TWO'S COMPANY

The Polar Express

2009-12-05T16:03:00.004-06:00

Last week Mimi & Papa treated us all to The Polar Express in Lubbock. It was also Uncle Wes' birthday, so we had a lot to celebrate. The train pulled up as we got there and the girls were very excited (they are really into trains right now). We bundled everyone up and got ready for the ride. Our first seats were in the top car, but we were very "cozy".

They gave people the option of going to sit in the lower car, and we took it! Anna and Gracie never really sat down the entire ride. Lily, on the other hand, was glued to Walt's lap until the last 10 minutes of the ride. This is completely opposite of her personality- I guess she was a little overwhelmed.

We listened to music, ate cookies, drank hot chocolate and visited with the train conductor until we got to the "North Pole". Then some elves and Santa boarded the train! At first the girls weren't sure what to think about Santa. This was Lily and Gracie's first personal encounter

with him-

They each got a silver jingle bell from Santa. They both asked him for a baby doll for Christmas. Cousin Anna asked for a toothbrush!! (Her daddy was coaching her to say tv!) We had a great night- thank you Mimi & Papa!!!

Anna & Gracie

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-30T21:57:00.004-06:00

We spent last week in Lubbock with G-pa and Gigi, Lauren, Lance and great grandparents. The girls had so much fun playing with Aunt LaLa! My grandparents from Louisiana made the LONG drive to Lubbock to see the girls- such a special time!

When we returned to Canyon, we found our 1st snow of the season!!! The girls loved it and even learned how to make a snowball!

Look for more pics from our week here.

Sesame Street Live

2009-11-18T21:10:00.002-06:00

This afternoon the girls, Alecia and I went to see Sesame Street Live- very and good and held their attention well. Here are a few pics- more on Flickr!

Thanksgiving Feast

2009-11-18T21:05:00.003-06:00

The girls had a Thanksgiving feast at school- more pics on Flickr!

Gracie

Lily

'New' Dresser

2009-10-26T21:20:00.001-05:00

We (I) wanted to get the changing table out of the girls' room and put a dresser in, to hold clothes and keep them from climbing. I started looking for a dresser that could also double as a changing table- because my children refuse to use the potty! (Side note: I am convinced they understand the 'potty' concept, but just don't want to do it!) I didn't want to spend a lot on the dresser, but still wanted something that would last. We had a dresser in our guest room that wasn't being used to its fullest potential. We've had it since we got married, but I really didn't like it that much & put it in the guest room. Walt has a cousin, Jennifer, that had posted some pictures on Facebook of some furniture that she had painted. It was one-of-a-kind and really good. I thought I would measure to see if the dresser would fit in the girls' room. After measuring, I realized it wasn't that much bigger than the changing table. I talked to Jennifer about painting the dresser the next time she was in the area (she lives in Austin). She said she would be up soon and would love to paint the dresser. That's the long, drawn-out explanation of how we got this beautiful, original piece for the girls' room.

BEFORE

AFTER

SIDE VIEW

DRAWER/ BOTTOM

SIDE

TOP

She is so talented! If you like what she did and have something you want painted, I can get you in touch with her. She has done other hand-painted projects- not just furniture. Let me know what you think!

Outbreak!

2009-09-26T09:11:00.004-05:00

Last night's bedtime routine started as usual. We brushed our teeth, read a few books, and gave goodnight kisses. The girls went down without any objections. As I was in the kitchen working on a craft project (picture at the end of the post) and Walt was on the computer, I thought I heard some noise coming from the girls' side of the house. I walked over to the hall and listened for the noise. I heard something like a muffled knocking of sorts. As I peeked into their room I noticed the room was dark (we had left the closet light on and the door cracked as we usually do). I heard the noise again and it was coming from the closet. The girls' beds were empty, and when I opened the closet door... they were both sitting there on the floor with most of their toys around them, just playing! I had to leave the room to get Walt and also take a minute to get my "serious" look on- it was too cute! We placed the 2 "escapees" back in their beds and "strictly" told them to stay in their beds- which they did. I knew this was coming, but I was hoping not to have to convert their beds to toddler beds until Christmas. I guess we'll see how the next few nights go. I am just glad they didn't hurt themselves!

Now for the craft project. I have seen some really cute bow-holders in stores and online. I always thought that I could make one for much cheaper and using colors I wanted. I gathered supplies at Hobby Lobby this week and decided to put one together. I really like how it turned out and hope it will hold all their bows and clips. Here's a picture of the finished product:

The "escapees"

New Pictures

2009-09-11T21:13:00.006-05:00

We have had a few busy weeks. The girls started MDO on Tues, Wed and Thurs- 1/2 days. I have really been able to get alot done while they are at "school" without feeling like I am ignoring them. They really enjoy their teachers and are learning so much. I have posted a few pics on Flickr of all the activity these past weeks- enjoy!

Colorado-Day 5

2009-08-22T23:27:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that we have been in Denver for 5 days. We have kept pretty busy, seen a lot of the city and eaten A LOT! When planning the trip, I kept today open so that we could rest and catch anything we hadn't seen or done earlier in the week. We both slept in- almost to 9! Walt headed out for a bike ride while I stayed at the hotel watching some tv and reading a little bit. We headed to lunch at the Wazee Supper Club. We decided on the combo appetizer and a pizza- they claimed to be the best pizza in the civilized world. Everything was very good!

Walt wanted to look for a new work hat, so we walked down the street to a local western store. As we were leaving the store, I heard a man talking and his voice made me turn around because it sounded familiar. He looked familiar and I told Walt to hurry and look at him before we left the store. We got outside and I asked Walt if the guy looked familiar to him- I tend to see people that I think are famous, but usually are not. Just yesterday I thought maybe I passed Carmelo Anthony at the mall- Walt said he didn't think that he traveled without a posse. Back to today- the guy we saw at the western store was Larry Miller- an actor who has been in several movies and tv shows. He was the dad in 10 Things I Hate About You. Who knew we would see a famous actor in Denver,CO.

We spent the rest of the afternoon chillin' back at the hotel. We called up Lauren and headed down to Littleton for dinner. We had some good Italian food at Romano's and then went to see Denver Seminary. We hung out at Lauren's condo for awhile and watched some more tv. This trip has been fun and a good chance for Walt & I to get away from the craziness of everyday life. I have missed the girls terribly and Walt says that I am stalking his mom while she keeps them. It sounds like they have also had a great week, and I'm sure that I will have to do some serious work to entertain them when we get home. Next week they start MDO, so I think they will have fun.

Colorado-Day 4

2009-08-21T20:52:00.003-05:00

Started the day at Adagio Baking Company with yummy breakfast sandwich on challa roll. Headed to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to check out the Expedition Health exhibit. We got there a few minutes early so we spent some time looking at the Space exhibit and the Wildlife exhibit. This is an impressive museum with great displays. They use the skeleton and hair of the animals then make the body out of plaster (taxidermy). The backdrops and the surrounding environments to the animals were very impressive also.

On to the main exhibit. We entered the exhibit and were given a plastic card (think credit card) that we would use at the various stations to keep track of our specific information. Basically you go through different stations that tell you about the different systems in the human body. There was a "Biology Lab" that you could go into and do different experiments- we didn't try it, but the kids looked like they were having fun. They had a 13 minute interactive video that tells you how your body would respond to a 14,000 foot hike up a mountain here in Denver. This was cool- they had devices at all the seats to record oxygen level and heart rate. They even had real snow blowing around at one point. Another station took your picture then showed you what you would look like at 70 years- the line was too long and it was taking forever. At the end of the exhibit you enter your card into a computer and then you get a print out of all your information that was taken. There is also a website we could go to and get even more information about ourselves.

We ended our time at the museum with the dinosaur exhibit- you can't go to a museum without looking at the dinosaurs. At the end of this exhibit there was an area were you can watch employees working on the fossils- pretty neat.

We then headed down to Cherry Creek Shopping Center ( think North Park Mall in Dallas) for some lunch and shopping. We had some great lunch at Kona Grill- I had the white pizza (alfredo sauce, spinach, mushrooms, bacon crumbs) and Walt had sushi. We spent the afternoon shopping- mainly separately. I stayed at the mall while Walt ventured off across the street to some other stores. I found cute outfits for the girls at Janie and Jack, some gifts for the girls and a birthday gift for cousin Anna. We also picked up a little pre-graduate school gift for Aunt LaLa.

For dinner we went to a local sushi bar, Sushi Sasa. I have never been to a sushi bar.. come to think of it, I haven't had sushi before. I knew Walt liked sushi so I had researched places to try on the trip. The atmosphere was very calm and a little intimidating for someone who has never done this before. The tables to either side of us had people who obviously knew what they were doing. We got everything ordered and ended up with some shrimp, Japanese-style chicken nuggets and California rolls. Did I mention that they only had chopsticks to eat with- never used them, successfully, before. Everything was good- if I had to rank from most to least favorite 1. California rolls 2. chicken 3. shrimp. We are now watching the Cowboys at the hotel. Another good day in the mountains.

Colorado-Day 3

2009-08-20T23:25:00.002-05:00

Walt started off the day with a 10.5 mi bike ride along a river down from our hotel. Once I got up and ready, we went down to the 16th St Mall to get some breakfast. We ate at The Corner Bakery before setting out to walk around the "mall". This is basically about 16 blocks that are blocked off to traffic and lined with various stores and restaurants. We did visit Niketown and I found some things at the Brighton store. My sister came up from Littleton, and we all had lunch a The Cheesecake Factory- yummy! After lunch we caught the bus down to the other end of the "mall" so that we could make sure Lauren's car hadn't been towed. You have to pay to park everywhere and she wasn't sure if she had done this correctly. Her car was still there so we headed to the hotel for some rest. After resting most of the afternoon, Walt and I headed out to dinner at the Denver Chophouse & Brewery. I had a great salad with turkey, Gonzalo cheese, baked pumpkin seeds, sun dried blueberries, avocado, garbanzo beans and an herb vinaigrette! It was a huge salad and so tasty. Walt had the Filet Mignon and we split a crab cake for an appetizer. We decided to walk-off dinner and stopped by a bookstore, Tattered Cover Book Store. I picked up a copy of The Time Traveler's Wife- I wanted to read it before seeing the movie. Today was definitely a "food day", but we did a good amount of walking... so maybe we'll call it even. Tomorrow we are going to the Museum of Nature and Science to see the Expedition Health exhibit.

Colorado-Day 2

2009-08-20T23:17:00.000-05:00

We headed to The Market for breakfast his morning, in Lairmer Square. Walt actually made it there before I did- only about 1 hour! I had a yummy piece of quiche and some fresh fruit. We spent the later part of the morning at the Aquarium. It was a good exhibit and we got to see some really neat underwater creatures. I took pics but I don't have my cord with me so I can download. I touched a stingray- Walt chose to skip this activity. They are slimy little things. We then headed to lunch at My Brother's Bar- recommended to us by one of the doormen at the hotel. He said they had the best burgers in Denver, so it was a no-brainer decision for Walt. The burgers were yummy and the onion rings were good too. We then walked over to REI. This was probably the one place Walt would like to spend all the vacation at. It was a huge store (3 stories) filled with any and all outdoor equipment you could ever want (or need). We decided to walk back to the hotel and stopped at a few more shops along the way. We ate some yummy Mexican food at The Rio Grande. We talked about going to a movie, but we were pretty tired and decided to go to sleep.

Colorado-Day 1

2009-08-18T23:16:00.002-05:00

We packed up today and headed for Denver for a late anniversary trip. We stopped off in Littleton to unload my sister, Lauren. She will be starting graduate school next week at Denver Seminary. Despite a hail storm in Pueblo the trip was pretty uneventful. We found our hotel, Hotel Teatro, and headed out to find some dinner. We found square a few blocks from the hotel that had several choices to choose from. We decided on Rioja and had good food. I'm still not sure exactly what all was in my entree, but it was good. They give after-dinner candy-covered mint leaves.... real, organic leaves. Interesting. We got some hot drink from the bakery down the road, and headed back to the hotel. Time for some shut-eye. Planning on going to the aquarium and REI tomorrow followed by mexican food at The Rio Grande.

Potty Training- Day 3

2009-08-08T21:32:00.003-05:00

I'm struggling with how to write about all that happened today. It started out pretty much the same as the past two days. Again, the girls held their pee for 2 hours before all hell broke loose. I have no other way to describe it. Both girls were crying while sitting on their potties and I was almost in tears sitting there trying to keep them happy. They just aren't getting it. I came to the executive decision (Walt says that I am CEO of our household) to re-evaluate the girls' readiness for potty training. During nap time I realized that I had ben pushing this on them. The literature I had read talked about kids needing to be ready, developmentally, for training. As I read through the author's explanation of 'readiness' I thought that girls were 50-75% 'ready'. I guess I told myself that would be enough. Even after this short amount of time, I can see that I wanted them to be more ready than they actually are. They did just turn 2 in June.

I am really using this post to work through my own issues with starting something and not being able to finish it (at this time). If you are still reading this post, forgive me for the 'venting'. I will continue to talk about using the potty and even offer it to the girls- just not as pushy as the past few days. I know they will get it in time. Thanks for all the encouraging words from everyone on fb.

We had a great afternoon in Amarillo playing and hanging out just the four of us. It was a good day. The best part was when I was in the bathroom getting reading to leave and Gracie came up to me, hugged my leg and just smiled. I really am a lucky girl!

Potty Training- Day 2

2009-08-07T20:51:00.004-05:00

Today started out much like yesterday. The girls ate breakfast and then started playing. I think to day they actually got to play more because I wasn't taking them to the potty every 5 min. The morning went well, but the girls weren't peeing... anywhere. I gave them more juice in hopes to assist the process. After 2 hours I decided that I would put on their Elmo potty video and just have them sit on the potty in front of the tv. Gracie got up and at some point and was standing across the room when she began peeing in her panties- I 'excitedly' told her to go to the bathroom. Apparently this scared her instead of encouraging her and for the next 45-60 minutes were spent with her is hysterics. She didn't want to sit on the potty, but I could tell that she still needed to go. Finally my sister stepped up and took her to put on a diaper. We figured the whole day was a wash for her. Lily on the other hand finally went on the 'big' potty vs the 'little' potty. I found throughout the rest of the day that this was her preference.

The afternoon went pretty well. Lily had only 3 accidents (compared to the double digits yesterday)! Gracie stayed in a pull-up the rest of the day. She would tell you when she needed to go, and would actually sit on the 'big' potty- but nothing. From what I could tell, she would get the sensation that she needed to go and that would be when she wanted to get off the potty and back in the pull-up. I have no idea what to do- I feel like it's not right to force her on the potty when she is crying. I guess I will start saving now for the counseling bill because of this traumatic potty training! :) Lily also gets fidgety with the sensations, but is willing to sit and will eventually go if she sits long enough.

Needless to say I am exhausted after only 2 days! I don't know if we will make it through this. Lauren went to Lubbock today, so my wing man is gone. Walt has to go to work at least part of the time over the weekend, so I am predicting a rough few days. I'll keep you posted. I am leaving you with a picture of my cute girls that reminds me why all this hard work is worth it!

Potty Training- Day 1

2009-08-06T21:48:00.003-05:00

Toady marked the first day of the journey called, "Potty Training". I have been reading a few books and anxiously awaiting a break in our schedule that would allow us the chance to give it a try. After reading the books, I decided that a focused and intense plan would be the best plan of attack. I bought everything we would need, outlined the steps with Walt, and set the date on the calendar to start. Last night we did a "run-through" with the girls and their dolls. They did GREAT- followed everything on cue and even 'role-played' more than I was expecting. I was pumped and ready for this morning to come.

I got the girls up and put on 'big-girl' panties while Walt made some breakfast. We got the girls eating and drinking and then waited for something to happen. I won't bore you with everything that happened throughout the day. My sister happened to come into town last night so she was gracious enough to help me- I couldn't have made it without her. Walt would have found me balled up in the corner crying when he got home from work if I had been by myself. Let's just say that it didn't go exactly how I envisioned it. I kept telling myself to have low expectations because they are barely 2 and there are 2 of them! I have done 4 loads of wash today with a total of 24 pairs of panties washed!

Gracie was catching on much better by the end of the day with only about 3 accidents between nap time and baths. Lily had a more difficult afternoon and I was starting to think that she was afraid of the potty. She would sit for an extended time and then about 30 seconds after getting up, she would go wherever she was. She can be hard-headed, so my other theory is that she knows exactly what she is doing and is having accidents on purpose. I'm hoping that isn't the case!

We'll see how it goes tomorrow- I will be by myself for most of the day!

2 YEAR OLD CHECKUP

2009-07-24T16:26:00.006-05:00

I was finally able to get the girls into our new pediatrician today for their checkup- yes I know they turned two back in June! We have been having insurance issues that kept us from seeing him earlier. The doctor was recommended by out pediatrician in Lubbock. I thought he was very nice and spent a good amount of time talking with us about the girls. They are on track with height and weight- upper 90th percentiles. Lily's head circumference continues to be off the charts- I guess we have a genius on our hands! Both girls weigh 33 lbs- Lily is 36" tall and Gracie is 35.75" tall. They had to get 2 shots today, but did very well and even got popsicles from the nurse! The doctor told Lily, before he left the room, she could get a prize out of the treasure chest- she smiled real big and clapped her hands in excitement. We don't have to go back until they are 3 and no shots until they are 4- yippee!! Tomorrow we are planning to go check out the Amarillo Zoo- I'll post pictures.

4th of July 2009

2009-07-10T14:00:00.008-05:00

We spent the 4th at home in Canyon. We went to the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast that morning and then to the parade. It got started late, so we only stayed for about 1/2 of it- it was hot. As we were leaving we discovered that we had been standing in front of a building that was blocking the breeze- oh well. Walt's family- parents, aunts, uncle and cousins came over for a cook-out. We spent the afternoon eating and playing Skip-bo. We finished the evening watching fireworks from the lot behind our house- we just had to add the music- thanks Alecia and Lauren.

More photos on Flickr.

What do you get????

2009-07-10T13:22:00.003-05:00

Q: What do you get when a gallon of paint falls out of an SUV?

A: refer to picture

On Wednesday my sister and I started painting the dining room a deep shade of red. We primed the walls and put 2 coats of red on the walls before running out of paint. On Thursday we went into Amarillo to get some more paint and look at curtains for the dining and living rooms. We went to Lowe's and I told the paint guy what I needed. He asked 2x about the finish of the paint- satin. We finished up our errands and headed home. The girls were cranky and didn't appreciate being dragged all over town. We put them down for a nap and then I started getting the paint supplies ready to finish the room. I went to open the can and looked at the label... semi-gloss. I had to drive back to Amarillo to exchange the paint. I was a little perturbed and just wanted to be done with the painting. I decided that I was too frustrated to paint and we would wait until today to finish. I got home, opened the back door and... that's when all hell broke lose. The paint can fell out ad busted open. Thankfully it didn't get in the car. I got my sister (who was having issues with the girls not wanting to take a nap) and she started "scooping" it back into the can. We got about 3/4 of the gallon back in the can. We decided to use the water hose to clean the rest off the garage floor- bad idea. We didn't think- it might not be a good idea to spray the paint down the sidewalk to the street. The street was now magenta right in front of the driveway and starting to run down towards the neighbors. About this time a neighbor was out and decided to come over and introduce himself- not great timing. We chatted about our families and he told me just to just keep rinsing the run-off to dilute the paint. We stayed out there at least an hour with the hose, a plastic pitcher and a broom- I felt like I was in an old "Lucy" episode. We looked pretty silly. A few neighborhood kids came by on their bikes and gave us very strange looks. One kid even asked what it was that we were cleaning up. To say the least it was a long day and very frustrating. We finished up the room this morning and I will post pictures soon.

Trip to H-town

2009-06-23T11:57:00.004-05:00

Last week the girls, my sister, my mom & I all flew down to Houston to see my Nonnie. This was kinda a last minute trip for the girls and I- we got our tickets the week before- thanks to Walt's dad! This would be the first time for the girls to be on an airplane and my first since the honeymoon- 8 years ago. I was a little nervous to say the least. The flight went great and we made it to Houston safely. We spent the week at my Nonnie's house hanging out and swimming. The girls loved the pool the first day, but lost interest the following days- oh well- Lauren and I enjoyed it! We were able to hang out with my cousins and got to see some family friends who were also in town that week. The girls were tired by the end of the week and you could tell they had been in one house most of the week- we didn't even go shopping!

Back at the beginning of the year Nonnie was diagnosed with lung cancer. She has been on chemotherapy, but decided to skip the last treatment because it was making her feel pretty bad- she's 84 years old. She had a PET scan last week & the doctor called my uncle with the results at the end of last week. All three tumors present had decreased in intensity! Praise the Lord! The doctor wants to start another round of chemo in about 6 weeks. Nonnie had an appointment yesterday to discuss the treatment. Please keep her in your prayers. I will put some pictures up once I get them off my camera and on the computer.

Happy Birthday!!!!

2009-06-13T22:23:00.005-05:00

Today the girls turned 2- how did that happen. I know everyone says it, but... where does the time go? I can remember clearly the day they were born like it was yesterday. We had a great day with family and ELMO. Every time you would ask about the party the girls would say 'ELMO'. I think they will be associating birthday with Elmo for awhile. We had a fun party and the girls got so many fun gifts. I think I could pull out a new gift each day and have enough for a full month! They are blessed little girls. Here are a

few pics from the party- more on Flickr.

Weekend Fun

2009-05-24T21:13:00.004-05:00

This weekend my parents came up from Lubbock for a visit. Walt was suppose to go out of town for a conference, but the weather was bad and he stayed home. We mostly hung out around the house. On Saturday before they left we drove down to the Happy Hereford Ranch so my parents could see it. The drive is only about 30 minutes and you go through a wildlife preserve- very pretty. Rusty had come over in his plane earlier that morning, so we were able to see his plane. The girls weren't too sure about going inside to look. I also forgot to roll up the window in the car, so when he started it up to take off- we had a car full of dust. I looked in the back seat and Gracie was moving her mouth like she was eating something- gross! We finished the trip with some great BBQ at Rafter G's in Umbarger, TX!
This afternoon we went up to Amarillo to eat lunch with some of Walt's family at his aunt's house. His cousin Lauren was in town for the weekend too. We had yummy burgers while the younger cousins- Lily, Gracie & Will- played hard. They weren't into the food much, except for chips! They all played so well together. The girls had a great time playing and running around Alecia's big backyard. Here are a few pics- more on Flickr!

Money Saver

2009-05-19T21:46:00.003-05:00

Well, I don't know if their dad put them up to it or if he just got the better end of the deal... I will not be taking my children shopping by myself until they are much older!!!! The girls and I went on an outing to Amarillo after lunch today. I am looking for curtains to go in the living room, dining room and master bedroom. I had a list of 4 stores that I wanted to go to.
We first tried to find Kirkland's- it's not located where the website says it is- never did find it! So, we turned around and went to Pier One- not a stroller-friendly establishment! Some of the walkways were even small for a single person to get through. We finally made it back to the drapery, but the girls had found their snack cups in my purse- I was hoping to pull them out when I needed them later in the afternoon for a bribe! Next we went to Kohls- they don't sell curtains- strike 3. We took advantage of the nice breeze and walked down to Bed Bath and Beyond. I struck gold- I found several options that could work, but I want to get some second opinions.
We then headed to Target. I let the girls walk in- hoping that stretching their legs would help. We loaded up in the cart that has the two toddler seats in front of the basket. Gracie threw a fit because I hooked he in with the straps. The other seat had a weird strap, so I did the best I could getting Lily strapped in. That lasted about 30 seconds- Lily figured out how to get out. I asked her in the nice mother voice to sit down- didn't work. I asked again- a little sterner. This went on a few minutes as I tried to find Epsom salt- hard to locate by the way. We then headed to the curtains. I thought I might as well see what they had. Lily still wouldn't sit, so I pt her up in the cart. She kept trying to stand up. I tried carrying her, but I got tired and put her back by Gracie. She then proceeded to slap, hit, punch, etc Gracie. Gracie didn't take it- she start doing the same to Lily. I was trying to break it up, and this lady next to us had the nerve to laugh and say something like, "how cute"! I was not thinking they were cute at that moment! We loaded up and headed home- probably for a very long time.

Girls' Room

2009-05-16T20:49:00.003-05:00

Today, Walt helped me hang up some of the girls' stuff on their walls to help make their room feel more like theirs. Some of the things are from their old room, but one wall is all new! I have to say that I am very happy with how their "name" wall turned out. I just have to figure out what to do on the other walls to complete them. I found a website that had great wall stickers, and I fell in love with the Fairy Princess. I think I am going to look for a quote to put on the empty wall- we'll see.

Nude Sleeping

2009-05-14T12:24:00.002-05:00

I know... 2 posts in one day! I had to write about this separately from the last post. Yesterday morning I had to wake the girls up because we needed to leave early. I went in to get some clothes packed for them. As I opened the door I noticed Gracie's bed and something caught my eye. SHE WAS NAKED FROM THE WAIST DOWN! She had removed her pj pants and her diaper, and she was sleeping on her tummy. I ran and got my camera so that Walt could see how I found her. I was cracking up! We thought it was cute and was glad that it wasn't Lily- she would probably repeat the offense. Well, this morning I woke up to the girls chatting with each other. I walked into their room and they were both standing up in their beds chatting. You guessed it...Gracie had her pants and diaper off again!! This time there was also a small present in the bed! I guess I will have to start taping her diaper shut at night before she goes to bed! Maybe this is the first sign of potty training! They will be 2 next month!

Take Your Family to Work Day

2009-05-14T12:15:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, the girls and I joined Walt for work. I guess I should say that we went to Quitaque with him- not really out to the ranch much. We woke up early so that we could there for the guys to get some work in before it got hot. The girls and I spent the morning playing at Mimi & Papa's house. We ate a yummy lunch of burgers- what else, we were at the ranch! The girls went down for a nap, along with the rest of the adults. Walt got back to work, and I headed off for a relaxing pedicure. If you are ever in Quitaque, stop by Triple T Salon for a great pedicure! By the time I got back, the girls were up so we decided to head out to see the "moo- cows". On the way out to the ranch the car thermometer read 103° - it was hot!!! We took the girls up close to the cows and they were in heaven- they love cows! We head back into town to clean up for dinner. We ate some yummy fajitas at FBC Quitaque and mad our way back home. I was really glad we were able to spend the day with Walt, kinda, and see what he does on a daily basis. I'm sure we will tag along with him throughout the summer.

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-11T14:44:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was a great day of good food, drinks and family! We visited FBC Canyon in the morning. We met some really nice people and the girls had a great time meeting new friends. After church we headed north to Amarillo to help celebrate Walt's uncle Jim's b-day. We had a yummy Mexican buffet with tamales, enchiladas, tacos, chips, etc. Then the b-day boy got to whack a pinata!!

The cousins had fun getting all the stuff inside the pinata. The girls really liked the jewelry!
Everyone played and played- the girls fell asleep in the car within bout 2 minutes! We came home and visited Walt's grandma here in Canyon. The we had dinner with Mimi & Papa before heading home for bed. It was a wonderful day! The girls got me the cutest card and a gift card for some iTunes- yippee!! Hope all the mom out there had a great day.

All moved in!! (mostly)

2009-05-05T16:35:00.002-05:00

We were finally able to move in last Friday (if you want to know why it wasn't Thursday leave a comment). Walt's parents kept the girls until Sunday so we could have a few days to get things unpacked. We had most of everything unpacked when they got here. The main thing left to unpack is the guest room. I just shut the door and pretend it's done! :) I have posted new pics and video on Flickr of the girls playing in the backyard.

We're Moving!!!!

2009-04-26T18:23:00.008-05:00

I talked about our move about a week ago on Facebook, but I thought I would give more details and a few pictures. We sold our house... 4 days before our 6-month contract expired! We finished the contract on Good Friday. One of the requests by the buyers was that we be out/close on April 30th. That's only 2 weeks and a few days to pack up and buy a house. We had been discussing what we would do once the house sold. Walt has been commuting roughly 200 miles/day, 4-5 days/week for 2.5 years! We have been discussing different options that would get us closer to where he ranches. We talked about Canyon, TX about a year ago, but the subject never really got anywhere. Canyon is a small town (13,000 people, I think) and we have always heard good things about it. It is only 20-30 miles north of where Walt's granddad has his ranch, and it is close to Amarillo for "big city" amenities. We made a quick trip over Easter weekend to look at some houses- very disappointing. We made some changes to our 'house parameters' and I went back the next Tuesday to look at some more. The realtor took me by a house that wasn't on the market yet & I loved it! Walt & I went back on Thursday and made an offer on the house.
(Side note: On the way back to Lubbock on Thursday we got to sit under a bridge off the interstate for 1.5 hours while a horrible hail storm passed through!) Everything has worked perfectly, and we will be closing on both houses this Thursday! Here are few pics of the new house- hopefully it won't take to long to get our stuff up and then I will post new pics! Please keep us in your prayers this week- keep ya posted!

Front

Living & Dining Room

Kitchen

Easter 2009

2009-04-14T20:50:00.004-05:00

Girls after church

Girls with Mimi & papa

Lindsey, Lily, Walt, Gracie

Lily

Gracie playing basketball

Anna, Gracie, Lily after egg hunt

New Pictures

2009-04-05T21:16:00.003-05:00

I have put new pictures on Flickr- they are from earlier today at my parents' house. I found the girls' Easter dresses at TJ Maxx for only $15 each. They wore them today because next we will be in Quitaque and my mom wanted to see them dressed up. It was about 40 degrees this morning!! Don't worry... they had coats. The girls have an Easter egg hunt at school this week so we'll see how that goes! I hope everyone has a blessed Easter.

Pictures

2009-02-08T21:36:00.003-06:00

The recent lack of pictures on the blog & Flickr was because I had misplaced the cord that connects the camera to the computer. I was cleaning out the car this afternoon and it was on the floorboard- the only place I hadn't looked! I put most of them on Flickr and facebook, but here are a few teasers... enjoy!

PS- We will be traveling down to Houston later this week to visit my Nonnie and the Farmer fam. Please pray for safety and sanity as we DRIVE with 2, 20-month olds!

Happy New Year

2009-01-06T19:07:00.005-06:00

I know we are almost a week into the new year, but I have been pretty bad about keeping up with my blog. It's not that we haven't been doing stuff, but I just haven't felt like writing. Yesterday the girls started their new daycare. They were happy when i picked them up, and their teacher said they had a good day. The funny thing is, I was more nervous dropping them off yesterday than I was their very 1st day! I think it's because they know what is going on now. The teacher said she could already tell that they have very different personalities! She will only get to know them better. They wore their cute t-shirts they got from their Mimi that has two little girls in pigtails with "Double Trouble" written above their heads- below are the girls' names on each of their shirts.
Today marked my first day as a "stay at home" mom. We have survived! The girls had a doctor's appointment to check on their ears- everything looked good & the tubes are still in!! After that we went to the play area at the mall so the girls could get some energy out in a warmer environment. We had lunch, took naps and then played some more. We had someone want to look at the house, so we went out to meet Walt's parents for dinner.
As I am writing this, the girls are in the tub- don't worry I an right next to them sitting on the closed toilet seat! They love bath time!! Hopefully Thursday will go as well as today. I hope I can come up with stuff to keep them entertained.

Surgery Post-op Day 3&4

2008-12-19T15:52:00.003-06:00

My dad got up and walked twice on Thursday and again today with the PT. He is still nauseated, but at least able to get in some therapy. They are probably going to transfer him to a rehab center- that means he will probably still be in on Christmas :( I guess we will have Christmas there, although he might get a pass for the day. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

Update, Day 2

2008-12-18T10:54:00.001-06:00

Dad's first day post-op was a little rough. He woke up feeling good and ready to get up and try out his new knees. Later in the morning he started running a fever and got nauseated. He was sick most of the day. I visited after work, and he was feeling much better. His fever had broken and he was eating. Hopefully today will be better!

Surgery

2008-12-16T15:46:00.000-06:00

My dad is out of surgery and everything went well. The doctor said that his knees were in pretty bad shape. He is still sleepy from the meds, but he will be getting up starting tomorrow. Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers.

New Pictures

2008-12-15T21:22:00.003-06:00

There are a few new pics on Flickr from Thanksgiving and the past few weeks. I am hoping to post in the next few days about our past weekend (my brother graduated!) and what we have been up to.

Please keep my dad in your prayers tomorrow AM- he is having both of his knees replaced!

San Antonio...Day 5

2008-11-15T10:51:00.002-06:00

ZOO DAY!!!

On Thursday, Walt and I took Lily and Gracie to the San Antonio Zoo. It was a really pretty zoo. The last zoo we had been to was in Abilene, so this was a treat! The girls started the adventure awake and seemed to enjoy the animals. Gracie fell asleep first.. somewhere after the Amazon Area. Lily got to see a few more animals before falling asleep in the Africa Area. They were doing some construction and adding more "Africa" stuff- I think they are just expanding what they have. We went in the morning so that it would be cooler.

That evening we went back to the RiverCenter Mall and did some more shopping with Mimi- check out the girls' loot!

San Antonio...Day 4

2008-11-12T22:07:00.002-06:00

Wednesday was definitely a "hump" day on our trip. We had planned on going to the outlet mall in San Marcos, but Wes woke up not feeling well. It got worse as the morning went on, so he, Rusty and Mica headed to the clinic. He was diagnosed with the flu and had to take 2-3 bags of saline because he had become dehydrated. Walt and I decided to take the girls out to stay out of everyone's way. We had passed a promising shopping center one of the days before so we headed back to check it out. We spent the afternoon shopping- found some really good bargains at Old Navy! There were no pics taken- sorry. Stay tuned for tomorrow... many pics to come!

San Antonio...Day 3

2008-11-11T21:36:00.003-06:00

On Tuesday we spent the early afternoon at the Children's Museum in downtown. The girls had a blast!!! They had a HEB mini-market set up in the basement that the girls had so much fun pushing the baskets and picking out food. They had part of an airplane that had a real cockpit and seats in it. There was a reading area with a clubhouse and kitchen area... too much to name everything. The girls fell asleep on the way there, but woke up shortly once we were there.

That night Walt, I, Wes and Mica went to the Spurs vs. Mavericks game. We had really good seat behind one of the goals. We got there early (even before the doors open) and was able to watch some of the warm-ups. Even though the guys didn't win, it was a fun night. Thanks Papa & Mimi for watching all the girls!

San Antonio...Days 1 & 2

2008-11-10T12:30:00.004-06:00

NEW PICS ON FLICKR!!

We arrived in San Antonio on Sunday around 5:30pm and got all our stuff into the hotel. I didn't take any pics of our suite, but it was beautiful. It was one of the Presidential suites with four bedrooms, 4 baths, kitchen, eating area and TV room! We loaded up all the little ones (Lily,Gracie and Cousin Anna) and headed down to the Riverwalk. We found a restaurant that could hold all of us and sat down to a lovely meal. We then headed back to the hotel and got ready for bed and the week ahead!
On Monday we walked downtown to the museum- which was closed on Mondays! We decided to walk a little further and go to the River Center Mall. We spent the afternoon eating and shopping! The girls were able to get a decent nap in the stroller. That night we went to Pappadeux for some yummy seafood! I had some amazing stuffed shrimp- yum, yum!!
The first few days went well with relaxation and good food. Upcoming... Children's museum and Spurs basketball!

Update

2008-11-08T08:54:00.002-06:00

I know it has been a long time since I wrote. I will be adding Halloween pics and vacation info shortly. We just got back from San Antonio and I am planning on posting a day-by-day post instead of one long post- stay tuned!!

Deja Vu, Road Trip, State Fair, Bed Mats...

2008-10-07T21:26:00.013-05:00

No ... you are not experiencing deja vu. I had been planning on taking the girls to Dallas this past weekend to visit my sister (more on that later). Thursday night Lily had a low-grade fever, 99.5, and didn't have much of an appetite. The next morning when she woke up, in a pretty bad mood, she felt very warm. I took her temp and it read 104!!!!! I know, sounds familiar. I took her to the local clinic as soon as it opened and the doctor said it was her ear! He said that he didn't see the tube in the left ear, but that it was red and inflammed. We got some antibiotics to clear up the infection. Thank goodness we go to the ENT tomorrow for a check-up.

Now to the road trip. Like I said before, we had been planning this trip for many months. Originally I was going to be "Super Mom" and brave the road with the girls by myself- how hard could it be? One of the reasons we were going was to celebrate my birthday with my sister. It then turned into a mini family reunion with my dad's parents and his brother and wife. We hadn't seen my grandparents in awhile and the last time we saw my aunt and uncle was our trip to Dallas last year. Walt surprised me on Thirsday night by announcing he was going to be going with us! We left as soon as we could after the Friday morning drama. We stopped in Merkel to have lunch with Walt's brother and wife. We continued on to the Big-D and made pretty good time. We luckily missed the crazy traffic! On Saturday we went shopping at the Allen Outlet Mall and then headed to see family and eat pizza. On Sunday we went to the fair (more to come) and then the girls spent the afternoon with more shopping at Northpark Mall while Walt watched football. We got up on Monday, ate a good breakfast at the Pancake House, then headed back to Lubbock. We stopped in Abilene to visit with friends and previous co-workers before making it back to good 'ole Lubbock!

We started a family "tradition" last year of going to the state fair. I had never been before and I don't think Walt had ever been either. So this year we returned hoping that the girls would be a little more "interactive". We went early to beat the heat and the busy crowds. We started in the livestock area to let the girls see different types of animals. They had a petting zoo in one of the buildings that was covered. The girls did enjoy seeing all the animals. We then went in search of a good corndog! We did find one-

We went through the car buildings to see all the new and upcoming models. After that the temperature was up and we decided to head back to the apartment. The girls spent the rest of the afternoon shopping- Walt gave me a shopping spree for my birthday!!

I know it is hard to read the words on the pictures above... but I had a moment of panic when I first opened this letter. I thought I had really been nominated. It was really fun to go shopping for me and find some really good clothes.

I know this is a really long post, but we had a busy weekend. I want to finish with pictures of bedmats that I picked up for the girls today. I had a patient who has a family member that sews adorable bedmats. They are a mat with an attached fleece blanket and pillow- she personalizes the fabric to your liking and makes them really fast. The girls are going to use them at daycare during naptime. If you want one I have her info-

Tonsillitis...

2008-09-21T14:57:00.002-05:00

Just when we thought we had turned a corner in the health department, Gracie comes down with tonsillitis! Her teacher said that she had a low grade temp Thursday afternoon @ daycare and was given Tylenol. She woke up on Friday morning burning up. She didn't have any other symptoms, so I thought she was getting more teeth. Walt stayed home with her, and her fever never really "broke". We took her temperature around 6pm and it was over 104!!!!

I immediately took her to the walk-in clinic to see what was going on. The doctor looked at her ears- clear, than looked in her throat- fire red!!! He even let me take a look. He sent a nurse in to take a swab for a strep test. It came back negative. The only other thing he said it could be was tonsillitis. We got an antibiotic and he also said that we needed to keep giving her fever-reducing medicine. (Extra tip: he said that you can alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 2-3 hours if needed.) So much for taking out the adenoids, I guess they should have taken out the tonsils while they were in there!

She has been pretty miserable up until earlier this afternoon. I think we finally have the fever taken care of- "knock on wood"! She has been extremely sensitive- anytime Lily comes near her or looks at her the wrong way she starts screaming. She also gets frustrated more easily and starts a "little tantrum". As long as Lily is not around or she is getting her way, she's fine.

Hopefully my next post will be about something other than our illnesses! Have a great week!

15-month check-up

2008-09-15T12:16:00.002-05:00

We went to the pediatrician this AM for the girls' 15-month check-up. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, so here is a general run-down:

Lily: 25 lbs, 32.5 inches tall, really big head!! (>97th%)
Gracie: 25 lbs, 31 inches tall, not so big head (60th%)

So, as you can see, Lily is a bit taller and still has the bigger head. They got 1 vaccine and the flu shot- so brave!! She said that she could see all 4 tubes and that their ears were clear! We haven't heard that phrase in a VERY long time!!!They are pretty much on target developmentally, except for their speech. They don't have 4-5 words yet. She said not to worry just yet- it could be because of their ear problems or sometimes twins have slower speech development. She said we'll see at 18 months.

The girls are still doing well since surgery. Gracie ended up being sick about 1 week. She got a stomach virus and was teething too. Lily did great- couldn't even tell. The past few have been pretty normal with work and all. Hope everyone has a great week!

Happy Homecoming

2008-09-05T18:19:00.002-05:00

GRACIE IS HOME- YIPPEE!!!! When Lily and I got home for the day we were welcomed by the sweetest smile. Gracie was in the playroom, behind the gate, and when Lily saw her she ran over to her squealing with joy. I was starting to wonder if they even missed the 'other one'- I thought they were each liking being an only child. Everyone seems to be doing well. Hopefully the weekend will be the same.

We're home

2008-09-04T10:58:00.002-05:00

We got home about an hour ago from the surgery center- I'll tell you, the kid doesn't even act like she had surgery. We got to the center at 7:15 and back to the pre-op area by 7:30. They gave her some medicine to keep her calm- she was feeling good about 15 minutes later. They took her back about 8:10 and the doctor came out to the lobby about 8:20. I didn't even get to finish reading through 1 copy of People- how will I ever know about Jessica Simpson finding true love?!! We went back to the post-op room and stayed there for 30 minutes. She was very restless and not happy with us. When we were able to leave, she was completely content- she was just bored in the small room. Since we have been home she has had part of a waffle and some milk. Right now she is taking a nap. Thanks for your prayers.

Tomorrow is the Day

2008-09-03T21:16:00.002-05:00

Lily is scheduled for her tubes tomorrow. We stopped by the doctor this AM for a final listen to her lungs. He said it was a go! We check in at 7:20 in the AM- we would appreciate your thoughts and prayers. I will update as I can.

Update on Gracie

2008-08-30T21:00:00.002-05:00

Gracie is recovery like a pro! She had a great day today- little fussiness and good appetite. We were even able to travel up to Plainview to celebrate cousin Anna's 1st birthday. Thanks for all your prayers. We will find out Tuesday about Lily's schedule. Have a good Labor Day!

Gracie has tubes & is missing some adenoids!

2008-08-29T12:55:00.003-05:00

We arrived at the SurgiCenter at 7 am this morning to get both girls tubes in their ears and Gracie to get her adenoids taken out. They called us back to the pre-op area for initial vitals. Gracie had a snotty nose, but her lungs sounded clear to the anesthesiologist said she was good to go. Lily, on the other hand, was quite upset from not being able to eat and he said that she had "ronchi" (sounds like snoring) in her lungs. He said that proceeding would be dangerous and that he was cancelling her surgery. My parents had come up, so Lily waited with them in the waiting room (with milk) while Walt and I stayed with Gracie.
Funny side note: When we got back to the pre-op room, the couple next to us also had twins and they actually are in the girls' class at daycare! They were also there to get tubes. One of the boys also had to pospone his surgery because of chest congestion.
They came and got Gracie and Walt & I went to wait in the lobby. We waited about 20 minutes and then the doctor came out and let us know everything went very well. He said that her ears looked bad, the left worse than the right. He definitely thought the tubes were needed. He said that he suctions the ears while placing the tubes, and her left ear was like "suctioning out laffy taffy"! He tols us that we would be able to go back and see her in about 15-20 minutes.
When they called us back, Gracie was still out of it and very agitated. She had an IV secured to one of her wrists and was NOT liking that at all! We were able to give her some juice and the nurse gave her some Tyelenol with codeine to help the pain. We stayed in the post-op room 30-45 minutes and then got to come home. We dropped Lily off at daycare so she could play with her friends, and so that Gracie would have our full attention.
We got home and Gracie rested off & on for awhile. We watched some Praise Baby and VeggieTales. She ate some yogurt and jello throughout the afternoon, while also having plenty of fluids. She still is fussy, but doing very well considering. We will call on Tuesday to schedule Lily's surgery- I think it will be on Friday. I'll keep everyone posted on the recovery. Thank you for all of your prayers.

Too long...

2008-08-25T20:46:00.002-05:00

I know it's been a long time since I last posted. Every time I sit down to the computer nothing would come to mind. Then I started feeling hypocritical because I look everyday to see if the blogs I read have been updated without updating my own! The past few weeks have been pretty normal- sleep, eat, daycare, work, eat, sleep, etc. The girls are really growing and pretty much sprint to wherever they are going. They are really at a fun age!

Today they were promoted at daycare to the "1's class". I was a little nervous because they have been with the same teacher since they started 1 year ago. (I can't believe I've been back to work 1 year- at one point I had been on bedrest and maternity leave longer than I had worked!) When I picked the girls up, their new teacher, Miss Veronica, said they had a great day. They were only really fussing at nap time and plyed well with the other kids. I was very excited to hear they had a scheduled "nap time". They will also start to learn colors, shapes, numbers,etc and they are going to teach them Spanish! I was very happy to hear all of this- I really think the structure will be good.

On Friday the girls are having minor surgery to have tubes placed in each ear- that's 4 ears! Gracie is also going to have her adenoids removed to help with all the congestion and runny noses. We haven't heard when they go in- I'll keep y'all posted. We are really excited to get this done and hopefully it will help reduce the number of ear infections. They had their hearing checked at the doctor and both had a decrease because both ears were completely blocked with fluid. The audiologist said that everything they hear is like they are underwater. We also hope that with better hearing their speech will come along.

Other than the surgery we have a pretty normal week. Hope everyone has a great week-

Lindsey

As Promised...

2008-08-03T18:17:00.004-05:00

GRACIE IS WALKING!!!!

2008-07-25T09:06:00.001-05:00

Gracie has also begun taking 4-5 steps at a time. The other night she was trying to walk, but she wouldn't pick up her right foot so she was just going in a circle! Both girls prefer to crawl because it is faster, but I have a feeling by next week they will pick up walking speed. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

LILY IS WALKING!!!!!

2008-07-22T08:39:00.002-05:00

Both girls have been standing up on their own and acting like they want to walk for about a week now. Lily has looked like she has taken 1-2 steps, but we didn't think that counted- today I got to the daycare and was met with much excitement- "LILY WALKED ACROSS THE ROOM!" It was probably 10 feet and last we tried to reinact the scene- she would take 4-5 steps and then go to her knees. She really likes to step sideways! Anyways, we couldn't get the video camera to work but I will put the video online as soon as I get some. Gracie is really close too!

Ruidoso, 4th of July & MORE Ear Infections

2008-07-08T21:05:00.006-05:00

It has been a busy 2 weeks in the Henson family! It started with a family vacation to Ruidoso, NM. I can't remember the last vacation we took with my family. My parents were given a gift of a cabin for the weekend- it was fabulous! It was four bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, great room with kitchen, eating area and TV area. There was a big covered back porch with a hot tub- very nice in the cool, rainy weather! We were there Friday, Saturday, and then home on Sunday. The girls did well with the drive- although Lily's ears were bothering her in the altitude. Here's a pic of the cabin-

On Thursday, July 3, Gracie woke up with a fever and was very "clingy". I called the doctor because i wanted to get her checked before the holiday. The pediatrician was already on vacation, so they referred us to one of the local walk-in clinics. We saw a doctor and he said that both ears were red, so Gracie got yet another antibiotic.

On Friday Gracie started feeling better after lunch, so we decided to head up to Canyon,TX for the Phipps Family Reunion! (Janice's mom's family) We had our first experience with the girls in a hotel- not the best two nights I have ever had! It was really good to see all of Walt's family.

Monday was our 7th Anniversary! We both had to work, so it was a pretty normal day. Lily had continued to be fussy, so I called and got her into the doctor and both her ears still looked bad- another antibiotic. The doctor did make a referral to an ENT for an evaluation for tubes- FINALLY!! My parents watched the girls while Walt and I went out to dinner- very good.

My Beautiful Hot Pink Roses!

Even though things have been hectic, we have had a lot of fun with family! The girls have been really good sports traveling so much when they aren't feeling well- I'll keep you posted on the "tubes". Check out new pics on Flickr

1-Year Check-up

2008-06-25T07:55:00.002-05:00

Yesterday the girls had their 1-year wellness check. They are pretty much the same in all objective categories (height, weight, etc)- in fact, the doctor asked at first glance if they have always been so close. They both are 29.5 in long (although I do think the whole lay them down and put a line at the feet and top of the head trick may be slightly flawed) and just under 23 lbs (Gracie is 22.15 & Lily is 22.13). Both of those measurements put them in the high 70- low 80 percentile. Now for the measurements that put them high on the charts. I can't remember the exact numbers (and I don't have the paper in front of me) but both girls have inherited their parents' huge heads. Gracie is in the 96th percentile and Lily is "off the charts".

We did discover that both girls still have ear infections. This really stinks because we just finished meds about 3 weeks ago (maybe) and the girls don't really have symptoms when their ears are bad. They have been fussy when you lay them down to change or going to bed, but we just figured this was "independence" starting. We got more medicine and hopefully it will clear everything up. The doctor did tell us about a device for home use that helps to monitor fluid in the ears. She said that some doctors even used it when she was a resident, and if it wasn't too expensive it would be worth the purchase. She told me that they use to sell them at Walgreens. After work I stopped by the Walgreens to see if they still carried the "ear thing". I looked by myself and couldn't find it so I asked the pharmacist if she had heard of such a device. After she looked at me like I had three heads, she proceeded to help, but it couldn't be found. I decided to do some research online before asking at another store. I found what the doctor was speaking of and it looked like it might do the trick. It is called EarCheck Monitor. They have a website and it is available through many different retailers. I am looking forward to getting ours in to see if it really works. It costs about $50, but that is the co-pay if we take both girls to the doctor, so it will pay for itself.

The doctor also said that the girls could start on whole milk. I was excited about this because formula can be pricey when you are feeding 2. We did switch to the transitional formula (9-24 months) about 2 months ago and it is cheaper. The catch is, the daycare workers mentioned that if the girls were on milk the daycare provided it for us while they are there. I haven't figured the difference in cost yet, but I am pretty sure that will help us on our grocery bill! I figured the girls would have no problem switching to the "real stuff", but the doctor said that some kids have to develop a taste. We decided to try some whole milk at dinner last night (about 2 oz)- the girls LOVED IT! They drank it very quickly and wanted more. I didn't want to over-do-it the first time, so I mixed up some formula to top them off. Lily was fussiest so I gave her formula first. While I was in the kitchen making Gracie's, Walt started laughing really loud. I came around the corner to see what had happened, and this is what he said - Lily took the cup, started to drink and then pulled the cup away from her mouth. She then proceeded to look at the cup, then threw it on the ground in disgust! He said it was priceless! She did eventually finish the formula, but I don't know how happy she was about it.

I know this was a lot to read, but it has been awhile since I have written. This upcoming weekend we are going with my family to Ruidoso. I am looking forward to some time off from work and getting to see the girls outside of the normal surroundings. We are staying at this big rental house, with 4 master suites, that my parents were given as a gift from the church choir to spend some time at. Walt and I went to Ruidoso a few years ago with our friends Brandon & Danyel, and really enjoyed the town and the scenery. I will post some pics when we get back- have a blessed day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILY & GRACIE

2008-06-15T21:42:00.004-05:00

Well, we survived the girls' 1st birthday! It is hard to believe that 1 year has gone by. (I know everyone says that) The girls' actual birthday was on Friday, and we had a pretty quiet day. Saturday was the party, and we had a blast! We celebrated with family and friends all afternoon. The girls received tons of fun and beautiful gifts (see Flickr for details). The girls had mixed responses to their 1st taste of processed sugar- Lily enjoyed picking off the icing, Gracie was more reserved and has issues with different textures.

Thanks to everyone who helped us this past year through prayers, babysitting and encouraging words! The first few months are a blur, but the past months have been so much fun with the girls development- physically and personality-wise! I am excited about the years to come! Please check out Flickr for many more pics of our big girls!

New Pics & Videos

2008-05-29T21:32:00.001-05:00

Just a post to let everyone know that there are new pics & videos on Flickr- enjoy!!!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-09T19:42:00.003-05:00

You're up all night with a screaming baby
You run all day at the speed of life
And every day you feel a little bit less
Like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall in bed when you run out of hours
And you wonder if anything worth doing got done
Well, maybe you just don't know
Or maybe you've forgotten

That you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time

With every "I know you can do it"
And every tear that you kiss away
So many little things that seem to go unnoticed
They're just like the drops of rain over time
They become a river

And you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time

You're beautiful
So beautiful
How you're changing the world
Yeah, you're changing the world

You, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
Oh, I believe that you
You are changing the world
One little heartbeat
At a time

And you're changing the world

- Steven Curtis Chapman
"One Heartbeat", This Moment

I am looking forward to my first Mother's Day with the girls! I hope all the mothers that are reading this know what a blessing you are to your children. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Congrats Hunts!!!!!!!

2008-05-06T11:53:00.003-05:00

I am so excited for our friends, the Hunts. Yesterday Molly gave birth to Lucy (7 lbs. 11oz, 20in). (I think those are the right numbers.) I can't wait to go visit and meet their newest addition.

2008-04-21T21:57:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to let everyone know there are new videos on Flickr! Enjoy!

Poop on the floor

2008-04-15T09:24:00.004-05:00

No this is not a metaphor... it actually happened. I knew this day would come at some point, but it still shocks you when it actually happens.

Yesterday I got the girls home and decided that it would be bath night (yes, I will admit, we do not do baths everynight. that's what lotion is for!)- only one at a time. Gracie was first because I thought she had a dirty diaper and needed to be changed. It was a fast bath, but it got the job done. After I got her all wrapped up in the towel, I thought I would let her play on the floor in their room before getting her in her pjs (al la natural). I put down a "safe" pad so if she had an accident it would not soak into the carpet. I can't remember if it was before or after Lily was done with her bath, but I looked down on the floor to see how Gracie was doing and this is want I saw:

Gracie was now off the pad, and onto the carpet and she had left a nice present! I quickly picked her up and put her in her crib. I couldn't resist taking a picture so that when she gets older I can remind her of this day!

New subject.

I just love all the cute little dresses that are out for spring and summer. I have decided that the girls will most likely be in one most of the time. They make changing diapers especially easy, and Walt even commented the other day they make getting the girls dressed "a piece of cake". Here are a few pics of the girls in dresses their Mimi got them.

Birthday, Bath & More...

2008-04-07T21:32:00.011-05:00

It's hard to recall all that has happened since I wrote last. The girls are "sick-free." I went to the doctor tonight and now I have an ear infection! Anyways, the weekend before last we all packed up in the Jetta and headed down to Brownwood. My great uncle was having a birthday party to celebrate his 80 years! The party doubled as a family reunion since we hadn't seen some cousins in about 6 years. This was also the first time that most of my mom's family met Lily & Gracie. It was a cool, dreary day but we made the most of it. It was so good to see everyone. My mom's cousin has twin boys that are now juniors in high school! It was fun to have 2 sets of "doubles!"

Here is Lauren, Gracie (under the blanket), Dad, Walt & Lily

Sometime last week I was home (alone) with the girls at bath time. I decided to try and put them in the tub together rather than one at a time. Side note: I remember seeing pics of me in the tub sitting in a little round "chair" that had suction cups on the bottom. If anyone knows what I am talking about or where to get two- let me know. Here are a few pics of what followed:

That's the highlights as well as I can remember. I'm sure more happened, but it's late and I am playing the "mom-amnesia" card!

I hope you like the new look of the blog. Thanks to Cutest Blog on the Block !
Try it- it's free!!!

Check out new pics on Flickr!

Spring Break, Easter & 9-month Check-up

2008-03-26T21:01:00.010-05:00

We have had a busy past week. Aunt Lauren came for the week (and brought her "friend" John, the policeman!). The girls had a blast staying up past their bedtime and playing with their aunt. I was able to take some time off from work on Good Friday and the Monday after Easter. On Friday we went to Canyon to see all the Hensons for a few hours. After visiting, we traveled a few more miles north to Amarillo to visit all the Bandys. We had some good dinner and fellowship with everyone. We traveled back to Lubbock late Friday night, but the girls did not sleep in the next morning. Lauren, the girls and myself spent all Saturday doing what girls do best- SHOPPING!!! Walt spent the day at home (for full details of his day see his blog) not feeling well. On Easter Sunday we woke up to cold, dreary weather. Luckily I had been watching the weather and knew that it was going to be cold, so we had purchased sweaters to go with the girls' dresses. We went to church with the fam- the girls were beautiful. Lauren left Sunday night- we miss her already!

On Monday the girls had their 9-month wellness check. They are growing like crazy -

Lily: 20.6 lbs, 28.5 in

Gracie: 19.10 lbs, 28 in

We found out that Gracie had an ear infection- I thought Lily had one... missed it again. Kids should come with "indicator lights". She has started antibiotics and is feeling much better. This week has been more "normal"- whatever that is with 2 infants. I hope everyone had a great Easter holiday. Be sure to check out the new pics on Flikr!.

Last Weekend

2008-03-09T20:16:00.006-05:00

Last weekend we had a visit from Wes, Mica & Anna (Walt's bro & fam). We went out to lunch with them & Walt's parents. Let me set the stage for everyone..6 adults, 3 infants in highchairs & 1 waitress. She was definitely outnumbered! Everything was going well and then we wanted pictures of all the girls together, that's when the fun began!

Lily did not want Anna to touch her.

Gracie was a trooper even though she did not feel well. We went to the doctor on Monday & the following looked "horrible": both ears, throat & eyes, also cough, runny nose and fever. She is now on medicine and is feeling much better.

Our 1st Valentine's Day

2008-02-15T20:23:00.004-06:00

Well, the girls celebrated a fun 1st Valentine's Day. They received beautiful cards, clothes & big bears from grandparents. We had a pretty normal day for the most part. The girls went to daycare while I was at work and Walt was at his course. After work we went home to welcome Walt home only to find him not feeling that well. I sent him to the walk-in clinic before our night out. The girls and I went over to my parents, where we waited for my dad to fly in from Louisiana. Walt and I had plans to attend a benefit concert at 7:30, and he called at 7:00 saying that the diagnosis was a mild case of strep. He said he still wanted to go to the concert, so I jumped in the car to get downtown to meet him at the theater. We were a few minutes late, but I so glad we went. The music was AWESOME, and it was for a good cause. It was for a local piano player, Doug Smith (www.dougsmith.com), who was in a car accident last year. He sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury. The concert was made up of several "West Texas" musicians and all the proceeds went to Doug and his family to cover medical/ rehab expenses. The absolute best part was the end, when Doug came out and played the piano! It was very moving. We left the concert at 11:30 to pick up the girls. We got home after midnight and very tired. It was a long day, but very memorable. I hope everyone had a great day with those they love. Here are a few more pics-

Happy Valentine's Day, Daddy!!

2008-02-13T18:51:00.004-06:00

Walt has been out of town for work yesterday, today and tomorrow. We miss him very much and cannot wait until he gets back! He is the best daddy and husband- we love you!

We love our Aunt LaLa

2008-02-12T20:43:00.001-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day Aunt Lauren! We hope you have a great day... you better call and give us all the details! We love you

Lily & Gracie

Our First Valentine's

2008-02-11T21:07:00.000-06:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEK!

I hope evryone has a great week with those they love. I am going to try very hard to post daily pics of the girls in their cute outfits. Check out Flickr for more photos!

New Pics!!

2008-02-06T09:57:00.000-06:00

I hope this entry finds everyone doing well. We had a great Christmas & New Year with all kinds of family. I was finally able to get all of our current pictures up on Flickr. Hopefully I will soon have video to post.

New Photos

2007-12-05T21:02:00.000-06:00

Hello all- obviously I am not going to be very good at keeping this site updated. We have had a very busy start to the holiday season. Lauren came into town for Thanksgiving and then again the first weekend in December for my dad's Christmas music. We had lots of fun with her, and the girls experienced their first snow! I hope you check out all our new pics on Flikr and see how fast the girls are growing. We are looking forward to our first Christmas as a family of 4. Happy holidays to all-

Lindsey

Baby Dedication 11/11/2007

2007-11-14T20:13:00.000-06:00

This past Sunday we celebrated Lily & Gracie with G-pa, GiGi, PaPa, MiMi, and uncle Lance. The girls received beautiful Bibles and certificates to remember this day.

Baby Dedication 11/11/2007

Chillin

2007-11-12T21:36:00.001-06:00

Chillin, originally uploaded by Walt and Lindsey.

It was a nice day for a stroll.

2007-10-29T15:04:00.000-05:00

First taste of cereal!

New Beginnings

2007-10-29T14:50:00.000-05:00

Hello all- I have decided to try blogging! My main reason for starting was to keep everyone updated on the girls' adventures. I will have pics and videos periodically and maybe a writing every once in awhile. Please ckeck back for more later.