Twirls: 18 Months

I took the twirls in for their 18 month appointments.  I had to wake them from a nap before we left - so dealing with all the poking, prodding, and shots was EXTRA FUN! (sarcasm font)

Dr. Tosto told me that of all the twins she's looked at in her practice, mine are the most identical identical twins.  Yikes!  Looks like they're going to have a lot of fun in elementary school!

Siena

• Height: 2 ft 7.75 in (32%)
• Weight: 23 lb 8 oz (55%)
• Head: 18.31 in (51%) 

Jaide

• Height: 2 ft 7.8 in (34%)
• Weight: 23 lb 14 oz (59%)
• Head: 18.31 in (51%) 

Dr. Tosto heard an innocent heart murmur in Jaide.  Not anything to worry about - especially since they haven't noticed it before this time (like in the NICU).  I'm not surprised though.  Scarlett has one and I think I have one too -  but I can't remember.  It's not anything to be concerned about.  But she didn't hear one on Siena.  I guess they aren't completely identical!

One things that I love about these girls is - they truly LOVE to be together.  I find them playing together all around the house. 

 How cute are they!?! 

I found them in the toy room just playing at the tiny table:

Only one seat?  Not a problem!  Note: they did these on their own...

December was the month of cardboard boxes...

And all sorts of hiding places...

Sometimes their smart little minds work together to make my life more difficult!  haha!  They've figured out that if they run in opposite directions I can only chase one of them.  Stinkers.  See both of them ran away and hid from me (can you see Siena's legs?): 

If I hang a towel on the oven handle it will get stolen by these little towel thieves.  Usually I find them using it to clean the floor or wipe off their face.  So I guess I can't get too upset about that!  They also LOVE (that font again) when I stand at the stove and cook.  For whatever reason when I'm cooking they want to be held.  Right that very second.

I love to watch them try and open doors.  They really believe that if they push and grunt enough the door will open.  At least for a few seconds before they get mad and come find me:

My favorite moment when they are watching TV is when they both laugh at same time at something on the screen! There's an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse where Pete is a snow monster and they both will start crying whenever he comes on the screen. Sad, but it makes me laugh too! This is how I take a shower when they're awake. It's the only way I know that everyone will be safe while I'm occupied. Notice how they used their snacks to make a beautiful decoration for my carpet...

We've been working on animal sounds.  Their favorites are monkeys, lions, ducks, birds, & cows.  But they reeeaaalllly love to be puppies (probably cause Scarlett is always a puppy).  Instead of barking though, they all stick out their tongues and pant!

When I go in their room in the morning they immediately grab their binkies on their jammies and hand them to me (if they haven't pulled them off already).  Scarlett likes to take them off when she goes in there - often before I am out of bed.

Early morning dance party!  Luckily mattresses make for great trampolines...

I just think it's so cute to watch them climb the stairs.  It's like they're conquering this huge feat several times a day!

The twirls like dressing up more than Scarlett does.  Especially wearing hats!

We like to watch TV.  I probably could cut back on how much screen time they get.  But with the stressful hours Jake is working right now, I've found that letting them watch a show here and there (and in between) has helped me have more time to regroup and be more patient.  Plus it's so cold that we're stuck inside all day long.  So we'll keep watching TV.  I actually love the shows they watch (not the part where I get the songs stuck in my head all day) but I think they've all learned a lot from the shows.  Things that I wouldn't have thought to teach them yet, and they reinforce lessons I've already taught them.  I always know when they want to watch a show cause they will grab the remotes and come find an adult....

Still loving our new car seats!  They don't fall asleep very often in the car anymore, but I think it's adorable when they do....

They love using spoons and forks - really anything that big sister Scarlett uses.  They especially love hot dogs and ketchup.  Not hot dogs IN ketchup.  Hot dogs AND ketchup.  Yes, they eat them separate.  But hey, it's all going to the same place anyways....

Finger painting with ice cream - this is about the extent of my "sensory play" activities.  I know, you haven't seen such a clever idea on Pinterest before... 

I took this video while they were eating dinner one night.  I just thought it was hilarious how eating one noodle required an entire fist to go inside their mouths.  (I also thought Scarlett's lasso at the end was funny)...

Probably their favorite toy is the stroller.  Or really anything that they can push around.  If you come to my house you can usually find them doing laps around the kitchen, just pushing strollers and looking for "treasures".  Often if I "misplace" something I can find it in one of their strollers.

They love this shopping cart too - pushing together (or fighting over it)...

The twirls like to close their eyes and walk around or plug their ears randomly.  Dr. Tosto reassured me that "discovering their senses" is a normal phase and nothing to worry about.  I think it's funny when Siena closes her eyes and tries to walk.  She will take like 2 steps then open them just a sliver so she can see where she is, then shut them and walk again.  My Three Wise Monkeys: "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"....

Just when we think that we've figured out their little personalities - they switch on us!  I'm totally serious.  Siena used to scream and scream when I left her at the gym day care while Jaide just played with toys and didn't seem to mind.  Then one day it just switched and Siena was totally fine while Jaide started screaming.  It's happened several times so far and all very different personality traits.  Not sure when we'll really figure them out or if they'll always go back and forth on things.  But there are a few things that they seem to do different and they stick to it.  Like....

Siena loves to talk.  She just jabbers on and on then will turn and look at you and say "ya! ya!"  She is a stinker and creates mischief on purpose.  Like she will grab the vacuum plug at the outlet and stare at me until I look at her, then after I'm looking she'll try to pull it out.  Sassy!  I think she has been in time out way more than Jaide.  I'm not sure how she got her arm out of the sleeve - toga baby!  She also loves to cuddle and be held.

Siena likes to spin and make herself dizzy...

Siena often drags her head on the ground while crawling (I only caught the last few seconds of it here)...

Jaide likes her personal space and is more concerned with being comfy than squishing on mom's lap. While she doesn't create as much mischief, she is one heck of a tantrum thrower. Several times now she's even made herself throw up from crying so hysterically. She's more of a picky eater and, while Siena is muching away, Jaide will look right at me and throw her food off her tray. But even though she is particular about her food, my girls are all pretty good eaters. She loves being "pretty" and wearing jewelry or crowns. Within ten min of waking up she will have some type of dress up on. She likes riding the little bikes - and by "riding" I mean walking over them while holding the handles!

This video I caught the very end of Jaide's kiss attacks.  She just loves to kiss on the duckies in the bath tub (and Siena is washing her hair)...

They are really starting to play and be silly!  We just love our twirls!