One Year Old!

Jaden & Cody, new 1-year-olds!

Well, we made it! Our boys are officially one year old. While it's amazing to look back at how much our little guys have grown during this first year, it's just as amazing to realize that we, as parents, officially survived the initiation into twindom. Yes, we love our boys, and yes, we feel very thankful to be parents, but quite honestly, there isn't much about this first year that we'd be excited to repeat! Life with newborn/infant twins was certainly a huge challenge.

That being said, life with Jaden and Cody has already begun to get easier (in most respects, at least!), so we can spend more of our energy enjoying them and less time feeling completely frazzled. We love our boys more than we can express, and we are so eager to watch them continue to grow and develop. Here is a glimpse of their most recent developments:

SLEEPING HABITS 

• Overall, sleeping well through the night
• Still very early risers (5-ish)-- maybe they get it from their Papa, though we hope it doesn't last!
• Usually will rest with Mommy & Daddy until 6-ish
• Love their 2 daily naps
• No more sleeping with sleep sacks!

EATING HABITS

• Now enjoy eating the same food as Mommy & Daddy!
• Favorites: sloppy joe sandwiches, bean & cheese quesadillas, yogurt, cheese, blueberries, cantaloupe, bread
• Eager eaters-- often stuff WAY too much into their mouths
• At the end of a meal, enjoy smashing their food into their tray
• HATE to be cleaned up after meals
• Nursing 3-4 times a day
• Started whole milk just after their 1-year birthday 

LANGUAGE

• Can follow a wide variety of simple directions (retrieving specific toys, playing the piano, going to certain places in a room)
• Know to wave when Mommy or Daddy enters a room (without any prompting from us)
• No specific words yet
• Love to babble to themselves and with each other
• Favorite syllable is "ba, ba, ba"

PLAYTIME FAVORITES

• Opening and closing doors
• Playing peek-a-boo
• Chasing games with Mommy & Daddy crawling after them
• Knocking on our sliding glass door
• Playing with the kitchen garbage can (We started duct taping this closed after finding several toys and pacifiers thrown away!)
• Pounding on surfaces that make a lot of noise (fireplaces, washer & dryer, heating vents at church)
• Sliding their high chairs across the floor
• Riding the swings
• Using their push-rider toys
• Carrying their toys into new locations (i.e. making a ROYAL, constant mess!)
• Wiping their pacifiers against smooth surfaces (It makes a funny squeaking sound, so both boys will giggle and giggle!)

BOTH BOYS

Cody, Jaden

Can you tell that their hair is growing?!

Either whispering a secret, or starting a tackle-takedown

Cody, Jaden: BIG fans of the outdoors

• Can get to a standing position without help (push selves up using just the floor)
• Dislike sitting still during church
• Like tickling one another's toes in the high chair after one has been let down after a meal
• Transitioned into convertible car seats
• No longer big fans of teeth brushing
• Started giving hugs this month
• Eczema issues have greatly improved (due to a special lotion & the warmer weather)

JADEN MICHAEL

Jaden has recently learned how to be just as silly as
his brother. Cody (in the background) isn't so sure
what to think about this...

• Currently 22 lbs. 1 oz. (gained weight like crazy this month and regained the title of "Heavier Twin")
• 30 inches tall
• Enjoys "reading" books by paging through them one page at a time
• Can identify & retrieve 5-6 of his board books based on the cover 
• Loves picking up items in a room and handing them to Daddy or Mommy
• Learned how to clap

CODY ANDREW

Definitely not our little baby anymore!

Be sure to notice the curl that is now
perpetually sticking out in back!

• Currently 21 lbs. 5 oz. and 29 1/2 inches tall
• Can walk very quickly, especially when being chased by Mommy, Daddy, or Jaden
• Cut tooth #7 and #8
• Often will "attack" Jaden from behind, usually in order to steal a toy or pacifier
• Learned how to feed others this month by sticking Cheerios in their mouth (first did this to Jaden during a church service, but teased him and took the Cheerio back out... Oh, the distractions our little ones create during church!)

Happy 1st Birthday, little guys!

We are so thankful to God for the blessing you are in our lives!