Holidaze 2010

The lights are up, the cards are delivered, the first batches of cookies are made, the gifts are bought, wrapped and sent, and we're all settled in for a long rainy week before Christmas.
Despite all the planning it never fails: "the best laid plans... often go astray."

This year with the Wondertwins has enforced that statement more than ever.
We began our year starting in Daycare for the first time in their lives. It quickly became a nightmare as Ben caught pneumonia after the second week and Audrey followed with a severe cold and ear infection. Then Ben with another ear infection and Audrey with another severe cold and ear infection and then... well you get the idea. We literally spent all of Spring and the start of summer in the doctors office, medicating poor Audrey and Ben.
In June we pulled them out of Daycare for our sanity and their health.
Despite Audrey being the boss in day to day activity, Ben has taken the lead in most firsts this year.
The plan was to wait until their 3rd birthday to put them into big kid beds, but those plans were foiled when in February Ben, in a fit of "I'm not ready to go to bed yet" rage, promptly climbed (read:fell) out of his crib. The next day he was sleeping in his big boy bed and actually seemed to enjoy it. Audrey on the other hand LOVED her crib and loved sleeping in it. It was their hugely different sleeping patterns that forced us to separate them into different rooms in the first place.
But in June, prompted by Ben, Audrey began to want to sleep in her big bed and yet again forced upon us a change a bit earlier than planned. So a big girl bed for her was put in Ben's room and both were joined again, almost 3 years after their separation. Mommy and Daddy were the true winners as Ben started to sleep in. (His usual wake time was 6-6:30 AM) Now, with a companion to sleep with, he's working on Audrey time and sleeping in until 8! (JOY TO THE WORLD!)
Giving up binkies was another first this year. And I have to credit daycare for this one. We sent them to daycare sans binkies. And suprisingly they didn't miss it. So with a little persuasion and after about 15 minutes of whining, in March, Ben gave his binky up for good. Audrey followed in May. I honestly thought it would be very difficult for her as she, like her crib, absolutely LOVED that thing. But all that was said to her was that she didn't use it for her nap and she was a big girl now so she didn't need it at night either. She looked at me, looked at her pillow and laid down to sleep. The end of binkies!
In October, just after their 3rd birthday they both finally had a color breakthrough. For the longest time we thought they were color blind. We'd ask what color is that tree? Ben would say very confidently "pink!" - Audrey would look at my mouth to see what shape my lips where making and say: "rrrr - red?!" (Still getting it wrong while trying to cheat!) But after getting some puzzles - which Ben is a PRO at - it finally clicked for both of them. Now Audrey will offer the (correct) color of things, just to let you know. And Ben knows exactly what color superman, batman, robin, aquaman and yes, a tree is!
And finally what's writing about the end of the year without Santa?
We honestly didn't think we'd ever get a picture of the Wondertwins together on Santa's lap.
Audrey was deathly afraid of him. She would grab onto you like a leech and shake uncontrollably any time she even thought he was near. (Can't say I blame her though - forcing one on a complete stranger in a white beard and odd looking clothes IS scary!)
Ben on the other hand, like the previous firsts, took the lead and leaped into his lap, looking at us like, "what's the big deal - sure I'll sit with this big, hairy stranger, if it'll get me a Batcave!" Yes that is what he wants for Christmas. A Batcave.
So one kid on Santas lap. One kid won't go anywhere near him. Ho Hum.
Then what to our wondering eyes and amazement... we go to a party where Santa came to read a story and chat with all the kids. After an hour of playing with kids in a distant room away from the Big, Red, Hairy man, Audrey nonchalantly walks over to Santa, starts talking to him, and then sits on his lap with no hesitation. I was so shocked, I wasn't prepared to take a picture and didn't turn on the flash. waaa.waaaaaaaaaaaa...Ok - I give up. There really is no figuring out this parenthood thing. The best I can figure is, if you make plans, be prepared to have them change dramatically.
But most of all, just be happy to BE!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

We're 3!

As a friend noted: Audrey & Ben have completed 3 times around the sun! When put in this fashion it feels like such a long journey, but in our world it has flown by in a blink of an eye.
And in speedy fashion, their special day flew by so quickly, I'm still in disbelief.
We ended up going to Chuck E. Cheese, as they requested, and Paco joined us for a last minute surprise weekend visit. They had a great time and came home to two cakes of their choosing.
Batman/Superman for Ben, Cinderella for Audrey.

We dutifully went to their yearly dentist checkup followed immediately by their 3 year doctor check up.
Both went great and with a sigh of relief had great marks for their teeth and their 3 year old abilities. They have taken to flossing like pros - especially surprising as their parents barely started flossing in their 30's. And given their sicknesses in the beginning of the year, they both were very familiar with going to see Dr. Stern, whom they love as she showers them with hugs and kisses. Hopefully all this medical pampering will help them in their later years.

Audrey is still taking the lead in the height, but Ben has taken her over in weight this time...
Audrey:
Height: 37 in.
Weight: 28.4 lbs.
50th percentile height 30 percentile weight - The doctor claims she'll be tall and lean. That would be fine I'm sure by Audrey!
Ben:
Height 36 3/4 in.
Weight: 29.2 lbs.
He's hovering around the 40th percentile for both height and weight - a big boost from past checkups.
We hit many milestones during their 3rd year on Earth and are, as always, looking forward to the next milestones...
As the holiday season draws near we are hoping the year ends with a big gift for Mom & Dad - a diaper free zone. So far Ben is making leaps and bounds while Audrey is barely sizzling. So keep your thoughts and prayers not only for a healthy season, but also a milestone in potty training!
(fingers crossed!!!)

Step by Step

Audrey & Ben have turned 2 1/2.
Funny how while you are young every month is counted, especially when 1/2 the year is up. You don't hear too many adults celebrating their half birthday. :)
This milestone was one I was particularly curious about as I had read at 2 1/2 years you should be able to double their height and get an estimate on how tall they will ultimately be.
We had no official doctors visit for this milestone, but unfortunately since we started daycare they've been consistently sick. (Ben got pneumonia two weeks into the new schedule of daycare and they both have had ear infections and colds to boot) :(
Given that, we have had updates on their weight and getting the height these days is fairly easy...
Here's the results:
Audrey
height: 35 1/2 in.
weight: 29.4 lbs.

Ben
height: 35 in
weight: 29 lbs.

If you double the height we are looking at a whopping
5'11" for Audrey
and
5'10" for Ben

Well have to wait a while to see if that comes to fruition!
At least it's documented and we can refer to the results in another 20 years...
In the meantime we are enjoying all that the wondertwins are throwing at us. Step by step we've been experiencing much more talking and conversing and of course the "terrible two" issues of sharing (or rather NOT sharing) and temper tantrums. It's great watching them interact with each other. They enjoy singing and dancing with each other, as well as chasing each other ad nausium.
New milestones include: Ben is officially out of his crib and into a "big boy bed" - something that happened a bit sooner than we expected due to him leaping out of his crib one evening and finding him sleeping on the floor. Most exciting for me is both are binky free!!!! Funny too how just the little steps are just as exiting to us as the big ones!
3 is just around the corner and I'm sure we'll experience much more as the years fly by!