stand

Caleb pulled himself all the way to standing up today!  Earlier in the day he pulled up on me - I was pretty sure I hadn't helped him at all, but was anxious to see him do it again so I could make sure.  :)  Tonight we were all playing in the living room and right in front of Mike and I he pulled himself up holding onto the end table.  He was so proud of himself!!

Logan was sitting up on his own a bunch more today.  He's pretty proud of himself, too.  I love seeing that look of joy on their face.  :)  Otherwise he's been pretty out of sorts today.  I hope it's just teething!

wow

Caleb and Logan are 9 months old today.  Wow!  Where has the time gone?  Let's see if I can quick sum up where we're at right now...  Caleb gets around very well by scooting (no crawling with tummy off the floor yet).  Does get up on his hands and knees and rock, but that's it.  He can get up to a sitting position on his own and does this alot.  He can pull himself about halfway up, but not quite all the way.  He loves to 'talk' and seems to be quite social.  We went to the fair again the other night and he got so hyper, I think it was just from being around so many people!  He also seems quicker to throw a tantrum - if you take something away from him, sometimes changing his diaper, etc.  His two bottom front teeth came in a while ago, and I can see his two top ones just about to poke through.  He loves to eat, and will generally eat more than Logan.

Logan also scoots around like crazy - what's funny is they scoot the exact same way.  He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks alot too, seems very close to actually crawling.  He can get up to a sitting position by himself, but hasn't done it alot yet.  Many times he seems to be a little more serious, and a little quicker to cry.  He has his two bottom front teeth, and I haven't seen any others yet, but the last couple days he sure has been acting like he's teething. 

Yes, it is exhausting, but it is also so much fun having two babies at once.  I love watching them interact - a firstborn singleton must be so lonely!  :)  Generally, they follow each other around when playing, which is mostly a good thing for me.  That means they are getting into trouble together, but that's easier to deal with than getting into trouble separately at the same time.  I can only be in one place at the same time!  They 'talk' to each other, laugh with each other (my favorite!), and crawl over each other (sometimes Logan doesn't like this...).

The love the dogs - and something interesting that Mike has noticed is that when he shows them the pictures of the dogs that we have up in the hallway they pay more attention to Sadie and Macy than Brandy.  Hmmmm....so, they've already got it figured out that they don't know Brandy?  I'm fascinating by this whole learning and developing process and am often wondering what's going on in those little heads as they take in this world.

I wonder what I'm leaving out that in 20 years I'm going to wish I had recorded about this stage in their life...  :)

fair

We took Caleb and Logan to the fair last night.  We'd really been looking forward to taking them to see the animals.  Right away we were watching them move some pigs and one was trying to go the wrong way, it squealed super loud and we were RIGHT there - didn't seem to bother Caleb too bad, but I guess Logan got a little scared.  I'm not sure, but I think Caleb was more interested in watching people as we walked around.  :)  I don't know if they quite know what to think of the horses and cows, they're a little on the large side.  Logan did pet a horse.  Just so they don't start thinking we need to get one of our own.

Last night before bedtime Logan was sad and needed some snuggle time with me.  I'm not going to argue!  I don't get that very often.  I thought that between two babies I'd end up with at least one cuddler, but not so!

Tonight the boys got to ride the lawn mower for the first time!  Caleb was having a blast, Logan was a little more subdued, but I think he liked it.  Caleb was looking at me, smiling, and squealing while he rode with Mike, but of course he was doing the same thing for the dogs.  :)

fun

It was another beautiful summer day to be at Harold and Kara's cottage yesterday!  Mike only had to work a little bit in the morning, then he had time to come home and clean the garage (something that's been bugging him for awhile and just hasn't had time to do).  Next on the list, the basement!  :)  I ran some errands to contribute to garage cleaning - brought old newspapers to recycle, and returned pop cans.  That is so gross.  Felt like I needed another shower after that.

I think every time we go swimming the boys enjoy it more and more.  Yesterday was the longest they've stayed out in the water.  First they floated on rafts with Grandma VanBeek and Great Grandma Rotman, then they played for awhile in little floaty thingies.  And then they took a nice long nap!  Wish I could take them swimming every day.  :)  I do hope we're able to go swimming a few times over the winter so they don't forget how much they like it.

Yesterday I decided that I would be spotter while Mike took Harold for a tube ride (Someone has to sit backwards on the waverunner and watch the tuber).  I figured that I've been getting more comfortable on the waverunner (when I'm driving...), so I could handle this, right?  Well, this is younger brother pulling older brother, you know it's not going to be an easy ride!  I was hanging on for dear life - I seriously thought I was going to fall off a couple times.  From the tube Harold could even see that we were having a serious 'discussion' at one point.  :)  Well, Mike did manage to make Harold wipe out at the end right in front of the cottage, I stayed on the whole time, our marriage survived, and I probably won't be spotting again!  Harold took Mike for a tube ride next (and yes, made him wipe out good at the end in front of everyone) and Kara was spotter instead - she's braver than me.  :)

time

Had some much needed time to myself last night and it was great!  However, I probably shouldn't have had that large iced coffee...  Generally I don't notice that caffiene affects me, but maybe that was just too large of a quantity.  I was tired, but just not sleepy - so annoying!  I played Freecell on my phone for a while, then read a while, then spent a while trying to fall asleep.  Eventually I got up and sat at the computer for a bit.  Then I tried sleeping again, it took some time but eventually I was successful.  :) 

I was too worn out last night to actually put on make-up and decent clothes to go out, so I just hit the McDonald's drive-thru and then found a nice spot to park and read a book.  The only problem is that the days are getting shorter!  I headed home when it got dark. 

Logan can get sitting up on his own now!  What's neat is that it happened the instant Mike walked in the door from work last night, so we both got to see it.  He hasn't done it just in the middle of the floor, but he can get positioned just right when he's by his carseat.  (They've been into playing with their carseats lately.)

sigh

I guess that's all I can say right now...I'm feeling pretty worn out!  Dealing with two little boys on the move is exhausting.  And they're not even walking yet - how much worse is it going to get???

Caleb can get to a sitting position by himself now.  It still cracks me up to go into their room and see him sitting up in his crib.  He can't quite pull himself up yet, but I don't think that's too far away.  If you're on the floor playing with him he'll pull himself halfway up on you.  He'll get up on his hands and knees, but not move forward in that position yet.

Logan sits well on his own, but still needs to be set up like that, he can't get up on his own.  He's probably not far from pull himself up either, he was pulling up a little on his crib railing the other day.  He also gets up on his hands and knees alot, and he'll do push-ups.  :)

I discovered the other day that the boys are afraid of cats!  I was at a friend's house and as soon as they saw her cat they started crying.  Later on they were on the floor playing and they saw the cat again, started crying and Caleb scooted right to me.  Logan began to warm up to the cat and even pet it a little bit, but Caleb still seemed afraid.  I was very surprised because they LOVE Sadie and Macy.  They get so excited when they see the dogs.

We had a couple more chances to go swimming this past weekend.  Both boys thoroughly enjoy it.  They love to splash, and they even kick their legs a little.  I hope that over the winter they don't forget how much they like it and get scared next summer.  Maybe we'll have to think about some swim classes or something just to keep them going.

recent pics

Hard at work!

Cousin Boden playing with Logan.

I only had time to quick run out with the point-and-shoot, but just had to try and capture the amazing colors in the sky!

pickles

Last week the boys got their first taste of a dill pickle. 

change

First, some really deep thoughts...  I find it very interesting that our tastes can change as we get older.  My latest new love - canteloupe!  I did NOT like the stuff when I was younger.  In later years I could stand it in fruit salads if it wasn't polite to pick it out, but I didn't enjoy it.  A few weeks ago I thought I'd give it a shot - yes, I'm openminded!  :)  And now, I can't get enough of it.  A few other things that I like as an adult that I did not as a child:  tomatoes, salad, shrimp, and steak.  I still remember the first time I tried shrimp.  My cultured oldest brother thought we needed some to fancy up our Christmas celebration.  I thought it was gross - I think the texture was the biggest problem for me.  I still don't like brussel sprouts and squash, wonder if that will change.  I'm trying to think of some things that I liked as a child that I don't like now - hmmm....  Wish I could sit and ponder all day.

But, I can't!  I'm pretty busy trying to keep up with two 8-month-olds!  They are on the go and it's been interesting trying to figure out the best way to handle it.  While I'm busy with one that's getting into something, the other is on the other side of the room getting into something else.  And, having a spitter that's now mobile is just lovely.  We are so thankful for hardwood floors! 

Both boys can get to a sitting up position on their own now.  It hasn't happened often, but we've found both of them sitting up before.  Once, Mike went to get them up and Logan was sitting up in his crib.  And this morning I had them together in a crib playing while I was putting clothes away, and all of the sudden Caleb was sitting up.

They seem so close to actually crawling.  They get around pretty good with their scooting though, so I don't know how motivated they are.  They'll get up on hands and knees (or sometimes just hands and feet) and rock, but not move forward like that yet.  They do follow each other around a fair bit, they're not always headed in opposite directions.  Logan cracks me up - when he's on his way somewhere he just laughs and laughs like he's getting away with something.

rain

The boys are sleeping late this morning, perhaps thanks to the rain?  It's almost 8:30am and earlier I heard some stirring, but now it's been totally quiet for awhile.  I'm feeling pretty sleepy myself, but I know as soon as I lay down to take a nap they'll wake up.  :)  I was going to go to the store after breakfast, but it's a little hard to manage two babies in the rain, so we'll see.

We had another fun afternoon at Mike's brother and sister-in-law's cottage on Saturday.  We sure do appreciate their hospitality.  I am feeling a little old now - I went for just a short tube ride and my arms are sore!  As usual, the boys had fun playing in the water.  Caleb enjoys splashing, and still acts surprised when he gets himself in the face.  :)  Logan laughs at Mike being silly.

Although it's kind of sad that my little babies seem to be growing up so fast, it's so much fun to see what they can do now.  We were all on the floor playing together as a family the other night and it was too sweet - Mike was acting like he was going to 'get' me and the boys came over like they wanted to protect me!  Or just get in on the fun...  It's neat how interactive they are now.

race

As if we need to actually encourage any competitiveness...

wipe out

This is from over a week ago, finally getting it posted.  Mike had a WAY better wipe out at the end of his ride, but I didn't have the camera rolling then.  Ignore my obnoxious laugh at the end.  Notice how high out of the water that tube is - I went for a ride this weekend and trusted my husband to drive.  He had very strict instructions not to give me a rough ride because I don't think I'd be able to get back on the tube if I fell off!

one

I'm home with one baby this evening and it feels kinda strange!  I think this is only the third time we've had the boys apart like this.  Caleb was just not himself earlier, so I'm staying home with him while Mike takes Logan to church. 

eating

I get a kick out of almost everything my boys do, but I especially enjoy watching them feed themselves. Can you see who makes more of a mess??

trouble

guys

Mike got to have quite the week of guys nights with Caleb and Logan.  Monday I had a photo session, Tuesday was Mom's Night Out with other twin moms, and Thursday I went to a friends' Pampered Chef party.  It seemed like I hadn't really had 'time off' in awhile, but I made up for it this past week! 

We had quite the fun weekend.  Friday night Mike worked a little late because they were harvesting onions, but I took the boys over to the farm for the supper break and then we hung out until Mike was done working.  I have to say, I'm pretty bummed about not being able to help with the onions this year.  I just love being involved in that.  I'm so glad I was able to do it last year despite being pregnant with twins - still very thankful that the boys and I stayed so healthy and feeling good during the pregnancy.

Saturday Mike worked for a few hours in the morning, then we headed up to his brother and sister-in-law's cottage.  What fun!  Caleb especially had fun in the water this time.  We were just sitting with them in the shallow area and Caleb kept splashing like crazy.  He'd get a faceful of water, act surprised like he didn't know what happened, then keep splashing!  So cute.  Mike was playing around and got him laughing good.  The boys napped really good and that gave Mike and I lots of play time.  :)  Mike went tubing and I got one clip of him wiping out (although I wasn't recording when the best one happened), I just need to get it off my phone...  I had a photo session at the cottage in the evening with Mike's niece - poor thing wasn't feeling that great, but we managed to get a few shots!

So, somehow my babies are 8 months old already.  I was a little sad the other day when I realized I needed to raise the exersaucers up a notch because they're getting bigger.  Logan is improving with his scooting.  He was kinda following Caleb around the other day, it was too cute.  They seem to like to end up underneath things - if they get under the end table or something they'll just start laughing at each other.  Of course they stop as soon as I get the camera out.  There's been a little extra fussiness here and there the last couple days, so maybe we'll see more teeth soon??