The Scary Penguin

So we have this penguin toy that a childhood friend of mine gave the twins. For some very odd reason, Cameron is scared to death of this penguin. As you can see from the picture, it's a little inflatable toy that has balls inside, about 18 inches tall. When you push/touch/hit the penguin it rocks back and forth and play this little "woo hoo" & "wee" music. I pulled it out a few months ago and the kids didn't really understand it or get into it, so I put it away. I pulled it out again the other day and put it next to Cameron, pushed it so it would play the music...and she had a complete melt down. Total hysterics. It was so strange. I had to call Young at work and tell him about it.

Then a few nights later Young was playing with the kids while I was in the kitchen getting their dinner ready. I hear Cameron start wailing...and of course I come running in, looked at her big crocodile tears and ask what happened. Young has this very guilty look on his face and pulls the penguin from behind his back..."I just wanted to see if it would happen again"

I have no idea what is so scary about the penguin but we've put him in the corner for now...

(note to self: penguins and pumpkins are no-nos for Cameron)

Pumpkin Patch

We saw a few pumpkin patches on our trip Saturday but they all seemed so crowed and overwhelming for the kids...lot's of bouncy houses, corn mazes and haunted barns. But there is a small on in the parking lot of the local mall we were at yesterday so we popped in with the kids to take a few pictures. Timothy was excited, Cameron not so much.
She was fine with her Daddy but wasn't really into the pumpkins or being put down on the hay...

But Timothy had fun!!

Apple Picking

Yesterday we took the kids up to Sebastopol for a little apple picking. We first made a stop in Napa to visit a friend of mine who works at the winery, Rubicon. He wasn't there but we got a little tour and tasted some nice wines. It's harvest time in Napa right now so the vines are all heavy with big, ripe grapes. And the leaves are changing colors too so we had beautiful landscape on our drive through the valley. But traffic was so heavy, we didn't dare stop off the side of the road for pictures...we would have never gotten back on...

Then we headed over to Twin Hill Apple Farm for some apples. We had fun with the kids just showing them all new things...like scarecrows and pumpkins! I must admit, our pictures are limited. We just got a new video camera...so Young was using that most of the day, checking out all the different features. The video is really long too, so I won't updoad it. But we did get a few shots of the kids enjoying their first apple picking trip and their first Fall.

Noise Maker

Timothy has figured out he can get much more noise if you bang two toys together instead of ratteling one. He has also learned hitting them on the hardwood floor is even louder! We have area rungs and put blankets down for them to play on...but somehow Timothy always finds the edges and starts banging on the floor. I think he likes the hardwood too because his toys slide across much easier so it's more fun to chase them down.

He loves it so much he kisses it!

Tricks of the Trade

The twins are getting so smart! I got some yogurt the other day to see if they would like it. They loved it. After only having it twice they get so excited when they see the container. During feeding times they are all over the place...pulling each other's bibs, dropping their cups, looking all around, arching and trying to get out of their seats...but when I pull the yogurt out they sit perfectly still and eat it so calmly. It's quite amazing to watch.

So anyway, Cameron has now got it in her head that she only wants yogurt. I try to give her things I know she likes...applesauce, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc...but she won't eat anything but the yogurt. I was telling a friend of mine about it and she had the same problem with her son and cottage cheese. So she just put whatever she wanted her son to eat in that container and he ate it. He, he, he..I tried it yesterday and she gobbled up her applesauce for lunch and her carrots for dinner!

The kids are getting smart...but a smart as mommy...

I've had to start putting the kids further apart when they are on the floor playing because Timothy always takes whatever Cameron is playing with. She's starting to notice and cries when he takes something out her hand. I thought keeping Timothy out of reach of her would do the trick...but then I hear her cry and look over...he has somehow scooched himself close to her again! And if he can't have the toy, he'll just take her!! Lots of fingers in the eyes and hair pulling going on. They think it's funny...for now.

Happy 1st Birthday Jasper!

This past weekend we had a blast at Jasper's 1st Birthday party. The twins had so much fun, not only because they got to play with new & different toys, but they also got to eat Chinese food for the first time...thanks to Yang. She was feeding Jasper some noodles and Cameron was trying to grab at it. So she offered Cameron a bite and she gobbled it right up..as did Timothy. After a few noodles they were on to broccoli and chicken bites. Yang had trouble keeping up with 3 hungry babies! So much for pureeing their food all the time and not seasoning it! I think I'll be cooking them normal and delicious food from now on! (I always thought the unsalted chicken tasted nasty). Even with no teeth they managed to gum the noodles and tiny chicken bites.

But we didn't go so far as to give them any of the cake...I think I'll hold off on the sugar a little longer...

I think the kids like eating from chopsticks as much as they liked the new, yummy food...
Trying to get all the babies to keep their hats on, sit still and smile...all at the same time? Yeah, right...


Jasper in his new cowboy Halloween costume and Timothy playing with Jasper's new toy.

We Love Books!

The kids love books...but for different reasons....

Timothy like to "read" them, look at the pictures and turn the pages.

And Cameron likes to eat them. She has chewed away a number of books so far, I'll find her with big gobs of cardboard in her mouth...tasty!

But they both love the touch and feel books, feeling all the different textures. They also try to grab the objects in the pictures...can't quite figure out why they can't pick the up.

Little Accomplishments

We finally found something to keep Cameron on her tummy for more than 5 seconds. The Tool Bin! I got this at our twins club consignment sale for $3. It lights up and plays music or says ABC's. They both love it but Cameron has figured out if you hit the colored knobs then the heads pop up, lights and music come on...how exciting. She thought this was entertaining enough to stay on her tummy for a whole 3 minutes! Yeah Cameron!


And....Timothy can use his sippy cup now...woo hoo! He is so proud of himself. The biggest grin comes across his face when he is done drinking. (OK, so he can't hold it and drink at the same time, but...) I bought some different cup that made by the same company that makes their bottles....thinking the tip might be somewhat familiar to them. And it worked. Timo started drinking almost immediately...Cameorn is still figuring it out...

Bye, Bye Sharona! (Auntie Rona)

Our good friend and loving babysitter has moved to London. Sharona has been helping me with the twins since before they were born! When Young stated traveling she would come over and spend the night to help out with the 3am feedings!! And would always be available when we needed her to babysit. We will miss her dearly but know she will find a whole new life in the UK.

These are some photos she took last week. Sorry there are so many....she took about 200...I had a hard time choosing...

Grocery Shopping

Going to the grocery store is always challenging with the kids. I usually have to push them around in the stroller and fit what I can in the space underneath. So the trips have been short and very few items...until today. They are old enough to sit up and small enough to fit side by side in the shopping buggy. I got to take my time and get a substantial amount of groceries. And the kids had a blast! Cameron was giddy the who time, just so happy to be facing mommy and Timothy was just rocking back and forth, back and forth...so happy not to be strapped in a stroller!

I took these with my phone camera so they aren't the best, but cute. Timothy kept looking at people walking by, I couldn't get him to look at me...

Motherhood Blessings

I guess you could say my approach to motherhood has been somewhat tepid. While I always wanted to have kids, I didn't really envision myself #1 being a stay home mom and #2 having such adorable, lovable kids. And like most things, I don't accept change very well. I envisioned having the babies, staying home a few months then dropping them off at day care and heading back to work. I wanted to go back to work because #1 it seems lazy to have kids and not work full time and #2 being a mom was much harder than my job as a pastry chef...I wanted to go back to work just to get away from two crying babies! But the Lord has really changed my heart, as well as the babies. Thank goodness He had a much better and more perfect plan for me than I did!! I am so in love with my children and am now seeing it is as a complete blessing to be able to stay home with them.

I was feeding them lunch the other day and at the end each feeding I give them a spoon and their sippy cup to play/practice with (still can't get the hang of the sippy cup). We had some fun just lingering and playing. I know most moms don't get to experience that kind of time with their children and I felt truly blessed that I'm able to. It's not an easy job and there have been and continue to be challenges for me but the rewards are far greater than I ever had as a pastry chef. I see their changes from day to day. I get to love on them 24/7. And I hope that love will equip them with an abundant amount of self confidence as they grow...knowing they are loved.

And I want to thank my husband all that he has done and continues to do that allows me to stay home with our children. You are such a gift to me and I treasure you.

Here are some pictures of our lunch last week...
playing with the spoons, working on aim


Timothy having trouble keeping his cup on the tray...Cameron trying to help grab it.


Timothy still having trouble keeping his cup on his tray...and both spoon are now on the floor.

Neighborhood Rec Center

We have a rec center just a few block from our house and every Friday they have kid's play time from 10:30-12pm. I meet up with another friend of mine, Yang, who has Jasper...he is 11mo. (We miss the first half because of nap and lunch time but try to get there as soon as we can.) They have a big gym there and spread out all sorts of push toys, play mats, tricycles, etc for the kids to play with. There is also an arts and craft room but the kids are still too small for that. At 11:30 all the toys and crafts are put away and the music time begins. Cameron loves the music time! They pass out tambourines and bells for the kids, roll out this huge boom box and play all sorts of fun music to dance and sing along.
While the twins are still a little too small for most of the activities, it's fun to just get them out and around other kids. Timothy just stares most of the time and Cameron tries to sing and dance along to the music. She goes crazy when "Wheels on the Bus" or "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" comes on. But we have to sit in the back because the music is a little too loud for our sensitive Timothy. But I can tell we'll be taking full advantage of all the center has to offer soon!
Here are some pic from our day yesterday.
the kids in the little push cars. They loved them but their feet don't hit the floor yet so they can't really go anywhere unless we push them...Timothy fell though the bottom yesterday..oops...

>Yang with the kids getting ready for music time with bells on their wrists. The kids kept trying to eat them! And Cameron dancing and loving the sing along...wish I had video of her.