What an exciting week!!!!

So who knew that being one was SO much fun!!! The kids have had a very exciting first week of the second year of life.
On Sunday after the birthday party we just had a relaxing day playing with the kids.
On Monday we had our one year check up at the pediatrician. They all did great! They got four shots total. Our pediatrician is no longer correcting them for where they are on the curve for height, weight and head measurements. Normally, preemies are corrected for age until they are two (this means that they go by the corrected age, which is the age they would be had they been born on their due date). So this is excellent to hear. So they all are very close in measurements - 10th percentile for head and weight and 75th & 80th percentile for height (yes, we will have some tall kids). Alexander weighed in at 19#6oz. Quite a difference from a year ago when he was a whole 3#5oz! He is the tallest at 30 3/4". Elizabeth our little petite girl weighed in at 17#6oz (she was 2#15oz a year ago). She is the shortest at 30". And our little Zachary is not so little anymore. A year ago he entered this world at a tiny 2#10oz, he is currently the heaviest at 19#10oz! He is 30 1/2" tall. Wow what a difference a year can make! The pediatrician also told us that the kids should be eating our food and that they should be switched to whole milk. Yippy no more baby food and formula...the light at the end of this first tunnel!!! So Monday night we let the kids feed themselves. Since then I have not had to feed them. They LOVE being able to feed themselves. Yes it is more messy and takes more time but it is a big milestone.
Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty 'normal' for us.
Thursday we had a play date with my niece Alexis. Her mommy and daddy were soaking in the sun in Jamaica. So grandma had her all week long. This morning I was hanging up some clothes while the kids were eating. After they were done and I was cleaning up Zachary found the hangers and all three proceeded to play. Who needs toys?!?!?!
Friday I was preparing for a baby shower I was throwing on Saturday. So again nothing too exciting.
Saturday we had the party. Grandma took care of all the kids while us ladies discussed babies, pregnancy, etc. The kids again did great. They are starting to like all these gatherings. Next weekend is another birthday party, this time for Alexis.
Sunday was the BIG day. We had finished the open formula we had so it was time to switch to all whole milk. The doctor recommended that milk only goes in a sippy cup, no bottle. So this means we had to quit bottles cold turkey! Zachary and Elizabeth did great with the transition. Alex had a little trouble but by the 3rd feeding he was drinking using a sippy cup. All in all, it went ok, a little rough in the beginning but done in one day. Zachary also decided this day would be the day he walks. He has been taking about 2-3 steps and then falls, but he walked about 5 feet today. He did great! My aunt Deb then stopped by and we all sat in the kitchen and played (it has been a long time since she last saw the kids). Recently we have been letting the kids explore the rest of the first floor, so they were just having a grand time sliding around and playing with the balloons from their party. After the kids ate supper, they were exploring and playing and found the tupperware drawer and cabinet. So they played with tupperware for the first time. One more thing, Zachary, who is a do-er not much for talking, has become a talker too.
What an exciting week for everyone! They are acting more like toddlers than infants...who knew that would happen so quick!
I was going to put pictures with this post but blogger is having issues, so I will put pics on later.
Love, Jen