A Bit of a Twin Update

Katie and Emma will be 1 1/2 years old on July 7. It is hard to believe how quickly the time has gone, and how far they have come. Some of you haven't been with me through Kristen's high risk pregnancy, the 7-week premature c-section, the 4 weeks in the NICU, the joy of watching them develop normally and beating the odds that the doctors felt they were up against. I always think of the prayers of so many blogging friends as we went through this journey. This was taken in the NICU by the nurses and I will always treasure the picture of their first time together out of the incubators.




One of my favorite things to watch is the closeness they have developed. They are truly best buddies. When they hug each other, it would warm the coldest heart. The young lady on the left is the one who volunteered to babysit for us last week so Kristen and I could have a break for two days. What a blessing. And we will never know who paid for her hours, but are so grateful for those who listen to the whisper of God to help someone in need.







One of the ways we tell them apart is the large red birth mark on Emma's back. I wish I'd had my camera in the bathroom the other night when Katie seemed to notice it for the first time in the tub and was poking it.

They definitely have their own language and communicate quite well - we only wish we knew what they are saying. Their big sisters, by this age, had impressive lists of words they were saying. These girlies are saying lots and hopefully someday we'll understand! Katie's latest thing is to point at everything and say "Whassat?" or something close to it. She's very fascinated with lights and ceiling fans at the moment.

Here is their new double stroller.

And here are the new double walkers, in no particular order, just randomly working on their new skill in the back yard. It brought to mind the phrase "PERSEVERANCE PERSONIFIED" and made me think of life - we often fall down, but you have to "pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!"

It is somewhat like "herding cats" to keep up with them when we're out and about - you get one corralled and the other one has taken off. I can't even imagine being Kate or Octomom (well, except they will have lots of help as long as they continue to exploit their broods).

I decided not to use the stroller yesterday at the library, but discovered that they (especially Katie) really don't want to hold your hand when they're walking in a parking lot. Not a good thing!

It is such fun to see these still little bitsy beings exploring their world on foot.

We go to laptime at the library every Friday, a misnomer if there ever was one - the only ones in laps are those who haven't learned to crawl yet. I've shown a picture of the chaos before, and it's really something now that these girls are walking. But one of the things they do every week is sing "The Wheels on the Bus". I found this book that Katie is carrying around at the library last week and she absolutely loves it. You'll see it with her on every picture. I need to find one for them that we don't have to return next week.

Far be it from me to understand their fascination with walking around on the rocks surrounding the foundation of the house - it makes my feet hurt to think of it. But they spent a great deal of time there that day. Even checking out how they taste.

Never fear, mommies and grammies, I am keeping a close eye on that sharp object!

Don't worry - we put the rocks back where they belonged before Grandpa could hit them with the lawn mower! Well, I put them back - several times, over and over again.

Feisty isn't the only one who has made friends with Belle, the neighbor's cat who loves our yard and all the attention she gets when she slips under the fence (or over it). It's the next best thing when you can't have your own kitty.

Belle finally let me photograph her beautiful eyes.

Until I get around to budgeting and ordering those adorable sock monkeys from Barb, they'll be content with these cuties from the Dollar Tree! And breaking that love affair with the old bottles will be a real challenge.