2 year check-up

2 weeks ago, the girls had their 2 year check-up.  We had to find a new pediatrician, and I really like her.  She came in and started talking to the girls before me.  She also gave them a book each.  They will get a book at every well visit, which is pretty awesome, they are nice books too!

Stats:  The girls finally made it out of the 20-30th percentile that they have been in since they were born.

       Harly                                                                                              Zoey

Weight: 28lbs                                                                                  Weight: 27lbs

Height: 35 inches                                                                              Height: 34 inches

I knew they were getting a shot at this visit.  I have done about 98% of their visits by myself.  It was easier when they were younger.  I wasn't sure how I was going to handle this visit, I was panicking right before we walked in.  But in the end there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

The girls did awesome.  Harly went first for the exam, she sat all by herself on the table.  She would look at me and get the biggest smile on her face, like "look at me mommy, mommy so proud of me!"  It was the cutest thing!  Zoey went next, and she did the same thing.  She would giggle and had the biggest smile!

The doctor and I talked for a little bit.  Then it was time for the shots.  Zoey went first.  I set Harly up in the chair with her book.  I put Zoey on the table.  I was instructed to lay her down, hold her arms in the air, and give her a hug and kiss.  After I did that, it was over.  I looked up at Zoey and there were no tears at all!  I was so proud, I gave her kisses and told her how proud I was.  I set her up in the chair with her book, and got Harly.  I did the same thing with Harly, and once again no tears!  I praised her and kissed her also! 

But...

The bandaid, the bandaid ruined it.  When the bandaid went on, she screamed, and said no bandaid, no bandaid.  This then set Zoey off and she said no bandaid, no bandaid.  I ripped both bandaids off and they were fine again!  Really, you two flip over the bandaid and not the shot? 

After, we went to fossil park to look for dinosaur bones.  We then went to get ice cream.  We took it to daddy's work and ate it with him!  We ended the day with swimming lessons!

Walking to fossil park

love when they randomly grab each others hands!

Held hands all the way down the ramp, melts my heart!

Best friends!

digging for fossils

Now if I could just get them to keep their hair accessories in, so their hair isn't always in their face, but they will only keep it in if they are in a dress! Oh girls will be girls (they don't get this from me!)

Happy Fathers day!

The girls wanted to wish all the daddies out there a happy fathers day, especially their daddy! (I had a video of them saying it, but with the move this week I have misplaced the cord!)

They also wanted to say some things to their daddy!

*daddy, we love you!  Thank you for all that you do for us!  We love that you play dragon with us, tickle us, and are a hands on dad!  We love having daddy and us time, and sending mommy out of the house (that is when all the fun begins, but don't tell mommy!)

* We are sorry that we sometimes don't listen to you, but we know we are your princess', so how can you get mad at us!  We are sorry we give you and mommy a hard time at bedtime, we just want to spend every minute with you!  We are also sorry we leave all our toys everywhere, but we in the process of learning and becoming smart, so we can be just like you!

* This is your third fathers day!  Wow daddy, you have more than mommy!

* What we really want to say is:  We are so grateful to have such an awesome daddy!  You are shaping us to become successful, respectful, loving women.  We cherish every moment with you, even though we may drive you crazy sometimes.  We have the best daddy in the world!  We love you so much!

Five for Friday- FAQs: twin questions

There are going to be more than 5 comments I get with my twins.

1.) Are they twins? Yes, They are dressed the same, they are the same size, and they look identical.

2.) Are they boy/girl? No, they both have bows or flowers in their hair, and they both have long hair.  Where in this mix do you see a boy?

3.) Are they identical?  We are not sure.  We would either have to go to the doctors and pay to get them tested or do an at home swab test.  Either way, this is not a concern of ours.  It wouldn't change anything.

4.) Did you do in-vitro, or medications? No, they were conceived naturally.

5.) Do twins run in your family?  Yes, my great-grandma was a twin.

6.) What are their names?  Harly and Zoey.  Once I say their names, I usually get a half smile and those are different, or why those names.  It is ok if you don't like the name we chose, they are not your children.  They just need to bite their tongue, fib a little, and say those are nice or cute. I may not like the names you chose for your children.

7.) Are their personalities different?  One is more laid back than the other.  One has more piercing cry than the other.  

8.)  Double trouble, bet you are busy?  Yes, I am. 

9.) How do you do it?  (I usually pause with this question)  If Ian is with us- he loves to give funny, but smart answers (he is a big jokster!) I know no different, but glad I was given this opportunity to raise twins. (Sometimes I want to say, you have three children with you right now, they may be different ages, but your managing.) 

10.) Are you their mom or Are you old enough to have children?  Yes I am.  (Thinking in my head, thank you for making me feel young!)

11.) Are you going to have more children?  Yes, we are going to try again in the future.

12.) How do you take them out alone, you are brave?  Thank you? I really don't give a response to this, just smile.  This question gets me every time, I am not about to stay in the house all day every day.

13.) how do you tell them apart? One sucks her thumb, one takes a bink.  Their hair parts in opposite directions.  I am with them 24/7.

* People will stop us for 5 minutes or longer and tell us that they are a twin, their aunt is a twin, or their friend's cousin's friend is a twin.  And continue to tell us stories. (this irritates me a little because, I don't have time to stop.)

*What is helpful:  The mom's who have twins, but continue to walk while yelling back advice, or just saying it will get easier.

*To those people who try to hold you up:  I am sure it comes off rude, but I just keep walking.  I can't sit and listen, I try to never stop because than you will never get away. My advice is to just keep walking, and every twin mommy will tell you the same thing!

We love the ZOO!

We love the zoo!  I take the girls to the zoo during the week, but we go about every other weekend with daddy.  We have been to three zoos: Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Toledo.  By far, our all time favorite is Toledo!

We went to the Cleveland zoo all the time with our season pass.  Every time we went, none of the animals were ever active.  Only one monkey exhibit was active and would come up to the window to see the girls.  No matter what time we went, all the animals were lazy or sleeping.  Also, you have to walk to get to exhibits, far walks up and down hills.  Not fun with a stroller, but a great workout!

Pittsburgh- We have only been there twice.  From what I remember it was small, but we haven't been back since the shark tank was built.  I won't elaborate on this anymore, since I don't remember.

Toledo Zoo- where to begin?  Well we just got our season pass for this zoo.  It is awesome, I could go every day to this zoo!  We have been there twice already (We would be there more if I had a car. Don't ever buy a Ford Edge!)  Both times that we have gone, every single animal was active.  The monkeys have been awesome to watch, they love showing off!  They also have a splash zone and if the monkey sees you on it, he has a button in his pen, and presses it to get you wet!  The gorillas were neat, they sit right up on the glass and stare at you, they also like to show you all the crazy positions they can sit in.  The elephants were very hyper, the baby elephant was running all over the place, running full force into the tire swing.  On Sundays, you can also watch the elephants get a suds bath.  They have demonstrations every 1-2 hours with different animals too!  Not only are the animals active, but you can get up close and personal with them.  At the Cleveland zoo, you can't really see the zebras and giraffes, seals, or polar bears.  I always have to pull the girls out of the stroller.  The Toledo zoo you can get very close to the zebras and giraffes, (they also have a train ride where the animals come close to the train).  They designed the sea otters and polar bears for strollers to get up close and see them.  You also don't have to walk up and down crazy, large hills!  Some other neat things:

*They have a nature discovery center- where there are playgrounds, sandbox, a water stream kids can walk in and build dams and rock walls, and a petting zoo.
*An aquarium in the zoo, the girls love this, they are obsessed with fish!
*The safari train, and two carousels

The only con for the Toledo zoo is:

*It feels like an amusement park.  There are souvenir stations and concession stands everywhere you turn.  The girls are not phased by this yet, but when walking through the zoo, I could see it being a potential problem as I saw other mothers and fathers having a hard time with older children.  Same with the playgrounds, My opinion is, I am there to see animals, not to sit at a playground.  But I can see some people liking it just to take a break.

I did not take any pictures.  I wanted to enjoy it with the girls and be involved in everything they were discovering!  Now that we have been there twice, the next time we go I will take pictures and post!