15 month update :)

Just a quick update of the kiddos :)

15 months!!

These two just keep getting cuter and sweeter.  We have our moments, but for the most part, we have been so blessed with two really amazing kids.

Taken on Jon's birthday March 13th

Alton is such a boy.  We call him our little dump truck.  Okay, that might sound weird... but really, he is.  Nothing he does has any finesse and Jon says he "bumbles" around when he's walking.  He's so cute though.

He really loves his sister.  Even though he steals her toys and tries to take her glasses off, he has his moments where he shows how much he loves her.  So, he has always given her kisses, but lately, he kisses her hand when they are in their high chairs.  It's so sweet.  Ashlyn will definitely have her brother to look after her for sure.

Alton's vocabulary keeps growing all the time.  I'm just amazed with how well he can say things.  I'll write some words down that he says and I'll try to see if I can write them down the way he says them.

dada, mama (this is new! finally!), tank-oo (thank you), ga-pa (grandpa), buba (sippy cup with milk/bottle), seep (sweep), goo-jaa (good job), peese (please), cheese, bahbee (strawberry), chee-o (cheerio), ah-doo (water), hi, bump (for a fist bump), puppy, sookie, baw (ball), baby, tukee (turkey), teeth ti (teeth time), pay (prayer), mamen (amen- this is new too), sit, bye, tasty, touch down, done, ma (more), bee (bib)...   The kid mimics everything lol... must be careful with what we say :)

Alton LOVES being outside.  He loves taking walks in the stroller and going to the park.  He loves going down slides and swinging.  This last week has been gross and rainy and he always goes up to the garage door and knocks on it and says "bye" and looks at me like "Hey! Let's go!"  Sorry kid... it's raining :(

Toys he's into: his puppy, cars... well, the wheels on cars, blocks, his toy phone and anything he can chew on.

He loves watching wheel of fortune.  It's the only thing that he will sit still for.  It's pretty amazing.

He loves chasing Ashlyn down the hall and they giggle like crazy.  He loves pointing out puppies on our walks.  He doesn't like to cuddle, but he gives the best hugs.

He is my helper.  He will try to sweep for me and likes to shut the pantry door whenever I'm done.  He often will clap for himself and said "good job" or... he claps for me once I've finished with a chore and says good job... why, thank you ;)   Everyone needs their own cheerleader haha

Ashlyn is a wild little girl.  She get's cuter every day.  She is doing wonderful with her glasses still.  We saw her eye doc the other day and the doctor loved her glasses and how they fit and how they were helping her.  She doesn't need a patch right now like he said she might- so that's very good news.

Playing at Grandma and Grandpa's house :)

She loves wearing necklaces.  So chic :) haha 

She is a very curious little girl.  She wants to discover everything.  She's into pointing at her belly button and pointing at our noses and figuring everything out.  She hates getting her diaper changed lol.  She is our runner.  She runs everywhere she goes.

Toys she's into: blocks.. always blocks, little people farm animals, her "beep beep" aka: their sit/push car, puppy, her doll, balls, toy phone

Words- Ashlyn doesn't say as much as Alton but she says a lot more than she used to lol.  She babbles all the time though with her own little language.  It's really cute. 

dada, mama, puppy, sookie, mamen (amen), touch down, she said cow a few times yesterday, she signs "more", done, ah-doo (water), baba (bottle), beep-beep (for her car), dahwee (dolly), hi, bye, bump, bahbee (strawberry)... I think that's about it

Ashlyn also loves going to the park.  We just have to watch her like a hawk because she'll stuff thick mulch pieces in her mouth haha.

She loves dogs.  She can spot them like a mile away.  She just chants "puppy! puppy!" over and over and I'm like.. sorry kid... no puppy.. and then as we get further down the road, I see the dog she was going nuts about.  It's really cute.

She loves being held and cuddled.  If we are holding Alton she also must be held at the same time. :)  She loves her blankets and walks around with it quiet often.

I cannot get her to really drink from a cup.  She just doesn't care.  She'll suck out of a straw until the liquid gets to her lips and then she stops and just pretends she's sucking.  It's the weirdest thing.  So, bottles are still a must for her.  Rats.  I so wanted to be done with those.  Oh well, every kid is different and goes at their own pace.  She is eating better.  She has her moments of hoarding food in her cheeks and refusing to swallow, but she eventually does.  Progress is progress, right??

Ashlyn Gets Glasses

At the end of January we met with a pediatric ophthalmologist for Ashlyn.  I won't lie, I had no idea what to expect.  I was nervous.  I mean, how can they tell how someone's vision is if the patient can't even talk yet??  I figured that she would probably need glasses.  Jon thought she'd need an eye patch.

There were two parts of the visit.  The first was with a nurse.  We were in a room that was really long.  At the end of the room there was a small tv that the nurse would play different videos.  Ashlyn was all about just looking around because it was a new place! New things to see! The nurse kept telling me to tell Ashlyn to watch the screen... really? Fat chance.  Haha... anyways, one thing that I thought was really neat was that the nurse pulled out this spinning light up toy.  Ashlyn was mesmerized.

The nurse asked me a million questions like "so, percentage wise, how often does Ashlyn's eye cross?"  Uh... not all the time.  Some days it's more often than others?  No idea.  Those questions make me so nervous!  What if I answer wrong?  Then you're panicking going "No wait!  I change my answer!"  would it really change anything?  Who knows!  You all know what I'm talking about.   The quesitons you just want to answer- "Maybe? Sometimes?  I don't know. Yes? No?"

When she was done we went back to a waiting room to wait for the doctor.  He called us back about 20mins later.  He asked me the same questions as the nurse.  Then he pulled out this glass paddle that had different lenses that lined it.  He would turn the lights on and off, use the spinning light up toy to watch her eyes.  Then, he put on his... oh what is it called... not a hat.. but a head piece with a light on it and special glasses.  He turned the lights off and he pointed his flashlight at Ashlyn has he moved his little paddle around to see her eyes through the different lenses.  It was painless.  Ashlyn did really well.

When he was done, he told me that she had Accommodative estropia (her right eye crosses) and she has a bit of a lazy eye.   He then went on to say that she would need glasses and that she would probably be in glasses until she was 10-11.  She might need some surgery down the road.  She may need to wear a patch for a little while too.  It felt surreal.  I knew that this was coming, but it was hard to hear.  Our little girl has had a lot of other struggles and the last thing you want to do is give her another physical ailment to overcome.
As our luck would have it, a big storm was heading our way.  I had to look up a place to get Ashlyn's glasses and there was a place that was down the road.  We got the brand called myraflex.  Basically, it's indestructible :)  Anyways, the glasses took a little over 2 weeks to get to us.  The lab they use are out of Atlanta, GA and while we were getting an ice storm, Atlanta was covered in snow.  It has been a really bad winter across the country.

Here she is in her glasses!

I can't tell you how amazed we are with how well she is doing with them.  She rarely ever tries to take them off.  She really only tries to take them off when she is frustrated when she's eating.  She used to pull on her hair, but now her glasses are there.  I thought we would have to fight with her like crazy to keep them on.  We are so thankful that she has done so well with them.  Her eye stays straight with the glasses on and then when you take them off, it immediately crosses.  It's crazy.  I'm so thankful that we were able to catch this early and that this can be fixed.

When we found out that she needed glasses we wanted to get her something special.  I looked all over the place for a doll with glasses.  I didn't want removable parts.  I wanted a cloth doll.  I finally found one on Etsy.  The shop owner was able to customize the doll so it would have the same color glasses as Ashlyn.  It finally got here today.  It would've been here a month ago, but there have been so many delays because of the storms.  The shop owner had to order the fabric special so that got delayed a few weeks because they didn't want to send it out during a crazy storm.  Anyways, it was worth the wait.  I am so thankful I had my camera ready to capture her reaction.  It was priceless!  She loved it and was all giggles!  Her elastic in her hair had just broke and her hair was all over the place :)

Brush, Brush, Brush your teeth....

So, I have a lot to catch up on, but wanted to write this down before I forget.  The kids hate getting their teeth brushed.  We give them their own toothbrushes to hold, I let them "brush" my teeth, we sing songs... and they still hate every moment of it.  We brush their teeth after breakfast and before they go to bed at night.  We just do it when they're in their high chairs, it's just easier with twins. 

I would say that Ashlyn hates it more than Alton, but who really knows.  She flips out, throws her special toothbrush, shakes her head, pulls her glasses off.... all before I can even get near her with the dreaded toothbrush!  Alton tightens his lips, but he will eventually let you do it.  He hates getting his top teeth brushed the most.  Freaks out about that.  He at least will bite on his own brush.  Which is why Ashlyn is not in the picture below...  haha.

Anyways, Jon came up with his own song that we now sing whenever it's "teeth time".  It's to the tune of "Row Your Boat".

Brush, brush, brush your teeth!
Brush them every day!
If you don't, then they'll fall out...
And that is not okay!

It makes them giggle when we sing it, so that's something... they just hate getting their teeth brushed.  Oh well.  Baby steps... :)

Happy 1st Birthday, Alton & Ashlyn!!!

One year.  Seriously?  No.  I'm having a hard time believing it!  We really survived? 

 I won't lie, the first few months are a total blur.  This year has flown by (well, for the most part).  There are things I won't miss (all the relux... dark memories) but there are things that I will cherish- all the giggles and smiles, watching them discover new things and getting excited.  The way they run at us with arms wide open with a big goofy smile.  Those are the moments that will be forever in my memory. We are so very thankful for these littles.  I know I keep saying that, but it's true.  We are so very blessed to have them in our lives.  Our lives have forever changed for the better.  They truly are our miracle babies.

We had a big party planned for their 1st birthday.  I sent out cute invitations that I made myself (I really am surprised with how well they turned out!),

bought cute decorations, started buying the food, people were coming from out of town, lots of others had rsvpd... everything was going to be so amazing!  Alas, nothing ever goes how we think it will.  The colds/ear infections from our already crazy December crept into Christmas and their birthdays.  We had to make the decision to postpone the party.  We were so bummed.  We were so over the ear infections and colds. 

Because I didn't talk about Christmas last post- I'll talk a little about it.  We had some decorations up and I made stockings for all of us!  We didn't put up a tree.  I was bummed about that.  I even made a tree skirt.  We just were all sick and didn't want to bother with it.  Next year though!!

We missed Christmas eve festivities with Jon's family.  Jon's parents and sister, Leanna came over before heading to see Beth and her family.  The babies loved having them here.

Christmas day was pretty quiet.  The babies opened toys and were excited about the new things they got.  Books, cars, a spinning wheel, blocks, their own little cell phones, stuffed animals.. were mostly what they got.  Later on in the day, the babies seemed like they were doing alright.  No one had gotten sick so we figured it would be safe to go to Jon's parent's house to see family.  We all had really great time- even though we were sick.  Here is to hoping that Christmas next year will be sans ear infections!

On the babies actual birthday we had family over for cupcakes and ice cream.

I made them their one year outfits :)

Alton and Ashlyn didn't really care for their cakes.  We had to feed them small pieces to see if they would actually like it.  Needless to say, they didn't really care for it.  They loved all the attention though and loved it when we sang to them.

Grandma and Grandpa got them a lawn mower and a gum ball machine with rolling balls.  They love them both!  It's fun to see them pick up balls and put them into the machine and hit the lever to make them come out.  Alton loves his lawn mower.  It makes noises and there are parts that spin and he loves watching it.

Their one year appointment was on Jan. 7th.  I was so thankful that I wasn't alone.  Anne (Grandma/Jon's mom) was so kind in coming and helping me.  I could not have made it through that appointment by myself.

Poor babies had shots and had to get blood taken.  Ashlyn was a champ in the lab getting her finger pricked and getting blood taken.  She held onto her blanket and was a tough cookie!  She didn't even cry :)  Alton wasn't so calm.  He started crying before he got his finger pricked.  I think he was nervous of the unfamiliar nurse.  He just has a tender heart.  There were lots of tears from both from their shots.  Alton was nervous for the whole thing.  He cried when he got weighed, he cried when the doctor looked in his ears and eyes.  He was just traumatized.  Poor little guy.  Ashlyn fussed a bit too.

We mentioned Ashlyn's right eye that tends to cross a little.  We brought it up at their 9mo appointment and we were told to wait and see how she was doing at a year old.  So we received a referral for an ophthalmologist to check them out and see if it's of any concern. We'll be going at the end of January.

Otherwise, the babies were healthy.  Their ears both weren't fully healed when the doctor looked at them, but they weren't infected.

Stats time!

Alton

Weight:  22lbs 3.5oz (61%)
Height: 29.5" (32%)
Head: 18.7" (85%)



Ashlyn

Weight: 20lbs 3oz (54%)
Height: 29.75" (65%)
Head: 18.5" (91%)


Alton words (most of these he understands- some... I still wonder :) ): Hi! (with a small wave), Sookie, cheerio, touch down, dada, grandpa, tasty, cheese, thank you, dad-dum (not sure what this means.. but he says it all the time- we're thinking it might be him saying Alton), ball, meow, more, done, mum-mum... I'll take it haha... close enough to mama, right?, baba (bottle)

Ashlyn words: b-yub (repeated over and over really fast), once she said "go" hasn't said that ever again, sometiems she meows after sookie meows....

She mimicks actions and follows verbal commands  She can wave, will give you a high five, if you say clap she'll clap, if you say touch down she'll throw her arms in the air.

She loves taking her blocks and roams the house and stashes them in her hiding places.  She dumped some blocks into her dirty clothes hamper the other day and I had no clue.  I did the wash and I heard all sorts of weird noises.  I opened up the washing machine and there were 4 blocks rattling around. See the block in the dishwasher? Yup... every night I have to make a "block run" to make sure I find them all.

Alton still loves everything that spins.  He turns his cars over to spin the wheels. Note the wheel spinning on the dishwasher haha!

He loves balls too.  He loves playing peek a boo.  He giggles so much when you play that with him.

They love when you sing "Pat a cake"... is that how it's said?  I usually just say "patty cake" lol... whatever.  They love it.

Whenever Ashlyn is getting her diaper changed, Alton walks over and bends down and gives her kisses on the forehead and cheeks.  It's so so so cute!

Their favorite book is "Barnyard Dance".  We read it like a song.  They both perk up whenever we start reading it and they run over  with big smiles.

Happy Birthday, Alton and Ashlyn!  We love you so very much!

11-11.5 Months

The month of November (and December) can be summed up by just saying: double ear infections.

I'm starting to write this post the day before their first birthday (Dec. 27th), but I need to recount the end of November.  The babies woke up a few days before Thanksgiving with colds.  We took them into the doctors and she said "no ear infections... but it could turn into ear infections within the week".  Thanks for that, Doc. Humph.  Jon was home on vacation around the time this was going on.  I am so very thankful that he was.  Alton and Ashlyn were both miserable.

We had a day where we had over 5 throw ups and by the end of the night, Jon and I decided we needed to get rid of our carpet and put in wood laminate flooring in our living room.  The next day, we went down and ordered it!

We had a lot of pj days :)  I think this picture is funny... Ashlyn solving all of life's problems by wearing her pjs with a diet coke in hand :) It was just a rough time in this house!

For Thanksgiving, we went to Jon's parents house.  Sadly, no pictures.  We had a wonderful meal, skyped with family and even played on the playground with the babies and their cousins, Storey and Jakson. 

A few days after Thanksgiving we took the babies back into the doctors.  They both had double ear infections and they were given antibiotics that they had to take for 10 days.

Alton started to clear up within a few days, however, on day 7... he woke up with the scariest hives!  I immediately called Jon (who had just left for work) and asked him to come home.

It took about a week for the hives to go away.  Lots of benadryl.  Sorry, Alton... looks like you are allergic to amoxicilin (at least for now).

Ashlyn's symptoms didn't really go away.  She seemed okay, but I had a funny feeling that she wasn't feeling better.  I took her back in when her fever came back (I believe this was December 18th).  Her ears were worse than they were around Thanksgiving.  We are still on meds, and I still don't think she is doing much better.

A few days after the 18th, we took Alton back in because his symptoms came back.  He has double ear infections again too and a really terrible cough.  So now he's on two meds.  An antibiotic and a steroid.  The steroid just ended today.  Alton hated it.  It made him so angry that he would cry and cough so much that he'd throw it all up.  He has been throwing up a lot lately, especially after his bedtime bottle.  I'm hoping this ends soon.

I will say that the cuddling has been really nice :)  The above picture was Alton cuddling with mommy and daddy watching "Wheel of Fortune".  Heh, Jon's mom said,"And of course for Alton it involved a spinning wheel"  I laughed out loud for that one.  It's true, like we've said before, Alton just LOVES everything that spins.  It was fitting for how calm he was when we took this picture.  With his favorite people watching a GIANT wheel that spins :)
Besides all the sickness, these babies are so wonderful.

Alton at 11mo

Ashlyn at 11mo

Ashlyn started to really take steps on November 22nd.  She started walking on December 10th.  She seriously runs all over the place!!

Alton decided he didn't want to be one upped by his sister so he decided to get walking too :)  He started walking while he had the hives.  He started on Dec. 14th.

The babies are babbling all the time.  I'll talk about their (well... Alton's) growing vocabulary in their one year post :)

Alton and Ashlyn love to be near each other.  They make each other laugh.  They fight over toys and accidentally sit on each other, but they really do love each other.  You can already see a special twin connection.

Daddy got a new piano from his parents.  The babies love hearing him play and they love to bang on the keys right along with him.

We are very slowly getting to normal foods.  Slowly is the key word.  Because the kids have been sick, I have had to just stick with favorites.

They tried scrambled eggs and seemed to like them alright.

I'm still clueless how to get them to eat normal food.  They just gag on things so easily and Ashlyn hoards food in her ample cheeks haha.  She just keeps food in her mouth and doesn't want to swallow.  It's like she's waiting for it to dissolve so she doesn't have to swallow.  She's a funny little thing. I'll throw a party  be glad when all this daily gagging and throwing-up ridiculousness is over!!  Let's just say that our new floor (pics to come) has been a serious lifesaver since these kids have been sick!  Worth.every.penny.

We sure do love our nuggets.  I am amazed by them constantly.  These goofballs have changed our lives forever and we are forever grateful for them.