Five Months Blooper Reel

The 19th of each month is so exciting - I love our little photo shoots. I love reflecting on all you are doing each month and comparing the pictures month to month. But as much as that, I really love all the silly pictures I get out of these monthly pics. It is nearly impossible to narrow it down to just a few each month. Here are a few of my favorite "bloopers."

Five Months

Wiley

• 10 lbs 13 oz
• you are sleeping through the night, every night now! Bedtime by 10 PM and  you sleep until about 7 AM - WOW! Way to go, Stinkpot
• you are a talking machine now - at first your little brother was constantly talking, while you seemed to just be taking it all in, waiting for the right words to say. You like to make sure someone is listening before cooing.
• you sing along when I sing to you now, cooing away
• you are still a cuddle bug, which we love
• you love to suck on your ring and middle finger (and have a blister to prove it) or chomp on your whole hand all the time
• your legs are constantly going nonstop - most pictures of you are blurry because they rarely stop
• you seem to already have such a kind, gentle soul

Ryan

• 10 lbs 7 oz
• you are sleeping through the night, every night now! Bedtime by 10 PM and  you sleep until about 7 AM - WOW! Way to go, Porkchop
• you are a talking machine now. When you wake up in the morning, you will spend a good 15-30 minutes just laying in your bed, talking away
• you sing along when I sing to you now, cooing away
• you are starting to cuddle more - yay!!
• you are a little thumb sucker (especially as you fall asleep and wake up)
• you like to giggle and laugh (especially when being tickled under your neck, but you are ticklish all over) with mouth open and tongue out
• you seem to have such a fun, playful soul

I just still cannot believe you boys are here, let alone here for five months already. As you grow and I begin putting newborn sized clothes away (through ridiculous tears!), a part of me is sad to see these stages end. Yet, I so love the new things each day brings. You are changing and developing so quickly; it is a blast to watch you grow into your own personalities. We love you boys so much. Thank you bringing more joy than you'll ever know to our lives.

First Connection

I have so been looking forward to the day that you boys would first notice each other. It finally happened!

Last week, during our morning feed and diaper change, I turned my back for one moment and turned back around to see this...

You were just in awe of each today. You were truly looking at each other and couldn't take your eyes off one another. It was fabulous and I'm so glad I caught it on camera!

I thought it couldn't get better, but this week you decided to talk to each other! And again, I was lucky enough to catch some of the moment on camera.

20 Weeks

32 weeks ago we were celebrating the halfway mark of our pregnancy. We had just found out that you were two little boys and we could not wait to meet you. Less than two weeks later, we began our crazy hospital roller coaster ride. And in what seems like a blink of an eye, it has already been 20 weeks that you've been here with us. It's just amazing to think how far we have all come. As I say, probably a thousand times a day to your daddy, "Man, oh man, I love my babies!!"

Spring has Sprung

We did it, boys!! We made it through these cold winter months stuck indoors and are now starting to venture out! This weekend seemed to be your coming out party. Saturday we had some of our close friends over, who you both finally met. You finally met your first friend too, their daughter (Ryan, you really did like Grace, while this picture begs to differ). This fun evening also included your first bonfire; snuggled up, you both enjoyed it and fell asleep. 

While we so enjoyed Saturday evening, today was a day I've been looking forward to since before you were born...your first day at church! All week long you woke up between 6/6:30, again between 9:30 and 10, and again between 12:30 and 1 - perfect for church. Of course, today you decided to change it up! You both slept through the night from 9:30 to 8 AM!! And while this was exciting to sleep in, it made our game plan for getting ready for church a little trickier. But, we managed and were still out the door on time. 

Once there, you boys did an awesome job. Ryan, you slept from the moment we began driving to church and all the way through church. However, you smiled and stirred every time you heard Aunt Aubrey talk. Here you are listening to Paka preach. 

Wiley, while you should have been sleeping too, you woke up soon after arriving and were awake for most of the day. You were just too excited to fall asleep, but don't worry, you were well behaved!

Today's message was "spring is the season for sowing seeds." It seemed so fitting for your first day at church, our first official day of sowing seeds for your own spiritual walk. It is our hope and prayer that one day you will both chose to have your own personal relationships with Christ. It is exciting to think that today was the start of your own journey. We are so excited to watch you grow in The Church and with your church family. 

Once home, you both slept through your lunchtime (such a big day was exhausting for you boys!). When you finally woke up, our family of four enjoyed the gorgeous weather together outside. 

You boys bring us so much joy. Our lives are so complete. We are blessed that you are healthy, growing, and doing so well. We are thankful that April is here and we are finally able to introduce you to this great big world. It is so exciting to think of all the possibilities that your futures hold. I can't wait to see what this life brings you both!

Life's a Happy Song

http://youtu.be/beBYLX87pgY

Answered Prayers

Wiley, my dear, you have had a mix of allergies and a cold for over two weeks now. And while nothing had changed, and you weren't getting worse, yesterday I just felt so uneasy (the thought of that dreaded RSV haunts me). Before leaving Paka and Zsu Zsu's house, we asked Paka to anoint you.

Jokingly, your daddy said, "While you're at it, could you pray that they sleep through the night too?"

So, he prayed for your cold and for your mommy's peace of mind. This morning, at 6 AM your daddy woke me up, "Court? Court...they did it! They slept through the night!" Sure enough, eight and a half hours later from your last feeding, and seven and a half hours of straight sleep for all four of us, you boys had slept through your first night!!

I quickly peeked in your nose, Wiley. Your stuffy breathing had stopped and your nose was hardly dirty. It had been 19 straight days of having to clean your nose out before any feedings so that you could breathe while eating. We have you anointed and the very next feeding your nose is clean! I love how God whispers and reminds us He loves us all the time. Your cold was not bad enough to need to see a doctor. Your cold wasn't even bad enough to make you fussy. But, it was bad enough to steal my peace. The minute I turned it over to God, He took it from you. And not only that, I think God has a sense of humor too. While Paka didn't pray for you boys to sleep through the night, maybe He heard your daddy's wishes too! 

Just four months old and already you boys are collecting so many testimonies that will one day help shape your own personal relationships with God.