Eating...more and more and more.

Boy, how things can change! 4 and a half years ago I was one new mama who was simply afraid to feed my young son table food, even though he started eating applesauce with his Prilosec at just 2 months old! Here's the truth - one of my biggest fears in life is of someone possibly choking. Probably has something to do with my dad constantly choking on food. That fear, on top of Luukas having so many preemie issues, truly hindered how early I started table food with him and I'm convinced it has affected his eating habits for years.

Well, 4 and a half years later, I still have that fear, but I am overcoming it...thanks to my youngest son, COLE! Yes, "that boy can EAT!" He eats EVERYTHING - from peas to pineapple to cheerios to graham crackers to turkey dinner and the fixin's at Thanksgiving, etc. You get the point right?!!! The first graham cracker he had was at Olivia's occupational therapy appointment and yes, I had to leave the room for fear of him choking. Everyone laughed at me and they laughed even more when just 10 minutes later I was letting Cole eat the graham cracker laying down!

Cole's great eating habits have really helped me overcome my fear, so much that I'm introducing all of the same foods to Olivia at meals, even with her known feeding issues. I've learned that she likes peas just as much as baby food peas! I've also learned that she is feeding/eating better because we are working her muscles each time we give her table food! Cole is not just helping his sister out...he's also encouraging his big brother to try new foods each day. It seems that Luukas doesn't want his brother to outdo him!!

Soooo, this post goes out to Cole for helping me overcome my feeding fears and for teaching Luukas that trying new foods and following "Dr. Antone's 5 bite rule" ain't so bad after all!

PS - I still have to leave the room at times....which my sister-in-law, Shawn, said probably isn't the smartest, but I'm always right there and I run right over to check every 5 seconds! LOL!

Olivia and Cole - 11 months old!

WOW!!! Did time fly or what? I can't believe the babies are already 11 months old. The last few months have really flown by, especially with all of our life changes going on.

I remember when I couldn't wait for the twins to get older and more independent and now that they are, I SOMETIMES wish they were still my little cuddlers who stay in one place! Cole is crawling full speed. He is our escape artist who likes to check out EVERYTHING! Olivia is rolling over all of the time and she manages to scoot pretty far on her butt! She is sooo giggly now too! They both are truly VERY HAPPY babies, especially when their big brother, Luukas, plays with them!

Some pics to share!

Grammy, the kids and I at Blake's Cider Mill!
Olivia and I kept each other warm at Blake's on a 40 degree day!
The Tarantula's soccer team - Fall party at Blake's Cider Mill
Luukas in his 2009 Halloween Costume! AND he's NOT Thomas the Train for the first time in four years!
Luukas playing at one of his Fall games!

WOW...it's been a while since I've posted!

Wow...it's been a long time. The Anders family has been very busy though with our move to Troy, which has included lots of renovations! It's been very hectic, but also exciting to be in a home with THREE bathrooms and a basement!!

Luukas is loving kindergarten and especially his friends and teacher. He has learned soooo much already this year and he has impeccable handwriting! We just had Parent Teacher conferences this past week. Mrs. Fitzpatrick said that Luukas is a SPONGE - he takes in everything! Now we just have to get him to get out of the habit of skipping the number 15 when counting from 1 - 20! LOL!

Olivia and Cole are making tons of milestones! Olivia is sitting up and rolling over (with some assistance due to poor muscle tone). She has 2 teeth and is doing better with eating solids! She still loves peas and sweet potatoes the best! We continue to go to OT and PT once a week to help her with eating and gross motor delays. Cole is 23 lbs, eating graham crackers, bananas, and cheerios, and he is CRAWLING all over the place! They each are developing their own little personalities and they are really starting to interact together. Sometimes I can't tell if they are playing or fighting - especially when the hair pulling comes out!

My new job is going well. I am working with 3 and 4 year olds who have developmental delays. I work with a great team and I am learning new things each day. I truly miss Romeo, but I'm soooo thankful for this opportunity in Fitzgerald. It's been great to be closer to home and especially to be able to drop Luukas off at school and pick him up at the end of the day! Oh, and I have NOOOOO paperwork, which is another HUGE bonus!!! In addition to my Fitzgerald position, I'm also working 8-10 hours per week at Eastwood Clinics. Business is booming there thankfully!

George is doing well also. He (along with his dad, brother and some close friends) has done a wonderful job getting the house livable! He's made all of the decisions regarding renovations....I'm just the clean-up girl and the unpacker!! LOL! Truly though, the house is the way it is because of him!

As I sit here watching Cole and Olivia play, I am reflecting on all of the transitions I've gone through in the last year and especially in the last few months. New babies, new job, moving, parents divorce, Dad's upcoming surgery, Mom moving to Florida, etc. You name it....I've been there! Some days are really hard and those are the days when I just want to run away from it all. I always have to remind myself to be positive and that everything will be OK. I know that in the long run things will always turn out for the best. What makes it easier though is knowing that I'm not alone...that lots of my friends and family members are going through multiple transitions this year as well. Together we will all make it through these "depressing economical times." We're all gonna look back in 10 years and be amazed at how well we've all turned out. I just know it! :)