January Adventures

But first, a realization that we didn't post any pictures from the McMannis Christmas:

All of the McMannis grandkids, plus one slightly clueless dad.

We celebrated out at Dave and Tonya's. Girls got several presents; some Yo Gabba Gabba block sets, Dora sippies, couple of books, some Disney Princess stools, and I'm sure several other things I'm forgetting. Sorry McMannis side, I forgot to do this when it was still fresh in my mind.

So yeah, January. It's actually been pretty much business as usual for the most part. The big excitement was Kayla coming down with a mild virus of some kind:

Doctor said it was comparable to "Fifth's Disease"; a minor virus that looks bad, but isn't contagious (at least not when you notice it), and runs it's course in a few days. Kayla was somewhat fussy for a couple days, running fevers, waking up in the night, and before bed we kind of noticed what we thought was a little rash. The next morning she woke up looking like that. She didn't itch or anything like that, was relatively happy throughout. Megan never did get a spot.

Girls are starting to get better with words lately. "Baby" seems to be a favorite when they have their dolls (which they like to feed with bottles as well, though rather forcefully), "Block" and "Bead" are semi-recognizable when playing with toys, "Ducks" are usually pointed out (especially by Megan). Many others that aren't quite there yet, but are getting close. We continue to struggle with "No no", however; girls like to lift the cushions on the couch and climb up on it. Kayla I think is starting to get it; Megan is usually the instigator, though, and is slower to give up on the game.

Last night I went over to Ruth's to work on her computer for a while, and she came over to help Jenn with the girls. Given a little freedom after supper, girls all of the sudden decided that Grandma Ruth needed all of the plastic grocery bags we keep stored in the kitchen.

It was quite serious work from what I hear. Ruth would try to put some of the bags down/away, and the girls would fetch them immediately and hand them back to her. The worked for a good 15-20 minutes on this it sounded like, wearing their "serious" faces the whole time.

Suddenly I don't feel so bad that the whole "No no" couch thing has been such a problem.

Favorite Pics

Jenn's done a fantastic job keeping the blog updated with Christmas pics/info lately, as well as her "Year in Review", so I thought I would mix it up a little. On my laptop and computer at work, I've setup my screen saver/desktop pics to randomly display pics of the girls that I've posted to the blog over the past ~15 months, and I've come to realize that I definitely have some favorite pics. Sometimes for the pic itself, and sometimes for the memories it brings when I see it. A retrospect and brief commentary of some of my favorites.

Probably my favorite picture so far. Girls one day discovered that they could reach the storage area of the TV stand, and had great fun pulling everything out they could get their hands on. I lose Kayla's mischievous smile especially, and Megan with a more "Oops I got caught" look. Almost perfectly captures their personalities.

For a while we had the dining room open to the girls (something we'll have to do again shortly I'm sure), and they were obsessed with the deck door curtains. We had a terrible time keeping them out of them, which lead to the more enclosed living room setup we have now. Girls love their freedom though, as is clearly shown here.

When I posted this around Easter, I got in trouble with Jenn for picking this one, with sour looks, when there were better, happier baby pics. But I love this one; the look just says "Mommy/Daddy, what in the heck are you doing to us?"

Jenn took this one, putting on the glasses for fun. I ended up making a post around this pick, spoofing on the opening paragraph from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Megan's sort of "Blarg" mouth expression is especially great.

 A favorite for obvious reasons. Up until the first bath they had cried, but not to excess, but the bath really set them off.

When we were leaving the hospital, Jenn and I suddenly realized we really had no idea how to put babies in car seats. There was Jenn, 5 days removed from a c-section, holding one girl by our bags at the Wesley Hillside entrance, while I took the other girl to the parking garage, and somehow managed to get her into the car seat (while another car waited for my space), drive the car back to the entrance, in the rain mind you, and get Jenn and the other girl into the car. Not our finest parental moment. Seeing them so small in those carseats is great.

Kayla fascinated by a Bumbo seat toy. I believe one of the first times we had them in these seats; I think the blanket there is to help prop her up in it. We used these for first feedings for quite a while, until eventually the girls started bouncing around in them and dang near took a spill off the kitchen table one day.

Jenn while she was home with the girls tried to take pictures every so often, and Loki always waned in on the action. Good size comparison here is why I really like this one, plus demonstration of how good Loki has been with the girls since Day 1.

Taking pictures of babies is always a dicey proposition; with twins, doubly so. This was an attempt to get "going home" pictures at the hospital I believe, and they were having none of it. We'd have to put the pacifiers in, let them suck for a bit, then quick take them out and snap pictures.

Mostly I just like the smiles in this pic. Girls were just becoming mobile at this point, I don't recall if they could roll over on their own at this point, but they definitely could "crawl" around somewhat.

I spent pretty much the entire month of December '08 staying at home with the girls, between me taking some time, running into the holidays. I took some pictures of both Kayla and Megan, and managed to get "first smile" pics for both of the, Megan shown here. Right around 3 months here.

Girls darn near lived in swings for the better part of the first 4-5 months of their lives, as it was a great way to induce naps and calm them down. Here we see Megan demonstrating that babies actually have no spine until the age of 6 months, a little known medical fact.

One of the first pictures taken, obviously. Babies wrapped up in the hospital, yet both awake and looking around. Note the "A" label on Kayla's hat, a practice the nurses in the nursery started and we kept for quite a while even after bringing them home. This looks like a Daddy wrap job as well; you can tell as the blankets aren't wrapped so much as they're just wadded up. I was recently shamed when James wrapped his new daughter Emma with perfect form, when we were visiting them in the hospital last night. Show off.

It's Christmas Once Again

We missed the Vogts Family Christmas in Kansas City this year.  It was just going to be too much with the girls and everything else surrounding Christmas.  

I remember back to an early Christmas together.  My mother still lived in Arkansas.  I guess we thought we were Super-Couple, and could do everything.  I recall saying to Mike that it wouldn't be that big of a deal - we'd just make a big triangle -- from Wichita, to Arkansas, to Kansas City, back home to Wichita.  I remember driving the 4 hours to Arkansas, having Christmas there with my family.  Packing up from there, we drove up to Kansas City.  It was in that leg of the trip that I said to Mike that it was a bigger deal than I thought -- we were rushing around and spending a lot of time in the car.  We made it -- late to dinner -- but had a great time in Kansas City.  When we went home the next day, we laughed about how we'd bitten off more than we thought...and that we'd probably do it again another year anyway!  Well, since then my mother moved to Wichita, and we had twin baby girls.  Things have certainly changed!  We still want to do it all -- but we recognize that it isn't always possible.  I can't imagine "just making a big triangle" with the girls in tow!

Last night the girls opened the presents from the Kansas City celebration.  It's serious business to them!

Megan, Granny, Kayla

Aunt Paula and her family gave the girls some doll babies with bottles, and some doll baby blankets that match the blankets the girls were given before they were born.  The girls carried those bottles all evening! 

Granny teaches Kayla to feed the baby

Kayla tries to feed Granny, too

Megan tries to claim both doll blankets!

The girls love doll babies.  Megan even shows Grandpa how to pat the baby on your shoulder and say "ah-ah".  He played along quite well!

Grandpa, Megan

Aunt Kathy gave the girls each a baby Cabbage Patch dollie.  I was in High School when Cabage Patch Dolls first came out and I had two of them.  They even went with me to college to live in the dorm my first year.  These are different though, and are age-appropriate for the girls.

Kayla kissing her dollbaby goodnight

Megan Kissing her dollbaby goodnight

Megan was so excited about the dollbabies, she got out the two dollies Great Grandma Vogts had given them for their birthday so they could play, too!

Kayla, Megan

They also got some adorable clothes from Cousin Liz and Jon, and from Aunt Barbara's family.  I'm sure we'll be seeing those on the girls in some upcoming pictures!  Both of the girls tried to drink from the sippy cups that Uncle Kevin's family gave them, only we hadn't taken them out of the packaging yet.  I wish I had pictures of that!  Megan had great fun using the plates they gave them as cymbals.  They made loud noises, which made little girls very happy!  Kayla was more interested in the toy bottles at that time, so Megan got to bang them around a lot.  She also treated them like a stacking game, making them fit together.  They were both a little confused when Granny tried to feed them pretend food off of them, though.  They don't quite grasp the concept of imaginary food yet.  Who knew plates could be so much fun!

When it was finally time for bed, Kayla cried because we took the toy bottles away so she would drink her real bottle. We did let them take the dolls to bed, though!

2009 - A Year In Review

2009 is over. It took a year to go by, but it's gone. It wasn't a bad year! I'd do it again in fact! It was such a big year for the girls -- growing up is exciting -- Let's look!


JANUARY

We both were back at work, with the girls at 3 months old. Grandma Ruth was watching the girls and Loki the dog during the day, at our house. This was when I ordered their SPECIAL dresses -- with their names on them.  Love those dresses still!  Of course they've outgrown them, but I still love them!

FEBRUARY

Our first (and so far only) night away from the girls, with my sister watching them at our house. Coincidentally, we're planning our second night away from the girls this coming February, only they'll be staying with Granny and Grandpa at their house. 

Kayla playing with the toy in her Bebe Pod chair, 

padded with a blanket made by Aunt Marilyn and Cousin Lori

Grandpa and Megan

Great Grandma Vogts and Kayla

MARCH

The girls started baby food! Who knew the messes ahead! Well, everyone that's that ever had parents before did - but not us!

Granny and Kayla, first time with carrots

Also was our first -- and so far, only -- trip to the ER. Megan had breathing difficulties due to RSV.  She looked so lost on the big hospital bed!  Of course all turned out well in the end.

Megan at the ER

Granny and Megan - they match!

APRIL

6 months old! This was Grandma Ruth's goal for watching the girls at home. She beat it and was still taking care of the girls.
Mommy couldn't let Easter go by without several special outfits!

Kayla, Megan

Kayla, Megan

Kayla, Megan

Kayla, Megan

MAY

This was when Kayla started sucking her thumb. She still does it -- Megan still doesn't.  This was when Megan started waving bye-bye. She still does it -- Kayla does now, too.

This month was the one time we left the girls with a non-family member. Two of my friends from work, Shelley and Laura, came over and watched them while we went out with James and Tricia for dinner.

Megan wants to feed herself

The girls started growing up.  No longer sleeping swaddled, they'd move around their cribs at night.

 

Kayla, sleeping

Megan, sleeping

JUNE

The girls' teeth started coming in --they both got the first four pretty quickly. No more came in until December!

They both started pulling up on furniture and standing. And falling.  Loki became more interested in the girls, and more interesting to the girls.

Grandma Ruth, Loki, Kayla and Megan

Loki and Megan

JULY

July 7th -- the girls' first day at daycare. We found a nearby in-home daycare that we still absolutely love! Grandma Ruth took care of them until they were 9 months old. 3 months past her 6-month goal! We can't thank her enough -- we're all forever indebted to her for doing it. We never worried when we went back to work. Well, we didn't worry about Kayla or Megan, but the girls can keep you hopping!

Getting them to pose for pictures just kept getting harder.  At least they had fun!

Kayla and Megan

Megan, Kayla, Granny

AUGUST

Cruising on furniture like they'd been doing it all their lives. They started wrestling. Yes, wrestling. They still do it -- they love to tackle each other and roll around together, laughing hysterically the whole time.

Megan, Kayla

Kayla, Megan

Loki, Kayla, Megan

SEPTEMBER

Walking like champs! Well, like 11 month old toddlers...

Kayla, Megan

By now I'm seriously into coordinating the girls' clothes, rather than dressing them the same. Sometimes it's challenging, but it's fun!

Grandpa and Kayla

Megan

OCTOBER

One year old! I confess -- each girl had three fancy dresses. One for pictures, one for the party, and one that they never got a chance to wear. It was my quest for the perfect 1st birthday dress!

Granny and Kayla

Megan

I searched and searched for the perfect pair of Halloween costumes. I wanted something that they could wear comfortably while we handed out treats, but that made a matched pair of somethings. I gave up. Unless a lamb and a bear are some sort of matched pair of somethings! They went to see Granny and Grandpa in Canton, but we didn't take them trick or treating. Too young for candy this year.

Kayla, Megan

NOVEMBER

The girls got pink-eye! Several times. They passed it back and forth. They shared it with mommy. They shared it with Grandma Ruth.

Their personalities develop more and more each day.  They walk everywhere now, except when they ride ponies.

Kayla, Megan

And mommy cut their bangs.  While their hair was wet.  Way too short.  Even Megan knew it was too short.

Megan

Kayla

DECEMBER

Then of course came December, when we moved to big-girl car seats and stopped using the infant carriers.

The girls enjoyed the boxes tremendously!

 Megan, Kayla

 Kayla, Megan

Christmas! Not their first, but the first in which they could get involved. They didn't understand who Santa was -- but they understood how to unwrap presents!!

 Kayla, Megan -- a Christmas kiss!

2009-- what an exciting year!  And here's looking forward to an even more exciting year in 2010!

Happy New Year!