Bakersfield in June

It's frying hot here these days. Even the pool feels like a bath. We tried to cool off last night at my dad's house. Maguire wasn't in the mood to be in the water so he just hung out out and watched Keller and I play and splash!

Keller was so tired. He snoozed on Grandpa for awhile before we went home.

Onederful

Yesterday Keller and Maguire turned one! We didn't do the whole giant first birthday party thing. I don't think they'll hold it against me. June's son Tash turned one this week too so we had a bbq at June's Friday night to celebrate Father's Day and birthdays. I made vegan cupcakes for my high maintence child. Not only did he eat his cupcake, he tried to steal Maguire's and then moved on to Tash's. He's such an eating machine. Hmmm wonder where he gets that?
Mike and I joked about how careful we used to be about making sure they stayed on a blanket, sanitizing their toys etc. Now that they are one, we are letting them eat off of the concrete on the back porch.

Balls and bath toys from Nana and Papa

Katy brought over balloons and they played with them for a long time.




I let them take everything out fo my drawers (it was their birthday afterall).

They got new toys from their friends Jack and Callahan.

Grandma and Grandpa Babb brought a party over last night. They brought dinner and mini quads. Keller was scared to death of his and nearly crawled up the wall when we turned it on. Maguire sat right on his and loved it!

sobbing, crawling and sweating

We took the kids to have their pictures taken at JC Penney on Tuesday. Mike had the day off and I have been feeling bad about not having their pictures done at a real studio in awhile. I try and try to take pictures of them together in cute clothes, smiling at the camera but I can't get it done. I was sure the professionals at good ol JC Penney would have great tricks up their sleeves. I was planning on taking home beautiful smiling pictures of my adorable twins.



Instead . . . Maguire sobbed, Keller crawled out of every shot and I was a sweaty mess trying to keep them happy and on the designated white sheet. Mike was technically "on call" so he was chatting on his cell phone during most of the madness.



We finally gave up and I resolved to forgo studio pictures until they can be bribed.



The girl got a few cute shots and of course I bought several sheets (all of our suffering couldn't go undocumented) If you want to see them go look here



(enter JOCELYN BABB)

Look what we can do

I brought this tub into the living room to hold some of our growing stash of toys. Turns out IT is a new favorite toy in the Babb household. There is a funny sticker label of a baby in the box with it crossed out. In other words, don't let your baby play in this tub. Bad mom?

Please ignore the obnoxious commentary for the following video. As a matter of fact, go ahead and turn your speakers off before you push play.

Keller can stand all by himself these days for an extended period of time. He has even taken a step or two from the chair to the couch. Maguire isn't so interested in walking but loves to clap and wave.

eggs, peanuts, soy and swimming

Keller had his allergist apointment yesterday. My mom went with me to help with the kids. They don't enjoy their stroller anymore and cry to get down in the dirty doctors office. We had them entertained with a variety show of The Itsy Bitsy Spider, fake coughing and tickling-for a bit.

I was given another CREAM to add to Keller's collection. He took pictures of Keller's arms and legs and wants me to use the cream and come back in a month. Many products contain the label: MADE ON EQUIPTMENT SHARED WITH EGG, NUTS AND SOY. He told me I didn't have to be THAT careful because his allergies seem limited to his skin. He seems to think he may grow out of the egg and soy allergy. The peanut allergy is a little tougher to get rid of apparently. So, I will be trying yet another cream and praying that it heals my little man!

After the appointment, I went over to my friend Katy's to swim with the boys, her boys and my friend Brandy's twin boys. The water was too chilly (the weather in Bakersfield has been awesome for June) so we got in her giant spa. It was too crazy to see all of us juggling all of these kids, floating devices, sunscreen and swim diapers. Katy's brother in law was there too and he was a good sport about helping. I love having fun friends with boys!

Escape artists

This is our GARAGE door! They are crazy and everywhere. They are so funny and full of personality these days. I can't wait to see what they do next . . .

Meeting Aubrey and other stuff

I can tell summer is here. We have been so busy that I haven't even had a chance to blog!

We did some "swimming" in the baby pool the other other day. Mike just threw them in there naked and they were happy. He got in with them and did a little rendition of Row, Row, Row Your Boat with a spatula.

Last Sunday we went to Tehachapi (ok-so I thought last time was the LAST time). We met Aubrey for the first time! Aubrey is Mike's best friend Danny's little girl. Danny and his family live in Iowa so we haven't gotten to meet Aubrey until now. Many of you prayed with us for Aubrey. She is really a miracle baby. Aubrey was born with heart problems and at 11 days old had to be taken by helicopter to a children's hospital for an experimental heart surgery. In order to save her life, the helicopter had to land at a different hospital where they gave her a shot of calcium in her foot. The calcium saved her life but killed her foot. Her leg was amputated several weeks later. Sarah and Danny stayed at the Ronald McDonald house for weeks while Aubrey healed. Part of the reason we wanted to walk this weekend to help support the house in Bakersfield!

Aubrey has a prosthetic leg now and gets around great! She is happy and adorable and we loved getting to meet her finally.

Aubrey was loving Keller. Sarah and I thought Aubrey Babb had a nice ring to it. Isn't she a cutie? She gave me a little bit of girl fever.

We got some news about Keller's eczema too! He is highly allergic to eggs and nuts. He is mildly allergic to soy. Up until now, the main sources of protein for the kids has been eggs, nuts and tofu!! I have taken Keller off of these things and his eczema seems to be getting better. Unfortunately, everything contains soy, eggs and nuts. I am on my to making appointments with the allergist and dietician.

I am glad to have some answers but frustated by the answers we got! BreAnne told me at her school there is a special table for kids with peanut allergies in the cafeteria-poor Keller.