Month: November 2018

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Twins 9 month stats

Nat and Avit turned 9 months old on Halloween, so this post will be super short since 10 months is just 2 days away. I just want to make sure I get their picture up here.

We did have a well check this time, so here are their official 9 month stats:

Nat

  • Height:  29″ (74%)
  • Weight:  19 lbs. 3 oz. (40%)
  • Head:  45 cm (48%)
  • BMI:  16 kg/m2 (19%)

Avit

  • Height:  29″ (74%)
  • Weight:  19 lbs. 14 oz. (53%)
  • Head:  45.5 cm (63%)
  • BMI:  16.6 kg/m2 (34%)

For comparison, here are the 9 month posts for the other 3:

And here are all the 9 month pictures – Della, Lana, Morrison, twins. Then the usual all-twins montage.

 

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Up Nort’, again

We spent most of last week up in Eagle River, in northeastern Wisconsin about 4 hours from home, and it was another great family vacation. One of our friend’s parents own a condo up there, and the resort ran a friends and family deal on renting out units for the whole week for a steal. So they invited us a few months ago, we had condos right next to each other, and we had a blast.

The kids loved the indoor swimming pool; playing with their new Squinkies; exploring the resort grounds with Ryan; watching movies; roasting s’mores; playing in the snow on our last full day there; watching all the animals out our patio door; and doing tons of coloring, drawing, and writing.

The twins ended up doing great in a new place after the first night, which was a no-sleep nightmare. The resort provided 2 pack n plays, so they were able to still have their own beds. We barricaded them in the living room during the days, and they spent their time playing with toys and exploring a new floor.

I enjoyed playing in the pool with the big 3, getting a snowy run in, working on this blog and pictures, reading, and relaxing. Ryan was our resident town explorer, making sure the fridge and liquor cabinet were well stocked and finding a good place for all 7 of us to go out for pizza one night.

I normally envision “up north” as a place for summer vacations, but this late fall getaway was really fun. Hopefully it can become more than a one-time trip!

 

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Six!

My sweet baby girl turned 6 last month, and the world is absolutely a better place because she’s in it.

Lana started full-day kindergarten this year, and even her teacher has said a number of times how ready she was for it. She loves school as much as Della always has, is thriving in her class, is a good friend to all her classmates, and has the most amazing teacher ever. Lana’s teacher is also the middle of 5 children, loves all things tiny, and just “gets” Lana better than I could have ever hoped a teacher could. I told her this is definitely a student-teacher match made in cosmic heaven.

Tinies still reign, Nigh-Night is a forever friend, and unicorns are the newest favorite. She loves playing by herself, yet adores her sister and brothers and would follow Della to the ends of the earth.

She is the perfect embodiment of the word “kid.” Her imagination is beyond any I have ever known. Her creativity overflows every second of the day. And her artistic ability amazes everyone.

I really can’t put into words how much I love this girl. I hope and pray that I never know life without her, because she makes every day so much better. Happy 6th birthday, sweet Lana Marie, and many, many, many more! We love you to the stars and back!!

 

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4 generations

Last month I took all 5 kids to Tucson with my mom for this very reason.

My grandparents hadn’t met the twins yet, and, my grandma being a twin herself, it was very important to me to get them out there.

That part of the trip was wonderful. Gathering multiple generations under the same roof is pretty amazing, and it means a lot to do it as often as possible.

Watching my grandma get down on the floor, play with Avit and a slew of baby toys, let him crawl all over her and snuggle in her lap, and run his little hand along her face was one of the best things I’ll probably ever see in my life. My heart practically jumped out of my chest and swallowed them both up.

All of my grandparents are incredible people, and now watching them see and get to know my own children is awesome. I can literally feel the spirits of our family swirling when I see them all together. The greats and the littles.

So the family time was unforgettable. The rest of the time was… Hard and exhausting. It was the first time the twins were on an airplane, which, in itself, was a logistical nightmare. Avit spent almost the entire 4-hour flight on the way out crying, fussing, squirming, and being generally horribly annoying. Thankfully the big 3 were great and Nat was a little sleeping ray of sunshine. Of course he was on my mom’s lap.

Then while we were there, it was like jailbreak for the big 3. I swear every time I take them somewhere without Ryan, they feel like they no longer need to listen or remember their rules. And they adore their cousins, yet try to put on the worst behavior possible when they get together. Showing off? Who knows. But ugh. And wine.

So I was hugely relieved when we landed at O’Hare after our return flight. We had a great post-travel meal at Morton’s to let traffic clear and everyone decompress a little before hopping in the car to drive home.

It was a lot of work. But not much in life with 5 kids now isn’t. It was a really short trip, too, which also made it feel like such a whirlwind. Overall, though, I was so happy we went. Seeing my grandparents is always great, and there’s never a shortage of laughter when my sisters and I are together. I’m grateful that my mom took me and my gaggle of children, because the trip never would’ve happened without her.

Until next time, Tucson!