Beautiful Day

Dearest Miracles~

Joshua, you woke up at 3am this morning.  I put you back to bed and then fell asleep next to you.  Grace, you slept in your crib for about one hour last night and then you woke up crying and crying.  You noodled into our bed to sleep.  I was up nursing you at 7:30am. 

We all went for groceries this morning.  Joshua, you ate three cookies while at we were at Target.  Grace, you fell asleep in the car and continued to nap when we got home.  We were home for lunch.  After we ate, daddy played some guitar for us in the play room.  Oh, I sold a few more books this afternoon.  We're so close to getting a new camera!  ;-)

We changed Joshua's bed this afternoon.  We moved the futon mattress out into the spare bedroom and put a full sized box spring and mattress in his bedroom on the floor.  This will help our backs out!  Each time we go in and sleep with Joshua (which is every day) we wake up with backaches.  :-P

What a beautiful day it was today!  We all took a family walk this afternoon.  We went up to the shopping center near our house and back (about 2 miles round trip).  Grace, you slept through the entire walk.  Joshua, you were awake as we were going up to the shops, but fell asleep when we got back home.

Oh, Joshua, you tried to put your shoes on by yourself this afternoon.  It was so cute.  :-)

We watched the UNC basketball game this evening.  As the game was on, you two had some art time with daddy.  UNC won!  Woo hoo!  :-)

Tomorrow's a big day .... Grace is getting baptized!  We're so excited!

Sleep tight little ones!

I love you so much!

~Mommy

Met With The Preacher

Dearest Angels~

Joshua, you noodled into our room at around 10:30pm last night!  Daddy ended up sleeping next to you all evening in your room.  If this keeps up, we're going to have to change your mattress to help our backs.  Right now, you're on a futon mattress on the floor.  We might have to change that to a real twin mattress and box spring if you continue to need someone next to you.  Grace, I was nursing you by 6:40am. 

You two helped me sweep the downstairs this morning .... these floors get dirty quick!  We also saw deer in the backyard.  We played downstairs and then came upstairs to the play room.  I did laundry as you two played.

Oh, Grace, you can stand up, bend over to touch your toes, and then stand back up again without hanging on to anything or have any help!  Wow!  I can't believe how strong you are at such a young age!  :-)

We had some music time downstairs with snacks this morning.  You both love the 'crunchie' crackers that we give to Grace.  :-P

After lunch, we saw Grandpa Jim briefly.  I had to drop off a box at his office on the way to see Fr. Gibson.  We got Gigi a CD player since hers died over the holiday.  It came in the mail yesterday, so I wanted to pass it along to her.  :-)

Daddy met us at the church so we could all meet with Fr. Gibson to discuss Grace's baptism this Sunday!  Woo hoo!  I'm so excited!  Fr. Gibson is the preacher who married daddy and I, baptized daddy, and baptized Joshua!  Fr. Hale baptized me.  You two slept through the entire meeting.  Daddy went back to work afterward and the three of us were home by 2pm.

This afternoon we played downstairs.  I took some pictures of you all playing and tried to set up the timer so that I would be in some too.  Then we went upstairs for some music time.  I put some songs on as you two helped me fold the laundry.  Grace, you helped by walking around with some socks in your mouth.  :-P

You two 'helped' me make a penne pasta dinner with a sausage meat sauce.  You two were a little fussy when I was cooking .... good thing it didn't take long to make!  The good news is .... Joshua ate well!  He ate sausage, cheese, and onions from a fork .... that I cooked!  Woo hoo!  I was so happy!  :-)

This evening you two had art time with daddy while I took a shower.  He also read you two some stories.

Sleep tight little ones!

I love you both so much!

~Mommy

Scream Game

Dearest Blessings~

Little lady, I was nursing you at 4am this morning.  It's been a while since you woke that early.  I ended up nursing you twice before heading to work.

Grace, you are really walking more .... and you're getting faster!  You sometimes look like an old lady though shuffling those legs back and forth.  As Penny says, it looks like you have 'a hitch in your giddy up' when walking!  It's too cute!

You two have a game that you play together .... it's a screaming game.  :-P  You scream back and forth while looking at each other to make the other person giggle and laugh.  You two crack me up.

Grace, you fell asleep nursing on me this evening.  I put you in your crib and you woke up a millisecond later!  Needless to say, you noodled into our bed.  :-P

Sleep tight little ones!

I love you both dearly!

~Mommy

Back To Work

Dearest Gifts~

Ugh .... today I go back to work.  ;-)  It was so nice to be on vacation for the holidays!  I got use to that!  Ha!  

Joshua, you woke up at 3am whimpering into our room.  I put you back to bed and then fell asleep next to you.  I got ready for work at 6am and then nursed Grace before I left.  I hated to leave you two!  But, I was able to play with you two and kiss you both before going to work!  :-)

You two had fun with Penny today.  You had your art time, story time, play time, and nap time.  No trip to the park though .... it was too cold.  :-P

Guess what I had done today .... I got my teeth cleaned at work!  Ha!  There was some 'down time' this morning, so I got the hygienist to do a prophy on me.  I've done a restoration on her in the past, so she 'owed' me!  Ha!  ;-)  It was so weird being on the 'other side' of the procedure.  And, boy, did I need a cleaning!  :-P

I was so glad to see you all when I got home!  It was a long day since the afternoon picked up.  I came home with a headache, but seeing you two and daddy made it all go away .... and an extra strength tylenol.  ;-)

Sleep tight little ones!

I love you so much!

~Mommy

Profit

Dearest Gifts~

Well well well little lady .... you didn't make it long in that crib of yours!  You woke up crying at 12:45am and then noodled into our bed.  What's up with you two not wanted to sleep in there?  Is our bed that much more comfy?  :-P  Joshua, you were awake at 3am.  Daddy put you back to bed and then fell asleep next to you.  Grace, you and I were up nursing at 6:30am. 

We didn't have much play time this morning.  Daddy had to go back to work today, but the rest of us were in the car by 8:15am for Joshua's 9am feeding team appointment at Rex Hospital with Krista.  You ate some things for us .... it wasn't a ton.  You did well with the spoon and even had some apple sauce!  Your weight at this appointment was 24 pounds 3.3 ounces.  I wish you'd eat more.  I believe they want to schedule an upper GI scope by the end of the month. 

Afterward, we made a quick trip to the Post Office.  Then, we were home by 11am.  Everyone had on a clean diaper and I was nursing Grace by 11:30am.  :-) 

Guess what I picked up at the Post Office .... it was a used camera lens that I bought!  Woo hoo!  I put it on the camera we have at the house and it works great!  I'm so happy.  The focusing motor is a little louder than the other lens, but that doesn't bother me since I'm not photographing wildlife and need something quiet.  It's a wider angle lens, so I can get more of the room in the shot when I photograph you two!  I saved up my birthday and Christmas money to put towards it.  And, since I got an 'off brand' used one, it was cheaper .... but works great!  Now, we can focus on learning photography more and saving up to upgrade our camera!  ;-)



We played in the bonus room after I nursed Grace.  I took some photos of you to playing. Then, we all went downstairs to play, eat, and to make my lunches for the week. I can't believe I have to go back to work tomorrow! It feels like this vacation went way too fast!  :-P  Were playing upstairs by 2:15pm.

Joshua, you fought a nap this afternoon.  I finally got you sleeping by 3:45pm.  I had to read and sing to you in order to get you to sleep.  Then, I rocked Grace in the play room.  She wasn't sleepy, so I eventually put her down.

Little man, you woke up crying at 4:30pm and continued to be fussy for about an hour.  I don't know why you fight sleep so much .... adults love to sleep!  I wish I could have a nap time everyday!  ;-)

All four of us went to 'Barnes and Noble' after dinner.  Is this store still around by the time you read this?  It's a book store.  Anyway, I made another sale and I met the person there as a neutral location.  And, guess what .... I actually sold something at a profit!  Woo hoo!  I now have a little over half of what I need to upgrade the camera.  Go us! 

Oh, we now have a name for your new second cousin .... Madelynn Grace Corl.  I can't wait to meet her!  :-)

Tomorrow I head back to work.  I hate that I'll be leaving you two.  Penny will be here.  I'll rush home as soon as I can!

Sleep tight you two!

I love you both so much!

~Mommy

Another Second Cousin

Dearest Angels~

Well, I can't even tell you what time Grace woke up crying from her crib this morning.  Daddy picked her up and she fell back asleep in our bed.  :-P  Joshua, you woke up at 5am.  I laid down with you on your mattress and we both fell asleep.  I was nursing Grace by 7:30am .... you really slept in little lady!

We all had music and play time this morning.  Daddy had off today, so he also watched Grace as I took Joshua to his speech therapy appointment with Kim.  Mary Beth is out of town, so we didn't have occupational therapy.

Joshua, you did really well little man!  You attempted to imitate the 'b' noise.  You did the 'm' noise twice and you said 'da' twice!  Also, it sounds like you're trying to say the words 'all done' when signing it.  I'm so proud of you!  You know, sometimes I think you two are talking to each other when playing .... it so cute!

We all went to Kohl's after lunch.  We got Joshua some one piece pajamas and a pair of overalls.  This will help him not put his hands down is pants/diapers so much!  Joshua, you fell asleep during the car ride back home and stayed napping once home.

Daddy and I played with Grace while Joshua napped.  Grace, you sure are getting stronger.  You're walking around a lot more (slowly) and you're getting better with your balance.

Today was a colder day!  And, tomorrow's suppose to be even colder!  Brrr!  You two had art time with daddy after dinner and then everyone had a bath.  

Here's the excitement of the day .... cousin Stephanie had her baby girl today!  You two have another second cousin!  Woo hoo!  Cousin Charlie now has a little sister.  Joshua, you can teach him all about that.  ;-)  As of right now, they still don't have a name for her.  I'll keep you two posted on what her name is.  Charlie called her 'apple juice' while Stephanie was pregnant with her.  So, if nothing else, we can always call her that!  ;-)

Sleep tight little ones!

I love you both!

~Mommy

Happy New Year

Dearest Joshua David and Grace Elizabeth~

Happy New Year!  Today is Uncle Brennan's birthday!  We called and wished him a happy birthday!

Whew .... am I tired!  Daddy and I stayed up last night and watched the ball drop to ring in the new year.  You two were sleeping.  Then, I had insomnia since I was awake!  Grace, you woke from your crib at 1am and noodled into our bed.  Joshua came whimpering into our room at 1:45am.  I laid down with him back in his room since I was still awake.  I think I finally fell asleep around 2:30am this morning.  I woke Grace on purpose to nurse at 7am. 

This morning you two helped me prepare the crock pot for dinner.  We made a beef, potato, and veggie soup.  It was good!  And, it was a nice and healthy way to start the year.  :-)

Guess what .... I sold a camera bag this morning that I wasn't using.  Woo hoo!  We're getting closer to upgrading our camera!  ;-)

We all had lunch at (Great) Uncle Laurence's house.  Your Great Grandfather and Rosemary were in town from TN.  Also saw (Great) Aunt Marti, cousin Erik, cousin Mia, (Great) Uncle David, Kevin, Gigi, and Uncle James.  Joshua, you loved playing with cousin Erik's cars!  We visited for about 2 hours before heading home.

We were home for the UNC basketball game and Joshua took a nap.  He was getting fussy at (Great) Uncle Laurence's house so we knew he'd fall asleep in the car.  He continued to sleep once in the house.  Grace played while the game was on.  I nursed her during the second half and she fell asleep.  I decided to close my eyes too since I was so tired!  ;-)

I took photos of you all this evening as you two were playing in bonus room.  You two and daddy really cleaned and organized the bonus room tonight.  I wonder how long it will stay that way.  ;-)

Sleep tight little ones!

Happy New Year!

I love you both so much!

~Mommy