Happy 2nd Birthday!

The morning started white, with snow and ice falling outside.  The girls kept running and looking out the window to yell "snowing!"  I was worried for most of the morning about my parents driving here.  They had spent the night, halfway, in Pennsylvania so they only had 4 hours to drive to get here.  The snow turned to rain, to sleet, to ice, and kept changing and the roads were getting icier.  They finally arrived 6 hours after they left their motel.  It was wonderful seeing them and Jenna ans Rachel were happy they were here.  
After nap time, we decided to open a few gifts because we would open more after dinner.  Sandra found step stools and had her mother-in-law paint them.  They are beautiful.  The back flips down so it's a seat and a step for the stool.  Jenna just wanted to step up and down (which was kind of tricky wearing tights).  They loved these and hopefully it will make it easier for me to wash their hands after meals...instead of me lifting them to the sink.  Sandra wanted a video but I need to find the cord to upload one.  We opened some for Grandma and Grandpa too.

 My friend and her parents came over for dinner to celebrate with us.  I made our favorite crockpot chicken but the girls really wanted cake. They loved opening their new presents and wanted to try out everything. 

 It was hard to get settled down when it was time for bed.  With lots of sugar and excitement and then playing with Grandma and Grandpa, I think it was probably an hour past their normal bedtime when they finally went to sleep.  It was OK though because they had had a fun day!  

Playing and being silly before bed.

Merry Christmas!

Today is December 25th.  Two years ago, we enjoyed Christmas breakfast with friends  came home relaxed, then went to bed not knowing that the next day we'd be new parents.  Tomorrow, Jenna and Rachel will be two.  Tonight at dinner, we taught them how to hold up two fingers and respond "TWO!!" when asked "how old are you?"  I know I've written it before, but I truly can't believe how fast the time has gone.  

Jenna's washing dishes at her kitchen

Playing with Slime!

A few days ago, we had some of Kenny's family here as they traveled to NY.  We exchanged presents and I realized that this was the first time the girls had opened presents since last year.  They quickly knew what to do and were so cute when they passed out the presents to everyone.  

Sorry it's blurry, they were busy passing out presents!

Saying Goodbye to Anne'

Even though they are both sick with terrible coughs and runny noses, we were still able to enjoy Christmas today.  This morning, they both went right to the biggest present and started tearing the paper.  It was fun to see them working together.  After opening presents, they explored and played with the new toys.  The favorite was the Fisher Price Wheelies Loops and Swoops Amusement park...a long name for a big toy!  We were disappointed though because it didn't come with 2 cars or 2 flags like the box said.  I'll try calling the company tomorrow and getting the missing pieces.  Still there was one car and two they already had worked fine.  Jenna and Rachel also loved the Fridge Phonics and played with that for a while.  The got some new phones, books, puzzles, Little People, and coloring books.    

Christmas!

Working to open a present

Rachel's new book!

Playing with the new Wheelies toy

Making cookies (actually tasting the dough)

Tomorrow my Mom and Dad will be coming and staying for a few days.  We'll have some friends over for a birthday dinner.  When you ask the girls "What does Birthday mean?"  They say, "Cake and Presents!!"  We'll definitely be taking more pictures tomorrow.  As for tonight, I will check on the girls on their last night as one-year-olds.  

What are they saying now??

Two weeks from today, I will have 2 two year olds.  I can't believe how quickly time flies!  I love looking back at old pictures and seeing how small they were.  Even last Christmas, they looked like babies and now they're definitely toddlers!  They are talking so much...really just to each other and to Mommy and Daddy.  They don't talk much around other people!

I wanted to write down some of the cute and funny things they say (not all are completely appropriate but funny anyway!) They are really beginning to talk in phrases and are starting to tell stories about things that have happened. 
Jenna calls herself "Nen-na" and calls Rachel "Ray-ray".  Rachel calls herself "Chay-chel" and calls Jenna "Che-na".  
At night: "Night, night Mommy.  I love you!"
When frustrated: "Mommy do-it!"
When flushing the toilet: "Bye bye poopy, I love you!" 
Trying to say Cranberry muffin: "Cran-booby mup-pin"
They're very polite and often use please.  They're starting to say Thank you too!  I love when they say "Up please" or "Shoes off please" 
Heard at naptime: "Lay down, Jenna" "Shhh, shhh" "Lie down Ray-ray."  Jenna is attached to her blankie and always makes usre she has her "Brown kitty, ba-ba."  I think blanket will always be ba-ba.  

Saying different names:
Mickey = "Mick-me"
Minnie = "Min-me"
Becky = "Beck-bee"
Monkey = "Monk-me"
Other names they love to say: Of course Mommy and Daddy, Aunt-Yan ra (Sandra) and Unc Steve!  Aunt Katie and Unc Tim!.  Amy, Oll-ver (Oliver) and Fe, fe- oh (Fiona). 

Both can count to 10 and think that it ends..."8, 9, 10, yay!"  They recognize both letters and sing a form of the ABC song.  Rachel's favorite song to sing is "Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty, little ball of fur.  Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty, purr, purr, purr."  Those that watch Big Bang Theory would smile at this!!  

Instead of just using nouns, both girls are using adjectives to describe things.  Mostly colors but sometimes sizes too.  They use color words often to tell me which cup or plate they want or which socks to wear.  It's so much fun to see them learning.  

Rachel is sorting pom poms by color.

A friend made slime for them to play with!