Spring is in the air

We are trying to go outside as much as we can to enjoy these beautiful warm days. A fever virus and momma being tired is what seems to get in our way. We seem to be on the mend today, so we went out and enjoyed our beautiful flowers blooming!

Handsome Shepherd

Trying to model??

Look at these pretty flowers!

Cute even though he refused to smile!

Handsome Spencer

"Looks its an airplane!"

This is what he does when I ask him, "Where is Spencer?"

His smile is so contagious!

Blanket Time

We started blanket time this morning. I have been thinking about starting it for a couple of months now, but wasn't sure if my boys were ready. Well I think it is time to start a little more training before this next baby gets here. I learned about blanket time from the Duggar's book. She has used it on a lot of her children. The idea is for blanket time to be a fun quiet time. I have a basket of blanket time toys that they will be able to choose from. Today I gave them their favorite book and another toy. They should ideally sit there without talking and not move off their blanket. Of course, this will take some time for them to understand. The great thing about this technique is you can use it at other people's house or when you are out and about and need your sweet ones to be quiet and still for a bit. Mrs. Duggar said she can take her children to a baby shower and have them sit on their blankets and play quietly! AMAZING! Not my goal but WOW!

Shepherd kept wanting to go get on Spencer's blanket. I thought that was so cute! I just kept saying, "No Shepherd, let's get on your special blanket!". I think it will be harder for him because he is already walking. Spencer only tried to get away once, and then didn't want to get up when the 4 minutes was over.

"Is blanket time over?"

This isn't a time for discipline but for positive training. I am not an expert and we will see how it goes! :)

New addition to our train and house

So much has happened at our house since Christmas. The week after Christmas I found out that we are going to have a new little addition to our house come August. We were very shocked, but are excited! When Nana and Papa bought the boys their train, they went ahead and bought the 3rd seat for the new little one. Three under the age of 2.....going to be very exciting at our house! We find out next month if we are going to have a boy or girl and I can't wait! There is only 1 this time... I have had 2 ultrasounds already!

I haven't blogged much because pregnancy tired is like no other and chasing after 2 energetic boys takes a lot out of you! What a fun year this is going to be!!

I am cleaning out the boys' closet today... getting ready for new spring and summer clothes, because I am going to the multiples consignment sale Friday where I get most of their clothes. Cleaning out this time is a little different, because I am thinking the new baby may need this...so unbelievable!

Precious Moments

So many times during the day I think about how lucky I am to have two sweet boys. They are becoming a lot more interactive by copying things that I do and understanding what I say.

Every night for dinner when we sit Shepherd and Spencer down in their high chairs, they immediately put their hands together to say a prayer. We were able to snap a picture of Shepherd doing it with our phone. Spence does it too, and looks up at you with his big eyes and coos, telling you what it is time for. Oh the lessons we can learn from children!

"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." Mark 10:15

We play in our toy room many times through out the day. One of my favorite things to do is to read to the boys. They love to take all our books and look through the pages. Spencer is so cute here just reading his little book! He is reading "I Love You Through and Through". One of our favorites! I know he is in Shepherd's chair, but hey, we share in this family!

Yesterday, one year ago was their actual due date. I still can't believe how fast this year has flown by. I am just cherishing each of these precious moments!

First Birthday Updates

I wanted to do something special but small for the boys' party. I just had a small play date with the babies from church. I did a Thing 1 Thing 2 theme. We were very lucky and had wonderful weather for us to be outside. Our house isn't very big, so it was great to be outside and enjoy the wonderful weather! I still can't believe my little boys are one!

It is amazing how much they are learning and doing! I love to watch all the new things they are doing. Seems like the past two weeks, they really have started doing a lot more.

Shep is definitely my outgoing one. He jabbers all the time and likes to perform. He has learned how to "roll the gospel chariot" and rolls his hands all the time until you begin singing. He also has learned to clap and loves the sound it makes. He is taking a lot of steps and is running down the furniture. He will be probably be walking within the next week! It scares me because he gets going so fast and doesn't know how to stop! He loves to push his walking toys around the house and HATES to be confined to any room. His favorite thing to do is to open the cabinets in the kitchen and ask to take a "bath". I think the kid would live in the bath tub if I let him. He is very vocal and can say: "bath, bye bye, mama, Hey Dada, Teh (Tex), more". Shepherd loves books and likes to read his Truck book. Shep has a TON of hair and will be getting his first hair cut this week (sniff)...but I have held off for this long. It is now bothering him when it gets in his eyes, so I guess it is time.

Spence is my momma's boy and is shy around other people.... but at home he gets in to EVERYTHING. He is always on the go. He loves to roll the gospel and blow out the light on "This Little Light of Mine". He is obsessed with the fireplace and loves to touch the ceiling fan. He asks to do it all the time by raising his little chunky hand to the ceiling. That is also how he tells you where God lives. He has really good balance and can stand on his own, but only takes one step, maybe two. "Why walk when I can crawl fast, Mom?" he says :)... Spence loves to lay on you and rolls aorund on his brother all the time. He just giggles and assumes Shepherd loves it as much as he does. Spence hates to be alone and wants to go where you go. Spencer has so many differenct facial expressions and he alreay knows how to win momma over! One of these days, I am going to do a post on "The Many Faces of Spencer". He can say: Dada and mama, but understands many commands like how to get a ball and throw it, find his favorite book, and go find Tex. He is happy all the time and it is contagious!

Now for the many pictures...

The decorations...I loved planning and making everything for the party! It was a lot of fun!

The cakes and the goodie table.

Kiddos filled a bag with cookies and candy before they left.

I made cupcakes with cotton candy for Thing 1&2's hair. Of course the cotton candy deflated before the party started. I was too busy after I made them to take a picture.

I made this to display photos of them growing each month. How big they have gotten!

Shep, my wild man, dug in and even threw his cake behind him!

Spencer was a little more timid about his cake. He did finally eat some.

We were so lucky to have such beautiful weather for their party. We spent most of our time outside playing on their new playset they got from Dee Dee and Ron at Christmas. All the kids loved it!

We spent most of the time picking grass and leaves out of Shepherd and Spencer's mouth!

We love our new wagon from Nana and Papa. The boys want to ride in it all the time. We even ride it inside on cold days.

What a special year it has been! Shepherd and Spencer have brought so much joy into our lives and I can't wait to see what their toddler years bring!

1 on 1/11/11

What a wonderful day we have had today! One year ago today, Shepherd and Spencer came into our lives and made everything so much more fun! I remember how excited Matt and I were that day. So much has changed for the better this year.

I know I said I would try and post every day this week about their birth, but running after 2 boys and planning their party has consumed all my time this week. I will update on their little personalities this week too.

Here is all the fun we had today!

Matt didn't have to go into work till lunch because of the weather. So we started off the birthday by going to Chick-fil-A in our NEW carseats! They love being able to see us and Mommy LOVES being able to see them. I don't know how I will drive for looking at them in the rearview mirror!

Nana, Papa, and Justin came down to see us on our birthday.

Mommy and Daddy got us new big chairs for our birthday! We love sitting in them!

So much fun!!

Love my brother!

THE SMASH CAKE

We are allowed to eat sugar now???

Shepherd shivered at the sugar when he got his first bite, but then LOVED it!

Spencer was not a huge fan.

The only smile we got from Spencer was when he was getting away!

I love how different their little personalities are!

We had a great day with our one year olds!! We love you Shepherd and Spencer!