Puppy Love...

The boys have won her over. She loves to come lay with them and hang out. They get so excited when they see her and love to pet and pull and poke at her. She tolerates it and I think she is falling in love, although she wouldn't want to admit it.


The boys had their 6th month check up yesterday.

Alex: 19 lbs 4 oz 27"
Evan: 15lbs 5oz 25"

They are growing at a great pace and are hitting all the developmental milestones. It won't be too much longer until they are headed in opposite directions! Time to invest in some baby gates! We are having so much fun with them every day.

The Cutest Cracks...

One of the reasons I love our cloth diapers is because the boys always seem to pee out of the disposables. Tonight, I got behind on the laundry and put them in some Pampers. When we stripped them down for the bath, I discovered the problem...guess this is what happens once they start scooting all over the place!

Long time coming...

I meant to post this MONTHS ago.

If you had visited us in Chesapeake, you would have met our most fabulous neighbors. Not just the kind of women that smile and wave when you see them, instant-part-of-the-family type women. Matt was out to sea so much and they took care of anything I needed. One night, some random men knocked on my door and scared me to death. I called Nancy and she came running out her front door in her PJs and shooed them off. I spent many hours chatting with Bet on their back deck or while walking the lake. I can't even count how many times I knocked on their door asking for obscure items and they had them. They helped us with our landscaping, brought us food, celebrated all our big milestones, LOVED our sweet Chessie and took on Mia like a niece when she visited (in her own words "lets go see Bet and Ancy"). Best of all, they cried with joy when we told them of our pregnancy and have supported us ever since. These women have made our lives richer. They are forever a part of our family, we love & miss them dearly. Saying good bye to them was one of the hardest days in our lives.

When I flew back to MD in October, they drove up and surprised me. BEST gift ever. They got to meet the babies they prayed for. I wish it could happen more often but hey, I will take what I can get.

Nancy

Bet

Happy 1/2 Birthday!!

I think I say the same thing every time they turn a month older...

I can't BELIEVE its been 6 months!

Happy 1/2 Birthday to my 2 favorite boys.

The past 2 weeks have made a huge difference. When mothers of twins say that it gets easier after 6 months, they are not kidding. They go to bed at 7:30 pm which give Matt and I a couple hours to hang out again. Of course, we just talk about the boys but hey, what can ya do? Everything is just so much better now that we are all sleeping/eating on a set schedule.

And the boys are just so fun. They are all smiles, talking and rolling. They are both sitting up almost unassisted. Once they start to reach for things out to the sides, they tip over. They adore Chessie and get so excited when she kisses them. She plants herself in front of them during feedings and just waits for a drop of veggies. I swear they spit some out just to see what she does.

We just squeeze them all the time. I don't want them to get any bigger. I guess its inevitable. It will be exciting to see what the next 6 months bring.

Facebook Epiphany

My dad started a great discussion on Facebook regarding Pat Robertson's comment about the earthquake in Haiti. Its not hard to imagine why so many people have a negative view of Christianity when someone says the things he said. It makes me so sad.

But the awesome part is, the conversation did not stop there. A great guy in my parents church had this response:

"I think the answer is not to worry about people associating you with Robertson because you call yourself a Christian but that people associate you with Christ because you act like a Christian."

Another comment included:

"He challenged us to live a live that can only be explained by Jesus"

We can debate so many things in the bible. In my opinion, Jesus' message comes down to one word: LOVE.

If you have Love in your heart, the kind of Love that God has for us, think of how that would change EVERY single facet of our lives! We would forgive on the spot, we would be leaving our homes and flying to Haiti, we would experience each other in a way we never knew. We would LISTEN and we would act. We would find joy in everything.

I found an article written by David Gushee (Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer Univ.). Here is a chunk of his response to the Robertson comment:

"The best response to evil seems to be to weep with those who weep, while working alongside them to repair broken lives, broken societies, and our broken world"

This has all been so enlightening. One of the characteristics that I want our children to have is generosity. We all know what it means in text and its something that is hard to miss when we see it in action. On our first date, I knew that I would marry Matt. We were walking downtown in Frederick to eat and a woman's car had died in the middle of an intersection. Matt took off running in his flip-flops and helped the woman push her car out of the way. Generosity. I recognized it because my dad showed that to me all my life. When I saw it in Matt, there was a little prick at my heart.

For my boys, I want to give them 3 banks for the money they earn. Spend, Save, Share. Spend and save are self explanatory. The sharing is where Generosity comes in. It can be creative or as simple as dropping it in the offering plate. But, either way, its a way to learn that what you are given isn't all yours. It comes with responsibility. We have learned over and over again about God's love, who he hung out with and who he thought possessed the most riches. He never kept anything to himself, not even His own Son.

So, here I am thinking I am going to change my kids lives with these 3 silly piggy banks. I am sooooo clever. But what about MY life? When my kids are giving their monies away, what if they ask me about the ways I am generous. And yes, wiping your kids butts 5 times a day is pretty generous, especially once they have started solids. But, I can do better. I went to college, I am creative, I have a brain.

I am stealing an idea I saw on T.V.

I contacted my church leaders and asked them for names of anyone they knew who could use some meals delivered. I am hoping for 2 or 3 names. So, tonight, I make a little extra dinner. Tomorrow, I deliver it to a few people in need. We talk a little, hug and I promise to see them the next day. Easy. Local. Love.

And maybe something global? It seems like there is a natural disaster happening all the time. But, another way is though Heifer International. I am sure you have heard of them. What about giving a Llama instead of an iPod (no offense Apple, I love your super sleek technologies).

How about going in as a family and buying a water buffalo instead of...well, whatever you give to each other for Christmas.

What I love about it is that you aren't just sending money into cyberspace. You are giving a sustainable gift to a family who will be educated and feel productive. Check out their website, it will make you feel good just READING about possible ways to give.

Also, a friend of mine has been moved to educate and help in the issue of local and global sex trade. She shares a Fair Trade Shopping site. Another great way to spread the wealth.

So, meals and livestock. Local and Global. I am going to blog about both experiences and see how it goes. If anyone else has any great ideas, lets share. No matter how much $$ I have, I have an infinite about of God's love. That is definitely something I can give.

So much fun!

Now that the boys are a little older and interactive, its so much fun to take pictures! Matt taught himself how to use our camera and is now the paparazzi. I am not complaining though, I could look though these pictures for hours. Its just mind blowing to see how much they change.

On the ferry to Seattle

"Sitting up"

Those smiles make me feel like a million bucks.

Another thing that makes me feel like a million bucks? SLEEP! The boys stopped eating though the night and were essentially sleeping through the night around 6-7 weeks. BUT, they were still waking up periodically in tears, needing a hug or a pacifier replaced. After a couple months of this, it got O-L-D. A friend recommended "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" (thanks Megan). Turns out, they have a twins version of this book. After 2 nights, they were sleeping through the night without my help. They now go down at 7:30pm and wake up around 7:30-8:00am. Yahoo! Everyone is happier!

New veggies: sweet potatoes & carrots, both big hits!

Matt and I joined a small group through our church and met a few great couples. One couple is a lot like us, only us 2 years ago. They even have a yellow lab. We haven't had any nice weather to introduce the two pups but hopefully soon. Its just nice to have some more "friends".

Lacrosse season is about to start for me. Not sure how its all going to work out but I plan to be there as much as possible. The structure has changed this year. Instead of 2 separate teams (where I was the only coach of one of the teams), its now one big team with 3 coaches. So, I am not fully responsible for the team so I can be flexible. The boys are much easier to handle alone now so Matt will be able to stay with them while I go to practice. I really hope it works out!

Matt is still loving indoor soccer 2x per week and just picked up racket ball with a guy at work. We are getting out and about much more with the boys so we are now just a different kind of busy. Its fun though. We are really looking forward to when it gets warm!

Be back soon!

Tickle Monster

Aunt Kristen gave us a great book called Tickle Monster. And as you can see from this video, we love being tickled!

Christmas: Part B

We had a "changing of the families" on Dec 30. We said goodbye to my parents and welcomed Matt's (there was a cleaning lady involved!) We had Christmas all over again, mixed in with New Year's. The boys got some fantastic books from their Aunts and Uncles. The Exerscaucer from Grammie and Grandpop is still a hit! As you can see from the pictures, we spent lots of time loving on the boys. And again, we had to say good-bye to family, which is hard. Hopefully, it won't be too long until we see everyone again!

Christmas: Part A

Happy New Year!

Its been a busy 2 weeks!

My WHOLE family flew here on Dec 23rd. Matt, the boys and I met them in Seattle. We did some shopping and had lunch at the Space Needle. When we go home, we celebrated Mia's birthday with a pinata and some cake. Christmas Eve, we decorated our tree and went to a Christmas Eve church service. Christmas was presents, cookies and playing the Wii. Its been so long since Ryen has been home, it was just so nice to be a complete family.

The boys have entered the "stranger danger" phase. I can't just hand them over to anyone now. And since they had not seen my family in a while, it took a little while to warm up. But, for some reason, when Alex was introduced to Ryen, it was love at 1st sight. The entire week, that little boy was entranced by his uncle. Certainly, he doesn't know that he looks just like Ryen did as a baby or that he is named after him. But, for whatever reason, Alex would LIGHT up whenever he saw him. And not to embarrass him or anything but Ryen seemed pretty smitten with the boys as well. He helped feed them, held them even when they were fussy, helped get them in and out of car seats...he even came to their Dr. appt with us. He completely shocked me and we miss him so much.

Of course, the boys just loved having everyone around. Mia is such great entertainment and loves to assist in everything. Its funny to think: the age difference seems big now but in 10 years, when she is 15 and they are 10, its not going to seem so big.

Nani and Popi brought some great gifts for the boys. We had a fun time opening presents, although I think next year might even be more entertaining.

The last few days of their visit, we drove up to Vancouver for some skiing. The city was a lot of fun and the weather held out, we had a good time.

Some huge milestones we accomplished the past 2 weeks: both boys are rolling from back to front. We started 2 new veggies: zucchini and avocado, yellow and acorn squash coming next. Alex has started teething. Poor little guy. But, we are getting though and he is such a trooper. Why does teething have to be painful? And Evan is starting to "scoot". He looks like an inch worm, so cute. Alex is close behind. Its not really fair, he weighs more!

Its always so painful to say good-bye. Especially to Ryen, it will be another 6 months until we can see him in person. I am so thankful for such a loving family.

There were so many pictures, I put them in a slide show, it would take a week to post all the pics individually: