Our 18 Month Stats

We saw our pediatrician this morning for our 18 month well check. Both boys are recovering from a cold but otherwise are doing great! We were able to get our first round of the coveted flu vaccine and will be back next month for the second dose. Our stats are as follows:

Ace:
Height: 34", 95th percentile
Weight: 27 lbs, 10 oz, 60th percentile

Ben:
Height: 32", 50th percentile
Weight: 24 lbs, 10 oz, 30th percentile

We had a long discussion about asthma, since both boys have had breathing difficulties related to viral infections in the last month. Steve and I feel a lot better after discussing our concerns with their doctor. He does not think they have asthma, but rather that they are prone to wheezing when they have infections. We have a home nebulizer and a huge supply of xopenex, should we have problems in the future.

And the best news is we don't have to return to the pediatrician's office for a well-check for 6 months!

A Playgroup Halloween Party

The buddies have been quite the party animals lately. In the past 4 days, they've attended a Fall Picnic and two Halloween Parties. Today, they had 12 of their friends over to our house for a Playgroup Halloween Party. Their little friends enjoyed the scary haunted house in Ace and Ben's room. Then, the kids made handprint spiders and footprint ghosts. Miraculously, our house isn't covered in black and white paint. :) We served lots of spooky treats - hotdog ghosts (we borrowed the idea from Mia's party), pumpkin muffins, and chocolate cookie worms.

We all enjoyed the good company and Ace and Ben were two tired puppies by the end of the party. Check out all the great costumes here!

Mia's Disney Halloween Party

Yesterday afternoon, the buddies went to a Halloween Party at their friend Mia's house. It was an incredible party. Mia's parents, Jean and Dan, served an amazing buffet of spooky foods - hot dog ghosts, lady fingers (with red fingernails!), punch with floating ice "bones", creepy crudite, plus lots of homemade Halloween desserts.

The buddies played with Mia's toys and ran all over her big backyard. Ace learned to walk up and down stairs while holding onto the railing. I'm not sure I'm ready for him to practice this skill at home - his Dad was watching him when he tried this out at the party. They even stayed up past their bedtime, since we were all having such a good time and they were behaving so well. They are good little boys.

And... our family took home the trophy for best costumes. The buddies dressed as dalmations, Steve was Horace, the robber, and I went as Cruella DeVille.

AMOM Fall Picnic

This morning, we met our Austin Moms of Multiples friends for a fall picnic in the park. The weather was fantastic and the buddies loved the playground. There were many sets of twins and triplets attending.

Ace and Ben were excited to introduce their playgroup friends to their Dad. They slid down the slides, ran around, ate barbecue, played in the mini - pumpkin patch, enjoyed the swings, threw rocks (and went into time out for it), made fall door- hangers, and had a wonderful time.

And Grandma will be happy to see that they wore big-kid shoes instead of their usual Robeez. Ben cried for 30 minutes before we left the house because he didn't like the stiff feel of his new outdoor shoes but he quickly forgot when he spotted the playground.

Autumn in Austin - Finally!

Temperatures have finally lowered to the 60's so we put on our warm clothes and headed to a nearby pumpkin patch this morning. Enjoy the pictures!

A Day in the Life

The buddies are recovering from yet-another illness so today was the first time in a few days that they left our house. We all hate being cooped up, so even a trip to the grocery store seemed exciting - for all three of us!





They are beginning to remember each section of the store and have favorite things to look forward to. For instance, when we enter the produce section, they enjoy belting out, "nana! nana! nana!" so that every shopper within 50 feet knows that they know that those yellow things are bananas. They are so proud. And, they know that they'll get a cookie or a cracker in dry goods - I wouldn't dream of putting the graham cracker box in our cart without opening it first. After that, we head to the freezer aisle where there is a big picture of a cow - Ace loves to point at it and shout, "dog-dog! dog-dog!". (We're working on that one.) All of that is very exciting, but their favorite part of the outing is when we check out and one of their many admirers brings them each a balloon. And, after they get their balloons, they know it is time to leave soon so they wave "bye-bye" to anyone that will look their way. They are predictable, funny, little guys.

Hiking Mount Bonnell

With scenic views of the Colorado River and downtown Austin, Mount Bonnell has been a popular hiking and picnicking destination since the mid-1800's. It has been on my list of things to see in Austin for months. Today seemed like the perfect day to make the hike so we loaded the buddies and their backpacks in the car and drove twenty minutes to our destination. We enjoyed the fresh air and and scenic views, even with 23 and 27 pounds strapped to our backs.

The Legends of Mount Bonnell:

- In the 1830's, the peak was nicknamed "Antonette's Leap" after a young woman jumped to her death to escape capture by Indians who had earlier murdered her fiance.

- Golden Nell and her husband Beau also leaped to avoid torture.

- And my favorite: A couple that climbs the steps of Mount Bonnell together once will fall in love, twice will become engaged, and three times will get married. We'll have to warn the buddies to be weary of girls that invite them on hiking dates.

A stop-over in San Antonio

Steve had never been to San Antonio, so we decided to stop for a few hours during our drive home from Port Aransas today. We will definitely have to return for a longer visit, especially once the buddies are older.

Our first stop during today's visit was the Alamo. It has been years since I've taken a Texas history class, but I still get chills thinking about Colonel Travis drawing a line on the ground, asking any man willing to stay and fight to step over. Legend has it that all but one did. Over 150 years later, the Alamo is still a worldwide symbol of a heroic struggle against overwhelming odds - a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

After touring the Alamo and its grounds, we decided we were in need of refresh- ments and headed to the Riverwalk. In case anyone is wondering, the Riverwalk is NOT stroller friendly. We encountered numerous sets of stairs along the way and not one single ramp. We were delighted to finally find a few elevators, but then stepped out only to find more stairs. In any case, we found a restaurant with a lovely table in the shade, right on the river, and I enjoyed a top shelf margarita while Steve sipped a beer. The buddies shared a cheese enchilada plate and didn't leave a single bite for us.

Port Aransas Trip

My new favorite thing about living in Austin is the array of inexpensive mini- vacation destinations within driving distance of our fine city. After just 4 hours in the car, we can be sitting on the beach. After 1 hour, we can enjoy San Antonio and all it has to offer - Sea World, Fiesta Texas, the Alamo, and the Riverwalk. Schlitterbahn, the world's number one water park, is just an hour's drive away. And for the grown-ups, Bocktoberfest in Shiner, TX is a blast. Or, if the mood strikes (and babysitters are available), we can enjoy a romantic weekend at a bed and breakfast in Fredericksburg.

We returned today from a much- needed long weekend in Port Aransas, TX. Port Aransas is a quiet fishing town on Mustang Island, just off the Texas coast. With sandy beaches and clear blue water, it is a favorite beach destination for families in central Texas.

We had a fabulous time! Each morning, after breakfast, the buddies and I loaded up the stroller and went for long walks on the beach. After lunch and naps, we'd load up all our gear and head back for hours of fun. The water was still warm after the hot summer and both boys loved it. Ace cracked up while swimming with the crashing waves and even our sometimes-skittish Ben let out some joyful shouts. They chased after seagulls, dug in the sand, flirted with every lady that looked their way, and swam, swam, swam.

Check out our pics here!

Our Port Aransas Home-Away-From-Home

Steve called it "a dump that had been painted bright colors". Brian and Kathy's cottage smelled funny and had mysteriously sticky floors. I thought it was a funny little place to stay and can't wait to go back! A Laughing Horse Lodge was built in the 50's and renovated (ie - the inside walls were painted bright, crazy colors) in the 90's.

Our cottage, Crazy Horse, had two bedrooms, a full kitchen, a bathroom, central a/c, cable tv, wi-fi, and loads of charm. We grilled steaks on our porch and enjoyed a fantastic evening playing cards with Brian and Kathy while the buddies slept in their own room. And most importantly, we were just a 5-minute walk to the beach! The only downside was we didn't have a bathtub so the buddies had to experience their first showers. Ace didn't mind, but Ben wasn't a fan and wanted to be held. He's a slippery little fellow when he's all soaped-up!

Daddy's Birthday

I'm sure I won't win the mom of the year award for feeding Ben chocolate cake the day after his visit to the Emergency Room. But, some things are sacred in our house, and birthdays are one of those things. Plus, the doctors did tell me to keep Ben happy for the next several days since crying can bring on more respiratory distress. I can't think of a better way to keep someone happy than a big helping of chocolate cake!

We've had a good day, despite being cooped up in the house while we wait for Ben's croup to pass. Steve opened his birthday presents this morning, while the buddies ate breakfast. We spent the rest of the day moving from room to room in our house and from the front yard to the back yard to play. The buddies barely seemed to notice that we never left the house since they saw a lot of variety.

Tonight, we'll have cake after dinner, but since the buddies will be in bed, I let them lick the icing from the beaters (a first for them!) and eat the scraps that I cut away to level the cake. Ummm, they thought it was good!

Sad, Sad, Sad

Today is a day I hope not to relive any time soon. Ben woke this morning, struggling to breathe. He'd been coughing since yesterday afternoon and we thought he was coming down with a cold. So, we scheduled an early appointment with our pediatrician and the buddies and I raced out the door.

Our pediatrician quickly diagnosed Ben with croup, a respiratory virus that affects infants and small children. They gave him an oral steroid in the office and then attempted to give him a cool mist treatment. Ben became agitated by the treatment, and when he cried, his breathing problems worsened, so they ran a few more tests and then sent us on to the Children's ER downtown. Steve met me in the parking lot and picked up Ace and took him home.

Ben and I spent the next 5 hours in the ER. After having his chest x-rayed (an awful procedure!) we met a very nice respiratory therapist who got us started on another cool mist treatment. It was naptime, so Ben slept in my arms while I held the mist under his nose and mouth for almost 2 hours. When he hadn't improved after several hours of observation, he was given an epinephrine breathing treatment, which seemed to help tremendously. We are home now, with our prescription medicines, and Ben is sleeping. I'll probably check on him all night long. And although I really hope not to repeat this day, croup is highly contagious so there's a good chance I'll be back with Ace. I'm praying that he doesn't catch it.

Happy, Happy, Happy

Ben has a new word - happy. He wanders around the house singing, "happy, happy, happy." It melts my heart. Of course, minutes later, he'll whack his brother on the head or bang a big toy on the window. I just savor the sweet little moments when I can.

Today, the buddies played at their favorite mall play area and then ate Chinese food with us at the Dragonfly. They love sweet and sour chicken and are becoming very proficient dippers. Of course, they were covered from head to toe in the sauce by the time we left. Ben had it streaked down his left leg and Ace had some in his hair.

First Dental Exam

The buddies had their first experience at the dentist's office today. It is pretty safe to say that they both HATED it. They enjoyed meeting Bugsy, a big, fluffy stuffed animal with a very nice set of teeth. The dentist's helper was very sweet and let both boys pull on Bugsy's tongue and brush his teeth while we waited for the dentist.

The dentist noticed a few spots on Ace's front teeth that are missing enamel. I was pretty ticked when she accused me of giving him milk at bedtime (which we don't!) or giving him a lot of juice (never, really!). I don't think she believed me because she asked if I thought his teeth just came in without enamel. Heck if I know, lady! You're the dentist. Do teeth just come in without enamel?? Anyway, she recommended a calcium-fortified paste, which was outrageously expensive, so we bought it and were on our way.

A Relaxing Afternoon by the Pool

This is how I envisioned my life when I first decided to become a stay-at- home mom: I thought I'd hang by the pool (although I imagined a bigger one) with my kids all day and enjoy a nice cold beer when the mood struck. Then came the buddies and reality sunk in. I am way too busy most days to relax and have a beer.

This afternoon, we went to our favorite play area at the mall where I became frustrated at one of the big kids who hogged the slide. His mom chatted away on her cell phone, oblivious to the other children waiting in line as her son camped out at the top of the slide. Ace and Ben were so good and just stood behind waiting for their turn. Not wanting to deal with it, we packed up and headed home for our own swim party and I did crack open that beer. Ahhhh, it was good!

Another First - Child Care

Steve and I are taking a 5-week Love and Logic course called "Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun". Our first class was this evening so the buddies had their first experience with childcare. We arrived 15 minutes early, prepared for teary, panicked goodbyes when we dropped them with their new caregivers. But, 30 seconds later, Steve and I were in the classroom next door with our emergency beeper and the buddies were happily scooting cars around in their room. Two hours after that, we picked up two happy but very tired boys (it was over an hour past their bedtime) and headed home. One of the childcare providers said they stuck together the whole time and were happy as clams.

Mommy's Day Out

I didn't get to relax, but the work I did this morning will save me loads of time over the next few weeks. This morning, the buddies stayed at home with their dad while I joined 6 fellow twin moms in a commercial kitchen downtown for cooking club. Everyone prepared 2 entrees for each family and walked away with 14 ready-made meals! Although I'm not one that loves to cook, I really had a fantastic time chatting with the other moms while we chopped, baked, and sipped mimosas. Over the next few weeks, we'll be dining on pork chops stuffed with cherries, ginger and pine nuts; spice rubbed baby back ribs; turkey florentine meatloaf; chicken cutlets stuffed with olives, feta and red peppers; chicken and mango curry; beef with broccoli; fajitas; and many more tasty dishes! And the work will be minimal - jealous anyone?

And best of all, I came home to a quiet house that had been freshly vacuumed by Steve - and I didn't even ask! He also mowed the lawn during the buddies' nap so I have to say I feel a little outdone. I never get THAT much work done during naptime.

More Texoma Pictures

Click here to see Grandma's pictures!

Our 15 Month Stats

We were 6 weeks late for our 15 month well check today. It was a good visit and everyone is healthy and happy. Here are our stats:

Ace
height: 34" (this is really tall - he's not even on the growth chart!)
weight: 27 pounds (80th percentile, but slender for his height)
head circumference: 48.7 cm

Ben
height: 31 1/2 inches (55th percentile - also tall!)
weight: 23 pounds (30th percentile, also slender for his height)
head circumference: 48 inches

We just had two shots today, but boy they were mad about them. Both boys took off their band aids in the car and chewed on them. I was driving on the highway shouting, "No eat! Yucky! No eat!". It was really tempting to reach back and yank them away but that wouldn't have been safe at 60 mph so they both ate a little band aid. Next time they're wearing long pants. Boys are gross.

More Pictures from the Weekend

If this has you wanting to see more, click here for the rest of our pictures!