2 months old! (May 25)

These are the best pictures we could get.  Note to self, don’t do a photo session right before bedtime.

I am guessing I will say this every month, but I really can’t believe it has been two months already!  This time is flying by and we are enjoying every minute!  Personalities and looks are changing and they are staying awake more and more each day.  Tummy time is getting longer for each boy and they are really holding their heads up very well.  One, of many things, that has been a huge blessing, is that around 7 weeks, we finally started putting you both down after feeding you and you usually go right to sleep.  I worried that we were going to have to rock both of you to get you to sleep every time but you have both learned to soothe yourself, with help from the paci, and now mommy and daddy are getting more sleep!  This month, we have been on the 7, 10, 1, 4, 7:00 schedule for feedings.  Then, at 10 PM, we do a “dream feed,” which is where you are still asleep while you nurse.  Then, you both go right back down and usually wake up around 4 AM.  We are so thankful you both are good sleepers!  What a fun month it has been.

Gage

Wow, has your personality changed this month.  Occasionally, you can still be serious but for the most part, you are a happy baby all the time!  When I wake you up for feedings, you have the biggest smile on your face!  It melts my heart.  Oh, and you have your days and nights back to normal, which means mommy and daddy are getting more sleep.  I especially love that when I wake you up for the 4:00 AM feeding (because your brother is hungry) you wake easy up and you are ready, smiling and talking.  This must mean you will be a morning person like mommy and Papa G!  You started “cooing” on May 9th, at 6 1/2 weeks old, and you haven’t stopped since!  In fact, you love to “coo” the most when you are supposed to be eating.  So, feedings take longer because you like to stop and talk (just like daddy).  I am okay if you have to nurse for 45 minutes, it is worth it when you are looking into my eyes and smiling and cooing.  You also rolled over during tummy time, from your tummy to back, one day short of being 7 weeks old.  You are a strong and healthy boy and we love you very much!

Here are some pictures of you during your second month!

you LOVE bath time

but you don’t like being cold (getting out of the bath tub)

smiling when you are supposed to be eating

tummy time!

this has been happening A LOT this month, exploding out of your diaper!

precious smile

you still are not real sure about the bottle

tummy time with daddy

  watching tv with daddy

 

Graham

Sweet boy!  Your personality hasn’t changed much.  You are still so laid back, except when you are hungry at night!  You wake up screaming!  You still have a calm spirit.  You started smiling this month, but only when you want to.  And one day after you turned 2 months, you started cooing.  Again, only when YOU want to.  This month, when you go down for naps, you sleep an hour and then you are done.  You scream to let us know you are done and I always come running in there so you don’t wake your brother (since you are still sleeping together in the same crib).  When I pick you up from your naps, you usually just like to cuddle, and I LOVE that!  Right after you turned 7 weeks, you rolled over from your stomach to back during tummy time.  You are liking tummy time better, although you still like to lay your head down on the whale pillow and try to go to sleep but mommy won’t let you.  Your hair color started to change to a strawberry blonde like mommy, but now it is falling out and your new hair looks like it is blonde.  I never thought I would have a blonde hair, blue eyed child.

Here are some pictures of your second month!

Cuddling with Aunt Juju and waiting on your bath

Visiting with your great Grandma Hogg

not sleeping, just wanting to help mommy cook

after bath time

cuddling with your monkey pacimal

your shirt says it all… ADORABLE

tummy time, aka, resting on the whale pillow

you love stretching your arms SO BIG!

casually drinking your bottle

What a fun month it has been!  Looking forward to the next month!  We love you so much Gage and Graham!

The boys first trip to Abilene

Last weekend, we decided to go to Abilene because it was my sister’s last wedding shower and I have not been able to make any of the others because the boys were too little.  So I made a list, on the Monday before we left, of all the things I needed to pack.  Since we use everything everyday, I had to wait and pack it all Friday morning before we left.  Here is the list…

My organized list taking skills thanks to my dad!

We got to Abilene Friday afternoon and spent some time with the Peel’s at Ryan and Brittany’s house (Jared’s sister).

Our nephews, Braden and Camden holding their cousins Graham (left) Gage (right)

Aunt Brittany holding Gage and Camden watching.

(I forgot my camera so these pictures are from Jared’s phone.  I will take more next time we are there!)

 

After that, we went to my parent’s house to celebrate my mom’s birthday. 

Great Aunt Phyllis cuddling with Gage

The family eating outside

Papa G and Graham

Julie and Kaci (Kaci is one of Julie’s best friends, she is in the wedding)

Honey’s yummy red velvet cake from McKay’s

Gage~Bath time in the sink (first bath in a sink)

Love that sweet face

Graham waiting on his bath with Aunt Juju

Graham was not the biggest fan of bath time in the sink

Everyone is exhausted from bath time

Ready to watch the Ranger game!  Thanks Kelly for our cute outfits!

Molly holding Gage.  Molly is due in June with her little boy Jaxon.  Can’t wait to meet him!

In their car seats, all ready to go.  They did so good in the car!  We look forward to more trips home to Abilene to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins!

When Daddy is in charge…

On Friday, May 20th, my sister Julie and all her friends came to Dallas for the weekend for her Bachelorette party. I knew this day was coming and I really was excited about it but I knew it was going to be a lot of work to get myself ready and Jared prepared to take care of the boys and feed them. Not only did I have to pack my bag, but also the things I got for Julie to wear out, pack my pump and all the parts, and get all the bottles ready for Jared to give to the boys. When I came home late Friday night, here is what I came home to…

Gage sleeping soundly in his bed

Graham in Daddy’s arms. Apparently he didn’t want to sleep with his brother, just cuddle with daddy.

And finally, my living room looking like this. Pillows off the couch, ottoman pushed to the middle of the room, coffee table against the couch, cups and swaddles cover the end tables, and bouncer chairs next to daddy’s recliner. Jared says he has to move things around so he has plenty of room to feed them. I am so glad/ thankful I have a husband that helps out so much and tells me to leave to be with my sister so he can have boy time with his boys. I just wish I could see what goes on when I am gone.

Oh, and here are some pictures from Julie's weekend...

Mommy’s first Mother’s Day!

May 8, 2011

This year was my first Mother’s Day and it was a such a great day but a little bittersweet.  It was bitter because I was thinking about where I was last year on Mother’s day, we were in Abilene and I had just had my second ectopic pregnancy, so that day was especially hard.  I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to have my own Mother’s Day.  I know several girls trying to get pregnant and start a family right now and I know this day is hard but know that God has a plan and His timing is perfect.  Easier said than done, but trust Him and what He is doing in your life and be thankful for what you have.

This day was sweet because I really reflected on how amazing God is and what He did in my life this past year! He blessed Jared and I with 2 boys that we love so much!

Jared, Gage and Graham worked really hard to make my first Mother’s day really special.  It is a day I will never forget.  Jared went to the grocery store and bought all my favorites to cook for me.  He made me bow tie pasta with Alfredo sauce, broccoli, salad with Italian dressing, and garlic bread.  For dessert, s’mores on the grill( I have been craving them!)  They also gave me a few gifts…

They gave me a sweet card, roses, a coffee mug with the boys sweet picture on it, 90 minute massage (can’t wait for that!) a gift card to GAP/ Banana Republic (one day when I am ready to shop for normal clothes again) and a planner that also has a picture of the boys on it.

Bottom of my card, the boys signed it

Being a mommy is the best thing that has happened to me (besides getting married).  Gage and Graham, I hope I can be the best mommy to both of you and make you feel so special like my mom does for us.  I promise to be there for you, no matter what.  I promise to give you lots of hugs and kisses and take care of you the best I can. 

I got this sign from my grandmother and I thought it was the sweetest sign. 

Mother’s day is a day to be thankful for your mother and all that she has done and continues to do for you and your family.  I love my mom so much and I am beyond thankful for her.  She has 3 children and growing up, she always had a cooked meal on the table for us, kept the house clean, did our laundry, helped us with our homework, came to every football, basketball, soccer, and baseball game, track meet, and cross country meet, and taught full time.  My mom has taught me so much of how to be a good mother, I have a lot to live up to.  She taught me how to be the best mother to my boys and for that, I am forever grateful for.  I love you mom!