11 Months

We are just around the corner from turning a year old. I can't believe it. I just continue to be amazed at the daily progress these guys make. It's absolutely astounding. I am having so much fun w/ this stage. It's my favorite by far. I'm excited to see what the near future brings... "toddlers" but sad to leave behind having two babies. (they will always be my babies though...won't they)

Here are a few examples of how much can happen in just 24 hours that will leave you just speechless.

• Just this morning... Matthew actually took a pillow from the couch, dragged it in front of the entertainment center and then proceeded to stand on it so he could try and reach items high on a shelf that are supposed to be off-limits. Isn't that a milestone for a 2 year old? I also watched Matthew walk independently about 15 steps in a row today w/ no help. He's been doing 3-5 steps by himself for a month or two and walking while holding onto something but this is a big leap. I haven't encouraged his walking at all b/c I've been hoping to put it off just a little. I have my hands full as it is. But...looks like there is no more putting it off. So I am now officially going to encourage his walking/running and have even more chaos to attend too ;-)

• Then at lunch, Matthew decided he didn't like some of his food choices so he handed Andrew his unwanted finger foods one at a time. Matthew would either hand it to Andrew or drop it on his tray. Andrew would then pick it up and eat it and this continued through 10 or so pieces of food. It was so cute....like they were sharing.

• And just when J and I start to worry a little about Andrew's progress, he steps up and meets another milestone. Andrew is now pulling himself up into a standing position (while holding onto something). Yeah! He goes from crawling or sitting into a kneeling position and then pulls up to standing. He figured out how to do this yesterday and is now doing it non-stop. I think one challenge being a first time parent w/ twins is you don't know what "normal" is so you tend to compare them even though you don't want to. I'm fortunate to be in a baby playgroup that helps w/ this...b/c we all have babies of similar ages and most are where Andrew is in the milestone department and that calms the nerves and worries some.
  

• I have also noticed recently that Andrew is getting better and better at copying my actions. He'll shake his head no and copy me sometimes when I do it. I'll drum my hands on his highchair tray and then he'll copy me and we'll go back and forth doing it. Like we're a rock and roll band. Loads of fun...laughs all around.
  

So as far as where we're at w/ 11 months:

• Both just started wearing size 4 diapers day and night.
• We're wearing 12 month size clothing but will be moving onto 18 month sizes pretty soon.
  
• Both are drinking 3 bottles (6 oz each) of formula a day. Sippy cups of water are offered. Andrew does okay but Matthew is still not a fan of drinking from a sippy cup. My goal is to work on this so we can transition to a sippy cup in place of one or two of the bottles each day. We're eating 2-3 (usually 3) meals of solids per day. Finger foods and some pureed foods. Both boys prefer the pureed veggies over soft bite sized pieces of veggies. Other than that they love small pieces of fruit, crackers, waffles, cheese, etc....and both LOVE yougurt. Andrew will eat most anything whereas Matthew is much pickier.
• J and I have been bathing the boys together in the big soaking tub. This may have to stop b/c both like to crawl and stand in the water which can be frightful at times. So they are too big for a baby tub but too squirrelly for the actual tub itself. Maybe just hose them off in the back yard for a while :-)
  
• Nighttime has been horrible this last week. Not sure whats going on but Matthew has been waking up a lot. Maybe the reflux is still an issue? Even Andrew (my good sleeper) has woken up a few times too. They also wake each other up more often now then they used to.
• Typically Matthew starts the day before 5AM and Andrew likes to sleep in until 7:30. So lining up their schedules can be challenging. Both still go down around 7:30pm for bed.
  

I leave you w/ the photo invite I'll be sending out soon for their first birthday party. (Thanks Kirsten for the recommendation) I'm excited about having this little party. Should be fun!