silly Jim

The babies have been working on more and more tricks. There are lots of video available to watch them play. They've had a lot of fun playing this week. The one that made me laugh this week the hardest was a tub incident. I had Tucker lying down on his back while I rinsed his hair. Only his toes were poking up out of the bubbles, so Whitney took a taste test. Rats. I didn't get Tucker's hair rinsed. He popped right up out of the water from the pain Whitney's teeth inflicted on his poor toes. That reminds me.

Whitney has another tooth on bottom that popped through and she has two molars coming in. I thought Tucker would have been the one that would have those things come in first, but Whitney beat him this time.

Whitney is learning to climb. I knew she'd be my climber. She climbed up on a box in the office. Now I really can't let them wander around the house too long by themselves. Tucker likes to climb up on the fireplace tile and smack the fireplace about the grill. It makes an especially cool noise.

We went to baby story time this week at the library for the first time. Whitney was sitting in my lap, paying attention. I think she liked it because she was paying attention for so long, but I'm not completely sure because I couldn't see her face. I could see Tucker's face, though. He had the biggest grin on his face as he stood with one hand on my shoulder and slowly surveyed the room. He seemed to be so fascinated and amazed that there were so many people HIS SIZE! I think he really likes "babies".

Tucker is getting really good about moving his car around, including backing it up over Whitney and pushing her off of it. Lots of whining from her about it. I have to agree with her, he is being very rough, but I can tell he doesn't mean it. This is the tricky part about having different sized twins. They are the same age, so you can't say " be soft with the baby". But Tucker can just push her over by shear size. He has a pretty good milk belly going on. Jim says their bellies remind him of lizard bellies, especially when they are breathing hard while on their stomachs.

They still are working on their "putting away toys" trick. That's my favorite trick by far. It makes up for the "practicing to use utensils" trick. (see pics)

The babies went to the doctor this week for their one year check up and shots. According to this doctor's scale, whitney is 19 pounds 4 ounces and 29.5 inches long. Tucker is 23 pounds and 11 ounces and 30.5 inches long. He still has a head circumference at 97%. I believe the scale with Whitney, but I seriously have to wonder about Tucker's weight. He feels so much heavier to me. I was really impressed with how brave they were with their shots. Neither one of them started crying until the first of four shots was pulled out of their leg and they didn't fight me while the nurse was giving them shots. I guess getting diaper changes are waaaay worse than shots, because they fight me a lot more for those.

This week Tucker was helping me clean the dishes. He pulled all the spoons out of the dishwasher, and,mimicing Sammy, was licking them clean. For the most part they had been rinsed, but I had forgotten that I had a spoon I had used to get honey out while making bread. I guess it wasn't very well rinsed, but Tucker covered that for me. I thought he was "helping" for 20 minutes because he was chewing on the spoons. He was chewing alright. He licked all the honey off. It was really good.

Jim figured out that Whitney really likes stuffed animals. He gave her her bear at story time one night, and she snuggled with that thing the whole time. The next day I pulled all the stuffed animals out. She picked the fluffiest one, one Jim picked out a garage sale for 25 cents. She loves Gorilla. (see video)

It was dry a few days this week, so we went to the park. I let the babies crawl around the toddler playground equipment. At first they didn't get it, but then Whitney cried when I pulled her off of it. I think she wanted to stay longer.

This week has been a little frustrating at times for me. With the babies being more active, I feel like I've not been productive, which makes me go a little crazy in the head. Tucker still isn't super awesome about sleeping through the night. The volume on his crying is down a bit, and it's 2 hours this week instead of 3, only 3 times this week, but seriously. Why do we have to sleep train him after any change in routine? (Although, during the day reflecting on it, two moves, two big trips with plane flights and 2 month long colds is kind of a lot in 5 months). I told the doctor about it and thought it was because he was waking up due to his cough and then wouldn't settle down until we fed him 12 ounces. Again. The doctor said there is nothing wrong with his ears or lungs, so we were going to have to practice "tough love". I told him this would be the sixth time we've done it, and he laughed and said "I guess he'll be challenging you the rest of your life". I don't know why the doctor thinks that's so funny. So anyway, one night I was complaining to Jim about Tucker crying, one dog chewing on the chew flips (trust me, it's a lot of loud smacking), Jim flopping around and sniffing because he's sick, the other dog snoring, and just complaining in general. This was around 4:30 in the morning. Poor Jim. Sometimes I wonder why he stays married to me. But anyway, as I was thus complaining, Jim summed it up for me and said "So basically you hate all the boys in the house." It stopped my complaining because it was funny, even at that hour in the morning, but not funny enough to make me admit it by laughing out loud so I just had to be quiet.

The great thing about this blog is it makes me think about what I did this week and it makes me look good, like maybe I am productive, even though at the end of each day I wonder if I did anything but feed the babies, make their food, or clean up after a meal (poop included).

The most productive thing I did this week was work on geneology. Funny thing. While I was working on it, the babies took the longest nap they would take all week. I guess if we do what God wants us to do, He makes a way for it to happen. It's also a really fun thing to do because I just feel like Grandma and Granny Shirley are so excited about us finding out about the fam. I think it is odd to me that Tucker and Whitney will never know Granny Shirley or Grandma or Grandpa and Grandma Henry. I guess that is how they feel about me not knowing their parents or grandparents.

Until next week.

growing pains

The megablocks from Lindsay came in the mail this week. They took out every single one that afternoon and had lots and lots of fun doing so.
We went on a hike today since it wasn't raining!! Tucker "watching" the ducks. He can't ever resist the lulling rock of a ride in the baby backpack. That is how Jim would put him to sleep when we lived in the apartment downtown.
Whitney very content and snuggled in the backpack on our hike today. She went to sleep soon after.
Yep. Definitely one of my favorite sleeping positions, I don't know why it wouldn't be one of yours.
Another preferred sleeping position.


Whitney is now old enough to protest Tucker. She doesn't like it when he sits on her, pulls on her, takes her toys or does anything to bother her in general. There was one really cute thing that happened this week. Tucker pulled her hairbow out and then sat there trying to put it back on her head. He couldn't figure out why it wouldn't stay like it normally does. Paul and Cathy got to see this reaction of Whitney to Tucker in real time on Monday when we did the web cam thing with them.

The babies seem to have "matured" a bunch this week, as my dad says. I think they look more like little kids now instead of babies. So sad for me in some respects, but they seem to be grasping concepts now. I love the concept of assisted clean up. Who cares if they can wave hi to someone, let's spend time teaching them something useful to society. Clean up! If we give them toys fast enough, they will throw it in the box if the box is placed in front of them. They won't give up their bottles or seriously drink out of sippy cups yet. One thing at a time. I tried teaching them how to use a baby spoon and bowl with some applesauce. What a mess. We are going to have to have a lot of those trials, but at least they didn't throw the bowls on the ground like they do after one swig on the sippy cups.

It sure seems like they are going to walk soon. They both do wall squats and Whitney stood up independently. It was when she was really mad about not getting in the bath fast enough, but she did do it. 2 or 3 other times she has done it while playing and has had minimal ankle support only.

This week we got rid of night time bottles. More sad for me I think, but they didn't even protest. Until Tucker remembered at 2 am this morning that he didn't have one at night. 5 out of 6 nights isn't bad though.

Something that makes me laugh is Tucker and his head butting. This week he head butted Rocky. I wish I could have captured that on camera. He slowly leaned his forehead against Rocky's forehead, looking down, then backed up. Rocky just sat there. Whitney doesn't go for it, but whatever. That's her problem, I guess.

There are lots of cute things they did this week, but I can't remember them. Oh yeah. Tucker claps his hands or beats the floor to the time of the music. Maybe I should start writing stuff down. All I know is I need to apologize to Tucker about him being a grumpy baby. He is not a grumpy baby. He is a very happy baby, as long as I give him enough food so he can sleep properly. He laughs and plays most of the day now. So much more fun for everyone. I did feel better today, though, about me not knowing Tucker was so hungry. He seems to need so much more food than I thought a baby could eat. Jim saw how much lunch I gave Tucker and said "He's going to eat it all?!" And yes he did.

As for the videos.....

The one with them dancing to the toy would have a running commentary something similar to this. Tucker: Nope, don't like that song. Or that one. Maybe this one. Nope. Yeah! This one! I'm glad I finally figured out how to tune this thing! Whitney (commentary at the same time): That one's ok. Yeah! I really like that one! How come you don't like that one? Go back! Oh! Here's one I like!" I just love how they dance.

The other is how Tucker will take care of Whitney by helping her finish off her plate and how much Whitney loves story time. Tucker does too, but he saw the camera looking at him and realized he needed to put on a show.

babies first birthday

Whitney looking so feminine in her pink jacket and shoes before going on a walk.

Tucker downing 6 ounces after the birthday. He is very tired from no afternoon nap.

Whitney loves to wear her rings like bracelets and anklets.


We had so much fun with the babies first birthday. I had a blast making cupcakes for them. I forgot to buy frosting at the store, so I made some. I've had this frosting receipe from my roomie Em since college, but haven't used it (dumb me) until now. And now I'll never go back to the canned stuff. This was way better. And it was fun for me to learn something new. I spent the day with them not wandering off to do some chore when they were playing nicely, but tried really hard to play with them all day. I think they liked it. They were pretty good the next day too from all that mommy attention. I called my dad around 2 or so to ask him when he would be getting home from work, and he said he stayed home and worked from home so he wouldn't miss the web cam call. He said everyone (except scott who is at college) was home already so they could all see it. Jim came home at 4 pm and finished working after the babies went to bed so he could spend extra time playing with them. They played "climb the stairs" quite a bit. Tucker has finally grasped the stairs and goes a whole lot faster than Whitney. It seems he is saying, "You may have been able to do it first, but I can get to the top first". After all that stair climbing, they had eggplant parmesean with noodles and ate mostly the noodles. Not too much into the eggplant. But I must admit, the eggplant was still a little too firm, even for me that has molars. Tucker ate half of one of our big bowls of noodles. He really likes sauce. So does Whitney. Then we called my parents and let them watch the babies eat their first cake. (see video below). If you don't want to watch the whole video (it's kind of long and boring and I'm talking to my mom a bit), just know that Tucker ate the whole thing, plus a 1/4 of Whitney's (more on that later). Whitney picked out the frosted pieces and left the rest. We hung up with my parents and gave them a bath, then called them back so they could watch them open their presents. I didn't video that one. Didn't think much of it. The babies really liked the bows. Whitney really liked the pink one my mom put on her package. Good thing Grandma wrapped her presents. Typical me, I put all the presents from us in bags without bows. The babies really didn't tear the paper. They did have fun pulling out the clothes my mom got them and flinging them aside in rapid succession. We got them a pop up toy, that thing that you push buttons and a disney charactor pops up, then you push it back down, and a xylophone. Whitney really likes her xylophone. After all that, they went to bed. On time. Jim says, poor babies. I'm just glad that there are other people who are as excited as I am to celebrate the time they came to live with us here on earth. We really like having them around.

So I finally read the book about one year olds. Apparently I had been feeding Tucker about 2/3 of what he needs. I think he might have been making up the calorie count by downing milk instead. I thought they were one nap babies because they wouldn't sleep when I put them down for their morning nap, but now I know that they weren't sleeping because they were hungry. Poor things. No wonder tucker could eat half a bowl of spaghetti, a cupcake and a 1/4, 6 ounces of milk and a big handful of veggies in one sitting. To me that seems like so much food, but I guess it makes sense that they need half of what I eat because they are growing, even though they only weigh about 1/6 of me. Crazy to think.


Tucker is starting to stand independently for a few seconds on purpose and prefers to walk around the house holding on to walls. He still uses his one index finger to explore holes. Whitney really likes to put toys in and out of things. She crawls very fast and seems to be talking with all her voice flucuations. They made the transition to cow milk. Yeah! Next the bottles will be gone!!

I've been feeling pretty productive lately since there is actually baby naptimes again. I started recovering the dining room chairs ( I wrecked one pretty bad right before we moved). All the heavy duty fabric is on sale for 60% at Joann's. I think that is what women do during the winter here. Household projects. I saw lots of ladies in there with their bigger projects and getting fabric just like me. There are lots of crafty deals now and we are all stuck inside with the kids with all this rain, rain, rain. I don't know. It's better than snow, snow, snow. But very grey. I also figured out a few more things about making bread, so I've been feeling very "domestic" (like you, Auntie Jill:) with my bread making, frosting making, deal shopping (fabric, presents and baby clothes at Value Village) and recovering chairs.

I think the productivity has helped a little, too, in that we went hiking as a family at a local park area yesterday now that we have two baby backpacks. I feel like I might be able to get back to normal life. We also went grocery shopping as a family. So much easier in some respects, but in others, sometimes a challenge. I find my husband to be a very helpful husband and love how he helps with the babies as soon as he walks in the door until they go to bed, but some of his habits are a little like a third kid. The grocery store is one. When we got to the checkout there were "extra items" in the cart not on the list....... Now I know where kids get their ideas.

Jim has a project at work that he is really enjoying right now, the babies have started sleeping better this week due to full bellies and I've been working on some fun projects, plus I'm not in the hospital this year. It is a really fun time to be together as a family and to be alive.

There is a video of Whitney rocking Tucky in his car seat when he was crying, one of her playing with the christmas ball that got left and the others are self explanatory.

tucky's fault

I missed the funny pic, but Tucker had both bottles to his mouth. I guess Whitney "gave" him more milk.
Tucker (today) with his snugy-snugy (IN HIS OWN BED!!) made by grandma

Whitney with her snugy-snugy made by grandma

Whitney's hair is long enough and thick enough for barrettes. She seems so big. Note the cute shirt. One of the things I got at Value Village. Love that store! I'm very excited about the birthday presents I found there, too. That is one advantage of having a birthday so soon after christmas. Lots of end of season sales everywhere.


So I didn't get around to blogging last night (or doing the webcam, Dad) because we spent from 7 pm to 10:30 pm trying to put Tucker to bed without him throwing up. Sorry to those who read it on Monday morning. It just wasn't happening. I think the saying that if Mom isn't happy, nobody is, isn't true. It's more like if Tucker isn't happy, then no one else sleeps. I'm really glad that I have such an awesome husband. He pretty much took care of the babies this weekend, even though he probably has a sinus infection of his own because I was about ready to explode from a week of not sleeping due to Tucker being sick. One benefit of a late post is I got the pictures Mom requested. Finally. Tucker wasn't about to pose for them last week.

So my dad asked me when I post the blog and I said Sundays usually. He jinxed me this week I think. He says he likes to read them because they are funny. I'm not seeing it, but I'm glad he likes them. I think it's like a friend of mine explained to me. She said a friend of hers recently had a baby. This friend kept looking back at her during church and smiling. She thought she had something to tell her, so after the meeting she went up to this friend. The friend said she had nothing to tell her, but was wondering if she could see all the cute things her baby was doing. My friend said she hadn't noticed the baby doing anything especially cute, but just being a baby in general. I guess as parents it is especially fun for us to watch our kids do all the kids things. I have to agree one hundred percent. I liked kids before, but I really like my kids and feel so sorry for all those other parents that don't have kids nearly as cute as mine :). I'm sure all parents feel the same way about my kids. Poor things. Too bad they are not as cute or funny as their kids. So that must be why my dad thinks my posts are funny. The same way I think it is absolutely hysterical the way Tucker and Whitney laugh, play with, or discover something. I'm sure my dad thinks it's wildly funny that it takes a lot of time to put Tucker to bed. (No, I take it back. I bet my mom thinks it is wildly funny that it takes so long to put Tucker to bed.) Or anything else that I'm learning about parenting or about the babies. Their his kids and grandkids.

Anyway. I can't really think much about what we did this week except just a normal routine after all that fun, fun, fun of the holidays. Lots of grocery shopping, errand running, library visiting, taking dogs to the vet with twins (now even the office staff commented on how crazy that was) and me finally saying on Saturday and Sunday that Jim was on daddy duty and I was out of there to do who knows what, just as long as it was without a screaming baby.

Oh yeah. I started running again on a regular schedule!! On a treadmill, something I never thought I'd do, but then, I never thought I'd live somewhere where there isn't much sun for a lot of the year. While I run I watch stuff on Jim's cue from netflix. I watched this video about why america is fat. Boy. It really makes me want to throw out all processed or boxed food and make our land a farm. But then, there's that sun problem again. It would be a pathetic looking farm. I told Jim that I wanted to get rid of all processed foods in the house. He was less than excited about that comment and didn't really want me watching his cue anymore if this is what happens.

Whitney had her first real owie this week. Jim felt bad it was on "his watch". She slipped on the hardwood floor while pulling to stand in the doorway and landed just so to nick next to her eye on the air intake vent. Jim felt horrible. He'd never seen so much blood come from the babies. Honestly, I don't know how it managed to be on Jim's watch. I catch the babies doing all sorts of things. I'm even in the same room putting away dishes and I turn around to get more dishes out of the dishwasher and Whitney is suddenly standing in the dishwasher. Hmmm. Time to get out!! And I'm lucky she didn't fall.

I don't have much on Tucker this week. He mostly sat listlessly in my arms or the patapum carrier and watched Whitney play and me work. He did get some extra practice in on perfecting his burps, but not much else.

Whitney seems to have grown up a lot this week and become a lot more interactive. She is doing more initiation of games of peek a boo and blanket. She has invented a few others. Even though she doesn't use words, she is really getting good at voice fluctuation, so I've been able to better understand what she wants. We've been working on sign language, but that's a ways off. Her biggest and most fun feat is practicing climbing the stairs. She will climb them 5 times in a row and want to do it again, but I get bored of supervising her. She also discovered how fun it is to flick the recycle bin open and closed. Good thing that is no longer a trash can lid. Eew! I've finally been consistent about teaching them to wash their hands before meals and it is cute how Tucker knows to hold his palm up for the soap.

Next week will be fun as we will have 1st birthday pics. Enjoy the video of Whitney enjoying the trash can. I can't believe I forgot to get her a dog bed for her birthday..... Silly mom!

babies' first christmas and new years

Whitney asleep with one of her favorite toys.

My sister and I. And my new hair. For Washington

Tucker liked his new toy. He was sitting there, just biting it while the balls were flying out.

The babies around 5 pm Christmas Eve. They were in melt down because they didn't take their naps. They were having too much fun during nap time playing in Grandma Anderson's curtains.

Hannah making Whitney laugh. It was a warm afternoon, so we got our Vitamin D

One of my Christmas angels

Spinning in the hair styling chair after Anne cut (tortured) Tucky's hair. He was less than excited.
Whitney playing with "Spa Monster", the nickname for my brother after the babies threw a fit about getting into the spa with him. They wanted nothing to do with the spa. Whatever. All that making of swim diapers for nothing.


Good thing it is this year that is babies' first Christmas and new years. Even though their birthday is only 12 days away, that was 12 days less in the hospital and better health.

As all kids this age, they totally didn't get Christmas, but sometimes us adults don't get the focus for the season either, so it's ok. As far as the present thing, they didn't get it either, but for me it has been the most fun Christmas in a long time because of how excited I was to get them stuff. I used to think couples that said they agreed not to get stuff for each other, but only for the kids was because they just didn't have a good enough romantic relationship. Shows how much I knew. Now I totally get those comments. Why get each other gifts when it is so much more fun to get the kids gifts. I think that's why it didn't feel like Christmas to me, because I wasn't so excited for what I was going to get, but because I was so excited for what I got for the babies and to be with family with the babies. That and it's been awhile since there hasn't been any snow around Christmas for us.

As for New years, the babies' had colds, so I knew we'd be up at night anyway, so we went to bed after watching Invictus (good movie). Sure enough, the babies were up around midnight anyway and we rang in the new year snorking snot out of noses and giving them medicine to the sound of distant booming from fireworks echoing off the mountains (yet another bad night of the year for Sammy, too). It's ok. I've been looking forward to ringing in the new year with kids of our own for such a long time that even though I was grumpy about being awake at night again, it's still better than sleeping through the night without kids in our life.

So. On to how the babies' aren't babies, but little kids now. Whitney is really showing a lot of understanding. She can help clean up blocks (with help), initiaties games like peek a boo, blanket, and clapping and has been really good with the dogs lately. She felt sorry for Rocky before our trip and was trying to give him his chew toy that, for some reason unknown to her, he didn't want to chew on right then. She tried three times to put it in his mouth.

They both like to touch their toys to get music going to dance to. They also love to go walking around the house holding on to others or cars (as you will see in the video).

We had a great time being with family and the trip was much better now that we are "seasoned travellers"

Off to write New Year's resolutions.....

quiet week...so far

Tucker with yet another toy in his mouth. My friends say it is normal baby behavior, not because we have dogs. Good.

Tucker pushing a friend of mine's kid. Her kid was pretty happy to get a ride and Tucker was happy that the truck didn't go as fast. What's funny is her kid is 15 months or so, but one pound lighter. He walks all by himself. He's built more like Whitney.

Whitney climbing down from her escapade
Whitney getting in to drawers

She is pretty happy about it.
Whitney smiling about Christmas lights

The babies playing underneath our "christmas tree" this year.

Dancing about the lights being on



This week was very relaxing. Mostly because I got all excited that Christmas was around the corner that I really thought it was this week and got everything ready. And it is next week, so I got to relax and enjoy the season, the babies and the Christmas lights another week. Here's what I was able to watch this week.

The best part of this week is how the babies are starting to interact more with each other. Tucker thinks it is soooo funny to move his cheese around on his high chair tray. Apparently the noise is hysterical. He gets to laughing, and then that makes Whitney laugh. They also took turns throwing a block up in the air and watching it fall, something else that is wildly entertaining.

Now for the milestones. Sibling rivalry is starting to show up. At night, Whitney will wait for mommy time until Tucker is done with his instead of sharing a lap and story time. They also get impatient with each other when trying to walk with the trikes they have. Whitney is getting good at climbing. She really liked climbing on top of the music box to really reach the piano keys.

I can't believe that this week is Christmas!! I'm looking forward to a holiday season not in the hospital this year and to be with fam. Enjoy the pics.

oh yeah!!

I knew there was something else that I wanted to blog about. It's Tucker being raised by dogs. I swear he is being raised by dogs. It started when he began to growl. Then he started crawling. But this is what made me think of it the most. He carries toys around the house in his mouth when he crawls. It cracks me up!