Saturday, January 8, 2011

Christmas in Austin

Here are some of the pictures from our Christmas in Austin.

Every year, Grammie and Grandpa buy all the grandkids matching pajamas. We wanted to get a nice picture of all the kids wearing these pajamas. This is much easier said than done. I think this one is probably the best picture of all five that I got. Not quite "hang on the wall" quality. :)
Here are a couple more attempts. Amazingly, these were by far the best pictures I got of the five kids. :)
Caroline was a little bit of the weak link during the photo shoot. (You can't blame her...she was sick.) This one of four outta five kids isn't too bad.
Of course, we spent a lot of time opening presents.
Just like Dallas, Caroline is playing with her favorite present.Both our kids love climbing on top of presents. Here is Caroline having some fun.
The twins got a cool garage toy where cars race to the bottom on a spiral track.
Both Caden and Caroline got their own shopping carts. Caden was very excited about the box.On Christmas Eve, the Baker's have a tradition of going to Pappasittos. Caroline enjoyed feeding herself re-fried beans.
I like this one of Caden and Will (and Grammie).Caden had a lot of fun at Pappasittos.
Caroline had a lot of fun playing with Grammie's exercise ball.
The twins checking out some snow globes with Grammie. I'm just thankful they didn't break one.
Will with Buzz at Pei Wei. I think I heard Will say "to infinity and beyond" a thousand times over Christmas. Also, Will has a new "smile" for the camera.
Caden and Grammie having fun at Pei Wei.
The girl cousins hanging out at Pei Wei.
Here is Caden and mommy at Freebirds. This was the twins first trip to Freebirds.
Another place we went to eat was Phil's Ice House with the attached Amy's Ice Cream. The Baker kids love playing on the play ground a Phil's. Caden and Caroline had some fun as on the playground as well.

Caden tried out a lot of the different toys. Here he is on the spinning butter cup. Cousin Will was around to ensure Caden was safe and having fun.
Caden loved going down the slide.
Caden also loved this thing that spun. He played on it for a long time.
Caroline even joined in.
You might be wondering why Caroline is wearing this boyish looking jacket. Well, just before we made it to Phil's, Caroline through up all over herself in the car. We didn't have a change of clothes but we did find one of Caden's jackets.
Poppa built a new deck. All the kids loved playing on the new deck. I like this one of Cal.
Here are all three Baker kids wearing matching pajamas from their other grandparents.
Caden liked the deck more than anyone.
So much so that we locked him out there. :)
During Christmas, Grammie and Poppa have a wagon full of stuffed animals. Caden enjoyed climbing around all these stuff animals.
Austin has several train parks. A couple months ago, we took Caden and Caroline to ride a train in Cedar Park. They also rode on a train with Amy at a mall. Now, with the Baker kids in town, we went to ride the train in Zilker park.
Here we are getting ready to go. Check out Will's patented smile. Also, notice Caden is wearing the jacket Caroline had on at Phil's Ice House.
Amy, Cal, and Ella waiting for the train to leave the station. Ella got to ride in a row all by herself.
Grammie and Poppa decided they would just watch the rest of us ride the train. When the ride was coming to an end. Caden and Caroline were very excited to see Grammie and Poppa and waved enthusiastically.
As you can see, we had a lot of fun in Austin over Christmas.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Fifteen Month Checkup

The twins had their fifteen month checkup on Monday and everything is going well.

For this checkup, we met with the nurse practitioner, Gwen, who has eleven year old boy/girl twins. It is nice meeting with her because she knows exactly what we are going through.

When we first arrived, Gwen had a story she was eager to tell us. She recently had a dream about Caden and Caroline where she saw them in a special school in California. We thought that was sweet that she had a dream about our kids and then remembered to tell us.

We were very happy that Caden has started to walk some so we could give a favorable report to the doctor. Gwen was very happy and said it is very common for twins, especially boys, to walk even a few months later than our little guy.

Here are the twins measurements from this appointment.

Caroline

fifteen month:
weight: 20 lbs 3 ounces and 20th percentile
height: 31 3/4 inches and 90th percentile
head circumference: 46.5 cm and 70th percentile

twelve month:
weight: 20 lbs 1 ounces and 30th percentile
height: 30 inches and 76th percentile
head circumference: 46.4 cm and 75th percentile

nine month:
weight: 18 lbs 7 ounces and 50th percentile
height: 28 inches and 70th percentile
head circumference: 45 cm and 65th percentile

six month:
weight: 15 lbs 15 ounces and 50th percentile
height: 27 inches and 90th percentile
head circumference: 43 cm and 52nd percentile

four month:
weight: 13 lbs 6 ounces and 45th percentile
height: 25 inches and 75th percentile
head circumference: 41.3 cm and 50th percentile

two month:

weight: 11 lbs 12 ounces and 75th percentile
height: 23 inches and 75th percentile
head circumference: 39.4 cm and 53rd percentile

one month:
weight: 9 lbs 1 ounces and 50th percentile

height: 20.5 inches and 30th percentile
head circumference: 36.5 cm and 25th percentile

two week:
weight: 7 lbs 10 ounces and 25th percentile
height: 20 inches and 50th percentile
head circumference: 35.4 cm and 25th percentile

birth:
weight: 7 lbs
height: 19.375 inches
head circumference: 34 cm and 25th percentile


Caden

fifteen month:
weight: 19 lbs 1 ounces and <5th percentile
height: 31 inches and 55th percentile
head circumference: 46.5 cm and 28th percentile

twelve month:
weight: 18 lbs 5 ounces and 5th percentile
height: 29 inches and 25th percentile
head circumference: 46 cm and 30th percentile

nine month:
weight: 17 lbs 8 ounces and 10th percentile
height: 27 inches and 10th percentile
head circumference: 44.5 cm and 25th percentile

six month:
weight: 14 lbs 15 ounces and 8th percentile
height: 25 1/4 inches and 10th percentile
head circumference: 43cm and 25th percentile

four month:
weight: 12 lbs 11 ounces and 10th percentile
height: 24 inches and 25th percentile
head circumference: 41cm and 20th percentile

two month:
weight: 10 lbs 4 ounces and 25th percentile
height: 22 1/4 inches and 25th percentile
head circumference: 38.2 cm and 12th percentile

one month:
weight: 7 lbs 13 ounces and 5th percentile
height: 20 inches and 5th percentile

head circumference: 35.8 cm and 6th percentile

two week:
weight: 6 lbs 4 ounces and 5th percentile

height: 19 inches and 6th percentile
head circumference: 33.9 cm and 5th percentile

birth:
weight: 5 lbs 10 ounces
height: 18.125 inches
head circumference: 32.3cm and 5th percentile

Amy was a little bummed that Caden was not over twenty pounds since we cannot turn his car seat around until he gets there. I think it might be a few more months before he breaks the twenty pound barrier.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Christmas in Dallas

Here are some pictures from our Christmas in Dallas.

Amy and I took the twins to the Gaylord Texan. There are a lot of great decorations and picture opportunities at the Gaylord.
Several people volunteered to take photos of the four of us.
The twins liked these rustic chairs.
I love this one of Caroline touching one of the large Christmas decorations.
Our little guys.
Isn't she cute?
Caroline, Caden, and mommy had a lot of fun playing with this fountain.
Mommy did not pay close enough attention at the fountain and Caroline gave it a big hug. Her arms and chest were soaked.
The twins opened presents pretty much every day we were in Dallas. Here is Caroline after opening one of her early presents from Aunt Angela.
Aunt Angela gave Caden, Caroline, and Grandma the Karen Katz book Grandma and Me. Here is Grandma reading the new book to the twins.
Caroline liked it so much, she needed to give it a kiss.
...and a lick.
Grandma has hardwood floors that the twins love pushing toys on.
Here is another book from Aunt Angela.
Of course, Caroline wanted it read to her right away.
Here is Caroline's favorite toy... aka: tissue paper.
Caden and Caroline got really cute hooded towels. Caroline is checking out Caden's horse. Caroline got a really cute flower towel.
Caden was very excited by all of the tissue paper.
Caden also enjoyed sitting on presents.

Here is Grandpa and Caden. Doesn't Caden look handsome in his Christmas clothes?
Now it is Peggy's turn to hold Caden.
The twins had a lot of fun opening presents at Grandpa's house. They got all sorts of great gifts.
Both Caden and Caroline love this Elmo phone. They used to play with this phone at Target and now they have one of their own.
Both kids loved all the Elmo stuff. Caroline was so happy to see this Elmo camera that she kissed it.
Caden wanted a turn with the camera. His sister will need to work on her sharing skills.
I think Caroline is telling us she is stuffed after the large brunch.
Caden and Caroline love their Little People school bus.
Grandpa and the twins. I don't remember what Caroline was reaching for but it was likely some new Elmo toy.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Caden's First Steps

Caden took his first steps today! The last month or so, he has loved pushing walking toys around the house. Recently, he has enjoyed holding onto my fingers and walking around. Yesterday, for the first time, Caden walked around when holding on with only one hand. Today, I pulled that one hand away and he was able to take three (quick) steps of his own! Amy and I were very excited and cheered him on.

Caden is way more excited about walking than Caroline so hopefully he will improve quickly. Caden loves holding my hands and walking around the house. Tonight, Caden actually got a little too excited walking and threw up his dinner. :)

Caroline is not as excited about walking as Caden. She will only walk if she decides she wants to. Caden's walking seems to encourage Caroline to walk so she can get some of that attention. Tonight, when they were both walking around (Caden with help), Caden had a very proud "look what we are both doing, Caroline" look on his face. On the other hand, er face, Caroline had an "anything you can do I can do better" look. :)