Author: Suzanne Robinson

I was hoping to have the girls toliet trained by now or at least on the way to being nearly there. However they have since they have been about 1 or before that told me that they have either done a wee or a pooh and needs it changed. So that is good. Was hoping that it would go into the potty training with no issues. However they just don’t sit down on it for long and then don’t do anything.

As it is really cold here in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia. I feel that summer might be the way to go and have them run around in nothing with potties outside to encourage the process of learning to go on what the girls call the big big toliet.

I know it is hard to train a child but it is even harder with 2 of them at once.

I also don’t want to force the issue and not have them do it at all, would rather do it when it is the right time and have it stick. Then maybe one day we will not be wearing nappies. Yepeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Will keep you all informed on any progress or lack of it that happens.

The girls have been really wanting to feed themselves, regardless of having great spoon skills.  Every now and then I have been trying to teach the girls how to hold the spoon and to put food on it and then finally put it in their mouth. This is hard, as Julia seems to want to have it all to herself, that is the food and the help. However as I have 2 children, I need to feed one person and then the next person. So Julia gets a turn and then Lillian. Julia gets annoyed and frustrated.

On Sunday I have been giving them both 2 different bowls for dinner, lunch and breakfast and each child has a spoon each. I am now trying to make sure that they have got their own bowls, plates so that they can feed themselves. Julia has taken to this so well. She looks so proud and happy when she does it herself and the same goes for Lillian. However Lillian has not mastered putting food on the spoon as well as Julia but that will come in time.

Lillian prefers to play with her food. I do try to give her some help but she does not want me touching the bowl, plate or spoon. She just wants to do it herself. I have congratulated them on such a great job and they are becoming such big girls. 

It is hard to manage at times with the two of them, as once one sees the other do something the other one does it. So you just have to hope that they have eaten enough before they decide they don’t want anymore, or take off their bib or throw the food on the floor. At least the girls now let you know when they don’t want anymore food. When you ask them you get no, and then they wave their hand infront of your face and say no. So it is very definate No More Food.

Although they have learnt early that even if they say no to the main course they seem to have room for desert. Desert is yoghurt and they love it. When they eat it they say, cold, cold, as most of their food is warm or this is the only thing aside from cheese that they eat that is cold. It was funny when they first had it the faces that they made as it was a shock how cold it was. However they still ate it and loved it aside from the fact that it was cold. Very happy that they like yoghurt.

Soon they will be masters of eating with a spoon and then we can introduce the fork and knife…. don’t know how long that will take, first steps to manage to eat well with a spoon.

Today Grandma ( Cheryl, James’ mother), the girls and I went to visit cousin Rae. It was a long drive but it was nice as it was good to get out of the house. The girls were happy to get there as they were keen to get out of the car and run around.

Rae had birds and the girls were very curious about them. Rae picked them both up at once so they could see the birds and they were so excited. However it was the rocks in the asian feng shui level thing to have keep rocks to look relaxing.  The girls were just at the right height to pick them up. They kept on saying eggs, eggs, eggs and trying to eat them. We kept on having to tell them that they are not food and they are indeed rocks.

I was changing Lillian’s nappy and she was on the floor while I was doing that. Julia then went to get a rock and then proceeded to put it in Lillian’s mouth. This was while she was lying down. Not good if you don’t want to swallow it. I sat her up quick smart. Got it out of her mouth and saved the rock going down her throat. Julia looked quite cute when she did this and thought she was doing Lillian a favour. She and her sister feed each other, give each other drinks, and many other things. They are very sweat to each other. She really must have thought it was food. Or an egg as she kept on saying.

It was a great day, but glad that I was there to save the rock from going down the throat and it was nice seeing Rae and Aaron again. Aaron shares his birthday with the girls, obvously he is older but just interesting that it is the same day.

The girls ran around the house like mad things and then we had breakfast. They watched their favourtie television programme, called “Yo Gabba Gabba”, then we went outside to play for a bit.

Currently it is getting quite cold and we had to rug up to go outside. So when the Julia decided to try and empty a pot plant of dirt I decided it was the end of our outing outside. I love my jade plant and as it is good luck I thought best to keep it as healthy as possible. So I took the little people away from it and we all went back inside. I gave the girls their milk and we played for a bit.

As they were so messy I had to give them a bath. To keep entertained while I get the bath organised I put on another show that they like and then have to put them in the playpen. This is the only safe place and it makes sure they are not interferring in what I am doing. I get the bath ready, towels, flannel, nappies, change of clothes, and make sure the beds are all organised.

I can only bath one child at a time as I am on my own so it is not practical. I leave the other child busy in the playpen with their show going and toys to play with. Once I have done each child they get tucked up in their bed and are in their sleeping bags that their nana made for them. Sleeping bags are wonderful. We were not using them for a while and then the girls were waking here and there. I thought it looked like they were cold so made sure to put the blanket on them, however they kept on waking. I tested out the sleeping bags and they did not wake next time. It was great, they cannot roll over and not have a blanket. As long as they are tired, bellies full, they will be happy to sleep if they are warm and comfy. So make sure your little one has a sleeping bag as it will help you have a good night rest and them as well.

That day the girls slept until about 5pm, it was great. I did a lot and got some rest as well. Tomorrow they are off to childcare, glad they are washed and clean.

Just need to figure out some intersting things for lunch boxes and then I am right. I am always on the look out for more ideas, so if you have any let me know.

Today I had to take Julia to the dermotologitst to look at her foot.  She has a growth that all doctors are saying is a wart, however James and I believe that it is not one as it does not present like one. Oh well will see what the expert thinks.  On my way to the doctors, Lillian was yelling at the top of her lungs. “Mummy, Mummy, Mummy,” I was getting on the main road to drive to Penrith and then I said “Yes Lillian what is it?, and she then said “Joola, Joola”, and giggled very pleased with herself.  It was like she wanted to make sure that I was listening to her and making sure that I witnessed the fact that she is saying her sister’s name.

After I congratulated Lillian for a good job of saying her sister’s name, Julia said her name and then Lillian joined in. It was a chorous of Julia’s,more like Joola. Still no i in the name, but we are getting there.

The doctor once we saw him, took one look at Julia’s foot and told me that it was not a wart. It appears that it is a clacification of the site where the hill prick tests were done in the NICU at the hospital after they were born. Lillian has a similar mark on the same foot, but it did not get sore or raised or turn black or get big.  So we are hopefully going to go and get it biopsed at Westmead at the doctors clinic. So cross fingers it all goes well.

Just pleased we were right. Interesting this is like the 3 or 4th time that doctors have not listened to us as parents and we were right. I think there is something in that. Maybe trust your instincts.

Lillian has finally said Julia, well really said “Joola” that is how it sounds. Yes a break through.  I now feel that my little girl is growing up. I know she is still little and every day she is getting bigger and learning more. However as she is now over 20mths and has never addressed her sister by her name it is an amazing day. 

Lillian usually calls Julia Lillian. Or Lilly. So for people who cannot tell them apart it is very confusing.   The girls go to childcare once a week every Thursday and it gets all the childcare workers in a spin as Julia calls Lillian “Sister” and Lillian calls Julia ” Lilly” so everyone thinks they are each other. Very funny.

It happened when the girls were drawing while sitting in their highchairs. James, my husband decided that it might be nice if the girls see the letters of their names. First he did Lillian, however he wrote Lilly as he felt Lillian was too long to start with. She just put dots around the name and drew some squiggles and said repeatly, Lilly Lilly Lilly.

He then did the same for Julia, wrote her name on her sheet of paper. Once he did that like he did with Lillian he sounded out the name and showed the words to match the name.  Then Lillian said Joola. I was in the kitchen cooking dinner and was so happy to hear it. I ran to them and congratualted Lillian on saying her sister’s name.

Lillian then went back to calling Julia Lillian however she has said it and we are so happy.  Wonder how long it will take for her to say it all the time. It took Lillian ages to call Daddy, Daddy. She kept on referring to Daddy as Mummy.

She knew who he was and the same goes for Julia but she did not express it. She kept on laughing when we corrected her. It is like it is one big secret joke that only Lillian is in on. She is a clever little girl.  Makes me wonder what she is going to end up doing.

As you might be aware from a last post the girls are obsessed with shoes.  Today Julia fell over and really hit her head hard and it resulted in a big bump, bruise and blood.  This injury was caused by the fact that Julia was wearing a size 5 gum boot on one foot and a sandal on the other.  The size 5 gum boot is way to big but they are happy playing, and now as they are dangerous they are banned until they can fit into them.

As the girls have not yet understood left shoes from right shoes, They sometimes or more than likely most of the time put the wrong shoe on the wrong foot.  This has caused issues with falling over as well. However it is hard to keep up as you put the shoes on they are taking them off to then change their look with new shoes or just a different shoe on each foot.I am sure that when they get older they will want shoes that are bad for them, and they will hurt them as well. So it might just start early. The obsession and the girl in them is making them love shoes.

All very strange as I was never a girly girl, I suppose having girly girls are great and if they are like that, I will adapt. I do think that they are just loving dress ups and it is not just the shoes it is the independence of doing it themselves and changing their world, one shoe at a time.

The girls have always spoken in their own language. It is so amazing to watch. The natter away to each other, nodding heads, laughing, crying and getting annoyed when things don’t go the way one girl wants. 

I wish we knew what they were saying. Lillian especially laughs sometimes before she says something to me in this language; it is like she is telling me a joke or a funny story. She seems being laughing at the punch line, before she tells me. However I have no idea of what she is saying that I just end up laughing anyway as she is so cute and funny when she does this.

Currently they seem to be replacing words with English words and still using their language, a bit like pigeon English. Very odd to witness. Last night they appeared to have invented a game that they had to stand on books and jump up and down and then run to the corner of the playpen. However this got a bit nasty in the end as Julia did not want to leave the corner, and then Lillian wanted the corner and vice versa.

I was told that the girls would possibly have their own language but it is another thing to be told and other thing to experience it. I am trying to capture this on video but as soon as the girls see the camera they stop talking.

When Lillian was about 7-8months, she used to point her finger and give me speeches and what you would say would be lecturers.  I had this vision at that moment that she would be a politician or a lawyer.  Who knows, but she seems to be very forthright and opinionated. I just wonder if this will reflect on her life or if I have read her personality correctly.

When the girls were 9 months old we went to Dr Scarf in Hurstville for their 6 month check-up. This was delayed as I did not make an appointment and the doctor was in hospital. When we were there the doctor was shocked at how well they were doing on all levels. As they were 6 weeks early he expected that they would need to be monitored for longer. He even called them precocious.  During this appointment, the girls were sitting on James and my lap. Well one on each. Julia and Lillian put their arms on the desk and were looking at the doctor and then they started talking amongst themselves. It was just bizarre. We were just telling Dr Scarf that the girls talk to each other in their own language and he said that he had heard and read about it, but never seen it. He was shocked and amazed when it happened, and very pleased that he witnessed it.

I sometimes think that this secret language is the knowledge of the world that we lose when we grow up. Who knows, we have no memory of this. Just a nice thought.

Julia is now saying “hello daddy” and “bye-bye daddy”, it used to be Daddy, Daddy and yet more Daddy being yelled. Both Julia and Lillian still do that and giggle and get so excited about their daddy and him coming home and when home the cuddles and giggles that happen. Heaps of joy it is just so fun to watch.

Lillian is finding daddies mobile phone, even if it is not lost (daddy has put it on a table for example) and bringing it to daddy and says when she presents it to him “daddies phone”. All very cute and she knows who’s mobile is whose. Very smart indeed.  Lillian even goes and finds a cd that is sitting near a computer and thinks that she needs to give it to daddy so that it is protected. She then takes the cd and other items and gives it to daddy or mummy and then says “Ta”. She is so helpful.The girls are so happy that they are being more understood that they giggle and say oaky and clap their hands when you understand what they are saying or wanting. Their language is hard sometimes. When they say “knock knock”, it does sound like a foreign language. When they both say “sit” it vaguely sounds like shit, but I know it is sit, as they promptly sit down.Julia did go through a phase of having temper tantrums and the word “shit” became her anger word. Now it is “Oh dear”, much better than the former one.  April or March of this year, we had an appointment at the dietician at Katoomba Hospital. Our paediatrician thought that they were underweight for their age range. (Look they are twins, they were born 6 weeks early and they will always be small. I am not a big person and the girls have a small frame. So I dare say they will be petite girls.) So we were recommended to go to the dietician.At this appointment Julia fell off a plastic chair that is small for kids and she got very angry at the chair. She tried to bite it and started kicking it and yelling. She then said “shit” multiple times and I was so embarrassed. However the dietician was nice and then said, it is impressive she is using the word in context. So mother not all bad there, good that she is using the word in the right way. I just did not want her saying it at all. Glad that she is not doing that anymore, well just waiting for the next inappropriate word to get embarrassed about.It is just amazing to see the development of the girls in regards to language and piecing it all together. Words are becoming sentences and ownership is now an understood part of their vocab. This was understood before as they have being doing this is mine, no it is mine with each other since about 8 months old or earlier. I do believe that as they are twins and are sharing everything it seems that they pick up on this a lot earlier than singletons.

Today the girls said “Aunty”, and “dinosaur” . Julia seems fixated with saying Up, Down, Up, Down. When she says Up, Down she stands up and then for down she sits down. All very cute. We keep on getting professionals and other people comment on how advanced their vocabulary is for their age. Soon they will be 20mths, turning 20mths on James my husband’s birthday, the 13th of May, 2010.

Julia has also taken to putting up her hand and pointing and saying “Naughty”, this seems to happen when you take her away from something she likes to be doing. Lately Mummy and Daddy seem to be very naughty.

As we have never had kids before we don’t know what to expect or what is normal for word development. We were glad that they were understanding what we were saying and that they were communicating so we did not think that they were advanced, just maybe normal.

The girls go to childcare each Thursday and every time I pick the girls up I have the ladies that work there mention how they are so clever and talking so well. They mention that they just explain things once and they understand and repeat.

We knew they were smart but had no idea that they were doing better for their age group. During a recent trip to the doctors it was noted again that the girls are forming sentences and they are doing as instructed. I asked Lillian to walk to the door and come back to the seat I was in. This was so that the doctor can see Lillian walk and look at her bowed leg. She said that at their age, they normally say a couple of words, Mummy, Daddy, and some others not what they are doing.

I asked how do I keep them interested and promote learning. I don’t think I have genius children just worried that if they are so ahead of the pack that they might get bored with things that they already know. It is hard to keep a smart kid interested in learning and making sure that you keep the love of learning. The doctor just said that I should keep on doing what I am doing and did not suggest anything else.  I find it rather annoying that when you go to doctors now that when you ask a question you don’t get any answers to help you, seems like a wasted outing and effort if you ask me. Does anyone else have this problem?

The girls both like books, and I have purchased more flash cards. If they get something out of the cards that is a bonus, if they just look at the pictures at least it is entertaining. If the cards allow them to learn more that is just icing on the cake.

I am just glad that the girls are doing so well and are on track for their age group and seems like they are doing better than I expected in this regard. I had no idea what to expect as these are my first children.

I am just going to promote educational television shows, reading more books, I explain to the girls what I am doing and tell them of any new thing or item that crosses our path. I take them to new places and they get introduced to new people.