Let's Finish off July...

I seriously need to start updating this blog as soon as I've taken pictures. Having to go through pictures trying to decide which ones to post becomes an even more daunting task when you keep putting it off.

So, here goes:

Cultus Lake Trip #2 - July 2011

Matthew and Kayla started out this camping trip with bad colds: runny noses and coughs.

Matthew and Kayla were allowed to lay under their playmat while my parents were setting up the trailer (Not fair! They didn't have to help!). Melissa asked if she could let them try one of her dropjes, and I said, "sure!"

When they had finished sucking on the dropje (and yes, they both LOVED them. Did you honestly think otherwise though? Jon and I can easily polish off $10 worth in a day.), Melissa offered the rest of their dropje to me. I didn't want the slobber-covered dropje to go to waste, so I took it. I nearly died when I started sucking on it...it was a DOUBLE ZOUT! Matthew and Kayla must have died licking it! Matthew had a ring of brown dropje around his mouth from licking his lips later on.

We slept in the trailer the entire trip this time. Thank goodness. Kayla was quite a handful when it came to getting her to fall asleep at night. I think I said once or twice that I was never going camping again with her.

Matthew and Kayla tried out the baby swing on the playground for the first time. It's a pretty sweet swing because you can fit two babies back to back!

Since being home...

...Kayla has NOT slept through the night. Not even once. GRRR. I was so angry at her after a week of her not sleeping through that I had to leave her in her crib screaming for a moment. I could not handle being near her for fear that I might lose it. I've since settled into the routine of having to feed her in the middle of the night again so all is well. If this is a growth spurt, I'm hoping it will stop soon. I can tell that she's gaining weight quicker than Matthew now (due to the extra feed). She's getting heavy! Hopefully when we're back from our last camping trip of the summer I can start working on dropping that middle-of-the-night feed again.

Kayla "helping" me with laundry

BIG Bath!

I've still been bathing Matthew and Kayla in their baby bath in the sink, but I have started putting them in the "big" bathtub if I have extra time in the morning. Once they're sitting I think I'll stop bathing them in the sink and will always do it in the tub. It's just so convenient in the kitchen where I can stand up to wash them!

Camping Trip #3 - Fort Langley - Vleeming Family Reunion

Every other summer we have a Vleeming family reunion (my mom's side of the family) in Fort Langley. It's always so much fun! We always have a ring toss tournament on the Saturday of the August long weekend and a balloon toss competition on the Sunday. Did I mention that it's always a lot of fun?

The mosquitoes were pretty bad, so I made sure to have Matthew and Kayla in pants and long sleeves all day. I did not want them to be covered in mosquito bites like Jon and I!

I think Grandpa quite enjoyed spending a lot of time with Matthew and Kayla!

Matthew and Kayla with their second-cousin Josie (born two days after them). They're going to have a lot of fun at the next reunion in two years! Terrible twos x 3. Yikes.

We were right on the edge of a large grass field, which was perfect for the little kids (the playground was close by) and for the big kids (football anyone)?

Baby Food

Strawberries - check!

Peas (David's) - check!

Cauliflower - check!

Snijbonen (beans) - check!

It's actually really easy to do...and it's nice because it's free :)

Definitely getting there, and my freezer is filling! Lots more to go still though...

That's More Like It...

I had to bring Matthew and Kayla back to the Dr's office to get their second 4 month shot (because they didn't have enough from Fraser Health when we were there last) so I asked if Matthew and Kayla could both be weighed again (because I thought something was wrong with what they said Matthew's weight was last time).

So, at 4.5 months old:

Kayla weighs 14 lb 5 oz

Matthew weighs 14 lb 2 oz

That's more like it! I'm thinking that last time (at their 4 month appointment) he should have been 13 lb 12 oz, not 12 lb 12 oz.

Time to correct my growth chart!

Four Months Old!

I cannot believe that Matthew and Kayla are four months old already! Ah...where is time going? What happened to my little babies?

Since we returned home from Cultus Lake Matthew and Kayla started having naps in their cribs. As much as I miss all of the cuddles, I think they sleep longer when they are on their own. They typically take 3 or 4 naps a day: late morning, early afternoon, late afternoon, and sometimes early evening. I try to discourage the early evening nap for fear that it will make their bedtime (usually around 9pm) later.

This is Kayla's position of choice when she naps. It's so cute!

They have both found their hands and enjoy playing with toys, whether it be the ones hanging from their play mat, ones held in front of them while they sit on your lap, or the one attached by links to their car seat.

They also have been using the Jolly Jumper now. They don't quite know how to jump yet, but they enjoy the slight bouncing / moving around they do.

Kayla has become quite a talker as well now. She usually starts out very quiet, no louder than a whisper, but it definitely gets louder. I got a giggle out of her on July 6th.

They had their 4-month immunizations yesterday (well, only the one as the other one is on back order so it will be done next week) and they did really well. Matthew went first and actually didn't start crying until Dr. Shah was pulling the needle out.

Their weights are:

Matthew - 12 lb 12 oz

Kayla - 13 lb 8 oz

I'm having trouble believing Matthew's because when my mom and I weighed him last month he was 12 lb 14 oz. Hmm. So either we were wrong or the receptionist who weighed him at Dr. Shah's office. We're going to take him to the health unit on Monday to weigh him again to confirm. Not that it's overly important, the Dr. was still impressed with his weight gain since he last saw Matthew at his two-month appointment.

I asked Dr. Shah about Matthew's head again (is it still looking okay?), and he was pleased with the improvement it's already made.

Dr. Shah was impressed with Kayla's strength and accomplishments and called her "advanced", so Jon and I have been joking about if we feel we are able to raise an "advanced" child lol. All in jokes though (we know that she won't actually be a superstar or anything, she's just quick). Speaking of which, the other day she manage to creep forward about an inch, and I've caught her trying to get on her knees...and she's managed to turn herself 180 degrees a few times. I really need to look into getting a baby gate for a stairs!

Encouraging Kayla to creep/crawl by placing a toy just out of reach.

And doing the same for Matthew too!

Matthew and Kayla are aware of each other now. It's neat to see them watching each other, and I think I caught them talking to each other once. I wonder when they'll start showing signs of jealousy if I'm only playing/holding one of them?

Jon only has 3.5 weeks of school left and then he's DONE! Since starting at Kwantlen in September 2005, Jon has pretty much gone to school non-stop, even taking a course or two during the summers. Can't wait to celebrate on August 12th! He's definitely learned to make good use of his breaks between classes since Matthew and Kayla have been born, because now if he has to do homework at night he usually has to keep an eye on one of them.

Helping Daddy do his homework.

Other Random Pictures:

Reading them a nursery rhyme book before bed. Don't let the picture deceive you - they weren't too interested!

Watching television with Dad. Kayla is such a tv bug!

Playing with Grandma

Best Buds. I think I post a picture of them holding hands every month! I think it's cute :)

Playing with Auntie Candice

I received the shirts they're wearing (as well as matching sleepers) from a lady off of Craigslist that I swapped coupons with. After arranging our trade we discovered that we were both parents to boy/girl twins so she included the clothes with our deal.

Matthew and Kayla both are obsessed with sucking their hands...or each other's if it's available!

Professional Family Pictures (June)

Enjoy!