Baby Stuff!

Right now we're dealing with a cold going around the babies.  First Levi, then Andrew, now Caroline and Leah, and Ben and Allison seem to have a very mild version.  Caroline's the worst, poor thing.  She's super cranky and has snot galore.  I am thankful that we've had no fevers and they've been recovering on their own!  Dave also got the cold, and a few friends :/

Sick Caroline staying up late with Mommy

This past week I finally upgraded to the next level in bathtubs!  It still fits over the sink (I'm holding out on the regular tub as long as I can- just thinking of my poor back and knees), but has 2 seats- one for sitters and one for non-sitters.  So, Leah can recline a bit and the others and can sit up!  Ben, Alli, and Caroline have mastered splashing the water, which means I'm nice and wet by the end of bath time.  It's almost like riding the Tidal Wave at AstroWorld.  If you don't remember AstroWorld, you just made me feel old - thanks.  Anyway, they love it!

Ben loves his bath

Allison excited over the new tub

Levi says- Another new thing?

We've also started "snack training"- or that's what I'm calling it.  It means we're doing the 2:30pm feeding at the table with their milk in sippy cups and they're given some finger food (puffs/cheerios) snacks.  So far we've had to finish on the boppies because they can't quite lift their sippy cups high enough to get the second half.  Allison is a pro with the finger foods!  Andrew and Caroline pick them up, but have a hard time getting it in their mouth.  Ben's cool if you put it in his mouth for him and Levi wants nothing to do with it (he doesn't like new things).  Maggie thinks it's raining puffs under the table :)

Leah is now eating 2 tsp twice a day!  Brunch of plain oatmeal cereal and lunch of rice cereal mixed with a veggie.  So far she's tried sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and green beans.  She did not like the squash.  Anything new she cries through the first day, but slowly gets used to it.  I use quite a few distraction techniques to keep her eating and not gagging, but she does take the food and keep it down!  Next goal- a whole tablespoon at once.  She is also improving with her motor skills, especially head control, and vision therapy will soon be added to her therapy schedule.  I'm excited for this new opportunity!

Valentine's Day!

Cool dudes in their shades

Fun Stuff!

Thanks to a high school friend I haven't spoken to since high school- and thanks to facebook or else she couldn't have messaged me- I found out the Texas Children's photographer who worked with our family submitted some of our pics in a national contest and won!  One of my delivery pictures and the first group photo of the babies both made the top 10 in the nation and will be displayed in a traveling exhibit this year and will be at Capitol Hill this summer.  The winning pics are...

The 1st birthday media stuff has already started.  Did an interview and photo shoot for a local magazine and we're going to be the cover story in April!  They were very nice to work with and I got to preview the article and give my 2 cents on what was included :)  Speaking of 1st birthdays, the planning is in full swing already.  I had no idea how early you have to start with these things!  And so many decisions!

My mom has been here the past 2 weeks helping and is about to go back home.  This visit was extra nice because a couple of friends/super awesome volunteers watched the babies so my mom and I could get out for an afternoon!  We got mexican food (of course!) and ran a bunch of errands.  Whenever I get out I usually have a long list of to dos to hit. I've gotten pretty good at racing around to get everything done in my allotted time.  Fun and productive!

Last fun thing- Dave got a new vehicle!  This has been a long time coming.  His truck would randomly not start more and more frequently and after many trips to the mechanic there was still no solution.  Somehow the dealership gave us a good trade in despite the broken bumper, cracked windshield, and power windows and locks that don't work whatsoever.  And it randomly doesn't start.  Very excited that we have a new to us vehicle that better suits our family and is reliable!