.00 off coupons. I had four to use.

End of story? I spent $.25 (that's TWENTY FIVE CENTS) altogether, on four boxes of wipes. That's right $.25 was my total bill for purchasing 4 boxes of Pampers wipes.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Fall Festival

My second child had Fall Festival at her preschool last week. Did I mention that I love, love, love the autumn season? What's not to love? Beautiful leaves change colors, the weather changes a lot, the pace of life seems to slow a bit. . .

2012-10-24

2012-10-24

2012-10-24

So many activities and so much fun. These people at the preschool are amazing!

2012-10-24

Victoria is already at the point where she no longer wants me to take her photograph. I had to sneakily take one with her teacher.

2012-10-24

2012-10-24

2012-10-24

Dance, twirl, and shout, my beloved high-energy girl!

2012-10-24

Happy Autumn Festival!