Six Months... and it keeps getting better

 

 

I think the twins have hit the peak cuteness of their life up to this point. They roll over, laugh, play games with you and, they act like I am the only thing in their universe. It's hard not to adore someone when they look at you like you make them happier than anything could. I cherish these moments, I know it will not be like this forever... but I am eating up every bite of their deliciousness right now.

Yes, they hold hands, even when I don't make them.

Real Christmas elves live at our house.

August has her arm around her big brother, Sam.

They are starting to get too big for this little basket... a far cry from the little 4 lb preemies that we were nursing to health in the hospital.

This month there have been more firsts than any other: they have eaten solid food, seen Christmas lights, decorated a tree and had their first Thanksgiving. As we enter the holidays, we have also started some of our family holiday traditions. Having a school age child opens up a whole new realm of activities that we are thrilled to participate in. Her school had a Thanksgiving feast that they made and all the parents were invited. The best part of it was seeing Claire interact with her friends, and proudly introduce them to us. 

Thanksgiving Feast at Mt. Olympus Presbyterian

The twins' first Thanksgiving.

All of the kids get a Christmas ornament every year. The twins got porcelain booties, and Claire got a Utes rocking horse, to commemorate our move to Utah (and she fell in love with horses this year).  I made my mom's world famous fudge (with the help of my very patient husband), and Claire helped me deliver fudge to the neighbors. She insisted on wearing a crown and a princess dress, as though the world has an expectation that she is in a perpetual state of glamor.

Ready to open their first gifts. Of course, they had a very seasoned gift opener there for onsite assistance.

We took the kids to a tree lighting in Holladay, where they got to see Santa and sing carols. It was freezing and so fun to be bundled up, celebrating our first Christmas in Utah. We had a snowstorm that night, and the feeling of waking up to the first snow of the season is no less exciting than it was when I was a little girl. 

We also did a special presentation in Claire's class about our family holiday traditions. She and I had so much fun putting together a poster of her 4 Christmases to this point, and the traditions that we share at each one. At one point in making the poster, we ran out of room for a picture of her playing our friend Tim's violin. She got upset and said, "But Mommy, we have to use this picture. This is my Christmas Sharing Board and this is a picture of Tim sharing his violin with me." Needless to say, we made room for the picture immediately. We made ornaments for her whole class and gave them to each child. It was such a special activity as mother and daughter. I am also playing the piano in her school's Christmas program. I am thrilled to be involved with the school / church and contribute to them, as they are so important to our family. It's been a fantastic way to get my fingers back in shape, and experience the holidays in a more religious setting, in a beautiful sanctuary (accompanied by a motley crew of 5-year-olds).

 

The twins are both extremely healthy, and we are grateful every day. Sam is tipping the scales at 15 lbs 5 oz, and August is a little sprite at 13 lbs 1 oz. Sam is short and round (5% for height, 33% for weight), and August is tall and lean. However, they are the exact same height / length and their growth is steady, which is most important.  They are sleeping through the night more and more frequently now... and go to bed around 8:30 which means that we have a semblance of sanity back in the evenings. Yay! 

Sam is well fed.

August is more delicate.

Our life has a new normal. This means our hands are always full, our house is always noisy, someone always needs you for something and we are world-class "multitaskers".  This is also the happiest we have ever been.

August is a big help when it comes to the heavy lifting around the house. Here she prepares to help dad shovel snow.

Gotta get creative when both twins are screaming for attention. Daddy is cleaning up the kitchen from dinner, with one twin strapped to him, and then had to grab the other one because she felt left out. Here is how I found him scrubbing counters.