A lot going on

Julian's first day of school

She's so funny, giving a big laugh. She actually wore the bow for a whole 10 minutes also.
Looks like driving Ms Daisy

Julian's team
#16



house is looking much better with our new sidewalk and grass is coming in better.
Lilly loves Julian

Sharing Mommy

Saying Cheese
Lilly sitting with Julian upstairs watching TV

Alex got his first boo boo

I know I keep saying it but I don't know where the time goes. Suddenly it is the end of the day, and I'm just ready to go to bed. We've been very busy lately.

Julian started playing Flag football this August. He was having practice 3 days a week from 6:30-8. (not prime time for me to have to take the babies with me). He's been doing great. It has been so fun watching 20+ kids (5-6 yrs old) learn how to play and have so much fun. Some of the kids played last year, but we got here too late to sign up. It's been a blast watching him interact with the other kids, and he is already soooooo interested in the cheerleaders. At the first game, he asked the team mom what the cheerleaders were doing at the game and she said they were there for them and he was so excited. I'm already thinking of the future with a teenage boy wooing after the girls. He also had their first game this past Sunday. He did so good and chris and I were so impressed with him. I never thought I would like to watch my son play football but it was really neat and a good chance for our family to get out and meet people and get involved here. I have met some really nice mom's and hoping to get more involved this year now that the babies are a little older. We also started our first week of 1st grade this past Monday. I can't believe he's already in 1st grade. He's becoming a little boy instead of my baby. He now goes all day everyday and we are getting used to that schedule. It is long days, especially with football and speech after school some days, but hopefully he will continue to do good. He told me last night when we finally got home at 8 pm that he didn't like school because he missed me so much while he was gone. I know he was just over tired and he gets very attached the more tired he is. This is a big change for him though. Usually he has just gone to school for a couple hours a day and then he's home with me. Just another transition he's going to have to make it through. Thank goodness he is such a social butterfly and finds friends easily and loves to interact with others. He told me his teacher called him Mr. Chatty Kathy on his first day of school. I'm waiting for the note home that says he talks to much. It always comes. He is also into "big boy" shows on TV instead of cartoons. I miss seeing the cartoons, and want him to stay my "little boy".

We also had a recent trip to the eye doctor for Julian. He had been telling me that his eyes get blurry every once in a while. The doctor said he did have astigmatism in both eyes but he didn't think his vision needed corrected lens yet. That was good. I didn't feel like having him have to go through that yet. We just have to keep an eye on it.

Alex and Lilly are doing great. Both are busy walkers and all over the place. We started going to the Little Gym to take classes and let them have some fun outside the house. Lilly was so excited when she was finally able to go inside the gym instead of just looking through the door at Julian. Lilly is so independent she just goes from one activity to the next. I think she is going to be a little gymnast when she gets bigger. Alex is still very clingy there, but does let me put him down every once in a while to do some activities. I used to take these classes with Julian when we were in SC and he had so much fun. I'm glad I'm able to take the babies as well and do something special with them. They are getting to be little toddlers. Alex just cut 3 molars and I'm sure Lilly's are on the way. It's so much fun to watch their little minds work, they are so smart. They listen and follow directions, and explore and babble. We haven't really started talking yet, but really do understand everything. It will be nice when they can start communicating more.

We did meet with nutritionist about Lilly. She gave me some tips of trying to add calories to what she will eat. Our problem is how much she eats vs what she eats. she just doesn't like to sit down and eat. Plus, it doesn't help that she is so incredibly active that she burns off more calories than I can get her. It's bad when I go to the grocery store and look for snacks with alot of calories. Poor Alex, is going to have a weight problem one day because I try to find the most caloric food as possible. Hopefully she will start to like to eat more soon. but it is so fun watching them grow and change.

Time Flies

I can't believe the summer is almost over. It feels like just yesterday when Julian was getting out of Kindergarten, and now he's going to be a 1st grader in just a few weeks. It really makes you think about how fast time does go by and how much the kids grow and change before your very eyes.

This past week has been a long and difficult week for my family as we faced a serious health scare. It truly makes you cherish your family and makes you cherish all the time you have with them. I don't know what I would do without my family, without all their love and support. It really puts life into prospective, when you are faced with a family member with a serious illness. Just as when we had the babies 8 weeks early, you also learn who cares about you. I received so many calls and texts telling me they were thinking and praying for my family. Thank you to all of you who cared so much again to keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and to extend yourself to me. I am lucky to have such a caring and supportive family that would do anything for each other.

Summer vacation

Its been a long time since the last posting. A lot has been going on since then. The babies had their 15 month check ups, and passed with flying colors. Both are growing "appropriately". Alex is on the 45 % for his weight on a full term baby curve. Lilly is still not on the curve yet, but has maintained her on curve since birth. Considering where she started, 18 lbs 2 oz is a respectable number for my 2 lb baby. The doctor didn't have any complaints so I will have to be happy about that, he thinks they both look great. Alex did have a ear infection and a slight cold, so we did post-pone the shots until he is all better which was fine with me.

We then left for our vacation thursday night before 4th of July. Julian had already gone down a couple days earlier to meet Mary in SC so Chris and I just had the babies to drive down with. We left at bedtime, and we had a long 15 hr drive ahead of us. We hit road construction, which prolonged the drive. The babies were tired of sitting in their seats, as were we, but we did finally make it to seabrook for our vacation. First we had Chris's family meet us there to enjoy the holiday. We had a great time at the beach, pool, seeing fireworks, and enjoying being with our family. Then we had my best friend and her family come stay with us for a few days. Julian got to play with his friends and I got some good girl time. We had so much fun seeing them, we only wished we were able to do it more often. Then a few days later, mom and dad came down to begin their vacation. We had such a great time that it was hard to leave. It was so much fun watching our kids have so much fun.

We then wrapped up the vacation with a trip to Atlanta, stopping in Lexington for a couple of nights. While in Atlanta, Chris and I were able to spend the night out and have a wonderful dinner while we had so many people that could help watch our kids. It was a great way to spend our 11th anniversary. We've done so much in 11 years. We have lived in 6 states in 2 countries, had many jobs, both finished our masters degrees, and had 3 beautiful children. We've had some ups and downs getting here, but at 33 years old, I couldn't imagine my life any other way than to spend it with my wonderful family.

We finally came home 3 1/2 weeks after we left, but it was a wonderful trip. Thank goodness, Anne was so sweet to fly home with me and the kids so we didn't have to try the drive again.

no time this summer

I have found that with Julian out of school, I have no time for any extras in the day. We are so busy entertaining during the day and then I am done in the evening, so the computer is taking a back seat right now.

Julian finished his kindergarten year. I can't believe he is in 1st grade now. It didn't bother me so much until he brought home his yearbook on the last day of school and I looked at his picture from the beginning of the year. He had grown up so much and changed so much from just the start of school that it made me realize how fast he is going to grow up. Hopefully, he will always be my sweet boy that like having his mommy with him. I took him out the other day so that he and I could have a special day without the babies to see Toy story 3. It was so sweet, he asked me that when he goes to college if he can print out a picture of him and I so he can take it with him so he can always see me before he goes to bed. I love him so much.

The babies just turned 15 months old. The are doing really well. Doctor was very pleased with their progress. Alex is walking and getting around well. Lilly is is walking with assistance, and he wasn't concerned she's not quite there yet. We still have ups and downs with lilly's eating, but he also said that was a normal toddler action, so I try not to worry so much about the downs.

Alex weighs 23 lbs 4 oz

Lilly weighs 18 lbs 2 oz

They love playing outside. Here are a few pictures.

Baptism

" All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful; The Lord God made them all."

"All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." Isaiah 54:13

We had a great weekend. We finally scheduled to have the babies baptised. I felt really bad it took this long. We just wanted to the babies to be a little older due to their prematurity before we took them to church, and then it was hard to find a new church that we all enjoyed going to and felt connected to. We did find a methodist church nearby that we had been going to (Chris and I have been alternating taking Julian, it's during the babies nap time so we have been leaving them at home), and Julian has really enjoyed the sunday school. Typical for us, the pastor that's been there 17 years is leaving at the end of the month. He was really wonderful and every sunday, it felt like he was talking to us. It was nice that he was able to baptise the babies before he leaves. He told us in 24 years he had never baptised twins, so it is special that he will always remember us. It was a very special day to have most of our family there with us for that special event. It is important to chris and I that our kids know god's grace and love. Without that, I know the my kids wouldn't be here. He definately had a hand in their births and existance with our trouble getting pregnant. Baptism is the start of the babies relationship with God, and hopefully they will live a life to practice their faith and commitment to him. We also had Jess, blake, and Kelly stand with us to profess their commitment to help teach my children God's love, and their commitment to be there for my children to love and protect them. It was truly a special day.

We then had everyone to the house for lunch and had a great time with the company of family. Living further away from everyone as always been hard for us, as well as everyone else to see us. But it was really special to see everyone take time out of their busy lives, and work schedules to be here for us. I wish we could all live close together, but for now, Chris's job has taken us to different places. One day, maybe it will be easier to get together, but for now, I am grateful for the visits.

Lilly looks exhausted here because she slept after the baptism for the rest of the service with Anne because she missed her morning nap.
May May and PopPop sitting with babies in church with their lovely outfits that Mary had made from her wedding gown. The looked adorable.

Lilly getting baptised. She was just kind of like what is going on. She did great though.
Alex after his baptism. He even had a little chuckle with the sprinkling of the water.
The Stanford's. Hard to see Alex because he is turned around backward, and Lilly is asleep. Best we could do.
The pastor
Papa and Lilly

Lilly loves riding on Julian's toys with him. she is going to be the little daredevil

Kelly and Julian lighting a candle for Lilly and then Jess, Blake and Julian lighting one for Alex.

memorial weekend

We just got back from my parents house this for memorial weekend. We had a good time getting away. It's nice to be able to leave for awhile and have a few more hands to help out. We got to spend time with my whole family. Jess and Blake were there and the babies did surprisingly well on the trip there and home. We took the babies on their first boat ride, and went to Greenport NY for lunch. The are boat babies just like Julian. They all took naps on the boat (including Julian). The sound is great to help put kids to sleep. Everyone is doing great. Julian has his last baseball game this week, and we have snack stand duty, so still trying to figure how we are going to pull that one off with the babies, but we'll manage. Then he only has 7 more days as a kindergartner. He is my little man. Everyone in CT commented on how sweet and loving he is. He truly is a very good little boy. I really lucked out with all my kids.

now we are getting ready for a bunch of company to come and celebrate the babies baptism. I feel bad we waited this long, but with the babies being so premature, and the move, and trying to find a church, we just couldn't do it any earlier. But better late than never, Right? We look forward to having everyone in town. We love company.