Questions at 5 Years Old!

I asked Sam and Anna these 21 questions at 2 1/2 years old,  3 and 4 years old.  Here are their 5 year old answers! My plan is to ask the same questions every birthday from now on and see how the answers change.  Answers in black were what was said at 2 1/2, answers in blue are what Sam and Anna told me when I asked them the same questions on their 3rd birthday.  The red anwers are what was said at 4 years old and green is currently what they think at 5 years old:
 

Key:  2 1/2 Years old: Black  3 years old: Blue  4 years old: Red 5 years old: Green

1. What is your name? Sam [last name] Sam Jacob (last name), Sam, Sam Big Girl Anna [last name] Annabel (last name), An...Elsa, Anna.
2. How old are you? Sam- two, three, four, five Anna- I two, three, four, five.
3. What is your favorite color? Sam- red, orange, green and blue, green and blue Anna-red (keep in mind I did not ask both of them at the same time), purple, pink purple and green, pink and sparkly
4. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Sam- bacon, oranges, waffles, scrambled eggs Anna-fruit, dinosaurs (we sometimes use a dinosaur cookie cutter when we have french toast), waffles and cereal, sprinkled waffles
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Sam- bacon, grilled cheese, basanga (lasagna), brunch (breakfast for lunch) Anna- mac and cheese, mac and cheese, apples, noodles
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner? Sam- bacon (notice a trend?), noodles, pizza, breadsticks Anna- no response, spaghetti, noodles, brinner (breakfast for dinner)
7. What is your favorite snack to eat? Sam- apricot (fruit strips from Target), gummy bears, cookies, marshmallows Anna- apricot (same thing), grapes, (yogurt) covered raisins, marshmallows
8. What is your favorite fruit? Sam- watermelon, oranges, oranges and apples, apples Anna- apricot, peaches, apples, grapes
9. What is your favorite vegetable? Sam- corn, carrots, carrots, corn and broccoli, corn Anna- french toast (?), corn, broccoli, carrots
10. What is your favorite thing to drink? Sam- water, milk and water, milk, Icee Anna- water, milk, milk, chocolate milk
11. What is your favorite animal? Sam- elephant, lion, giraffe, elephants and giraffes Anna- lion, polar bear just like you (mama), fish, kittens
12. What is your favorite toy to play with? Sam- elephant, lion stuffed animal, magnatiles and legos, animals(stuffed) Anna- mama (she likes to pretend everything is a mama, including pinecones, pieces of food, etc.), trains, cape, Elsa
13. What is your favorite book to read? Sam- duck book (Little Quack), lots of animal books, princess books, Leo the Lion Anna- Monkeys Jumping Bed, Curious George (and Friends), Frozen books, Crocodiles Need Kisses Too
14. Where do you like to go? Sam- Grandma's, library, Noodles, ice cream shop Anna- Grandma's, Grandma and Grandpa's, Noodles, Water Park
15. What is your favorite song? Sam- Grandma (? Maybe he meant singer?), animal song (I made up an animal alphabet song), ABC song, Good morning song (at preschool) Anna- Jesus Loves Me, alphabet, Let it Go, Let it Go
16. Who is your best friend? Sam- Anna, Anna, Anna, Matthew (a school friend) Anna- Sam (everyone awww all together now), Sam, You! (pointing to Mama), Alaina, Jaycee, Matthew (all school friends)
17. What is your favorite thing to watch on tv? Sam- watch Thomas on tv, Animals Help Rocket (Little Einsteins episode), Little Einsteins and The Jungle Book, Odd Squad Anna- Thomas, Bambi, Frozen, Odd Squad
18. What do you want to be when you grow up? Sam- in the dirt, Daddy, a daddy, a zoo keeper Anna- no response, Grandma, Elsa (noticing a theme...?), Mommy
19. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Sam- play basketball (we don't have a basketball or a hoop), build a snowman, shoot the rocket launcher, play tag Anna- play in the sandbox, go to the playground, playing in the sand, play with friends
20. What is your favorite thing to wear? Sam- diaper (on the second day of potty training, hahaha!), animal shirt, new socks and my zebra shirt, shirt with lots of animals Anna- shirt, dancing shoes (dressy shoes she calls her "dancing shoes"), Elsa (dress up) clothes, Ariel nightgown
21. Who is your favorite person? Sam- me, you (pointing to Mama), my Daddy, Anna Anna- ... (then Sam interrupts: "Sam is!"), Mommy... and Daddy!, Elsa, Mommy, Daddy and Sam!

Survey Questions at 4 Years Old

I asked Sam and Anna these 21 questions at 2 and a half years old and 3 years old.  I also asked the same questions around their 4th birthday last March.  My plan is to ask the same questions every birthday from now on and see how the answers change.  Answers in black were what was said at 2 1/2, answers in blue are what Sam and Anna told me when I asked them the same questions on their 3rd birthday.  The red anwers are what was said at 4 years old:
 

Key:  2 1/2 Years old: Black  3 years old: Blue  4 years old: Red

1. What is your name? Sam [last name] Sam Jacob (last name), Sam, Big Girl Anna [last name] Annabel (last name), An...Elsa.
2. How old are you? Sam- two, three, four Anna- I two, three, four.
3. What is your favorite color? Sam- red, orange, green and blue Anna-red (keep in mind I did not ask both of them at the same time), purple, pink purple and green
4. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Sam- bacon, oranges, waffles Anna-fruit, dinosaurs (we sometimes use a dinosaur cookie cutter when we have french toast), waffles and cereal
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Sam- bacon, grilled cheese, basanga (lasagna) Anna- mac and cheese, mac and cheese, apples
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner? Sam- bacon (notice a trend?), noodles, pizza Anna- no response, spaghetti, noodles
7. What is your favorite snack to eat? Sam- apricot (fruit strips from Target), gummy bears, cookies Anna- apricot (same thing), grapes, (yogurt) covered raisins
8. What is your favorite fruit? Sam- watermelon, oranges, oranges and apples Anna- apricot, peaches, apples
9. What is your favorite vegetable? Sam- corn, carrots, carrots, corn and broccoli Anna- french toast (?), corn, broccoli
10. What is your favorite thing to drink? Sam- water, milk and water, milk Anna- water, milk, milk
11. What is your favorite animal? Sam- elephant, lion, giraffe Anna- lion, polar bear just like you (mama), fish
12. What is your favorite toy to play with? Sam- elephant, lion stuffed animal, magnatiles and legos Anna- mama (she likes to pretend everything is a mama, including pinecones, pieces of food, etc.), trains, cape
13. What is your favorite book to read? Sam- duck book (Little Quack), lots of animal books, princess books Anna- Monkeys Jumping Bed, Curious George (and Friends), Frozen books
14. Where do you like to go? Sam- Grandma's, library, Noodles Anna- Grandma's, Grandma and Grandpa's, Noodles
15. What is your favorite song? Sam- Grandma (? Maybe he meant singer?), animal song (I made up an animal alphabet song), ABC song Anna- Jesus Loves Me, alphabet, Let it Go
16. Who is your best friend? Sam- Anna, Anna, Anna, Anna- Sam (everyone awww all together now), Sam, You! (pointing to Mama)
17. What is your favorite thing to watch on tv? Sam- watch Thomas on tv, Animals Help Rocket (Little Einsteins episode), Little Einsteins and The Jungle Book Anna- Thomas, Bambi, Frozen
18. What do you want to be when you grow up? Sam- in the dirt, Daddy, a daddy Anna- no response, Grandma, Elsa (noticing a theme...?)
19. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Sam- play basketball (we don't have a basketball or a hoop), build a snowman, shoot the rocket launcher Anna- play in the sandbox, go to the playground, playing in the sand
20. What is your favorite thing to wear? Sam- diaper (on the second day of potty training, hahaha!), animal shirt, new socks and my zebra shirt Anna- shirt, dancing shoes (dressy shoes she calls her "dancing shoes"), Elsa (dress up) clothes
21. Who is your favorite person? Sam- me, you (pointing to Mama), my Daddy Anna- ... (then Sam interrupts: "Sam is!"), Mommy... and Daddy!, Elsa

Questions At 3 Years Old

I asked Sam and Anna these 21 questions at 2 and a half years old.  My plan is to ask the same questions every birthday from now on and see how the answers change.  Answers in black were what was said at 2 1/2, answers in blue are what Sam and Anna told me when I asked them the same questions on their 3rd birthday.

1. What is your name? Sam [last name] Sam Jacob (last name), Big Girl Anna [last name] Annabel (last name).
2. How old are you? Sam- two, three, Anna- I two, three.
3. What is your favorite color? Sam- red, orange Anna-red (keep in mind I did not ask both of them at the same time), purple
4. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Sam- bacon, oranges, Anna-fruit, dinosaurs (we sometimes use a dinosaur cookie cutter when we have french toast)
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Sam- bacon, grilled cheese, Anna- mac and cheese, mac and cheese
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner? Sam- bacon (notice a trend?), noodles, Anna- no response, spaghetti
7. What is your favorite snack to eat? Sam- apricot (fruit strips from Target), gummy bears, Anna- apricot (same thing), grapes
8. What is your favorite fruit? Sam- watermelon, oranges, Anna- apricot, peaches
9. What is your favorite vegetable? Sam- corn, carrots, Anna- french toast (?), corn
10. What is your favorite thing to drink? Sam- water, milk and water, Anna- water, milk
11. What is your favorite animal? Sam- elephant, lion, Anna- lion, polar bear just like you (mama)
12. What is your favorite toy to play with? Sam- elephant, lion stuffed animal, Anna- mama (she likes to pretend everything is a mama, including pinecones, pieces of food, etc.), trains
13. What is your favorite book to read? Sam- duck book (Little Quack), lots of animal books, Anna- Monkeys Jumping Bed, Curious George (and Friends)
14. Where do you like to go? Sam- Grandma's, library, Anna- Grandma's, Grandma and Grandpa's
15. What is your favorite song? Sam- Grandma (? Maybe he meant singer?), animal song (I made up an animal alphabet song), Anna- Jesus Loves Me, alphabet
16. Who is your best friend? Sam- Anna, Anna, Anna- Sam (everyone awww all together now), Sam
17. What is your favorite thing to watch on tv? Sam- watch Thomas on tv, Animals Help Rocket (Little Einsteins episode), Anna- Thomas, Bambi
18. What do you want to be when you grow up? Sam- in the dirt, Daddy, Anna- no response, Grandma
19. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Sam- play basketball (we don't have a basketball or a hoop), build a snowman, Anna- play in the sandbox, go to the playground
20. What is your favorite thing to wear? Sam- diaper (on the second day of potty training, hahaha!), animal shirt, Anna- shirt, dancing shoes (dressy shoes she calls her "dancing shoes")
21. Who is your favorite person? Sam- me, you (pointing to Mama), Anna- ... (then Sam interrupts: "Sam is!"), Mommy... and Daddy!

P and Q!

 

For letter P, we read lots of books about penguins and pigs.  We read a few princess books (like The Paper Bag Princess, an excellent one with a less stereotypical image of a princess) and some books about puppies.

 

Here are Sam and Anna's penguin handprints.

 

We played with pinwheels.

 

We made dot marker P and p.

 

 

We explored a new playground.

 

 

I brought out some new puzzles with 12 pieces this week.  We needed a new challenge because all the single piece picture puzzles are way too easy for them now.  While Sam and Anna need lots of assistance with the 12 piece puzzles right now, they really enjoy them.  They are learning how to put like colors together and see a piece as part of the whole picture.  LOVE these wooden Melissa and Doug ones because 4 came in a wooden box, and each one has a small shape on the back to help keep them form getting mixed up.  I know we'll be getting more soon.

 

 

We poked pencils in playdoh.

 

And we experimented with making prints of different things in playdoh too.

 

My favorite P activity was mixing paint in plastic bags.  I used primary colors and Sam and Anna got a little intro into color mixing.   They loved discovering the new colors we created when they got mixed together.  It was mess free and I thought it was great that you could still see on the edges the two colors we used to make a new color even with lots of smushing.  Fun, easy, and fast clean-up!

 

 

We traced Pps.

 

We ordered puppy pictures from largest to smallest.

 

We did some fine motor practice with pom poms and tongs.  Sam had trouble using the tongs (and I only have one) so I brought out spoons to use too.  Anna really surprised me with how adept she was at using the tongs to pick up a pom pom and transfer it into the dish, sorting by color, using one hand (although I know this picture shows her using two hands).

 

We also sorted paperclips, as well as counted them and made patterns.

 

Sam wanted me to take a picture of the pattern we made together.

 

This was our special P lunch:  pepperoni pizza, peas, pickles, pineapple and plums!  We also ate pasta at many meals, peaches, pears and pancakes.

 

I gave Anna and I pink and purple pedicures this week too. :)

 

Not to mention the advent of potty training in our house!

For letter Q, we read books about quilts, queens, quiet, quick, and ducks books (quack).

Here are Sam and Anna's quail handprints.

 

We made dot marker Q and q.

 

 

We also used dot markers to make "quilts."

 

 

We traced Qqs.

 

Sam and Anna painted using Q-tips.  As usual, Anna was really into the free-exploration art.  Sam was done fast, Anna had to be torn away 45 minutes later. 

 

 

We sorted pictures by loud and quiet sounds.

 

And then we practiced being loud and quiet ourselves.  They loved doing the opposites right after each other.  It was a huge giggle inducer!

 

We played a quarter game where they had to try to toss quarters into the Q... I let them get as close as they wanted.

 

Then we sorted money by quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies.

 

Of course, we had to go feed the ducks too... we heard a plethora of "Quack, quack!" while they scrambled for the bread!

I asked Sam and Anna 21 questions at different times without prompting any sort of answer- and got fun responses, even if they aren't completely accurate!  What they said at 2 and a half years old:

1. What is your name?  Sam [last name], Big Girl Anna [last name].
2. How old are you?  Sam- two, Anna- I two.
3. What is your favorite color? Sam- red Anna-red (keep in mind I did not ask both of them at the same time)
4. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Sam- bacon, Anna-fruit
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  Sam- bacon, Anna- mac and cheese
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner? Sam- bacon (notice a trend?), Anna- no response
7. What is your favorite snack to eat?  Sam- apricot (fruit strips from Target), Anna- apricot (same thing)
8. What is your favorite fruit? Sam- watermelon, Anna- apricot
9. What is your favorite vegetable?  Sam- corn, Anna- french toast (?)
10. What is your favorite thing to drink?  Sam- water, Anna- water
11. What is your favorite animal?  Sam- elephant, Anna- lion
12. What is your favorite toy to play with?  Sam- elephant, Anna- mama (she likes to pretend everything is a mama, including pinecones, pieces of food, etc.)
13. What is your favorite book to read?  Sam- duck book (Little Quack), Anna- Monkeys Jumping Bed
14. Where do you like to go?  Sam- Grandma's, Anna- Grandma's
15. What is your favorite song?  Sam- Grandma (?  Maybe he meant singer?), Anna- Jesus Loves Me
16. Who is your best friend?  Sam- Anna,  Anna- Sam (everyone awww all together now)
17. What is your favorite thing to watch on tv?  Sam- watch Thomas on tv, Anna- Thomas
18. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Sam- in the dirt, Anna- no response
19. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Sam- play basketball (we don't have a basketball or a hoop), Anna- play in the sandbox
20. What is your favorite thing to wear?  Sam- diaper (on the second day of potty training, hahaha!), Anna- shirt
21. Who is your favorite person?  Sam- me, Anna- ... (then Sam interrupts:  "Sam is!")

Advice, Please!

There's a few things that have been on my mind lately that I would love a little bit of advice about.

1. We experience frigid Wisconsin winters. I'm a little unsure what to do about winter clothing for Sam and Anna. Everywhere I look, the bunting-type snowsuits go up to 6-9 month or 12 month size. The winter coats/snowpant separates start at 12 month size. Sam and Anna are just starting to get into 6-9 month clothing. What do I get for them? I wonder if a 6-9 month bunting would last the entire winter, and they are definitely not as warm as the coat/snowpant combos. I think they'd be swimming in the 12 month coat/snowpant options though. And will they be able to crawl/play in the snow (when they learn how to crawl) in the buntings? I want to get them soon so we don't have to forgo walks on chilly days (although today hit a rare 80 degrees, this morning it was in the 40's). Help, please!

2. Now that Sam and Anna are older babies, I think we need to branch out and get some more sophisticated toys for their age. I've been beginning to get the feeling that they are bored of the same old rattles and such. We have a V-Tech roll ball, a standing table, and several stacking toys (and of course, an exersaucer and jumperoo) that are beyond the simple rattle stage. What toys did your child(ren) absolutely love at around 7 months?

3. The big Halloween question. Sam and Anna have adorable costumes hanging in their closet. Now that I've gotten them, I actually started to think about the logical side of my 7 month old babies and Halloween. Is it acceptable to take them trick or treating, even though they can't eat any of it, just to show off how cute they are? And if it isn't, then what do we do with them to make use of their cute costumes? I'm thinking dress them up and keep them at home to help pass out candy... and take lots of pictures- am I right?

Thanks! Y'all rock!

Answering Questions

A post ago, a lot of comments asked questions that I'd be happy to answer.

• The carseat bed: Anna needed to come home in a carseat bed because she was under 5 lbs when we were released. This was our hospital's requirement. They would not do a carseat test, although it was talked about. This varies from place to place, I've been finding out. The nurses at the hospital said she would need to be in it until she reached 7 lbs- which I didn't understand since Sam weighed 5 lbs 5 oz when he left the hospital in the infant carrier. We asked our pediatrician at our appointment yesterday and she would like Anna to stay in the carseat bed until she is 6 lbs. The hospital provided the carseat bed and we do not have to return it. I'm sure my insurance is paying for it though. :) Our pediatrician also said she would not recommend walking with Anna in the carrier with a stroller unless someone can walk right alongside it to make sure she is okay (which is why you saw it in the stroller picture).

• What kind of stroller was in the picture: It is a Graco Duo Glider, which fits and matches our carseats. I am going to a big "twin sale" in April (Lisa, since you live in WI- the twin sale is in Madison. Let me know if you want more details since you are also having twins!) and plan on looking for a Snap N Go there- I couldn't justify buying two new strollers right away, and wanted to have the stroller that would last the longest first. I am more okay with a used Snap and Go since it doesn't need to match the carriers and since we can only use it while the babies can fit in their infant carriers.

• Pee-Pee-Teepees: We do not have any. I remember reading some negative feedback about the teepees. My husband was covering everything correctly... except for the split second he went to make sure it was pointing down and not up. Wish I could have gotten a picture!

• Bath Time: Our hospital recommends a submersion bath over sponge bathing, even with the stump still attached- they said it didn't matter if it got wet but to make sure the area dried fully. Anna's stump fell off before we ever did a bath at home- after 5 days. Sam's stump fell off yesterday when he was 8 days old. Sam's bath was a sponge bath without soap because he was healing from his circ.

• Feeding: I have purposely not posted about breastfeeding yet, while I gather my thoughts. Feeding has been monopolizing most of my thinking time since they were born and I wanted things to simmer down and reflect on everything before pounding out the keys. That being said, I think I am at a place where I can finally share our breastfeeding saga. So I'll answer the breastfeeding/tandem feeding/supplementing/etc. questions soon!

Current Status

Thanks, everyone, for your opinions about breastfeeding, C-sections, and circ'ing. My current status is that I am going to bf, but need to go into it more determined to make it work- so it will. My breastfeeding class is on Thursday, so helpfully that will also help get me in the mindset that I can do it with two babies. I mentioned that at the most I would only bf for 6 mos- that is because I will go back to school then, and I don't want to pump at school. I know how challenging going back in September after 6 months, the beginning of school year, and daycare will be for me, and I don't want to compound it with trying to find time to pump, while doing something I've never been able to do before- leave school the second I can at 3:40 pm, instead of staying until 4-5 pm.

Today, I am still leaning towards attempting a vaginal birth- But circ'ing remains up in the air.

Thanks again for your comments!

Questions I've Been Mulling Over

To breastfeed or not?

Honestly, I don't feel a big pull to breastfeed. I'm just not sure it's going to be my cup of tea. Although I know it is very healthy for a baby to be breastfed, I read this article this week that explains breast milk is not as important as previously thought. My driving motivation is mostly the cost savings versus formula feeding for two. When you add in the cost of pumping supplies, storage bags, nursing bras, more diapers (breastfed babies go through more- or so I've heard), cream, pads, etc.- breastfeed is most definitely not free though. If I breastfeed, it will be only for a maximum of 6 months. I know it can be difficult for a mother of one newborn to breastfeed- and I will have the added challenge of two infants at the same time. The advantage of my husband (or a helper) being able to do 50% of the feeding with formula (and the extra sleep that will come with tag teaming!) is very appealing to me. If we decide to formula feed from the start, we wouldn't need to prepare for both. But then I come back to the hundreds of dollars we'd save without having to buy formula. Right now I'm in a limbo of trying to figure out what we need for option a.)exclusive breastfeeding b.)breastfeeding for a little while then switching to formula c.) breastfeeding for months first or d.) formula feeding from the start. I just can't decide what to do!
*edited to add: I didn't mention the plus of burning calories faster and thus losing weight with bfing. I understand the important of bonding... but I also think that my children bonding with their father is equally important. Do I need to have a unique bond through bfing? I don't feel so- I already have a unique bond by carrying them for months and delivering them.

C-Section or Vaginal Birth?

My OB is 100% comfortable with whatever option I want to pursue, provided the first baby is head down. (According to the last u/s, this is currently the case, but it can still change) It is more likely that I will need a C-section with the twins, because even if one is head down- once he/she is out, anything can happen with the other baby once there's suddenly lots of room to move around and he/she could suddenly become breech or transverse. I will be delivering in an operating room regardless of the positions or my preference. Some days, I lean towards a C-section, so that I know what I can focus on going through and forget the rest. With that option, I won't need to worry about delivering one vaginally and one C-section. Honestly, it scares me to think of the recovery I'd have to go through if I experienced both types of delivery. On the other hand- this WILL be my only birth. A small part of me is okay right now with the potential of both a vaginal delivery and C-section, because then I'd get to experience both. But I've always had a feeling that I'd have C-sections because I have pretty narrow hips. Which way I'm leaning changes depending on the day!
* edited to add: the twins in my class were delivered one vaginally, one C-section by my OB. I'm not really sure how this affects my viewpoint, but it does a little.

To circumcise or not?

I've pretty much left this one up to my husband- since I get to make so many of the other decisions. I also feel like I can't really make the choice, because I haven't personally experienced either way! Neither one of us has a strong opinion about it. We've read lots about both sides... and still haven't come to a conclusion. It seems that although there are small advantages to both, it is ultimately just a personal preference. Time's ticking though- and a decision needs to be made.
*edited to add: 80% of the world's population is NOT circ'd. It is a common choice in the US, but is becoming less common every year. Some days I just cannot justify causing my baby pain for something that does not really have a medical advantage. Interestingly, which way I'm leaning each day is inversely related to the way my husband is leaning. Figures.

Comments to help sway me one way or the other and decide on any of the topics?