November 3, 2011

At the girls 6 month appointment our doctor said that we can introduce sippy cups. He said to just let the girls play with them to get used to the idea of using a sippy cup but to not expect them to drink out of it for a couple months. Well, Matt and I weren't in a real hurry to give the girls sippy cups because we didn't think they would really do much with them. Today, I saw the cups up in the cabinet and decided to let the girls play with one. I put about 2 ounces of water in it so that when the girls shook it they could see that something was in it. I gave it to Payton first and she shook it a few times then tipped it back and started chewing on the spout. She chewed on it for a little bit but never sucked any water out.

I then let McKinley have a turn. She immediately tipped it back and sucked the 2 ounces of water out. I was shocked! I decided to put a little formula in it (because I would rather them drink formula than water) and give it back to them.

Payton then took it and tipped it back like McKinley and drank the 2 ounces of formula! I was so impressed with how quickly the girls learned to use the sippy cup. Now, we know the girls can drink from sippy cups, but I AM NOT READY for them to be drinking from them! I think I am going to need a couple of weeks to get use to the fact that my babies are becoming big girls.

November 2, 2011

There is a mutual friendship that has formed between the girls and Berkley. He will stand in front of them when they are on the floor and the girls will squeal at him, pull his ear, or tug on his collar. I'm not sure if he likes the girls attention or if he is jealous of the attention they are getting and wants to be a part of it! The girls adore him and are always touching him when he is close enough.


Tonight the girls got to try carrots for the first time. Like with all veggies, they weren't sure at first. They still ate them but made faces or gagging noises, always opening their mouth for more.



Eventually they both decided that carrots were pretty good and even started saying "num"!

November 1, 2011

I love staying at home with my girls but it can get very lonely at times so after a couple of months I decided that I needed more to do than housework and baby care. I bought a sewing machine which helped ALOT but the girls and I needed something that got us out of the house. I found a Mommy and Me group in our town that has weekly activities for moms and kids. We joined and absolutely LOVE it. There are a lot of stay at home moms in our area and it has been so great getting to know them. There are lots of things planned each week but the girls are a little too young for most things. A group of moms with babies close to the girls age started a play group so that the babies can get together and 'play' and moms can get together.

Today we hosted our first play group. A few moms and babies came over the 'play' with the girls. We had a great time and really look forward to play group each week.

October 31, 2011

The girls first Halloween...in pictures.
Friday before Halloween the girls and I went to a Halloween party hosted by our Mommy and Me group. The girls were the cutest little pumpkins and had such a great time watching all of the other kids in costume.



Next year they will be running around eating lots of candy and sweet with the other kids...so I really enjoyed this year with my babies strapped in their stroller watching everyone!
We spent Halloween weekend with my family and had such a great time relaxing and seeing family.

The girls got to try out the Johnny Jump Up and weren't quite sure about it. We don't have one at our house and it was very different from their bouncer.


They really enjoyed spinning in it, especially Payton. I think they will like it more when they figure out how to jump because these girls love to jump in their bouncer!


Lily Kate is very into books right now and will sit still and listen to anyone who wants to read the same book over and over. The girls are enjoying books as well and love to listen to their Daddy read.


Sweet, sweet girls love hanging out at their Nana's house. They get so much individualized attention. Someone is always holding, playing with, or talking to them and they are completely exhausted for about 2 days after we get home.


Lily Kate absolutely LOVES the "babies" and wants to be around them or is concerned about them constantly. She will say "hold her" and try to pick up one of the girls. She absolutely loves her cousins!


Sunday we took the girls to the pumpkin patch and they were all 3 so, so good.

This is the best pictures of the many that I took, they are all less than thrilled that we stuck them in hay with a couple of pumpkins in the sun.





This girl loves her Nana!


Halloween night we invited Matt's family over to have red beans and rice and Halloween treats. We had such a great time visiting with family; however, the girls were super cranky and ended up going to bed an hour early. They were so exhausted from our big weekend and didn't even last long enough for me to put them in their Halloween costume! Oh well, there will be more Halloween costumes to come.

October 27, 2011

I am not a Type A personality but since the girls were born I have become very structured and organized. I have things planned out and TRY to stay ahead of things. I have gotten down a routine that I absolutely love and can't imagine not having. I think that it keeps us all sane and on track. Every Monday and Thursday after the girls eat breakfast they watch as I vacuum and mop the floors. I like to have them full and in their highchairs off the floor. They have come to enjoy watching me and sometimes even smile when the hear the vacuum. I am looking forward to the day when THEY do the vacuuming and I can watch!!!

Mimi bought the girls adorable Halloween bows. There is nothing cuter than a baby in a BIG bow!! I know the girls will get many Halloweens out of these bows.







The girls have really gotten into story time before bed. I am not sure if it is the story or sitting in their daddy's lap they enjoy more! And I am not sure if the girls enjoy sitting with daddy or daddy enjoys quiet time with his girls more.

Matt did not fully know what he was getting into when he a) married me and b) had two little girls. I can talk him into just about anything when it comes to his girls. I talked him into helping me make the girls Halloween costumes. It was only when we finished that I told him what we were making...Pumpkin tutu dresses! He was NOT happy with the girls wearing tutu dresses! Happy Halloween! :)

October 25, 2011

The past few days I have noticed how much closer the girls have become. Maybe it is just me thinking they are becoming better 'friends' but I feel like they are looking at each other more. I know that some of the interactions between them are accidental but I cannot help but think that they can communicate with each other and they know that they are sisters.

These pictures just melt my heart! I absolutely love watching them interact. I feel so blessed to be part of their lives and to get to watch as their relationship as sisters and best friends develops.

Matt said, "the are not only sisters they have shared everything from day one...they are best friends and have a relationship that no one else will ever have with them." I just cannot wait to see them talking and interacting together. I am so blessed to be able to spend this first year with them and experience things with them that I wouldn't have if I were working.

Thank you, Matt for working hard and allowing me to stay home with our girls!

October 23, 2011

We took the girls to their very first pumpkin patch this weekend. We went with Matt's family and had a great time!

The girls were very alert and enjoyed seeing everything and watching everyone around them.

We tried to sit them on the hay bales but they are still wobbly. So we just held them and they did great and were just as content as could be.

I think Matt had the most fun showing the girls the pumpkins and petting zoo animals. There was even a swing set and he took turns swinging with each girl.

The hayride was a little long so we didn't take the girls but the boys went and said it was so much fun. Instead, the girls sat with us and watched the other kids run around, which was just fine with them!

I cannot believe how big they are getting!

My favorite part was the scarecrow faces. We had so much fun putting the girls faces in the scarecrow heads. They were great sports and put up with it!

After the pumpkin patch we headed to Mimi's house to grill out. The girls were asleep once we got in the car, I guess watching all the kids at the pumpkin patch is very tiring.

The boys grilled some yummy steaks and veggies while we hung out in the nice weather.

After dinner we put the girls down for bed. They sleep in their own beds at home but Mimi only has one pack n play so the girls took full advantage and slept on top of each other. This reminds me of the song..."There were ten in a bed And the little one said "Roll over, roll over" So they all rolled over And one fell out." I think Payton would be out of the bed if there weren't sides!

October 21, 2011

The girls have been very busy working on new milestones. Payton has finally decided that she doesn't mind being on her belly and is rolling both ways all the time now. She has even figured out that she can roll to get to things.

McKinley has gotten really good at holding her own bottle. She will not voluntarily feed herself which has made feedings a lot easier! Payton can hold her bottle but she would rather be fed at this point!

Both of the girls still love the jumper. They have figured out how to jump and will wave their arms as they jump, I guess it makes them go higher!! They can't reach the floor yet so we still have a pillow under their feet so they can jump.

One of my favorite things the girls are wearing now are their jeans. I think they are so cute in their little jeans! They don't look like babies anymore, they are now moving into the sitter/crawler phase, which is still my favorite stage so far.

We got to celebrate Berkley's 5th birthday this week. He turned 5 on the 15th (but we are celebrating a little late!).

It just amazes me that we have had him for 5 years. Matt gave me Berkley on our first Christmas together. He is such a great dog and is so patient with the girls. He has definitely adjusted well to having 2 babies in the house.

October 20, 2011

The girls love to play on the floor and they are becoming more and more interested in their toys. They are also becoming more interested in each others toys. They both have figured out that, if they are close enough, they can reach out and steal a toy away from sister. McKinley has gotten really good at taking toys away and Payton screams when her toy is taken. Payton knows that she can take toys but doesn't do it as frequently.


Their favorite things are my phone and the remote. They love to chew on my phone and push the remove buttons.


They also love their baby dolls, they especially like to chew on the hands and feet.


McKinley has finally cut her first tooth. She has been working on it for several days and it has finally broken skin and come through. She hates when we put our fingers in her mouth to feel it!


Payton still does not have a tooth but I bet she is not too far behind, I am sure pretty soon I will have 2 teething babies!!

October 18, 2011

The girls have mastered rolling and squirming. They are not crawling yet but they are rolling to get to what they want. McKinley HATES to be on her back and will fight me when I change her, I have gotten to where I can put diapers and clothes on backwards.

Payton does not mind being on her back but wants to be on her belly so she can get her head up and look around. They both are now sleeping on their belly all the time and have quit sleeping face down (big relief!).

The weather has been so nice so we have been taking the girls to walk around the park. They love to look around and will even fall asleep half way through.

We have also taken the girls outside to play in the backyard. They love to sit in their bumbos or lay on a blanket but they hate to be in the grass. I guess it is rough and hurts their legs to sit in it.

Matt has also been enjoying taking pictures of the girls. He is getting good at taking pictures of it and can get some really great pictures of them.

Tonight before bed...it looks like McKinley is saying, "Boo!".