Baybay & Baybee: Week 75 (1/9-1/15)

75 weeks old!

This was another full week of play, rest, and everything in between. Our HooteNanny singing class started up again on Wednesday! Maya and Ella were very excited to go. When Katryna picked up her guitar and began the, "Good morning, sunshine" song, they both watched with open mouths, which quickly turned into huge smiles.

Excited to be at HooteNanny!

Another musical accomplishment: Maya learned how to play the harmonica! She's a little embarrassed/shy when she plays still, so this isn't a very long video.

We took a few other videos this week.

Popcorn has been a favorite snack lately. 

When the popcorn is right there, and someone is willing to feed you, why wait to eat until you're done?

Putting on boots.

Coloring with crayons.

We got outside to play in the snow some more this week and also took a few trips out in the world. Brett and the girls went grocery shopping and he also brought them over to visit Guy. I took them to the library and we each did a stroller walk or two. 

I've realized that going out alone with both girls is only really difficult at a few key moments. Namely, the going and the returning. It's just plain hard (and takes a long time) to get everyone dressed and ready to go. Also, they are heavy. So, for example, say Maya doesn't want to leave the library, but it's time to go. And then imagine that Ella is tired (hence the time to go part) and starts to cry and take off her shoes and jacket when I put her down. By the time I have caught Maya and brought her back to the pile of clothes on the floor where Ella was, I have just enough energy left to scoop both girls up and carry them as quickly as I can out of the library. It's exhausting! I try not to let thoughts of this deter me from taking them places. It's helpful to remember to leave myself a lot of time. 

Almost spring time?

Gloves on!

Gloves off!

Getting out for a walk.

Just hanging out at Uncle Guy's house.

Maya liked watching this older boy at the library.

These Legos were a lot of fun.

Dolls. Maya and Ella like baby dolls. It's cute to see them "rock" the babies in their arms and carry them around. They have recently really enjoyed playing a game where they get the dolls ready for bed and then tuck them in. It's kind of the most adorable thing ever.

Bed on the floor all made up for the dolls. (Maya is just testing it out.)

Maya tucks in her doll. Ella makes sure her doll's pacifier works.

Baby is all tucked in and is sleeping according to Maya (who is signing 'sleep').

Ella is sleeping, too.

Friday evening, Brett and I went out to see a Cheryl Wheeler concert at the Iron Horse. Kathy came over to watch Maya and Ella. About an hour before we were planning to head out for the evening, I realized that Ella was running a low grade temperature. She was also acting very clingy and clearly wasn't feeling well. When Kathy arrived we decided to still go ahead and go out, even though Ella wasn't well. I worried a lot until I got a reassuring text saying that they both went to bed with no problems. Apparently Maya was super helpful with getting bedtime clothes together and Ella was cuddly and (though still running a temperature) in a good mood.

The concert was great (as was getting to see Steech!) and we feel so thankful that Kathy was able to stay with the girls.

The next morning. Ella and Dada cuddled up in bed.

Homemade carrot juice. Yum.

Ella knows just what to do when she's not feeling well.

Watching Dada haul away a bunch of junk to the dump! By Saturday afternoon, Ella was feeling better and we feel lucky that no one else got sick.  Maybe it was all the carrot juice we drank?

Tickle, tickle, tickle.

Feeding doggies popcorn.

Baybay & Baybee: Week 74 (1/2-1/8)

74 weeks old!

We kept noticing things this week that the girls could do easily now, that last time we checked, they couldn't. For instance, they effortlessly climb in and out of their rocking boat, and we don't worry (much) about them falling anymore. They can pull the cord on the flashlight to charge it all on their own (something they used to struggle with and be afraid of because of the loud noise it makes) and they are getting so good at climbing stairs (especially the ones leading to our basement, which they LOVE). All of their clothes (12 & 18 months) are getting small. Maya and Ella are almost a year and a half old -- amazing!!

"Hi, Maya!" 

Now-a-days, climbing up and down from the learning tower is no big deal for these two.

Grocery shopping with Dada.
Having one girl standing in the back of the cart feels a lot safer now than it used to.

We had a couple outings this week, besides grocery shopping. We went to the farmers market on Saturday, and out to breakfast one morning at the Green Bean with Selena. After the breakfast out, we stopped at the Parents Center for a short play-time. Maya wore underwear the whole time we were out and she stayed dry the whole time! She used the toilet at the restaurant (with our little seat) and she was very proud of herself. Ella had a diaper during our outing, but didn't pee (though she did sit and try) until we got home.

Maya and Brett walk down the stairs in Thorne's Marketplace, heading to the farmers market.

Ella (people watching) at the farmers market.

Carrots! We bought a huge bag of carrots.

If Maya could, she would probably say, "Selena, I love you!"

Hat, gloves and boots on all by herself! Could she look any prouder?

Our Christmas tree is still up. It hasn't been pulled down by Maya or Ella and we're still enjoying the pretty lights in the evening. When the girls get up in the morning and we go into the living room, they say, "Hi" to the tree first thing. I hope they aren't too sad when we eventually take it down.

Maya gives the panda ornamant a kiss.


Ella helps Dada with his Scrabble game.

We discovered that a bowl of snow to play with inside, was a lot of fun.

"Try some, it's good!"

It was a brilliant way to keep two toddlers occupied and quiet for 20 minutes!

Maya is cute.

Sleep has been much better this week! The only complaint we really have is that 4:00 a.m. is just TOO early to wake up. Someone (Maya!) seems to think that this is the best time to wake up, because she's been doing it consistently for days. Often her cries wake her sister up and I end up nursing them both. We've had some success with putting the girls back to bed after they've nursed for a while.  That usually gives us another hour or so of sleep. It's not terrible. But, it's not great, either. Naps have still been easy and consistant, except for a couple times recently when one or both of the girls have decided not to take a second nap. I'm curious when they will make the switch to only one nap, instad of two. It's hard to imagine that will happen unless they start waking up later in the morning. 

Boat rides are fun.

Rubbing her sister's hair.

Ella.

Maya. (And the seahorse, aka worm, which she can turn on and off by herself now!)


Howdy, partner.


Looking at a favorite book together.

Maya invented a funny game this week. When we are nursing, she will pretend that she is "all done". She waves her hands (the sign for "all done") and pulls my shirt down. I respond by saying, "Okay, all done!", to which she grins and signs "more" and "nurse". I pretend to be surprised and let her nurse more, and this goes on over and over again. Ella has started doing it, too. They both think it's pretty funny to "trick" me.

My little munchkin.


Toes!

Ella in her stripes.

She can get down from this chair by herself, but sometimes, she doesn't want to.

We had a cute little photo shoot one afternoon.


Hug.


Holding hands.

Practicing their dance moves.

Maya really likes holding hands.

Smile.

And lastly, but not surprisingly, one of the main highlights of this week continued to be playing outside in the snow.

"I'm outside! Yay!"

"Can we climb on it? Can we push it?  Can we eat it?"

Trudging around in the snow.


Sitting. It's a lot of work to get up once you're down.

My sweet husband.

Maya.

Ella.


We made some hand prints.

Sled ride! 

Adventures in the snow.