After watching her brother, Maggie has finally learned how to crawl. We have been hearing reports of her rocking on her knees or she took two crawl steps today. Today, it is official...she can crawl! Yea Maggie!

Where to begin...

• hats: we all wear different hats: mother, sister, aunt, bff, worker, daughter, partner (sometimes in crime), confidant, lover, provider, and the list goes on...why can't I just wear the ME hat for 5 minutes.
• shoes: in style, not in style, comfortable, reliable, squeaky, dirty, worn out, brand new, cute (synonymous with painful), and the list goes on...why are they so content with just being needed, I could learn from them.
• computers: desktop, laptop, mini, smart phone, iPhone, and the list goes on...why when I feel overwhelmed, can I not just shutdown and reboot? They do.
• weddings: big, formal, simple, extravagant, destination, budget friendly, over the top, informal, and the list goes on...why can it not just be about the Marriage, that is all that matters anyway.
• prayer: simple, long, specific, apologetic, praise worthy, spoken, written, silent, and the list goes on...why is it so hard to understand God always hears us no matter the presentation!

Maggie enjoying her pool float. She is definitely my water baby!










James was a bit "iffy" in the pool float. We will get lots of practice, so maybe it will get better.


The Memorial Day party was great! Lots of friends and LOTS of FOOD! I am so glad that we can all get together to enjoy each other and celebrate those that fought and died for us to have the freedoms we have. Thanks to all Military and their families for the sacrifices you have made for me & my family.


Thanks Candice for posting picks of James and Maggie (so I could borrow...I have no pics from Monday)!

Sunday was our Pre-Memorial Day Party with our neighbors. We were not sure if the weather was going to behave, but God blessed us with a BEAUTIFUL DAY and no rain.
Early Sunday morning, we found Mr Frog testing the temperature...with the heater working the water temperature was a Perfect 85 degrees!















James and Maggie were able to enjoy the pool for the first time. Unfortunately, James and the sun screen did not get along, and therefore my little boy had red, blotchy, watery eyes for the beginning of the party. We were able to rinse out his eyes, and put him down for a nap (which he skipped earlier due to excitement). Maggie was the Princess of the Pool...She LOVED it! Keith finally got her out, not because she was fussy but because she was becoming a raisin. This summer is really going to be a lot of fun with them!

I am a Winner!!! I won a new swim suit from Modbe Clothing...I am so excited, the perfect suit does exist and I am going to own one!

Thanks MoMs! You have brought Sunshine to my day!

Thanksgiving Thursday will appear in its entirety, just on a different day...

• Direction: I am so glad that I planed my elephant ears correctly this year...because several years ago, I think China saw the one's I planted in the Montevallo House flower bed.
• Neighbors: we wave, exchange cups of sugar and converse in the street...but we become heroes, when we look after a pet while the family is on vacation.
• Heater: the ability to let in cold water and let out hot water all in the attempts to enjoy the large bath tub planted in the back yard. (Thanks Papa Ed for fixing ours...this year might just be my year to swim)
• I promise/I will/I do: the best part of a wedding, besides the brides cake. Vows really make the wedding...You are attempting to recreate the LOVE Jesus has for the church. Amazing!
• snorts & giggles: the sounds coming from James and Maggie's room first thing in the morning. I know they can understand each other and their conversations must be pretty funny, just from all of the giggling I hear.
• Longing: the look on Frank and Lucy's face as they await kitchen clean up following James & Maggie's dinner.
• 3 day weekend: the ability to actually get done the "weekend to do" list, since we have an extra day...
• Family: Just BECAUSE!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

So, I have been on a mission to find the perfect swim suit...and the perfect body to go into fore mentioned perfect suit. I have been looking for several months without much luck, since there is not a Swim Suit category "9 months post-prego with two babes". Also, when you categorize your body as Type "X" and it is really more like "X" squared...you tend to be less than thrilled when you have to search for the new swim suit.

I bought the perfect suit over 10 years ago...let's just say this suit is PRIMO-FAB-O, because not only did it last a REALLY long time, it was still wearable (not adorable) at almost full term (with two babes). That swim suit will never be the same. Nonetheless, I have to find a replacement...

I ordered a rather expensive "Tankini" (a one piece cut in half) in hopes of concealing whats left of the prego belly. Now, I love my (to quote a friend)"miracle marks" and vanity is not one of my strong points...I have been a BIG Girl all my life and if you do/did not like my appearance, that was your problem...I am proud of what God made! (Hello, random thought...back to the swim suit story)...The new "Tankini" came in and I was excited; I tried to order the correct size...even went as far as to measure, as not to order a size smaller, just to make me feel better! So, we try on new "Tankini"...tug here, pull there, and still something is just not right.
I even ask Keith, "Honey, give me your honest opinion, and forget that you love me...just tell me if you think this looks good." Then, there was the PAUSE. "yeah, I like it"...he said, but I had to ask again, are you sure? He commented that it was not as great as the 10 year old suit, but it did look good. That was confirmation, that this "tankini" was not the suit for me. There had to be a perfect suit...I just had to keep looking.
Kohl's here I come...only because it is close by and I can swing in before work. I ran in (literally running, because I needed to get to work) and went straight to the swim suit collection. Why...Seriously...this is a joke...I was in shock that all of the new suits looked as though there was a sale on psychedelic, umbrella fabric...that every designer thought it would be great to use them as swimsuits. Come on, patterns do not need to be on some thing that big...I know, because I'm a Big Girl...(please see paragraph 3)!
Also, whomever wears the sizes 8-12...there is a pile of clothes waiting on you at nearly every department store...just stop by. Seriously... if almost all of America is over weight, why do they still only provide a few of the "larger sizes"...I mean, it is okay to send five 6 plus ten's (that is a 16 for those of you just joining us) rather than one per department store order.
Anyway...I found 3 tops and 2 bottoms to try on, and quickly did just that. I tried them on and promptly hung them back up. I was able to retain one pair of bottoms, and began my search again for a larger size. Be mindful, that this first try on session was for "sizing"...this allowed me the opportunity to grab and go and not have to try on a second time. So, out of the dressing room I went, and was still looking for a somewhat plain (non-umbrella print) swim suit. Praise God, I found another pair of bottoms and three tops in what appeared to be my size...thus they were bigger than the "sizing" suits.
To the cash register I went...ultimately, had to break up the morning conversation at the jewelry counter to get checked out, decline the in store credit card pitch 4 times, provide my email address and agree to come in again ...but after 8 minutes I was successfully out the door and headed to work. All in all, if the three tops and two bottoms fit, I will have 5 pieces for what my original "tankini" cost; of course, the a fore mentioned "tankini" will be returned for a full refund.
The MoMs Blog is spotlighting a Post Prego with "multiple kiddos" Swim suit maker MODBE Clothing. They are also offering the chance to WIN a Fabulous new suit. Considering the torment I just went through...maybe I'll win, and there will be no need for any more marathon swim suit shopping events. Wish me LUCK!

We are trying to go for a walk each afternoon, especially since the rain is gone for a few days. The sun was shining so brightly, we decided to put sunglasses on James and Maggie. Well, James was very cool with them on, and Maggie was just cool wearing them around her neck. Maybe the more we wear the sunglasses, the more we will like them. If not, we can always wear hats...































































*Last but not least...we did go to the Dr today and Maggie is officially heavier than James.

• James weighs 19lbs 5.5oz/29.5 inches
• Maggie weighs 19lbs 14oz/29 inches

James and Maggie are officially NINE months old! It is amazing to watch them grow up before our eyes...it is hard to believe Nine Months have come and gone so fast. They have accomplished a lot.

• Their newest accomplishment is being able to shake their head "NO". This is a huge help at the dinner table...
• Maggie says dada and James says mama/ba bye (including a hand wave)
• James is trying to stand alone...he pulls up and lets go!
• Maggie is beginning to roll around and becoming more mobile...we have lowered her bed to accommodate her ability to pull up (we don't want her to fall out).
• They are self feeding cheese and graham crackers, Frank and Lucy (the furry kids) are very pleased with this new form of eating...because they too get cheese and graham crackers.
• We have officially outgrown our in-line double stroller, so now we sit in the grocery buggy like big kids. (Only at Sam's do we get one buggy, everywhere else we have to have two!)

Keith and I celebrated our 6th anniversary on Sunday. We are very blessed to love each other and be more in love with each other. We were talking over lunch, if we could have imagined 6 years ago, being where we are now? I think we are both still in a little shock...but we agree that we would not change it for anything.

We also too advantage of James and Maggie's afternoon nap to watch a silly "chick-flick". All in all it was the best anniversary. Our gift to each other is a nice, hand made wooden swing for our back yard. I have already purchased the jasmine to trail over the trellis.

These are the sweet flowers that Keith got me...they smelled so beautiful. The yellow with red roses are perfect and the daisies are so happy...he definitely did a great job!




















May God bless you with all of your love interest...

Maggie is trying desperately to crawl...

















James is crawling everywhere...even underneath the end tables


































Here they have torn their favorite book...James is definitely guilty (since he is chewing on the evidence) and Maggie is the lookout...unfortunately for James, she is not very good at her job. She just looks guilty!














See Mama...I knew I would like to read, YUM-O!














And this is the spot where I tore the page...but I promise it was like that when I opened it.

• Prayer...the ability to lift up a friend in need, communicate with a loved one, and talk to the one person that knows you better than anyone else...Our Heavenly Father
• Opportunity...the ability to be confronted with a wrong doing and the intent to give or receive an apology
• Hope...the ability to offer a smile "just because" it might lift someones spirits
• Loneliness...the need to talk/be with someone and you cannot because they are a million miles away
• Happiness...the inner smile you get when a hubby admits "he likes your favorite show"
• Ba Bye (with a slight hand gesture)...the response from James as I am leaving for work
• Growing...what my garden is doing, along with my plants
• Struggle...when someone tries to talk you out of something you decide, then you second guess your original decision (thanks Cellphone salesman...)
• Love...what ultimately wins out, no matter what! (or at least it should...)

What a great picture (taken June 29th)! Me (in the middle) and my best friends on either side (Candice on the Right and Jaime D on the left). We are all prego at the same time, however our family demographics are different...

• I am prego with twins...one boy and one girl (born Aug)
• Jaime D is prego with her fourth...a boy (born Sept) (she also has a single girl and frat twin girls)
• Candice is prego with her second...another boy (born Oct)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

What a difference a year makes!

Today was pure joy...last year at this time I had two precious babies in my tummy, and this year I have two precious babies to hug and love! What a difference a year makes. Maggie and James have truly been a blessing. God knew I would be a great mom, even though at times I have doubts. God does not make mistakes, even though at times I question His motives. God is a just God, and knows what we can handle...even if we don't. God knows our hearts, even when we doubt, question, and do not know. I am truly blessed to be a Mama, and even more blessed to have been chosen by God to raise these babies.






































I want to thank my Mom and Mama Kay (my MIL) for the wonderful example they have set before me. I look at your lives and how you have raised your children and feel blessed to have wonderful role models! I love you both!

Happy Mother's Day to all women...because I am sure you are a Mother to someone!

I have been trying to set aside Thursday as my Thanksgiving day, and really EVERY DAY should be a day of thanksgiving!

• Keith: you are the love of my life
• James: you are my "Little Man" and you melt me!
• Maggie: you are a girl after Mama's heart!
• Mama Kay & Papa Ed: you are ANGELS...I know you have made sacrifices for us, and I am so truly thankful...words will never be able to express it fully.
• Mom & Dad: you are willing to help out whenever you can, and because there is never a limit to what we can do ourselves...cannot wait for the elephant rockers!
• My CO-workers: you all just ROCK!!! and you put up with me!
• Franklin & Lucy: you will always be our first kids, and for understanding you are now DOGS (at least until James and Maggie can walk)
• Rain: you will make my garden that much better!
• Cheese: James and Maggie like YOU...A LOT!!!!