9 month update

Well, I know I said I would be better about this, but alas here we are, August 8th and I am just now getting to your 9 month update! In my defense, things have been even more hectic than usual lately, what with moving in all. Here are the stats from your 9 month well check:

Max
weight - 17lbs 15.5oz (10%)
height - 28.85 in (75%)
head circ - 45 cm (95%)

Emma
weight - 18lbs .5oz (50%)
height - 28 in (75%)
head circ - 44cm (95%)

Luckily, you guys didn't have to have any shots this time around! Yay! Oddly enough, I took pictures of both of you while you were being weighed, and to my amazement, you both had the EXACT same weight in the pictures I took - WEIRD! And, that weight wasn't even the weight that they recorded for either of you - SPOOKY! So... daddy and I don't fight over who has to carry the heavy one anymore, because you're both heavy! You guys are getting so big that we have started letting you sit in the big kid highchairs at restaurants! And in the shopping cart seat! (well one of you always has to sit in the cart in a booster seat since they don't have double seat carts most places). Max, I gotta tell ya, everywhere we go, you always get complemented on your cool helmet! I was so worried that people would point and stare and make negative comments about it, but I have been very pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming positive responses we have received! I still think it's odd though that I have yet to see another baby with a helmet in the DFW area (well except at the orthotist office and when we got your helmet wrapped).

So, what have you guys been up to lately??

Emma, you are a mobile maniac! The day after turning 9 months, you decided that you would get into the sitting position all by yourself, pull to stand (on me), and get up on your knees and start rocking (you had been trying to get on your knees for a while, but now you were rocking and trying to figure out how to go somewhere!). Then, just 5 short days later (on 7/26) you began army crawling everywhere! If you really wanted something (usually Talking Tom on mommy's iphone) you could really move fast! Gram happen to come over that day and got to see you army crawl - even before daddy! But, I guess army crawling wasn't really doing it for you, and it didn't take you long (like 4 days) and on August 2nd, after coming home from brother's physical therapy appt, we were getting ready for a bath, and BAM! You decided to crawl into the bathroom like you'd been crawling for years! There was no stopping you after that, you have become a crawling machine! And you're fast too! When you know you are going somewhere you shouldn't be, you get really quiet - you little stinker! You also don't let anything - or anyone get in your way - even if that means crawling over your brother to get somewhere! It didn't take you long to figure out how to master the steps to get out of the living room either. So alas, we now have baby jail baracading you into the living room  on all sides - sorry! If your recent obsession of pulling up on EVERYTHING is any indication, I have a feeling that walking isn't too far off - scary thought! Where did my tiny little baby go??? As of today, you still only have your two bottom teeth, but I'd say by next week you will have a top tooth breaking through - it's bulging out pretty good right now, and I can tell that it really bothers you sometimes - I hate that there is nothing I can do to take that pain away :( Your hair is still as crazy as ever - I pray that it will eventually calm down and lay flat someday - if not, I promise I will buy you some really good hair product :) In other news, you have recently started wearing some 9-12 month clothes and you drink 1-2 of your 4 daily bottles out of your straw sippy cup - such a big girl! One day last week or so, you and your brother decided that you no longer wanted to eat pureed baby food anymore - so you guys are eating big people food now! You are a pro at feeding yourself! One thing that has become much more fun is, bathtime! It is so much fun watching you and your brother splash around and play with your toys - you both LOVE bathtime :) Diaper changes however are a whole nother story! I swear changing a 9 month old's diaper should be an Olympic sport! You guys are still both wearing size 3 diapers, and I figure you probably will be for a while - I think the box says they go up to like 26 lbs or something!

Max, you are a talking machine! You sound and remind me of the talking twins on youtube (I realize that by the time you are able to read this, you will have NO idea what I'm talking about, but whatever). You get your little hand in the air, waving it arond saying "dadadadadadada" as loud as you can in a very athoritative voice - so cute! But sometimes, you also like to whisper and talk as quiet as you can - it's a little game we play. You're not crawling yet - but you have starteed to get on all fours, it's just difficult for you to lift you head up, but we're working on those muscles in physical therapy, and I just know that once you get that helmet off - you will be unstopable just like your sister! Physical therapy is going really well and your are consistantly meeting goals - I am very proud of you! In helmet news, you went in for a re-scan last week and mommy and daddy were very excited to learn that your head has grown 10mm in the past 2 months! What's even better is that 6.3mm of that growth was on the flat part of your head! You started out at 18.3mm of asymetry and are now down to 12mm! The goal is to get to half  - so only 3 more mm to go! The helmet is designed to withstand 20mm of growth, so daddy and I are confident that in another 2 months, you will continue to grow and your head will be nice and round and wonderful - just in time for your 1st birthday! You will definitely NOT be needing a second helemt - which is awesome news! We have already seen such an improvement and are so glad that we decided to get the helmet! Your eye patch therapy is also going well - we are now alternating the patches on your left and right eye - still just one hour a day. We go back to the doctor just before your birthday to check on the progress, but Dr. B was impressed with your improvement :) You still haven't figured out how to bring food to your mouth to eat, but I asked Ms. Sarah (your PT) and she said that it wasn't anything to worry about just yet, that you'll get there soon enough. You are also quite the slow eater, you seem to prefer to savor the flavor of your food and let it marinate in your mouth for a long time, as opposed to your sister, who tried to shovel as much food as she can into her mouth at one time! You guys truly are night and day! In other news, you are finally out of the 0-3 month shorts! woo hoo! You are now wearing size 3-6 shorts and 6-9 shirts and onesies - not too far off - it's just those skinny legs you've got! As I mentioned before, you LOVE bathtime! It's so cute, as soon as you get in the tub, you have to find something to grab, and you almost immediately use it to "cover yourself up" - so modest! You always hate when bathtime is over, you've even started crying when it's time to get out - mommy and daddy can't help but laugh. You haven't quite masterd the straw sippy cup yet - you still just want to try to blow bubbles in it the whole time, but I know that you will have it down soon enough and then we can be bottle free - woo hoo!!

You guys have adjusted well to the new house - better than mommy has! I will say that I love that you guys have more space to play in the living room and in your bedroom - and of course the much bigger closet :) We haven't been to any playdates in a while - I guess everyone is kind of doing their own thing for the summer, but we did go to the triplet's 1st birthday back in May and we just went to Luca and Larkin's 1st birthday - it won't be long until they are all coming to your birthday! I can't even believe it! Well, I guess I better go - Emma you are currently determined to crawl through the end table and continue to faceplant into the ground - Lord help us!

Here are some pics and videos for your viewing pleasure:

photo shoot for the "we've moved" cards

Max and Emma's favorite book

notice the weight 17.156

and then Max... 17.156 - weird!

My bathing beauty

mohawk baby

first attempt at a ponytail - it didn't stay in long - nor did it seem to help the hair issue!

it was cute though, right?!

last bath in our first home :(

gotta cover up - can't be lettin people see my junk!

kickin it drinkin my bottle by myself cause I'm a big girl

yeah, I drink from a straw sippy cup all by myself - I told you I was a big girl!

The scanner at the helmet dr

Inside of the scanner

hangin with dad

mealtime tends to get a little messy with these two :)

Emma apparently wanted to eat a little dead lizard for lunch instead of broccoli...awesome

one intact mummified lizard - what will she find next week?? stay tuned

mmmm, eggs, toast and bananas

look what I did mom!

notice the new baby jail in the background

bathtime in our awesome new yellow 1969 bathtub!

Max talking with his hands - so cute!

Emma's latest trick - I call it the bridge

We have moved beyond pulling up on the end table - now we must master crawling through it!

We're moving!

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8 months old!

Considering that you guys will be 9 months old in a few days... this post is a little late, sorry! Things have been a little busy around here lately! For starters, it's almost 11:30p and instead of sleeping, I'm writing this update! Oh, if only I could sleep... I have seriously dreamt/had nightmares about paint for the past two nights- that is during the few hours I was actually able to get some shut eye! Oh the joys of moving and renovating an old home! Well, enough about that, let's get to the good stuff :) For time and sanity sake, I am going to be really lame and just bullet point everything that has been going on this past month, but I promise to be better from here on out!


Here we go... in no particular order:

-Max, both you and your sister are both sitting unassisted and you both do it so well :)

-Emma, you cut your first tooth the day you turned 8 months (bottom middle left) and the #2 popped through just 3 days later! (bottom middle right) Hallelujah! You were so much happier once they popped out! (and as a result so was everyone else around you!) Sorry Max, still no teeth for you yet.

-Emma, you are ALL OVER THE PLACE with your scooting and rolling - you're a maniac! You are like a woman on a mission and you love to explore your surroundings! With your rolls, 360 turns, push offs, and scoots, you have no trouble maneuvering around the whole living room - more often than not making your way to Lucy's toys or to the fireplace - both are no-no's! If you happen to be sitting up, that doesn't stop you from flopping right on over and bam, you're off! You're not pulling up on anything yet, but you are getting up on your knees and rocking ALL THE TIME, so I know it's only a matter of time before you take off crawling across the floor! All I know is we have to watch you like a hawk, because anything you happen to find on the ground goes directly into your mouth, and boy are you quick! I think brother has been watching and learning from you too, because just recently he has decided he would see what all this rolling business is about, helmet and all!

-Well Max, you got your helmet on May 24th and Mommy took a picture just after you turned 8 months to see what progress had been made and boy were we blown away! We are so impressed with how great your head looks! You're going to have a cute little bowling ball head before too We cannot wait to go to your appt on the 27th when they will rescan your head and give us some measurements that tell us number wise how far you've come (started at 18.3mm and 89.9%) and more importantly how much longer you will need to wear it. I know you have pretty much the most awesome helmet, but I would so much rather see my handsome baby boy's head and kiss it all the time :)

-So... we sold the house on June 28th and we are set to close on July 29th, Poppi's (mommy's dad) bday. We are currently in the process of remodeling daddy's grandma's house so that we can move in there this week (hence the beforehand mentioned comment about being busy). Unfortunately, your second cousin Brett will still be living there for a little while until he finds his own apt, and Uncle Tim will be there too until he leaves for Peru and then to go back to Tech. I can tell you that mommy never wants to look at a paint swatch again! I sure hope everything comes together ok, your daddy has repeatedly assured mommy that everything is going to turn out great and that everything is going to be ok... this too shall pass. So, mommy is working on trusting in the Lord, taking deep calming breaths, and taking an ambien every night so I can sleep! This time next Sunday, you guys will (at least you better be) sound asleep in your new nursery.

-Your Daddy deserves the daddy of the year award for sure! He let mommy go out of town for the whole weekend by myself! While mommy went to Houston to visit Ms. Lea, you guys hung out with daddy all weekend! From what I understand, you guys stayed in your pjs all weekend, Emma's hair didn't have a bow in it not one time, AND you guys slept in for daddy! Seriously?! WTH! How are you going to sleep in for daddy and not mommy?! I'll let it slide this time, but I fully expect for you to do the same for me!

-Mommy's last pump, and thus your last and final drops of delicious breast milk was on June 28th - such a bittersweet day. I really wish I could have gone longer - in fact I wish a lot of things could have gone differently, but I'm trying to stay positive and be proud of the fact that I worked really hard to make sure that you had natures perfect food for 8 months. I just love you guys soooooo much and wish I could have gone to a year :(

-You guys have both discovered how to drink out of a cup if mommy holds it, and how to drink out of a straw! You guys love the straws - except that you guys are pretty quick, and also discovered that you could blow bubbles into whatever you were drinking - and as a result, not a whole lotta drinking going on! But mommy was able to find these nifty little "sippy" cup type cups that have a straw instead of a spout, and you guys knocked it out of the park! And bonus... you can't blow bubbles and you can't spill it - SCORE!

-Not sure if this was mentioned last time or not, but both of you are sleeping thru the night from 7p(ish) to 7a(ish) :)

-You guys LOVE your new red crab baby pool! Although we have only gotten in it twice so far... it is so stinkin HOT here - I'm afraid you guys will melt in the 107 degree heat!

-Here's your current schedule:

7a wake and eats 8oz bottle and play (also eats oatmeal cereal with fruit)

8:30ish go down for nap #1 (in separate rooms)

10:30ish you guys normally wake up, play, and eat an 8oz bottle around 11 and then eat a fruit/veggie

12:30ish you guys go down for nap #2

2:30ish (sometimes earlier) you wake, play, eat an 8oz bottle around 3 and then eat a fruit/veggie

4/4:30 you guys go down for your last nap if you will take it - short nap 45min-1hr

5:30 get up and play

6:00 bath time, bedtime routine, bottle, read a book, and go to bed around 7 (sometimes later)

*Mommy is still making all kinds of new baby food! Max and Emma's new favorite is acorn squash :) Egg yolk and cottage cheese not so much :(

-As far as eating goes, you guys are both doing AWESOME! Max you average about 30-32 oz a day and Emma, you aren’t far behind him at 28-30oz a day! You guys have become quite squirmy lately making it quite challenging to feed you at times, it sure would be nice if you guys would learn to hold your bottles (and Emma with your feet doesn’t count!). You guys have done soooo well drinking out of your straw sippy cups, and Emma, you made mommy so proud yesterday (7/17) when you decided to be a big girl and hold the cup and drink out of it all by yourself – you always have been miss independent!

-Max, you decided to surprise mommy yesterday too when you suddenly decided that you too wanted to roll all over the place and kick your legs to try to get on your knees. You’ve also been talking soooo much lately – I love to hear all your stories!

-Emma, you absolutely melt mommy’s heart every time I put you down for a nap or bedtime. Our little routine is to sing our abc’s on the way to the bedroom and then sing twinkle twinkle little star as I lay you down (same for your Max), but for the past few weeks now, every time I turn the corner of the hallway to go in your room, you lay your head down on my shoulder and yawn – it is by far one of the highlights of my day – everyday! I also have to tell you Emma, you have been such an amazing sleeper lately – I know I’ve given you grief before in previous posts about your unstable sleep history – but boy are you making up for it now! I can honestly say that you are now a better sleeper than your brother – who would’ve thunk it?!

Well, I think that about wraps up what’s been going on this past month, there are probably things that I am forgetting, but I will try to do better :) Here are some pics of some super cute 8 month olds! (sorry for the massive photo bomb - didn't know I had so many pics this month!)

The day Emma cut her 1st tooth - you can't really see it though

On a walk with daddy when mommy was out of town

Emma on the go

Hmmm - now how to I get out???

Max and Emma love their crab pool :)

Mmmm Watermelon!

The before pic at 6.5 months

Another before pic

After 1 month in the helmet (6/28)

The awesome peeps at 360 wraps sent us this card - how sweet is that?!

Visiting Grandma (glad we did because she broke her leg a week later and is currently in icu)

Max enjoying the fireworks (Emma didn't like them AT ALL!)

Emma is plotting her attack

and down he goes...

Take 2

Emma and her bff Nola (Memi's daughter - wow that was weird to type!)

At Na-nah and Poppi's house

crashed out on th way home - he always likes to hold on to things in the carseat - silly boy!

Emma drinking from the straw sippy cup all by herself!

hehe! my mom says this is going to give Emma a complex!