November 2011 Babies

Please forgive the typos; this took a really long time to finally finish, and it's now after midnight!

Name and age?
K and F, 31 months today!

Weight/length/clothing size?
K is 27 pounds and 1.5 ounces, and F is 27 pounds, .5 ounces. (we had to go to the doctor for something that turned out to be not what I thought and not serious, so they got weighed on their scale there). I'm not sure of height, but definitely taller than 7 months ago! They are in 24M-2T clothing. I just cleared the last of the 18M clothing from their drawers (too short!), although I think their 18M coats still fit.

Food!
In about a month, we've gone from nursing 6 times a day to 3-4 times a day. I thought it was a rather drastic reduction, but I've been informed that as far as toddler nursing goes, it's all pretty normal.

They eat just about everything. On a regular basis, F will say "yucky!" about leafy greens but will eat them with relish a few days later. Yogurt (especially with cocoa) is still a big favorite as is just about any type of fruit, and they love bread. We don't have fights about food -- we don't make them try something or make them finish something -- and they eat when they're hungry and stop when they are full and generally eat all the good stuff. About the only thing we limit is refined sugar and fluid cow milk they don't have at all (K seems to have some kind of intolerance).

Sleep habits?
They still nap in the early afternoon for 45-90 minutes. Most of my peers kind of look at me with amazement, but I really need them to nap (otherwise I might not get to eat lunch) and they still seem to need the nap.

The bedtime routine we started just before they turned 2 is still mostly working. Both girls have occasional nights where they just aren't tired and are up an hour or two after their bedtime of 22:00 (10pm). K wakes up at least once between 12-2, and sometimes she can be settled quickly, and other times she just screams "NO!" at everything until she runs out of steam again. F mostly sleeps through the night, with the occasional wakeup that usually lasts only a few minutes. I wake them at 8am (unless they are sick) if they aren't already awake.

Toilet issues?
They use the potty pretty consistently, and they'd be dry more after sleep if they'd get out of their diapers right when they wake. We still have some accidents, and some (for lack of a better word) revenge pees. K tends to "hold it" a long time and it generally takes a little wet spot in her pants to get her to run to the potty. We're trying to transition from the little potties to the big potty.

Milestones?
All the words and sentences and counting and art! They've been mixing in more of the lojban (the other language in the household) into their sentences, like most very young bilingual children. DaddyGB is so proud! F is still a little behind in being able to speak well, but we think the once she gets past whatever physical limitation she has, she'll catch up to K quickly. K has affected a bit of a British accent, learned from too many episodes of Peppa Pig. :/ F is a whiz at learning how to do things on an iPad or smartphone, and she figures out most of them by herself. (K isn't really interested unless it's showing Peppa Pig.) We have so much fun going to the Zoo and the Academy of Sciences - they're starting to tell me where they want to go and what they want to see.

What's driving you crazy?
Peppa Pig. We call it zombie tv, because they just zone into it and barely acknowledge that anything else exists. We officially limit zombie tv to after 5pm just so that they will play and draw and read and run around, because they would watch PP all day if we let them. F wakes up and says, "Is it 5 o'clock yet? Peppa Pig?" Ugh. However, it is THE way to get some quiet where they aren't into everything so I can sit in peace or get something done!

F still steals K's stuff and otherwise tries to bully her. The round-robin of toddler tantrums is very trying. I am so ready for them to fully potty learned. (But it's not my bed they usually pee on.)

This week, the entire household has had a mild cold, and it's been just enough to make everyone cranky and reduce everyone's patience.

How are YOU doing?
I changed up my supplements a bit so I'm not feeling as tired (and getting 6+ hours of sleep most nights doesn't hurt either!) and I'm not catching every cold the girls get anymore. I'm still making my bed everyday. I haven't been doing as much crafting as I would like. I've been trying to go to bed right after the girls are taken off me to bed, so I'm getting some reading time in as well as more sleep!

Unfortunately, I've been having some knee and sciatica problems, so I haven't been walking/exercising as much, and the weight is creeping up. I'm keeping a carb count again.

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It's been good to see updates again!

(and 12 days...)

Name and age?
K and F, 24 months and 12 days

Weight/length/clothing size?
They had their 2-year checkup on Wednesday. K is 24 pounds, 3 ounces, and 33 inches tall. F is 23 pounds, 15 ounces, and 32 3/4 inches tall.. They couldn't quite believe their length laying down on the table, so they measured the twins standing. They are firmly in 18 month clothing. The 2T shirts are not as big as they were last month.

Food!
Still nursing about 7 times a day. They've had a cold (again) this week, so maybe nursing a little more.

Current food favorites are tomatoes, noodles, rice (especially brown rice), but they eat just about anything. They are really, really good at eating at restaurants.

Sleep habits?
Their nap has mostly settled to about starting between 12:15 and 13:00, depending on our day, and lasts usually 45-90 minutes. It's always shorter when I want to get something done!

We've managed a bedtime routine (all of a week old!); we've tried before and it just wouldn't stick. We're more hopeful this time. Around 22:00, when they ask for milk, we have them use the potty, brush their teeth and get into their pajamas. They nurse and fall asleep, and we can usually have them both in bed by 23:00. F generally sleeps though unless K wakes her up. K generally wakes about 1:00 with reflux, gets some baking soda water (the doctor doesn't want to do daily anti-acid meds yet), and goes back to sleep.(Except this week; they've had colds and trouble breathing, and have been waking up more.) We get up in the morning by 8:00 (sometimes they wake to nurse before that). K does not get rewarded for nighttime craziness by getting to sleep in.

Toilet issues?
Toilet use has become more consistent. Sometimes, they go by themselves! Accidents are happening much less frequently; I can tell by how less often I have to do their laundry. Naptime diapers are dry about two-thirds of the time and nightime diapers are dry about half the time. We seem to be naturally becoming inconsistent about the gum reward.

Milestones?
F's bottom 2-year molars are in, and the upper molars remain to be seen. K's bottom 2-year molars are just emerging, and nothing on the top yet.

F gets the difference between "me" and "you." K can count to 4. They know their colors and are starting on the alphabet (though we try to teach the alphabet using the sounds and not the names of the letters).
Sometimes, they do stairs with alternating feet. They are drawing and NOT eating the crayons. They are speaking four word sentences. They are starting to build block towers of four blocks. They get now that wrapping paper is made to be torn off. :) They sing, and are starting to act out the songs at Rhyme Time. Oh, and all the climbing! They made it up this complicated, almost ladder-like stairs on the bouncy slide at the pumpkin patch. They can dress themselves, and sometimes the shoes get on the right feet!

What's driving you crazy?
We're back to a cold every 2-3 weeks, after a summer break. F taking K's stuff, and K biting in retaliation.

How are YOU doing?
I'm still making my bed everyday. I've been making progress on my trouble spots. My desk and craft table are clear, as is the office floor. Most of craft shelves are in order, and beads from orders received before the girls were born are finally put away. I just completed the NaCraMaMo Challenge, and while I didn't complete much, I did make progress, just working on things a little at a time.

We had a great birthday party for the girls; a LOT of people showed up. I think the girls are finally getting what celebrations are all about. :)
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Name and age?
K and F, 23 months and 3 days

Weight/length/clothing size?
I haven't taken any "for sure" measurements, but taller and heavier than my last real update. I suspect that they are at least 2 inches taller and 2-3 pounds heavier than their 18 month appointment. They are in mostly 12-18 month and 18 month clothing. Some 12 month clothing still fits, but generally, if it doesn't have an 18 next to the 12, it's too short. We have a sprinkling of 2T shirts, and they are still too big.

They are tall enough that we've decided to turn their car seats to be forward facing. We were happy to make it this far without doing so, as rear facing is safer for smaller children.

Food!
Still nursing as much as ever, and lately it seems like more and longer. Growth spurt, I guess! In the past couple of weeks, my girls have given me, to nurse, Ah-wooooo (stuffed wolf), rubber duckies, both baby dolls, a stuffed rabbit, Raider (a Raiders-themed teddy bear), and the plastic octopus that takes the bath water temperature. F has "nursed" her baby doll!

They are bottomless pits with food. Current favorites are nectarines, zucchini, fritos, watermelon, and gum (which we use as a potty reward).

Sleep habits?
Their nap has gotten later, and weird. They now start their nap around 12:15-12:30 and even as late as 1:00 and the nap lasts between 45 minutes and 3 hours (!!). The 3 hour naps are unfortunately, usually on me. Length is totally unpredictable, so I can't really plan much while they sleep except maybe lunch and a shower. It seems that whenever I think I can get more done, and decide to do it, they wake up before I finish lunch.

Sleep at night is mostly better. They are sleeping through the night from 10:30-11:30 until between 6-7. K seems to have some acid reflux, which has wakened her screaming several times in the past week. She usually settles with some baking soda water. We'll check with the doctor at the next appointment about acid reducers. Sometimes, though, they are awake for no reason that we can tell, except to wear out their poor parents (especially daddies)!

Toilet issues?
We're still working on consistent toilet use. We got into the habit of diapering after accidents (because we were tired and frustrated about cleaning up), which I think was not helping. We went to underwear only, even when out (except for sleeping), about a week ago. We started a reward system at the same time. In addition, they know if they don't use the toilet while we are out, even after prompting, and they have an "accident," we leave immediately (in other words, no more fun). The combination seems to be working; we get about 2 accidents per girl per day now, much less than we got the week previous. They can, and sometimes do, use their potties independently!

Milestones?
Both girls are still working on the two-year molars; they have some pain, but no molars yet.

Dressing themselves continues; sometimes it's backwards AND inside out, but they are so proud to get those clothes on!

More and more and MORE words! More sentences! They have a sense of self; both are starting to correctly use "me" and "mine." They can count to three! (I'm pretty sure that they don't quite understand what three is, exactly, but they sure know how many two is!)

They can now open our doors (we have conical door knobs that defy childproofing) AND they can walk up and down regular-size stairs without assistance.

We are attending a Child Observation "class" at the local community college. I call it play class. :) There is a "gross motor" room with slides, trampolines, bouncy horses, and many things to climb (great for my little monkeys), and a "fine motor" room with puzzles, dollies, dress up, blocks, cars, a play kitchen, painting and books. Some of our friends go there too, so the girls have great fun with their friends, and I get to socialize more.

What's driving you crazy?
Twins transitioning to using the toilet. Tantrums when they don't get their way. K biting and/or hitting when she gets frustrated. F always taking K's toys.

How are YOU doing?

I'm still making my bed most days, and I've been working on other "trouble spots" in the house. It feels good to have the house more in order. I am occasionally finding time to craft. I had a massage a couple of weeks ago, which felt very good. I am getting a solid 6 hours of sleep most nights. I am walking at least 5 times a week. I am managing to have a playdate a week, in addition to my current two weekly child activities, so I get to see more adults, too! I think I have seen a couple of movies recently, and I even went to the symphony! (Thanks to my partners and our fantastic babysitters!)

OTOH, I had yet more dental issues, necessitating a crown. *sigh* And I'm having some feelings of inadequacy with regards to motherhood, mostly because I don't feel perfect. And I KNOW perfection is impossible and probably unwanted.

Pictures! Of two little girls! Ahhhhhhhhhh! ( Collapse )

Except for a few minutes where I got to make and eat breakfast, my twins have been on me (singly and together) nursing, sleeping or both since 8:00 this morning. It is now 14:17, I am just eating lunch, and I am still in my sleep shirt.

I thought that phase was over!

Now, I need to get cleaned up, dressed and go out grocery shopping (alone, thankfully, the girls are going out on a playdate with Daddies).

Maybe I'll have time to post the regular update later. Right now, I just need some sympathy!

Name and age?
K and F, 21 months and 16 (?) days
Weight/length/clothing size?
I don't have a length, but they were about 22.5 pounds around July 8. They're wearing 12-18 month clothes. Some of the 12 month stuff still fits, but some of it is now too small.

Food!
Still nursing as much as ever, at least 6 times a day and sometimes up to 10 times a day. Today, K gave me her lambie to nurse! :)

They still eat pretty much what we eat. I discovered that F will not eat beets (I found some at the Farmer's Market and roasted them.) I'll try again in a few weeks. Their current favorites are mostly the same: stone fruit, watermelon, zucchini, potato chips, and a new favorite, cherries, fresh and dried.

Sleep habits?
Still taking that late morning nap, though it often doesn't start now until 12:30-13:00, and usually lasts about 1.5 hours. Night sleep has been a bit wonky. They've been going to sleep around 21:30-22:30. F mostly sleeps through, but K wakes up at least once nightly and sometimes goes back to sleep easily, but more often it takes a bit. They are currently sleeping separated, once upstairs and one downstairs, because K will often wake F up, and then we're in for a really sucky night. Every once in a while, they'll go to sleep early (before 21:00) and we'll have high hopes that they'll be down for the night, but usually they will just wake up at midnight and be awake for a while.

Changing table issues?
Well, I started them on the potty seriously a couple of weeks ago. By last Friday, they were going often enough when I put them on the potty that I canceled the diaper service. We're having a bit of trouble getting them to go on their own, or we'll ask and they'll say no, and 30 seconds later, they'll pee on the floor. Thank goodness we have no carpets! I had to run out last Friday to find them some more shirts; onesies don't really work in conjunction with potties. They also got big girl underwear last weekend! We still use diapers for naps and nighttime.

Milestones?
F has joined her sister in working on her two year molars.

Both of them are trying to put on their own clothes, with varying degrees of success. It's really funny when they put on my ankle socks that come up to their knees!

Both are stringing together two and three word sentences. Some of their speech is still incomprehensible, but
more and more of their speech is English and Lojban words.

Tantrums times two. :/

What's driving you crazy?
Housework. Lack of motivation. Weight gain. Twins transitioning to using the toilet. Tantrums.

How are YOU doing?
I am having a bout of bursitis in my left shoulder with some tendonitis in the bicep for good measure. It's better than it was, but not fully healed.

I've gained about 5 pounds since I night-weaned, and that is NOT a good thing. I am trying to maintain the weight loss I I had after delivery. The main culprit in the weight gain is refined sugar (sugary stuff was the only way I was able to consume enough calories to nurse twins). It's very, very hard to break a sugar habit. I know that I can have some and it's ok, but I'm not always able to stop at some. Meh.

I was able to actually finish my necklace!

I'm still making my bed most days.

I'm having fewer playdates, as folks seem to have more things going on in the summer, but I hope we can get back to one additional play date a week in the fall.

I'm getting out in my garden at least once a week, and it's looking pretty good. My sister, the horticulturist, came over last week to prune my camillia. It's looking much better now. And she keeps me on track with my garden's health.

The visit with the out-laws went pretty decently. I decided that I would only ask my MoL if she wanted help once, and if she said no, I would go back to what I was doing and ignore the inevitable complaining about doing all the work. I actually got 4 books finished on my trip! There was one disappointment; there were no thunderstorms during the entire trip!

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Yes, I am perpetually late in posting the monthly backup...

Name and age?
K and F, 20 months and 6 days.

Weight/length/clothing size?
No updated measurements, and they're still in 12 month clothes. However, the way they are both eating, I wouldn't be surprised if those start getting small soon.

Food!
Still nursing, though we have night-weaned. I was just so, so tired of being awakened every 30-40 minutes. We used the Dr. Gordon method, and it took about 3 weeks, night-weaning them one at a time. It's quite nice now getting 6 hours of consecutive sleep!

I have not found anything that they absolutely will not eat... yet. Their current favorites are stone fruit, watermelon, zucchini, and, to my great dismay, potato chips.

I instituted a new procedure for feeding them, after they mauled me as I was trying to eat, and the food got everywhere. Now, if they want food, even a small snack, they need to be in their food chairs. That has worked out better than I hoped; they quite willingly climb up into their chairs to eat, and eating seems less frenetic and messy.

Sleep habits?
Still taking that late morning nap, though we can push it to past noon if we need to. Bed time is still late but I'm not sure I care too much, now that I am getting sleep. They wake around 6 for mama milk and then go back to sleep until 7:30-8am. They still wake up sometimes during the night, but unless F has a nightmare, it just takes a few pats and maybe some water, and they go right back to sleep.

Changing table issues?
They still hate diaper changes. I chose night-weaning over toilet use this month. We'll start being more diligent about toilet use once we get back from visiting the relatives mid-July.

Milestones?
Both have 16 teeth now, though the canines aren't in fully, yet. K is working on her two year molars, though it doesn't seem as bad as the first 16 teeth.

K can put on her own pants!

There are so many new words in all the languages that it's hard to keep track!

What's driving you crazy?
Housework. Lack of motivation.

How are YOU doing?
I'm getting over a very minor cold, the first this month! :) I finally broke my crafting block last night, and started wiring up some components for a necklace. I continue to regularly make my bed; some days, it feels like that's the only thing I can get done, or have any control over. I'm trying to do some walking daily. Last week, I went to zoos three times; once in Oakland to celebrate my mom's birthday, and twice in SF (it's a great afternoon outing, as I have a membership and don't live too far away and if I can only go for 90 minutes, who cares?!). My garden is looking pretty darn good!

We're headed to see the Canadian relatives next week. It's a mixed blessing; there are more hands for the twins, but my mother-out-law drives me crazy. Still, it's a different locale for a week, and I'll also get to see some friends who live there.

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Name and age?
The Captain, 20 months (on Monday)

Weight/length/clothing size?
Still around 21 lbs, maybe 21.5, and in 12M pants and mostly 18M tops. Not sure how tall. Not very?

Food!
Still nursing, although he's cut back a lot during the day (not night-weaned, though), and getting more and more proficient with a fork. He really likes strawberries.


Sleep habits?
Naps are still touch-and-go. I've basically been running him ragged every morning and taking a longer route home so he'll fall asleep in the Boba and then transfer to the bed. It mostly works, although one day this week, he conked out on the bus, slept for five minutes, woke up when I stood up, and refused to go back down. He ended up passing out on my lap in the late afternoon. Bedtime is usually okay. Last night he took forever to fall asleep, but I had him in the sidecarred crib, and he stayed there until 5:30 (with a couple of wakeups), instead of on our bed.

Changing table issues?
Nah, other than him wanting to run away mid-change.

Milestones?
His top two one-year molars are in pretty well, and the lower ones will probably be making their appearance soon- his gums are awfully lumpy. We're up to at least 40 signs, and he's starting to talk more. He'll also combine a word with a sign, like he'll say "mama" and sign "water" when he wants to steal my drink.


What's driving you crazy?
We still don't have our shower fixed, and the nap thing is a PITA. We're slowly (slowly) working on getting our second bedroom cleared out- we have a ton of stuff to take to Goodwill.

How are YOU doing?
Pretty okay. Even though it's exhausting keeping him so busy, we are having fun. I made a new friend at Firefly, and she lives right down the street from it, so she's there a lot, too. We've been getting lunch together, and I watched her daughter for her one morning this week. I'm up a few pounds, probably because the Captain isn't nursing as much, so I'll need to start being more careful about what I eat for the first time in over two years.

Pictures:
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Name and age?
Henry West, 18 months 1 week (ish)

Weight/length/clothing size?
26.5 lbs and 33 inches. He wears 18-24 months or 2T depending.

Food!
Anything and all things. As my mom puts it "Whatever doesn't move too fast." He is a carboholic, just like his mother. Bananas. Craisins. He occasionally throws things on the ground but the rule is if he throws something, we're done.

Sleep habits?
8:30-7:30 every night. With a few 6:45 wake ups every once in a while to keep me on my toes. His nap is from like 1pm to 3 or if I'm REALLY lucky 4. He's a great sleeper.

Changing table issues?
He has a rash on his bum that is driving me nuts but he seems not to notice. We've been Desitin/Butt Paste and nakey time as much as possible.

Milestones?
He has like 12 teeth and laughs like a crazy person. He sometimes says things like "I doet" but he isn't quite talking and I have to be honest it's making me nervous. The doctor says it isn't that big of deal but as a mom I'm petrified.

What's driving you crazy?
Other than the talking thing? Um. I'm flying with Henry by myself to my grandma's memorial in the middle of nowhere MO in about a week and I'm working myself up into a frenzy about that.

How are YOU doing?
I've been better. I'm anxious a lot and I'm definitely depressed but I'm working on it. We're also trying to give Henry a sibling so that's stressful (... and fun).

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Name and age?
K and F, 19 months and 3 days.

Weight/length/clothing size?
No updated measurements, but they are filling out their 12 month clothes nicely, and 18 month onesies aren't as big as they used to be.

Food!
Still nursing as much as ever, and more so at night, it seems. I've stepped up my boundaries on nursing; while nursing in public, they are allowed 3 pop-offs and then I end the session, and if they just seem to be doing continuous drive-bys, I put them off until they seem serious. I still haven't found a food they won't eat, although sometimes, there are foods they won't eat today.

Sleep habits?
Still taking that late morning nap, and still going to sleep rather late. We are getting more nights of F sleeping until dawn, in her own space, though she's been up in the middle of the night with nightmares. K often wakes around 1am, then sleeps until dawn. However, there still nights that I seem to be nursing every hour.

Changing table issues?
They still hate hate hate diaper changes. You'd think that would motivate them to use the toilet, but alas, that is not the case. They will sometime tell us when they *ought* to be using the toilet, but more often, they don't. I think once this long weekend is over, I'll work on getting them on the toilet more consistently.

Milestones?
K has one bottom canine broken through and the other is just under the surface. All of F's canines are through now; she looks like a little vampire because those teeth are so pointy!

More new words! Grandma, ear, baseball, and they also said their first word in lojban, dirba (it means dear).
They are finally making the sign for thank you.

They are climbing all the things now. We're in big trouble!

What's driving you crazy?
The not being able to get them to sleep at a reasonable hour. Feeling like we are STILL members of the Cold of the Month Club. (Is any one else seeming to get every illness going around? I've been sick twice in May!) Wondering if I'll ever get another post-partum period. My now-further-estranged brother.

How are YOU doing?
Eh. I've had two illnesses since the last time I posted. Some nights, the sleep is good, other nights it's terrible. OTOH, I had 3 dates in the past month, and saw 2 movies! The garden is starting to look decent, and I think I've missed only 3 days of bed-making, and that only because I was sick.

I've been trying to work on a cross-stitch project that I have been working on for years. I hope to get it done by the end of the year.

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As you can tell from my lack of posting, I've been just crazy busy trying to keep up with my crazy, active, not-much-for-sleeping girls!

Name and age?
K and F, 18 months on April 20.

Weight/length/clothing size?
As of their (late) 18 month well-baby appointment yesterday, K is 31 inches, and 22 pounds, 1 ounce. F is 30 1/2 inches and 21 pounds 9.5 ounces. They are in the double-digit percentiles for weight now! They are firmly in 12 month clothing, although some of the bigger 6 and 9 month onesies still fit.

Food!
Still nursing at 18 months, from 6 to 60 times a day (as I told the pediatrician). They eat what we eat, which has recently included chard, corned beef and cabbage, and as many bananas and mandarin oranges as we will give them at a time! They'll still eat endless amounts of zucchini (they put away one each on a recent outing). F doesn't like to eat the peel on things like apples and potatoes. Most people, including our pediatrician, are amazed at the types of food they can and will eat and are surprised that they never had much in the way of purees.

Sleep habits?
The still rock their late morning/early afternoon nap in the stroller, for the most part, huzzah!! It is a much needed break in my day. They sometimes still take a nap in the afternoon, especially if they have been very busy, or we're in the car. Bedtime is still very late (after 10pm and sometimes as late as midnight), but they've mostly been sleeping initially in their own space. With regard to sleeping "through the night", which is 6-7 hours in our case, that's been successful some of the time. I sort of feel like it's three steps forward and two steps back. There are still bad nights where I've been awakened with crying for mamama every 30-60 minutes. But I think they are getting there. We might be over the worst of the sleep deprivation once all the canines come in.

Changing table issues?
They still hate the interruption that is the diaper change. We started trying to get them to use the toilet shortly after the last update. We hoped that their hatred of the diaper change would have them using the toilet in no time, but that hasn't quite happened. We can sometimes get them on the toilet (either the regular toilet or their little potties) and they'll use it, but more often, they'll make the sign for toilet, and the "psssssssssssst" sound we use to encourage them, while they are peeing in their diapers. I guess that's some progress.

Milestones?
K has the two upper canine teeth broken though, but not the bottoms; though, from the feel of things, the bottoms aren't too far behind. F's molars are all broken through, as are three of her canine teeth; the fourth canine will be through any second.

So many new words! A-woooo, (which meant wolves, then all Canidae, then all things with 4 legs, and now mostly dogs); dog; Two!; Shooooes! (which also means feet, socks, and toes); ball; throw; bubble; beep!; tiggletiggletiggle (for tickle tickle tickle); no-nooo!; nose; dis (this); da' (that); I've heard "thank you" a couple of times; our babysitter swears that they've said "booooobies!" New signs include hat, hair, small, toilet. (I've been slacking on the signing.)

Their stair climbing improves daily; they want to hold the hand rail and walk beside us. They helped me push the stroller on our walk yesterday. They cooperate and help each other in some activities. F throws balls *overhand* and she has quite an arm (that's a 30 month milestone!).

Are tantrums a milestone? If so, these girls are excelling, especially F. She can turn on the sad face and waterworks at a whim.

What's driving you crazy?
The not being able to get them to sleep at a reasonable hour. Feeling like we were members of the "Cold of the Month Club" about every three weeks Jan-Apr. A lot of little things that weren't getting done because no one else cared (and they didn't realize that I did). Babies biting, each other and themselves. The first is resolving itself with age, I think; the second seems to have dissipated and we've been healthy for a bit now; and for the third, I have rediscovered unfuckyourhabitat.com, and I am rocking making my bed (which really does make me feel better) and the 20/10s; I am also encouraged to complain about the crap that bugs me. For the last, the biting, I'm hoping that's it's just a phase. I do try to redirect, and sometimes it works.

How are YOU doing?
Better; I'm getting some better sleep on the nights I have less than two babies on me for a significant period. Remembering to take all my supplements is making more of a difference than I thought it would. I am getting in my walking almost every day, which also seems to make a difference. I'm getting a bit more me time, and the guys are getting me out one night a week or so. I've been working in my garden; lately, I've been trying to do just 10 min of weeding a day; it might get all completed this month! :)

Crafting-wise, I've made a couple of necklaces, a pair of earrings, and I am planning another necklace; I've also been working on a cross stitch that I've been working on for years. I really would like to finish it this year. I still haven't managed to stay off the computer enough to do more crafting. :?

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