Sleep Progress

As I get older, I get more superstitious. I have not wanted to say too loud our progress with sleeping, but I can't hold it in any longer.
I am going to announce to the world that both girls have now slept 7 pm until 7 am for 3 nights in a row!!!!!!!!
You have no idea the happy dances we are doing around here.
YEA GIRLS!!! YOUR PARENTS NEEDED THIS!!!!!
Love, Mel

Happy Six Months Old Lily and Lola!

Our little elves turned 6 mo. old today and we are so thankful they are healthy and well. This certainly is a fun time of baby babbles, sweet smiles, and excited faces. I really cannot believe it has been 6 months since they entered the world.

Love, Mel

Christmas Card Outtakes or Next Year We Budget for a Professional

We had no idea how hard it would be to get a good photo for our Christmas card. However, I think the outtakes are so funny it was worth it. Take a peek at our 3 day photo shoot for our first Christmas card photo.

First we tried hats and lights...

Then we ditched the hats and just went to lights...

Of course, the lights were too mesmorizing to look at the camera...

So, we turned them off, but then they got bored...

And fussy...

Then Lola thought she would do her Dr. No imitation...

Lily and Lola trying to escape from more picture taking...

Oh no, not the lights again...

And back to lights on...(LED so they weren't hot, I swear)

Oh the lights again...

Actually was a contender for the card, but we decided

Lily looks like she has an extra leg...

Possibly the best outtake...

Mom's visions of pictures with sweet girls in pretty dresses....

Dashed by both girls LOVING the taste and feel of their pretty dresses.

The End.

From Coach Claus (aka Pat)

Lily ready to catch,

Lola with her own agenda...

Can you believe we both caught the ball and we're not quite 6 mo. old?

What, did you think we would drop them by now?



We might need to groom Lola a bit more before the scouts come calling.





Trust me, Lola will still be this kid in a few years.

She marches to her own drum.

Thanks so much to our friend Pat for these gloves and balls who told us "It's never too early to get them started."

I am sure some of you are wondering where we sit with Guatemala and Gracie and pretty much I am just going to say we continue to wait. When we know something about travel, I will post but probably not much more before then. We get very little information and most of it after the fact. I am sure it is terribly confusing to those of you following our Guatemalan process, so I will just say logic does not rule in our adoption ( or unfortunately many others as well).

Anyway, we will wait and we will rejoice when Gracie comes home. We will count ourselves lucky to have stomached the journey and so very fortunate to be parents to three incredible kiddos.

Enjoy your week!

Mel

Shiny Happy People

Miss Lola loving her tutu

I love being a girl

Miss Lily feeling pretty

Sweet smiles

Together we're unstoppable




Having a good time in our Bumbos

Plotting...

Partners in crime

BFFs

Happy Lily Bean!

Smiley Lola!

Fun babies, tired parents.

Have a good day!

Mel

For Kayleigh

Sometimes you just cannot avoid getting involved.
Please pray and/or send good thoughts for Aimee and Adam and their little girl Kayleigh.
Kayleigh is one week younger than our babes and was born at 1 lb. She has been in the NICU for her entire life and continues to fight for it daily. I came upon their blog and let me just say, these people need your prayers and/or good thoughts. You can follow their blog or get more details at www.kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com

Did You Miss Us?

Lily was so excited at the new Britney Spears video that she decided

to dress up just like her. We explained this would be the last time.

Momma loves this one for the sweet feet that never keep socks on.

Daddy and Lily Bean, happy and content...



Daddy and Lola watching Mommy cook for Thanksgiving



Lola had a three shirt day and yes I know Halloween is over,
but she doesn't.

Tryptophan...

...times two.

By now in my culture, we would have given you

away, thought Matilda.

Could anything be sweeter?

Sorry it has been so long and that I don't have any actual Thanksgiving event pics. It just went by so quickly that I didn't have time to take any. Girls continue to do great. Lily can sit independently for a few seconds (secretly I think it has something to do with being able to balance her weight forward on her ample tummy). Lola continues to move every waking moment. She is a true busy body and loves it when she hears two people in conversation.

They both have started talking to each other and really love to see each other. When Lola hears the garage door open, she stops and looks for Daddy, super cute. Lily looks for Don when she hears his voice, but absolutely will not stop eating, if that means she has to drink her bottle upside down to see Don- it will be done. We are trying rice cereal, with varying degrees of success :) Both gaining weight and I feel so very thankful that although these babes were born 9 weeks early, they have just done so very well. I read soooo many blogs of babies born early like ours and my heart just goes out to their struggles.

Hopefully, we can escape RSV/flu season without a hit and then in April/May be released from what seems like an unending quarantine. RSV is no joke in preemies and we take the precautions very seriously to avoid serious complications from this virus (another hospitalization, breathing treatments, asthma later in life). I do love being home with these two, but I miss adult conversations. Lola is rarely interested in my opinions about the latest Obama cabinet pick or my interpretation of the stock market. Lily will listen, however, to my thoughts on health care reform and the situation in Pakistan. Weird, huh? :)

Best to all and Love,

Mel