And so the story goes...

It has been quite sometime since I have posted. Not completely sure why other than life has been pretty much status quo. The boys and Marc had a stomach virus and I am so glad to have that out of the house. The boys have a head cold right now, but I am hoping it is on its way out as well. Cold and flu season is almost over. I am so excited that Spring is here. It is supposed to be 65 tomorrow and 70 on Friday! Hooray!

The boys had a nice Easter. Saturday my parents and my mom's parents came up to go to lunch. We did a little Easter egg hunt. I wasn't sure how the boys would do. They actually did quite well. Marc and I carried their baskets and they picked up the eggs and placed them in. Sunday we went to church. The boys are in the walkers class now with walkers-3 year olds.

We had a lunch date with Daddy on Monday. The boys were so surprised and excited to see Marc during the middle of the day. They were very well behaved at the restaurant. Last week we went to lunch with my mom on her birthday and they did quite well that afternoon as well.

Today we ventured out to the grocery store. I was a little nervous going into it, but decided if it didn't work out we didn't have to go again. Ethan sat in the seat and Aaron sat in the cart itself. They did great! I was so proud of them. They were surrounded by groceries by the end of the trip! I think they enjoy getting out and seeing new things.

Both the boys are growing and developing right before our eyes. It has been a couple weeks since their 15 month appointment, but here were the stats. E weighed 21 lbs and 8 ozs and was 31.75'' tall. A was 22 lbs and 5 ozs and 32''. They weighed a bit less than the last time they were weighed because it was without their shoes and clothes and they had just started eating again after having the stomach flu. For weight E and A were in the 15th and 20th percentiles and for height they were in the 68th and 75th percentiles respectively. That is for babies born at the same time as they were, not preemies. They obviously are taking their height from their father!

Milestones
-walking, practically running these days
-climbs stairs
-love pushing things and rearranging the furniture
-take blocks apart and put them together-love looking at books and turning the pages
-drink from sippies with straws
-can say momma, dada, ball, duck, dog, no, hi, and bye (and maybe some other words)
-can sign more, milk, hi, and bye
-Aaron puts his arms out palms up when he wants you to pick him up
-can bring their shoes and other items to you upon request
-want what the other has most of the time and have started pushing each other
-still taking two naps most days

Tomorrow we have a play date with some friends in the morning. Then Grandma Kay and Great Grandma Rhodes are coming for a visit in the afternoon. Friday afternoon we are thinking of going to the zoo.

Outdoor Fun

Yesterday was Tuesday, the day Miss Abigail comes. Unfortunately the boys were not up for mommy leaving. They were mad about their ear drops and just got more mad when Abigail arrived. They completely understand that when Abigail comes, mommy is leaving. Generally I just let all of us tough the situation out and they calm down within a few minutes of me leaving. Yesterday they just seemed distraught so I told Miss Abigail I would just stay home with them and she could go and enjoy the lovely weather.

They took a couple hour nap and thankfully were in better moods following. The past three afternoons we have got to go outside and enjoy the lovely weather. We've been swinging, going for walks, playing with the neighbor kids, and so on. I'll post some pictures of our outdoor fun soon.

Current Events

It has been a bit crazy around here. Just when I think Spring is arriving (and it is) and the boys will be getting better, they both get ear infections and still persist in having colds. They have had colds for 2 1/2 weeks. E has a right ear infection and A has a double ear infection. A is also on an inhaler and cough medicine. E has been taking them too, as the doctor said if he sounded like he needed them to give them to him as well. Yesterday they both went on amoxicillin as well. Marc and I agree that it is a 17 step process these days just to put them to bed! :) Hopefully they are on the mend now.

The weather has been beautiful. The boys are loving it. They aren't afraid to explore now, they are on the move. Yesterday I told Marc that we may need to invest in a fence. I'm not sure we can make it through the summer without it.

Hope you enjoy some recent pics of the boys!




Ethan's first peanut butter and jelly sandwich
at first he kept putting his on Aaron's tray, but then he decided he liked it
3/9/09



Aaron and his PB&J 3/9/09



Ethan loves him some spaghetti week of 3/9/09


Aaron thinks it is pretty good too week of 3/9/09



Aaron and Ethan in the rigged up highchairs at my mom and dad's aka Grammy and Papaw (they were fastened in with belts) 3/15/09

Spring is in the Air!

Wind, Wind, Go Away!

We got all bundled up, loaded in the car, and drove to the park only to find out it was so windy that it was just too cold to play and walk. The boys and I met some friends at Holland Park today. It was the first time the boys had gone to a park since they could walk. They don't enjoy walking very much with their heavy winter coats on. I think it makes them top heavy! They weren't sure what to do and just kind of stood their or should I say layed their as their friends played. A decided to just lay in the mulch for a bit and E layed on the slide. We tried swinging after that. E was okay with swinging for a bit, but A protested and insisted that he must be held. After my friends daughter informed us it was just too cold, and it was we headed home for lunch. E & A are eating "big people" food quite well these days. They had chicken nuggets, tomato basil soup, gold fish, cheeto like things, and pieces of banana. Drinking from their sippies is starting to come more naturally as well. My friend Callie gave us another kind of sippie with a straw and they love it!

Hooray for Straws

The boys are 14 months old now and being that the pediatrician has asked that they be done with bottles by 15 months, Monday we eliminated all bottles except the morning and night bottle. It was an interesting day. I had a really good talk with God and told him I couldn't do it without him. I tend to need to feel in control, with twins true control rarely ever happens. So, I have finally decided 14 month into this mommy thing to give it fully to God! Just like that God came through as he always does when you fully give it to him. I had patience and remained calm. Tuesday was their day with Miss Abigail, but although not feeling great and a little grouchy they did well. While I was out, I picked up a couple sippies with straws. It took a few tries, but the boys love straws they think drinking is fun now. They will walk around and drink from their sippies. They think they are quite big...and indeed they are growing very quickly!

Yick, Yack, Yuck!

Winter has really brought alot of earaches, stomach viruses, and colds! This last couple of weeks everyone in the house has had a cold off and on. The boys have had them more on than off! I am just praying they don't turn into anything more serious. Hopefully when it warms up later this week we can open the windows and get the germs out! Although, with cold weather just around the corner again, I am not sure if they will stay out! It is so hard to watch the boys struggle to breath, eat, and sleep. To top that off, if they aren't sleeping we aren't sleeping. Makes for some very tired people at the Dittmer household.

Fortunately Marc and I were able to get a night away this past weekend! For his birthday and Valentine's Day, I booked a room at the Omni downtown. We went out to dinner, an architectural salvage place, lunch, Lowe's, and a movie. It was very, very nice and much needed. The only thing we didn't get to do that we had hoped for was sleep. Unfortunately some other patrons of the hotel decided their agenda was to party right next door to our room. I think we may have gotten less sleep than when we are at home if that is possible. That's okay though, it was nice to have some quality time together and really invest in one another! Although not feeling well, the boys had a wonderful time with our neighbors and my parents!

I don't want to wish the time to pass...but please come Spring, come quickly!