The Big Day!

Happy Birthday Ben!
Will was so excited to see all the balloons he sat up to drink his bottle while Josie sang to him again.
Dad with the birthday boys dressed for the day!
The boys at their birthday breakfast!

Our boys turned one on Tuesday. I am still in denial. I think partially because the first 6months of their lives were such a blur. It was complete survival mode. Or maybe it's because they started off in the NICU for 12 long days. So maybe since we didn't bring them home for almost two weeks after they were born, I'll feel more like they are one in two weeks? Most likely it is because I just started and finished their first year photo album. Attempting to get a year's worth of pictures into one album all at once. Either way, some how I am in complete denial that the boys could possibly be one already.

They are starting to act more like one year olds... here is an update on each boy:

Will points to everything. He is very close to pointing with one finger every time I ask how old he is... I'm hoping by Saturday it clicks, perfect timing for the choo choo birthday party! He says mama, dada, ball, does so big, waves hi, signs more, and moves his little fists to the wheels on the bus. Oh and tonight for the first time he covered his face for peek-a-boo!

Ben waves hi, loves to clap and say yeah, picks up a cell phone puts it to his ear and says hi, does so big, and he says mama dada and ball too. He also gives one of the best hugs/snuggles ever.

Happy Birthday Boys!

Balloon Festival

Will showing Dad the balloons!

We took the kids to the Indianola Hot Air Balloon Festival on Sunday. It's the 3rd largest in the world! They have a bunch of carnival games, fried food, and ice cream. Not to mention the little train from the farmer's market is there oh and the balloons! It is a perfect family outing.

The best part was how much Will enjoyed the balloons. He would crawl over to Billy, pull up on him and point up to every balloon that came over us. He was in awe. It was so fun to watch him. Ben was having a hay day too. Ben was more into the people around us (such a flirt) and the funnel cake. I guess he takes after me (and my sweet tooth) after all.

First Family of Five Vacation!

We decided to take a big adventure over the 4th of July weekend. This was our very first family vacation! We decided to make the 5 1/2 hour drive to Chicago to celebrate Independence day in the Windy City. The kids were an amazing in the car, in the hotel, at restaurants, really everywhere they did a fantastic job. Maybe we had low expectations, but we were really amazed at how well it all went.

We only had to stop one time both ways. We found an adorable little park in Rock Falls, IL that was perfect. When we got into Chicago, we checked into our hotel than set off to Millennium Park with Aunt Carrie and Maeve. Josie loved the fountains. The boys loved the grass with the symphony playing. After that we met Uncle Jay and Uncle Danny back at our hotel for pizza.

Friday we ventured off to the Aquarium with Uncle Danny. It was very helpful to have an extra set of hands! After naps we walked over to go on a boat ride. The kids did a great job. Will napped on the way there and Ben napped on the boat. Then we walked over to Ed Debevics for an old fashion dinner with all the family.

Saturday we met Uncle Jay, Aunt Carrie, and Maeve at Foster's beach just north of the downtown area. The boys had their first sand experience and I think they only ate a minimal amount. After heading to the hotel for naps and baths, we drove to the Lincoln Park Zoo to walk around for a bit. Then Logan Square was our next place to go and we met everyone at El Cid for a delicious Mexican dinner on their back patio. Getting to the restaurant was probably our only hiccup. We got a little turned around then had to cross 3 streets with 3 kids and lots of crazy Chicago traffic. But we survived! If that was our only stressed part, it's safe to say it was a successful trip!

Will is on the left in every picture. The one on the boat is just Josie and Will. Ben was sound asleep on me by then.

Something Fishy...

Ben has figured out a few things this past weekend. For starters he started making a fish face. (See video below). Plus tonight (on his sister's birthday) he started to wave...sort of. He puts is whole arm into it really. But when you wave he definitely responds!

Will has a new trick of his own too. He started putting his hand over his mouth to mimic me. It's similar to old fashion indian noises.

Our boys are sure fun!

May 15th, 2010... Will's hospital stay

This post should have been updated last month... Poor Will spent two nights in the hospital. It started with Josie getting a two day flu bug. It didn't really slow her down a ton. But than Will got it on a Tuesday. The poor kid would puke than cha cha cha at least once a day. I took him to the doctor on Friday since he didn't seem much better and they said make sure he has three wets a day. Come Saturday he couldn't keep anything down and didn't have three wets. At Midnight I brought him into the ER. They tried all night to get him hydrated. He has an IV and they did three different fluid bolus thinking at least one would surely make him urinate. Then at 6am they admitted him into the Children's hospital. We ended up staying there Sunday night and getting to check out at 6pm on Monday. It was so scary. William has been healthy ever since!

The pictures above are the cage like crib he had in the hospital. The Monday he came home and his first night in the ER.

Wrestle Mania!

We've started a new habit at the Bemis' household. Every night before we put on pajamas, we wrestle! It was the boys' idea. They love crawling all over each other so the rest of us decided to join in. Josie even says, "Let's wrestle!"Here are some picture of one of our nightly events AND a video.

What's the difference?!

So the question we get asked the most, which I am sure all parents of identical twins is asked, is "How do you tell them a part?" Well my friends... I am about to disclose all of the tricks to distinguishing the Bemis Boys.

Will

• He has a big raspberry (or red marker as Josie calls it) on his tummy. But if the clothes are all on (which they not always are) then keep reading
• He is a little smaller than Ben
• He squints when he smiles. His nose scrunches up and he furrows his brow
• He is fast!
• He is more laid back like daddy. He gets that there are a couple other kids in the house so he is content waiting his turn.
• He has a higher laugh, like a squeal to be more honest.
• He may not greet strangers with a huge smile, but he is definitely more comfortable with them than brother.

Ben

• He has a little raspberry on his head, behind his left ear.
• He is a little bigger, only a couple of ounces.
• He has a small dimple on his left cheek when he smiles.
• He likes to be on the move, but takes his time getting there.
• He is more demanding, like mom :) If both boys are crying I will pick up Ben and put a hand on Will to calm them down. If I try to do this the other way around, it doesn't work well.
• He growls when he talks and when he eats. He just learned how to spit when he eats (joy!)
• He will greet a stranger with his best smile. He will make them think he is cool with them. Once they get closer, he isn't too keen on them being so close after all. He is a trickster that way.