dinosaurs,trucks and guns, oh my!!!

Our Christmas with two toddler boys was so much fun!!! They got multiple little boy things. tractors, helicoptors, dinosaurs, trucks. I really knew after Matt opened his new muzzleloader from santa that I was in an all boy house. I looked around and there were tons of ALLL boy things, and I thought to myself " I am so outnumbered" I love it though, my little boys love on me because I am there mommy. Gabriel will come up and nuzzle me with his nose and they rub their little heads on my legs and then go back to playing boy things. grant brought me a baby doll today and kissed it on the head and goes "awwww" I was like, awwww you're going to be so lovey dovey. I guess in a house of all boys, Those are the moments that I look forward to.

Matt and the boys took me to clarksville to bass pro for my bday.......








Poor little guys!! Or poor santa, whichever you like.
I don't know why I didn't see it coming. I should've known that Gabriel would freak out putting him on some huge hairy stranger in a red jump suit with his mommy and daddy way across the room. Sure enough I sat him on santas lap and he looked at santa, looked at me like "you have got to be kidding me" and I could see the tears welling up in his eyes and he lost it. Grant was just sleepy. He kept looking at his bubby like, "What's wrong bub" and then at santa like "what did you do to him?" Poor kiddos. We were the first in line after spending 4 hours at bass pro waiting on santa. We got there at 1 Santa didnt get there till around 5. It was very disappointing, but the boys were sooooooo good and everyone noticed and commented on how good they were. I was so proud. Gabriel walked around the WHOLE store with his daddy. needless to say he was worn out. Grant walked a little but was kind of lazy and wanted to just ride in the stroller. All in all it was a great birthday and I loved every single minute of it.

Clay Briley Lance

Well, after a very long pregnancy, my brother and sister in law finally had their little boy!!! Clay arrived this morning weighing 6 lb. 12 oz. We need your prayers to get him out of the NICU and in his mommy, daddy and big sis' arms soon. He was having some respiratory difficulty and was put on supplemental oxygen, IV and antibiotics. Good Lord willing he will be able to go home with his mommy in 3 or 4 days. Worst case scenario he will have to stay 7 to 10 days. Also pray for Kali to have a quick recovery so she can take care of her 4 year old and Clay when they come home.

last night I made some things for t-giving dinner. The boys enjoyed 'helping' aka licking the spoons from the chocolate pie I made.

Today we took the boys to their first circus!!! It was a pretty good time considering we had no naps and no noon milk with us for grant. The loved the glowsticks everyone was waving around. It was so cute. We got there at 1 pm for them to see the animals. The first half wasnt over until 4pm. geez....needless to say with two hungry one year olds we left at intermission.

We went to mom and dads for thanksgiving dinner after that and Gabriel still refuses to eat anything but yogurt. It's so wild...i have one that eats like a pig with food oozing out of his mouth and his arms goind a hundred miles an hour. and one that eats like a bird and acts like you are abusing him when you sit him in his high chair. Anyway...here are some pics of our day!

God Bless

Bethany

more pics

There are many many more also, she did such a good job!!

A New Chapter

Well, another phase of my life is over. It's so final to think of it like that, which is why i'm a little sad as im writing this. My babies turned 1 year old this weekend, and I feel a little sad that the baby part of my life is over for good. Sure they are at a funner age than they ever have been but there's just nothing like taking your little one, or in our case, little two, home from the hospital for the first time and getting settled in at home with them in their own bed with their own blanket in their own little sleepers on. Giving them a bath for the first time. Their cord falling off. I remember how excited I was when the boys cords fell off and they had their cute little belly buttons. aww. geez, im so sentimental. I just can't believe that part of my life is gone. I am so proud of how my boys are growing, and learning and being the independent little boys that they are, but its just, you can't go back, ever...you know?

Last week we went to Ferdinand to see Dr. bies for their 1 year checkup. We went there hoping to avoid the h1n1 that is so prominent in jasper peds right now. the nurse thought that ferdinand would be better. It went well. Here's there stats:

GRANT: birth-6lbs. 5 oz. now-25lbs. 3 oz. of solid steel and of course, those cheeks :)

birth-20 1/2 inches now-31 1/2 inches

GABRIEL: birth-6lbs 8 oz. now 24 lbs 5 oz.

birth-19 inches now 31 1/2 inches just like his bubby

after their appt. we went to lincoln park and a friend from work took their pics and said I could post some of them. They were so sleepy, but other than the sleepy eyes, I am thrilled withthe pictures.

On sunday was the birthday party, They had a really good time I think. They were in a sugar stupor after their smash cakes. the cookie monster made a surprise visit also. Grant was intrigued, while Gabriel was terrified (unless mommy was holding him to protect him that is.) We had a really good turn out, I'll post pictures later.

On Tuesday evening (2 days after their bday) Grant took 5 steps in a row. they've each taken steps before but just like 1 or 2 and then collapse in our arms. I couldn't believe it. I was so proud. My mom offered to come over and watch the boys while Matt and I went out to eat. We hadn't done that in SO long. its hard to find someone to watch the both of them like that. So matt and I went to vincennes to montana mikes and when we got to the parking lot I started bawling because they just turned a year they werent my babies anymore, and on top of it all Grant started walking that day. Well, it gets better. We went in, sat down and ordered. as soon as we got our food my phone rang. it was my mom. "GABRIEL JUST WALKED ACROSS THE LIVING ROOM!!!" ::SIGH:: ::TEARS!!!!!!:::: I started bawling in the middle of the restaurant. everything all at once just overwhelmed me and I lost it. they bothstarted walking the same day, two days after their first bday. When we got home the boys were so excited to see us and Gabriel picked up and started walking across the room towards us. It was the most adorable thing. Imgoing to get it on tape and post it hopefully, if i can figure out how. they are just both so dang cute.

GRANT SMilestones- walking, talking, mimicking, pretend play like reading books and talking on a makebelieve telephone :), 8 teeth, eating all solid foods and has been for months. 2% milk now, YAY!!!! no more alimentum. I will gladly pay the $2 for a gallon of milk instead of $26 for a can of alimentum. He is quite the talker, you might not always know what he is saying but he does, and that's all that really matters. CONSTANTLY pulling his socks and hats off. the other day I found 5 pairs of socks in his car seat, and two hats. he just gets bored and starts stripping!! lol. He is such a mommas boy. I LOVE IT! His vocabulary consists of : dada, mama, book, hair, uhoh, ball, boss (our dog), ewo (ellie, our other dog), mammaw, pappaw, elmo, bubye and im sure there are some I am forgetting. all in all, i am so happy to see this little boy so happy, because he had a rough start with his colic.

GABRIELS Milestones- walking, talking, mimicking, pretend play like drinking from cups and talking on the phone, loves talking on the phone. 8 teeth, just like his bubby, eating all solid foods, and refuses to eat from a spoon. He is still nursing, still attached to his paci, LOVES dancing, "snaps" his fingers to music,etc. his vocabulary is: mama, dada, book, block, boss, ball, uhoh, bubye. He is a major daddys boy, and loves when daddy gets home from work. I am very happy with him and he is meeting all his milestones also.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!!! you'll always be my babies!!!!

Pictures and update....

So we've kind of been in our same routine, wake up, play like heck, eat breakfast, play like heck, bottles, nap, wake up play, lunch, etcetc. The days are all pretty much the same. Where we live, we really don't have any friends around and it can get pretty monotonous. I'm sure as much as I get bored with the same 4 walls day in and day out, the boys do as well. So the other day I took them outside to play by myself. The weather was perfect so I thought I'd let them crawl around in the grass and see what happened. SCORE. They loved it. I usually wouldn't have done this by myself but I had an energy spurt and was going stir crazy. They were trying to eat anything that could fit into their little mouths and trying to pull all the bark off the trees and you name it, they tried it. They are definitely ALL BOY. Here are some pics.

Grant and Gabriel are suppose to be going for their one year appt on the 20th. I dont know if I want to take them, with the flu season and what not. seems like every time they go to the doctor they get sick. I dont know we'll see. I just can't believe they are going to be one year old. It literally seems like our lives have been in fast forward the last year. But I couldn't ask for anything more. They are the happiest, smartest babies I could ask for.

A song for everything...

No matter what happens in my life, there seems to be a song for it. cheesy? Maybe, but at least I can put my feelings into words somehow. Since I found out I was pregnant with the boys, I heard and loved this brad paisley song from his "5th Gear" CD, here's the words, you'll see why. It fits us to the letter and the last verse makes me cry:

A single red rose and a table for two

A nice chardonay and an ocean view

Ships comin in and stars comin out,

We sat and we talked till the place closed down

Then we took a long walk out on the beach,

Her and that white dress and her bare feet.

We sat and we watched the light house lights,

I pulled her close and I held on tight and I said

To myself

It doesn't get better than this

No it doesnt get better than this

But it did, Yes it did oh it did.

Fast forward to that next spring

We were lookin for a preacher

pickin out rings

Family comin in

friends comin out

to that little white church on

on the outskirts of town.

Me and that tux fightin butterflies

Tears of joy in my mommas eyes

Her daddy walkin her down the aisle

He lifted that veil

and I saw that smile

and I said

To myself

It doesnt get better than this

No it doesnt get better than this

oh just when I start thinking its as good as it can get

this crazy world does somethin just to let me know

I havent seen anything yet.

9 months later nearly to the day,

there we were flyin down the interstate

car weavin in and car weavin out,

through traffic runnin every red light in town

delivery room and the doctor comes in

I'm right beside her she's squeezin my hand.

one more push and a baby cries,

a sweet little angel with his mommas eyes

and I said

to myself

it doesnt get better than this.

no it doesn't get better than this,

but it did yes it did

oh it did

(because then came Gabe :*) )

Here's to 4 years!

Matt and I just celebrated our 4 year anniversary on August 27th. It's hard to believe, when I look at all that's happened in just 4 years, we really have accomplished a lot. we bought a house, I went through nursing school, have been a nurse a whole year already, got pregnant after 3 years of marriage, had beautiful twin boys who are now almost a year old, and now on to our next adventure. We are planning on Matt starting school at VU, selling our house and building on our property. Even though we get really stressed and dont see eye to eye on a lot of things, we always work it out, well most of the time. I am excited to begin this new chapter of our lives. Moving will be a big start to where we want to be. we plan on building a pole barn/house sometime next year, dependent on our house selling, and then eventually building a house. :) cant wait to see how it unfolds.

9 month pictures

so innocent

and mischevious

and curious

and loving

and goofy

and sleepy

and gorgeous

and happy

and adventurous

and determined....

they are everything to me. They are the reason for everything that I do. Without them, none of it matters!