Happy Father's Day

Yesterday was Eric's first Father's Day, and we had such a wonderful weekend celebrating it!  The festivities started bright and early on Saturday morning, when we all took a trip to Carrboro for the farmer's market and a picnic breakfast at Weaver Street Market.  We try to do this every weekend that we can because we feel so at home in Carrboro (it's where we lived when we were dating/engaged) and because it's such a relaxing way to begin the weekend.  We got some great veggies at the market (lettuce, eggplant, tomatoes) and then had a nice breakfast on the lawn of WSM - the boys enjoyed a vegan sweet potato muffin and some apple juice :)  When we got home, we just hung around the house and played on the floor with the babies together - something we hardly ever have the chance to do because there is always a house project or school project to be done.  But, I am happy to say that absolutely nothing got done this weekend!  After many hours of playing and napping, we decided to take daddy out for dinner.  The babies haven't been out to dinner since they were tiny, because we didn't want to disrupt bedtime.  But, we took a chance, and decided to see how it would go.  Luckily, they had a blast!  We went to our favorite pizza place, and had some delicious slices (and a free beer for Eric, bought by the owner) while the boys played and flirted with the other customers.  It was their first time in restaurant high chairs!

After pizza, we sauntered down Franklin St. a bit and found a new frozen yogurt place, YoFruit (why one street needs like 3 frozen yogurt restaurants, I do not know).  It was quite good, and one of their flavors was Original Tart, which was just made from plain yogurt, so the boys ate some (ok, a lot) of daddy's helping.  They managed to stay awake all the way home (could be from the frozen yogurt...), and went to bed perfectly after a quick diaper and clothing change.  Eric and I watched Sherlock Holmes (Daddy's Choice!) - well, he watched it, and I made it through about 3/4 of it:)  What a great night!

The fun continued on Sunday.  Eric came down to find a card the boys had gotten for him, and then we had biscuits and orange juice (us) and muffins and bottles (babies) for breakfast.  For Eric's Father's Day gift, he got a new compressor and nail gun, and he used the compressor to quickly fill up our baby pool so the boys could take a dip.  They really enjoyed it and say they're ready for a dip in the ocean this weekend!

The day was topped off by a yummy dinner of my Grandmother's famous sauce and meatballs - yum!

Happy Father's Day honey - it was such a fabulous weekend!  We love you and are so proud of how hard you work - at work, school, home, and everything you do!

Independence

It is summer now, so I have the wonderful opportunity to stay at home full time with the babies for a few months.  (I am so thankful for my job at times like this!)  This past week, I have spent many hours playing with the boys, and I find that I have to stop myself from doing things for them.  They are able to do more and more on their own each day, and it is a conscious decision to let them try - whether it's crawling (or rolling) to get a desired toy, pulling to stand, finger feeding, trying to hold their own bottle ; sometimes it is easier for me to just do it for them - like when they are struggling to get to a toy that I could so easily hand to them - but I know that they need those experiences in order to learn new skills and independence.  And, at the same time, mommy needs these experiences in order to learn to let go and give up control of everything! :)  It's funny - I always tell the families that I work with to encourage their kids to do anything they can independently because it helps to build cognitive and adaptive skills, but it sure is hard to put into practice myself!

I love that I am home and can see firsthand something they learn to do - like when Felix picked up a Gerber Puff (I reluctantly say these are the boys' favorite snack) and didn't just hold it in his hand, but put it in his mouth; when Asher systematically emptied the toy basket (by removing each toy or by dumping it) and then experimented by looking at toys through its little window; when Felix learned to independently move from laying down to sitting; when Asher tried to pull to stand like his brother; when I found Felix standing up in his crib for the first time; and when Asher pulled the blanket closer to him so he could reach a toy that was on it.  I feel so blessed to have this time with the boys, and as they learn, I learn from them everyday!

What?  Isn't this how we play with the Exersaucer?

Look what I can do all on my own!

We're in trouble

A few weeks ago, Felix started pulling to stand.  If he was near anything stationary, he grabbed it, and pulled with all his might until he was standing.  At that time, he also began taking a few steps while holding onto our hands.  (With Aunt Alysa, he decided it would be fun to take steps backwards...just keeping her on her toes:)) Then, just a few nights ago, he pulled to stand on a toy piano...and started pushing it forward and walking behind it!  I kept trying to catch it on video, but he still was pretty unsteady and could only take a few steps before falling.  But, yesterday evening I caught this video of his longest trek yet.

I will just reiterate this, because I keep hearing it - yes, he is only 8 months old.  And yes - we're in trouble.

First summer begins

Asher

Felix

Over Memorial Day weekend, we were able to take the boys and one of the dogs (thanks to Thea and family who took in the other two pups!) to our friend's family's house in Edenton, NC.  The house is wonderful, and is right on the river, with a little private beach area and everything.  This was the babies' first "vacation" trip, and they did wonderfully.  They are pros at long car trips by now, and usually either sleep, look out the windows, or play with their toys.  There were about 7 adults staying there that weekend, and they actually didn't show any signs of stranger anxiety - so maybe that stage has already passed!  We brought a quilt and a basket of toys and set up shop in the livingroom, and they were content to play pretty much all day.  We did try to bring them down to the water one afternoon, but it was probably bad timing because they skipped their last nap that afternoon (too busy playing and socializing), so Felix wasn't really feeling the water.

Asher wasn't thrilled either, but at least he could keep his feet in the water without crying!

Since Eric is (or was when he had a spare moment in his life) an avid surfer, he really hopes the boys will take to the ocean eventually.  But, if they're like me, they will prefer bodies of water which don't include creatures that can bite you :)  Hey, even Cody had to be coaxed to take a swim!

It was a great start to the boys' first summer, and I am so looking forward to what else we have in store!  (Spoiler alert - road trip to the Jersey Shore in late June, airplane ride to Syracuse in mid-July!)

PS - Happy 8 month birthday to the babies today!  It seems like I have blinked and they are 8 months old.  They will be walking and talking soon - Felix is already pulling to stand on anything he can get his hands on, and both the boys are trying their hardest to crawl!  I am OK if that particular milestone doesn't happen right away...I can't even imagine life once they are mobile...

What's the big deal, mom?  Just leave the cupboards open for us to find new toys!

And - happy 3rd wedding anniversary to my hubby! I'm so blessed to have you - and two tiny clones of you too! :)

Stranger anxiety

Yes, the babies have reached that age where a random adult ooh-ing and ah-ing over them is no longer met with an adorable toothless smile - it is now met with either a wide-eyed, open-mouthed (toothless for Asher and semi-toothless for Felix) stare, or a quivering lip and a loud wail.  I understand that this is a normal part of development, and is quite adaptive evolutionarily speaking - it allows for good attachments to caregivers, and if babies didn't have this reaction they could easily be carted off by some menacing stranger at any time!  And, when I see this reaction at church because well-meaning church-goers are leaning into the stroller and admiring the babies' big blue eyes, I don't get too bothered by it.  But, it is difficult to see when they have this reaction to their grandma and grandpa...and aunt...and great-grandmother...and great-aunt and uncle...I know that most people don't take this reaction personally, but really how can you not when your own flesh and blood cries at the sight of you?  We had this experience a few weekends ago when I took the babies to visit Eric's family (while he was stuck at home doing some much-needed home improvement).  Now, the babies have spent a good amount of time around these people throughout their lives - they have seen them about 1-2 times per month for the last eight months.  But, this was the first time that they cried and clung to mommy whenever someone spoke to them!  This lasted for the whole first day that we were there.  Luckily, by the second day, the babies were back to their cheerful, friendly selves, and enjoyed playing with their loving family members - which made me happy, not only because everyone feels better when a baby smiles at them, but because this gave my arms a break - I was having to carry both babies at the same time to keep them soothed and comfortable!

I know this is a short stage of development, and I am hoping that it has passed by the time the babies and I are visiting my family in NY this summer!  Considering the babies have not met anyone up there yet, that could make for a stressful time!

Just give me watermelon, and I'll love you!