Hello!

The babies just wanted to say hi!

T-E-N months old!

Wow. We are officially in double digits for counting months. Ten months. It's hard to believe we've been parents for ten months - but at the same time, I can't imagine life any other way than it is now.

Madilyn:

Did I mention how hard these pictures are getting to take each month??

*She loves to walk around if you're holding her hands, and she still loves to do circles around the gate we have in the living room. She's not so keen on the idea of standing on her own, but she has the idea of walking down -- as long as you're helping her.

*She enjoys using the walker that we have in the kitchen. She is able to walk pretty well and does circles around the tables in the middle. (Carter usually just bounces when he is in it, or plays with the toys that are attached to the front!)
*Madilyn is still not a huge fan of having her diaper changed or laying flat. So we have to be pretty quick during her diaper changes. And, she is still not a huge fan of getting dried off and getting dressed after her baths.
*We think Madilyn is trying to communicate because she makes little grunting noises. I'm sure she has so much to say, but it will be a little while longer until she can get it all out!
*Madilyn understands when we ask her where the cats are, or where Daddy is. She looks around and smiles and sometimes reaches and points to what we have asked her to find.

Carter:

*He pushes off of us, or holds onto the side of the gate to stand up (which Madilyn does too). He's been letting go and standing on his own a lot this past week. And, it's been getting longer each time he does it - I'd say up to 10-15 seconds.

*While Carter is getting really good at standing on his own, he doesn't walk quite as well as Madilyn. He tends to jump and move his legs instead of taking steps. I guess it's because he's just so excited and full of life!
*Carter is pretty close to being out of 12 month clothes - especially his pajamas. His turkey legs and big feet are almost ready for the next size up!
*Carter is winning the race for having the most teeth. He has 4 on top, and 3 on the bottom. We think he actually has another one coming in on the bottom. (Madilyn has 4 on top, and 2 on bottom!)

Both:

*They have both started to understand what drawers are, so we have to be careful when they are in their highchairs because they have easy access to some of the drawers. (Guess we should start baby proofing!!)
*They have both been saying "da-da" nonstop. I can get an occasional "ma-ma" every once in a while...
*Both babies really like watching and looking for the kitties.
*The babies really like snack time - and eating their finger foods as well as different yogurts.
*Breakfast in the morning is one of the harder meals for us - the babies will drink their milk pretty well, but we haven't found a breakfast food they love yet.
*Both Madilyn and Carter have started waving - Carter has only just started, and Madilyn has been doing it for about a week now. For Madilyn, it's more like her arm just goes straight up, and Carter's arm goes straight out. It's pretty cute!
*Sleeping at night has gotten better the past week or two. Carter's been sleeping through the night for a while, and we only occasionally have to worry about him getting up. Madilyn has been sleeping through the night more, only waking up once (very rarely twice) and goes back to sleep quickly.
*Both love getting to skype/facetime with family. They especially love getting to talk to their cousin Natalie who is just a few weeks older than they are.

Pictures and Videos!!

So before I post their ten month update, I thought I would look through my cell phone for some goodies for you! :) Hope you enjoy this hodgepodge of the babies!

Madilyn using her walker

Look out below! I've got some slobber!

Sweet faces.. 

We are still working on the sharing thing.. 

Carter sleeping. Often he sits up, and then falls right back asleep. How in the world is that comfy?

Carrots. Mmmm..

I think I like these.. 

Mommy and Carter

Mommy with Madilyn.. 

Do you notice that someone is under the music table..?

Madilyn taking a "power nap"

Carter loves to play and eat these toys

Ah... Sleepy babies!

Madilyn trying to escape using "Mount Daddy"

Hat time!

I think I might be thirsty... 

The only way we can get along! :)

Jumping Babies!

Man Overboard!!

Notice the pile on the floor.. 

Valentine's Day

So, for Valentine's Day, Rob and the babies made me some extra special gifts that I wanted to share (especially for those of you who read this blog and don't have Facebook!) Before Rob gave me my gifts, he commented that this was the first year he didn't buy me chocolate. At first I was a little sad because it's always nice to have an excuse to get some sweets -- but once I saw my gifts, I thought -- who needs chocolate when I can have things like this?? :)

The past two weekends..

Two weekends ago, I got the chance to have a weekend getaway with two of my best friends from high school - Kelli and Janae. We met up in College Station on Friday and stayed until Sunday. I had a great time, and really enjoyed getting to sleep in! We were also able to enjoy some yummy food and drinks, and shop to our hearts content. It was nice not having to worry about babies for a few days - they were in good hands back home. Rob and his parents watched the babies while I was out of town, and I think things went pretty well. I of course, had to video chat with them while I was gone so I wouldn't miss them too much!

This past weekend, we made a trip to Bridge City to celebrate Sam's retirement. We left here pretty early because the party was at 10am on Friday. Since the babies like waking up so early, it wasn't really too hard to be there at 10 and we actually made it in early enough to stop by the house and feed the babies. We went to the plant where Sam has worked 40 years. There were so many people there to honor him, and we were so glad that the four of us could be there to help celebrate! We ended up staying in Bridge City until Sunday, so we got lots of family time in and the babies got lots and lots of extra attention! Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

Proud Retired Grandpa with Madilyn and Carter! (Love the shirt too -- it says -

 "RETIRED - but working full time spoiling my grandchildren")

On the move with Grandpa!

Carter making new friends and talking engineering! 

Madilyn spending some time with her Pop-pop

Carter checking out his horsey

Madilyn having fun on the horsey

Relaxing with Grandpa!

9 months old!

So it's been a whole 9 months since Madilyn and Carter made their debut into this world, and we are so happy they did! I am so thankful they are happy and healthy babies!

At 9 months, here's what they are up to:

Madilyn:

Height: 27.38" (43%)

Weight: 18 lbs 4.6 oz (40%)

Head Circumference: 17.99" (90%)

*Still likes to make circles around the gate that we have, and she especially likes it when she can chase Carter around! 

*Madilyn has started to pull up on the gate -- AND sticks her little feet in the holes of the gate. This is not a good thing, y'all. She's quickly learning how to escape! :\

*Likes taking baths, and really likes getting everything ready for her bath. She likes helping Mommy get the water started. It's the getting out and getting dressed part that she really isn't a fan of.

*In the past two weeks or so, Madilyn has become a great eater for us. Thank GOODNESS! It only took us a few months, but she finally has the hang of it! 

*While Madilyn has become a good eater, unfortunately she is not a great sleeper. She tends to wake up at least once a night (if not more) but thankfully she goes to sleep pretty quickly.
*Madilyn's newest thing she likes to do is stand up with a toy while holding onto the gate, and drop it over the side so that the toys are on the outside... 

Carter:

Height: 29.13 (79%)

Weight: 19 lbs 4.8 oz (29%)

Head Circumference: 17.99 (62%)

*Carter usually sleeps really well for us, and goes down easy for naps and bedtime. 

*Carter really likes having Mommy or Daddy inside the gate because he loves to climb all over us!

*He has become an expert crawler and can move pretty quickly -- probably because Madilyn is always chasing him! 

*He is also pulling up to stand using the gate - although he is still not as quick as Madilyn!

Both:

*They both enjoy playing with their toys, but they also like throwing them around and on the ground - especially when they are in their high chairs.

*They both get really excited when it is snack time and you shake the container of the cheerio type snacks. I think it's one of their favorite sounds because they know what is in it!

*They are both loving toys that make noise and light up -- but they also are still really loving putting things into buckets and then taking them out.
*Both babies really love the kitty cats, and have been paying more attention to them. They both get excited when the get to pet the kitties, but that doesn't always last long!
*At the doctor's office, they both did really well with their shots -- which made Mommy very happy because that is the least favorite part of the visit!

9 months!

Today our sweet Madilyn and Carter turned 9 months old. We are going to the doctor on Monday, so I am going to save our nine month update until then so I can include official measurements with it. I am so excited to see how much they have grown over the past few months! Being with them on a daily basis, sometimes it is hard to really notice how much they have grown, but they continue to get taller and grow!

Also, I missed my Funny Friday yesterday -- as you can tell, I think I started off doing pretty well with those, but every Friday comes around and I somehow manage to forget to post! So, I think I am just going to have random funnies here and there and not have it be an official day to post. I think that'll make it easier for me to post things and not have just one official day to post! Anyways, here are Madilyn and Carter! These show you just what they are up to these days - which is standing and walking around circles by holding onto the gate. Now that they are both doing it, they sometimes run into each other. Or, what actually ends up happening is that Carter will be at one side of the gate, and Madilyn will go full speed to get right next to him and try to go around him or just bother him. Ah, the joy of having a sibling! I am sure that Carter will go from standing to running and just skip the whole walking phase so that he can get away from Madilyn! :)

Madilyn holding onto Mommy -- no wonder it seems like I never get anything done!

Traffic Jam!

Madilyn: Look, you're going to have to move buddy... 

Don't be fooled. This just looks sweet from behind, but I'm pretty sure Carter was crying in this picture and not trying to give Madilyn a hug.. And Madilyn was just trying to get Carter to move!

Carter was playing and Madilyn got right in front of him.. And then sat down!

And here is why I think Carter will be walking (or running!) before Madilyn!!