Two Entertained Kids

They are on the move!  Ethan has gotten the hang of the crawling thing and now comes to find us whenever we are out of sight.  He even sat outside the bathroom door while Doug showered this past week.  (He didn't still long enough to catch it on camera.)

Grandma Beckstrand gave them a pretty sweet toy that Sydney thinks is the best.  She has learned to pull herself to standing using it with the occaisional fall.  The table is just the right height for smacking her face on it as she falls.  They are sporting a few more bruises lately.

Doug's brother's family gave us the toy that Ethan has in the photo below.  Another favorite. 

We now put this gate up everyday because they have discovered a few dangerous things in the hallway.  Friday, Ethan unplugged the carbon monoxide detector with Sydney's help.  I ran to plug it back in as it sounded like a smoke detector.  It took about 5 minutes to calm them down. 

Sharing has become a little challenge for Sydney.  I am pretty sure it's because Ethan will horse-collar her to get the toy in her hands.  She will look at me and cry if she can tell he's going to take her toy.  She's become a little sensative the last few weeks.

My cute friend, Miwa, gave me some Ralph Lauren polo onsies at my baby shower.  They looked so stylish, I had to take a photo today.

It was difficult to get them to hold still for a photo...they are always wanting to get back to crawling to their favorite toys...

One year behind us

Today was a celebration that Ethan and Sydney are 1 year old and I celebrated because the first year is behind us and they are still alive!  I had moments where I wasn't sure we'd make it.  Too bad that Ethan was pretty sick on his birthday.  I searched high and low for a cupcake recipe.  We tried out 2 others before finding this gem of a recipe from a chef on the show "Cake Wars".  I was looking for a recipe without eggs (they haven't had them yet) and without refined sugar.  We thought it was a hit (as well as many family members that liked them) but E&S weren't so sure.  Ethan spit out every bite he took and Sydney nibbled a little.  Made for some pretty boring photos.

She is such a princess...look at that face.  She is a pretty clean eater...like her mother--and her mother likes it!

They received some award-winning presents and they have loved playing.  I will be able to get a lot done because they will be so enthralled with their toys.  I'll give the toys some awards too for that!



11 months and 3 weeks

The last week has been great.  Just in time for the 1-year birthday Ethan and Sydney have decided to give me a break from the 5+ hours of burping!  Ethan's crawling has proven to be a HUGE success for his burping frenzy he has been attached to since he was 2 months old.  I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many times I've turned to Doug and said, "This is rediculous!  I can't do this one more day."  My yoga ball used to be used for stretching and situps and has been a permanent fixture in our living room for bouncing burps out of babies.  So glad those days are going to soon become a memory.  Yes, SO glad.

Sydney has been taking naps in the bassinet most days so they go to sleep.  Their new favorite thing is to 'talk' and try to touch eachother in their cribs before finally laying down and going to bed.  Sydney has been sticking her bum in the air in the cutest way while she sleeps.  We had to get it on camera.

Another new development...they love books!  They now sit still and look at the pages and turn them.  Where I am not a reader, it's fun to see if I can help my babies enjoy reading.  I'm trying.

Sydney is obsessed with zippers.  It's a little embarassing when people come over and she attacks their shirts, purses, or anything with a zipper.  She's been known to nibble on rings, toes, buttons, and anything shiny.  She is so funny.

My sister and her family came down for a doctor's appt for my nephew, Matt, at Primary Children's Hospital and stayed an extra day because their kids were out of school for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  We went up the canyon for some sledding and Doug and I took our cross-country skiis and put E&S in the sleigh again.  This was our third outing for some skiing.  Not a smashing success with grumpy babies, but we still think of how fun it was the first time. 

Matt and Natalie pausing from their runs down the hill.

I love this family.  They were so good to me when I was in college.  I miss living close to them.

New Game at our House

Haven't you ever heard of "Chase the ball around the kitchen"? It's the hottest game at our house. There are some tears when the ball is stolen, or when it goes out-of-bounds (a.k.a. under the couch or bar stool), but other than that...it is good clean fun!

Moving along

As of last Sunday, we have TWO crawlers. Ethan has been crawling backward for about one month and I was encouraging him and trying to teach him (he just thought I wanted to play with him and would roll over and smile at me...blast!). Honestly, I was tired of having to move him from his 'stuck' positions next to the wall, his legs pinned under our chair, or up to his shoulders under our couch. Crawling backward posed many problems for him. After 3 weeks of that, he starting doing what we call 'the worm". Maybe he'll be a brakedancer when he's older? The possibilities are endless.

My sister's family, the Christensens', gave them this toy for Christmas and they have been in heaven (and so have I with them entertained!) for weeks now. We watched the two boys that live upstairs and they were nearly fighting over it. The good news is that they may like this toy until they are well over 3 years old. Thanks Christensens.

My friend, April, and her husband, Brian, came over for a visit after ZUMBA last week and Sydney took a liking to April that I had to catch in a photo. It was adorable.

I've learned to take the two balls from that great toy the Christensen's gave us and let them play with it while they eat. This cures all manner of difficulties. They chase the balls around their trays and I sneak in a few bites while they are distracted. Two gifts in one!

The other item used for distraction are these cups. They are still learning how to drink out of them and we're glad because we think they would just drink water all day. Sydney cries whenever I take it away after giving her multiple sips from it. I guess they are related to me with my 1/2 gallon water bottle I tote around all the time. Notice Sydney's toes on her tray? She likes to eat while hooking her toes onto her tray and will stay that way the entire time. She LOVES feet.

I am now a sew-er...I sew things. My mom came over Friday and helped me sew this cute red bag for their blocks. After picking out the canvas and the rope, I realized it was going to look a lot like a Santa sack...oh well. I think I will buy some other colors and make more for their other toys. Sydney is already in love with the rope. She is so adorable and her hair is starting to curl at the ends...so cute.

New Years

My siblings and their families (sorry we missed Tyler and the kids) were all in town for a New Year's celebration this year.  We had a great time.  So great in fact, that my picture-taking family took almost zero photos. 

We went to Boondocks (Matt's treat) on New Year's Eve and had lunch and played for a good part of the day.  I mostly hung around the arcade and played my favorite game.  (Matt has let us come for free a few times with the babies)  After just 2 tries, I won and the bonus wheel spun on the Wheel of Fortune game and I scored 1,000 bonus tickets!  The babies got some new toys, Doug got a mini bowling set, and my neices and nephews got some extras as well.  I got the thrill people feel when they gamble in Vegas as that wheel spun to tell me my bonus. 

New Year's day, we took some photos of the 2010 Beckstrand grandchildren before Dave and Chelsea left with their moving van on their way to Arizona.  Can't believe how many babies have arrived this past year.  Don't know if we'll ever have another 'wave' like this again, but we're so excited that E&S will have so many cousins their age.

I had to get more use out of their Christmas outfits.

Older counsins: Kayden, Grace, Sydney & Ethan--all born within 6 weeks of eachother.

Our cautious attempt to add 5 week old Avery in with these crazy babies.  We are lucky Ethan was too excited about the camera to squeeze her face like he does to Sydney.