Fair Warning...

How many times have you looked at the age limits or warnings on random little toys or activities and after evaluating it yourself thought...eh they're old enough what harm can it do, looks safe enough.  Well I've done the same or maybe I stand alone on this.

In my case it was 3 yr + and a 0-3 yrs with a frowning face next to it.  When Seren first started growing enough hair to get in her eyes I began looking for ways to help the problem.  Almost all of the hair clips, barrettes and elastics I looked at had the age 3+ on them.  So I cut bangs a few times while she was younger and was frequently mouthing objects.  Once she was 2 though and didn't mouth things as much or next to never I began buying barrettes and elastics to pin her bangs back and grow them out.

A couple days ago I threw her long bangs in a metal clip and Jeff and I took the girls out to run some errands.  We were about to get on the freeway when Seren made some gagging sounds.  I looked back from the passenger seat and could see the clip in the back of her throat and her little hands trying to grab at it.  I let out an expletive and yelled at Jeff to pull the car over in a panic.  He pulled onto the grassy bank of the on ramp and I jumped out of the car and ran around to help Seren.  I yanked the door open and she was still gagging on it so I quickly unstrapped her car seat and was ready to do some hitting between the shoulder blades like we learned in infant/child CPR.  Once she was leaned forward and out of the car seat she gagged again and threw up the clip along with most of her dinner.  We were so relieved and she of course began crying in a panic herself.  It only took a minute or two to happen but I thought for sure we'd be racing to the emergency room instead of chores and I am so grateful that wasn't the case.  I would never have considered a simple hair clip to be such a danger but now I have my own reminder of why every single toy and object has a recommended age range.

It has definitely made me second guess my thinking and rationalizing of toys and everything else for the girls.  Seren and Kendall both go hair clip free now.  I do still use the small baby elastics but I figure those can at least be swallowed.  Just something to think about and maybe a story of caution from me.

Twin Loves...

Some of the things that I love about having twins.  It is so fun to watch the interaction of the two.  Both being the same age they are learning things on the same level.  They play Ring Around the Roses and awkwardly grab each others hands and then sometimes go in a circle or sometimes one will drag the other.  I love walking with them and how they grab for each others hands when I ask them to.  I love how they help each other learn and grow.  It used to be helping each other learn to climb stairs and waiting for the other at the top.  Now there is Seren singing or humming and Kendall now picks it up too and they "sing" together.  Kendall also picks up new words from Seren.  It is funny that I try to work on words with her or both of them but don't really get anywhere until Seren says it.  Then it's like their new favorite word of the week or day.  Kendall is doing great with Early Intervention by the way and we're hoping to reevaluate in a few months and be done with it.  I credit a lot of the success to Seren helping her.  Seren is a dominant and vocal little thing and Kendall has had to step up her game to get what she wants and also just loves playing with her sister.

I love watching them care about each other.  When one has a tantrum or gets hurt and is crying...almost always the other will come to check in on them.  Kendall was exhausted and crying on my lap yesterday and Seren comes over and says something that sounded like "what wrong?" and starts rubbing Kendall's back with me and trying to give her a hug.  Also just watching them look at each other when they talk or communicate with each other.  I can't say they have their own language but they definitely have an understanding of each other that I'm not really in the loop with.

Today after our last music group with Early Intervention, Kendall was feeding Seren her fries.  She would break pieces of fry off and put them in Seren's mouth and Seren was eager to have more.  I told Seren to tell Kendall thank you and so then it became a cycle of feeding and "thanks Kendall".  Kendall smiled and giggled at it and they were having a grand time.  I sometimes miss the idea of them having a younger sibling and a baby in the home to stare at and teach things to but then I realize they are able to teach each other and that is a unique experience to observe in an of itself.  I hope they always take care of each other like this and are mindful of the other as they get older.

Petting Zoo a couple weeks ago...they LOVED it