Merry Christmas!

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Adventures in Twinland

Owen and Emmaline have invented a new game where they crack up just by looking at each other! It's so cute to watch! Since Owen started walking three weeks ago (yay!), Emmaline also likes to make him laugh by hiding behind something and then darting out from behind it. She knows she's making him laugh, and sometimes will even run back to her room to find props!

I can't get enough of watching them do this, it reminds me that I just can't take any moment with them for granted.

Cruise to the Bahamas!

I am finally posting pictures of our cruise to the Bahamas in October...our first vacation since the kids have been born! My mom stepped up to "Grammy Duty" and watched the kids at our house for the nearly six days we were gone. My sister was also a huge help and was there for the first couple of days. The kids loved it, much to my relief, and did great!

Our four-day cruise left from Orlando and stopped in Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas. We spent our first night in Orlando and stayed at a beautiful Disney castle inspired hotel, and our room was in the turret of the hotel (with the balcony around it).

Our first cruise stop was in Freeport, and we took a bus tour that dropped us off to do some shopping and relax on the beach. I bought a few gifts and a bracelet, and had a yummy coconut drink made with coconut milk and rum. By then, any guilt I had of leaving the kiddos was gone!






When we returned to the ship, Vince decided to play on the water slides on the top deck! We also played mini-golf a couple of times on the ship in the evenings, but it was hard to carry the putter, ball, a drink AND a camera, so no pictures (sorry camera).




Our next stop in Nassau was just as much fun, but it was a larger city with a quicker pace and big city feel. We scheduled a day at the Atlantis resort, gorgeous!! It was HUGE and one day just wasn't enough to enjoy everything it had to offer. Our day pass did not include access to their massive water park, but we were still took advantage of the private beach areas (more coconut drinks, yippee!) and walked around the hotel, casino and The Dig, an amazing museum of archeological ruins and an aquarium.







And finally, a few more pictures that I took from the balcony of our suite. Not the best pictures, but I tried! :)

Mothers of Multiples Are Freaks of Nature

We were at the ped's office today and Owen was diagnosed with an ear infection and Emmaline a sinus infection. GROAN. We weren't able to see our pediatrician, but saw the next best thing, the fabulous Dr. McClard. After awarding my kids with prescriptions for antibiotics, she pulled out her phone and showed this to me. This is by far the most hilarious thing I have seen in a long time! Those of you who have gone anywhere with my kids have heard this, and there isn't a single question asked in this video that I haven't heard. The only subjects left out are how much weight I gained, how much I ate, and bedrest. And they are always asked by strangers! People are so funny, I know they're just interested and most of the time don't intend to be rude, but to me it feels like a broken record. :)

Aaaaaaand, Action!

I'm behind on my video blog postings, so I've posted three below from the past couple of weeks.

I thought I would be filming Owen and Emmaline playing in their room with books, but when I came back with the camera, this is what was happening. This is the first time they had tried playing with this, so now I'm going to have to think creatively to cover it up! So much for my authority!



Owen and Emmaline love their "house" and "farm" Fisher Price toys, and Emmaline was cracking up this time when they were playing with the house door.



Emmaline and Owen were trading pushing each other on this toy in our backyard a couple of weeks ago, and Emmaline was starting to get a little moody. I guess it wasn't going fast enough for her!

Let's Go to the Hop!

I was so excited to dress Owen and Emmaline this Halloween, especially since they are old enough to toddle around and enjoy it! I really don't know how to label their costumes: Sock Hop, Grease, James Dean...it was hard to pick! Vince did a great job slicking back Owen's hair, and Owen didn't mind it a bit. I think he knew he looked "cool."

The Friday afternoon before Halloween, they had a blast invading Vince's Deloitte office downtown for their family Halloween celebration. They had trick-or-treating, "haunted cubes" and a cake walk (we didn't participate in that, but took a peek at the yummy prizes!). Emmaline, who normally still uses a pacifier at night, has brought back the daytime habit off and on since she's been in the hospital, so she's sporting it in a few of the pictures.

Too cool for school.

Taking candy inventory in Daddy's office.

Toddle toddle toddle...

"I don't have enough fingers for my loot!"

"Soooo, why don't we just save time and I'll take this bucket?"

On Halloween, Bianca had a litte gathering at her house, and we were the first to arrive, so we took plenty of pictures before the kids got too distracted. :) They were the only kids there besides baby Violet, so they loved the attention!

Emmaline: "I said, LOOK at my cupcake bag!"

The kids: "Why are the 'rents in this picture? How lame!"

Mission Control

Waiting for the party guests to arrive.

Owen had a comb in his back pocket for touch-ups (and to chew on).

SUPER VIOLET!

Fun With Julianne! (and Nancy and Kevin)

We enjoyed a quick afternoon visit with my oldest bestie Nancy, her husband Kevin and 11-month-old daughter Julianne. They were here from Tulsa so Nancy could take her Pediatric Board Exam, and came by the next afternoon on their way back home.

Emmaline and Julianne had a blast running up and down the halls together, and Owen chimed in with the riff-raff. :)

Owen and Emmaline at 15 Months

Owen and Emmaline turned 15 months a few weeks ago, so we learned their much anticipated growth to date!

Emmaline
Weight: 21 lbs, 14 oz (30th percentile), Length: 30 1/4 inches (40th percentile), Head Circumference: 18 inches (40th percentile)

Owen
Weight: 24 lbs, 12 oz (55th percentile), Length: 31 inches (50th percentile), Head Circumference: 18 1/2 inches (40th percentile)

Emmaline is walking (and sometimes running) all over the place and loves to carry all of her babies in her arms at the same time. She also loves to point to things so we will tell her what they are. She's so much fun and very vivacious, and acts as the "leader" in her Mother's Day Out class of five. She is still a little shy around new people, but will warm up pretty quickly after a while. She still loves to dance and look at books.

Owen can walk around the entire house as long as he has something to hold on to, which includes the wall. He is so close to walking, and I will be so relieved for him when he does since he is so frustrated. He loves to stack blocks and say "uh-oh" when something falls. He is getting so big and has a great appetite! He is such a happy little guy, unless he is frustrated from learning to walk.

This age is so much fun because they are discovering on their own and want to learn how things work. They are so social and it's fun to watch them interact with other toddlers. They love their Mother's Day Out class once a week too, which is such a relief for me. :)

Emmaline loves climbing in and out of things!

Owen deciding if he wants to let go of the couch.

Happy Birthday Bianca! We took Aunt B and Miss Violet to Dream Cafe for lunch.

"See ya, highchair..."

"Owen is trying to jump out of his highchair again."

"Hey, we want what you guys are having!"