Growing Kids

The kids are growing like weeds!  Braden and Natalie are 9 1/2 months old now.  Natalie has at least six teeth.  Maybe more.  It seems like every time I look in her mouth there are more teeth coming through the gums.  I think it makes her look older.  She is not at all interested in crawling yet.  She likes to sit up to play sometimes.  She loves to be on her back and belly.  And if she needs to get somewhere, she looks at her destination, then rolls (quite quickly!) to get there.  She is very flexible and agile and uses her feet like hands a lot.  That really cracks me up!  She sucks her thumbs, though not both at the same time.  She will just use whichever one is available.  And sometimes she sucks one for a few seconds, then switches to the other.  I don't know how she determines which one she likes best at any particular time.  When she is tired she sucks her thumb and uses her free hand to play with her ear.  She reminds me of King Richard (the lion) on Disney's animated Robin Hood movie.

Braden has two teeth in and two coming.  He is really interested in the food the big people eat.  He wants to try whatever we have, and gets pretty angry if we won't share.  He loves to sit up to play, and has figured out how to get to a sitting position on his own.  He will probably crawl soon.  He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks sometimes.  Right now he mostly scoots backward on his hands and knees.  He actually crawled backward a few steps recently, too.  I hope he figures out how to go forward soon; he keeps getting really irritated when he backs himself under a chair or into a corner and can't get out.  Braden is a serious mama's boy!  If I am in the room, he will fuss and whine and cry until I pick him up or play with him.  Even Daddy won't do.  It's nice--and exhausting--to be so loved!

Braden just after his first haircut

Natalie with her first (tiny) ponytail
Sorry it's blurry.  I need to learn to hold my iPhone very still.

Braden in pink sunglasses



Natalie in pink sunglasses

 This is what happens when the big kids help out by feeding the babies.  Messy!!!

Maryam just had her first dance recital last Saturday.  She was in a beginning ballet class at a local studio.  She did such a great job!  We weren't allowed to take any video or pictures during the recital, but I did get a few shots beforehand and a video during one of their classes.  Her class did a dance to "Put on a Happy Face."  They were adorable!  I really enjoyed the whole recital, and I hope she wants to keep dancing because I like to watch the performances.  We had decided to take a break from ballet class because she wasn't very enthusiastic about going (read: clinging to mom's leg instead of walking into the studio), but since the recital she has been asking to take classes again.  So, we shall see . . . 

Happy Face pose

Maryam and Peyton

Peyton is loving the summer time and wishing we had a bigger yard so I would let him go out and play sports more.  He loves every sport he has tried so far.  We were hoping to get him in soccer this fall, but we missed the sign ups in March.  I had no idea they were so early.  Now we know for next year, though.  Peyton loves Star Wars and has spent a lot of time working on a Star Wars sticker book that he got for his birthday.  He has been my more mellow child, but is learning to stand up for himself too, especially with his twin sister.

Our summer has been quietly fun. We haven't really gone anywhere. We have done some swimming and played at the park a bunch. I'm still really tired most days, so there has also been a lot of napping for me and the babies and "rest time" for the big kids. Tobin's parents visited in May and June, and I think they will be here again toward the end of the summer. My family is coming for a visit in a couple of weeks. And that's about all of our excitement. Maybe next year we'll do more . . .


I can't believe how quickly time is going. This afternoon Peyton, Maryam, and I bought their backpacks and school supplies. They are now ready for the first day of kindergarten in a few weeks. They have been driving me crazy lately, since it seems their current favorite pass time is bickering. I've been thinking how great it will be to have a few quiet hours with just me and the babies at home during the week. But really I think I'm going to miss them! I love my kids so much, and I'm so extremely blessed to have them in my life!

I'm excited for school to start, and also terrified.  I almost started crying when I had to leave Maryam by herself at her dress rehearsal for ballet.  How am I going to leave my babies at school every day?  I'm also terrified by the responsibility of it all.  I will have to get four kids dressed, fed, ready, and out the door on time six days a week!  Well, I guess technically the babies and I could wear our pajamas to take the big kids to school.  But still . . .  This is going to be a big change for me.  Hopefully we won't be late often . . . or ever.  The anticipation is killing me!