ALEX has started giving kisses. It's so sweet that he wants to give them, but his version of a kiss is a bit rambunctious. He grabs his subject's head (by the hair if possible), pulls it toward him, opens wide, and uses everything inside his mouth to kiss: teeth, tongue, and drooooooool. Ouch! And yuck! He's SOOOOO loving!

Spencer Stairs 013

Spencer Stairs 013
Originally uploaded by doublethefun.

Spencer Stairs 011

Spencer Stairs 011
Originally uploaded by doublethefun.

Spencer Stairs 010

Spencer Stairs 010
Originally uploaded by doublethefun.

Spencer Stairs 009

Spencer Stairs 009
Originally uploaded by doublethefun.

Spencer attempted the stairs for the first time today. I found him trying it at home this morning. When we went to my sister's house this afternoon he caught on really quickly and made it up three steps before tiring out. He can't walk or even crawl with his belly off the floor, but he's climbing the stairs.

Alex is commando crawling all over the place. He's totally keeping up with Spencer. In fact, watching him, I think he's going to do an actual crawl before Spencer. That's the thing about Alex: he always defies expectations.

Alex and Spencer are now one year old corrected. Yesterday was my due date. They are still behind where they should be even for their corrected age, but they are making progress every day. Alex has started creeping. He's getting into the toy bins. I can't trust him without gates anymore. I was beginning to feel like he'd never get to this point, but here he is, and every day he goes a little further.

We had a little carrot cake with the boys' therapists yesterday to celebrate their due date. The boys made such a mess that they ended up having the rest of their therapy session in the bathtub. They loved it. I hope they're not going to expect that every week!

Last week the boys went to the pediatrician for their 15 month check-up. Alex weighs 20 pounds, and Spencer is at 16. They are both growing at a good rate and are healthy. We don't go back for another three months, and then that's it. No more well baby checkups, and no more shots for awhile.

Spencer now has 3 teeth and is working on a fourth. Alex has five and is working on a sixth. Alex gets to go to the dentist earlier than most children. His teeth have come in discolored because of all the medications he's been on, but that's not a cause for concern. The problem is that he has a receding gum line on the bottom. His gums look like they are barely holding his teeth in. The boys get their teeth brushed after breakfast and dinner (if I remember). They seem to love it (I think it tickles them).

Alex's favorite new trick is fake crying. There's just one problem with his little act: he smiles while doing it. I look at him and say "What's wrong?" and there's this little indication of a smile on his face while he's screaming. I tell him "You can't smile and cry at the same time. It doesn't work. People won't believe you," and then he just breaks out in a smile. He hasn't given up trying, though.

Spencer is crawling and climbing everywhere. He's always falling and bumping himself. He cries, but then gets up and tries again. He even loves to crawl around in the bathtub, and doesn't mind getting his face wet. He's my little froggy.

I had a yard sale and freecycled a lot of things last week. The house is getting more cleaned up and organized. It finally feels like our little family is getting settled into our home. Family...home...I am blessed.

Alex gets the hiccups when he laughs really hard.

Anyone who remembers Nickelodeon's '80's show "Turkey Television" might be able to appreciate the song I was singing to the boys this evening as I was preparing their dinner. Alex is sometimes bothered by loud noises, and I could tell tonight that he wasn't too sure about the sound that the Zyliss chopper was making as I pounded on it to cut up their pasta. To alleviate his nervousness I did what I often do when one of the boys is upset. I started singing:

My mommy, she went downtown
She bought some spaghetti
She brought it home
Now she's chopping spaghetti
Chopping spaghetti
Chopping spaghetti
Chopping spaghetti

Thank you Dana Carvey, Nickelodeon, and Turkey TV for giving me a song I'll never forget and can even pass on to my children!