Papa Carl

We heart Papa Carl!

{I absolutely LOVE this picture. I think that my oh-so-handsome sons take after their grandpa for sure!}

crazy good signing

"Bear"
(both boys sign this when they want their bubs)

"eat"
or
"binky"

"more"

"Daddy"

"bath"

"milk"

"water"

and "cracker"

{The boys signing skills have been improving in leaps & bounds, along with their verbal skills. On Sunday alone Logan learned FOUR new signs: "no", "Grandma", "toast", and "please". It is amazing to watch their little sponges (AKA brains) soak up all the language around them. I love it!}

we heart our bubs

Logan with his two *favorite* bubs.

Jack with his *favorite*favorite* bub, Santa Bear.
He will tolerate "Baby's First Bear", but Santa Bear is his love.

tiny feet

These little feet used to be even smaller.
But I know that soon they will get even bigger.
So last Saturday we did hand & foot prints.

Priceless.

We also did some hand painting.

Which Logan hated.
He wasn't happy with messy hands.

But they were sure cute messy hands.

Jack, on the other hand, enjoyed the messy painting experience fully!

peek-a-who?

Peek-a...

Jack!

Peek-a...

Logan!

baby cuteness

{Ferris Valentine}

{sooo yummy}

{8 days old}

{precious}

17 {whole} months

Our little boys are 17 months old. Nearly a year and a half. We have survived for {roughly} 510 days raising two babies. It feels shorter than that. And it feels longer than that. I can't really remember life before them. I sure can't imagine life without them. They are the light of my life. The sunshine on my cloudy days. They are the realization of a life long dream of mine {Becoming a mother} Raising them for the last year and a half has had its share of challenges. Like this & this. But there were also wonderful memories like this & this.
Every night (whether the day was good or bad) I go into their cozy, dark nursery, place my hand on their bellies {each individually} and thank the Lord for the blessing they are in my life. Then I, too, crawl into bed & go to sleep; knowing that God is watching over them.
I love you, Logan.
I love you, Jack.
~
Here are some great shots Josh got today at home with the bubbas...

I love this one of Jack with the fall leaves in the background through the window.

Josh said he just caught this one {by luck} with Logan's tongue out.

{Sweet, sweet Jack}

{Sleepy face Logan}

{Jack Sawyer}

At this point the boys are learning new words EVERYDAY. It is incredible to witness. Here are (most of) the words they know.

WORDS:
Bye
Daddy
Mommy
Papa
Nanny
Isaiah
Hi
Boo
More
Done
Up
MMM (yummy)
Sukie
Moo
Go
No
Baby
Night-night
Whee!
Ball
Uh-oh
Car noises
Meow
Water
Waffle

The brotherly love I see between them just warms my heart. They hug each other, snuggle & even give each other their binkies or bubs (as we call their favorite stuffed animals) when their brother is upset. It is so heartwarming to see them be so empathetic toward their twin. I am one lucky mama.

Brothers don't shake hands... brothers gotta hug!

The boys signing skills have taken off along with their vocal skills. Here are the signs they know:

SIGNS:
Wave bye
Milk
More
All done
Cheese
Cracker
Bear
Binky
Drink
Eat
Water
Daddy
Peaches
Cookie
Baby
Football
Touchdown
Waffle
Ball
Cereal
Help

thursday in the tub

{Logan & Jack}

{Happy Jack}

{Steamy!}

{Logan}

{the boys}

{love that face}

{See Bogans' new molars?}

{touchdown}

Tonight at bath time the boys were just being so fun. I had to get the camera & snap some shots. They swim around, blow bubbles, pour out the cups & are generally adorable.
I love their bellies. And their pudgy fingers. Oh, and those dimples... priceless!

rough to be back

I am struggling with being at work this week.
The last two weeks I only had to work three day workweeks. And that was awesome. I felt like I got so much quality time with the boys.
This week I am at Wednesday and drowning with no end in sight.
I took the boys grocery shopping tonight (by myself at Winco!!!) and I saw more than one mom with a single toddler in her cart (and none on her back). I couldn't help but feel envious. Imagine... one baby to push, one baby's hands to watch (for "helpful" baby shopping fingers), one baby to coo at, talk to, or console. I'm grabbing food off the shelves (while trying to comparison shop), chucking it in the cart, feeding goldfish to hollering, 27 lb. Jack (who is on my back because Logan always rides in the backpack, and I am trying to take turns) and trying to keep curious Logan from emptying my purse on the pasta aisle.
By the time we got home I had to feed them, bathe them, and put them to bed. We had no play time. No quality time together. It breaks my heart. And it makes me panicky. I am not the one spending the most time with my kids anymore. They have to go to bed so early that I hardly get three good hours with them in the afternoons. And it's just not enough to satisfy my need for them. At work I am just counting the hours until I lay eyes on those glowing blonde heads again. Four more hours... two and a half more hours... Just the fifteen minute drive, then I'll be there.
Just when I feel like maybe it's getting easier to work, or easier to have Josh gone each night, I take a few steps back in my progress.
But maybe it's not supposed to be easy.
Maybe it will never be okay for me to leave my kids.
Maybe I will always (no matter their age) want to be home to be there for them.
I think that's just the person I am.
The mother I am.

In that case,
where are you Friday?

room 155

Uncle Josh finally got to meet little Ferris tonight.
We headed back to old territory for us.
Room 155

This is Roxanne & I with my little boys
in June 2008 in
Room 155

It's a Good room
that makes Gorgeous babies
and Great memories!