Life As We Know It: December 2009

Before Our Eyes

Before any more time slips away, I want to express just how much we are enjoying our littlest ones. I feel like we are in a good groove right now. Claire and Keely are very easy babies now, despite their fussy beginnings. They are on a wonderful routine. They sleep great at night and nap well, even simultaneously! They seem to be each other's security blanket. One fusses if the other is not in the same room when going to sleep. Then in the morning they wake up and talk to each other for a long time.

As of the week before Christmas, both Keely and Claire officially became crawlers. Keely first as I mentioned before, then Claire in her own time. Now we are having fun trying to contain these little explorers. Somewhere in that mix they became expert sitters, Keely first, then Claire.

As for the tooth count, Keely got her first tooth a couple of weeks ago, then Claire's first tooth broke through a few days later. I should have kept better records of exactly when all this happened, but the holiday madness got the best of me. Then came Keely's second tooth, and now Claire has a second tooth also. They each got the bottom right front tooth, followed by the bottom left front tooth.

Claire and Keely both love to eat baby food. Really, they will try anything. Their latest fave is munching on Baby Mum-Mums. I think they like the independence of feeding themselves.

Claire

Keely

To read my own writing, it seems like I'm lumping these two together a lot. It's just that they really do seem to do just about everything at the same time or together. I know as time goes on they will assert their individuality more expressively, and I will do my best to nurture it. I actually think about and pray about this all the time, along with how big sister will fit in. I am currently reading several twin-rearing/child-rearing books that will hopefully help.

So let's point out a few differences that I'm noticing at this age.

Keely is an adventurer. She loves to move to the complete other side of the room from where you put her. She has a high pitched scream/squeal that is very distinctive. She babbles consonants constantly. David said she mumbled "Mama" while I was gone to the store the other day. Keely likes to be tickled by David's chin stubble.

Claire is a great observer. She keeps her eye on me at all times. Claire's cry is more mellow; I guess she thinks sister will get the job done. Claire likes to stick out her tongue, and she loves to giggle when you put your face close to hers. She likes to be carried so she can watch what I'm doing.

Sometimes I still can't believe I get to be Mommy to the three most wonderful little girls. It is hard to believe how fast they have already grown. The upcoming year will be filled with so many beautiful milestones. I feel incredibly blessed.

Christmas Across Texas

It has been a busy Christmas week for our family!

We began our celebrations by having a dinner with the in-laws at our house.

Then it was off to the Hill Country for Christmas with Grammy Co, Grandpa Hub, and Aunt Kelly. We all enjoyed spending time together,

opened presents,

baked cookies with Grammy,

headed to Santa's Ranch,

ate lots of yummy food, and more!

Then we came back home, did some laundry, and headed east to Mt. Pleasant. Jeanett had her annual Christmas Eve dinner where Brooke was the star of the show with her dancing,

Santa Clause came,

the cuties posed for pictures,

and these two shared the pack n' play!

And finally back home...

where we saw that we had missed a white Christmas! There were still some patches where we could play.

Claire and Keely decided to stay inside where it was warm.

Then much to our delight it snowed again,

and Brookie made a new friend, Frosty.

Now we are here to stay for a long relaxing week before school starts!

Swingin'

I will have to come back later to update on all of our holiday fun, but in the meantime Merry Christmas and God Bless!

A Lesson Learned

About a month ago, the hall bathroom stopped working, so we called a plumber. A couple hundred dollars later the problem was fixed...for a little while.

Monday, a mere eleven days before Christmas, both bathrooms flooded. Another visit from the plumber, and all was working again...or so we thought.

Wednesday, about a half hour before our small group came over to our house, it happened again. Both bathrooms. Ugh! Thursday, another plumber visit, and another more in depth visit scheduled for the next day.

Today, Dale the plumber found the problem. After about two hours, he was able to dislodge it from the pipes under our house. Thank you Dale.

Our next purchase will be a toilet lock.

At Play

In the midst of several things going wrong with our house at the moment, I stop to appreciate some things that are going right. One reason we chose this house was the big playroom off the kitchen. I can't imagine how overrun by kid equipment we would feel if not for this room. The girls have enjoyed many hours of fun in it already, and I look forward to all the special playtime memories the sisters three will make in this room.

Most of all I am thankful for the little beauties that fill it each day.

These smiles say it all. Fun fun fun bouncer and exersaucer, lent to us by the very kind Chamblee twins.

Keely

Claire

Brooke and her babies

Sometimes I have three babies. That's okay. :)

Wordless Wednesday

7 Months

About a week before turning 7 months old, this little lady got her very first tooth and started crawling! Who is it???

You guessed it...Keely!

No more setting her down and thinking she'll be in the same spot I left her.

Claire, although not officially crawling, does an impressive belly scoot to get something if she really wants it.

Claire is going through all the pains of teething, but has no teeth to show for it. I am sure she will have at least one pearly white by Christmas.

I need to write this down.

Brooke is getting to the age where she says some pretty funny things.

David to Kim: What's the name of the movie with John Krasinski & Maya Rudolph?

Brooke: No! My Rudolph!

Today at church, a nice lady approached Brooke and began a conversation.

Nice Lady: What's your name?

Brooke: Princess!

Nice Lady: Oh, are you a princess?

Brooke: A beautiful princess.

Nice Lady: What's your name, Princess?

Brooke: Princess Bagley!

Hello Santa!

These adorable dresses from Grandma were a perfect choice for a visit to see Santa at the Galleria. All three girls were very very good for the entire time. Brooke somehow overcame her fears, because she was delighted to sit on Santa's lap to tell him she wanted a piano, some drums (oh dear), and a baby doll.

A few pictures before we see Santa!

I love them!

Keely and Claire holding hands on the way to see Santa.

A quick stop to admire the giant Christmas tree and ice skating rink.

I managed to take a couple of pictures with my camera. We ended up buying the professional photo too. How could we not, since all three were tear-free and looking at the camera!

Poor Santa. Look closely and you will see Claire checking to make sure Santa is authentic.

Sweet memories!

First Time at Bible Class

Sunday the babies went to Cradle Roll class at church for the very first time. David went with them, and he said they did very well. Hooray!

Claire and Keely, listening intently to Mrs. Jennifer

Claire, such a pretty little girl!

Keely, perhaps the class clown?

Twin Bathtime 101

Below is the first picture I have taken of Keely & Claire during bathtime. They are nearly seven months old. As a baby Brooke took baths quite regularly, and many of those were caught on camera or even videotaped. Unfortunately the second, or in our case second and third kids, receive quite a bit less documentation of their happenings.

In my defense, it is much harder than you might think to bathe two slippery babies. After a few months of experience, here is my method. I undress them in another room, and I fill the bath to just the right amount. I make sure to have a large towel on hand in the bathroom. I go get the naked babies, one in each arm, and with much skill, place them one at a time into the bath as the picture shows. They kick around and splash while I wipe each of them down with a soapy washcloth. Then just as quickly as it began, bathtime is over. I carefully lift each baby out of the bath and onto the big towel, wrap them up, and head out of the bathroom to put on pajamas.

They may see the bathtub less than other kids their age, but they really do not seem to mind.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Yesterday, we awoke to a big surprise... snow falling in the backyard! Brooke was thrilled! With a coat and boots over her pajamas, I let her romp around in what would qualify as a Texas winter wonderland.

I am beginning to realize that this Christmas will be a very exciting one for Brooke, as she is able to understand much more than last year. Unfortunately she has a pretty substantial fear of Santa. On the upside, she constantly mentions baby Jesus. Yessss!

Our tree is up, Christmas music is playing nonstop, and I finally feel okay about wearing my snowman pajama pants that I wore all year long.

Claire and Keely wearing their new favorite pajamas from Aunt Kelly