YIPPEE!!!! No more bottles and 1 nap!!!

Last Monday, they started sleeping longer so we tried the one nap thing again and it worked. They were consistent the whole week. I guess they just needed a little time easing into it. Then on Christmas day when we went to Julie's, I packed them their evening bottles, but didn't have to use it. They were so excited about being there, that they never once showed any sign that they wanted the bottle, so we didn't give it to them. They went to bed just like every other night. The next night, we didn't even make the bottles and didn't bring it out after dinner. Out of sight, out of mind. They didn't give us any sign that they wanted it. Again 2 nights like this. Well this is the perfect time to nix the bottles and sure enough, they've been bottle free since last Friday, that's 6 nights straight!!! I can't believe this, I'm so happy it was not a struggle. Way to go kiddos- I'm so proud of you!!!

Their new schedule:

7= usually someone is up and I don't hear more noises til later, they play in their cribs, laugh, shake the cribs, etc. until I get them at 8.

8= breakfast

play afterwards inside play area/books/sometimes we go for a walk or Stroller fit class

10:45= snack

a little bit more play, I don't like for them to sleep directly after they've eaten, like for them to have some physical activity before laying down

11:45 - 2:30= nap (sometime someone is up at 1:40 but will go back to sleep if he sees others are still sleeping. I don't get them out til 2:30 the earliest, the longest they've nap to was 2:50)

2:40= lunch

play afterwards, free roam of Living/Dining room, Tues & Thurs is Baby Einstein DVDs

5:00= family walk, furries included

5:30/5:45= dinner

more play, daddy time

7= we bring them to their room to get ready for bed/baths

7:30= all sleep! (mommy & daddy time) :-)

kids went to Costco (12.28.09)

We took the kids to Costco on Monday. We had a list of things to buy and thought why not? After they woke up from their nap, we feed them and took them for a trip. Dan pushed the stroller and I pushed the cart. I thought about us both pushing a cart and one kid can be in it while two kids be in the other cart, but I wasn't sure if they had seatbelts and they do, so we may do that next time. I wasn't sure if we would actually get to shop, but we made it out there w/everything on our list w/in an hour. We definitely got A LOT of attention, but that comes w/the territory. I'm so used to it now (doing my Strollerfit class and sometimes being at the mall for it), I just ignore people and go about doing what I have to do. Dan's more polite and will smile or comment. When we were checking out, one of the employee wanted to get all of our stuff onto the belt and said he didn't want me to do anything. He told me to relax. I, of course, not used to that, put the stuff on there myself. I told him I come here atleast 2-3 a month, maybe I should bring the kids more often w/me and w/o Dan!

more family help (12.27.09)

On Sunday, Gail, Bob, and Julie came over to do babies duty so Dan and I could take care of our RE. We have (2) vacant units and maybe one more come January so we're trying to take care of as much as possible before Dan has to go back to work next Monday. On our way back we even had a chance to stop by my mom's house to hang up the family photos we gave her for Christmas. And we also had a chance to grab a quick bit at our favorite VN/Chinese restaurant, Chino's. They were able to feed them their lunch and played w/them. Thanks Cote family for helping out!

Christmas @ Julie's house

We spent Christmas day w/Dan's family at Julie's house. The highlight for the kids was discovering her spice cabinet. They opened it and played w/her spice jars. Don't worry we made sure the lids were on tight, they just like to hold onto them. Thanks to Julie for these pictures as I was busy videographing.

At one point Tobin crawled into the cabinet as you can see. Hudson tried to as well.

Both of them checking it out. (Hudson's on the left, Tobin on the right).
Here's Tobin at it again.

Hudson

Hudson taking a peek inside.

Grandma Gail kissing Skyler.

Tobin w/his spice jar.

Rebecca w/Tobin.

Grandpa Bob, Daddy and Hudson hanging out.

Skyler

Skyler opening presents.

Skyler liked her brother's cap, a gift from Matt.

Mommy and her daughter.

All three enjoying their new cups from Grandma Gail. (Hudson, Tobin, and Skyler)

Matt holding Hudson & Tobin.

Grandma Gail w/Hudson.

Daddy helping Hudson w/his new cap.

Tobin giving Grandpa Bob his present.

I think they were just taking all this wrapping paper/present thing in.

Look at Hudson's face, he loves lasagne! Tobin was eating blueberries.

This was when we were leaving and they discovered Julie's stairs. Tobin's the one we can see his face.

Group picture: Julie, Gabby (Matt's fiance), Matt holding Tobin, Grandma Gail holding Skyler, Rebecca, I'm holding Hudson, Dan and Grandpa Bob.

Skyler playing w/the toys Grandma Gail had from her home.

Hudson, he's been really expressive lately!

Christmas morning @ our house

Another great Christmas with the kids this year! Of course, last year they didn't really know what's going on, being at 4 months, but this year, you could tell they knew something was different. They really enjoyed holding the presents and shaking it. Skyler could open the presents w/Daddy helping at first. (lil) Julie had spent the night here so it was nice to have her take pics w/all of us in it.

Our tree w/presents from Santa and us. We did not go crazy buying them presents, just little toys for each kids. As you can see, when we remove the gate, A LOT of the ornaments were moved to the top. We got a really soft tree this year, it was not prickly at all.

Hudson's the only one looking up.
Mommy w/Hudson and Skyler.


Tobin checking the new phone out, Skyler in the back.

Skyler on Daddy's lap

Julie w/Skyler

Our family. Tobin was not happy.

More opening presents. I got them some Crayons, coloring books, and play doh, I can't wait til we get to use them.

Tobin

Hudson and Tobin

Julie holding Tobin.

Tobin and Skyler

Tobin & Hudson fighting over the new car toy, even though there's two more.

Christmas Eve w/the Nguyen family

This year, we celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve w/my family. Now that we're a bigger family, it's easier to just split the family on either days, that way we get to spend more time w/each family and not be so rushed. My mom, Matthew, Julie (lil), and Marie's family came over to our house.

Matthew ordered enough VN food to feed an entire village (we still have leftovers--I'm not complaining), Marie brought gingerbread cookies she and her kids made and I bought a boston creme pie. It's not traditional, but who cares as long as we have good food and family time.

The kids took one nap that day, they had started at the beginning of the week and family started coming by about 2:30. Everyone left when kids went to sleep, except my mom and Julie who stayed later to help me clean up. We were talking so much and my mom was getting tired so I asked Julie to spend the night so we could have some girl time. Julie and I stayed up til 1 chit chatting. It's been a long time since we got to hang out since she's been in college for the past 3 years. Kids got to munch on VN food; they had shrimp fried rice, egg/flour dish kinda like a pancake w/eggs, and stir fried beef w/brocalli.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! We did!

Our tree w/everyone's presents under it. We remove the gate and the kids were fine w/it. The kids received A LOT of clothes and some toys.

Marie and Ted
My mom and Anne

My mom w/her presents from us. We gave her (3) family frames and helped hung it up at her house on Sunday.

Matthew w/Tobin and Skyler.

Skyler and I. Marie gave her this cute tutu w/matching shirt and some hair bows. I'm not much of a frilly kinda girl so I'd never think to buy stuff like this for her, yet she look so cute in them.

Skyler checking out the wrapping paper.

Hudson and Tobin (I wonder if they're trying to figure out what's in it).

What are you doing Tobin?

Our family of five: Tobin, Hudson and Skyler

All the cousins w/Matthew. Andrew's on Matthew's shoulders, Matthew holding Skyler, Anne holding Tobin, and Julie holding Hudson.

Cousins only: Andrew w/Skyler, Anne w/Tobin, and Julie w/Hudson.

Another family shot.

Group shot minus Ted and Julie.

Group shot minus Dan and Ted.