Paul(a) the octopus: twins at 18 months

Well life is getting hectic. The girls are all over the show and I am either trying to get them out of/off/out from under things (octopus) or trying to herd them in the same direction (Lassie the sheepdog). This year has been way more hectic for me than the first year. To add to the confusion, the girls are so different in personalities - Olivia wants to sit on my lap/hip preferable all the time, whilst Rachel wants to climb anything and everything. Seriously, I am so exhausted at night it is just unreal! However, there is light at the end of the tunnel: the girls are eating by themselves and generally sit still to finish their meals. Olivia is getting very good at puzzle type games so can occupy herself for quite a while when she feels like it (ie when she isn't pushing ht others off my lap so that she can get on!). Rachel is still a champion sleeper -it is a very rare night that I have up get up for her, although Olivia is a little more problematic. Both are very healthy at the moment (which I subscribe entirely to my new fav Scott's emulsion). Both girls are saying quite a few words and of course we haven't had any problems in the milestone department (thankfully because the prem thing always worries me a lot).

We are heading to the beach in September and will finish up potty training then (hopefully),. Both girls can go for quite a while in a panty but you have to watch them like a hawk for the telltale signs that the potty is needed. it will be the first big family holiday and we are very excited (although the logistics are daunting).

Anyway, perhaps you saw in the mommy sections the girls weigh in at a petite 10kgs each - but the same as big sister did at 18 months. That does mean a total of 20kgs though... the biceps are sure showing it too!

D can be a real terror at times, so I can only imagine having 2 busy bodies around the house! I must say D had croup at the beginning of winter & so far only a few sniffs & snots, but nothing that needed antibiotics! he has croup at the moment, well had last night. Scotty mulsion what D calls it, is my new best friend, combined with Pharmaton's Kiddy Vit Syrup everyday!

sounds like fun.

my boys are just the same into everything and Connor who wants to be carried everywhere except the shops where he wants to run as far away from me as fast as possible.

well done on the potty training I am not even going to attempt it for a while yet.

good going on the milestones

Hi Paula

Sounds like things are busy in your house! I can just imagine! Wow - Potty training! I can't imagine starting that yet. Grace is still very babyish and I believe boys start later than girls so think will leave that challenge for a bit. What kind of food are you feeding them now? That's great that they can feed themselves. Michael is OK but as I said - Grace still very babyish so I find it easier to just shovel food into both of them for now!

Mine are now nearly 16 months and I am also finding this stage challending. By 7pm when they go to bed I am absolutely exhausted! we have just returned from a week down in the Transkei which was wonderful for us but upset the babies a bit. (different environment, long drive -5hrs). There were nannies there that you could hire to help so at least hubby and I had a bit of a break. But both babies were unwell when we got back - refusing to eat, coughing etc etc. At one point all I wanted to do was run away! When we were away there was another twin mom there - her babies were 6 - and she said that things get a lot better after 2 - so this is what I'm living for! She better be right!

Paula the girls sound right on track and I think it is 'cute' to have petite gilies, you are petite too so they porlly get it from you

Wendy, mine are almost three and I can vouch for that, the first year is torture, the second year is BUSY but after that they start calming down and become more self suficient so to speak... I am really enjoying the boys now that they are out of nappies, feed themselves and can play in their room for a long time without me

Ja I am absiolutely counting on surviving the next 6 months till 2!

Wendy they basically eat 'normal' food - whatever we eat. Belive me I want to shovel the food in too!! But they refuse! They want tot do it themselves, or not at all! Oi!

Ha-ha ... sounds busy busy busy

It's amazing that they feed themselves and already potty training.

I hope you have a wonderful family holiday and that you can actually relax and enjoy the time. We went to the Farm Inn buffet on Sunday and I don't think I ate much ... wash picking up toys, dummies and books from the floor the whole time. Luckily granny was there to help a bit but Clarice just wanted to crawl the whole time and gets so frustrated when I put her in the feeding chair. Think we'll skip the restaurants for a while.

Have a lovely weekend.

Luv
Zellie

50 points for you Paula for doing attempting the potty training already... i think i might also wait a bit on that one...
Also gave my kids the ORANGE (tropical) Scotts , and they loved it.... and then i could not find it in Clicks one day and bought the original ..... and was wondering what it tast like (if its also as nice as the tropical) and i almost died.....- hubby also took a finger test, and it was horrendous... so please make a note to NEVER buy the original....

Amazing how their personalities as so diffirent... Kiana is the real witty (i wanna do it myself) girl, but also the one that can sit and figure something else, and keep herself busy... .not really a lap dog...and Nica is the adrenaline junkie, - also always on top of stuff, always into mischief, and if you tell her NO, she looks at you and grins and continue doing it!! Real chancer - but then again the one that will hand out hugs and kisses .

I also still feed them... they only eat themselves when i give them finger food - bit i am dradign the day when they want to feed themselves!

Shew paula well done you are doing so well.. that sounds hectic!!!

We are also going on our first family holiday in Sept and I am haunted by the logistics but i woudl rather be me than you...

I cant imagine having to deal with two Zoe's Paula, so i salute you lol... Godd luck with the potty training, i am also gonna put mine on hold till the days are a bit hotter, thanks so much for the advice you gave me last time

Paula, your girls sound like they're doing great!

I said to D this evening there is NO POINT to me even making a cup of tea until they're in bed asleep these days. When they're awake I am on the go (if only the kilos will fall off).

I am starting to think about doing a family holiday in Dec... am I crazy?

BUT unlike you ladies, I LOVE this stage. maybe because I hated the newborn stage so much. But seriously love it. They're like little dogs crawling all over the place and when I say "it's time to eat, let's go" they follow me to the kitchen to put in their high chairs - i love it!

I will happily change nappies til they're in school (joke!) because I am scared of potty training.

Zellie, we went to Mugg and Bean on Sun and it was the first time it felt okay. We ordered toasted cheese sandwich for them and they were "good kids". So we're getting braver with going out......

paula wat van 'n foto van hulle??????

Stem saam met Landie

Ons gaan vir 'n photoshoot binnekort, dan sal ek een opsit!

Shoo, well done with the potty training!!

Im sure I'll be asking you for pointers in 6 months time! LOL!