Ryan and Juliet

Ryan and Juliet,

Today you turned one.  One!  I tried to make it the best of all days.  No crying, no frustration, no stress, just happy.  Then I realized you’re still babies and we still need to get done what we need to get done.  Your diapers must be changed, you must be strapped into your high chair, and you must share mommy and daddy’s lap with your sibling.  So you both cried a little, and you both got a little frustrated, and I got a little stressed, but still, you were both happy.   We had a good day.

Really though, today  was like any other.  But there were a few momentous differences.  Like for example, I saw Juliet walk for the first time.  We went to the park as it was completely gorgeous out.  We sat in our usual shady spot.  You both explored the grass, played peek-a-boo around the stroller, ate your cheerios, and fought over sippy cups.  As I sat and pondered on the year gone by, several little girls walking through the park saw you and shouted, “Look, twins!”.  Of course, they could not resist you and walked their way over to us.  They were all very sweet and funny and oozed with excitement to learn all about you.  They played with Juliet mostly, as Ryan, you were a little frightened of so many little girls oohing and aahing over you (I imagine that one day that will change).  Juliet, you quickly taught them that if they wanted to play with you, they must play by walking you while you held onto their fingers.  And so they happily complied but unknowingly urged you to do more.   So they got you stable, let go of your fingers and off you went, taking your first little wobbly steps towards a little girl who smiled and laughed and clapped with enthusiasm.  And so on your first birthday, I announce it officially that Juliet can walk.  Of course, your Dad claims you walked to him a couple weeks ago, but it doesn’t count unless I see it.  He knows the rules!

And yes, you both ate your first cupcakes and opened your gifts.  Ryan, we got you a drum.  I hope you love it for years to come.  For now, though, it’s better you channel that energy into the drum than onto your sister.

Today you turned one.  One!  Some people consider babies toddlers when they turn one.   But do you think maybe you could just remain my babies forever?

I love you,

mom

Times have changed…

(Please note that I admit I have to work on my parenting skills in teaching my children how to share. My competitiveness overpowers me at times and is apparently rubbing off on my babies.)

Juliet stood on her own for a full 5 seconds on Friday and again on Saturday.  She also got 3 top teeth this week!  

No, no, I got it Mom!

I'll decide what to do

Ryan and Juliet are amazing. They are so much more adaptable to change than I give them credit for. As parents we want to protect our babies and keep them safe and secure. In my mind, safety and security goes hand in hand with routine and what we’re used to.  For babies though, I think it’s more just having mommy and daddy there that provides that sense of safety and security.

Last Friday, June 25th, we went on our first family vacation to Burlington, VT. I have been strategically planning in my head how to get Ryan and Juliet through this vacation happy, fed, and rested. But most important, I wanted this to be a vacation for them that they would love. And what do they love almost as much as their mommy and daddy?  Their grandparents.   So we invited them along too!  Of course, this was a major treat for Dan and I too as there were so many of us to help love and hold the babies.  For me especially, I had all my favorite people to talk with and laugh with.

Juliet was so happy, as there was a never ending supply of people to hold her.  Ryan was so happy, as there were so many new things to see, explore, touch, and discover.  We stuffed ourselves full with food and wine.  We went to the Magic Hat Brewery for free beer and a free tour.  We visited the animals at the Shelburne Farm and marveled at its peace, beauty, and sereneness.  The free range chickens were especially a delight to see.  We had dinner by the lake, dinner in a fancy restaurant, and dinner with Mexican fare and margaritas.  At each dinner, Ryan and Juliet watched intently at all the activity swirling around them.  Many people commented on how beautiful and wonderful they were.

And indeed, they ate their dinner (with only one throw-up), they took their naps (well, mostly), and they slept at night (except when I talked in my sleep and woke them up).

Amazing.

Juliet helps get Ryan up from his nap

Ryan and Juliet,

I must write this quickly as you are both napping and likely to wake up soon.  I’ve been trying to write a blog post for what feels like a long time now, but really its only been a month. Oh, but you’ve both changed so much in just that short time!  You’re now both 9 months and you can crawl, stand, eat all sort of foods (still mostly on the mushy side), sleep through the night, hug, laugh, giggle, and play.

There’s so much I want to record about your lives so that I never forget.  I suppose that’s the reason I started this blog.  One day you’ll have a moment in your life that you just want to hold onto and slow down time so that you can savor it and just relish in the happiness of that moment.  Maybe a date with a cute guy or gal, or a baseball game, or who knows, maybe even prom (likely not that though).  For me, since the day you were both born, those moments never seem to stop.  And just as the moment is upon us, just as quickly it passes.  I want to hold onto you both and hug you and make these moments last.  But alas, life is about change.  All things change, even rocks!  It takes courage to accept some changes, but the more positive we are about them, the happier I believe life can be.  And as I’ve said in many posts already, I can’t wait to see what new things you’ll start doing tomorrow!

Some cute moments and happenings:

• We took you both to a restaurant on the Hudson.  You were both so good!  Juliet waved for the first time to a couple waving to her.  She holds both hands up in the air and opens and closes her hands.  It’s the cutest thing.  Our little social butterfly.
• Ryan waves but sideways like he’s squeezing a lemon.
• Juliet loves to take her finger and make blub, blub, blub noises with her lips.  She likes to put her finger on our lips to help us too.  Ryan wasn’t quite sure what to do at first but seems to have caught on to her game.
• Ryan puts his hand over his mouth, yells “Ahhhhhh”,  shakes his head back and forth, and loves the sound it makes.
• Juliet and Ryan both put their hands up to show how big they are when we ask “How big are you?”
• Ryan claps.
• Juliet does the Quasimodo crawl (one foot on the floor and one knee).
• Ryan slaps and stomps his hands on the ground when he crawls.  He’s likely not to be a graceful ballet dancer.
• Ryan seems to understand chase and tries to get Juliet to play.  Juliet isn’t quite compliant but still laughs and giggles at him.  Daddy, however, loves to play chase with Ryan.
• In the last month, you both starting sleeping through the night.  From 8pm to 6am!  Yippee!!
• They are both as thick as thieves when I put them on the ground to crawl around.  They want to discover EVERYTHING!  Together of course.  And they find all the things Mom forgot to baby proof.
• Ryan likes to analyze things with his index finger.  When he gets his finger out watch your eyes!
• Juliet LOVES to be held and will crawl to wherever we are.
• Ryan LOVES to be hugged.  Sometimes, if we’re lucky, he hugs us for long periods of time. Usually, though, it’ll last only for seconds and then he gets distracted but quickly remembers and wants another hug (repeat, repeat, repeat).

All my love,

mom

Thank goodness!  One bottom tooth has arrived.  I found it on the trip back from Gramee Marge’s and Grampa Tom’s (May 1st).  I think Gramee Marge is in league with the tooth fairy…

Apparently they figured out that the pack-n-play is really just a cushy prison with mesh walls and toys on the inside.

Click here!