Leach Chronicles: June 2014

We did it. We made it through the first year. I didn't have (m)any doubts, but I'm sure glad that it is behind us. We looked over all of our photos, recalling those moments that seemed so endless at the time. Each day brought us a new milestone. Each day really felt like 24 hours of a non-stop, round-the-clock learning curve. These first 12 months were amazing. I'm glad I blogged to remember them fondly.

I love this little girl so much. Look at that face.

We are one today.

Let me get those blocks.

Remember when they were six weeks old and we put them in the chair? Oh how they've grown.

And now that they're one, it's as though we are moving at a milestone a minute. Every day, we experience something new that they've discovered - whether it's their voice, a new tooth, a new bruise, or each other.

It's like living with Pete and Repeat. They are copy cats of each other, and they love to mimick us, too. If either Frank or I cough, they cough, too. Even if they are busy reading a book, or playing with a toy, there is a "cough cough" from the other room. With each other, we sit them to eat facing each other. Last night, Sutter decided to lick the yogurt out of the bottom of his bowl. He put the entire bowl on his face and licked away. Frank and I started laughing. So, Cora decided she was going to put the bowl on her face. She didn't lick it like Sutter, but she wanted to be sure that we saw her, too.

Cora loves to try to wrestle with her brother. When Sutter crawls by her, she often rolls her head back into him, laughing. She will lay on him and he often will keep crawling. But there are those times when he will crawl over her and she just loves it. He knows it makes her laugh because there is that Sutter smirk that makes me see he is up to taunting her.

They both love to use their walkers to get around. We have three of them now, and one is a burger food truck. Usually, the one that is the most popular is the one that the other has. However, sometimes, they like to walk with the same one at the same time, which is super cute. But it usually ends up with one possibly biting the other, or perhaps running into the wall and falling down. Teamwork just doesn't happen over night.

Always the tongue appears during serious Cora concentration.

Coming down the hall, folks, is the brother of the demolition derby twins, Sutter James!

Hi...I can crawl out to the patio by myself. But I could use a little help coming back inside, please.

When they're feeling mellow, they love to go through their books. There are books that are favorites. Reading includes picking a book. Sitting down, possibly on top of the 10 other books that were just pulled off the shelf. Opening the book and turning pages. Both of them talk to the books. Sometimes, there are pages that we've pointed out to them that they go back to time and time again. Sutter has a favorite page in a book that has textures. It's a picture of a comet, which has red sandpaper to scratch. Cora has found the love for a dog in another book. She can say "duh, duh" when she sees the picture. They both have taken apart "Pat the Bunny." That book didn't stand a chance. Cora even licked one of the bunny so many times that it is matted now. We continue to encourage reading as much as we can.

At their one year check-up, we discovered that they quintupled their weight since they were born. Cora weight 24 pounds, 13 ounces, measuring 31 inches. Sutter weighed 24 pounds, 4 ounces, measuring 31.5 inches. Cora's thighs are holding all that weight right now. They are so meaty. Sutter has started to lean out a bit.

Cora has three bottom teeth, crooked, but they're here. She has three top teeth coming in now, and that sometimes makes her want to bite her brother. Sutter has two teeth on the bottom, with two on the way on top. He is drooling...a lot. We have begun brushing their teeth, as a ritual in the morning and the evening. Strawberry banana toothpaste just sounds awful, but if it's getting their teeth cleaned, then let's get it done.

What do they eat? Just about 95% of what we make for them. Since I'm unemployed I have the pleasure of making their meals for them. They have five meals a day and are down to 21 ounces of milk. They had their last bit of formula last night. Since they turned one, we were given the green light to feed them anything, which was exciting since the naughty list of food gave me some challenges for cooking.

Breakfast includes 4 ounces of milk and either Gerber Oatmeal with pureed strawberries and honey or whole wheat pancakes with strawberries and blueberries on top. They take a morning nap at 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. Snack at 10 a.m. includes 3 ounces of milk and usually some carby thing. Our favorite treat is a 4 ingredient cookie - over ripe bananas, oatmeal, cinnamon and vanilla. They are delicious. Lunch consists of a 3 ounce bottle of milk, spinach with something - like dahl, sweet potato, peas, and maybe cheese. Or a recent fan fave is black beans, refried beans, corn, rice, spinach and cheese. After their afternoon nap, they enjoy another 3 ounces of milk and some fruit. Blueberries are the favorite, followed by strawberries, peaches, pluots and more. But they also enjoy steamed zuchinni or cauliflower. Dinner is often a meatball of some sort or pasta. I've been trying to create one meal for all of us to eat. What a challenge! I am happy if everyone likes what I make. The reality is, the kids meal takes priority and I enjoy take-out more now for Frank and I, than I ever have.

We had a lovely celebration for their one year birthday. There was a fantastic turnout of family and friends. It was so much fun to celebrate this milestone as a family. It took a whole lot of love, support, and encouragement from all of you to get through this first year. So, thank you.