Bill & Natalie, Audrey Anna, Olivia, & Emma The Jost Family

The twins have hit some big milestones since their birthday in November. I've always let the kids do what they're comfortable with when they want to, while pushing them just a little beyond it.

No more bottles

Right after their first birthday, I started giving them just two bottles a day, and then one, working down to last month when I put the bottles away completely. I'm happy to report no objection from the babies and they're getting a healthy amount of milk at meals.

We're in toddler beds

Well, we're not, the babies are. ;) About three week ago I saw the girls standing up in their cribs one morning and I had a foreshadowing thought of them climbing out of their cribs as so many multiples moms said happened at this age. I remembered Audrey Anna never did, but thought I'd take precautions just in case. I wasn't about to get a crib tent as so many moms attest to having done, so I thought about it for a couple of days and decided it was worth trying to get them to sleep in a regular bed.

It made sense to me, to get them used to it before they start really walking so they don't have a chance to get stir crazy in the cribs. So I took the rails off one side as the cribs are designed for, and now we have cute little "day beds" for them.

It took a few nights of putting them back into bed 6-10 times, but they had it down after a week. Emma's eager to please so I'd just look at her sitting on the bed and say "good girl, Emma" and she'd smile real pleased with herself and stay put. Olivia was more difficult. She saw freedom and took it for all she could. She was into everything every time I left the room. I had to sit by her bed for a half an hour one night, just hoisting her back into bed every ten seconds until she finally gave up.

They still take a chance now and then and try to sneak out. In fact, just now I had to get up to go lock the door because Olivia just today figured out how to open it. But for the most part, they're staying in bed all night and even when they wake up they wait for me to come get them. Occasionally I take longer getting to them in the morning and they get up but I let them go out into the living room where we keep the gate closed. They can play for a few minutes while I wake up.

Using the potty

Finally, just this week I've started working on the potty. I set them down together on their potty chairs and Audrey goes (or pretends to go) on the big toilet. We go potty when they wake up in the morning, before and after nap, and again before bed. I'm only changing 2-3 diapers a day now for each of them which has cut our diaper runs by half! As soon as they can walk I'll try the pull ups on them and my goal is to have them potty trained by 18 months! I know, crazy, but I'm determined. Diapers are the last big expense and I can't wait to be rid of it.

Video of Emma jumping on the beanbag chair

Thanksgiving was a tense time for the girls. It was really crowded and they were real fussy so I brought them home. Emma got her second wind just after I took off my coat, jumping off my lap onto the beanbag chair.

A friend turned me onto digital scrapbooking last year and I'm finally starting to sit down and do it. It's still time-consuming, but not near as much, or as messy as "real" scrapbooking. I've been trying to do one every day, either while the girls nap or after they've gone to bed at night. I just can't keep up with them. By the time I get a page done they'll be in a whole new stage!

These from the mall play area were just so cute. When Emma was first starting to scoot around, she had a hard time balancing when sitting back up from crawling position. She would put her arms out to steady herself, just sure she was going to fall over if she didn't.

Olivia has her moments, when she gets in a giggle fit, but most of the time she's so quiet! She's into everything, but not real vocal about it. Emma, on the other hand... well, we're still trying to find her OFF button.

Finally, here are the twins waiting for Audrey Anna to come home from school. Olivia presses her forehead against the glass and raps her palms until the bus comes. You should see Audrey Anna bolt off the bus and run up the steps yelling, "Livie! Emmy!"