JJs birthday party

I think that this will be my last post :(

The twins are ONE and today we are celebrating with our closest friends and family. It has been an amazing year; more challenging and rewarding than we ever expected.  

We took the twins for their 12 month check up on Thursday.  Here are their stats.

James:

Weight 17 lbs (5th percentile)

Height 29 inches (10th percentile)

Head Circumference (50th percentile)

Josie:

Weight 14.5 lbs (3rd percentile)

Height 27 inches (5th percentile)

Head Circumference (40th percentile)

Both James and Josie are small but they always have been so their Dr is not worried.  Plus, their proportionally large heads mean that their bodies are focusing their nutrients on brain growth which is of course much more important than height and weight.  

They also met and exceeded all the 12 month milestones.  They can both say 4 words, use sign language to communicate 6 words, respond to our cues and use emotions and gestures to communicate their feelings.  Physically they are right on track: crawling, pulling up to stand on furniture and standing unassisted.  James is even taking a few steps.  His record to date is 22 in a row!

When we think about their start as almost 4 and almost 5 pound babies it is amazing how far they have come.  They are both so curious and eager to experience new things.  They are also incredibly personable and social.  I am really glad that I took them to the daycare at my gym and to so many baby groups from such a young age.  

The twins have been so blessed this year.  They have received so much love from our families and friends.  I can't help but smile when I watch them reach to be held by their godparents or grand parents when they walk in the room.  There is no greater reward for your patience and love  than when you are greeted with a big smile and they reach to be picked up.  

What's our plan for the future?  I am thrilled to be staying home from work while we wait for our Nanny, Joy, to arrive from Hong Kong.  She will most likely arrive in the Spring.  Now that the Etobicoke Olympium is open again we hope to get the twins comfortable with cold water so that they are ready for a summer of swimming at the cottages.  We will continue to stay social at the Early Years Centres but we may have to move up to the toddler groups soon :).  Brian will continue to let his marking pile up so that he can rush home after school each day to play with his little ones.  

James and Josie will continue to learn and grow.  They will continue to play together and become even better "friends".  As a family we will continue to be thankful everyday for all of our blessings.

James and Josie's Winter ONEderland 

Cake Smash

Birthday Stat Chalkboard Photos

What would a 1st birthday be without a cupcake?

I made the pennants from old baptism/baby shower cards.

Our family!

Almost ONE

This post was from Dec 9 but failed to upload.

This time a year ago Brian and I headed to Credit Valley Hospital for what we thought was going to be a "test run".  My blood pressure was dangerously high and my ankles were the size of my thighs.  Even sti, we certainly were not expecting to be told that in a matter of hours we would meet our twins.

I have been extra emotional this week thinking about how much we have been through as a family over the last year.  I have never been so satisfied with my life or sure that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  I love Brian more than ever, but also in a different way since he became a father.  I have always appreciated what I have and what I have worked to earn but never as much as I do now.  I feel like I am going to burst with pride when I see the babies using sign language or investigating new situations with confidence. Being a mom was really hard in the beginning but it is totally amazing now.  I am thrilled that I get to continue to stay home with these little ones.  It feels like they are learning new things everyday.

Today, for example, James took his first steps on his own (he has taken a single step a few times already but never more than one before today).  Today he took about 4 steps.  He did it 5 times throughout the afternoon and evening.

Today Josie also said her first two-syllable word - "daddy".  She said it multiple times to Brian while they played tonight.  

Here are James and Josie at our Making The Connection class last Thursday.  The leader gave them each a tangerine and they both devoured them.  

On Friday James got away from me during a morning diaper change.  I then spent about 10 minutes fake chasing him around the room while he squeeled with delight.

On Sunday the twins had their first 1st birthday party in Oshawa with the Geogirls.  The twins are lucky enough to share their birthday with Josie's godmother, Vickie,  so they had their first joint party.  It was an awesome day with all five Geogirls and our Six Geobabies.

Today James also climbed this ladder at the early years centre.  Stairs were just the beginning for my little monkey :)

Tonight we did some sample crafts for the twins birthday party.  Nikki also helped me make these adorable t-shirts for the twins to wear for their birthday tomorrow.  Nikki is a grade 8 student who has been living with us for the last few weeks while she is a Page at Queenspark.  The babies adore her and I can tell that she loves playing with them too.

Snuggles with Daddy

6 months later and our twins still love to cuddle with their Daddy.  We have started a weekend tradition of starting our morning with cuddles in our bed.  I love it!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I have always loved taking photos of the twins - this blog is certainly proof of that.  

Recently a friend lent me her professional photo back drops.  I added a few of my own and have taken it upon myself to take countless photos of my babies and my friends babies. 

Here are the best ones so far. 

The countdown is on

It's only 2 weeks until the twins first birthday party (even less until their actual birthday).  I have been busy this week getting everything together for their big day.

I am having a hard time reconciling the fact that it's been almost a year since our twins made their early and rather unexpected entrance into the world.  I am amazed at how far they have come.  This year has been the slowest and fasted of my life.  What amazes me the most these days is how much the twins seem to love each other.  They follow each other around the house constantly.  They share toys (most of the time) and they even give each other hugs and kisses.  It's so sweet to watch.

Josie has recently become obsessed with climbing in and out of her bumbo chair.

This afternoon James didn't want to go done for his nap.  Instead he spent 30 minutes doing laps of his crib.  No fussing.  Just laps of his crib until he finally fell asleep.

They play together all the time now.  Here they are in their pool.

And here they are about 10 minutes later at their book nook doing a puzzle.

Baptism Professional Pics

The baptism was such a blur of excitement that we didn't get any pictures of the babies.  So I had a few professional ones done.  Here are the best ones. 

So many signs and sounds.

James has really taken to sign language lately.  He now signs more, all done and dog.  He can also wave, blow kisses and clap.  He also knows how to point to things when we ask like buttons, our noses, our teeth, etc.  I am pretty sure he has also added the word HI to his vocabulary.  It's fascinating how much he is comprehending.

Josie is also making big progress.  She is starting to stand unassisted.  She signs milk and more and loves to wave and clap.  She is also pointing to lots of things and reaching with both hands to be picked up.  It amazes me how social she is.  She will pretty much let herself be held by anyone and she is almost always full of smiles around familiar and unfamiliar people.  

They have both recently started giving us kisses.  This pose came about organically I did not prompt them at all.  It is very clear that they love each other very much.  Now we just have to work on kissing with closed lips and on the cheek :)

Winter at the Cottage

This past weekend we went to the cottage with Grandma and Grandpa.  We took the babies for their first winter walk in their new snow suits.  James lasted about 5 minutes before he started to fall asleep so we had to turn around.

I have lots more pics but they are still on my camera.  I will post them soon :)

Here is James with his GREAT Grandmother.  They both adore their great grandma.

They are on the move - James is practically running with his walker.

Jojo loves her grandma.

 Jojo also loves Maggie.  She is definitely the most patient dog.  She just lays there and lets the babies put their fingers in her mouth or use her fur to pull themselves up to stand.

Playing house.  They are at a point now where they follow each other around and play together :)

A day in the life

Today we really turned the living room into the babies play room.  Josie loved climbing on all the pillows on the couch.  They are playing together so much now.  They push their car together, play house together, crawl to the baby gates together.  It's really cute to watch them.  

Yesterday we went to the Turtle Creek Early Years Centre for a baby group.  Afterwards we were playing in the main room and Josie decided that she wanted an up close view of the doll house.  This is what happens when you are 11 months old and only 14 lbs.

11 month photoshoot

I finally got around to editing their 11 month photo shoot pics.  I took them on November 11 and it was so warm that we even did a few in the back yard.  The pink dress that Josie is wearing is one that my Grandmother Lackie made for my cousin Brenda when she was a baby.  She died 2 years before I was born so I love it that Josie has a little something from her.  It's still a bit big - but will probably fit perfectly this summer.

11 months old!

I had the babies weighed today at the Dr's office.  James is 16 lbs 9 oz.  Josie is 14 lbs.  they haven't really gained in the last 2 months as a result of their increased mobility and their being sick.  The Dr is not worried because they are meeting and exceeding their milestones.  I took this picture Saturday night.  James sure is the big brother.

We will do our 11 month photoshoot tomorrow.  I'll post pics as soon as I can :)

Josie's first sign!

Today Josie successfully did her first sign, "milk"!  We have been showing the twins a bunch of signs: milk, more, all done, mama, dad, etc.  today was the first time that one of the babies used a sign.  We think that James has signed "eat" before but we are not sure.  Today Josie was definitely signing milk!

Today we also tried Asparagus for the first time.  They seemed to enjoy it.  They have been really interested in food they can feed themselves lately - all part of growing up.

Happy Halloween

This week we celebrated JJ's first Halloween.  We did this by inviting 11 babies over for a party.  It was lots of fun.  

This week both James and Josie learned how to push their walking toy.  They will be walking on their own soon!  Josie also learned how say "hurray" during, "If you are happy and you know it".  She has also started to mimic sounds that we make.  Today she was repeating the word "soft" when I was helping here feel a soft blanket.

James had a rough week this week.  He has a really bad cough and has lost his appetite. He has also been puking a lot.  He has had the cough/cold for over a month but it got really bad this week so we might need to take him to the Dr soon.  His cold hasn't really affected his disposition though.  He is still a happy little boy.  He has mastered clapping on demand this week and using the fireplace, ottaman and couches for cruising.  

On Thursday night Grandma Jane came over to help me put the babies to bed while Brian had parent teacher interviews. James and Josie certainly enjoyed the visit :)

On Thursday we had a new fridge delivered.  The babies got an early snack so that I could keep them in their high chairs.  They clearly liked it!

This week was really hard for me.  Zac, an autistic teenager that I have worked with every Saturday and in the summer for the last 8 years, unexpectedly passed away last Friday. His family asked me to do his Eulogy at his funeral on Wednesday.  He was the sweetest little guy - very calm and content.  I really thought that he would be in my life and the twins life for a very long time.  I wanted James and Josie to grow up knowing Zac and knowing how much I loved him.  Needless to say it's been an emotional week.

2 busy weeks

These last 2 weeks have flown by.  Last week the babies had an event or play date everyday - including 2 Halloween inspires dress up events (I won't post pics because I don't want to ruin the surprise).  This week was also busy.  We went to baby groups Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  We also got the babies passports this week.  No travel plans yet but with Brian's knack for travel deals you never know...

As math teachers we are taking every opportunity to work on the twins numeracy skills - even in the bath!

Last week I tried to get Josie used to wearing a headband so that she would wear one for her baptism.  Pretty cute eh?

Big Boy James loves his new ride on car.

Friday night PJ party!

Erin's mom Debbie made the twins the most adorable ponchos and hats.  I can't wait to take them out in these!

Tuesday at Babies on the Move.  James loves walking back and forth using this ledge for support.  Josie loves the dog toy.  She kept saying dog while she played with it.

Wednesday play group.  We were early so the babies got all the toys to themselves.

No baby groups today so we played dress up.  They are just so darn cute!

JJs Baptism

The twins were baptized this past Sunday at our church, Islington United.  The twins were so well behaved in church, as was our niece Addison who was also baptized.  After the baptism we had family and close friends joined us for a reception at the church.  It was such an awesome day.  

James had such a fun morning that he couldn't make it through the afternoon.

Our amazing Godparents.