1 Year, 11 Months, 2 Weeks, and 1 Day

Ruby & Charlotte are 1 year, 11 months, 2 weeks, and 1 day old today. Ruby acts like a parrot most days, repeating quite clearly what she hears you say, whether she understands the meaning or not. Charlotte currently likes to sing "What's the Name of That Song? (La-di-da-di-dum)" from Sesame Street. They are outgrowing 24 month sized clothing. Since we are staying in IL for another winter, I ordered their winter jackets, snow bibs, and snow boots yesterday. I hope they can put their arms down* once we suit them up when the time comes to go out in the snow. We met our friends at the zoo last Saturday, and the kids had a lot of fun with Ava there. Enjoy the photos!

Ruby, Charlotte, and Ava went on the zoo's carousel for the first time together (Ava's mom Melissa was kind enough to go on as the third adult so I could photograph the event):


Ruby wandered over to the bigger kids' playground set and went down a slide there:

Charlotte likes to climb the meant-for-older-kids parts, which makes Bob nervous:

Ruby & Ava go down the slides together:

Charlotte & Ava hold hands as we walk towards the giraffes:

Playing with "deer remains" near the wolf exhibit:

At the splash fountains Charlotte & Ava were happy to get wet, while Ruby preferred to stay back and just stick her hands out (until the wind shifted, soaking her and me too):

Eating lunch and drying off:

Ava's dad Jason pulled all of them in the wagon at the end of our day there, which they loved:

They both stood on tiptoe to stick their heads through this cutout:


Ruby discovered that this ball's shadow makes her hand pink:

Charlotte searches through the Playmobil 123 toys:

They played with this empty diaper box for 40 minutes straight:

*reference to the movie "A Christmas Story"

1 Year, 11 Months, 1 Week, and 1 Day

Ruby & Charlotte are 1 year, 11 months, 1 week, and 1 day old today. Singing songs is a big part of our days, no matter what might be going on. Ruby is learning "We Will Rock You" by Queen and "ABC" by the Jackson 5 (I may be influencing that a bit). Charlotte prefers "The Ants Go Marching" but usually only sings the "boom, boom, boom" part. They both like all the old Sesame Street songs, and attempt those as well. Ruby is trying to turn her run on sentences into short paragraphs of what she is doing, and also lists things that she likes, as in, "Ruby likes apples, and cookies, and purple, and animals, and...." it goes on & on. Charlotte is in love with large stuffed animals, though any stuffed animal will do. She hugs them with a giant smile on her face, and is particularly fond of the big Ikea ones when we go shopping there. Enjoy the photos!

On their new Learning Tower (it brings them up to counter height so they can watch & help during whatever activities we may be involved with in the kitchen):

Using the Learning Tower to help me make muffins:

They love the days when their friend Ava comes to play:


Outside with Ava & sidewalk chalk:

Turns out, sidewalk chalk is more exciting when thrown on the grass:

Ava likes to keep everyone hydrated when she is here:

Ava & Charlotte playing with Sesame Street toys:

They graduated to table eating last night, and did quite well (though I am still buying placemats):

Ruby was sick one morning so Charlotte made sure to bring her lots of books:

Assembling each other's name puzzles:

1 Year, 11 Months, and 1 Day

Ruby & Charlotte are 1 year, 11 months, and 1 day old today. They continue to amaze us with their knowledge and vocabulary skills. Gymnastics class has ended for them, and we are focusing on family outings during the weekends instead of signing them up for a 3rd session. I have started planning 4 (yes - 4!) celebrations for their 2nd birthday since we have lots of family members flying here at different times to visit from mid to late September in addition to our friends in the area. Enjoy the photos!

They found a couple pairs of Bob's socks to wear:


At the zoo's play fountain area:

Charlotte felt the need to put more water on Ruby, since Ruby was nowhere near as soaked as Charlotte:

Novelty sunglasses:


One of their first tea parties:



Ruby left the tea party to go hug a Honker:

Leaving Charlotte to finish the tea party by herself:

Before bed time each night, they are hypnotized by old Sesame Street DVDs:

I finally remembered to try straw cups again (after 6 months), and this time they figured it out within seconds:

23 Months Old!

Ruby at 23 months old:

Charlotte at 23 months old:

1 Year, 10 Months, 3 Weeks, and 4 Days

Charlotte & Ruby are 1 year, 10 months, 3 weeks, and 4 days old today. Charlotte can count to 10, and say the alphabet in order when she pleases. Ruby is working on counting to 20 in order, but can skip ahead and do 21-30 fairly easily on occasion. They both enjoy going through all the motions of "Wheels on the Bus". Sesame Street is still their favorite overall, so I am using that as the theme to plan for their various celebrations with family & friends for their birthday. Enjoy the photos!

Laughing hysterically in each others faces and through the Sesame Street play set windows:



Charlotte wears my old sunglasses as she carries the Honker muppets:

Ruby poses in her chair:

Charlotte finds piling toys on top of Ruby hilarious (Ruby allows it for about 10 minutes before saying "Ruby stuck! Help!" to me:

Bath time is still a fun activity (though I think their favorite part is just watching the tub fill with water & bubbles):

Inspired by their friend Ava (and having enough teeth), they now eat their sandwiches without needing them cut into bite-size pieces:


Sticking their feet out of the ottoman:

Our new bed seems to be even more exciting than the last one: