10 Months Old!

Last Saturday, Vanessa & Valerie turned 10 months old! I can't believe how fast time has flown- I think I say that every month though! I'm going to have to start planning their 1st birthday party! They are growing so much, both physically and developmentally. Val is a pro crawler, been at it for 2 months now. Vanessa is getting faster. They both like to crawl towards the dog food bowls! Once the dogs have eaten, we now have to put their bowls on the counter, so the girls can have the run of the kitchen. Valerie is pulling herself up- she'll grab onto my leg, on Zac's table, the dishwasher, anything and pulls right on up. She loves sticking her tongue out, especially when she's crawling or excited. She also makes a high-pitched squealing sound too :D Miss Vanessa enjoys blowing spit bubbles and sticking out her tongue and making funny sounds. She also makes a silly face- she puts her lips together and breathes in and out really heavy. I'll add a pic of it. As I type right now, Valerie is trying to drink out of Zac's cup! She is a riot! She's our "mover", she is all over the place! Vanessa is our "thinker". She's content watching you or sitting and playing with her cookie jar shape-sorter. They have really begun to interact with each other. It is amazing to watch! They play well and sometimes fight, haha! They pull each other's hair and earrings, ouch! And of course, they want to play with the same toy. The both babble (also saying Mama and Dada) and they enjoy watching their hands as they wave. As for Ryan and I, we are TIRED! It's been 2 full weeks of night class and working. I'm at home with the kids during the day, and Monday and Wednesday nights, I'm in class from 6pm-9:30pm. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights I work 6pm-midnight. The hardest nights for me are Thursday and Friday. I'm in bed by 2am, and the kids have me up between 6:30am-7am. Zac always wakes up first. Ryan is exhausted as well. He gets up between 3-4am (sometime earlier) and works all day, comes home, and is with the kids all night. The week is a blur, and on the weekends, I try to catch up on sleep and studying.

Mr. Squirrel is eating on the deck!

Don't ask...!

Val wearing Zac's farmer hat.

Nessa is not at all amused.

Nessa making her silly face with her mouth!

Not sure why Zac isn't wearing a shirt. Ryan said Zac put on his sister's bib!

Baby girls wanted to lay next to each other.

This is what the dishwasher looked like when I got home from work! It made me laugh!

Val wants a drink of Pepsi.

Zac's new TV spot, ha!

I was surprised Zac let me put a bib on him- hey, we were having spaghetti! He normally doesn't wear one!

Ok, maybe this is his new spot!

Daddy & his Girls- Val on left.

Love that smile, Nessa!

Nessa eating her foot before getting in the tub.

Big ol' smile!

Val- rolled over after I dried her off :D

Val and her mohawk.

Zac apparently woke up before me...

Here's the other side!!

Holding hands! Val-left.

Val's crazy hair!(left) and Nessa's funny face!

Happy Nessa in the walker, helping me cook dinner.

Sweet Val.

He got in the potted plant when I wasn't looking...

Baby girl Val eating the table.

Dad and his girls- Val is snoozing.

10 Months Old!! Val is NOT smiling!

Styling Sisters- with crazy curls! Nessa-left.

Busy Times are Ahead

Our weekends of lounging around are now over! Last week I went back to school- I am taking Anatomy & Physiology on Monday and Wednesday nights. I am also going back to work, part-time nights from 6pm-midnight on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. I have always been the type to be a "busy bee." I like having a million things going on, trying to balance everything out. I enjoyed the month off from class, but was almost bored- even with the kids! So now I am a stay-at-home by day, college student Monday and Wednesday nights, and part-time employee Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. The main balancing act will be between sleeping and studying! However, this sacrifice now will have a greater pay-off in the end. Ryan is willing to step up and help with the kids every night during the week, since I won't be home in order for me to pursue my nursing career. Obviously, I wish I knew this is what I wanted to do before we had kids, but I am glad I know now and while the kids are still young. Saturday afternoon my Grandma Jane came to visit. She made the kids each a beautiful blanket along with some cute outfits. Later that evening we went over to my Mom's. The girls showed off their crawling skills and Zac had fun playing with Aunt Kelsey's kitty cat, Chloe. Even though we were told that Chloe hasn't hissed at anyone besides us! She hissed at the kids and even me! She hissed at Zac and he would hiss back! It was so funny! We ordered pizza for dinner, yum! Then it was time to head home. Sunday we went to my in-laws to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday. We had a yummy turkey dinner with all the fixings and chocolate cake for dessert. Of course none of the grandkids touched their dinner, but were somehow hungry when it came time for dessert! I will still try to post weekly updates, but we will see how this new schedule affects my progress!

Zac wearing his favorite hat!

Baby girl Valerie- love this pose!!

Val licking the window!

Val(left) & Nessa with their blankets Grandma Jane made them.

Grandma Jane and the girls. Val-right

Zac eating Frosted Flakes cereal. He likes it!

Val sitting in the booster seat.

Another favorite! Daddy & Nessa

Daddy & His Girls! Val-left

Val is pushing herself up like a pro... and playing with the tub of wipes!

Happy girls (wearing their new jammies from Grandma Jane). Nessa-left

Zac climbed inside the walker!

Val trying it out.

Crawling Babies & 9 Month Check-Up

On Tuesday, January 5, 2010 Miss Vanessa started crawling! What a treat to start out the new year! I decided to try and see if she would crawl after a monkey rattle. I shook the rattle and encouraged her- and she was off! She moved forward a few inches, then decided it was hard work. Now she'll scoot forward and scream- she gets frustrated and tired. She's still getting the hanging it. Valerie on the other hand has been crawling for one month now and is ALL over the place. It's so funny to watch her "army crawl." She's like a magnet- drawn to the dog food! She likes to play with it. Surprisingly she hasn't tried to eat it! Today the girls had their 9 month check-up. Ryan got home in time to help me with the brood. They are doing excellent! Nessa is 17 lbs 3 oz, 25 1/2 inches and Val is 17 lbs 9 oz and 26 1/2 inches. All 3 got the H1N1 vaccine. The girls aren't due back for 3 months- when they turn 1! (tearing up). I can't believe they are almost 1. Where did this year go??? It's all been a whirlwind! I hadn't left the house since Sunday, so as you can see, I've been filling my days by taking tons of pictures! Enjoy!

Vanessa eating her "I crawled today!" notecard.

Petting soft Sammy.

Val snoozing in the sun.

Zac wearing his favorite PJs and Daddy's work shoes.

His new favorite thing to do- writing with a pen.

Val snoozing again.

Freddie, Sammy, & Scooter staying warm in the sun spot.

Zac changing the channel with an old remote. Guess he didn't like my show!

I tried doing a cute photo shoot. Val-left.

It's just too difficult trying to get both to cooperate! Val-top

Val loves wrestling with her sis!

Val pushed herself up! Yes, we have a plastic picnic table in our living room!

Love Val's expression!

Val's leaning on her big sis. Freddie is resting his head on Nessa!!

Looking out the window. Val-left

Zac being silly in the shower. I love baby hands and feet :D

Val feeding herself.

This was at 8:30 in the morning! I had dozed off on the couch. Zac climbed onto the barstool, reached into the candy jar, unwrapped the sucker, and was proud of his Tootsie Pop!

Val looked like she was deep in thought.

Val got stuck, haha!

Val playing with the shape-sorter. What a pretty girl!

Nessa's turn.

Val helping me with the dishes.