January Update

Well an entire month has gotten by me once again and left me behind on picture updates. Someday I will be able to keep up with this blog.
The boys are growing fast. Mason is army crawling everywhere and into everything. Micah rocks back and forth on his knees still wanting to follow so badly. It won't be long.
They are starting to fight over toys pulling it back and forth. And even some tears. I cannot help but laugh.
We are doing lots more finger foods. Mason is up to trying and even eating several bites of most things. After the first bite of anything new Micah clamps his mouth shut and scrunches his face up. He is not as in love with them. They can go through a box of cheerios or graham crackers in nothing flat though.
They both got their 5th tooth this week and are working on number 6. Madison only had 2 until 10months so they are way ahead.

Madison is loving her brothers. She is such a good play mate and truly loves to play with them and help. She has been so funny lately with things she will say. Is she 3 or 13?
She told me she is going to go to High School and it will have a TV like Haley's school. I told her she has to go to Preschool first. She asked for a Pink phone in her bedroom this week. Seriously! And she told me she is going to drive when I get little and she gets big. Ummm! Am I shrinking? Most days she has on a Disney princess costume, jewelry, and or heels. She is very much a girl.
I am happy to report that the brown dog (You may remember the mention of this imaginary creature that lived under daddy's chair) has been vacuumed up. Last night while vacuuming Daddy decided to tell her this as he went around his chair. At first she said no you didn't but when he said it again she just looked puzzled and walked away like Ok he is gone! To fuuny!

Thanks to everyone who left fun responses to my name question. I loved hearing how you picked your names!

And if you haven't already, please vote on a blog name on the right hand side of the page. I know I can barely keep up with one blog, but I want a place separate to share my crafts. I have several photos ready to post.

Well here is a month worth of fun pics to see. Enjoy!

Blog Name Poll

So a while back I posted a contest trying to find a name for a craft blog I would like to start. I got lots of great responses. So many in fact that I am not sure what to choose. On the side bar is a poll. Please place your vote. There is a very important Starbuck's card up for grabs.

I have to admit I am not in love yet with a name. I am still open to other suggestions. Something cute and creative. Post any suggestions in the comments.
PLEASE VOTE!

Top 100

Well all 3 of my children officially have top 100 kids names in 2010. This was definitely not why we chose or even how we came across them. I always knew that Madison (#6) was on the list but did not care. We loved it and used it despite that. 2001 was the height of its popularity with 16,000 per million babies named and number 1 on the list. Babycenter.com shows it on the top 100 list since at least 1995. WOW!
Mason (#28) I had a feeling was pretty popular just from hearing it lots but mostly with older kids. It has also been on the list since 1995 or ealier.
Micah actually surprised me. It barely made the list though at # 95 for boys. And just joined the top 100 in 2008.
So much for being unique. I guess all of our M's and our fun last name can be our unique quality.

Here are some fun questions for you: Why did you choose your kids names? Was the top 100 list where you got them? Did you choose them for the meaning or just because you liked them?
I love comments so bring them on.

A January post is coming soon. As well as a blog name poll. I got lots of great responses to my search. So many in fact that I need some help narrowing it down.
Hopefully I will be back tonight.

8 month stats

Micah & Mason are 8 months old today. Some of you are probably thinking it has been a while since I have posted a stat update. That is because I didn't ever get to their 7month post. So here is what has been going on with the boys.

Stats: Both are 18 1/2 lbs with 2 bottom and 1 top tooth (Mason's just cut through this week). They both started sitting well during our Christmas celebrations. It has been a nice change of scenery for them to be upright. Mason started putting his head down and pulling his knees underneath him several weeks ago. Micah was showing no signs towards crawling at all. All of a sudden about a week ago he popped up fully on hands and knees and now rocks back and forth. It won't be long before he is on the move. I am hoping this is a good thing and he will be able to get to what he wants. Mason got on hands on knees and stayed their longer than 1 second today.

Sleep: Somewhere around a month ago or so the boys dropped their evening nap. Unless we are in the car. They are now doing a 10:30 and 2ish nap which works well. My goal has been for several months to get them sleeping fully in their cribs for naps. Thanksgiving weekend while we were in Eugene Micah decided that he did not want to go to sleep in any of our normal ways. We weren't at home so the swing wasn't an option. He screamed when I swaddled him and screamed when I held him. So I let him cry it out. A few weeks later he is know going to sleep totally on his own in his crib with minor fussing. YAY! I never thought I would do CIO this little but it worked.
Mason was still content to be swaddled and not rolling over in it. Until about 3 weeks ago. So I stopped swaddling him as well. He did not transition quite as well. He freaked out if I laid him down awake. He had been doing it swaddled fine. He started going to sleep in his swing since Micah was in the nursery already sleeping. This week we tried it again and he is going down on his own for the most part. As of New Years day both babies took a nap put down awake for over 1 1/2 hours both in the nursery. And since then have fallen asleep to each other crying and not been woken if the other wakes(most of the time). It is still a work in progress, not perfect each day, but this is huge!!! I am a very happy mommy.

Food: The boys are becoming pro solid eaters. They have discovered crakers, bagels, french fries, and this week chicken. They love anything they can hold onto and eat. Although they have not conquered feeding themselves anything small like cheerios. They get locked in their palm and are unsure how to get it out. Unless it is to drop it on the floor. You should see my kitchen after a meal. WOW! Those two can make a mess.

That is pretty much everything I can think of for now. They are the happiest babies ever. Their smiles are contagious. We are having so much fun with them.
Here are a few collages of each of them from the last month.

Micah

Mason

7months

8 month pic
...coming soon.

New Years Eve

We celebrated the New Year with our annual Marteney party. Unfortunately we were minus a few people this year due to illness, work schedules, and Disneyland.
We had lots of fun with the Ball family, Jason & Nicole, and Nana and Haley. We had a yummy meal of asian foods, fruits, and cookies. The kids had tons of fun playing Hiho Cheerio and taking over the playroom while the babies all watched the commotion around them. The daddies got out the Wii later in the evening. Kyle taught Matt some new tricks in Super Mario Brothers.
We decided to celbrate the dropping of the ball with the Eastern part of the US at 9pm so the kids could take part. It was lots of fun. Everyone but Jason and Nicole left around 10. I got Madison to bed and then we played Wii for a while longer waiting to ring in the New Year officially. It was a fun night with wonderful company. Welcome 2010! I cannot wait to see what this year brings. Nothing quite as exciting as 2 babies I hope. :)


To see this collage larger just click on the images.