Eleven Months!

Our little guys are eleven months old!.  If this past month had a theme word it would have been 'autonomy.' Baby boys have been all about doing things on their own like the big boys they are becoming.  They want to hold a spoon, to eat finger foods, to crawl, pull up on things and whatever else they can figure out to do day by day. 

Abraham (left) and Winston showing off their grins.

 Happy boys.  They squint their eyes when they smile like their mama.

Tried so hard to get them to wear their Charger caps for a pic but

 alas they kept taking them off.

This past month has also really brought about the twin bond that people talk so much about.  The boys have become so much in sync that it can be kind of spooky at times.  It used to be that one baby would sleep longer than the other quite frequently.  These kids seem to always wake up at the same time now.  They take food off of each other's tray even when their own tray has the exact same stuff.  We tickle one baby and the other baby starts laughing.  They seem to feed off of each other's energy so if one is whiny and fussy then the other starts up too.  They "talk" to each other all the time.  They will get absorbed into the same toy and play sweetly together for a prolonged period.  They no longer get frustrated if one takes the other's stuff.  I still discourage it because I want them to understand that they are indeed separate people with rights to their own stuff.  I know it may not last too much longer but for now I will take it. They get into fun little competitions over who can rock their exersaucer the fastest and hardest and which can splash the most water in the bath tub.  In the bath, one baby will touch the other baby's arm and say something and then they proceed to flap their arms in unison getting water everywhere.  They smile at one another and wave hello.  Abraham has mastered saying 'baba' for brother. Winston takes Abraham's arm in his hand and makes Abraham do the same motions he does e.g. tapping their trays on the high chair. I look at their relationship and realize what an immense blessing it is for them to have a constant companion and playmate.  I think about how as twins they will always have a sense of needing to think about another sibling and to share their mama and papa. 
With all that said, I think this month's update has been the hardest to write in some regards because even though the boys are unique, the lines between their personalities have gotten more blurred.  They are in the stage of watching and mimicking their brother so facial expressions, mannerisms and what they figure out to do seem to cross over quite frequently.  They are both social little guys and like going to the store with mama.  They love bath time.  They really enjoy taking walks through the neighborhood.  Taking a walk is a great distraction as well if they are having a grumpy day due to teething or what not.  They are crawling and getting faster all the time.  It is all about containment to make sure they stay safe unless I can move along with them.  I can ask the boys to come to me and they will crawl onto my lap so that I can put them on the nursing pillow.  The boys now roll off the  pillow when they are all done and will often take off crawling.  I now nurse them sitting on the floor just for safety's sake.  They can sit up on their knees and are trying to pull themselves into a standing position.  Abraham is so close to standing.  He can get one foot flat under him and he cannot figure out how to go from a squat to a standing position.  Abraham also does this downward dog looking pose when he tries to stand without anything to grab.  He just cannot push himself all the way up and then gives up. 

I am working on getting the boys off purees.  They still choke easily and of course it scares me.  I gave them tiny cubes of apple the size of my pinkie nail or smaller and they choked. Heck, they choke up when they nurse sometimes still.  I was talking to my mom about it and I guess my brother was the same way.  He had a narrow airway for his age and could not eat any crunchy foods without close supervision until he was 2.5 years old.  For now the boys eat very, very cooked vegetables, raisins, brown rice and bits of whole grain bread on their own.  The main thing is that they are healthy and growing.  I try to make sure they have very balanced diets.  It's a process, right?  They still get quite a few calories from nursing so I am not worried about it.  Their reflux has gotten much, much better. Abraham has seven teeth and Winston has eight teeth.  They just need to learn how to chew with them.  They wear 12-18 month clothing.  They sleep about 11-12 hours a night straight through unless they are sick or cutting a tooth. 

Abraham (left) and Winston love to take baths.

Abraham (left) and Winston had some help standing up here.

Abraham (still on the left, kind of happened that way this month) and Winston.

Abraham is still my scrappy little guy.  Both boys are complete wiggle worms but Abraham has to have his legs going all the time.  This can make diaper changes a challenge but it is something we are working on--a time to wiggle and a time to sit still.  He has not been giving hugs as much which makes this mama sad but his latest thing is giving pats.  You know how it seems like second nature to hold a baby and pat their back?  Abraham caught on and I think that he thinks that is what should be done.  When someone is holding him he will pat their shoulder. It is funniest and sweetest thing.  He is still my more vocal little guy and is constantly trying to mimic tones and words.  He has mastered waving and say 'hi.'  As mentioned before he knows that Winston is 'baba.'  The boys do not usually use mama or 'dada' unless they need something or they are having some separation anxiety.  I see that Abraham understands a lot more than he can say.  He will giggle and smile when he understands something like the word or sign for milk or when I say we are going for a car ride.

Abraham

Winston is becoming more affectionate which I of course adore.  He will lay his head on my shoulder and cuddle with me.  He used to be too busy for prolonged snuggles.  Winston was the first one crawling and he definitely has it mastered.  He will be out of a room and at the other end of the house in the blink of an eye.  He loves clapping.  He loves to happy shriek.  He smiles and shakes his head when he "talks."  He is a hands on guy and wants to touch whatever is in front of him.  We can try to read him books but he wants to touch the book instead.  Winston had a rough go cutting his two front teeth but now he has four pearly whites on top that he can flash. Winston does great with table foods and feeding himself.  He likes to touch faces.  I think it is a sign of affection for him even when it comes out like slaps.  Again, working on what gentle means.  He is such a boy and everything gets pounded, banged and slapped.  Along with his happy shriek, this can mean there is some serious noise coming from him. 

Look at Winston's choppers!

I did not mean to write a novel this month but that is what happens when I never get a chance to finish and I keep adding to my draft.  Well, I got a first birthday party plan.  I better get busy!