Update: 2 1/2 years old

Height/Weight:  Kendall is 35 1/2" and 24 lbs  Seren is 36 1/2" and 26 lbs.

Clothing:  They are wearing mostly 2T stuff.  They are still so skinny that I buy smaller sizes to get pants to stay up...seriously I have a couple shorts that are 12 month and a few 18 month.  Bless those elastic adjustable waist bands still.  Shoe size 6...some 6 1/2.

Eating:  They are better eaters recently...well depending on the meal and food offered as typical with any toddler.  But I don't worry about starvation so much anymore haha.  Still giving them gummy vitamins to fill in the gaps (I hope) and it makes me feel better.

Foods They Like:  homemade mac & cheese, bananas, apples, oranges, blueberries, strawberries, carrots, corn, sour cream, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, tortellini, popcorn chicken/chicken nuggets, yogurt, apple sauce, homemade pizza, craisins (they pass up cookies for craisins which makes me happy).  Also meat is becoming more bearable and eaten.

Foods They Don't: salad, vegetables, peanut butter isn't very popular anymore.

Favorite Things: Sesame Street and Super Why (I usually give in once or twice a day), their blankets, sunglasses, dancing, their croc type shoes for summer (probably because they can put them on themselves really easy).  They like to scratch your back and also have their backs scratched.  Books:  Seren loves The Girls Potty Book with Hannah and Kendall likes anything with colors, letters or naming objects.

Dislikes:  Being told what to do and time outs.  Kendall still has rough mornings and wants to be held during breakfast.  She is very sensitive and we try to be patient but sometimes it runs thin.

Favorite Toys:  Their doll strollers sans the doll , puzzles and books. Blocks.  My hand-me-down exercise ball, backyard swing, parks, splash pads, etc. Toys we made for our road trip.

Their Accomplishments:  They are super smart and understand so many things.  They jump, dance, run and climb with ease (and less nerves for me...although I still stay close by).  Kendall has become more social than Seren recently.  She will talk and say hello to strangers at the store and is more open with family or friends.  Seren has hit a bashful streak and likes to hide by my leg, sometimes she's teasing and sometimes she's serious.  

Teeth:  Two year molars are coming in.  Kendall has three in and Seren has two and a partial and both have swollen gums and white spots.  So fun...not.

Verbal:  We graduated from Early Intervention a few weeks ago.  Their speech has improved with leaps and bounds.  Kendall amazes me with how many words she uses and strings together now.  Seren is doing well also, she jabbers a few things still that I don't understand.  I'm sure there are other 2 1/2 year old kids ahead of them but they are amazing to me. 

Our Accomplishments:  We're going on a 32 hour road trip (not including stops for sleeping, eating and stretching/wiggling).  I think it's going to be a little insane but we'll survive.  We have no choice but to make it work. 

Sleep:  They sleep about 12 hours a night.  They usually still take a nap for an hour or two each afternoon ...especially if I wear them out in the morning with playing outside. 

Looking forward to:  Our trip to Florida (we will be there when this posts).  We are road tripping the whole way...not looking forward to that part.  But looking forward to seeing my parents and the girls being with their grandparents and family down there.  We talk about it a lot and they are excited I think.  Being out of diapers...going to try a third time on this after the trip haha

Favorite memories:  Them laughing together, chasing each other around the house, watching them get brave to go say hello to their friends from church even when we aren't right by their side, all the words and things they say.  My husband loves to laugh about Lil' John and has taught them to say "what? okay.  Yeah-yeah" it gets the giggles going.  Playing with them and flying them around.  Cuddling with them. 

Summer Plans...

We have wild and crazy adventures planned for this summer.  Namely leaving on a road trip from Utah to Florida (where my parents live) in about 10 days.  The girls are getting so excited.  We talk to them about it and call Grandma and Grandpa B to talk about it and say hello.  Obviously they don't know or understand that it's going to be a loooooong car ride.  So when we ask them if they are excited to get in the car and drive for a couple days to see "gamma" and "papa" they of course answer with an enthusiastic "yes!" and smile wide and get all giddy.  And anytime we get in the car to go somewhere the question "gamma?  papa?" comes up...can't wait to actually say "yes! we're leaving for grandma and grandpa's".  We talk about seeing the ocean and fish and dolphins and playing with lizards and sand fleas.  So many fond memories I have there myself growing up and visiting my dad's side of the family.  It is so fun to share and rebuild memories with your kids isn't it?

We have a countdown chain...similar to the ones you use around Christmas.  Every night we count how many days are left and take another chain off.  Sometimes we forget but when we remember they get all excited to help count.  Now if we can just maintain that excitement and thrill in the car when we are rolling into day 2 and nearing 3 days...praying for a miracle HAHA  We do have fun food stops planned (for us...thanks Yelp and Food Network) and are starting our drive close to nap time and ending the first day late in the evening/morning (again praying that they will sleep).  Plus the second day (first full day) we are stopping early to play in the pool and have fun running around.  I am literally prepared to the point of being obsessive compulsive with it...toys, tablets, lap trays, coloring, snacks galore, more toys.

Wish us luck and we'll be seeing you in July when we are much more tan (I hope although not likely) and let's be honest probably generally just worn out. What are your summer plans? Any tips for road trip survival?

Hoping for some beautiful serene moments like this :)  (not my picture btw)

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

NIAW: Looking Back

It is National Infertility Awareness Week.  1 in 8 couple suffer with infertility.  Some resolve through adoption, various infertility treatments or living child-free.  So many are in the trenches and trying to figure out their paths today.  Be aware and let them know you care.

It has been nearly 3 years to the day since we had our transfer.  On April 28, 2010 we "met" our daughters for the first time and hoped like hell that this crazy adventure they called donor egg IVF would work.  That we would be parents.  What an amazing journey it was to get to that point and what a ride it has been since. When we first pursued donor egg I was a little worried about the genetic implications for me and the girls.  I still worry a little and wonder how things will look when the girls are old enough to understand.  But on my end I am 100% completely in love with them and I know they are the children we were meant to have no matter the road that got us here.

Looking...

I guess we're officially looking at both sides of the coin now.  I signed up for a profile with Miracles Waiting with the knowledge that we may try another cycle but would still have remaining embryos.  It seems so weird to be seriously considering giving these embryos to someone else.  They are our children.  They aren't born.  They may never be born.  But they are ours.  But as strange as it seems to be giving them to someone it seems even worse to consider not doing so.  Not giving them a chance.  Taking the possibility of life out of something that took so much to come to be.  I want whoever we do decide on to have all of the embryos (whether it be 9 or 11...whatever happens there).  I don't really want them passed on any further.  I want it to be a somewhat open or willing to be open relationship.  I don't want to take away the girls choice and opportunity to possibly meet these children.  Such mixed feelings on how to deal with this and explain it to them over the years.

I feel more and more discouraged about having another child.  I feel like I need a mountain of more patience and that often my patience is made thin just chasing two little two year olds around.  I sometimes feel guilty that I would want to spread our time and love out with another child.  I sometimes feel guilty that they will only ever have each other if not.  It almost feels like a knee jerk reaction when I consider donating them.  A feeling of  "no, we need to try again before giving them away".  Still feeling both sides of it I guess.  Nothing is completely decided though so who knows.

Anyway looking through profiles is strange enough.  I keep wanting to find someone with a similar story to my own.  To our story.  I've seen a few women with POF (premature ovarian failure) or low ovarian reserve listed as their Infertility Diagnosis.  I feel more connection to them and more sympathy...I suppose because I feel like I know what they are going through.  It is overwhelming to see how many couples and women turn to or are pursuing embryo adoption, even though I'm sure it is such a small percent of the grand scheme or total.  For what it's worth...we are looking (and hopefully deciding).

Hopeful Exit...

We have been involved with Early Intervention services for 6 months now.  Kendall is up for a review and evaluation of her service plan.  She has surpassed her goals amazingly (not surprisingly just freaking amazing) and would need new goals if we stay in services.  I think we are going to be done with services and that she's well on her way to being completely on track.  I am so proud of her and how well she has done.  Early Intervention has been such a blessing and I'm grateful we were referred and that I learned so much more about how to be helpful with both Seren and Kendall.  They are rocking it!  Kendall knows around 15 letters and has started associating them with the words they start "m...mommy" and she's getting her colors and other words constantly.  She may not be at an advanced level or still quite on track with other 27 month olds but she is definitely (I think) beyond a need for services.  We will see.  At our last in home visit Miss M planned on us meeting with a speech pathologist to evaluate Kendall and determine if services were still needed.  Miss M doesn't think they will be and decided not to set another appointment unless needed.

I have been amazed with Seren and Kendall's progress over the last couple of months specifically.  They are doing great with everything...social, speech, problem solving, independence (oh the independent toddler spirit...heaven help us haha) and much more.  I am grateful we received help when needed and feel silly looking back that I was so devastated and upset with myself and so worried that I had completely failed them both.  Now just looking forward to our hopeful exit from services and probably some more expert advice on how to keep it going.