Twin Bed Update

The boys got their twin beds right when they turned two in August.   It has been the biggest challenge for me in getting them to stay in bed.    So much so that I wasn't able to write in my blog because it was to late when they finally went to sleep.    Not to mention I was so frustrated and wiped out that all I could do was collapse.    Well it's now October and I think all the hard work and determination has paid off.

Both boys go down at 7pm now and stay in bed.   Naps are hit and miss but lately it's been more of a hit.    They may get up once and then we put them back down and they nap for 1 1/2 hours.   Instead of taking one week like it did with Brooklyn, it took a few months.    I asked for advice from friends, family and a great site that hosts the Twin Magazine.    Another organization that I asked for help was Love and Logic for raising children.    The consistant variable was being consistant and don't engage with them in any way.   

We kept the same bedtime routine of baths, pajamas, milk, reading and singing a song as we put them to bed.   We told them firmly to stay in bed.    If they got up we put them right back down without looking at them in the eye or talking to them.   The key was always doing the same thing.   After a few months of having no evenings for ourselves (yes a few months), they finally gave up and starting sleeping.   For those of you who are curious, we sleep them in the same room.   I tried separating them and it only made it worse.   After consulting the Twin organization, the experts agreed it's best to keep them together at this age. 

It's so nice to have our evenings back and boys who are not sleep deprived anymore.   Every child is different so never give up hope.  It will eventually happen if you be consistant and firm.    Thanks to everyone who gave us great suggestions.   It finally worked!

Personality Differences at the Halloween Patch

Halloween time is here.   The Twins are 2 now and Brooklyn is 4 1/2.     It was time to take the twins to their first pumpkin patch where they can actually do some things with their big Sister.    We found this great patch right outside of Dundee and before McMinnville.   You can't miss it because it has an old school bus with a VW bus welded on the top of it.  It's Dorian's favorite thing in the whole world.  He told me if he wasn't married to me, he would make an offer on it.    It's a good thing this trip isn't about him but about the kids.  

We are really noticing differences between the Twins.  Tygh seems to be more adventuresome and not afraid of anything.   Cole wants to study everything first and will work on a task for quite some time on his own.    If Tygh can't figure it out quickly, he gets frustrated and is off to do something else.   This trip surprised me after watching them go down a big slide.    Daddy took them both up the stairs to the top of the slide.    He was getting ready to put them both in his lap to take them down and Tygh just went right on down without him.   He loved it and kept doing if over and over again.  Cole on the other hand, had a look of sheer terror on his face.   

Cole first time down the slide on his own.  

Then we decided to have them go down together to see how they would react to each other.    Tygh was the big man on these trips as Cole tightly squeezed his younger brother every time.   It was so cute!!!!

Thank god Cole has Tygh to lean on.    They were all laughs and had a blast doing this together.   Next up is Halloween.    I would like Brooklyn to be the Cat in the Hat with Tygh and Cole being Thing One and Thing Two.    However, Brooklyn is not going for it because there is no Princess costume.    I'll keep trying.

Hair cuts

Everywhere I was going with the twins, people would comment on how cute my girls are with their long locks and curls.   As much I absolutely loved their curls, it was getting time to cut their hair or they might actually start believing they are cute girls.    The first attempt was me cutting their bangs so they could see.    However, people still kept thinking they were girls so I decided it was time to take them in for their first hair cut.     I was wondering how anyone could possibly get two toddler twins to sit still long enough to even cut their hair.   We found this great place in Lake Oswego called Little Clippers that caters to small children and was up for the challenge.   

This was Cole before and after his haircut.   He loved this place especially getting to sit in a race car and watch Thomas the Train.  

This is Tygh before and after his hair cut.  He did great too.

 







Tygh and Cole checking each other out after haircut.



 Boy was I ever in shock after seeing their beautiful curls gone and had to wonder if I did the right thing. Almost in tears, I head to Costco with the boys. The first comment I hear is what beautiful twin boys I have. As hard as it was to do, I know we did the right thing. Now don't hate me because the curls are gone:)