Nine Month Twins

This month our babies learned quite a few new feats, but first a very interesting fact. On October 2nd our babies were exactly 38 weeks old. The day that they were in the world just as long as they were in my tummy. I think that's really neat.

On September 8th, both babies got up on their hands and knees and started rocking back and forth. Hayden started getting up into a "Bear Crawl" pose on September 20th and attempted to crawl this way. It didn't really work so well with feet on his sleepers.On September 22nd Hayden started doing a yoga pose in which he posed with one hand in the air and twisted around to see people or objects. By September 26th Claire was crawling backwards and Hayden was doing a one legged crawl, to get a water bottle, using only his left side. By October 1st Hayden could do a "Frog Hop' type of movement and was getting around the house fairly well. Once we got to Canmore for Thanksgiving on October 5th Hayden was crawling like a pro. On October 11th, the babies' nine month birthday, Hayden was standing and transferring from his toys to the furniture. October 13th he was pushing his hippo toy across the floor. It won't be long now until he can walk all on his own! Things are moving along very fast in just a couple of weeks time!

The babies began to pull up on furniture on their own at only 7 months old. By 8 months they could pull themselves up on nearly anything within reach. Hayden typically does this many times a day and Claire only does it when she really wants something. I often find Hayden standing in his crib in the mornings, since he figured out how to stand last month. The babies typically use mommy as a pull up bar, but will also use their crib, small furniture and best of all, their toys. We bought them a bouncing zebra toy (Fisher-Price Go Baby Go! Bounce & Spin Zebra), for use once they can walk, however they seem to find it very interesting and will use the reins on the zebra to stand up and then bat at the spinning ball part which makes the music turn on. I think I have a couple of geniuses on my hands!

Both are good eaters and love Grandpa's homemade chicken soup. They also eat various veggies and fruits and we are always trying new things. They like nearly everything we offer them but still make silly faces sometimes.

Claire learned to Pat-a-cake and clap her hands while grannie was singing to her on October 9th and we're now practicing everyday. I find it adorable! The babies also love the open and close toys, which they can slam shut the little windows. Then I pop them back open and they slam them shut again. They like blocks and rings as well right now, but their favorite toy seems to be the standing table toy (Fisher Price Busy Friends Musical Table). They use it right now without the legs and play sitting on the floor or standing like bear cubs. They also both love going in their Jolly Jumper and will bounce for a really long time, all the while laughing their heads off. I think it's helping to strengthen their little legs. We also still use their swings quite a bit, mostly for morning and afternoon nap times. (I am not sure what I am going to do once they hit 25lbs and can no longer use the swings! I guess I'll need to find a new routine and am hoping that transition will not be too difficult.)

Claire playing Pat-a-cake!

We rarely use their bouncy chairs anymore. I think those were very handy from newborn - 6 months or so, but once they figured out they could lean forward and try to escape, the chairs weren't as handy. I'm glad we had them, but now they just take up space more than anything. I also liked having exersaucers (We have three. Two which are stable and one with springs.), but I think we are almost finished with those too. The babies would rather move around than be stuck in one toy. One of the exersaucers converts into a standing play table so they'll at least get to play with it for awhile yet.

Playing while standing up

Claire isn't yet crawling but is rather pulling herself along on her tummy using her hands. She still gets "stuck" on her tummy and then screams for one of us to come and save her and sit her back up. She doesn't really like to roll much yet if she doesn't have to. I suspect she may not crawl at all, but rather just start walking one of these days.

This past month we spent some time at Grandma & Grandpa's house visiting, we went to Leduc to visit Phil's brother and to the farmers market, and we started Little Dippers swimming classes. Swimming as a family in this class is wonderful. We have the babies do back floats with their ears in the water, front floats (where they love to splash the surface of the water!), bobs (where they go underwater) and a bunch of other cute actions set to really adorable songs. We are enrolled from September to December and will likely join again in the springtime as the babies really seem to enjoy it.

On September 26th, after taking the babies to swim class, my Mom and I took the babies to the health clinic to use their weigh scales and measuring tools. I am not certain that I measured or weighed the babies properly, but I at least have a general idea of where they are at. Claire weighed 17lbs 4oz and was 26" long. Hayden weighed 18lbs 14 oz and was 26.25" long. I also measured their heads at home mid September, Claire's was 18" and Hayden's was 18.5". We don't get them professionally weighed and measured again until they are one year old, so I plan to take them myself again at ten months too.

We spent the babies first Thanksgiving in Canmore with family. Both sets of Grandparents were there, as well as two uncles, one aunt & one cousin. The babies got spoiled with so much attention from everyone! We had a wonderful time and cooked up a nice big turkey dinner while staying at the condos. We also got good use out of the hot tub and I even used the gym two out of three mornings. I wish I had a home gym! Seems I'd actually use it. Perhaps an idea for the new house.

I'm not sure where these past nine months have gone. It seems to me that only yesterday I was in the hospital meeting my two beautiful little babies. They are getting so big and soon will be motoring around on their own. I truly can't believe it. I still can't believe they are here. I am so blessed and stop to gaze at these two tiny, wondrous people every single day.

Nine Months Old!