Happy Halloween!

First costumes!

What do you mean we can't have candy?

Lola our happy sunflower!

Happy face!

Aren't we a pair?

Lily, our pea! We call her Lily Bean, so this costume really fits.

Quick outing to the bank, but I must wear my big pink bow!

I love to smile!

Sleepy girl, but still stylish in her hat!

Sweet, sweet thumb sucking baby. Mom thinks

it's so cute she isn't even worried about how hard of a habit

it may be to break!





Hope everyone has a great Halloween! Love, Mel

Thoughts and Gratitude

I have been doing some thinking about how incredible the events in my life have been this past year. This time last year, I had no idea if Gracie would ever be coming to us. All roads for her seemed to stop at dead ends. I also had no real hope that I would ever become pregnant. We spent almost a decade sorting through the pain of infertility, the loss of miscarriages and the torture of failed adoption processes.
The reason I wanted to share this is that there are two passages that helped me through some dark times. It is easy to look back at those years and feel like it was worth it now. But I didn't know then what the outcome of those years would be. I spent a lot of time searching for answers and wondering about the future. These two passages helped me cope during those times. I am grateful for how the passages helped me look at life and loss and pain. I am sharing them because I know that we all have our own private dramas and sorrows. Maybe these passages can help someone else as they did me.

Salutation to the Dawn
Look to this day!
For it is life,
The very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities
And realities of your existence;
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendor of beauty.
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today well-lived
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day!
Such is the Salutation to the Dawn.
-Kalidasa


Psalm 126: 5 - 6
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
(Nothing lasts forever. Not even pain. Sometimes the only thing that keeps us going is the reminder that this time of suffering with also pass.)

Love, Mel

"These Are The Days We"ll Remember"

Loving every minute of being parents to these two blessings! Love, Mel

Mommy Mind Missing

Okay, I think I am losing my mind...
Today I started singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" in a Bob Dylan voice.
If you happen to see my brain, please return it.
Mel

Sisters

Best Friends

Lola moving in for a kiss (okay a lick).

Lily expressing her great pleasure at receiving said kiss.




Ditto.

Lola proudly smiling after smooching Lily. Lily expressing her need for personal space.

Lola going in for round two.

What a belly Lily!

Aren't we something?

Side profile of belly. Wow.

Happy Girl!!!

Please get this picture over with.

Pretty baby!

Lily's Gene Simmons imitation.

Lola is one happy sweet girl!

Dinner time.

Another round of kisses from Lola to Lily.

I love you, let me lick your ear.

Four Months Old Tomorrow!

Our sweetie pies turn 4 months old tomorrow! Hard to believe and I guess it is true that time flies when you are having fun. Both girls continue to grow and express their personalities more every day. Lola has recently over the past few weeks become a very easy going baby. She easily plays by herself, smiles quickly and squeals in delight frequently. Lola loves her mobile and we have taken to calling the little mobile creatures her friends, as she greets them with a squeal and a smile every morning. Lily has now changed into a bit more demanding of a baby. She smiles, but in a smirk sort of way. It is really funny. She is not the greatest at self-soothing and loves, loves, loves to be held. That is how Lola used to be and since Lily spent a lot of time snoozing in her third month, we are hoping she is on her way to being more easy going. She loves to spend time talking with Daddy and pacing the floors with Mommy.

Yesterday, at their 4 month check up we were in for a good surprise. Lily now weighs 15 lbs. and 3 oz. and is 23 1/2 inches long. Lola weighs 12 lbs. and 11 oz. and is 24 inches long. Everyone was very excited to see their great weight gain. We got the go-ahead from our pediatrician to discontinue the preemie formula and move into regular formula! HOORAH! Preemie formula is much more expensive, so it is great to be able to cut costs. Also great that the estimate originally was we would be on this preemie high calorie formula until they were 6 months old, so getting to switch early is just super as they are doing so well. Our pediatrician thought everything was going well developmentally too! The girls got three shots and will get their first RSV shot on Friday, so that was no fun. Lola cried for a few minutes and then moved on. Lily cried FOREVER and Lola just stared at her like "Move on, Lily, it's over!".

The pictures with the hats on show the outfits they wore on their outing yesterday to the Dr. They really didn't mind the hats too much, although the pictures would not indicate that. We tried to get a non crying picture, but alas, it just wasn't our fate that day :)
No new news re: Gracie and we really don't expect updates until something happens. I speak some Spanish and Don is trying to learn via CDs and post-its around the house. He can now say he is from Los Angeles and or Chicago in Spanish. It is absolutely hysterical, especially since Don is an Okie born and bred. Seriously, he is learning at amazing speed.

Lastly, today is our 9 year wedding anniversary. I am so very lucky to have married my best friend, who has always helped me be a better version of myself and loved me unconditionally. I love you Don. It has been a crazy trip so far and if the events of the last few months are predictive, I would say the remaining leg of our journey together is shaping up to be quite a ride!

Love, Mel

(please ignore random pic in middle of girls on boppies, many months ago, can't figure out how to delete)

Funny Babies

Some of these just crack me up, so I had to share them. They are becoming more animated everyday it seems. Lily has decided that she prefers sleeping on Mom, which makes it tough to do anything else. We have decided since Lily has such a strong affinity for her bottle, that she is just wanting to make sure she isn't bumped from the feeding rotation. As you can tell from the chub cheeks, she doesn't miss any meals. Hard to believe she was once so very tiny.

Lola has really started to coo and talk to things. She LOVES watching football on T.V. She will strain her neck and roll to the side in order to keep it in her line of vision. She cracked us up yesterday with all of her cooing at the "football men" as we are calling them. I promise we are not using the T.V. as a babysitter, but it is soo funny to watch her talk to the T.V.

Lola has rolled from her tummy to her back. Both Lily and Lola have just almost rolled from back to tummy, but I think it may still be awhile until that milestone is completely achieved.

It is amazing watching them grow.

Love, Mel