Winter Wonderland

It snowed! AND, the kids did pretty well being housebound. They did take naps and are taking naps now which is am improvement over what they did at Nana Pam's all week and they seem to be in pretty good moods. I want to go sledding so bad - we got 5 inches or so - but we can't take the kids out. It's ok, really though, because if I remember correctly the one and only other time I sledded it was a lot of work! We got a couple of pictures - we put socks on the kids hands, and bundled them up and even though they liked being in the wagon I don't think they were big fans of the cold snow. I wanted to let them try to walk around on it, but Lance said no way and they were back indoors after literally 5 minutes :)!

Stuck inside - they don't look like they minded too much.

Wagon time in the snow.

It was really coming down, and as you see they weren't too sure if they liked it or not.

Marley liked it though, she was running around - although prancing like a princess because she doesn't like to get her paws too wet. If you look closely you can see Tyler checking out dad!

A shot of the backyard - the grass was covered which doesn't happen around here too often.

Snow Day - Oh No!

Well, it looks like it is going to be a snow day. I would usually be excited, but the kids have been pretty grumpy and they have a new little cold so it could be a taxing day. I don't really know why they have been fussy - it could still be teeth related, cold related, non-napping related, who knows. It's mostly Tyler and we took him to the doctor yesterday thinking he had an ear infection, but all checked out ok. He still has his cough so maybe he is just annoyed. Luckily, the kids have generous friends and family who have given them great toys to keep them entertained! For Christmas, they got a slide/climbing toy from my Dad that they love. It scares me to death - and we have already had a boo-boo (just got it two days ago), but apparently it is good to have to give them something they are allowed to climb on rather than everything they are trying to climb including all couches, chairs, on top of coffee tables and any toy! They also have this piano/drawing toy from Liz that they enjoy now that they have figured out that putting the pens to the colors makes it sing. Some pictures!

Tyler likes to climb up the slide rather than use the door.Katie was so happy when she figured out how to slide down on her own.

Tyler is a fan of the tunnel part too!

Katie about to take off!

Their drawing toy - good thing since the experiment with real crayons didn't go so well!

They still love Jack's Music Show and Yo Gabba Gabba too, but that only occupies them for five minutes max. I don't understand how some people say that their kids can watch a whole show or dvd at their age - maybe these two already have ADD!?! They will glance up at it and dance and sing while it is on but certainly won't sit quietly and have tv time - I guess it is good they would rather be active and play, but I admit I am a little envious of people who say they put their kids shows on and they don't have to worry about them moving from that spot for an hour!!!

More teeth!

I didn't think it was possible for Tyler to get more teeth, but sure enough one popped through on Sunday. He has been a little fussier than usual and not eating as well, but we didn't connect the two until we saw a little blood on his gums - poor little guy. It is hard to tell since he won't open up and say "ahhh," but I think the only teeth lacking now are his 2 year molars. He really has a mouth full!!! The good thing is that he loves brushing his teeth. Katie's likes to hold the toothbrush, but doesn't really do much brushing but that might need to change soon since she has two more too! She now has four on the top, two on the bottom, and one more trying to make its way in. She is still eating ok, but is a little grumpier and won't let you get near her mouth!

I was reading an article about teeth, and I was sad to learn that it is likely that the kids will have the same teeth issues as me and Lance. I really want to get them started on good oral care habits now so hopefully they won't get as many cavities as we have had! "They" say that just us giving them kisses, and letting them eat off of our spoons passes along our bad teeth germs and that the kids could already have cavities - yikes! I bet that would be painful for a little one and I hope it doesn't happen. Of course, the article also recommended that kids should go to visit the dentist as soon as their first tooth comes in. That seems to be standard advice now from pediatricians but I just don't see how that can happen. They won't even let me stick my finger in to see if it is all the way through - I know that a stranger will not have any luck taking a look. The old recommendation used to be age 3, and that seems more realistic to me. Regardless, I did not put them on my dental insurance plan this year and can't enroll them until next November so we will probably at least wait until then and hope that they miraculously learn to sit still, follow directions, and be nice to doctors between then and now - ha! I hate to say it is overkill, since my two will probably end up with bad teeth thanks to my laziness, but I put it into the same category as carseat laws these days. I understand the advice and cautions, I just think it may be a bit much. Rear-facing until two (which we are doing, but Tyler is anxious to turn around these days), and in a carseat or booster until you are practically an adult (and in some cases may be with the current weight and height limits - poor Katie). I guess, like the carseats, the dentist decision is really just up to the individual. I will keep the kids rear-facing until their legs won't allow it or until two, whichever comes first and I will take them to the dentist when my pediatrician tells me to and gives me a good reason for it, and so far it hasn't been mentioned!

Crazy Kids!

We've had a good morning. You can tell the kids are sleepy, but they are playing well together and are being super silly! Yesterday, the kids stayed with So-So and Grandpa while Lance and I went to the Vandy game (fun game and the kids love to visit with their grandparents). I don't know if the kids just like to show-off their skills to their grandparents, or if it is just someone else "teaching" them, but it seems like everytime we come back they have something new to show us. This morning and yesterday afternoon their new word was Mickey Mouse (and Katie kept bringing us Brobee, but calling him Bubba), they seemed to do really good with pointing out body parts, they keep giving each other things and patting each other on the head, and they've learned to put blocks together and stack them up! Here are just some random shots from their Sunday morning playtime (and destroy the house time so don't mind the look of a disaster zone in this pictures :)).

Where's your nose? After, where's your head which Katie was still displaying! Where's Katie's mouth?

Playing blocks together.

My little monkey!

Of course, locking Tyler into the cabinet is always fun!

Despite the look she has on her face, she was really enjoying being able to get the blocks to fit together! Tyler dancing - one of my absolute favorite things!

Katie wasn't too in to the dancing this morning.

Lessons

I am so very uncreative. We are still struggling with the nap issue as well as the boredom induced whining and it is driving me crazy! I know what we need to do is get out and do something to keep them awake during the time they are used to napping, and to give them a change of scenery when they are sick of roaming around our house. That became even more obvious today when their favorite thing to do seemed to be everything I didn't want them to - tearing up every magazine into little pieces to put in their mouths, opening the non-closing laundry room door and Katie going straight for the dog food while Tyler closes the door and stands against it to lock us out, or Katie crying when she wasn't held! The problem is that I just can't think of anything to do! It is too cold to go to the park, to the zoo, or anywhere outdoor. It is too expensive to go to Monkey's Treehouse, grocery shopping (for some reason the kids love it), or do breakfast/lunch/dinner. They are too young to go to the Adventure Science Center or the movies. So, I really am at a loss about what to do to entertain 16 month olds when it is cold and you are broke. The good thing is that it is forcing me to get creative around the house - we have had dance parties, built forts, and tried to build lego masterpieces. I have learned some very random things that make them laugh, and watched them really discover each other more and more in the last couple of days. And you know what, I have learned and realized that what the kids really like, more than anything, is spending time with mom and dad and they could care less where that happens!

Bedtime = On Good Behavior

I think it is starting to dawn on the kids that the longer they play happily and are in good moods and don't act sleepy, the more likely it is that we extend their bedtime. That means that once we get into the bonus room (our routine is straight from bath after dinner since they are usually a mess, then into the bonus room for what was initially supposed to be book time, and then bed) they both are usually playing and talking and having a ball because they don't want to go "nigh nigh." Actually, when you tell Katie it is time for night night, she repeats it, picks up her Clifford doll and isn't too upset when you pick her up. Tyler, on the otherhand, knows exactly what picking him up at that time of night means and he doesn't want any part of it. He pitches a royal tantrum every night at bedtime, but is usually the first one asleep after just a few minutes of protest. Katie gives us goodnight kisses as soon as she is in her crib, but Tyler turns his head and refuses because he is mad at us for ending his fun for the evening.

Here they are tonight before bed, making the circuit of toys that they don't get to see that often and love. The ball pit got moved upstairs once we realized that if we didn't contain it, we would have balls all over our living room and kitchen constantly.

This is one of Katie's many faces - she is quite expressive for someone with such a limited vocabulary!

They really do love their ball tent and the extra balls that go with it. I guess I can handle the mess since it makes the munchkins so happy. Each of them with things that are their favorite words - Tyler with a "ball" and Katie with a "dog," and sucking in for some reason? I wonder if she understands her Daddy when he says she is chubby?!?
You can tell a little in this pictures that their hair is growing - Tyler is actually soon to be in need of a haircut because of that mini-mullett!

Pigtails and Hair Bows?

Ok, those of you who haven't known me since I was a little girl may be surprised to hear that I used to LOVE to play with Barbies. Of course, I made mud pies, and built forts, and played kickball with all of the neighborhood boys, but I also enjoyed playing with dolls! Mostly, I just liked to brush and braid their hair, which may seem odd coming from someone who has had short hair most of my adult life and who thinks throwing it into a ponytail (when long enough) is making an effort. I sheepishly admit, though, that one of my first thoughts when we found out we were having a girl is ooooh, fun - they have much better clothes, and shoes, and accessories! Now, I am anxiously awaiting the day I can give little Bug pigtails or an outfit matching barrette but it seems that day may never come. "Patiently" waiting for Katie to have some hair for me to play with reminds me why I have never really done much with mine. Hers (like both of her parents), is super fine, and super straight which means what little bit she does have won't stay in any of the barrettes I have tried and honestly looks pretty silly in those headband bows. Of course, poor Tyler, got the other part of mine where it just grows out and is beginning to give him a baby afro! So guess I shouldn't be surprised about our hair woes, considering their genetics! All of that was a sideline, though, to what I came here to say which is that their hair does seem to be growing somewhat, finally, and I hope to have pictures up soon!

Nothing much else new to report. We got a call last week from the speech therapist since our cancellation didn't get communicated and it is a good thing we decided to wait. We would have had to pay a $1,000 deductible only for them to likely tell us that they wouldn't make any official evaluations until 18 months. At that point, if we are still having issues, we will be able to contact Early Intervention through the state and get more affordable evaluations. The kids still don't "know" who mama and dada are, and don't say it with regularity. That is the only concerning thing since that particular milestone was supposed to be hit at about a year. As far as their number of words - Tyler is doing outstanding. It seems that he picks up something new everyday. I really can't tell if Katie is just being obstinate or is delayed - she will say a word once or twice and then not really repeat it like Tyler does. She doesn't seem to have as many consonants as she should, at least ones that are identifiable, but she is constantly babbling and "communicating" and I really think she thinks she is talking! We'll give it a couple more months and see where we are. Their understanding of simple directions and what we want them to do is much improved and I am taking that as a really good sign! I asked Tyler to take his socks to the couch and put them on and he went over to his little couch (not the one I was talking about, but close enough), sat down, and tried to get them on his foot. Then, this morning, I told Katie we needed to get her jacket on and she brought it to me and held her arm out. Also this morning, Tyler was having a little tantrum and Katie went over to him and patted his head and made a little kissing noise. Everyday they learn something new and I am just not going to worry about it right now and try to enjoy this really great stage!