Rockin' and (Not Yet) Rollin'

There has been quite a lot of rocking going on in our household but no official crawling or walking yet. The race is on... who's it gonna be first? Perhaps we should start a pool to see who sets off first. Any takers? I think I may have to put my money on Madeline. She's determined and when she hears there's a contest going on, it's in the bag. However, Eli does have some mighty strong legs in his corner so I can't count him out of the running.

While I sit here waiting for my world to change, I'm having fun watching M&E get used to standing up and lots of dancing. They love to stand in their cribs and face each other, which is sometimes accompanied by some beautiful singing back and forth. I think we've definitely got a couple of music lovers. This clip has some laughing but unfortunately no singing this time...

Also, here are some cute pics from today. M&E seem to be in a tongue-sticking-out phase. Madeline said she was going with the rock and roll theme for her pose. I'm afraid the pink bucket negates the theme for Eli, sweet boy.

Poop and Praise

God continues to amaze me with His uncanny ability to bless our family in even the smallest details. Today, Madeline and Eli refused to take their morning nap. A normal nap schedule for us includes a morning nap around 8:00 and an afternoon nap around 12:30 or 1:00, followed by a 6:00 bedtime. Today, the 8:00 nap lasted the whole of 30 minutes, and that's probably being generous. I was frustrated because my whole schedule was then shot. I had planned to get out of the house right after lunch, but I ended up having to stay in and put M&E down at noon for a nap instead. What a nap it was! They slept for 2.5 hours. When they woke up, we had a snack and headed to the mall to kill time before supper. We got home at 4:30, and I put M&E down on the floor to play for a bit. About two minutes later, Eli had the NASTIEST poopy diaper I have ever encountered. I'm talking through the outfit and onto the rug. In the 30 seconds it took me to get him onto the bathroom floor to await his bath, Madeline decided that she needed to put her hands in the mess he left and taste it, yes, taste it. Yuck! So, both babies got a bath tonight. I know you're probably thinking, how is this a blessing? Usually, M&E are so tired and fussy at this time of day, but today they were patient and happy and just played together in Madeline's crib while I cleaned up the toxic waste. Had their nap schedule not been altered, the scene would have been much different. And, did I mention that Brandon is in Auburn tonight and I'm on double coverage? What a wonderful (and a little disgusting) reminder that I am to turn my day planner over to God each and every day and He will never fail to work it all out for me!

Diving Head-First into Summer

Madeline and Eli went swimming for the first time today. We belong to the YMCA across the street and the bubble came down off the pool a couple of weeks ago, so today's 80 degree temperature lent itself perfectly to M&E's first swim lesson. In true Redmon fashion, we wasted no more than 2 minutes before giving them both a good dunk. Eli LOVED the water and was not at all upset over being dunked - actually he seemed to beg for more. Madeline loved swimming in the water, just with her head up - she was very upset that we had the nerve to dunk her underwater and was even more appalled when we did it again after she had so clearly voiced her displeasure with it the first time. Madeline decided today that for now, her kind of swimming involves looking cute in her bathing suit while wrapped up in a towel on the side of the pool. I'm sure that her attitude will change with a little practice. Thankfully, Mama Kaye was with us to document the inaugural swim...

Not So Little Bitty Anymore

Madeline's nickname is "Little Bitty" or for short, "Little Bit" because she's just little. However, today it seems that she grew up before my very eyes. First off, she and Eli were on the floor playing in the den, so I seized the moment and went elsewhere to get some things done. I heard Madeline start fussing but I just figured she had either fallen over or was on her tummy and wanted to be flipped back over. So, I was shocked to come in and find my little girl standing up and holding onto the coffee table. Apparently she had pulled herself up and didn't quite know how to get herself back down. That's the first time she's pulled up on her own!

Later during bath time, Brandon noticed a white something in Madeline's mouth and said, "Is that a bubble or a tooth?" Lo and behold our Little Bit has a tooth about to break through! And, I was just saying that she had none. That's our strong-willed Madeline... tell her she can't do something and she'll do it just to prove you wrong. (No idea where she gets it!)

Finally, Madeline has been doing quite a bit of rocking/bouncing. I'm afraid my freedom to leave her and her brother alone to go do housework (or anything else for that matter) is quickly drawing to a close. Here's a little preview of what is to come, and nevermind Eli's fussing - he also is teething at the moment...

3 Years and Counting

Brandon and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary yesterday with cards, some beautiful pink and yellow tulips and a night out on the town. Our sweet neighbors, Alex and Christie, were kind enough to come sit with our snoozing children so Brandon and I could go out to dinner. We had a delicious dinner at Chez Fon Fon. It was our second dinner out together alone in 9 months, and it was fabulous! We both agreed that the high point of the past three years was without a doubt the birth of our beautiful twins. We adore them! God has been so faithful to us during our marriage; it is crucial to have Him in the center of it!

9 Months

Madeline and Eli hit the 9-month milestone on the 9th and today we had the check-up that goes along with it. They weighed in at 16 lbs., 3 oz. and 19 lbs., respectively. They continue to move along their little growth curves perfectly, thus confirming that God has blessed us with two beautiful, healthy little babies, which we thank Him for daily. I was also made aware that Eli's two front teeth are about to come in, and the two next to those are close as well. Little Madeline on the other hand has no teeth - and no signs of getting any anytime soon (but she is very cute). The pediatrician also informed me that I could now start M&E on table food (already done), give them meat (already done), start them on sippy cups (already done), and give them yogurt (already done). Speaking of table food, M&E feasted on mashed potatoes and green beans last night, and finished it off with a teething cookie - yummy!

SMILE

...if you love your Mommy!

Homewood Park

Today we packed our juice, crackers and applesauce to-go, and Madeline, Eli and I spent snacktime at Homewood Park. M & E strolled around, played a bit in the swings, ate their snack and just enjoyed the sunshine and 80 degree weather. We plan to go back for sure!

Sweet Potatoes

Forget baby food, Madeline and Eli had "grown-up" sweet potatoes tonight. They loved them! The process of eating them was just as good as the taste, no doubt. Needless to say, these two little babies went straight into the bathtub from here.

Now, if Miss Madeline would go ahead and sprout some teeth, we could work on ditching baby food all together!