We introduced sippy cups today. Right now it's less about them actually drinking water and more about them getting used to the cup and what to do with it. They both seemed a little confused, but drank well out of it if we held it up for them. When we let go, Fischer held on to his pretty well but just chewed on the spout. He wasn't interested in what was inside. Addison didn't even try to hold hers and just got really mad and cried. I'm pretty sure she wanted me to stand there and hold it for her all day. I've given them back a couple times throughout the day and each time Fischer chews on it and Addison cries. I plan on giving it to them everyday just so they can get used to holding it. Here are a few pictures!





For lunch today we tried giving them the food that Scott made again. The first time we tried, it was a little thick for them. Today they ate it without hesitation! Yay!! So now he can get busy and make a lot more. We will probably still buy some but it will be nice to have the basic flavors in the freezer.

We've had a busy weekend, and the babies handled it very well. Friday, they went to stay at a friend's mom's house for part of the day (thanks Brenda!!) while I got a much needed break. I came home and relaxed after dropping them off, and only folded one load of laundry the whole time. They did pretty well for Brenda... Addison cried for awhile, but that's not really shocking since that's how she is a lot of the time anyway. :)

Saturday morning we packed up the car and headed to Camden to visit Jim and Dianne. Jim and Dianne hadn't seen the babies since they were a week old and still in the hospital, so they were very surprised by how different they were. We left right after the babies ate at noon so that they would take their normal nap in the car. They both slept almost the entire 2 hours. They loved all of the extra attention at their house yesterday and this morning. They didn't sleep the best in their peapods, and we are thinking we may have to start taking the pack 'n' play with us for Addison because she really had a hard time sleeping last night Hopefully they'll sleep good tonight since they'll be back in their own cribs.

We are planning on letting them try their sippy cups with some water today or tomorrow. Stay tuned for pictures of that! :)

The babies had their 6 month check up today. The doctor said they are doing great! We got a lot of information today because they are doing so many new things!

The doctor seems to think they'll both have teeth within a few weeks... I feel like they've been having teething symptoms for months now! She also said they are right where they need to be on the track to sitting up. We just need to keep helping them along! She also gave the ok to try sippy cups with water in them, and can give them the little snacks that dissolve instantly. This way they can start learning to put food in their mouths!

We also asked her about switching car seats because they are getting heavy in their infant carriers, and will only get heavier from here on out! She said that would be fine to go ahead and switch them. The other styles would stay in the car, but still face the back. We just have to wait until they can sit in highchairs better, because right now if we go out to eat, they sit in their car seats while we eat. So once they are a bit more stable in the highchairs, we'll make the switch!

We hope to slowly start switching Addison from her current formula ($26 a can!!) to the normal priced formula. She is on the hypoallergenic formula now, so switching will be a slow process. If we give her 5 oz. we will put 4 of her current formula and 1 of the new, and do that for awhile, then start adding more of the new formula, and so on until it's all new. This will take awhile, and she may not even keep it down. We'll see! I'm not sure when we'll start that transition though.

Also, we would like for the babies to not use their pacifiers anymore by the time they are 1. I think we use it more for our own sake than theirs now anyway. They like to pull them out of their mouths and play with them now, so hopefully weaning them won't be too big of a challenge. We may set our goal for 8 months and see how that goes.

I think that about covers most of the points we talked about today during our appointment. Here are their latest stats:

Addison:
Weight - 14 lb 3 oz (18th percentile)
Height - 25 1/2 inches (30th percentile)
Head 16 1/2 inches (26th percentile)

Fischer:
Weight - 13 lb 12 oz (1st percentile)
Height - 26 inches (23rd percentile)
Head - 17 inches (25th percentile)

As a mom of twins, I feel like a lot of my time is now spent as a referee. Now that Addison and Fischer are rolling, scooting, kicking, biting (teeth are coming SOON!), pulling, grabbing and squealing, I am having to watch them very closely because they do all of this to each other. If I'm not careful I find them on top of each other, pulling on each others ears and noses, or biting and sucking on each others hands and arms. I don't mind the biting and sucking now but once teeth come it'll probably be a different story! I've also found them turned completely around so one is kicking the other in the head and face. Sometimes they are squealing (happily but LOUDLY) in each others ears. Sometimes they get going so fast with their rolling, I think they are going to steam roll right over the other one! And they are fast - I can leave the room for just a second and they are in a different spot in a different position! I can only imagine how this will all be once crawling enters the picture. EEK! Needless to say, they are keeping me on my toes, and I'm having to stay very alert. Here are some pictures of them playing...

Addison and Fischer both did something new yesterday! Addison stuck her foot in her mouth (I'm so proud!)... she tried for a few days and finally did it last night. Fischer learned how to bounce by himself in the Baby Einstein jumper. He looked a little surprised and I'm not sure if he realized he was doing it himself, but he seemed to enjoy it. He was doing it more like he was walking rather than both feet at once. It was cute though!

Eating is still going well. In the past week, they've both tried butternut squash and seem to like it. We also gave them a sweet potato and chicken mixture, which they scarfed down in record time and probably would've eaten a lot more of it! We also got them to eat the turkey in turkey broth by mixing it in with some applesauce. I got that tip from a friend and it worked great.

Addison's sleeping habits are still a mystery to us, but we'll keep working on it. She is still getting up a few times a night, with an occasional good night (sleeping until 5 or 6 without waking up) thrown in there. Her napping is just as inconsistent - some days she sleeps for almost 2 hours and some days only about 45 minutes. Good thing she's happy and always smiling when we go in there to get her out of the crib, so that helps take away the frustation.:) Fischer still sleeps so well, and we are so thankful that we don't have 2 babies that have weird sleeping habits. I don't know how I'd handle that.

We go to the Dr. on Thursday, so I will update you after that!

Addison and Fischer are six months old today!! WOW!! So much has happened over the past six months, and it's amazing how much babies change in that amount of time. They've gone through 4 clothing and diapers sizes already, they've started eating solid foods, they take baths in the big bath tub now, they can sit in their bumbos, they laugh a lot, they grab everything, and much, much more! These are just a few of their many changes, and I know there are so many more to come. I thought I would be really emotional today, but I think I'm doing pretty well. Time just goes so fast and that takes me by surprise sometimes. I can guarantee you though that I WILL be an emotional mess on their first birthday. I guess I have 6 months to prepare myself for that. :)

They go Thursday for their 6 month check up and I'm very anxious to get their weights and heights! They are growing so fast, and they are still really good eaters...hopefully it stays that way. We have entered the territory of having to keep straight which one likes which food though. They like a lot of the same things but there are a few things that one likes and the other doesn't. Sometimes I think I need to make myself a chart, but I'm keeping it straight so far.

Here is a picture of them today, and one of them on the day we brought them home from the hospital (March 2). They have changed so much!

I've come to realize over the past six months that babies are like puzzles! For example, why did Addison tolerate fruit ok at first, but now seems to get a rash if she eats it too many days in a row? Why does she sleep ok in our bed but not as well in her crib? Why do they go from laughing to crying so quickly? Why do they like Baby Einstein videos one day but scream during them the next? Where are they trying to go when they try and twist out of their bumbos (while crying)? Why do they have days where they hardly spit up at all and others where it seems like that's all they do?

These are just a few of the unanswered questions I have about Addison and Fischer. I guess it would help if they could talk and explain some of these things to me. :) I suppose part of the fun of parenting is trying to figure all of this out. Just when you think you've figured something out, things change again.

Things are going well around here, despite the questions above. :) The babies are getting more and more interactive everyday and it's fun watching them play with the toys around them! They are both grabbing for things a lot now and are able to hold them pretty well. One of their favorite toys at the moment are these rings that link together so you can make a really long chain, or just hold one ring. They seems to really love those! They are also enjoying some of the smaller stuffed animals we have.

They are both really noticing Bo and Sassy more now. When the dogs walk by, you can see that the babies sort of reach out, trying to touch them. They've gotten ahold of some fur, but so far the dogs have handled that ok. I think Bo and Sassy are both still a little unsure about these little people that cry and make noise all the time. Just the other day, Addison was squealing/talking REALLY loudly (really high-pitched squeals too) and it was obvious that Bo was a bit annoyed by all the noise, but he kept sitting right beside her. I think over time, they will all be friends!