Celebrating Two Years: A Comprehensive Update on Our Twin Toddlers, Ashton & Brooks

Can you believe it? Our spirited twin boys, Ashton and Brooks, recently celebrated their second birthday! The milestone arrived on February 2nd, creating a delightful coincidence – two boys turning two on 2/2/2020. So many twos, so much joy, and an incredible journey of growth over the past year. It feels like just yesterday I was sharing their first-year update, marveling at their early steps and blossoming personalities. Time truly does fly when you’re raising two little bundles of energy!

It’s been quite a while since I’ve penned a truly comprehensive update, though I often share glimpses of their daily adventures and delightful shenanigans on Instagram Stories. However, a full, dedicated post like this feels long overdue. I’m keen to hear your thoughts – would you enjoy seeing these in-depth updates more regularly? Your feedback helps me tailor the content you love most!

All photos beautifully captured by Brittany Sweat Photography.

Remarkable Growth and Physical Milestones

Little Giants: Tracking Their Growth

During their recent two-year check-up, we confirmed what we already suspected: these boys are growing like weeds! Ashton weighed in at a sturdy 31 lbs and stands 35.5 inches tall. Brooks, always a step ahead, is 35 lbs and an impressive 37 inches tall. According to the growth charts, they’re both considered quite big for their age, with Brooks leading the pack. While I used to effortlessly carry both of them – even dancing around with them in my arms – these days, they feel significantly heavier. Sustained dual-carrying sessions are a thing of the past!

It’s amusing to look back at photos and videos from just a year ago. They’ve truly thinned out and shot up, shedding their baby chub to reveal lean, energetic toddler forms. The transformation from soft, round infants to independent, active toddlers has been astounding, showcasing just how much change can happen in such a short span of time. Their understanding and interaction with the world around them have also expanded exponentially.

Active Adventurers: Embracing Movement and Outdoor Exploration

At the time of my last update, at 13 months old, they had just embarked on their walking journey. Now, at two, they are rarely still. Their days are a whirlwind of constant motion, driven by an insatiable curiosity and boundless energy. They adore anything loud that produces a cacophony of noise, and they love pushing things around, whether it’s their toy lawnmowers or other household items. More recently, their fascination has shifted to trains and their indoor bounce house, which provides endless opportunities for physical exertion and gleeful shouts.

Parks are a favorite destination, offering open spaces to run, climb, and swing. They’ve become increasingly adept climbers, tackling playground structures with a newfound confidence, and they absolutely light up when soaring on the swings. Above all, they cherish being outside. Sticks, dirt, rocks – you name it, they love exploring it. The outdoors seems to have a calming effect on them, which has made the winter months a bit challenging for us, as opportunities for extensive outdoor play have been limited.

Making a Splash: Our Twins’ Love for Water & Swim Journey

Water-Loving Wonders: From Puddles to Pools

One of the most prominent passions for both boys is unequivocally water. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small puddle atop our hose box, a bubbling bath, or a vast swimming pool – they are instantly drawn to it, eager to play in it or be fully immersed. While a love for water isn’t uncommon for toddlers, their enthusiasm reaches an entirely different level. This powerful affinity prompted us to enroll them in swim lessons last summer when they were just 19 months old – a decision that has proven to be one of the best we’ve made for them.

The “Swim, Float, Swim” Saga: A Test of Endurance

The initial phase of their lessons was, to put it mildly, rough. The program focused on “swim, float, swim,” essentially a survival swimming class designed to teach them how to navigate to the surface and float if they accidentally fall into water. We were told to expect about three weeks of unhappiness before they’d adjust. In reality, it was a gruelling five full weeks before Ashton started to show any enjoyment, and nearly seven weeks for Brooks. Those weeks felt like torture.

Their lessons were intense: 20 minutes total, split into 10 minutes per child, four days a week, for what ultimately stretched to about eight weeks. Dedication was paramount, showing up at 7:30 AM daily, enduring the heartbreaking sight of them crying and resisting the entire time. But then, a breakthrough! They finally grasped the “float” and “turn” techniques, and something clicked. They began to not just tolerate, but genuinely love it, often signing for “MORE!” as their sessions ended.

Little Fish in Training: Continued Lessons and Beach Adventures

Since those intensive initial lessons concluded, we’ve maintained their skills with weekly indoor swimming sessions throughout the winter. Now, they absolutely adore it! They have a blast with the fun slides and inflatable castles, and I often get into the water with them. They love swimming with me, and with Dadda whenever he takes my place. These two are true little fish. I’m incredibly excited for summer and our upcoming pool days, though I’m also quite certain that parental rest will be a distant dream, as they’ll constantly want us to join them in the water!

Last summer, we were also fortunate to enjoy three beach trips, and the boys were in their element. Again, it all comes back to water. They simply wanted to be in it, even the ocean. The waves held no fear for them; they seemed perfectly happy to leap from our arms and into the biggest swells, demonstrating a natural courage that surprised and delighted us.

Exploring the World: Developing Interests & Play

Rhythmic Explorers: Music and Dance

Beyond the water, music holds a special place in their hearts. The boys have always loved music and will often break into spontaneous dance whenever a tune is playing. As someone who also enjoys a good dance party, I enthusiastically encourage these joyful, rhythmic expressions, making our home a lively and melodic space.

Engaging Minds: Books, Crayons, and Stickers

Books have been a constant source of comfort and learning since they were infants, and they still enjoy them. However, their attention span for sitting and reading has evolved. With their constant motion and busy natures, they truly need to be in the mood for a quiet reading session these days. When they do settle down, they enjoy drawing with crayons and playing with stickers, which offers a different kind of focused engagement.

Navigating Toddler Health: The Reality of Childhood Illnesses

The First Year’s Grace Period

Looking back, we were incredibly fortunate during their first year; the boys rarely fell ill. They had one short-lived fever, but beyond that, they seemed to escape the common childhood bugs. This second year, however, has been a stark contrast, introducing us to the rollercoaster of toddler illnesses.

A Rollercoaster of Bugs: Stomach Flu, Colds, and Ear Infections

Their health journey in the second year began with a 24-hour stomach bug that was, without exaggeration, the worst we’d ever experienced. My husband and I also succumbed to it, and I can attest that I’ve never felt anything quite like it – truly brutal. That was in the spring.

Since the fall, they’ve been sick a notable three times. While some parents might find that a low number, for us, it felt significant. In November, they caught their first legitimate colds, complete with copious snot from every orifice. Ashton developed his first ear infection, and despite 10 days of medication, it progressed into a double ear infection. My heart ached for him! Brooks, on the other hand, managed to avoid an ear infection entirely, partly due to his surprising ability to blow and clear his nose effectively. Those were Ashton’s only ear infections so far.

This period of illness didn’t spare me either. I subsequently developed a sinus infection that escalated into bronchitis. Having never had bronchitis before, I can confirm it was incredibly tough. Trying to recover while simultaneously caring for sick toddlers was an exhausting ordeal. The adage “parents don’t get sick days” proved painfully true. I believe my own illness worsened because I was so focused on tending to them, sacrificing my own rest and recovery.

Flu Season and Beyond: ER Visits and Lingering Effects

Adding to the challenges, both boys contracted the flu right after Christmas, despite having received their flu shots. Ashton’s temperature spiked to 103.9°F, leading to an urgent trip to the ER. Thankfully, his fever was brought under control, and he recovered well. Brooks also caught the flu, but his symptoms were less severe. Remarkably, my husband and I managed to avoid contracting it ourselves.

Most recently, over the past couple of weeks, they’ve experienced another bout of illness, possibly a cold, accompanied by a fever and congestion. Both are now on the mend, but I’m still in the lingering stages of recovery.

The Indoor Play Dilemma: Staying Healthy in Winter

While tales of toddler illnesses might not be universally captivating, they are particularly salient for us, as my husband and I rarely get sick. These “baby bugs” are a real phenomenon! My husband, surprisingly, has only caught the initial stomach bug. This recurring cycle of illness has, however, made us a bit disheartened about winter outings. It seems almost every time we venture to indoor play areas, they pick up another germ, leading to a frustrating cycle of sickness. It’s a genuine pain point for us.

Ashton (above)

Brooks (above)

Growing Palates and Emerging Communication

Culinary Journeys: What Our Toddlers Love to Eat

Eating habits, always an interesting topic with toddlers, have been quite good for our boys. At their 12-month appointment, our pediatrician warned us to expect a decrease in appetite, but this has only truly materialized in the last couple of months. Generally, they’re pretty good little eaters. They will devour any and all fruit, all day long – they absolutely adore it. They’re also surprisingly good with vegetables, enjoying avocado, asparagus, sweet potato, butternut squash, green beans, peas, and carrots. Their least favorite food category is meat, with chicken being the rare exception.

Fortunately, they love eggs, cheese, yogurt, and milk, ensuring they receive adequate protein. And what toddler doesn’t love pizza or fries? Ours certainly do! But for the fries, it’s only if they come with a generous serving of ketchup. They have an intense love for ketchup, which sometimes leads to hilarious, if slightly gross, culinary experiments. The other night at dinner, they spontaneously started dipping their blueberries in ketchup. It was a sight to behold!

Mastering Mealtime Manners (Mostly!)

They’ve made excellent progress with using forks and spoons, demonstrating a growing mastery of self-feeding. They are increasingly becoming less messy eaters, at least unintentionally. Of course, the occasional intentional mess for pure fun still happens, but the accidental spills are becoming rarer.

The Road to Communication: Speech Development in Twins

Speech development has been a slower journey for Ashton and Brooks. We’ve been told that boys often tend to talk later than girls, and twins can sometimes experience even more delays. Our boys definitely fit this pattern. They’ve only truly started using some discernible words within the last couple of months, but the progress, though gradual, is steady and significant. It’s making daily life so much easier; being able to communicate with them, even in simple terms, is an immense relief and joy.

We’re still actively working with them on this. After two years of relying on fussing and whining to gain our attention and try to convey their needs, it’s a hard habit to break and replace with actual words when they know them. We’ve implemented a strategy of requiring them to use words before they get what they want. If they know the word, they must use it; if not, they must at least attempt a word instead of a whine. This approach has definitely been helpful.

As a wonderful example of their emerging communication, they often pee through their diapers at night, Brooks in particular. Sometimes it’s just a little dampness, but quite often he’s wet from waist to ankle. We use larger nighttime diapers, but he still manages to saturate them. They sleep in sleep sacks, which fortunately contains the mess and doesn’t seem to bother him. However, a few mornings ago, for the very first time, as soon as he got out of bed, he told me he was wet. I picked him up from his crib, and he clearly said “wet.” It took a few repetitions for me to fully register what he was saying, but then I was absolutely thrilled that he communicated it (and praised him effusively, of course!). I changed him immediately. Normally, they’ll run around in their sleep sacks for about 15 minutes, gradually waking up before I change them, but with him talking to me – even in such a small way – I was able to address his need instantly. This was such a huge step for him, and for us!

While we could potentially worry about their speech development, we, and our pediatrician, aren’t overly concerned. They are delayed, but consistently making progress and doing remarkably well lately. The difference that communication makes in our daily lives is profound. Even something as simple as them asking for their “teddy” instead of crying for an unknown reason brings immense relief. The more talking and less fussing, crying, or trying to decipher their needs, the better for everyone.

Navigating Toddler Behavior and Independence

Biting, Pushing, and Pinching: Learning Boundaries

This past year has also brought its share of behavioral challenges, particularly the development of pushing, biting, and pinching. For a period, Ashton was biting. We worked diligently and successfully managed to break that habit. However, over the last several months, Brooks has taken up biting. This habit has proven much harder to curb, but I hold strong hope that as their verbal skills continue to expand and they become more capable of expressing themselves, these behaviors will naturally diminish. Currently, when they’re vying for a toy or in conflict, they don’t resort to words – not even a simple “no.” I’m optimistic that this will improve with time and continued guidance.

The Power of Time-Outs

We introduced time-outs when they were 18 months old, and it has proven to be a beneficial tool. They clearly understand what a time-out entails and its purpose, and for now, it serves as an effective deterrent, helping them understand boundaries and consequences.

Spunky & Independent Little Personalities

These two kiddos are rapidly growing more spunky and independent. Brooks, in particular, is developing a strong desire to do things for himself, a clear sign of his burgeoning autonomy. Despite the challenges, they are truly so much fun and utterly adorable. I genuinely believe they are happy little guys; they laugh often and are loved beyond measure. We adore them to pieces and cherish every moment of watching them grow, learn, and discover new things. Witnessing them achieve something new and seeing the immense pride on their faces is, without a doubt, the most rewarding aspect of parenthood – it’s simply the best!

Nurturing Parents: Self-Care and Marriage in the Twin Journey

Prioritizing Self: Postpartum Wellness and Diastasis Recti Recovery

Keeping with the tradition of these updates, I’ll also share a bit about my own journey this past year. I’ve been able to dedicate a little more focus to self-care, particularly regaining my strength and well-being. I’ve mentioned throughout the year that I’ve been actively working on losing the baby weight. This involved purchasing an elliptical machine, which I’ve been consistently using, and making conscious changes to my eating habits. By October, I had successfully shed 35 of the 40 pounds I aimed to lose. I’m confident I’ll tackle those last 5 pounds eventually, but I truly needed a short break from such intense focus.

For me, the weight loss has been incredibly beneficial, both mentally and physically. I feel a renewed sense of well-being and energy. Strengthening my body has been crucial, not only for keeping up with two energetic toddlers but also for alleviating some persistent back pain I was experiencing. As I’ve shared previously, I developed diastasis recti during pregnancy, which I recall was about 5.5 fingers wide. It has now significantly closed to approximately 1.5 fingers. Closing it completely is a challenging process, but the improvement is remarkable. I believe a lot of my nighttime back pain was due to this and a general lack of core strength. Since getting back into shape and strengthening my core, I’m thrilled to report that this problem has vanished. I no longer wake up unable to sleep because of back pain – a truly wonderful change.

Strengthening the Partnership: Marriage Amidst Mayhem

Last April, my husband and I celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary with a much-needed trip to the Bahamas. It’s incredibly difficult to prioritize each other with two little ones demanding constant attention, so that getaway was essential for us to reconnect after the whirlwind of our first year with twin babies. We make a concerted effort to schedule date nights whenever possible and are currently planning another trip for just the two of us. We are firm believers in nurturing our relationship, understanding that a strong partnership forms the foundation of our family life. Our love for each other naturally extends to how we love and raise our children. We believe we can best fulfill these roles when we prioritize God, our marriage, and then our family.

Our Twin Journey: Blessings, Challenges, and Open Invitations

And so, that brings us to the present! We are incredibly blessed with two spunky, beautiful, fun, and wonderfully crazy little boys. We are profoundly thankful for them and for the privilege of being their parents. Parenting twins is undeniably a unique challenge. We often feel that we can’t give each child the individual attention we’d ideally like to, but we always strive to do our absolute best.

If there’s anything you’re curious about that I haven’t touched upon, please don’t hesitate to ask! I consider myself a pretty open book. And once again, if you’d appreciate receiving more regular, in-depth updates like this, do let me know! Your engagement means the world to us.