Vacation??

I had the entire week off work, and Justin even had Monday and Tuesday off.  I think I've definitely learned that I am not cut out to be a stay home mom.  It probably doesn't help that I've put in about 20 hours of regular work, but at least that's from home!  I am even more exhausted then normal at the end of these days!  But, it has been so much fun all being home and spending time together.  We even got in a nice walk since it's 65 degrees outside today! 

I really think O&O's different personalities are becoming so transparent.  Just thought I'd mention a few glaring differences!

• Olivia would love to be an only child.  She loves the attention and she loves to be held.
• Owen is very independent.  He can entertain himself for quite awhile, and now that he's crawling, that's even more true.
• Owen must go-go-go.  Olivia is perfectly entertained, and sometimes even giggly, watching Owen go-go-go. 
• Owen is the sleeper.  11 hours at night, and today, a 3 hour morning nap.  
• Olivia is the cuddle bug.  
• Olivia is the shy one.  She's even more of a cuddle bug when others are around.
• Olivia loves tv, specifically our Baby Beethoven DVD.  That's really the only show they "watch", and it magically calms Olivia.  Owen watches too, but he plays while he watches.  Olivia sits and stares.  Please don't judge me because I let my children watch a little tv.  
• Owen eats pretty much anything.  And then he takes a full bottle.  Olivia is a little more picky.  But in all actuality, both love almost everything we feed them!

It's amazing to see every day how different they are.  I definitely look at them at least once a day and say to myself, "There are 2 babies!  Wow!". 

Happy almost New Years!  We'll be celebrating with the regular 7:45 bedtime for babies, and probably 10:00 for Mommy.  Justin will be at work!  Quite the plans, huh?

Trading Spaces

Today was moving day for Olivia. She has relocated to the bedroom next to Owen's. My dreams of them talking to each other through their cribs are over! But, hopefully it will help control the unnecessary wake ups. So far so good, but then again, they've only been asleep for about 15 minutes!

Olivia's room still needs some work, plus a guest bed moved.  We'll eventually paint and put her name on the wall. Aunt Kelsey - at least she has pink curtains!

Owen has an empty room too!

Owen on an adventure

More Christmas junk

Christmas from Justin Schmidt on Vimeo.


Just a quick video of the 12 days of Christmas, ok it only felt like 12, I think there were actually just 3.

More Christmas

Here are a few more pictures from Christmas Day.

Look what Santa brought.

Sharing is fun, for 2 minutes.

I'm eating my hand.

Fascinating.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas.  The babies haven't opened their Santa extravaganza yet.  We haven't all been up at the same time this morning.  But here are some pics from the morning so far.

The new giant sofa.  That's it, that's the big one. Merry Christmas to me.

The babies in their new cars (from cousin Lola). Seem to be happy.

 All dressed up.  Can you tell Olivia is teething?  Look at her drool covered dress - gross!

Since Owen is crawling....

Since Owen is now crawling, I think days are going to be even more exhausting!  I have spent the entire afternoon chasing him down, and usually, giving back the toy he stole from Olivia.  Apparently we also hit the stage where we need 2 of each toy.

The Polar Express

Well that was quite a weekend and it ended with a bang.  

Tonight was the annual Polar Express party over at grandma and grandpa Kokoruda's house. It started a long time ago when all the little neighborhood kids were actually little neighborhood kids.  Now they are mostly teenagers, and our kids are the little kids.  I'm not sure if the Polar Express was ever read this go around. We left before any books were cracked, polar or otherwise.  Back in the old days (before we had kids) the K's would invite about 10 kids over, read the Polar Express, and do some sort of craft project and eat some goodies while all wearing Christmas pjs.  No parents allowed.  But because these aforementioned kids are getting too old for all that, it's pretty much just a holiday get together.  Although some of the older kids did still wear pjs, or at least sweatpants. 

Owen, Olivia and Lola were dressed in their Christmas pjs though, and we even got some pictures.  

Lindsay told me I could not wear pjs, because if you're going to drink wine, that rules you out of pj wearability is guess.  Not sure if I agree with that, but I guess I'll move on.  We had ice cream sundaes to go with our wine.  We also discovered that Olivia really likes to play with sleigh bells. Owen likes to eat sleigh bells rather than just listen to them jingle.  But I guess to an 8 month old boy, it's not a toy if you don't try to eat it.  

It was great to see everyone. Now it's time for bed, I'm exhausted.    

Patty Cake

Please pardon my annoying voice!

Big Kids

I told you they were getting big!

Look how little they were!

When I logged into tinyprints to create our Christmas cards, it asked if I wanted to order more of these:

I immediately said "Aaaaawww....look how little they were?!"  Just this weekend alone....

• Owen had his first sleepover at Mimi and Papa's
• Owen practically crawled across the room
• They sat in restaurant highchairs for the first time (and bad Mom forgot toys and sticky placements, and we may need to buy highchair covers for those gross highchairs)
• They sat in the bath as opposed to lying in the sling
• They ate puffs, although neither baby really enjoyed them 
• Owen weighs 18 1/2 lbs and Olivia 17 1/2 lbs

I feel like there are so many milestones right now!   Of course, instead of ordering more of those adorable birth announcements, we ordered these:

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Happy crib time.

Note the look of pure elation on Olivia's face.  They lasted for at least 10 minutes playing in Owen's crib.

I can't put my arms down

Olivia's winter coat might prohibit some arm movement.

Cold walk

It looked so nice and sunny out this morning that we decided to take a little walk. I stepped out into the sun and it was actually pretty warm as long as you weren't in the wind. I bundled the babies up, hats gloves and all, and we walked for about 20 minutes. I'm sure we spent almost double that getting ready. They seemed to keep pretty warm though, and Olivia slept through most of it because her hat nearly always ends up over her eyes. Hope you are keeping warm too.

Everday Pictures

Not as good as the professional pics in the last entry, but here's a few from everyday!  We officially have sitting babies!  They have been sort of sitting for weeks, but this week they sit and stay for awhile.  Olivia rolls everywhere, and Owen army crawls.  Our basement play area has become a boxed off play zone.  I think they'll be officially mobile very soon!  Our new nanny started this week and we are excited to have some help during the day a few days a week.

Owen loves a good book

Sharing

Trying to avoid Olivia going after the computer screen, while still being productive!

No bouncy seat needed, Olivia sits like a big girl

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Pictures

All photos courtesy of www.jessicastrom.net