TV watchers

This picture is not upside down. I couldn't get the girls to look away from the TV long enough for me to snap their picture. I went and stood in front of it, but as you can see, they just looked around me! Sometimes, when I have things I need to get done, I will put children's shows on for them to watch. I doubt they really care, but them seem to enjoy the bright colors and the fun sounds. This day I had them turned away from the TV, but they wanted to watch anyway. I can hear it now, "Mom, you are in the way!"

They are both reaching out for objects pretty well. They really have control of their arms, now they seem to be working on wrapping their fingers around things. We hadn't been strapping them into their swings, but seeing all of the wiggling they do now, we though we should at least get the tray snapped into place. They were really checking out the zebra and giraffe toys hooked to it. They just stared and stared at them. They would look at the toy, then look at me, then back at the toy. Pretty funny.

Parmentar's at Christmas

Parm babies

Our close family friend took some amazing pictures of the girls while we were at my mom and dad's. Here are just a few. Thanks, Susan!!

Our first Christmas

The girls on Christmas morning.

Mom and her babies!

Maddie checking out her new toy...my mom sewed each girl's name on the back. So cute!

Dad and Madeline.

Lena playing. She is a bit under the weather, so we didn't make her pose for as many pictures as usual!

Maddie tearing into a present.
Madeline

Lena

Maddie with her glow worm.

Maddie with her and Lena's stash.

Christmas in Illinois

Almost the end of a VERY long trip! The girls and I headed back to Ohio on the morning of the 23rd. We drove on ice for about nine hours before I broke down and got a hotel about 20 miles south of Cincinnati. Maddie and Lena had been in the car way too long, and they were letting me know it. I was a nervous wreck from driving in such dangerous conditions all day. Here they are in a makeshift bed in the hotel. They were soooo happy to be out of their car seats.We got up early and drove the 2 1/2 hours to Columbus the next morning. At least we were safe!!

Grandma in her usual spot...in the kitchen cleaning up after another delicious dinner.

Grandpa Kenny playing with Maddie.

Aunt Jamie with Madeline.

Uncle Andrew is the perfect sized bed for Lena.

The girls were dishing out smiles left and right this trip.

Grandpa with an armful!

Grandma getting home from work...her turn to hold the girls!

We found new toys as soon as we got to Grandma and Grandpa's

Grandpa with Lena

Cousins!!

Jimmy jumped at the chance to hold the babies!
Grandpa Kenny and four of his great grand children
While in Illinois, my mom, grandpa, the girls, and I took a trip up to my AuntCheryl and Uncle Robbie's house. My cousin Nathan and his family were in for a quick visit from New Hampshire. We got to introduce the girls to some of their family they had not had the chance to meet yet. Here they are with Nathan and Christine's boys- Jimmy and Kenny.

Santa photo

I'm not sure who is chubbier or whose cheeks are rosier???

Chris, Uncle Zach, and I took the girls to the mall to have their picture made with Santa on Monday. It was really easy. I expected the girls to get a little weirded out, but they did good. No smiles, but no cries either!

Baptism

Precious dolls
The grandmothers
Proud parents

Jen's family

Chris's family

Grandparents

Godparents

Maddie getting baptized, Lena's up next

Chris and I had the girls baptized Saturday. It was a really nice ceremony, and tons of our family was able to make it. We had a great weekend, and the girls have been SO spoiled! Chris's grandmother made the girls' dresses...aren't they beautiful?!?! She sewed buttons on the back from one of Maddie and Lena's great great grandmother's dresses. They couldn't have been more exquisite or special! Everyone joined us for lunch before we headed to the church, and then we had strawberry cake and pink champagne (a tradition my grandma Joan started for mine and my sister's baptisms) after the mass.

Parmentar Parenting

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

We tried...

Do you know how hard it is to photograph two four month olds sitting up?
These are some of the best photos we got. Not really fit for a Christmas card, but still sweet.

Trying to calm the girls down about half way through the photo shoot.

Daddy suprised mom with a picture!

We are beat

Another month, another doctor's appointment, another round of shots. They were really champs this time. Maddie and Lena each received four shots, cried for maybe two minutes, and were asleep before we left the office. The are still sleeping in their car seats now (we have been home for about half an hour). This is very rare- typically, the minute they are not in motion, they want out of those things! Here is the update- Maddie weighs 15lb, 9oz and is 25in long, Lena is 15lb and is 25 1/4in long. They are between the 75th and 90th percentile for both height and weight. The doctor's seem very pleased with how they are growing, and so am I! It is a bit sad that they are not so little anymore, but very exciting to see the new things they can do!

Out cold

They were so good while mommy was in the shower. They were talking to each other when I went upstairs, and they were wiped out when I came back down. When I got out of the shower, I kept wondering why I didn't hear them crying. Don't they look so different from each other in these pictures?? Also, the outfits they are wearing are ones that my mom and I picked up on our shopping weekend when she was here a couple weeks ago. They are six month old outfits...they are growing like weeds!! We have our next doctor's appointment on Friday. I can't wait to find out how much they weigh and how tall they are!