August/September 2012 Flashback

Kayla, Megan

The girls spent the night at Granny and Grandpa's house for the weekend.  The last night, their cousins stayed over and they all "camped out" together in the basement with Granny!

The girls both get excited about make-up.  At almost-4, it's way too early for mommy!  Grandma gave the girls some Disney Princess Chapstick, which they both applied liberally.

 Kayla, Megan (and Loki)

  Kayla

Megan

Rock Chalk Jayhawks - A Shout Out to Granny and Grandpa

Both girls were battling colds at the time of this video.
(Taken on an iPod Touch, so please excuse the quality and shakiness.)

On Looking Back

So the big news that can now (finally) be revealed is Ralph and Cathy's 40th anniversary celebration, which took place this past Saturday. Most of you reading this blog were there, so I won't bother to go into too many details, but we wildly succeeded in keeping the party a surprise, and everyone seemed to have a good time. A special note of thanks to Jeff and Chris, without whose help the party would not have been possible.

More interesting to my topic, in prep for the party I scanned in most of Mom's old photos for use in a slideshow. It's been interesting to me to think about, comparing all of these familiar photos with the ones I now take of my family.

I didn't scan every picture, but got most of them, the total ending up somewhere north of 1,100 (not counting the digital pictures Mom and Dad have taken themselves the past few years). By comparison, I've collected over 7.700 pictures of the girls in three years.

And why wouldn't I? Digital cameras are essentially free once you make the original purchase, the only surprising thing is that the total isn't higher.

Yet another example of how technology changes our lives I suppose. I recognize a lot of these pictures from growing up, we'd occasionally look through the photo albums, but certainly not on a regular basis. Kayla and Megan see our family pictures on the TV screen saver; they're pretty decent at recognizing themselves as well. When they get a bit older they'll be able to pull them up on any one of a half dozen devices in the house. They'll find this blog, look through my Facebook, etc. How will this affect how they remember/view their childhood? Will their memories be more vivid? Will pictures lose some of their inherit value to them?

Grandpa's Church of the Hay Bale

I'm driving the girls home, and we drive past a field.

There are hay bales scattered around the field, which catch Kayla's eye.

(not my photo)

Kayla:      I see hay bales!  Those are called hay bales.  Grandpa calls them hay bales.

Mommy: He does?

Kayla:     Yes -- he calls them hay bales.  He learned that at school.

Mommy:  He did?

Kayla:      No, he learned that at church!

Mommy:  He learned that those are hay bales at church?

Kayla:      Yeah

Traveling

The past month has been a busy one, punctuated by a couple of trips.

The week of May 15th I was in Atlanta, GA, at a Microsoft conference, which of course meant that Jenn was a single mom for five days. She did great of course, but it's always a little bit draining when you're trying to wrangle both girls for an extended period by yourself. Compounding this was the fact I had to work most of the Saturday after I got back...it was definitely a long week.

The conference was at the Georgia World Congress Center, which is right downtown next to the Olympic Park, Georgia Dome, Phillips Arena (where the Atlanta Hawks play), Coca-Cola World and CNN's headquarters. It's really a pretty nice area; you can take a train right up from the airport, all kinds of hotels and restaurants within walking distance, couple of mall-type places, etc. Anyway, one of the other attractions in the area is an aquarium, and I decided I was going to hit it up at some point for some gifts for the girls.

I walked over the the place around 3 one day, and a couple of very unhelpful women told me there was no one available to take me to the gift shop, the exit to which I could see not 30 feet from where I stood, because "everyone was getting ready to leave for the day". The aquarium closed at 5 of course, I suppose I should have raised a fuss, but figured I had better things to worry about. As it turns out, walking back to the hotel I passed a children's museum, who were more than happy to let me drop into their gift shop and give them ~$50 for 10 minutes of work. I ended up with a stuffed Grover and Cookie Monster, which were well received, and occasionally fought over (mental note: GET IDENTICAL TOYS WHENEVER POSSIBLE!)

Our second trip happened last weekend, as Jenn and I made Memorial Weekend longer, and went up to KC for a couple days while the girls stayed with Granny and Grandpa. They had a wonderful time by all accounts, and in fact getting them out of Granny's house Sunday night was a little traumatic.

In another burst of development, we've seen the girls progress with the concept of talking to someone over the phone/video. While I was in Atlanta, Jenn and I tried to do a video call session between home and the hotel room. We were hampered by the hotels terrible internet being hammered by 500 or so geeks, but it was good enough to get a picture through for a while. Girls have done this with Granny a couple times as well, and usually they express mild interest at best, and are off to do something else quickly. Same for trying to talk to someone over the phone.

Then all of the sudden, we're calling them last Friday night after pulling into KC, and they're responding to questions, telling us about how they played on the swingset, saying bye-bye at the appropriate time, etc. During our KC trip we bought them a couple of toy phones from the Disney store, and yesterday evening I busted them out during a bout of fussiness-fueled desperation, and for several precious minutes they were having quiet conversations with Mommy or Grandma or Whomever, telling them they were fine and how they played at Ms. Kelli's. Just this evening as well, Mom called to tell me about the trouble my uncle Kevin's family is having with flooding up in South Dakota, and the girls conversed with Granny over speaker phone for a bit, like they had been doing it all their lives.

Jenn has commented several times recently as well about how much they seem to be growing up. Indeed, every morning on the drive over to daycare, the conversation becomes a little bit more coherent and relevant. Though, as an aside, a note to Kayla and Megan if and when they read this many years from now: Yes, there are birds, I see them too, you don't necessarily have to point out every one to me.

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!