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.

First beach trip

Last week we went to Wilmington to visit Nana and spend some time at the beach.  The girls went swimming in the pool and went to the beach for the first time.  They even saw fireworks on the beach.  Both girls liked the pool and fireworks.  Caroline enjoyed putting her feet in the ocean, but Claire wasn't a big fan of the loud waves and sand.

Both girls needed a nap as soon as we got set up

Caroline relaxing on the beach

Daddy and Claire

Claire still musters up a smile

Caroline and Mommy

The beach is exhausting!

Claire is now "army crawling" around on the floor.  Caroline now gets up on all fours, but is still working on getting her legs moving.  Both girls had apples and bananas for the first time this week and they did well eating both new foods.  Caroline has two teeth coming in, which means Claire will probably have one or two soon too!

9 months old (23 days later!)

On the first of June the girls turned 9 months old.  These photo shoots are getting shorter and shorter as the girls grow older!

Happy 9 month old girls

Caroline is sitting up unassisted very well for longer periods of time.  She is trying to pull up and also trying to crawl.  She still rolls around a good deal and pushes on her back and has found her way all around the living room and dining room.  She is "talking" and producing more sounds now too.  She weighs 16 pounds and is 26 1/4 inches long.  For the first time she is now on the growth curve for her actual age!  She has been eating rice cereal and holding her own bottle. We are ready to start baby foods and sippy cups now.  She doesn't like to be left, even if her sister is nearby.  She is definitely the dominant, louder twin, but she really is a good girl!

Caroline

Caroline

Caroline is doing a great job sitting up

Claire is more laid back and quieter of the two.  She is now on the growth curve also! She weighed in at 14.5 pounds and 26 1/2 inches at the doctor's office a few weeks back.  Claire isn't a fan of sitting up.  In general she likes Caroline to do things before her, so I hope she decides sitting up isn't so bad soon.  Claire likes her rice cereal and loves to laugh and smile.  She can easily entertain herself. She rolls and pushes on her back also.  She isn't as much of an explorer as Caroline and she is content in one area as long as her toys are nearby.  She is talking and making lots of sounds too and has been shaking her head (as in no) lately.  Her smile and dimples can really light up a room!  Her favorite things are phones and computers. She really shows some determination to move quickly when an electronic device is nearby.

Claire

Claire

Both girls LOVE paper! 

Two weeks ago we went to the eye doctor and also the pulmonologist.  Both girls had good visits with both doctors.  They won't need to go back to the eye doctor for a year, and the pulumonologist was impressed with their progress and growth.  They both handled the two colds they have had well so they probably won't have to get another round of Synergist shots during RSV season.  We are trying to get on a nap schedule which some days are better than others.  The hardest part is trying to keep them up until naptime.  Once they lay down they are good to go for at least a couple of hours!

Dad with the girls at the eye doctor

First Mother's Day

I was able to celebrate my first Mother's Day with a quiet day at home with the girls.  I got a very special gift from the girls and a hour massage gift certificate from John!  It was a great day.  Here are a few pictures.

Sweet, sweet Mother's Day gift from the girls

The best gifts I've ever been given

Claire

Caroline

Both girls have had colds for almost a week now.  Over the weekend Caroline developed a high fever along with her already runny nose and coughing.  She went to the doctor today and has a double ear infection.  Poor baby.  The good news is today was my last official day of work for the school year so I'll be home until the end of July with the girls (and John too)!  We are looking forward to traveling to Ohio and to the beach to visit grandparents and other family!

8 months old

The girls turned 8 months old this past Thursday.  We are still working on incorporating rice cereal into their diets, and now both girls are getting a little more in their bellies than on them!  Caroline has been practicing holding her own bottle, and Claire has been eating much better the past few days! They are both moving and rolling ALL around when they are on the floor.  They are also practicing sitting up unassisted. We finally got the new stroller out and have been able to enjoy the beautiful weather!

Claire

Caroline & Claire

Caroline

Enjoying the new stroller

Caroline practicing holding her bottle

6 month check up and Easter

Last Monday the girls went for their 6 month check up and shots.  Since their actual age is 7 months, but adjusted age is 5 months the doctor decided to do 6 month their check up in-between  Both girls did well for getting 2 shots, an oral vaccine, and also blood taken.  Caroline weighed 13 lbs 15.7 ounces, she was 24 1/4 inches long, and her head measured 16.25 inches.  Claire weighed 12 lbs 7.3 ounces, was 24 1/2 inches long, and her head measured 15 3/4 inches.  They will continue to take the Neosure preemie formula and we got the go ahead to start rice cereal.

Caroline isn't impressed with rice cereal

And neither is Claire!

This past week has been busy, Nana came to visit, and we went to Grandma and Grandpa's in South Carolina for Easter.  The girls had a nice first Easter.  We went to church and both girls did well, however, Easter probably wasn't the best Sunday to take two babies to church for the first time!

Family Easter pic

Happy Hoppy Easter

Not as happy without the bibs

First Easter baskets

7 months!

On Tuesday, the girls turned 7 months old, it really doesn't seem possible.  I was fortunate to have this past week off of work for Spring Break so I was able to spend the week at home with John and the girls.  Both girls continue to grow stronger each day and are both very aware of their surroundings.  They love to watch Porter and sometimes even give him a screeching yell.  They are very "talkative" these days.

Serious Seven Month Olds

Silly Seven Month Olds

Claire

Claire still hasn't decided to start enjoying her bottles yet.  She is still inconsistent with eating most days.  But she seems to be gaining weight when we weigh her at home.  We think she weighs about 12 pounds.  They have a check-up next Monday so we will get a more accurate measurement then.  Claire loves sleeping on her belly and chewing on her fingers.  She rolls from side to side easily and sleeps 6-7 hours each night.  Dad has to wake her to eat in the morning. She continues to have an easy going temperament and loves to smile and show off her dimples, or maybe we just love to see her smile!  The physical therapist decided that she will see her every other week instead of every week, which is a good sign!

Caroline

Caroline on the other hand LOVES to eat.  We estimate her weight to be close to 14.5 pounds.  She is getting better at using her hands to grasp, pinch, and scratch.  She even showed us yesterday that she could sit up on her own for a bit!  She sleeps through the night also, but is usually the first one up and ready to eat each morning.  She too loves to have her hands in her mouth.

See more pictures at - https://carolineclaire.shutterfly.com/