Cloth Diapers, Pincer Grasp, and Standing!

The news flash of the week, and the thing that's been making me GIDDY with excitement, is that we've decided to try cloth diapers. Good for the environment and good for us, too! A friend of mine who also has twins uses cloth exclusively and talked me into trying it out. So I emailed my Mothers of Twins listserv asking for advice, did some research, and decided to take the plunge. Two of the most helpful items are below:

One major find for us was the “Changing Diapers, Changing Minds” program at an online retailer called Jillian’s Drawers. The program allows you to try several different diapers for $10. You make a $115 deposit, they send you the diapers, you try them for 21 days, and then you return any of the used diapers you don’t want for a refund. There is a $10 fee for the program that is not refundable. The Jillian’s Drawers site also has FAQs and products. http://www.jilliansdrawers.com/cdcm.html

Another very cool item worth mentioning was a cost calculator at the Diaper Pin that will help to show how much you may save using cloth diapers. According to our calculations, if we fully switch to cloth we'll save between $2,500 and $3,500 on diapers between now and potty training... http://www.diaperpin.com/calculator/calculator.asp

Our sample diapers from Jillian's Drawers just arrived today, so I'll keep you posted on what happens next. Could be wonderful or not... We'll see... :)

Ethan and Sophia are starting to be able to pick up small food using a "pincer grasp" (their thumb and forefinger) and actually get it into their mouths about 90% of the time - which is huge progress... They are enjoying books more now and actually seem to have preferences. "The Foot Book" by Dr. Seuss is one of their favorites, followed closely by "I Love You Through and Through", a gift from my Aunt Jo-Ann and "The First Book of Sushi" which was a gift from our friends Hazelle, Daniel, Kaili, and Toby.

Joshua and Maya's mom, Jessica, sent us a few more pics from our last play group and I couldn't resist posting them in addition to some new photos of Sophia and Ethan.

Ethan with Joshua
On the rug... Clockwise: Amalia, Ethan, Sophia, Elin, Maya, Joshua


Clockwise: Amalia, Ethan, Sophia, Elin, MayaEthan, Sophia, Amalia
Charlie (by gate), Maya, Joshua
Ethan has developed a new game - "how many cheerios can you stick to your cheek". He initially had two, but one fell off when he smiled...
Sophia and Ethan discover bubbles!


Sophia makes a run for it. Ethan tries to look innocent and plays with his toes...

Ethan can now stand up by himself while holding onto the couch...

"Look, mom, one hand!"Sophia can also stand at the couch with a little help!
Ethan with our friend Ken at church.


07.20.08 :: Bubbles!


07.21.08 :: Sophia and Ethan are starting to play together


07.21.08 :: Prunes and Swiss Chard... high contrast vegetables... Note that both Sophia and Ethan are starting to hold their own spoons!


07.21.08 :: Dad-Dad puts on a show for Sophia and Ethan who are his biggest fans (aside from Mum-Mum!)


07.22.08 :: Finger food! Sophia and Ethan work on their "pincer grasp"


07.27.08 :: Playing together and talking

Eight Months Old :: Social Butterflies...

We've had a busy and very social two weeks! Our last post was during the 4th of July weekend. A lot has happened since then... Ethan and Sophia are more and more social every day. Ethan now has two bottom teeth while Sophia is still working on getting her first one. Sophia is scooting backwards on the rug now while Ethan seems content to stand in one place (as long as he has something to hold onto). They are both laughing, entertaining each other and are enjoying making friends with other kids, too!

Our little ones are growing up! We had to make a number of changes this week. We put our sink-tubby aside and started bathing Sophia and Ethan in the big tub. Ethan and Sophia started eating finger-foods like Cheerios and Gerber Puffs. We bought new toddler-size car seats and got rid of our old car seats and snap'n'go stroller. Last, much to my dismay, we dismantled and sold our swings. I actually cried when I took the swings apart. While it is wonderful that Ethan and Sophia are rapidly becoming toddlers, it is also the end of their babyhood. All I can say is that celebrating each one of their achievements is easy, but letting go is hard...

Ian and Carol sent us some additional pictures from the 4th of July. From left to right: Ian, Sam, Ethan, Steph, Sophia, Steve.
"You're kidding me!" Ethan could not believe it when we told him he'll someday be as tall as Sam...
Our amazing baby boy...
Playing with the activity table...
Our happy baby girl...
"Gotcha!" Ethan kept us safe from the crazy, funky-chicken-dance toy. We'd never seen this side of him. Steve, Sophia, and Ethan taking a much-needed nap during a very long, very wonderful 4th of July weekend.
On the Sunday after the 4th of July we went to a BBQ party at Charles and Wendy's new home. Charles holding his daughter Katie, Steve holding Sophia and Ethan.
Wendy and Katie came for a play date the week after the 4th of July. Wendy holding Ethan, Sophia in the Jumperoo, Katie in the exersaucer.
Ethan and Sophia were excited to graduate to the big tub.
Ian and Carol had a BBQ this past weekend at their house. Ethan and Sophia enjoyed playing with Katrina and Emily.
Sophia started off next to Ethan playing on the rug. She ended up by the couch. She is definitely on her way to crawling!
Sophia pats the rug.
Sophia takes some time to say goodbye to her old, but much-loved car seat.Ethan during his last swing - wistfully looking back.
Sophia during her last swing - grinning from ear to ear.
We hosted our first multiples play group today. There were 4 moms and 9 kids. For those of you who are thinking that the total number of kids should be an even number, while some of us just have twins, my friend (and super-mom) Ginger and her triplet boys came. From left to right and top to bottom: Charlie, Amalia, Maya, Wes, Win.

Back: Sophia, Ethan, Elin, and Kerstin (Elin's mom) Front: Ginger and Charlie
Joshua.

Sophia, Ethan, and Elin.

Wes, Charlie, Amalia, Ginger, and Win.

Amalia, Sophia, Win, and Charlie.Jessica, Wes, Ethan, Elin, and Kerstin


The aftermath...Now that he has two (!) bottom teeth, Ethan now prefers the truly solid foods. Like Cheerios and Gerber Puffs. No more of that mushy stuff for him!
Because Sophia is still gumming it, she developed a new game. It's called "how many puffs can you stick to your bib". Her record so far is 5 puffs.
Ethan was a little sad about only sticking one puff to his bib. Until I reminded him that he won the game of "how many puffs can you chew up".
The summer view from the nursery. Note the bird on the branch in the tree.
Couldn't spot the bird? Here's a close-up.
07.13.08 :: "Yah!"


07.15.08 :: Last time in our swings


07.16.08 :: Sophia in the jumperoo

Happy 4th of July week!!!

What a great week we've had so far, and it's not over yet! Pictures and story below...

My sister Kate and her son Colton came up from Virginia and stayed with us from Monday through Wednesday. We went to the park near our house a lot. Colton liked the swings.
Colton and Kate...
Colton, Sophia, and Ethan had fun playing in the sunroom. Note Colton's school bus next to his right hand - it's his favorite toy these days. We saw a few real buses during his stay and he got incredibly excited.
On Thursday we took our first road trip to Connecticut to visit my mom. Sophia and Ethan wore their "I love Grandma" bibs on for the occasion.
Colton plays with his truck...
We went to the beach for the first time, and Sophia and Ethan both LOVED it! We're planning to go back soon!
Gram, Sophia, Ethan, and Steve...
Sophia and Ethan sitting on the beach...
Sophia liked the feeling of the sand.
One of my favorite pictures of Gram and Sophia...
"Yay for the beach!"
"Hmmm... What's up with all this sand??"
Steph and Ethan. Ethan was all about the water...
"Ooh! I like all this water! Splash, splash!"

Steph holding Ethan, Steve holding Sophia. We had a great time playing in the tide pool. Kate, Colton, and Gram walking on the beach...
On Friday, we went to Concord to celebrate the 4th of July with our friends Carol, Sam, and Ian. We all piled into our minivan to go to the parade and festivities in Concord center. From left to right: Sam, Carol, Ian in our van...
Ian got a balloon for Sam...
Ethan was excited to watch the parade. After the excitement was over, he fell asleep on Steve...
We had a great time hanging out with Carol, Sam, and Ian after the festivities in Concord center. Carol is supermom! She held Ethan while still entertaining Sam. Arguably, Ian helped out a lot by blowing bubbles... Left to right: Ethan, Carol, Sam, Ian...
4th of July family picture (thanks Ian!)... Steph and Steve in back, Sophia and Ethan in front...

06.27.08 :: Zwieback Toast!


After all the full days out, we spent today just jumping around at home and napping...

07.05.08 :: Jump! Jump!