18 Months

Worn out from their 18 month doctor appointment and running errands. Fell asleep in the exact same position on the way home.

The boys are moving on up in their height and weight percentiles.

Adam:

Height: 33.25 in (75th%)

Weight: 25.2 lbs (50th%)

Matthew:

Height: 33 in (75th %)

Weight: 24.4 lbs (50th%)

They are learning a few more words and animal noises. They are imitating everyone like crazy. They are playing together and with other kids more and more. They are sweet and kind little toddlers. <3

We are still doing "playroom" time once a day. Which I think really helps keep my sanity when I really need to get something done.

Of course they do throw their tantrums. Time out is our friend right now. Adam especially throws a lot of frustration tantrums. Usually we have to take a toy away that is frustrating him for him to calm down. Matthew is a little more patient, but both get upset if they want something and they don't get it ;)

Their sweetest moments are right before nap time and bed time. They cuddle, put their heads down on my shoulder, and just let me hold them. (I do this one at a time). Then we do eskimo kisses and lots of other kisses and laughing. Love, love, love it. I think they know they can get me to stay in the room longer by playing little silly games with me.

Yay for making it to 18 months!! Love this age.

Twin Mom Guilt

Lately I have been thinking a lot about whether we should try for another baby or not.

In some ways I feel we have a great, perfect little family. Two parents, two kids. Two boys that have a close bond. If we have a third, would he or she feel left out? (We really don't want to have 4.)

But then, there is this feeling like I missed out on something. I love my twin boys. I love that I had twins (it really is fun to have two the same age). I feel like I have these two 18 month old boys, and I am getting this double does of "toddler" (which actually has been awesome.. honestly all ages over 6-9 months have been great). But while I am getting double toddler-hood, I feel like I was robbed of the boys' baby-hood. And honestly when I really focus on that, it makes me so, so sad.

My boys were very high-needs babies. If they were not sleeping or nursing, they were crying. All I wanted was to curl up with them and nurse all day, but that was just not possible. (Yes we tandem nursed 12 hours a day, but it wasn't very "cuddly". We all survived their colicky infant stage, but we did not thrive. I did not feel like I enjoyed it like I wanted. In a way I feel like I failed them because I could (almost) never give them my complete attention. I have twin mom guilt. I think it's different than having 2 two years apart. I know there is jealousy and other issues that come up between singleton siblings. But the issues are different, some probably harder, but definitely different. Newborns require constant care. Toddlers are capable of playing on there own for some periods of time. They can walk, communicate some needs, feed themselves.

I think what I am trying to say, is.. even though I had planned on only having two kids when I married Alan, I feel like I never had a "normal" baby experience. I mourn that loss when I think of never actually experiencing a singleton. And I almost feel like I have to prove to myself that I can be a better mom. I know none of these are actually good reasons to have another child. Do any twin moms feel like they didn't get to experience their twins' baby-hood the way they wanted?

First Haircut

At 17 months, 3 weeks (2/10/12), the boys finally got their first haircut! I had to beg my sweet husband to let me cut off the boys' little curls in the back. He thought the curls were cute; I just wanted to shave them off! Finally he gave me permission.

I cut Adam's hair, and Alan cut Matthew's hair. We used an electronic trimmer with guards, so it was actually pretty impossible to mess up. But it was still scary.

They were both so good. Adam waiting:

Adam's hair getting shaved off :)

Matthew waiting his turn:

Matthew before (left) and Adam after

Daddy cutting Matthew's hair. Matthew actually did really well, but I didn't grab a picture until the very end.

I would recommend that parents don't use the ear trimmers that come with the package. They are meant for adults, and I shaved some hair around Adam's ear that wasn't supposed to be shaved. Whoops :(

Other than that, we are pleased with the results!

Cute Things my Kids Do... Part 3

17 Month olds do the most endearing things. Here are a few from the last few weeks:

• I sat Adam on the counter by the sink. He immediately turned the faucet on, grabbed my toothbrush and ran it under the water, then started brushing his teeth. When I asked him to put the toothbrush down, he tried to get soap to wash his hands. Then he grabbed a brush and started brushing his hair. Such a hygenic boy.
• Matthew grabbed a book today (5 silly monkeys), sat on my lap, and started thumping his head. (Imitating how I always thump his head when the silly monkey "falls off the bed and bumps his head")"
• Adam grabbed my hand and started slapping it against his cheek before nap time. At first I was confused, then I remembered nap time the day before I had used both hands to squeeze his cheeks over and over and he thought it was hilarious. He only had one hand to work with, so slapping it against his cheek was his recreation :)
• Nap time cuddles make up for all the trouble these boys can cause (Matthew bit a girl at the YMCA this week)
• Matthew said "poopy" after I said, "you have a poopy!" Then he said it on demand all day... he doesn't say anything on demand! (without having the object right there). I had him demonstrate his skill for Alan when he got home, Alan was very impressed. I overheard him saying, "can you say poopy??" while he was giving the boys a bath.
• Adam & Matthew running back in forth in front of their cribs before bedtime, while Alan and I watched and cuddled on the futon in their room. Alan would point at a boy and say "go" and he would take off. Then they started pointing and saying "go" too:) We just watched them run back and forth (and chase Lucy (one of our cats) around) for about 15 minutes. Pure bliss.
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• After I had tucked them in tonight, but before I had finished saying goodnight, Matthew started waving bye, accompanied with "bye!" bye!" Okay, I will let you go to sleep :)
• They found a whole bottle of honey and poured a lot on the floor and started playing with it.

Love those little stinkers.

Words - Finally!

Matthew being silly

The boys are finally starting to say real words! Or I am finally able to understand them. They have been jabbering up a storm, but I haven't been able to make sense of much.

Today Matthew said "bye" to me about 50 times as he shut the door on me about 50 times ;) (I opened it, and we made it a game).

The other words the boys say. The word first.. and then their pronunciation.

Cheese -- "Chi" or "sss"

Ball -- "baaall"

Bye -- "bah"

Please -- "peace"

Uh oh -- "uh oh" (that one is by far their favorite"

Thank you -- "dank do"

Banana -- "boo-tah"

Book -- "buh"

Boo -- "boo"

The most common way they communicate is the classic point and "da".

Saying "bye"

Saying "banana"

Playroom Time

I have instituted "Playroom Time" in this house.

I started 3 days after the boys turned 17 months. Putting them in a safe area (by removing the climbable kid-size chairs from the playroom) and closing the door behind me. Letting them play by themselves. Without Mommy. To tell you the truth, I was so scarred from sleep training that if those boys so much as whimpered I would have not have closed the door. But I distracted them with some toys, and they were fine! More than fine, I heard lots of laughing and playing from the room. For 40 minutes. I was able to clean up their breakfast dishes, and also do some general cleaning/mopping. It was wonderful! So I tried it the next day, and the day after that, and once a day, every day since... and they have been fine! I wouldn't say they are excited for me to leave, but once Adam actually waved "bye bye" to me as I was closing the door.

I am shocked at how well they get along during "Playroom Time". Often they fight over my attention, or want me to get them something (that the other one sees and wants too). In the room on their own, I guess the fact that they don't have me to fight over helps them get along. One day I heard them both just laughing away, it melted my heart. I almost didn't want to go in, because I knew once they saw me, it would be over!

I decided to get my camera and spy on them. I am actually not sure what they were doing, but it looked friendly. Also I am amazed Adam was laying down. I almost never see him stop moving when he is awake. Here is what I saw (precious boys).

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