Lucy and Ellory- Twelve Months.

Lucy and Ellory are ONE! What a crazy, beautiful year it has been. It has been so fun to look back at all the pictures over the last year. Overall, it was a great year. We are glad the first few months are over, as we thought those were the most difficult, but despite going from one kid to three, it's been mostly good! When people ask me if it's hard now, I say I wouldn't say that it's hard, just very busy. We all feel good getting good sleep and being on a schedule/routine. We are also thankful for almost always happy babies! They are so much fun and so adorably sweet.

Stats/Doctor visits: Lucy was healthy this month, but Ellory was sick twice, but thankfully both were just 24 hours. The first time, she just had a fever and we checked for influenza because she had been exposed, but thankfully it was negative. The second time, she got the stomach flu and she threw up four times with a slight fever, but it was amazing that no one else got it. It took her a few days to get her appetite back, but that was it. At their twelve month check up, Lucy was 30” (79%), head circumference 18.25” (85%), and was 18 lbs 13 oz (34%). Ellory was also 30” (79%), head circumference 18” (72%), and was 20 lbs (54%). Their weights were only about one pound apart, where it had been two for awhile. They are growing well too, as their percentages are getting higher on the charts.

Teeth: Lucy got her bottom right lateral incisor, her 8^th tooth, on 2/15 (51) weeks.

Feeding: They are eating a lot more solids now! It's been fun to watch- great that they can feed themselves and sit in their high chairs while we eat, but it's a big mess to clean up afterwards. They are still nursing 4 times a day (well, one of those was a pumping/bottle session to give them a little extra), and had an extra few ounces after their bedtime nursing session, but began to wean that off at the end of the month by quitting pumping and substituting whole milk instead of my milk. I am thankful that nursing went so well and that I was able to make it a full year, and I can tell that it's time to start weaning because I'm not making as much as I used to, and they get grumpy at the end like they want more. It's about 50/50 purees and solids and they get some of both about lunch and supper. We also are mixing a little whole milk in the purees instead of formula, and it's gone well so far. They have been practicing with sippy cups for awhile now, first with water and now with milk too, and they are getting better/understanding to tip it up. They have eaten puffs, yogurt melts, bread, cheese, lunch meat, noodles, and lots of soft fruits and cooked veggies. They still gag some on meat sometimes, as it's harder to chew. We call Lucy the garbage disposal, as she will eat anything and everything. She definitely eats more solids than Ellory and is not selective at all. Ellory loves her milk, and drinks more than Lucy, and is more selective with her foods. She loves her grains, and will pick out the noodles/puffs/bread over the other things.

Diapers/Clothes: Wearing size 3 diapers and 12 month and 12-18 month clothes.

Sleeping: They are both good sleepers- hallelujah! So glad for that. We are still a night owl family and all go to bed late, so they are in bed about 10:30, nurse at 8, and sleep again until about 10. (That will only last for a few more months until we have to transition into more of a school schedule lifestyle when Norah goes to preschool in the fall, but hopefully that transition will fall perfectly into when they switch to one nap). Sometimes they are up a bit earlier if we have a morning activity and they handle it fine, and occasionally they sleep a bit later if we don't have anything. They take a nap from about 1:30-4 and again from 7-8. Their evening nap used to be 30 minutes, but they've been sleeping longer since crawling and now it's an hour.

Words: There is a lot of baby talk going on, but not too many words. Ellory says mama and dada pretty consistently. I hear a lot of M, B, and D sounds with the occasional P. We have done a little sign language, but haven't focused on it as much as we did with Norah. They haven't done any back, but we have regularly been doing thank you, eat, bath, more, up, and all done.

Developments: On 2/21, right before their first birthday, Lucy took her first steps! Her record was four. Lucy is more active than Ellory, so we weren't surprised she was first. Lucy loves to get into everything, dump out all toys, and climb on whatever she can find. When she climbs on something, she just laughs and smiles like she is so proud of herself. Lucy also quit drooling right before their birthday and doesn't need to wear bibs anymore. Both girls love to give kisses and high fives, and sometimes do “so big.” Ellory shakes her head a lot, especially to music. I was also thinking about their personalities this month and remember saying that Lucy cried to be held more, but I think that has calmed down now since she started moving more. She is so happy crawling and climbing, which also makes her require a bit more attention! Lucy can climb up all the stairs, but Ellory can do a couple and then gets scared. Ellory is generally always happy too, but her anger is a little more intense when she's upset. They've already had a few sister fights where they get mad when the other one takes their toy, but they's also had the cutest times where they laugh and play together.

Favorites: Lucy is a daddy's girl and gets so excited and crawls to him when he comes home. Ellory loves to dance when music comes on. Ellory loves milk and Lucy loves solids. Lucy loves to climb and move around. Lucy loves to dump out buckets and Ellory is a bit more careful/particular with toys. Ellory loves dolls. Both of them love to dig into the fridge or dishwasher when it's open, play in Norah's room when she leaves the door open, and get into my tampon boxes in my bathroom when it's open and dump them all out (funny the things they think are amazing!). Ellory is more chatty at home, but definitely more shy/hesitant in public or new situations.

Happy first birthday, Lucy and Ellory! Being your parents is the greatest blessing. We've all learned and grown a lot this year, but overall it's been so good! We are thankful for your sweet personalities and that you are ours. Twins are great!

Lucy and Ellory's first birthday party!

Lucy and Ellory are ONE! A whole year! We made it the first year with twins! I've heard a lot of people say that in regards to twins, for overall, this was such a good year. The beginning was the toughest for me and I'm glad the first three months are over, but I'm so thankful for His provision over our lives in allowing us to be their parents and for protecting, loving, and growing them like He has so far. They really are the sweetest babies! I love both of them so incredibly much. I was so scared to be a twin mom when I was pregnant, and of course, now I can't imagine it any other way. Sure, taking care of two babies is a lot of work, but getting to love two babies is amazing!

Happy First Birthday, Lucy and Ellory! I enjoy planning and hosting, but I wanted to find a balance this year between still enjoying it, yet not overwhelming myself. The first step to that was having their party at our local library in their big basement room. I've had Norah's birthdays at our house, but in October you can hope to have some/all things outside, but I'm glad we found an alternate location this time because it was all obviously indoors in February. Also, then I didn't have to worry about preparing for or cleaning up after tons of people in our house. And having it at the library was free! Win.

I didn't have a specific theme, but went with mostly pink as the color with white, gold, and floral accents. It was really fun! I love making a "birthday board" every year for each of my kids. It's so fun to look back over the year and remember favorite moments. I make a Shutterfly photo book for each of my kids every year (instead of baby books) with photos and updates, but it's fun to have a big board of favorites. And I tell myself that doing it each year is great because then whey they graduate high school, I'll already have tons of boards ready for their graduation party! With Norah, I've done one board per year, and that was my goal to continue, but I just couldn't with two babies and they each got two boards. Oops. Too many cute pictures and so much more to choose from when there is two! I hung up their monthly pictures above too, which was a cute and super easy idea! I also used the pink/gold ribbon banner later on their high chairs for their smash cakes.

I already had this floral banner, which was basically my inspiration for the whole thing, because my MIL had given it to me and used it when we had a lunch celebrating their dedication at church awhile back, so I thought it was fun to use it again since it already had special meaning. 

More monthly photos, this time individually.

Aren't their birthday shirts the cutest ever? I love them so much. (I have a friend here who has a children's clothing business, but she had another friend make them because she does more sewing and she said my idea would work better being digitally printed on.)

Being a family of five is pretty great!

My maternal grandparents weren't planning on coming, but ended up being in the area for a funeral, so it was so great to have them join! That means all 7 of the girls' great grandparents were able to celebrate with them over the weekend! How special.

All of my siblings were able to come too, which was so great! Our girls are so blessed by amazing grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, and uncles on both sides! And they will be getting their first cousin in a couple months- so excited! My brother and SIL (on the far right) are having a baby.

My parents and grandparents.

My grandpa and Ellory.

Uncle Brett, Aunt Elizabeth, and Amma taking a snack break with Lucy. So glad Brett and Elizabeth were able to join too!

Ellory is the shyer one of the two, so she stayed pretty close to Kley and I at the party, which is okay!

Uncle Keaton and Lucy.

Lucy walking with Papa.

Aunt Kayla goes to college in our town, so we love getting to see her often!

The cutest!

Ellory was not in a picture taking mood, clearly.

Love my babies! 

I know Ellory is obviously very upset, but I also really love this picture. It will be funny to look back on when she's older! 

Happiest first birthday girls! You are so loved!

Winter fun.

Winter in December is awesome because you have the anticipation of Christmas, but after that, it can feel long sometimes. Not to be a downer, because we do have much to be grateful for, but we are all looking forward to warmer weather to get outside and hopefully stay healthier! (It hasn't been too bad, but the girls had RSV in January, and last week Ellory had the stomach flu, but I'm so thankful no one else got it!) The other day we drove past the park, and Norah just sighed longingly at it and said she missed it. It was sad and cute at the same time.

So, we've been trying to come up with some fun winter activities! We are at an in between stage too I feel, in that it can be hard to find things for all three girls to do. There are some fun things I'd love to take Norah to, like the indoor pool, ice skating, or bowling, but Lucy and Ellory can't really do those things yet. 

I have quite a few sensory bins stored in my basement, but we haven't used many because Lucy and Ellory were too little, but we tried to do pom-poms the other day. It was pretty fun! The temptation was too strong for Ellory, and she couldn't stop putting them in her mouth, but Lucy did pretty well with it!

Even though she kept putting them in her mouth, she quite enjoyed herself.

I just commented about how quickly they are growing up as I uploaded these. Already Lucy doesn't need a bib anymore because she quit drooling!

Norah has fully embraced pajama days this winter when we don't have to go anywhere. I'm pretty sure she'd wear them all the time if I'd let her.

Her face in this picture reminds me of the scene from Despicable Me where she says, "It's so fluffy I could die!":)

There's Ellory, casually sneaking one in her mouth again.

Norah is such a great big sister! She's done a few really kinds things towards them lately.

One afternoon we went sledding. It was short lived, but fun. Norah was very excited to do it, but then only wanted to do it once. She said it was "fun and awesome" but didn't want to do it again. Ha. I think she got a little spooked.

My parents were getting rid of this face mask, and Kley thought it would be a great idea to take it. (Can you tell how much I love it?) Norah thought it was awesome because he looked like Spider-Man.

Norah's snow pants are super high waters because they are 2 sizes too small, but don't want to buy new ones every year since they are hardly used!

Kley is such a fun dad!

Another thing we did one day was this "amazing science experiment with mini bubbling explosions." Norah loved it! (It's just baking soda in a pan with vinegar/food coloring and a dropper.)

Happy Winter! Hope you're finding some fun things to do!