I was just offered a free keepsake CD from baby jelly beans - the company who runs this website.  I can not believe I have been blogging/posting stuff here for a year already.  It is nice to know they will send all my info in a nice CD format to have and to hold.  And to pass along to the babies one day.  Pregnancy, birth, the 1st six months of the babies life.  Boom... just that fast.  This is when you are glad you put some of it in writing.  I will continue keeping up with things here.  And long live the camera ... they are great for freezing moments in time!!

Tonight was Valerie Pugh's 1st birthday party.  Danielle gave me a cross for the babies nursery as soon as I arrived to the party.  The cross had "For this child I have prayed."  This was a scripture that was so memorable and signifigant for both of us as we prayed for our babies.  Valerie is 6 months older than Chloe & Carter, so it is neat to see Chad and Danielle in their roles as parents for Valerie's 1st big party.  Tonight was significant for her ... and she made it even sweeter for me by giving me that little keepsake/reminder of where we had been and where we are now.  THANK YOU DANIELLE!  Thanks to Stacey too for printing me that $5.00 off Enfamil coupon.  Holla!  :)

At the birthday party tonight, several of the people from Living Word church who were there made mention of how much they thought Chloe looks like my momma.  That's not the first time I have heard that, and in fact, I have been hearing it more and more.  It warms my heart so much!!  I think it too.  Tommy was the first to vocalize it when we were in the hospital after the babies were born and I had been thinking the same thing without saying anything to anyone.  I am so glad Chloe looks like mom ... even if just a little bit.  People also say Chloe resembles ShuShu.  :) 

I attended a coupon class today, had lunch with Joleen and April, went shopping with them and swam in the pool.  It was a good day.  Joleen showed the babies a talking Elmo in Target.  They of course were totally mesmerized by it.  It sings the ABC's and ends with "next time won't you sing with Elmo."  Joleen bought it for them.  She's so kind to us/them.  We are starting to learn their likes/dislikes.  Their personalities are shining through. 

So excited about church tomorrow.  And, I am glad to be excited about church.  I think the Lord wants us to be happy about his house!  We need to have a love for it. 

This was the week of our Six month checkup.

Here are the stats:
Carter is 18 lbs 9oz and 28 inches. 90 percentile for height & 75 percentile for weight.  Carter may be tall like his daddy.

Chloe was 17 lbs and 26 inches long. 50 percentile for height & 70 percentile for weight.

They both had shots/vaccinations.  Carter cried more than his sister.  Chloe was doing her ‘thing’ … spitting up and showing Dr. Faye Roberts what we mean by “she still has reflux.”  Dr Roberts prescribed her a prescription for Prevacid.  Something new to try.
 
Pediatrician says we can increase the amount of meals per day, the serving size at each meal (up to 6 oz at each feeding), and even start giving small amounts of table food including Motts Applesauce, Yogurt, and in a few weeks even the dissolvable snacks.  Exciting!  Only now we are paying for both formula AND baby food.  Thank the Lord for coupons!  I have recently even solicited family/friends to print a $5.00 off enfamil coupon from www.coupons.com.  Every little bit helps!
 
Last night we went to Big Time Diner.  Tommy picked them up from Sherri and brought them to the restuarant to meet me after work.  When I picked Chloe up she dove straight towards my nose with her mouth open and gave me a big long slobbery kiss.  She was smiling, laughing, and loving on me.  I am not certain, but I think my heart skipped a beat.  Right then and there.  They were both super sweet at dinner.  I gave them their first bites of table food.  Cassie fed Carter some mashed potatoes (just a few small bites) and I fed Chloe the same thing.  They were working those gums. 
 
Thursday morning when I went in to check on them in their cribs, I usually lean in to hear them breathe.  I had already heard Chloe breathing and I walked over to Carters crib.  Just as I leaned it to listen, he farted.  I was like… ok, now we know.  He’s just fine.   :)
 
Chloe has this new trick.  She fold her hands and brings them both up to her mouth and then down again.  Back and forth, up and down.  Almost like she is doing the indian sound … “waaah, waaah, waaah.”  I think ShuShu taught her that little trick-a-roo. 

We’ve DVR’d some sesame street episodes, and its true ~ They love it!  And truthfully, Elmo’s World (which I knowlingly mispronounce ‘melmo’s world’) is growing on me too.  :)
 
Both babies are getting very strong.  They met every growth target at the checkup, and for that I am so very thankful!  The Doc. commented on how strong Carter was.  They were both very smiley at their appointment (before shots obviously).  I love that they smile at other people as much as they smile at us.  They are friendly little people.
 
Somedays I feel like I live in a laundromat.  But that is beside the point, I guess.  I am glad to see the weekends come. TGIF!
 
Here is my prayer for today …
 
Lord, help me set priorities so that I don’t feel lost in the pace and the pressure.  Give me the wisdom and energy to accomplish what is necessary without wasting time or effort.  Help me remember that Time is a precious gift ~ Time comes from you.  So, help me make the best of every day.

There is STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.  I am loving our doubled-in-size family of four.
 
Things I wanted to make note of:
Started fruit on Sunday morning 7/18/10.  Apples first.
Made 6 mo checkup appt for tomorrow, July 28^th.
 
Funny things I can’t remember if I have mentioned before:
When Chloe passes gas she is startled or cries.  Carter smiles or grunts.
Chloe’s skin is softer.  Carter is louder.
Chloe has the sweetest “coo” in the world.
Carter has not “whoo’ed” in a while, but he is very vocal lately. 
They are in the beginning stages of starting to reach up for you to hold them.  They are throwing their arms to the side or lifting a hand when you get close to them.
They both enjoy the mobile in their cribs, but as soon as it stops, they are wanting to be picked up. 
They are both moving around the house in their walker – mostly in reverse.

Carter may, just may, have his first little tooth coming in on the bottom.  We can see and feel something little and white.  He was working his little toungue on the top of it on Sunday morning.  We will ask the pediatrician tomorrow.  I already have my list of questions for the doctor typed up.  I hope she is ready for me.  J  And, I will be asking for formula samples.  I am shameless. 
 
Chloe is especially smiley these days.  Carter, probably due to the first fresh tooth emerging, has been a little grumpier than normal … mostly at night. 

 
They certainly open their mouths when I am spoon feeding them.  Like cute little birds.  They really do it  when they see a bottle being shook up - they try to pull it near them.  Chloe cries in the middle of the bottle.  She doesn’t want to stop OR burp.
 
I LOVE EVERYTHING CUTESY CRAFTY UNIQUE. Being imaginative and creative is my weakness.  I am already starting to gather ideas for the 1^st birthday party.  I know that’s kinda cheesy … I enjoy the research and planning though.  And altough I will never likely be a “MOM-PRENUER” myself, I can live vicariously through others.  I love other peoples ideas, crafts, etc.  :)
 
DARE TO BE DOMESTICATED.  That’s my goal.  I’ve been letting the house go lately.  It bugs me.  But I also know that I must let go of perfectionism. I need a sticker on my computer that says, “progress not perfection”.  I have to daily decide what we can live with leaving undone and what we can’t (e.g. getting formula from the store when we are all out!) We have things that are non-negotiables and carving out the time for these is most important.  The other stuff can and will wait. 
 
For one thing, I probably shouldn’t put to many events on the to-do list.  I need room for flexibility in my schedule.  When it’s just the four of us at home on the weekends, my expectations are VERY low and then I’m hardly disappointed. I found in the beginning that I’d want to do my normal tasks and when nothing got done, I’d feel frustrated and that I was a failure. By lowering my expectations, I make it easier on myself.
 
Unfortunately, the internet is a huge time waster in my life.  I love to shop online at zulily, etsy, and others.  Not to mention facebook and checking email, Frugal Fairhope, Saving Sisters, I heart Publix, blah blah blah.  I need to learn balance in that area. 
 
Anyway, still LOVING our new church.  Feeling very refreshed and excited about the future.  Would love to catch a good worship or marriage conference in the area sometime.
 
Speaking of planning … hopefully Tommy is thinking of somewhere nice we can go for our 10 year anniversary!!  It’s in March.  Hint, Hint Tommy. 

Six months ago tonight was a wild time at Springhill Memorial Hospital!!  I was having an emergency c-section, my family had gathered close by, and we were blessed with 2 healthy babies!!  Today, at 6 months old, they are sweet as sugar and are more attached to my heart strings than I ever thought possible.  They are growing and developing like crazy.  We had lunch at Outback with Dad, Lil, and Doug and Chloe was picking up her pacifier and putting it near her mouth.  Not quite IN her mouth, but I was still impressed with the intense motor skills.  Carter kept picking the straw out of Dad's tea.  He wrapped his sweet little index finger around it and picked it right up - twice.  They both tried pears with their morning cereal - and liked it.  They are both fighting little colds.  As I type, Chloe is crying, and Tommy is suctioning out her nose.  She's throwing a fit and coughing.  Sweet as sugar, these babies are.  I hate it when they don't feel good.  Teething has been rough enough on them without the added congestion, runny nose, and cough.  :(

The babies are bucking out of their car seats, reaching for things, crying when they see you walk by and want to be picked up. I like that they want us  though.  It's cool now that they open their mouths when I kiss them.  Their way of kissing me back.  Chloe has gotten particularly fascinated with her daddy lately.  I am keeping my eye on that situation.  She's got to be a mommy's girl, and Carter has got to be a mommy's boy.  Period.  :)

I bought the babies some new things at the Savvy Mom sale this weekend but it was sad that I no longer had a need to shop the newborn, 0-3 months, and 3-6 month racks.  Life is zipping by.  I was intentional tonight in blogging.  Half a year has gone by.  That is a big deal.  What a six months it has been!  Joyful, Exciting, Full, Different, Fun, Tiring, and Memorable.  I still feel incredibly blessed!  I love life with them!!!  I am just trying to slow down ... enjoy it ... breathe it in ... look back on how God delivered.  He knew my desire to be a mom, He heard our prayers, He knew His plan for my life.  He blessed me double!!

The next 6 months will be fun, I truly believe that ---sitting up, crawling, walking, Fall Football Season, Trip to the Mountains, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  

But the last 6 months have been AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Being a MOM is even BETTER than I thought.  Truly Two-riffic!!

Ok, Shelley ... suck it up.  Quit crying.  The best is yet to come.  Life is meant for living.  :)