Shoe Shopping

We had lots of fun while Aunt Stephanie was in town...and shared lots of adventures...one of which was shopping for "big boy" sneakers...Nikes~ no less! You'll find Evan has a bump on his head in these photos...You'll also see the photos of Mommy telling one baby to sit down...so then the other stood in his carriage....to see if the "no" applied to him as well!!

Aunt Steffie's boys....

Evan gives Aunt Steffie a flower
Alexander has a flower for her too!
Alexander couldn't be happier!!
Mommy & Daddy recently visited friends in California....Aunt Steffie came in from Philadelphia to help Grammy babysit the babies...These were taken when she first arrived and the boys couldn't believe their eyes! I think it is obvious how much they love her!

Labor Day

Labor Day 2006 and Labor Day 2005

One of these things is not like the other....In "2006" Alexander is on the right & in "2005" that's him on the left....It looks as though he was a big fan of Labor Day both years...!

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day! It seems as though the babies are just as impressed to have me as their mother as they were exactly one year ago today!

Mommy's gone to the "bad place"

Oh dear...it's official...I think I've gone to the "bad place"....Yesterday my Mom and I took the babies to the mall, shopping for fall clothing...and by the end of the visit all I could do was laugh. Their big finale was to stand on their tippy-toes (in their stroller) while singing and dancing AND hanging off of a clothing display of Strawberry Shortcake clothing...All I could do was laugh like a crazy person and get them back into their seats. I had left them for 15 seconds tops..to find some onesies for them.. I couldn't stop laughing to myself...My mother just kept looking at me, like I needed medication or something. I like to think that God's first gift to me was in fact the boys..and then as a second (parting) gift...he's officially sent me over the edge (or to the "bad place") so my nerves are kept intact. It's not really like we're safe here at home though either....The babies enjoy moving my furniture around...literally. They found a way to get out the back kitchen door two weeks ago...Alexander lays on the ground and Evan stood on his back to open the door. We're making progress though. Last week I accidently left the kitchen door unlocked and they found that stretching themselves up high enough would help them to reach the knob and open the door. And this past week the door was locked...so....they figured out the deadbolt...and again escaped! Did I mention they walk? All over. In different directions....I think it is better that they sometimes split up though...it scatteres their forces and power. Instead of napping last week...Alexander found that peeling his ducky boarder off the nursery room wall was relaxing. And someone has gnawed a good side strip of varnish off the crib. Alexander "falls in love" with every girl he sees...he bats his eyes, wears a goofy smile on his face and flirts...if they respond he blushes, turning bright red and gets very flustered. By 11 am yesterday he had fallen in love 4 times...and we only left the house at 9:30 am! Evan is more serious..when we're out..but at home he's the one who always makes his brother (and the rest of us) laugh...with a funny face, a new dance, or game he makes up. I still can't believe how lucky I am to have these boys..and my only wish would have been if Christopher could have stayed with us. THAT would have been something to see! The babies had a doctor's visit yesterday and he couldn't believe how big they grew, how well they filled out, and how advanced they are. They are considered to be 14 months old...and they walk really well. He said most babies don't walk until 16-18 mos. The babies like to eat every 2 hours..like when they first came home. And I don't mean cookies etc..They are given food....The other day Grandma Barby brought them Arbey's..and Alexander ate 3/4 for a large sandwich (bun included) by himself. In addition to fruit and milk! Evan is 23lbs one ounce, 31 1/2 inches and Alexander is 23 lbs. ,13ounces and 31 3/4 inches. Not bad for 2 pounders! When they finally stop moving, they love their books...especially Alexander. He loves to bring me a book to read to him...or he'll read a book to Evan who helps by turning the pages. Lots of time (when it gets quiet) I'll check on them and find them reading their books in their nursery. I hope everyone is well. Summer came and went too quickly. Lots of love to everyone. xo xo xo

What happens when you feed them......

August 2006 Evan (L)..still silly...Alex(R)... still serious August 2005....Evan (L) silly...Alex (R) serious

These photos were taken a year apart......everyone tells me that I should stop worrying about their size...I guess they might be right?

Cousins

( Baby Evan....Baby Lilly....Baby Alexander)
Cousin Lilly came to visit this weekend...and we were all so happy to see her.....most of us that is......! I'm not sure if the babies thought we were bringing her home...or they were just afraid of catching cooties! Either way...I do think this photo says it all.......

Happy Birthday Grampee!

August 2nd 2006 Alexander (left)
August 1st 2005 Evan (left)
Yesterday we helped our Grampee celebrate his birthday...see any differences from last year? We may have grown a bit bigger, but the love our Grampee has for us is just as apparent!

The Good Old Days...

Alexander on left....Evan on right...
This is how Mommy found us napping today....It made her smile & her heart melt. It is exactly how we were positioned inside her when she was pregnant with us! We must have missed the "good old days"....Lots of people tell mommy she should put us in different cribs.... We think this is an excellent example of why we're still together.... xo xo

Two By Two....

Reading
Enjoying family photos
How we sleep......
Striking the same pose.....
Kissing brothers
How we sleep....
Water fun
Cookie Monsters
Some mornings I wake up and "still" can't believe I'm a mom....of twins no less!! It feels as though I'm having too much fun...and someone might come and take them away....I can't even imagine only having one baby at a time.....I don't know whatI ever could have done to deserve these little ones....I really am "Doubly Blessed!" Here are some insights into my days...sometimes I'm watching them and my heart just melts!

The Babies Have Graduated...

The babies and Beth...later posing with their"diplomas"......


We had some great news this week....The babies have graduated from their "Early Intervention" program! Because they are "micro-preemies"(born earlier than 28 weeks of pregnancy) Geisinger set-up an early intervention program...Mommy requested St. Joseph's Center. We were all lucky to get a really great therapist named Beth....the boys LOVED her! They tended to "fight" over her....both always having something to say to her, or show her...! Beth came this week and said there is no reason for this program any longer...(she said the same thing this Spring...but Mommy said as long as we qualified....we'd remain...actually she said the same thing she always says to medical persons..."We've come to far to drop the ball now!") Beth said in the past 4 months the babies have advanced 7 months!?! And while they're considered to be 12 months old....their lowest score was that of a 15 month old....their highest was that of a 20 month old (social & reasoning skills)...Their "15 month old" score was because they aren't walking....yet...they creep all along furniture..but no walking...yet....Mommy isn't working at all on that!!..for obvious reasons. She's observed that the only people who want them to walk..are the ones who aren't home with them all day!! Anyhow, we're all really going to miss Beth and her monthly visits. A few days later the boys received "diplomas" in the mail from her...Evan LOVES to look at and read his(out loud)while he eats....These are the boys' 2nd set of "diplomas"..the first being earned while in the NICU at Geisinger....There's no stopping "The Stabinski Boys" now!!

"Don't Play in Your Brother's Spit-Up!"

"We're a nice Catholic family, we don't read naked!" (Alexander)
A typical day in our home....
The babies' personalities are blossoming nicely...and their energy seems never-ending....They NEVER seem to stop, going from one thing to the next. When they first became independent~crawling & playing by themselves I decided that I would attempt to teach them one new thing each day. Now, I just try to make sure that they tire themselves out so I can get small repreives during nap & bedtime! I "used" to be a professional...leaving the house every day highly polished, ready to conquer the world...(at least the world of Hospice) & knowing that once the day began I'd have to solve the many dilemmas put in front of me. And yet, I was never so exhausted at the end of the day as I am with my "current position"! I also never had as much fun!! In the past few days it has become apparent to me that sentences I can't possibly believe are coming out of MY own mouth......(To Evan)"Don't hit your brother in the head with the doorstop!".....(To Alexander)"Don't play in your brother's spit-up!"(To both babies) "Come here & let me get the dog food out of your mouth!" And my favorite was Matthew's (To Alexander who decided to read after his bath)..."We're a nice Catholic family...we don't read naked!" Yesterday, at one point I was wondering if the day would ever end....and then shortly after I couldn't believe my babies are already a year old...I wondered where the time has gone...and then I began to feel sad thinking about the time when they'd be off in the worldnot needing me...Luckily, Evan found the doorstop and was heading for his brother's head~no time for sadness now!!

We're WIth the Band....

Evan & Alexander Evan & Alexander
Evan
Evan & Alexander
Evan & Alexander
Alexander

The babies worked very hard on their music today.....

Four Little Helping Hands....

Alexander eats the evidence & Evan finds the whole thing very funny!
I was busy cleaning my counter tops this morning and whenI turned around.. this is what I found...It was very helpful... I had no idea as to how I was going to get all of those tissues out of that brand new box....I don't think I stopped laughing for ten whole minutes!

Our Family.....

7/2/06 Mommy holds Evan....Daddy has Alexander
7/2/05 Daddy holds Evan...Mommy holds Alexander

One Year Ago....

Today......Evan (top).....Alexander (bottom).....


Can you believe it was one year ago (yesterday) that we brought the babies home? This was their hospital photo...Alexander is on the left and Evan is on the right...This photo is one of my favorites...I have no idea what happened to these little guys! xoxo

Just incase............

Just incase you haven't figured it out....if you click on any photo shown...that photo will become larger....

Baby Lilly to the rescue!

Baby Lilly...at 5 weeks....


Just when Mommy was needing a "baby fix" her "niece" Baby Lilly came to town! How did she know? Her very adventerous and kind parents Megan & Greg brought her in to Scranton to meet "Aunt" Melissa, Uncle Matthew, and her cousins Alexander & Evan. Uncle Matthew was able to meet and hold her first. He was quite smitten! He had forgotten how small and fragile babies can be. (At this point last year both of our babies equaled one Baby Lilly!) Now while "Aunt" Melissa was very happy for Uncle Matthew, she also knew that she had to get her own hands on that little one! So a few hours later...she did!! As soon as she saw Baby Lilly she fell in love! Lilly is just so beautiful and delicate! Mommy Megan said, "She's all yours, go ahead." But "Aunt" Melissa felt nervous, she also forgot how tiny babies can be! "Aunt" Melissa just melted when Baby Lilly nuzzled her neck. And "Aunt" Melissa even made her "niece" smile when she spoke to her...a big, long smile too! "Aunt" Melissa is just so happy that her babies will have a cousin to grow up and share lots of adventues with. And "Aunt" Melissa was just so THRILLED to be an "Aunt"...can you tell? She was also floored when she was asked (along with Uncle Matthew) to be a Godparent. She teared up and immediately began to call people. You'd think she was just named the next Miss America! As "Aunt" Melissa was ending her visit...Grandma Amy laughed and told her that after Uncle Matthew got to hold Baby Lilly first...she turned to Mommy Megan and said, "Don't be surprised if you hear from Melissa after she learns that Matthew got to hold her!"

Moving On...

Daddy replaced the baby swings in the nursery with the babies' toy box...and apparently it was a success as they went right to work! These little monkeys don't really "play"...everything is very serious and thorough...as if they are actually "working"!

Mixed Emotions....

Taken last Sepember 1st...Poor Baby Alexander didn't want to share....
Baby Evan (taken last week)
Baby Alexander (taken last week)
I'm coming to the realization that no matter how hard I wish...these little "babies" of mine are growing up....They're not the same tiny helpless, bundles we brought home last year at this time....thankfully!!..but at the same time it is sometimes difficult to watch them take babysteps away from needing me each and every day. Before I was a mom, my own mother told me that having children is like watching your heart...out there exposed to the world. I remember thinking (when I was pregnant with them) that this is the safest they'd ever be....Now, each time they fall(while exploring--their favorite pastime).."I" feel it.. each time they hurt (and show their boo-boo lip)...it hurts "me" that much more...And these are only "small" hurts...I can't even imagine the first time they realize that life isn't fair...or they get their hearts broken by a girlfriend...Finally I truly understand what my mother was trying to tell me....Anyhow...It became obvious that it was time to put some of their baby things away in the attic...off went the baby bathtubs, the bouncey seats, and the baby swings. Each time I begin to feel to sad...I remind myself how truly blessed we are that these things are happening at all....there was a very distinct possibilty that none of this would ever have happened and they could have been totally dependent on us for life. So....we replaced the babyswings in the nursery with the birthday toybox from Grandma Amy & Grandpa Frank and the babies seemed to like it very much.....While I realize that I must allow my "babies" to grow, learn, and discover..and this may cause a few tumbles and bruises along the way...I still may go along with my plans to purchase bubble wrap in bulk and mini-helmuts!