21 months (video)

Braeden has figured out how to open doors which has introduced a whole new element to the home baby-proofing plan. The twins also learned how to climb out of their cribs! Kaia likes to say her new favorite word, "accident," and sing "Twinkle Little Star." They know a few more colors. Braeden painted himself with mascara and likes to pull his pants off. The twins also like to wear their parents shoes around the house.

The Pacific Northwest got a huge winter storm (in between rainstorms) after Christmas dumping 6" of snow in Hillsboro. Portland was gridlocked, stopping the flow of traffic completely. Mid-westerners would laugh at how a bit of snow can completely paralyze a city not used to snow storms. Anyhow, the twins took the opportunity to stomp around and play in it!

20 months

The twins celebrated their second New Year's by visiting with friends. They are repeating almost everything they hear. Kaia's favorite phrase to say is "How are ya?" Braeden replies, "Okay dokey-dokey."

The twins climb everything they can and then swat at whatever is within range like King Kong. They went to their first art class at Gymboree in Portland and are learning their colors. Green is currently their favorite.

Here are some portraits taken at Kiddie Kandids.

Best in 2010!

19 months

It has been an adventurous year in the Martin household. For us, traveling, kayaking, rock climbing, skiing and surfing has been replaced with chasing the twins (19 months) around the house as they run from us and evade bedtime. Diaper changing has turned into baby wrestling. Dinner has changed into food throwing competitions. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment around here!

The twins are very active and engaged. They attend “super tots” twice a week. This allows them to interact with other toddlers in a baby-proof gym full of mats, toys and slides. Braeden loves to eat broccoli and apples. Kaia loves cheese, grapes and crackers. They are both saying several words together now, like “hello lovey” and “stop it!” Climbing is their newest skill and they are very proud of themselves; grinning from ear to ear as they perch side-by-side atop our bed or couch. Braeden loves to take things apart (like Grammy’s hair dryer) and run the vacuum. Kaia loves to read books and give kisses & hugs.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
Best wishes in 2010!

18 months old

The twins and parents are back in Oregon. They are reconnecting with the Pacific Northwest again. September was very nice and the twins went to the beach a couple of times. Early October was also mild and the twins hiked up Saddle Mountain in Tillamok Forest of the Oregon coastal range. The twins continue to grow and develop every day. They know more words and learn a few new ones each week. They can ask for things they want, which makes it much easier on the parents. Sharing with each other is proving to be a challenge. They want whatever the other one has. The twins are too little to understand sharing, but parents are making efforts to encourage taking turns with toys and rides.They love to swing when they go to the park. They also have a tree swing in the yard and a tandem swing in the garage. The twins are going to a playgroup twice a week with other toddlers at the city rec center. Braeden's favorite toy there is the lawn mower and Kaia likes to crawl through a giant plastic house.

15 months old

It has been a hot and dry month in Lander, Wyoming. The twins stay cool by playing in the sprinkler in the afternoons. They are wanting to be more independent and practice eating with a fork and spoon.

Bradley went into the field for two weeks this month - into the still snowy Wind River Mts. near Gannett Peak with the US Naval Academy. Kristen is packing boxes and preparing the house for the big move back to Portland, Oregon.

14 months

It is summer in Lander, Wyoming. The rain has ceased and terra firma is green with life. The twins are 14 months old. They spent a week in Rocky Mountain NP in May and did several long hikes. Along their way they encountered a marsh with water fowl, alpine lakes with ducks and mosquitoes, and a swift-water stream crossing.

Braeden is crawling up furniture now. With a heel-hook and dyno-move, he can grunt his way up onto the fireplace ledge. They love to play with the blocks that dad made them for their birthday. They continuously learn new skills from each other and like to converse together in their own twin-speak.

At the end of June the twins hiked up the Popo Agie River to a massive waterfall swollen with spring runoff. The water was too cold to swim, but they enjoyed the scenery and mountain sunshine.

ONE YEAR OLD!

The twins are one year old! It has been an extremely rewarding year and a very exhausting one. Sleepless nights, feelings of being overwhelmed and intense pride have flooded the twins' parents this past year. Most importantly though, the twins continue to grow into healthy and strong toddlers.

Things they learned this month include: dribbling a soccer ball through the house, navigating up and down steps, playing with gravel in the driveway and singing along with simple tunes.

The twins were given some new Easter clothes from family and wore them on an Easter egg hunt in the backyard.

Wyoming has gotten several spring snowstorms this month. The twins did one last cross-country ski trip of the season up into the mountains east of Lander. It was sunny and they did a lot of playing in the heavy spring snow.

Grandma Judy visited this month and we hiked up Sinks Canyon. There is still several feet of snow, but the warm temps will be melting it away. Braeden tookadvantage of a break in the hiking to sample some mud from the Popo Agie
River.

Thanks for following along with the twins' development over this past year. We all look forward to their adventures over this next year. Stay tuned for additional updates and also some new video!