Double Trouble

Well, B & C are 15 months old and on the go! These two go from being super sweet to causing mischief in seconds. They have recently figured out how to turn on the bath tub, so they love to turn it on, get wet, and then run out of the bathroom in laughter. Caleb can now reach up and open any of the doors in our home = eek! When we load up in the family car, they like to hide on the other side of the garage. And, Mr. Caleb is very intrigued by the log holder in our fireplace and has gotten quite dirty trying to move it. :-(

They LOVE big brother Tyson and enjoy following him, wrestling with him, and playing with him.

 Playing together under my desk

Airplane!

Happy (belated) Birthday Caleb and Bria!

O.N.E. Can't believe our twins turned one last weekend! Another day for C & B, but feels like an accomplishment for Adam and I. :-) Nursing is done and now the (not-so) fun task of transitioning to the sippy cup is at play. Lately, Caleb has been our social butterfly as he enjoys interacting with others and loves to make noises. He is our bulldozer… likes to play rough and destroy anything Tyson has created. Bria has been more on the quiet side… she still loves being held and is our little vacuum, as she picks up everything and either puts it in her mouth or hands it to us. She is a helper and likes to put toys away and/or give us toys.

Caleb likes: playing with his new ball and trying to escape to the outside patio (but the dang screen door is in the way).

Caleb dislikes: being hungry.

Tender moments: Watching him cuddle with a stuffed animal.

Bria likes: to try new foods and follow her brothers around.

Bria dislikes: waking up… these days, she wants to be held for awhile after waking up.

Tender moments: In the morning, she follows Adam to the laundry room before he enters our garage and then cries when he says goodbye for the day. 

We're Eleven Months Old Today!

Is it really just one month away from their 1^st Birthday?!?! Whoa. We have enjoyed watching them interact more and more with each other. Caleb still wants the toy that Bria is playing with, but it has been entertaining watching Bria guard her things. Lately, she doesn’t back down and fights for what she had first. When toys are not of interest, they follow each other around the house and also get into things together… like drawers and cabinets. It is especially sweet when one baby wakes up from a nap and then crawls to the bedroom that the other baby is sleeping in.

Family photo after Tyson/babies dedication

Hanging around at church

Playing around

 Meal times are extra messy these days

 Can you see all 5 of my teeth? 

 The perfect zoo day

Easter Egg Hunt number two

Caleb likes: putting his blanket near his face while sleeping.

Caleb dislikes: having his nose wiped.

Tender moments: Caleb likes to hold Bria’s hand in our car.

Bria likes: climbing and chewing on anything (lately toilet paper, house plants, and wipes = argh!)

Bria dislikes: being dropped off at the church nursery.

Tender moments: When I nurse Caleb, Bria will come over and lay her head on his back. 

We're Ten Months Old Today!

These are sweet moments because when they start walking I will lose all control. :-) Caleb and Bria are busy, but have over the past few weeks have shown us a new personality trait: jealous. Often times, when I hold one baby the other cries and goes full force into my shins. So, I try to sit on the floor and either play with both or hold both. When they are not in a jealous mood, they play well together and follow each other around. Bria is pretty content with any toy, but Caleb always wants the toy that Bria is playing with.

Caleb and Bria are troopers as they are always on the go because of Tyson’s weekly activities (preschool, soccer, AWANA, and swim lessons). All three kids are getting over another round of colds. Caleb just got over an ear infection and Tyson and Bria share the tissue box.

 Too tired to eat dinner

They love the vacuum!



Pulling herself up now



While Tyson eats lunch, the babies play

They love watching the bath tub fill

Nap time for Caleb

Caleb likes: watching Tyson take a bath.

Caleb dislikes: ear infections = won’t sleep through the night.
Tender moments: Caleb was holding onto the laundry basket and then let go and stood for a moment and was laughing.

Bria likes: watching Tyson take a bath.

Bria dislikes: watching me nurse or hold Caleb.
Tender moments: She can now pull herself up!

We're Nine Months Old Today!

Caleb and Bria are our little explorers. They have plenty of toys, but are constantly drawn to non-baby items such as the hot oven, fireplace, rug, door mats, shutters, and cords. They will put anything and everything in their mouths. They don’t like sitting in our laps much these days and prefer to be on the go. Caleb and Bria play well together, but remain true to the differing personalities that we saw in them during their first weeks of life. Our sensitive Caleb has no problem taking a toy from Bria or Tyson, but if his toy is taken away then he gets very upset. Bria loves to cuddle and gets excited easily (especially around Tyson). Caleb is very ticklish, while Bria really isn’t. Caleb smiles often, while Bria laughs hard (mainly at Tyson). If Bria takes a fall she usually gets back up without a peep, while Caleb is known to cry over small bumps here and there.

January was a busy month with several out-of-town visitors. C & B got to meet their (Great) Aunt Diane & Uncle Bill and (Great) Aunt Linda & Uncle Mike for the first time. I wish I got some photos!

Bria playing with Caleb's feet

 Off to church we go



 Bria with pretty Aunt Linds



 Playing together

 Life with 3!

 Getting some fresh air in the backyard

Sporting their 1st ASU pajamas

Caleb likes: to pull himself up on anything and to babble.

Caleb dislikes: not being allowed to play with the rug.
Tender moments: Lately, when Caleb wakes up from his afternoon nap he sits up in his crib and claps or bounces while waiting to be picked up (he used to cry for us).

Bria likes: to find Tyson and crawl/climb all over him.

Bria dislikes: being in a walker or activity center = crying.
Tender moments: Dressing up Bria in dresses- so much fun having a girl!
 

Something we have thoroughly enjoyed has been watching Tyson play on the floor with the babies. He does a great job with them as he tries to protect them and make sure they are content at all times. If I am changing a diaper or busy with one baby, I have seen Tyson sing, dance, give back rubs, wipe away tears, and offer his puppy (his most prized possession) to the other baby. During the work week, he is also a big help to me and will help in whatever ways he can. Last week at preschool a friend of his came up to our mammoth stroller and wanted to see the babies and (unprompted) Tyson said, “Now is not a good time because they are sleeping. Sit back down and finish your lunch.” Can you tell he's the oldest child? Bossy like me!

 

 

We're Eight Months Old Today!

Happy New Year from Caleb and Bria! These babies are busy and it feels like the increase in activity happened overnight. They are now crawling and trying to climb over things, so we are busy keeping up. Bria can do the full-crawl and Caleb does a combination of an army crawl, full-crawl, and a swim crawl. They now eat baby food at breakfast and dinner. They adore big brother Tyson and love to play with his toys instead of their baby toys. They are drawn to the fireplace and any type of cord, so we have to be one step ahead of them all the time.

The past month was an eventful one…Christmas activities, twins’ 1^st Christmas, and first illnesses. Caleb had a sinus infection prior to Christmas which turned into a double ear infection a week after Christmas. Bria was diagnosed with the flu after Christmas which turned into a sinus infection a few days later. Then Tyson kicked off the New Year with a double ear infection as well. This was our first time experiencing multiple kids sick at the same time and it was trying, but luckily, Grandma Coburn stepped in and helped us out big time during the chaos of 3 sick little ones.

Caleb wants so badly to go in our bathroom



Bria just enjoys looking around while standing



Exhausted during dinner time



Bria likes her teething toys, while Caleb likes to chew on his crib :-(



Caleb's new signature move is to crawl over Bria



Poor Bria! Stinks being the youngest!

 

Caleb likes: trying to get to the lamp cord and trying to pull himself up…time to lower the crib!

Caleb dislikes: spinach baby food.

Tender moments: Watching Caleb try his hardest to stand up while holding onto things… just not quite there yet.

 

Bria likes: crawling and eating!

Bria dislikes: being sick… she usually is a great nighttime sleeper, but when sick gets up several times throughout the night.

Tender moments: If she is upset, Tyson will play his new harmonica and she’ll flash a big smile through her tears.



We're Seven Months Old Today!

Teething, scooting, and sitting-up! Caleb and Bria have put us to work and they’re not even fully crawling yet. They are mobile, so watch out! Bria has become the most determined little lady when she's on the floor. When she sees something that she wants (usually a toy that Tyson is playing with) she’ll find a way to get there and get it. Caleb is sitting-up on his own now and loves making noise by banging his toys on things. He has started babbling and sometimes it sounds like he is actually saying “Mama”… probably just wishful thinking.

We’re very excited for C & B’s first Christmas! However, we are tired… so we are trying hard not to burn ourselves out. Tyson is really into Christmas this year so that has been a lot of fun. The countdown has begun!

Caleb likes: chewing on anything!
Caleb dislikes: teething! His two lower teeth are in, but it has been painful (for all of us).
Tender moments: He’s been fussy at bedtime lately, but the moment you pick him up he offers a smile and a giggle.

Bria likes: chewing on anything!
Bria dislikes: not having a toy to play with
Tender moments: Watching Bria’s first crawling moves = go Big Girl go!

We're Six Months Old Today!

Is this a milestone? Probably not, but it feels like one! I am beyond happy to share that our twins are ½ of a year old… probably because I am thrilled we have made it this far! :-)  There have been many moments when I wondered if I would make it through even after an internal pep talk. 

There is a lot going on with Caleb and Bria these days! Caleb just got over having impetigo on his chin… we have no idea where it came from as Bria and Tyson didn’t get it. Both are teething and Bria is cutting two lower teeth. They both like to get up on their knees and rock, but no crawling yet. Caleb likes to grab any toy away from Bria that he can. Baby food looms… I have been putting it off as long as possible as feedings without solid foods are busy.

First wedding for B & C!

Hanging out together in the tent

Caleb likes: eating!

Caleb dislikes: getting his leg, foot, or arm caught between the crib bars.
Tender moments: he wants to be near Mommy or Daddy as much as possible.

Bria likes: watching Tyson.

Bria dislikes: rolling from the rug to wood floor.
Tender moments: her first two teeth have arrived without much fuss!

We're Five Months Old Today!

The newborn phase is so sweet… all babies just want to be fed, loved, and held. We are enjoying this time and we know that soon our babies will be crawling and won’t want to be held as much. Our twins are becoming more active, not sitting up, but rolling around on floor and trying to get out of their bouncy seats and swing. They are louder than ever as they love to squeal, scream, grunt, coo, and blow bubbles. They’re trying hard to be part of our conversations. Teething is also in its early stages as C & B have lots of saliva and will try to chew on anything… including each other and their feet. Just when I was about to give up on nursing Bria, she has been doing better… so I am still alternating nursing one baby and bottle feeding the other. I still do a lot of sitting these days with the feedings and change tons of diaper changes.

Developmentally, C & B have been moving through the stages together. But, they’re fraternal twins in every sense. Caleb has brown eyes and brown fuzz for hair and is our happy camper. He smiles at us constantly and gets excited when he gets a smile in return. He is slightly longer and heavier. Bria has deep blue eyes and blondish fuzz for hair and she is our talker and snuggler... and she is also known for her loud cry and screams when she is unhappy. J
 

 

I caught Bria putting her arm around Caleb

 

Big brother Tyson enjoys C & B. There were times when he really favored Caleb and I was a little worried, but he’s really taken to Bria. When she cries, he’ll rub her belly and try to calm her down. Whenever we get ready to leave the house he makes sure that we’re bringing the twins with us. He really enjoys showing them off at preschool to his buds… I love it when he tells people about the twins and offers their full names.

 

Caleb likes: grabbing things and rolling around.
Caleb dislikes: watching Bria being held.
Tender moments: watching Caleb move around on the floor... somehow, he’s able to inch backwards when on his tummy.

Bria likes: chewing on her feet and making sounds- she loves to yell out.

Bria dislikes: bed time, she’d much rather stay up.
Tender moments: watching Bria go from screaming to giggling and smiling when she hears the song “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”.

Latest and Greatest...

Here are some recent photos. :-) Lately, my plate has been full with the kids and school work. I am enjoying both, but I am tired... I am not a night owl, so I am taking a break from reading right now in hopes of a "second wind".

 Our handy-man Tyson, working on the bouncy seats 



Playing in an "ambulance" with Christa



Meeting Miss Scottsdale 

 

Matching: orange

 

 

Matching: light green

 

 

Matching: dark green

 

 

Matching: turquoise

 

Matching: white and brown