15 months

Life is so different it seems since turning 1.  Ruby and Owen are growing up at an insane rate.  Although they are still often shy in public, and don't always perform on command, we are seeing wild developments at home every day.  Chip and I are total parent nerds, sitting around in awe saying things like, "Did you see him do that?!" or, "Have you heard her say this yet?" 15 months- lovin it!

We never intended to do much signing with the kids.  I mean, actually we started with some early on...too early...and then lost steam and interest.  However, the past three months Ruby and Owen have been really into it.  They make up signs for things and we just go along with it.  Owen has a whole running repetitive conversation about helicopters that he likes to have, which I tried to capture in a video below.  Mostly it is just SO fun to communicate with them. 

I can't stand to listen to myself on the videos- judging and annoying myself with my silly comments and prompts.  I try to stay quiet most of the time, but seriously, that is really hard for me in regular life, let alone when entertained by these two.  And, I am hoping we will get a few good laughs in at ourselves in years to come too.

Owen DuRoss

lbs

inches

I just adore this face.  It usually has a bump, or a scratch, or a bruise, and definitely some leftover breakfast or lunch on it.  Handsome nonetheless.  He is SO curious, pretty independent these days, and currently our social one.  It is funny how they keep switching that role.  They have personalities for sure, but nothing is set in stone yet.  Lately, he has been the one who can play on his own for long periods of time, always finding some new nook or cranny of the house to explore and unravel.  I particularly LOVE when we are out at the park or a store and he walks around a corner and just screams...all out screams for what seems like minutes (probably 15 seconds), gaining the attention of everyone in the vicinity as he is crouched in a position of anticipation and excitement...then he just stands up and belly laughs to himself, like that was just awesome.   He eats like a champ for the most part, can use a fork sometimes, and has ingested more dirt already this spring than I care to think about.  It is good for him, right?  And, oddly enough, despite his love for dirt, he is my cleaner- obsessed with the broom, vacuum, dust pan, sponges, wipes...seriously, all of it. He loves to pretend clean.  I can't wait until he can for real clean!

Ruby DuRoss

lbs

Inches

I love this picture because the bear she is hugging was mine growing up.  It plays music when you wind it in the back.  I remember falling asleep to this bear playing.  And the other is a new stuffie given to her by SLC DuRoss' for her 1st birthday.

I love this face too.  She saves her best smiles and giggles for home these days.  She has a good case of the stranger-danger/ mommy-obsession these days.  It is just so funny how they go in and out of these phases.  But at home, she loves to hug her stuffed animals, laugh at her brother, and snuggle Kessler.  Ruby loves to talk, as I have mentioned before.  She can do a handful of animal sounds when prompted, but most animals still say "baa", her favorite sound.  And, although they are not saying any body parts, both Ruby and Owen love to point out their body parts when prompted...the favorite being the belly button by far.  My recent favorite Ruby-trick is when she says her brother's name.  She called him "O" for a week and then moved into "O-wee", which just about melts my heart.  Sharing is fun too.  Don't get me wrong, they argue and cry a lot too when they want what the other person has, but generally, if you hand them two of something and ask them to give one to the other sibling, they will walk around and find that other sibling and give them whatever it is they have been instructed to share.  Ruby had a two week stint of being sick a little bit ago.  She hardly ate during this time, and hasn't really recovered her hearty appetite since then.  However, she LOVES smoothies.  I can't blame her.  They are a delicious way to get lots of nutrients down our gullets.  So, mom and Ruby have smoothie time every day.  

Ruby and Owen reading before nap with dad in the story corner.

  And, Happy St Patty's Day!  This was a drink that Chip whipped up to celebrate the holiday.  It had Oatmeal Stout, Bailey's, Irish Whiskey, Kahlua, chocolate milk, and ice.  Oh wow.   

And, while we are on the topic of holidays, Ru and OT entered their first coloring contest.  I just couldn't help myself.  I have total nostalgia of going to the grocery store and seeing all the entries hanging all over the windows around Easter time.  I have not figured out the connection between Easter and coloring contests yet.  Why not other holidays too?  Anyway, I am pretty sure they are going to win.

And a little bit of March

We have really started to hit hard on the words "sharing", "wait", and "taking turns".  I imagine this is something that you run into faster and with more intensity as a parent of twins.  There just isn't a sibling who "gets it" more than the other.  We need them to both get it...asap.  Owen and Ruby like to share most with Kessler, even their snow.  I guess we need to start somewhere.  Here are just a few more shots of snow eating- couldn't resist.  Yummmm

 The many faces of Owen eating snow.  Remember you can click any photo to enlarge- sometimes helpful and fun with collages, which I did a lot of for this entry.

 And Ruby's many faces-

 Monkey Mountain- an awesome indoor jungle gym of sorts and, our new home away from home.  Joined for the month.  Good times.

 And, again...chocolate covered kiwi pops this time.  Yummmm

 Got a German night in before Oma left.  Check out that Rouladin factory below!  And, the F on the left- a delicious traditional German drink that, yes, you light on fire to complete before consumption.  Thanks to Katy and Eric for bringing that, and Oma for making an incredible dinner for all of us.  Yummmm.  This has become a tradition!

 Let me introduce you to our new home!!!  I wish...it is the "Dream Home" built by HDTV that we (and millions of others) entered daily to win.  It is in Midway- a really cool small town about 15 minutes from our house.  We ran around our new street, visited a very cool coffee shop owned by a friend, and ate AMAZING Mexican food.  Yummmm

And, just a few randoms...

February- part 2

Oma makes Ruby laugh.  They make me laugh.

Did you do this when you were a kid?  At the Mulliken house, we definitely did.  I mean, if you love to eat snow, why limit the activity to when you are outside??  Several times throughout her visit Oma brought this tradition alive with Ruby and Owen.  They loved it.  

It is amazing all the little new skills they pick up daily.  This month, they figured out how to "take their pets for a walk".  They will walk laps and laps around the house with their "pets" trailing behind.  I just love how Ruby knows she has to hold her hand low to keep her hippo on the ground to roll behind her.

So many teeth!  They just keep comin in.  This month- two molars for Ruby.  You can sorta see them (on the bottom) in this picture.  She brough em in like a champ.  Love the toothy grins.  I am sure it will seem like hardly any time has passed before we are taking pictures and loving the toothLESS grins.  :)

 We love to get out and about- seems like we are constantly coming and going.  But, we like it like that.  Ru and OT can pick out their own hats and jackets and almost get them off themselves.  They also can walk out the door and to the car on their own (which they love to do).   We still cry most of the time when we have to get our snowsuits on, but then love what we get to do once we are all geared up.  I hope they put those two things together sooner than later.

 Pinterest strikes again (the skirt/tutu thing). 

 Oma, Ruby, and Owen have a little morning routine they have developed.  Oma generously shares her oatmeal breakfast with Ruby and Owen as they sit "like big kids" in the chair without any kind of seat.  So cute.

 Sledding- in the summer we swing at the park, and in the winter we sled.  It has been such a fun way to get some fresh air, exercise for the adults as we hike up the trail, and a thrill for everyone as we jet downhill.  I am not going to lie, it is not for the faint of heart.  You have got to get the lean and rutter down to make it around the corners at what seems like mach speeds.  Oma rocked it.  And...

She also broke trail for our pack one day.  Mind you- there were five adults (30-somethings), five kids, and two dogs in this pack (not to mention the 10 inches of new snow) and Oma (not sure she wants me to disclose her age, but it is almost twice most of ours) broke trail!  The European Alps still coarse through her veins...no matter how many years it has been since she trekked in their presence!  Impressive.

Love this adorable pair.  

 The crew minus our brave leader (who took the photo).  Just another Friday morning of sledding on what we call the "behind the house (BTH)" tails.

Just a final shot that Oma caught of Ruby at storytime as we sang "Old McDonald".  She loves the farmer's hat.  Looks more like a straw bonnet to me, but whatever.  We are going to miss going to storytime without Oma here.  Not sure I can manage without her!  We will have to wait and go when dad can make it.  Or, I will get brave.  We'll see.