Slade's 2nd haircut already!!!!

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It's been TOO long...

This is for the ONE person out there that probably still checks this once in awhile... I'm pretty sure blogging had died out thanks to Facebook and the like. But for those that choose NOT to follow the crowd on FB, here I am still blogging:)

Things have been quite hectic around here. The day has arrived. The dreaded and feared moment... both twins are now mobile! One I could handle, but two is crazy. It's like they conspire and go opposite directions on PURPOSE. They are smart little boogers. Ramsey has the speed advantage, but Slade has the size, so when he sees her take off, he'll grab her and scream. I'm not sure why, but he just doesn't want her getting away. She will then throw her head down in tears and he takes the moment and will SLOWLY move by her. It's like the tortoise and the hare!!! I can't help but laugh. The few times Slade isn't quick enough to grab her she is off and moving and you'll NEVER know where you will find her! She is fast and likes to hide. It's like having a mouse in the house! They are just as fun as can be though. For naps they are in separate cribs and will peek through the slats and babble with each other! I love just listening to them. It is true for fraternal twins as it is with identical.. they really do have their "own" language. Having twins is like having your firstborn child ... everything is new and exciting. You are experiencing things differently. I love that God has allowed me to experience this here on this earth.

Let's see... a month or two ago all 4 kids got hand, foot, mouth disease (not sure if i mentioned it). Keller joyfully shared it with his siblings after school one day. The older 2 were OK with it, but the babies got these awful blisters in their mouths and refused to eat. They screamed for days b/c they were hungry, then screamed b/c it hurt to take a bottle. It was miserable but like anything else we survived.

Well here are a few more pics until I get the rest uploaded.

Make a Wish....

I find my 4 year old's mind FASCINATING... the stuff she thinks of, or says just amazes me at times. Today she really impressed me with her "role" playing abilities. When I was 4 I remember playing dolls and playing house, and pretending to be a mom, etc... but not sure my mind is triggered the way hers is. Today she "gave birth" to a little girl named "hannah". She brought Hannah down in a bassinet and told me it was time to say goodbye to her. I asked her where she was going to which she responded "she's dying". Shocked by her comment I said "WHAT?, what happened, you just had her?" She said, "Yes, I know mommy, but my hannah was born with a brain tumor and now she is going to die, but it's OK, because she will be with Jesus". Not knowing what to say, she went on and said "maybe you can be here when the 'men' come". of course I ask "what men?" she said " you know the men that come and ask her what her ONE wish is before you die". (Make-a-Wish foundation). WOW!!! Apparently Hannah's last wish (as a newborn) was to swim with the dolphins and go to disneyland. I am so thankful for my observant and compassionate little Saylor. She teaches me to be aware of others and their circumstances (this role play is primarily due to the little girl, Kate we pray for each night www.prayforkate.com).

My newest and ONLY niece on Ramsey side...

My sweet little niece, Lily was born a week ago. She is just as adorable as can be! My sister started to develop a fever and Lily's heart rate was quickly going over 200 so they took her via c-section. Mom and baby are both doing GREAT (as you can see). Welcome to the world and into our family Lily.. .you are beautiful!

SITTING..

Well it's official... both babies are now sitting confidently with no assistance needed. They have been doing well for a few months now, but I never felt I could sit them down and walk away. I LOVE watching them sit and interact with one another. Ramsey will just sit and watch Slade squeal over a toy, then she'll try and take it away from him. The look on his face when this happens is priceless. He is in utter shock that she would do such a thing. Once he realizes that she is more flexible and can turn her back away from him to protect that toy, it's like his world is crashing in. He just throws his head down and sobs and screams with NO end. The response from her is also priceless. She smiles and coos and laughs at his "fits". This is ONLY the beginning of things to come for this poor little boy. Having twins is like having a first born child, everything is so new and exciting. Not that it wasn't new and exciting when I had Saylor (fun being my 1st girl) but having two is a whole new ball game. I'll write more on their sweet little personalities once I get them calmed down and in bed... Here are a few pics of my proud sitters!

And MORE baby pictures

Yes, more and more baby pictures... why???? Because this is a blog about them:) So they will just keep coming I guess... who knows for how long..

It still amazes me that ONE baby can be formed and turn out so perfectly... but TWO is just mind blowing to me. By far the most common comment in public (other than "glad it's you and not me" to which I respond "me too") is "wow, you are double blessed" and I truly am. I can't get enough of these babies. I am so very thankful to be called their mother. I pray I give them the best of me.

Catfish

My man has got some serious catfish barbels going on....

A few more of Princess Ramsey and Prince Slade

7 months!

A few days ago... my babies turned 7 months and I have NO idea where the time has gone. I guess we get So busy in the day to day tasks that we don't take a step backwards and realize just how precious every moment really is!

Life with twins is still an adjustment (to say the least) for me. There are some days that I think "Man, this is SO easy, and I could literally have 100 kids" and other days I think "Oh my, how am I possibly going to make it through one more day"? Thankfully I'm adjusting to chaos and it's become the "norm" so to speak (but also explains the lack of blogging).

Both babies are doing well. Slade is HUGE... and Ramsey remains my lil peanut. Both personalities are coming in strong. Slade is either hot or cold. He can really throw a temper tantrum, but then 2 sec later be laughing and giggling. Ramsey is more neutral. She is stingy with her smiles, but equally so she doesn't get too upset. She is NOT the great sleeper that her brother is turning out to be. She takes little 20 min cat naps all day while he takes good 2 hour naps. At night he only wakes up once between 7-6am. Meanwhile Ramsey is still waking at midnight, and 3! so between the 2 of them I am up atleast 3 times a night... Then there is Keller who is wetting the bed every other night... so that is another time I get up and am changing sheets. Once I go to bed around midnight, I'm usually up every hour during the night for something. Sadly, I'm used to it and it's another "norm". But to be blessed with these two precious little ones, the lack of sleep is NOTHING....

Both babies are able to sit up for quite a long time. I don't just sit them up and walk away though... we have some hard floors and if they fall, well it wouldn't be a pretty site. They have been rolling over for quite some time and it looks as if ramsey will crawl soon. She gets up on all 4's and rocks back and forth. It's just a matter of weeks before they are "mobile" and life will change all over again:) Neither will take a pacifier, but THANKFULLY Ramsey sucks her 3rd and 4th fingers... Keller gets all excited b/c it looks like she's doing a spider man web thing.... lol.

So life is good. Babies are doing very well and I know these are the most precious and cherished moments of my life. I don't take it for granted and am so thankful for the chaos God has graciously allowed me to go through. I'll write more later.. but here are a few more pics for now.

holding on tight.

Tonight Ramsey awoke screaming in such a panic. I rushed in and grabbed her and just held her. One hand behind her head the other wrapped around her back and just rocked her little fragile body and held her so tight. She nuzzled her sweet little face down in my neck and started sucking her 2 little fingers. Everytime I tried to put her down she screamed like there was no tomorrow, so I kept picking her back up and holding her tight. I KNOW she felt safe when I held her, she felt secure, there was no fear, no worry. I realized that I too am like Ramsey. When I am with my creator, the one who gave me life is the ONLY place I have security and safety. Nothing else on this earth will satisfy, nothing is secure but him. How thankful I am to be called his daughter and know that he holds me in the palm of his hand where it's safe, a place I have no worry or fear. I needed to see the symbolism tonight ...