Things that make me happy

Life is full of ups and downs and today had a few downs. So, for my therapy I put pictures on the computer and looked at the many things that make me really smile. 

 Babies watching us play four square. I had so much fun playing with the older kiddos.

 Mom suggested I make a book of all of the sleeping pictures of Anna and Audrey. I think I would have a ton!!

 I don't think Anna could smile any bigger if she tried.

 Putting them to bed is a highlight of each day. They are so happy and soak up every bit of attention they can get. I never want to leave two babies smiling and giggling at me.

 This was an interesting way to make sure they touch.

 Introducing Anna and Audrey to the tramp.

 Audrey helping Mama fold the laundry.

 Watching Nate's soccer game.

 I think Anna wants to play.

I'm probably going to have a sore neck after all of this bottle feeding/tugging at my hair. Audrey now likes to yank it over and over and it's starting to hurt!

 Audrey, Anna

 Anna, Audrey

 Nate took Audrey on a skateboard ride around the house. She loved it.

 Sadie giving the babies a horsey ride.

 I love how their hands are touching.

 Audrey kept wanting to grab Nate's book so I got her a book and they both joined Nate.

 They love their toy basket.

 Love Anna's position. She couldn't get close enough to Nate and the book he was reading.

 Dave took this picture and texted it to me with the caption "The tides have turned." Now Audrey is the one on top of Anna!

Last but not least…Nate didn't like the Indian saag we had tonight. So he pulled out the handy clothespin (he's used it before for this issue) and ate a lot more off his plate.

Crawling Everywhere

 One morning Dave left for work when Nate was still asleep. Nate came downstairs and I said "Nate, Dad just left!" He flew down the stairs and ran outside yelling "Daaaaaaaaaad!!" Dave heard the scream just in time and stopped to say bye to Nate. I had to take a quick picture. Don't mind the port-a-potty in the background. We are getting some work done in our backyard so they've planted their bathroom in our front yard for a little while. I don't know why they put it right next to the trampoline.

 We gave the babies their first bath in the real bathtub. It was really fun. Anna wasn't sure about it at first but then she warmed up to it and had fun. Audrey loved splashing. They both have two top teeth and two bottom teeth. It's pretty cute! They were so cute in the bath and the older kids all wanted to capture it! Dave and I were each holding a baby's hand to make sure they wouldn't slip. At one point I looked back and saw Ash, Sadie and Nate each with a different device to take pictures/video. One person had my phone, another had the real camera and Nate had the video camera. We wills surely have enough footage of their first bath! As with pretty much everything, it's so fun having double. Baths are always cute with babies but then when you have two little babies sitting by each other in the bath (that look so alike)…it's just so cute.

 Anna

 Anna kept looking at Audrey during their bath. I'm sure they would have lots to say if they could talk.  It's so fun to watch their little relationship develop. The other day we were shopping and I could hear them both cooing quite a bit in the stroller. It really seemed like it was their way of chatting with each other. If one starts laughing, the other joins in quickly. Sometimes it happens with crying, too.

 Anna pulling her favorite position…snuggling on top of Audrey. Audrey is so nice to put up with it! It doesn't look very comfortable to me!

 We can even tell them apart from the back of their heads now! Audrey has her little hand on Anna's back for some balance.

 They found me in the kitchen! I love watching them crawl to me.

 Nate was making a fort with two little sisters there to tear it down!

 Anna and Audrey watching the work going on outside.

 Anna is on the left. She loves sitting like that and just digging in the toy basket.

 They find a way to touch no matter what! Now that they are so mobile, we usually leave them in their crib when they are still moving around. They are busy little girls (especially Anna). But when we check on them and they are asleep, they are always snuggled up in some way.

The babies love playing on the ground. Sometimes they spot me in the kitchen and smile so big you think their mouth will crack. Then they start crawling as fast as they can to come to me. I love it.

Sometimes for a second I think "what if" the birth mom didn't choose us. It always makes me cringe for a second. Anna and Audrey are such an integral part of our family and we can't imagine life without them. I am forever thankful to Jennifer who was incredibly unselfish and sacrificed so much for these babies and gave us the most precious gifts. I'm still in awe of the beautiful thing that adoption is. I remember way back when…when I really didn't want to adopt. I cried so much about it. I wanted more children so badly but I wanted "my own". But wow, Anna and Audrey are "my own" and I couldn't be more thankful for them. It's hard to believe that I ever didn't want to adopt. Now I consider it one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

8 Months Old!

 I think Ash took this picture. I guess they are gearing up for some piano duets already. Sounds good to me!

 Anna and Audrey

 They look soooo different to us now, but I suppose they do look a little bit alike once in a while.

 I was in the kitchen, and turned around to find Ash getting some yogurt out. It's not every 13 year old girl that walks around the kitchen with a snake around her neck. Yuck! But maybe her husband will love that about her!

 This is our only picture to document our campout. Well, sort of a campout. We were going to set the tent up but decided to sleep on the trampoline instead. I slept inside with the babies. It was a cold night but they all really wanted to do it!

 I took the kiddos to the consignment store last week. I had to snap a picture of the great help I had. Ash and Sadie each grabbed a baby out of the car and i was getting the stroller out of the back. I set it up and Ash and Sadie each started buckling a baby. I was so thankful for their help! It makes going out with two babies a lot easier!

 No matter what….they always find a way to be touching when they sleep. I love it.

 Anna trying out Dad's hat.

 I love this picture. Anna is going after the gun (Dave loves that part) and the look on her face is as if she is wondering why on earth Audrey would be crying. Poor Audrey - this isn't the only time Anna has pulled this stunt. It's almost a daily occurrence.

 One day Nate comes downstairs with last year's Halloween costume on. (He was Gollum last year…and yes, that's all he wore trick or treating in the freezing cold. I might have objected, or at least insisted that he wear something a little warmer, but I was in the ER that night so I didn't have a say.) Then he put on his crazy hat and roller blades and was blading around the house. Funny boy.

 Sadie worked hard to finish this scarf!

 Anna and Audrey had fun riding in the cart at Costco!

 Anna and Audrey enjoying some carrots.

 Anna wants her carrot and Audrey's carrot.

 Anna got it.

 Audrey wants it back.

 Is that comfortable Anna?

 Nate reading to his little sisters. So often Nate tells me that it's "way more fun that I thought" to have two babies.

 Cute Audrey.

 Had to document this. Anna and Audrey (but especially Audrey) LOVE to play with my hair when I nurse and feed bottles. They grab hold of a chunk of hair with one hand and then stroke the ends of my hair with the other hand. It's pretty cute. Sometimes my hair is in a pony and I have take it out because they are reaching for my hair. I recently cut a couple inches off my hair and I worried it would be too short for them but they can still reach it.

 Anna

 Audrey

 Anna

 Sadie and Dave were out pruning a tree. Sadie LOVES to do anything outside with Dave. She's an outside girl.

 Dave took Anna and Audrey out for a run. They loved it. Can you tell?

 Anna recently figured out how to stand up in the crib. She thinks it's the greatest thing. We help Audrey stand up so she can have some fun too. They are so happy standing up like that.

 I love Audrey's face.

 Nate has a loose tooth and is trying so hard to get it out. He wanted Dave to really loosen it and he was willing to be in a lot of pain! Can you tell it's hurting? But he says to keep doing it! He is a determined little boy.

 Anna and Dave having a Sunday afternoon snuggle. Dave was in heaven.

 There Anna goes again. Anna is crawling everywhere now. Audrey is getting there but can't go as far as Anna yet. Maybe Audrey is going to be crawling away from Anna to get away from Anna's latest trick.

Nate and Dave went on a fun hike.

 Anna has her hands like this the whole time she is in the highchair. Makes me smile.

 I think they are getting plenty of attention around here. And lots and lots of love.

 Audrey and Anna

Ash likes zipping a baby up in her sweatshirt and they like it too.