Praise!

I just wanted to thank all of you for praying for Mary Catherine.  Over the last couple of days we have seen improvement with her shoulder muscles.  When we pick her up she is beginning to give us resistance and keeps her arms down more and more. 

I'm not sure if it was a clavicle fracture from the beginning or an answered prayer... either way, we give God the glory. 

It has been just a little over a month since this all started and I'm thankful she seems to be on the mend.

Destruct & Destroy

Today, I went upstairs to get clothes for the twins and during that time the twins emptied out all of my wash cloths and hand towels from under my sink and threw them in the bathtub.

I might have been upstairs five minutes...  It was almost as if they were racing each other like some kind of grade school relay. 

If I wasn't already going gray the twins would be the cause, for sure. 

Next time I'll try to get a picture.

Sweetness

I think it is so adorable how Henry wants to be put in his crib when Mary Catherine gets put in her crib for a 'rest' time...er...time out.  We try to reason with him, but he sees her going upstairs and he wants to follow.

Sometimes Mary Catherine has a rough time and so when she's following me around screaming I just scoop her up and put her in her crib for rest time.  It is usually mid-morning and it gives her time to collect herself and read some books. 

I think they still have a hard time with only one nap on some days.  

Eighteen Months...

 

We went to their well check appointment today. 

Henry is almost 24 lbs (20%) and was 32.25 inches (45%) tall.

Mary Catherine is a little over 19 lbs (<3%) and 31 inches (25%) tall.

Henry reached down and felt the 'silky' on my blanket in bed and started to suck his thumb.

His lovey has the same type of satin on it.

A Christmas Tree's Worst Nightmare...

Todder Twins...

Mary Catherine is showing me their favorite ornament.

The twins have named this ornament "Coco". 

 

 

These handmade ornaments are from Jason's grandmother.  We've had them for years.  Over the years, they have grown on me.  At first, I did not care for them.  My favorite ornaments are hand painted glass.  However, the children really enjoy them, and further enjoy putting them in the front because they know I really want them in the back.  However, now they are part of our tree's history and it doesn't bother me anymore.  I just feign distaste to encourage them.

Mary Catherine is trying to be sweet so I'll let her touch the tree.

Obviously, it worked.  They are both touching and talking.

If only I could understand all they have to say to me.

It looks like she's explaining something to me.

She's wearing the same onesie she wore last Christmas when she was 6 m.

The singing ornament.  The only one they're "allowed" to touch.

He loves the music.

Tied Down?

Tied Down, by Edgar A. Guest

"They tie you down," a woman said,

Whose cheeks should have been flaming red

With shame to speak of children so.

"When babies come you cannot go

In search of pleasure with your friends,

And all your happy wandering ends.

The things you like you cannot do,

For babies make a slave of you."

I looked at her and said: "'Tis true

That children make a slave of you,

And tie you down with many a knot,

But have you never thought to what

It is of happiness and pride

That little babies have you tied?

Do you not miss the greater joys

That come with little girls and boys?

"They tie you down to laughter rare,

To hours of smiles and hours of care,

To nights of watching and to fears;

Sometimes they tie you down to tears

And then repay you with a smile,

And make your trouble all worth while.

They tie you fast to chubby feet,

And cheeks of pink and kisses sweet.

"They fasten you with cords of love

To God divine, who reigns above.

They tie you, whereso'er you roam,

Unto the little place called home;

And over sea or railroad track

They tug at you to bring you back.

The happiest people in the town

Are those the babies have tied down.

"Oh, go your selfish way and free,

But hampered I would rather be,

Yes rather than a kingly crown

I would be, what you term, tied down;

Tied down to dancing eyes and charms,

Held fast by chubby, dimpled arms,

The fettered slave of girl and boy,

And win from them earth's finest joy."

Faker...

Should I be concerned that Mary Catherine has already discovered the art of faking her emotions?

I have witnessed her obvious attempts at fake crying, fake coughing, and most recently fake sobbing. She was just walking around the room making this noise like she was sobbing and trying to catch her breath... totally fake. She even came up to me and put her head on my shoulder just to complete the effect.