What in Heaven's Name?!?

What in the world is wrong with my child's hair? Every time Jillian wakes up from a nap (or in the morning) I wonder what her hair will look like. Now, in case you are joining us for the first time...I have two children. Most of the time I am blessed that they take naps and sleep at the same time. Usually not for the same length of time but that is a different post. So...if I have two children who nap at the same time why does one child wake up with the hair I put her down with and the other wake up with...this....?? I am just sayin'!

Jillian's hair after her nap

Jenna's hair compared to Jillian's after they both took a nap

Jillian is back to her regular groomed self as she and Jenna play

Jenna is giving you a big ol' kiss!

In other news, this week we've been battling the stomach bug. Jenna woke up late Monday night and was sick until Tuesday morning. We've been working on getting her eating habits back to normal ever since. Some days she eats great and some days (like last night) she doesn't want anything to do with her food and will throw a tantrum until we take her tray away.

Jillian started getting sick right after we put the girls to bed Thursday night. Thankfully she only got sick for a few hours so we weren't up all night like with Jenna. And Jillian was pretty much right back to eating her normal amounts of food the next morning. I held off on milk until today but otherwise she seems to be back on track.

Jared and I are praying we don't get sick and I am also praying Jenna doesn't get sick again and start repeating the cycle. It is impossible to separate their germs. They are constantly stealing each other's pacifiers, sippy cups, food, and toys.

I am glad this has happened though. The stomach bug has been going around for weeks now and I have just been dreading getting it. Not only because in my opinion that is the worse kind of sickness to get... ever and I would rather have a cold for weeks than a few hours of vomiting; but I also hate it just because of the physical reaction I get when someone is vomiting. So at this moment I have to stop and acknowledge that other than Jenna's first episode where I had to leave the room, I was a trooper and I am kind of proud of myself. I was right there, patting their backs, changing them and cleaning off the sickness. Also, the more we went along the less physical reaction I had. I don't usually pat myself on the back but this was a BIG DEAL for me. I always say that part of the reason I waited longer to have kiddos was that I knew there would be throw up moments that I didn't think I could handle it. Well...I handled them. :) Not that I want the stomach bug to come back, no siree! I am just glad to know that I can be there for my babies when they need me the most. It is a good feeling to have.

More to Come,

Jessica

Geaux Saints!!

Jared and Jenna, Mommy and Jilly cheering the Saints to Victory!

The past week hasn't changed much around the Winter household. The girls are growing bigger every day. Jillian especially is getting better with the tilt action required by a normal sippy cup. The girls are also getting more physical every day. I caught Jillian sitting in one of the toy boxes the other day...which means she had to climb in it all by herself since I was in the nursery changing Jenna's diaper. Both girls are cruising the furniture like crazy. Last night Jillian finally figured out how to walk behind a push toy. She had always been to scared to do it by herself and last night she was walking all over the nursery and playroom with me trailing behind trying to keep up. She isn't a very good driver yet and kept running into things. It was pretty funny because she would get mad and she couldn't figure out why she was stuck!

We had an awesome Super Bowl shindig last weekend, made super duper fun by the Saints' glorious win over the Colts. WHOODAT?!? The girls looked way cute in their Saints gear!

So until there is more news I will leave you with a handful of the latest pictures.

More to Come,

Jessica

Jenna gets fired up before the Big Game
 

 Jillian is ready for the Super Bowl Party

       Jillian takes a spin on her car                                      

  Jenna's turn to take a ride

 

Both Jenna and Jillian are finally starting play with toys...rather than just eating and throwing them. They love their Caterpillar slide but haven't figured out yet that not everything can go down it. :)

Jenna reads Daddy The Hungary Caterpillar story

Jillian is learning that walking may not be so bad after all.

What dinner looks like at the Winter house. Steamed carrots, Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole and Cooked Apples with Cinnamon. Yum!

We're Putting Shelby the Dog on a Diet

Jillian enjoys an after dinner treat

Jenna trying to figure out how to eat her popsicle

Jilly and Jenna can't decide if the yummy taste of the popsicle outweighs the extreme cold. I tried to show them how to hold the popsicle by the stick but they got mad every time I tried to help.

The last time I left you the girls were digging into the new table foods; inhaling every bite. The excitement with real food has been replaced with a fascination to see what happens to the food every time it gets dropped on the floor. Simple answer...Shelby eats it. Somehow the dog eating food on the floor is extremely entertaining. Especially for Jillian...that crazy girl dropped her entire plate over the side of her chair tonight.

Fortunately for us, as long as what is dropped isn't a vegetable, Shelby the Dog will eat it. She got lucky tonight with some very nice chicken. I still wish Shelby would have learned to point or howl at poo diapers so I wouldn't have to be the one to take the sniff test, but I will settle for Shelby being my trusty broom and mop. :)  I just may need to get the pooch out for a walk or two though...she's getting a bit hefty.

More To Come,

Jess

Twin Adventures

Jenna in blue and Jillian in red love to take walks. Especially to fun places like the park!

I am not sure what has gotten into us this last week but we have been venturing out... a lot. Maybe because we had a holiday off together (MLK Day)? Maybe because things are getting easier now that the girls are on table food and no bottles? Whatever the reason... I LIKE IT!

Last Saturday was great...Jared and I had a "grown up day." A friend came over and watched the girls and we went to an awesome hockey game and out to lunch. The next day after church we decided to take the girls to a park that isn't too far from our house. We strapped them into the stroller and walked there, they got more excited the closer we got to the park. I think they could sense the impending fun. And lots of fun they had, too. Their favorite was the swings! I took each of them down the slide a few times as well but didn't get much of a reaction.

Jenna has fun on the swings

Jilly has fun on the swings

On Monday we decided to take the girls out for ice cream at a really popular local place. There were so many crazy flavors so I made the mistake of deciding on vanilla for the girls. Jenna was somewhat okay eating the the vanilla. In fact, she seemed to like enough to be content; Jillian however, was only interested in my cone. Note that I didn't say Jared's cone... MY cone. I shared it with her for a while but she eventually took over. It was a big testament of my love because those who know me know that the cone is my favorite part. It seemed to be Jillian's too....minutes later I was pulling the butt of the cone out of her mouth after she crammed it in. :)

More to Come,
Jessie

Mommy's Little Garbage Disposals :)

Jenna has a conversation

Jilly enjoys her ravioli

Mommy feeds Jilly and Jenna feeds herself one of their last bottles (didn't know it at the time though!)

Jenna and Jilly hang with Daddy while Mommy makes a BIG Girl Breakfast

Jenna gets stuck between the wall and her exersaucer...don't worry, right after I took the picture I rescued her!

Jenna makes a funny face and Jilly goes for a toy

Jillian enjoys her first taste of spaghetti

Jenna and Jillian (and Shelby!) finish their dinner

Jenna likes her Mac-N-Cheese

Jillian gets a taste of her first dinner with Big Girl food. :)

Jenna is serious about her spaghetti

Jillian is a little ballerina as she stands on her tippy toes

Jenna reads The Velveteen Rabbit

Jillian makes a silly face




Can you tell what we've been up to? Eating!! That's what we've been up to. Since the last post Jared and I have delved into the world of table food and sippy cups. It is actually a GREAT world to be in. :) Sometimes I think just change and transition are made more ominous than they have to be...meaning I worrying things to death when there is really no need to do so.


The girls have taken to table food beautifully. In fact, they haven't had ANY baby food in over a week. On top of that, today is the second full day with no bottles....none...not even one when Jenna had a melt down this morning. The girls haven't taken to whole milk like I had hoped and will only drink Apple Juice and Formula from a sippy. They will sip a little bit on regular milk and water but they won't drink it. So I have to give them formula once or twice a day so they don't get dehydrated, we've had very few really wet diapers (like we are used to) since we stopped bottles all together. That's okay though....with us saving a few bucks on baby food (about $25-$30!!) and the girls only getting the equivalent of one bottle a day max, we have a little extra to stretch the table food budget to include things they are healthful and nutritious.


So what have the girls eaten so far?  Well...I will tell you:


Cheddar and Broccoli Crock Pot Chicken with rice and diced fresh peaches
Mac-n-Cheese with peas and carrots and pears
Spaghetti with meat sauce and cooked carrots
McDonalds chicken nuggets with mixed veggies and orange slices (veggies and oranges from home)
Chicken & Carrot sticks, cheese cubes, oranges
Cheesy Tuna Casserole with veggies and diced bananas
Beef Ravioli in tomato sauce with green beans and diced kiwi
Spaghetti with meat sauce, steamed zucchini and oranges
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy with Turkey and veggies


So that is what I can remember. :) I am proud to say that both girls like all kinds of food and at this stage aren't showing in picky eating tendencies. I am sure that will change but for now I am enjoying seeing all of the foods they will eat.

It is pretty funny though because true to their nature Jenna dives into every meal with both hands making as much mess as possible and Jillian delicately picks each bite of food up, eats in groups and makes as little mess as possible...preferring her hands to be wiped as she goes.


I know this post has made you very hungry so before I sign off I have to more things to tell you. 1) Jenna finally got her second tooth. It is on the bottom next the one already there...it took FOREVER to come in, poor baby.  2) The girls had the first professional haircuts! The tufts were getting pretty unruly so Jared and I took them last Sunday to Great Clips right around the corner. They did a "bang trim" for $5 each and the stylist was nice enough the trim the crazy edges around their ears. :)


More to Come...
Jessie

Big Messes

Jenna (top) and Jillian (bottom) are transitioning to table food. Here we have scrambled eggs with cheese, which in latin means BIG MESSES.

Jenna practicing her coordination and balance

Jillian is being sneaky... or at least that is how her face makes her look.

My goodness. What a blessed but busy holiday! I feel like I might need a vacation or something. Between constant family gatherings from the 24th to the 27th, to working at home while the office was closed...I feel like I could be Rip Van Winkle and sleep 100 years. No...I couldn't sleep that long even if I wanted to, I have two beautiful girls who take turns putting their names down for the "Keeping Mommy Awake All Night" sign up sheet. ;)

So I haven't posted much over the holidays...I will try and catch you up on the many comings and goings of Jillian and Jenna. The girls are one, they are close to 17 1/2 pounds and roughly 28 inches long. They are taking two naps a day (morning and afternoon...except for today of course since I am trying to do something online) and eating three meals a day, three bottles a day, and protest much of it. :)  We've been doing some finger foods like Cheerios and the things Gerber makes (like the crunchies) but mostly it was baby food in the jars. They've been satisfied for the most part until about a week ago. Jillian has always spit her food, she thinks it is funny; but, lately Jenna has started to do it as well. Jenna's isn't so much of a spit as a push out of what just went in. They are very into foods they can feed themselves with so I am taking the spitting and head turning as a clear signal that they are finally tiring of jarred food and want the real thing. Which is good...the doctor wanted them on all table food by 15  months and once they are on more table food we can (carefully) stop with the formula. Jenna just recently got the OK to go off her Iron Supplement so we are going to have to watch her when we do away with formula and make sure she doesn't relapse back into the anemia she left the NICU with.

For some reason, table food and independent eating just seems like a seriously daunting task to me. I am not completely afraid they will choke but am more afraid of the outrageous messes babies make. I have seen the pictures of one kiddo enjoying spaghetti...I can't even fathom the horror of a mess two babies would make.

Also, for Jared and I, our eating habits and preferences have been put so far to the back burner that they are hanging off the stove.  Formula and baby food is expensive, especially with two, and the amount of baby food we were/are feeding them. Jared and I went from grilled chicken, fresh fish and veggies to hamburger helper and other highly processed meals with obscene amounts of sodium and trans fat. I don't want the girls to eat that.  I am not saying they never will....or we won't ever feed them that, but I feel very strongly that the food they eat while they are so young makes an impression on their future dietary choices. I want them to be exposed to healthful foods so that they will like it...unlike their mother... who could eat fast food every day (or several times a day) and be completely content.

So my task now is to find foods that we can all eat, that are healthful and not insanely expensive. I feel proud of myself now for the coupons I cut, planning my shopping around the coupons, finding extra sale items, etc. But the fact of the matter is healthful foods are just plain expensive.

The next item that scares me away from independent eating is just the "how to." Do I start slowly, switching out some formerly pureed food to soft chucks? Do I stop buying baby food and make the switch all at once?  What do older babies like to eat anyway? I doubt I could give them a sandwich and them know what to do with it. Are the Gerber Graduate meals a waste of money or are they are good transition between baby food jars and table food? Am I going to be eating spaghetti, chicken nuggets and macaroni for the next three years?  I am sure I am making things harder than it has to be but for some reason the big decisions moms have to make are the hardest for me, especially when it comes to transition and change. Maybe I just don't get to see other moms agonize over the same transitions and I am not alone...hey...that sounds good....I will go with that. Even if it isn't true.

 Moving on...

The girls are getting really good at being mobile. They are very fast crawlers and are starting to cruise the furniture. I am a little afraid that they won't walk...they have absolutely zero interest in walking behind something or me holding their hands and supporting them while they walk. They prefer crawling...everywhere. I hope they grow out of that eventually.

Oh...Jillian and Jenna wanted me to tell you that they LOVE to dance. Anytime they hear a funky beat, whether it is music from a toy or a CD or tv...they stop and "dance." It is the cutest thing ever.  I am glad about it, too. Their daddy isn't really into the fine arts so I love that right now they have an interest in music and dancing and patterns and colors. :) Hopefully it will stay that way. 

So one quick thing before I sign off. I 've been avoiding this post but it has to be done. The girls are getting bigger and more busy every day and I think you can tell by the time between posts that I have less and less time on my days off, meaning I don't post as often as I would want to. I have loved every minute of the blog, being able to share stories, updates and and picture for everyone is so neat and I know that a lot of you really enjoy it and appreciate it since you live so far away. However, once the girls start walking I will be signing off and taking down the blog.

I want to wait until the girls walk because this blog has been a really great way of chronicling Jilly and Jenna's  first year. There is a company who will take all of the posts and pictures and bind it in a book. Since I didn't have time to complete a traditional baby book, the blog book is going to be a gift to them. I want the announcement of their first steps included so that is why I chose to stop there...plus, once the girls are walking I will have less time than ever.

So...obviously the blog is still going to be updated for the next couple months. This isn't my last post by any means, but I figured the warning was due for those who have enjoyed as much as I have. One thing to note: I am on Facebook and somewhat active. I would imagine that once the blog has ended I will be more diligent to post "status updates" and pictures of my family. So, if you are on Facebook and we aren't "friends" search for me as Jessica Rehder Winter. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about...you have a couple months to google it, figure it out, get your profile up and friend me. It is a really good way to network and keep in touch with friends and loved ones (even if you live less than 20 minutes from me and come over during your lunch to play with the babies once a week). ;)

More to Come,
Jessie

We're Still Here

Mommy with Jenna and Daddy with Jilly enjoy Christmas with family

Jilly (back) and Jenna (front) weren't really into opening packages...they did like the bows though! ;)

Jilly and Jenna

Wow are the days ever busy!! Between working at home this last week and two little twinkees on the run I can't seem to catch my breath, let alone update the blog.

I promise to post a real update soon but in the meantime I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! We had lots of fun with friends and family. Jillian and Jenna especially enjoyed their visit with their Grandpa Marty while he was here the last 10 days or so.   They were very sad when he left to fly back home to South Korea today. :(

I promise there is More to Come...
Jessica