Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Go Bucks, & 16 months!

We had a great Christmas this year.  The girls didn't really "get it" yet, but they sure do like all their new toys!   We went to Ohio to stay with my family for a few days for Christmas then headed back.  This trip wasn't nearly as easy as traveling over the summer, the girls didn't sleep as much as we expected.  The route is more mountainous and not as familiar as I-75 and it seemed much longer, even though it's about 100 miles less, not too mention all the toll roads (boo!) On the way back Caroline vomited (all over) which also made for a little bit of an unpleasant ride, but we made it safely so that's really all that matters!

 

Before Christmas, we went to look at lights and met Santa for the first time!

We had Christmas at home before going to Ohio

Claire loves her babies

Caroline, being Caroline ;-)

My sweet friend Kate came down to celebrate New Years and we also got to enjoy the Buckeye's Sugar Bowl Victory over Alabama!  The girls LOVE doing O-H and we are so happy that Ohio State won the National Championship!

Caroline is less than impressed...

The girls are now 16 months old, and they continue to surprise me daily.  They are really learning things quickly at this age.  They both point to their nose, mouth, and bellybutton pretty constantly, we are still working on other body parts. Both girls were sick with colds most of the month, but I think they are finally feeling better!

Claire

Claire is standing for longer periods of time and has taken a few steps (only if you force her!) She climbs up on anything and everything that she can. She enjoys pointing and giving mean faces, thanks to her sister...

Caroline has been "talking" up a storm lately.  She is really trying to repeat everything that you say to her.  I feel like she is starting to say actual words, but maybe I just think she is!

15 months old, so much to be thankful for!

Wow, what a month November was! We moved! So I  finally decided to take a break from cleaning and unpacking, and of course taking care of 2 little ones, to finally update the blog.  We officially moved three weeks ago, and just now I am starting to feel kind of settled, just kind of! We have a lot more room now and the girls seem to be settling in too.

Sweet girls on Thanksgiving

Happy Claire

On Dec. 6 we celebrated Claire coming home from the hospital a year ago.  It's so hard to believe she spent 96 days in the NICU, thinking about how long ago we celebrated their birthday really puts it into perspective.  Claire loves her baby dolls and giving them hugs and kisses. She loves bananas and grapes and pretty much anything she can feed herself.  Her top two teeth are coming in!  She loves giving hugs and enjoys being sung to.  She is starting to stand on her own, and has taken a few steps, with lots of prompting.  She would much rather climb or crawl every place she wants to go.

Silly Caroline

Caroline has taken off, she's now a professional walker!  She loves stuffed animals and looking through books. Caroline's top two teeth are also coming in.  She loves feeding Porter, talking/yelling, and loves to give mean faces, most of the time she will give you a smile or laugh afterwards though. She is quite silly!

Just to make you smile- the girls were asked by our old neighbor to model her hats that she makes... I can't caption these, I just can't...

Caroline

Caroline

Claire

Claire

And there are about 140 more... ;-)

Halloween and 14 months old!

We have been busy packing or trying to pack the house, our two little helpers aren't making it easy!  Both girls are very curious and don't like to leave boxes alone.  My last day of work was October 24, so I have been a stay at home mom for a week now.  John started his job last Monday and has been continuing to look for houses for us in the evenings.  Claire and Caroline were so happy to see Dad on Friday night when he came back.  He made it home in time to go trick or treating with us for a little bit.  The girls dressed up as owls for Halloween, yes, store bought owl costumes.  Maybe next year I'll be more creative!

Caroline and Claire on Halloween 

Claire and Caroline a few days before Halloween

Ready to Trick or Treat with Elsa and Anna

2 little owls

Bags are ready to go!

Claire has really been getting around the furniture well and climbing up on everything that she can, including the baby gate!  She still needs to work on her balance to stand on her own.  She loves to wave and has been eating really well lately.  She is producing more sounds and she loves laughing at her silly sister.  She doesn't nap as long as Caroline each day, but Claire entertains herself so well when she is awake.

Caroline has been taking more steps on her own, but hasn't taken off quite yet. She has been pointing and making more sounds. She loves to throw anything she can get her hands on.  She has been putting anything and everything in her mouth lately. She will happily shake her head no when you tell her no!

Changes for our family

I wrote this in early October and never posted, things have been a bit busy around here!

Wow, what a busy and fast September! We don't have any onesie stickers after 12 months, so the girls will be in generic outfits from now on.

Our little Buckeyes!

The girls went to the doctor this week for their one year check up.  Caroline is now 19 lbs 9 ozs, and 29 inches long.  Claire is 16 lbs 7 ozs and 28 3/4 inches long.  Claire is eating well overall, but she just isn't gaining weight, so the pediatrician recommended that we visit a gastroenterologist. Caroline is standing on her own and has taken a few steps before falling.  Her favorite word is "DADADADA" Both girls have discovered the stairs and LOVE to try to sneak up them. They are fast!  Both girls are climbers, they want to be as high up as they can.  Claire loves cruising around the furniture and hanging upside down.  There might be gymnastics in her future!
   We have some changes coming soon.  John has accepted a job in Spartanburg, SC working as an engineer for DISH, which means we will be moving in early November.  I resigned from my teaching position effective October 24.We are very excited to move closer to family, and I am so happy to be able to stay at home with the girls.  Needless to say we have a lot to do, including finding a place to live!

ONE YEAR!

We celebrated the girls' first birthday last weekend.  We had a little Thing 1 & Thing 2 party with family and friends on Sunday.  The girls loved the attention they got from their guests, they were exhausted afterward.  We took a big risk and gave the girls a smash cake, thankfully we didn't have any crazy allergic reactions! Claire REALLY liked her cake.  Caroline wasn't a huge fan, she just wanted to play with it.  Both girls loved the balloons and even got to wake up to balloons in their room on their birthday.

Trying to figure out this cake thing

Claire finally decided to dig in!

Caroline wasn't so sure about her cake

Here is a link to more party and birthday pictures- First Birthday Pictures!

12 months!

Caroline has recently been standing on her own for a few seconds at a time and even walking a little bit with her walker! Caroline loves tearing up paper and loves looking at greeting cards and books.  She continues to eat well and seems to be growing.  She hasn't gotten anymore teeth, although we keep thinking they are coming!

Caroline

Claire has been pulling up to stand, but still army crawls her way around.  She is really fast when there is a cell phone, computer, or dog bowl nearby! She loves playing with Porter. She has been doing well eating and has been doing a great job feeding herself puffs.  She loves her baby dolls and bouncing up and down.  She has her bottom two teeth now. 

Claire

11 months old!

On the first the girls turned 11 months old!  Both girls continue to grow bigger and stronger each day each day.

It's getting harder to get a picture with both girls looking at the camera

Lots of pictures looking at each other

And lots touching each other!

Claire

Claire continues to army crawl, but she is really picking up the pace the past few weeks.  She definitely gets to where she wants to be pretty quickly!  She is pulling up to stand a lot more now too.  She now has her first tooth!  She has been saying both dada and mama recently.

Caroline

Caroline continues to crawl all around and yell and scream most of the time.  She loves to pull up to stand and is trying to cruise around the furniture.  Her new favorite thing to do is pull anything down that is on the steps.  She especially loves pulling down magazines.  And we haven't found a food that she doesn't like yet!

10 months and summer fun!

The girls turned 10 months old while we were in Ohio visiting friends and family.  They got to meet their great grandparents and lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.  They enjoyed time at the pool, Buckeye Lake, and Old Man's Cave.  They did well on the long car ride to and from Ohio.  Both girls have really grown these past few weeks.

Happy 10 month olds!

Caroline 

Caroline now has mastered crawling and she is pulling up to stand whenever and wherever she can.  A few weeks ago she said "dada" for the first time and now it's her favorite thing to say (over and over!).  Caroline has been clapping her hands and has been enjoying pears, sweet potatoes, and carrots lately. She loves talking and playing with Porter and taking his toys.  She also got her first two teeth this month!

Claire

Claire is still commando crawling to get around.  She has recently been caught saying "dada" too, but she doesn't put on a show like her sister.  Claire is a picky eater, only liking fruits, no carrots or sweet potatoes for her.  One of her tricks is finding and "reading" tags on her toys, silly girl!  She now has her first tooth coming in too!

Caroline swinging

Claire enjoying the swing

Today the girls had a check up.  The doctor was very happy with their progress.  Claire now weighs 15 lbs. 2 oz. and is 26.5 inches long. Caroline weighs 17 lbs. 10 oz. and is 27 inches long.