Easter Photo Shoot

After this fun photo shoot today, as I was going through the pictures, I told Krissee "We have some ridiculously photogenic children."

I don't need you to agree to me....I know its true!! :)

The cuteness really should speak for itself. We've had a great day - family came to our house for lunch, and it was great to sit around the dining room table with everyone (Smith and Addison included) and enjoy the delicious Easter lunch that Krissee prepared.

After the meal - it was time for the photo shoot!

8 months old

Sorry these are a few days late...we took them at the appropriate times, but I was just lazy and didn't get them off the camera.

Its blowing our minds that 1) our babies are already 8 months old and 2) how much they've grown and grown up already.

Smith is our happy boy. His favorite pastimes include touching EVERYTHING he can possibly get his hands on and putting it in his mouth. He also enjoys sitting on the floor and playing the big basket of toys that mom has for him (Yes, our little boy can sit unassisted. For long, long long periods of time). He's also trying his hardest to get up on all fours, which makes me think crawling isn't too far in the future for this little guy. Cookie has nicknamed him "Flash Drive," because he's SO fast in his walker, and he's already showing an enjoyment of technology.

Addison is our cautious child. She doesn't like loud noises (as we're fond of saying in our house..."Don't nobody need anymore ice", because the ice dispenser is known to set her off). She's mastered putting her pacifier back in, which is HUGE. She can also sit unsupported, but is prone to the occasional topple, so there is typically a fort of pillows and blankets surrounding her. She doesn't really show much interest in being on her stomach at all, except when she's in her crib, so we're not sure if she's going to crawl or not.

Walking!?!?

No sillies, not THAT walking, on their own. They're gifted, but not crazy scary gifted.

No, after much discussion, both Addison and Smith have been given walkers. These plastic toys have given them an awful lot of independence.

Here's some quick video of both of them making the trek through the den. Addison is QUITE the drama queen, and was more than aware of the times when the camera was on her. We're in for some interesting times over the next 17+ years.

7 Months Old

It really is amazing how quickly time is flying by. These two are FULL of personality these days. They're both incredibly happy, and I tell them everyday that I hope they always stay as happy as they are right now.

Babies and Doggies

Just the past few weeks, Smith and Addison have become actually aware that there are two furry creatures living in the house with them! They've both started eying Allie and Bailey wherever they go. Smith is actively trying to reach for both of them (and last night was able to have a supervised petting session with Allie).

Also last night, and the purpose of this entry: Addison was laying on her play mat, you know, playing. Bailey was, as she often is, laying beside her, just kinda watching. Then, out of nowhere, Bailey made the move and laid her head directly next to Addison's body. Addison thought it was the BEST thing and started laughing and was SO excited that she'd made a new friend.

I'm really glad that both children seem to be interested in the dogs.

Healthy Babies

At our 6 month check last week, here is how the babies stacked up to the competition (yes, its a competition...everything is.)


We go back at 9 months ( a whole 3 months without a well visit - woo-hoo. Lets hope we don't have to make any non-well visits either!) As you can tell, Smith is a tall one - we're thinking NBA is in the future.

As a lady said while we were out to lunch today: "They look healthy." I didn't know if she was trying to be sly and call my babies fat, or just generally pleased about their well-being. From here on out, Dad is to only be referred to as healthy. None of those other nasty words.

Our House

(is a very very very fine house...yeah, I went there.)

As you may or may not already know - our house is currently on the market and we're planning on moving as soon as it sells. The plan is to move to the Pawleys Island, SC area (Dad's job is located there, and well, there are worse places to live and raise a family!).

Before we do so, I thought it was important to pay homage to the house that we've called home for the twins life to date. This will probably make Krissee cry, but I'm not trying to - I just want to preserve some memories!

So here is the outside of our home. Smith, be glad that we're moving, because otherwise, you would have had to mow this lawn, and let me tell you from experience, it ain't fun.


Here are a few pictures of the nursery. You spent lots of time in here, because you were such awesome babies and you slept really, really well.




Here's our duck themed bathroom - Mom would put our bathtub on the sink and wash us. That's where we learned to splash!
Honestly and truly, we're going to miss this house like crazy. It was probably the hardest thing to say goodbye to (because really, we had to say goodbye before it even went on the market). But we know that a house doesn't make a home, and the most important thing for our family is to be together and enjoy the love we share (yeah, its corny, but I mean it).

Send good thoughts our way as we hopefully sell the thing quickly. We have had an offer, but it wasn't a real good one and we declined - but we're taking that as a positive sign.

Candids

Wanted to also post some quick candids Krissee snapped the other day. I believe the two individual ones really capture the spirit of the twins - Smith in the middle of having the time of his life, and Addison just a chillin', drinkin' her drink.

6 Months Old

Everyone is growing, growing, growing!

We weren't super successful with the smiles this time - getting smiles and taking pictures is a two person job and these were taken solo!

No Peas Please

I (Daniel) hate peas. Seriously. I hate the way they smell. I hate the way they taste. I hate 'em. I hate 'em. I hate'em. I will not eat peas in a bowl, I think those who do, do not have a soul.

Now that Smith and Addison are eating fruits and veggies, they rarely leave the dinner table without some vestige of their dinner on their precious little faces.

After the peas lunch yesterday (who's smell was troubling to get through for me), I cleaned Addison's face of the peas she'd just enjoyed. I picked her up and walked her back into the family room. While doing so, I gave her a big ole kiss on her cheek...

...and then I tasted it.

It was the unmistakable flavor of peas. All over my lips. Everytime I closed my mouth, I got that repugnant flavor all over again.

I instantly head for the bowl of starlight mints in an effor to remove the taste. Only the wife had moved them. So, without closing my mouth or moving my tongue, I begin asking "Where are the mints?"

Only it came out more "ere are a anns?" And I kept asking and asking and getting louder and louder...

Krissee got so darn tickled at me that she couldn't even talk. I'm laughing, but scared to close my mouth for fear of getting the flavor sensation all over again. I'm still holding my daughter and frantically searching for the bowl of mints.

I finally found 'em, and successfully removed that "yummy" flavor from my mouth.

Public Service Announcement

As many of you may know, Dad is somewhat of a Science Fiction geek. So its no surprise that he likes Battlestar Galactica.

What may surprise you is that MOM is also a big fan. See, she knows good television when she sees it. If you're searching for something to add to your Netflix queue, add the BSG miniseries - it'd be a single disc - 4 hours - if you hate it, ok, fine. But I'm willing to bet that you won't.

The final ten episodes of BSG start on Friday, and we couldn't let the opportunity go by without commemerating it with our precious children.

Hopefully they won't hate me too much later in life for this.

(Onesies ordered from Cafepress.com - yes, this actually cost us money and took some planning).

Happy Birthday Mom

(the following was typed by Dad, but was dictated by Smith and Addison):

Dear Mom,
We hope you have a great day. You only turn 3? (not a typo...dad ain't stupid) once. We'll do our best today to eat our veggies and bottles without any fuss. We'll even let Cookie keep up tonight so that you and Dad can go celebrate.

Thank you for being the best mom. You take such good care of us. No wonder we're such happy babies. We love you.

Smith and Addison

Sandy Claws

On Christmas Eve, we braved the local mall to get Santa pictures. We figured that no other parents would have that great idea. WRONG. After an hour and half or so in line, we finally made it to see old St. Nick - and he was as enamored with the daybies as anyone else.

Smith seem to have the unfortunate habit of confusing smiling for the camera and yelling with your mouth wide open for the camera. Buddy - your dad has the exact same problem and there are 30+ years of pictures of him yelling at the camera. At least he'll have a partner in crime now.

Our poor, sweet, sensitive Addison. Over the holidays, she really grew quite attached to Mom and Dad. Its not enough to be in sight of them - she wants one of us to be holding her at all times. Imagine her surprise to realize that this big old man in a red suit was holding her.

Dad was lucky enough to be able to take from 12/24-1/5 off to be at home with his babies. It was a great time to be off and really get to spend time with them and play. He really, really did miss them when he went back to work today.

We're 5 months!

Dad couldn't decide which of these two pictures of us that he liked the best, so he decided to post both of 'em!

Happy New Year everyone.

Christmas Morning

Santa came and visited the Daybies this year! They got a wagon to share, a toy each, and some clothing!

Ms Addison instantly took to the wagon and showed us how she could use it to hold herself up.

Smith, meanwhile, spent the morning in his mom's arms.

They both enjoyed being pulled around the house in the wagon!

Still no hippopotamus

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. We already had a great holiday with Krissee's family and are staying home for Christmas Eve and morning and then headed to Daniel's family on Christmas day afternoon.

Hope your holiday is as blessed and happy as our's is.

Bath-time is fun time

Last week, we spent the week in Pawleys Island for Daniel's job. When mom and the babies get to travel wtih Dad, we all stay at our company's corporate townhouse. Its not a bad gig, the place is absolutely beautiful, and Dad gets to work AND be with the family.

One day, Mom decided to try bath time in the sink at the townhouse - and got some GREAT pictures:

This past Saturday, we had the big Rollings family Christmas. This is the day that all of Krissee's cousins and aunts and uncles and everyone gets together to celebrate the holidays.

Here is that side's 4 generation picture - Krissee, her dad, her grandmother, and the babies.

While there, Smith and Addison got lots of loving - especially from Aunt Denise!!

Big bang babies

The big fun 4 months doctor's appointment went well.

Babies are growing and getting bigger every day. Smith is talking up a storm (not talking like "Mom, can I have some more formula" but more along the lines of "ah ah ah ah ah ah ah.")

As of December 2nd:


We've successfully moved to the 4 hour schedule. We feed them at 7 AM, they go down for a nap at 9, wake at 11 for feeding, sleep at 1 for a nap, wake up and feed at 3, nap at 5, feed at 7, down for the night for 8.

Its AWESOME. Having the two hour chunk of time lets us get so much stuff done. Its awesome. And the babies seem to be doing as well, if not better on the schedule.

We started fruit on Tuesday. So far, Addison seems to not really care for Bananas, but is a big applesauce fan. Smith, as expected, likes everything. Although, just this morning, they both seemed to be unsure of the peaches. I don't really blame them, cause the peaches smelled kinda funny and unnaturally sweet.

That's us this past week. We're headed out this coming week for Daniel's work - company christmas party and meetings. Super duper fun!

4 months old

Its that time again!

The daybies are really becoming two unique personalities. Addison is quite the flirt and loves the mens. Smith is super observant and takes it all in. They both are happy and healthy, and that really is all we can ask for.

Pediatricians appointment tomorrow, so we'll have lots of info to share!