Blanket Fight

This video was made the last time we were visiting Grandma and Papa in Georgia. They were actually up here just last weekend, and hopefully I'll have more pictures soon. Right now I have these of the girls and their Grandma, taken so they can study them and learn to say "Grandma." They are being a little stubborn about that. They've got "Papa" though.

Grandma and Mary

Grandma and Sophie

The girls are growing and doing new things and saying new words all the time now. They can make a lot of animal sounds - dog, cow, sheep, duck (Mary), cat (Sophie). They know a lot of their books now and can "read" along and know what's coming next. They are at the stage (especially Sophie) where they like you to read books over and over. They are very friendly and will hug and kiss people but at the same time are getting better with staying nearby and learning boundaries. So we are having lots of fun. The girls are usually very busy except when they are sleeping.

One thing they like to do is try on clothes and shoes, especially shoes. They can both walk around wearing my shoes now... I've seen them attempt to walk in Peter's shoes but I'm not sure if even I can do that. Mary can put on her own shoes now, except for fastening a buckle. We haven't taken that many pictures lately, but thought I'd end by sharing this one of Mary wearing Dad's shorts he left in the living room that day. I think she thought it was funny too.

Dauset Trails

Wow! It's been over a month since the last post. These pictures are from earlier this month when visiting Georgia. Dauset Trails is a nature center just outside Jackson, GA and a few miles from my parents house. We took the girls to see some animals. They have all kinds there, bears, bobcats, several kinds of birds including an eagle, but I think they liked the farm animals best. We have been teaching them their sounds, after all.

Papa, Mary, Sophie, Daddy

Papa and Mary

Sophie studying the pigs

The Goat Whisperer (Mary)

Sophie having fun!

And we're back...

Mary and Sophie

So, it's been over a month since the last post and we've been doing fine, just not blogging. The girls are approaching 18 months (on April 7th) and although they don't seem much bigger, they are getting to be big girls. They are talking a lot more, most of it seems to be their own language though. Mary really likes to say "shoes," and she likes to take off her shoes in the car, at Kroger, etc. She also likes to put our shoes on. She tries to put on her own shoes but is not yet that coordinated. They both like books, and Sophie has her favorite books that she likes to bring us to read to her. Today Sophie started to say "hat." She had on her Georgia hat when we got out of the car this afternoon and said "hat." I said it back to her so she would know that was the right word. Then she went in her room by herself for a few minutes and practiced.

The girls have pretty much dropped their morning nap, but they still have a little quiet time mid-morning. They have been a little fussier than usual the past week or so and we think this may be why. Not too fussy but just a little different. The other day they were both being a little fussy with me so I just left them alone for a while to play by themselves. I could hear them giggling in their room and tried to take a candid video. It didn't work that well, but I figured I'd share it anyway so you can see how they've grown!

Snow Day! (but still had to work...)

Mom, Sophie and Mary

For all you folks reading this in Georgia that think we live up "north," now, well it's really not that different from Georgia. We get a little more snow maybe, but not much. I'd say on any given day it's about 10 deg cooler up here. Except for right now - I heard it's really cold in Georgia today. But the school closings are about the same (when it snows in C'ville, that is).

So... when I woke up yesterday and saw the blanket of white on the ground I thought, no work! Or at least a delayed start time. But, unfortunately it was business as usual. (OK, my start time might have been delayed a little bit. Good thing I don't have a time clock at work.) I got Peter to take a picture of us in the yard on the way out. First time the girls have been in the snow. They could tell it was different but weren't really that excited. Most of the snow is gone by now, but our front yard is still covered.

It's been a while since the last post, so here are more pictures of the girls. They will be 16 mos old on February 7th.

And here's the girls at home with dad, featuring Mary...

Happy New Year!

Sophie and Mary

I just realized it's been a while since the last post when we were still in Georgia. I think we have finally gotten in the groove with 2009 and back to routine. The girls are 15 months old now and had their checkup with the doctor last week. They have both grown over an inch in the past 3 months but have not gained much weight. Sophie is still not quite 20 pounds. But it is not a big concern since they grew in height, I just have to keep getting more calories in them. Wish I was the one with that problem!

We also found out that Mary is allergic to peanuts. BOO!!! I had my suspicions after she had some slight rashes that seemed to happen whenever she had peanut butter, the last one being the worse - all over her body. Fortunately there were not other effects, and the rashes went away after a nap or night's sleep. But she had a blood test at the doctor's office and it was confirmed. It's amazing how many foods don't have peanuts but may contain traces so we have to be really careful. We also have to get an epi-pen just in case.

Mary

Sophie

Russ gave Peter and I some Georgia hats at Christmas. Also an MP3 player that I am still figuring out before I am ready to use it. Peter uses his all the time now. I have realized now that I've avoided these gadgets for so long because if you listen to headphones and sing along people may think you're an idiot. It's so hard! Peter said I should just listen to podcasts (he listens to Science podcasts) so I won't be tempted.

At any rate, back to the hats - we have enjoyed them but I think the girls enjoy them even more. They have their own hats but they like the big ones. I think they know how silly they look. They imitate us more all the time. Sophie has gotten to where she likes to pull around the diaper bag and carry my wallet around. But then sometimes she still likes to sit in her baby tub that we used to bathe her in the hospital. They may act big, but they are still babies after all. We have lots of fun watching them grow!

Sophie

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone! We are still in Georgia today and leaving early tomorrow morning to drive back to VA with the girls and the boys (dog boys, that is). Hopefully we will fit everything back in our rented minivan. We have all been having a great time this week. The girls have enjoyed being the center of attention. Especially Sophie. There's something about family gatherings that brings out the best in her.

We arrived Saturday afternoon and went out to dinner with my parents to my favorite restaurant in Forsyth - El Tejado. It took the girls a while to get settled in that night, and we did a little more traveling on Sunday, but I think after that they were right at home. Sunday we went to see Grandma Ilona in Atlanta. She's in Hungary right now with her mother - left on Monday. Peter's grandmother is not doing so well and is stubborn about doctors. We hope that his mom can get something resolved before she comes back home.

Monday night we went to Mema and Papa's house for dinner. Mema made enough to feed an army as usual and it was all delicious (also as usual). Mary ate until she couldn't hold herself up anymore. Tuesday we met Aunt Janis and our cousin Gini for lunch in Macon. That's my mom's side of the family - they had a get together on Sunday but we weren't able to make it down. Then, last night we had family over for Christmas Eve dinner, my dad's sister Tricia and her family, Russ and Mandy, Mema and Papa. I finally got the camera out and tried to take a few pictures. I've posted the only ones that came out decent. Not because of the subjects - but I took a few before I realized there was something on the camera lens. And also I'm probably the world's worst photographer, so I have a lot of blurry stuff.

Mary and Mom

Mandy and Russ

Sophie and Kadie

Sophie and her teddy bear - she was up way past bedtime!

Christmas Card Outtakes 2008

It's been a while since the last post. We have been busy. Especially Sophie and Mary. They are walking, well sometimes running (Sophie). Mary is not walking quite as much as Sophie but she gets where she's going pretty fast, whatever the mode. We're all having fun.

About the pictures: We had a Christmas picture made yesterday of our family with the girls wearing these fancy dresses given to them by Grandma Ilona. It won't be ready until the 18th though, so I went ahead and took some pictures of the girls at home that afternoon while they still had their dresses on.

I don't think we have a winner for the Christmas card. I'll try again later. There's still 16 days to get around to it, right? Sophie was ready to ham it up, but Mary (probably still a bit groggy from nap time) was very focused on the camera. And this ultimately resulted in a very upset Mary when she could not have the camera. It's just too bad she's so cute when she's angry. Don't worry, she's fine.

Something is about to happen.

Mary goes for the camera/Sophie still being cute

Hey, that's a cool camera, Mom - what's up with Mary?

End of session.

We've grown a lot this year!

Our 2007 Christmas card picture!