Christmas and Updates

December has been an exciting month so far! The boys turned one, Christmas is coming, they are both walking (and picking up speed), more teeth are coming in -- it's nonstop over here!

We just had their one year check up: Sam is 21lbs and in the 40% for weight, Tyler is 25lbs and in the 80% for weight (he's slimming down! he used to be 150% for weight!). They are both healthy and progressing as they should -- such a wonderful blessing from God. I thank God every day for their health. Tyler has 6 teeth, Sam has 4. We're trying very hard to progress to "real" food, but they just love their mush. Plus, it seems to be the only way to get them to eat veggies at this point. It can be quite frustrating. We are also approaching the transition to 1 nap -- if they are entertained, they can almost do without the second nap. We do struggle with getting them to go down. We simply do not have the kids that just love to go in their cribs for a nap or nighttime. Also frustrating.

Their birthday was a success. We had two parties: one with the Ploegs at our house, one with the VLugts at Nana's house. They did great at both (no major meltdowns) and they loved their cake (shocking, I know). They loved their presents too ... it's plastic toys and little people / Thomas the Train heaven in our house. They also got these little chairs that they love to climb on and sit in like little old men.

Christmas is this week and I was just looking back at some pictures from last Christmas -- they were just so small (and we were just so tired!)! A lot has changed this year! We tried and tried to get a great Christmas card photo of the family, but they didn't exactly cooperate. The result was humorous at least!

And one from last year:

Dancy Party USA - Manheim Steamroller Edition

One Year

One year ago tonight my life changed forever. One year ago tonight, at 1:16am and 1:47am, on December 5, 2009, I met the two most beautiful boys in the whole world. One year ago tonight, Jack and I went from husband and wife, to parents with a family.

It has been a crazy, but wonderful year. I can honestly say, there are months with not a whole lot of clear memories but thankfully, I have a lot of pictures and blog to remind me of some of the details that came along the way. I do clearly remember, though, all the wonderful family and friends that showered us with gifts, help, meals, laundry and prayers and I (and we) are so grateful.

Guess Who Else is Walking!

I finally caught Tyler walking -- he's just not as interested in it as Sam is but he certainly can walk when he wants to.

It's Beginning ...

to look a lot like Christmas!!!

I started some decorating this weekend for Christmas and yes, many things will be different this year. Anything meant to go below waist-high will have to stay packed away for another year (or two) or used at the church youth house as the little monsters have a way of destroying anything shiny or non-toy-like. The Christmas tree is still a "probably" though as I have a fence from my wonderful sister-in-law, Brenda, that she used to go around the tree when her boys were little.

My latest Christmas project was making stockings for my boys. I bought some for Jack and me ages ago and wanted something similar ... but alas, no luck in the stores so I headed for the fabric store. I revved up Grandma's old sewing machine and went to work putting together new stockings for my little boys. The trim around the boot I had to hand-sew and the letters were iron-on. I'm still struggling to find some snowflakes that don't look old-lady-like ... I thought I could cut them out myself but that is way harder than you'd think with felt. Anyway ... here's the result!

Guess Who's Walking!!

I caught Sam this morning in a walking mood (and I always forget I don't know how to turn the video ... so turn your head instead :) ).

Almost One!

It has been a beautiful November week. It was almost 70 degrees a few times this week so of course, we had to pack in a few more stroller rides and romps in the grass for the year. The boys just love it.

They both have taken some steps -- up to about 10 "baby steps" and then they crash. They still much prefer the faster crawling method of transportation, however, and they both started about the same time. They love to babble, but I'm not sure that "mama" really means me yet. They both have 4 teeth; two top, two bottom. Sam was a little ahead of Tyler on the teeth. They both officially have a cold right now and it is very much a snot-fest around here. We are struggling with skin issues and I feel terrible that I gave that to them. Both have excema and we just haven't been able to isolate it to one specific thing or food and it is VERY frustrating. Tyler still has it "worse" and even gets serious (at least to me) reactions from time to time where he itches his eyes so bad they puff up and get swollen (and I immediately grab the benadryl) after eating certain foods. They still love their trucks and we have races daily. Sam likes to ride on his sometimes now too. Sam also loves to read books -- we'll find him quietly in the other room just reading "Brown Bear" all by himself. They both still love remotes, phones, and other gadgets we'd prefer them not to play with and both throw a fit when they are taken away (in fact, in order to finish my blog, they each have one of these unapproved gadgets). They love to play the piano. They love to take baths. They love to eat sweets.

I can hardly believe they are almost 1!