Gearing up for Christmas

We've been talking to the girls a lot about Christmas since this is the first year they can half-way understand that something big is happening.  My mom sent them Twas the Night Before Christmas with her's and Papa Dave's voice recorded reading it - so cool!  And she also sent us some Christmas music and Classic Christmas movies, which C & O have been watching/listening to for the past few days.  I think their favorite is Frosty the Snowman, since that's the most popular request as of late.  I'm so looking forward to creating lots of Christmas memories and traditions over the years with our little family! 

Here's a picture I snapped of the girls last night munching on snowflake crackers and watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. 

Video:

Oh yah, we're planning on taking the girls to see Santa this weekend. 

Remember this picture from last Christmas?? teheehee.  I wonder what kind of faces we'll get this year. 

Big Girls: 2 year stats and Potty Time

Even though the girls are 26 months now, we were just able to get in for their 2 year pediatrician appointment. 

Here are the stats:

Caroline (aka: Still the Pipsqueaker)

weight - 23lbs, 10oz (15th percentile)

length - 33 1/4 inches (30-35th percentile)

Olivia (aka: My Good Eater)

weight - 26lbs, 5oz (40th percentile)

length - 34 inches (50th percentile)

This is the very first time that Caroline has made it above the 5th percentile for weight!  So even though she's still a pipsqueak, she is making a steady increase in that department.  Both girls are doing very well, are healthy (besides a few bouts with colds), received excellent reports from their teachers at school, and are generally happy big girls.  Olivia's heart murmur was detected again by the doctor this week, albeit faint, so she wasn't too concerned. 

In other news, we're in the midst of slowly but surely potty training these kids.  They LOVE sitting on their potties, and have both made pee pee and poo poo on the potty on several occasions.  Mom and Dad just need to work with them on being more consistent. 

Here's a few cute pictures. 

Hippie Dancer

Was this girl a Flower Child in a past life?? 

Sissy!

Just a random post of my cute, big girls. 

Despite the common spats, they love each other so so much it just melts my heart.  I hope they remain best friends always, just as my sissy and I have.  [Love you, Aunt NeeNee!]

Funny Video

Table Talk

Sitting with the girls while they eat dinner is usually the only time I get to talk with them (during the week, that is).  That's the time where I can ask them about their day, see what new songs they learned at school, practice our counting and colors, tell them about our weekend plans, etc. 

Here's a short video from last night's dinner conversation:

Birthday Party & Great Papa Bob's House

We attended our friend, Teagan's 1st Birthday Party this past weekend.  It was so much fun! 

Here's the Birthday Girl in her new tutu. 

 

Afterwards, we stopped by Great Papa Bob's house for dinner and live musical entertainment! 



He taught the girls how to play the organ. 

[And Caroline taught herself how to tie shoes.]

...and the accordian.  The girls were just in awe!



Here are a few videos:

Terrible Two's

Yep.  We are definitely in the midst of the infamous Terrible Two's. 

The whining, bickering, hitting, biting, "MINE" phase is upon us.  I am CONSTANTLY referree-ing them.  It feels like the only words in my vocabulary these days at home are "NO, girls!" or "Stop that!" or "Don't hit your sister!"

Ugh.  Lord, give me patience. 

Last night I walked into their room and saw them actually sitting next to each other reading a book quietly.  Without fighting.  "These can't be MY children??!!", I thought to myself.  I was so taken aback that I ran to get my camera to document the evidence...  Hmph.  Yah, that was short-lived. 

And this is an extremely NICE altercation.