Luke and Amelia are getting old enough now to start showing their preferences ... and they aren't shy about letting us know!
Favorite toys: Amelia's would be the shopping cart. She played with Caroline's all last weekend so we got her one this week and she loves it (although not quite as much as Caroline's. When it's at your own house it's not quite so exciting!) I'm not someone who loves to shop, so of course since God has a sense of humor about these things, I'm sure my daughter will be :) Luke's would be my new iphone! He cries if he sees it and I don't let him have it. So funny how at such a young age they're both already drawn to electronics. They have plenty of toys with buttons that light up but they much prefer our phones. By the time they're three I'm sure they'll be teaching us things about our computers and phones!
Favorite foods: I've been having fun experimenting with new finger food recipes. There are two foods that they both just love and prefer over others. The first is cottage cheese pancakes, you can see a recipe here. I blend the ingredients all up in the blender first (I don't think this recipe says to, I also substitute whole wheat pastry flour for the white flour) I know it sounds a bit strange and I was skeptical when my dear friend Michelle made them for Scott and I several years ago, but they're seriously delicious. Luke and Amelia agree! The second is sweet potato fries. I just peel and thinly slice sweet potatoes and coat them in olive oil and broil them. Yum! They are gone quickly! I feel like there is a great deal of compromising with kids' diets between what they want to eat and what we want for them to eat, so it's nice when I can find things that are healthy AND they love them.
Favorite activities: Amelia loves dancing. She loves when Scott and I turn on music and twirl and dance around with her -- she just laughs and laughs. Luke is so proud that he can walk now! He'll walk without coaxing now and just grins as he walks across the room.
I'm sure I've said this before (and will probably continue to) but this age is my favorite so far. They are just so much fun!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Boise videos ...
Scott took Amelia to see GG Ruth at her retirement home while I stayed back with Luke since he had been sick last week. I loved that he got this video of Ruth and Amelia together. Precious. I also had to include this one of Scott making all three babies laugh. Love that man.
Boise!
Whew -- we got home this afternoon from a whirlwind trip to Boise to visit family. It was a really good trip. Probably the best yet in terms of the logistics of traveling with kids. We flew this time instead of driving which felt much easier and the fact that my sister's baby girl is only a few months younger makes it very easy to stay at their place with two one-year olds. It's totally baby-proofed which is so great when they're going in different directions :) Having my mom travel with us was also amazingly helpful. A 3:2 ratio makes things like airport security lines much more manageable!
Luke and Amelia loved having all the family around and so much attention and activity (and stealing all of Caroline's toys). It is so special to see all three babies playing together. I love the fact that they'll grow up together and be so close in age. Luke was getting over being sick (It's been a very.long.winter. This mama is ready for cold/flu season to be over!) so he was a bit overwhelmed at times with all of the activity but he did really well for not feeling so hot. My sister got the babes a birthday photo shoot for their first birthday so we had a lot of fun getting cousin pictures done. I'll attach a little video of the babies eating their cakes -- Amelia takes after me and has a terrible sweet tooth but Luke couldn't be less interested in treats. I've only offered them sweet things a few times and he spits them out! Silly monkey! For these pictures he's actually eating rice crackers because we couldn't get him to eat the cake :)
 |
| Amelia visiting Great-Grandma Ruth |
 |
| Cousins!! |
 |
| Amelia with Scott's cousin Kristy and her husband, Jim. |
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
13 months!
Luke and Amelia are 13 months old! I'll attach a few videos of their favorite activity right now -- cruising around and pushing whatever they can find -- chairs, toys, each other. I feel like in the last few weeks we've been getting more glimpses into their personalities. In the past I've been hesitant to verbalize too much about what I notice just because I don't want them to feel like they got labeled as "the quiet one" or whatever -- but they go through so many changes and I know that parts of what I notice will change and parts are likely there for good.
At this point, Amelia tends to come across as a bit shy. It takes her awhile to warm up to new people and new situations. When we got somewhere new she often will stay right by my side for a good 30 minutes before she's ready to venture out. She gets overwhelmed in big groups of people (the church nursery is not her favorite place, I usually get paged after about 10 minutes to come pick her up). She has a very sweet way of coming up to Scott or I and laying her head down on our lap or shoulder and looking up at us as if to say, "Mom, Dad, I sure do love you!" It melts my heart! She is very agreeable about things like having her teeth brushed and diaper changed (Scott and I both try to call dibs on Amelia when it comes time for baths/teeth brushing!) Amelia is an amazing sleeper. She usually sleeps at least an hour later than her brother in the morning and her naps are twice as long. Thank you baby girl!
Luke can be quite a ham! When I go to pick up Amelia in the nursery he's usually crawling around making friends with anyone and everyone. He is quick to laugh and his laugh is so contagious! ... but also these days quick to melt down. He's starting to throw tantrums (isn't it a little early?!) If I take away something he wants he'll scream and throw himself on the ground, kicking his feet. Really?! It can be hard not to laugh sometimes at his antics. Luke is an early riser but more often than not he'll fall back asleep on my chest (I move out to the couch with him so he doesn't wake up his sister) and we get a good hour of snuggle time which I love.
Everything I've read about parenting two at a time emphasizes the importance of one-on-one time for each kid which is something I've started trying to incorporate. The other day I left Lukey at my parent's house and took Amelia to the store with me. It felt so simple to just be able to put her in the cart and not navigate the double stroller :) It was so sweet to just get to be with one baby for an hour and focus all my attention on her. Luke will have to have a different type of outing since he tries to escape from the cart as quickly as possible!
Both babes are getting their molars right now ... ouch! Two of Amelia's have come through and poor Luke just has swollen gums. Now for the videos ...
At this point, Amelia tends to come across as a bit shy. It takes her awhile to warm up to new people and new situations. When we got somewhere new she often will stay right by my side for a good 30 minutes before she's ready to venture out. She gets overwhelmed in big groups of people (the church nursery is not her favorite place, I usually get paged after about 10 minutes to come pick her up). She has a very sweet way of coming up to Scott or I and laying her head down on our lap or shoulder and looking up at us as if to say, "Mom, Dad, I sure do love you!" It melts my heart! She is very agreeable about things like having her teeth brushed and diaper changed (Scott and I both try to call dibs on Amelia when it comes time for baths/teeth brushing!) Amelia is an amazing sleeper. She usually sleeps at least an hour later than her brother in the morning and her naps are twice as long. Thank you baby girl!
Luke can be quite a ham! When I go to pick up Amelia in the nursery he's usually crawling around making friends with anyone and everyone. He is quick to laugh and his laugh is so contagious! ... but also these days quick to melt down. He's starting to throw tantrums (isn't it a little early?!) If I take away something he wants he'll scream and throw himself on the ground, kicking his feet. Really?! It can be hard not to laugh sometimes at his antics. Luke is an early riser but more often than not he'll fall back asleep on my chest (I move out to the couch with him so he doesn't wake up his sister) and we get a good hour of snuggle time which I love.
Everything I've read about parenting two at a time emphasizes the importance of one-on-one time for each kid which is something I've started trying to incorporate. The other day I left Lukey at my parent's house and took Amelia to the store with me. It felt so simple to just be able to put her in the cart and not navigate the double stroller :) It was so sweet to just get to be with one baby for an hour and focus all my attention on her. Luke will have to have a different type of outing since he tries to escape from the cart as quickly as possible!
Both babes are getting their molars right now ... ouch! Two of Amelia's have come through and poor Luke just has swollen gums. Now for the videos ...
Monday, January 30, 2012
To love reading ...
I want to teach Luke and Amelia to love to read. My dad did that for me. It was part of our bedtime routine ... we read through some great books - from The Hobbit to the BFG to Little House on the Prairie. I looked forward to that time every evening. Every year for our birthdays we would get a gift card to Powell's, the dollar amount would equal the age we were turning, and we'd go on a special date with dad to pick out new books (and cookies and hot chocolate from the cafe, of course). It made reading and picking out new books exciting.
Friday night Scott and I went on a date, only the third since the twins were born, which is entirely our fault. We've had many babysitting offers but between being first time parents (I prefer to think we're nervous, not neurotic :)) and being exhausted after work and caring for the babies, a date night usually sounds like a lot of work. This is something we're working on! Anyway, Friday we had a great time heading down to Powell's to spend our gift cards from our birthdays last year. I forgot how much I love just meandering around bookstores.
I've been inspired recently by two books. The first is a parenting book (surprised?) called Simplicity Parenting. The idea is that by simplifying our lives (less clutter, fewer activities, less media) we give our children the freedom and space to be creative and to be kids. I don't think the idea should be taken to the extreme because it would lead to sheltered children and neurotic parents, but I think that I can always benefit from keeping life simple whenever possible and I think that children thrive on simple rhythms and routines. Too many options and choices can be overwhelming. "By simplifying, we protect the environment for childhood's slow, essential unfolding of self" (Kim John Payne).
The second is called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and it's her journey through keeping a gratitude journal. As she keeps records of all that she is thankful for she begins to realize that cultivating thankfulness is key in living a joyful life. As a mama of six she has amazing wisdom to share about grace, trusting God and about living fully in the moment, something I am always working towards. "And this, this is the only way to slow time: When I fully enter time's swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here. I can slow the torrent by being all here. I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment. And when I'm always looking for he next glimpse of glory, I slow and enter. And time slows."
Right now with the babies our "story times" usually last all of ten seconds before Luke decides he'd rather eat the book and Amelia decides she'd rather get off my lap to explore. But that's okay. We're establishing the rhythm or reading together ... or at least in theory we are. For now, that's good enough for me!
Friday night Scott and I went on a date, only the third since the twins were born, which is entirely our fault. We've had many babysitting offers but between being first time parents (I prefer to think we're nervous, not neurotic :)) and being exhausted after work and caring for the babies, a date night usually sounds like a lot of work. This is something we're working on! Anyway, Friday we had a great time heading down to Powell's to spend our gift cards from our birthdays last year. I forgot how much I love just meandering around bookstores.
I've been inspired recently by two books. The first is a parenting book (surprised?) called Simplicity Parenting. The idea is that by simplifying our lives (less clutter, fewer activities, less media) we give our children the freedom and space to be creative and to be kids. I don't think the idea should be taken to the extreme because it would lead to sheltered children and neurotic parents, but I think that I can always benefit from keeping life simple whenever possible and I think that children thrive on simple rhythms and routines. Too many options and choices can be overwhelming. "By simplifying, we protect the environment for childhood's slow, essential unfolding of self" (Kim John Payne).
The second is called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and it's her journey through keeping a gratitude journal. As she keeps records of all that she is thankful for she begins to realize that cultivating thankfulness is key in living a joyful life. As a mama of six she has amazing wisdom to share about grace, trusting God and about living fully in the moment, something I am always working towards. "And this, this is the only way to slow time: When I fully enter time's swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here. I can slow the torrent by being all here. I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment. And when I'm always looking for he next glimpse of glory, I slow and enter. And time slows."
Right now with the babies our "story times" usually last all of ten seconds before Luke decides he'd rather eat the book and Amelia decides she'd rather get off my lap to explore. But that's okay. We're establishing the rhythm or reading together ... or at least in theory we are. For now, that's good enough for me!
Molly is one happy dog these days!
If the twins keep feeding Molly as often as they have been (like every meal and every snack), she is going to be the largest yorkie you've ever seen! Sorry the lighting in this video is bad but Lukey was having so much fun feeding her that I had to post it :) Also, don't judge me, I know Amelia needs a haircut! She just got out of the tub here ... we're heading to see my sister soon and we all know she'll give Amelia a much better haircut than I ever could. The babes have been kind to me -- I'm on my own for the first time with them since Scott is away at a conference. He's only gone two days and one night (thankfully!) and Luke and Amelia have been asleep since 7pm without a peep. Thanks you two! Keep it up all night, okay?
Friday, January 27, 2012
Yummy treat!
Yesterday I made the babes a yummy new treat ... homemade graham crackers! Graham crackers with milk was my very favorite snack growing up so when I saw this recipe on a friend's website (check it out here), I knew I would be making it :) Luke and Amelia loved them ... Enjoy!
Graham Crackers
4 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, at room temperature
4 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
1 egg or Ener-G Egg Replacer equivalent
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butter or oil and sweetener together until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat until smooth. In separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Use low speed on mixer to beat flour mixture into wet mixture. The dough will be crumbly but should hold together when pressed in your hand. If it's too dry, add a little water.
Press dough into 9 x 13-inch baking sheet. Score into squares a little over 2-inches. Prick each square several times with a fork. Bake for 15 minutes, or until edges are golden. Cool and then break into squares.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)