1st Birthday Pictures

I've been meaning to get the boys' pictures taken for their first birthday but Christmas was a little busy. So we had it done at 13 months instead. I think this is fair because really it's halfway between their actual birthdate and the day they were due to be born. So who really knows how old they are anyway??? So here are our little munchkins at about 1 year...

Wesley and Sammy

Sammy

Wesley

What did I ever do to deserve these awesome little blessings?!

Mom Jeans

I have a confession to make...

I'm addicted to elastic waistbands. Yes, I got so used to my pregnancy pants that I can't bring myself to give them up. I was on babysteals the other day and saw these.

http://www.lilacclothing.com/

They arrived today. I'm wearing them now and I never want to take them off! They are sooooo comfortable! I highly recommend them.

Mom jeans will never be the same. Wooohooo!

Accentuate the Positive

Last month we took a trip to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands and for many reasons I won't get into, it was not what you'd consider...how shall I put this...a relaxing experience in paradise. But I am going to skip past all of that and focus on the positive aspects of our trip...

First of all, we were blessed to have the opportunity to see this beautiful place with our own eyes! Isn't it gorgeous?! It was like something out of a magazine!

We got to have sweet moments together as a family, uninterrupted by phones, constructions noises, or the worries of everyday life.

We spent time with good friends.

Some people thought they were triplets! Can you imagine?! I guess I can see why. Although Josh is six months younger, he's about the same size as our little guys.

We saw interesting wildlife.

We picked up some new skills, like pushing our own stroller,

driving (only 1 and already asking for the keys to the car!),

walking in the sand,

and even eating some!

We dined al fresco,

and flirted with all the waitresses (Wes and Sam did anyway).

Got to ride on Daddy's back in a backpack!

We experimented with hats,

and decided that while we look darned good in them,

we prefer to throw them on the ground.

Maybe someday we'll go back, when we're old enough to snorkel and can tolerate air travel better. Or maybe Mom and Dad will just go without us. Now that's an idea!!!

I...I...I, uh...

Christmas colds NO KITCHEN vacation disaster vomit/diarrhea

separation anxiety anti-nap stomach flu

picky picky picky

spitting food pulling food out of the mouth throwing food

trapped by rain can't think seven red, huh? Moms out there...HOW?!

Can you believe it???

Samuel & Wesley turned 1 year old on Christmas Eve! It's hard to believe it's been a year since that day they were born. And now they're eating solid food and getting ready to walk. How did it go by so quickly?

We had a small birthday party...we wish you could have all been there...but alas, our house is small and now under construction as well. Yes, we are finally getting ready to expand our kitchen. It will soon be the largest room in the house, which makes sense since I spend the majority of my time in there!

The Birthday Boys

Before...

(Sam)

Candles...yum!

(Wes)

What IS this stuff?


We've never eaten anything this color before.

SUGAR!

WE LIKE SUGAR!!!


After...

Time for presents...

Dumptrucks & Horsies!

and handmade toy chests and blocks!

Thanks Grandpa Bob and Grandma Julia!!!

Last year at this time I was...

lying in a hospital room

ordering Christmas gifts online from my bed

praying for my babies to stay in past the New Year

decorating my tiny fake Christmas tree

watching Gilmore Girls and the Family Channel's 25 Days Till Christmas to pass the time

lamenting the fact that there would be no Christmas cards to send out that year

feeling very grateful for the wonderful care I was receiving from my doctors and nurses

EXTREMELY nervous about becoming a mother

This year I'm...

chasing my almost one year old boys around the house

finding cheerios in every nook and cranny

already printing and stuffing my Christmas cards (yeah!!!)

looking forward to Christmas parties with friends and family

having fun shopping for presents in the STORES (online too to tell the truth)

anticipating a REAL Christmas tree

DEFINITELY going back to the hospital with the boys to bring presents to the FABULOUS nurses who helped keep my little angels in during my 8 week stay

planning Samuel & Wesley's first birthday party

HAVING A BALL!!!

I hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas Season so far!

Parks & Recreation

This week Mommy took us to the park.

We crawled around in the grass

and got nice and dirty.

Then we had an early lunch...

a yummy yummy lunch

of delicious pinecones,

scrumptious sticks

more pinecones

crunchy golden leaves

and of course, grass and dirt that Mommy tried to fish out of our mouths.

We love the park!