8 Months Already?!?!?!

I just realized today that, for real, Daniel and Lauren are 8 months old! Where did the last 8 months go? I mean, between the feedings, diaper changes, tear wiping, bathing, dressing, fight refereeing (yes, even infants fight with each other and their big sister apparently), and snuggling, I just can't imagine what happened to all that time! Time flies when you're having fun, I guess :-) As much work as they are, having twins is definitely "fun" in my book---I live and thrive on work and stress (yes, really), and without it, I create it anyway. I think that's why God blessed this family with twins---He knew it would suit me just fine. It ain't always pretty, but it's always pretty busy! There's never a dull moment over here!

Last week, we had our local photographer, Michaele, come to our house to take some pictures of Daniel and Lauren. This is the second session in the four-session "first year baby plan" that we are doing. The weather was perfect, so we got to do most of the pictures out in the yard, and it was tons of fun (tons of sweat, too!). Daniel and Lauren both put on their best smiles, just not at the same time. We got tons of cute pictures of them individually and a few cute ones of them together. Here are some of my favorites:




















In case you've been wondering what milestones Daniel and Lauren have achieved, here is an update:

At 8 months, Daniel...
*weighs 20 lbs, 5 oz.!
*is a ball of fun, fun, fun
*likes to sleep, but
*likes to wake up and try to play/test out his vocal chords around 5 am sometimes...
*loves drinking a bottle and doing huge burps afterwards
*tolerates baby food but really would rather eat finger foods
*is very good at drinking water from a sippy cup when he wants to
*can sit by himself and is just about to crawl
*still has no teeth and is working very diligently to grow them by chewing on everything
*has a giggle that will melt your heart

At 8 months, Lauren...
*weighs 17 lbs., 8 oz.
*is a ball of energy (sometimes fun, sometimes sad, sometimes loud, sometimes silly, but always lots and lots of energy)--she puts her whole heart into everything she does and is going to wear her heart on her sleeve for sure
*does not like drinking a bottle anymore
*loves eating any kind of solid food put near her (even ice cream--shhh!)
*can sit by herself and is just about to crawl
*still has no teeth, which is good, because her gummy smile and the facial expressions that go with is are priceless

Have I mentioned that I love my kids? Let's not forget Sarah, either.

At almost 4 years, Sarah...
*is just about the best mommy's helper I could ask for
*loves baby dolls, birds, cats and pretend play that involves all of those things
*lights up when she sees her friends outside playing and can't wait to join them
*can be quite impatient sometimes (but, really, she's 3!)
*can walk but falls and gets a boo-boo almost every time she plays outside (she has her daddy's clumsiness, I think)
*sleeps (finally!) all night, usually, and does so tucked in nicely in her comfortable big girl bed on a beach towel on the floor of her room (that's a battle that's just not worth fighting at this point). She says when she gets a little bigger she'll be able to sleep in her bed but right now she feels she is just still too little ;-)
*can talk your ear off and boy, you better be listening or she will tell you over and over and over again
*is a young scientist and impresses Jeremy with her inquisitive nature and astuteness about the world around her