My two pumpkins

This is a video of Olivia playing with the exersaucer.  We put her in it once and showed her how/what to do and that's all it took.  She loves this thing!!! Thank goodness. 

Olivia in her exersaucer.

Both of the girls eating real food!  We tried some mashed up bananas and it was so funny.  They didn't know what to do with it.  They seemed to like it OK.

Justin makes this funny laugh that Allie LOVES!  Here is a video of him laughing and her reacting to it.

The Pumpkin Patch

Here are some pictures of the girls at the Pumpkin Patch at our Church.  We tried to go to Apline Farms yesterday, but the one day that the girls are in a good mood and we were all together it rained when we got there.  It hasn't rained in forever and the day we want to take pictures, it RAINS!  Oh well.  I was able to get these at least.  They are so funny!!  Olivia is on the left and Allie is on the right.

 Olivia loves to chew on her hand.  Allie was too cute.  She was trying to grab Olivia's hand. 

 Do I have to say anything about Olivia's face?  Allie is just like her daddy.  Her expression is always like she is saying to me, "Can we get this over with already?"

This was funny.  I was trying to coach the girls and get them to look at me and smile, but I failed.  Justin was standing where the girls are looking.  I guess they both can't get enough of their Daddy!!

Olivia has found a new toy! She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES her exersaucer!  Even though she can't sit up very well in it, she loves to look at everything in it and play with the things around her.  I have a video of her playing in it and I'll post it later.  This is of her taking a break after she was playing with the spin dials.

And 5 minutes later..........................Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

This is my favorite picture of Allie!  When she smiles it makes my tummy get butterflies! I love them so much!

 

A Birthday to Remember

 This is what Maryann (our nanny) had for me yesterday morning before I left for work.  In addition to this delicious muffin she sang me happy birthday.  She is so sweet.  Thank you Maryann!

In addition to my birthday, we had a very exciting milestone.  Allie Rolled over yesterday evening before Justin took me out to dinner.!!!!!!  Justin was in the shower and I was holding Olivia.  We were sitting on a pallet on the floor watching Allie play with the activity mat (their favorite).  All of the sudden, it was like slow motion, Allie rolled on to her side and then kept going.  I jumped up and started screaming like a mad person.  I ran into the bathroom and shouted at Justin to come and see.  Of course, she didn't do it again.  Oh well.  That was the best birthday present ever and a birthday to remember!!!  Way to go ALLIE!!

Meet Nurse Andrea.  This is the amazing Nurse that I spoke about earlier in the blog when we were attending birthing classes.  We have kept in touch since our class ended.  Andrea called me last week and asked if she could come over and babysit and give me a break.  Well, I jumped at that opportunity and was not going to let that get away.  I called her back ASAP and told her to come over the night of my birthday so that Justin and I could go to dinner.  Boy did we have a nice time.  Don't get me wrong, I love my babies but sometimes you need that "quiet" time with your husband.  I have to admit that I did think about them the entire time.  I did not call to check on them because I knew they were in great hands.   Before we left for dinner, the girls were trying to go to sleep.  Not a good thing when you have them on a schedule.  When we returned from dinner Andrea was sitting on the couch with the girls trying to keep them both awake.  Bless her heart!  She had a time keeping them awake.  Thank you Andrea for staying with the girls and giving us a break.  Come back ANYTIME!! LOL

Andrea with Olivia on the left and Allie on the right.

A Birthday to Remember

This is what I love to wake up to.  Happy Birthday to me!!

(Olivia on the Left and Allie on the Right)

A Film Debut

Here is a video of Olivia rolling over Saturday morning in Biloxi and Allie joining in on the fun.

Here is a video of Allie laughing while playing "Wipers on the bus!"  allie loves "Wheels on the bus" but only laughs and giggles at the "wipers" part of the song.

Here is a video of Justin playing with Olivia and getting her to laugh.  Listen carefully.

I tried to get a video of Allie playing with Justin last night but didn't run fast enough to grab it in time.

Biloxi and more

We had a great weekend in Biloxi!! The girls did great on the ride there and back! It only took us 3 1/2 hours each way! YAY!!! Last time we came home from Biloxi, it took us 8 hours.  Not fun at all.  Here are a few pictures from last week and our trip to Biloxi.

Olivia being sweet

 Me kissing the sweet angel, Olivia

 Olivia trying to kiss me back

 Allie (L) and Olivia (R) before dinner last week

 Olivia showing off

 Maryanne (our nanny) with the girls after their naps.  I caught Allie right before she sneezed.  She won't like that when she gets older.

 Olivia (L) and Allie (R) at rest from playing

 Allie (L) and Olivia (R) playing

 Olivia trying out her shades

 Mom and Dennis did not have any "regular" birthday cake candles so Dennis improvised! LOL!!!

 Me with the girls

 It was a team effort to blow out these suckers!

 Mom decorates for EVERY holiday.  Behind us is a Halloween decorated tree.  It was too cute.  Me, Justin, Allie, and Olivia before we left Sunday

We had a great time and want to thank Mom and Dennis for the wonderful weekend.  



We have a roller!!!

Well, we have a roller!!! Olivia rolled over for the first time last night.  I was so excited that Justin and I both were there to witness it.  Both of the girls have been working so hard on rolling over and Ms. Olivia finally got all the way over and has learned to move her arm out of the way.  Allie is going to roll over any day now.  This was the best early birthday present I have ever had.  I would love to be able to see Allie rolling over, too.  I'm so scared that she's going to roll over when I'm not there but I have instructed Maryanne (our nanny/life savor) not to tell me if she does.  The girls are 14 weeks and I have no idea where the time has gone. 

Fall is here and the girls love the weather.  Maryanne takes the girls for strolls, has story time, music time, nap time, and their favorite, play time!  She really is a blessing from above.  I don't know what I would do without her.  The girls love her and so do we.  The girls have learned who she is and recognize her voice and notice when she walks in a room.  They light up when they see her like they do when they see their mommy or daddy are around.  We call her the baby whisperer.  She has a gift and I'm glad that we have the opportunity of her working with us.  THANK YOU MARYANNE!!!!  WE LOVE YOU!!

Fall Break

Why is it when the weekend gets here or a break comes around it seems to fly by and you have know idea where the time went?  We were out for Fall Break Monday and Tuesday and it did NOT last long enough.  I spent the break with my girls and it was so nice.  I miss them and love spending as much time with them as I can.  This weekend all of our family came in to town to see the girls get baptized on Sunday.  We had a great time.  I love when family comes.  We watched football, shopped, laughed, and enjoyed each others company.  Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

Me, Olivia, and Aunt Whitney before church

Justin (holding Olivia) and Me (holding Allie) before church

Justin (holding Olivia), Aunt Whit, and me (holding Allie)

Justin an me trying to calm Olivia down.  She was not happy about the bonnet situation.

Olivia after she calmed down.

Allie being so sweet before the ceremony

Mom on Saturday during the Auburn game.  Allie was tired of cheering.

Aunt Debra (Olivia on the left and Allie on the right)

Olivia enjoying her bumbo

Olivia and Allie playing Sunday morning

 Three generations of beautiful women.  Whitney, Mom (with Olivia), me (with Allie), and Aunt Debra

 Justin and me at the church before the ceremony

 This cake was the death of me.  Justin picked it up Saturday because I forgot to (they were closing at 4:00 and he just made it.)  He got home and I opened it to inspect it and they had the wrong name for Allie.  It said "Blessings Alice and Olivia".  It also had a horrible border of which I did not want.  I was steaming.  I immediately called and luckily they were still there.  I told them of their mistakes and had to take it all the way back up to the store and they said that it was correct on paper and that the woman who did the decorating didn't pay attention and that they would correct it and deliver it at 10:00 am Sunday morning.  They still didn't get it right, but delivered it and this was the end product.  I told them I was not paying for it but they still charged me.  Don't use Delectable Edibles!!!!!

Whit, Dennis and me

A special thank you to everyone who came, especially Justin's Great Grandmother who is 92!  Thank you Mom, Dennis and Whit for helping and staying the weekend.  Thank you Aunt D for coming and the "Sam's trip."  Thank you Daddy for coming and being part of this special day for the girls.  Thank you to Darlene, Randy, Grandma, Denise, and Chris for preparing all of the food and hauling it to Dothan.  Everything was delicious. 

An all nighter

Hallelujah!!!!! Last night was the first night that Allie slept ALL night.  By all night I mean from 8:30 to 7:00 this morning!!!  Olivia has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks now but Allie jumped on the band wagon last night.  I woke up this morning thinking that it was between 1:00 am and 3:00 am (the usual time Allie gets up for a bottle) but looked at the clock and to my surprise it was 5:56 am.  I laid there for a second trying to comprehend what time it was and wonder if Justin or I got up in the middle of the night to feed her.  NOPE! Justin woke up when he felt me sit up in bed and said "Did Allie sleep all night?"  We both couldn't believe it.  I went in their nursery to check on them (I have to admit that I was a little scared).  When I very quietly and carefully (anyone with babies knows that you proceed with caution around a sleeping baby) entered their room I found them both snoozing away.  Allie was snoring up a storm and Olivia was sacked out.  I couldn't help but stand there and watch them sleep, as if I don't ever see them.  Justin walked in and stood there with me.  We just stood there together and watched our beautiful girls sleep like angels.  They slept for about another hour (long enough for me to shower and get ready for work) and then woke up at 7:00 am.  WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!!!!!!!  When I left this morning they were playing and talking  (babbling).  I miss them so much. 

With this said I hope I don't jinks our luck for tonight.  I think the reason she slept all night is because she moved up an ounce during feedings.  We are at 5 ounces per feeding.  They are still eating about every 3 hours.  Olivia stays awake all day and does not like to nap.  It kills her to take a nap.  She fights it so bad and does not want to miss a thing.  When she does fall asleep, it's not for long (maybe 30-45 minutes).  Allie loves to sleep.  She is very laid back, just like her Daddy.  She has been staying awake a little bit more during the day but last night she was up for a while before bed time.  Normally she takes a little nap an hour before bed.  This helped her sleep all night last night.

We have gotten on a GREAT schedule.  We play in the afternoon when I get home, the girls eat at 5:00 pm, play some more and relax while I cook dinner.  After Justin and I eat we play some more or swing in their swings (we have so many things in our den it looks like an amusement park).  At 8:00 we take our baths (it usually takes about 10-15 minutes to bath each girl and dress them in their jamies), put on our pj's, get cozy and take their last bottle.  We rock them until they are half asleep and put them down.  They are getting better at putting themselves to sleep after we rock them for a little while.  This has been a work in progress and is working really good right now.  YAY!!!  After Justin and I put them down for the night we do the nightly ritual......wash bottles, make formula, prepare bottles, wash clothes, fold clothes, etc.  With as busy as we are I would not change one thing! 

Pray that everyone has another GREAT night!!!

WE ARE 3 MONTHS OLD TODAY!!!!!!!!!

Allie yesterday afternoon when I got home from work. 

Allie (R) this morning.  You can't see what her shirt says but it says "I'm New Here"

Olivia (below) this morning.  Read her shirt! She is trying so hard to roll over.  Both girls are, but Olivia is going to do this any day now.

Olivia (L) and Allie (R) yesterday after a wardrobe change from poopy diapers and spit up.

 Olivia (L) and Allie (R) when I got home yesterday.

 Allie.  This smile makes me grin all day.

Allie

Olivia

Dear Allie and Olivia

I was not real sure if I wanted to post this but the more I thought about it I wanted to.  This is a letter that I wrote to the girls so that they could read it when they got older.  I cried the entire time I wrote this.  This is for my girls that I love and adore.

Dear Allie and Olivia,

                                    Words are not enough to tell you how much I love you girls. You are my life and my heart. Your father and I went through a lot of battles to get you girls here. You will never know the amount of pain and tears we shed to get you here and pray that you girls never have to go through anything like that. If I could I would bear the burden of any sadness or pain that you will endure throughout your life.
                  You girls are so very precious and are loved so much by everyone. Throughout your lives you will endure hardships and cry. Don’t worry, I will be there along with your Father to comfort you and help you through what ever it may be. It’s a big world out there and you will have ups and downs. Believe me, your Father and I have been through them. I want you girls to know that you will always be loved more than you know and surrounded by family and friends that love you.
                  I want the very best for the both of you and will do everything in my power to see that happens. I want to spoil you rotten, kiss and hug you nonstop, and smother you with attention. One day you won’t want me to do these things, but for the time being I am going to do as much of this as I can.
                  Throughout my childhood, my parents (your Gandi and Mimi) were amazing parents. They went above and beyond for me and allowed me to be my own person. In allowing me to be my own person, they also instilled the importance of Faith in God. I pray that you girls will always keep your Faith strong and love the Lord our God with all of your heart and soul. God has blessed me with the two of you and you all are a true blessing.
                    I love you both unconditionally and wish the very best for your life. I will be there for you when you take your first step, say your first word, fall down for the first time, get your first boo-boo, go to school for the first time, make an “A” on your first test, make a bad grade on your first test, learn your abc’s, make your first best friend, go through middle school (hormones-haha), get your first kiss, go on your first date, get your first boyfriend, cheerleading, band, sports, graduate from high school, move on to college, graduate from college, meet your husband, start your own family, and raise your family.
                  When your Father and I met I knew he was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, have a family with, and grow old with. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for him and our marriage. He has taught me things and brought out things in me that I never knew I had inside of me. He is an amazing man and I am truly blessed that God put him in my life. He will make you laugh, make you do your homework, push you to be your best, chase away boyfriends, dress up in princess costumes, have tea parties with you, teach you to ride a bike, sing to you, and most importantly instill the value you of love, family, honesty, and faith. Let him be the man in your life that does everything for you and with you.
                  Your Grandparents are a huge part of your life and always will be. They will spoil you, defend you, and love you always. They will let you get away with murder, hide things from your Father and me, let you eat candy after you have brushed your teeth, stay up past your bed time, mismatch your outfits, buy you EVERYTHING you desire, and will take the time to listen to you about your day and what you did. Your Grandparents have been so supportive of your Father and me all of our lives. They have given us their opinions and advice, saw us go through good and bad things, and most importantly showed us what family is all about.
                   Your Aunts and Uncles are a fun part of your life. Again, they will spoil you to the core and also let you get away with murder. They are the cool aunts and uncles every other child wishes they had. They will take you to concerts, teach you to be cool, help with any crisis you may be going through, and love you unconditionally. They will be the ones you that you call when you want advice on how to get out of cleaning your room or getting us to say yes to something when we have already said no a hundred times. Enjoy them being there for you and appreciate the bond you will form with them.
                    This letter is a small reminder of what is in store for the two of you. Remember, life will get tough but it will also be fun. Remember to always keep your Faith and love your Lord God. Remember that your Father is a blessing from God and will always be there for you. Remember that your Grandparents are more than Grandparents, they are the reason your Father and I are here and the reason you two are here. Remember that your Aunts and Uncles will always be cool and “hip” and to let them also guide you in the right path. Lastly, remember to let us be your friends but also your parents and let us be there to love and support you always.


                   I love you girls more than you will ever know and cannot wait to watch you grow and develop over the years. You are my heart and my world. I love you both.


With Love,


Mom

Random but Cute

Olivia (L) before bed.

Allie (R) before bed.

So here are a few pictures, though not the best pictures but they sure are CUTE!!  We have been taking the majority of these pictures with our camera phones just because we can automatically put them on our email and send them to our parents. 

Olivia is very determined to get up and go.  It frustrates her so much that she can't go-go-go

Olivia

Olivia

While Olivia was playing and working on her push ups, Allie was snoozing.  What can we say, the girl loves to sleep.  This is Justin's child!!!

 Olivia trying to talk to me.  She was cooing and blabbing. 

Justin and Allie on Sunday relaxing.

The girls were all ready for Halloween.  (Left picture: Olivia on the left and Allie on the right)

(Right picture) Allie on the left and Olivia on the right

These faces make me melt (Olivia-top and Allie-bottom) 

 Who knew that children could make you forget about everything else in the world.  When I come home from work I cannot wait to see my girls and Justin, of course.  I have so much on my mind on the ride home (our house is only 5 minutes from my school, so not a very long ride) to remember  such as shopping for groceries, wash and make bottles, make formula, do the laundry, clean the house, get an oil change, call this person back, pay these bills, budget our money this month, spend time with Justin, cook dinner, put lesson plans together, and so on and so on.  But when I walk in the door and see my BEAUTIFUL daughters (WOW that still sounds weird to say) all of that leaves me and all I am able to do is concentrate on my babies.  Don't get me wrong, I still have all of those things to do when the girls go to sleep but when I am with them nothing else in the world seems to matter.  I have wanted to be a mother for a long time (as most girls/women do) and I can honestly say that this is the BEST JOB in the WORLD!!!!!!

This weekend the girls are being baptized at First United Methodist Church in Dothan and all of our family is coming in town.  We miss our family since everyone is in three different states.  We love when they come to visit. 

One last thing........please pray for Justin's grandpa as he has been put back in the hospital again.  He is such an awesome man and we want him to be around for a long time.  Also, please pray for a friend of mine who is going through IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) and observation this week.  They have been trying to have a baby for more than 10 years now and went through IVF Monday and so far so good! We want good news this week.  Have a great week.