Baybay & Baybee: Week 73 (12/26-1/1)

73 weeks old!

Christmas Day was spent with Brett's family (plus my Aunt Anne!) in Leyden. We woke up, had a snack, packed everyone (and everything) into the car and stepped out into the snowy morning. We made it to Brett's parents house by 7:30. It felt like we were packing for a weeklong trip with all the stuff we brought with us. It's a good thing we were smart and packed most of it the night before.

The tree.

All the stockings.

Ella sits with her Great Aunt Anne while we open stockings.

Sorting game pieces by color.

Maya and Grandpa.

Up the stairs!

Ella's turn.

Ornaments.

Pretty.

One of the first presents that the girls unwrapped: Raspberries!

Ripping the paper.

This lift-the-flap book was an immediate favorite.

Kathy, Aunt Anne and I took a walk together.

There were some impressive icicles.

Wow!

This was a very exciting present.

 New bike.

We had a race with all of the wind up toys.

We got lots more snow later in the week! Our first attempt at taking the girls out to play in it was a complete fail. They were tired. Ella didn't want to wear her snowsuit. Maya wanted a different hat and insisted on being held. It was a very short excursion. The second attempt, on another day, worked out much better.

Watching Dada shovel.

There he is!

The best part was when he threw snowballs at the window.

But just the shoveling was pretty fascinating all on its own.

Our second adventure in the snow.

Ella was much happier this time.

Maya thought it was fun to get the snow on her glove (but it had to be wiped off before she could dip her hand in the snow again.)

Both girls thought that falling down onto the snow was hilarious.

"Help me, please!"

Helping her sister brush the snow off of her gloves.

Maya tries her hand at shoveling.

It feels like our nights are slowly getting better. We've had fewer wake-ups in the middle of the night then usual. Maybe we are turning the corner? It's so hard to know what to do about sleep. Maya and Ella get up so early! Why?! I am just hoping for the best at this point, and trying to appreciate the good nights when we get them. 

Maya and her cat purse. This was a Christmas gift from Grandma Kathy. I'm not sure that I've ever seen Ella play with it, but Maya carries it around all the time, often with different animals or toys inside.

Another new toy. They are still a little young for this, but have been enjoying it anyway. One side is a chalk board and the other side is for dry erase markers.

At the end of a long day, Dada gets a massage.

Ella's cozy reading spot. Both girls are getting so good at climbing on and off the couches. They LOVE to hide behind the cushions  Another skill that Ella picked up this week is, nodding "yes"! She does it very slowly and deliberately -- it's very cute. Also, both girls think that walking on their tip-toes is lots of fun, and funny to boot!

I got this table at the thrift store for a couple dollars. It goes well with the chairs.

We've been using it mostly as a drawing table. It's great!

When I came home from doing some errands one day this week, I found these cute pictures on the camera that Brett had taken of Maya.

My, what a lovely hat you have.

Eating is serious business.

Even and Merry were away for a while over the holidays, so we got to take care of their cat, Mocha. Maya and Ella LOVED going upstairs to see her. In this picture, Maya is trying to give Mocha a kiss.

The snow didn't stop some of us from riding in the swings!

All bundled up.

Watching Dada getting ready to leave for work.

Ella can turn this light on and off now!

Maya can, too.

Me and Maya.

Jim came over for a visit. He and Ella had fun putting a puzzle together.

Uncle Guy and Becca also stopped by for a visit this week. That afternoon, we told the girls that Guy was coming over in a little while and until he arrived, "Guy" was the most popular word in the house. But the real question is: What do you do with a bucket of pens?

Dump them out, of course!

Snow!

Toby arrived for a visit on Sunday evening. He will be staying with us for about a week and a half. Maya and Ella slept terribly (one of their worst nights in a while, with so many wake-ups) that first night he was here. I have no idea why it was such a hard night, but hopefully it won't become a pattern.

I will leave you with a few more pictures of the girls playing in the snow. Happy New Year, everyone!

We love the snow!

Smile for Mama!

Uncle Toby with the twins.

Down!

So many cute pictures!

"Um, a little help please."

Happy Ella.

Following in her sister's footprints.

A few seconds later.

Ella up! Maya down!

First snow angels.

Bonus video!

Baybay & Baybee: Week 72 (12/19-12/25)

72 weeks old!

We started off the week with a doctor's appointment for the girls. We went to get the vaccinations and blood draws that had been postponed at their last check-up. Sadly, we forgot to bring pacifiers with us, so there was a lot of crying and two very upset little girls by the end of the blood draws. The worst part (at least for Ella) was the numbing bandages that were put on arms in preparation for the blood draw. She did NOT want those bandages on. Her crying set off Maya (cue concerned look and the sign for cry) who, though reluctant to let the nurse come near her, might have held it together had her sister not been so upset. The next time they need blood drawn, we may skip the numbing step. We will, at the very least, ask how important it is. 

They had no negative reaction to the shots (PCV-13, Chicken Pox, and MMR) this time, except a small rash and redness where the needles went in. I know that vaccinations are good and what we've chosen to do, but every time they get them I still worry. 

 Attempting to get a good picture of both toddlers in front of the tree. One smile!

One smile. One blank stare.

Maya is done sitting.

One half asleep and one half smile. Time for bed.

On Friday afternoon we went to see Kathy sing with her group at the hospital. The concert was during the time that we usually have lunch, and though they had a snack, Maya and Ella weren't in the best moods for sitting and listening to music. They excitedly pointed to Grandma and then squirmed around for the rest of the time.

Hanging out with Grandma after the concert.

They were very happy to finally be able to give her hugs. Once or twice we had to restrain them from running up to her while the group was still singing.

We stopped at Green Fields Market for some lunch after the singing.

Selena came over later in the week and we made another attempt at getting a good picture of the girls with the Christmas tree. When two of the four subjects are in constant motion, it takes a lot of pictures to get a good one.

Once again, Maya and Ella did not want to sit still. 

Just the two of us. Much easier to get a good picture.

Brett's brilliant idea.

Story time with Selena.

Happy to be outside on a sunny day.

Hats to keep the feet warm.

Is he asleep? <poke, poke>

After meals, we have started a great routine where one of us (usually me) will go wash dishes while the other stays in the living room with the girls, handing them items from the table to bring to the kitchen. Maya and Ella will take turns busing dirty dishes from the table to the kitchen until everything is put away. Brett calls this "chore tennis" because they both run back and forth with such gusto. I am greeted by the cutest little girls with the biggest grins ("Look at me, Mama! I'm carrying this BIG plate AND a fork!").   In return, I present them with the clean (just washed) dishes, which they excitedly carry back to Brett. They love to help. And it helps us clean up. Definitely a great routine.

On Monday, we were so impressed with Maya and Ella. We only had one banana, and they both wanted the whole thing. After some explaining and a bit of initial help, they ate the whole banana, together, taking turns (handing it back and forth) until it was gone.

Standing on the chairs in the living room is the best thing. Maya and Ella can get up and down safely on their own now! 

Drawing.

Adventures with paint (and it really was an adventure, one not to be repeated anytime soon).