Aunt Anne comes to visit

Anne came over to see how the babies are doing. This time, Kate and Connor just freaked out. I guess the stranger anxiety is coming on stronger. It's hard to call it "stranger" anxiety when Anne loves them so much.

Anyway, after ignoring the kids for a little while, and then by playing a little peek-a-boo with them, they both came around and warmed up to Anne.




What finalized the deal was Anne giving the twins "blanket rides." They LOVE jumping on a blanket and waiting for someone to drag them around the floor.
Sometimes, the twins even just jump on a blanket (or stuffed animal) and wait to see if it's going to move. Too funny.


Another current favorite is pulling up the edges of the brightly colored foam floor mats.

They have quite nimble fingers to pick up each edging piece (and put it in their mouth). Of course, Hugh tries to deter them (to no avail).



While I'm thinking of favorites, I have to write down one of the silly songs we sing to get the twins in a good mood...
(bouncing her sitting up on your knees facing you)
Here comes Kaitlyn, riding in to town
Here comes Kaitlyn, don't fall down
Here comes Kaitlyn, riding in to town
Here comes Kaitlyn, FALL DOWN
(and then drop her down between your knees)

Kate and Connor both just love the "FALL DOWN" part!

Our friend Laci has arrived

Our dear friends David and Hays brought Laci Elaine in to the world tonight. We've been waiting quite a while to meet her. The early pics are in, and we get to meet her next week. I know Kate and Connor will love playing with Laci and big brother Hunter as they grow up.

We're 10 months old

The twins are old months old! Time just keeps flying (as everyone says). Here is their 10 month pic (side by side with their 4 month and 1 month pics).




Kate and Connor are cruising all around the house, pulling up on any and all furniture. They both love walking when you hold their hands, but haven't yet figured out how to walk on their own. I guess I should be grateful, as it's hard enough as it is to keep up with the two of them. We experimenting with trying to get them to stand on their own. So far, it's just a moment before they sway and dall down on their cute little butts.

Both the twins still have blue eyes, and Connor is starting to grow faster than our more petite Kate. Last month the Doctor said that Connor was just 1 inch taller. While I wasn't sure she was right then, it's certainly a more pronounced difference now. He's easily 2 inches taller than she is. They both have lots' of hair, but especially Kate. I haven't cut her hair yet (but she doesn't want to hold still for it either). Time will be coming soon.

The twins are really good eaters. Pretty much anything that you put in front of them that they can eat with their fingers, they'll happily eat. The only real exception is that Connor just won't eat green beans (cooked or raw). Kate eats cauliflower, yellow squash, zucchini...anything. We've still avoided giving them sweets (except the jumbo rice crispies that seem to have more sugar added). Connor has a pincher grasp, while Kate still rakes her food in her hand.

We still aren't using a sippy cup (they seem to want to bite the spout), so I'm just now beginning to try using a regular cup for them (I hold it while they drink, and then choke on it). We're still doing 4 bottles a day, but now we also have 3 full meals a day too.

To my pleasant surprise, the twins still nap 3 times a day. They wake at 7:30, nap from 9:30 - 10:45m, 1:15 - 2:45, and again from 5 - 6:30. then, they're off to bed at 8pm. Lot's of sleep, but then again - they are learning and processing a lot every day.

Mommy's Staff Meeting

We had my staff meeting at my house today. Connor was having a lot of fun playing with Kelly, while Kate was content to read a book.


Of course, Tracy put the twins in the most precious outfits to show them off. Hugh thinks that Connor shouldn't be wearing little outfits like he was, but I promised him he can still wear smocked outfits for at least another few months.


You can see that Kate still fits under the breakfast table, but Connor is now hitting his head on it. It's tough to be the big brother.

Beef and Teeth

Beef and Teeth: They seem to go together, don't they? Now that Kate and Connor have more teeth (Connor is up to 7, while Kate is still at 6), they are eating more "people" foods. Tonight, they tried Aunt Shirley's delicious meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. They even had a little of Miss Nancy's yummy banana bread. How much better can it get? Well, Connor would tell me to drop the green beans and it would be much better.
It's also fun to watch that now when they drop some food in their bib, they actually look to find it and pick it back up. Kate also takes a hunk of food and bites it in half...dainty eater that she is. Connor, on the other hand, just stuffs EVERYTHING in his chipmunk cheeks until he realizes he can't even chew and then starts crying. Silly boy!

Hanging out

Daddy is at the hospital while Mommy has some minor surgery. We're just hanging out waiting for the good news that everything went perfectly (which it did).

Trouble, trouble

Do you ever have that feeling where it's just a little too quiet? Kate and Connor were playing after dinner in the family room. They were behind a chair so I couldn't see them, but I could hear their little giggles and the patter of their feet.

But then it was quiet. I stood up to inspect. Of course it was quiet - Kate was crawling on the carpet. Now, if you've been at our house - you know that is a slight problem...since we don't have CARPET in the ROOM. It's the STAIRS that are carpeted and she was climbing up on them. She made it up the first stair all by herself before I found her and retrieved her.

Note to self: The gate at the bottom of the stairs doesn't stop babies if it's not engaged.

So - I stood very closely behind her to see what she would do. She actually crawled up to the 4th stair before I just had to pick her up. Little imp!

Mary Poppins and the Bubble Machine

Tracy, AKA, Mary Poppins came over with bubbles in her bag. Kate and Connor seem to enjoy looking at them (but maybe not over the see-and-say)

Meeting up with Melissa and her brood

Melissa and I met in Breast-Feeding for Multiples class. She delivered Jack and Olivia 8 days before I had Kate and Connor. It's been fun keeping up with how each of our babies are developing. They go through so many of the sames things, and Melissa and I each have the same types of things that we are trying to figure out (as new moms, and as new moms of twins).



We played for a little while on the ground. The twins were all a little slow to figure out it was ok to run around - so there was a lot of snuggling and hugging going on to get the twins settled in.

After a while, we went over to the bucket swings. Jack and Olivia are old hands at playing in the bucket swing and got in to the groove right away.



Kate LOVED it too (especially when you pushed her up high). Connor is still a little anxious about going to fast - so we just kept it mellow for him. Lot's of fun today!

Wataching tennis with Dad

Kate and Connor don't get to watch much TV, but when they do - it's the Tennis Channel. Connor especially enjoys tennis, where Kate tolerates it (mostly because she is getting love and attention).






After being held for "long enough" - Connor and Kate darted all around the room. Connor was in an especially good mood - laughing and snuggling his forehead in to mine. So very cute. Kate played Peek-A-Boo with me (with assistance from Daddy).

Farewell to big brother Noisey

After 18 years on this planet giving love and affection to all (especially those who thought they didn't like cats), Noisey died today. He had been ill for so many years with tummy problems, but the past few weeks and months had become very hard for him.


Though Kate and Connor never got to spend too much time with their big (little?) older brother Noisey, I know they would have loved him very much. I found a picture from earlier this year when they were all playing together. We always said that Noisey liked the "hairless cats" (that's what we thought he would have called Kate and Connor).


I can't begin to say what Noisey means to our family. Especially to Grandmother Jane - who has always had a special love for him, and had devoted herself to taking care of him since the twins arrived. He was a terrific Grand-cat to her and we are so appreciative of what she did for him.

Noise-man was a very special kitty and our family will miss him dearly for many years to come. Give Libby a big gum-rubbing for us Noisey - we love you.

Bouncing babies

Kate and Connor are stilling loving the jumper that Kelly brought over. They seem to have so much fun - especially Connor. He's really catching some air these days. Kate - well I just hope she doesn't bit her tongue (since it's still poking out all of the time).

Having Fun in the Bath

Will came with Tracy today to play with the babies one last time before school begins.

He thought it was fun to watch the babies take a bath, until Kate CRIED because she didn't want her hair washed. It was a lot to deal with and made him wonder how people can know that babies are just crying because they are made vs, crying because they are hungry or hurt. Good question - but you just kind of know.

Playing in the family room

I just love that Kate cruises around these days with her little tongue hanging out. don't know WHY she does it, but it's very cute.



Connor prefers to makes raspberry sounds (but that's harder to capture in a photo)

9 Month check up

Doc B's appointment was great this week. As always, they just love seeing the twins and fawn all over them. As Hugh always asks, "Did they appropriately ooh and ahh over the babies?" Of course, the answer is a resounding yes!

I brought Doc B's book to her office and asked her to autograph the book for us. she did, and dedicated it to Kate and Connor. Very Sweet.

WEIGH IN TIME.....
Connor is now 29 inches and 18lbs, 8 oz.
That's 50% on height, 85% on head circumference, and 20% on weight.

Kate is now 28 inches and 17lbs 7 oz.
That's 30% on height, 50% on head circumference and 25% on weight.

In other words - PERFECT!

Connor has had some mild "tics" with his head during his last diaper change of the day. I figured he was just being overly tired or just exploring new motions. Doc B is not worried about it at all. She says to only let her know if it progresses to be his head AND his shoulder. Connor must have thought better to shape up, since it hasn't happened since.

Life is good indeed.

Playing after dinner

Connor is playing int he new saucer/play-thing that we've borrowed from Kelly. he loves playing in it and being able to play while seeing everything that is going on.

Kate, on the other hand, just wants to eat my shoes!

Leave me alone!

I think that's what Connor would say today to Kate if he could talk. Connor had been minding his own business, when Kate comes over and takes the pacifier from his mouth and pops it in her own mouth.

It's not like it's the only time she's done this. The other night, she took her pacifier out of her mouth and offered it to Connor. Right as he went to chomp down on it, she pulled it away. A few seconds later, she offered it to him again, only to pull it away again at the last moment.

Cheeky Monkey!

Playing in our Jammies

No story here - just Kate and Connor happily playing in the keeping room in the morning.