2012 Recap

February 2012 - Listed our Layton home.  Hoping to move to Centerville, Kaysville or Syracuse.

April 2012 - Jeff was laid off of his job with Raymond James.  The same week we received two offers on our home.  Sold our home in Layton.

April 28th - We moved in with Grandma and Grandpa Draper.  Jeff began a job with the Securities Division with the State.

May 2012 - Made an offer on our home in Kaysville.  It was a short sale and we waited 5 months for final closing to happen.

July 2012  -  Grandma and Grandpa Boyette came to visit.

September 29, 2012  - We moved to Kaysville

October 7, 2012 - Seren broke her left leg when she fell off the swing set in the backyard (she had a splint for a couple days, followed by a bent knee cast and then a straight leg walking cast)

October 2012 - Kendall began Early Intevention for a mild speech delay  (October 2012 - March 2013)

November 2012 - Seren finally got her cast off at the end of November 2012.

December 2012 - Celebrated the girls 2nd Christmas and 2nd birthday.  Great way to end the year.

24 month update

Height/Weight:  Kendall: 34.5 in (83%), 21 lb 6 oz (2%).  Seren: 35 in (94%), 23 lbs (7%).  Both BMIs were around 12 (0%).

Clothing:  They have barely grown into 18-24 month clothes (we just gave up their 18 month fleece sleepers a few days before Christmas).  They do fit some 2T stuff if it runs small/skinny but I can't buy pants unless they have the elastic adjustable waist.  Shoe size 5.5 and some 6.

Eating:  They eat 3 meals a day and one or two snacks depending on how they do at meal times.  They don't eat very good lunch or dinner if they have too much of a snack.  They use forks and spoons pretty well but are still somewhat messy eaters.  We still give them vitamins and Carnation to hopefully get all the nutrients in their diet.

Foods They Like:  chicken pot pie (homemade), enchiladas, minestrone, chicken nuggets, most fruit (bananas, oranges, blueberries, apples), carrots, broccoli, sour cream (they eat it by the spoonful...good thing they need the calories haha), pancakes, cereal, marshmallows, vitamin gummies, etc.;  Kendall loves spaghetti.  Seren likes hot dogs.  

Foods They Don't: salad, vegetables (I need to focus on these), meats are still touch and go.  Peanut butter isn't very popular anymore.

Favorite Things:  shoes, their new toddler beds, Thor, books, puzzles, singing, dancing, etc.  Book: Seren loves the "Pinkerton Behave" and Kendall loves picture books and "Angus and The Cat".

Dislikes:  Being told what to do and time outs.  Kendall doesn't like a lot of noise or crowds.  Kendall did not like her first bubble bath...we gave them one a day or so after Christmas as my sister got them some.  Kendall looked at her hand with the bubbles on it and cried until we washed it off then would repeat the hysteria when other bubbles stuck to her.  Seren enjoyed it.

Favorite Toys:  Their doll strollers sans the doll (they usually toss the baby on the floor before they start cruising haha), my old Wonder Horse (my parents saved it and brought it up last Christmas and we stored it until this Christmas), dress up shoes, puzzles and books. 

Their Accomplishments:  They are doing better with speech but we still have a ways to go.  Early Intervention seems to think I am missing some of the "words" they try to say...seriously I need a lesson in hearing things if this is so =P.  They play well together and look out for each other.  They are super smart and understand so many things.  They are starting to jump and actually catch a little air.  They walk on curbs (balance type places) pretty well.  Seren takes her shoes/socks on and off.  They are both getting good at zippers and putting clothes on and off.  Seren has also learned to open doors. 

Teeth:  Seren is just waiting on her 2 year molars now.  Kendall has a canine or two left and molars. 

Verbal:  Improving but not up to par yet.  Seren will copy ABCs a little with you.  Both girls will try to count with you.  Kendall picks up on new words more often and is "talking" quite a bit more. 

Our Accomplishments:  We survived another year with twins.  We are a great team with meeting their needs and our other responsibilities.  As for me, I take them out without their stroller sometimes now and we try to involve them in more activities outside the home (library and community event type things).    

Sleep:  They sleep about 12 hours a night.  They are off and on with naps.  Seren pretty well wants to drop her nap but Kendall takes one somedays still. 

Looking forward to:  Summer time and warm weather so we can get outside more.  Potty training...yep you heard it right.  I think they are ready to give it a shot.  They get excited about big girl panties, they love sitting on the toilet or potty chair and they throw fits when we go to put diapers back on.  We almost tried before the holidays but I chickened out knowing how chaotic it might be with family and lots of car time as well.

Favorite memories:  The bubble bath fiasco was adorable, taking them to see lights as they were so mesmerized by them all, watching them take care of each other.  Also they love to dance.  We were out to eat twice during the holidays and when they were done eating they wanted to boogie in their seats and we let them down and they danced to the overhead music for a few minutes (to the delight of us and some other customers around us).  It was so cute.

Birthday Party

For their second birthday we simplified...oh boy did we simplify.  It was wonderful!  I actually enjoyed this birthday party so much more than their first.  I wasn't running all over the place trying to cook and entertain and take care of the girls.  We invited grandparents from both sides and my sister (who my parents were staying with).  I wanted this party to be minimalist and it was.  We decorated with a Sesame Street birthday banner and balloons.  We ate homemade cake on Elmo/Big Bird plates.  The girls blew out candles on the same birthday cupcake and they were patient enough to let us sing to them separately this year.  And they blew out their own candles, they were excited both for their own and the other's turn and clapped for each other.  Just precious.  It was just so fun and perfect. 

They recieved some clothes, a gift card for toys, decorative tinkerbelle tins, paint with water books and Barbie tricycles.  Sadly the trikes are a little too big for them still...hopefully they'll grow into them with summer.  They love sitting on them and pushing themselves around though.  All in all it was the perfect day.  Happy Birthday Kendall and Seren!!  We love you girls so much.

Happy Holidays

Just wanting to wish those I know out in blogging land a very Merry Christmas, Happy Haunakkah and/or Holiday Season!  I hope that this year has been kind to you and I hope that the coming year will bring great happiness as well.

We have enjoyed our little family this year and it has been crazy to see the growth and development in the girls from 1 year old to nearly 2 years old.  We are so blessed.  We have been enjoying our holiday season with family and I've been realizing more and more the blessing it is to give and not worry about receiving.  I am grateful to be with my family (parents, siblings and nephews) during this time and grateful for the time of year to reflect on blessings we have.

Merry Christmas!! Wishing you all the best.

The Calm...

I have had a mostly beautiful and calm day.  I think some of it is due to some things that have been stressing me out recently finally feeling at ease.  I have felt anxious and worrisome about finances and baby possibilities (or lack thereof; ie our frosties) and just general stress with the two huge blessings that I do have.  I have felt like a bad mother, an ungrateful wife and a stinker of a person in the last couple weeks.  But after a brief cry with the hubby and some guilt over stress being hopefully resolved last night I woke up with a calm today.  A gratitude for my blessings and finally the non-urgency to figure out all the questions in my life right this minute.

It is fast approaching Christmas and by golly I want to enjoy every minute and moment of special with my girls and family.  I hope the positive feeling sticks around...heaven knows the holidays are stressful.  But for now I am very happy with my family of four and feel like I should show more gratitude for that blessing.  Not even three years ago I wasn't certain that I would ever be blessed with a child and here I am today blessed with two girls who are more than I ever wanted (sometimes more than I think I can handle with all their spunk and personality).  They are what is important in the here and now and the forever.  I write this so that in stressful days when this calm isn't as easy to find that I can remember.

Dear Santa

...get away from me.  I want my mom and dad!!!

 

Kendall and Seren met the jolly old man himself over the weekend.  It didn't go over so well.  I knew he wasn't going to fly (literally) with Kendall.  She hates strangers and sometimes even dislikes family that she hasn't seen for a while.  Then to top it off Seren was in a mood that day so she was not happy about it either.  Oh well.  I still love this picture and it brings a smile and little laugh out.  I think they'll love it in the future too.  And we are having other holiday fun (as seen below) to make up for the torture of seeing Santa.

Enjoying the rest of the open house (Santa event) with farm animals, reindeer and a camel

Christmas Village (lots of little houses with decorations and animated scenes inside)

Kendall decorating / eating a Christmas cookie

Seren enjoying her cookie and icing