Allison: 6 Months

We are half way through the first year!  This 6 months has been a true blessing... Allison you are an amazing little baby.  You are so happy, such a good sleeper, you love to eat and we are all truly enjoying each and every day with you!  We all enjoy watching you learn and explore and we can't imagine our lives without you... you are truly the perfect completion to our family!

Weight: 15 pounds 1 ounce (30%)

Height: 27 inches (87%)

Size 2 diapers

This girl was ready to eat!  And she LOVES it!  So far she has tried oatmeal, bananas, carrots, squash and sweet potatoes. She also had her 1st puffs and Baby Mum mums!  She loves her high chair... I swear she knows that she is one of the "Big" kids now! Nathan and Benjamin were SOOOO excited to feed Allison.  They have been teaching her to sign "more" and "all done"... I have no idea how she eats... it is the most over stimulating event... but she loves that her brothers are by her!  She still loves her mama milk too! She is a great bottler for daddy and Gramma though... as long as the mama milk is warm enough! She usually takes 5-6 ounces per feeding from a bottle or ~10 minutes of breastfeeding (she is quite distracted by her brothers now).

So proud of her new big girl chair.

Figuring out how to get those little puffs into her mouth!

These two LOVE her " a little too much!"

Nicknames: Lovey, Lovey Girl, Squeaker, Little one, Allie Boo

When Nathan and Benjamin turned 6 months we had a little party for them (it seemed like such an accomplishment when they were little).  So we decided that Allison needed the same thing!  So she too had a little 6 month cupcake!

This warm weather July baby is getting use to wearing all these clothes!

Play time: Loving toys!  Allison has been practicing and is getting pretty good at grabbing, pulling and spinning toys to make them light up or vibrate or sing songs! Some of her favorites include her blocks, gum ball machine, Sophie, Pink Little Giraffe blanket, Sophie books, Rainbow Kitties book.  She has mastered wiggling out of her Bumbo chair so I think our days are limited with this!

The blocks that she got from Santa have been a huge hit!  She loves to chew on them and giggles with joy when her brothers stack them up and she knocks them down.

Lovey... look at those eye lashes!

Sleeping:  Allison continues to nap at least twice a day... usually 1-1.5 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the afternoon.  She often cat naps in the evening too... however she is getting big for her evening swing ride!  At night she is ready to go down by 7 or 730 and usually wakes up around 730 am.  After the holidays we had 3 nights of CIO ... as Allison had decided that a midnight snack was in order. Thankfully she easily converted back to her sleeping through the night ways!  I know she shouldn't have anything in her bed with her... but she LOVES her Pink Gramma blanket so we tuck it in around her... we often find her holding it in her little hand up against her cheek.  So precious!  She also still sleeps in a sleep sack and that seems to do the trick keeping her warm.  She has not started rolling over in her crib but she does spin in circles on her back!  She loves her mobile and crib toy... and is so content in her crib that she almost never cries to get out.  I often find her talking, laughing, playing with her blanket, spinning around and sucking her thumb in her crib following naps and bedtime.  I think she appreciates the quiet time.  She is usually very snuggly but when she is tired she just wants to be on her back in her crib with her blanket... and I appreciate that because I can only sleep in my bed too!

This month Allison's celebrated her 1st Christmas!

and her 1st New Years Eve!

Allison continues to LOVE bath time and has graduated out of the baby tub and now sits in the big bath tub all by herself.  Her brothers think that its lots of fun to take tubbies with her!  She usually ends up with a cup of water dumped over her head... she for sure is not scared of the water!

Exploring is the name of the game!  She loved Eva's activity center!

and she received a beautiful quilt from her great aunts!

Jumping Jumping Jumping... Allison was trying to figure out what this crazy thing was!

Puppy.... she is so intrigued with Berkeley... and Berks has a new found interest in Allie too!  Allison reaches for Berks and pats her and pulls on her ears... Berkeley must like it because she always chooses to lay right near Allison. 

Her first Tutu.... Thank you to the owners of Dancing Fair... and our good family friends!  

I can't wait until she fits into ballet slippers!

Exa-saucer fun!  Mommy even put new batteries in it so it lights up sings and generally is quite annoying... but Allie loves it!

We took Allison swimming at the YMCA! Their pool is so warm it basically feels like a bath tub!  Obviously a hit... and she learned how to splash... a useful skill at bath time!

Books, Books, Books... she loves to sit and look at and touch books!

The Little Things:

* When I get home from work she reaches for my hair and pulls me close with a big open mouth kiss!

* she has two teeth but we wonder about those top teeth coming through soon because her cheeks are often red.

* She smiles ALL the time... in fact she cries very rarely 

(usually only when we put her in her car seat)

* She wiggles and grabs for anything that is in front of her... especially food!

* Pulls her socks off any chance she gets

* Learned how to clap and will now Claps any time we say " YEAH"

* Loves mirrors

*The white fuzzy hair on her head is starting to get long.... maybe just maybe she will have a bit more hair then her brothers did!

* Loves to sit and play with toys

* Poops through her diaper and clothes at least three times a week!  We have tried 3 different kids of diapers now.

* Is starting to have a bit of stranger anxiety at times.

And look at this fancy outfit that her Uncle Adam gave her!  Pretty impressed that he went to Gymboree and bought this outfit for his niece... complete with a matching headband.  

Ladies.. this guy is single!  :)

5 year Celebration

Celebrating their 5th birthday with grandparents, uncles and aunties!

Excited about their Paw Patrol 5th birthday party

We invited their friends to join us to bounce, jump and play at the YMCA!  The perfect place to burn some energy.  

Handing out their paw patrol treats! 

Allie was all partied out... snoozing with ms. Heidi!

Im not sure who was having more fun with the new Lego Semi truck!

January 14th!  Birthday pancakes with whip cream before preschool! A tradition that they didn't let us forget about!

These two LUCKY 5 year olds are Disney bound! 

Handing out Birthday treats to his friends at School!  They each got to pick out their 3 favorite treats to give to their preschool class friends!  They picked....starbusts, fruit snack and mints.

A Birthday dinner!  His request was lobster mac and cheese.  Ben wanted Shrimp... so we headed to Red Lobster!

And we always celebrate Berkeley's birthday... she is almost exactly 1 year older then the boys!  Berkeley loved her Frosty Paws!

A Half a Decade!

It has been a fast 5 years..... gone are the sleepless nights, the bottles, the baby equipment...they have all been replaced with Lego's, Razor Scooters, Pencils, markers, scissors/glue sticks, tie tennis shoes, soccer shin pads, basketballs and lunch boxes. These two little boys are my greatest accomplishment and biggest challenge.  Two 5 year old boys have ALOT of energy.  Much more then mom and dad have! They are full of ideas, laughs and negotiations. Each year, when I sit down to write this particular birthday blog I always take a few minutes to read through past birthday posts... and I'm reminded how much I love this blog for capturing the little details of every day life, the things I hope to never forget.  I hope that some day each boy will look back at this blog and have a snap shot into the life they lived! That some day when they are married and have kids that they may find some striking similarities between themselves and their son/daughter.

Benjamin:
You NEVER STOP AMAZING US!  From the moment we found out it was twins, to the moment of the premature rupture, to the day you were born and we feared you wouldn't live... you not only survived but you have thrived!  Each and every day you challenge me and daddy!  You are smart, quick witted and tenacious.... just like your uncle Adam.  You remind me of your Godfather everyday, you were built from the same mold.... charismatic, opinionated, a heart of gold.  You pay attention to detail, you don't give the easy answer... you always think outside the box.  You are the idea guy... and often times this leads to fights with Nathan as he too thinks you have great ideas and often wants to join in! You love to be outside, to snuggle in the corner of the couch and are constantly asking for a snack! You are a fantastic Big Brother... you will do pretty much anything for Allison.  You are sweet and dear to her, you teach her new things and always want to be by her. You are the only one who calls Nathan "Nate" and I love that special connection you have. You are a hard worker and are usually good about helping with chores or picking up toys. You much prefer a nice warm tubby vs a shower. You like sports, but you also like to be good at sports, you are frustrated if you aren't an expert the first time you try something. I never count you out, just when I think you have given up... you come on strong and conquer.  You are not a "YES" man... you will do it when you are good and ready to do it.  Although some times I wish you would comply more often, I'm often reminded that adults who do great things were not the ones who always said yes, or blindly repeat back facts.... the Steve Jobs or cardiac surgeons or entrepreneurs of the world look at things from a different perspective then the main stream, they test the limits and attempt to do what  hasn't been done... I'm not sure what life will bring your way but I do know that you are up for the challenge.

Nathan:
You are tender and dear but stubborn! When your mind is set on something it is hard for you to let it go! You have natural talent and you learn things easily.  You have had a wonderful school year, and I'm so proud of all that you have learned.... you are so ready for kindergarten in the fall! You like routine and do well when expectations are placed on you. You are a wonderful Big Brother and try to teach Allison new things like signing "more" and "all done."  Benjamin will always be #1 in your mind, you follow him, you fight with him, you love him and you always want to be by him. You are always up for a hug and a snuggle. You are a fabulous eater... however you often try and test us by proclaiming things such as "are you making something that we like for dinner, or no?"  You are an outdoor kid, hot or cold you love playing outside. You are excelling at swimming! You are determined and are willing to practice until you have mastered. However, recently you have started saying "I can't...," I think its a stage and often your words don't follow your actions because you almost always CAN.  You don't love to do house work or clean up toys, but you do love to cook! You love technology, especially taking photos!  You really like to take showers.  I often think of you as a confident kid (which you are), but you often get shy in front of new people or people of authority.   You love drinking really cold water and riding on rides at the fair!  I love that you don't say your "L"s... I know it will go away soon enough though.  Just like daddy you LOVE science experiments, and both you and your brother are scientists at heart.

Favorite Foods:
Benjamin: bananas, berries, shrimp, pigs in a blanket, chicken with sweat and sour sauce, salmon, hard boiled eggs, chocolate and skittles (but you call them skitters).
Nathan: Pepper Jack cheese (AKA Spicy cheese), blow pops, pigs in a blanket, broccoli, mac n cheese, oranges, watermelon, pomegranates, lobster.

Favorite Books:
Benjamin: Highlights High Five Magazine, Froggy books, Non fiction books
Nathan: Paw Patrol books, Fly Guy and Magic Tree House

Favorite Toys:
Benjamin: marble run, kinetic sand, remote control cars,  hot wheels track, Tinker toys, rescue bots
Nathan: leap pad Rescue Bot game, zoomie cars, magna tiles, Twister, Super Why the game

Sleeping:
Benjamin: likes to sleep in super soft "comfy" Pjs and always takes his shirt off to actually sleep. sleeps with lots of stuffed animals but his favorites are his blue blanket, gramma blanket, Stomper and Igby. He wakes up early in the morning and often says "But my friends wake me up!"
Nathan: Will wear any PJs, sleeps with a shirt on, needs his yellow blanket, Gramma blanket, bear bear, his care bear and what ever other stuff animal he is currently attached to!

Things They love!
Nathan:
* Riding on the Jet Ski FAST!
* Riding his two wheel bike
* Swimming- with goggles! He loves diving down for dive sticks and was quite brave this summer
* Writing/ drawing on a white board
* Donut date days at Kowalskis
Benjamin:
* Fishing
* Riding in boats
* sledding and shoveling
* midnight snacks with daddy
* watching football with daddy (however I think this is a bedtime stall tactic)

Memories:
* Being Ring Bears in Stephen and Christine's wedding
* Learning to ride two wheel bikes
* Swim lessons
*baseball, basketball and floor hockey
* learning to Ice skate
* Nailing down the ABCs
* Movie Nights
* End of our time at Peace of Mind
* Baby Steps 3K walk
* Becoming Big Brothers

Our Favorite Places to go!
* Circus
* Good Time Park
* Science Museum
* Candy Land
* Date Days
*Apple Orchards
* Lake Elmo Beach
* Madison, WI
* Edinbourgh Park
* FAIRS (MN, Washington county and Woodbury)