Friday, April 25, 2014

So Long Pacifiers

Up until recently, there was one thing that Caroline and Ellie have loved more than anything...and it has been books.  If we let them, they would read books all day long and do absolutely nothing else.

It's the same routine...go pick out a book, back up with their cute little diapered bottom sticking out holding their chosen book until they land in my lap.  We read the book, usually skipping every other page, since they turn them faster than I can read them.  And then we repeat.

The focused book reading became so focused that I had to put the books behind the baby gate so that they would actually play with a toy or two.  

Now, we read books before bed/naptime or if I offer them a special treat.

Up until a week ago, books were their "thing".  

Now.....they have 2 "things".  Books AND Pacifiers.

For starters, they are thumb suckers.  Caroline sucks her right thumb and Ellie sucks her left.  They suck their thumbs when they sleep and when they are in the car.  I've always kept several pacifiers in the toy baskets that they like to play with here and there, until last week, when it became a total obsession of Caroline's and I finally just had to take them away.  Her favorite thing was to dig around looking for 2...one for herself and one for Ellie.  She would always put one in her mouth.  Then she'd walk over to Ellie, shove one in her mouth, which Ellie always accepted, almost as if to say, "thanks sissy".  I've always loved watching this interaction.  

But, when Caroline started to ask for a pacifier while we' were digging in the dirt in the backyard, its was time to bye-bye to the silicon woobies.

Here is a sequence of a typical pacifier exchange.

Ellie laying down on the floor playing with her baby by herself.

Caroline (standing up) giving Ellie a pacifier

Not only trying to give it to Ellie, but really trying to get it in her mouth

Girls resume playing with pacifiers in mouth.  Thanks Sissy!


Monday, April 21, 2014

Groesbeck

We went to Groesbeck to visit the Byrds again a couple weekends ago.  Caroline and Ellie were just begging us for a weekend to simply "get away from it all."


This is our third time up there and 2/3 times that we've been there, it's been dreary and wet...but still gorgeous.

Caroline
 The girls did so great with the dogs and even wanted to get close to them several times, which is a HUGE step for them!

Ellie watching the dogs from afar

Caroline getting up close and personal.  



We found out while we were there that Debbie is going to have a little girl in August, and we are all thrilled.  Sarah Byrd.


Blake and I can already see it coming....Caroline and Ellie fighting over Sarah!

Blake with Ellie
 We're already looking forward to the fun all 3 girls are going to have playing together in the woods with the dogs and cows...


and who knows, maybe even learning how to hunt with their Daddies!


All that to say, we're all looking forward to the bonds that Sarah and the twins are going to have...or at least we HOPE they will have!


Can't wait to meet Sarah in August!


Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Everywhere Together

Caroline and Ellie are everywhere.  Not everywhere destructive, but everywhere together.  


Together, they have discovered that when they bang their puzzle pieces against the washing machine, it makes a hilarious and very loud noise.


Together, they can make an entire roll of toilet paper spin off the holder in about 20 seconds.


Like all babies, they love to hold our cell phones and remote controls.


They still don't really play much together but they are always extremely aware of what the other is doing.  They give each other kisses and high fives...


They like to sing the same songs...


And they do their hand motions exactly the same way for their favorite songs.


...and of course, wherever one goes, the other follows.


Neither girls likes to share, but if there's two of something, they both are really into picking up 2 of something and giving the second one to her sister.


Sounds similar to sharing, but it's DEFINITELY not, so Blake and I have learned.


For instance, the phone in these pictures....since there's only one, Caroline made sure that Ellie didn't get her hands on it.


 This leads to a whole lot of meltdowns throughout the day....well, and a whole lot of clutter for those things that we have 2 of!