Happy 1/2 Birthday!!

I cannot believe I am posting that my sweet ones are 6 months old!! In a way it seems like just yesterday I was bringing them home from the hospital! I can still remember them being able to sleep in their bassinets together...now they can barely fit under their play mat!

If I am this sad on their 1/2 birthday, I am not looking forward to their 1st birthday! We have come so far in the past 6 months. I feel like we are doing great and are having so much fun! My boys are such a joy! God has truly blessed me!

Here are a few fun things about each...

Shepherd

-loves to read books. He concentrates and looks at every page while you read

-kicks his feet and shakes in arms in delight; loves to feel the bed shake as he kicks

- shakes his leg while he eats....thanks Daddy! ;)

-has a sweet shy smile; leans his head into you when he smiles

-knows exactly what he wants!

-talks and coos when he wakes up

-squeals when you walk in the room to get him out of the bed

- loves to eat!! Loves sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, apples, bananas, and is liking sweet peas a little more

- loves his ExcerSaucer and Baby Einstein

-can sit up for a minute

Trying to hold his own bottle (look at those eyelashes!!)

I'm a cutie!

Spencer

-smiles all the time; has a contagious smile

- laughs easily and is easy going

-only cries when he is sleepy

-is a little bit of a momma's boy-(that's ok with me!)

- loves to eat! Loves sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, apples, bananas, and sweet peas (sometimes)

- will gag on food he doesn't like

- has waved bye bye three times!

- started sitting up at 5 1/2 months

-is beginning to try and figure out how to scoot

Trying to hold his bottle too. Sweet lips!!

I'm trying to figure out how to get you!

Sweet brothers

Spencer is trying to put his arm around Shepherd.

On Saturday, we had my parents, Julie and Blake and their kids down to celebrate Shepherd and Spencer's 1/2 birthday. The past 6 months have been so great and I want to make Shep and Spence feel special as much as I can!

I made a Coca Cola cake. Each boy had a HALF...(they didn't get to try it though. We will save that for January). I used the cake topper from my baby shower.

Our attempt of a family picture

Spence-wants the cake

Shep- more concern about the apples I am feeding him

The boys were watching Papa and Daddy put up the tent.

Sweet Jackson and Spencer

Nana reading to Shep and Caroline

Loving on Spencer. Look at Caroline and Jackson's face...precious!

Fun at Nana and Papa's

The boys and I went to my parents house last weekend for a few days. It was so much fun! It was nice to get out of the house for a little while.

Spencer having some Papa time

We love to roll around on Nana and Papa's rug

Nana has some fun toys!

Nana rocking Shepherd to sleep

My parents have a pool and this past weekend was the boys' first time in the pool. They loved it! We waited until the sun went down, so we didn't have to worry about sunscreen. The only problem with that is the boys go to bed at 7:30. So both of them were very tired!

Hanging out in the boat.

Spencer really enjoyed it, but was more reserved because he was so tired.

Can I just sleep here?

Shep is my little observer and he LOVED it! Always loves something new!

This is fun!

Spence is looking on..."When is it my turn?"

WWWEEEEEEE!

Spence loved swimming around. Look at those cute feet!

Floating with Papa...this is the life!

Swimming was so much fun...we are ready for bed!

We were so tired after swimming..

Shep fell asleep sitting up...

Ready to go home....Do we have to? We love Nana and Papa's house!

First Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

This past Sunday was Father's Day. We had a great time celebrating Matt! I knew what a special guy I had married 6 years ago, but I have really seen how amazing he is since Shepherd and Spencer have been born. Matt has really stepped up in helping with our boys. While most parents can get a break and trade off tending to the baby, that isn't the case with twins. We each always have our hands full. Matt always got up to help me in the middle of the night in the beginning! I couldn't have done those first few months without him! Shepherd and Spencer are going to have a wonderful man to look up too and try to imitate! I am so lucky to have such a great husband to be an amazing father to our children!

Each boy wakes up at different times, then gets in the bed with us and sleeps about an extra hour or so. Spencer is sleeping with his arms up like Daddy! I was making Father's Day breakfast.

"Happy Father's day!"

Spencer waking up with a big smile!

Waking up in a good mood!

Giving Daddy his card

We picked out a special present for Daddy.

We love our Daddy!

Ready to go to church! We were on our best behavior for Daddy today!

New Milestones

Shepherd and Spencer are just growing up so fast. They are starting to look more like little boys instead of newborns. I am so excited for each stage, and even though it has been tough, I am going to miss the newborn stage. Every time they learn something new it is so fun. I just don't want them to grow up. I can't believe they are going to be 5 months next Friday! I never understood when my mom said she wanted to "put a bucket on our head" to keep us from growing... now I understand fully. Love you Mom!

Many little things have occurred the past 2 weeks that I want to remember. Both of them found their feet last week and now grab them all the time. I think it is the cutest thing when they play with them! Shep and Spence both like to turn on their sides a lot. It is easier for them to find a toy when they drop it or to look at one another. This has caused them to turn over from their back to belly. Spence has done it a few times and Shep has done it once by accident. Shepherd is very content to lay on his back and play with a toy. He loves his toys and always has to have one in his hands. Today they were laying on a blanket in the den while I washed bottles. They have been looking at one another for a while, but today Spencer LAUGHED at Shepherd. I mean belly laugh! I was so excited! I have been waiting for the time when they REALLY notice one another! Both of them are just laughing all the time!

Today is Friday! YEA for the weekends when I have another set of hands! I will leave you with just one photo...

This is how Matt found us on Wednesday. We were VERY glad to see Daddy walk through the door!

Beach Trip

We had a great time on our beach trip! It was fun to just spend the weekend with Nana and Papa, Julie, Blake, Caroline, and Jackson! The boys loved playing with Caroline and Jackson. They were so sweet to them. Caroline played with the boys and helped me keep an eye on them. The beach was beautiful! We were able to take the boys out in the mornings and then again in the evenings. They can't wear sunscreen yet and the sun was pretty bright. Matt stayed in on Saturday and let me go out for a couple of hours and then Nana and Papa kept them Sunday afternoon for both of us to go out and enjoy the ocean. The boys loved walking down the beach. Matt and I carried them in carriers and walked. The sound of the ocean always put Shepherd to sleep! It was so relaxing. We are going again over Labor Day. They will be older and be able to enjoy it better. I am already counting down!!

Here are a few pictures that show our trip better than I can tell it...

My favorite of Shepherd

We went walking a lot with the boys since we couldn't get them out on the beach

Spence sleeping in the stroller

Shep playing with Papa in his cooler

Blake playing with Shep...I love Jackson in the background

Caroling and Spence in the big chair. The boys LOVE Caroline!

Hanging out at the beach

Listening to the water...may favorite place to sit...right in the ocean

Building sand castles.. and Jackson knocking them down!

Shep hanging out

Sweet Caroline

Spence and Daddy

Jackson and Caroline playing in the ocean

Walking on the beach

It was a GREAT trip!