Turning and Teething

Max and Soni are moving along... literally.  Soni is rolling around and scooting.  Here current favorite activity is chewing her feet. 

Max is tuning over as well, but has been a bit crabby -- we think his mandibular primary centrals are on their way.

Izzie's primary second molar are also erupting, so we may have three teething babies at the same time!!

God Bless Penguins

 We had a great day at the zoo with Auntie Kim and Kinley.

Auntie Kim is a great teacher!

The girls having fun

Can you find the monkey?

How many zebras are there?

One of the funniest moments of the day.  Izzie kept on making 

hats out of the brushes at the petting zoo.

My favorite shot of the day.  Izzie's first carousel ride.

Kim made great worksheets for the girls -- but they were too tired at the end of the day.  We had tons of fun that night sharing them with our cousins who came to visit from New Mexico.

Soni and Auntie Estella 

Hannah, Samuel, & Izzie

We said our prayers that night, at the end Izzie added penguins to her list.  We didn't see penguins, but who am I to argue :)

Isobel turns two

Today my Izzie turned two.  I can't believe we started here:

and are now here:

The day started with balloons and a birthday breakfast of french toast.  It continued with gymboree and cupcakes.  After that Izzie worked out with Papa in the back yard while the babies and I watched.

Then dinner and a birthday treat -- Mary Poppins! It was such a great day.  We had a party planned for the weekend, but had to post-pone because the babies got sick.  I think it worked out better this way.  Before Izzie blew out her candles she looked at all of sitting together and said 'Look, Family!'  Adam and I melted, and also decided this is how it should be -- from now on the birthday day will be just that -- family.  Parties will be on a different day (we will re-schedule the party for a few weeks), but the actual day will be for family. 

After she blew out her candles (she did it three times) I asked her what she wished for.  I really didn't think she understood what I meant, but she gave me a crooked smile and whispered 'stars'.  So, the project for the week, glow in the dark stars.  

watch me grow...

Up until now we have been recording Izzie's growth by the pantry in the kitchen.  I knew we needed a better option because that wall was about to get really crowded, also I wanted to be able to take our growth charts with us in case we moved.  I couldn't find one online I liked -- so, I decided to make some (three to be exact).

The tops are personalized for each child -- Soni sunshine, Max o' monkey,  and Izzie Bee.

I decided to add footprints underneath each height marker.  How fun to watch growing footprints climb the chart :)

world peace...

Tonight Izzie amazed me again.  We are a mutli-faith household (Adam is Catholic and I am Hindu), so we have a baby Jesus and a baby Krishna on our altar.  Izzie just picked them both up, showed them to us, and said 'same'....if only everyone else could see it the way she does :)

Ants go MARCHing

Our theme for March is ants.  I thought we could start our alphabet lessons with 'A is for Ant' and incorporate one of Izzie's favorite songs -- the ants go marching.  Our first project was coloring our marching ants -- we reviewed shapes, letters, and numbers.

We also made egg carton ants.  Instead of counting, however, Izzie likes to pluck the eyes off and say 'Mama look, eyes fell'.  Ah well, live and learn.

Side note: Izzie has a bath toy of Dora and Diego in an inner tube together.  Today she says 'Mama, look...twins, how cute!'

Peaceful Ostriches

Another fun weekend.  The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is on tour and visiting Mesa this weekend.  We all went to see this magnificent statue:

my boys

Ms Ellie came with us :)

Izzie running around the amphitheatre

The next day took the kids to the Ostrich Festival.  This was our first outing with just the five of us that wasn't a doctor's visit -- it went pretty well.  It was hot so the twins stayed in the stroller.  Izzie got to have her picture taken with the seals and ride a pony.

She wasn't about to go near the seals

We were pretty surprised she wanted to do this -- Izzie is usually pretty cautious about new experiences. But, when we asked her, she said 'wanto ride pony' so off she went with Adam.  She even went no hands all on her own :)

six months

The twins just had their six month check up.  They were cleared to start solids and had their first bites of rice cereal.  

ya think he likes it?

Soni is still having problems with reflux.  Now her GI specialist is thinking she has a milk protein allergy, so we switched her to a hypoallergenic formula (it is not even called formula, but medical food -- yikes).  We are working on it and hoping to get her weight up, and to get her to eat comfortably.  Otherwise she is doing great.  She is turning and rolling, grabbing objects, and is scooting a little.  She will be crawling in no time.  Wt 12 lbs 10 oz   Ht 24.25 in

Max is having no problems eating, but doesn't care to move much.  I think he is progressing fine, just at his own pace (and should be given a little leeway considering he was immobile for 4 months).  Wt 16 lbs 10 oz  Ht 27 in

It is so cute to watch them play together, although I cannot understand why they prefer to chew on each other's hands and feet.  Izzie is an amazing big sister.  She is constantly making them laugh, and the twins love watching at her.  Today she crawled around to try and teach the babies how.

  Flashback:

Izzie's first solids at six months

Wt 18 lbs 3 oz  Ht 25.75 in

Strike a pose...

Although our days are packed full, it seems like my to do list only grows longer.  As soon as I scratch one task off, two more get added on.  I have continuing education exams to take, parenting books to read, Izzie's birthday party to organizw, craft projects to do with Izzie, ... on top of all the daily stuff -- appointments, laundry, groceries... 

So today, with the list a long as ever, we decided to take some time out to play fashion show!

Miss Izzie bustin' a move.

Vogue, vogue, vogue.....

Izzie-isms

One of my favorite things about toddler hood has been language development.  The things Izzie says just crack me up.  Here are some of my favorites:

What is your full name?
Izzie-bel Shivani and Moya

What are you doing?
Climbing
Are you supposed to be doing that?
No (has not stopped or looked at me)
What happens when you climb?
Fell
What happens when you fall?
Hurt your butt
Izzie, what are you dong?
Climbing. Careful me.


(Adam is backing out of a parking spot at Target)
Car coming!
(Sure enough a car was coming)


(while talking to Nani on the phone)
Nani, come here right now!!

Anju Auuuuuntie, Anju Auuuuuntie! Ring a rosie.  Ring a rosie. Elebody fall down.

(While dancing around the house)
Shake your Buddha! Shake your Buddha!

What do you want for breakfast, lunch (dinner, snack, ...)
cookies.
(Everytime. Always the same answer.  Maybe I should give in one day and see how surprised she is.)

The other day Izzie was reading in her crib while I was putting away laundry.  I look over and see this:

What are you doing Izzie?

I made a hat :)