The Gap is Narrowing

In the first year of Sam and Anna's life, there were several babies I knew born a few months earlier or later than Sam and Anna were. I loved hearing all about their developmental changes because I either got an insight into what was coming up next or relived those special first moments, or was reassured that whatever Sam and Anna were doing was completely normal and within an acceptable range for their age. ...Or perhaps I may have even fallen into the mommy-trap once or twice and did some comparison (Face it, we all do it.)

Now that Sam and Anna are over a year old, that age gap has really narrowed, or even disappeared in some cases. There's this fuzzy timeline that babies around a year old give or take a few months follow. Little ones (I'm still trying to adjust to not using the term babies anymore) are learning to walk; learning to talk; eating and drinking more and more "real" food. They are developing their own distinct personalities more and more every day. I find there are babies several months older that are in the same place developmentally in some areas as Sam and Anna... but yet there are kids a few months younger in the same place in some areas as well. It's been a long time since I last mentally adjusted a little for Sam and Anna's earlier than their due date arrival into the world.

Sam and Anna aren't walking yet and I promise I won't have a single thought of concern until they are at least 14 months old. My nephew that was born a month earlier was walking at 9 months... but says no words. Sam and Anna each have about 10 words in their vocabulary. Sam and Anna are on 100% whole milk in sippies; no bottles and 100% eating what we eat (and have been for months)... while my nephew will only eat crackers beyond purees and sometimes takes an occasional MOTN bottle of formula in addition to a bedtime bottle. The once gargantuan size difference between the three of them is much smaller now. They seem to be peers now instead of worlds apart like they once were.

This isn't the only comparison I've been noticing. Babies I know born 4 months older seemed ages apart in that first year as well, but now they are standing side by side too. By kindergarten there will be completely no difference between Sam and Anna and babies born either 6 months earlier or 6 months later. (My disclaimer: Those summer birthdays do sometimes act younger than the rest of their classmates though.) The gap will continue to fade and I like that. I like I can relate to some moms more than ever now, too.

My, How She's Grown!

Ack! This Time Next Week...

... My babies will be ONE.

Tonight I couldn't help reminiscing about our life a year ago from now. Looking through pictures on the computer, I can't believe how BIG I was and how little they were! I am amazed I fit behind the steering wheel and I am surprised we didn't break any of their fragile teeny bones.

How on earth did I get from this:

(Seriously, even these pics really don't do the 70 lb gain justice. They also maintained residence in the belly for over a week after these pictures, until forcefully evicted. Please consider yourself privileged to view the never-shown-before 36 week bare belly photo. I had dropped big time. It looks smaller than it really was. )

...back into my old work pants and jeans???

How on earth did Sam and Anna get from these skinny-minnie babies at one week old:

...into these almost toddlers?

(The Picky Sticky stickers from both shots are the same size. Really.)

This turning-one-year-old stuff is harder than I thought. I thought I'd be eagerly awaiting their first birthday with all that Yeah! We made it through a year! mojo, but I'm all woe is me, I want to keep my babies babies forever instead.

Growing Up So Fast! (Photo Post)

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Sam and Anna are growing up so quickly! What we've been up to lately:

Swinging!

(The token twin crab swing photo)

First Finger Food!

(Sam and Anna love their Mum Mums)

Sippy cups!

Sitting! (Anna was a little cranky from her cold this day)

Standing!

This is a photo from our 6 month pictures last Saturday. For those of you who do not know, A.R.T.=Assisted Reproductive Technology. It was too cold to wear them for our Miracle Baby Picnic, so since I couldn't find something I thought would work well for the jean picture, I went with these!

Growin' Up...

• I officially decided that once we run out of size 1 diapers, we will move to size 2 diapers. All that's left is in our changing table drawer.
  

• Sam and Anna wore their first 3-6 month outfits this weekend. Now most people would probably be sad about this, but since gaining weight has been a battle lately with the darn reflux- this is cause for celebration! Plus, I love the new options for what to wear. However, I do not love the in between stage when one size is too small and most things in the next size looks big!
  
  
• It was a cool morning and their thighs are getting chunkier, so I could finally break out the BabyLegs! (which, by the way, is having an awesome 4th of July Sale. And if you use the code SouthernBelleBaby, you get a % off. Thanks, Southern Belle Baby!)

(So much cuter in person. The picture doesn't do the cuteness justice.)

• We took our first stroller ride like "big kids" last week! Although, I don't think we're quite ready for the Jumperoo or Exersaucer yet. And I'm okay with that, because those things take up a lot more floor space than a bouncer!

• Our swaddling days are numbered. Both babies often break out of the miracle blanket in their sleep now. It's probably time to start keeping an arm out soon.
  
  
• I've stopped remembering how many weeks old they are and instead call them "3 1/2" months old.

• I'm crossing my fingers that Sam has finally hit the 12 lb mark when he gets weighed tomorrow! Anna's probably within a 1/2 lb of there too.



• Both babies slept about 11 hours straight last night- and we woke them up at 7 am. Slowly chipping away at our sleep debt...

They're Getting Bigger...

The 0-3 month onesies started getting a little snug and the 3 month clothing is fitting very well right now. It seems like just a few days ago both Sam and Anna were transitioning from newborn sized clothing into the 0-3 month stuff, which still dwarfed them at the time. They were in newborn sized stuff for over a month. Today I washed all of our 3-6 month clothing and made room for them in the dresser and closet. Sam even wore his first 3-6 month onesie today. It's so hard to believe that only a little over 2 months ago my two little ones were in preemie sized clothing!

Both babies are very close to double their birth weight by now too...

(A little late, but here's a picture from our first mother's day)