Nine Month Update

It's been a big month this April! So much has happened I can hardly believe that only a month has passed since I last wrote. They are growing up way to fast... SLOW DOWN, Mini's! SLOW D-O-W-N! For the first time, I look at them and, while they are still my baby girls, they aren't looking all that much like babies anymore; they are growing nicely into toddler bodies. They are tall and, while still happily chubby, they are leaning out a little in their expressive little faces, so much expression, in fact, that it's rare a day passes without one of them making me bow over in a ball of laughter.

Summer started crawling in both directions a couple of weeks ago, and she obviously was made for speed, cause it seems she gains some RPM's every morning after a good nights sleep. She's exploring like crazy and already beginning to get into everything: magazines, my dirty old shoes, paws towels, dog bowls, dog toys, poor Dahlia's tail. Literally anything will go directly from wherever she found it to the mouth! Mmmmm, tasty treats indeed! Samantha hasn't yet begun to crawl, but she's certainly found her voice this month. She likes to talk, LOUDLY. She plays ball, peek a boo, claps, absolutely adores Dahlia, and is still just as tender hearted and gentle as before. Actually, when I'm with her I think about what a sweet gentle soul she is, which just makes me want to hug and kiss on her all the time.

Other big things... they started eating REAL food and a lot of it! We introduced solids at about 5.5 months and made a go at "baby-led weaning." I am not going to do the description justice, but theoretically, you give baby what you eat, let them mash it up with their gums, and limit the pureed food route... it seemed like it was going to be such a cinch! HA! They fail to mention to you that for the better part of three months it's pretty likely that you will make things for your baby and offer them food.. only to have them either taste it and spit it out, or smear it all over themselves and the highchair, gag on it and puke, or just throw it directly onto the ground for the dog..... twice a day for three months is a long time to go through this cycle. I recognize it wasn't personal, but geez, I always considered myself to be a pretty good cook.. and they were beginning to shake my confidence. Then suddenly, and without warning, I made pancakes for them (side note, feed them what you eat.. hahaha.. unless they can have a couple protein bars, cups of coffee, maybe an apple, and some wine, I'm fairly certain they won't be eating what I'm eating) Anyways, I put the pancakes down and they both picked them up and started eating them, like really eating them, I practically cried in joy. So after the pancake turning point it's been happy eating since, two - three meals a day of scrumptious indulgence, baby style. They LOVE food. Watermelon, strawberries, sweet bread pudding, quesadillas, avocados, peaches, cherries, zucchini, asparagus, yogurt... all the food, all the time. I haven't done a even a marginal job and taking a slow introduction schedule, frankly I just can barely find the time to feed them something, I certainly don't have time to track it or remember what they ate all the way back to yesterday, forget it. My new motto, let it go a little, and embrace some stress free mothering from time to time. While for a while I was super annoyed with baby led weaning, I am now thrilled I stuck it out.. cause now at nine months, they are eating real food and I even fed them today with leftovers from last nights dinner. Winning!

It's been a great month, Jon took the girls for a long weekend so I could get away to beach with my mom and have some much needed me time, it was hard to let go (and I didn't really do a great job) but it let me come back to the girls with a rejuvenated spirit and a better attitude. He did great, and it takes a brave man to agree to care solo for twin girls and our puppy.. but Jon has never been one to back down from a challenge and he's a wonderful, equally vital, and competent parent to Summer and Samantha .. I had zero doubt he would do great, and the girls were happy, the house wasn't destroyed,   that's pretty much all I'm capable of accomplishing on any given day. He's amazing, and I'm lucky to have such a great partner in raising them.

I can see them changing so fast, and as I've said before ... we're all growing around here. They are cultivating and learning to become whomever they will be everyday and I am doing the same as I learn what it means to be their mother and how that role will change and grow as they do. Unlike the months before, I can actually see the future more now.. I see lunch dates, movie nights, baking cookies, laughing hysterically together, playing in the yard, swimming, taking Dahlia for walks, meeting grandparents for lunch.. I can see it and I'm so excited for everything to come.


Picture free post, my iCloud is acting up.. I'll have it fixed for next month :)