Family Fun at the Aquarium

Last week was spring break at Kids' Day Out, so I also took a couple of days off to spend some time with the family. On Monday, we headed over to Tulsa to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium. I had been bugging Lee for a while to take us there, so I'm glad that I finally wore him down. It was a cool little place; Becca enjoyed it. It was fun that there were lots of stations where the kids could get their hands wet petting fish, feeding turtles and exploring sea life. The best part was the shark habitat that was enclosed in a see-through, walk-through tunnel! We didn't get there in time to watch the sharks eat, but at least we got there. Evan and Carley were very content to be shuttled around in their chariot and check out the scenery. It was a good way to spend an afternoon, and not too far from home. Here are some pictures that I converted from the video camera. In the video Becca is touching a sea cucumber.

My Sweeties!!!

We had professional photos taken in February. Here is one of the great shots we got. The kids did so great. Thanks to Kim Ginn at Sweet Portrayal for another great experience. She also took the twins' newborn photos.

Aren't my kiddos the cutest you've ever seen?

Kid Updates for March

We still haven't gotten a new camera, so bear with me. I'm just going to give a quick update and you'll have to use your imagination.

Something strange happened this month. My friends with twins have told me about it, and I thought it might have passed us by, but it didn't! I woke up one morning a few weeks ago and felt so refreshed! It's like we've crossed some mysterious invisible threshold. Maybe it's because the kids will sleep till 8:00am on a Saturday? It just sure finally feels like everything is getting easier. I've waited for this! Woo hoo!

Maybe I'm naive and it's just the lovely spring weather and sunshine. Ironically, the sermon at church on Sunday was about the Lent/Easter/Spring season and the symbolic time of renewal and new beginnings. It really spoke to me. Or, again, maybe it was the sun through the stained glass windows. Either way, I'll take it. It's our time of waking up and feeling refreshed here in the Bramell house. Guess we need to rest up because these babies are about to be on the move!!

Evan and Carley are 9 months old! At their March check-up he weighed 16.5 lbs and she 17lbs. They were 26" and 27" inches tall, respectively. They are still quite small for their age, but doing great developmentally. They both finally have their bottom 2 front teeth--Evan was first!

EVAN: still not rolling over (L-A-Z-Y)

Belly sleeper

Sleeps all night in his crib

Loves to give big, wet open mouth kisses

Has a weird quirk where he moves his wrist back and forth like he's revving a motorcycle

Thinking about crawling, but can't figure it out

First to say "mama;" says "dada" now, too

Already fighting each other for toys!!

CARLEY: rolling over great

Belly sleeper

Sleeps all night in her crib

Not much for cuddling or smooching

Her weird quirk is shaking her head back and forth over and over

She is also thinking about crawling

She still loves Becca and Fergie better than the rest of us

Jabbering "mama" and "dada" some, but mostly just screaming LOUDLY to hear herself

BECCA: can spell her name

Learning our street name/address

Great big sis!

Started soccer practice this month, but won't do anything but stand and stare--you know what I mean!

Still taking naps (Hooray!!)

That's the quick update for now. Gotta run; they are all waking up. And it's 7:45 on a Thursday.

Peekaboo!

So I heard that Grammy and Nanny taught Carley and Evan how to play peekaboo during the kids' recent visit. Both babies have been enjoying it at home now, too. Here is a funny video of Carley trying to play by herself after dinner the other night. She's almost got the hang of it!!

Fun times with the kids

Another video find from the big snow in February!

8 month update

WOW! Baby A and Baby B are now 8 months old...hard to believe it's gone so quickly. I wanted to take some pictures to post while we were snowed in, but *ahem* someone threw a tantrum and apparently broke the camera. I'll have to see if it can be salvaged.

CARLEY:

Rolling over very well

Sitting up unassisted

Starting to roll over at night and belly sleep (like her sister did!)

Very LOUD baby--she doesn't cry, she screams

Chattering a lot, but nothing that makes sense

We think she is a vegetarian--clearly she prefers veggies to any baby food with meat. Totally the opposite of Becca at that age.

No teeth yet and no signs of any

Moved out of baby carrier and into rear-facing car seat

She is totally enamoured with big sister; can't take her eyes off of Becca. It's so cute!


EVAN:

Sitting up unassisted, but not rolling over yet

We call him "Screech" because of the sounds he makes

He still fusses quite a bit, but he's still very smiley too.

He's a flirt to everyone that talks to him or pays attention to him.

Stinker still won't sleep in his bed. Only sleeping in the swing or in bed with us (I know).

Very good eater, not picky about anything

No teeth yet, and no signs of any

Moved out of baby carrier and into rear-facing car seat


Last week, we went ahead and bought two new cribs for the kids. We were thankful to have a couple given to us before they were born, but unfortunately, they were both recalled. We had been waiting it out, but decided to go ahead and take advantage of a big sale at Toys R Us. The beds are really pretty. Thank goodness I have a handy hubby to take them apart and put them together.

We've also switched their formula (again), hopefully for the last time. We've started on the Member's Mark Gentle (purple can, dad) from Sam's. It's sooooo much cheaper. We are getting a full 7 days out of one 48 oz can! We keep reminding ourselves only 4 more months of bottles!! We've also been buying the Member's Mark diapers, too. They are working well for us and seem to be a good value.


Becca's friends are starting to turn 4 already, and it's making me sad. My baby is getting so big I can't stand it! She's so funny and smart and fun to have a conversation with. Her new thing is making up songs--she's always singing. I hope she's always a happy girl like this. She is a wonderful big sister and such a good girl. I'm a lucky mama for sure.

Gosh, our kids are funny!

First up, Miss Carley. This week she has learned to roll over. This means the end of the bouncy seat for her....or at least when she's not buckled in! As you can see, she was not happy with being in this position.



Then, we have LL Cool E. THIS, my friends, is why the boy won't hold his own bottle. This is his position of preference when taking his bottle. Doesn't matter if he's in the high chair or being held, he always covers up his eyes. He's been doing this for a long time. I like to think he's telling us, "This formula is so good, I might lose my mind!" Funny little boy.

Now, for our latest Becca funny. If I was a few years younger with less kid experience, I'm sure I'd have been totally mortified by what happened last night. But now, I kinda just think it's funny. We took the Party of Five out to the ol' Western Sizzlin for dinner last night. We'd spent the afternoon on a long walk on the Scull Creek Trail in Fayetteville enjoying the 70 degree weather in January. Since everyone was behaving, we decided to press our luck. We normally like to go to the Western Sizzlin because of the buffet--Becca can get food in front of her immediately and change her mind 100 times about what she wants to eat.

So, last night, Becca wouldn't eat a thing....and wouldn't sit still. This is usually a sign that she needs to go potty; she acts this way at home. Lee took her into the men's room once, only for her to go #1. A few minutes later, I took her into the ladies' room to do her other business. As we came back to our table, she walks by the table of strangers next to us and says loudly, "I just took a BIG poop!" Oh dear. Thank goodness they laughed. I wanted to hide.

There you go, life with a chatty 3-year-old. On the way home, Lee told her that people don't need to know when she poops.