New Stats

Tucker: 19 lbs 11 oz, 27 inches long-90th percentile for weight, 75th for height.

Cooper: 17 lbs 12 oz., 26.5 inches long-75th percentile for weight and height.

I guess I grow 'em big.

Update November 19th doctor visit:

Tucker: Still 19-11, but 28 inches long

Cooper: 18 pounds and also 28 inches long! What a growth spurt!

The Coolest Thing...

The boys have reached an age of discovery lately that has me just tickled. Each and every thing they see becomes the coolest and most interesting thing they've discovered yet. Among their recent finds:

FEET!!!

Cooper has become very aware of his appendages. His hands reach for and grab whatever is within the 6-8 inch radius from his body. As he has wanted more and more to sit up and see what is going on, he has become fascinated by his own feet. I try over and over to get him to try sitting up on his own, yet all he wants to do is bend all the way over and try to pick up those things at the end of his legs. When on his back, he will curl up as far as he can and grasp his toes in an attempt to bring them to his mouth. He is a little too chubby to get them all the way to his face, but it is most adorable to see the glee on his face as he tries.

A BROTHER!

Both Tucker and Cooper have finally begun to enjoy one another's company. This morning as Tucker was playing in the "Step and Play Piano" in the living room, Cooper was lying on the floor within his brother's view. Cooper smiled at his brother and Tucker let out a delighted squeal which made Cooper begin to giggle like crazy, which in turn made Tucker belly laugh, which made Cooper giggle harder...etc. This went on for a good ten minutes. I wished I could have found the camera in time to tape it, but alas was too late. They have also begun to carry on small babbling conversations. I just love that they have taken an interest in one another. I'm not crazy about the efforts to grab, squeeze, pinch, eat and pretty much maul each other, but it had to happen sometime.

TOYS!!!

At last! All of the things that used to startle the twins about their toys-the squeaks, rattles, shakers and music-now excite and delight them. They squish, chew, throw and whack everything that makes it into their hands. I have to admit that it makes it a little easier to get a few more things done if I can distract them for a moment.

DADDY!

For a majority of their six month existence, mommy was the only thing that could make them feel better when they were upset. They have now begun to light up when they see their daddy. It warms my heart for them to recognize him because for a while they didn't get to spend much time with him and therefore treated him like a stranger. Cooper goes to Daddy for fun and Mommy for comfort. He rough houses with Dad (as much as you do with a six month old) but snuggles, eats and whimpers for soothing with mommy. It's nice to know that the "I want my mommy" bond has been created.

And the jury is still out on this next one.....THE POUT.

I'm not quite sure I love this development. It is so cute when they talk and coo and express themselves, however at the same time it is not very cute when they both wail and moan and scold me for not spending every moment I have holding and playing with them. They have learned all of the buttons they need to push for mommy to reach her limit and give in. I can't believe they have figured this out so soon. Little stinkers.

I guess that just about covers it for now. They seem to grow in leaps and bounds daily. It is so amazing to watch. The pout is being employed in full force at the moment so I'd better take care of it. No rest for the mommies.

"Bottoms Up!"

Heave Ho!

Our little boys are getting so big and learning so much. They are very alert, curious little monkeys who desperately want to crawl. The best they can do so far is to hoist their tiny bottoms into the air with their faces in the carpet and push with all their might. They get about an inch away from where they were, lift their heads to see how far they got and go right back to trying to get farther. I have noticed a couple of differences in these two. Cooper is a very hands on kind of curious; reaching out and grabbing anything he finds interesting and usually trying to get it into his mouth. Tucker, on the other hand, will zero in on something that catches his eye and lean WAY over until his nose is practically touching it and try to pick it up with his eyes. He's still figuring out those "hands" thingies. Both little darlings are cutting their first tooth and letting me know frequently how uncomfortable it is. I don't think there is one thing in this house that isn't slobber soaked and taste tested. Cooper doesn't mind the taste of the teething medicine, but Tucker HATES it. He gives me the worst sour expression every time I apply it to his gums. He has learned that if he shakes his head fast enough, mommy can't catch him. He does so every time I come near him with a finger of teething gel or a nasal aspirator to clean out his nose. It makes me giggle like crazy. While being frustrating it is still unbelievably cute.

As for TK and I, we don't get as much done as we would like now that the boys are semi-mobile. They roll into and onto each other often and neither one is a big fan of that. They have also begun to form strong attachments to us, which is great, yet they know if they say "mama" in a manner pitiful enough I will come to see what is wrong. Then they beam with pride at their accomplishment of bringing mommy back.

Well, I hear a little one stirring from his nap so I'll go for now. Love to all!

Cute Pics

Thinking?

"Poser."

Those Cheeks!

Some cute things the boys have done that were aught on camera:

Funny faces.

Waking up after camping out.

What a smile!

Gotta run. These boys take both hands!

Staycation

So, my family always goes camping over Labor Day weekend and TK though it might be fun to do so this year even though we were not with my family. Camping with two four month olds, however, was not something we wanted to try out in the middle of nowhere or up a mountain somewhere. Not wanting to sacrifice the three day weekend entirely, we decided to camp out in the backyard. Just in case things didn't go well, the house would only be about 50 feet away. We could retreat with our tail between our legs if need be. It was rather fun and a nice memory to make with the boys. Step 1: build a cozy fire in home made fire pit and have friends over. Also set up screen house to keep monstrously huge crickets and grasshoppers away from food and company.

Step 2: eat campfire food. Apparently Samantha wasn't into having her picture taken. We all had tin foil dinners and sodas and a really yummy pasta salad that the Hendersons made. It was a lot of fun.

Tucker got a little tired of all the fun and took a little snooze.

Dinner time for little Cooper. Well, not too little. 14 lbs 2.5 oz, 25.5 inches long this month. He sure is burning those calories. He is trying to crawl already and getting pretty good at it from the waist down. He still has to master things from the waist up.Both he and his brother really liked the outdoors.

One last bottle before it's bedtime. Tucker eats often and eats a lot. He is getting so big! (16 lbs 8 oz, 26 inches long at his last visit to the doctor on the 3rd of Sept.)

So, I got thirsty and there weren't any cups around. I improvised.

Step 3: get comfy in sleeping bags/crib and go to sleep. The boys slept right through a huge rain storm that blew the tent around and kept TK and I awake. It didn't bother them at all.

Cute little camper the next morning.

Step 4: take cheesy cute pictures for scrap booking. It was so cold the next morning. We were all bundled up in several layers.

Staying warm by the fire after breakfast. Because the house was so close, TK and I just had cold cereal and took the dishes right in to the dishwasher. It was nice to be "roughing it" only when we wanted to. :-p

Here we are after breakfast between our eating and sleeping quarters. It really was a fun experience. Now if I could just work on my wardrobe....what on earth was I wearing????

Cooper's giving you the eye! He was very snuggly in the morning.

The boys got very comfy and relaxed in the tent. It was like they had been camping dozens of times before. I'm sure this won't be our last backyard camp out.

Growing Pains

Growing babies mean lots of tired fussiness, but it also means new milestones and achievements and fun discoveries for the boys. It's pretty fun for me too. The boys can now babble with the best of them, and are very close to saying "mama"...sort of. Tucker has learned how to spit bubbles and thinks it is just the funnest thing in the world. Cooper is trying to crawl already and that makes me more than a little nervous. At least he hasn't quite figured out how to get on his stomach yet, but I think it will only be about another two weeks before he's got it down. Tucker couldn't care less about tummy time. I have yet to find the right motivation to get him to lift his head and look around. He just lays there and sucks his thumb. I guess that's an improvement over laying there crying. :-p

Their second round of shots is coming up next Thursday, the 3rd, and I'm not really looking forward to handling that on my own. Say lots of prayers for me! I am amazed that four months is almost here. They are getting so grown up! TK enjoys their ability to interact with him a little more. When they were small they weren't very much "fun." Now they talk and coo and laugh and kick and wave their arms and all kinds of fun stuff. The time has really flown by. I am astonished to think that just four months ago I was pregnant "out to here!" and waddling from appointment to appointment. Wow. Soon the weather will begin to turn and we will be stuck indoors for a long haul. I'm trying to go outside with them as much as I have the energy and time to so that they get to experience life outside of the living room. We go for family walks three times a week and they really love looking at all the wonderful things we pass like trees, houses, mailboxes, etc. They are just fascinated. They especially like cars and traffic lights. They are their father's sons. :-p

It is time for "mommy" to eat something and do some dishes and wash the bottles for the next round of feedings. I should also fold the laundry, but I'm feeling a little like a slacker today so that may just have to wait. I choose playing with my kids over chores hands down! Gotta run!

Three Months Old!!!

Wow. My sweet little boys are three months old already. That time just flew by. They are developing so rapidly. They love to face outward when they are held so they can see what's going on and they don't like being on the floor unless someone is entertaining them with something. They are quite curious little guys. They are discovering their hands and how easy it is to get them in their mouths and Cooper has even begun to clasp his hands as if he was praying. It is just adorable! They always smile in recognition of me and their Daddy and "Mimi" (grandma Pearl). They talk and half-giggle, and pre-sit (on the sofa). They also no longer nap as often as they used to which makes getting things done a little difficult. But time with them is worth more than having a clean kitchen or living room. Some day life will level out again and things will get done. :-p