Matthew and Kayla are ONE!

The cake.  I was stressing over making this cake as I had never baked a cake before.  It started out working really well...and then the weight of the barn (made out of cake) started crushing the cake...and it would have fallen right off had I not propped it up with some mega blocks.

We celebrated on Friday, March 16th with my immediate family and Greg and Amanda (the tenants downstairs).

Opening their very first birthday present!

On Saturday, March 17th, we celebrated with Opa and Opa Bomhof and Jon's immediate family.

Talk about a chaotic night!  When the kids arrived it sounded like a herd of elephants running through our place.  Some of Jon's nieces locked themselves in Matthew and Kayla's bedroom (the doorknob is a key-lock), so Jon had to climb onto the carport and through the bedroom window to help them out.  Matthew and Kayla were quite overwhelmed so they were pretty cranky.  It was fun though!

On Sunday, March 18th, we had the Vander Endes over for coffee after church.  I had skipped church with Matthew and Kayla so that they could have their morning nap so that they would be well-rested for another party.

That afternoon, they opened their presents from Jon and I.

Two 'Spot' books and a Fisher-Price Little People farm set.  All used.  (Of course!)  The books were 80 cents each at Value Village, and the farm was $10 off of my facebook swap group.  I was pretty thrilled with my "finds".

The farm stays in front of the fireplace to take away the temptation of opening and closing the screen.

Enjoying snacks in their new snack cups.  

I like to give them a variety of finger food snacks:  cheerios, fruit loops, Gerber graduates, raisins, and a few marshmallows.  Kayla likes to pick out and eat only the marshmallows.  

Kayla tries to climb their dresser...that morning she had one foot on top of the bottom drawer and one foot on the ledge and was trying to climb higher.  Monkey.

Matthew and Kayla had their one-year immunizations two days after they turned one.  Four needles each!  They did so well!  Matthew managed to keep his composure for the first one, but lost it after that.  Kayla cried immediately.  I replaced the standard doctor's office boring circle bandaids with some of their Christmas Stocking (Princess and Cars) bandaids because they were so brave :)

Watching their new 'Colors' movie.

Kayla

Weight:  20 lb 8 oz

Kayla...

• loves climbing.   I finally moved the pampers boxes from in their room because she would stand on them and 'jump' up and down.  She climbed onto our coffee table this morning.
• loves being chased and being startled when you appear from behind a corner and yell "boo!"
• loves pulling her shoes off of the top of her dresser.
• loves stuffed animals and soft dolls
• loves playing with measuring cups and spoons.  I keep them in a basket in one of our top cupboards...yesterday she saw them (the cupboard door was open), quickly walked over and tried reaching for them and talking.  I gave them to her and she was happy.
• follows instructions quite well:  'give me (item/hug/kiss)...', 'come here', 'sit down', 'stand up', 'pass', 'push', 'get your bottle'
• will randomly stop what she is doing to give you a quick cuddle, and then will go back to playing.
• loves Lacey (my parents' dog)
• loves being outside - hurry up, spring!
• loves the swing.  She is expressionless while in it, but when you take her out, she cries.
• is stubborn when it  comes to eating.  If she doesn't want to eat, she'll throw a huge fit.  Even if it's something she likes.  We're talking about a 'food all over your face combined with boogers and tears in your hair' kind of fit.  The fits that make my blood pressure rise instantly.
• will spit out the very last bit of her food if she's full.  So annoying!
• gives open mouth kisses and gives great hugs -  we're talking about head on the shoulder, arms tightly around your neck sort of hugs
• is a pain to dress (most of the time) - she can't lay still.  If she's laying still, she helps you by pushing her arm through the sleeves and holding her feet up for socks and pants.  If she's not laying still, well, she's anything but helpful.
• loves swimming.  She has no fear!
• learned to drink from a straw (March 10)
• loves playing with balls - kicking or throwing

Clothes Size:

• Clothes are 9-12 month, but have started with the 12-18 month shirts
• Sleepers are all 18 month
• Pampers/Huggies size 3
• Shoe size 4

Matthew

Weight:  19 lb 2 oz

Matthew...

• loves eating.  I seldom have an issue with feeding him.  He will eat anything at anytime.
• loves being tossed in the air (particularly by Uncle Jason).
• has started grinding his front teeth.  It's quite loud, and a habit I hope to quickly break.  Time to google how to stop it....
• loves walking (with assistance)
• loves books - especially the 'lift the flap' types.
• loves playing with cars.  He will lay on his side with his head resting on his arm and will push them back and forth.
• loves copying noises you make with your mouth.
• loves 'smooth road, bumpy road' and 'dot, dot, line, line"
• loves being tickled
• loves Lacey (my parents' dog).  He is particularly intrigued by her paws.
• has started trying to copy what you are saying - especially 'book'
• loves having water dripped on his stomach when he is laying in the bathtub
• loves it when you check his diaper by pulling the diaper away from the side of his butt cheek and letting it snap back.
• loves it when he has a dirty diaper and you exclaim "eww" 
• loves the swing and shows it with excited giggles and talking
• is very tolerant of Kayla
• tilts his head down if you ask him for a kiss (because I always kiss the top of his head)
• loves the feeling of your tongue on his fingers

Clothes Size:

• Clothes are all 9-12 month
• Sleepers are all 18 month
• Pampers/Huggies size 3
• Shoe size 3