Teeth, Trouble, and Trucks

Isabel popped her second tooth, right next to her first one on the bottom of her mouth. I think it has been bugging her a little bit lately, since she has been slightly crabby. Neither of them have ever been crabby unless for a reason and I think that may be the reason now. Everett is still toothless, but it has to be close. He loves to smile for the camera, so once it comes in, you will all see it. They both have runny noses, which most people say is due to the teething process.

We had a little scare tonight around bedtime when the carbon monoxide alarm sounded. Sadie was working so I rounded up the kids and Molly and we went to the driveway. I called the fire department and they came over to check it out. Turns out the alarm was defective, but it was still scary enough for me. Isabel was not a fan of the chirping sound the alarm made either. Big thanks for the Howard Fire Department for checking things out for us. The kids were tired, but a little confused, so getting them to bed once it was over, was interesting.

Everett's new toys are some trucks he loves to drive around the house and while it's by total coincidence, he also makes a truck noise while pushing them around. It is so cool. He is totally a little man. Isabel will play with him, but she prefers books and her blanket. They both can walk with assistance and understand the concept of walking, but it will be a little while yet.

Last weekend, we all had a good time in Minneapolis with my parents and Grandma Johnsen. Their next trip is a long one to North Dakota over Memorial Day weekend. This weekend is a quiet one, which mom and dad are looking forward to.

A few new things have occurred since the last two weeks and they are some cool milestones. Isabel has gotten her first tooth!! On Friday, April 30th, Sadie was feeding the twins breakfast and she noticed the top of a tooth breaking through on the bottom of her gums. Very cool stuff! Isabel, of course, likes to feel it with her tongue and she is definitely proud of her new chomper. She also has learned to pull herself up to a standing position in her crib and on the couches. Only problem is, when she gets up, she doesn't yet know how to get back down, thus gets scared and cries a lot. It is making nap time and bedtime difficult. She will figure it out soon though.

Everett is in love with the camera and at 9 months, already has it down pat. Point the camera at him, say cheese, and he will stick his chin out and give a huge grin for you. He is so proud of himself.

This past weekend was a bit of a challenge as I threw my back out on Wednesday with a slipped disc and Sadie worked all weekend. Luckily, we found a sitter on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon to get me some relief, but I probably still overdid it as I golfed Wednesday and installed a new basketball hoop on Thursday morning. Just bending over to pick up the kids or try and chase after them is too much. I have been to the chiropractor four times in the last five days, with slight improvement. Guess these kids are getting too big, or I am getting too old, as I just leaned over to pick one up and felt it pop.

Thursday we are going back to Minneapolis for a Twins baseball game and to visit Nana, Papa, and Grandma Johnsen. The twins will have fun swimming, shopping, eating, and attending their first baseball game. It is also Mother's Day on Sunday, so whatever Sadie wants to do, me and the kids will do it. She is excited to have 'Her Day'. Enjoy the new photos of the kiddos.

The twins are 9 months old!

Isabel and Everett had their 9-month appointments today and all is good. Everett is exactly 20 pounds and 29 1/2 inches long. His weight is in the 45th percentile, but his height is in the 85th percentile....Tall and skinny!! Isabel is 18 pounds, 13 ounces and 28 1/4 inches long. She is in the 55th percentile for weight and 75th for height. The doctor said they are in great health and right on schedule for their development. She also said Everett is really close to getting some teeth on top and Isabel is close to teeth on the bottom of her mouth. They got their last Hepatitis B shot today and Isabel was a little crabby around bedtime from that.

Speaking of their development, they are busy bodies now. Everett starting crawling first, but Isabel picked it up a couple weeks ago and they are on the move. Right now, they follow each other around everywhere, easily finding trouble. Their favorite place is the kitchen pantry, where they love to play with Tupperware, the bag of potatoes, and Mom's plastic coffee containers. Why do we ever buy toys when they just play with this stuff?? Everett learned awhile back to pull himself up in his crib and now he does it on the couch, coffee table and our legs. He is either crawling somewhere or climbing on something now. He did have an accident however, due to his new found talent. He woke from a nap and pulled himself to stand in his crib and somehow bumped his chin on the railing, putting a nice slice in his tongue. Not sure how he did that without any teeth, but it scared me to see a bunch of blood in his mouth, so I called the neighbor (former nurse) over to check on him. He wasn't too crabby and the tongue healed quickly, but needless to say, his crib mattress has been lowered. Also, Isabel was in her crib laughing at him the whole time. What a nice sister! Isabel just started to pull herself up to her knees so it won't be long before she is standing against items too. She stills loves to play with Molly and watches her play fetch very intently.

Both have started to eat table foods a lot. Pancakes, yogurt, and hot dogs are just some of their favorite foods, but they will eat anything. They get very balanced meals with fruits and vegetables. It is nice that they like all foods, unlike their dad.

Last weekend, they went on their first trip since Thanksgiving, to Minneapolis. We visited Nana, Papa, Kellie, and Steve. We ate good food, shopped, swam, and attended a Minnesota Twins game on Saturday. Nana and Papa watched the twins during the game. We will meet them again the first weekend in May for more baseball, along with Grandma Johnsen. The twins are looking forward to more swimming and maybe some baseball this trip. Their next trip after that is to North Dakota in late May and again in mid-June. My hunch is that Everett will be walking in late May, but Sadie doesn't agree....Guess we will see.

Isabel and Everett have spent a little time in the yard since the weather has been nice, but they are not sure what to think of it yet. We have also been on many walks since spring arrived and they love that. They will continue to grow and get into trouble areas around the house, but that is also the fun part of it. Each new stage poses difficulties, but it also a sign of their growth and development. Soon they will have teeth and will speak words like Dada and Mama. And yes, Everett is wondering where all the beer went!!

Isabel the thief

Here is a video from yesterday where Isabel is stealing a pacifier from Everett. She is so proud of herself, while he is not too happy. He doesn't give in the second time, however.
Everett is crawling around the house almost all the time. There are still times where he will play in one area, but those are getting less and less. He also loves to pull himself up on items like his crib and their toy bin. He moves pretty quick when he wants to.
Isabel is still rolling, but started army-crawling this week, so she is not far behind him. She talks a lot and will spin in a circle on the ground to change directions. She also is trying to push herself into a sitting position, like he did a few weeks ago. It is really funny.
Last weekend, Sadie's mom, Rebecca, and friend, Lexi, came to visit while I was in Milwaukee. I know they all had fun hanging with each other at the house and the water park on Sunday. This weekend, Sadie is going up north for a girls scrap booking weekend, so it's me and the twins. I hope they don't pick up any bad habits while watching basketball this weekend...
They both love to eat pancakes, yogurt, cheese (they are from WI), puffs, and oranges. They turned 8 months old, 10 days ago. It has now gone fast, where I thought the beginning was going slow. It must be because they do more things now.

Enjoy the video...

A Crawling Boy

Everett has started crawling a lot this week and loves to do it. Most times, he is even laughing while he's in mid-stride. This is just a quick post to show a video of him crawling. Enjoy.

March Madness

Since the last time, as you can imagine, Everett and Isabel have started to do more things, grown, and fought. Yes, it was bound to happen and when you only have one of a certain toy that they both like, it could get ugly. Fortunately, Everett is more laid-back than Isabel. If she steals his toy, he doesn't really care, however, if Everett takes Isabel's current toy, she is less than thrilled, and will tell him about it. They do share very well, for now, and they love to play with each other. They are starting to be more vocal and talk to each other when they play. We've heard stories from many people about twins having their own language and I sometimes wonder if that has already begun.

The things they have done in the last month are: swimming lessons, crawl backwards, sit up, spend a week with my parents, and enjoy the spring air with a walk. They started swimming lessons at the YMCA on February 23rd and they love it. The class is weekly and runs til April 13th. They will be expert swimmers by then, since we have also been taking them to an area hotel water park with their 13-month old friend, Carter, on Thursdays. They certainly enjoy the water and getting out of the house. Also, mom and dad like the long naps they take afterwards.

Everett is crawling backwards and will get where he needs to from that. He tries to go forward, but after 1-2 small steps, he face plants into the floor, but gets up and tries again. He really likes to crawl backwards into a sitting up position and is one proud boy when he does it. Each morning, he is sitting up in his crib. Isabel still rolls everywhere, but sits up to play. She is getting on all fours and thinking about moving, but for now, if she needs to get something, it is easier to roll there.

While we were on vacation, my parents stayed with the twins for a week. They said it was better than any vacation they could have planned. We missed the kids, but had a good time away. I know they had fun with Nana and Papa, as Isabel perfected sitting up with them. They will see them again in mid-April. Sadie's mom is coming here for 4 days next weekend and she is thrilled. It has been since New Year's that she has seen them. I will be in Milwaukee for NCAA basketball.

Not only have the kids gotten out to go swimming, but they have taken a walk with their new double-wide stroller. The weather has been beautiful lately and the snow should all be gone soon. I can't wait to be outside with them all summer. Upcoming events for them include a trip to Minneapolis in mid-April, a long weekend alone with dad, watching a lot of basketball, while Sadie is gone scrap booking in late-March, some quality time with Grandma James, and continued swimming sessions.

7 months old

The twins have been getting a lot of exercise lately, whether it be in the exersaucers or rolling on the floor. They are very active these days. They both love hanging out on the farm, which is what we call their exersaucers. I think they like the toys and the fact that they feel in charge by standing in them. Isabel will still roll herself to where she needs to be, wiggling her way into trouble areas with ease. Everett does not roll, but has mastered the art of sitting up, and he loves to play with his basketball hoop. He loves the slam dunk. He also is getting up on all fours a lot, but not quite crawling. Isabel would rather roll or stand than crawl. It won't be long though for new milestones for each.

One thing I know for sure is that they love each other, but are also getting jealous at times. It is so fun now to see them interact with each other. They make each other laugh and they always keep an eye on each other, especially when one is eating. If one has a bottle, the other has to have a bottle, regardless if they just ate. Isabel even stole Everett's bottle earlier this week. As mom says, she is definitely the boss of the two right now. When they play, they are always so nice to each other....wonder if that will last?

As usual, we are always introducing more foods to them and they both like just about everything we've given them. They really like snack time with dad in the afternoon! The are still sleeping all night, from 7pm - 5:30am, so mom and I are catching up on sleep and what's going on in each other's days.

Today is my last day of 'work' for awhile as we leave for vacation on Saturday morning. Sadie and I will be gone for one week and the kids will be with my parents, Nana and Papa. I know they are excited to spend some quality time with the kids. Everett and Isabel better behave!

Groundhog's Day

Not sure what the groundhog saw today, but I know the kids and I are ready for spring and summer. We have taken a few trips around town lately to get out of the house, but for the most part it is too cold and windy, so we stay home. They are great kids to travel with, whether it be a short or long drive. They each hold their own bottles, so if they get hungry we can give them a bottle while they stay in their stroller.

It will be so nice to get outside when the weather is nice. I'm sure a kiddy pool will be used a lot. As you can see from the video, Everett is always trying to get up on all fours. He gets there, but falls back down soon after, but he keeps trying while not getting too frustrated. Isabel continues to roll all over the place, whether it be on the floor or in her crib. Sadie and I are not sure how she maneuvers herself each night in her crib, but she always ends up sideways from where we lay her down. They both love to grab at items (i.e. remotes, Molly's tail, and any toys). Anything they can grab, goes straight to their mouths. Neither of them have any teeth yet, but they soak about 3-4 bibs per day with drool.

Dad and Mom get a much needed vacation, starting next Saturday, however, it will be hard to be away from the twins for that long. I have only spent one night away from them and Sadie has spent zero. Good thing we booked the trip while she was pregnant. They will be in good hands with my parents and I know they will enjoy spending the quality time with two very happy babies....it does help that they sleep now.

Watch how Molly gets her toy back that Everett and Isabel stole from her.

First Swimming Experience

Sunday was the twins' first time swimming and here are a few pictures. Everett was first in the water and he didn't seem to mind it at first. They both really like baths, so it seemed as if they would like the pool as well, however, this water was pretty cold.

Everett sat in the pool while I held him up and his lip quivered for awhile. He was okay with things until some kid ran by and splashed cold water on him and that was the end of fun for him in the kiddy pool. After trying one more time with him, I decided he might like to float on an inter tube with me, so we did that for awhile. He was much more relaxed!

Isabel had no trouble with the pool. She did most of her swimming with mom, but I took her by the water spouts for awhile and she seemed to like splashing water around. She was in the pool for about 30-40 minutes, just hanging around. She mostly seemed indifferent about it, but wasn't bothered at all.

All in all, it was a pretty good first experience for them. They start swimming lessons at the YMCA the last week of February and I'm sure Everett hopes the water is warmer there! Enjoy the photos.

6 months and on the move

A lot has changed since the last update and with pressure from all 5 of my fans, here is a new entry.

Isabel first rolled over from front to back in October and Everett did it two months later. Isabel then rolled over from back to front on Christmas Eve and Everett only took a week longer to accomplish that, perfecting it on New Year's Eve. It has now become their favorite thing to do. Once you put them on the floor or in their crib, they immediately roll to their tummy. Isabel is now rolling across rooms, while Everett just stays in one spot. He always has been more laid back. They also do this at night, which worries their mom about SIDS, but I think they are strong enough to roll themselves over if they need to. We had to remove the bumpers from their cribs, which means they are now banging their heads against the crib. I guess they will learn to avoid that after a few collisions.

Sleep has been the major item of discussion around here lately, since no one seemed to get any, but that is slowly changing. We have adopted the Ferber method with the kids. Our doctor said there is no reason for them to feed at night anymore, thus the kids cry and mom and dad are close to tears as well. It hasn't been that bed really. Once the kids go to bed, around 7pm, we let them cry for 5 minutes, then check on them, then wait another 5 minutes, etc. The longest it has taken anyone to fall asleep so far is 45 minutes for Isabel. Isabel is great, sleeping almost 12 hours each night and Everett is getting longer each night. Last night, Isabel woke at 1am, cried for a while, but was back asleep within 20 minutes (seemed a lot longer though). Everett woke up at 3:45am, which is getting better. Soon, they will be out from 7pm-7am....wishful thinking, but hey, why not?

As for other activities, they really enjoy their farm exersaucer, playing with toys in their highchairs, and playing with Molly. Both kids are very close to sitting up on their own and they almost insist on holding their own bottles. Trust me, that is a very big help. They have begun to eat more solid foods. Foods like bananas, cheerios, yogurt, pudding, etc. are all approved munchies for them. They will get used to it, but we are introducing it slowly. They also like to eat Biter Biscuits. It teaches them to hold foods and place them in their mouths. We started them on juice in sippy cups this week too. Everett has a better grasp of that so far.

Their growth continues to be good. On Tuesday, they had a routine check-up and Everett is 17 lbs., 1 ounce and Isabel is 15 lbs., 13 ounces. Both of those numbers are in the 50th percentile, which is great. Everett out stands her by 1 1/4 inches, both standing at 27 1/4 and 26 inches, respectively. Those are in the upper percentiles, which makes dad happy that Everett is still tall! They were troopers with their four shots on Tuesday, including their first flu and H1N1 shots.

It has been so fun these past six months to see their development. They each have started to get real personalities and they both laugh a lot. I used to think they'd never roll over, sleep, or sit-up, but they do. I suppose they will crawl and walk soon. The babyproofing has already begun.

Their next adventures include starting swimming lessons in February, a week with Nana and Papa in February while dad and mom get a needed vacation to the Dominican Republic, and more new foods. I will be better about updates in the future. Enjoy.