Merry Christmas

We all had a great time Christmas morning, watching the girls open gifts was fun - okay, "opening gifts" maybe not the right statement - tearing and eating paper is much more correct.

Holiday Card

The girls are good sports, they made it through us lugging them outside for some holiday card pictures.

Bunny Clean

Little Miss Clean Maddy, ears and all.

Sitting Pretty

A little morning quiet time with Babcia.

Tree Hunting

Usually Jim, and I, and the Sherman's head to a tree farm to cut down a Christmas Tree. We've now done it four years, poor Meg pushed Will in a stroller through the fields last year! It was WAY too cold when we attempted to find a tree so we gave in and bought a pre-cut.

An Apple a Day

What do you think, can she do it? Zoe's new toy while eating cereal.

Giving Thanks

This year we had a lot to give thanks for. Our little ladies did great during dinner, Maddy was determined to pull the bowl of potatoes onto her highchair tray - luckily a fast Grandma did some intervention. Uncle Mike kept Zoe very busy during dinner - wearing her burp cloth, but - hey it worked :)

Snow Bears

Our first walk outside after a snowfall. The girls where super aware the whole time with cute rosey cheeks.

Heart Attack!

I almost had one today at 2pm when I went to check on the Maddy and Zoe. Miss Zoe flipped herself over, and stuck her hand between the wall and crib. First of all, I checked if she was still breathing! Then I tried to move her arm, which she moved back a second later between the wall and crib. Hopefully she doesn't wake up too spooked.

Sunday Night Dinner

The girls ate at the "big table" last night for the first time - Thanksgiving should be interesting . . . hmmm

mmm . . . toes!

Zoe has gotten quite good at grabbing her toes, she almost can get them in her mouth - not yet, but close.

Command Central

The girls in their exersaucers early this morning.

Sippy

Maddy is on her way to mastering the sippy cup . . . we've got lots of time :)

Big Time

As our friend Katie likes to say "it's the big time". The girls are now in high chairs while we feed them solids. It's going pretty well, some days I get a glimpse of what they will look like older - yikes!

Monkeyin' Around

The girls playing with monkeys in the morning - don't we all?

Seriously . . ? !

I took a bunch of shots of the girls Halloween night as we waited for trick-or-treaters. This one is my favorite, I love Zoe's face . . . she's had it, so has her hat.

Happy First Halloween!

Snowday

Our first snow day, the ladies played in the crib as I told them about all the skiing and boarding they would be doing soon.

Baby Mohawk

Little Zoe's hair is growing like gang busters, she's sporting a mohawk these days!

Two little bears

I couldn't help myself, I saw these cute little fleece jumpers in a catalog and ordered them . . . I didn't think I would get sucked into dressing the girls up into costume like outfits - - they are cute, aren't they ;)

Working on it

Solids are a bit of challenge, but we are starting to get the swing of it - sort of . . !

Solid!

mmmmm . . . warm mushy oatmeal paste, the girls loved it! We totally were expecting a major protest, and mess giving the girls their first taste of solid food. It went well. Maddy nearly ate the spoon and bowl, Zoe proceeded cautiously and finished without a problem. Here's a quick video we shot of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBC1U0k9ixM

Taste tested and approved!

We just pulled out the baby exersaucers for the girls to feel out, Maddy immediately went for anything she could fit in her mouth. Zoe is not completely convinced she will like it, but so far she's been a sport about trying it out.

June 1 - October 11

We brought Maddy home over Memorial Day weekend, she was a little peanut of 4lbs. Jim showed me the picture to the left the other night, it made me stop in my tracts . . . she was so tiny, barely fit into the bouncer chair it seemed so normal at the time . . . look at those poor little chicken legs! I am so proud, and happy to report she is now almost 13lbs, and is almost out grown the bouncy chair. Both girls giggle, laugh, roll-over, and sleep great these days. Time really does fly when you have little ones!

awwww . . . Pumpkin

Our first big real "family" outing this weekend to Critz farm. We checked out the pumpkin patch, animals, hay, and all sorts of new sights, sounds and smells. I should actually say Maddy, Jimi, and I checked out all the new things - Zoe decided to nap most of the time. The girls face forward now in the carriers, much more fun and interesting for them.

Maxie . . .

. . . the dog, and her parents Doug and Kristen visited us this weekend on their way up to the River. Maxie is also 4 months old, we found ourselves swapping baby/puppy stories - oddly enough they were very similar.

SU Visit

The ladies visited at SU yesterday. We took them to the Michelangelo exhibit yesterday on campus to get art smart–you have to start early . . hahaha.
While on campus we visited with some friends. Paula (on the left) and Nicci gave them LOTS of love and attention!

Big Mouth

If only the ladies could have bigger mouths, everything gets taste tested these days from my shirt, burp cloths, each others hands . . . here Miss Zoe is desperately trying to stick the rattle hanging from the gym in her mouth . . . she worked on it for over a half hour . . . now there's determination!

Sitting Pretty

WOW, the ladies can now sit in their little Bumbo Baby seats. It's wild to see them upright!

Welcome to the Kingdom

We seriously wanted to put that on the girls baptism cake, but decided last minute perhaps that wasn't the most appropriate saying for the special day.

The girls where baptized yesterday morning, they did wonderfully.

Gym time

These floor gyms are such a great idea. They now play for solid chunks of time under them - mostly trying to stick whatever they can in their mouths . . . hahahaha

40+20+20+12+12= 104lbs!

As my friend Sue kindly pointed out on our recent walk, I am pushing 104 lbs around! It's not so bad on the flats, but around our house there are some serious hills - and they kick my butt. SO, I decided it was time the little ladies go car seat free in the stroller. Worked great, and I now push 40 lbs less around the neighborhood - phew!

ooooh . . . then what happens . . ?

Part of our routine is reading books in the morning, and cuddling before our morning nap. It amazes me how much attention span they have when looking, and hearing books read to them.

Crafty Jen

Our good friend, and amazing mother of two Jen got crafty this summer and made us hipster personalized onesies. Clearly the girls love them - - Thanks Jen!!!

Flying high

Caught Daddy and Maddy having some fun during a diaper change yesterday morning. They love to be bounced, and held in the air now.

Sweet cheeks

Need I say more - - - awwwwww

Lilypad time

Little Zoe taking a break from tummy time on her lilypad mat - can you say pattern overload - - -

Morning beauty #2

Maddy is usually the one to get us all up at 6:30am, apparently the cool nights are agreeing with her . . . .

Morning beauty #1

Sleeping has been going really well (knock on wood)! The girls now go through the night mostly, and we wake them up around 7ish to get the day rolling. Miss Zoe stretching out this morning.

5oz knock-out

Zoe fast asleep mid-burp on my shoulder this evening after her first 5 oz bottle. We had a big day, the girls went up to 5 oz bottles, AND they slept from 10:30pm - 6am!!! We are crossing our fingers this evening that last night was not a one time deal - oiy!

The Sherman Ladies

We had a fun visit today from three lovely Sherman/Luber girls. Katie, Betsy, and Carrie (left to right) helped me with a 4pm feeding - many thanks ladies!!

Sweet Cheek Maddy

Chubby cheeks, and a bubble blower too . . .

Sweet Cheek Zoe

This morning we where getting ready for our walk and I couldn't help but snap shots of the girls, and their sweet chubby cheeks!

You don't say . . . !

Nothing like a captive audience. Grandpa Zaba trying to entertain the girls while bottles warmed.

Um . . . cut-it out with the pink!

Clearly Zoe nor Maddy are not huge fans of pink dresses.

Success

Everyone enjoyed the practice, especially Zoe :)

Tubby practice

We're going to celebrate our friend Kate getting married Sept. 13, so Grandma and Grandpa Zaba, Uncle Mike and Meg are going to babysit for the weekend . . . we made sure everyone got to practice tubby time without us.

Cooling off

This September has been the summer we did not have, sunny, hot, and gorgeous . . . go figure. Here is Granpa Zaba cooling off with the girls in the evening.

Grandpa Jerry

Or Jerry as he likes to be called with the grand kids, dusted off the cob webs and gave his first bottle in 30 years . . . not bad form, we should sign him up full-time now that he's recovered and back on his feet.

Oh the Joy

Such joy in having a diaper changed, Miss Maddy grinning big now that she's dry.

Multitasking

Who says guys can't multitask?!!!