Tree Fascination!

We had so much fun trimming the Christmas tree with the babies last night! They were absolutely crazed about putting the decorations on the tree and begged for "more" ornaments to hang. I don't recall seeing Jude so excited about something! They called the egg- shaped ornaments "b-balls" and just squealed at the sight of little crafted birdies sitting on the branches. If they are really excited about something they don't have a word for yet, they point to it and squeal- sounding like a squeaky toy!

While preparing dinner tonight, Petra was sitting on the counter "helping" me. Jude proceeded to bring all of the stuffed animals- one at a time- from the living room shelf into the kitchen to hand them to sister. Petra and I ended up with about 8 "friends" helping us do dinner- too cute!

Paci Addiction

I'm glad that we have been lenient about the time frame to deal with the pacifier addiction. I envisioned myself weaning them away from it much sooner, but it didn't feel right. First of all, it is still a total sleep prop. Second, the babies still love to put all kinds toys, crayons, markers, dog food, you name it, into their mouths. Having the paci has allowed Petra to stop the urge of eating the crayon and, while having the paci, actually get some color on a page. But the best reason is the adorable way she is learning language and self-expression, and to hear her request it. Her term for paci is "sashi" and is so cute to see her stand at the counter and point to the bowl where we keep them and say so passionately "sashi!" Or when she is tired and it is a whiny-cry "sashi," and lay me down in my crib." Will be interesting to see when we finally have that "bye bye paci" party and sail them off into the sky with balloons!

New Developments

I have been teaching the babies sign language along with trying to get them to say lots of words. Jude learned "more" immediately because he always wants more food! haha. I have been modeling the word and sign "please" for weeks... today for the first time he spontaneously "signed" please while saying please! It totally melted my heart to hear him say it in his little baby voice- and use the proper sign! He had not seen the sign all day so he remembered it and how to use it from previous days.

Petra has been sitting at the kitchen counter frequently to watch meal prep and I give her little jobs. Jude is interested also, but plays a bit more independently while I am cooking.... she's a mommy's girl! They are both very affectionate with us and each other. Petra was grabbing Jude and hugging him today. One of their cutest "games" is chasing each other from room to room while "stealing" each other's pacifiers. They "steal" it but are giggling wildly at the same time, then they catch up and give it back to each other. I think when they turn 2 we will have a "bye bye Paci" party!

Imitation Galore

I feel like the babies have already turned 2! Observing strong streaks of independence and less huggie-baby, or then the next second whiny-clingy and "hold me". Today I was cracking up during lunch! I have been training them by "spanking" their arm/hand with a spoon for disobedience for many months now. So after a correction at the high chair today, Jude started slapping his own arm and saying "no," - with a smile on his face. Petra then imitated. Well, Mommy (or Daddy of course) is the only one allowed to "spank," but I couldn't help but laugh and smile at their new game.

Proud Boredom!

I have to brag about my babies! We had to drive to another county to get a rental car and meet up with our mechanic. He saves us a lot of money, so it's worth it to drive farther for his work. So we left the house around 12:15 and they quickly fell asleep for their nap. They woke up around Wayson's Corner when I bought a coffee at Dunkin. The woman gave me 4 donut bites/holes for the babies. They loved that! Jude kept signing "more" donut! Glad I also had some star cookies stashed to feed them. Then we ended up driving around another hour to get the rental, and then I had to drive an hour back home. Through it all I did not hear any complaining! They were amazingly good. At one point I was stopped for directions, and when I looked back they were entertaining themselves by eating their toes! I have never seen Jude do that, Petra did when she was a baby. I am just so PROUD of them for being little angels for our rental adventure.

Gettin'em' hooked early!

A Sunday afternoon with nothing planned is trouble for me. I'm home so much during the week caring for the twins every need and trying to enter their little one year old world that I need to get out and about on the weekends! So, the babies napped at totally different times today so that put a cramp in any schedule we would have had. My considerate hubby said "get out of the house" around 4 so I was gone. Headed to Barnes and Noble to get a new book I had heard about on the radio. "Even Silence Has An End," by Ingrid Betancourt. She was held as a prisoner for six years in the jungles of Columbia. Will post more after I read it- sure to be extremely inspiring.
Also burned up my Starbucks gift card from the MOPS meeting this week. I had allowed the babies to sip a little iced frap earlier in the summer... to their great delight. Today I walked in door with a Mocha Frap and let Jude drink some. He suddenly got a possessed look in his eyes and had to have more. Kept climbing on daddy's lap for more frap! Christofer states it's like giving drugs to a teenager and he's not going to have the babies on coffee! I let him tell Jude that.

Spring Milestones

Here are some milestones from the now 16 month old twins!

* Jude's first words (aside from mom-mm and dada) are "baby" and "ball." He says ball like "baa" in a sweet, adorable high pitched little voice many times a day- the boy loves balls!!

* The babies don't say a lot of meaningful (to us) words yet, but they understand so many everyday phrases and commands. For example, when I say "time to lay down" at nap-time Petra will stop playing with something and walk up to her room to get in her crib!

*The babies are tall. Many think they are already 2 years old. Still have many more months to grow before that.... They often wear size 24 month clothing.

*They love to play outside (with balls) and are loving the new fence we got for the family usage.

* Petra loves to eat all kinds of things (yay!) but Jude has been pickier. I'm proud of him for making progress in this area lately. Today he even gobbled fresh strawberries. (for weeks on end he would only eat banana, avacado, and bread) :)

Tea for us in Rockville

Don't usually get political in my blogging, but today was special. I've been wanting to attend a tea party rally since they began a year ago, but it was too difficult with the babies. Today one was held (on tax day) about one mile from our house in Rockville Town Square. Keep in mind that this is the second most liberal county in the USA, second only to San Francisco. There are many reasons why I feel that I have a voice in the tea party, but taxes are not among the top. The most recent outrage I felt was when I read that Obama, the leader of the free world, said "whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower..." as if it was a burden! (he was speaking at the nuclear summit) This is our commander in chief lamenting that we're a superpower?! I cannot abide a president who wishes we were NOT a dominant superpower! We are the country that has been blessed with the resources to HELP others. Who do you call upon when you are in dire straits from a natural disaster or being war-torn? The United States of America! We are blessed and should use the power for good, as we have quite a strong record of doing. Anyway, I was inspired to create a sign that on one side read, "Proud to be the military superpower!" and the other side read "Keep America shining for the good!" A few people came up to us to photograph our sign and give thumbs up. There were not a lot of home-made signs, and only a couple hundred people were there, probably for reasons listed above, but we had fun showing our American pride. Babies got to observe some activism and I fulfilled a dream I've had for over a year. A big thank you to my wonderful new mommy's helper, Juli, for helping us navigate the rally! Introduced her to some of the concepts but she greatly enjoyed it!

Huggie Baby

Petra is such a huggie baby! I treasure this so much in her! Many nights after bath time while playing on the floor, she would crawl over to me and "attack" me with hugs. The true highlight of my day! Now that she is walking she is turning her sights more to her brother at times! This evening she continually walked over to Jude and attacked him with a "hug" that sent both of them to the floor with Petra giggling all the way! Jude had fun too. He is a such a model "older" brother already. Even though he's much stronger physically than her, he often "lets" her steal things without throwing a fit. But try to let Jude steal from her- forget it. Big dramatic cries from that little baby girl! ha ha

They absolutely love playing outside and often cry when I simply open the door to get the mail and then close it again. Any chance they see to get out that door they will take! I've been taking the portable crib outside and one goes in there while I supervise the other one walking all over the yard and attempting to walk in the street. Can't have them both out at the same time because we are only in the beginning stages of training them to "come here." Jude, at 14 months, is already drawn to mud and danger (streets) every chance he gets.

Developmental Highlights

Here are some precious things the twins are doing as they are on the verge of turning ONE!

* while "walking" with his toy cart across the room, Jude will suddenly stop to sway side to side as if dancing to the music toy is making! then resume the walk.

*Petra "walks" holding onto her to with such breezy easiness... will she walk first?

*I love their babbles... "da da, ma ma" and still lots of giggles.

* so many times I catch them sitting quietly on the floor turning the pages of their board books! Will they love to read as much as I do??

* Petra is so aggressive... she will attack me with hugs and dive-bomb my lap when I'm sitting on the floor with her.

I am savoring this baby stage!!!! I know I'll miss it...