Wow how time flies!

Well, the girls are already one! Over in fact! Both are walking. Both are finally cutting teeth. Hannah has her two bottom coming through, Abi at least one bottom that we know of. Hannha walks with her hands above her head with stiff legs. Abi is nearly running. They are eating really well, mostly "big people food" even though they don't have "teeth" yet. Both are still small, 17 and 18 pounds, but developing normally.

Neither using real words yet but they do holler at each other quite a bit. They love bathtime and are not too bad to get down to sleep now. They only have bottles at night, the rest of the day is sippy cups.

The sweetest days...

Well, our girls are almost one now and let me tell you about their personalities...

Today they were getting into the toilet paper, I laughed and asked what they were doing. Then went to get the camera. I came back and again asked what they were doing, Abi looked at me, Hannah crawled over and closed the door, Abi opened it back up.

Later, I was taking a bath and the girls were playing in the toilet paper they got on the floor and in the cabinet under the sink. I looked over and Hannah was trying to close the cabinet, with Abi half-way inside!

Abi loves the game of walking along the furniture in front of Hannah who is sitting on the floor. When Abi gets in front of Hannah, she falls on her, they both laugh.

Hannah likes to let Nala lick her dirty fingers when she has finished eating. This is how I know not to feed her any more.

Abi likes to share her snacks with the dog. She is so sweet and "shares" them, then looks at me for another..

Both love the cat door we have on the laundry room. Often we find spoons and binki's left in there by the monkeys...

While doing laundry it is not unusual to see the cat door open inward with a little monkey had followed by a little monkey face, looking for mom or dad. Then of course we have to begin our game of catch, I throw something out, they put it back in. It's not long before there are two sets of monkey hands playing the game. It I'm not playing fast enough, Hannah will push the door open and wait for me to throw something out.

Favorite toy = anything Nala has chewed up.

BTW - they've mastered the art of "mom's looking, cry."

Let me tell you about my day...

So, we up about 10 times last night because the girls were no longer tired. Then Nala was on the bed, off the bed, on the bed, up by us, at the foot of the bed, on my pillow, on Andy's back, scratching, biting, off the bed, busting into the girls room, waking up the girls, back on the bed... huh! And, during one of my many bathroom breaks I noticed she looked funny, but I thought she was just tired (Nala).

Well... I woke up to, call the vet, Luna needs to go back (she popped her jaw again). Great! Then, he made me get out of bed to look at Nala. Her eyes were swollen! Great! So, off to the vet we went, Two shots later, we were back home.

In the meantime, I attempted to give Luna the meds from the vet so we could put her jaw back in place at home. No such luck. So, I called and said bring her in ASAP and we'll get in ASAP. Sure thing! Good thing I called.

I went to do laundry. Tried to call my sister to grab Luna and drop her at the vet before she headed back to work, no luck there. Oh well, so I set my phone on the drier. I then began loading the clothes into the washer, there were a lot! Then, noticed my phone was no longer on the drier, crap! Lord, please let it be on the floor, nope. Ok, fine, if it's in the washer, then have it be on top and not in the water, wrong again! I found it at the bottom, the very bottom, in three inches of water.

I tried to get the battery off to dry it out but apparently am not smarter than the phone and nearly chipped a tooth in the process.

I put Abi in the crib, Hannah in the highchair and ran over to my neighbors house hoping that he would know how to get the battery off and there may be some hope, no again. So, in frustration, I called Andy and it worked, for a second, then kept asking me to begin a recording, so I threw the phone, and heard Christy talking.

Oh boy. The best part is that I have no insurance on my phone, So…

Does anyone have an old Verizon phone I can use?

How was your day?

PS
Our wonderful vet did feel bad for me though and didn’t charge us for Luna’s visit. He is WONDERFUL!!! Herrin Animal Hospital if ever you need a vet, they are the best!

What we have to look forward to ...

Have you forgotten?

Please take a moment to go to this page and remember that terrible day six years ago when so many people put others before themselves, when so many lives were cut short, when we were thinking of someone other than ourselves for a change, when we loved each our neighbors because we were witnessing the unthinkable... Thank you to the heros of Flight 93, they really were United, "Let's roll."

Please remember...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpoudLoc8sY

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=23855888

10 months already!

Andy was invited to take the Civil Service test at Illinois State University and placed third so was invited back for another interview. Please pray for this to go well. This would be a wonderful opprtunity for him and us. I have a trial project with a local Training agency doing some work-from-home things. I will do my best because it pays well and could be a steady flow of work I could do from home and be with the girls.

Hannah has mastered the knack of bringing things with her, she puts them in her mouth and crawls on. Both chase the cats, who are getting used to them and tolerating them quite well. Usually they let the girls pet them, but sometimes they run and hide, which the girls think is a game.

We took our first boating trip with the girls last month and had a blast. The life jackets weren't thier favorite, but they did well, after they got used to it. Hannah refused to sit up for a while while Christy was holding her, instead, threw herself backward and fought every effort to make her sit up. Honetly, it was funny. We parked the boat in shallow water and put them in thier floaties. Then parked later where Bre and I could get out and swim where we couldn't touch the bottom (we hate touching, it's gross).

It was really nice to be out with Christy, she's a wonderful sister-in-law and we all had a blast.
Bre, Abi, Christy, Hannah
Hannah
Abi

Well, almost 11 really! Well, the girls are formally crawling and Abi is just a "step" away from walking! I think she actully took a couple of steps today from the walker to the side of the couch by herself! Oh dear.

They are getting into everything, love the dogs water, food and the cat food if we leave the door open for them. They are starting to work together to get into trouble, Hannah is teaching Abi how to share and Nala is still indifferent to their pulls and tugs on her. She has even taken to sleeping in thier room before Andy and I go to bed.

Hannah and Nala

Favorite toys

Hannah

1. Dog bone
2. Dog bowl (water)
3. Bottles under bakers rack
4. Extention cords (we try to keep them blocked off but they still get to them on occasion)
5. Anything on the entry tile floor (mostly mud)
6. Dog bowl (food)
7. Remote Control (with batteries)
8. Nala (mostly sticking her hands in her mouth and pulling on her jowles)
9. Blocks from Aunt Jeni and Uncle Craig
10. Bottom shelf of the books shelf (with all thier books)

Abigail

1. Couch (or anything she can climb up on)
2. Dog bone
3. Rubber Dog Bone
4. Dog's rope toy with squeeky toy on it
5. Remote Control (with batteries)
6. Remote Control (without batteries)
7. Nala (mostly pinching or sqhishing her skin)
8. Spoons
9. Diapers and wipes (when we're changing diapers)
10. Cotton (she pulls it apart)

Tell a soldier thank you...

**Turn up your volume**




You stay up for 16 hours.
He stays up for days on end.




You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.




You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.




You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.




You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.




You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.




You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.




You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.




You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.




Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.




You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.




You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.




You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.




You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.




You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.




You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.




You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.




You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.




You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.




You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.




You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long.




If you support your troops, the click "reply to poster" copy all the codes, and repost the bulletin.

If you don't support your troops well, then don't re-post. You won't die in 7 days, your love life won't be affected, and you won't have the worst day ever. You don't have to repost. It's not like you know the men and women that are dying to preserve your rights.






























To copy, just hit the reply button and copy and paste the codes

Changing quickly!

The girls are growing so fast! Hannah is scooting all over the place, army crawling really. Abigail crys because she wants you to take her where she wants to go. She knows this will work with everyone but mom and Aunt Rachael. Though Abi isn't as good as Hannah at scooting, she has learned to sit up from being on her belly quite well. She has also learned to pull up on the side of her crib. Quite often now I will hear her crying, then jabbering. I then know she is standing at the side of the crib.

Nala is doing great with them. She loves the water. She will race around the yard and do a flying leap into the pool we have for the girls, swim around and then jump back out.

I beleive the girls are developing thier own language. Abi sounds like a radio on static. Hannah just says blah blah blah blah. She has also discovered how to click her tongue.

My dowload cable was sabotaged by the dog so I can't get any pictures off at this current moment in time but I will try to figure something out soon.

Abi's New Trick

Well, now when we eat, after Abi screams becasue she doesn't like her highchair, she sticks her finger in her nose. And just sits there with it in her nose. We tell her no, take it out, she puts it back. We barely hold off smiling, take it out, she puts it back in. We have to hide our smile, take it out, she puts it back in. And so it begins... Thank goodness Hannah hasn't learned that yet.

Both are up on their knees often now. Hannah more than Abi. Hannah scoots, roll, army crawls and psudo crawls all over the place. Abi mostly rolls.

Abi got her helmet recast so we should have a new one in a couple of weeks. We had to make too many adjustments with this one and the doctor was afraid of its effectiveness. That's a relief. Her head is still showing an impovement though we have not been wearing our helmet like we should.

Monkeys

Is it bad that I play with the girls' feet when they are sleeping? I can't help it, they're just too cute!

Abi has a helmet now! She actually isn't too bad with it. Just doen't like for it to be messed with but doens't seem to mind wearing it.

She also waved goodbye to a friend of mine last night. Hannah is waving, sometimes, but not at hi or bye. Hurray! It's so fun!

Abi "walks" when you hold her hands for balance. Hannah loves the dog. Both laugh like crazy at her.

BTW - she will probably be 60-80 pounds, not 50-60 like I told Andy. Oops:)

Crazy Beautiful Life

So, we're broke. But, what's new right? Anyone need any Mary Kay? Or a babysitter? Or a free lance graphic designer? But, I know if you are here you aren't interested in me, you're interested in the girls... so...

They are good. Cranky. Maybe teething. Hating bibs at mealtime. LOVING thier new dog. Nala thinks that the girls are her litter mates. She sits really close to them. It's cute. Hannah chews on her tail, Abi kneads her underarm skin and pulls on her rib-fur, Nala eats their Binki's.

Abi gets her helmet on June 19. She did very well at the plastering. She had to have a mold of her head made and looked like Poncho Via for a bit. Andy held her, I entertained. She was pretty good, but did shed a tear or two.

More about the girls ...

Well, it appears as though they are still growing. The visit to the Health Department on Wednesday found Abi to weigh 14 pounds, six ounces and 24.5 inches long. Hannah was 15 pounds, 14 ounces and 25 inches long.

They no longer enjoy eating, just get angry. Perhaps they are teething??? They do however like graham crackers and Zwieback toast. And frozen peas.

Nala is doing well with sit. Back and forth on potty training (Nala is the dog).

Andy is looking into the Plumbers Union. I'm also looking into a couple of things as well that would allow me to work from home.

House is still a work in progress. Need to paint the kitchen, hallway and do some miscellaneous things. We have some landscaping and the beginnings of a butterfly/hummingbird garden for the girls.

Update.

Ok, so we got a dog. But she is great. Our neighbors bought her sister.

So much for no dogs in bed.

The girls are doing great as well. Both are sitting up unassisted for quite a while, up to 10-15 minutes! Abi loves Bug, my sisters dog and laughs when she jumps at her feet while Rachael is holding her (Abi) and yelling at Bug.

Hannah laughs at Ivan and Nala when they run past.

They are eating three "meals" a day with milk in between and feeding themselves out of sippy cups pretty well now. They scoot at Bill and Paula's but not at home. Still love Baby Einstine and being outside.

The cats are doing well with the dog. The yard is looking good, 1/2 has grass becasue that's all the seed I had. The other is tilled dirt and I have begun landscaping by snagging flowers from mom and Paula.

Graduated on May 12! I have a degree! Yea! Couple of things to do from home for some income up in the air.

Just testing my new-found knowledge

Hannah in her strongman circus outfit. Not the most flattering huh.

PS - Thanks Leah! Now I can figure out pictures!

Holy cow!

These little monkies are learning things so quickly!

Hannah is doing great sitting up on her own now, just a little help from BOPI, though VERY dramatic and likes to fling herself back on it and just lay there staring up at the ceiling/sky.

Abi LAUGHS, and LAUGHS, and LAUGHS! I love it! Hannah is beginning to as well.

Abi is wanting to feed herself with a spoon, so makes a HUGE mess when eating. Both eat from the bottle with handles very well and are eating cereal and fruits and veggies and nawing on bread (with supervision).

They take turns being a ham for people.

Both get very warm when it is above 80 degrees and I now undersand why so many babies wear only their diaper in the summer.

They love to be outside and look at the trees.

Hannah falls asleep like my dad (when he is watching TV) and refuses to go to bed when she is on walks.

As for us, house is going well. Kitchen and bathroom nearly done. Can almost see the blue room. Working on getting more than dirt in the front yard. Not getting a dog.

And I am finishing school on May 12. I graduate! Woo hoo! First in the fam! Go me! Woo hoo woo hoo woo hoo!

From an email sent out a few days ago....

Hannah is up to 14lbs 12oz I think, Abi 13lbs 2oz I believe. Only 1/4 inch difference in length, Hannah is 23.5, Abi 23.25. Doing good according to doc. Sitting up pretty good. Eating cereal and have had carrots, peas, beans, bananas, pear juice and apple juice. So far so good! Abi is started drinking out of a bottle with handles that she hold herself (when she's not overly hungry) and Hannah has followed suite. This has made feeding and getting things done easier.

Rolling over, check. When they want, but mostly they just get angry being on their tummys. They are laughing. And stealing things from each other. Mostly Hannah from Abi. Abi seems more thoughtful in that she thinks about things more, Hannah is more act now, think later. Hmmm… wonder where she gets that… Abi likes to laugh at things. Will laugh out loud at TV, or my hair in the morning, you know it’s bad when an infant laughs at your hair… Hannah is sitting up well in her bopi, almost got it! Both are biters. And droolers. Teething? I think so.

Both LOVE mom when someone else is holding them. But like to ignore me after they holler for me to come in. Hmmm… maybe this is a game…

Busy life!

Can you tell? Man, have we been busy! Andy is looking for a new job. I am back in school. Trying to finish two classes from last semester and doing two classes now too. The girls are getting SO BIG! Hannah is probably about 12 lbs., Abi is about 11 or so (unofficially). They are both smiling a lot and are awake much more. They enjoy their baths, are both sucking their thumbs rather frequently and beginning to examine their hands. It's fun.

Andy is loving to play with them because they are responding now. I am realizing why moms work, to buy their girls cute clothes! So, I'm going to hit Mary Kay hard. It's the only option to see my husband nightly, keep the girls out of day care and make good money. So, if you need anything or even a new look, let me know!

We are attempting to get a house. The seller has accepted the price. It's in a good neighborhood and has a big backyard. Three bedrooms. Yea! I can have a garden!