18 Months... Getting into EVERYTHING!!

Wow... 18 months old already!! Where as the time gone?! We just had their 18 month check up at the doctors office and everything went very well. She had no concerns with anything. They are saying words and doing everything that an 18 month old should be. (This was a big change from their 15 month appointment when she felt they were developmentally behind)! Brittany was weighing in at 22lbs, Ashton was 21lbs and Caitlyn was 20lbs. They feel so much heavier than that! We didn't have to get any shots because they were already up to date.

In the past month, we had our first illnesses. Going 17 months without being sick is amazing! Especially since they were preemies! It first started off in the beginning of January. Kevin had an upper respiratory infection and I had a sinus infection. The babies each had a stuffy nose and a fever. Then a few weeks after that, we got that nasty stomach bug. Luckily it was on the weekend and we all got it at the same time. Trying to take care of sick babies while you are sick is hard. But we did it!

Right now, the babies are getting into anything and everything they can! Climbing on the couch, picnic table and the toys in the playroom. I know it's all about being a kid and they are exploring everything, but I'm scared they are going to fall and hurt themselves.

The babies are starting to say more words. New words they learned this month are: more, milk, yellow, orange, night night.

E.P.I.C

When we took the babies for their 15 month check up at the doctors office, she felt that they were lacking behind in development. She felt at 15 months, they should have a 4-5 word vocabulary and be almost running or walking backwards. We felt that they were still technically only 13 months old, not 15. The doctor's office made an appointment with E.P.I.C (Early Prevention and Intervention for Children). E.P.I.C program basically evaluates the development and physical skills of a child. They check to see if the child is behind on speech, hearing, coordination, etc. Our appointment was set up for December 1, 2011. Before we go to our appointment, I had to fill out 10 pages of information for each child... my hand was killing me by the time I was done. Most of them were all the same answers, but there were some that were different.

When we got to the appointment, we were assigned a Temporary Service Coordinator along with another Assistant. We went into a room that had a table for the adults and toys on the floor for the kids to play with.  One coordinator sat on the floor and played with the kids, while one stayed at the table and went over the information that I filled out before hand.

They worked with each child individually so they had 100% attention on one child. They would ask how many words they say, see if they could stack blocks, throw a ball, etc... Kevin and I didn't feel that they were developmentally behind and we told the coordinators that. They were kind of shocked that we were there if we didn't have any concerns. But we did tell them that the doctor felt that they were behind and that's why we were here.

After about an hour and half, we were finally finished. They scored a perfect score on motor skills and scored fairly high on everything else. When we left, Kevin and I thought to ourselves that they didn't need any help.

We got a phone call a week later saying that all 3 babies do not qualify and they do not need any help! What a relief that was!

If you need any information on the E.P.I.C program, please visit http://nichcy.org/babies/overview

New Year's Eve

We decided that we were going to bring in the new year at home this year. We invited over our family and extended family. It was a lot easier to do it this way with the babies so they would be in the comfort of their own home and toys and when it was time to go to bed, we can lay them in their cribs to sleep for the night. Our family started to come over around 5pm. Kevin and I got a deep fryer for Christmas and he LOVES wings, so we made wings for the first time! We also had a bunch of other munchies. We had cornhole boards set up out back along with a fire pit. While some people played cornhole, a lot of us sat outside next to the fire. Our cousin brought over some stuff to make smores, so the kid in me had to make one!! Inside we had Rockband going! Everyone was playing!! We cut off the Rockband around 11:45 to turn on Dick Clark's Rockin Eve. Those 15 minutes went by so fast!! Next thing I know, we are counting down to the new year!

Last year the babies were up when we went into the new year. This year, Ashton was the only one up because he did not want to go to sleep because he was afraid he was going to miss something!

It was a great, fun filled night with all of our family!!

Playing RockBand!!

Kevin cooking his wings for the first time

Family Rock Band time!!

Brad and Kevin playing cornhole

Hanging out by the fire

Brittany

Caitlyn

Ashton

Christmas

We usually split Christmas day with my parents in the morning and Kevin's parents in the afternoon. Because we do this, it is easier to stay the night at my parents house on Christmas Eve. The babies actually woke up at 8 instead of their normal time of 9. It was like they knew Santa had came! Once everyone was awake and moving around, we started to open presents. We started with the babies presents first, then went onto our presents. They weren't too sure of the concept of opening presents yet. Once they opened a gift and saw what it was, they wanted to play with that toy and not do anything else. So we ended up hiding the toys as they were opened so they would continue opening their other gifts! They received a lot of clothes, some toy cars, a Race'n'Go Pit Stop house and bunch of other cool gifts. After all of the presents were opened, we ate our breakfast. We had eggs and biscuits with gravy and bacon! It was yummy!!!

Around Noon we headed over to Kevin's parents house to have Christmas with them. We had to stop by our house first to unload the truck of all the gifts from my parents house and load the gifts for his family. Once we got there, we had our Christmas lunch. We had ham, country ham, beans, rolls, beans and dessert. After we ate, we opened presents. We started with the babies presents first and then moved onto our presents. They got some books, sit on cars, blocks, height chart and many other cool presents. After all the presents were opened, we relaxed for a little bit, then headed home.

Once we got home, Kevin started to put together the presents from us to the babies. We got the girls a play Kitchen and Ashton got a play Workbench. After he put those together, he then put together the Race'n'Go Pit Stop that my parents got for them. Their toy room is definitely full now after this Christmas.

We still had a few presents that were under the tree that they didn't open on Christmas. We saved them till the next day so they wouldn't be overwhelmed. There were a few presents from us, and my aunts and uncles. They got some clothes, a nativity scene, toys and trikes! They played all day with their new toys!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we spent with both sides of the family. We started at Kevin's aunt's house for lunch and watched the kids open presents. We had a delicious meal that consists of turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken salad, homemade rolls and a bunch of other stuff. After we ate, we took a couple of family pictures. Once the pictures were done, it was time for all of the kids to exchange their gifts. They all draw a name and they buy a few presents for that person. They all got some really cool gifts. Our cousin Kim got the babies 2 sleeping outfits each!

Cousins on Kevin's side of the family

Around 4:00, we headed over to my sister's house in Virginia Beach for my side of the family's Christmas Eve. We use to draw a name and buy a present for that particular person, but the past few years we have just bought a gift and do a Chinese exchange (I think that is what it's called!) All of the presents go under the tree and we all draw a number. Once your number is called, you either pick a gift under the tree or you can steal one from someone else. Everyone has different rules on how the game is played. So we came up with house rules. Whoever house we are at gets to make the rules. Kevin and I walked away with a Fire Pit this year! Well, actually it's my dad's since I picked for him since we didn't bring a gift, but we brought it home!

Ashton opening his gifts

Brittany opening her gifts

Caitlyn opening her gifts

Mommy being funny!

Mommy and Daddy on Christmas Eve!

After the gift exchange was done, Kevin and dad took the babies back to mom and dad's house while mom and I stayed to help Ashley and Tommy clean up. Luckily it didn't take too long to clean up! Then we headed to my parents house for the night. For the past few years we have stayed the night at my parents house Christmas Eve and open presents on Christmas morning with them. Once the babies start knowing about Santa Claus, that will change and we will be staying at home on Christmas Eve so they can open presents on Christmas morning at home.

Grand Illumination

On our way home from Richmond, we stopped in Williamsburg for the Grand Illumination. The Grand Illumination is held in Colonial Williamsburg. It starts at 5:00pm and the houses and businesses "Illuminate" by turning on candles in their windows. There are different areas for Fireworks and places where there are people singing and playing instruments. We met up with Kevin's family and walked around for a little bit before the fireworks started. I wasn't quite sure how the babies would react to the fireworks. When we went this summer Caitlyn loved them and Brittany and Ashton cried the whole time. This time the roles were reversed! Brittany loved them, Ashton wasn't to sure, but couldn't keep his eyes off of them and Caitlyn cried, until she got into her daddy's arms. After the fireworks were over, we walked around a little more then headed home after a long, fun filled weekend.

As soon as we got home, the babies went straight to their playroom and played with their toys. Once it was time for bed, Ashton decided to go hide in the toy box!!

Weekend in Richmond

This past weekend, we were in Richmond with our friends Jerry, April and their family. At the Children's Museum in Richmond, they have the Legendary Santa that we go see (www.legendarysanta.org). Last year was our first year going up to see Santa. We also go up to see the Richmond Christmas Parade.

We got to Richmond Friday night. We went to Dave and Buster's for dinner and then just went back to the hotel to let the babies play before bed. Saturday morning we went to see the Christmas Parade. The parade lasted about 2 hours. Ashton slept pretty much the entire time. After the parade was over, we went to the mall to do a little shopping. The babies started to get a little fussy from being on the go all day, so we headed back to the hotel.

At the Parade with our friends

Ashton & Caitlyn playing in the hotel room

Kenly, Ashton & Caitlyn playing

Sunday morning after breakfast, we headed to the Children's Museum to see the Real Santa Claus. We had a feeling that Brittany wouldn't want anything to do with him because she isn't fond of anyone she doesn't know. Ashton would just want Mommy or Daddy and Caitlyn wouldn't matter either way. I ended up holding Brittany and we sat Ashton and Caitlyn on Santa's lap.

Caitlyn and Brittany did great... Ashton just wanted to get down! But overall, they had a good experience. After the picture with Santa, we let them play in the little houses at the museum.

Thanksgiving

We had a busy Thanksgiving!! Since my parents and Kevin's parents live so close to us, we celebrate Thanksgiving with both families. Our day started off going to Kevin's parents for lunch. We had Turkey, Ham, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, homemade Rolls, butter beans, cranberry sauce and a variety of desserts. We sat the babies in their booster seats and they ate their first Thanksgiving meal with us. Last year at Thanksgiving, they were only 4 months old so they only had formula.

After lunch, we headed over to my parents house for dinner. My sister's fiance works at a restaurant so he had to work Thanksgiving morning. Once he got off work, we had our Thanksgiving dinner. We had the babies in their booster seats and ate dinner with us. We had Turkey, Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Sweet Potato casserole, homemade cranberries, pumpkin pie and apple pie. After dinner, we watched some Football and relaxed.

A lot of Black Friday specials were starting at 10:00pm or 12:00 midnight. We really didn't see anything that we really wanted to get at the stores, but we decided that we would venture out and see how the crowds were like. My parents weren't going, so they watched the babies (well, the babies were down for the night, but they kept an eye on them). Kevin, Allison and I headed out to Wal-Mart first. The store was crazy, but no one was in line to check out. All of the electronic stuff didn't go on sale until midnight so there were a ton of people standing in different lines for that stuff. We did end up buying some diapers (because we were running low at my parents house) and some DVDs (they were having a good sale on them). After we left Wal-Mart, we headed to Target. Target opened at midnight and the line to get in was CRAZY! Once the doors opened up, they would like 20 people in, then close them again for about 5 minutes. We didn't go into Target, we stayed in the car and watching the people! We went to a few more stores before heading back to my parents house.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our families. It was an extra special one because the babies were able to eat lunch and dinner with us!