Fun with friends!

Yesterday afternoon, our wonderful friends Brian, Sally, and Vera Kate Ray came over for play time! They live in Hernando and were in town visiting Brian's parents. It's been way too long since we've seen them - so glad they came over:-) Vera Kate is one year old plus a few weeks (almost exactly 6 weeks older than Silas and Avery) and is such a doll!  Silas and Avery watched in amazement as she walked all over the living room. They all played and had a big time while their parents were able to enjoy catching up with each other. After attempting to hang with the ladies, Silas eventually gave up and sat in the chair watching the crazy girls. So funny.

Wow. You ladies sure know how to make some racket!

Umm, this is too much for me.

Cheese!

Then, Bruce and I met Micajah, Grace, and baby Eleanor at Shapley's for a divine dinner to celebrate Bruce's birthday!! Happy Birthday, Bruce!!  We love you!

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

Catching up...

I'm catching up on some posts here... finally!  June 28 was my 29th birthday (the last birthday I'll have, right?)... and I must say my first birthday with Silas and Avery was better than any other!  Mimi and Aunt GG graciously kept Silas and Avery while Bruce and I enjoyed a fabulous dinner at the Parlor Market. Grace made a delicious cake and I had two cutie pies to help me blow out ALL those candles.  After all, they need practice... they'll be turning ONE in a short month!



Not so sure about the candles...



Mid-July, Bruce's parents came to visit for a few days!  We were excited to see them and had such a fun time all weekend. Silas and Avery showed them the ropes in the house and all around town. (I'll post more pictures as I get them. Aaahhheemmm, Bruce)



my two boys!



Some little people look just like their daddy! 

 Sunday afternoon photo shoot:  Good grief, pictures are getting more difficult with the little hams we have on our hands!

Okay, the next series of pictures needs no explanation. Their personalities are self-explanatory. (and yes, I know Silas has on no pants. This particular day he not only decided he hates to have his diaper changed, but also prefers to wear no shorts. Oh well.) (and yes, they're in each other's chair. This seems to be the theme nowadays: they only want what the other has, i.e. sippy cup, pacifier, toys, snack, chair) Notice one with four poses and one who doesn't move a muscle, except for hand to mouth, that is.  

We cannot believe that Silas and Avery will be turning ONE YEAR OLD in a few short weeks. They'll be 11 months next week and each one does something new every day. Avery is standing alone a pretty good bit - in fact, as I handed her the bottle early this morning, she proceeded to let go of the ottoman and turn up the bottle with both hands...while standing up!  Elizabeth (the nanny) told me she took one step Tuesday. I told Avery she couldn't do that again until I was watching!  It won't be long.

Silas is hanging right in there... but I think he'll be learning to walk by watching his sister. We'll see! 

It is fascinating to watch these two people who are so different figure out this little thing called life. What an incredible Creator we have.

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord....a reward. Psalm 127:3

Oh yes, how true. How blessed we are.

Bedtime...for Silas

Somebody doesn't want to go to sleep... this has been the routine for Silas after his bottle at bedtime.  Can somebody say... stalling?

Happy 4th!

Silas and Avery (and dad and mom) had a great 4th of July weekend in Grenada at Papaw and Mimi's house! This was the first time they've been to Grenada and been mobile. They had a blast exploring and hearing "no" from me! Usually the reaction is to stop what they're doing, look at me and give a big sweet (but mischevious) grin, then go right ahead at their original intention. These days, we never know where they'll be when we look away for one second:

Papaw barbequed delicious ribs and we enjoyed all the trimmings with Mop, Pop, and GayGay who drove down Sunday afternoon. Even Mr. Terry and Aunt Mar came over for a little while. Yay!

Pop:  "And Silas, there was once this little boy..."



Silas:  "Silly Poppy, that's not what the book says..."



Avery telling Silas how to play in the fountain...

Still talking to him...

Avery:  "You're not playing hard enough unless you're soaking wet...."

Silas:  "Ok, I think I got it. How does this look?"

Latest happenings at the Warf household consist of both Avery and Silas finding their 4th and 5th gears... especially Avery. She is lightening fast crawling anywhere she wants to go and will be walking soon - she has no fear. She'll let go of whatever she's pulled up on for a few seconds before sitting (or falling) down and trying again. Oh boy, she'll be independent soon. Silas won't be far behind. While he may be a little, ok, well a lot more cautious than she, when he figures out how to move, he takes off like a pro.

This is such a fun age. I know I'll be saying that for many years to come, but they do something new every day... and we can't blink or else we'll miss it!

Happy boy!

Whaaassssuuuuppp, Daddy! Happy Father's Day!

Silas and Avery are so funny talking to each other.  For the last few weeks, they have a new way of saying "hi" to each other. Silas starts by saying "Ahhhhhhhhh" in a raspy voice. Avery answers when he takes a breath in her raspy voice, "Ahhhhhhhh". Repeat. Remember the commercial from a few years ago where everyone greeted each other with a "Whassssuuuuupppp??"  Yep. That's it.      So funny. 

Avery and Silas are both crawling and pulling up everywhere! We have to shut all the doors in our house to keep them corralled. Actually, we might need a fence. Avery has attained lightening speed on her hands and knees - she sometimes gets going so fast that she trips over her own hands! This girl is fearless. 

Avery:  "I'm the princess of the world!"
Silas:  "Silly sister, get your tail down before we both get in trouble!"

Silas still commando crawls on his belly. We just bought a Shark Steam Cleaner for the floors, but I'm starting to rethink it... maybe I should spray some pledge on his onesie and we'd have the hardwood floors clean in no time! He's mighty quick too, but rather cautious. While Avery cruises around corners with one hand and falls when she steps away (forgetting she can't walk yet)... Silas is standing there with white knuckles holding on! He gets mad when she can move and he can't (or won't).

Speaking of moving everywhere...  bath time has changed a little. We now have a few seconds in the window of opportunity for getting these two jumping beans clean.  You must act quickly and efficiently while rubber ducky and the singing elephant hold their attention.  We have one verse of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"... kind of like singing Happy Birthday while you brush your teeth. Then watch out!

All done Daddy!

We had their nine month pediatrician visit June 7th. No shots this time:-)  Silas and Avery are both healthy and growing!  Too fast... in my opinion! I can't believe they'll be a year old in a few months.

Silas

21 lbs, 29 in (45% and 65%, respectively)

Avery

19 lbs, 27 in (55% and 55%)

Today, we celebrated Father's Day with an awesome Daddy!  Silas and Avery truly adore him (their Mom does too). Here is a look at our house when he walks in from work:

Happy Father's Day Daddy!!  We love you!

And I just couldn't resist. Last night was a rough one with Miss Cutie-patootie. She was NOT interested in sleeping. At all. We finally got her up to get ready for church and I had to snap a picture. At least we know she gets it honestly. 

 Silas and Avery are so excited about their cousin, Elle!  We are all anxiously awaiting her arrival at the end of August... We hear she weighs 3 pounds and has hair!!

Other notables at nine months:
 - Silas has 8 teeth (4 on top and 4 on bottom)
 - Avery has 7 teeth (4 on top and 3 on bottom)
 - Silas wears 12 month and 18 month clothes
 - Avery wears 12 month
 - They both love to empty out anything and everything!  (not put things "in", just pull "out")!
 - Both are doing well with finger foods like cheerios, goldfish, sweet potato fries... but still love their MumMums and pureed baby food
 - They've almost made the switch to sippy cups for the "day" bottles... hope to be down to one morning and one night time bottle this week!
 - Bedtime is 8:00. Most (4-5 out of 7) nights they sleep until 6:30 or so:-)
 - Avery now points at a dog in a book and says "woof"... well, she did it "6 out of 10 times", so Mimi says it's official:-)  Ha!

Oh how blessed we are to have these two.  What joys!!

Playtime!

Silas and Avery just played and played this afternoon after church. Thankfully, Bruce was quick thinking and grabbed the camera.  They are so funny talking and playing with each other... just hard to catch on film these days! Watch the sequence of events. Let's just say somebody is a good sport...

(I promise they are both laughing!)

Sometimes, they even get so tickled it's hard for them to stop!

Of course the best part of the day is coming home to these two cutie pies! It makes my heart melt to watch them be so happy to see mom! Now that they're super mobile... it's easy not to feel outnumbered! Two on one:

St. Simon's Island

We are spending Memorial Day weekend at the fabulous King and Prince on St Simons Island, GA (thanks uncle Micajah!). Papaw, Mimi, GG, Micajah, and Uncle Bobby and Aunt Gay Gay are here! And we are soooo glad - there is no way Bruce and I could handle Silas and Avery alone at the beach. ha!  

The trip started with Silas and Avery's first airplane ride. Note to self: plan to leave house 45 minutes before the "normal" time to leave for the airport next time instead of 15 minutes. We, thankfully, arrived at the Jackson airport an hour and 15 minutes before our flight... but happened to arrive at the gate 15 minutes before we were to board. After a battle (ok, more like a heated discussion) with the Delta lady regarding our 'overbooked' flight that Bruce (and Silas) was bumped off of and Avery and I had a seat for, we made it on the plane. Ah. vacation. 

The twins did wonderfully on both flights (layover in ATL). Silas still just relaxes back in the stroller while Avery sits up leaning out the front waving to everyone that walks past. She is convinced that she is in a parade and everyone is there to see her! It's really hilarious. 

"Don't worry friends, we'll be here all week..."

The next try at the beach has been a little more successful. The sand here on the east coast is packed down and not white, fluffy and hot like Florida. Avery was crawling ALL over the place - the sand and in the water! Silas still didn't really like the sand, but he was content in the baby pool.

I'm so excited.. and I just can't hide it!!

Thanks for my boats Aunt Gay Gay!

Gay Gay is here!!!!

Silas and Avery LOVED the pool this afternoon:

All tuckered out with Papaw. So sweet.

The second try was a little better. 

3 of us... Silas was playing with GG in the pool! 

Conversations lately:

Avery:  dadada  dadada  dadada

Meredith:  mamama  mamama mama

Avery:  dada dada

Meredith:  mmaaaaammmmaaa mama

Avery:  dada dada

Oh well. 

Silas:   ahhhhhh  aaaaahhhh

Meredith:  I love you too little buddy.

Baby Dolls and Bicycles

We met some friends for supper at Soulshine Pizza recently... and Avery was introduced to her first baby doll. Take a look at the video:

Needless to say... Aunt GG bought her one of her very own! She loves it. I had no idea she was old enough to really like a baby doll... but she does!

Having brunch with her baby in Sandestin.  Cheeeeessssse!!

I attended a continuing education course in Sandestin, Florida last week... and Bruce, Silas, Avery, and Grace came with me!!  We're so glad GG came... don't think Bruce and I could have handled the dynamic duo (especially since I had class all day!). So while I learned from Dr. Andrews and his crew about injuries in football, Bruce, GG, Silas and Avery played at the pool, shopped, napped, you name it. We decided to try the beach the first night... um, well... we had about 5 seconds of uncertainty... then somebody decided he did NOT like the sand.  (I'm told his mom didn't either when she was 8 months old. ha)

hmmm...not so sure. 

He was D.O.N.E. with the sand and waves after about 5 seconds.

Of course, as soon as Daddy picked them up, all was hunky-dory. 

Here are some other snapshots of the week:

The 2nd try was a little better:-)

Some of my favorites:

Avery is always ready to GO!

The last afternoon, we rode bikes around the resort... Silas rode on Bruce's bike and Avery was on mine... and Aunt GG was on her own bike. Avery LOVED riding and waving and smiling to everyone as we breezed past... but Silas hated it. Poor thing was just scared to death. He was gripping the little handlebars in

front of his seat with white knuckles. He started crying and Bruce had to return the bike early. When we got back to the bike store, he and Bruce were sitting on the deck smiling and laughing. Oh well, we'll have to try again sometime soon.

 

My little bicycle buddy!



I'll end with this cutie pie.

Update: Avery has now mastered the forward creeping! (on hands and knees and crawling forward) Silas still "commando crawls" everywhere he wants to go... and I mean EVERYWHERE! Keep a close eye on these little people! We always know where Avery is... she usually lets her presence be known:-)... but Silas turns on his "stealth" and slithers across the room in what seems like nanoseconds.
Oh, and yay!! Silas and Avery both have started to embrace the idea of a sippy cup. They each love their little cup of apple juice in the afternoons. I guess the next step is to try a bottle in the sippy cup... here we go!