Lucky #13

These days I am busy entertaining and teaching.  Kaleb and Aiden's personalities are rapidly developing and they soak up everything like a sponge.  Considering I'm raising the boys exactly the same way, at the same time, I find myself in complete awe at how different they are.  I'm shocked at the polar opposite spectrum's they sit.

Aiden is a champion eater, and with 8 teeth gets the job done…quickly!  Kaleb has 6 teeth and takes his time with everything…..he'd sit at the table eating for 2 hours if I let him.

Neighborhood wagon walk.  Shorts and T-shirts in the winter….

Aiden is my daredevil.  When the door opens he screams with excitement and RUNS for the outdoors.  He is extremely demanding and wants what he wants, when he wants it.  Aiden talks in mostly ooo's and smacks his lips together anytime I do it.  He kisses everyone like he kisses the cat: big smile and head knocking.  Aiden is the most ticklish boy on the planet and has the best, most contagious laugh you could ever imagine.  He is also proving to be left-handed and loves playing "Where's Aiden" aka Peek-a-boo.

Kaleb is a calm, patient little boy.  He'd follow his brother to the ends of the earth.  When he finds his favorite toys (stuffed animals, cars, remote control) he walks around proudly showing off.  He points at the things he wants and loves clicking his tongue.  Kaleb talks with tttaa's, kkkkaaa, and laadaadee's and gives the best hugs in the entire world.  He is also officially clapping (thanks to the encouragement of his clapping cousins Lucie and Teddy), and is doing REALLY well with the shape sorter.

Both are incredibly strong and pick up the heaviest objects they can get their hands on.  They LOOVE music, dance to any jingle and take turns flipping the pages of whatever book Kaleb brings me to read.  They simply must have a spoon at every meal and take turns feeding me as I feed them.  Sharing is a new fun game.  Unfortunately it rarely extends beyond sharing an object with Keith or I……sharing with each other is an unspeakable act and goes against the rules.

Our favorite lift-the-flap book "Dear Zoo".  Staying cozy in our wonderful sweaters from Aunt Nan!

So far the new year has been a joy.  Our focus has been: get more sleep so we can all have more patience and more energy to play!!!  More all-day-jammie days and I plan to carve out some ME time.  Last year I put every ounce of myself into the boys, so this year weight gain, a hair-cut, pedicure and massage are on my list.

Watching the rain (Texas snow) in our Monster Jammie's!!!!

Hope everyone is having a glorious January as well!!

2013, A Year In Review

Happy New Year friends and family!
We are thrilled to welcome 2014, but sad to say farewell to the best year of our lives.  In memory of 2013 I put together my favorite memories, and favorite photos.

Bringing in 2013 was magical.  Dancing, kissing and holding newborn Kaleb and Aiden.  I don't think I made a single wish since everything I'd ever dreamed had come true!!  Family started pouring into Texas to meet the boys and help Keith and I cook, clean, change diapers and rest.  Julia and Jessica not only fed us for over a week, Jules stocked my fridge and freezer with additional meals once we were on our own again.  I know now food is the very best gift to give new parents!  The boys endured my enthusiasm for Valentines Day and I donated 13 inches of hair to Locks of Love.

The boys made their first "friends" and became serious Pen's fans!  I became an aunt again to Lucie June and my first nephew Theodore William!

The Texas blue bonnets gave us the perfect opportunity for a nice family photo shoot!  Keith and I were SOOO brave and took the babies on their first plane trip, where we saw gobs of friends and family, and I celebrated my first Mother's Day.  Kaleb and Aiden started rolling over and balancing while sitting-up.  Kaleb went through my favorite "flight" stage and starting sporting a faux hawk.

 

Charleston South Carolina hosted us for our first family beach vacation.  Then we blinked our eyes and Kaleb and Aiden were 7 months old!

Keith got sent away for a second time, so the boys and I road-tripped to Colorado for a couple months.  They both accomplished crawling, standing and cut a couple teeth each!  I saw my first, and only, MOOSE, and the boys had their first picnic at Kite Lake for their 8 month celebration.  We had a reunion with twin cousins Lucie and Teddy, took the best.photo.ever and fell in love with Citrus Lane.  I swear every box gets better and better!  The boys turned 9 months old and we took full advantage of my sister Jessica's beautiful mountain view for some family photos.

My little artists were born!!  Personalities exploded and Kaleb and Aiden started showing major interest in things they love!!  Books, stuffed animals and driving cars.

We celebrated our first, and last, Thanksgivukkah.  The boys started WALKING, we enjoyed our first visit to the zoo and threw a one year birthday bash!!

Kaleb and Aiden have made some wonderful other multiples friends, and that makes a few Mama of Multiples friends for me as well!  We met up with a photographer for some great family pictures and brought in the New Year setting off Chinese lanterns.  We wrote our wishes and goals for 2014 on each lantern too!

I'm really looking forward to all 2014 has to offer and wish you all days filled with love and laughter!