Interestingly enough, this is a song we sing a lot during the holidays. It's on a Starbucks Christmas CD we have and Allen and I sing "All we need is" and Esme and Chan say "LOVE" over and over and over :) We're working on Poppy and Eve but so far all they do is smile at the song. Ha ha!
Another year is almost over and obviously our big event of the year was the arrival of the twins. It's been an adventure, even a roller coaster at times, but we're finally finding our groove in the past few months. Allen and I have teamed together like never before just to get through it all and so far it's working :) We've been getting out for family events and when that's not possible we divide and conquer - we each get one baby and one big kid or one of us takes the babes and the other takes the big ones. And when that's not even possible we call in the troops - Nana, Papa, and all the aunty's, uncle's and cousins for help. We've got our village to help raise our children! As you can imagine there's never a dull moment in our house these days! And as challenging as it can be at times it's so amazing to experience this wonderful life together - all six of us!
The twins are now 8 months and really interactive. They smile and laugh and crawl all over the place. Esme loves to help take care of them just like a mommy would and Chan loves to perform for them and make them laugh. They were born a month early and just under 5 pounds each but they've caught up nicely and are now about 50% each for weight and height. Mommy's milk fed them for the first 6 months and still going strong. They also love eating solid foods - all the purees and lots of local foods too - papaya, avocado, mango, poi, etc. Pretty soon we'll be starting them on small cut up bits of food too.
The girls have a wonderful sitter, Aunty Veva, who cares for them during the day. Their naps are sporadic and just when we think we get them on a good schedule they switch things up again. But we're still trying. They can sleep through the night but they also take turns switching that up for us. Allen and I assign ourselves to a baby if they're both up or if they just need a pacifier then it's his job. When they see/hear me they just want to nurse!
Poppy is sweet and cuddly and happy if you just look at her. She cracks herself up all by herself at times. She's more sensitive and sweet. Her nicknames are Pops, Pops to the Mops, Popster, Chickpea, Peanut. She's got 2 dimples and a hearty laugh. She's also got her two bottom teeth. Poppy's features are much more similar to Esme's when she was a baby.
Eve has a lot of spunk. It takes A LOT to make her laugh. You really have to work at it and then maybe she'll crack a smile for you. And Eve likes to be startled, tossed high in the air, held really tight, etc. She likes everything more intense. Eve's nicknames are Evers, Eve's to the Beeves, Evie. Her laugh is really soft and sort of like she's holding it in. She just got her first bottom tooth and is very oral. She used to growl her throat and now she clicks her tongue and blows air through her lips. She likes to talk - nananana, dadadada, mamamama, etc. Eve's features are much more similar to Chan's when he was a baby.
Esme started kindergarten this year at Waiakea Elementary. She loves being in school with big kids and we've seen a big difference in her maturity level. She's picked up reading and writing quickly and it's a whole new world for her. She still does gymnastics twice a week and a 4H group once a month. She's a total girly girl. She likes anything glittery and sparkly and pink and purple. She loves to be read to and do artwork. She'll be 6 in just 2 months.
Chan started preschool at Keikiland and that was a harder transition this year. It all happened around the time of the twins arrival which he took harder than anyone. There were many crying mornings but thankfully we've moved beyond that. He's your typical boy and likes balls, trucks, and dinosaurs. He's only 3 1/2 so he's doing gymnastics for now but can't wait to start t-ball or soccer next year. He's very articulate in his speech and is trying to read right along with his big sister.
And then there's Allen and I. No changes for us on the job front and we're figuring out how to juggle it all. It's almost impossible to imagine what we used to do with our free time before the kids :)
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
