Baybay & Baybee: Week 38

38 weeks old!

This is what happens when both roll toward each other on the way to getting up.

Well, I've gotten a few weeks behind again on posts. The days feel like they are moving so quickly right now (maybe because both girls are on the move!) and it's amazing to me that it's already been 9 months since the girls were born. I really can't remember what my life was like before I was a Mama. I know I got more sleep, but I have no recollection of what that felt like.

Tornado?

Even though it was somewhat cool this week, I made the time to work outside in the garden. So far we have kale, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, swiss chard and bok choy planted. Mainly what I've been working on though, is weeding the flower gardens in the back yard. It always feels great to get outside and do something in the garden, even if it's just for 10 minutes.

Maya Lilac.

Ella LOVES our new swings.

So happy!

I could swing all day!

(Notice Ella's adorable bottom teeth in this picture?)

Video of the week!

Both girls had runny noses (Maya's was a little worse than Ella's) all week. We haven't noticed any other signs of a cold, but their naps haven't lasted long (sometimes as short as 30 minutes--eesh). so they have both been tired and cranky. We are all so, so, tired. When will we feel fully rested again? Maybe never, is what it feels like some days. I've been thinking that it would be immensely helpful to have a babysitter come play with the girls for a couple hours, maybe twice a week. Hopefully, I can make that happen soon.

Reading stories before bed.

Maya's newest thing is to pull up onto EVERYTHING. She has become quite skilled at it. So much so that if you are walking by and stop for just a moment, you will have a Maya standing up attached to your leg. She is working on bending down to pick up toys from standing, (while holding on with the other hand) and she is just starting to work on cruising along the furniture.

I can stand!

Playing with her sister.

(Really what was going on here was a game of steal the pacifier.)

At the play group on Sunday, Maya (on the right) and her friend Olivia, have fun standing and patting the radiator in the room.

A great thrift store find! Brett shows the girls how to build a really tall tower with our new Legos.

Plus, they came in a really fun box!

We look forward to Wednesdays, when we get to go to HooteNanny! Maya and Ella seem to be enjoying it every week, and Brett and I have a great time singing along to all the songs. We have a CD from the class, which we play at home sometimes. The girls already seem to recognize the songs.

Maya sits in the middle while everyone dances around to one of the songs. Ella was happy to play with her toy and listen.

Maya was fascinated with Katryna's guitar. This is the first class we've been to where she could really crawl around. She moved herself into the middle here and for a few songs just sat and listened. So cute!

My favorite picture of Ella this week.

My favorite picture of Maya this week (saving some broccoli for later).

Ahh, two sleeping babies.

Then & Now...

Left: My Mama nursing her babies, Amber and me. (1981)

Right: Me nursing my babies, Maya & Ella. (2012)

My first Mother's Day! I am looking forward to a relaxing day spent with my family. My one goal: I hope to take a nap.

To my Mama: Thank you for taking care of me and for nursing me when I was a baby. You have always been there when I needed you the most. You cuddled me when I was small and you held my hand while I learned to stand on my own. You were there to kiss away the hurt when I stumbled, and your shoulder has always been the best to lean on when I have been sad. You are supportive and caring and you remember to laugh. When I have some exciting news, you are still one of the first people I want to tell. Thank you for loving me and being my Mama. Happy Mother's Day to you!

Uncle Guy

Dear Uncle Guy,

This is Maya and Ella, writing from Mama's computer. She doesn't know that we snuck on here, so don't tell her. We just wanted to tell you that it was fun to see you tonight and that we love it when you come over to visit. Thanks for reading us stories and playing silly games with us before we had to go to bed. Come back to visit again soon, okay?

Love,

Maya & Ella

Baybay & Baybee: Week 37

37 weeks old!

We put up swings! I had the idea to put swings in our yard for a while, but I couldn't figure out where they could hang. I was so excited when I realized that we could hang them from the carport!

Brett works on hanging the second swing, while Ella watches and waits for her turn.

Family photo.

Can you tell that we have kids?

Playing in the box the swings came in. Ella says, "No nap for me thanks, you go ahead and I'll just hang out in here."

We had a little photo shoot in Child's Park on a particularly lovely day this week. Spring is so beautiful with all the flowers blooming. I love being able to show Maya and Ella the world for the first time.

Flowers.

Two girls in spring dresses.

Crawling.

Telling jokes.

"I love you, Dada"

Serious about picking up little sticks in the grass.

"I see you behind that camera!"

Over the weekend, we had a visit from Ann and her boyfriend, Mike. Ann loved getting the chance to see the girls in person for the first time, and although their visit was short, it was fun for everyone.

Ann makes faces at the girls as she snaps a photo.

Thanks to Ann for this nice family portrait.

Another fun thing we did this weekend was participate in the Great Cloth Diaper Change just up the road from our house at the Florence Community Center. This was the local instance of a worldwide event trying to break the world record for number of cloth diapers changed at the same time. There were twenty-five in Florence, and it was fun to be two out of twenty-five, but I was a little sad we didn't win any of the door or raffle prizes. Oh well--maybe next year!

Ready to change babies!

Changed! Yay!

Lilacs are in full bloom! We've always loved lilacs, but now they're also in the family, so to speak.

Sometimes I just watch from a distance while the girls play together...

...but in this case, Ella, I apologize for taking a picture instead of saving you from Maya's determination to get to a toy that you happened to be in the way of.

We had a nice visit from Kathy on Monday. She brought us some fencing that we plan to use for our cucumbers, a chive plant (which she also planted!) and of course, played with Maya and Ella. Jim stopped by later that afternoon and he and Brett took the babies for a walk together. That evening, Guy came over for a visit and I got to work in the garden after the babies went to bed. While I was planting carrots, I found a tiny peach tree that had sprouted and was growing in the dirt! Yay for compost!

Trying out the adorable (reversible) dresses that Grandma Kathy made.

"Hi!"

A classic example of how a non-toy becomes a favorite toy.

"Ha! I got the spoon!"

Baybay & Baybee: Week 36

36 weeks old!

Books! Maya and Ella have finally realized the joys of being read stories! Until recently, all they wanted to do was eat the books. Now they will listen to a short story and seem to really recognize and enjoy the books we've read over and over. We have a low shelf in the living room devoted to board books now. Maya and Ella (often at the same time) will pull a book off the shelf and then look at us expectantly. We've been enjoying this new development and are working on showing the girls how to turn the pages with their hands, not their mouths.

"Ten Little FINGERS and Ten Little TOES" by Mem Fox/Helen Oxenbury, is their favorite book. When we read it, we change the end a little, pluralizing "baby" so that it includes everyone in our family. They just love this book. A huge thanks to Mark and Kate for giving it to us!

As Maya becomes a more confident crawler, she is also increasing her bravery and speed. This is the first week that she has ventured out of the living room on her hands and knees. She will now follow us into the kitchen, or peek into the bathroom on her own. She has also discovered the shoes in the hallway. She LOVES shoes. Mostly for chewing on, which isn't probably the best use of them.

A confident little crawler.

On April 10th Maya and Ella turned eight months old! They are such little people now. Both girls "talk" all the time and think it's hilarious when we make silly sounds and hold them upside-down. Ella still enjoys playing on the little piano and Maya is really into cars and balls that move around (things she can chase after). Their favorite foods are oatmeal and broccoli. When they are very tired, both tug on their ears. Maya is in love with my computer, and our phones, and she will try desperately to gain access to these things once she notices their presence. Many of the girls' clothes are getting tight, and a few of the "12 months" things we have now fit them. Ella's hair is so long that it sometimes gets in her eyes. Maya tries to give kisses--or she could be trying to eat our noses, I'm really not sure. We still love them both girls a whole lot.

Big girls!

On Friday, April 13th, Maya and Ella's Great Grandma Mary turned 91 years old! The four of us took a drive up north for a short visit. Brett's mom and Aunt Marilyn where also there for lunch and we got to see Uncle Ray as well. Mary had a great day and LOVED holding Ella. Maya was in a shy mood, but Ella was happy to sit on her great grandmother's lap for much of the visit.

Ella sitting with her Great Grandma Mary and Great Aunt Marilyn.

8 months and 91 years!

We spent some time outside this week working in the yard and getting the garden ready to plant. The girls helped, and when they weren't trying to eat the grass, leaves, and dirt clumps it was relaxing and fun to be outside working together.

"Somebody has to turn the garden. I better do it."

"That's a lot of work. Better take a break. Hmm, maybe this stuff is good to eat..."

Mmm, dirt!

Finishing the job Maya started.

Ella mostly hung out on the blanket while we worked in the garden.

When she wasn't playing with toys, she watched her sister crawl around and did a good job, I think, of not getting too frustrated that she wasn't able to join her.

The twins had their first ride on swings this week! We took them to a park and they really enjoyed it. We will be getting swings to hang at home soon!

First pushes!

Maya rides with me on the big swing.

Three people, one swing, lots of fun!

A couple things we were proud of this week: finishing our taxes and making a few really yummy meals for ourselves, not just for the babies. Sometimes we feel like we really don't do much besides spend time with Maya and Ella, taking care of them, every day. It's easy to lose track of the big picture when we feel like that. I find that it helps me stay positive when I step back and remember that this is a very short time in our lives. They won't be babies forever!

Here are a bunch of extra pictures to enjoy!

Ella, determined to eat the grass at the park.

My favorite picture of Maya this week.

My favorite picture of Ella this week.

Benita and Jonah stopped by for a short visit! We were so glad that Benita made this happen because we really enjoy spending time with her and her lovely family.

Ella and I decided that it was too early to wake up, so we went back to sleep while Maya and Brett played in the other room.

Happy girl!

"Now, how does this thing work?"

It's always good to do your daily stretches.

Before-bed story-time with Uncle Guy.

It has been chillier the past few days. We are looking forward to the warmer weather so everyone doesn't have to be so bundled up to go outside.

This pretty bluebird lives somewhere in our neighborhood. We often see it as we stroll around the block.

Those are the same booties that I wore when I was Maya's age!

Extra videos!

Spinning in Dada's chair.

I amuse myself (and the babies) with pull toys.