NINE Months and Counting...

The boys are growing like little weeds.  It is bitter sweet to me.  It is amazing how healthy they are and I love seeing that scale go up, but in the same regard they are already growing up and becoming more independent. They aren't my lil babies anymore.  At their nine month check up Rocco weighed 19.7 lbs and 28.5" and Maximus weighed 19.4 lbs and 29" (remember Rocco weight 5 lbs 7 oz 18.5" at birth and Maximus only weighted 3 lbs 12 oz and 17").  Yes, my lil peanut Maximus is catching up QUICK!  He is   only ounces away from Rocco and LONGER!  They have completely different frames, however, Rocco is much more solid, built like a brick and Maximus is longer and leaner (I used to call him a noodle because he is so wiggly).

Instead of doing my typical month photo shoot that I do, I had a friend take some amazing photos in my bedroom.  Its nice to be in the pictures for once and not behind the camera ;-)

French Toast!

Today we tried french toast and the boys loved it!

1 slice of whole grain bread
1 yolk
babies milk
cinnamon to taste

They enjoyed that with some raspberries and applesauce.  Delicious!

Finger foods...

I make 90% of my boys food, with the occasional earths best or Plum organics, for on the go.  As they are getting older I'm having to get more creative so they can practice feeding themselves with the pincer grasp.  I am totally against processed foods.  The majority of it has added sugar.  I was looking at teething biscuits by Earths Best and even though its says "no added sugar" on it, the second ingredient is evaporated cane juice... SUGAR!!  I decided to make my own.

Vegan Teething biscuits...

1 c oats (you can grind if your baby doesn't like texture)
1 c ground oats (grind oats and make an oat flour)(I just put in the blender)
1/4 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon or ginger or cardamom 
1/4 t nutmeg
1 t baking powder
1 c (~2) overripe bananas, mashed
1 t vanilla extract
3 T oil of choice (you can also sub applesauce)

Directions:

Mix dry, mix wet, add wet to dry. Drop by the spoonful onto parchment paper or greased baking sheet. Bake 12-15 min at 350.

Prayers For Rocco...

About two weeks ago Rocco and I were playing.  He was laying on my lap with his head at my knees.  He was giggling a lot and I saw something I had never seen before.  On the roof of his mouth there was something new... a ridge protruding out almost in the shape of a line.  As a mother, I STUDY my babies. I know EVERY part of them.  This is certainly something I have never seen before.  When he was a newborn C and I distinctly remember looking inside both of Maximus's and Rocco's mouth prior to checking Maximus out of the NICU because of the odd colors inside.  They looked exactly the same.  The nurse even looked and they were PERFECT.  My guess is it formed in the last few months because at all of the previous doctor visits Dr. F would check their mouths.

The following day I took him to the doctor (a new one because mine moved).  She looked at it and said it was probably just cartilage because when the roof of the mouth form, two sides come together and it probably just a little extra bone (Hmmmm.... sounds familiar like my UTERINE SEPTUM!).  A few days later the boys had their nine month check-up.  I decided to visit another doctor in the practice for a second opinion.  Dr. B (whom I now LOVE!) said she had never seen anything like it before and to play it safe we should see a specialist.

Monday we went and saw Dr. C.  He agreed that it is probably nothing, but in his 30+ years he seen two horrific cases (which I don't even like to repeat!).  There was brain coming down and protruding on the roof of the mouth.  THIS IS NOT EVEN POSSIBLE (I pray!)  Rocco is PERFECTLY healthy and happy.  He is so intelligent and is either right on track developmentally or even AHEAD!  Regardless, Dr. C wants him to have an MRI to be safe.  I'm devastated.

My poor lil baby has to be put under with anesthesia in order to do the MRI.  He is only nine months old and too lil for this!  I'm so sad, but need to be strong for him.  I just know he must be okay.  We have been saying many prayers, but can use more.  If any of you are prayers, please lift my lil guy up in prayer!

It should be scheduled pretty soon here.  I will keep you all posted...

Mommy and Me Picnic

Each day we three (Rocco Maximus and I) try to get out of the house, whether it is a walk, a jog, shopping, or a picnic! I remember my first outting with just the boys and myself, it was a HUGE milestone at 10 weeks.  I had to get out to just feel NORMAL again.  We went shopping and I brought my my breastfriend nursing pillow and I breastfed them in the car.  It was like I just HAD to do it to feel like, "I can do this 'mother' thing." Surprisingly, it is SO SO easy now.  Yes it takes time and preparation... diapers, wipes, toys, bibs, food, poopy diaper check, pacifiers, stroller, and of course loading each baby in the car!  But man, do I have it down.  I treasure these moment that are just us now.

Living on the coast we are so blessed with the beautiful Pacific Ocean, but we are also blessed with amazing parks!  Central Park is gorgeous, full of trees, ponds, and wildlife.  A perfect place to picnic!  I packed up the car and took the boys on a Mommy and Me picnic... So much fun!

Exploring new things (Rocco and Maximus)!

Carrots make great teethers!

Maximus...Yummy Carrot!

mmmmmm!

They LOVE sucking on my apples.  Bite for mommy, bite for Rocco and bite for Maximus

Hey...  Its mine!

Delicious Fuji!

Mommy and Maximus

Mommy and Rocco 

BABIES DEDICATION

Last Sunday was Rocco and Maximus's Baby Dedication.  It was a gorgeous day in Southern California and we shared it with our family and friends.  The boys did so good and it was so great going back to church (their nap time is right during church).  We let them sleep for about an hour and then woke them up early to make it to the 1030 service (Usually, they sleep 2-3 hours during their morning nap).  We are so blessed to have so much support of our friends and family.  We are looking forward to raising young believers with a strong faith in God and relationship with Jesus Christ!

In the morning...

I wake up to hearing babbling and giggles coming from down the hall.  It is absolutely the sweetest sound.  I fall back asleep until I hear the cry saying come and get me!  This morning I walked into a little game of peek-a-boo, a game they love playing with each other...