7 Months Already?

I can't believe that they are already 7 months old! It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant sitting in the living room with my feet in a bucket of cold water because I itched so bad. Hydrocortisone cream, benadryl, lotion...nothing worked and I was ready to meet my babies. A lot has really happened in the most recent weeks so I'm writing as I remember them or as I read them off of a chicken scratch covered sticky note. This is very scatterbrained and well, that's how things have been lately.

I was on Spring Break last week. I took the ESL Supplemental test on the first day of spring break and passed. I really enjoyed spending time with the kids. I was able to get them on a good feeding schedule. When they're at my mom's house, they seem to get a little off schedule so I wanted to make a solid schedule while I had the time off. The past month, we have been alternating feedings. They receive a full 7-ish ounce bottle in the morning, then solids, etc. throughout the day. We usually end up with about 2 or 3 solid feedings and 4-5 bottles during a 24 hour period. They're last meal of the day is usually a bottle, and then they fall asleep between 8:30 and 9:30. Bryce can eat a lot of solid food. He can usually eat 4-5 ounces at one sitting. Per the doctor's suggestion, we've been giving them 2 ounces - half water and half apple juice along with their meals to help with constipation.

My friend from middle school, Holly, came over on March 16th so the kids and I took her to On the Border for an early birthday gift. Bryce and Kayla sat in the highchair and at at the big table for the first time. They did really well. Kayla sat up for the first time for longer than a few seconds on March 14th. Bryce sat up on March 18th during his pictures. I think Bryce likes Oprah. He was talking to the television (more than normal) when I had her on one day last week. On March 19th, Bryce and Kayla went to Sprouts for the first time, Blockbuster, and the doctor to have Bryce's ears checked (for the third time, he had another ear infection.) He's been coughing and wheezing, too, so he was given steroids and antibiotics. We had a birthday party for my Aunt Sheri and my Grams on Sunday, March 20th. When we got home, Bryce crawled to the Bumbo seat and pulled himself to standing! I had tears in my eyes! (Picture below) Kayla has been grabbing on her feet and putting her big toe in her mouth. Silly girl. Bryce keeps mouthing syllables. He's getting closer to "mama". We're trying to do sign language but it's hard to be consistent. I have to work on that. I want them to learn so we can communicate.

So far, they have eaten:

• apples
• bananas
• squash
• sweet potatoes
• carrots
• pears
• green beans
• peas

Kayla seems to prefer the fruits. Bryce seems to like everything except for the green stuff. He gagged today at daycare. He usually does a little better when we mix it with squash or sweet potato. They both seem to really like squash and sweet potato.

They're still in size 2 diapers, 3-6 month clothes, and moving into 6-9 month clothes on some things.

We had 7 month pictures taken at Portrait Innovations on March 18th. Here are a few of the pics:

I love being a mom!

They Grow So Fast

That statement has never been more true. I can hardly keep up with all of their developments! Bryce and Kayla are sitting up for a few seconds at a time. When they start to fall backwards, you can tell they are trying to use their tummy and back muscles to stay up. They stand well with support, too. They both hold up their arms to get us to pick them up. Both are eating solids. So far, they have tried sweet potatoes, squash (both of which they love), peas, green beans, carrots, apples, and pears. They don't seem too fond of the green beans or peas yet. They are still in size 2 diapers and wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes (some 6 month). Bryce is still so skinny that a lot of his pants fall off when he crawls. Ha!

Bryce is now crawling...it's an army crawl, but it's a crawl. He follows us around the room and he almost made it to the kitchen a couple of days ago. The baby gates went up last night. I picked them up at my mom's house after work today and he crawled to me. I love that. We had some books and PS games in the bottom shelves of our entertainment center and he has been pulling them out. So we moved those up and put their toys on the bottom shelves instead. He is extremely strong. He reaches for the Play Station and the stereo all the time and moves it. We find the volume knob on the stereo turned up. Silly boy.

     
He usually eats pretty well. We try to feed them formula for their first and last meals of the day and then alternate throughout the rest of the day. He started coughing more yesterday morning so we started the nebulizer treatments again. He now grabs our faces, pulls us towards him, and kisses us (or opens his mouth anyway). *Bryce, you silly boy. As I am typing this, you put your hand behind your head like you were modeling. You are an adorable little man. :)

Kayla found her feet on February 28th. She hasn't put them in her mouth yet but she's getting closer. The past week, she has been so much happier. She has been laughing and smiling a lot more than she used to. She doesn't eat as well as Bryce because she's usually so hungry by the time we try to feed her that she won't eat or she's too interested in her hands, thumbs, and spoon. She takes more patience. She rolls over from her tummy to her back pretty well. She loves the bendy ball and a set of keys. She loves to sit up in my recliner and she still loves the swing. When she's fussy, she prefers sitting in her highchair to watch me in the kitchen. She loves watching me use the food processer and mixer, all while I make funny faces to make her laugh. Sometimes, that seems to be all she needs. Certain faces that we make at her can really make her give us a belly laugh. Especially when Daddy plays hide and seek with her (like now) or Mommy holds her up in the air and gives her raspberries on her tummy! *Kayla, missy girl, you are chewing on the stuffed gecko that we got you from Ikea and trying to help me type. Yes, you've hit the space bar quite a lot. My, you sure do know how to multitask!  Thanks for helping Mommy. :)

Our life is hectic but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love being a mom, a wife, and a teacher. Although, all three have their moments. :)