8 Months

Wiley

• 11 lbs 7 oz; 25 inches long
• You have earned your newest nickname: Curious George. You are into everything! No matter where you are, you find something new that you must touch or feel. Diaper changes are becoming increasingly more frustrating due to this...you refuse to stay on your back, needing to see everything behind you.
• You are a speedy, rolly-polly. We have to keep an eye on you because you will be gone if not.
• You are getting around a lot more now too. You have a pretty good scootch developed. I call it the inch-worm: booty straight in the air, you pull yourself forward with your arms, booty down, and repeat.
• You can sit up fairly sturdy in the "tripod position" (arms in front of your legs to balance you) and have held yourself up for just a few seconds without the balance of your arms.
• You love little kids
• You are giggling a lot more - and now without being tickled. Your whole face lights up when you smile and others can't help but smile too when they see it.

Ryan

• 11 lbs 2 oz; 24.5 inches long
• You are a speedy, rolly-polly. We have to keep an eye on you because you will be gone if not.
• You are getting around a lot more now too. You have a pretty good forward army crawl developed, but if you really want to make some time, you go backwards. 
• You are very solid at sitting in the "tripod position" (arms in front of your legs to balance you) and have held yourself up for just a few seconds without the balance of your arms.
• You seem very thoughtful in the movements you make. When you want something, you position yourself just right so that you can grab whatever it is you are after. 
• You love little kids
• You love to make other people laugh and already seem to know when you are getting a lot of attention and so you put on a show for them

You boys continue to bring us so much joy every day. Your daddy and I were just talking the other night, how each new stage we enter is so exciting. We love watching you learn and take in the world. This new stage of exploration and curiosity is just so fun. You are both so interested and alert to everything around you. I say it each month, but I just can't believe it's already been eight months! They have been the happiest eight months of our lives and we are so blessed to call you ours!

490

My favorite week of the year: church camp, by far. It's a week cut off from the rest of the world spent rejuvenating your soul. It's a week spent with church family from around the country, catching up and growing closer. A week of nearly no sleep and a jam packed schedule of church meetings, seminars, sports, and late night socializing. And each year it's my reset button - a chance to grow closer to the Lord, to refresh my soul, and to come back to reality feeling empowered and ready to better serve Him.

This year, your daddy and I went back and forth as pt whether or not we were going to go. We realized it would be a lot of work just to get there with you two. Plus, with constant church meetings where you had to sit still and be quiet, would it be worth it? Two weeks before camp we finally decided to give it a shot. 

We were right, it was definitely a lot of work. But it was absolutely worth it! You boys were beyond amazing! You traveled well. You were so behaved during the meetings. And minus sleeping at night (you did not like going back to your rock n plays!), we really can't complain. You made lots of new friends and mommy and daddy got a lot of excellent help!

This year's camp theme was forgiveness based on Matthew 18:21-22, "Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

We spent the week learning what true forgiveness is and how to truly forgive someone. Going into the week, I was very excited about this theme; I was comfortable with my ability to forgive. However, as we delved deeper into the topic, I realized I do not forgive everyone as quickly and easily as I should. As humans we often forgive conditionally, but God teaches us to simply forgive unconditionally. It is easy to feel hurt or betrayed by others. When this happens it can be difficult to trust them again or accept their apology in fear they will do it again. But how often does the Lord forgive me, day after day, of the same mistakes over and over again?

What I thought was going to be an easy, spiritual, week for me, actually taught me I have much work to do. I tend to hold grudges when people really hurt me. I tend to bottle up these hurts and often the person does not even know the pain they may be causing me. This week we learned that now is the time to unite as a church. We need to first address any offenses we may have and then we need to forgive. If our purpose is to spread Christ's love, we must make sure as a church we are united by His love.

I am so thankful for the week we spent as a family with our church family. As you boys continue to grow and learn, I hope we can continue to hold on to this feeling of Forgiveness: 490. It's my prayer that I can grow myself so that I can be an example to you boys of the importance of true forgiveness.

Six Month Follow-Up

Today we had another neonatal follow-up. I feel like you boys are doing wonderfully, so I was excited to hear a professional's take on your progress. Ryan, you were a little out of sorts (but I can't blame you, the appointment was right in the middle of your favorite nap-time) and did not want anything with the tasks she was having you do. Still, you showed her all she needed to see. 

Besides still being pretty underweight (we finally hit 11 pounds each!), she was very impressed with you both! In fact she ended the appointment with, "Well typically we see preemies every four months up until their adjusted age of one year, some up to two years. But you boys are doing so great, let's just meet again in 7 months for their one year. And you know what, if your pediatrician thinks they look good, as that appointment approaches, we could probably do without that one too!" I was thrilled! Here I thought they'd be tracking you for two years and you guys could already be finished with your neonatal appointments!

Today was such an answered prayer. You boys continue to develop beautifully and God continues to show His power! I'm so thankful, and so proud of my little "overcomers!"

(And as if this good news wasn't enough, you boys decided to show off a bit today too after the appointment and sat in the tripod position for the first time! Wow!!)

 

 

Fourth of July

We spent the fourth visiting with family; cooking out; and enjoying the shockingly, cool, gorgeous July weather. The afternoon was spent at Grandpa's house and a slew of cousins (a total of 7 boys all under 4 and one lone lady) for lunch.

From there we headed out to Nenny's house. Here you played with your cousins Noah and Logan for the first time. They made you both smile and giggle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ended the long day with an incredible firework show (we enjoyed the show from indoors!). Ryan, you didn't take one nap all day (except for the few car rides we had to take). You didn't want to miss one minute of the excitement. Unfortunately, you finally crashed just minutes before the fireworks!

 

 

 

Overall, it was a very busy, very fun day celebrating with friends and family.

Five Years

When we were first married, I had hoped that by the age of 30 my family would be complete. It was your daddy's plan to begin our family around 30. After the first year of marriage, we had both changed our minds...we decided by our third anniversary we would have our first child. Looking back now, it almost seems funny that we thought we had such a solid plan for our life.

I'm so thankful things did not work out as we planned.

Yesterday, your daddy and I celebrated five years of marriage together. I know it is cliche, but it is so true that we are more in love today than I ever dreamed possible. Our relationship has definitely been tested in ways I never thought possible. And while there were dark days that seemed impossible to overcome, we came through them stronger than before. We have seen each other through the tragic loss of family members. We have grieved (both together and in our own very different ways) our own infertility and the years of struggle that accompanied that. We clung to each other (literally and figuratively) when given the news that we might lose our precious miracles. Those months spent in the hospital before you were born were some incredibly telling months of our relationship. Every night your daddy was there, sleeping on a terribly uncomfortably, terribly tiny couch. The love he showed myself and you boys was just amazing.

And though there were challenges, we have shared so many wonderful things in these first five years. Buying our first house and countless projects making it our home. Family vacations to beaches, amusement parks, hiking, church camps, and more. Seeing our extended family grow and becoming an aunt and uncle. Some of my favorite moments are the ones you often forget though: sitting on the patio talking together, playing card games or video games, evening walks, the every day moments that we often take for granted.

Our lives are so full and I am so blessed by all we have. I had been looking forward to our anniversary for quite some time now. The four of us, along with Zsu Zsu, were going to meet some close family friends up at the Cincinnati Zoo. Your daddy and I had spent our first anniversary there and I loved that our fifth anniversary would be spent there too, now as a family of four!


However, Friday morning, we all (except for Daddy), woke up sick - sniffles for everyone. But, onward we went.

You boys were such little troopers. It was a hot, long day with very few naps. But you were all smiles and toughed it out. Your wimpy mommy was more miserable than you boys!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once home, Zsu Zsu and Paka were going to babysit so that Daddy and I could go out for a nice dinner. I just felt so awful though, I didn't want to go eat somewhere nice feeling so pathetic. So, we stayed in town and did a quick dinner together. Afterwards, we took a stroll down our small little Main Street and relaxed together outside. It was not how we had planned on spending our anniversary, but it was perfection. It was so nice reflecting on our marriage and our life together.

 

I'm thankful that we could spend the day together as a family and then also enjoy some quiet time for just the two of us. Seeing how much we have grown together, I am excited to see what the future has in store for your daddy and I, as well as our sweet family. So much has happened in just five years, I am eager to see where we will be five years from now! 

Baby Food: To Make or Not to Make

When our doctor first talked to us about baby food, he asked if I planned on making it or not. I had considered it while pregnant, but hadn't given it much thought since then. So, this past month we've just done the store bought. It just seemed easier and more convenient for this momma who is still trying to survive simply making dinner for the adults while keeping busy with two babies.

However, at seven months we are beginning to transition to two solid feedings a day...and you growing boys are eating a lot! So I began to wonder if making my own baby food would stretch farther than the store bought stuff. Would it be too time consuming to make / worth the effort?

On top of that, homemade baby food is supposed to make the transition from baby food to "real" food easier. So, after consulting a relative who made her own baby food, I decided to give it a shot. She shared a fabulous website with me where I began finding some super first "recipes" to try out. I was excited to see that it didn't seem nearly as difficult as I thought it might be - a few fruits and veggies, a couple ice trays, and I was set. The "recipes" are really nothing but the fruits / veggies and directions as to how they need to first be cooked before pureeing.

So, yesterday I embarked on Mission Homemade Baby Food. Two and a half hours later and I had 73 ounces in a food - enough to get us through one week (can you tell my enthusiasm began to wane; as the cooking progressed the pictures slowed down!).

 

 

 

 

My feelings right now: it's a little cheaper, it's better for you, it's pretty time consuming (I'm curious now that I have one batch under my belt if next week will go more smoothly). Realistically, I'm a mother to twin boys who require a lot of attention, so making food might not always be the easiest or always doable. However, I really enjoyed doing it yesterday.

My goal for now is one day of the weekend will be my "cook day" (mainly because Daddy will be home to occupy you boys!). I'd like to stick with this, but I'm don't want it to cause stress. We are going out of town in a couple of weeks and I don't want to feel like, "Oh no, what will I do about making baby food?" I simply won't! I definitely will keep some store bought baby food on hand for "emergencies." Right now, I feel like the homemade stuff will be better for you in the long run, so we will give it a shot this week and see how it goes!

First taste of homemade apples - you weren't so sure at first!

Summetime

Today we kicked summertime off right with your first swim!

Wiley, you definitely did not love it at first, but eventually adjusted to the cooler water. You kept reaching for your daddy and we realized you just wanted to be snuggled in that big, scary pool. You cuddled right up on his chest and eventually fell asleep right there in the pool!

Ryan, you were somewhat hesitant at first, but overall loved it! We had you flying in the air, splashing in the water, and zooming around in circles. You were all smiles and giggles.

It was a perfect family day...

 

 

...and it wore you two silly boys out!