Car seats

I've become known as a bit of a car seat nut, and that's ok with me. In both of our small (ish) cars the girls are still rear facing just past three (and 36+ inches and 26 lbs, so big enough for any forward facing harnessed seat I am aware of)

Why, you ask? The law (and most seats' requirement) is 1 & 20 lbs. the AAP recommends at least to turning 2. Well, the NHTSA recommends 4. On the one hand, I know they're safe in a well installed & top tethered seat at this age, and they have ridden forward facing in my mom's car and on vacation. 

But, we spend A LOT of time on the road, have small cars (namely my Corollla) that can't compete with the monsters on the road beside us, and really, why be less than optimally safe with your kids?

Now, my kids will likely fit, given their average height and below average weight, rear  facing in their seats to 4.5 or even 5.5 depending on how things go. Will I force a kindergarten kid to rear face? Of course not. But my preschoolers are happy, and have never complained (even after riding in forward facing seats), so why not keep them as safe as possible? 

A couple of links to read: 

http://csftl.org/rear-facing-car-seat-myths-busted/

http://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide/

3!

The three  year well visit rocked :) no shots and Quinn is the highest she's ever been on the weight charts! And the doctor was totally impressed they can spell their names, and you know we eat that up. 

 For your amusement: 

Q: 37" (48th) & 26 lbs (6th)...still <1% bmi but whatever. 

A: 36" (24th) & 26 lbs (6th). 6th% bmi. Right about her normal curve, poor shorty. Q passed her a year ago and isn't looking back. 

It is shocking what an inch does. Avery FEELS so much more solid. 

Nature versus nurture

I think one of the best parts of twins is seeing them develop side by side. They're such different kids. 

They're both initially a bit shy with new people but open up pretty fast. At that point, Avery is kind of a clown - funny faces, toddle jokes, etc. Quinn is much more reserved and absolutely an introvert. 

The difference is apparently in their physical development too. Avery was always a few weeks ahead of Quinn in gross motor skills. We used to attribute it to Quinn's IUGR, but it's possible some - especially the later milestones like walking - is just her. At nearly three, Avery flies on a tricycle. Quinn can sort of kind of pedal a revolution or two but has no interest and minimal skill. But, she writes beautiful Qs and can do zippers including starting them and some buttons. 

Bedtime nibbles

So as I was in the basement doing laundry I hear this bloodcurdling scream. And like all MOTYs I wait to see what happens, and Avery starts screaming Quinn bit her. 

By the time I get there they're both in their beds, Quinn beautifully tucked in. Why did she bite Avery, you ask? "Because Avery was in her bed and I want to go to sleep"

I am unclear if she wanted Avery in her bed, or if Avery was being loud. But this is much more amusing than the sniper biting phase this time last year. 

Twin problems

So now that the girls are almost 2.5, I've been trying to coordinate their clothes more for individuality or some crap like that ;)

Alas. While this is adorable, one should note that the purple sweatshirt is the only one worth wearing. Quinn pitched such a terrific fit about it the other day that Avery TOOK IT OFF and gave it to her....

Santa

We took the girls to see Santa today. Last year, they just screamed. The photo is amazing. We have really been talking it up this year and training them to ask Santa for Grandma and Grandpa to visit. 

Overall, the visit was a success. It snowed in the mall. 

They were good waiters :)

And, well, they took a picture ;)

Shopping Success

I took both kids into CVS last night free. No stroller, no second adult, no cart (not that a car cart is a good idea with two anyway). SOOO much better than my experience at Target 8 months ago. Now, granted, we were only getting one prescription, and it was CVS and not the most exciting place on the planet, but they did a great job holding my hands, not touching all the cosmetics, and waiting nicely next to me on line and at the counter to pay (Avery did do a jumping dance at the counter after the first full minute of standing there, but she stayed within a nice radius of me.).

The only downfall was when we left the house, I told them we were going shopping. CVS is not appropriate shopping to Quinn, apparently, and she was pretty much crushed when we were leaving. We actually went back inside to "shop" more in the aisles but she was not pleased. I guess only the grocery store, hardware store and IKEA are real places to shop?

I realize this sounds pathetic, but since we both work and do 95% of our shopping together on the weekend, when the kids are sleeping solo, or online, there just aren't a ton of opportunities to try freewheeling like this.  The only place I take them shopping semi-regularly by myself is BJs with it's double carts and general spectacularness (in their eyes...it's the only cart they'll consistently sit in without trying to climb out...). Maybe one day I'll take them out to eat alone...

Toddler beds.

Scary. 

I will do a recap when we hit the one week point. 

Crib jumping.

The picture speaks for itself. 

This was nap yesterday. They were hanging out together when I went in this morning too. I think our cage days are numbered. 

Pretend play

In the last couple of months, the girls have started pretending much much more. It's so funny and still surprising. 

Today Avery went shopping. 

And Quinn made cupcakes. "I eat cupcakes and drink water. All gone. "

Happy Halloween!

Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich love :)

A non allergenic Jif Quinn, a grape Schmuckers Avery, and the Wondermommies bread:

Tales from daycare

We've been in daycare for almost two years now, and I can honestly say I am very happy there. No child are arrangement is perfect (including a stay at home parent in my opinion, for us anyway) but really, I have no complaints. That said, I was SUPER nervous about Avery's favorite teacher leaving. Due to luck, she moved with our girls from infants to the two year old (!) room, and their transition was seamless. 

But, she just got a new job elsewhere....child care is kind of a mind fuck sometimes. They're employees, technically, but how do you not get attached to the people watching your kids fifty hours a week? Anyway, once I got my wits together I remembered I would never think anything other than Godspeed to someone in an office setting heading to greener pastures and wished her the best. 

As luck would have it, Ms. C's last day was also our last day before vacation. I was pretty nervous - Avery talks about her a lot, but while we were away we talked about Ms. C going bye bye and talked up they other teachers. And, shock of shocks, she returned to daycare this week seamlessly.

And in thankful for twins news, Avery comforted Quinn at naptime today (who was crying for MaMa) by telling her "it's ok, don't cry, mama will be here later". Swoon. 

Flower girls

Last month, the girls were half the bridal/flower girls party at their aunt's wedding. They were adorable in the dresses Grammy made them, and were just great all weekend. Quinn did a great job walking down the aisle lured by gummy bears, but Avery required hand holding. Their just slightly older cousin sprinted down on her own, but our girls are introverts for sure. 

Self imposed Time Out

Post ceremony stroll

Apple picking

We went apple picking with a few of my old teammates and their families today. It was a huge milestone - for me. This was the first time I've taken the girls to a very public place solo and unrestrained. I try to be laid back, but sometimes it's hard with two young toddlers. I just started feeling comfortable at the park solo in the last couple of months. I imagine, though have no true way to know, this is one of the harder issues with twins - 2 & 4 means you have one kid with somewhat reasonable listening skills and a sense of danger. 2 & 2 (young two anyway, and certainly below) has so so much room for chaos.   It went well though, perhaps thanks in part to the tractor scaring Avery     And the promise of cider donuts 😉

Not impressed with the tractor ride

But loving all the loose chickens (and huge cage full of peacocks)

Cooking

The girls have really gotten into pretend play recently. It's adorable. They can spend an hour diapering their babies (and like to use every cloth diaper we own for this).

They also like to cook. We have a toy grill outside and they make hotdogs and pizza in the fake oven (its a grill/brick oven. They have nicer stuff than we do). 

They also really adore our new stool and are learning to help us cook for real. Most recently Quinn helped put the cheese on our pizza and Avery helped me make cookies. She was shockingly good at putting the flour in the bowl. She's also a kid after my own heart and kept trying to eat the dough (sorry kid, momma can give herself salmonella but not you)

At the moment they're parading around with gift bags talking about leaving to go shopping. Hysterical. 

Two

Incredible. 

The girls' birthday was on a Monday, so they had cake at daycare...and again at home after presents :)

An hour or so before officially two!

Cake at school!

Favorite present, hah!

And this weekend we had a small party with some family and a couple of friends. We kind of dropped the ball on invitations and not many people were available - plus all the summer vacations- but it was a nice size for our small house :)

More cake!

Two Year Well Visit

 We had our two year old well visit last night, and it was kind of awesome.  We talked a bit before going about what the doctor would do, and they were apprehensive going in, but generally did really well.  They weren't that excited about sitting on the scale or being measured, but we counted to ten while the nurse did it, and they did ok! The only major tears were when the doctor looked in Quinn's ears.  They also got one shot (Hep A), and the doctor used numbing spray this time and there weren't even tears...

 After she went, Quinn did say "Avery turn!" I guess she wanted to make sure Avery suffered like she did ;)  And they both got Daffy Duck bandaids, which were pretty exciting, even the next morning!

 The other bonus of our well visit is the doctor was ok with their 24-32 oz average milk consumption (being honest, Quinn pretty much always gets 32 oz). She said there's some new research indicating high calcium and vitamin D intake as babies breeds taller children.  Our homework is to start multivitamins and get to the dentist.

 

percentiles from this site for actual age. I THINK it uses the CDC and not WHO charts, but whatever, good for scanning curves at least. It also reports anything under 5th percentile as 5th percentile, which is ridiculous...Quinn has never been ON the CDC chart.

Quinn
Birth: 3 lbs 8 oz & 16 inches
1 month (40w gestational): 5 lbs 13 oz (5th) & 19 inches (5th)
2 months: 7 lbs 13 oz (5th) & 20.5 inches (5th)
3 months: 9 lbs 9 oz (5th) & 22.5 inches (29th)
4 months: 10 lbs 9 oz (5th) and 23 inches (16th)
6 months: 12 lbs 0 oz (5th) and 24.75 inches (24th) 
9 months:  13 lbs 14 oz (5th) and 26 inches (38th)
12 months: 15 lbs 14oz (5th) and 28 inches (25th)
14 months: 17 lbs 6 oz (5th) and 28 inches (8th)
18 months: 19 lbs 5 oz (5th) and 31.25 inches (51st)
24 months: 21 lbs 7 oz (5th ) and 34 inches (66th)  (according to this site about 8th and 50th on WHO)

Avery
Birth: 5 lbs 0 oz (5th) & 17 3/4 inches (5th)
1 month (40w gestational): 7 lbs 13 oz (7th) and 20 inches (38th)
2 months: 8 lbs 14 oz (9th) and 22 inches (46th)
3 months: 10 lbs 4 oz (10th) and 24 inches (80th)
4 months: 11 lbs 13 oz (12th) and 24 1/4 inches (60th)  
6 months: 13 lbs 2 oz (6th) and 26 inches (71st)
9 months: 15 lbs 6 oz (5th) and 27 inches (47th)
12 months: 16 lbs 14 oz (5th)  and 28 inches (25th)
14 months:  18 lbs 4 oz (5th) and 28.5 inches (16th)
18 months: 20 lbs 4 oz (5th ) and 31.25 inches (51st)  
24 months: 22 lbs 5 oz (5th) and 33 inches (33rd) (around 13th and 21st on WHO)

After our poor weight gain months last year, it's super awesome to see their weight tick up a bit. Quinn's still way below the weight for length CDC chart and just below 2% on WHO, and I feel bad you can see her ribs, but is what it is. Avery is just over the 3rd percentile line now on CDC and a bit over 10th on WHO...they're just going to be skinny kids.  The pediatrician isn't worried anymore, so I am trying hard not to be. And it keeps them economical - they're still wearing some tees, skirts and dresses from last summer. You don't hear of a lot of 2 year olds doing that :)
And Quinn is offically taller - considering she started out almost 2 inches shorter, I am impressed!

Two tomorrow

I can't even wrap my head around this.

They're so big and such toddlers now. 

Winter boots on July 27 at the mall. And sitting is protest at said mall. 

Climbing around a mid sized play set with minimal hovering. And only one mom. (That's probably another post)

Diapering their babies. 

Knocking on the backdoor in the 9 month dresses. Um. Yeah. They'll look awesome with jeggings as tunics this fall though. 

Getting In Trouble at daycare ;)

23 months.

How are they almost two? I feel guilty calling them one year olds now, "just one" and similar, but am eating it up while I can. They are just not babies anymore and I am not sure I am ready. 

They're just so BIG now. I mean, they're still petite, but all of a sudden they are looking and behaving like little kids. Well, true toddlers. They (mostly Avery) tumble. They wash their hands. They have opinions and give orders and pretend to diaper themselves, toys and each other (mostly Quinn). They sing and talk and make requests. They eat cereal with milk and a spoon for heaven's sake!

All of a sudden their feet grew and shoes that were falling off in April when I bought them are perfect now. They wear pebbles ponytails most days (though Avery sometimes comes home from daycare with a real ponytail). I think they are going to get their first haircut this month.

They're really incredible. We are so lucky. 

Words and words and words

The girls are talking so much now. It's just crazy. At Christmas, just shy of 17 months, I counted over 60 words, signs and sounds. I have no idea how many they have now, but it is a lot, and they're adding  more every day. They'll repeat pretty much any word you say to them. It really started picking up around 20 months and got dramatic around 21.5. 

 They're both speaking in simple sentences, especially Quinn. Avery sticks to things like "milk please" and "mamma up you" while Quinn says things like "Avery come here sit down!!!"  Avery is really into singing and will serenade you with "old mc Donald" or "twinkle twinkle" (complete with signs) randomly. Last week she sang the "rain rain go away" gone randomly on her own after hearing it once in the morning! Sponges!!!

It's really funny and fascinating to see their personalities continue to develop. Avery is physically bossy, a thief and a pusher while Quinn is more into words. She'll collapse on the floor screaming about how she was wronged - "Annie broom! broom! Mama! Annie no!!"  Quinn is also a bit more rule oriented. So far Avery spend more time in time out, often twice in a row, and Quinn will come over repeating the offense "no touch baby grass! Ouchies". She may be a tattle eventually.