4 months

I can't believe that 4 months and 1 day ago my sweet boys entered this world. Wow how life has changed since their arrival. These 2 boys are the biggest blessings to Garrett and I and we couldn't be happier with our lives.

Sadly today was a 'shot' day at the doctor's office. Those are never any fun for baby or mama. Luckily my sweet friend, Kedra joined me to help comfort them after they were stuck 3 times each.

Blake is weighing in at 13 pounds, 13 ounces (17%); he is 25 inches long (38%); and his head is 42 1/2 cm around (45%). We were correct in the diagnosis of him having quite a large head. :) It is extra large for extra brains and sweetness! He still isn't rolling over but he is talking like crazy! Blake is such a joy and just so incredibly sweet. He has the biggest smile in the world and when he does smile, his entire face smiles. I can tell that he will probably be the silent type (like his daddy) and just take things all in.

Jack is weighing in at 13 pounds, 8 ounces (12%); he is also 25 inches long (38%); and his head is 40 1/2 cm around (6%). He is rolling from his back to his tummy constantly; however, he has forgotten that he can also roll from his tummy to his back. We will have to keep working on this. We now have to strap him in to everything because he tries to roll right out. Jack is going to be the comedian of the family, he is such a little goof ball. He gives these looks out of the corner of his eye and then a huge smile comes across his face. He is already showing signs of teething (drooling and mild fever) but this doesn't mean he is getting teeth. PHEW!!! This could last for a few months until his teeth do come in. AGH! So, Jack also lives in a bib or his clothes would be soaked.

Both boys are eating 8 ounces of formula with one scoop of rice cereal in it every 4 hours (the cereal helps with their spit up) . That makes 32 ounces a day, the most they should be drinking at this point. The doctor said we now need to start feeding them rice cereal and see how they do and then we can start to introduce veggies in a couple of weeks. She isn't concerned that it is too early for that. She said that they don't need any more liquids and if they are still hungry they need to eat solids. My babies are growing up! :( They are still in 0-3 month clothes, but slowly working their way into 3-6 months.

I know my boys are still small but I never in a million years thought they would be this big at 4 months old. Seeing as how they were just over 5 pounds at birth. I also thought that my slightly preemie babies would be behind, I had nothing to worry about. These boys are just the best and I love them so much. I now know why God made me wait so long to have a baby. :)

Golf cart rocker

So I am officially addicted to Woodlandsonline! It is a great website, just like Craigslist, but local. I was just browsing online the other day and saw the words 'golf cart rocker' and had to take look. I was giddy with excitement when I saw the cutest thing ever! I then proceeded to call my dad and tell him that his grandsons HAVE to have this. He agreed and so now we are the proud owners of the adorable rocker. Now I know you are thinking that my boys can't even sit up on their own yet and of course I know that.

Oh wait, time out. I got sidetracked, Jack is ROLLING OVER!! He is now rolling from his back to his tummy and then back again! And I was worried that my slightly preemie babies would be behind. HA!

Ok, back to the rocker. I know my boys aren't quite big enough for it yet, but it was a purchase that couldn't be passed up. Between Garrett's and my dad's love of golf, this was a must have in our house. It is in great condition, nothing that a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser couldn't fix. Oh and it was a steal, we payed 30 bucks for it and the lady told me that her mom bought it for $140. It came out of the PGA magazine or catalog or something like that. I got my great shopping skills from my mom! :)

The boys put on their plaid shorts and took a ride in their new ride!

Here is is. Garrett added the clubs.

Notice the grass painted on the rocking part.

It has a moving steering wheel.

Jack loves his new ride!

He is checking out the steering wheel wondering how to make this thing go.

Blake is ready to go. This is a great dimples shot!

I'm ready for the front nine Daddy!

Pray for these 3 families

It seems that in the last week or so I keep hearing about girls, roughly my age, having pregnancy complications or their babies have complications. It just makes me so sad. It also makes me thank God even more for the two healthy boys I have been blessed with.

This first family I have known for a long time. I grew up with Erica and then she moved to our rival high school. Her husband, Travis, and I went to high school together and even went to a dance together. Anyway, they are expecting a baby, Sam, on Oct. 1. They just found out that he has one, possibly three heart defects. Surgery is in Sam's future. Please pray for them and for baby Sam. I know God can work miracles and will heal baby Sam. Here is their blog address: www.ajourneywithfaith.blogspot.com


The second family I don't even know. A friend of mine put this blog address up on Facebook. I read and cried. This woman was diagnosed with breast cancer and found out she was pregnant around the same time. Their adorable baby girl was born on Sept. 8 and sadly the mother passed away on Sept. 22. I just can't imagine. Here is their blog address: www.bandssullivan.blogspot.com Please pray for this now widow and his newborn daughter.

Finally, this isn't a family with a baby, but close enough. I heard from a friend that I taught with in Dallas that a former student of mine has been diagnosed with leukemia. He is now in 6th grade and can no longer attend school. He is staying up on all of his school work from home. This is an absolutely amazing family that is very strong in their faith. Please say many prayers for Jack as he gets his chemo treatments. I know God will also work miracles on him and he will be healthy and playing sports again before we know it.

Sorry for such a depressing blog. I just feel for all of these families so much and want as many people praying for them as possible.

Tummy time, bath time, football...

I keep telling myself that I have got to be better about blogging, then I won't have to do so much in one post.

My boys are just growing so much and have really entered a fun stage. They are both smiling all the time, giggling from time to time, and showing off their personalities. I have loved every stage, but so far, this one is my favorite!

Please forgive me for all the pictures, but I can't help it. I have such a hard time narrowing it down.

Tummy Time
Both boys are doing a really great job at holding their heads up. Jack is slightly stronger, but in Blake's defense, his head is HUGE! Bless his heart. Every time I put a shirt over his head it stretches out. Even shirts that have snaps or buttons around the neck have a hard time going over. Jack, on the other hand, has a very normal sized head so holding it up is not a problem.

I have been a little concerned about the flat spots both boys have gotten due to always being on their back, so we are spending more time on our tummies. I know the flat spots are very common and will go away, but being new mom, I'm paranoid about these little things.


Here is Jack watching TV, his absolute favorite thing to do. I know, I know, I'm a terrible mom.

Buster, watching over his brother.

Here is Blake working so hard to hold that head up.

Maybe if I lift my eyebrows, my head will go with it.

Bath Time

Both boys love taking a bath. They aren't crazy when we dump the water over their face, but I'm hoping that doing it will help them adjust to swimming next summer. We'll see. We got some adorable towels from Pottery Barn as a gift, here are some pictures of the boys all wrapped up. The green one is a pig, and the blue one is a cow. I know, weird color choices but still oh so cute.

Blake as a pig.

Jack as a cow.






Football

With the football season upon us, that is all that is on the TV on the weekends. So the boys can't watch their Praise Baby or Baby Einstein videos. Something tells me that they don't mind too much.

Here are Garrett and Blake watching the game.

So grown up.

Ok, now I have to preface these next few pictures. Jack LOVES the TV. If he is anywhere near it, he turns his neck so he can watch. After I fed both boys this afternoon, I put them on their tummies. This meant Jack couldn't see the football game anymore, so he started fussing. I turned his body so he would be able to see the game and he stopped crying. Then, he rolled to his side and stopped. He didn't keep rolling to his back, because being on his side allowed a perfect view of the game. I was cracking up. I would put him back on his tummy and he would do it again. What a smarty pants.

I know there is a lot in this picture, but I wanted to get Jack on his side and the TV in the shot.


This is a weird angle, but he is on his side watching away.

Will my team win?

...

Here are some random pictures. Both boys have discovered their thumbs and are starting to suck them. I'm not too happy about this because a pacifier is easy to take away when the time comes, but I can't take away their thumbs. It sure is stinkin' cute when they do it though. Unfortunately every time I try to take a picture of it, they pull it out.

Jack and Buster after what would appear to be a long day.

Jack in his Exersaucer.

Blake in his Exersaucer and Buster.

Both boys ready for church. Their feet are finally big enough for shoes! So cute!!

Big day at playgroup

Today was our weekly trip to our playgroup at Jennifer's house. We look forward to this day every week. I have such a great time visiting with the girls and seeing all of these precious babies grow up.

As I was putting the boys in their car seats so we could go, Blake giggled at me!!! Garrett and I have been waiting for this moment. He and Jack both look like they want to laugh so badly, and now he has finally done it! As if that wasn't exciting enough, Jack rolled over today! I had him on his tummy at playgroup and he was holding himself up just looking around. As if this wasn't impressive enough, he rolled right over onto his back. After some exciting noises coming from all of us, I put him on his tummy again and he rolled the other way. What a strong little guy!

Both boys love it when I blow raspberries at them. You know, when you blow air between your lips and they flap up and down. They get such big smiles on the faces when I do it. Well, for the last couple of days Jack has been trying to imitate me. Today he finally did it. He isn't consistent with it, but he can do it. Usually he just shoots spit between his lips. It is so cute though.

It was a very exciting day today with lots of firsts. Here is how the boys looked at the end of playgroup. They were so tuckered out!



Blake


Jack

3 months and some personality

Last Friday my boys turned 3 months old!!! I know I say this in almost every post , but where has the time gone? I can't believe how much my life has changed over the last 3 months and what a blessing these two amazing boys are. I asked Garrett the other day how we got so lucky to have such good, handsome babies. His response was that God had rewarded us for everything we had been through trying to get these little guys. I couldn't agree more.

Lots of people have asked me if the boys are alike or different in terms of personality. Well, they couldn't be any more different! Scroll past these first few pictures and I have listed their different traits.

I also can't get over how big the boys are. I haven't weighed them in a while but I'm sure they are over 12 pounds by now. I took pictures of them yesterday in chairs they sat in all the time as newborns. Boy oh boy how they've grown!


I took this picture this morning after they ate; always a happy time of day.

Shortly after...

Sweet brothers

Blake then...

Blake now.


Jack then...

Jack now.

BLAKE

*looks just like Garrett

*Type B personality just like Garrett

*hates his pacifier, most of the time

*sleeps best on his tummy

*loves to cuddle

*quiet and laid back

*usually has a very serious look

*not a big talker or noise maker

*big, wide mouthed smile

*blonde hair

*has Garrett's full lips and my long fingers and toes

*good eater

*he will let Jack tell him what to do which will probably lead to trouble

I love this picture of Blake. Not only does it show his cute feet, but look at those rolls!

JACK

What? What I do?

*looks just like I did as a baby

*has a Type A personality just like me

*loves his pacifier

*sleeps best on his back

*not big on cuddling

*loud, he lets you know he's here

*happy, always has a smile on his face

*always making noise and talking

*sly, mischievous smile

*darker hair

*got my long face, fingers and toes

*good eater

*he will be the leader of the two and get Blake (and himself) into trouble



I just love these boys so much and I thank God every day for giving them to me.