Where Have We Been?!?!

So...my last post was the babies 9 month update and today they are 10 months old. Where has the time gone? With Thanksgiving, two trips to NC, visitors, parties, construction on the house, and preparing for the holidays our blog has taken a back seat. I am exhausted just thinking about all that has happened in the last month. I'll do my best to catch up on where we've been and what we've been up to. I'll start by saying I am LOVING this age. They still aren't mobile which I dare not push after spending a week with our buddy Colson running circles. I have no idea what I will do with two on the loose.

We spent Thanksgiving week bobbing all over North Carolina. We started with a few days visiting my parents in Raleigh, then we headed to Madison to spend Thanksgiving day with my dads family. Then we headed to Winston to see Kevin's  parents, followed by a trip to Lake Ewharrie to celebrate a belated Thanksgiving with his dads family. By the time we were back in Maryland we were exhausted but so thankful to have spent such quality time with those we love most.

We were home a few days before the babies and I took off for a solo trip to Charlotte. We spent just over a week while I was in a training. At the end of the week Kevin met us as it was his birthday and we didn't want to miss out on celebrating with him. Anna, Travis, and Colson were such great hosts. We got our first cold while we were there which didn't make for the best house guests...sorry Anna! However, the babies had SO much fun together. Colson loved the babies and was nice enough to share all of his toys and even sent us home with a few. The Crawfords are way too good to us when we visit them.

We're finally back home and after two really long and exhausting trip have decided to stay put for Christmas. My family will be coming Christmas Eve for a few days followed by Kevin's dad and step mom. The best part is Aunt Devin will be here in less than a week to spend two whole weeks with us. We absolutely cannot wait and have had a countdown going since she booked her flight.

The babies have loved the Christmas tree, lights, paper and all that comes with Christmas. I'm pretty sure all we would have to give them is a box and paper and they'd be happy. Playing Santa for the first time has brought a whole new meaning to the Christmas season. I am loving every minute of it.

Below is a recap of where we've ventured over the past month!

Someone was the first to the table and the last to leave on Thanksgiving...this little girl LOVES to eat!

This little guy loves to stand lately. And how cute is that little sweater my sister made him for Thanksgiving?!?! My little stud

All 3 of my babies on the farm

The babies with Nana and Granddady

I will be so sad when my lil man doesn't fall asleep on me anymore.

A & G even got to go on their first pony ride on Thanksgiving! Avery loved it but boy did my little man. He was feeding the horses carrots and squealing with joy.

Look how excited he got!

Pat, Grayson, Marie, Mom, Me, Avery and Kevin

As soon as Thanksgiving passed us we were off to pick our very first Christmas tree as a family of four. It really was that much more exciting to do this with little ones in tow. Even though I doubt they knew what it was all about.

Next we were off to Charlotte, NC

Here the babies had their first Bojangles experience...I'd say it was a hit! How funny is it to see 3 high chairs in a row...thank goodness it wasn't triplets!

This was the best shot I could get of all 3 rug rats in the tub

Grayson was in love with Colson's cool car!

Anna took us to see this beautiful tree. Avery was loving it!

Love my little family!

I mean how cute is Colson with his hands wrapped around the babies!

Travis gave my lil man the cutest TC shirt!

We even took a trip to visit Santa for the very first time while we were in Charlotte. Daddy arrived in time for this. The babies did so well. We'll see what next year brings!

Last but not least, Daddy arrived just in time to celebrate his first birthday with his favorite little ones. The babies were overjoyed with excitement to finally see their daddy after missing him SO much. We made a yummy dinner, gave him cards signed by his little ones and a few fun gifts. There might have been a few slobbery kisses as well.

 Upon arriving back home there were presents awaiting the babies from Aunt Devin. She spoiled them with their first advent calendar of goodies. They opened two books on their first day. They loved their books, but as you can see, the box and paper were pretty cool too!

How cute are we wearing Ellie's reindeer antlers?!?!

Precious little peanuts in their Christmas jammies

 

We are SO ready for SANTA and all our family that will be visiting...hurry up Christmas!

9 Months!

Weight

A: 16 pounds 3 ounces
G: 17 pounds 3 ounces

Height-

A: 25.5 inches
G: 28 inches

Clothing size- Grayson is definitely into 6 month and can only squeeze in a few of his 3-6 month clothes. Avery is just moving into 6 month clothes and can still wear most of her 3-6 month clothes. Although her love for food may change that soon...the girl has quite the little appetite and belly.

Diapers-

Size 1’s for both babies. We are trying to use up our last box of 1's before me move on.

Feeding-

Still nursing when I'm home which is usually first thing in the morning and right before they go to bed. Outside of that they either get formula or pumped milk. They are still loving baby food. They've been introduced to a few more things in the last month including, collard greens, okra, cauliflower, squash, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and Lima beans. I've also begun giving them little bitty pieces of foods because they scarf down the pureed stuff way too fast. They are doing really well with gumming anything I give them in tiny pieces, although I'm too scared to let the nanny do it. They've had little pieces of ham and turkey at our early Sutton Thanksgiving, bread, muffin, and best of all they got to try baby puffs for the first time about 2 weeks ago. Let's just say it's like candy to them.

Hair/Eyes-

Eyes are still the same. Grayson's hair is OUT OF CONTROL. I am so tempted to get his first little haircut because he's a big ol fuzz head of blonde hair. It's starting to go over his ear just a little but we'll see when I actually get the guts to take him for his first haircut. Avery's hair is really starting to come in now.

Sleep-

Napping is still about the same. Oh how I wish they would still take super long naps at exactly the same time. I guess I need to figure out when I start phasing out a morning nap. Nights have definitely changed over the past month. My AMAZING nighttime sleepers have had a bit of a rough patch. We were hit with teething and day light's saving all in the same week...OUCH. They have begun getting up multiple times a night and started waking for good around 5am which we have gotten back to about 6-7am thankfully. Waking up so many times with my work schedule has made for one tired mama! I just hope those poor little teeth come in fast. Two teethers at one time is joyous!

Personality-

Avery is OBSESSED with food. She is hilarious. I will feed her so much and when I try to stop, so she doesn't throw it all up, she gets so upset. She begins squealing and flailing her arms. I started sign language with them at 6 months and they say by around 9 months they begin to understand it even though they don't repeat it. I can tell she is beginning to understand because I sign to her all done and she freaks out. I am going to have to ask the doctor about this one. It's hard to tell if she really is still hungry or just can't stop. Usually if I get her out of the highchair she doesn't care any more. Grayson loves his food but does not freak out quite like his sister. Avery also gets so excited and when she's sitting she bounces her arms and opens her mouth. It reminds me of exactly what my sister used to do as a baby. Avery is still my happy smiley little bean that is SO interested in everything that is going on around her. She will stop anything to see what's going on. She has the most inquisitive expressions.

Grayson has become such a funny, happy little boy. He is loud as can be and let's you know how happy he is as well as how upset he is with his amazing vocal chords. Both babies began saying "Dadadada" much to my encouragement of "Mamama". Grayson gets himself just about anywhere he wants by rolling himself around. He is just starting to sort of push up on all fours. It's only a matter of time before he is into everything. He LOVES to stand up. He can't get himself up but if we help him he will hold onto whatever he can and stand there for awhile. He loves to stand up at the coffee table and play with whatever is in it. He has also discovered his love for the johnny jump up recently. He used to just sit in there content and kind of move around a little. Now he goes crazy and jumps all over the place squealing and swinging non stop.

Fun Stuff-

Both babies are solid sitters now. I can leave them on the kitchen floor or other hard surfaces with toys and know that they won't fall. They lean from side to side and grab and play with toys and each other without falling over. I've also been able to sit them in their bath tub in the big tub now that they sit so well. They are in heaven because they can actually sit and play with toys. They love bath time and would sit in there for hours if I let them.

One of my favorite new milestones is that they really know each other now. They laugh at each other, tug at each other and take each others toys away. Thankfully they haven't figured out that they should be upset when the toy is taken (yet). It is so neat to see how interested they are in each other and whatever the other one is doing. I love watching them interact and wonder what goes on their little minds. When they giggle at each other it melts my heart like nothing I've ever felt.

We are so excited with the holidays approaching and can't wait to see all of our family as we travel North Carolina. Even though these little beans have been producing bags under my eyes lately I know it's only temporary and I wouldn't change a thing. I truly enjoy every moment spent with these sweet, charismatic little babies. They bring a joy to their daddies and I's lives that we never could have imagined. They truly bring excitement to me the moment I wake up every day.

Sitting so sweetly...

Really Mom?!?!

And he's off!

Unlike my brother I can sit so nicely... 

and I have the sweetest smile!

But don't be fooled I love to annoy my brother!

We got the best report from our doctor at our 9 month appointment. We're finally on the charts...no more preemies here!

Happy 9 months to my favorite little beans in the whole wide world. Where oh where has the time gone!!!

Sutton Thanksgiving

This past weekend we had all of the Sutton family (Kevin's moms side) in town for our early Thanksgiving celebration. This was the babies first Thanksgiving celebration and introduction to Sutton family cooking. They are all from Lumberton, NC and boy do they know how to cook. I was eager to introduce the babies seeing as they LOVE food. They had many new tastes which included okra, pastry, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, butternut squash casserole and a tiny taste of ham and turkey. To say they couldn't get enough is an understatement. I was afraid they were going to pop. Every time we tried to stop they would squeal for more food. It was the funniest thing and we all enjoyed how excited they were for such yummy home cooked foods. The weekend flew by way to fast but we enjoyed the time spent with the Sutton's.

 

Sutton Family Picture

Gigi and Kevin introducing the babies to a piano...WOW they were in heaven and could have sat there and played (mashed keys) forever.

Gigi and Aunt Lois with the babies

Grayson hardly fits in the cornhole hole anymore, but he sure loves it!

Daddy is just too much fun! I'm in love with this photo :)

Granddaddy, Gigi and the babies

Love my little turkey's!

Babies 1st Halloween

 I'm way behind on posting pictures of the babies first Halloween, but we've had a pretty eventful week with construction going on in the house, working overtime, and two babies that had a fever for a few days. Luckily we've made it through all of the above except for the construction (work in progress) and we are all doing well.

So... below are the adorable pictures of my little Spider and Lady Bug on their first Halloween.

I mean how cute are these two?

They both loved Grayson's spider legs

So excited for her first night of trick-or-treating

You can't take my pumpkin!

What, I don't get to eat any candy this year?!?!

Cute little wings

Our friends the Clickners and Frys came over to enjoy dinner and trick-or-treating. Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of McKenna before she left. (Grayson-Spider, Avery-LadyBug, Savannah- Strawberry Shortcake, and Chris- Thomas the Train)

Out Trick-Or-Treating (aka, saying hi to our neighbors) for the very first time