| 9 Months |

please forgive the orange faces... carrots stain!

Avie Joy

18.8 lbs - 52%

28 in - 67%

Head 18.1 in - 94%

Ella Rae

17.9 lbs - 34%

27.5 in - 49%

Head 17.9 in - 88%

They BOTH:
- Army crawling like crazy. We've started barricading them in the living room with pillows and turned over chairs. We need to purchase some gates.
- Located the DVD rack!! What is it with babies and DVD racks?
- Starting to pull themselves up on to everything, more comfortable on their knees.
- Waving! They don't do it all the time, but mostly with Bye Bye.
- Holding their own bottles, so nice when you have to feed them by yourself.
- Two beautiful bottom teeth! They make their smiles that much more adorable!
- Getting better with sippy cups. I'm hoping to have no bottles after 12 months.
- Starting to experience new foods! (non baby food) Fruits and Veggies, Cheese, Yogurt.
- They love to talk! Da Da is the only specific thing we hear, other than rambling.
- Both have learned to do raspberries! It's so cute to hear when they are playing.

They both seem to be learning and developing the same. If one starts to do something new, the other follows shortly. I think Ella being able to clap is the only thing that Avie can't do. And Avie does her little coughing thing. But yea, they pretty much learn from each other and learn quick. Great Doc appointment, which leads me to the next info.

Ella's head. It's mishapped. No, well it's uneven. The left side of her face is bigger than the right. More noticeable in the cheeks and ears. Also, when you look at her from the back, you can tell her ears are lopsided and from the top of her head they aren't even. Anyways, the Doc recommended seeing the Plastic Surgery Clinic at Primary Children's to get a diagnostic. From what she said, her head isn't flat so a helmet wouldn't help. She thinks it has more to do with how Ella's head fused together. I'm hoping it's more so like "she'll grow into it" then, "she has to have surgery." I know it probably wouldn't be a major surgery, but I've been lucky enough with my girls so far that something big like this would kill me. I'd worry way too much about her!

In other news, I'm happy to say that I nursed these girls for 9 months! I can't believe I was able to do it that long. Okay, yes... we did add formula in at about 6 months just because I wasn't producing a ton. But hey, I'm proud non the less! I knew it had to come, I wanted to at least try and go for the full 12 months, but with the girls new teeth, they loved to bite! I know I've said it before, but omg hurts like hell! Plus, not only were they biting, but they were viewing my nipples as more as toys than a food source. Grabbing, pinching, flicking and biting. Not the best time for me. It hurt for the first couple of days, but I just wore a really tight bra and that seem to help. I actually didn't need to pump out any and I think I've been okay. I still getting really hot sometimes, but other than that it was fairly easy to stop.

In other news: Kelly goes back to work in a couple of weeks and he couldn't be more excited. He's getting a little stir crazy couped up in the house and playing Mr Mom. We are still going to look for other employment for him since Reagan isn't what he wants to stay with. But the plan is for him to work his butt off this summer (they can make good money) and then maybe go back to school in the fall. We are thinking more of a trade school, like ITT Tech or something. I'm absolutely loving work right now, only because there is a new training class in. I absolutely love back up training!! It's so much fun and I hope to one day go full time!

Other than that... not much more to report. The next month will fly by I'm sure. My little sister Jessica is getting married, so I'm sure we'll have loads of fun things to keep us occupied! Much love to all!