Birthday and Vacation...

Babies Situation:

The Girls are 15 months, finally 1 year adjusted and almost running!! We have been very busy in the last few months. In May, we had the Girls 1 year Birthday party with around 75 of our friends – it was amazing! The Girls turning 1 year was a big milestone and there was nothing better than to share it will our friends.

In June, we took our first family vacation to Panama City. The drive wasn’t fun but the week we got to spend with my sister and her family and Keith’s brother and his family was amazing! Each family had their own room and bathroom so the Girls slept in back-n-plays in our room. Unfortunately, they were still waking up a few times a night and with the thin walls of the condo, they were also waking up everyone else too. No one seemed to mind though. Everyone would get up the next morning with a smile on their face pretty much laughing at us. The Girls loved the new environment. The kitchen and dining was tiled which was somewhat new to the Girls. They were unsure of how it felt which forced them to walk. Spending this week in Florida really accelerated their walking. The ocean and pool were also new to the Girls. They had been sick for so many weeks before the trip that we never got the opportunity to take them to the pool. Kinsley was fine with the ocean and the pool but Trinity needed some convincing that it was safe and fun. We did see a few tar balls but that was only one day.

Developmentally, the Girls are still doing great. Their “cause and effect” toys are teaching them a lot. They are also loving their riding toy. They fight over it and don’t like to share it. When we push them across the room on it, they get the biggest smile on their face. We are even teaching them to push each other since they are able to climb on and off of it on their own. Trinity is repeating a lot of words these days. She is saying Daddy, Mommy, eggs, Sissy, ashes(from Ring around the roses). Kinsley will randomly say Daddy, Mommy, and sometimes “up” and “cup” from the Dr. Seuss book “Hop on Pop”. She likes to whisper so we can’t always here what she is saying. She is funny though. She whispers when she talks but she screams when she cries. She has learned that the louder she screams, the faster Daddy and Mama move – especially at night. Personality wise, I still find Trinity more dependant wanting to be entertained. Kinsley is definitely independent and will go play by herself with no issues.

Eating wise, the Girls are doing great. Over the next 2 months, we will be weaning them from formula onto PediaSure and whole milk. The pediatrician doesn’t want them on whole milk entirely since they are only in the 5% on the 12 month chart. They are off all jar food and eating all table foods which is great. They eat a well balanced diet of a meat, vegetable, and fruit for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We are still using bottles as well which will change soon. With the Girls taking such a large intake of formula, I don’t want to disrupt it at this time. I feel the large amount of formula intake is due to them trying to catch up for the time they were sick. The calorie intake is very important right now for weight gain. Trinity should be around 18 lbs and Kinsley is 17.5 lbs. Once they come down to taking 20 oz per day, we will take away the bottles and only offer the sippy cup. Once the sippy cup is in full swing, then we’ll move from formula to the PediaSure and whole milk. I am not concerned with pushing either right now since they really just turned 12 months last weekend.

Parent’s Thoughts:

Keith and I thoroughly enjoyed our vacation in Florida. It was very enjoyable for us to have a change in scenery and to hang out with our family. I miss our siblings, especially our nieces and nephews. Next time, we’d like to go for 2 weeks. We weren’t ready to come home after the one week. It was neat to watch the Girls flourish in the new atmosphere too. They adapted quickly and squealed as they explored the new surroundings. The Birthday party was perfect too. I wouldn’t change a thing. A lot of work and preplanning went into the party but it was totally worth it. God continues to bless us day after day and we are very thankful. We look forward to raising these sweet baby Girls in a Christian home.

Our Encouragement:

Let your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.

Psalm 40:11