The Boys’ Room

So I'm finally getting around to sharing some pictures of Kason and Cohen's bedroom!

Here's the view from the doorway - Cohen's cot:

Then, this is the view of Kason's cot from Cohen's:

You can kinda see one of their sets of drawers (the only part that doesn't match!):

The wall stickers and the hanging lanterns (the colour hasn't come out too well, but they're the same colour scheme):

 And, lastly, their bedding:

I absolutely love their room now! If I could find the same fabric as their name canvases and rail covers, I'd want to mod podge it onto their drawers...but Simon won't let me, so I guess it's good I can find it. I wouldn't mind finding a rug that matches and putting that in the middle, too.  So, maybe it's still a work in progress, but I'm loving how it is at the moment!

xxx

Eighteen Months!

Dear Kason and Cohen,

Cohen & Kason

You are 18 months old!!! You are such little boys now, not babies anymore. And boy, are you two little characters!

Kason

Kason, you especially, are a clown! You just love to make people smile and laugh and you have such fun goofing about J Cohen, you are a sweetheart (most of the time!). You love giving kisses and cuddles and blowing kisses. And you both absolutely love to climb!!!! A few days ago, you both figured out how to scale the couch so you could stand on the window-sill. There really is no stopping either of you...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Cohen

You are both saying a few words now. Cohen, you have about eight, Kason you have about 12, but you both understand pretty much everything. We ask you to sit down before your milk and your snacks, and straight away you walk over to your little couch and sit down and wait patiently. Whoever is sitting down first will pat the space beside him, asking your brother to sit down, too - it's so sweet!
Kason, you have recently discovered that you can take my hand and lead me around - you find it particularly useful when you want a snack (you take me to the cupboard), or some water (you lead me to the fridge). Cohen, you have figured out how to make the noise when you kiss, and you are constantly blowing kisses. You both blow each other several kisses on your way to bed.

Kason, you have the cutest way of saying 'dog'. You can say it properly, but instead you call dogs (and anything remotely resembling a dog) a "goggie". I really have to get it on video, it's just gorgeous! Cohen, dogs are your absolute favourite. This weekend just gone, we were skyping Nana and Grumps. Their connection dropped out, and when they called us back, you stopped what you were doing, spun around with a big surprised look on your face and yelled, "DOGGIE!!"  - they show you Fonzie each time we talk to them.

You have both started to imitate us a bit more the last week or so, especially when it comes to animal noises. You can do a lion, an elephant, a dog, a fish, and (although not an animal) a fire truck! You also both like to point to pictures of the animals to get Mummy to make the sounds and actions!

Speaking of actions, you are starting to learn the actions to some of your favourite songs - Twinkle, Twinkle and Open, Shut Them are ones you 'ask' for several times a day.

Your eating this month has been...great! If we ignore dinner! You both eat breakfast and lunch and snacks really well, but come dinnertime, neither of you are interested. You are eating less than a quarter of what you were happily eating up until 4-6 weeks ago. And even then, I have to mix it in with yoghurt or your fruit to get you to eat it L I'm really hoping that improves soon.

You both just astound me with how smart you are, and just how much and how quickly you learn. You really do love each so much, and that brings me so much joy. I love it when you kiss each other, or pat each other gently on the head. If one of you is upset, the other will usually come over and just sit nearby.

Kason and Cohen, you bring your Daddy and I so much joy. We are so proud of you both and we arejust loving watching you grow and learn and change every day. Thank you for being such amazing little boys. We love you so, so much.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Busy, Busy!

This has to be a record...it's 2:10pm, and both Kason and Cohen are still asleep. They went down about 11:30am!!!! Mind you, they have had a fairly busy morning, but we often do. They were up, once again, at the crack of dawn, so Simon and I took them for a walk after they had their morning bottle, then it was time for brekky, then we got ready and drove to the new pools about 20mins away. They had a blast...well, until Kason wasn't allowed to play with the camera anymore because he and Cohen were fighting over it! No, they really did have fun, and we were in the water for about an hour before they started to get cold. Dropped Simon off at the bus stop and the boys fell asleep on the way home.

Since they've been asleep, I've hung out two loads of washing, made the boys' lunch, made their veges for the week, made their fruit desserts for the week, made a weetbix loaf, tidied the house a bit and found some card and made a couple of templates. This is what I call, Productive.

Last night, well, the last three or four nights really, were what I call, Unproductive. After seeing it on Pinterest, I attempted to put a couple of photos on a canvas. It was an epic fail. In fact, each of the three, oh yes, I was stupid enough to try twice more after the first attempt, attempts was a disaster! And the amount of time I spent on them...well, let's just say I was NOT happy last night. In. The. Slightest. Anyways, I ended up just ordering some online.

Oh, 2:20pm, and I hear a child stirring!!! Make that two children stirring. Almost three hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight's projects: Tutus! My next lot of tulle arrived this morning, and I've got to get a few more made so I can get them in the post so they reach their new owners in time for Christmas – can't wait to get them made and see how cute they turn out J

I've taken the pictures of Cohen and Kason's room, just have to upload them, and then I'll share them...later tonight maybe?

Anyways, I better go and figure out what I'm going to have for lunch...

xxx

Rashes and Kisses

Little Kason woke up yesterday morning with a big splotchy rash all over his tummy, upper thighs and under his arms. It didn't seem to be bothering him at all, but seeing as he had had a high temperature on and off the few days beforehand, we called the doctors and managed to get him an emergency spot. Apparently it's just a viral thing and we just have to wait it out. Thankfully the doctor warned us that it would likely get worse before it got better, because it definitely has gotten worse! It's all over his body today, including his face L He still doesn't seem worried at all about it, so it's not itchy or anything which is good. Hopefully it goes away quickly!

On another note, I've started my daily walks again. Only since Wednesday, but so far so good. It really makes me feel better, and it's nice to get out of the house. Unfortunately the boys don't particularly like being in their stroller for an hour, but I'm living in hope that they'll get used to it again and start to look forward to our walks.

Oh! Yesterday the boys were so super cute! I made them pikelets for lunch, and Cohen came into the kitchen to get his next one. Kason was sitting in the lounge, so I gave Cohen one for each of them and asked him to give one to Kason. Cohen walked over to where Kason was sitting, handed him his pikelet, sat down next to him then leaned over and gave Kase three kisses, it was so, so sweet! I love that they love each other so much! Although, Cohen did give Kason an almighty bite on the arm the other day (so much so that it's bruised)...but Cohen did also kiss him straight after to say sorry (I did have to tell him to that time!}.

xxx

A Bit of This, A Bit of That

I feel like I have so much going on right now. Every evening after the boys are in bed, I have a list a mile-long to get done. It's satisfying when I can check something off (metaphorically, obviously, I have no motivation whatsoever to actually write a list!), but it's exhausting. My Mum arrives in 3.5 weeks and my Dad a few days later, and there is SO much I need to get done by then - not the least of which is clearing out our garage and toy/spare room! We have a double garage and half of it is all clean and clear...for the car! The other half is filled with our neighbour's boxes (they were planning on moving, but that's not happening anymore) and a whole lot of our crap. Seriously, it's shocking. Hopefully the neighbours will get around to taking their boxes in the next week or two...they have some pretty major stuff going on and I really don't want to push them.

Anyways, I guess that's the reason for the lack of posts lately - my nights have been jam-packed, crazy busy. Obviously my days have been too, Kase & Cohen have endless amounts of energy and, mate, it's a struggle to keep up with them! Cohen flat-out refused to nap today, not that you'd know it - he was a box of birds all afternoon and evening, no melt-downs from him! Kason, on the other hand, was just not feeling too flash today I don't think. He had a slight temperature for some reason, and he was just a little grizzly. He had a big nap though, which was nice.

I'm watching the X-Factor grand final at the moment, while writing this. I finished one of Cohen's Christmas present earlier tonight, and once this song they are playing at the moment, I'm going to do the housework before the big announcement of who the winner is! They've just announced that it's either Reece or Andrew, and I'll be happy with either J

xxx

This is me procrastinating

The boys were up early again this morning. Not quite as early as they were getting up last week, but still, it's freaken exhausting. I am super looking forward to my Mum arriving in a month's time, that's for sure! She likes getting up with them - crazy lady! Anyways, we decided to take them for a walk in the stroller - they loved seeing the rubbish truck picking up the bins and dumping them in the truck!

After brekky, we took them to toddler time at the library. We didn't go last week, and for some weird reason Cohen was really hesitant and shy this week. He was clinging on to either me or Simon the entire time. Maybe it was because there were quite a few kids there, and we were sitting in a different place? I'm not sure, but it wasn't like him. He sometimes takes a little while to 'warm up' to a new situation, but usually only 5-10 minutes at the most. Kason had a blast though, and Cohen did too, afterwards, when he was running around looking at all the books. I think I have a little bookworm on my hands - YAY, I really hope they both love books!!!

I can see myself being online and procrastinating all night...really have to go. I'm running Neonates playgroup tomorrow morning with another girl, and her little boy's 1^st birthday was last week, so as a tradition, we have cake - and I'm on baking duty! I didn't get a chance to bake them (I'm making banana cupcakes) today, so I need to do them now.

xxx

Update!

So, I know I've been slacking on the posts lately, yet again. We've been having some crazy early starts around here, mainly courtesy of a young Master Kason. For almost a week he was waking anytime between 4:15am and 5:20am right ready to start the day, and no matter what we tried, there was to be no getting him back to sleep. He finally slept until 6:40am yesterday morning, but Cohen was up almost an hour earlier. This morning we had both boys up at 6:15am. Needless to say, I've been shattered. And Kason has been uber grumpy. Not too sure what's been going on with him, "wonder week" maybe? He seems to getting back to his usual self over the last two days.

We attempted taking Cohen and Kason to Jump 'n' Jive on Thursday morning...that was an epic fail - Kason barely stopped crying the entire time and I had to take him outside to chill him out a little bit. Cohen seemed to enjoy it, but Simon and I think they are just a little bit too young for it at the moment. I think we're gonna stick with Toddler Time at the library for now J

Despite the recent lack of sleep, I've managed to start and finish three craft projects, and they have all turned out awesome! I'll take a picture of the cot rail covers tomorrow if I remember, I'm stoked with them!

Speaking of pictures...I finished my Project 365 yesterday!!! I'm so proud of myself for sticking with it! I've decided that I'm going to take a little break, and start project 366 on New Years' Day (it's a leap year next year, remember?!). I'll still take pictures most {every??} day, and share lots of them...I mean, with boys as gorgeous as mine, who couldn't?!

Ha, I had great plans to be in bed by 10pm tonight. It's that now, and I still have to finish this off, do the dishes, hang up some washing and switch the car-seats around so we can pick up our friends for Playgroup tomorrow. Better get to it, I guess!

p.s. How awesome are meringues?! I love summer/Christmas food!!

Run!

Day 365, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Cohen and Kason running through the sprinkler - it's a bit fun, apparently!

xxx

Nails...Fail!

Day 364, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Saw this idea on Pinterest, looked uber cute, attempted it, looks uber lame!!!

xxx

Sulking

Day 363, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Kason was Grumpy. Yup, capital G. The ONLY place he wanted to be was sitting right here. Cohen was not allowed near him.

xxx

Bottoms Up!

Day 362, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Cohen decided one bottle of milk wasn't enough, so he pinched Kason's!

xxx

Kason

Day 361, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Just chilling at the playground

xxx

Out and About

Amber wrote a really good post over at How Do You Do It? about the differences in raising boys and girls. She brought up the subject of climbing. Kason and Cohen are most definitely climbers. They climb on everything they possibly can – into cupboards, onto chairs, coffee tables, up drawers, onto the windowsills. There is just no stopping them, so we do our best to make it safe for them and just keep an eye on them while they explore. Their favourite game at the moment is climbing up the end of the 3-seater couch, face-planting their way along it, rolling off onto strategically placed (by themselves) cushions and repeating. Over and over and over again! They have even figured out how to take turns doing it.

This afternoon, I took the boys to a big wooden adventure playground not far from us. Simon has come with us all the other times we've been. There is a decent sized area for under-5s, and a HUGE area for the bigger kids. For the first 10-minutes or so, both Cohen and Kason were happy to stay in the little kids' area. But then Kase remembered he was missing out on the huge structures he could climb on in the other area. There isn't a gate between the two, so he was off like a shot! Of course Cohen was close behind him. I figured it would be easier to just let them go for it, it wasn't worth the fight to keep in the under-5s area. I pretty much used the same strategy as when I flew alone with them – I kept one within reach, and watched the other. All well and good until Kason wanted to climb up to the top of the playground on one side and Cohen wanted to climb something on the other side. Yeah...wasn't going to happen. It made me feel so bad that I had to stop Kason climbing what he wanted to, purely because there were two of them and one of me.

I really do try my best to not let that imbalance of parent:child stop us doing things that other Mums do with their children. I think that with two babies it can be hard to get out and get involved with things, as the logistics are often more difficult than if there was only one baby. When I have to 'duck to the shops' to grab a couple of things, where most mothers can just carry their child in, I have to get the double stroller out and put the boys in there. They are now getting to the age where they don't particularly want to be in the stroller – they would much rather walk, but I just can't let two 17-month olds walk in the shops when there is just one of me! There are plenty of examples of situations where the logistics just don't work, or are made more complicated, but there are still many things we can do.
Right from the time we got them home from hospital when they were just shy of a month old, I have been taking them out for walks, to Mothers Group, to twins group, to several playgroups, to the library, to the shops. I often worry about how things will work when we go somewhere new, but I figure it will all work out, and if it doesn't, we can leave. We haven't had to leave something yet. Although, one thing which I absolutely will not attempt without a second adult is taking Cohen and Kason to the beach or pools. There is just no chance. I've had to remind some of the girls in my Mothers Group a couple of times, but they know now, and on the super hot days when we want to catch up, we go to someone's house and get the paddling pool out J

It can be so tempting to stay at home when you have small twins, but I find that getting out and doing things in those early days really does give you more confidence to try other things when they get a bit older. And if you are really uncertain about something, I'm all for scoping it out beforehand with someone there to help!

xxx

Cohen

Day 360, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

My gorgeous Cohen Asher

xxx

Our Weekend and More!

We had great plans to go the beach on Saturday as the temperature was supposed to get up to 35C. We figured we'd be smart and wait until later in the afternoon so it wouldn't be so scorching hot, and there would maybe be less people there. We went and tested out a new playground first thing in the morning (success!), came home for a nap and lunch, then chilled out at home, played in the sprinkler a little, then got packed up and headed to the beach about 3"30pm. When we got there, 5 minutes down the road, the sun had vanished behind the clouds that had suddenly appeared. It was still really warm...but the water wasn't! We went and had a little paddle, but Kason and Cohen wanted more! Lucky for them we took their inflatable tug boats we got them last summer, so we put them in there and they had a blast.

On Sunday, we managed a shopping trip! I had kinda been putting it off because the store we went to was 40 minutes away, and Cohen and Kason don't do too well at sitting in the stroller for any extended period of time. But, they did really well. We did let them walk part of the time, but we are still working on getting them to hold our hands when we are out and about.
We went with the intention of getting Simon some new jeans. He often struggles to find pants that fit him because he's so skinny (he hates that he can't put on weight - oh the downside (?!) of being a dance teacher!}. The first pair he tried on fitted him, and looked great! We got a few other things, including a couple of wire cheese slicers! Sounds lame, I know, but we broke our other one and we have not been able to find another one anywhere! We were starting to think they didn't sell them in Australia!

This morning, both Cohen and Kason seemed to have woken up on the wrong side of the cot...both boys were uber grumpy, so after brekky we took them back to the playground we checked out on Saturday morning, and we ran into one of their little friends who was there with his Grandma J Kase & Cohen loved it there - we'll definitely be going back there often this summer I think. They were much happier after their naps, and even ate all of their lunch which is almost unheard of! Dinner, on the other hand, was a completely different story, but we won't go into that.

Different topic.
Before Kason and Cohen were born, I made name canvasses for above their cots. They look great, and I still love them. Anyways, when they started teething (and being able to stand up), they also started biting on their cot rails. I made some cot rail covers, which worked a treat...until they figured they could untie them, which they have only done a few times. Anyways, when I made the covers, I just used some fabric I had in my stash, and it totally clashed with their name canvasses and it has been driving me crazy for months! I wouldn't have been too worried, but (mainly unintentionally) pretty much everything else in their room is in the same colour scheme. So, while searching for something else, I came across the fabric I had left over from their canvasses, and there was enough to make new and improved cot rail covers. Last night I finished the first one (of four), and it looks awesome! I'll take a picture of them when all four are done. Which may take some time...my machine has decided to play up something chronic so I need to take it in for a service.

Different topic #2.
I got a phone call from my bestie last night informing me that she got engaged yesterday!!!!! I am beyond stoked for her and her new fiance, they are the perfect couple and it's been a long time coming. When she told me, I screamed! Simon guessed straight away what was going on. And, she asked me to be her bridesmaid J so super duper excited for them both!!!

I think that's about it for tonight!

xxx

Necklaces

Day 359, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Cheesy Master Cohen kept posing tonight when I had the camera out!

His two necklaces are really obvious in this photo - the beaded one is amber, for teething. I swear by it! So far, neither of the boys have had any major issues with teething, including with their molars!
The other one is hazelwood and is for his eczema. It's flared up again, thinking it's heat-related. I only put this one on when it starts to appear, and it definitely eases it :-)

xxx

New Tees

Day 358, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

We love Dr. Seuss in our house, so when I found this uber cute patch at Spotlight the other day, I just HAD to get it (and one for Cohen). Luckily I had two brand-new plain white tees waiting for some applique, so I ironed these guys on, and voila, we have two Dr Seuss tees for under $15 each!

xxx

At the Beach

Day 357, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Cohen having fun digging in the sand

xxx

Woohoo!!!

Day 356, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Simon finished Cohen and Kason's new sprinkler this afternoon!

xxx

Fun with...trays?!

We've had a great couple of days! Yesterday morning, we didn't have spots for Cohen and Kason at Occasional Care, so I planned to take them to Twins Playgroup. That, however, got cancelled as everyone else had sick kids L We all headed out though as we had a few jobs to get done. On the way home, we went to the pet shop so Kase & Cohen could see the puppies, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds. I swear that it's their favourite place! After nap-time and lunch, we headed outside to play! The boys have taken to tipping their water bottles out inside and then splashing the water, so I gave them some trays and filled them with water. They had a BALL! But, they kept tipping the water out, so I pulled out their little frog pool and they took their trays in there. Apparently, pouring water from one tray to another, sitting in trays, submerging trays, and pretty much anything else you can do with trays in a paddling pool is the. best. thing. ever. They were both fairly unimpressed when I decided it was time to come inside.

I saw this water-wall on Pinterest the other day – I'm thinking I need to get Simon to make it! He has almost finished this already – it will be done by tomorrow afternoon I hope J

Today was a good one too. Simon and I took Cohen and Kason to Toddler Time at the library again, they really seem to enjoy it, but next week we are booked in to try Jump 'n' Jive – burning more energy can't be a bad thing! I was SUPER impressed with the lady who runs the Toddler Time, though. Last week was the first time we'd been, and it's only 30 minutes long. We got there today and she said, "oh great! Double Trouble are here again! Now, let me look at their faces. Alrighty, I think you [indicating to me] have Kason, and you [Simon] have Cohen." She was right!!! And the way she said it, she really didn't doubt herself, it wasn't a random guess! Honestly, she is the second person who has been able to do that – the first was Kason and Cohen's Grandma.

After nap-time, our Child & Youth Health nurse came for her monthly visit, and she is really impressed with them – their language and fine motor skills in particular. I had been thinking that they weren't saying as many words as they 'should' be, but they are saying more than I thought, and some really clearly. She was surprised that they will often say, 'a dog', or 'a ball'.
We just chilled at home mostly, after a quick trip out to grab a few things. I made some cot rail covers for their cots a while back because they started chewing on the rails. I just used some cute fabric I had lying around, but it's been annoying me that they totally clashed with the colour theme in their room! Anyways, while looking for something else the other day, I came across the fabric I used for the canvas names I made for them before they were born, and I have enough to make replacement rail covers!!! I'm making a few amendments to them though – doing them up with buttons instead of ties (they can undo ties, but not buttons!), and making them a little longer. That's my plan for tonight J

Dinner has been a bit of a fight lately, neither of them have been particularly interested in dinner. Even my (formerly) fail-proof trick of mixing their meat and veges with yoghurt (gross, I know, but they like it?!) hasn't been working. They wouldn't even eat their fruit tonight. They eat plenty of snacks during the day, and I'm sure if they were hungry they would eat. I'm pretty certain it's just their teeth bothering them a bit because they aren't letting me brush their teeth either.

Better get onto my cutting and sewing!

xxx

Goofy Kason

Day 355, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Kason brought my my jumper and wanted to put it on...it fits him like a dressing gown without arms! He loved it - goofy boy!

xxx

Frog Fun!

Day 354, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Kason and Cohen having fun in their frog pool with some trays!

xxx

Bullet Points

Saturday

• Simon was working
  
• Kason and Cohen were ridiculously grumpy
  
• I took the boys for a walk in their trolley to meet Simon off the bus
  
• Got back home and Si gave Kason and Cohen their dinner while I made up a gift card
  
• Straightened my hair while Simon gave the boys their bath
  
• Friends came over to babysit
  
• Kason refused to go to sleep for 30 minutes
  
• Got pizza
  
• Finished getting ready
  
• Simon and I went out to an engagement party
  
• Had an AWESOME time with some awesome people
  
• Got home about 11:30pm
  
• Cohen and Kason had been perfect and not woken once.
  
• 11:40pm Cohen wakes up
  
• Cohen refuses to go back to sleep
  
• I take him to our bed and cuddle him there
  
• Babysitters leave
  
• Cohen still awake
  

Sunday

• Cohen sleeps for 20-minute blocks. No idea what's going on...not teeth, Nurofen didn't help at all.
  
• Kason wakes at 6:06am
  
• Cohen decides to start his day then, too
  
• Quiet morning at home
  
• We all nap at nap-time
  
• Go out in the afternoon to grab a few things for a project
  
• Attempt a walk on the beach – unsuccessful, both boys just want to run to the water, too cold to swim
  
• Fairly usual evening
  
• Simon and I make two weeks' worth of dinners for Cohen and Kason
  
• Get to bed close to midnight
  

Monday

• At home
  
• Played outside with chalk – boys LOVED it, Cohen especially
  
• One of my friends came over for the evening
  
• Ordered pizza at 7:10pm
  
• Apparently a 60-minute wait
  
• Pizza arrives at 8:45pm
  
• It was cold
  
• Friend leaves
  
• I tidy, do dishes, fold laundry, rearrange carseats for Tuesday
  
• Get to bed about midnight
  

Tuesday

• We pick up my friend and her two little girls
  
• Go to playgroup
  
• Drop friends off
  
• Home for boys' naps
  
• They only sleep for 40 minutes
  
• I make them pikelets for lunch
  
• We play outside
  
• Skype Nana & Grumps
  
• Walk to shops
  
• Standard evening
  
• Write blog
  
• Now, I have to go and clean the house!!!
  

xxx

Smiles :-)

Day 353, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Oh how I LOVE this boy's smile <3

xxx

Fun in the Sun with Chalk

Day 352, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

As the title says!

xxx

Beach

Day 351, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Attempted a stroll along the beach...

xxx

Reading

Day 350, a photo by Road2Chaos2 on Flickr.

Kason reading himself a book before bed!

xxx