Last one to the bath tub is a...

disclaimer: we do not encourage or promote rough housing on the stairs...this activity was supervised by two adults who were very close by :) 

After we clean up from dinner the littles head upstairs for bath time...tonight I was able to capture (please excuse some of the blurry ones - J and C are fast!) what typically happens on the way to the tub! 

Don't you just love that when Charlie Claire took the lead Jackson tried to knock her over?! 

Summer Afternoon...

Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~Henry James

I'd like to think that we have been living summer to it's fullest! Enjoying the weather, the pool, being outside, eating lots of fruit, time with friends, etc! 

One big concern we had for the summer heat was Charlie Claire and sweating  - her zonegran interferes with her ability to sweat. Once your body adjusts to it shouldn't be much of a concern but it is certainly something we have to keep an eye on.  We make sure she is well hydrated and that she keeps cool by being in the pool. Thankfully, we have not run in to any issues so we feel blessed for that and are keeping our fingers crossed that it continues to be a non-issue. 

Bedtime snuggles with Jeter Bug and Grammy

The rain doesn't stop our outside fun! 

We LOVE when Daddy is home! 

Charlie Claire loves when Jackson chases her.  Jackson's idea of chasing her is holding onto her as she walks and then pushing her down on the ground.  It's all fun and games until Charlie Claire falls into a cabinet! 

Monster Mash! 

And this is how they both look at the end of the day! 

The Inevitable...

Let me start by saying that I am excited to share this news.  On the flip side this news scares the heck out of me.  

I've noticed the past few PT sessions that Wendy and I do more of following C around and laughing about things she is doing rather than doing extensive, earth shattering PT. I have been watching Charlie Claire on a regular basis and knew that as soon as Wendy saw her last week that she was going to tell me it was time to drop down to every other week.  

At the session we had at the park the other day Wendy pointed out a few things with Charlie Claire that she wants us to work on (stepping over things instead of going around, climbing onto riding toys, running on uneven surfaces, etc.) and we updated her long term goals but we also signed the papers to cut back. 

 I think part of my issue is that when Charlie Claire started getting PT twice a week she was so far behind that I prepared myself for her to get PT twice a week until she was three and graduated from the Early Intervention Program.  I didn't know she would freaking rock the house and meet her goals at lightening speed! Not that I didn't have faith in the girl but at this time last year she was barely sitting up on her own and wasn't even reaching for objects.  

I am beyond amazed at Charlie Claire and proud of her perseverance that has gotten her to where she is it's just difficult for me because Wendy is my crutch.  She has been my go to for so long (and thankfully since we are friends she still will be!) that it will be weird not having her here two hours a week. 

I should just go ahead and start prepping myself for the "Charlie Claire doesn't need PT more than once a month" conversation...

TGIF! 

Sunbathing! 

Drink Thief! 

Wednesday Photo Dump!

It is pretty safe to say that no one is sitting still these days...we are working hard and playing hard!

Charlie Claire is doing so many new things it's hard to even keep up.  C used to hate rough housing and now it's all she wants to do to! She loves when you fling her around, she likes when Jackson tackles her, she likes bouncing on the bed, etc.  When her OT, April, was over the other day she said "she is acting like a typical toddler." Music to our ears for sure! Charlie Claire is also into Elmo BIG TIME and loves being chased.  The funniest is when she tries to get Jackson to chase after her...I could listen to the shrieks of delight that come out of the two of them all day long!

We have always felt blessed to have twins but even more so with Charlie Claire being delayed.  While Wendy, April and Kassie play a huge role in C's development Jackson is by far her best teacher.  CC is in such a monkey see monkey do phase that she is just a sponge soaking up all of the things Jackson is doing.  It's really cool to watch actually!

Speaking of the Monster....he is quite possibly starting his terrible twos.  It's a real good thing that boy is super cute because he's a handful! :) When he is sweet he is over the top sweet but when he is cranky he is over the top cranky! And he goes from one extreme to the other pretty quickly!

We are headed to the park in the morning for C's PT session...we are working on balance, climbing, etc. Should be a super fun, super HOT morning!

21 Months and Keppra

Um, yes...our little ones are 21 months old.  That is the craziest thing ever. So hard to believe they will be two so soon.

These two are constantly learning and doing new things.  It is so fun to watch how different yet how the same they are.  For the most part they both love the same things, except when it comes to food!  They fight over toys, both think the dogs are hysterical, like to be outside, don't like to listen, enjoy dancing, have a new found love for Elmo, etc,  Personality wise they couldn't be more different...Jackson is high maintenance pretty much all day every day.  Charlie Claire is a laid back little monkey, she has her high maintenance moments but they come and go fairly quickly. While these two wear us out on a regular basis we love them so, so much!

We got the green light from the neuros office to start the Keppra taper.  If we haven't mentioned before tapering meds isn't a quick process...we are decreasing C's morning and afternoon dose of Keppra and leaving her evening one as is.  If all looks good we will decrease again in a month.   



Back to the grind...

Vacation is officially over :( We are home and unpacked and getting back into the swing of things around here. We had the best time visiting with my brother and sister in law and can't wait till we get to see them again!

A few more pictures from the trip...

Helping Uncle Jason put some things together and giving him kisses!

Aunt Jen love

Cooling off

Snuggles with Uncle Jason

Jackson and his favorite uncle

Morning coffee



Summer Trip!

Wow, traveling with two little ones is no joke! Thankfully, Jackson and Charlie Claire have been awesome.  

Before we headed up to NY we stopped in Maryland for a North Family reunion! It was so great getting to see everyone and having all the little ones play together! Can't wait till we can all get together again! 

Monster and Cakes have both taken their roles of breaking in Uncle Jason and Aunt Jen's new house very seriously.  They are loving the fact that nothing is baby proof and are taking full advantage of all the open space since not everything is unpacked yet and some furniture still hasn't been delivered! 

We have had such an awesome time getting to meet so many new people who have followed us on our journey with Charlie Claire, visiting family, getting to spend some time in NYC, relaxing, eating, etc! 

We have one more full day here before we make the trip back home! 

Play time at family reunion!

Cousin lounge time! 

Love that even after being in the car together for 6 hours they still were holding hands! :)

Loving the tree house! 

Visiting Uncle Jason at work! 

Trying Uncle Jason's desk chair on for size! 

Basketball with Daddy! 

The men! 

Bath time silly time! 

Hercules helping with bath time! 

He's fancy! 

Relaxing

Snuggles with Uncle Jason

Happy 4th of July! 

Happy 4th of July! 

Scraggles snuggles! 

More tree house fun! 

Strolling through Aunt Jen and Uncle Jigga's yard

Helping daddy clean the swing set

Central Park!

CRUMBS cupcakes! 

Jackson enjoying his cupcake!

CC and Aunt Jen!

Nonno and his grandsons!