Toddler Time -10/28/14

The time has come that the word "baby" isn't much of an accurate description anymore and these girls are just that...little girls.  

It was a busy summer with some unfortunate family health circumstances but we were all very fortunate to be able to spend so much time with Gigi (Lindsay's mom).  While we didn't get out as often as we otherwise might have, it was a beautiful summer and we still spent much of it outdoors.

The 16 month mark came and went, and the girls have already recently surpassed 18 months.  They are healthy and check out in all aspects as far as the doctor's are concerned from their recent visit.  The benchmark is for them to have 6 or more different "words," which can include animals sounds.  The girls are well beyond that, quickly mimicking the many animals they see using their new season pass at the zoo.  They can also identify many people by name including extended family, but they both refer to themselves, and each other, as "Muh" which we thought meant Madison.  

They are still on the tiny side with Madison at just over 17 lbs and Brooklyn just over 19 lbs but they are "on the curve" and nothing seems amiss.  If you were to watch the variety and quantity of food which they eat, you would quickly agree there is nothing to be concerned about with eating habits.  In spite of the good eating, Madison abruptly ends many meals by disposing of her food off the side of her tray, intentionally when Mom and Dad are out of reach.  This was a habit she likely learned from Brooklyn, but which Brooklyn grew out of when Madison took over.  

Mom submitted some photos online to a contest for a small headband company and the girls won a spot as little headband models and are now receiving regular merchandise in exchange for photos to represent the product.  This is significant as dad once took first place in the Denver Cutest Baby contest so, while the girls had big shoes to fill, they are living up to the high family expectations. 

The girls are no longer fun to take to restaurants as they are much too stir-crazy to be sitting for any period of time.  They like any change of pace that is usually outdoors.  They like spotting airplanes in the sky with Dad and even went to the airport to watch them take off and land recently.  

They thoroughly enjoy the basement-turned-fun house with oversized electric keyboard (think the movie "Big), a Pottery Barn playhouse, a ballpit and more.  Pumpkins are a favorite object just in time for Halloween.  

For more than a year, it seemed they simply co-existed and tolerated each other with surprisingly little interaction.  Finally, in the last couple months they are quick to point out when the other is missing and love playing peek-a-boo with each other, among other games.  Brooklyn is very concerned for her sister but truly doesn't know her strength and slightly intimidates Madison whom is quick to jump out of the way when she seems Brooklyn barreling towards her with any number of potential objects. 

Florida Family Reunion -8/27/14

 Early August took us to Florida for a family reunion to see Dad's family.  On the trip out, the girls' first ever airline ride, was seamless.  After a late arrival and short stay in a hotel, we were off the beach in Melbourne.

Brooklyn was quite the explorer and happy to test the ocean.  Madison, on the other hand, was clear that the ocean was not part of her itinerary and that the pool was the only water she cared to approach. 

After the reunion, we were off to central Florida where Papa J lives (near Orlando).  It was a packed trip, and included some excellent food, such as this lakeside restaraunt complete with a pier to walk.  The girls had a nice meal of catfish and enjoyed every bit of it.

We also made appearances at more than one kid friendly animal park.  The girls chased the ducks, goats, emus, and others.  At a gator park, Madison enjoyed the Florida panthers while Brooklyn pet a skunk (Mom wasn't looking when Dad let it happen).  They also fed peacocks right from their hands. 

We spent time, almost every day, in Papa J's pool.  There were cool inflatable toys, a small waterfall to play in, and we enjoyed Dad's cannonballs from the diving board.

(Papa J with the girls)

(Cousins)

(Brooklyn trying her hand at diving)

In between all the swimming, Dad wanted to make sure the girls got at least a little exposure to aviation.  There's no shortage of it at Papa J's house.  Since Dad couldn't convince Mom to take any small children to the sky in personal aircraft, he settled for letting them watch him go instead.  It seems they now pay just a little more attention to the shining objects in the sky. 

The trip home was a bit more eventful (and much less fun).  After a 3 hour delay on the last flight of the day from Orlando, the flight was cancelled.  As much as we would have loved to stay, we weren't happy with the 2 days they said it would take to get us home so we grudgingly accepted a non-stop flight home, early the next morning out of Jacksonville instead.  Downstairs we went to rent a car, drive 3 hours, pay for a hotel for just a few hours of sleep and do it all again.  Oh well, in the end, we made it!

14 & 15 month progress

Boy, how the time flies.  We don't even have time to update the blog before another month, and then two, go by. 

The girls walk everywhere now, and get into more things than before.  They are very curious, and are starting to tire of the regular selection of toys made available to them, in spite of regular additions to the assortment.

To fend of the boredom, we spend a good deal of time outside.  Whether it's the park, the backyard, the zoo, or anywhere else, the girls love the sun and all the comes with it.  All this playing makes them hungry, but who has time to go inside for lunch?  Not Madison, so she made a nice snack of a roly poly the other day before mom could show her tastier alternatives. 

Madison is quite the communicator, talking or babbling more and more, probably because she's figured out that the word "please" gets her most of what she asks for.  Brooklyn is just starting to point to things but uses her words often as well.  She's much less interested in educational lessons on vocabulary and the like, though.  

Over the 4th of July holiday the girls got to meet their new friend Ella.  She made for an excellent houseguest when she stayed.

Maybe they just hope that ignoring each other will make the other go away, but as much as the girls spend time together, they don't sit and play together much just yet.  If an attempt to play with each other is made, it generally quickly ends with a stolen toy or someone getting bulldozed out of the way.

Breaking Brooklyn News!

Brooklyn may live in the Mile High City where the air is fresh and thin but that's no longer stopping her from breathing without assistance.  The results are in...458 days after birth and less than a month after her sister "raised the bar," Brooklyn stepped up and gave her oxygen the boot.  Our house is no longer the neighborhood fire hazard.  Woohoo!!

 (Brooklyn clapping for herself when she heard the news!)

(Mom and Dad are quite excited to get rid of cords, tanks and cannulas, so is Brooklyn!)

(So long oxygen!)

Summer Fun -06/13/14

The girls are walking!  It was hotly debated who would be first...Mom and Dad both had their money on Madison as she'd been doing LOTS of standing and half-attempts to take steps, but the winner is Brooklyn.  Well, sort of.  Madison watched Brooklyn zip confidently through the room shortly after taking just her first few steps and decided she wasn't to be outdone.  No more than 12 hours later, Madison joined in on the walking. 

It's getting hot outside but the girls don't mind.  A day on the floor at home just isn't what it used to be.  There have been lots of festivities to kick off the summer, starting with Aunt Laura's wedding this past weekend with all Mom's extended family in town from coast-to-coast. (Pictures to follow on the next update). 

The community pools around here are awesome but generally pretty crowded, so....we got our own "waterpark."

Brooklyn loves the hundreds of convenient drinking fountains that come out the side. 

It has been a hard-fought battle over the months but in the summer sun and heat, the girls are starting to finally appreciate the hats and sunglasses that they once promptly removed. 

We've been to local music and arts festivals, an extreme mountain sports event, and more. 

Aunt Laura's wedding was in Vail where we spent 6 days of fun.  The weather was mostly great and we visited parks, went for hikes, and feasted with family.  Grannie D (Danny's mom) made the trip to hang out with the girls so Mom and Dad could get their party on for a few nights.

Just as quickly as we celebrated Madison's graduation from oxygen, we needed to resort to old habits as an extra few thousand feet of elevation took a toll and required an extra whiff for a few days, but we're happy to be back home and on "room air"

BREAKING BABY (MADISON) NEWS -5/29/14

A full 416 days after birth, Madison has been formally granted permission from her pulmonologist to say "goodbye" for good to oxygen!! 

Dad has been arguing for a long time that if those lungs needing oxygen were the same ones she used to demand food or express her occasional discontent, the docotrs have been crazy all along. 

(oxgyen-free with a monitor for testing saturation levels at the time)

(Feeling quite rested from a night free of cannulas and cables)

Yay Madison!

13 months -05/18/14

The girls are starting to interact much more than before, rather than just simply acknowledge each other's existence.  In spite of her almost uncontrollable energy, Brooklyn takes the time to give out lots of hugs and kisses.  Madison doesn't always appreciate the gestures and often gets frustrated and a bit angry when Brooklyn offers her love.

(Brooklyn on left, Madison on right)

(Brooklyn)

Madison is very engaged in her surroundings and points at everything.  We think she likes us to tell her what she's pointing at as she's starting to expand her just-started vocabulary.  Well, that may be a bit of a stretch but she is definitely using the first syllable of many words in the right context like: baby, book, bath, more, pa (for Grandpa).  She has been using sign language for a while now to tell us when she wants "more" or is "all done."  The problem is, she'll ask us for "more" but we don't always know if she wants more food, toys or something else. 

(Madison)

(Madison)

Both girls hate anything on their head or face including hats, bows, sunglasses or whatever so it's a bit of a rare moment to catch such happiness under the circumstances (thanks to Aunt Susan for the sweet shades!).  Past moments captured with headbands are usually a result of significant distractions. 

We LOVE the water!  After spending a day at the river that runs through the local park, Mom and Dad rushed out to buy this water table and a mini, inflatable water park with a slide.  So far, the water table has been a hit!  Even as the weather cooled into the evening and a breeze moved in, Brooklyn couldn't help but squeel continuously with joy as she soaked herself till she shivered on her first day playing. 

  

The girls both love attention, (and get plenty of it anywhere we go)...thanks for keeping up with their blog!